at the least as egerly per fas nefas by slaunder reproch and malitious practises to discredit all those that withstand them in their desires for the Geneua-like discipline as any other Scottish Ministers Papistes or old Geneuians haue laboured to discredit those that maintayned al kind of Popery Idolatry and superstition it is to be feared least they proceede in the Geneua Resolution as their fellowes whō they do imitate in Scotland or rather whom they do excell haue done before them The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP I. The practises of certaine English Reformers for Discipline from the yeare 1560. vntill the yeare 1572. AS in Scotland when they could not obtaine their desires for the full establishing of their booke of Discipline by lawfull authority they procured such priuate subscription therunto as they were able and so fell themselues to the practise of it as it hath beene said in the sixt chapter of the first Booke euen so haue our men in England of the same consort and faction proceeded in effect vpon the like occasion for their new platforme but yet in a different manner For the first ten or eleuen yeares of her Maiesties raign through the peeuish frowardnes the out-cries and exclamations of those that came home from Geneua against the garments prescribed to Ministers and other such like matters no man of any experience is ignorant what great contention and strife was raysed insomuch as their sectaries deuided themselues from their ordinary congregations and meeting together in priuate houses in woods fields had and kept there their disorderly and vnlawfull conuenticles These kinds of assemblies notwithstanding the inconuenience and absurdnes of them in a Church reformed M. Cartwright within a while after tooke vppon him in sort to defend saying that the name of conuenticles was too light and contemptuous for them About the twelfth yeare of her highnesse said gouernment these malecontents growing weary of the foresaide dissentions and being of restlesse dispositions began to stir vp new quarrels concerning the Geneua Discipline being the matter indeede which they still aymed at in all their former proceedings Herevpon the 14. of her Maiesty two admonitions were framed and exhibited to the high Court of Parliament The first contayned their pretended griefes with a declaration forsooth of the onely way to reforme them vz. by admitting of that platforme which was there described This admonition finding small entertainement the authors or chief preferrers thereof being imprisoned out commeth the second admonition towardes the end of the same Parliament with great lightning and thunder as though heauen and earth shoulde haue met together because of the little regard which was had before to the former admonition In this second admonition the first is wholly iustified the Parliament as it hath beene shewed is mightily challenged great wordes are vsed and in plaine tearmes it is there affirmed That if they of that assembly woulde not then followe the aduise of the first admonition they would surely themselues be their owne caruers The Church say they may and must keepe God his orders and surely this is only God his order vz. the sayd platforme ought to bee vsed in his Church so that in conscience wee are forced to speake for it and to vse it Whereupon presently after the sayd Parliament vz. the twentieth of Nouember 1572. there was a Presbytery erected at Wandesworth in Surrey as it appeareth by a bill endorsed with Master Fields hande thus the order of Wandesworth In which order the Elders names eleuen of them are set downe the manner of their election is declared the approuers of them one Smith of Micham and Crane of Roughampton are mentioned their offices and certaine generall rules then giuen vnto them to bee obserued were likewise agreed vpon and described CHAP. II. The secrete meetinges for Discipline and the matters handled in them here in England from 1572 till 1583. HOwe they grew to be so farre gone at Wandesworth that I find not they of London at that time were nothing so forward And yet as it appeareth by the lawfull deposition and othe of one then of that faction but now a very honest man a Batcheller of Diuinity and an auncient Preacher they had then their meetings of Ministers tearmed brethren in priuate houses in London as namely of Field Wilcox Standen Iackson Bonham Seinctloe Crane and Edmondes which meetinges were called conferences according to the plot in the first and second admonitions mentioned In these London-meetings at the first little was debated but against subscription the attyre and booke of common prayer Marry after saith he that Charke Trauers Barber Gardiner Cheston and lastly Crooke and Egerton ioyned themselues into that brotherhood then the handling of the Discipline began to be rise then many motions were made and conclusions were set downe As for example That forasmuch as diuers bookes had beene written and sundry petitions exhibited to her Maiesty the Parliament their LL s and yet to little purpose therefore euery man should labour by all the meanes he could to bring into the Church the said reformation themselues That the present gouernement of the Church by Archbishops Bishops was Antichristian that the only Discipline gouernment of Christ as they termed it vz. by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons should be established in place of the other That for the better bringing in of the said forme of Discipline they should not onely aswell publikely as priuately teach it but by little and little as much as possibly they might draw the same into practise though they concealed the names either of Presbytery Elder or Deacon making little account of the name for the time so that their offices might be secretly established There was an assembly of three-score Ministers appointed out of Essex Cambridge-shiere and Norfolke to meete the eighth of May 1582. at Cockefield Maister Knewstubs towne there to conferre of the common booke what might be tollerated what necessarily to be refused in euery point of it apparel matter forme dayes fastings iniunctions c. Of this meeting it is thus reported Our meeting was appointed to be kept very secretely and to be made knowne to none c. That this assembly was also kept accordingly it appeareth by these words Concerning the meeting I hope all things were so proceeded in as your self would like of aswell for reuerence to other brethren as for other matters I suppose before this time some of the company haue told you by word for that was permitted vnto you Another meeting was also appointed to be helde that yeare at the Commencement in Cambridge as is plaine by these wordes Concerning the Commencement I like well your motion desiring it might so come to passe and that it be procured to be as generall as might be which may easily be brought to passe if you at London shall so thinke well of it and
we here may vnderstand your minde we will I trust as we can further it M. Allen liketh well of the matter CHAP. III. A forme or booke of Discipline is drawen and a resolution is agreed vpon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church WHilest the brethren in the Countrey were comming thus fast on forward as you haue heard in the ende of the former Chapter you must not thinke that the Rabbies in London were in the mean time idle Hitherto it should seeme that in all their former proceedings they had relied chiefly vpon the first admonition and Cartwrights booke as hauing had no particular and seuerall platforme that was generally allowed of amongst them for the Church of England But now at the length about the yeare 1583. the forme of Discipline which is lately come to light was compiled and thereupon an assembly or Councell being helde as I thinke at London or at Cambridge certaine decrees were made concerning the establishing and the practise thereof In which decrees mention is made of a collection concluded vpon for the Scottish Ministers fugitiues here in England 1583. which sheweth the time when they were made order is likewise taken for the putting in vse of the Synodicall Discipline which also prooueth the age of that booke The decrees themselues are extant to bee seene vnder Maister Wights hande a man of that brotherhood But it may not be omitted that you must thinke how the godly brethren in all these and such other their zealous courses had neuer any meaning to disturbe the present state established And thereupon forsooth in this conspiracy or councell mentioned like good and quiet spirited men they had an especiall care that the peace of the Church might not be broken by any order or decree of theirs So as then the question amongst them was seeing the Discipline must needs vp how farre they might proceede in the establishing and practise of it keeping notwithstanding the peace of the Church established already by her Maiesty And it was ouerruled accordingly as it followeth in the decrees themselues faithfully translated worde for word out of their owne Latin coppy The title thereof vz. These be the thinges that doo seeme may well stande with the peace of the Church The Decrees Let no man though he be an Vniuersity man offer himself to the Ministery nor let any man take vpon him an vncertaine and vague Ministery though it be offered vnto him But such as bee called to the Ministery by some certaine Church let them impart it vnto that Classis or conference wherof themselues are or else vnto some greater Church assembly and if such shall be found fit by them then let them bee commended by their letters vnto the Bishop that they may bee ordayned Ministers by him Those ceremonies in the Booke of common prayer which being taken from Popery are in controuersie doo seeme that they ought to bee omitted and giuen ouer if it may bee done without danger of being put from the Ministery But if there be any imminent danger to be depriued then this matter must bee communicated with the Classis in which that Church is that by the iudgement thereof it may be determined what ought to be done If subscription to the articles of Religion and to the booke of common Prayer shall be againe vrged it is thought that the booke of articles may be subscribed vnto according to the statute 13. Eliz. that is vnto such of them onely as containe the summe of Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments But for many waighty causes neither the rest of the articles in that booke nor the booke of common prayer may be allowed no though a man should be depriued of his Ministery for it It seemeth that Churchwardens and Collectors for the poore might thus be turned into Elders and into Deacons When they are to be chosen let the Church haue warning fifteene dayes before of the time of election and of the ordinance of the Realme but especially of Christs ordinance touching appointing of watchmen and ouerseers in his Church who are to foresee that none offence or scandall doo arise in the Church and if any shall happen that by them it may be duely abolished And touching Deacons of both sorts vz. men and women the Church shall be monished what is required by the Apostle and that they are not to choose men of custome and of course or for their riches but for their faith zeale and integrity and that the Church is to pray in the meane time to be so directed that they make choise of men that be meete Let the names of such as are so chosen be published the next Lords day and after that their dueties to the Church and the Churches towards them shall be declared then let them be receiued vnto the Ministery to which they are chosen with the generall prayers of the whole Church The Brethren are to be requested to ordaine a distribution of all Churches according to these rules in that behalfe that are set downe in the Sinodicall Discipline touching Classicall Prouinciall Comitiall or of Commencements and assemblies for the whole kingdome The Classes are to be required to kepe acts of memorable matters which they shall see deliuered to the Comitiall assembly that frō thence they may be broght by the prouincial assembly Also they are to deale earnestly with patrones to present fit men whensoeuer any Church is fallen voide in that Classis The Comitiall assemblies are to bee monished to make collections for reliefe of the poore and of schollers but especially for reliefe of such Ministers here as are put out for not subscribing to the Articles tendred by the Bishoppes also for reliefe of Scottish Ministers and others and for other profitable and necessary vses All the prouinciall Synodes must continually afore hand foresee in due time to appoint the keeping of their next prouinciall Synodes and for the sending of chosen persons with certaine instructions vnto the Nationall Synode to be holden whensoeuer the Parliament for the kingdome shall be called and at some certaine set time euere yeare Hitherto the Decrees of this graue Councell whereby it seemeth to me that when they resolued they might proceede thus farre and keepe notwithstanding the peace of the Church of England established they opposed in that resolution the worde peace to warre as though they should haue agreed how far they might runne on in this race without vrging of their followers to force armes For otherwise how could any sober men so much as once haue imagined that they might in this sort ouerthrow in effect the present gouernement and establish their owne deuises and yet neuer breake the peace of the Church But I will not presse this point It is more agreeable to my purpose to pursue the chase CHAP. IIII. About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their Discipline and of a Consistorian question TO
nourish the superstition of some men or giue ouer themselues to the preseruation of vanity Likewise festi dies sunt commodè abolendi holy daies as we tearme them must be abolished commode as they may handsomely Nowe if this booke had not beene meant to haue beene put in practise in these two pointes before it had come forth authorised by law they would haue said for the reasons alledged from henceforth let there be or it is ordered that there shall be no more preaching at burials nor holy dayes obserued or let them henceforth be abolished Moreouer reliquae liturgiae tota ratio in sacramentorum administratione ex vsu ecclesiae in nuptiarum benedictione consist it Cuius forma commodissima est quae ab ecclesiis vsurpatur quae disciplinam ex Dei verbo instaurârunt The rest of the liturgy doth consist in the administration of the Sacraâ—ents and as the vse of the Church is in blessing of mariages The forme whereof is most fit and commodious that is vsed by those Churches which haue erected the discipline according to the worde of God In the Parliament 27. of her Maiestie as I remember the brethren hauing made another booke tearmed at that time A booke of the forme of common prayers c. and contayning in it the effect of their whole pretended discipline the same booke was penned altogether statute and lawlike and their petition in the behalfe of it was vz. May it therefore please your maiesty c. that it may be enacted c. that the booke hereunto annexed c. intituled a booke of the forme of common prayers administration of Sacraments c. and euery thing therein contained may be from henceforth authorized put in vre practised throughout all your maiesties dominions See here when they hoped to haue attained their purposes by law and to haue had the same accordingly established they offered to the Parliament a booke of their own for the forme of common praiers c. and thought it as it seemeth altogether inconuenient to leaue euery minister to his owne choyse to vse what forme hee list other then such as were allowed in some Church which had receiued the Discipline for any such they liked-of indefinitly Whereby it to me it seemeth manifest that they neuer meant to haue required the enacting of that Chapter de reliquis liturgiae officijs but onely to set downe what course their bretheren should follow for the interim vntill they might take further order for a booke of their owne Lastly in all this whole booke of Discipline there is not once mention made of any authority or office in or ouer the Church belonging to the Christian ciuill Magistrate Hee hath not so much as either voyce or place in any of their Synodes as a member thereof except he be chosen to be an Elder He hath not any power assigned vnto him to call a Synode no though it bee a Nationall Synode nor so much as to appoint the particular times or places of their meetinges nor which is most strange so much as that his assent is to be required to any of their Canons But all these thinges are set downe in this booke as of right to appertaine vnto their Ministers and Elders For the tryall whereof I must needes referre you to the booke it selfe which is in many mens handes where you shall finde the brethren ascribe that to themselues which in the greatest darkenes of Popery all the BB s. in the Land for ought I doo remember durst neuer challenge Which is a proofe sufficient that either they meant by cunning to haue depriued her Maiesty by her owne consent of all her regall authority in these and such like causes of the Church as not of right belonging vnto her which they will not acknowledge or otherwise that they had agreed without her consent to take this authority vnto themselues which if they had any conscience they would not stick to confesse that being assuredly their currant doctrine as in some other place it shall hereafter more fully appeare But it may be said that these are onely collections Well let them be as they are Indeede there is no cause why I should stand vpon collections hauing yet in store most euident demonstrations CHAP. XI Further proofe for their practise of their Discipline out of the articles they subscribed THere hath beene often mention made of the articles whereunto the brethren subscribed for their allowance and practise of the sayd booke of Discipline and they are worde for worde as here I doo set them downe according to the deposition of those that subscribed vnto them and as they are to bee shewed vnder Maister Wights hand We the brethren assembled together in the name of God hauing heard and examined by the word of God according to our best abilitie and iudgement in it a draught of discipline essential and necessary for all times and Synodicall gathered out of the Synodes and vse of the Churches haue thought good to testifie concerning it as followeth We acknowledge and confesse the same agreeable to Gods most holy word so farre as we are able to iudge or discerne of it excepting some fewe pointes which wee haue sent to our Reuerend brethren of this assembly for their further resolution We affirme it to be the same which wee desire to be established in this Church by daily praier to God which we promise as God shall offer oportunity and giue vs to discerne it so expedient by humble suit vnto her Maiesties honour able Councell and the Parliament and by all other lawfull and conuenient meanes to further and aduance so farre as the lawes and peace and the present estate of our Church will suffer it and not enforce to the contrary We promise to guide our selues and to be guided by it and according to it For more especiall declaration of some points more important and necessarie we promise vniformely to follow such order when we preach the word of God as in the booke by vs is set downe in the Chapters of the office of Ministers of the word of preaching or sermons of Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper Further also wee promise to followe the order set downe in the Chapters of the meetings as farre as it concerneth the Ministers of the worde For which purpose we promise to meete euery sixe weekes together in Classicall conferences with such of the brethren here assembled as for their neighbourhood may fit vs best and such other as by their aduise we shall be desired to ioyne with vs. The like wee promise for Prouinciall meetinges euery halfe yeare from our conferences to sende vnto them as is set downe in the Chapter concerning the Prouinces and the conferences belonging vnto them beeing deuided according to the order following Likewise also that we will attend the generall assembly euerie yeare and at all Parliaments and as often as by order it shall be thought good to be assembled Hitherto
that in an assembly had either at his house or at Kettring it was propounded treated and concluded that the Apocrypha writings were not to be read in the Church And in an other assembly which of them he doth not remember he affirmeth likewise that it was debated and concluded vpon that the superiority of the Bishops of this land ouer the rest of the Ministers is not warranted by the word of God To these depositions concerning the Northamptonshire Classes I might adde the depositions of one maister Parker Vicar of Dedham in Essex for the proofe of the Classes in that shire as of one about Brayntree side consisting of these Ministers maister Culuerwell maister Rogers maister Gifford c. another about Colchester consisting of these Ministers Doctor Chapman Doctor Chricke maister Dowe maister Farrar maister Newman master Tey c. and so likewise the depositions of others Ego singulis sabbatis si non alius adueniens locum suppleat cum prescripta leiturgias formula nihil habens cōmertij in coetu concionem habeo idque reuerendorum fratrum consilio qui suos habent singulis ferè hebdomadis conuentus qui etiam me in eorum numerum sic est mihi propitius Deus benigne ascripserunt I preach euery Sabbaoth day if no other that commeth by chance doth supply the place hauing nothing to do at all with the forme or booke of Common Prayer and that by the counsell of the reuerend brethren who haue their meetings almost euery weeke who haue also God being so mercifull vnto me admitted me very kindly into their number But in following of that course I should be too tedious I will onely set downe one mans witnesse more agreeing with Master Iohnson for the proofe that the like Classes are or haue beene held in most Shires in England and so referring you to iudge of them all by that of Northampton I will goe forward About two yeares since Maister Snape did say and affirme in the presence of Edward Smith Robert Vicars Edward Birde Richard Holmes himselfe that there were three or foure small Classes of Ministers in euery shire where there were any learned Preachers who did vse in their meetinges to debate of the Discipline by Pastors Doctors Elders Deacons and that the said seuerall small Classes did send their resolutions and opinions to the greater assemblies at Cambridge at Sturbridge Fayre time and at London at Bartholomew Fayre time which did meete together also for the same purpose and that if the said great assembly did like of that which was done by the smaller Classes then was the same so liked of generally concluded to be that which ought to be or stand in the Church As for example That it was concluded and agreed vpon both in the said Classicall and generall assemblies that the dumbe ministerie was no ministerie or else no lawfull ministerie and that the Ministers in their seuerall charges should all teach one kind of doctrine tending to the erecting of the foresaid gouernement by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons which pointes sayth Holmes of himselfe in another examination were concluded in the Synode at Sturbridge Fayre last vz. 1588. CHAP. VI. A Synode is held at Couentrie 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of Discipline is subscribed vnto THere is mention made in the last chapter of a Synode or meeting 1587. of the Cambridgeshire Classicall Ministers and peraduenture of some others also with them In which meeting there were certain questions propounded dealt in the which questions were afterwards sent by their direction to the Warwickshire Classes or brethren assembled in those parts to bee further intreated of and resolued The next yeare after vz. 1588. the saide Warwickeshire Classes c. assembling themselues together in councel as it seemeth at Couentry the questions mentioned were determined vpon and besides other matters were also concluded as by the acts themselues following to be shewed vnder Maister Wights hand and are acknowledged in effect vppon two mens othes in the Starre-chamber may sufficiently appeare Thus the proceedinges of that meeting are intituled Acta conuentus Classium Warwic die decimo quarti 1588. The Acts of the assembly of the Warwickeshire Classes the tenth day of the fourth moneth And touching the questions specified Questiones a fratribus ex Synodo Cantabrigiensi anno superiore delatae eâ quae sequitur formulâ sunt explicatae The questions brought the other yeare from the brethren of the Cambridge Synode are resolued in manner as followeth I will not trouble my paper with the fourme which they vsed but these were some of their resolutions vz. That priuate Baptisme is vnlawfull That it is not lawfull to read homilies in the Church That the signe of the Crosse is not to be vsed in Baptisme That the faithfull ought not to communicate with vnlearned ministers although they may be present at their seruice if they come of purpose to heare a sermon The reason is because lay men aswell as ministers may read publike seruice That the calling of Bishops c. is vnlawfull That as they deale in causes ecclesiasticall there is no duety belonging vnto them nor any publikely to be giuen them That it is not lawful to be ordained by thē into the ministery or to denounce either suspensions or excommunications sent from thē That it is not lawfull to rest in the Bishops depriuation of any from the ministerie except vpon consultation with the neighborministers adioyning and his flocke it seeme so good vnto them but that he continue in the same vntill he be compelled to the contrary by ciuill force That it is not lawfull to appeare in a Bishops Court but with protestation of their vnlawfulnes That Bishops are not to be acknowledged either for Doctors Elders or Deacons as hauing no ordinary calling That touching the restauration of their Ecclesiasticall discipline it ought to be taught to the people data occasione as occasion should serue That nondum as yet the people are not to be solicited publicè publickly to the practise of the discipline donec till they be better instructed in the knowledge of it That men of better vnderstanding are to be allured priuatly to the present imbracing of the Discipline and practise of it as far as they shall be well able with the peace of the Church And thus farre the prouinciall Synode of the Warwickeshire Classis Likewise at that time there was in the same assembly a great approbation obtained of the foresaid booke of Discipline as to be a draught of Discipline essentiall necessarie for all times and certaine articles being deuised in approbation and for the maner of the vse of that booke were then brought forth treated-of and subscribed vnto as Maister Nutter Maister Cleuely two that were then present haue deposed by Maister Cartwright Maister Fenne Maister Wight c. who promised to guide themselues by the saide Discipline and according to it as it is set downe in the
DAVNGEROVS POSITIONS AND PROCEEdings published and practised within this Iland of Brytaine vnder pretence of Reformation and for the Presbiteriall Discipline 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My sonne feare the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious Prou. 24. 21. They despise gouernement and speake euill of them that are in authority Iude. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe 1593. An aduertisement to the Reader THE Author of this Treatise was required by some persons of honor who might dispose of him and his labours to set downe by way of an historicall narration what hee had obserued touching certaine positions holden and some enterprises atchieued or vndertaken for recommending and bringing the Presbiteriall Discipline into this Iland of Brittaine vnder pretence of reformation The performance of which dutie when hee had vndertaken and was entred into it hee found the worke to grow farre greater vpon him then at the first he did imagine Insomuch as although in the beginning he verily supposed tha hee might easily haue contriued his matter into a few sheetes of paper so that as many coppies as were to bee disposed might easily and in very short time haue beene written forth yet by the necessary length of the Discourse as it fell out and through his manifold quotations hee was constrained as the time required to procure for the better dispatch that some fewe copies might bee printed And albeit there is no meaning that this Treatise laboured but for the priuate satisfaction of some fewe especiall persons should otherwise continue then as an vnpublished Copie yet the writer of it wished to haue it signified that nothing is alleadged therein which is not to be found either in Bookes and writinges published to the view of the world such as he thinketh will not be disclaimed or in publike records or else is to be shewed vnder those parties own hands that haue beene either the principall procurers fauorers or dealers in those thinges whereof hee intreateth Which asseueration of his thus made he will be ready as he sayth God assisting him to iustifie at any time for the satisfaction of such as shall make doubt of it And doth further protest with all sinceritie that he hath not willingly detorted any thing in this whole Discourse to make either the cause it selfe or the fauorors thereof more odious then their owne wordes and deeds shall necessarily inferre and enforce against them with all indifferent and considerate Readers Farewell in Christ. The Contents of the first Booke OF two sorts of men that especially disturbe the Church of England and of the drifts of them both by way of a Preface Chap. 1. Fol. 1. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion and of the Doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached Chap. 2. Fol. 7. Of the proceeding of some Scottish Ministers according to the Geneuian rules of Reformation Chap. 3. Fol. 9. How the Geneuian Doctrine or principle for Reformation hath beene amplified by certaine pretended Reformers in Scotland Chap. 4. Fol. 14 The obiections against the doctrine reported of in the former chapter with the Consistorian answeres vnto them Chap. 5. Fol. 16. The proceedinges of certaine Scottish Ministers according to the groundes mentioned in the two last chapters for setting vp of the Consistorian Discipline and of their vrging of our English Disciplinaries to follow their steppes Chap. 6. Fol. 18. The Contents of the second Booke The Doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to have procured the like course for Reformation in England to that which was in Scotland Chap. 1. Fol. 34. Our English Disciplinarians doo imitate the Scottish in their desire of the Consistoriall gouernement sauing that they are more bewitched with a kind of dotage after it Chap. 2. Fol. 41. Our pretended English reformers doo imitate or rather exceede the Scottish Ministers in reuiling and rayling against all that doo encounter them Chap. 3. Fol. 44. The speeches of the said pretended reformers concerning England the State the present reformation and gouernement of the Church Cha. 4. Fol. 47. Some of their vndutifull and consistorian speeches concerning her Maiestie c. Chap. 5. Fol. 48. Some of their rayling speeches against the high court of Parliament and all others generally that do maintaine the present gouernment of the Church of England Chap. 6. Fol. 50 Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell Chap. 7. Fol. 52. Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall Chap. 8. Fol. 54. Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and ceremonies Chap. 9. Fol. 55. How they doo charge the present gouernement with persecution Chap. 10. Fol. 56. Some of their consistorian speeches of the Clergy of England assembled as occasion hath required in the Conuocation house Chap. 11. Fol. 58. Some of their presbiterial speeches of the Bishops of England professing the Gospell Chap. 12. Fol. 58. Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergy in England generally that mislike their designements Chap. 13. Fol. 60. Their especiall drift in their said rayling speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose Chap. 14. Fol. 61. The Contents of the third Booke The practises of certaine English reformers for Discipline from the yeare 1560. vntill the yeare 1572 chap. 1. Fol. 65 The secret meetings for Discipline and the matters handled in them heere in England from 1572. till 1583. chap. 2. Fol. 67 A forme or booke of discipline is drawne and a resolution agreed vppon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church chap 3. Fol. 69 About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their discipline and of a consistorian question chap. 4. Fol. 73 Their Booke of Discipline is reuiewed it was after sent abroad about 1587 it was put in practise in Northamptonshire and many other places cha 5 Fol. 75. A Synode is held at Couentry 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of discipline is subscribed vnto chap. 6. Fol. 85 The booke of the pretended discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certain Synods are kept and of their estimation chap. 7 Fol. 88 Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed chap. 8. Fol. 91 Cartwright is called for by authority a Synode is held in London it is there resolued that he shall refuse to be examined vpon his oath chap. 9. Fol. 93 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline collected out of the rules of their subscribed booke chap. 10. fol. 94 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline out of the articles they subscribed cha 11. fol. 98. It is confessed that they agreed to
Ans. Wee may punish theeues and yet wee ought to pray for them Ob. Saint Paule doth command vs to be subiect and obedient to Princes Tit. 3. Ans. Paule writt this in the infancie of the Church There were but fewe Christians then and not many of them rich or of abilitie so as they were not ripe for such a purpose As if a man should write to such Christians as are vnder the Turke in substance poore in courage feeble in strength vnarmed in number fewe and generallie subiect to all kinde of iniuries would he not write as Paul did So as the Apostle did respect the men he writt vnto and his wordes are not to be extended to the body or people of a common wealth or whole Citie For imagine sayth hee that Paul were now aliue where both the King and people do professe Christianity and that there were such Kings as would haue their becks to stand for lawes as cared neither for God nor man as bestowed the Church reuenues scurris balatronibus vpon iesters and rascalls and such as gibed at those that did embrace the more sincere Religion what would he write of such to the Church Surely except he would dissent from himself he would say that he accounted no such for Magistrates hee would forbidde all men for speaking vnto them and from keeping them companie he would leaue them to their subiects to be punished neither would he blame them if they accounted no longer such for their Kings as by the law of God they could haue no societie withall And thus farre the answearer There are diuers other obiections against those reformers which receiue almost as desperate answers But I will not at this time trouble you with them especially if you will giue me leaue to aduertise you that this new Diuinity of dealing thus with Princes is not onely helde by Knox and Buchanan but generally for ought I can learne by most of the Consistorians of chiefe name beyonde the Seas who being of the Geneua humor doo endeuour by most vniust disloyall meanes to subiect to their forged presbyteries the scepters and swordes of Kings and Princes as Caluin Beza Hotoman Vrsinus as he commeth out from Newstadt Vindiciae contra tyrannos Eusebius Philadelphus c. For the further fruit of which Consistorian Diuinitie besides that which is sayd by some of the Ministers of Scotland I referre you to the consideration of such stirres as haue hapned of late yeares in some other countries And thus farre concerning the iustification which is made of the Scottish reformation Now I will leade you backe againe where I left vz. to certaine of the Ministers further proceedings there vppon these aforesaide maine grounds and principles CHAP. VI. The proceedinges of certaine Scottish Ministers according to the grounds mentioned in the two last chapters for setting vp of the Consistorian Discipline and of their vrging of our English Disciplinaries to follow their steppes THe Parliament of Scotland before mentioned Chap. 3. of An. 1560. being dissolued there was then a booke of Discipline or newe kingdome of Christ by their seuerall presbyteries drawne and compiled after the Geneua fashion by M. Knox and others Which booke vpon the offering of it to their associates and fauorites to be allowed receiued and publikely practised was by them reiected and tearmed to bee in truth but a deuout imagination Whereupon now riseth an occasion of a new historie how after they had obtained reformation of religion as touching the true preaching of the worde and administration of the Sacraments they also dealt and preuailed in the ende for the establishing of their Discipline and Consistoriall gouernement It appeareth that in the foresaide spoyles of Abbayes Fryeries and Cathedrall Churches c. euery man almost did seeke his priuate commoditie Which beeing espied before by the saide Ministers they misliked it as finding the pray taken out of their teeth but yet they were gone so far belike as that there was no remedie They told them of it in their sermons in some sort then as it should appear Marry nowe when they came to the ende of their trauaile the hope of their glory the erecting of their gouernment and their raigne ouer all and doo finde themselues crossed therein blame them not though they were not a little angry Then they gaue it out against their owne fauourers afore that some were licentious some had greedilie griped the possessions of the Church others thought they would not lacke their part of Christs coate yea and that before that euer he was hanged Of a Noble man that refused to subscribe to their Discipline as they call it they writ thus He had a very euill woman to his wife if the poore the schooles and the ministerie of the Church had their owne his Kitchen would lacke two parts and more of that which he vniustlie now possesseth And generally to the like effect there were none within this Realme more vnmercifull to the poore Ministers then were they which had greatest rents of the Church But in that we haue perceiued the old prouerbe to be true nothing can suffice a wretch And againe the bellie hath no eares They threatned the greatest men of the lande with Gods heauy punishments if they should reiect that Discipline ascribing it to their blind affection to their respect of carnal friends to their corrupt iudgement and to their former iniquities and present ingratitude But notwithstanding that some refused to subscribe to this booke which made the Ministers so angry yet by sundry cunning deuises raylings threatnings c. many yeelded thereunto and did promise thereby to set the same forward to the vttermost of their powers This subscription thus in sort obtained they began to put the same in practise They appointed to haue their assemblies both particular and generall They exercised iurisdictions and appointed one Saunderson to be carted for adulterie but he was rescued A great vprore arising in Edenburgh about the making of a Robinhood they of the Consistorie did excommunicate the whole multitude The Bishops seeking to encounter and represse them in their practises they professed that they would not suffer their pride and Idolatrie They caused diuers places as they tearmed them of superstition to be burnt I thinke they meane some Bishops houses as Palsay the Bishop also narrowly escaping them The Bishops hauing embraced the Gospel it was at first agreed euen by the brethren with the consent of the Regent that the Bishops estate should be maintained and authorised This endured for sundry yeares but then there was no remedie the calling it selfe of Bishops was at last become Antichristian and downe they must of necessitie Whervpon they commanded the Bishops by their owne authoritie to leaue their Offices and their Iurisdictions They decreed in their assemblies that Bishops shoulde haue no voices in Parliament and that done they desired of the
and their children nay their liues in respect therof were not greatly deare vnto them Moreouer it is manifest how long they were exercised with great feare and many perplexities what entertainement and continuance the Gospell should finde amongst them In which case euery man may easily coniecture how easie a matter it was for them to be miscaried by their teachers Preachers perswading them that by Gods commandement they were bound to vndertake that course withall not omitting great threates of excommunication damnation if they refused so to doo They found their sayd Ministers doctrine very good and sound in the chiefe points of saluation and who would then haue suspected them in matters of lesse importance So as whatsoeuer was done amisse by them as touching their proceedings mentioned I doo wholly in a manner ascribe it to their Ministers of the Geneua learning Vnto whom also it ought of right to be imputed that I or any other either haue or hereafter shall haue any occasion at all so much as once to make mention of the least thing that might be any waies offensiue to the meanest of that natiō For what had I or any other priuate man in England to doo with their matters otherwise then to haue prayed for them had their sayd Ministers but onely taken vppon them to haue iustified their sayde proceedinges by their owne Lawes customes and priuiledges and could haue contented themselues to haue gone no further Marry nowe that the chiefest of them for the excusing of themselues and that they might shew whose schollers they are haue presumed to publish and that in print such strange seditious doctrine as doth tend to the like disturbance and indeede to the vtter ouerthrow of the freest and most absolute Monarchies that are or can be in Christendome not omitting withall to solicite and incourage our pretended reformers in England to proceed as they haue begun in following their steps contrary I am sure both to the word of God and to all the lawes and customes of this Realme I am in very good hope that there is no man of any sound iudgement who will be offended with mee in that to disclose and thereby to preuent such mischiefes as might otherwise ensue with vs I haue beene bolde to lay downe but yet out of their printed bookes some of the proceedinges of the sayde Ministers of Scotland which at this time our owne Preachers in England of the Disciplinarian consort as nowe it followeth to bee shewed doo take vppon them to imitate and haue already proceeded further in them then some of their fauorers will acknowledge or I thinke doo as yet suspect The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP. I. The doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to haue procured the like course for reformation in England to that which was in Scotland AS you haue hearde in the first Booke howe M. Knox beeing at Geneua in Q. Maries time laboured and afterward proceeded to reforme Religion in Scotland by force and armes so did sundry English men that then liued there in like sort according to the Geneua resolution in that point endeuour as much as lay in them to haue kindled the like stirres at that time here in England To which especiall ende they did write hither sundry letters and bookes wholy of this argument vz. that the then Councellors the Noble men inferiour Magistrates and rather then faile the very people were bound before God to ouerthrowe the superstition and Idolatrie that was then in the Land and to reforme Religion whether the Queene would or no yea though it were by putting her to death Out of two of these English bookes I haue collected these seditious and consistoriall propositions following All men councellors noble men inferior magistrates and people are bound and charged to see the lawes of God kept and to suppresse and resist Idolatrie by force If the magistrates shall refuse to put massemongers and false preachers to death the people in seeing it performed doo shewe that zeale of God which was commended in Phinees destroying the adulterers and in the Israelites against the Beniamites To teach that it was not lawfull in any case to resist the superior powers but rather to submit our selues to punishment is a dangerous doctrine taught by some by the permission of God for our sinnes It is not sufficient for subiects not to obey wicked commandements of their Princes but to withstand them also in dooing the contrarie euerie man in his vocation and office Shieriffes Iaylors and other inferior officers ought not onely not to cast the saintes of God in prison hauing commandement thereunto by the Prince for feare of loosing their offices but to withstand euill to support them and to deliuer them to the vttermost of their power If we see a sheepe in daunger to be deuoured of a wolfe wee are bounde to deliuer it euen so to our power wee are bound to put to our hands to deliuer the children of God when wee see them pitiouslie in danger by Gods enemies It is the office of Councellors to bridle the affections of Princes and gouernors Noblemen were first ordained to bridle Princes Noblemen haue their honour of the people to reuenge the iniuries of their Kings and not for their lustie hawking nimble dicing carding singing and dauncing open bragging swearing false flearing and flattering subtle picking and stealing cruell polling and pilling c. The authoritie which Princes haue is giuen them from the people Kings princes and gouernours haue their authoritie of the people and vpon occasion the people may take it away again as men may reuoke their proxies and letters of Atturney Subiects do promise obedience that the Magistrate might help them which if he doo not they are discharged of their obedience If Magistrates without feare transgresse Gods laws themselues and command others to doo the like then haue they lost that honour and obedience which otherwise their subiectes did owe vnto them and ought no more to be taken for Magistrates but be examined accused condemned and punished as priuate transgressors Iudges ought by the lawe of God to summon Princes before them for their crimes and to proceed against them as against all other offenders Euill Princes ought by the lawe of God to bee deposed and inferior magistrates ought chieflie to doo it Examples allowed of Kings deposed Edward 2 Richard 2. Christierne of Denmarke c. It is lawfull to kill wicked kings and tyrants and both by Gods lawe and mans lawe Queene Mary ought to haue beene put to death as being a tyrant a monster a cruell beast c. Examples The subiects did kill the Queenes highnesse Athalia Iehu killed the Queenes maiestie Iesabell Elias beeing no magistrate killed the Queenes maiesties chaplaines Baals
soueraignety kingdome and lordship were no where acknowledged or to be found but where halfe a dosen artizans Shoomakers Tinkers and Tailors with their Preacher and Reader eight or nine Cherubins forsooth do rule the whole parish But I haue noted vnto you out of these few places omitting many other this their wonderfull dotage to this end that it may be considered whether it be likely that our English Consistorians hauing ouerrunne the Scottish ministers or at the least ouertaken them in their opinions of the necessity of this Discipline will be left behind them in their practises according to the Geneua resolution for the attayning of it or no CHAP. III. Our pretended English reformers doo imitate or rather exceede the Scottish Ministers in rebelling and rayling against all that doo encounter them WHen in Scotland they first had in minde to reforme religion and after to erect their Discipline according to the Geneua resolution they spent their wittes and all their deuises by railing and slandering to bring the Bishoppes and the rest of the Clergy with the whole course of their gouernements into detestation and hatred with the people They write their owne pleasures of them and to them and that in the name of the people They stirred the Nobility by their writings against them they had their supplications to their Parliaments and to the Queene Regent they had their appellations from their Bishops their exhortations to the Nobility to the Estates and comminalty and many such practises they had to that purpose yea after their Bishops and Clergy had receiued the Gospell But in this course our reformers in England haue not onely imitated them but as ready Schollers and apt for such mischiefe haue very farre exceeded both them and as I thinke all others that hitherto haue dealt that way They haue renued ouer againe applied to our Church gouernours two or three of the most bitter Treatises that euer were made against the Popes Cardinals Popish Bishops Monkes and Friers c. in King Henry the eight his dayes They haue foure or fiue very diuellish and infamous Dialogues likewise their complaints and petitions to her Maiesty and Parliament in the name of the comminalty their appellation their exhortation and diuers other most lewd scurrilous Epistles and Letters When they are called before any Magistrate and dealt withall for their factious proceedings they vsually afterward doo take vpon them to write and publish vnder the name of a conference what wordes and arguments haue passed which they perfourme with all reproch disdaine vntruth and vanity and so do pester the Realme and their fauourers closets with infinite such shamelesse and slaunderous discourses as is most intollerable They haue had fiue or sixe supplications to seuerall Parliaments penned altogether according to Knox his stile and violent spirit in many places word for word besides Martin and his two sonnes their holy imitations of Beza his Passauantius that all things might proceede Geneua like in their sixe bookes of Consistorian grauity And now vpon better care taken by her Maiesty that no such libels should be hereafter printed in England at the least without some daunger to the parties if it may bee knowne they haue founde such fauour as to procure their chiefe instrument and old seruant Waldgraue to be the King of Scots Printer from whence their wants in that behalfe shall be fully supplyed For hauing obtained that place as hee pretendeth in Print they haue published by hundreths certaine spitefull and malicious bookes against her Maiesties most honorable priuy Councell Also their humble motion to their LL s. with three or foure other very slanderous Treatises And now it seemeth for feare that any of all their sayd Libels rayling Pamphlets that haue bin written in her highnesse time should perish being many of them but triobolar chartals they haue taken vpon them to make a Register and to Print them altogether in Scotland in two or three volumes as it appeareth by a part of the sayde Register all ready come from thence and finished which containeth in it three or foure and forty of the sayd Libels In all which courses taken more then heathnish this is their drift and especiall end that hauing by their forged lies their poysoned tongues and their hypocriticall outcries procured a generall mislike of her Maiesties reformation the present gouernment of the Church the chiefest defender thereof the Lords that fauour it the Archbishops and Bishops that haue authoritie in it the rest of the Clergy that doe submit themselues vnto it they might come at the last to attaine their purpose and by fishing in our troubled waters according to the Geneua resolution set vp and establish their glorious scepter and kingdome Out of these bookes because some might otherwise charge the premises herein with slander of the godly brethren I haue thought it very conuenient to lay downe before you particularly some most lewd and wicked speeches in maner and order as in tenne of the next Chapters following is specified CHAP. IIII. The speaches of the said pretended reformers concerning England the state the present reformation and gouernment of the Church ENgland with an impudent forehead hath sayd I will not come neare the holy one And as for the building of his house I will not so much as lift vp a finger towardes that worke nay I will continue the desolations thereof England hateth them to this day that faithfullie doe their office Of all the nations that haue renounced that whore of Rome there is none in the world so farre out of square as England in retaining the Popish Hierarchy We in England are so farre off from hauing a Church rightly reformed that as yet we are scarse come to the outward face of the same We are neuer the better for her Maiesties reformation seeing the walles of Syon lie euen with the ground that is seeing their discipline is not established Your reformation as it standeth will be little better then that of the Samaritanes who feared Iehouah but worshipped their owne Gods Men belike doe thinke no more to be required at their handes then the rasing of Babell the diuell as yet contenting him selfe with Bethel Your gouernment is that which giueth leaue to a man to be anie thing sauing a sound Christian. Omnia cum liceant non licet esse bonum We lacke a right gouernement of the Church In stead of the ordinance of God in the gouernment of his Church the marchandize of shamelesse Babylon is maintayned The gouernment now vsed by Archbishops Bishops c. is both Antichristian and diuelish Rome is come home to our gates Antichrist raigneth amongst vs. The established gouernement of the Church is trayterous against the maiestie of Iesus Christ it confirmeth the Popes supremacie it is accursed It is an vnlawfull a false a bastardly gouernement In the state of
monstrous Antichristian Pope a most bloudie oppressor of Gods Saintes a very Antichristian beast a most vile and cursed tyrant In respect of his Antichristian prelacie ouer Gods Church and for the notable hatred which he hath euer bewrayed towardes the Lord and his truth I thinke him one of the dishonorablest creatures vnder heauen And againe of the Bishops but especially of the Lord Archbishop In his behauiour wrath anger reproch and disdaine as in a wood so manie Lions Beares Tigers and cruell beastes were seene to range and in this more sauage that whereas they by time and vsage may be tamed and appeased this man neuer It would be knowen whether they haue some secret meaning if oportunitie would serue to aspire vnto the Crowne CHAP. XIII Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergie in England generally that mislike their designements WE lacke in England a right ministery of God The Ministers are neither prooued elected called nor ordeyned according to Gods word I. B. is to be inuested into the place of a naturall foole after a solemne manner according to the booke of ordayning Bishops and Priests The Clergie is indicted as the followers of Antichrist and that their Ministerie is from the Pope Little or nothing is required of our English Priests but to say the Catechisme and to weare a cap coap and tippet Antichrists rags shall make him a Priest be he neuer such a dolt or a villaine The most part of our Ministers are either Popish Priests or Monkes or Fryers or ale-house haunters or boyes and lads dronkardes and dolts that wil weare a fooles hood for liuing sake They are Hogges Dogges Wolues Foxes Simoniakes Vsurers procters of Antichrists inuentions Popish chapmen halting Newtrals They seeke nothing but like greedy dogges how to fill their paunches Our supposed Ministers are a multitude of desperate and forelorne Atheists a cursed vncircumcised and murthering generation you shall finde amongst this crue nothing else but a troope of bloudy soule-murtherers and sacrilegious Church robbers Bene quod malitia non habet tantas vires quantos conatus CHAP. XIIII Their especiall drift in their saide railing speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose BY the former so wicked and slaunderous speeches contayned in the tē last Chapters you see how the brotherhood endeuoreth with the multitude as I saide not onely the disgrace of our Church and Clergiemen but likewise how bold they are with her most excellent Maiesty the high Court of Parliament the Lords of her priuy Councel the Iudges lawyers lawes and all thinges besides that do giue any impediment vnto their deuises and complots Harding Dorman Stapleton Sanders Allen Gregorie Martin and diuers other fugitiues and Traytors to make a more easie way for the bringing in againe of popery haue taken the like course in her Highnesse time meaning principally by such vile slaunders to withdraw her Highnesse subiects from their dutifull approbation of the present estate and reformation of Religion Goodman Wittingham Gilby the author of the booke of obedience with the rest of the Geneua complices in Queene Maries dayes practised the very same pollicie when as you haue heard according to the Allobrogicall resolution they vrged all states by degrees rather to take armes and to reforme Religion themselues by force then to suffer such Idolatrie and superstition to remaine in the land But in these more political then Christian practises as I said that our English Disciplinarians of these dayes haue farre exceeded the Scottish Ministers so may it bee truely affirmed of them that al the popish Traitors that hitherto haue written and all the said Geneuians that then liued for malitious and spitefull tauntes for rayling and bitter tearmes for disdaineful and contemptuous speeches did not come neere them Besides it is especially to be obserued that in their own opinions they haue by these vngodly meanes so preuayled with the multitude as that now they begin to vaunt and bragge of their good successe already therein attayned One of them sendeth vs word from Scotland that such as haue withstood their pretended Church gouernment are made already in England to bee despised and vile before all the people that a poore simple Minister of their c. is hearde with more reuerence and resorted vnto with more diligence then one of ours though he haue the great bell rong and men to helpe him vp into the pulpit that this was wrought by a contemptible and very base and straunge meanes meaning Martin and his sonnes libels c. not once dreamed off by a thousand of Gods saintes and that when their creastes meaning the Bishops were set vp and they began to say all is ours then their presumption was dashed daunted and taken downe They might as well haue signified vnto vs in what tearmes and reputation her Maiestie her Parliaments her Lords her Iudges and her lawes do stand and hold with the people In dealing as they haue done by their particular supplications and motions vnto her Highnes and vnto their LL s. their intents to that purpose when the time shall serue if in the meane while they be not preuented are not ablie disclosed For otherwise it might haue sufficed them to haue deliuered their discontentments in priuate manner by writing both to her Maiestie their LL s and other in authority thereby to haue discharged their consciences without their publishing of them in Printe to the world except their purpose had likewise beene by that lewd meanes to haue brought them all into contēpt as well as the Bishops What priuate man if his friend should write a letter vnto him and lay open in the same eyther truely or falsely many great crimes to his charge afterward should by Printing or any other waies publish it could otherwise account of his dealing therein but that he meant to make him thereby odious to the world or at the least to be of no great account or estimation Queene Marie was of nature disposition very mild and pitifull and yet because shee suffered such crueltie superstition to be practised maintained in her days you haue heard by the consistorian propositions before mentioned what was resolued by Goodman Whittingham Gilby the rest of the Geneuians against her concerning her deposition c. Which is a matter that would be wel considered-of and in time prouided-for accordingly considering that these our home-bred Sicophantes men of the Geneua mould as proud and presumptuous as any that euerliued do charge the present state vnder her Maiestie as before it is noted with such great impietie corruption idolatrie superstition and barbarous persecution Which may touch her highnesse as neerely by their doctrine for maintayning the present state as Queene Marie was for defending of Poperie Well the conclusion of this Booke is this vz that seeing our English consistorians do labour more vehemently or
the Articles Now by these articles and by their subscription vnto them it is most euident that the pretences made by some are but meerly shiftes as that their purpose onely was to haue the booke in readines against a Parliament and that they subscribed the articles to no other ende but onely to testifie their agreement in iudgement for that they were charged to disagree amongst themselues For if that had beene their intent it had beene sufficiently performed by subscribing to the first article onely But they proceede-on further and entred into a certaine league or association binding themselues by promise vnder their hands what they for their owne partes will attempt and as they might perfourme In the second article as it is apparant there are other lawfull meanes promised to bee vndertaken for the aduancing of the Discipline then prayers to God and supplications to her Maiesty and the Parliament Whereupon Maister Litleton a subscriber being examined what hee vnderstoode those meanes to bee answereth vpon his oath that he thinketh their priuate conferences were meant to be those lawfull meanes mentioned in the article Which is according to the resolution of the brethren in of London set downe before out of Maister Edmondes examination vz. that seeing they could not preuaile by sute to the State the Ministers themselues should set vp the Discipline as they should bee able And Maister Iohnson is also as direct vppon his oath to the same effect saying It was a generall conclusion amongst all the Classes and brethren that forasmuch as the Discipline required by petitions could not bee publikely established by lawe it was thought in conscience necessary to establish it and practise it priuately to which purpose also euery man was to vse his endeuour to encrease the number of such as would conforme themselues that way Againe it is promised in the same Article that they would proceede with their sayd meanes for the aduancement of their Discipline so far as the peace of the present state of our Church would suffer Now how farre that is it hath beene before touched in the decrees of one of their Synodes 1583. for as men most strangely bewitched they imagined that they could so cunningly play their feates as that they might in effect set vp their owne Discipline secretely vnder hand and yet neuer disturbe the present gouernement of the Church For as peace is heere taken in their sense one King or gouernement may inuade another with all kinde of hostility and say as they doo that they meane but peace The truth is they may haue peace in their mouths but in their actions there is nothing lesse So as this their restraint being but a vaine pretence doth no way indeed impaeach my assertion Furthermore whereas also it followeth in the same article and not enforce to the contrarie Maister Littleton being examined vpon his oath what that should meane answereth that he himselfe Maister Snape Maister Proudloe and others did agree to put the said articles and Discipline in execution and practise so far as the peace and the present estate of the Church will suffer and not enforce to the contrarie That is to say till the Magistrate did enioyne them or enforce them to leaue the practise of the said Discipline and in another place till the Magistrate did inhibite them to the contrarie and force them to leaue it And further hee also sayth that they did agree to guide themselues by the said booke of Discipline and according to it with the same limitation Now what if by their secret practises to drawe away the peoples harts from the present gouernement of the Church they could haue procured such strength and number to haue followed them as that no reasonable restraint or force of the Magistrate had bin able to haue encountred and suppressed them I doo but aske the question In the rest of the Articles there are but two generall points the one contained in the third Article concerning the vniformitie which they promise to vse in their Ministery and the other is as touching their agreement to follow the orders set downe for their meetinges Classicall contained in the fourth Prouinciall in the fift Nationall in the sixt article So as where before in the second Article they had mentioned other meanes whereby they had promised to aduance their Discipline besides praiers to God and supplications to her Maiestie they doo nowe in part explane themselues in the other Article following and doo set downe what meanes they that were Ministers would vse and put in practise for the aduauncement of it vz. the two points mentioned that is their vniformity in preachings and their meetinges according to Master Littletons deposition in these words they meant by those meanes in the second Article their conferences as he thinketh But to carry this matter past thinking let Master Fen be heard who saith that he agreed to put some things of the booke in execution according to the subscription let Master Lord be heard who sayth that he agreed to put some things of the said booke in practise as in the Articles is contained But let their Coryphaeus Maister Cartwright himselfe be heard who sayth that he agreed to put two points of the Articles in execution vz. touching the order of preaching and touching the assemblies CHAP. XII It is confessed that they agreed to put one point of their booke in practise without her Maiesties assent what it is of strange names giuen to children NOw because it appeareth in the thirde fourth fift and sixt of the sayd Articles that concerning both these points they referre themselues to certain Chapters of their booke of Discipline I haue thought it very conuenient to set downe out of the said Chapters some of those particulars which by their said subscription they bound themselues to practise without any further staying for the ciuil Magistrate and withall to adioyne some part of their constancie if so I may abuse a good worde in the perfourming of their promises touching the said particulars Maister Littleton beeing sworne dealeth as it seemeth very directly to this purpose for as he saith concerning the contents of the foure last Articles hee for his part whilest hee was of that company perfourmed his promise and he thinketh that the rest that subscribed did the like But to the particulars and first of the first point The Minister that is to preach shall appoint the Psalme that is to be song c. After the Psalme let there be made a short admonition to the congregation howe they shall prepare themselues rightly to pray Let a Prayer followe containing the confession of sinnes c. and concluded with the Lords Prayer After the Sermon let Prayers be made for grace that the auditors may profite by the doctrine deliuered also for the whole Church and all particular callinges and let them end likewise with the Lords Prayer Then a Psalme c. and lastly let the
conclusion bee made with some short forme of blessing the congregation taken out of the Scriptures For the practise of this order I referre the proofe of it to all those who haue obserued the manner of any of the brethrens behauiour in their seuerall Churches The most of them that are but Doctors as they terme themselues and readers of Lectures in other mens charges do seldom or neuer come to the seruice which is read in the Church according to her Maiesties Lawes but vnder pretence of studying for their sermons doo absent themselues vntill seruice bee done or at the least almost finished and then they come in grauely I warrant you and doo goe to this their owne forme of seruice The rest of the fraternity that haue cures of their own some of them will haue a Parliament Minister as they terme him vnder them to say seruice and then he himselfe dealeth as it hath beene noted of the Doctor but others that are not able to haue such a one they for their safer standing as their tearme is doo vse some piece of our seruice-booke and peraduenture reade a lesson which things they affirme as it hath beene touched may be performed as wel by those that are not ministers as by them And then they in like sort doo begin their owne ministeriall function and proceede according to the foresaide fashion subscribed-vnto and promised But to proceede vnto their practise of other pointes of that booke The Preachers must leaue off by little and little as they may conueniently to preach at burials least thereby they nourish the superstition of some men or giue ouer themselues to the preseruation of vanity Let not women onely offer infants to Baptisme but the father if it may be conueniently or els some others in his name Let perswasions be vsed that such names as doo sauour either of Paganisme or Popery bee not giuen to children at their Baptisme but principally those whereof there are examples in the Scriptures Whether these pointes especially for two of them haue beene practised by the brethren or not the newe Churchyard in London and many brables in the country about vrging of the natural fathers to become Godfathers to their owne children c can more then sufficiently witnesse And for the third it is also sundry waies apparant For whence else doo these new names and fancies proceede The Lord is nere More-tryall Reformation Discipline Ioy-againe Sufficient From-aboue Free-gifts More-fruite Dust. and many other such like But Richard Hawgar of Northampton did first vnder his hande and after vppon his oath deliuer an especiall history to this purpose of giuing names Snape would not Baptise one Christopher Hodgkinsons childe because hee would haue the childe called Richard The order was this Hodgkinson obtained promise of Snape that he would christen his childe But saith Snape you must then giue it a Christian name allowed in the Scriptures The partie told him that his wiues father whose name was Richard desired the name Well saith Snape you must doe as I bidde you that when you come the congregation be not troubled But notwithstanding the said Hodgkinson not thinking it would haue beene made a matter of such importance the child was brought Snape proceeded in the action till hee came to the naming of the child And when he heard that they called the child Richard that they would giue him no other name hee staied there and would not in any wise Baptize the child And so the child was carried away thence was Baptized the weeke following at Alhallowes being named Richard Of likelyhoode the brethren haue founde this thing to be a matter of great importance that they wil rather leaue an infant vnbaptized then giue him such a name CHAP. XIII A second point of their Booke confessed to be agreed vpon for the practise of it without her Maiesties assent NOw I wil come to Master Cartwrights second point that is of the meetings and set downe the Chapters wherevnto in the Articles subscribed they referred themselues that thereby herafter no man that wil read them may doubt of their purpose of not staying for the Magistrate which are as follow so neere as I could by translation of them out of Latin expresse their meaning Mutuall conference is to bee practised in the Church by common assemblies but in these matters Ecclesiasticall are to bee handled and such chieflie as concerne those Churches whereof the assemblie doth consist They shall not determine except they be requested of anie thing touching other Churches but shall only decree that such matter is to be referred to the next greater assemblie Let the matters and order of thinges to be handled in them be thus Next after the view or calling of those that be present wherin withall the names of such as bee absent must be noted that in the next Assembly they may eyther yeeld sufficient reason of their absence or els bee censured by the iudgement of the assemblie first let the Acts of the next assemblie afore that was of the same sort bee read to the intent that if any thing of them were left then vndone it may be dispatched Then let those matters be done that are peculiar to the Assembly in hand And first let euerie of them deliuer the instructions from their Churches in the same order that they sit together with the Fiduciary or Letters of credence of the Churches next let there be * censures had of the Churches of that assembly whereby may bee vnderstood how they are framed and vsed whether the doctrine and the Discipline haue their course in them and whether the officers of them doe that which appertaineth and such like Besides let them decree those things that shall concerne eyther the common behoofe of all the Churches of that assemblie or of any one of them and this course will be sufficient enough for the view and ouersight of the Churches Lastly if it so seeme good let there bee inquirie Censures had euen of those which be delegated to meete in that Assemblie Such as are to meete in the Assemblies let them bee chosen by the Suffrages of those Churches or Assemblies that haue interest or to doe in it and out of these let such only be chosen as hath exercised some publike office in that Church eyther of a Minister or of an Elder and which hath subscribed both to the doctrine and Discipline and which haue vndertaken to behaue themselues in all things according to the word of God It shall be lawful for other Elders Ministers yea for Deacons and Students in Diuinitie by the appointment of the assemblie especially if they be such as doe exercise themselues in interpreting the Scriptures in the Assemblie to be both present to bee asked their iudgements these of the latter sort are therefore to be admitted that their iudgements to handle the affaires of the Church may hereby both be tried and sharpned Yet let
booke affirmeth should be in euery parish they want in effect nothing of all their whole platforme if they could but once attaine vnto the publike erecting vp of those thrones And how far it is likely they haue already preuailed therin without staying any longer for her Maiestie let these thinges following whereof some haue beene touched alreadie make it knowne vnto you Mention hath beene made of a Presbytery set vp at Wandesworth It was a decree of the London brethren that the Ministers should by little little as much as possibly they might draw the Discipline into practise though they concealed the names eyther of Presbytery Elder or Deacō making little account of the names for the time so their offices might secretly be established There was an order sette downe in an assembly 1583. as I take it for the conuerting of Churchwardens and Collectors into Elders and Deacons as before in the Actes themselues it appeareth According to this order the brethren afterward sent their directions abroad to their fellowes for their execution of it I receiued saith Master Barbon from our faithfull brother Maister Gelibrande a direction of the brethren concerning the Conuerting of Churchwardens into Elders and Collectors into Deacons Richard Holmes affirmeth that by such speeches as he hath heard hee doth verily thinke that the Ministers in their Classes haue resolued to erect vp their seuerall Presbyteryes in their owne parishes With him agreeth Master Iohnson according to the rules of that booke I thinke that sercetly in most places where the brethren of the Classes are there are Elders chosen and that they put the Discipline in practise so farre as they may amongst themselues without any apparant shew thereof to the ouerthrow of their safe-standing Further also he deposeth that he himselfe hath beene blamed diuers times priuatelie in that he would make no such choise of Elders where he preached to practise the Discipline And what els should Gellibrand meane by these words in a Letter to Field I haue written to Maister Cartwright seuerally and ioyntly to him and the Elders signifying my readines and what aduersaries there are Lastly there was a nomination of Elders at Kilsby in Northampton-shiere made by Maister Lee the Pastor in the yeare 1588. Their names as it was deposed before Sir George Farmer and Sir Iohn Spencer were William Greene Roger Cowley Thomas Hall Richard Wolfe Iohn Browne and William Mariat which sixe saith the deponent Maister Lee thought sufficient to determine and end all matters of controuersie in the said towne Henry Pinson also affirmeth that he being enformed of this election of Elders by the said Browne and others would not yeelde his consent thereunto but said hee would stand to the lawes of this realme appointed by her Maiestie One especiall reason as it was enformed why Pinson refused in this sort to ioyne with his neighbours was for that there should haue beene some punishment inflicted by the said Elders vppon his sonne for flinging a stone at Elder-Mariats window which he would none of but was faine to flie to her Maiesties lawes So here then it appeareth in some sort whether the brethrē meant to stay any more for the ciuile Magistrate in erecting of their Presbyteries then they confesse they did concerning their vniformitie in Sermons and tripartite meetings Besides it doth also appertaine to the further proofe of the said Presbyteries that as it seemeth some of those censures haue beene vsed for example excommunication Which by the rules of the Discipline booke are of right to be exercised by them One Bluet a Minister as I suppose being excōmunicated as it seemeth did write a Letter to Field and Egerton wherein hee is most earnest that vpon his repentaunce hee might bee restored againe to the Church Woe is me saith he that I am cast out of your presence this day but shame and sorrow is vnto the cause And if this woe and shame did but touch the bodie it were tollerable for then at the day of death I should end my miserie and no more heare the words of reproach For now euery one that seeth mee reprooueth me and I am become a rebuke vnto all men But this is not all Woe is me that there is a partition-wall betweene heaven and my conscience c. If my offence may not bee passed by without further confession euen before God and his Church in London will I lie downe and licke the dust at your feet and confesse more against my selfe then any of you know Seuere Catoes I warrant you But is this the matter they contend for that men may fall downe and kisse their feete There is also another example to this effect worthie of your remembrance one La. Thomson writeth in this sort of it I thinke of him as an vnsound member vnfit to bee continued in the bodie vnles he would be subiect to the gouernment of a bodie especially the bodie of our sauing God The partie meant by Thomson was as I take it maister Wilcox the author of that admonition which caused the first breaking-out of all those troubles that since haue ensued This appeareth by foure letters written about the yeare 1583. three of them from Field to Wilcox and one from Wilcox to Field What the cause was though it bee expressed in one of the said Letters I omit to rehearse it no waies minding to touch any mans priuate behauiour or infirmities But this I must tel you that the brethren that is in Thomsons sense the body of our sauing God were so displeased and angrie with him that they suspended him from his Ministerie and did vse their censure of excommunication against him If you aske mee how Wilcox tooke this course at their handes I answere euen as Pinson before named did when his sonne should haue beene punished hee disliked it so much as that hee began to call their authoritie for such kind of their proceedings in question he refused to submit himselfe to their censures and told Field plainely that he had bin dealt disorderly withall both for matter and manner adding that hee had perhaps concealed as great infirmities of Fields and of some others as his were With these and many such like words Field was greatly prouoked and for his owne part defied him Whereas saith hee for the hiding of your owne shame you beginne to score vp my faults which you say are sixe in number as great as yours if you should vtter them I say it is no help to you but testifieth that old pride hipocrisie and malice which long time hath lurked in that cankered heart of yours c. But I doe defie you c. And for his refusing of their proceedinges you ought not saith Field so lightly to esteeme that holy censure of the brethren but in true repentance to haue hidden your face c. Againe if God hath made you an instrument to seeke for the aduancement of Christs Scepter kisse it your selfe and bee subiect
faithfulnes doe they alledge for their platformes both Scriptures Councels Fathers and Histories Moreouer what with the pretence of Gods law of mans law and I know not of what law they haue been suffered to go so farre against all lawes that now they haue taken such heart as that some of them are not affraid to affirme and that in print because the people might take notice of it that there is no authoritie which may lawfully suppresse their foresaid proceedinges No Magistrate saith one of the brotherhood may lawfully mayme or deforme the body of Christ which is the Church no lawfull Church gouernment is changeable at the pleasure of the Magistrate of necessitie all christian Magistrates are bound to receiue this gouernment c. And thus hither to you haue seen the proceedings of our English reformers according to their ringleaders actions in Scotland they haue had their draughts of discipline they haue subscribed a particular book for England they haue put their former platformes their said particular booke for the most part of it in practise as neare as they could they haue had their meetinges and Synodes generally throughout all the lande they haue made decrees conclusions not only to further their own conspiracy but also to ouerthrow the present gouernment of the Church they haue had in some places their Elders they haue exempted themselues from the ecclesiastical gouernment in this Realme accounting the same in some respects to be Antichristian and so not to be obeyed in some other to be a meere ciuile and a parliament church-gouernment and in that regard onely after a sort to bee yeelded vnto for their better safer standing in their owne seditious and consistorian waies They haue by their false gloses seduced many of her Maiesties subiectes they haue combined themselues together into a strange brotherhood They challenge to their vnlawfull and seditious assemblies the true and most proper name of the Church They say their doings are according to law They affirme in effect that no Magistrate may lawfully ouerthrow that which they haue builded in asmuch as now it is saide that the Bishops in seeking by the authority which her Maiestie hath giuen and confirmed vnto them to maintaine as they are bound the present church-gouernment and state established by her highnes lawes within this Realme and to suppresse and reforme their schismaticall seditious disorders and such like are the disturbers of the peace of the church that the Bishops beginne the quarrel in disquieting of them who in towne and country were very greatly at vnity tooke sweete councell together for the profiting of the Church That the Bishops are the schismatickes and not they that the crime of schisme which the prelates woulde fasten vppon them doth iustly cleaue to the Bishops and that Bishops may be discharged by the Church And they haue entred alreadie into this consideration how Archbishops Bishops Chauncellors Deanes Cannons Archdeacons Commissaries Registers Apparitors c. All which by their said pretended reformation must be thrust from their liuings should be prouided for that the common wealth be not thereby pestred with beggars Whereby it appeareth that in their owne conceites they haue already attained their soueraintie They and their conuenticles forsooth are the true Church and all England besides is in a schisme So as now it may be dayly expected when these godly brethren for a full conclusion of their attempts will take vpon them as their maisters did in Scotland to discharge the estate of Bishops and to direct their commissioners to her most excellent Maiestie commanding both her and her highnesse most honourable priuie Councell vnder the pain of excommunication to appoint no Bishops hereafter because they haue concluded that state to bee vnlawfull and that furthermore her Highnes vnder the same penaltie shall not presume from thenceforth either any longer to maintaine the present Antichristian Church-gouernment or once to attempt the ouerthrowing of theirs And thus much of this matter vz. concerning our English reformers and their imitation of the Ministers of Scotland in that seeing they could not preuaile with their suites supplications to her Maiestie and the Parliament for the setting vp of their discipline they haue taken vpon them to doe it themselues The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP. 1. Some of them seeme to growe desperate and propound to themselues a strange example to follow for the adauncing of their Discipline As the Ministers of Scotland with their adherentes finding sondry impedimentes in theyr foresaide proceedings and in the setting-vp of their discipline did grow to be very angry ther-vpon often-times before they came to armes or violence did cast out many greate speaches and threatnings as it hath beene before declared euen so also it fareth now rightly with our Disciplinarians in England They threaten and bragge aboue measure what shall come to passe and I pray God they be suffered to go no further One of the brethren in the name of the rest complaining that they are oppugned and as he saith persecuted desireth that the same may be prouided for and addeth therwithall these words It is the case already of many a thousand in this land yea it is the case of as many as seeke the Lorde aright c. Greate troubles will come of it if it be not prouided for None seeke the Lord aright but this brotherhood Great ioy of them But what troubles meane they That an other seemeth to cleare where he sayeth that they can endure no such hard dealing as is vsed against them any longer Alas saith hee wee are neuer able to stand against the pouerty losses imprisonment discountenance by our superiors that our bretheren haue sustayned c. Neuer able to swallow vp the slaunders and bitter names of puritanes precisians traitors seditious libellers c. Why what will you doe The best that can bee gathered of his wordes is this Come saith hee let vs make a Captaine and returne againe into Egipt If they haue not their mindes the danger may bee which in deede will bring some troubles that they are not vnlike to become either Atheists or Papistes Shortlie after the straunge attempt before mentioned that was made against the king of Scotland Anno 1585 by ten thousand of his owne people at Sterling whereby the consistorian Ministers preuailed aswell against their Soueraigne as against their Bishops for the aduancing of their presbiteries there came out a rayling Dialogue here in England published abroade in print and scattered by the brotherhoode throughout the whole Realme This Dialogue is intituled the state of the church of England laid open in a conference betweene Diotrephes representing the person of a Bishop Tertullus a Papist brought in to pleade for the orders of our church Demetrius a Vsurer signifying such as liue by vnlawful trades Pandocheus an Inkeeper a receyuer of al and a soother
greate store of gold and siluer plate besides no small quantitie of treasure in ready coine Some amongst vs in Englande haue laboured very earnestlie to qualifie Copingers words where he said that God would throw some fearefull iudgement amongst the Lordes so as some the chiefe of them should not goe aliue out of the place as though there had beene no violent course intended by him his associates but that in his fond conceit he had imagined that God himselfe from heauen should haue shewed that iudgement for the deliuerance of Cartwright and the rest And in my conscience one gentelman of good credit not acquainted at all with the Consistorian doctrine in these such like matters thought so in his hart But here this maske is pluckt from such faces as could not be ignorant what was ment in that the same spirit which Was in Copinger speaking before in Iames Meluin or rather as I thinke in Knox and his fellow-ministers according to whose humor he penned that history doe tearme the saide cruell murther of the Cardinall to bee the worke and iudgement of God that for the manner of the executiō of it Besides in the margent of the Booke ouer against the Stabbers blasphemous wordes this note is set downe vz. the godly fact and wordes of Iames Meluin But that which mooueth me most and for the which I haue troubled you with this historie is this that men are animated to commit the like murthers and the doctrine thereof is stoutely iustified according to the heathenish conceit of a certaine tyrant whom Cicero also a heathen man but yet of better iudgement doth confute Dionisius hauing spoiled the temple of Proserpina at Locris of Iupiter in Peloponesus of Aesculapius at Epidaurus because Proserpina drowned him not as he sayled to Syracuse nor Iupiter stroke him in peeces with his thunderboltes nor Aesculapius made an ende of him by some long miserable consumption both he himselfe and many others accounted such his sacrilege to be both iust and lawfull And euen so it falleth out for the murther I speake of He that hath eyes to see let him see After the foresaid Castel was surprised and the Cardinall was murthered Lesly with his company Knox and the rest kept the same Castel by force against the Gouernor But at the last they were compelled to yeeld it vp and being thereupon sent as prisonners into Fraunce they were by directions there committed some of thē to the Gallies and some to other prisons Howbeit in the ende they all escaped with their liues by one meanes or other sauing the saide Iames Meluin who dyed in prison wherevpon commeth in this notable Consistorian doctrine borrowed of the said heathenish conclusions This we write vz. how all but Meluin escaped to let the posterities to come vnderstand saith Knox and his fellowes how potently God wrought in preseruing and deliuering of these that had but a smal knowledge of his truth for the loue of the same hazarded all That if that eyther we now in our dayes hauing greater light or our posterities that shall follow vs shal see a fearefull dispersion of such as oppone themselues to impiety or take vpon them to punish the same otherwise then lawes of men will permit if wee say we or they shall see such left of men yea as it were despised and punished of God yet let vs not damne the persons that punish vice and that for iust cause nor yet despaire but that the same God that deiects for causes vnknowen to vs will raise vp againe the persons deiected to his glorie and their comfort Againe if our said seditious persons had preuailed with the multitude in their other plot concerning their purposes of remouing some of her maiesties most honorable Priuy Councell from her seruice in that place and in appointing others to succeede them whom they fancied to be fauourers of their Discipline you should haue heard I warrant you no cries of the brotherhood nor complaints in your streets of any of that faction It would haue beene saide as Goodman taught at Geneua that seeing the saide Councellors were enemies to Christes kingdome and did seduce her Maiestie now that God had raised them vp an Othoniel or a Ionathan to assist them why should they not haue ioyned themselues vnto him Oh would some haue said the holy discipline the holy discipline the holy discipline what Prince or Potentate may resist the holy discipline and prosper Others See the hand of the Lorde when men do faile what God can doe Others the greatest workes that euer were done in the behalfe of the Church haue beene brought to passe by the basest meanes Others this is the worke of God and it is admirable in our eyes Others thus Iosuah being extraordinarily strengthned by God threw thirty kings out of the land of Canaan Others sufficient warning was giuen what would they haue had men to haue done Then should you haue had such a declaration or proclamation as you haue before heard of penned no doubt by some of the Consistorian ministers in Scotlād vz. of the iust and necessary causes mouing them and their assistantes her Maiesties faithfull subiects to repaire to her Maiesty for resisting of the present daungers appearing to Gods true religion and professors thereof c. and to seeke redres and reformation of abuses remouing from her Maiesty the chiefe authors therof c. that with common consent redresse and remedy might bee prouided Or termed The repairing towards Greenwitch to the Q. Maiesty as else where such attempts haue been colored Likewise if yet thinges had not squared to their likings and that they had gone further with good successe in any violent course against her maiesty as it is confessed they purposed to haue done then also the Geneua-diuinity must haue borne the brunt for the iustification of such extraordinary iudgementes of God And thus you should haue had these matters smoothed ouer as partly it may appeare by the assault mentioned at Sterling wherein the king was present in person and partly by the Consistorian propositions before set down touching this point with many other things both to be noted in the premises and also in those bookes out of the which the saide propositions are drawen I will not trouble you any further with Ifs although I could adde that if the said traitors had proceeded on forward with their confessed purposes to haue touched her maisties estate there wanteth no lesse defence by Disciplinarian learning for such a matter then for the premises You may remember the seditious intollerable propositions before mentioned as they are truely collected out of our own countrey mens books infected at Geneua with that pestilent doctrine Many examples also would haue beene brought for that purpose out of Buchanan Beza Knox and the rest of that humor especiallie the graue resolution giuen by Knox and Wollocke generally against all Princes but particularly then vrged and