new Waldenses and sometimes he calleth them German Waldenses To come unto the judgement of the Reformed Bishop Ridley sometime Bishop of London who suffered martyrdom Ann. 1555. giveth them this testimony Those Waldenses were men of far more learning godliness soberness and understanding of God's Word then I would have thought them to have been in that time before I did read their books if such things had been published in our English tongue heretofore I suppose surely great good might have come to Christ's Church thereby The Letters of Martyrs printed Ann. 1564. pag. 78. Hier. Zanchius doubteth not to say When Religion decayed in the East God established it in the valley of Angronia and Merindol Tom. 4. co 720. and having seen their confession he saith of it in an Epistle unto Crato I read attentively and diligently with much delight the confession of the Brethren Waldenses which thou sentest unto me for I saw not onely all the doctrine agreeable unto the holy Scriptures but I think also I see the sincere and truly Christian godliness of their hearts for they seem to have had this onely scope in their confession not to destroy all whatsoever is in the Church of Rome as the Arrians do but to edifie their Churches according to the true and Apostolical and so the saving rule of godliness casting away what should be cast away and retaining what is to be retained which is the right and lawful form of reformation Oh that we were all prone unto the same study after the example of these good Brethren George Abbot contra D. Hill in answer to the first reason sect 29. saith For this cause Bellarmin in praefa generali Controvers joyneth these together as Hereticks the Berengarians Petrobrusians Waldenses Albigenses Wiclenists Hussites Lutherans c. And Lewes Richcom another of that Society in his defence of the Mass against the Lord Plessis saith That the Ministers for confirming their figurative sense in This is my body have none for their Doctors their Ancients and their Fathers but Berengarius Zuinglius Calvin Carolstad Wicleff the Albigenses and the Waldenses The Waldenses then saith Abbot and Albigenses are ours by confession of our adversaries and of these were no small company for as du Haillan Hist lib. 12. in the life of Philip III. King of France speaketh being driven from Lions they withdrew themselves into Lombardie where they so multiplied that their doctrine was spread through Italy and came as far as Sicily As the same Author writeth Philippus Augustus came to his Kingdom An. 1180. which is now more then 400. years since and in his time it was that the Albigenses did so increase in France that the Pope and Princes were afraid of their number he who readeth the story of them shall see that they are reported to have held many gross wicked and absurd opinions mingled with their true doctrine but du Haillan the best and most judicious Chronicler of France and no partial witness on our behalf since his profession touching Religion was such that he was employed to write that story by Henry III. had not so little wit but that he perceived these imputations to be laid on them in odium and of purpose to procure their defamation see how wisely he speaketh truth and yet so toucheth it that his fellows might not justly be offended at his words Although saith he those Albigenses had evil opinions yet so it is that those did not stir up the hate of the Pope and of great Princes against them so much as their liberty of speech did wherewith they used to blame the vices and dissoluteness of these Princes and of the Clergy yea to tax the vices and actions of the Popes this was the principal point which brought them into universal hatred and which charged them with more evil opinions then they had So far Abbot from Haillan It cannot therefore be ignorance so much as perverseness of the Papists when they glory of the antiquity of their Religion without opposition and upbraid us with late original they cannot deny that our Religion is older then Luther and according to the testimony of the before-named Reynerius the doctrine of the Waldenses was even from the days of the Apostles And for clearing that which du Haillan saith concerning their taxing the vices of the Clergy I shall shew out of their Apology which the Waldenses of Bohem wrote unto their King Ladislaus about the year 1509. the occasion of their first separation from the Roman Church there they say We wish your Majesty knew for what cause we did long agone forsake that The occasion of their separation Roman crew truly the execrable wickedness of the Prelates by the instigation of the Divel whose work it is to sow discord and contentions among brethren compelled us to leave them for they through blinde malice and insolent pride of the power of darkness were deboaching one against another and dispised the laws of peace Ecclesiastical love and they being void of all humanity did rattle one against another publikely not only with scurvy words but reproachful contumelious writings and were shamelesly stirred up one against another like Atheists they forsook the power of Ecclesiastical keys wholesome truth religious worship gracious piety sound faith the gifts of the â—â—versaries so that albeit many have written against them yet their testimonies are contrary As for the first He sheweth from M. Freher in Bohem. rer Hist printed at Hanoue pag. 231. The Leonists are chaste and pag. 232. they eschew whatsoever things are filthy 2. In the same place Freher saith In their language they are sparing they eschew lyes swearing and all things that are filthy so that they did forbid all swearing in common talk or for light causes which was frequent in these days saith he there And Reynerius in Summa de Cathar Leonist printed at Paris An. 1548. saith They dispence with oaths for eschewing death Hence it appeareth they granted that in some cases an oath is lawful but in that he addeth for eschewing death it is but a misinterpretation as is clear by what we have heard from Aen. Silvius and Naucler that they held No deadly sin should be tolerated even for eschewing c. 3. The above-named History pag. 222. saith When an Heresiarch a Glover in Cheron was lead unto death he said Ye do well to condemn us now for if our estate were not born down we would do unto the Clerks and Monks as they do unto us 4. In pag. 232. it is said They believe all the Articles of the Creed but they say Ave Maria and the Creed are not prayers As for the fifth and ninth in the same page it is said They pray seven times a day an elder beginneth the prayer and maketh it long or short as he thinketh expedient and the rest follow him Whence it is clear that they used other prayers or were not tied to prescribed or stinted forms The sixth and
to measure unto others it shall be measured unto you that is as yee intend not only by tyranny to destroy our bodies but also by the same to hold our souls in the bondage of the devill and subiect to idolatry So shall wee with all force and power which God shall grant unto us execute just vengeance and punishment upon you yea wee shall begin the same war which God commanded Israel to execute against the Cananites that is contract of peace shall never be made till yee desist from your open idolatry and cruell persecution of Gods children And this wee signify unto you in the name of the eternall God and of his Sone Christ Jesus whose verity wee professe and Gospell wee have preached and holy Sacraments rightly ministred so long as God will assist us to gainstand your idolatry Take this for advertisement This advertisment did not stay them and their bands of souldiers with Mon. Dosell and his French men they came within ten myles unto the Town and brethren made hast from all quarters for its relieff The first that did hazard to resist were the Gentle men of Fife Anguise Merns and the burgesses of Dundy they made choise of a place of ground within a myle or more from the town The same day May 24 the Lord Ruthuen lest them and went to the Regent to the great discouragement of many but they did comfort themselves in God and some said The hope of victory is not in their own strength but in his power whose verity they professe The next day came the Earle of Argile L. James Priour of Santandrews and the Lo. Semple from the Queen to enquire the cause A parlee of their meeting there It was answered Only to resist the cruelty threatned against that poor town They ask Whether they intend to hold that town against the Regent They answer If the Queen will suffer the Religion there begun to proceed and not trouble the town that have professed with them the town themselves and whatsoever they have are at her Majesties commandement They say We were otherwise informed by the Queen that yee intend not Religion but a plain rebellion It was answered We have conveened for no other purpose but only to assist our brethren who now are unjustly persecuted and herefore we desire you to report our answer faithfully and to be intercessours that such cruelty be not used against us seing we have offered in our former Letters alsweell unto her Majesty as unto the Nobility that our cause may bet tried in lawfull judgement They do promise their fidelity The next day when these were returning John Knox said unto them Honourable Lords the present troubles should move the hearts not only of the true servants of God but also of all such as bear any favour unto the Country and naturall Country-men to descend within themselves and deeply to consider what shall be the end of this intended tyranny The rage of Satan seeks the destruction of all those who within the realme professe Christ Jesus and they that enflamme the Queen and you the Nobles against us regard not who prevail if they may abuse the world and live at their pleasure as they have done yea I fear that some seek nothing more than the effusion of Scots bloud to the end that their possessions may be the more patent unto others but because this is not the principall which I intend to speak omitting this to be considered by the wisdom of these to whom the care of the Commonwealth appertaines 1. I most humbly require of you my Lords in my name to say unto the Queen Regent that we whom she in her blind rage doth persecute are Gods servants faithfull and obedient subiects unto the Authority of this Realm and that religion which she pretends to maintain by fire and sword is not the true religion of Christ Jesus but is expressely contrary to the same a superstition devised by the brain of men which I offer myself to prove against all that within Scotland will maintain the contrary liberty of tongue being granted unto mee and Gods written word being admitted for Judge 2. I further require your Honours iâ— my name to say unto the Queen that as I have often written so now I say that this her enterprice shall not prosperously succeed in the end and albeit for a time She trouble the Saints of God for she fights not against man only but against the eternall God and his invincible verity and therefore the end shall be to her confusion unless betimes she repent and desist These things I require of you in the name of the eternall God as from my moâ—th to say unto Her Majesty adding that I have been and am a more assured friend unto her Ma. than they who either flattering her as servants to her corrupt appetites or else enflam her against us who seek nothing but Gods glory to be advanced vice to be suppressed and Verity to be maintained in this poore realme All the three Noble men did promise to report his words so well as they could They did so yea the L. Sempill though an enemy to the Reformation made such report that the Queen was offended at such liberty Immediatly She sent the Lion-herault to charge all men to avoide the town under pain of treason He did so May. 27. being sunday And the same day the Regent is informed that the Earle of Glencairn was marched through the hills with twelve hundred horsemen and moe foot men notwithstanding her men had stopped the passages of Forth Guide and Teith towards Perth Their coming was confortable unto the one party and moved the other to send and require some discreet men to come and speak with Duke Hamilton and Mon. Dosel lying with their army at Ouchterardor that some reasonable appointment might be had The Lairds of Dun Innerquharity and Abbots-hall were sent the town not as yet knowing of the West-countrie men The Duke and Dosell require that the town should be patent and all things be submitted unto the Queens pleasure They answer they had not such commission nor could they undertake in conscience to advise their brethren to do so but if the Queen would be pleased that none should be accused for change of religion or for casting down the places of the Friers and suffer the begun Religion to continue and leave the town free of French souldiers at her departing they would endeavoure that the Queen shall be obeied in all things Dosell perceiving that they could not by violence attain their designes dismisseth the gentle men which faire words and exhorts them to persuade their brethren unto submission They were all so glad that with one voice tâ—ey cried Cursed be they that seek effusion of bloud let us professe Christ Jesus and have the benefite of the Gospell and none of Scotland shall be more obedient subiects than we shall bee That day the Companies of the West came to Perth and all men
namely for Glasgow because it is lately erected and hath not such provision as other Uniuersities 6. That all daies which heretofore have been keept holy besids the Lords day to wit Jule-day Saints-dayes and such others be abolished and a civill penalty be appointed against the keepers hereof by ceremonies banketting playing and such other vanities 7. That all Ministers and Readers who by infirmity and age become unable may have their stipends enduring their life 8. That the Clerk of the assembly be answered of the ordinary stipend appointed before in respect of his labours multiplied by writing letters Gratis for use of Minsters c. Concerning the Question Whither Bishops as they are now in Scotland have their function from the Word of God or not And whitâ—er the Chapters that are appointed for creating them ought to be tolerated in this Reformed Church for better resolution heerof the Assembly appoints John Craig James Lowson and Andrew Melvin Principall of the Colledge of Glasgow on the one part and George Hay John Row and David Lindsay on the other part To conveen reason and conferre upon these questions and to report their judgement and opinion c. After two daies these make report viz They think it not fit to answer unto the first question presently but if any Bishop shal be chosen which hath not such qualities as the word of God ptescribes let him be tryed by the Generall assembly de novo and so let him be deposed But the points wheron they agree concerning the office of a Bishop or Superintendent are 1. The name of Bishop is common to all them that have any particular flock over which he hath a peculiar charge alswell to preach the word as to Minister the Sacraments and to execute ecclesiasticall discipline with consent of his Elders and this is his chief function by the word of God 2. Out of this number may be chosen some to have power to oversee and visite such reasonable bounds besides his own flock as the Generall Church shall appoint and in these bounds to appoint Ministers with consent of the Ministers of that Province and consent of the flock to whom they shall be appointed also to appoint Elders Deacons in every particular congregation where are none with consent of the people thereof and to suspend Ministers for a reasonable cause with consent of the Ministers foresaid 8. The Church hath power to cognosce decern upon heresies blasphemy witchcraft and violation of the Lords day Not prejudging the punishment of the Civill Magistrate 9. There is no law that when two persons have committed fornication nor promise alledged by the woman the man may be compelled by any particular Church at the suit of the woman or her parents to marry her or pay her dowry 10. Children begotten before marriage are lawfull children Note If wee compare what was done before in the assemblies this question concerning the Bishops was not a new motion made by Andrew meluin come lately from Geneua he had not power to command the meanest Minister and far less to overrule the Assembly The Church from the beginning of the Reformation did oppose that kind of Bishops and howbeit some of the Popish Bb. had embraced the Reformation yet had they not any power but according to commission and wee have heard how John Knox in his letter carried the office of Episcopacy under the name of tyranny and when the conclusions at Lieth were obtruded upon the Church thogh they did yeeld for a time yet that office was limited and in effect but the name remaining nevertheless the Assembly did protest against the very names and whatsoever power was yeelded unto Master Meluin said then The corruptions in the estate of Bishops are so great that unlesse the Bishops be removed it can not go weell with the Church nor can religion be preserved in purity But he said not â—o much as Beza had written before in the year 1572. and experience hath confirmed their words how far was these Nations gone in atheism if God of his mercy had not stopped them In that assembly were sixe Bishops besids Superintend yet none of them did oppose the sifting of the question nor the conclâ—sions 2. Howbeit in these conclusions they express not the negative because they would not plainly oppose the particulare interest of the Counsell seeking security of the possessions by the title of Bishops yet these affirmatives take away the pretended office and more followes XIII The Assembly conveenes at Edinburgh Aprile 25. in the year 1576. 1576. The XXX Assembly were present sixe Bb Superintendents c. John row is chosen Moderator 1. Plurality of Offices is obiected against Robert hamiltoun Minister at Santandrews the matter was long debated and concluded that in respect of that congregation two offices are incompatible in his person 2. Concerning the advice of the Brethren in the former Assembly concerning Bishops this assembly after long disputation upon every Article thereof doe resolutely approve and confirm that advice and every article thereof and for the better execution thereof the Assembly ordaines Bishops which have not as yet received the charge of a particulare congregation to declare the next day what particular flock they will take the charge of 3. Sixe Ministerâ— and the Superintendent of Anguise are appointed to visite the Colleâ—ges in the University of Santandrewes and consider the manner and estate thereof and make report unto the next Assembly 4. It is concluded that they may proceed against the unjust possessors of the patrimony of the Church in respect of the notorious scandall to wit by doctrine and admonition and if need be with other censure of the Church And the patrimony of the Church where upon the Ministry the Schools and the poor should be sustained is ex Jure Divino leaving further disputation of this matter untill May. 1. and then the description of the patrimony of the Church to be enquired and reasoning to be for full resolution of the question 5. Certain Brethren are appointed to make Overtures concerning the policy and jurisdicton of the Church some to conveen at Glasgow some in Edinburgh some in Santandrews and some in Montross upon the first tuisday of July and to make a generall meeting of two or one at least from every one of these four in Sterline the last of July To communicat and cognosce of all their travells and to conferre universally together and to report what they shall conceive in this matter unto the next Assembly which is appointed to be in Edinburgh October 24. or if a Parliament shall conveen the assembly ordaines the Ministers of Edinburgh to make intimation thereof unto the Bb. Superintendents and Commissioners of visitation that the Assembly may be conveened four daies before the Parliament and that the Barons or other Commissioners appointed by the Provinciall Assemblies be exhorted to be present It is to be observed that the wholl matter of jurisdiction was no committed
Amelphis John or Gregory VI. Because Satan could not openly persecute Christ by Pagans he craftily intends to subvert the name of Christ by a false Monk under shew of Religion but albeit God permit such things to be done our sins so deserving yet the time of recompense is at hand Catal. test ver li. 13. Many other Books were written against this Hildebrand there is named one in the German tongue written by Waltram Bishop of Niembergh as is thought the Author bewails the miseries of the Church and lewdness of Clerks then he addes Hence the Catholique faith is defiled hence that unrighteousness hath waxed so that instead of truth false testimonies and for common faith perjuries do abound since Laws are silent giving place to wars that saying of Hoseah is fulfilled There is no truth nor knowledge of God nor mercy in the land cursing and lyes murther and stealing have overflowed Behold some Bishops have joyned unto the faction of Hildebrand accounting more of him then of all the Catholique Church so it comes to pass that while the enemy so weth in the Lord's field the tares of many scandals that now in Bishopricks are no Sacraments of Christ and his Church which should be the work of the Bishops of God but execrations which are the works of the Servants of Satan who as Cyprian writes seeing Idols forsaken and his Temples left by the multitude of Believers hath devised a new craft under the name of a Christian he deceives the unwise and by Heresies and Schisms he overthrows the faith c. In another place he saith Now it appears Satan is loosed out of the pit seeing as it is written he is come forth to deceive the Nations Ia. Vsser de Eccles statu c. 5. hath the same The above-named Waltram in another place lamenteth That then a new sort of Bishops swelling in pride because of the gifts of Believers drew all things unto themselves under cloke of Religion and they were painted walls and hypocrites 12. When Gregory and Victor the two heads of that pernicious faction More opposition against that faction were gone the Bishops of Germany and France considering the calamities of the Church by that unhappy Schism thought good to meet at Garstung for debating their strife no more with swords but with reasonings so the Bishops of both factions conveen in January There Conrad Bishop of Utrecht had a long Oration to this purpose We are assembled prudent Fathers to establish peace which our Saviour at his departure did leave the temerity violence and pestiferous errors of those who are not ashamed to dispise that heavenly gift I wish I could cut in sunder with the two-edged sword and confute with the testimonies of the two Testaments according to Christ's command Who despiseth an Oath breaks covenant and keeps not promise dispiseth him by whom he hath sworn he offends him whose name the other party hath believed As I live saith the Lord the Oath that he hath dispised and the Covenant that he hath transgressed shall I bring upon his pate Shall he who hath transgressed his Covenant escape You must consider not so much unto whom as by whom thou hast sworn and he is more faithful who did believe thee swearing by the name of God then thou art who hatchest mischief against thy enemy or rather now thy friend and that by reason of divine Majesty We finde it commanded concerning Tiberius and Nero who were not onely most cruel Tyrants but most vile Monsters Give to Caesar what is Caesars and fear God and honor the King and not onely be obedient unto Princes who bear not the sword in vain even though they be evil but supplicate the most high God for them that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable life All power is of God and he who resists power resists the providence of God Therefore those are ambitious and presumptuous who dare with whorish faces misinterpret that saying of our Lord and God What ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven and what ye binde on earth shall be bound in heaven and force it to serve unto their own lust and indeavor to gull us as if we were children without all knowledge Our heavenly Teacher did open the hearts of his disciples to understand the Scriptures Moses the Prophets and the Psalms and he commanded them to preach in his name unto all the Nations repentance and forgiveness of sins and that they should be witnesses of those things Therefore Hildebrand was carried headlong into ambition when he usurped the power of the eternal God whose Messenger he should have been such are the times now such are the maners and such are the men The most high Majesty had provided but slenderly for the affairs of mortals if he had so intrusted the sword into the hand of any man Who could restrain the lust of men who could rule it truly the wisest is not sufficient for such a burthen We have not need that any should teach us in what maner Peter and his Colleagues did use their spiritual power or to speak more properly the dispensation and administration of God's stewardship for they were but stewards of the divine Oracles It is as clear as the light by the book which the Physitian Luke hath written of the Acts of Christ's Messengers the weapons of our warfare are spiritual and not iron nor robberies murthers killing of men nor perjuries and our helmet breast-plate girdle buckler and sword are peace love righteousness hope of salvation truth the word of God and faith These Divine Gifts our most Christian Emperor did often proffer most willingly unto Hildebrand but he refused to accept them c. The Papal party had chosen Gebhard Bishop of Salisburgh to speak in their name but when he heard this Oration he would not open his mouth to speak in the contrary Avent Annal. lib. 5. It was appointed at that time to assemble again in May at Mentz The Papal party did preveen the time and assembled at Quintelburgh now called Quedlinburgh in April there they wrested some words of Wezilo Bishop of Mentz and condemned him as an Arch-Heretique they called themselves the true Church and consented unto the election of Clemens III. The Synod at Mentz was very solemn there was the Emperor the Electors and many Dukes Peter Bishop of Portua and Legate of Clemens and many Bishops of France and Germany by common suffrage the faction of Hildebrand was condemned as contrary unto Christian piety and a Decree was published to this purpose All Christians should shun the company of those accursed persons whom we have named seeing they have made defection from us and not we from them they promised to be present at this Synod but they will not come they abuse Christian piety and leaving the sheep they run unto the enemies of the Republique they not onely exhort unto fire and sword but also are ring-leaders and Captains of the war What would
was this the Custom of Scotland onely to Govern the Church by common consent of Culdees or Presbyters which in Scripture are called Bishops see § 11. but in the primitive times it was the Custom every where For first They had an Ecclesiastial assembly which Origenes contra Celsum li. 3. calleth a Church Senate for when he compareth the Christian Churches at Corinth Athens and Alexandria with the multitude of other People there he addeth also If you compare the Church Senate unto the Senates of those Cities you shall finde some Senators of the Church worthy to govern any place any Commonwealth established by God but these Senators who now every where do govern have nothing excellent in their maners beyond the common multitude and in like maner if the Church-Magistrates be compared with the Political Magistrates c. And after eight pages he saith Christians do so much as they can first examine the minde of them which desire to be their hearers ere they receive them into their number they try them first privately and when they appear to have made such progress that they are desirous to live honestly then they bring them in by distinct degrees and some are appointed to watch over their lives and maners that if any of them do things unlawful they debar them from the Society and others they embrace heartily if they by dayly progress become better and how severe is our discipline against them which are faulty especially who are defiled with uncleanness our Church casteth them out of our Common-wealth and again when they repent we receive them no other way then as if they were raised from death but after a longer trial then when they were at first received to learn the Religion but upon this condition that because they have fallen they shall thereafter be uncapable of all Dignities and Church-Magistracy So far Origen Hence we see the primitive Churches had their Judicatories and their Rulers and how they did censure the scandalous persons Secondly Who were these Rulers Ambrose teacheth on 1 Tim. 5. saying Among all Nations old age is honorable whence the Synagogue and then the Church had their Elders without whose Counsel nothing was done in the Church which form by what negligence it hath failed I know not unless by the laziness or rather the pride of Teachers while they onely will seem to be something Therefore the Rulers of the Church were not onely Teachers but with them were Elders which were not Teachers and these were out of use in Italy before the days of Ambrose about the year 400. But see whether they were in the days of Cyprian who lived about the year 250. In lib. 3. epist 10. he directeth it unto the Presbyters and Deacons in the beginning he lamenteth that many of the Presbyters were dispersed in time of the persecution and near the end he saith I am sorry when I hear that some walk disorderly and wickedly and jarring with discord even the members of Christ which have openly confessed Christ to be defiled with unlawful lust nor can be governed by the Deacons and Presbyters or Elders that by the bad maners of some few the honest credit of many and good confessors is stained they should fear lest being condemned by their own testimony and judgement they be deprived of the Society of the godly for he is a true and famous confessor of whom the Church afterwards hath not cause to be ashamed but to rejoyce As for that particular which our Com-Presbyters Donate Novate and Curdius have written unto me I being alone can write nothing seeing from the begining of my Episcopacy I have resolved to do nothing by my private judgment for sentence without your counsel and without consent of the people but when by the grace of God I shall come unto you then as common honor requires we shall together treat of these things which are done or are to be done Hence it is clear that though Cyprian was a renowned Bishop yet he never did any thing in point of government by himself or without counsel of Elders and Deacons and without consent of the Church no not to give advice in that that they did require of him and these Elders and Deacons did rule and censure when he was absent and he was sory that the people did not obey their Sentence Whatsoever exception may be taken against the word Presbyter certainly Deacons had place in giving Counsel and the Bishop had not the sole power of Censure This is put out of doubt in the life of Augustine when c. 4. Possidonius Arch-Bishop at the same time shews that he was chosen one of the Presbyters for ruling the Church of Hippon and then c. 5. the Bishop Valerius having experience of Augustin's gifts gave him power to preach and saith Possedo this was contrary to the use and custom of the Affrican Churches and therefore other Bishops did revile him that he had given an Elder leave to preach but the good man was content that the people were instructed seeing he could not deliver his mind so freely as Augustine could because he was a Greek and he knew that the Eastern Churches had that custom at that time Behold a Church with one Bishop no Elders and the Bishop was the only Preacher and Augustine was the first Preaching Elder in the Affrican Churches 3. That the Bishops had not the whole power it is clear as the light if we will believe the writings of the Ancients as is easie to be shewed by many testimonies I will name but a few Basilius surnamed the Great about the year 380 in Moral summ 71. c. 1. expounds the texts 1. Tim. 3. and Tit. 1. Conjuctly of Bishops and Presbyters as having the same office Sedulius when Hen. Oraeus in Nomenclator calleth Presbyter Scotus about the year 440 on Tit. 1. saith Before that factions by instinct of the Devil were in Religion and it was said among the people I am Paul's and I am Apollo's the Churches were governed by the common counsel of the Presbyters then he brings testimonies of Scripture proving as he concludes that among the Ancients was no difference twixt Bishops and Presbyters To the same purpose writes Ierom. on Tit. 1. At greater length and concludes thus let Presbyters know that by custom of the Church they are subject unto him who is their Prelate and let Bishops know that by custom rather then by the Lords appointment they are greater then Presbyters that the Church should be governed in community in Epist ad Evan. 1. he saith Whereas one was chosen to preside among others it was done in remedie of Schism lest each one drawing the Church unto himself it were rent asunder for in Alexandria from Mark the Evangelist unto Heraclas Dionisius Bishops these were in the daies of Ierome the Presbyters do alwaies chuse one of themselves call him Bishop when he is set in a higher degree for except ordination what doth a
the Greek Emperor and the Pope embraced him for his homage albeit neither he nor his people were conformable in Religion Naucler saith Lucius ordained That a Priest having a concubine might say Mass and others might receive a Sacrament from him if his Bishop did tolerate him He sate four years and died An. 1185. 14. URBAN III. had peace at home but in his time Saladin conquered Jerusalem by dissension of the Christian Princes there He sate one year and ten moneths 15. GREGORY IX called the VIII by Letters exhorted the Princes to send aid unto the distressed Christians in Asia and died on the 57. day 16. CLEMENS III. condescended unto the Romans concerning their Magistrates that strife had continued fifty years In his time was the greatest expedition into Asia then went the Emperor Frederick Philip King of France Richard King of England Otho Duke of Burgundy with many Bishops from Italy Flanders Denmark c. but all in vain for after the death of Frederick when they should have been supplied with victuals Clemens was busie in conquering Sicily from Tancred who had furnished them Platina He spoiled sundry Cities and when he despairing of victory turned to Church affairs he ordained That onely a Pope hath power of transporting a Bishop from one seat to another that Bishops should be in honor above Princes He sent Peter Cardinal of Capua into Poland to reform the Clergy to wit to discharge all married Priests for until that time that liberty was not taken from them The same Cardinal attempted to do the like in Bohemia but they had almost killed him An. 1196. Spalat de Rep. Eccles lib. 2. cap. 10. § 47. He went also into Denmark but the Clergy would not obey him so he did excommunicate them all Clemens sate five years 17. CELESTIN IV. gave the Romans liberty to raze Tusculo because that City in a kinde of emulation had been offensive unto Rome yet gave he the people license to abide in the suburbs Now with Tancred and then with Henry VI. he had continual wars and died An. 1198. In that Century the strange pride of the Popes was apparent and it was strongly opposed by the Emperors and manifestly manifested unto the world even by themselves one condemning another in open Councels and ye shall anon see it contradicted and bewailed by some Bishops Abbots and others CHAP. III. Of divers Countreys 1. MAny and fearful signs were seen in the beginning of this Century bloody Armies appeared in the air two Suns were seen in heaven the Stars seemed to fall as thick as rain many Comets were seen one of them was marvellous in bigness continuing in the evening the space of eighteen days and with great light A marvellous earthquake is reported to have been in the year 1117. so that Churches and Towns fell to the ground in Italy and other Nations the sea in some places overflowed 1000. paces Platin. 2. Fluentius Bishop of Florence preached that these signs did portend great miseries and that Antichrist was then reigning in the world Platina saith Paschalis was not fearful and said All these things have natural causes but he would not let Fluentius pass without a censure he conveened a Councel of 340. Bishops at Florence and made a shew of dispising him as a broacher of new opinions and enjoyned him silence Bellarmin de Ro. Pont. lib. 3. cap. 3. 3. Arnulph a singular preacher of Christian Religion in a Sermon at Rome reproved the dissolute wantonness incontinency avarice negligence and immoderate pride of the Clergy he said they should follow Christ and his Apostles in purity of life Many Nobles did reverence him as a true disciple of Christ saith Platina in Honor. II. Others write no less of him Naucler calleth him Bishop of Lions In the second Tome of Councels is a Book under his name where he complaineth of the multitude of holy days as the occasions of many vices namely incontinency he complaineth of curious singing in learning whereof much precious time was spent which might be better employed of the multitude of idle Monks and Nuns of the corrupt promotion and negligence of Prelats of the lascivious apparel in the families of Bishops of their non-residence at their Churches of the negligence of the Clergy in not perusing and observing the Acts of ancient Councels of the unchaste lives of Priests c. P. Mornay in Myster ex Chro. Hirsaug sheweth that this Arnulph said He was sent by an Angel to preach at Rome and the Angel told him that he was to glorifie God in suffering for his cause and therefore he said publikely I know that ye will kill me but wherefore because I tell you the truth and rebuke your pride covetousness and luxury I call heaven and earth to record that I have told ye what God hath commanded me but ye contemn me or rather your Creator Neither is it a marvel that ye will kill me a sinner for telling you the truth seeing if Peter would rise again and tell you of your faults ye would not spare him I am ready to die for the truth and I tell you in the name of the Lord that the Almighty God shall not spare your filthiness ye shall go into hell God is a revenger of such wickedness c. The people loved him dearly but the Clergy laid wait for him and murthered him in the night All the Clergy was defamed for his death The Pope took it ill but he revenged it not Platin. 4. Paschalis II. sent a Palle unto the Bishop of Panormitan in Sicily and craved of him an oath of fidelity both the Bishop and the King Roger was offended and said It is a new usurpation for it was never decreed in any Synod that Bishops should be tied unto the Pope by an oath Catal. test ver lib. 15. 5. Moses a Jew was baptized on the feast of Peter and Paul from that feast he would be called Peter and because Alfonso King of Spain answered for him at his baptism he was called Petrus Alfonsus in the 44. year of his age In a book against the Jews he saith All the sacrifices of the Law are fulfilled in the sacrifice of Christ once offered on the Cross after his death the Church useth no sacrifice but one of thanksgiving in bread and wine as David had prophesied when he sang Will I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats offer unto God the sacrifice of praise where he intimateth that all sacrifices should be abolished and onely this of thanksgiving should continue There also he saith Christians have no images for adoration and as no account was made of the stones whereof the altar had been made so we make no reckoning what become of the reliques of the cross or of any image that had been set upon it Catal. test lib. 14. 6. Hildebert Bishop of Towers about the same time wrote many Epistles in one unto an Earl going a pilgrimage he condemneth pilgrimages for visiting
new named Peter Abbot of Cluniac wrote against him and imputeth these as errors unto him 1. Altars should be broken down 2. Sacrifices for the dead are foolishness and impieties 3. Priests and Monks should have wives rather then burn in filthiness and whoredom 4. Crosses should not be worshipped and should be removed as superstitious 5. Churches should not be so sumptuous but seeing they are not necessary should rather be cast down 6. God is but mocked with the songs that Monks and Priests do chant in the Churches 7. The forbidding of meats on certain days is but superstitious 8. We should believe onely the Canonical Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers have not the like Authority Albeit this Abbot did write bitterly against him and imputed other things unto him yet he sheweth not obscurely that wrong was done unto him and he saith Because it is not manifest unto me that he thinketh or preacheth so I will suspend my answer until I shall finde undoubted certainly I should not rashly assent unto that deceitful monster of report Ex lib. 1. Ep. 1 2. He began to preach about the year 1126. After him his disciple Henry a Monk continued preaching the same doctrine Guilerm an Abbot writing the life of Bernard lib. 3. cap 5. saith of this Henry He denied the grace of baptism unto infants he dispised the prayers and oblations for the dead the excommunications of Priests the pilgrimages of believers the sumptuous buildings of Churches the idleness of festival days the consectation of chrisme and oyl and all the Ordinances of the Church He sheweth there that the people sent for Bernard to come against him but he refused until Albericus Bishop of Ostia was sent Legate against him and he perswadeth Bernard to go with him unto Tolouse And then Bernard wrote his 240. Epistle unto Hildefonsus Count of S. Giles against this Henry and complaineth that by that mans preaching Churches were without people people without Priests Priests without reverence and Christians without Christ the Churches were accounted Synagogues Sacraments not holy things and holy days wanted solemnities men died in their sins without penance nor guarded with the holy communion He writeth against his life and calleth him an apostate because being a Monk he had returned to the lusts of the flesh as a dog to his vomit and a player at dice. It is certain as the proverb is Bernard saw not all things and howbeit he writ bitterly against him yet he commendeth him as a learned man and calleth him a wolf under a sheeps fleece he had then the shew of godliness yea and he was so reverenced that the people did follow him and though the man might be truly so blotted in his life yet we see that some errors were taxed by him and he was allowed and followed by the people for taxing these errors Debruis was burnt at Tolouse and Albericus carried Henry into Italy Their books were burnt that we can finde nothing of them but by the hands of their adversaries who may be thought to have dealt with them as the Heathens and Jews dealt with the Primitive Church that is bely them 17. Potho a Priest of Prumia wrote De statu domus Dei where are these passages Lib. 1. Liberty of will is lost and we are brought into captivity Lib. 2. With us is but one word to wit the word which was made flesh and one sacrifice which was once offered by the Mediator of the New Testament and doth make perfect for ever them who are sanctified Lib. 3. The holy Church is built on a rock and continueth in all adversities with immoveable certainty And after he hath largely rebuked the hypocrisie ambition and avarice of the Clergy he concludeth saying Seeing ambition reigneth in them how can they adorn the profession of Christ by word or works Catal. test ver lib. 14. 18. The poor men of Lions began a new Sect of Monkery as Bellarmin Of the Waldenses speaketh De Monach. cap. 4. and went to Rome to have their Religion confirmed by Pope Alexander III. but because it was mixed with sundry Heresies as he speaketh they were rejected and their Religion was condemned The History of these men is worthy of knowledge as many have written against them and others for them About the year 1150. was a rich Merchant at Lions of good reputation for wealth and prudence Peter Waldius or Waldensis so surnamed from Waldy a Village in the East borders of France afterwards called Vandra It happened on a day when the elder men of Lions were assembled that one fell down and died suddenly this spectacle gave occasion unto this Peter of thinking upon the frailty of this life and the vanity of mens cares for so brittle a thing wherefore he resolveth to be more mindeful of that eternal life First to this end he purchaseth a Bible which in those days was not forbidden yet very rare in the hands of either Laicks or Clergy and like the man desirous to buy the jewel he spent the rest of his days in seeking the water of life that which he learned he imparted it unto his family and catechised them His maner of instructing was so familiar and effectual that sundry of his neighbors were desirous to hear him he was no less willing to teach them and informed them not of private fantasies but expounded the holy Scriptures and translated some parts thereof into the French Language Ia. Thuan. ad Ann. 1550. The Priests were offended and like dogs who neither can eat hay nor suffer the oxen to eat they charged him to leave such work and put not his hand into their harvest unless he will bring worse upon himself The man cared more for conscience then their menaces and followed his course nor did the people abstain from his company Some made better progress with him then they had done before and became his colleagues in teaching others Wherefore John Arch-Bishop of Lions excommunicated him and all his followers and did confiscate all their goods So after five years they were scattered some seeking place of residence in one Countrey and some in another Wheresoever they went they purchased the praise of good conversation and by way of pity were called the poor men of Lions as indeed they were deprived of their goods and not professors of poverty as our adversaries speak of them They were also called Leonistae from the same City which by some is called Leon and they were called Insabbatati or Inzabbatati not because they kept not the holy days nor because they followed the Jewish Sabbath but from Zabata or Zabati which is an up-land shoe as Ia. Vsser de Eccles statu cap. 6. sheweth from Nic. Eimeric in par 2. direct Inquisit because upon their shoe they had a certain sign whereby they knew one another Afterwards other names were given unto them from the places of their abode as Tolosani Albigenses Caprarienses c. and from their Teachers they were
the beloved children of their Mother the Church they have made a book not of instruction but derogation not admonishing but biting and because the book is a seminary of great scandal and hath bred much trouble and dammage to souls and hath hindred believers from former devotion and their wonted giving of alms and from entering into that Religion therefore that book which beareth the title Tractatus brevis de periculis novissimorum temporum we condemn as wicked and execrable commanding that whosoever shall have that book he shall burn it within eight days after sight of this our Sentence and pronouncing the sentence of excommunication against all that shall dispise this our command c. That book was burnt quickly at Anagnia 15. Hugo Barchinonensis Cardinal S. Sabinae wrote many books at that time In his preface before Joshua he reckoneth the Canonical Books as they be in the Hebrew and Greek Testaments among the Apocrypha he putteth Ecclesiasticus Wisdom Maccabees Judith because saith he they are doubtful On the Prologue of Jerome before the books of the Kings he saith The Church receiveth the Apocrypha books not for proof of faith but instruction of maners Here it may be marked that as yet yea and until the Councel of Trent the books of Maccabees and such others were not accounted Canonical as also witnesseth Pererius in Daniel lib. 16. and others whom I have named elsewhere As for the 47. Canon of the third Councel at Carthage from which Bellarm. de verbo Dei lib. 1. would derive the Authority of the Divine Canon Baronius ad An. 397. testifieth It was not a Canon of that Synod so saith Binius Annotat. in Conc. Carthag 3. I return to Hugo on Psal 77. he saith Many Clerks are the geâ—eration of vipers they persecute their Mother the Church and so far as they can they slay Christ their Father On Matth. 16. Upon this rock i. e. upon this foundation and that rock is Christ 1 Cor. 10. none can lay another foundation but that which is laid even Christ Jesus On 2 Tim. 3. All Scripture that is the holy Scripture which containeth all things necessary unto salvation is perfect therefore it hath the priviledge to be called The Scripture by an antonomasia Catalog test ver lib. 16. Pope Alexander deposed him Naucler gener 42. 16. Humbert de Romania fifth General of the Dominicans about the year 1250. wrote a book De ratione tollendi schisma inter Graecos Latinos In par 2. cap. 11. he saith The cause of the Schism was the intolerable burthens of Popes in exactions excommunications and statutes Catalog test ibid. 17. Pope Honorius the IV. sent John Bishop of Tusculo into Germany Germany against the Pope to exact from all Bishops Priests and Abbots the fourth part of all their substance for five years unto the maintenance of his Soldiers against Peter King of Aragon For this cause a frequent Assembly conveened at Wirtzburgh the Emperor Rodulph came there When the petition was propounded the Elector of Colein refusing did appeal unto a general Councel when he was alledging his reasons the Legate interrupted and threatened him with the Pope's curse Then all the Priests and Monks scoffed at the Legate and began to buffet him that if the Legate had not commanded his Marshal to convey him away he had not escaped with his life Then Probus Bishop of Tull. said How long most dear Colleagues shall those vultures of Romulus abuse our patience I will not say our foolishness how long shall we endure their wickedness avarice pride and luxury this most wicked sort of Masters of Synagogues will not cease till they bring us all into poverty and wretched slavery By our jars this malady waxeth by our differences these rogues are safe so long as they command we shall never have peace nor piety Lately they raised the Saxons and Suevians one against the other those instruments of Satan or Antichrists have sown the seeds of discord in Germany When Conradin a yong man of very good hope was seeking according to the Law of nature the inheritance of his Fathers they circumvented him with fraud and killed him most cruelly He rehearseth many such tricks done by the Popes then he saith As twelve years ago Gregory the X. dealt with the tenths the same will Honorius the IV. do with the fourths That he might strip us of our gold he armed the Turks against us and this Pope is more desirous of tribute then of our welfare Those Satans speak of light and intend darkness to deceive the people and that they regard not Christ our Lord and God their aims and works unless we be blinde do prove the issue sheweth and the holy Scriptures describeth Wherefore Fathers devoted to Christ awaken provide against these calamities I am not ignorant what this Tusculan is I know the man he is gold thirsty a false usurer a vile slave of money I fear not his menaces I appeal unto the Senate of Christendom c. All the Assembly approved what he had said and nothing was done for the Pope Wherefore Probus was accursed at Rome but in the greater estimation at home and with all good men Ph. Mornay in Myster ex Aventin lib. 7. 18. Nicolaus de Biberach General of the Carmelites lived about the Against the Carmelites year 1270. he bewailed with tears the corrupt estate of his Order Whereas in the wilderness they did attend constantly on prayer reading and handy works now said he since they dwell in Cities under their mother hypocrisie their study is ease idleness lust and luxury When he had bestowed his time five years in that charge and with grief saw no amendment he wrote a book against them which he called Ignea sagitta and returned into a Desart about the mount Ewatrof In that book he calleth them step-sons reprobates cauterised vagabonds pratlers unhappy counsellors wicked discoursers Citizens of Sodom despisers of the best Testament the tail of the dragon drawing down the third part of the stars from heaven and casting them on the earth Revel 12. In chap. 5. he saith Tell me what new religion is this in your Cities from morning until even ye run two and two thorow the streets and he is your leader which goeth about roaring and seeking whom he may devour and so that prophesie The wicked walk in a compass is most true of you for the chief purpose of your gading is not to visit the fatherless but yong women not widows in heaviness but wanton maids Nuns and Mistresses and each cast their eyes on another and words of lustfulness corrupting good maners enflaming the hearts c. That is not pure religion Wo is me my dear friends seeing ye are wrapped in the clay of the world why think ye that ye are not defiled I. Bale Cent. 4. § 42. in Appe 2. In another Treatise that he calleth Occultus he writeth that he had been at Rome and had seen their feigned
bereave a pupil a rare example The Bohemians then sent unto the Emperor intreating him to undertake the Government during the minority of his pupil He said he could not because of the difficulty of his other affairs and he advised them to chuse Governors among themselves The Orators by their own motion proffer the Crown unto himself He said That were unrighteousness especially in the person of a Tutor So they did chuse Governors some of the Romish Religion and some contrarily minded These did agree upon a toleration in matters of Religion Aen. Sylv. cap. 57 58. Frederick wrote a Letter unto Charls King of France shewing his earnest desire to cure the malady and schism of the Church and this cannot be without a meeting of Princes and chief men of Ecclesiastical and Civil Estates and therefore as he by advice of his Prelates and Princes had appointed a Diet at Mentz February 2. following so he intreated with sincere affection that his Brotherhood for the glory of God and comfort of the Church would send Commissioners to treat advise and conclude in things of that kinde belonging to the benefit of all Christian people but if his Brotherhood would be pleased to come personally it were most glorious and would bring forth the more copious fruit The Letter is dated at Vienne May 1. An. 1441. Regni 1. In Fascic rer expetend fol. 160. That Diet was held as followeth in the next Chapter He ceased not until he removed the schism between the Popes and then was crowned by Pope Nicolaus who also did celebrate the marriage between the Emperor and Elenora Daughter of the King of Portugal An. 1452. He was joyfully received in all the Cities wheresoever he came because none did fear him and he went without shew of hostility or great power saith Crantz in Saxo. lib. 11. cap. 32. and there was universal peace in Italy so long as he was there but when he left it peace took her leave For in Lombardy Naples and other parts they returned to their wonted ambition and tumults The Bohemians also fell at variance and forced the Emperor to quit the tuition of their King And the Emperor was molested by his Brother in Austria until his Brother died Constantine Paleologus was molested by his elder Brother Theodor for a space yet prevailed After the battel of the Hungarians at Varna An. 1444. where Vladislaus and Cardinal Julian were slain Constantine went to Peloponnesus to resist Amurathes but lost it Then Scanderbeg left his office of Janizar and took upon him the Government of his Father's Kingdom Epirus for Amurathes had taken him from his Father and promised to give him his Father's inheritance Upon this hope the young Prince abode with the Turk and did him good service but when his Father John Castriot was dead and the Turk oppressed that Countrey and sought-occasion to kill him his native Countrey and he had their correspondence and he escaped from the Turk's Court Then he fought sundry battels against the Turk and was victorious At last Amurathes amassed a great Army against him which he was not able to resist by all likelihood if the valiant Prince of Transylvania John Hunniades had not come unto him with a new Army at that time they were both foiled yet the Princes escaped howbeit hardly and the next year Amurathes died in drunkenness Lao. Chalcocon lib. 6. In the year 1453. Mahumet the next Emperor of the Turks razed Athens for envy of learning there then he besieged Constantinople The Emperour Constantine had no assistance from Christians partly for troubles among themselves and partly for the ambition of the Pope who was offended with the Greeks for not submitting unto him nor did the Greeks esteem of their Emperour because he vexed them with grievous taxes So that City was lost Iune 28. and the fiftieth day of the siege Constantine was slain and such cruelties were committed as the like hath been scarcely written The same day Galatia was rendered unto Mahumet Christians were sorry for these losses but private interests hindred them from attempting a recovery In the year 1456. Mahumet entred into Hungary then the renowned John Hunniades with the aid of the Emperour went against him with such happy success as it pleased God that the Turks were overthrown at Belgrad Mahumet was wounded and Hunniades got all his Artillery and Baggage August 6. All Christendom rejoyced at that victory with bone-fires as being themselves delivered from the fear of such an enemy Then the Turks went against the Islands of Archipelagus and the valiant Hunniades died in September next but Hungary had peace Frederick set his minde to establish peace in Germany and suffered much for preventing eminent evils Crantz loc cit saith His patience was useful for the time and it was deemed to be his wisdom Many did lament several abuses in the Church and Commonwealth they said his answer was The time of Reformation is not come as yet nor did it come in his days and it is not known when it shall come saith Crantz In this place the watching providence is to be remembred Ladislaus intended by a plot from Rome as it was reported saith Aen. Sylv. cap. 71. to make an end of all the Hussites at once in this manner He was to marry a Daughter of France the marriage should have been solemnized in Prague where many Princes and Prelates were to assemble from Germany and France besides Cardinals Potentates and others from Rome who if they had gathered might have done as they had projected When this marriage was in preparation and the Princes ready to take journey Ladislaus died after he had been tied to his bed 36. hours not without suspition of poison in the 20. year of his age So Bohemia was delivered from that intended massacre and two Kingdoms were vacant many pretended right to the Crown of Bohemia and the Kings of France and Poland were suitors When all their claims and suits were heard they preferring the good of the Kingdom declared George Pogiobratz their King ripe in judgement and a good Warriour Matthias the Son of John Hunniades was then a prisoner and Ladislaus had caused to bring him from Hungary to Bohemia to be executed there but when the King was dead the Bohemians had nothing to lay unto his charge and they dismissed him before he entered into Hungary the Hungarians proclaimed him their King thou wilt admire who readest this saith Naucler of these two young Princes the one is carried from his throne when he thinketh to be married to his grave and the other from prison when he feareth to be beheaded to a throne a suddain and strange change But Matthias lived not long and unto him succeeded Vladislaus the Sisters Son of Ladislaus and married the Widow of Matthias The Emperor strove then for the Kingdom after a battel these two covenanted that if Vladislaus and his line should fall Maximilian the Son of Frederick should succeed Vladislaus had one Son
Christ that one and the same work of Indulgence shall have vertue sometimes for six years sometimes for seven sometimes for seven hundred sometimes for seven thousand and sometimes full and absolute Then answering unto that position The Church is ruled by the Spirit of God he saith It is true in so far as the Church is holy but not in these particulars whereof she is ignorant and in which she erreth as alas we lament that she erreth grievously as appears by the unsavoury salt the delated Husband-man and the unfaithfull Steward whom Bernard expoundeth to be Mercenaries in place of Shepheards yea and Wolves for hirelings and Devils for Wolves In his Book De subditis superioribus he averreth That the Pope may err and when he erreth he should be resisted Pius the II. did usurp all the Kingdoms of the earth and Sixtus the IV. dispensed with all maner of oaths in causes temporal not only that were already made but that shall be made which is nothing else but to give unto men licence to forswear themselves and deceive others Because the Pope and his Cardinals are contrary unto Christ they are the Antichrist John Ostendorp a Canon of St. Levin in Daventry went once to visit him and Wesselus said unto him O diligent youth thou shalt live until that time when the doctrine of these late Divines and contentious School-men shall be forsaken Wesselus died in the year 1490. and Ostendorp lived until the year 1520. Gerhard Gelderhavrius writeth that he heard his Master Ostendorp report this Prophesie Ja. Triglandius in his Church History against â—tenboga par 3. writeth of him that when Pope Sixtus the IV. was chosen Wesselus went to visit him because he had been his good friend in Paris The Pope bade him ask what he would and it should not be denied unto him He answered I wish that since now you are universal Pope you would demean your self in your office according to your name that in due time you may hear that approbation Come thou good and faithful Servant enter into thy Master's joy The Pope said Why seekest thou not somewhat for thy self He said I crave no more but an Hebrew and Greek Bible out of the Vatican The Pope answered That you shall have but fool thou mightest have sought a Bishoprick or some such thing Wesselus answered Because I have not need of so great things When he died some Friers burnt all his books and papers but he had given sundry books unto others which were collected and printed at Wittemberg in the year 1522. When Luther saw them he spake of the Prophet Elias who thought that he was left alone and yet the Lord had preserved seven thousand that had hot bowed the knee to Baal so said he hath God preserved many thousands from the Idolatry of the Pope And he wrote of him as followeth There is one Wesselus come forth whom they call Basilius a Friselander of Groning a man of wonderful understanding and of an excellent spirit who hath been taught of God as Isaiah hath prophesied of Christians for it cannot be thought or said that he hath learned such things from men as neither I have If I had read those books before mine enemies might have said Luther hath taken all this out of Wesselus we do so agree But by these my joy and courage increaseth and I doubt not but I have learned the truth since he and I do agree in so constant unity and almost in the same words although differing in place and time and occasions And I admire by what mishap it is come that so Christian works were not published by another 37. Among the lights of that time Rodulph Agricola may justly be reckoned he was born in Friseland Ph. Melanchthon writing his life saith Josquin Groningensis had reported unto him that when he was young he heard Vesselus and Agricola often lamenting in their Sermons the darkness of the Church the abuses of the Mass the single life of Priests and that they both taught that men are not justified by works but by faith as Paul oft teacheth and they condemned the multitude of traditions He died An. 1489. Buxtorf Ind. 38. Paul Scriptor teaching on Scotus in Tubing when he came to the fourth Book Dist 10. did speak against transubstantiation and said All things should be tried by the Word of God as a true touch-stone all Scholastical teaching shall shortly be abolished and the doctrine of the primitive Church shall be restored according to the holy Scriptures Conradine Pelicanus was his Auditor and testifieth that he heard him reprove many errors and abuses of the Roman Church therefore the Minorites caused him to be banished and as Rud. Gualter in his Epistle before his Homiles on Matthew testifieth he was put to death as many did suspect being not moved with uncertain conjectures He died at Keiserberg in the year 1499. 39. Nicolaus Rus a Batchelor of Divinity preached at Rome and wrote The Pope hath not such power as is commonly believed the Pope should not be heard when he strayeth from the Scripture his Indulgences are but fraud those only are true pardons which God giveth of his free grace in Christ Saints should not be adored and far less their bones they who are called the Spiritualty to wit the Roman Clergy have packed up all Religion in mens traditions and vain superstitions and they are careless of their office and are Ministers of Antichrist These things are written in his Threefold Cord where he expoundeth the Lord's Prayer the Creed and the ten Commandments which he wrote in the Saxon Languauge that the common people might understand he left Rome and abode there and had many Auditors The Pastors of the Waldenses in Bohemia came and visited him At last he was forced to flee into Liveland where he died 40. Jerome Savonorola a Dominican in Florence taught these Articles 1. Men are justified freely by faith 2. The Communion should be administred in both kindes 3. The Pope's Indulgences are frivolous 4. The keys were given unto the Church and not to Peter alone 5. The Pope hath not from Christ any primacy above other Bishops 6. The Pope followeth neither the life nor doctrine of Christ and therefore he is the Antichrist 7. He who feareth the Pope's excommunication is excommunicated of God 8. He preached against the vices of the Clergy Io. Fox in Act. Mon. Philip Cominaeus did confer with him and testifieth that he was a man of most upright life He foretold that God would raise up a King to punish the Tyrants of Italy and that God would shortly reform the Church therefore some did hâ—te him and some believed him namely the Senate of Florence was perswaded by his preaching to give way unto Charls the VIII King of France When the league was made in Italy against the French he foretold that Charls should return in safety of his person maugre all the power of his adversaries Charls returning from Naples sent for
doctrine and in the end he saith the Holy Scriptures of both Testaments are to be revised and corrected according to the antient Copies of the first Originals that they may be purged from the errours which have crept-in by the carelesness of Writers or default of times Solemn ceremonies concerning which some broils have been antiently are to be brought into some allouwable order and true histories are to be distinguished from Apocryphe fables c. Orat. Io. Pici in Concil Lateran ex Fascic rer expetend 12. Jacobus Faber Stapulensis had then renown for his learning and knowledge in all sciences especially in Divinity Aventinus had been his disciple and testifieth that he heard him and Clichtoveus say sixe hundred times that Lombard had troubled the most clear fountain of Divine philosophy with the durt of questions and pudlle of opinions He wrote Commentaries on the Psalmes Ecclesiastes on the four Evangels and the epistes of Paul His works began to be printed An. 1508 and as Jo. Sleidan writes he suffered many grievous persecutions by the Masters of Paris but the King by his missives from Spain exhorted them to spare him What was his belief in many articles now in controversy may be guessed by this that the Authors of the Belgick Jndex Expurgatorius have filled 18 pages with the catalogue of passages which they have ordained to be blotted out of his books as out of his Comm. on Mathew they blot out these words By faith in Christ only wee look for salvation The righteousness of works is a Pharisaicall doctrine Let none say Peter was that rocke And on Luke The grace ofsalvation is due not to works but of the goodnes of God only In very deed not priests but God doth cleanse yet they are witnesses All prayer and adoration belongs unto Him alone And on Iohn This faith can not bee without love He fell down and worshipped which is a duty to be done unto God only and the duty of him which confesseth that the Son of God is God All the Saints are nothing if the question be of true worship Yee believe in God believe also in mee Or els he is but an infidell albeit he think that he believes But the Authors of the Spanish Index have made a shorter cut they order to destroy all the Commentary on John because it can not be wel amended say they 13. William Budaeus was Secretary to Francis I King of France in his fifth book de Asse which was printed An. 1513. he describes the estate of the Church at that time saying The clergy are worse than the worst of the people in all kind of vice and wantonness prelats are ignorant and enemies of learning having no respect to the salvation of souls but rather thrusting them down to hell by their false teaching or wicked example He saw how they sought to abolish the Pragmatica Sanctio and therefore when he hath shewed that the riches of the present times are not comparable unto the former times he addeth except one sort of men who indeed should not have been excepted these are the priests whom now we behold to be the only rich men almost next unto Kings And when he had spoken a little satyrically of them he addeth Whence hast thou o France that liberty to be called most Christian if as by religion thou didst deserve that honourable name so by the same religion thou endevoirest not to retain it still O how would thy enemies clap their hands and rejoice who do envy thee this Palladium of thy happines Kingdom a gift sent unto thee from heaven which being taken away or fading from thee thou canst no more be happy Beware I pray thee that thou bee not to credulous unto these sonnes of the earth who building honorable estates like unto the Aloidae seeme to make warre against God climbe into the heavens to wrong them who are above for by consent of all men the cause of all these cometh from the head top of Christendom who unless he be well disposed all the inferiour members must draw the causes of disease from him We see likewise that godly men do wish that by providence the pillar of the Church may be amended or another be sett up more profitable Neither am I ignorant that the foundations of this house were layd by a cunning hand on a most firme rock which by no force can be pulled down c. Then he sheweth the abuses of the Church especially those that proceed from simony whereby the government of the Church is altogether diverse from the institution of Christ He compareth Christ his Apostles with the Pope and his court so that he is compelled to say The Bride hath renounced her Spouse Then he complaines that the discipline of the Church is corrupted by them who should have been the chief maintainers of it and who can believe that the men who have done these things can acknowledge the good true faith who knoweth not that the choice stones of the sanctuary have been castdoun long since and dispersed so that the Majesty of the Church being ruined now the Spouse of Christ forgetting her marriage-bond not only hath left her husband but shamelesly hath been wandring in the broad waies streets licenciously gone a whooring thorough Provinces who knoweth not that the sheapherds are become not only deserters but drivers away of their flockes What Have we not seen the most eminent of the praelats behaving themselves so preposterously so filthily that they who should have framed all the daunce to grauity comelynes have altogether abhorred the comelynes of order c. The Jesuits of the Spanish Jndex Expurg have ordained all such passages to be blotted out In his secound book De Translat Hellenism he saith O if we had but the relicqus and ashes of the old faith which now is almost buried From which faith God hath called some of his stewards faith full who being full of Divine courage of godly emulation of the Spirit of God have been a glory ornament of the Church But now and even of a long tyme the Church is a wasted house having no colour nor shew of that religion which Christ taught if we judge of the universality by the greatest part 14. Iacohus Almainus Doctour of Divinity in his book printed at Colen De potestate Pontificis against Thomas de vio aliàs Cardinal Cajetan the Legate of Leo X. writeth particularly of indulgences saying The power of binding loosing seemeth not to be extended unto them that are in purgatory seing wheresoever promises are made in the Scriptures or grace is promised it is alwayes said on earth as whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth c. and it is never spoken of these who are departed this lofe Thence it followeth saith he That the souls in purgatory can not be delivered from punishment by indulgences albeit they may be by prayers 15. John Tritemius was at this time Abbas Spanhemiensis
more safely conveen He knew the time was short but he did it purposely that in the beginning his creatures might have the more power to prescribe the order of proceeding c. How he carried himself towards the Councell I remitt unto that chapter of the Councell When he could not bring the Protestants unto submission he kindled the warrs in Germany An. 1546. Onuphrius writes Since the Pope was fallen from hope of purchasing Millain he was not a little displeased with the Emperour and feared that he aimed at the Empire of Italy as also he and his faction had so stiffly opposed themselves against the Presidents in the Councell neither would Charles confirme the Dutchy of Parma and placentia unto the Popes son Peter Loisius nevertheless they kept an outward shew of amity and covenanted Juny 26 in this manner For so much as Germany hath continued these many years in errours that great danger is thereby to be feared for eschuing whereof the Councell was called at Trent and the Protestants do reject it therefore have the Bishop and Emperour for Gods glory and safety of the common wealth and namely of Germany concluded between themselves I. that Caesar shall prepare an Army all things requisite unto warre in the moneth next following and those who refuse the Councell and maintain these errours he shall reduce them by force of arms to the old religion and obedience of the Holy See yet so that he shall use all means to bring this to passe without warre but make no peace nor composition with them prejudiciall to the Church or religion 2. The Pope besides 100000 Ducats which he hath delivered already shall lay down so much more at Venice which his Lieutenent shall thereafter employ on the warrs and no otherwise and if no warr shal bee he shall receive his money againe he shall also furnish unto these warrs 12000 foot men and 500 horses at his own charge for an half year over which he shal place a Lieutenent and Captaines and if it happen that the warrs be ended before six moneths the benefit shall belong unto the Pope 3. For preparation and furnishing unto these warrs it shall be lawfull by the Pope of Rome's permission unto the Emperour to take the one half of the Church-goods in Spain and to sell as many lands in Spain as shall amount to 500000 Ducates c. Sleida Comm. lib. 17. The Emperour in all his Diets and at other occasions professed that he undertook these warrs only because the Princes denied him civill obedience which they did never refuse if he would have given them liberty to professe the Truth of religion But the Pope in this league and his Bulls written unto Germany professed the only cause of religion Thus they made different pretexts to the end each of them might bring the other into distast and if they could attain so much or overthrow the Protestants they were in part satisfied At the same time the Protestants did publish in writt that they waere advertised by men worthy of credite how that the Antichrist of Rome an instrument of the Devill and authour of this warre as in former times by his hired servants set many towns of Saxony into fire so now he hath sent others to infect their wells that he may destroy by poison what he can not so easily bring to passe with the sword wherefore they admonish all men generally but especially their own subjects to watch and apprehend such men c. Within few days John William son ne to the Electour of Saxony by letters gives warning that they take heed unto themselves diligently for lately an Italian was taken not farre from Weinmar upon suspicion and had confessed that he and some others had money given them at Rome in the Bishops name that with fire and poison they shall doe all the harme in Germany they are able to do Ibid. lib. 18. When Paul heard that Charles was prevailing he recalled his nephew Octavius with his souldiers ere the warre was ended wherfore Charles was offended and not long thereafter the Vicount of Millain killed Peter Loisius and tooke Parma Placentia Then was the Pope so over whelmed with grief that the tooke a feaver and died on the fourth day when he had satt 15 years I do omit his most vitious and incestuous life as it is written at large by Sleidan from an Italian authour and that Onuphrius testifieth that he was diffamed for Astrology and of too great affection to his kindred whom he did enrich without all shame and against the will of his Cardinals but consider how unlike this Paul was unto the Apostles Paul and Peter in all his Bouts with these Machivillians Charles Francis and in all his Consistories he never shewes any respect unto Christ or his Gospell but to his private interest only Novemb. 18. An. 1549. the Cardinals went unto the election but they could not agree before Februar 22. In time of their contention Letters were intercepted which Camillus Osius the attendant of the Cardinal of Mantua was said to have written unto a friend Annibal Contine and some vulgar verses of his love to ward him with such vile words that they can not vvithout offence be named Whereupon arose a report that some filthy Pope vvas to come out of that conclave On the forenamed day IV. JULIUS III. was consecrated who being Cardinall of Bolonia loved out of measure a young man innocentius and now he caused his brother to adopt him that after his name he was called Innocentius demonte and he made him a Cardinall It was talked at Rome and ballades went abroad how Jupiter loved Ganimedes yea Julius was not ashamed to talke of the same with the Cardinals In the year of his election he keeps the Jubilee Onuphrius writes of him tâ—us Albeit he was 70 years old yet in all the time of his Papacy he waited more on feasts and pleasures than on the discharge of his most waighty affaires to the great dammage of all Christians for he who before was most vigilant in his charge and by stealth followed his lusts now being Pope and attaining the top of his desires casts off the care of all things and too much followed his pleasures so men are encouraged unto vertue not with the beauty of vertue but hope of earthly advantage .... this was also reproovable in him that without respect to his place he so delighted in idle talke that his hearers would blush for shame He died through intemperance rather than by age after he had satt 5 years Ja. Thuan. V. MARCELLUS II. would not change his name to shew that he was the same man as before he lived but 21 dayes yet escaped not the blame of covetousness saith Onuphrius He was wont to have histories read unto him at table once hearing what Pope Urban IV. had said of the misery of PP he striketh the table with his hand and said I can not see how a Pope can
in this question Carolstade Zuinglius and Calvin were in some partdifferent and all were against consubstantiation both Luther Osiander and these others of that sort will not observe any difference among them in their doctrine But this difference among them gave occasion unto the Papists to insulte against them as also the marriage of Luther with one Catharin à Bora which had been a Nonne Indeed many both the friends and enemies of Luther were offended his friends not simply as if they had condemned marriage but in respect of the time when all Germany almost was red with the blood shed in the wars with the bowrs and especially Saxony was lamenting with many others for the death of the good Duke and Electour Frederik And his enemies wrote bitterly yea and impudently against him alleadging among other things that within few dayes after his marriage Catharin brought forth a son which was not true But afterwards Luther was much grieved when he heard that this friends were offended and especially that his enemies took occasion to raile against his doctrine for respect to his marriage in so much that as Melanchton writes to Camerarius he had need to be conforted Light dawneth in France An. 1523. XX. The Gospel began to be openly preached in France at Gratianople in the Dolphinate by Peter Sebeuilla in the year 1523. Zuinglius wrote as in epist Oecolamp Zuin. lib. 4. exhorting him to lift up his voice lyke a trumpet and sound forth the Gospell in France invitis omnibus puppis papis Who shall not make him ready for the battel saith he the prophet saith Where the Lion roareth who will not feare When Christ thundereth by his servants which of his enemies will not be afraid yea certainly fear hath overtaken them in all their tents they are so amazed and perplexed that they know not what course to take for if they begin ro kill the flock of Christ by their deluded Princes they fear that in so doing a door be opened to fall that way upon themselves But if they attempt to resist by Scripture their consciences tell them how they are guilty in wresting it and therefore they are cold and faint Why then fall we not on these cowards when we have the only and safe enough buckler of Gods worde He will beat down Antichrist with the breath of his mouth Christ is on our side who shall be against us albeit we are but lyke the vessell of Samos yet none can break us so long as God is with us and He will be with us according to the certain promise of his word where he hath promised to be with us untill the world's end and hath commanded us to fear nothing when we shall be brought before Kings or Princes for his sake for he will give wisdom and utterance which all the adversaries shall not be able to resist Why then do we linger Victory is at hand why will we not reap it ..... thou must wrestle not only with Antichrist but whith all the world if thou will advance into heaven these only can come thither who are careless of earthly things Therefore first of all thou must deny thyself and dy dayly but thou canst not do so by thyself therefore flye to the only mercy of God and begg of him that he would direct thy waies c. At the same time in Melda about ten myls from Paris was Bishop William Brissonnet he was a lover of truth and light he passeth by the Monks and sought learned men to teach the people so from Paris he calleth Jac. Faber William Fatell Arnold Gerard red they did teach the people with chearefull liveliness But the Bishops courage was soon abaited by terrible menaces of the Sorbonists Nevertheless religion was planted in the hearts of many and by the wondrous Counsell of God from the persecution of that one Church many Churches through France were planted for both the Teachers and hearers were spread abroad On May 20. An. 1525. Pope Clement wrote unto the Parlament of Paris the King was in Spaine shewing that he understood by Letters from Aloisia the Queen mother how the seeds of wicked heresies were beginning to spread through France and they had providently and prudently chosen some men to suppresse the fighters against the old religion and he by his authority approves them that were chosen for that effect for now all men should be diligent to preserve the common salvation when the malice of Satan and the rage of his souldiers have stirred such a broile seing this madness intendeth not only to confound religion but all principality nobility lawes and order ..... It was very acceptable unto him what they had done and he exhorts them to continue with the like courage c. The King was advertised by his Sister Margarit that they had driven Ja. Faber out of Erance he wrote unto the Parliament giving him a large approbation for learning and godliness as knowing that the man was admired even by the Spaniards and Italians therefore he willeth that they surcease from all action against him untill new advertisement XXI The wars of the Bowres in Germany was a sore hinderance for Insurrection of the Bowres a time unto the Gospell for the Papists in Germany said Those are the frutes of the new doctrin and of Luthers Gospell And Aloisia in France said In Germany is nothing but confusion and no acknowledgement of a Prince And this was the colour of the Popes bitterness in that his Letter A wicked follow had teached the people as Sleidan in Commente shewes more fully that the doctrine of the Pope and of Luther is alike wicked the Pope tieth mens consciences with hard lawes and bonds and Luther hath untied the bonds but hath declined to the other extremity in giving loose reyns nor teaches by the Spirit they may well contemne the Papall Decrees because they conduce not unto salvation and to attain salvation we must eschue all manifest sin as murther adultery blasphemy we must chastize the body with fasting and simple cloaths our countenance must be sad speak little and not have dressed haire This is to beare the cross and to mortify the flesh said he And when his hearers were thus prepared They must forsake the crowd of men and being separated think often of God who he is whether he hath any care of us and would have us to continue in this religion And if he will not give us a signe nevertheless we must continue and be instant in prayer yea and sharpely chide with him as not dealing with us sufficiently for seing the Scripture promiseth that he will give what we aske he doth not righly in not giving a signe unto them which would know him He said This expostulation and wrath is very acceptable unto God because thereby he seeth the inclination fervour of our mind and without doubt when he is entreated this way he will declare himself by some sensible signe and
free-will for if one Church will not follow willingly the example of another in these circumstantiall things why is a Councel needfull to compell men by decrees which may turne to lawes snares of mens consciences Therefore let one follow another freely or use their own fashion so that the Spirit be mantained in the faith and word howbeit there be a variety in other externall things Schultet Annal. ad Ann. 1524. ex Luth. tom 2. epist XXIII In the year 1526. Solyman the Turk entereth into Hungary 1526. there the King Lewes could have no help from Christians yet the bb stirre him to a batell and as he had sold himself to be a slave unto them in killing The authority of thâ— Pope is denied in Spain the professours of Reformation he was killed Jo. Sleidan The same year the Emp. being provoked by that league made by Pope Clemens dischargeth the authority of the Pope through all Spain leaving an example unto posterity that Church-disciplin may be maintained without Papall authority But as good seed being sown out of season so good works without good motives and principles have no continuance In Juny was a Diet at A Diet in Spira Spira Letters were brought from the Emperour dated at Spala March 23. the sum was For so much as he intends to go shortly unto Rome to be crowned and to talk with the Highpriest concerning a generall Councell and no good can be done in the matter of religion in these assemblies therefore they should observe the Decree at Worms and take his absence in good part hoping there shall be a generall Councell shortly The Princes and towns professing the Reformation said They were desirous in all things to please the Emperour but if he were rightly informed of the condition of Germany and how the controversy of Religion increaseth dayly he would not urge the Decree of Worms As for a Generall Councell there is no appearance of it seeing there was friendship twixt him and the Pope when the Letter was written as appeares by the Date but now it is otherwise seing the Pope hath levied an Army against him Wherefore they think best to send Oratours unto the Emperour to informe him more fully and how dangerous it is to delay the business of religion and no less perillous to execute the Decree of Worms and to entreat him to call a Councell in Germany and come unto it or at least to permit it as it was determined at Noribergh but was contromanded by the Emperour to the harme of Germany Or if he will not allow a Nationall Councell of Germany to entreat him to delay the execution of the Decree untill the Generall Councell for otherwise the malady will waxe worse And to represent that so long as every man is solicitous of his own estate in time of this variance it will be difficill to collect any money for any other use Then another supplication was presented unto the Diet complaining of the multitude idleness and opposition of begging Friers of the multitude abuses of holy Dayes and petitioning to leave unto every man the choise of his meats untill the generall Councell At this time the Duke of Saxon and the Landgrave of Hass enter into conference with the Commissioners of Strawsburgh that seeing they know not what the bb and their adherents do intend all of tkem shall concurr unto mutuall aid if any of them shall be in danger for Religion But the bb would not proceed here in matters of Religion and crave to delay these because of the present variance betwixt the Pope and Caesar Great strife ariseth among them Wherfore the Duke of Saxon and the Landgrave say they will stay no longer Ferdinand and the Bishop of Trevers considering how dangerous it were if nothing be done and all depart with grudge and malice do propound for appeasing such heart burnings that it is necessary to resolve upon a lawfull Councell either Generall or Nationall within a year at farrest and to entreat the Emperour to repaire shortly into Germany in consideration of their present condition As concerning the Decree at Worms they are content that all shall demean themselves in their Provinces untill a Councell so as they will be answerable unto God and Caesar And it was decreed so After this Diet certain Princes consult at Esling to write speedily unto the Emperour and shew that they had decreed to send Oratours unto him but the King of France will not grant them passage except for foure months whereof one was past therefore they have determined to defer their Oratours untill their next assembly which they have appointed to be at Regensburgh the first day of Aprile next to treat of the Turkish warr trusting that by time they shall have better occasion to send or they shall give him intelligence another way and entreating him to repaire into Germany as shortly c. Slcidan lib. 6. XXIV In the beginning of the year 1527. Otto Paccius Counseller of George Duke of Saxony informeth the Duke Elector and the Landgrave that Ferdinand then King of Bohem and Hungary and the Bishop of Mentz had made a league with others also to destroy them and Luther's religion Wherefore these prepare themselves for defense troubles were like to ensue but when these which were said to have made that league did purge themselves the fear was appeased Paccius was banished but the Diet at Regensburgh was discharged Ibid. Leonard Cesar a preacher was burnt at the command of the Bishop of Passaw in Bavier for holding these articles Faith only justifieth there be but two sacraments baptisme the Lords Supper the Masse is not a sacrifice nor is profitable unto the living nor dead confession of all sins is not commanded only Christ hath satisfied for sin a vow of chastity bindeth not the Scripture speakes not of purgatory there is no difference of dayes in Divine things is no free-will He would have declared himself in these articles when he was brought before the court but they would not suffer him Eccius was his accuser and spoke always in Latine but Leonard spoke in the common language he would have all the company to understand him Osiand centu 16. Lib 2. c. 5. This yeare was the first visitation of the Churches A publick dispute at Berna in Saxony On the 17. day of December the Senate of Berne make publick intimation of a Dispute in the controversies of Religion to begin January 7. they envite the bb of Constance Bafile Sedun and Lausan to come and bring their Divines or els they tell them they will confiscate all their goods within their territory they shew that only the books of the old and New Testament shall be the rule of the Dispute and they engadge themselves for safety unto all who shall come Two Ministers are named to sustain these articles The true Church whose head is Christ only ls begotten by the word of God continueth in it and heares not the
Smalcald in January following Where they did agree on a league of mutuall assistance if any of them shall be in danger for Religion XXVII The Emperour summoneth a Diet to begin at Ausburgh in The Diet at Auburg 1530. from which the famous Confession was named Aprile An. 1530. but he came not before Juny 12. the next day was the feast of Corp-Christi the Emperour went unto the procession Cardinall Campegius the Legate said It was contumacy against the Pope and such grief unto him as he could not disgest that any of the Princes did not attend that solemnity wherefore he adviseth the Emperour to charge the Duke of Saxony to carry the sword according to the custom and be present with him at the Masse that day seven night when the Diet is to begin With certification that if he faile both he and his house shall be deprived of that honour The Elector adviseth with the Ministers what to do in this case to obey was against his conscience and to refuse was his disparagement They told him What was required was but a civill ceremony and he might obey as Elisha gave way unto Naaman to be present with his King in the house of idolatry Some did judge it an ill preparative seing every one may pretend either necessity or expediency in the like case Yet many did approve the Elector in doing so seing he did prevent great inconveniencies which were like to ensue At that Masse Vincentius Pimpinell archb of Rosa and the Popes Nuntio had the Sermon it was wholly to this purpose he upbraideth the German's that they had suffered so great damage of the Turks without a revenge and stirreth them up by exampls of many Romans and the Germans are in worse condition then the Turks because they are all at the command of one and have but one religion where as the Germans are hatching new religions dayly and despise the antient religion as out of date and he accuseth them of foolishness that ere they had forsaken the antient faith they had not first thought upon another more holy prudent and politick If they had thought upon Scipio Cato and those antient Romans they would not have forsaken the catholick religion and therefore now away with their Novelties and take the sword in hand In the first Session of the States Cardinall Campegius hath an oration tending to shew that the cause of all the sects among them was the want of antient love and this change of the opinions and rites had disturbed not the Church only but was like to pull up their Civil government by the very roots the Popes had heretofore applied themselves to cure these maladies in sending their Legates unto these Diets but all in vain and now Pope Clement had sent him who is most willing to advise and do what lieth in him what may serve to the restoring of religion and he exhorts them to obey what the Emperour he extolleth him highly shall decerne in matter of Religion and with readiness to prepare against the Turk as the Pope is willing to contribute charges and what aid he can At command of the Emperour the Bishop of Mentz replieth with applause and promiseth concurrence When other Princes had spoken the Elector of Saxony presenteth a Confession of faith written in Latine and Dutche Languages which he in his own name and of other Princes and of Towns petitioneth to be read publickly The Emperour will not have it read at that time and the next day he will not have the Legate present at the reading of it lest any thing interveen that might be prejudicial unto the Popes honour but calleth the Princes into a large Hall where it was read and another that was presented by the Cities professing the doctrine of Zuinglius differing from the other but in the article concerning the Euchatist So far Pe. Soave That Confession which from the place of this Diet was called The confession of Ausburgh was written first in 17. articls by Luther and afterwards revised altered and digested in another method by Melanthon in Ausburgh and sent back to Luther in Coburgh ere it was presented So it was penned by them two Melanthon had a speciall respect unto the Emperour to give him as little offense as might bee and therefore purposely omitts some articls and made others so faire as he could and the next year they amended it under the name of an explanation The Emperour delivereth both the Confessions unto the Legate who as the forenamed author writes thought to have written in his own name a refutation of them but considering that then the Pope might be called their party and the Protestants might take the more occasion to write against the Pope he changeth his purpose and gives them to certaine Divines whom he had brought with him and they wrote a refutation and he gave it unto the Emperour with expresse caution to cause read it but give no copy of it and he exhorts the Emperour to deall with the Protestants severally by promises of favours and by menaces to return again unto the antient saith of their fathers The Emperour doth so in every particulare Nor is it to be omitted saith he that the Cardinal Matthew archb of Saltzburgh said publickly and ingenuously It is expedient to reforme the Masse it is agreable to nature to give men liberty of eating any meat and it is equity that Christians be free from the burden of humane commands but it is intolerable that a silly monke shall reforme all Likewise Cornelius Scoper the Emperours Secretary said The Protestant Preachers had done well if they had money enough to have bought liberty from the Italianes but because their religion is not beautified with gold it can have the lesse audience When the Emperour had used all the means as the Legate had advised and the Protestants would not yield no not to permitt the exercise of the Romish religion within their dominions for they knew it was the Legat's device to bring the people back by degries and in the mean time to hold them in perpetuall trouble on September 21. a decree was read where of this is the summe The Confession of the Saxons hath been read and so was a confutation of it by the Holy Scriptures and by great worke of the Emperour and the States the matter is brought to this conclusion that the Saxons have received certain articls of the Church of Rome and others they do refuse wherefore the Emperour in singnlare humanity grants them space of advicement untill the 15. day of Aprile whether in the other articls they will believe the same with the Emperour and the Bishop of Rome and all Christendom in the mean while let peace be keept let the Saxon and his associats print nothing concerning religion nor change any more let them not compell nor allure any man unto their religion they shall join with the Emperour to punish the Anabaptists Sacramentaries Lastly because there hath been no
place it seemes not expedient to be in Italy but in Germany where the controversy is for the most part Nor thought they it reasonable to oblidge themselves by oath to observe the decrees absolutely for that is contrary unto Christian liberty unless they knew what were to be the forme of the Councel who were Moderatour especially that the party defendent were not Mederator whether the Acts were to be determined by tradition or by the holy Scripture alone Ibid. In the next year Pope Clemens died but by the providence of God thus the liberty of religion was confirmed by the Pope as well as by the Emperour XXX An. 1533. George Duke of Saxony banished out of Lipsia 1533. all who would not go to Masse Luther hearing of this ordinance wrote unto the Protestants there exhorting them to suffer death rather than do against conscience and he called Duke George an Apostle of Satan George accuseth Luther before the Elector not only that he had reviled him but had stirred his subjects unto rebellion The Elector chargeth Luther to make his clear purgation or he must suffer Luther publishes a book declaring that he had exhorted the Lipsianes not to resist their Prince but rather to suffer which concerneth not rebellion Jo. Sleidan commen lib. 9. That year Erasmus publisheth a treatise De amabili Ecclesiae concordia but this Neutrall forme pleaseth neither Papists nor Protestants and the next year Luther accuseth him that he did but mock religion and turn it all into doubts sporting himself with ambiguous words whereas religion requireth plainness and cleareness Osiand Epit. cent 16. lib. 2. c. 26. XXX The Franciscan Friers were in danger at Orleans An. 1534. upon A craft of the Franciscanes in France this occasion The Praetor's wife by testament willed that she should be buried without pompe here husband desirous to satisfy here will hath a care to bury her beside her father and grandfather in the cloister without shew and he gave unto the Monks sixe crowns they expected much more and therefore they divisea way to make up their losse they accuse the defunct of Lutheranisme and cause a young Monke go upon the roof of the Church in the night time and make a noise an exorcist adjureth the wicked spirit to declare what he is whether he be that lately damned soul and for what sinne The Monk was informed what to answer and how They take witnesses The fraud was tryed the Friers were imprisoned and the young monk revealeth all The King hearing this voweth to throw down the Monastery but fearing that it might be matter of joy unto the Lutherans he dismisseth them In November of the same year in Paris and other places of France even within the Kings palace about one time of the night were papers set up against the Masse and other points of religion Inquiry was made many were apprehended and racked and burnt in the next year King Francis excuseth King France writes unto the Protestants in Germany him to the Protestants assembled at Smalcald that seing they intended the destruction of the Commonwealth said he the Germanes should not blame him more than he did blame them for suppressing the bowres or Manzerianes and he having a purpose to revenge himself on the Emperour craves by the same Ambassade that the Protestantes would make a league with him for reformation of religion So he pretendeth and entreates them to send some Divines namely Melanthon to dispute with the Masters of Sorbon he said He knew certainly that many superstitions were creept into the Church by insufficiency of priests and the Pope assumeth too much authority how beit by mans law he is the highest of all bb yet not by Gods word the traditions of the Church may be altered as time requires and therefore he is desirous to hear reasoning that things amisse may be amended He said also Pope Julius had excommunicated King Lewes XII John King of Navarre because they held that the Pope hath not power to call a Councel without consent of Christian Princes and he had raised Monarchs against them offring their Kingdoms as a prey In end he concludes suting a league without the Emperour They answer Without the Emperour they could and would do nothing In this assembly the former league was continued for ten years and into it were received all who were willing to professe the Augustan Confession So that they were 15. Princes and 30 Cities Cownt de Nassow was also admitted Henry VIII sent thither requiring that they would not admitt a Councell which would not abolish the abuses of former times or would confirme the Popes power They also required of him that he would receive the Augustan Confession but that he would not do That year Vergerius the Popes Legate had gone unto all the Princes The policies of Vergerius in Germany severally shewing them that the Pope had called the Councel to conveen at Mantua They all gave him one answere that they would advise in their meeting at Smalcald and there they told him they hope that Caesar will not depart from his promise and decree that the Councel should be in Germany nor can they understand what it meaneth that the Pope promiseth to provide for the safety of them which shall assemble when they look back into former times nor how in the Councell the way of treating can be rightly ordered where he who hath so oft condemned them will have the power in his hand Nor can it be rightly called a Councel where the Pope and his priests command all but where men of all conditions in the Church even Seculares also have a like power Vergerius had also been with Luther at Wittembergh and said The Church of Rome made great account of him and were sory for the want of such a man who might do good in the service of God and the Church which two are inseparable and the court was ready to vouchsave him all favour it was displeasant unto them that former Popes had used such bitterness against him Nor had he who professeth not Divinity a purpose to dispute controversies with him but to shew him the weight of humane reason how expedient it were unto him to be reconciled unto the Church he may consider that doctrine of his was not heard before those 18 years and hath brought forth innumerable sects where of each accurseth another whence many tumults and broils have arisen and therefore it can not bee from God but he was singularly blown up with selve-love who would endanger all the world rather than not to vent his own opinions seing he had continued without sting of conscience the space of 35 years in that faith wherein he was baptized he should still mantaine it He may remember how Aeneas Sylvius was once addicted unto his own opinions and hardly attained unto a silly chanonry in Trent but when he changed his opinions he became a Bishop and then a Cardinal and lastly was Pope and
another Diet is appointed in December for that end and in the mean time Charles shall give charge unto pious and learned men to devise a way of reconciliation and exhortes the Protestants to do the like which may be obserued untill there be a general Councel in Germany or untill the next Diet of the Germane Nation And in the Interim all shall keep peace and make no sturre for diversity of religion and the Churches shall possesse their revenues for mantaining teachers and Schooles c. The Popish party loved not this Decree but being overcome with plurality of suffrages they would not speak against the Emperours authority These wars continue not but within a few months the two Monarchs do accord among their articles this was one that they shall joyne all their endeavours to restore the old religion and peace of the Church Sleidan Yea Pe. Soave writes that the Emperour did the more willingly accord with Francis because he was desirous not only to be free of that warr but he thought by meanes of Francis to have peace with the Turk and then he might the more securely attend his affaires in Germany seeing in time of his other warrs the Germanes were aspiring unto liberty so that they wil not leave the name of an Emperour Upon occasion of this agreement the Pope proclameth the Councel to be held at Trent The Emperour was displeased with the proclamation for he would have been called the principal cause of the Councel partly for his own honour and partly that the Germanes might the more readily condescend thereunto Nevertheles he made serious preparation and gives warning unto the Germanes as if the calling of the Councel were his work and the Pope were his adhaerent Both he and the King of France gave order unto their own Divines at Lovan and Paris to collect what doctrines were to be propounded which those did without any proofe or confirmation but with serious exhortations to persecute all who would not embrace these naked propositions Luther answereth unto these of Lovan and calleth them hereticall and bloody men which do both teach contrary unto Scripture and also exhort unto cruelty XXXVI In Aprile An. 1545. was a Diet at Worms where was no 1545. Of conference about Religion Prince but King Ferdinand and Oratours from the Emperour and the Princes and Cities The Emperours Ambassador presseth the wars against the Turk and would delay the cause of Religion The Protestant Oratours and with them the Oratours of the Electors of Colein and Palsegrave do answer This meeting was called especially for Religion wherein something had been done before and there is good hope of effectuating more and therefore it should not be delayed unto a councel and they do not acknowledge that which is called at Trent to be according to the former promises as also they had given their other reasons against it And by what reason can they be pressed to take warrs who can not obtain peace unto their own families In the mean time the Emperour had written unto the King of Poland as also unto others to concurre with the councel and because he thinks that the Protestants will not submit unto it it is necessary that he and other Princes join with him against them as disturbers of common peace and Religion About the 16 day of May Charles comes into the Diet and then it was told the Protestants that they shall be heard in the councel nor shal the Pope have absolute power there as they alledge or if they find any iniquity then they may complain but now to pretend such excuses it is but their rash prejudice They answer The Pope and his retinue had now often condemned their Religion and the matter may be taken up in Germany by comparing the different opinions and searching the truth in a friendly way After much disceptation the Emperour closed the Diet August 4. so that al the Princes shall assemble personally in January at Ratisbone and for difference in Religion there shall be a conference of four learned men on either side and two Presidents wich shall conveen in the same town Decemb. 1. Then the former edicts were renewed and confirmed untill the Diet. The Popish party will not acknowledge the conference But the Emperout sent four at the time appointed and likewise four praesidents and so did the Protestants send as many The Emperour gave order to examine the confession of Ausburgh and to omitt the three first articles because there is no controversy in the first two and the third concerning originall sin was defined already The Protestants demand for the manner of the conference that all their conference shal be written to the end the Emperour and Princes may the more surely know the differences and their arguments The praesidents say That were too prolixe it is sufficient the summ benoted and layd in a chist that nothing he divulged without common consent yet so as it shall please the Emperour The Protestants were content if their Princes will consent Peter Malvenda a Spaniard began to treat of Justification by way of Lecture Bucer said That way is contrary to the prescribed order for he should object against the articles of the Confession if they can and the point of Justification was handled and determined five years before Then the Emperour sent his pleasure concerning the manner of treating as is touched before especially that nothing be divulged untill it be reported unto the Emperour and Estates of the Empire The Protestant Princes will not accord unto these conditions and sent for their Preachers to know what was done The orher party take this impatiently and by printed books accuse the Protestants Bucer publisheth a large reply and declareth the doctrine of justification shewing also their readiness to continue the Conference But the Emperour was plotting another course While things are so dubious the Elector Palatine reformeth the Churches within his jurisdiction January 10. An. 1546. he puts away the Masse in the high church of Heidlbergh and said He had waited many years for a Reformation but now seing it is dangerous to delay and there is no hope thereof he can not refuse the earnest desire of the people At that time he and the Landgrave were advertised from Augsburgh that the Emperour was preparing an army against them The Landgrave writes unto Granvellan one of the Emperours Councellers shewing what he had heard not only from Germanes but from Italy concerning the Pope and Emperours confederacy against the Protestants c Granvellan answereth that the Emperour intendeth nothing but peace and he admireth the vanity of men conceiving such things of the Emperour So did another Counseler Navius write unto the Count of Solme and advised him to exhort the Landgrave to come unto the Emperour and he shall soon be satisfied of all these jealousies The Landgrave goeth unto Spira the Emperour denieth that he had any such purpose and exhorts him to keep the appointed Diet at Ratisbone None
have three of the best churches for the Masse and the Bishop granted liberty unto the people to follow either the Romish or the Protestant Religion as they will So after the Masse had not been seen in that town the space of 20. years it was begun again at the first time was a frequent concourse of people especially of the young folke they wondered to see men with shorn crounes and strange habites to sing and reade what they understood not to set up torches at midday to burn in cense to use such gesticulations sometimes bowing their knees somtime stretching forth their hands somtime folding them somtime crying aloud somtime mumbling standing now in one place and then in another to eat the bread alone and drinke the wine so that not a drop wes left in the chalice to wash their hands to kisse the altar and the images c. After noone a priest went to preach in the high Church a young man made some noise a sergeant threatneth him all the boyes runne together to save him the priest seeing the fray leaveth the pulpit and flyeth report is carryed unto the Magistrates when they came into the Church the multitude was gone The next day the Senate sent unto the Chapter to excuse the matter that it was done only by boyes and they would have a care that the like shall not be done The Chapter will not accept the excuse but runne unto the Bishop dwelling in his house called Tabernae without the town he complaines unto the Emperour who ordered the Bishop to begin again and the Burgermasters to be present for preventing any more tumult Osiand Epit. Cent. 16. Lih. 2. Cap. 73 76. Maurice Duke of Saxony returning after the Diet unto Leipsich presseth his people with the Interim they require a conference with the Divines of Wittembergh and had severall meetings in sundry places the last was at Leipsich they were unwilling to change their Religion and they stood in awe of Caesar'â— wrath and they consulted upon a middle course that if they shall yield in some indifferent things the Emperour will accept their obedience and will not persecute them While they sift the Interim for indifferent things they patch up a new modell of doctrine also and did not consider the scandals which did arise thereupon for many of the people hearing that such things were called Indifferent did think and say All Religion is indifferent and they had erred before in their zeall and all Popery may be restored On the other side the Papists said All Protestants will return if they be pressed with authority I adde some instances of their indifferent doctrine 1. A man is chiefly just and accepted before God by faith for the Mediators sake we will not strive for the particle only faith 2. God worketh not in men as in a block but so converts that in understunding persons he wil have some action of the will which accompanieth his efficacy 3. we will not contend for the number of Sacraments all the Sacraments may be accepted cum sano intellectu 4. all Ministers may be subiect unto the highest Bishop and unto inferiour bb administring their office according to the commandement of God or unto edification and not destruction that is sayth Osiander we wiil take wolves to be shepherds if they will not devour the sheep but lead them faithfully into wholesom pasturage c. Magdeburgh and Breme would not accept the Interim and albeit Duke Maurice the Elector of Brandeburgh the Duke of Brunswick Meckelburgh and others went against them in armes and beseeged Magdeburgh they would not accept it when they had received a foyl they by a published write declare that their losse was not so great as it was called God had put them to a tryall but they were confident of his helpe and howsoever it shall please Him to dispose of them they will rather die then return to Antichrist or receive the decree of Ausburgh and they entreat all Christians that they would not fight against them in such a cause but rather aid them in such extremity They endured such strait difficulties the space of thirtien months untill another variance hapned betwitxt the Emperour and Princes These troubles for the Interim continved above two years howbeit I have joyned them together that I might carry-on the most publick affaires of Germany some particulars were also then remarkable of which I give a touch XXXVII In the Diet at Regensburgh An. 1534. the Emperour and Troubles at Colen for Reformation the Popes Legate did enioyn all the bb to endeavour a holy reformation of their clergy within their severall jurisdictions Herman Elector of Colein sent for Bucer and Caspar Hedio preachers of Strawsburgh he ordered them to preach in Bonna his See and to write the articles of Christian Religion He sent aâ—so for Ph. Melanthon and Jo. Pistorius a Preacher of Hassia He recommendeth the Articles unto his clergy of Colein to consider them These do urge the Bishop to remove these new Preachers and crave a time to aduise upon the articles The Bishop telleth them He is ready to remove them if they can convince them of false doctrine or of wicked conversation They write a contrary book and in the preface they say They would rather live under the Turk then under a Christian Magistrate attempting a Reformation and they raile against Bucer Bucer offereth to defend his doctrine by disputation When the Emperour understood of this he writes unto the Senate of Colein and commandeth them that they suffer no alteration in Religion and the Pope wrote lykewise commending also the clergy that they had resisted their Bishop and exhorting them to continuance The Emperour comes with a train of Spanjards to Bonna and causeth all the Preachers to be removed for the clergy made appellation from the Bishop unto the Pope and Emperour The Bishop declared that their appellation was not to be regarded seing he craues nothing but as it becomes a godly Bishop and he refutes all their criminations In the year 1544. the Clergy do presse the people and the inferiour bb and Universities throughout the province to subscribe their appellation and they cast out so many of their number as would not subscribe The appellation is sent unto the Emperour and to Rome In the year 1545. the Emperour summoneth the Bishop to appeare within thirty daies or to send his proctour to answer unto these accusations July 18. the Pope summoneth him to appeare at Rome within 60. daies and citeth also some of his accusers In the year 1546. Aprile 16. the Pope excommunicates and deprives the Bishop of his priesthood and Benefice The bb of Leodium Utrecht and the University of Lovan joyn with his accusers at Rome Herman appeales from the Pope unto a free Councel and declares that he can not acknowledge the Pope to be his Judge because he is guilty of heresy and idolatry which he will prove when the Councel shall begin The
Somerset that he had changed the lawes of the realme and had secret intelligence with forrein Ambassadours without their knowledge c. And for these causes he was beheaded in the Tower An. 1552. So variance entereth among them and coldness of Religion repossesseth many and some have written that the King was poisoned Certainly for a clearer manifestation of mens hearts the King was visited with long sicknes and died July 6. An. 1553. In time of his sicknes he aduised with his Privie Counsell who should have the government after him for albeit his Father had appointed Mary to succeed yet seing she is of a contrary religion and it is doubted of the lawfulnes of her birth and himself is of lawfull years he accounts it proper unto him to name his heire and the rather that it is to be feared that she will not only subâ—ert religion but the realm shall be thralled to a stranger as Scotland is unto France After deliberation it was decreed to chuse Lady Jane daughter of the Earle of Suffolk and of Mary daughter of King Henry 7. So foure dayes after Edwards death Lady Jane was proclamed Queen by authority of the Counsel Many of the Nobility and people were much displeased not so much for love of Mary as for hatred to the Duke of Northumberland because Lady Jane was married unto his fourth son At this time Mary goeth into Norfolk and Suffolk and promiseth unto them of the Reformation that she shall change nothing in Religion as it was established by her brother They take her part She writes abroad for aid and carryeth her self as Queen The Counsell câ—â—vâ—eâ—ing at London sendeth somâ— forces under the conduct of Northumberland to apprehend her But then the Counsell perceiving the Mary the Popâ—sh Queen overthrows all for a time inclination of the people and hearing that the Reformed of Norfolk and Sâ—â—folk were for her change their Sentence they cause proclaime Mary Queen and keep La. Jane in the Tower When these newes were brought into the Campe all men forsook the Duke but when they receive Letters from the Counsell in name of Queen Mary they take him and bring him to London Then he made open profession of Popery under hope to gaine the Queen's favour and liberty but was beheaded Ja. Thuan lib. 13. ad An. 1553. Cardinal Reginald Pool hearing at Rome that King Edward was dead hasteneth towards England hoping to have the Crown by râ—gâ—t for he had pretensions or by marriage with Mary The Emperour inuites him to come into Germany by his way and entertaines him with great shew of honour untill by his Ambassadour he had finished a Contract of marriage betwixt his son Philip Mary and by the Queens patent he became archbishop of Canterbury Then another world was to be seen processions of joy were in Italy for regaining England uâ—to the Romane Seâ— Pe Soave in Coâ—â— Trud. Gardener Tonstall and other Popish Bishops were aâ—vanceâ— Cranmer Latimer Ridley and other Reformed Bishops were committed to prison and burnt reading and printing of English Bibles and of late bookâ— were discharged the Supremacy of the Pope was ploclaimed the Latine â—asâ—â— was uâ—ed the clause of prayer that God would deliver the kingdom from sedition and tyranny of the â—ishop of Rome was blotted out of the Lâ—taâ—â— the Queen would not suffer her fathers name in publick prayers because he â—ad made apostaâ—y from the Church Ja. Thua lo. cit All temporaries turâ— their clockâ— wicked men reioice good men are oppressed some fiâ—d maâ—y were imprisoned some sterve in prison many hundreds were bâ—rnâ— in a word in no Kings time beeing free from waâ—â—e were so many killed as in the five years reigne of Q. Mary by beheading hanging burning racking and sâ—erving That cruel Bishop Bonner beholding how joyfully the Martyrs suffered said to one of them They call mee bloody Bonner a vengeance on you all I would fain be rid of you but yee have a delight in burning if I might have my will I would sew your moâ—ths put you in sacks and drown you all Gods revenging hand was â—pon these pâ—rsecuters Gardener the archpersecuter being at dinner with the Duke of Norfolk and hearing that Bishop Ridley and Mr. Latimer were burnt at Oxford shewes no litle joy and by and by was so smitten none knowing how that he was carryed from table to a bed where he lay 15. dayes in such intolerable torments that in all that space he could voide neither by urine nor otherwise his tongue hangeth out and so died Do. Morgon who condemâ—ed Ferrare Bishop of S. Davies and vsurped his place was sâ—itten that when he would eat nothing went down but it bursted out again somtime at his moâ—th and somtime at â—is nose Do Dunning the bloody Chanceller at Norwich was taken away suddenly the like befell Bâ—rrie Commissarie of Norfolk c. Mary had her kingdom diminished by losse of Cales which eleven English kings had kept and the countrie was plagued with famine that the subiects were glad to eat ackorns she was never able to put the Crown on her husbands head of all things both he and shee was most desirous to have children but she had none once she was thought to be bigg with child but of what she was delivered it was known to few then Philip left her and she had neither the love of hâ—r subiects nor his company nor could marry another at last she was diseased some called it a tympany others call it melancholy because of her deep and continuall groanes she died November 17. An. 1558. and her cousine the Card. died within sixteen hours after her Jo. Foxe in Acts. Enduring her reigne La. Elisabeth was kept in the Tower Gardener and others sought her death often they accuse her of treason and would have stirred up King Phillip against her but he preserveth her not for any love to her person or religion but for reason of State lest she being taken out of the way and the Queen dying without children the kingdoms of Scotland England and Irland might be annexed unto the Crown of France by means of Mary Qu of Scotland next heire of â—ngland and at that time affianced to the Daulphin of France than which the Spaniard thought no thing could happen more adverse to his affectation of greatnes At first when She was locked up she was much daunted but being comforted afterwards she said The skill of a Pilot is not known but in a tempest and a true Christian appeares best in time of tentation In the year 1558. they condemne her to be beheaded and went to bring her to execution by miraculous providence she was preserved The lieutenant of the Tower will not give them credite and goeth to ask the Queen whether it was her will Mary saith Not and commandeth to set her at liberty And is proclamed Queen On the very day of Marie's death Elisabeth was proclamed Queen and so of a prisoner was acknowledged by
and they come into the hall but he turnes his back upon his guests and eates all himself giving them no part even so do yee Olip Thou deniest the sacrament of the altar to be the body of Christ really in flesh and blood Mill. The Scripture is not understood carnally but spiritually and your Masse is wrong for Christ was once offered on the cross for mans sin and will never be offered again for at that time he put an end to all sacrifices Oliph Thou denyest the office of a Bishop Mill. I affirm they whom yee call Bishops do not Bishops works nor exercise the office of Bishops but live after their sensuall pleasures taking no care for Christs flock nor regarding His word Oliph Thou speakest against pilgrimage and callest it pilgrimage to whoordom Mill. I say pilgrimage is not commanded in Scriptures and there is no greater whoordom in any place than at your pilgrimages except it be in the common brothels Olip Thou preachest privatly in houses and somtimes in the fields Mill. yea man and upon the sea too when I was sailing Olip If thou will not recant thy opinions I will pronounce sentence against thee Mill I know I must die once therefore as Christ said to Judas Quod facis fac cito yee shall know that I will not recant the trueth I am corn and not chaff I will neither be blown away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but will abide both Then he was condemned of heresy and was kept two dayes because the Bishop could not find a Judge to condemne him to death The Bish. sent for Patrick Lermond of Dairsie Provost of the city and willed him to condemne him as being now condemned of heresy The Provost answered I will do any thing at your Lordships command that belongs to my office according to justice but I will not medle with the innocent servants of God and preachers The Bishop said Provost you are Bailive of my Regality and ought to judge all such as transgresse within my bounds He answered Yes and if your Lo. please I will take him and give him a faire assise of temporall men who perhaps will absolve him I am conteâ—t said the Bishop make mee quite of him any way you please But some said unto the Provost It is dangerous to absolve a man who is already by the clergy condemned of heresy wherefore the Provost desired â—im to advise till the morne and ere then he went out of the town Wherefore the Bishop sought this man and that to be Judge and at last set Alexander Somervail one of his domestick servants to supply the place of a Judge for the time and he condemned him to the fire and because noâ—e in the town would sell ropes for that use the ropes of the Bishops pavilion were taken When they brought him nigh the fire they said unto him in derision Recant He answered I marvell at your rage yee hypocrites who so cruelly do persecute the servants of God as for mee I am 82 years old and can not live long by course of nature but an hundred better than I shall arise out of the ashes of my bones which shall scatter the proud pack of you hypocrites and persecuters of God's servants and who of you thinkes yourself worthyest shall not dy so honest a death as I dy now I trust in God I shall be the last that shall suffer death in this Land for this cause Out of a manuscript History writen by Lindsay in the Bibliothek of the Colledge of Edinburgh Oliphant commandeth him to go unto the stake Mill said I will not go unless thou put mee up with thy hand for by the law of God I am forbidden to put hand in myself but will thou putto thy hand and thou shall see mee go up gladly Oliphant put him foreward and he went with a chearfull countenance saying Introibo ad aâ—tare dei then he craved liberty to speak unto the people Oliphant said You have spoken too much and the Bishops are offended with so long delay Some youths standing-by willed him to speak and accursed the Bishops and all the executioners He first prayed and spake unto the people to this purpose Deare friends the cause why I suffer tooday is not for any crime layd to my charge I acknowledge myself a miserable sinner before God but I suffer for the defence of the truth of Jesus Christ set forth in the old and new Testaments for which as many Martyres have offred their lives most gladly being assured after their death to enjoy endless felicity so this day I praise God that he hath called mee of his mercy among others his servants to seal up his truth with my life which as I have received of him so willingly I offer it to his glory And as yee would escape eternall death be no more deluded with the lies of the priests monks friers Priors Abbots Bishops and others of the sect of Antichrist but depend only upon Jesus Christ and his mercy that yee may be delivered from condemnation The people made great lamentation and were exceedingly moved with his words When the fire was kindled he cried Lord have mercy on mee pray good people while ther is time And thus he departed shewing a wonderfull courage His death was the very death of Popery in this realme for the minds of men were so greatly enflamed that resolving openly to professe the truth â—hey did bind themselves by promise aâ—d subscription of oaths if any shall be called into question for Religion hereafter they shall take arms and joyn in defense of their brethren against the tyrannous and persecuting Bishops VII Immediately some Noble men and Barons did present unto the A supplication unto the Queen Regent Queen Regent this supplication the copy whereof I found in fair write as sundriâ—e other papers concerning these times among the papers of John erskiâ— Superintendent in the hands of his great grand-child Alexander enskin of Dun with this Inscription The subiects of this reaâ—m of Scot and wish unto the most Excellent Princess Mary Queen dovrier and Regent all feâ—icity Most Noble Princess It is not unknown unto your Maiesty our ardâ—ent desire to see the name of God glorified in this our native Countrie and wee have often made humble suit unto your Grace to have your good will and protection to live quietly in free conscience without oppression of tyrany according to the will of our God made manifest to us in his holy Scriptures And because some men which most minustly have entred themselves by title and name as Ministers of Gods Kirk are conspired together against the Lord and his anointed to put down his name and honour and to maintain most odious abominations wee have forsaken them and their detestable ministry knowing them to be accursed of God And according to the Scripture wee have received such Ministers as with humble mindes submit themselves their doctrine and ministry unto the word of
that the Masse and the opinions which they teach the people concerning it be laid to the square of the first institution that the world may know whither their teachers had offended or not in that which they have affirmed whither the action of the Masse be not expressely repugnant unto the last Supper of the Lord Jesus whither the sayer of it commit not horrible blasphemy in vsurping The sayer of Masse is a blasphemer upon the offices of Christ Al. Anderson denied that the Priest takes upon him Christs office A masse-book was brought and it wat read out of the beginning of the Canon Suscipe Sancta Trinitas hanc oblationem quam ego indignus peccator offero tibi vivo Deo et vero pro peccatis toâ—ius Ecclesiae vivorum et mortuorum Then said the Minister If to offer for the sins of the whole Church be not the proper office of Christ only let the Scripture judge and if a vile man whom ye call priest proudly takes the same upon him let your own books witnes Al. Anderson said Christ offered the propitiatory and none can do that but we offer the remembrance It was answered We praise God that yee deny a sacrifice propitiatory in the Masse and we offer to prove that in moe than an hundred places of your Papisticall Doctors it is affirmed that the Masse is a sacrifice propitiatory But whereas ye alledge that yee offer Christ in remembrance we aske first Unto whom do yee offer him and next By what authority are ye assured of well-doing In God the Father falleth no oblivion and if ye will shift and say that ye offer not as if God were forgetfull but as willing to apply Christs merits to his Church we demand of you What power and commandement have ye to do so We know that our Master commanded his Apostles to do what He did in remembrance of him and plain it is that Christ took bread gave thanks brak the bread and gave it to his disciples saying Take eat ..... here is a command to take and eat to take and to drink but to offer Christs body either for remembrance or application we find not and therefore we say To take upon you an office which is not given unto you is uniust vsurpation and not lawfull power Then Alexander vseth some words of shifting but the Lords require him to answer directly Then said he I am better acquainted with philosophy than with Theology Then John Lesley then Parson of Vne and immediatly was sent by the Bishops and their faction to be agent in their business with the Queen and thereafter was called Bishop of Rosse was demanded to answer unto that argument After some litle pause he said If our Master hath nothing to say unto it I have nothing for I know nothing but the Canon-law and the greatest reason that ever I could find there is Volumus and Nolumus The Nobility seeing that neither the one nor the other would answer directly say Wee have been miserably deceived for if the Masse may not obtain remission of sin to the quick and to the dead wherefore were all the Abbeys so richly doted and endowed with our lands Hereby it is clear as also by what is written of the Parliament that the Papists had liberty to plead for their Religion and were required to say what they could not only with safety and assurance of protection but they did appeare and shew their weakness At that time the book of Discipline was not allowed nor reiected but delayd and thereafter it was approved by the Counsell for their own part but not authorised and some additions were noted and this provision expressely added That the Bishops Abbots Priors and other Beneficed men who had already adioined them unto the Religion shall enioy their benefices during their lives they upholding and sustaining the Ministery and Ministers for their part The issue of this provision was many Church-men gave away and sold their Manses gleebs tyths and other things to the prejudice of the Church so that the entertainment of Ministers was very small in many places nothing at all and the gleebs could hardly be recovered XIII At Edinburgh December 20. An. 1560. was the first Nationall assembly where conveened the Ministers and Commissionares from Shires The first assembly of the Church and Burghs about the number of 44. persons 1. They designe Ministers and Readers unto severall parishes throughout the Countrie 2. It was appointed that in time coming the election of Minister Elders and deacons shall be in the publick church and premonition to be on the sunday preceeding 3. It is found by the law of God marriages may be solemnized betwixt parties of the second or third degrees of consanguinity and others that are not prohibited by the word of God and therefore to desire the Lords and Estates to interpose their authority and make lawes thereupon 4. It is appointed that for punishment of fornication the law of God be observed and these shall make publick repentance which vse carnall copulation betwixt the promise and solemnization of their marriage 5. that earnest supplication be made unto the Estates of the realm and to the Lords of Secret counsell that all Judges ordinary and Judiciall Officers as Lords of the Session Shireffs Stewarts Balives and other ordinary Judges be professours of the trueth according to the word of God and all Ministers of the word to be removed from such Offices according to the Civill law 6. To supplicate the Parliament and Secret Counsell that for eschuing the wrath of the Eternall and removing the plagues threatned in His law Sharp punishment be ordained against idolaters and mantainers thereof in contempt of Gods true Religion and Acts of Parliament namely which say Masse or cause it to be said or are present thereat And a catalogue of their names is writen They appoint Comissioners to attend the Parliament if any shall be called with these supplications It is to be observed from the fift Act that Ministers of the word were forbbidden to be Judges in Civil causes which is against the former practise when Bishops and other prelats were Lords of Parliament and sat in Civill Courts No Parliament was called as was expected but a Convention of Estates was appointed to be in May before which time Papists resort to Edinburgh in great numbers and began to brag of their power The Commissioners which were appointed In a Convention of the Estates An. 1561. Papistry is again forbidden by the Assembly of the Church conveen May 17. An 1561. and draw up these articles to be presented unto the Convention that idolatry and all monuments thereof should be suppressed throughout the realm that the sayers maintainers and heareâ—s of the Masse should be punished according to the Act of Parliament 2. That câ—rtain provision be made for maintenance of the Superintendents Ministers and Readers that Superintendents be planted where none are That punishment be appointed for
marriage Immediatly he was sent for he goeth and none was suffered to enter into the Cabinet but Another conference of the Queen with I Knox. Io. Ersk in the Superintendent of Anguise The Queen in vehemency of passion and with teares said Never Prince was so used I have born with you in all your rigorous manner of speaking both against myself and against my Uncles yea I have sought your favour by all possible means I offered you presence whensoever it pleased you to admonish mee and yet I can not be quite of you I vowe to God I shall be once revenged Her passion and tears stayeth her speach When opportunity serves he answereth It is true Madam your Majesty and I have been at diverse controversies in which I never perceived your Ma. to be offended at mee but when it shall please God to deliver you from that bondage of darknes and errour wherein you have been nurished for lack of true doctrine your Ma. will find the liberty of my tongue nothing offensive without the preaching place Madam I think few have any occasion to be offended at mee and there Madam I am not master of myself but must obey him who commandes mee to speak plain and flatter no flesh upon the face of the earth But saith the Queen what have yee to do with my marriage Iohn saith If it please your Ma. to hear mee I shall shew the trueth in plain words I grant your Ma. hath offered unto mee more than I required but my answer was then as it is now that God hath not sent mee to wait upon the Courts of Princes nor upon the chambres of Ladies but I am sent to preach the Evangell of Jesus Christ to such as please to hear it hath two points repentance and faith now Madam â—â— preaching repentance of necessity it is that the sins of men be noted that they may know wherein they offend But so it is that the most part of your Nobility are so addicted to your affection that neither Gods Word nor their Common wealth are rightâ—y regarded and therefore it becomes mee to speak that they may know their duty The Queen saith What have you to do with my marriage Or what are you within the Common wealth Iohn answereth I am a subject born within the same Madam and albeit I be neither Earle Lord nor Baron yet God hath made mee how abject soever I be in your eies a profitable and usefull member within it Yea Madam to mee it appertaines to forewarn of such things as may hurt it if I foresee them noless than it doth any one of the Nobility for both may vocation and office crave plainness of mee and therfore Madam to yourselfe I say what I spake in publick Whensoever the Nobility of this realm shall be content and consent that you bee subject to an unlawfull husband they do as much as in them lieth to renounce Christ to banish the truth to betray the freedom of this realm and possibly shall in end do small comfort unto yourselfe Then was the Queen more grieved The Superintendent spoke what he could to mitigate her passion but all was but casting of oile into the fire The next day the Queen requires the judgement of the Lords of the Articles whither that Manner of speaking deserves not punishment But they advise her to desist After the Parliament the Bishop of Santandrews and the other Papists that were imprisoned were set at liberty The Queen went to see the West-country and Argile and used the Masse wheresoever she was on sunday In the mean time the Nationall assembly was held at Perth Iuny 25 there were Superintendents Ministers and commissioners of the Churches Prayer The V. Assembly An. 1563. was made by Io. willock Superintendent of the West Superintendents and Ministers were censured Io. Knox and his Colleagues gave account concerning Paul Meffan and their ptoceedings were approved The same day Da. ferguson Minister at Dunfernlin deelares that he had spoken with Paul Meffan and that he was sorowfull for his grievous offense and that he not only acknowledgeth the equity of the Sentence pronounced against him but was willing to underly whatsoever punishment the Church would lay upon him c. After long debate the Assembly condescendes that a confortable answer shall be directed unto him and in the meantime they vill solicite the Lords of the privy Counsell for him 3. It was decerned that no privat contract of marriage though carnall copulation follow shall have faith in judgement untill the contracters shall satisfy as scandalizers of the Church and untill famous unsuspect withnesses testify of the Marriage or it be confessed by both patties and if neither probation be brought nor both parties confesse they shal be censured as fornicatours 4. If any person find himself hurt by any Sentence given by Minister elders and Deacons of any Church he may within ten dayes appeal unto the Superintendent and his Synod and there the Superintendent shall cognosce whither it was well appealed And if the party yet alledges that he is wronged by the Superintendent Synod he shal within ten dayes make appellation to the National Assembly and from thence no appellation is to be made And if he justify not his appeale before the Provinciall Synode they shall impute a fine upon the appellant besides the expences of the Party and that fine shall be delivered unto the deacons of the Church for use of the poor where the first sentence was given And so in the Nationall assembly 5. Supplication is to be made unto the Queens Maj. and Secret Counsell for union of Churches two or thry if they be but two or thry myles distant and cause the in habitants resort unto one of them because of the Scarcety of Ministers and the small number of parishoners 6. The instruction of youth shal be committed to none in Universities nor in any other place but such as professe the true Religion and if any now occupy such a place they shall be removed 7. No work shall be printed nor published in write concerning the doctrin of Religion untill it be presented unto the Superintendent of the boundes and approved by him or such of the most learned that he shal appoint and if any of them doubt of any point the work shall be produced before the Nationall assembly 8. Every Superintendent shall cause warn the Shires and towns within his Jurisdiction to send their Commissioners unto the Assembly declaring unto them the day and place and that they shall conveen on the first day of every assembly 9. Commissions are given to the Bishops of Galloway Caitnes Orknay for one year to visite and plant Churches within their own bounds severally That year was a great noise of business for a Letter which John Knox wrote and directed throughout the country in this manner The superscription was Whersoever two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the mist of
own cousine without dispensation therefore he consulted how to dethrone him but the puissance of his father and father in law seemed to with stand all the power that the Pope could make against him Osian cent 16. Lib. 3. c. 62. 66. 67. ex Beuth. Nigrin In his Bull against Queen Elisabet he saith Christ hath made the Pope the only Prince over all Nations and kingdoms and applieth unto himselfe properly what was said figuratiuely to the prophet Jere. 1. I have set the over nations c. In his bull before the Breviary he complaines of the multitude of Missales and Breviaries vsed in his time and he commandeth that one for all excep those that had been in use above 200 years So that as yet there is not an uniformity among them as some would make the simple folk believe He did confirm all the liberties that were granted by any of his predecessours unto all and every sort of begging friers and did discharge all Bishops from restraining them in any way Before his time were some footsteps of antient truth to be seen in the Canon-law but this Pope commanded Thomas Manrig Master of the Apostolicall palace to review both the decrees and the decretales and blot out of them what was offensive as they spoke and so in the year 1572. the Canon-law came forth with many defects as I did touch before when I spoke of Gratian here I add one or two exemples Dist 1. C. 1. the glosse saith Apocrypha that is without a certain authour as the Wisdom of Solomon Ecclesiasticus Judith Tobit and the book of Maccabees these are called apocryphi and yet are read but perhaps not generally De poenit dist in princi utrum the glosse saith Sines are forgiven neither by contrition of the heart nor by confession of the mouth but only by the grace of God Ibid dist 3. c. 25. the glosse saith in baptisme originall sin is washed away that it shall not hurt but not that it is not He did the like with many others Writers namely with the work of Cardinal Cajetan as appeares by comparing the lately printed Commentary on Tho. Aquin. with the edition at Venice An. 1523. This Impius was a most cruell enemy of them who would not embrace the Canons at Trent and therefore he caused burn many at Rome as Julius Zoanetus Pet. Carnesius Bart. Bartoccius Aonius Palearius c. He attempted many things against Elisabeth Queen of England whom he did excommunicate and against the Neither-Landes he stirred up the civill wars of France and was the prime plotter of the massacre An. 1572 but sawe it not for he died in May preceeding In the election of the Pope it was then an appointment of the Colledge that none should be chosen without consent of the two parts the King of Spain knowing this appointment hath by pensions and preferments assured a third part of them to be at his devotion in the election and so he hath exclusive power that without him a Pope can not be chosen He proceeds also by his Oratout to propound and name four or five of whom if they chuse one he is satisfied The colledge distastes this course but there is no remedy therefore next discretion is to chuse one whom they do judge least able or willing to follow him At that time they were mightily enflammed and banded themselves against him nevertheless in end the publick necessity and their own particulares made them yeeld unto one of his nomination But because the means of attaining and maintaining the Papall crown are clean contrary in the one fashioning themselves unto all mens humours and in the other looking that all men should accommodate themselves unto the Papall honor the King is often disappointed of his aim Sande's Relation II. GREGORY XIII did use many meanes to restore Popery and to confirm the power of the Pope every where for this cause he erected two colledges of Jesuits or Seminaries at Rome in favours of Germane and Englishes and gave unto them large revenues but such as had before appertained unto other Societies as the English Jesuites in their apologie ch 2. sect 6. which was answered by Tho. Bilson say that the foundation of their colledge was instituted long before to an hospitall of their Nation The Popes aim was that so many Germanes and Englishes being Jesuited there might be employed to bring back Germany and England under the yoke of Rome and the Jesuites did vant that this Pope had gifted them with large revenues He also did â—oment the wars in France and Low Countries and he pressed the Emperour to expell all Protestants out of his own inheritance if not out of the Empire By his Bull An. 1572. he did annull all power given by other Popes concerning the Index expurgatorius and forbidden books as not being done sufficiently and gave another order with command to be only acknowledged Where as Pope Pius V. had ordained many passages to be blotted out of the Canon-law Gregory caused restore some of these passages but added another glosse contrary unto the text He keeped the Jubilee An 1575 and on March 31. he caused publish his Bull excommunicating all Hussites Wickâ—levests Lutheranes Zuinglians Caluinists Hugonots Anabaptists Trinitarianes and all others dissenting from the Church of Rome and all their abettours and all that have or print or sell any of their books .... and ordaining that this Bull shall be published by all Patriarches Ordinaries in every place at least once every year in all Churches After that year he sent Indulgences unto the Bishops of Germany without money but only for saying so many Paternosters and so many Ave Maryas and for so many almes In the year 1577. he confirmed the Fratermity of the Virgine Mary and by Bull he gave Indulgences for a year unto all who would say a Rosen crown unto the Virgine that is if they would say five Paternosters and fifty Ave Maryas Under pretence of planting Christian Religion he planted the Jesuits in Poland Transsylvania Livonia East and West Indies c. Whence it is that the Jesuites do write so much of their miracles in remote Countries and that they have baptised so many thousands which were paganes but they may the more boldly say so because few in Europe can controle them in the particulares He made his base son Charles boncompagno Marques of Vineola and then Duke of Sora and he was so liberall of Peters revenues unto his friends that Papirius Masson the writer of his life is fain to apologize him for it He published a Bull dated Tusculi An. 1581. 6. cal Mart. wherein he writs thus Seing the Fathers of the Councell at Trent were interrupted by time that they could not finish the Breviary as they intended and they had by decree referred all that matter unto the judgement and authority of the Romane Pope and in the Breviary are two things principally to wit one containes prayers hymnes that should
obedience were to confesse himself a vassall This treaty continued a year and in end it was concluded that the Pope shall confirm the election without saying that obedience was demanded or not demanded promised or not promised Ibid. He lamented when he considered the renting of the Church with so many different opinions nevertheless he maintained peace and no way hindered the gospell and he maintained a Protestant Minister Phauserus in his Court for a space he was oft at Masse nor did abrogate papistry He said once to William Bishop Olovincensis There is no greater sin than to domineer over mens consciences At another time he said Who take on them to command mens consciences they climbe into the castle of heaven In the beginning of his reigne he refused to pay unto Solyman the acknowledgement which his father had covenanted to pay for the peaceable possession of his part of Hungary and in the year 1566. he had his first Diet at Ausburgh where he sought subsidy against the Turk The Protestants sought a confirmation of the peace in the cause of Religion and then it was established not only by universal consent but confirmed also by oath that the Catholicks should not trouble the Protestants in the exercise of their Religion nor in the possession of their goods moveable nor vnmoveable and that the Protestants should permit the like liberty unto the Papists within their dominions Under pain of Outlawry to the transgressors on both sides As also it should be free unto any person to turn from the one Religion unto the other if they do hold their lands of the Emperour immediatly but if any Archb. or other Prelat will embrace the Reformed Religion he should renounce his Benefice with all its revenues to be conferred on a Papist excepting those goods or Monasteries which belonged not unto them that are immediatly subject unto the Emperour and have been possessed by the Reformed since the year 1552 so that no plea of law should have any power against them c. This agreement is word for word in Geo. Schonbor Politic. Lib. 4. c. 6. After this Diet Maximilian inuaded Transsylvania and took Wesperin and Dodis Wherefore Solyman came with a hudge army to aid John Vaivoda Prince of Transsylvania and took some towns from the Emperour In the mean time Solyman dieth but his Captain Mahumet a Bassa conceiled his death untill Selim was created successor unto his father then they took mo towns that Maximilian sought peace and obtained it upon harder conditions than before The same year 1567. William à Grumbach a Noble man but a vassall of the Bishop of Wirtzburg took armes with the aid of the Marques of Brandeburg against his superior wherefore the Bishop outlawed him and brought him to poverty yet he found favour with John-Frederik Duke of Saxony and some others he with some horsemen inuades Writzburg and supriseth it ere the Bishop raised an army the surprisers were gone hither and thither They began another plot the Emperour sent Augustus Elector of Saxony against them he prevailed John-Frederik was sent prisoner into lower Austria Grumbach and his Chancelorr Duke Bruck were quartered Baron Baumgartner and some others were beheaded and the castle of Grimmenstain was made levell with the ground Such was the end of proud rebells Maximilian lived the rest of his dayes in peace An. 1470. the Turks wanne Nicosia a chief town of Cyprus and Famaugusta or Salamys after a years seege and contrary to the conditions of rendring Bragadin Governour of the town was excoriat quick at command of the Bassa Mustapha and others were most cruelly murdered So all Cyprus was taken from Crhistians Then the Venetians who had possessed it 200 years made a league with the Pope and King of Spain John Duke of Austria a sone of Charles V. was Generall of the Navy the battell was fought in the firth of Corinth alià s Golfo de Lepanto 25000. Turks were slain 4000. captive and almost all their Navy with rich spoile came into the handes of Christans 14000. captive Christians were delivered An. 1575. Maximilian sought by many meanes to have been chosen King of Poland and when Steven Prince of Transsylvania was preferred he was never seen to be jovaill again He caused his son Rodulph be chosen King of the Romanes in a Diet at Ratisbon and died in time of the Diet in Octob. 1576. Pet. Mexia II RODULPH II. immediatly after his coronation sent to Rome and sought not only confirmation but to be declared the eldest sonne of the Church He held his first Diet at Ausburg An 1582 where was no talk of Religion but only he urged the Gregorian Calendare and sought aid against the Turks He took armes against Gebhard Bishop of Colein because he forsook the Pope as followes An. 1584. Rodolph and Amurath III. Emperour of Turks made truce for 93 years but the same year in October 10000 Turks inuade the landes of Carniola they burnt and wasted sundry towns and villages and carried away Christians of both sexes in eaptivity within two dayes a company of Christians meet them in Croatia they deliver the Christians and routed the Turks Osiand In the year 1592. Amurath thought to have made conquest of all Hungary and entred into Croatia then followed continuall wars untill the year 1606 victory enclining now to the one hand and then to the other Rodulph had a league with the Duke of Muscove and received supplied both of men and money against Amurath Rodulph reigned 36. years CHAP. IIJ. Of Diverse COVNTRIES J. BY the preambulatory pieces before Ge. Cassanders consultation Consultatio Cassandri it is cleare 1. from the testimony of Ja. Thuan that the Emperour Ferdiâ—and was not satisfied with the Councel of Trent and though too late he perceived that he was deceived by Cardinal Moron wherefore he took another course to compose the controversies in Religion when he could not find remedy abroad he would do his best at home So with the advice of his son Maximilian he sent for George Cassander living then in Duisburg to shew some way of conciliating the controversies of the Augustan Confession His Letters were dated May 22. 1564. 2. The Emperours purpose was that if by the advice of prudent men he could effectuat no more yet he might have a setled form of Religion in Hungary Bohem and his other hereditary Dominions Cassander was not able to make travell because he was goutish But after another Letter from the Emperour and from King Ferdinand he wrot his Consultation for that effect before he sent it Ferdinand was gone and it was delivered unto Maximilian None hath written against the Consultatio it seemes Papists would not write against it because he holdeth that the Roman Church is a true Church albeit corrupt and it is a schism to depart from it The Reformed writ not against it because he maintaines the most and main articles of their doctrine The book is scarce to be had but in a big volume with
Lions at Roan Diep Meausia Orleans and other parts within one month 30000 Thuan Li. ciâ— and in that year above 100000 Protestants were massacred Th. Rogers in the preface of The Catholick doctrine Not only were the Protestants murdered that way but many others for privat malice or avarice of the executioners Some of the Governors refused to obey that command as Claudius Count de Tende when he had read it said He would obey the former edict but he doubted that this other was only coloured with the Kings name Therefore at the Kings command he was poisoned at Avenion within few dayes Mons Sautheram Governor of Auvergne refused saying He was the Kings Lieutenant for execution of justice and not to be a hang-man Additions to the 10 book of French Commen Great mirth and processions were at Rome when the Pope heard of those massacres By the Kings commande horsemen were dispatched into all parts that no Governor be absent from his charge and to watche and warde diligently and to search narrowly all the assemblies of the Reformed and to punish them without exception In all parts of the realm they were apprehended who keept their houses upon trust of the Kings protection many were murdered and all almost were robbed as if they had been vanquish'd enemies so that nothing seemed to remain unto them but utter confusion On the 10 day of September Charles sent for the Prince of Condee and willed him to choose one of three either Masse or death or perpetual prison He answered He would never choose the first and he left the other two unto the Kings pleasure Thuan. lib. 53. Before he obtained liberty he was induced to subscribe that abjuration whereof a copy is in the 10 Book of the French Comment So did Henry King of Navarsway with the times These two easily without petitioning received pardon from Pope Gregory XIII by intercession of King Charles In the dayes of the late Queen of Navar had been an assembly in Bearn and by free consent of the States the Masse was discharged throughout all that realm but then in the year 1572 October 15 king Henry published a contrary edict forbidding the Reformed Religion and he sent Mons Grammount granting leave unto the Reformed to sell their lands within a year and then remove or to conform themselves The people were not moved by these Letters and said These letters were extorted from the king in his captivity Thuan-ibi Nevertheless those examples moved many who were thought to love the Religion to profess the contrary The cities Rochell Montauban Sanser Anduz and other towns in Vivaretz and Sevenatz continued constant but it seemed unto many of themselves great folly joyned with madness after so great overthrow of all the Nobility and so many others to think upon any defence when scarce any Noble man durst owne the Religion and not a few said It is not lawfull that subjects should bear arms against their king albeit he be wicked as it had appeared by the success â—n a word all of them were uncertain what to do and inevitable destruction seemed to be brought on the Church in France the chief men were gone they had no help from Germany nor England as before yet the helping hand of God appeared in due time French Comment lib. 11. The king sent Noble men unto those Cities commanding them to receive garrisons and a Lieutenant They were all perplexed on both sides death seemed to be at hand they were resolved to yeeld but fear made theâ— to delay The citizens of Castre received a garrison upon trust of the kings promise they were all put to the edge of the sword with no less cruelty then others before Rochell was ready to have given obedience but when they were informed of that false cruelty or cruell deceit they refused to render and so began the fourth warrs in France with the seege of Rochell and other parts were invaded with hudge violence It was the Divine providence that the Nobility failing he alone might be known the author of the work The particulars are described in the book last mentioned and would go beyond my purpose to repeat them I will only touch the seege of Rochell and the end of those warres The seege continued seven months in it two things are very remarkable first notwithstanding all the Ordinance and battering picces that were discharged against them to the number of 6000. shot only 25. Rochellers were slain and how many of the beseegers were slain it is uncertain but it may be coniectured that 132. Commanders were killed of whom the chief was Claude Duke d' Aumale uncle of the Duke of Guise March 3. 1573. The greatest assaults were seven The other remarkable thing is the poorest sort of the town began to want bread and a new sort of supply was furnished unto them to wit every day in the river they had plenty of fishes Surdones which they had never seen before and the same day that the seege was raised those wereseen no more So both rich and poor had plenty within and the Kings Army without was grieved with famine Wherefore Charles sent word unto his Brother Henry commanding him either to take-in the town instantly if it be possible or to leave it in Aprile He continued two months longer untill word was brought that he was chosen king of Poland In the mean while Sanserre suffered a hard seege that parents did eat their own little ones A general peace was proclamed and liberty of Religion was granted in July An. 1573. Thuan. Lib. 54. The edict of pacification was conceived in generall terms without naming any city those of Nismes and Languedoc took exception at that thereupon all the Protestant towns wrote unto the Duke of Aniow giving him thanks for the peace and beseeching him to procure unto them leave to assemble in a fit place to the end they may know the particulares of the pacification in convenient time and that he would grant them his Letters patent for their assurance Then many conveened from all parts of the realm as the time would suffer and so they provided for themselves Fre. Commen Lib. 12. The next year Charles died in that book it is written of his death thus Certain it is that he died of a bloody flixe and it is reported for truth by the greater part that the blood is hued out of sundry parts of his body and in his bed he could have litle rest but horribly blasphemed the name of God which he was wont to do even from his childhood Thuan Lib. 57. witnesseth of his unrest and affrighments in the night and that heendeavoured to setle it by musick And because it was suspected that he had been poisoned to the end he might vomit the blood with the more ease he was bolstered up with pillowes that his feet lay higher then his head Another hath comprised the cause and manner of his death in those verses Naribus ore oculis atque auribus
undique et ano Etpene erupit qui tibi Carle cruor Non tuus iste cruor sanctorum at caede cruorem Quem ferus hausisti concoquere haud poteras III. So soon as Henry king of Poland heard of his Brothers death he Troubles of Henry â— returned privily and quickly and was crowned King of France He renewed the warres against the Reformed Church he took Mons Monmorancy and quartered him for Religion Nevertheless they increased in number for the Duke Alanchon the Kings Brother and the Duke of Condee joyned with them so that a peace was granted and proclamed with liberty of Religion in the year 1576 but that peace endured not long Then Henry king of Navar joyned with the Reformed again yet they were all in great danger in the year 1586. The Pope Sixtus 5. excommunicated the King of Navar and the Prince of Condee and declared them uncapable of the crown of France and ordered King Henry 3. to persue them with arms The King of Navar sent unto Frederik king of Denmark and unto the Princes of Germany for aid They sent their Ambassadors unto the King of France to interceed for the Protestants He returned answer that they should medle with his subiects no more then he did with theirs Wherefore those Princes assembled at Luneburgh where were also the Ambassadors of Navar England Scotland of the Duke of Pomer c. They concluded that the King of Navar should not be forsaken Chytrae Lib. 28. So they sent 5000. horse-men and 20000. foot but unhappily for the Guises and other confoederats in Liga aurea gave them the foil in Lorrain An. 1587. The next year Henry III. understood of the presumption and intention of the Guises and he called a Parliament professing that he would give the chief Commande of his Army against the Hugonots unto Henry Duke of Guise The man doubted of the Kings favor and yet upon those fair words he went unto the Parliament he was killed in his bedchamber and his body was first burnt then his asshes were thrown into Ligeris His brother Lewes a Cardinal was hang'd and his son with some Bishops were imprisoned Within twelve dayes the Queen-mother died through sorow for the death of the Guises Ibid. Behold how God then brought peace unto his Church They who before favoured the Guises secretly do then profess open rebellion against the King the Parisians create Charles Duke of Mayen and Brother of the Duke of Guise to be Governor of Paris and of the Isle of Francia the Sorbonists deny the kings authority and absolve all men from the oath of allegiance Many cities joyn themselves unto Duke Charles to wit Lions Roan Orleance Ambian c. The King assembleth the Nobility he proclames unto all his subiects pardon of all former trespasses if now they shall return into obedience and he threatneth loss of Goods and life if they return not Henry king of Navar craves pardon obtaines it and is made General of the Army against the traitors the Dukes of Mayen and Aumale in Aprile An. 1589. And the same sommer he granted by edict at Nantes Liberty of the Religion liberty unto the Reformed to assemble not only for exercise of their Religion in their churches but also for holding their Synods yearly and so to be free from the jurisdiction of Bishops Which liberty no king of France hath impeded untill this present time and unto all who were under the former Edicts of exile he restored their honors and goods upon their submission Then the followers of Duke Charles called the king an enemy of the Apostolical Roman Church and August 1. new style a Jacobin Monk having purchased leave to deliver a Letter unto the king stabbed him as he was reading the Letter in the belly with a poisoned knife the villan said he was commanded by an Angel to kill the tyrant and his death would bring peace into France The king feared not death at the first and immediatly dispatched Posts to all the chief parts of the realm giving them notice of what was done and exhorting them to constancy and loyalty as is due unto their Soverain Before midnight he apprehendes death and the next day he caused proclaim Henry king of Navar to be his heir After the Henry 4 King of France kings death the Peers of the realm then in the lieger require an oath of the king of Navar to defend the Roman Religion and he swore to maintain even to hazert of his life the Catholick Apostolical and Roman Religion within the kingdom of France and that he will make no change in the exercise thereof and for his own person he will obey the decrees of a godly and lawfull general or National Councel and promiseth to procure it with all diligence and he swear to permit no other Religion but what is already allowed untill peace being restored it shall be otherwise provided and he confirmed all the Officers of State On the other side these and the Ptinces of the blood the other Peers and many others acknowledge Henry 4. king of France and Navar and swear lojalty and fidelity unto him Then both he and they swear that they shall revenge the villanous murder of the late king and the disturbance of the realm against all the rebels Then the Duke Mayen being at that time called Duke of Guise and the king of Spain dealt with the Pope that the king of Navar should not be absolved from the former Sentence and that faction declares Charles Duke de Mayen king of France but the Senat of Paris not admitting that any should be king who were not of the blood royal he was not proclamed there In the year 1593. Henry 4. took his oath to defend the Roman Religion he wrot an abiuration of the doctrine of the Reformed Church and sent it unto the Pope then he received a pardon and the Popes blessing and was absolved in the Church of S. Denis by the arch Bishop of Bourges upon condition to embrace the Acts of the Councel of Trent and to cause them to be observed within his realms to hear Masse to choose Mary for his advocate before God to breed the young Prince of Condee in the Romish religion c. But though for earthly peace he professed Popery yet in the Parliament at Roan An. 1597. he gave liberty of Religion within his dominions One day he said unto a Noble man I saw you tooday at the Masse Yes said the other I will follow your Majesty The King replied But you shall not have the Crown of France for it IV. Some variances arose amongst them of the Augustan Confession The causes of variance amongst the Lutherans 1. Whereas in the year 1547. theâ— were pressed by the book called Interim to accept that article Good works are necessary unto salvation the Divines of â—itteberg for peace sake did yeeld unto it but those of Iena as being more wary thought good to wave that phrase
weak instruments to make his glory so sensibly appear in the Land that I may boldly say Mercy and trueth righteousness and peace had never since Christs coming in the flesh a more glorious meeting and amiable embracing on earth even so that the Church of Scotland justly obtained a name among the chief Churches and Kingdoms of the world A people sitting in darknes hath seen a great light and unto them who sate in the region of death light did spring up As the darknes evanishes at the rising of the Sun so God made all adverse power give way unto these weake instruments by degrees as followes more clearly To what Nation under heaven since the Sunne of righteousness had shined upon the most part of Europe hath the Lord communicated the Gospell for so large a time with such purity prosperity power liberty and peace The hottest persecutions had not greater purity the most halcion times had not more prosperity and peace the best reformed churches in other places scarcely parallelled their liberty and unity And all these with such continuance that not only hath He made the trueth to stay there as He made the Sun to stay in the dayes of Josua But when the cloud of iniquities did threaten a going down in his mercy he hath brought back the glorious sunne by in any degrees Christ not hath only been one and his name made known in respect of his propheticall office for information of his priesthood for the expiation of sins and for intercession But also had displayd his banner and hath shewd himself few can say the like a Soveraigne King in the Land to govern with his own Scepter of the Word to cutt off with the Civill sword all moniments of idolatry and superfluity of vain rites and to restore all the meanes of his Worship in doctrine Sacraments and discipline to the holy simplicity and integrity of the first pattern shewed in the mount from which by that wisdom of man which ever is foolishness with God they were fearfully and shamefully swerving II. Another particulare is Some Noble men namely Lord James Steward and others were very zealous for the Reformation at the first but when they were accustomed with the aire of the Court they cooled were for toleration of the Masse and relented for their preferment as hee was made Earle of Morray and others became officers of State The Ministers admonished them and threatned them for their lukewarmness They despised admonitions and would not use the preachers so familiarly as before they were wont though none of them turned Papist excep the Earle of Bothwell and they heard the preachings When the Queen intended to marry Henry Stuard sone to the Earle of Lennox and sought not the consent of the Parliament they oppose her marriage and therefore were all exiled and fled into England Thus God made the threatnings true but in mercy to the Land he wondrously brought them back when variance fell betwixt the King and Queen the King recalleth the exiled Noble men of purpose to make himselfe the stronger by them And when the King 1567. was murthered on February 9. by the Earle of Bothwel and the Queen married that Earle these same Noble men with other stood in defence of the young Prince that he came not into the hands of him who had killed his father They went to the fields with armies on both sides and the Queen's Army was the stronger but they were strucken with such feare that without stroak of sword the Earle fled away into Denmark and the Queen went to the Lords Juny 11. and renounced the Crown in favors of her sone and did chuse the Earle of Murray to be Regent of the Q. Mary renounced the Croâ—n Kingdom enduring her Sone's minority And then the Religion was established as followes So it pleased God to change things beyond the expectation of men VI. Soon after the Queens marriage a proclamation was made wherein the Queen declares that She will confirm all that She had promised at her arrivall concerning the Reformed Religion This was to stop the peoples mouths But all in vain For the people universally were against Bothwell For some declared openly against him some were Neuters and a few of the Nobility did join unto him especially the Bishop of Santandrews and the Earle of Huntly who had been lately restored by the Queen Within few dayes after the Queen came unto the Lords she would have gone from them but they fearing what she might attempt convoy her into the Castle of Lochlevin then the Earle of Glencarn with his domesticks went to the Chappell-Royall and break down the Altars Images This fact did content the zealous Protestants but did offend the Popish party The Histor of Reformat Lib. 5. On Juny 25. The Nationall Assembly conveenes at Edinburgh George Buchanan then The XIII Assembly Principall of S. Leonards Colledge was chosen Moderator 1. The Superintendent of Anguise and Bergany were sent unto the Lords of the Secret Counsell to request their L. L. to conveen with the Assembly and give their assistance in such things as shall be thought good for establishing true Religion and supporting the Ministry 2. It is thought good by all that are conveened that this assembly shall conveen Iuly 20. next to come for setting foreward such things as shall then be propounded and for that purpose ordaines to write Missives to all and sundry Earles Lords and Barons requiring them to conveen at that day And to this effect appoints Commissioners to deliver the Missives and to require answer according to their Commissionâ— The tenor of the Commissions given to every one followes For so much as Satan this long time in his memberâ— had so raged and perturbed the good success proceedings of Christs Religion within this realm by crafty meanes subtile coâ—spiracyes that the same from time to time doth decay and in hazard to be altogether subverted unlesâ— God of his mercy find hasty remedy and that mainly through extream poverty of the Ministers who should preach the word of life unto the people and are compelled thereby some to leave that Vocation alluterly some others so abstracted that they can not insist so diligently in the exercise of the word as they would Therefore the Church presently conveened in this generall Assembly hath thought it most necessary by these presents to request admonish most brotherly all such persons as do truly professe the Lord JESUS within this realm of whatsoever estate or degree either of the Nobility Barons and Gentle men and all others true professours to conveen in Edinburgh July 21. next in their personall presence to assist with their counsell power for order to be taken alswell towardâ— the establishing of Christs religion universally throughout the realm and abolishing the contrary which is Papistry as the sustentation of the Ministers not only for the present time and instant necessity but also for a perfect order to be taken and
manners and corruptions of men jestingly asking In what Scripture could they find a Bishop for a thousand pound horse-corn and poultry and when they are teaching of love how could they find Judas 10. He oppugned the doctrin of Christ who pronounces that the most part are rebellious and shall perish 11. He denied that in the new Testament is mention of a presbytery or eldership 12. He accused the Ministers of pasquils of grudging of trouble and confusion and said Where is it what fault can they find with the Court as for myselfe I finde none 13. The Church being traduced by pasquills and infamous libells not only purged he not the Church or himself having good occasion but rather approved the same 14. In his preaching against the Ministry he used the very words of the libels that were casten into the Kings Chamber against them 15. This quarter of year by past he hath been negligent in doctrin disciplin and assisting the eldership In Sess 18. whereas Andrew meluin had by word given these articles now he gives them in writ and the Assembly assigneth to him the next day to prove the particulares and ordaines to warn Robert Mongomery to compear the next day at ten a clok to hear witnesses and probation received In Sess 20. the brethren that were sent unto the King with these articles of accusation return with answer that he had aceepted them very graciously and is content that the accusation proceed against Robert as a Minister and more that in the heads of religion he agreeth with his heart with the Church of Scotland albeit in some heads of policy he is not as yet resolved Then Andrew Melvin produceth his witnesses in the accusation to wit David Weemes Minister at Glasgow John Craig Pa. Adamson John Howeson c. All being eight in number give their oath and yet lest the said Robert say that he is defraâ—ded of any lawfull defence in his absence the Ass reserves place to any objection he hath against these witnesses if he come upon moonday at ten a clok and ordaines the same Robert because he hath departed out of the town to be instantly examined by five Ministers and two Barons or any three of them where they can find him and his deposition to be put in writ and reported unto the Assembly And for further probation if his accuser will take any other time Ordaines the said Robert to be warned unto that time In Sess 23. The Assembly gives Commission unto the Presbytery of Sterlin to summon Robert Mongomery before them to try examin his life conversation and accusations to be given against him and to report their diligence unto the next Synod of Lothian Unto whom the Assembly gives power to proceed against him according to the tryall and process deduced against him by the presbytery Under the pain of disobedience And also chargeth the said Robert to continue in the Ministry of the Church of Sterlin and not to medle with any orher function in the Church namely in aspiring to the bishoprick of Glasgow against the word of God and Acts of the Church or to vexe any of his brethren with his admission thereunto Under the pain of excommunication to be deduced against him in case of disobedience by the said presbytery and the sentence of excommunication to be execut by them with advice and concurrence of John Dury David Ferguson John Duncanson and John Dykes And this charge to be intimated by the Moderator of the Assembly unto the said Robert that he pretend not ignorance 11. In Sess 11. these heads were referred by the Synod of Lothian unto the G. Ass 1. That an universall order be made by the G. ass for examination admission and ordination of Ministers 2. To enquire what persons of the Ministry shall designe gleebs and manâ—es and seing the Synod of Lothian hath thought good that every Presbyt shall direct some of their own number for that effect within their bounds Wee crave the consent of the Gen. assembly and that the same may be universall and where is not a presbytery To appoint who shall design them 2. Who shall wait upon the Platt or Committee for modifying of Ministers stipends 3. What answer shall be given to the Kings Letter concerning the union and division of churches 5. That there may be an uniformity in summoning persons before the presbytery and in the process there 6. To suit that the tryall and admission of all Masters of schools be now enioyned unto the presbyteries 7. Seing wee in our Synod have agreed that disputation shall be every day of Exercise in every presbytery especially upon the controversies betwixt us and the adversaries for avoiding negligence in Ministers and that we may the better withstand the adversary That the Gen. assembly would appoint a generall order therein 8. What order shall be used with Ministers and Readers that set their gleebs and manse 9. That an article be sought by the Gen. assembly at the Parliament that all marriages without consent of parents without proclamation of banns or without other solemmities according to the order of the Church be declared null 10. To crave an Act of Parliament to be made against them that pass in pilgrimages and use superstition at wells crosses images or other Popish idolatry or obserâ—e feasts or dayes dedicat to Saints and set out fires for superstition 11. Seing the Act of Parliament appoints them that are convict of notorious adultery and by the ambiguous exposition of the word Notorious no execution followes Therefere for avoiding the plagues of God hanging over this wholl country for this crime that the Gen. assembly would crave an Act of Parliament for punishment of all persons whosoever are lawfully convict of adultery 12. Seing an Act of Parliament is made for discharging of markets on sunday and no execution followes whereby people absent themselfes from the Church and continue in ignorance and so atheism increases Desire that some order may be taken in this Parliament against Magistrats that put not the Act in execution Notwithstanding any particular dispensation 13. To crave an Act of Parliament for provision of gleebâ— and manfes unto the Ministers at Abbey-churches as others have 14. Because there is an Act of Parliament that all Provestries and Prebendaries shall be given to Students to maintain them at a schoole and very many of that sort are of cure of souls and parish-churches And nevertheless they are given to Courâ—iers Therefore wee desire that there may be an Act of Parliament that all Provestries and Prebendaries joyned with cure of souls may be given to none but to Ministers and so many as are given may be null in time coming And that Prebendaries which were founded for Schools or Masters teaching there be given according to the foundation to Masters for instructing the youth and if these be disponed otherwise the disposition to be null Follow answers unto these Unto 1. Will. Crysteson Andr. Melvin Thom. Smeton
patrons Shall stand untill the next assembly with this addition That the person who shall admit shall incurr the censure of the Church VI. Violaters of the sabbath under which are comprehended parishoners absenting themselves from the Sermons of their own parish without a just cause and blaspheemers of God are ordained to be tryed and censured by the particular Sessions of the parish and who shall be convict of these offences shall be denied of the benefits of the Church with further censure as the word of God will allow VII The aged and wee l meriting in the Ministry should be preferred to young men caeteris paribus being found qualified by the Presbyteries where Churches are vaiking and they agreeing with the Congregation VIII The Presbytery of Edinb having received commission from the former Assembly to call Pa. Adamson before them for solemnizing the marriage of Huntly now deliver their process shewing that for his contumacy in not compearing after citations they had deprived him from all function in the Church The Assembly judgeth the process formall ratifieth their sentence and ordaines it with other sentences that were pronounced against him to be published in all the churches B. Spotswood saith The Bishop complained unto the king who shewed himself extreamly displeased with their doings but espying no better way he resolved to dissemble his anger toward them and to take the imprisoned Lords in favor lest he make himself too much business Thereupon he returnes to the North gives Arroll a pardon puts Crawford to liberty and fully remits him Huntly and Both well he freeth from imprisonment but to hold them in awe he deferres the declaration of his will concerning them The Lord Maxwell upon his bond not to practize against religion under pain of a hunder thousand pounds is likewise dimitted So far he In many other passages he saith that what good the king had done for the Church he did it against his own mind and dissembling for the time and here he forgeth that for envy against the Church the king takes the Popish Lords into favor What could an enemy of the religion write more perversly against the fame of the king But the truth is as he also expresseth it but mixed with these calumnies the king at that time was every day expecting the arrivall of his Queen and was desirous to have all things quiet at her coming and therefore he took that course with the Popish Lords As for Pa. Adamson the king knew what commission the assembly had given unto the Presbytery of Edinburg and he knew their proceedings and nevertheless in the beginning of this Assembly as this Bishop speakes he spoke of his good affection toward the Church and in the Assemblies following he declared his good affection more and more But as the historicall Narration shewes the King was so vexed with complaints against Pa. Adamson especially for debts for which he was lying registred at the horn and he was so ashamed of him because he was so odious for others faults that he rejected him and disponed his life-rent unto the Duke of Lennox whereby the man became miserable that enduring his sicknes he had not to maintain himself and was bâ—ought into such necessity to seek relieff of others whom before he had accounted his enemies he sent also to the presbytery of Santandrews and craved to be absolved from the Sentence of excommunication Some Ministers were sent unro him to try his sincerity before them he cried often and pitifully Loose mee for Christ's sake Upon their report he was absolved His recantation in certain articles was presented in his name by a Minister John caldcleugh unto the next Synod of Fife thence some were directed unto him again and he gave them a more ample and clearer recantation subscribed with his hand and as the Writer of Vindic. Philadelp pag. 62. shewes it was subscribed before many witnesses of whom some were Noble men some Ministers some Lawiers some Burgesses all of good credite Here also wee see as it is written in that place last cited the force of excommunication howbeit before he had despised the Sentence yet ere he died all his wretchedness did not so much grieve him as that did and he wished nothing on earth more than that he might die in the bosom of the Church In another place the enemy of the Church discipline saith Whether he knew what was contained in these articles it is uncertain If it be uncertain unto that writer why doth he oppose it so denying the credite of so many famous witnesses But I goe-on Because the Queen having once taken the sea was put back by storm to Norway the King would go unto her and without knowledge of the Counsell takes the sea October 22. and some Noble men with him on the fourth day he landeth In Norway and stayd there and in Denmark untill May. All that time was no sturre in the country which was matter of great joy unto him when it was reported unto him XXVII When the king retured with the Queen May 20. 1590. he went straight way to Church and caused publick thankes be given unto God for his save return then he gave thankes unto the Noble men and Counsell for their care of the publick quietnes Then was great joy in the Country and a great concourse of people unto Court The Assembly conveens The 52. Assembly at Edinburgh August 4. very frequently the kings Commissioners the Lords Chancelor and Blantyre Patrick Galloway is chosen Moderator I. Commissioners were particularly enquired what diligence they had used in the execution of the late Act against Papists excommunicat persons profaners of the sabbath non-residents and other heads that were committed unto the Presbyteries and Commssioners II. In Sess 3. John Inness Commissioner of Murray was accused for admitting Robert Dumbar to the Ministry without the advice of the Presbytery of Forress he answeretâ— he had done it by the advice of the presbytery of Elgin wherein he confesses he had done rashly The Assembly ordaines Robert Dumbar to be tryed de novo by so many as be present of the Presbyteries of Edinb Forress In Sess 12. the admission of Robert Dumbar without the advice of the presbytery of Forress is declared null III. Because the Earle of Montrose is said to entertain Fentry an excommunicat Papist it is ordained that the Presbytery where he dwelleth for the time shall charge him before them try the matter and accordingly proceed against him according to former Acts IV. A sentence of excommunication pronounced against the Earle of Anguise is reduced because of informality but because in the Sentence was sufficient cause of such censure if the process had been formally led the Church now craves that he would remove the cause especially that he will have care in time coming that the sabbath be not profaned within his bounds by faires or markets that no working nor carrying of burdens therein that vasalls compell not their tennants to
of deprivation And if there be not actuall Ministers presently at the said churches that the said Moderators deal effectuously with other qualified persons to accept presentations and to prosecute the same by law 2. That all Beneficed persons here present be moved presenly to interdite themselves from all setting and disponing any part of their Benefice to whatsoever persons without the speciall allowance of the Generall Assembly and the interdiction to be subscribed by them and others which are absent be urged by their presbytery to do the like immediatly after this assembly 3. Because churches in many places sustain great hurt throgh want of qualified Ministers instructed in the Schools of Divinity therefore it is craved that an Act be made ordaining every Provinciall assembly to furnish all sufficient entertainment unto a Student in the New colledge of Santandr this 1596. year and so forth yearly in all time coming and that every Provinciall assembly shall have the priviledge to present their Student so oft as the said place shall vaik and if any Minister within the Province have a son of meet gifts that he be preferred to all others And after the expiring of his course in the study of Theology that he be bound to employ his travells within the Province to the which his gifts may be answerable and that it be not leesom unto the said Student to employ his travells in any other place but by the speciall advice and consent of that Province 4. Seing the necessity of the common affaires of the Churches craveth that there bee a continuall attendance at Court both for the furtherance of the present work in hand for planting the churches as also in respect of the continuall diligence of the enemy waiting all occasions specially when they find any slackness upon the part of the Church in the discovery and resisting the enterprises of the said enemies Therefore it is craved that a care and burden of the common cause be layd on some brethren by the Gen. assembly either of them who are residents here about Court or some others to be appointed out of sundry parts of the Countrey because otherwise none find themselves bound in conscience to have any care heerof or to take paines heerin The assembly accordeth unto all four but ordain the third to be first moved in the Synodes XXXIV Here I adde what is written in The Historicall Narration at the title The first course of episcopacy and first of the occasions of altering the Ecclesiasticall Government The beauty of this Church both for purity of doctrin and order of disciplin was becom admirable to the best Rrformed Churches The Assemblies of the believers were never more glorious and confortable the parochiall and Classicall elderships the Provinciall and Nationall Synods never in greater authority than in the beginning of the year 1596. For when the apostat Earles traffickers with the King of Spain were excommunicat and at procurement of the church at home and of the Queen of England were for their unnaturall conspiracy forfeited and expelled out of the Countrey their chief care was to was to search out the sins of the Land corruptions and abuses in whatsoever estate Calling or Judicatory that they might be repented-of and amended and to advert unto the savety and preservation of religion and liberties of the Church which at that time required opposition to the reentry and restoring of these Earles Whereupon in this Assembly the corruptions and enormities found in Ministers their calling and conversations as also the offenses of others without any partiality were considered as is above written On thuysday March 30. they had that humiliation wherein were present 400. persons Ministers Commissioners and others professors within one hour they looked with another countenance then that wherewith they entred being moved at the Exhortation such sighes and groanes were not heard at any other fast since the Reformation for any imminent danger and teares were shed such inabundance that the place might justly been called Bochim They testified their new entring into leagve with God by holding-up their hands ............ Their next care was to â—dvert that the Church were not endangered by any enemy as is written before Commission was given unto some btethren to assemble as they shall find urgent occasion To consult reason and advise upon and propound articles unto the King for preventing all dangers which in all liklyhood might befall the estate of religion It is clear before that this The beginning of the variance next the K. and Church course was motioned first by the Lords of the Plat and as followes was ill taken by Courtiers The Devill envying the happiness and laudadle proceedings of our Church stirreth up Papists and Politicianes to disturb her peace and to deface her beauty The Pipists saw there was no peace for them in Scotland if that power of the Church shall continue Politicians feared that their craft and trade which is to use indifferently all sorts of men and means to attain their own ends and to set up themselves in the thron of Christ should be undone ...... Huntly returnes secretly in Juny whereof the King was advertised in July at the entreaty of his Lady the King calleth a Convention of the Nobility specially such as favored the exiled Lords at Falkland in August Offer was made in his name and it was concluded that he shall return and remain in the Country upon the performance of such conditions as his Majesty propound to be performed by him Notwithstanding that Ministers An. Melvin Ja. Nicolson Pa. The first debate Galloway Da. Lindsay and other Ministers protested in the contrary in respect it could not stand with the Kings honor to hearken unto any conditions till first it were manifest that he is not in the Countrey as they do alledge who sute for him nor could it stand with the assurance of religion and peace of the Countrey in respect his apostasy which was the ground of his excommunication or his conspiracy with the Spaniard the ground of his forfeitry were not confessed offences by him Another Convention was held at Dunfernlin in Septenber where the conditions were agreed upon which were tendred unto him without consent of the Ministry Arroll returnes in the same month Their friends and abbettors vanted that they had obtained his Majesties protection and peace passed and subscribed in Counsell and that they hoped assuredly for advancement to Offices charge of guards and Lieutenentâ—ies as they had before Some Commissioners of the Generall assembly and some other Ministers The next debate conveening at Couper directed some of their number unto the King at Falkland namely An. Melvin Ja. Melvin Ia. Nicolson and Pa. Galloway to crave that the dangerous enterprises of the enemies might be prevented The King seemed to be offended at their meeting and commission And. Melvin answered with great liberty Sir there are two Kings and two kingdoms in Scotland Christ is a King and the Church
Huntly Erroll Anguse Hume Heres and the places of chief residence the town of Dumfrise and other places of the Nobility who are of great power 5. The hasty admission of Ministers before they be known to be of sufficient gifts and experience in these difficil times 6. The negligence of Ministers in advancing their knowledge by constant reading and meditation of the Scriptures and controversies of the time whereby they might be the more able to bring the consciences of their auditors to the obedience of the Gospell and convinâ—e the adversaries 7. The negligence of Ministers in not framing their conversation as patterns unto the people but conforming themselves excessively to the humors of men especially in their communications at table intemperance somtimes and in their light and prodigal vestures and of their families 8. The distraction of minds which is supposed to be among Ministers 9. The distraction of his Majesties minde against some of the Ministry 10. The advancing of men who are suspected in and known to be ill affected to religion unto honors Offices and credit in Court Counsell Session and other places of great importance 11. The desolation of the church of Edinburgh through want of Pastors 12. The continuall entertainment of the Lady Huntly Margarit wood and other professed and known Papists in his Maj s Court and company 13. The education of his Maj s children in the company of obstinat Papists 14. The negligent breeding of Noble mens children and the sending of them out of the countrey into places where Papistry is professed and that with tutors suspected in religion or not well confirmed in it 15. The impunity of Masters and owners of ships who bring into the Country Seminaries Jesuits with their coffers and books 16. The decay of schools for education of children especially in the country 17. That men who are challenged by the Presbyteries for their religion have continuall access to Court 18. The lately reconciled Papists are not prest to perform their Remedies promises The remedies of these evils are 1. A Generall humiliation is to be solemly keept in all churches on two sabboths of Juny next 2. The unplanted churches are to be recommended unto the K. whose authority only can accomplish that work 3. Nothing is more necessary then to have the houses and places above named wel provided with learned wise and godly Pastors and where the lack of provisions may hinder the present planting it is judged expedient in the mean whil that some Pastors be appointed to attend in these Noble men's families for 4. or 6. months alswel for finding out means of planting these places as for confirming and instructing the Noble men and their families The Presbyteries taking care to supply the absence of these Ministers from their particular flocks And severall Ministers were deputed to this effect 4. Petition is to be made unto his Majesty and Secret Counsell that who are known to deal with professed Papists more than the lawes do permit should be accounted as suspect in religion and not have the honor to be in his Majesties family Counsel nor Session 5. A supplication is to be made unto his Majesty and Counsell that all Papists men and women who are or shall be under censure for their religion be discharged from Court untill they have satisfied and bring from the Presbytery of the bounds a testimoniall of their obedience 6. For discovery of the adversaries of the true religion every Presbytery shall with all diligence write the names of all not communicants within their bounds and send them unto the Ministers of the Kings family being subscribed by the Moderator Clerk and the Minister of the parishon 7. The Presbteries where the lately reconciled Lords have their residence shall enquire whether they have performed the articles subscribed by them and urge them unto performance And if they refuse the Presbyteries shall certify the King's Ministers 8. Supplication is to be made unto the King and Counsell that when Noble men or others send their children out of the country their tutors be of known religion and be approved by testimoniall of the Presbytery and that their remaining abroad be in places where the true religion is professed or no restraint of it by the cruell Inquisition and that they shall not repair unto the exercise of the idolatrous religion And if their sons shall repair unto the countries where is restraint of religion the parents shall give caution that they shall not entertain them in that time And if their sons embrace another religion they shall not have honors nor Offices within the realâ— 9. Supplication is to be made unto the King and Counsell that Masters and owners of ships be inhibited to bring Jesuites Seminary-priests proclamed traitors ...... And to that effect that they set no passingers on land but at the common ports where they shall prâ—sent the passingers unto the Magistrates 10. It is expedient to entreat the King for removing his daughter from the Lady Liuinston an obstinat Papist The King promiseth to bring her into his own family before November 11. The King nominates Noble men and the Assembly appoints some Ministers to meet Juny 1. to advise upon Overtures for advancing the locall provision of stipends especially unto the unplanted churches 11. Ministers are appointed unto the houses of the King Queen and Prince 12. Some Ministers are designed unto some unplanted churches in Nidâ—deal and the assembly ordaines the Commissioners to recommend unto his Majesty the provision of these churches II. A woman being charged by the Presbytery of Couper to satisfy for her adultery which was proved against her had produced a decreet of adherence obtained before the Commissaries of Edinburgh ordaining her Husband to adhere unto her and by consequence acquiting heâ— of adultery This question being referred unto the assembly the Presbtery is ordained to put their own decreet to execution notwithstanding the other decreet III. It is represented by sundry Ministers that there be some errors in the vulgar Translation of the Bible and in the meeter of the Plalnâ—s as also that sundry of the common prayers are not convenient for these times The Assembly ordaines some brethren who are acquainted with the Originall languages to employ their studies in sundry parts of the vulgare Translation and to shew their diligence at the next assembly and ordaines Robert Pont to revise the Psalms in meeter As for the common prayers it is ordained that none be altered nor deleted but if any Minister wold have any prayer as more convenient unto the time it should be first presented and allowed by the assembly IV. The Assembly ordaines the Commissioners to transplant James Balfour Walter Balcanquall and William Watson from Edinburgh into other churches and to plant other qualified Ministers in Edinburgh The Commissioners of Edindurgh protest 1. that they are free of the burden of the transportation of their Ministers 2. That the transportation shall not prejudge them hereafter but