A TREATISE VPON SVNDRY MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE THIRTY NINE Articles of Religion which are professed in the Church of ENGLAND Long since written and published by THOMAS ROGERS Rom. 16. verse 17. I beseech you brethren marke them diligently which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have received and avoide them LONDON Printed by JOHN LEGATT and are to be sold by RICHARD THRALE at the signe of the Crosse-keyes at Pauls Gate 1639. TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER in God and his Right Honourable good Lord RICHARD by the Divine providence Archb. of Canterbury and Primate of England and Counceller to the most High and Mighty Prince JAMES King of Great Britaine France and Ireland MOst Reverend Father in God there is no one thing in this world that of men truely zealous and Christian in these latter dayes of the world with greater earnestnesse hath bin desired then that by a joynt and common consent of all the Churches rightly and according to the Canons of the sacred Scriptures reformed there might be a draught made and divulged containing and expressing the sum and substance of that Religion which they doe both concordably teach and uniformely maintaine That holy man of happy remembrance D. Cranmer who sometime enjoyed that roome in our Church Arch. Cranmer which your Grace now worthily possesseth in the dayes of that most godly yong Prince K. Edward the sixt employed a great part of his time and study for the effecting of that work and imparted his thoughts with the most principall persons and of rarest note in those dayes for their wisedome piety and credit among the people of God throughout Christendome Mr. Calvin understanding of his intent addressed his letters unto the said Archbishop and offred his service saying That might his labours stand the Church in stead Ne decem quidem maria it would not grieve him to saile over ten Seas to such a purpose But this proving a worke of much difficulty if not altogether impossible in mens eyes especially in those dayes to be brought about Vnity of doctrine in all Churches reformed the next course and resolution was that every Kingdome and free State or Principality which had abandoned the superstitions and Antichristian Religion of the Church of Rome and embraced the Gospell of Christ should divulge a Briefe of that Religion which among themselves was taught and beleeved and whereby through the mercy of God in Christ they did hope to be saved Which to Gods great glory and the singular benefit and comfort of all Churches both present and to come as the extant Harmony of all their confessions doth most sweetly record with no great labour was notably performed This worke of theirs told the Churches in those dayes and doth us and will informe our posterity that not only in every particular State and Kingdom but also throughout Christendome Ab initio reformationis ardebant amore veritatis omnes Politici Ecclesiastici Plebeii Jezler de diutur belli Euchar pag. 49. Vnity of doctrine in the Church of England in King Edward the sixt his dayes where the Gospel was entertained the Primitive and Apostolicall daies of the Church were again restored For the multitudes of them that did beleeve I speake both joyntly of all and severally of each reformed people not of every particular person fantastique false apostles and perverse teachers or professors in any Church who were not wanting even in the Apostles dayes touching the maine and fundamentall points of true Religion were then of one heart and of one soule and did think and speake one thing and live in peace 3. The said Archbishop for unto whom better after God and the King can we ascribe the glory of this worthy Act wrought this Vnity Vniformity of doctrine in this Kingdome in the Halcyon dayes of our English Iosias K. Edward the sixt of that name and the same doctrine so by his meanes established in the time of peace a notable work of peace like a manly heroicall and heavenly Captaine under our Generall Iesus Christ he resolutely even with his heart bloud and in the fiery torments afterwards confirmed in the dayes of persecution A certain learned man Anno 1552. speaking of the Religion here then professed and writing unto the Lords of our late Queenes Councell doth say he meaning the Papist his adversary who charged our Church with discord and disagreements about matters of Religion K. Edward the 6. Hee ought said he if hee had beene able to have brought out the publike Confession and Articles of faith agreed in K. Edwards time and have shewed any in England that professing the Gospel dissenteth from the same So esteemed he and with him many thousands of learned and judicious men of the doctrine then ratified by authority and professed in this Kingdome But those dayes of our Churches peace continued not long through our unthankfulnesse Q. Mary and sinnes neither on the other side was our persecution permanent through the goodnesse of God though for the time exceeding vehement and violent For nubecula fuit citò transiit It vanished away quickly as doe many raging stormes even upon the sudden yet not through the power of Gunpowder and treasons but through the force of ardent prayers unto the Almighty For arma ecclesiae preces 4. We find that Mr. Latimer that sacred The prayers of the persecuted Saints for the reducing of true Religion into the Realme F. Latimer and reverend Father addicted himselfe very seriously in those dayes unto the exercise of prayer and his principall and most usuall prayers were first for himselfe next for the afflicted Church of England and lastly for Lady Elizabeth that deceased King Edwards and Queene Maries sister For himselfe he prayed that as God had made him 〈◊〉 Minister and Preacher of his truth so hee might constantly beare witnesse unto the same and have the grace power to maintain it in the face of the world even till the houre of his death For the Church of England he prayed that God would be pleased once againe to restore the free preaching of the Gospell to this Realme and this with all possible fervency of Spirit he craved at the hands of God And for Lady Elizabeth that he would preserue and make her a comfort to his then comfortlesse people in England And the Almighty and our heavenly Father both heard and granted all and every of his petitions Mr. Gualter that learned painfull and excellent Divine at Tigure dedicating his holy and Christian Comments upon the lesser Prophets unto D. Parkhurst B. Parkhurst Bishop of Norwich who in the dayes of the forementioned Q. Mary voluntarily had exiled himselfe so farre as Switzerland for his preservation if it might be unto better times saith of the said Parkhurst that when he lived in Tigure Lady Elizabeth was ever in his mouth her Faith her wisedome her magnanimous spirit her virgineous and chaste behaviour he would
ever celebrate with high words and commendations and that God would gard Q. Elizabeth and safegard her person for the good of his people was his daily prayer yea saith the same Gualter orabant idem tecùm pii omnes it was not your prayer onely but all Gods people so prayed besides And their prayers were not made in vaine For both Queene Mary lived not long and Lady Elizabeth was placed in the Royall throne superstition was expulsed and true Religion againe to the singular comfort and multiplication of Gods people in this Kingdome very solemnely restored Notwithstanding an Vniformitie of doctrin to be taught embraced True doctrine restored anno 1558. and an uniformitie of the same established and published an 1562. and professed by authoritie of the Prince and State was not published till certain yeers after the Queenes attaining the kingly Diademe but then Articles of Religion to the number of thirtie nine drawne yet three yeeres afore were commended to the consideration and perusall of the whole Clergy of both Provinces in an orderly and lawfull assembly or Convocation of theirs at London and by a sweet and unanimous readinesse thereupon by them allowed This was effected in the yeer of our Lord 1562. Ann. 1562. the same yeer that the mercilesse massacre at Vassey in France was committed by the Duke of Guize and the same very time also that all the Protestants in that countrey of France for holding and professing the same doctrine were sentenced unto death and destruction by the Parliament at Paris after which their condemnation ensued those horrible and more then savage murders and slaughters of the Religious and onely for their Religion at Carrascone at Tholouse Amiens Towres Sens Agen Aurane and many other Cities Townes and Villages throughout France A principall contriver of this Vniformitie in Religion Arch. Parker and thereby Vnitie among us was another Predecessour of your Graces even D. Parker the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the said Queenes dayes Hereupon Beza from Geneva Doctrinae puritas viget in Anglia purè syncerè Religion flourisheth in England Zanchius from Straâ—borough Per hanc Reginam factam by her meaning Q Elizabeths comming to the Crowne God againe hath restored his doctrine and true worship and Daneus The whole compasse of the world hath never seen any thing more blessed nor more to be wished then is her government So now again flourished those Apostolicall times as I may say of unitie and Vniformitie of doctrine in our Church For then were there no contentions nor dissentions nor thorny and pricking disputations among us about questions of Religion tantum res nobis cum satellitibus quibusdam Pontificiis as Bishop Iewell said we then skirmished onely with the Papists As it was at the building of Salomons Temple so was it with us then We set upon the building of Gods House which is his Church without din without noyse and stirres The adversaries without heard us and heard of our doings abroad by the pens of the learned Iewell Nowell Calfehill and such other Architects of ours to our selves we were comely at Ierusalem to our enemies terrible as an Army of Banners 6. Also what afore viz. an 62. they had agreed upon Subscription required unto the Booke of Art an 1â—â—2 the same at another Assembly at London an 71. and the 13. of Q. Elizabeth according to an Act of Parliament then made the said Clergie of England the Archbishops and Bishops first beginning and giving the example by their several subscriptions with their owne hands most readily did approve An. 1572. Howbeit in the yeere next ensuing sciz an 72. a yeere many wayes memorable especially for the great and general Massacre of above an hundred thousand Protestants in France chiefely in Paris and the countrey thereabout adioyning begun on St. Bartholmewes Eve * Bartholomaeus flet quia Gallicus occubat Atlas for Pope Gregories excommunicating of Q Elizabeth for defending this doctrine and religion which here we speak of and thirdly for the erecting of private Presbyteries now first in England divers of the inferiour Ministers in and about London and else-where in this Kingdome not a little disturbed the quiet of our state and peace some of them by untimely and inconsiderate admonitions pamphlets and Libels others by obstinate refusing to subscribe as both Law did enjoyne and their Fathers in Christ and superiours afore them had done But these men speedily both by learning were answered and by authority censured suspended or deprived Vnitie of doctrine stil continued 7. And yet not one of these Recusants and so not one of Englands Clergie either now or afore did ever oppugne the received publike and Catholike doctrine of our Church but most willingly approved and applauded the same as the truth of God For even the admonitioners themselves which said that they did strive for true Religion and wished the Parliament even with perfect hatred to detest the Church of England whereof notwithstanding they were members even they do say how they meaning the Bishops and their partakers hold the substance of Religion with us and wee with them And againe We all of us confesse one Christ And their Champion doth acknowledge that her Maiestie hath delivered us from the spirituall Egypt of Popery So that for doctrine I means still for the maine points of doctrine there was now a sweet and blessed concord among us which Vnity continued all that holy and Reverend Fathers I meane Archbishop Parkers time which was till the 17. yeere of Queene Elizabeth 8. Archbish Grindall After him succeeded in the said Archiepiscopall chaire B. Grindall a right famous and worthy Prelate and for religion so sound as in K. Edwards dayes had the Prince liued a while longer he had beene promoted vnto the Bishopricke of London vpon the translation of B Ridly vnto Durham for these things had the State then in purpose But God otherwise had decreed for their aduancements as that the one of them should passe through the fire vnto the kingdome of heauen and the other escape the dangers of many stormes and waters before he came unto any preferment at all And so accordingly Ridly was burned and Grindall banished and both of them depriued either of life or liuing or both and that for one and the same cause and doctrine which they had preached and we professe But the tempest being ouerblowne and Q. Elizabeth her selfe hauing likewise escaped the bloody hands of her cruell enemies yea and Gunpowder traines and Treasons too in most barbarous manner laid to haue blown vp her Saint like and sanctified Body and Soule into the heauens and all for her constant fauouring and embracing this very doctrine her Maiestie not forgetfull what he had endured for the cause of Christ and his Church aduanced this zealous Confessour and tryed Souldier vnto the See first of London afore designed him next of Yorke and lastly of Canterbury The care of
desired his Majesty to take them out a new Lesson as did the 71 Brethren of Suffolke are not to be liked Neither can we extoll the goodnesse of our God sufficiently toward our King and us all for inspiring his royall heart with holy wisedome to discerne these unstayed and troublesome spirits and inabling his Highnesse with power and graces from above to decree orders and directions for the generall benefit and peace of the whole Church neither suffered he his eyes to sleepe nor his eye-lids to slumber nor the temples of his head to take any rest till he had set them downe afore all other though never so important and weightie affaires of the Crowne and Kingdome King James patronizeth the Doctrine and Religion countenanced by Queene Elizabeth 26 My selfe have read and thousand thousands with an hundred thousand of his Subjects besides have either read or heard of Proclamations after Proclamations to the number of sixe or seven at the least of bookes and open speeches of his Majesty uttered in the Parliament House and all of them made vulgar within a yeare and little more after his happy ingresse into this kingdome and taking the administration of this most famous nourishing Empire upon himself whereby the doctrine in this Land allowed publikely graced and imbraced of all sorts at his entrance into the Realme hath bin not onely acknowledged to be agreeable to Gods Word sincere and the very same which both his Highnesse and the whole Church and kingdome of Scotland yea and the Primitiue Church professed but also by his authoritie Regall and paramont as one of the maine pillers supporting his Estate ratified to continue and all hope either of allowing or tolerating in this kingdome of any other doctrine religion or faction whatsoeuer opposite or any way thwarting the Faith and confession of the Church of England in most plaine pithy and peremptory words and speeches cut off The yeere 92. was not more famous for the Vniformity of doctrin in religion then concluded then the yeere 1604. Domii incarnati An. 1604. is memorable and will be for seconding the same neither got the Clergie in those dayes more credit in composing the Articles of our Vnitie in Faith then did the last Conuocation whereat your Grace then Bishop of London was present and President in ratifying the Acts and Articles of their Antecessors neither was Q Elizabeth more honoured in establishing them at the first then is our K. Iames renowned and more and more will be for approouing vnder the great Seale of England the late and last Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall 27. Subscription the third time vrged Whereby no person shall hereafter bee receiued into the ministery nor neither by Institution or Collation admitted to any Ecclesiasticall liuing nor suffered to Preach to Catechize or to be Lecturer or Reader of Diuinitie in either Vniuersitie or any Cathedrall or Collegiat Church Citie or Market towne Parish Church Chappell or in any other place in this Realme except c. and except he shall first subscribe to these three Articles c. Whereof the third is that he alloweth the booke of Articles of Religion c. Nor any licenced to Preach Reade Lecture or Catechize comming to reside in any Diocesse shall be permitted there to Preach Reade Lecture Catechize or minister the Sacraments or to execute any other Ecclesiasticall function by what authoritie soeuer he be thereunto admitted vnlesse he first consent and subscribe to the three Articles Neither shall any man teach either in publike schoole or in private house except he shall first prescribe to the first and the third Articles simply c. Neither shall any man be admitted a Chancellor Commissary or Officiall to exercise any Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction except c. and shall subscribe to the Articles of Religion agreed upon in the Convocation in the yeare 1562. c. And likewise all Chancellours Commissaries Registers and all other that doe now possesse or execute any places of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction or service shall before Christmas next in the presence of the Archbishop or Bishop or in open Court under whom or where they execute their offices take the same Oathes and subscribe as before he said or upon refusall so to doe shall be suspended from the execution of their Offices untill they shall take the said Oaths and subscribe as aforesaid 28. In which Constitutions the wisedome of his Highnesse sheweth it selfe to be excellent who indeed as exceeding necessary both for the retaine of peace in the Church and preventing of new doctrine curious speculations and offences which otherwise daily would spring up and intolerably encrease calleth for Subscription in testimony of mens cordiall consent unto the received doctrine of our Church but exacteth not their Oathes as some doe much lesse Oathes Vowes and Subscription too but onely in a particular respect and that of a very few in publike office as our neighbours have done Againe he requireth Subscription but not of civill Magistrates not of the Commons as else where some doe not of every man yea of women aswell as of men as did the persecuted Church at Franckeford in Queene Maries daies not of Noble Gentlemen and Courtiers as in Scotland was Enacted in our Kings minoritie but only of Ecclesiasticall Ministers Teachers and spirituall Officers or of those which would be such Of the Subscription called for and so doe the reformed Churches in France and Germany at this very day Last of all his Majestie calleth for Subscription unto Articles of Religion but they are not either Articles of his own lately deuised or the old newly turkened but the very Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Clergie in the Conuocation holden at London and that in the yeere of our Lord God 1562. a Cant. 2.127 and vnto none other euen the same Articles for number thirtie nine b Ibid. no moe no fewer and for words sillables and letters the very same vnaugmented vndiminished vnaltered 29. And being the same the whole world is to know that the Church of England is not in religion changed The Church of England settled and constant in her Religion or variable like the Moon nor affecteth noueltie or new lessons but holdeth stedfastly conscionably that truth which by the Martyrs and other Ministers in this last age of the world hath bin restored vnto this kingdome and is grounded vpon Gods written Word the onely foundation of our Faith And being the same all men again may see that we are still at Vnitie both among our selues at home and with the neighbour Churches abroad in all matters of chiefest importance and fundamentall points of religion though our aduersaries the Papists would faine beate the contrary into the common peoples heads And being the same there is now as also from the first restauration of the Gospell among vs there hath beene an Vniformitie likewise of doctrine by authoritie
given to every King or Queene in their owne Dominion by the Word of God For They are for titles gracious Lords a Luke 22.25 Princes b Rom. 13.3 the Ministers of God c Ibid. 4. the Nurses of the Church d Isa 49.23 Gods e Psal 32.1 For authority the chiefe f 1 Pet. 2.13 Which moveth St. Paul to exhort that supplications be made for all men but first for Kings as the chiefe g 1 Tim 3.1 Againe Every soule is commanded to be subject to the higher power c h Rom. 13.1 Finally the examples are manifold and pregnant shewing the principality of Kings over all persons and causes For Aaron the high Priest called Moses the chiefe Prince his Lord i Exod. 32.21 so did Abimelech tearme Saul his Lord k 1 Sam. 22.12 K. Iehosaphat as chiefe in Iudah appointed Iudges Levites and Priests l 2 Chr. 19.5 c. 8. K. Ezechias also as chiefe sent unto all Israel and Iudah that they should come to the house of the Lord at Ierusalem to keepe the Passeover m 2 Chr. 30.1 also hee appointed the course of Priests and Levites by their turnes n 2 Chr. 31.2 and commanded all the Priests to offer sacrifice c. and they obeyed him o Ibid. c. 29.21.22 and enjoyned all the congregation to bring offerings and they brought them p 31. Confess Helv. 1. ar 16. c. 2 30. Basil ar 7. Bohem. c. 16. Bel. ar 36. Aug. ar 16. 17. Sax. ar 23. Suc. pecorer Which we doe unto ours the very same doe the Churches of God ascribe unto Christian Magistrates in their principalities Errors and adversaries unto this truth Which being true then false is it which the Papists deliver viz. that The Kings excellency of power is in respect of the Nobility and Lay-magistrates under him and not of Popes Bishops or Priests as they have cure of soules a Test Rhem. Annot. 1 Pet. 2.13 Kings and Princes be they never so great must be subject unto some Bishop Priest or Prelate b Ibid. an Heb. 13.7 The whole Clergie ought to bee free from paying Tribute c Ibid. an Mat. 17.26 Sacerdotes etiam Principibus jure divino subditi deleatur say the expurgators Priests are not by Gods Law subject unto Princes d Index expurg p. 26. No man is to be subject unto his temporall Prince and superiour in matters of Religion or regiment of his soule but in such things onely as concerne the publike peace and policie e Test Rhem. an Rom. 13.1 False also is it which the Puritanes doe hold namely that Princes must be servants unto the Church be subject unto the Church submit their scepters unto the Church and throw downe their Crownes before the Church f T. C. râ—p p. 144. Magistrates as well as other men must submit themselves and bee obedient to the just and lawfull authority of the Church g â—â— dis p. 185. that is of the Presbitery h That which our Saviour calleth Presbytâ—rian and to doth Luke â—â—a disc p. 89. Quis tandem reges principes who can exempt even Kings and Princes from this Non humana sed divina Dominatione not humane but divine Domination meaning of the Presbytery saith Beza i B za de pres p. 124. which Presbytery they would have to be in every Parish k There ought to be in every Church a Consistory of seigniory of elders or governours â—â—ar disc p. 84 Every Congregation ought to have Elders and an Eldership-Demon of dis c. 12. p. 55. cap. 14. pag. 69. In stead of Chancellors Aâ—chdeacons Officials Commissaries Proctors Summoners Churchwardens and such like you Parliament men have to plant in every Congregation a lawfull and godly Seigniory 1. Admor to the Parliam I would that every little Parish should have seven such Elders at the least and every meane Church 13. and every great Church 13. Hunt of the Foxe c. Ec. 2.2 Quotquot ecclesiae Christi as many as be members of Christ and of the Church they must subject themselves to the Consistorian discipline Non hic excipitur Episcopus aut Imperator Neither Bishop or Emperour is excepted here Nulla hic acceptio aut exceptio est personarum Here is no acception or exception of persons l Sâ—ecaâ— de dis p. eccles p. 456. 3. Proposition His highnesse may not execute the Ecclesiasticall duties of preaching and ministring the Sacraments and yet is to prescribe lawes and directions unto all estates both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall The proofe from Gods Word KIng Ezechiah said unto the Priests and Levites of his time My sonnes be not deceived For the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him and to serve him and to be his Ministers and to burne incense a 2 Chr. 29.11 So doe we say The Lord hath appointed a company and calling of men to teach the people to expound the Scriptures to celebrate the Sacraments to handle the Keyes of the celestiall Kingdome insomuch as hee whosoever that shall presume to doe these things not called thereunto and that lawfully b See afore ar though he be a King or Prince he may feare that punishment which fell upon Vzzah c 2 Chr. 26.19 Notwithstanding all Kings Queenes and Princes in their places may yea and must as occasion serveth with K. Salomon build an house for the Lord d 2 Chr. 2.1 and set the courses of Priests to their office e 2 Chr. 8.14 with K. Ezechiah breake the Images cut downe the Groves take away the high places f 2 Chr. 31.1 appoint the courses of the Priests and Levites and enjoyne all the people to minister sustenance unto the Priests g Thus did Ezechiah throughout all Iudah and did well and uprightly and truely before the Lord his God 2 Chr. 31.20 with K. Iosiah put downe and burne the horses of the Sunne h 2 Kin 23.11 breake downe the houses of the Sodomites i Ibid. 7. purge Iudah and Ierusalem from the high places Groves carved and molten Images k 2 Chr. 3.34 appoint the Priests to their charges l Ibid. 3.5.2 and compell all that are found in Israel to serve the Lord their God m Ib. c. 33.34 and with the King of Niniveh proclaime a fast and command every man to turn from his evill way c n Jonas 3.7 Of the same judgement be other Churches o Confe Helv. 1. ar 26. 2. c. 30. Basil ar 7. Boh. c 16. Gal. ar 39. Belg. ar 35. Sax. ar 23. Wittem c. 35. The errors and adversaries unto this truth Much therefore out of the way are and offend greatly doe first the Papists who publish that The care of Religion pertaineth not unto Kings Religionis curam semper pertinnisse adreges dole say the expurgators blot it out a Index expur p. 145. Queenes may not have
this Archbishop was great to further the glory of God but through the enuy and malice of his ill-willers his power was but small his place high but himselfe made low through some disgraces by his potent aduersaries which he meekely and patiently endured till his dying day 6. During the time of this mans troubles among other The factious encrease and grow confident two things especially deserue obseruation One is the flocking of Iesuits into the Kingdom who afore then neuer came among vs the other is the insolency boldnes of our home faction The Iesuits indicted Councils summoned Synodes enacted and reuersed orders and exercised Papall iurisdiction among vs wee not witting nor so much as dreaming of any such matter The Brethren for so did they now stile themselues in their Churches and charges would neither pray nor say seruice nor Baptize nor celebrate the L. Supper nor Marry nor Bury nor doe any other Ecclesiasticall duty according to the Law but after their owne deuisings And abroad as if they had bin acquainted with the Iesuitical proceedings or the Iesuites with their practices they had their meetings both classicall and Synodicall they set downe decrees reuersed orders elected Ministers exacted Subscription and executed the censures of suspeâ—â—ision and excommunication where they thought good The Iâ—suâ—es had for their prouinciall first Robert Parsons alias Cowbuck then Weston and lastly Garnet which Garnet continued in that office till the yeere 1605. when he was apprehended and for most horrible and hellish treasons as an arrant Traitor put to death in Pauls Churchyard the fame yeer And the Brethren had their I know not what chiefe men All of these residing in and about London and in speciall fauour both with the Gentiles and vulgar people of their seuerall factions and so continued multiplying their number and growing strong euen head-strong in boldnesse and schisme till the dying day of this most graue and reuerend Archbishop which was in the moneth of Iuly 1583. 10. Some foure moneths afore whose death the said Brethren at a certaine Assembly of their own appointing among other things as I find decreed Vnitie of doctrine still holdeth among vs. An. 1583. that if Subscription unto the booke of Articles of Religion afore mentioned and still meant should againe be vrged the said Brethren might subscribe thereunto according to the Statute Which declareth that what diuersity and disagreement soeuer was about other matters yet abode there still a blessed Vnitie among vs touching the foundation of Christian Religion And this was in 25. yeere of Q. Elizabeth Archbish Whitegift 11. Next vnto him D. Whitegift then Bishop of Worcester a man deseruedly vnto that dignitie promoted and for his manifold paines in writing teaching defending the truth his wisedome in gouerning and his well demeaning of himselfe euery way worthy the double honour which hee did enioy or the State could aduance him vnto from thence was translated vnto the See of Canterbury No sooner was he confirmed in his office but obseruing both the open intolerable contempt in many places of all Church orders by authority prescribed and hearing both of many secret conuenticles and vnlawful assemblies in his Prouince and of the tumults and garboiles abroad and euen at his very admission vnto his charge raised in Scotland and that for the selfe-same cause which by the Brethren here in England was maintained and foreseeing the dangers and troubles likely to ensue for which he should giue an account if in time he sought not meanes to preuent them he thought it his bounden duty for the preseruation of vnity and purity in Religion the preuenting of further schisme and the discouery of mens inclinations either vnto peace or faction that all and euery Minister Ecclesiasticall hauing cure of soules within the Prouince of Canterbury vnder his owne hand and by subscription Subscription the secoÌ„d time called for should testifie his consent both vnto the points of Religion in the Conuocation Ann. 62. approoued and likewise vnto other Articles necessary for concord sake of all euery man Minister especially to be acknowledged and accordingly by due course of Law called then thereunto Which was done the very first yeere of his remoueall and of her Maiesty the 26. Anno 1584. This of the brethren was tearmed the wofull yeere of subscription but that they should so doe there was no cause vnlesse they are grieued that factious spirits and malecontented Ministers and Preachers were discouered and their erroneous and schismaticall opinions brought into light And surely neuer was their subscription hitherto by authority vrged in this land but diuers new fancies held yet for truthes not to bee doubted of among the brethren were thereby detected for Gods people to auoid as monsters neither hath our Church lost by imposing nor the aduersaries gained at the long runne by refusing Subscription 12. In the yeeres 71. and 72. when subscriptiom first was required the whole land will witnesse that many and sundry bookes aswell in Latine How basely the Brethren coÌ„ceiue of the doctrine by the Bishops agreed vpon and established by the Prince as English then and afterward flew abroad In which we read how then and in those dayes the truth of God did in a manner but peepe out as it were at the Screene that Cranmer Parker Grindall and all the other Martyrs Preachers and learned men which first in our age brought the light of the Gospell into this Realme did see a little and had a glimpse of the truth but ouersaw many things which in these dayes of the Sunshine of the Gospell men of meaner gifts doe see and yet may not vtter them without great danger of the Lawes through the iniquity of the times though the said things now seene be comprised in the Booke of God and also be a part of the Gospell yea the very Gospell it selfe so true are they and of such importance as if euery haire of our heads were a life say the Brethren we ought to afford them in defence of these matters the Articles of Religion penned and agreed vpon by the Bishops and Clergy and ratified by the Prince and Parliament in comparison of these things now reuealed and newly come to light are but Childish and toyes Thus write they as your grace best knoweth and I would haue quoted the places where they may be read had I either not written vnto your selfe or did write vnto a man vnacquainted with their bookes And had they here stayed their words had bin able without the more grace of God to haue moued the Parliament and all the people of this land as they have preuail'd but too much already with their too credulous Fauorites to thinke our Church for all the reformation wrought and Vniformity in doctrine established to be much awry and farre from the truth it should professe But setting downe as they haue done and publishing both what the truth is which now breaketh out and