renouncing their obedience vnto her protested that whosoeuer should take her part should be punished as Traytors when so euer God should put the sword of Iustice into their hands Within a while after they consulted with their Ministers especially M. Wilcocke and M. Knox for the deposing of the Queene Regent from her gouernment who assuring the rest that it was lawfull for them so to doo processe was made sentence was giuen and shee was depriued from all her regiment by a formall acte which is set downe in the same storie penned by Knox and in some part printed after in England Not long after this the Queene Regent dyeth And then they had a Parliament by the consent of the french King and their Queene his wife In that Parliament held Anno 1560. they refourmed Religion and set out a Confession of the Christian faith but the said King and Queene denied to confirme or to ratifie the actes thereof when they were mooued thereunto Which thing said the confederates vpon intelligence giuen them we little regarded or yet doo regarde for all that we did was rather to shew our duetifull obedience then to begge of them any strength to our Religion And whereas it was obiected that it coulde not bee a lawfull Parliament where there was neither Scepter Crowne nor Sworde borne they made light of it saying that those were rather but pompeous and glorious vaine ceremonies then anie substantiall points of necessitie required to a lawfull Parliament I might proceed much further in the ripping vp of these and such like practises for reformation of Religion But because some peraduenture will labour to excuse these manner of proceedings and to colour the same with some pretence of zeale and great desire they had to bee deliuered from Popish Idolatry and Superstition I haue rather thought it conuenient to let you vnderstande howe farre they are from making any such pretences in their owne behalf and with what new Diuinity-positions M. Knox and M. Buchanan haue amplified the Geneua resolution before mentioned to the iustification not only of all their said attempts and actions but of many other of the like nature which since those times haue beene there also practised CHAP. IIII. How the Geneuian Doctrine or principle for Reformation hath beene amplified by certaine pretended Reformers in Scotland REformation of Religion doth belonge to more then the Clergie and the King Noble men ought to reforme Religion if the King will not Reformation of Religion belongeth to the Comminaltie The Comminaltie concurring with the Nobilitie may compell the Bishops to cease from their tirrannie The Comminaltie by their power may bridle the cruell beasts the Priests The Comminaltie may lawfullie require of their King to haue true Preachers and if he be negligent they iustlie may themselues prouide them maintaine them defende them against all that doo persecute them and may detaine the profits of the Church liuings from the other sort God hath appointed the Nobilitie to bridle the inordinate appetites of Princes and in so doing they cannot be accused as resisters of authoritie It is their dutie to represse the rage and insolencie of Princes The Nobilitie and Comminaltie ought to reforme Religion and in that case may remoue from honours and may punish such as God hath cōdemned Deu. 12. he meaneth Idolaters c. of what estate condition or honour soeuer The punishment of such crimes as touch the Maiestie of God doth not appertaine to Kinges and chiefe rulers onelie but also to the whole bodie of the people and to euerie member of the same as occasion vocation and abilitie shall serue to reuenge the iniurie done against God The people are bound by oath to God to reuenge to the vtmost of their power the iniurie done against his Maiestie The cruell murthering of the Archbishoppe of Saint Androwes in his bed-chamber 1545. by three priuate gentlemen because as they told him he had beene and so remained an obstinate enemie to the Gospel is sought to be iustified lately in print to bee a godly acte incouragement is giuen for others in the like case to commit the like outrage Princes for iust causes may be deposed It is not birthright onely nor propinquity of bloud that maketh a King lawfullie to raigne aboue a people professing Christ Iesus If Princes be tyrants against God and his truth their subiects are freed from their oaths of obedience Populus rege est praestantior melior the people are better then the King and of greater authoritie Populo ius est vt imperium cui velit deferat the people haue right to bestow the Crowne at their pleasure Penes populum est vt leges ferat sunt reges veluti tabulariorum custodes The making of lawes doth belong to the people and Kings are but as the Masters of the Rolles The people haue the same power ouer the King that the King hath ouer any one person It were good that rewardes were appointed by the people for such as should kill tyrants as commonly there is for those qui lupos aut vrsos occiderunt aut catulos eorum deprehenderunt that haue killed either wolues or beares or taken their whelpes The people may arraigne their Prince The Ministers may excommunicate him He that by excommunication is cast into hell is not worthy to enioy any life vpon earth And wheras there are sufficient and sound obiections made by such as haue truely reprooued these dangerous assertions Behold I pray you their answers worthy to be known and remembred to the euerlasting discredit of the authors framers and partakers with them CHAP. V. The obiections against the doctrine reported of in the former chapter with the Consistorian answers vnto them Obiection CVstome is against such dealing with Princes Answere There is nothing more daungerous to bee followed publica via then custome Ob. We must obey Kings be they good or bad Ans. It is blasphemie to say so Ob. Ieremie commaunded obedience to Nabuchodonozer Ans. The example is but singular Ob. God placeth tyrants sometimes for the punishment of his people Ans. So doth he priuate men sometimes to kill them Ob. The Iewes dealt not so with their Kings Ans. Their Kinges were not first elected by the people and therefore they might not but ours haue nothing but from the people Ob. Shew an example out of the Scriptures that subiects may vse their gouernours in this sort Ans. The argument is not good it cannot bee shewed in the Scriptures therefore it is vnlawfull Possum apud multas nationes plurimas saluberrimas recensere leges quarum in sacris litteris nullum est exemplum I can shewe sundrie good and wholesome lawes in diuers countries of the which lawes there is no example in the Scriptures Ob. Saint Paul doth commaund vs to pray for Princes 1. Tim. 2.
and their children nay their liues in respect therof were not greatly deare vnto them Moreouer it is manifest how long they were exercised with great feare and many perplexities what entertainement and continuance the Gospell should finde amongst them In which case euery man may easily coniecture how easie a matter it was for them to be miscaried by their teachers Preachers perswading them that by Gods commandement they were bound to vndertake that course withall not omitting great threates of excommunication damnation if they refused so to doo They found their sayd Ministers doctrine very good and sound in the chiefe points of saluation and who would then haue suspected them in matters of lesse importance So as whatsoeuer was done amisse by them as touching their proceedings mentioned I doo wholly in a manner ascribe it to their Ministers of the Geneua learning Vnto whom also it ought of right to be imputed that I or any other either haue or hereafter shall haue any occasion at all so much as once to make mention of the least thing that might be any waies offensiue to the meanest of that natiō For what had I or any other priuate man in England to doo with their matters otherwise then to haue prayed for them had their sayd Ministers but onely taken vppon them to haue iustified their sayde proceedinges by their owne Lawes customes and priuiledges and could haue contented themselues to haue gone no further Marry nowe that the chiefest of them for the excusing of themselues and that they might shew whose schollers they are haue presumed to publish and that in print such strange seditious doctrine as doth tend to the like disturbance and indeede to the vtter ouerthrow of the freest and most absolute Monarchies that are or can be in Christendome not omitting withall to solicite and incourage our pretended reformers in England to proceed as they haue begun in following their steps contrary I am sure both to the word of God and to all the lawes and customes of this Realme I am in very good hope that there is no man of any sound iudgement who will be offended with mee in that to disclose and thereby to preuent such mischiefes as might otherwise ensue with vs I haue beene bolde to lay downe but yet out of their printed bookes some of the proceedinges of the sayde Ministers of Scotland which at this time our owne Preachers in England of the Disciplinarian consort as nowe it followeth to bee shewed doo take vppon them to imitate and haue already proceeded further in them then some of their fauorers will acknowledge or I thinke doo as yet suspect The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP. I. The doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to haue procured the like course for reformation in England to that which was in Scotland AS you haue hearde in the first Booke howe M. Knox beeing at Geneua in Q. Maries time laboured and afterward proceeded to reforme Religion in Scotland by force and armes so did sundry English men that then liued there in like sort according to the Geneua resolution in that point endeuour as much as lay in them to haue kindled the like stirres at that time here in England To which especiall ende they did write hither sundry letters and bookes wholy of this argument vz. that the then Councellors the Noble men inferiour Magistrates and rather then faile the very people were bound before God to ouerthrowe the superstition and Idolatrie that was then in the Land and to reforme Religion whether the Queene would or no yea though it were by putting her to death Out of two of these English bookes I haue collected these seditious and consistoriall propositions following All men councellors noble men inferior magistrates and people are bound and charged to see the lawes of God kept and to suppresse and resist Idolatrie by force If the magistrates shall refuse to put massemongers and false preachers to death the people in seeing it performed doo shewe that zeale of God which was commended in Phinees destroying the adulterers and in the Israelites against the Beniamites To teach that it was not lawfull in any case to resist the superior powers but rather to submit our selues to punishment is a dangerous doctrine taught by some by the permission of God for our sinnes It is not sufficient for subiects not to obey wicked commandements of their Princes but to withstand them also in dooing the contrarie euerie man in his vocation and office Shieriffes Iaylors and other inferior officers ought not onely not to cast the saintes of God in prison hauing commandement thereunto by the Prince for feare of loosing their offices but to withstand euill to support them and to deliuer them to the vttermost of their power If we see a sheepe in daunger to be deuoured of a wolfe wee are bounde to deliuer it euen so to our power wee are bound to put to our hands to deliuer the children of God when wee see them pitiouslie in danger by Gods enemies It is the office of Councellors to bridle the affections of Princes and gouernors Noblemen were first ordained to bridle Princes Noblemen haue their honour of the people to reuenge the iniuries of their Kings and not for their lustie hawking nimble dicing carding singing and dauncing open bragging swearing false flearing and flattering subtle picking and stealing cruell polling and pilling c. The authoritie which Princes haue is giuen them from the people Kings princes and gouernours haue their authoritie of the people and vpon occasion the people may take it away again as men may reuoke their proxies and letters of Atturney Subiects do promise obedience that the Magistrate might help them which if he doo not they are discharged of their obedience If Magistrates without feare transgresse Gods laws themselues and command others to doo the like then haue they lost that honour and obedience which otherwise their subiectes did owe vnto them and ought no more to be taken for Magistrates but be examined accused condemned and punished as priuate transgressors Iudges ought by the lawe of God to summon Princes before them for their crimes and to proceed against them as against all other offenders Euill Princes ought by the lawe of God to bee deposed and inferior magistrates ought chieflie to doo it Examples allowed of Kings deposed Edward 2 Richard 2. Christierne of Denmarke c. It is lawfull to kill wicked kings and tyrants and both by Gods lawe and mans lawe Queene Mary ought to haue beene put to death as being a tyrant a monster a cruell beast c. Examples The subiects did kill the Queenes highnesse Athalia Iehu killed the Queenes maiestie Iesabell Elias beeing no magistrate killed the Queenes maiesties chaplaines Baals
DAVNGEROVS POSITIONS AND PROCEEdings published and practised within this Iland of Brytaine vnder pretence of Reformation and for the Presbiteriall Discipline 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My sonne feare the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious Prou. 24. 21. They despise gouernement and speake euill of them that are in authority Iude. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe 1593. An aduertisement to the Reader THE Author of this Treatise was required by some persons of honor who might dispose of him and his labours to set downe by way of an historicall narration what hee had obserued touching certaine positions holden and some enterprises atchieued or vndertaken for recommending and bringing the Presbiteriall Discipline into this Iland of Brittaine vnder pretence of reformation The performance of which dutie when hee had vndertaken and was entred into it hee found the worke to grow farre greater vpon him then at the first he did imagine Insomuch as although in the beginning he verily supposed tha hee might easily haue contriued his matter into a few sheetes of paper so that as many coppies as were to bee disposed might easily and in very short time haue beene written forth yet by the necessary length of the Discourse as it fell out and through his manifold quotations hee was constrained as the time required to procure for the better dispatch that some fewe copies might bee printed And albeit there is no meaning that this Treatise laboured but for the priuate satisfaction of some fewe especiall persons should otherwise continue then as an vnpublished Copie yet the writer of it wished to haue it signified that nothing is alleadged therein which is not to be found either in Bookes and writinges published to the view of the world such as he thinketh will not be disclaimed or in publike records or else is to be shewed vnder those parties own hands that haue beene either the principall procurers fauorers or dealers in those thinges whereof hee intreateth Which asseueration of his thus made he will be ready as he sayth God assisting him to iustifie at any time for the satisfaction of such as shall make doubt of it And doth further protest with all sinceritie that he hath not willingly detorted any thing in this whole Discourse to make either the cause it selfe or the fauorors thereof more odious then their owne wordes and deeds shall necessarily inferre and enforce against them with all indifferent and considerate Readers Farewell in Christ. The Contents of the first Booke OF two sorts of men that especially disturbe the Church of England and of the drifts of them both by way of a Preface Chap. 1. Fol. 1. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion and of the Doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached Chap. 2. Fol. 7. Of the proceeding of some Scottish Ministers according to the Geneuian rules of Reformation Chap. 3. Fol. 9. How the Geneuian Doctrine or principle for Reformation hath beene amplified by certaine pretended Reformers in Scotland Chap. 4. Fol. 14 The obiections against the doctrine reported of in the former chapter with the Consistorian answeres vnto them Chap. 5. Fol. 16. The proceedinges of certaine Scottish Ministers according to the groundes mentioned in the two last chapters for setting vp of the Consistorian Discipline and of their vrging of our English Disciplinaries to follow their steppes Chap. 6. Fol. 18. The Contents of the second Booke The Doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to have procured the like course for Reformation in England to that which was in Scotland Chap. 1. Fol. 34. Our English Disciplinarians doo imitate the Scottish in their desire of the Consistoriall gouernement sauing that they are more bewitched with a kind of dotage after it Chap. 2. Fol. 41. Our pretended English reformers doo imitate or rather exceede the Scottish Ministers in reuiling and rayling against all that doo encounter them Chap. 3. Fol. 44. The speeches of the said pretended reformers concerning England the State the present reformation and gouernement of the Church Cha. 4. Fol. 47. Some of their vndutifull and consistorian speeches concerning her Maiestie c. Chap. 5. Fol. 48. Some of their rayling speeches against the high court of Parliament and all others generally that do maintaine the present gouernment of the Church of England Chap. 6. Fol. 50 Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell Chap. 7. Fol. 52. Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall Chap. 8. Fol. 54. Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and ceremonies Chap. 9. Fol. 55. How they doo charge the present gouernement with persecution Chap. 10. Fol. 56. Some of their consistorian speeches of the Clergy of England assembled as occasion hath required in the Conuocation house Chap. 11. Fol. 58. Some of their presbiterial speeches of the Bishops of England professing the Gospell Chap. 12. Fol. 58. Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergy in England generally that mislike their designements Chap. 13. Fol. 60. Their especiall drift in their said rayling speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose Chap. 14. Fol. 61. The Contents of the third Booke The practises of certaine English reformers for Discipline from the yeare 1560. vntill the yeare 1572 chap. 1. Fol. 65 The secret meetings for Discipline and the matters handled in them heere in England from 1572. till 1583. chap. 2. Fol. 67 A forme or booke of discipline is drawne and a resolution agreed vppon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church chap 3. Fol. 69 About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their discipline and of a consistorian question chap. 4. Fol. 73 Their Booke of Discipline is reuiewed it was after sent abroad about 1587 it was put in practise in Northamptonshire and many other places cha 5 Fol. 75. A Synode is held at Couentry 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of discipline is subscribed vnto chap. 6. Fol. 85 The booke of the pretended discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certain Synods are kept and of their estimation chap. 7 Fol. 88 Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed chap. 8. Fol. 91 Cartwright is called for by authority a Synode is held in London it is there resolued that he shall refuse to be examined vpon his oath chap. 9. Fol. 93 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline collected out of the rules of their subscribed booke chap. 10. fol. 94 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline out of the articles they subscribed cha 11. fol. 98. It is confessed that they agreed to
be serued in the same maner or to preuent all exception as if some Prince of some perticular state or City in Germanie taking vpon him together with his principality the calling of a Preacher Bishop Superintendent or Ruler of many perticular Churches as George the Prince Anhault did should in such a case as the Bishoppe of Geneua was be depriued of both The means which was vsed for such their abandoning of their Bishop was this When they perceiued that the Bishop sought by force to encounter their proceedinges and that as Sleydan noteth hee had excited the Duke of Sauoy to that ende to assist him they ioyned themselues into a more neere amity with Berne So as the Duke and the Bishop comming together to besiege the City they were both repulsed Bernatibus illis auxilium ferentibus The force of Berne assisting the Geneuians Since which time as I suppose it hath been a principle with some of the chief Ministers of Geneua but contrary to the iudgement of all other reformed Churches for ought I know which haue not addicted themselues to followe Geneua that if Kinges and Princes refused to refourme Religion the inferior magistrates or people by direction of the ministerie might lawfullie ought if need required euen by force armes to reform it themselues CHAP. III. Of the proceeding of some Scottish Ministers according to the Geneuian rules of Reformation ACcording to the refourming rule mentioned in the ende of the former Chapter to omit some other examples certaine Ministers in Scotlande with their adherents being meere subiects haue taken vpon them of later yeares by a violent and forcible course to reforme Religion In which course M. Knox a man trayned vp at Geneua in the time of Mary Queene of England and very well instructed for such a worke did shew himselfe to bee a most especiall instrument as it appeareth by a very strange letter written by him from Diepe Anno 1557. Wherein hee sheweth that his opinion and motion of that matter was not grounded onely vpon his owne conceit but vpon the graue counsailes and iudgement of the most godly and learned that then liued in Europe He meaneth the Geneuians Caluin and the rest there Vpon this Letter and some other to and from the sayd Knox An oath of confederacie was taken amongst his followers in Scotland and a testification was made of their intents by a kind of subscription Immediately after they prescribed also Orders for Reformation to be obserued through all that whole Realme Anno 1558. and writ a memorable letter to the Religious houses in the name of the people that they should either remoue thence by such a day or else they woulde then eiecte them by force Shortly after a Parliament being there holden by the Queene Regent they protested to the same that except they had their desires c. they would proceed in their course that neither they nor any that ioined with them should incurre therefore any danger in life or landes or other politicall paines and that if any violence happened in pursuite of those matters they should thanke themselues Afterward the Queene Regent seeing all the disorder that was then proceeded from such of the ministers shee summoned them to haue appeared at Striueling which they refusing to doo were therevpon by the Queenes commaundement as it is there tearmed put to the Horne and all men vnder paine of rebellion were inhibited to assist them But all this notwithstanding their friends did sticke vnto them And presently after vppon a Sermon to that purpose preached by M. Knox in Saint Iohnstowne for the ouerthrowing of Religious houses they fell the same day to their worke and within two dayes had quite destroyed and rased in that towne the houses of the Blacke Fryars of the Grey Fryars and Charterhouse Moonkes downe to the ground And so they proceeded breaking downe images and altars in Fife Angus Meruis and other parts adioyning This course beeing knowne and therevpon the sayde Queene threatning to destroy Saint Iohnstowne they writt vnto her affirming that except shee stayed from that crueltie they should be compelled to take the sword of iust defence and protested that without the Reformation which they desired they would neuer be subiect to anie mortall man Then they writte to all their brethren to repaire vnto them likewise to the Nobilitie vppon paine of Excommunication to ioyne with them saying that it was their duety to bridle the furie and rage of wicked men were it of Princes or Emperours Knox pag. 269. Vpon these letters diuers repaired to Saint Iohnstowne from sundry places in so much as when Lyon Herault in his coat armor commaunded all men vnder paine of Treason to returne to their houses by publike sound of Trumpet in Glasco neuer a man obeyed that charge but went forward to their associatâ— They writte in like manner to the Bishops and Clergie that except they desisted from dealing against them they would with all force and power execute iust vengeance and punishment vpon them and that they would begin that same warre which God commanded Israell to execute against the Cananites This manner of proceeding they tearmed to be the resisting of the enemie After vpon conditions with the Queene this great assembly at Saiut Iohnstowne departed thence But before the seuering of themselues they entred into a league by Oath that if any one member of their congregation should be troubled they should all concurre assist conuene againe together for the defence of the same Presently after vpon a new quarrel against the Queenes dealing an other concourse was made of these reformers at Saint Androes where by M Knox perswasions in his Sermon they made the like hauocke that was before at Saint Iohnstowne and did cast downe spoyle and destroy both the houses of the Fryers and the Abbayes in that towne So dealt they also within a very short time with the Abbay of Scone the Fryars at Striueling at Lithquo at Edenburgh the Queene being fled thence for feare They kept the field two moneths and tooke away to themselues the coyning Irons beeing as the Queene alleaged a portion of the patrimonie of the crowne and iustified the same They entred into a League that though the Queene sent for them they woulde neuer come to her after that time without the consent of their company After the Queene Regent made a Proclamation of her desire of peace and that the state of the Realme might at the last be at quiet but they confuted it did animate those of their faction with all their might to bee alwaies ready to stand vpon their guard They gaue the Queen the lie diuers times and vsed her with most despightfull speeches And at the length they came to that boldnes as that they tearmed the Queenes part a faction and
enemies to the Gospell of Christ to her Maiestie and people that seeke to keepe Christes holy Discipline from amongst vs. This is that cause against which neuer man yet striued and prospered All the Newgates and Oldgates yea and all the Tiburns in England are too little for such rash and presumptuous he ades that will not giue God leaue to rule but will take the scepter out of his handes I do feare that many of the forwardest ennemies of reformation are not the backwardest frendes that the king of Spain hath in England at this day CHAP. VII Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell OVr Councell may truelie be saide to delight in the iniury violent oppression of Gods saincts Ministers therefore the Lord wil surely visite our Councel with an heauie plague Our Councel cannot possibly deale truely in matters of iustice betweene man and man insomuch as they bend all their forces to bereaue Iesus Christ of his gouernment The which vngodly and wicked course as they haue held on euer since the beginning of her Maiesties raigne so at this day they haue taken great boldnesse and growne more rebellious against the Lord and his cause then euer they were In so much as their honors in token of thankefulnesse to him that exalted them dare now charge the cause of reformation to be an ennemie vnto our state and such as fauor the same to be vnquiet and factious men disturbers of the common peace and quietnes and sowers of sedition among the subiects They do not ablie detect their impiety against God and their enmitie to the kingdome of his Sonne Christ they offer iniury to her Maiestie If her Maiesty giue eare to such Councellors shee may haue cause one day to lament Assuredly those that are our ennemies for the profession of the truth meaning the pretended Discipline cannot bee her Maiesties sure frendes whatsoeuer they pretend Sathan worketh the defacing of the way of truth supporteth his owne kingdome by instruments of no meane countenance Be they noble or vnnoble Councellors or inferior men I am so farre from fearing their power that the more I see them rage the greater strength I haue to stand to the truth which they raue against I do warne and admonish those Councellors with whome and against whome especially I deale in this Treatise to repent them of their great insolencie whereby they haue beene puffed vp with Senacharib to magnifie and oppose themselues against the cause and people of the Lord of Hosts as against the Religion and people of some of the Gods of the earth Otherwise they are to feare least the Lord hauing raised vp many of them out of mean places into the throne of iustice meaneth to shew his power and great name by making them examples of his fearefull wrath as he did Pharaoh who wrought his owne ouerthrow If men will wonder that we being so contemptible in the sight of the world dare yet be so bold as to controll great states and mightie men and to chalenge them of iniustice against the Sonne of God and his members who will not sticke to brag with Pilate that they haue power to crucifie Christ to absolue him they are to vnderstand that wee know of no power but from aboue and therefore of no power that is able to beare out iniustice and wrong The hils of the Robbers wee grant to bee high and vnassayleable in the sight of an eye of flesh but we haue learned of the holy man to account the habitation of the wicked to be accursed euen when hee seemeth to be best rooted for we know that the steppes of his strength shall bee restrayned and that his Counsaile shall cast him downe CHAP. VIII Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall THe Magistracy and ministery haue walked hand in hand in the contempt of true Religion and vnto both the worde of the Lorde is made a reproch Amongst those who deale in the cause of iustice there are found wicked persons euen wicked lawyers and iudges who seeme to know of no other God but their owne gaine that lay waite for the blood of Gods saints as hee that setteth snares and marke whether they can heare of any that go further in the cause of God then the corruption of our state doth permit And if they finde any such they know how to wrest against them a clause of some statute contrary not onely to the meaning thereof but euen contrary vnto all iustice and equity yea common reason it selfe and the verie groundes of all good lawes and statutes So that it is now growen and hath bene of a long time a common practice of these Godlesse men to make of the statutes ordained for the maintenance of Religion and common quietnesse a pit wherein to catch the peaceable of the land The common inditements of the Lords true and faithfull Ministers for matters of trifles as the omission of the surplisse churching of women crosse in Baptisme c. doth manifestly witnesse the iniquitie of these Atheists The lawes that maintaine the Archbishops and Bishops are no more to bee accounted of then the lawes maintaining the Stewes The humaine lawes that maintaine them are wicked and vngodly The lawes are made their common sanctuarie to defend all our wickednesse Impiety is suffered to beare sway against the maiestie of God and that by law and authority Such lawes are retayned in force as iustle and ouerthrow the royall prerogatiue of the sonne of God As great indignity is offered vnto Iesus Christ in committing his Church vnto the gouernement of the common law as can be by meane hyrelings unto a king in committing his beloued spouse vnto the direction of the mistresse of the Stewes and enforcing her to liue after the lawes of a brothel-house CHAP. IX Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and Ceremonies WE striue for true religion As our lackes are there can be no right religion Many religions are mixed together of Christ and Antichrist of God and the deuill Christes Religion is fondly patched with the Popes ioyning fire and water heauen and hel together The truth in a manner doth but peepe out from behinde the screene Their prescript forme of seruice is full of corruption In all the order of their seruice there is no edification but confusion The Communion booke is an vnperfect booke culled and picked out of that popish dung hill the portuise and masse-booke and many of the contents therein be such as are against the word of God And Martin senior calleth it our sterue-vs Booke The Sacraments are wickedlie mangled and prophaned They eate not the Lords supper but play a pageant of their own to
monstrous Antichristian Pope a most bloudie oppressor of Gods Saintes a very Antichristian beast a most vile and cursed tyrant In respect of his Antichristian prelacie ouer Gods Church and for the notable hatred which he hath euer bewrayed towardes the Lord and his truth I thinke him one of the dishonorablest creatures vnder heauen And againe of the Bishops but especially of the Lord Archbishop In his behauiour wrath anger reproch and disdaine as in a wood so manie Lions Beares Tigers and cruell beastes were seene to range and in this more sauage that whereas they by time and vsage may be tamed and appeased this man neuer It would be knowen whether they haue some secret meaning if oportunitie would serue to aspire vnto the Crowne CHAP. XIII Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergie in England generally that mislike their designements WE lacke in England a right ministery of God The Ministers are neither prooued elected called nor ordeyned according to Gods word I. B. is to be inuested into the place of a naturall foole after a solemne manner according to the booke of ordayning Bishops and Priests The Clergie is indicted as the followers of Antichrist and that their Ministerie is from the Pope Little or nothing is required of our English Priests but to say the Catechisme and to weare a cap coap and tippet Antichrists rags shall make him a Priest be he neuer such a dolt or a villaine The most part of our Ministers are either Popish Priests or Monkes or Fryers or ale-house haunters or boyes and lads dronkardes and dolts that wil weare a fooles hood for liuing sake They are Hogges Dogges Wolues Foxes Simoniakes Vsurers procters of Antichrists inuentions Popish chapmen halting Newtrals They seeke nothing but like greedy dogges how to fill their paunches Our supposed Ministers are a multitude of desperate and forelorne Atheists a cursed vncircumcised and murthering generation you shall finde amongst this crue nothing else but a troope of bloudy soule-murtherers and sacrilegious Church robbers Bene quod malitia non habet tantas vires quantos conatus CHAP. XIIII Their especiall drift in their saide railing speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose BY the former so wicked and slaunderous speeches contayned in the tē last Chapters you see how the brotherhood endeuoreth with the multitude as I saide not onely the disgrace of our Church and Clergiemen but likewise how bold they are with her most excellent Maiesty the high Court of Parliament the Lords of her priuy Councel the Iudges lawyers lawes and all thinges besides that do giue any impediment vnto their deuises and complots Harding Dorman Stapleton Sanders Allen Gregorie Martin and diuers other fugitiues and Traytors to make a more easie way for the bringing in againe of popery haue taken the like course in her Highnesse time meaning principally by such vile slaunders to withdraw her Highnesse subiects from their dutifull approbation of the present estate and reformation of Religion Goodman Wittingham Gilby the author of the booke of obedience with the rest of the Geneua complices in Queene Maries dayes practised the very same pollicie when as you haue heard according to the Allobrogicall resolution they vrged all states by degrees rather to take armes and to reforme Religion themselues by force then to suffer such Idolatrie and superstition to remaine in the land But in these more political then Christian practises as I said that our English Disciplinarians of these dayes haue farre exceeded the Scottish Ministers so may it bee truely affirmed of them that al the popish Traitors that hitherto haue written and all the said Geneuians that then liued for malitious and spitefull tauntes for rayling and bitter tearmes for disdaineful and contemptuous speeches did not come neere them Besides it is especially to be obserued that in their own opinions they haue by these vngodly meanes so preuayled with the multitude as that now they begin to vaunt and bragge of their good successe already therein attayned One of them sendeth vs word from Scotland that such as haue withstood their pretended Church gouernment are made already in England to bee despised and vile before all the people that a poore simple Minister of their c. is hearde with more reuerence and resorted vnto with more diligence then one of ours though he haue the great bell rong and men to helpe him vp into the pulpit that this was wrought by a contemptible and very base and straunge meanes meaning Martin and his sonnes libels c. not once dreamed off by a thousand of Gods saintes and that when their creastes meaning the Bishops were set vp and they began to say all is ours then their presumption was dashed daunted and taken downe They might as well haue signified vnto vs in what tearmes and reputation her Maiestie her Parliaments her Lords her Iudges and her lawes do stand and hold with the people In dealing as they haue done by their particular supplications and motions vnto her Highnes and vnto their LL s. their intents to that purpose when the time shall serue if in the meane while they be not preuented are not ablie disclosed For otherwise it might haue sufficed them to haue deliuered their discontentments in priuate manner by writing both to her Maiestie their LL s and other in authority thereby to haue discharged their consciences without their publishing of them in Printe to the world except their purpose had likewise beene by that lewd meanes to haue brought them all into contēpt as well as the Bishops What priuate man if his friend should write a letter vnto him and lay open in the same eyther truely or falsely many great crimes to his charge afterward should by Printing or any other waies publish it could otherwise account of his dealing therein but that he meant to make him thereby odious to the world or at the least to be of no great account or estimation Queene Marie was of nature disposition very mild and pitifull and yet because shee suffered such crueltie superstition to be practised maintained in her days you haue heard by the consistorian propositions before mentioned what was resolued by Goodman Whittingham Gilby the rest of the Geneuians against her concerning her deposition c. Which is a matter that would be wel considered-of and in time prouided-for accordingly considering that these our home-bred Sicophantes men of the Geneua mould as proud and presumptuous as any that euerliued do charge the present state vnder her Maiestie as before it is noted with such great impietie corruption idolatrie superstition and barbarous persecution Which may touch her highnesse as neerely by their doctrine for maintayning the present state as Queene Marie was for defending of Poperie Well the conclusion of this Booke is this vz that seeing our English consistorians do labour more vehemently or