the dead man was laide and did aske the dead if he would be baptised in whose name the partie vnder the bed did aunswere That is my desire whereupon the liue man was baptised for the dead And whether the questions and answeres at the baptizing of Inâ—ants in the commâ—nion booke bee not of like nature When the Minister saith to the childe as fit to conceiue as a dead man Wilt thou be baptised in this faith and the godfathers make answere That is my desire 8 Quaere Whether a man may with safe conscience subsâ—ribe that the booke of coÌ„mon prayer conteyneth nothing contrarie to the Scriptures whereas the translation of the Psalmes therein comprised in addition substraction and alteration dissereth from the trueth of the Hebrewe in 200. places at the least 9 Quaere Whether it be agreable to the word of God law of England and practise of any well gouerned Church to puniâ—h that which is taken for slaundering ribaudry villanie with returne of libells ribâ—udâ—ie and villanie And whether Almond for the Parret Martins Moâ—ethes minde c. doe not asmuch offend that way as Martin Marprelate or if they oâ—fend at all why are they suffered not punished 10 Quaere of Matthew Sutcliffe who is alwaies caâ—ping at M. Cartw. purchase why M. Cartw may noâ— sell the landes which he had by discent from his father and buye other with the money aswell as some of the Bishops who by bâ—â—berie simony extortion racking of rent wasâ—ing of woods and such like stratagemes wax rich and purchase great Lordships for their posterity 11 Quaere If the Bish. that affirme it is lawfull to giue liuings appointed for ministers to lay men or D. Bridges aâ—â—irming that a priest may bee Lord ouer her Maiestie or Doct. Bancroft that calleth hir Highnes a pety Pope doe not disfame and dishonour her Maiesty and are thereâ—ore selons 12 Quaere If the Prelates who say that the otâ—e of the Supremacie importeth that hir Maiesty may deuise vvhat Church-gouernement she pleaseth be not in the worde of a Prince and by award of lawe Malicious persons seeing therein they ascribe more to hir Highnes then the Oth of Sâ—premacie with the exposition thereof importeth And whether the Seek of Reâ—ormation yeelding to the oâ—he with the exposition be not hir Highnes good and obedient subiectes 13 Quaere Why the Archbishops of Cant. should not rather be called Popes then Primates of all England seeing that a Cardinal gaue them the name of Primates aâ— Pope did assigne them the name of Popes 14 Quaere If Wicleue Luther Calum Latimer Tindall 〈◊〉 and other were nowe aliue and should speake against the Lordship of Bish. as they doe in their writings to which prison the Bishops would sende them whether to the Fleete Clinke Marshalsie or gate house Whether bookes seene allowed publikelie solde by authoritie doe containe matters of felony and difâ—amatory to the Queene 15 Quaere wherein the papists haue deserued so wel that mainteaning errours hereâ—ies and blasphennes accounting in generall our doctrine our Bishops an Magistrates hereticall and impious should finde more grace then Seekers of Reformation and why they â—hould not be condemned as felons for their abhominable doctrine 16 Quaere If the Bb. proceeding against men Perordinem inquisitâ—onis as Do. Cosins said at the examination of Maister Cartur doe not therein imitate the papall order vsed by the Bb. in time of câ—uelty and blindnes 17 Quaere If Christ were before the Bishops were demaunded of them concerning his doctrine and should answere I spake openly c. why aske ye me aske them that heard mee what I said vnto them beholde they know what I said whether making this answere he should be coÌ„mitted as Maist. Bambridge and Maist. Iohnson were in Cambridge and as many other godly Ministers be ordinarily vpon like occasion 18 Quaere If by the Iudiciall lawes by the course in the Chancerie or Starchamber any man be forced to sweare before he knowe the cause at least in generall whereunto he is to take his oth 19 Quaere whether by the lawes of Englande euery Bish. is not bound to coÌ„firme children as well as Ministers to mary with a ring whether popish young men not yet confirmed by any Bishop may not without daunger of â—awe reâ—use the Communion seeing by the booke of Common prayer nâ—ne must receyue the Lords supper till he be confirmed 20 Quaere whether an ecclesiasticall Iudge may punish Brisâ—one the pâ—pist for writing that our Communion booke is an apishe imitation of the Masse booke seeing the statute giueth onely that authority to Iustices of peace Item whether Bristowe deprauing the Communion booke may bee depriued of all his spirituall promotions for the first offence against the statute seeing the statute appointeth That he who the second 〈…〉 the Communion booke beeing conuicted thereof by verdict c. shâ—lbe depriued of his spirituall promotions Item whether the lawe doeth not fauour the puritane asmuch as the pâ—pist 21 Quaere whether Adultery is to be punished by the Ordinarie seeing the punishment thereof without any sauing to the spirituall Court is giuen by statute to the Iusâ—ices of peace And whether a man may be punished by two corporal or pecumarie puniâ—â—ments in two seuerall Courtes for one the same cause 22 Quaere If any Ordinary haue contriued promulged publiâ—hed Aâ—ticles in his owne name without asâ—ent of her ma iesty vnder seale and inforced hir Highnes subiectes to subscribe vnto the same And for not subscâ—ibing haue suspended or depriued them And whether an ordinary thus doing may not be imprisoned fined at the Queenes pleasure 23 Quaere whether an Ordinarie may cite a man to appeare before him in his Court to depose as awitâ—esse seeing Iustice Fitzherbert sayeth That it is extortion and vviong to the partie And how many of the Bishops be extortioners in that behalfe 24 Quaere whether a man shalbe examined by othe of anie thing that soundeth to his reproch seeing that Nullus tenâ—â—â—â— seâ—psum perdere and vvhether scisme and heresie be not matters that sound to a mans reproch 25 Quaere If an Oâ—dinarie or an ecclesiasticall Iudge citing men ex officio to sweare to accuse them selues in causes neither matrimoniall nor Testamentarie vvhether a Prohibition will ly against them or not Item whether the ordinary his officers ought not to surcease this maner of proceeding vntill the controuersie moued and now depending thereupon in the Starre Chamber by meanes of the opinion of some of the reuereÌ„d Iudges and of the right worshipful and famous Lawier Maister Cooke be determined Item let it be inquired if notwithstanding the displeasure of the Prelattes the graue and learned Iudges of this noble realme priuately debating these matters vvhether among them
suâ—plication as before hee had mentioned to her maiesty that they vvould make aunswere that to deale in such a suite were to rebell to pull the Crowne off her Highnes head to make a faction to vvrest the scepter out of her Maiesties hande and to shake off all authoritie A wonderfull thing sayeth heâ— it is that humblie and duetifullie to entreate should in the English tongue signifie by vnbrideled force vnduetifullie to compell and that to seeke the remoouing of vnlawefull callinges out of the Church should bee to threaten that the lawefull Magistrate shoulde bee thrust out of the common vvealth Thus farre writeth this Martin explaning fullie that though it was like the Bb. woulde peruert and miâ—conster his wordes as if he meant to moue rebellion that yet notwithstanding he went about no other thing but to incline the magistrate by his owne authority to reforme all matters that were amisse That an hundred thousand hands would strike a great stroke in this suite hath no other sence then this that if her maiesty should vnderstand that an hundred thousand of her most louing and loyall subiectes should subscribe to such a petition it would greatly mooue her Highnes to accept the same This phrase is vsuall and knovven to an English man For we vse to saye the cause hath receyued a great blowe or a great stroke So D. Bridges writing against Lordship of Bb. sayeth that vos autem non sic striketh dead that is vtterlie ouerthroweth Lordly authorâ—tie in the Ministers A man by wresting of such speaches as this might make the best subiect in this Realme a very traytor if his writing and speaking were well obserued But let traitours be traitours and rebels be rebells and suffer as is due to traytours or rebells God forbid that a Tropologicall or Metaphoricall speach without intendement of anie harme should come within the compasse of treason or rebellion Touching the wordes of Franc. Iunius we desire D. Consins to take a little paines in shewing which Franc. Iunius he meaneth If he vnderstand Fraâ—ciscus Iunius the famous learned man who with Tremellius translated and of late hath reviewed the Bible who hath also writen a whole booke in defence of the Eldership and Discipline he doeth that worthie man exceeding wrong It can not be proued that euer he wrote any such thing But if he meane one who calleth him selfe Stephen Iunius in a booke against tyrants whom peraduenture it pleased D. Cosins of purpose to call Franc. Iunius that men might suppose a louer of the Eldership to be a fauourer of treason I aunswere that this Stephen Iunius doth not mention the Praesbyteries in all his booke And whether he doth approue any such Eldership it doeth not appeare or if hee helde anie such frensie as D. Cossins fasteneth vppon him the Seek of Reform doe disclaime him That many thousandes in Englande Desire the Discipline is true and the number doeth increase daily That great trouble would come of it if it were not admitted hath appeared For we see howe schismatikes doe trouble the Church and what endles writing is on both sides and all touching this Discipline that yet wanteth But what is here that carieth the countenance of any sedition or rebellion vnlesse D. Cosins thinketh there can bee no trouble but in rebellious and warlike order D. Bancroft not finding pregnent matter for his purpose at home to giue shewe that the Seekers of Reformation bee rebellious he maketh roade into Scotlande challenging those Churches as his friendes the Papistes had done before That the Scottishe Ministers who fauour Discipline haue abused their King preaching factions and seditious doctrine treading vpon his scepter imitating the papall iurisdiction labouring to establishe an ecclesiasticall tyrannie of an infinite iurisdiction putting the King in daunger of his life whereupon the King ouerthrewe their presbytertes and restored the Bishops to their places And galloping on the way in this order he making in effect that right noble Christian King hir Maiesties most neere friende and knisman a â—lat hypocrite grounding himselfe vppon a booke counterfait by the gracelesse Archbishop of S t Andrewes in the Kings name Wherevnto the King neuer assented as the Ministers can shewe by his Royall letters yet reserued in Edinborowe the wicked Prelate since that time hauing sought to be reconciled to the Ministers whome hee slaundered Which thing you may the rather beleeue if you consider that the King hath taken so good liking of the Ministers the Presbyteries that he hath made publike protestation to mainteine the fame while he liueth And to subiect the Nobilitie therevnto Likewise when the King reade D. Banc. booke and came to the pag 75. where the Doctor chargeth him to be an hypocrite or dissembler The King vppon the margent of the booke did write these wordes My speking vvriting and actions were and are euer one vvâ—tthout dissembling or bearing vp at any time what euer I thought Ergo Castes the libell ne quid asperius that is Therefore the Doctor sayeth vntruely that I vse no rougher wordes Signed thus I. R. that is Iacobus Rex Iames the King The same Doctor bringeth in some forraine authoures whom he saieth were fauoures of Discipline yet brochers of rebellious and straunge propositions These authours did write either against such as they accounted vsurpers or Princes by election popishe tyrants such as hated our religion they did not write aginst any protestant Prince neither in defence of the Disciplice but rather of the doctrine which is nowe mainteined in Englande As D Bancroft doth alleadge these authours to proue the Discipline to bee trayterous and rebellious so the papistes do alleadge the same meÌ„ to proue that the doctrine of the Protestantes is seditious The allegation doeth holde against both alike Our Religion doeth not depende vpon the opinions of one or two men Where one fauourer of the Eldership hath written trayterously I coulde produce fiue hundred who were mainteiners of the Hierarchie and ranke traytors Our English Bish. haue resisted rebelled and deposed many kings of England They haue most sawcilie abused the Nobilitie as might bee shewed I heare of none that either attempted or effected treason or rebellion against hir Maiesty but papists all such do approue the principâ—lity and iurisdiction of L1 Bb. Thus farre haue â— proued as I hope sufficientlie that it is not lawfull or agreeable to the trewe intent of this staâ—ute to iudge these writers for Reformation as diffamers of hir Maiestie or rebels and therefore that they ought not suffer as felons Some haue helde that though it be not consonant to the lawes of England that the Bishops should presse the othe ex officio as they vse to doe yet that it is expedient they shoulde continue their proceedings as they haue begunne if any in the same conceite should holde that albeit it is not lawfull to execute the Seekers of
Reformation as felons that yet it is Expedient I answere that if such law be admitted it will be the most daungerous perillous practise that euer was receiued within this Realme of Englande For neither the Prince the Councellours the Magistrates Bishops Iudges or best subiectes can liue in security If men may violate law and iustice vpon a colour or pretence of Expediencie what endlesse mischieâ—es may insue vnto the common wealth What kinde of president would this be to al succeding ages To what purpose haue our auncestours prouided that there shoulde bee euery yeare or oftner a Parliament to supply the defectes of law if vppon a surmise of experiencie men might goe beyond the listes and limites of lawe If the reuerende Iudges of the lande who ought to preserue the integrity and honour of the lawe shoulde admit any such learning besides that it would ouerthrow both the common and statute law it would indaunger the keeping of their oth giue their goods landes and liues to the Princes pleasure Some will expect that I shoude answere the charge against the writer of the Demonstration if one man made both the Epistle and the booke which I haue not as yet hearde to bee proued but seeing he is conuicted by the verdict of 12. men the proceeding against him notoriouslie knowen the accusation and woordes wherevpon hee was conuicted in euerie mans mouth I leaue it to the iudgement of the great day when the Iudge all Iudges shalbe iudged before the Iudge of heauen and earth who will rewarde euery man according to that which he hath done good or ill Precious in the eies of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes O earth thou canst not couer bloude It still cryeth in the eares of the Lord for vengeance saying How long Lorde holy and true doest not thou Iudge and auenge our bloude on them that dwell on the earth Surelie he that preserueth the haires of the head and putteth the teares of his seruantes into a bottel will much more preserue in his bottel the drops of the bloude that fall from the bodies of his saintes Therefore be warned bee wise and take heede what you doe ye Iudges of the earth It is one thing to deale with a theefe and murtherer another thing to iudge a Minister preacher of the Gospell of Christ your redeemer and that in matters of religion wherein God knoweth you haue small vnderstanding Thus haue I runne ouer the obiections made to proue the writers of Reform against the Hierarchie to bee diffamers of hir Maiestie and rebelles I will proceede a little further to shew that if men would be curious in their writings that deale for the Bb. and if their wordes were a little inforced as they might be by M. Dolion or some such factor for the Bish I feare they might incurre the daunger of this â—tatute as easily as others The Bb. in their booke doe write That it is not lawfull to bestowe such liuings vpon late men as are appointed by 〈◊〉 to Preachers of the worde Though this might stande good and yet ouerthrowe many of our Bb. states honors who preach not the word yet this doeth reproch hir Maiestie who doeth imploy some of the â—b liuings oâ—tentimes to better vses then Bb doe bestowe them M. VVicleve that famous protestant taught another lesson 〈…〉 And who will not thinke the superfluitie of a Bb. liuing better bestowed vppon such a man as Sir Frauncis Walsingham that right honorable Councelor and benefactor of the Church and Countrie then vppon any Bb. that referreth al abondance to the aduancement of his house and posteritie D. Brâ—ages mainteineth in writing That a Priest maie haue a moderate Lordely iurisdiction ouer all the Lordes allotment and 〈◊〉 Which implieth and externall â—ordely iurisdiction ouer hir Maiestie vâ—les he will say That she is none of Gods heritage both which might be made a daungerous doctrine D. Bancroft writeth That her Mâ—iestie is a Pâ—ty pope and ascribeth to hir all the iurisdiction that the Pope euer had by vsurpation M. Iewell saieth That the popish Prelates gaue K. Henrâ—â— the 8. the strange and vnvsed â—ule of head of the Church to bring him into the slander and taske of the worlde And the Parliament for auoyding scandale changed the title of Supreme heade to Suprem Gouernour If Maist. Iewell misliked that thâ— Queene should be called Supreme heade what would he haue thought of Pety pope or howe can the Parliament beare this Do not the Protestantes detest in the pap their woman pope The Archb. of Canterb. would bee displeased and I can not blame him if a man should call him Pope Notwithstanding the Pope saide of one of his predecessors Includamus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam 〈◊〉 orbis Papam Let vs include this Aâ—selme in our woorlde as Pope of another worlde meaning great Britaine called by the auncient writers a world by it selfe yet it is thought nothing to call hir Maiestie a Peâ—y pope Doctor Whitakers sayeth That the Name authoritie and person of the Pope all Protestantes doe abhorre and accurse to the Prince of darknesse whence it came The papistes doe slaunder hir Maiestie to be a Pope or Pety pope but M. Nowell telleth the papistes and D. Bancroft also That wee doe not teach that the Princes be either Popes or Pety popes The papistes also doe abuse hir Highnes as D. Bancroft doeth saying That vve take the Supremacie from the Pope and giue it to the Prince But Doctor Rainolds aunswereth That the Supremacie which vvee take from the Pope vve giue to no mortali creature Prince or other But D. Banc. who thinketh himselfe a great Clerke as if he were a deeper Diuine then either M. Nowell or M. Rainolds whom he vseth to call a Precâ—fian maketh hir Maiestie a Petie pope assigneth hir not some of the Popes power but ALL honors dignities preeminences iurisdâ—ctions priuileges authorities profites and commodities which by vsurpation did at anie time appertaâ—e vnto the Pope If a man can diffame by foolishe flatterie then D. Bancâ—s the most notorious diâ—â—amer of hir Maiestie in al England Neither lawe reason religion or good manners doeth waâ—rant this God forbid that like extremity were extended for these faultes as hath bin vsed against the Seek of Reformat I doe not recount them for that purpose but onely that the Bb. and their friendes seeing their owne case if hir Maiestie vvere not mercifull may deale more curteously with their brethren Conclusion Considering the doubtfulnes of these controuersies I trust your Maiesty will take some good order for the peaceable debating compounding of them In the meane time we hope that these things which are here writen being well weighed your gratious and tender heart will neuer suffer one drop of bloud to fall to ground for these causes of Reform till
A petition directed to her most excellent Maiestie wherein is deliuered 1 A meane howe to compound the ciuill dissention in the church of England 2 A proofe that they who write for Reformation do not offend against the stat of 23. Eliz. c. 2. and therefore till matters be compounded deserue more fauour Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the causes of the children appointed to death PROV 31. 8. I beleeued and therefore haue I answered For SIONS sake I will not ceasse and for IERVSALEMS sake I will not holde my tong ESA. 62. 1. Herevnto is annexed Some opinions of such as sue for Reformation By vvhich is made appeare hovve vniustlie they are slaundered by the Bishops c. pag 53. Together vvith the Authours Epistle to the Reader pag. 58. Also Certeyne Articles wherein is discouered the negligence of the Bishoppes their Officialls Fauourers and Follovvers in performance of sundrie Ecclesiasticall Statutes Lawes and Ordinances Royall and Episcopall published for the gouernement of the Church of England pag. 60. Lastlie Certeyne Questions or Interrogatories dravven by a fauourer of Reformation vvhich he desireth to be resolued by the Prelates pag. 74. To the Queenes most excellent Maiestie Elizab. by the grace of God Queene of Englande France and Ireland supreme gouernesse in all causes and ouer all persons within her Maiesties Realmes and Dominions CRauing vppon my knees pardon for my boldnes I beseech your most excelleÌ„t maiesty to heare me a little All your Highnes subiects that loue the religion honour your maiesty and desire the good of the Realme doe hartily bewaile the bitter contentioÌ„ about the questions of reforming the Church Many seeke to increase this contention Some labour to appease it but this will neuer bee till the trueth in these matters be assured in the hearts of both parties I doe not nowe write eyther to pull downe Bishoprickes or erect presbiteries With whom the trueth is I will not determine For I knowe not What seemeth most probable and true to me that I knowe Howe trueth should come to light that is the question Writing of bookes in such manner as is nowe vsed is endlesse wearinesse to the fleshe matter of further contention by reason of impertinent and personall discourses The troubles of Churches and enmitie of Princes wil not admit a generall Councell A free Nationall or Prouinciall Councell at home were much to be wished so that the Bb. and their followers did not ouerrule the rest For it is against religion law and reason that the same men should be both iudges and parties Or if this be not thought so conuenient There is a way deuised and much commended by learned men as a notable meane to compounde controuersies namely priuate conferences by aduised writing not extemporall speaking the question agreed of The arguments thâ— answeres replies and reioinders set downe till both parties had fully said all by-matters laid aside In fine the whole to be published that your maiesty the honourable Councellours and Parliament may iudge thereof that those thinges which on eyther part are founde faultie may be redressed That all thinges be not so cleare with the Bb. but that further conference triall and reformation is requisite appeareth 1 By the lawes established which expect a better and further reformation in Church-causes 2 By the writings of our Diuines in the common cause against the papistes 3 By the confession of the Bb. them selues and such aâ— write in their defence 4 By their suspicious and doubtfull handling of the matters in question 5 By the testimony of learned men and christian Churches who seeme to speake against the gouernment by Bb. and for the gouernement by assisting Elders 1 The lawes expect a further reformation of the Church Your Maiesties most noble Father vnderstanding that the lawes Ecclesiasticall of this lande were corrupt prouided by Parliament that 32. persons should peruse and correct them gathering into one booke those that were good which by his Royall assent should haue the strength of lawe all other Ecclesiasticall lawes to be abandoned out of this Church for euer Maister D. Cranmer and other reuerend men were delegated to this purpose They collected into one booke many good thinges as they thought touching Aduouson of benefices Excommunication for small matters Residence of Vniuersitie men vpon their benefices Mariages without consent of parentes Nursing of children by their owne mother Diuorces for infirmitie of body Pluralities Broken Musicke in Cathedrall Churches Deacons The solemnitie of ExcoÌ„munication and absoâ—ution with the assent of the people and many other things which are directly contrary to the practise and orders of the moderne Bishops But this booke wanteth the Kinges confirmation and the lawes Ecclesiasticall remaine in the same corruption as your Maiesties Father left them notwithstanding the labours of those Reuerend personages and the act of Parliament which was reuiued and confirmed in the beginning of your Highnes most happy reigne 2 Also in the booke of common prayer which was sette forth by your Maiesties brother accepted by your highnes there is prescribed a Commination to bee vsed at a certaine time in the yeare not to continue euer but till an order of Discipline practised in she primitiue Church bee restored which were greatly to bee wished as the authours of that booke doe saie Yet this Commination staÌ„deth and the Discipline there mentioned is yet wanting 3 The booke of ordering Ministers confirmed by lawe presumeth that euery Minister should be a Preacher For at the Ordination the Bishop sayeth Take thou authority to preach the word of God Yet where the Bb. ordeine one Minister that can preach they make twenty that can not 4 â—astly it is enacted That all ornaments of the Church and Ministers thereof such as are Surples Coapes c. shall be retained and be in vse as was appointed by King Edward the 6. not for vnchangeable continuaunce but vntill other order were taken by your Maiestie and your Highnes Ecclesiasticall Commissioners 2 The Defenders of our common cause expect a further Reformation Those thinges in effect be acknowledged by some of our chiefe defendours of religion against the papistes For vvhen they obiect That we are glad to borrowe their ceremonies to haue an apish imitation of their Masâ—e booke answere is returned That diuers abuses in Ceremonies and Discipline were tollerated among vs our Church therein yeelding to the infirmitie of the weaker sorte which were to be altered when people grewe to ryper knowledge 3 The Defenders of the state of Bb. expect further Reformation 1 Al the Bishops in their Canons do confesse that Non-residencie is a filthie thing odâ—ous to men pernicious to the church yet what is more common 2 By the lawes of England in the ordination of Bb. the Archbishop should lay the Bible vpon the Bishops neck
that is to be ordeined and put a pastorall staffe into his hande If the Archbishops did not esteeme these as vaine ceremonies they would vrge them with as great vehemency vpon Bb. as they doe Surplesses vpon ministers 3 My L. of Canterb in his booke against Maister Cartw. sayeth That Chauncellours who are not Ministers should not excommunicate The authours of the Remonstrance and Matthewe Sâ—tcliffes bookes defenders of the Hierarchie by writing thinke it a most vnmeete thing that such as bee no ministers of the worde should meddle with the keies of the Church yet the contrary is daily vsed 4 The Bishop of London confesseth That he made his Porter minister and the other Bb. doe acknowledge That manie lewde and vnlearned ministers haue beene made of late in Englande which they will not seeme to defende Besides they say Wee haue yet but a tollerable manner of reformation all which doe euince a further reformation 5 D. Cosins one of the high Commissioners writeth That the punishment of Adulterie is to milde 6 A learned man and friend of the Bb. noteth as abuses Their vrging of Subscription Their oth ex officio Their excommunication for trifles and easie silencing of ministers 4 The suspicious and doubtfull handling of the controuersed matters imployeth some neede of reformation and conference 1 My L. of Cant. speaking of the maine controuersie touching gouernement By Seni. or Elders sayeth That hee knoweth that the primitiue Church had in euery Church certaine Seniors to whome the gouernement of the Congregation was committed In a booke against the Marprelate subscribed as I haue heard by the Archb. of Cant. the Bb. of Winch. Linc. London it is affirmed that the gouernement by Elders was vsed vnder the Lawe and practised vnder the Gospell by the Apostles though not fit for our times But repenting this plaine confession they haue caused certaine wordes importing the contrarie to be printed vpon a shred of paper which paper was pasted in all the bookes of the first impression to couer conceale their former assertion 2 The Remonstrance comming after holdeth there vvas neuer any gouernement by Elders in the Church but yeeldeth that if the Eldership begun in the Lawe and continued in the Gospell that then it shoulde stande to the worldes ende For somuch as is prescribed in the new lawe no prescription ought to bee made against it Vpon which crosse assertions laide one vppon another the aduerse partie may presse out the conclusion of all the controuersie If the Eldership begun in the Lawe and continued in the Gospell then no prescription may be made against it but it shoulde stande for euer So saith the Remonst But the Eldership begun in the Law and continued in the Gospell So say the Bb. Therefore no prescription may be made against the Eldership but it shoulde stande for euer 3 But one Matthewe Sutcliffe comming after these controlleth both for he protesteth there was neuer anie gouernment by Elders vnder the Gospell or if there were yet the gouernement vsed by the Apost is changeable not of necessitie to bee continued Not content herein to make the rent of our Church deeper then euer it was hee hath openlie in latine defaced forreine Churches of whom D. Whitgift and other haue alwayes written honorably that wee might not onely be at warre within our selues but with straungers also Whereby it is likely there will arise as daungerous trouble to the Churches about Discipline as hath growen by the question of Consubstantiation to the great offence of the common aduersarie and generall disquiet of all Christendome Touching the state of Bb. diuers who nowe most egerly defende when they were nearest to God that is in miserie anguishe of soule did speake against it but afterwarde inclining to the worlde with their conditions they altered their opinions 1 Maister Elmar nowe Bishop of London writeth thus Christ sayeth Luc. 1. 2. Who made me a Iudge betweene you As though hee woulde saie It belongeth not to my office to determine matters of pollicie and inheritance that belongeth to the ciuill Magistrate If hee had thought it had beene within the compasse of his function why and with what conscience refused bee to set them at one who were at strife and to put that out of doubt which was in sute If hee might doe it and woulde not hee lacked charitie and did not his duetie If it belonged not to him howe belonged it to anie of his Disciples or successours Had not bee as large a commissâ—on as he gaue Or coulde bee giue that he had not But hee knowing his office as the Prophete Esay had foretolde to preach the 〈◊〉 and woulde doe nothing without warrant And therefore being asked if hee were a King answered siâ—plie and by a plaine negatiue My kiâ—gdome is not of this worlde If his kingdome were not here neither the ordering of pollicies c. Yea when they woulde haue taken him vp to haue made him a King as one that refused that belonged not to him hee conueyed him-selfe from amonge them If Imperiall iurisdiction belonged to him why refused hee his calling If it did not where had Paul or any other anie authoritie to meddle with that which hee refused Seeing hee sayeth As my Father sent mee so sende I you In another place Christ knowinge the bondes of his calling woulde not medle with externe pollicie c. Diuines methinkes by this example shoulde not giue them-selues too much the bridle and too large a scope to meddle too farre with matters of pollicie If these two offices I meane ecclesiasticall and ciuill bee so â—umbled in both functions there can bee no quiet or well ordered common wealth And againe Princes of the Nations doe heare rule like Lords it shall not bee so with you It falleth not into an Apostles or Church-mans office to meddle with such matters For none going to warre intangleth him selfe with the affaires of this life it is enough for them to waite vpon one office to attende as sole priestes not as errant Baylliffes And elswhere Come off yee Bishops away with your superfluities yeelde vp your thousandes bee content with hundreds as they bee in other reformed Churches where there be as great learned men as you are Let your portion bee priestlike and not Princelike Let the Queene haue the rest of your temporalities to mainetaine warres and to builde schooles throughout the Realme that euerie parishe Church may haue his Preacher euery Citie hir Superintendent to liue not pompeouslie Which will neuer bee vnless your landes bee dispersed and bestowed vpon manie which nowe feede and fat but one Remember that Abâ—nelech when Dauid in his banishment woulde haue dined with him kept such hospitalitie that hee had no breade to giue him but the Shewbâ—ead Where was all his superfluitie to keepe your pretended
be true In Parliaments that concerned the Bb. as parties they haue bene excluded But the law and state of England you will say accouÌ„t these things False So the lawes of other nations account them true In matters of God as is the gouernement of the Church the lawes of God ought to determine trueth and falâ—hood They only should informe the conscience of Iudges There is not alia veritas Theologica alia Philosophica one trueth in Diuinitie another in Philosophie or humanity That distinction is false and contradictory God is one his worde one his worke one his trueth one We may aswell say There be two Sunnes as two Truethes respectiuely in one thing The worde of God not lawe of man is the touchstone of this trueth Iustice Gascoine being demaunded of King Henrie the 4. what he would doe if a man guiltles in his owne knowledge vvere founde guilty of murther by verdict afore him made this aunswere although the verdict was as good in lawe as any lawe That hee would respite iudgement and craue the Kings pardon for the partie conuicted With which answere the King was well pleased Whereby we learne that our owne knowledge and the lawe of God assured in our conscience ought rather to guide our iudgement then the verdict of law or testimonie of men Seeing then that the seekers of Reformat haue not writen neither doe write Aduisedly Maliciously or Falslie muchlesse both Aduisedlie Maliciouslie and Falslie to diffame her Maiesty for the wordes be in the copulatiue I conclude in this generally negatiuely to the aduersaries argument though I should admit it to be true yet considering these things doe not coÌ„curre in writing of bookes for Reformation that they bee not within compasse of this statute 2 This statute is not meant of her maiesties lawes her politike members or state of Bb. but only of her Highnes Royall person as appeareth by wordes and drift thereof It is taken almost verbatim from an act made by King Philip Queene Marie which throughout still aimeth at their owne persons Of whom the statute saieth but could not meane of their members politike or lawes Wee are forbidden by Gods lawe so much as to thinke ill much lesse to speake ill This act determined with Queene Maries life In this statute of 23. the preamble importeth that it vvas made to suppresse such persons as were ill affected to her maiestie The body of the lawe bendeth against them onely that slaunder the Queenes most excellent Maiestie that nowe is By the last prouiso in it this acte hath no longer continuaunce then during the naturall life of hir Maiestie that nowe is The state of Bb. vnles God shorten it and the politike members and lawes if speciall prouisoes doe not choake them are to continue euer Wherefore this statute being meant of her Maiesties naturall person which is subiect to mortality aswell as other and not of her body politike which liueth euer they that diffame the members of the body politike can not be truely saide to diffame the Queene as this statute doeth intende 3 By the wordes of this statute If any offendâ— in vvriting bookes to the diffamation of the Queene the same offence not beeing made treason by any other statute such diffamation shalbe deemed felonie By the wordes Other statute is meant among the rest a lawe made 13. Eliz. c. 1. Whereby it is enacted that whosoeuer shall publâ—she that her Highnes is an heretike schismatike tyraÌ„t c. shalbe punished as a traytor By comparing these statutes which haue apparant relation the one to the other it should seeme that by the one namely that of 23. her maiesties honour is protected from peâ—ite slaunders such as in temperancy vncleanenesse and such like and by the other grand slanders are preuented as heresie schisme tyranny and such like The one adiudged felony the other treason Out of which statutes I reason thus If the Seekers of Reformation diffaming her maiesties lawes and members politike doe diffame the Queene and are there fore felons by the statute of 23. Eliz. then they that in a higher degree diffame the lawes and body politike doe diffame her Highnes and are traytours by the statute of 13. Eli. But the papistes diffaming her maiesties lawes in making the articles of Religion established by law flat heresies and accounting of the Bishops as hereticall schismatical and vsurping doe diffame the lawes and members politike of the Queene in a higher degree then the Seekers of Reformation yet were neuer taken and punished as traytours for diffaming the Queene though they haue by monstrous conspiracies horrible practises giuen cause of extreame rigour Therefore the seekers of reforma diffaming the Queenes lawes and body politike doe not diffame the Queene nor are felons by the statute of 23. Elizab. 4 Euery penall lawe concerning life is to be expounded strictly according to the literall and grammaticall sence not by inference or equity as appeareth by these examples There is a statute that whosoeuer doeth call her Maiestie heretike bee traytours as I noted before The papistes call all Protestants in generall Heretikes yet they be not for such speeches drawne within the statute though they doe inclusiuely call the Queene heretike Moreouer None that feloniously steale horses shall haue their cleargie Accessories to stealers of horses be stealers of horses both by the lawe of God before whome euery sinner is a principall and by the lawe of this lande For if they cannot reade they shall suffer as felons Yet accessories to stealing of horses shall haue their cleargie though in nature there is the greatest proximity and in argument the most equall inference and easie slide from the generall 〈◊〉 the speciall that can be imagined Lastlie because I will not insist in a matter so common the same statute of stealing of horses affordeth the like learning Therein it is saide that No stealer of horses in the plural number shall haue his cleargie Which number is often in common speach and in penall lawes touching landes goods taken Synecdochechios for the singulare Yet King Edwardes Iudges pursuing the precise letter of the statut were so scrupulous for the life of a man that they durst not deny the benefite of the Cleargie to him that had stolne one horse Whereupon the wise of Englande whome we are more to regarde then any one man made a newe I awe That whosoeuer stole any horse should not be admitted to his cleargie These Iudges that would not wrest a law one heare breadth against a horse stealer would haue bene as fauourable to honest Christians But some thinke that we haue cheuerel lawes that may be recked stretched at mens pleasure wheras penall lawes that touch mans life haue beene alwaies expounded in a most strict sence This statute of 23. is a penall lawe concerning the body life of man The expresse syllables and wordes directed onely against them that diffame
sermon at Oxforde this testimony of Maister Nowell to proue that men by authoritie might speake in defence of gouernement by Elders To be short I haue shewed that my L. of Canterburie and the other Bb. That D. Coâ—â—ns and the aduertiser doe in writing reproue many things couÌ„tenanced by law as excommunication by lay Chauncellours Nonresidence Ignoraunt ministers the milde punishment of Adultery Subscription and such like and yet these men be not deemed indited conuict or attaint as diffamers of her maiesty and felons by this statute Such be our times that Iisdem de causis alij plectantur alij ne appellentur quidem Thus much may serue touching the accusation of diffaming of our Soueraine Ladie the Queenes most excelleÌ„t maiesty Now it remaineth to consider how iustly the writers for Reformation be charged with rebellion VVHereas the aduersaries to Reformation do take as a principle that whosoeuer writeth to worke a discâ—â—tentment in the mindes of the subiectes doe intende a rebellion That is a most vntrewe assertion and sophistical paralogisme For although Rebellion doth grow of Discontentement yet all discontentement doth not bring forth rebellion or if the writinge against the state of Bishops shoulde moue some men to discontentment who being discontented should stirre vp rebellioÌ„ yet it doeth not followe that the writers against the Bb. were rebels as this stat doeth intende For the writers must write Aduisedlie and of purpose to stirre rebellion So that if a man write in humble loyall and duetiful manner hauing no purpose and intent to worke rebellion though rebellion should here of insue yet could not such a writer without great iniustice be drawn within this statute For he can not be a felon that hath not a felonious intent and purpose Christ by his preaching had wrought such a dislike of the Priests and their proceedinges in the mindes of his Disciples that one of theÌ„ in defence of his Maister did strike of the eare of Marchus a seruant of purseuant of the high priestes yet the Priestes did not charge Christ with this outrage of his Disciple For albeit Christ did speake against the Rulers Priests in his time drawing after him many dislikers of that present state yet Christ neuer meant to woorke in mens mindes a discontentement which should bring forth mutinies or rebellion but amendement and reformation In like manner these Seek of Reformation haue descried manie supposed abuses in the church gouuernement they beare vs in hande that there is another forme of Ruling the church more agreeable to the Scriptures then this which we haue receyued They write to lay open the faultes of the one the necessitie and profit of the other that the one beeing remoued by lawful authoâ—itie the other by like authoritie might be entertained For considering that hir Maiestie and Lordes without the Commons can not by the order of our state reforme the abuses imperfections of the laws it is requisite that the Commons of this land should be acquainted with the wants both of the Church and common wealth For euery man and woman of this Realme is partie and priuie to all Actes of Parliament Their assent is needefull to the making of euery lawe In their name and as the deputies the Knightes Burgesses are present and haue voices in the Parliament Nowe howe shoulde the commons their Knightes and Burgesses conceyue what is amisâ—e in the Lawes and state but by publike writings for that purpose That hauing deepelie weighed and pondered what and how thinges should be reformed they might be able in time of Parliament after the lawfull and laudable custome of this Realme to take order for them according to knowledge A few daies or weekes are are not sufficient throughly to examine what may bee said what should be done in these matters Wherefore if these Seekers of Reformation should by publike writinge in duetifull and Christian sorte communicate to hir Maiestie the Lordes and commons of this Realme the enormities of the state to the ende that they in their Parliamentes should reforme the same though some of the Commons should take occasion herevpon desperately and vndutifullie to rebell yet the Seekers of Reformation coulde not iustly be condemned as aduised and malitious mouers of rebellion Much lesse can their writinges which haue as yet neuer effected nor affected rebellion be deemed rebellions Their writing for Reformation doeth rather prooue that they bee not rebells For if they purposed a rebellion they would rather tumultuouslie rise vp and reforme thinges them selues then write bookes to moue the Queenes Maiestie the â—ords and Commons in their Parliaments to lay their handes to reformation They that be not blinded with malice do see wel that the Ministers who seeke Reformation doe preache true obedience to the Magistrates with greater zeale and sincerity then any Bishop in this lande It is not oriously knowen that they teach as an article of their faith That no subiect or seruaunt ought to rebell against his Prince or Maisters though hee bee cruell and frowarde but rather shoulde meekely suffer oppression and violence at their handes They teach that the lawes must either be performed by obeying them or else the punishment for not yeelding vnto theÌ„ patiently suffered and vndertaken Therefore howsoeuer they write to bring a discontentment into mens mindes yet they would not haue the subiect to intrude vpon the Magistrates office much lesse to rebell against his Soueraine Furthermore if all they that write to bring the people to adiscontentement and dislike of the authorized gouuernement doe write of purpose to moue rebellion then doe the lawes the Bishops and whole state of Englande intende a rebellion I proued that both the lawes Bishops of this lande doe expect a further reformation which can not be accomplished vnlesse hir Maiestie the Ll. and commons be drawen to a discontentement and disâ—ike of the present state For amendement and redresse can neuer follow but where discontentement goeth before â—ikewise it is prooued that the Church of Englande hath seene allowed and suffered to be printed and publikely solde diuerse bookes which doe speake most effectualliâ— against the state of â—orde Bishops I shewed that bookes wherin the Lordship of Bb. hath bene coÌ„demned haue bene allowed by expresse act of Parliament I shewed also that the gouernement by Elders is approued in books which are commended by the Bb. to be fully grounded vpon Gods worde which are commanded to be taught learned throughout this Realme If it be rebellion to worke a dislike discontentement in the state of Lord Bb. If it bee rebellion to commende the reformed gouernement by Elders then doth the state of England intende a rebellion against hir Maiestie But God forbid that we should thinke so dishonorably or disâ—oyally of our Christian State though it hath wrought in mens mindes a dislike of the present Church-gouernement If then this argument be vaine
friuolous against the state why is it not so against the members and partes of the state I might adde here that all Pâ—inters who sell popish bookes and all others who publish or deliuer from hande to hande any popiâ—he or other booke that crosseth the present gouuernement were felons by this statute if this argument might haue place I might also giue a caueat to Maister Doctor Percie that he doe not proceede in perfecting the booke which Crammer Cox Haddon and others beganne touchinge reformation of the lawes ecclesiasticall least peraduenture he should draw the people to be discontented with the lawes in force and by that meanes incurre the penaltie of this statute I might also shew that they who hauing receyued greate benefites of hir Maiestie doe contrarie to the trust reposed in them maineteyne preferre and aduance notoriously suspected papistes hollow-harted traitours and close enemies to hir Highnes hir Crowne and Dignitie opposing themselues against they knowe not what I might I saye shewe that those men doe prouoke a discontentement in hir Maiesties subiects but I will not stande her cupon For whatsoeuer discontentement is raised in men I knowe none that are falne into such madnes as to endeuour a rebelliâ—â— Neither can I conceyue cause of such feare vnles we doubt that the popish â—orte being incouraged by the aduancement of their friends the disgrace of their greatest enimies the passing by of them pursuing of others should increase in number as they doe without question mightily and then returne to their aunciâ—t rebellions ad diuelish practices Thus much may suffice to be spoken to the generall argument vsed by the Bb. their solicitours to proue the writings for ReformatioÌ„ to be rebellious Their reason is so sencelesse that I maruell how it can proceede from men of wisedome I am ashamed to bestowe more labour vpon it The seconde accusation of writing to moue rebellion concerneth particular speaches scattered here and there in some bookes which I would willingly deale vvithall sauing that I haue resolued to open my mouth in the cause of the innoceÌ„t and to speake in their behalfe that are vnworthily in mine opinion adiudged to death Which trauell I would take aswell for the Bish. as for the Seekers of Reformation if they should come into the like perill There neuer yet hapned any rebellion vnder her Maiesty by the instigatioÌ„ of them that wâ—ite in the cause of reforming the Church-gouernemeâ—t But if any should write to the intent to stâ—rre rebellion or insurrection though no insurrection or rebellion thereupon ensue yet they be felons by this statute Now whether the authors aboue named haue writen to that intent that commeth next to be discussed We ought not to bring newe sences vnto wordes but take that sence onely which the authour bringeth To take the wordes without the sence is to catch at the shadowe leaue the body Where wordes haue diuers sences some good and some ill by the rule of loue vnlesâ—e vehement presumption doe force the contrary we ought to take the better leaue the worse especially in criminall and capitall causes Because the Gods of the earth I meane the Magistrates ought after the example of the God of heauen incline rather to mercie then iustice Which is the reason that by the lawe The interpretation most beneficiall for the defendant should bee accepted For it is better to spare the guiltie then take away the innocent because Bloud being spilt vpon the grounde like water can not bee gathered vp againe but a guilty person spared at one time may be requited at another Wherefore it is needeful that â—uidences in cases of bloud should haue Claritatem probationis in quadam excellentia A clearenes of proofe in an excellent brightnesse If there be no euidence of trueth to induce vs to interprete the woordes vrged by aduersaries to ReformatioÌ„ of anie rebellious intendement then it will appeare that the writers for Discipline bee not iustly dravven within this statute That which D. Bancroft alleadgeth of Martine threatning of fistes cannot in any equitie be drawen tor bellion In saying That D. Brâ—dges for writing against the Reformat woulde shortlie the haue twentie fistes about his eares more then his owne hee meaneth nothing else but that manie would exercise their handes in writing against D. Bridges vvhich hath prooued true Thus he explaneth him selfe in his seconde booke the wordes in our vsuall phrase importing such a matter To vnderstande this as if Martin did incite to insurrection or rebellion is altogither without reason Here is neither argument exhortation or denunciation that implieth any motion to rebellion Matin could not be so mâ—d as to imagine that such a light speach as this were sufficient to drawe men to seditioÌ„ especially such men as holde for an article of religion that it is altogither vnlawefull for any subiect to resist his lawefull Prince that holdeth of no creature but the God of heauen If Martin had beene an Acheist or Papist who by their religion may Rebell against lawfull soueraine Princes theÌ„ there might be some colour of this accusation especially if insteed of twenty fists Martin had saide twentie Halberds as the Bb. of LoÌ„don doeth comment vppon him Though twentie Halber deâ— much lesse twentie fistes coulde doe little to the raising of rebellion within Englande Doubtles Martin doeth abhorre such horrible purposes or if he cary any such minde hanging is too good for him Whereas Martin Senior speaketh of an hundred thousand handes and of striking his wordes bee carried as I am perswaded altogether from his sence and meaning In that place he exhorteth the Lords Gentlemen and people of England to become ioint-suiters by one supplication to her maiestie that in euery parishe there may be a preacher so neare as may be that vnlawfull callings may be remooued and Christes officers restored to the Church that there might bee a quiet meeting for the debating of the controuersies or that men might be suffered to sue the Prelates at the Kinges bench in cases where they abuse the subiectes against the lawes of â—â—gland He addeth that there might be procured an hundred thousande handes to this supplication of knowen men in this lande all her Maiesties most loyall and trustie louing subiectes that these togither vvoulde strike a great stroke especiallie in so reasonable and iust a sute These are his words For opening of which I propounde this question whether any man doeth knowe the meaning of these wordes better then the authour himselfe which no man will affirme as I thinke Then looke further vppon the wordes that follow He falleth into a discourse of the Bishoppes English as he tearmeth it showing that they peruert by sinister exposition the ordinary proprietie of our English phrase vvhereof he giueth diuerse examples and at length commeth to this That if a man should aske the Bb. vvhat it were in their language to preferre such duâ—tiful
should be sung in a â—laine tune likewise the Gospâ—ll and Epistle yet I haue not knowen this vsed in Cathedrall Churches 18 The names of Communicantes before they receiue should be signified to the Curaâ—e yet this is not regarded in most places 19 The Curat be he neuer so base shoulde not suffer notorious ill liuers such as haue wronged â—y by woorde or deede neither men out of charitie by they Earles Counseilloures or others to bee partakers of the Communion till they have declared them selues openlie to be repentant and reclaimed yet notorious lewde persons be admitted and men of state without exception are not hindred nor anie open consession of sinne is vsed by any offendour but whom the Officiall appointeth though the authours and confirmers of the coÌ„munion booke doe generally wish it 20 The Minister should vse the ornamentes appointed by King Edward yet not he alone but the Clearke also doeth vse a surplice in many churches 21 In Cathedral Collegi Churches the Communion should be ministred euery Sundâ—y at the least This is not practised The Aduertisement appointeth the first Sunday in euerie moneth But the Bishops Articles tie Ministers to vse the forme prescribed in the communion booke and no other 22 The Godfathers and Godmothers are commanded that they 1. shall call the children for whome they promise to heare sermons 2. They must prouide that they bee taught to learne all thinges necessarie for Christians 3. That they bee vertuouslie brought vp Which thinges al Godfathers and Godmothers might bee inâ—orced to doe for the lawe will not commaunde a thing without allowing a meane to â—ffect yet the Bishops doe neuerinforce this by ecclesiasticall censures thoughe infinite children doe for want of this helpe perishe in ignorance 23 bishops are commaunded to confirme children yet diuers Bb. doe not vse it albeit by lawe noe man shoulde receyue the Communion till hee were first confirmed A good plea for papistes to refuse the communion this confirmation would cause children to learne the principles of ReligioÌ„ for none should be confirmed till he could say the Lords praier Ten commandements and the short cacechisme 24 Curates of euery Parishe ought vppon sundaies and hâ—lidaies halfe an howre before euen-songe openlie instruct and examine childâ—en seruauntes and prentices in the Catechisme A profitable worke seldome or neuer vsed by the Bishops followers By the booke of Canons the Curate may examine any of what age or degree soeuer be they olde or younge noble or vnnoble The Bishops account it tyranny in some Ministers to expect or exact this thing 25 None must be admitted to the Communion that can not say the Catechisme Therefore â—urates should examine Communicantes and seclude them that be found wanting in knowledge but this is not regarded 26 Banes should be asked three seuerall Sundâ—yes in the open Church yet Biâ—hops dispence with asking banes Non obstants this booke confirmed by ParliameÌ„t as if a Bishop might dispence with penall Satutes Out of the booke of ordring Deacons c. 27 The partie presented to the Bb. should weare A plain Albe by the booke of ordering Ministers confirmed by Parliâ—ment yet this garment in not vsed 28 The Deacon by part of his office ought to searche for the sicke poore impotent of the 〈◊〉 and intimate their estates to the Curate c. But nowe the office of a Deacon is accounted meere spirituall 29 The Deacon must read the Gospell in the day of his Ordination putting on a Tunicle but â—his vesture is scarcely knowen at this day 30 The Bish. must tell the Minister at his Ordination That if his Church or anie member thereof doe take anie hurte by his negligence that a horrible punishment vvill ensue to him Hee chargeth him neuer to cease his labour care and diligence till hee haue done vvhat lyeth in him according to his duetie to bringe all that are committed to his charge that there bee no error in Religion or viciousnes in life left in them yet it is manifest that the Bb. Priestes and Chaplens are most negligent in their charge turning ouer their trauell to other vvhich they are charged here to performe in their owne perâ—on 31 The booke would haue them to giue themselues wholy to the ministeriâ—all vocation asmuch as lieth in them to apply themselus to that one thing to drawe all their care studies that waie to that ende yet they attende eiuiâ—â—ll offices and worldly affaires imperâ—â—nent to the charge here giuen to them 32 The Bish. chargeth and the Priest promiseth to Minâ—ster the discipline of Christ as the Lorde hath commaunded And as this Realme hath 〈◊〉 the same according to Gods commaundements not otherwise For the worde And noteth two distinct thinges in that clause where all Ministers are authorized to excommunicate as well as â—b for the Lorde hath commaunded this Discipline of Excom to all Ministers alike also they may admonish and suspenâ—e from the Lordes supper for this Realme hath receyued these cenâ—ures and giuen them to euerie Minister according to Gods commaundement in that behalfe yet the Bishops doe retaine the power of Excommuniâ— in their owne handes assigninge it to such as please theÌ„ most 33 The Bish. likewise chargeth and the priest promiseth to vse not onely publik but also priuate admonition and exhortations both to the sicke and to the whole within his cure yet their Chapleins and Doctors accompte their duetie discharged if some time they preach publikelie and neuer conferre priuâ—tely with their flocke in pointes of religion For Christ say they knewe not the persons and faces of his flocke neitheir is this expected of his Ministers both which bee vntrue 34 The booke at the ordination of euery Minister directeth the Bish. to say to the Minister Take thou authoritie to preache the vvorde of God and to Minister the holy Sacramentes in this Church In which wordes wee obserue 1. That the booke and Parliament which confirmed it doe intende that euerie Minister should be a Preacher This also may be proued by many other circumstances in this booke 2 A full licence authoritie is giuen to euerie Minister to preach therefore he may alwayes after this authoritie giuen aswell preache as minister the Sacramentes without a licence neither is it materiall that the Iniunctions or Aduertisements do will that a Minister shoulde haue a licence to preache for this booke of Ordering Ministers beeing authorized 8. Eliz. cap. 1. and 13. Eliz. cap. 12. In the Articles of Religion Artic. 36. doeth countermâ—unde the Iniunctions and Aduertisementes that went before 3. No Minister hath authoritie to preach out of any booke but Gods worde 4. The Ministers and Deacons should bee ordeined in the Congregation to which they are presented not in
the Bishops Chappell else the book would not say Take authoritie to preach in this Congregation For it can not be imâ—gined that all the Priestes which a Bishop maketh haue authoritie to preach or exercise their office in the Bish. Chappell when they list Yet notwithstanding the authority of this booke the Bb. admit ministers who be no Preachers whereas this book and their owne authoritie by Lawe Artic Cler. cap. 13. might aunswere any Quare impedit if they would refuse a Clearke for non abilitie of preaching Also notwithstanding this booke to get mony for if that bee not their purpose let them doe it gratis but then they would not stick at it they compell men beeing ordered after this book to take new licences to preach not beeing contented when they shewe them their letters of orders which the Bishops at their pleasure vpon a supposed misdemeanor doe vse to take from them Furthermore sundrie of the Prelates doe preache and take their texts out of the Apocripha wherein they goe beyonde their commission vnlesse the Apocripha be a parte of the scripture as one of the Bishops doeth intitle it Lastly notwithstanding the intent of this booke they ordeine Ministers at large in nubibus without a cure they neuer ordeyne them in the Congregration to which they are presented that the people of the Church who are likelie to be most inquisitiue into his conuersation that â—halbe their Pastor might except against them for the Bb. willeth the people present to speake if they knew any impediment or crime in the person presented that may hinder him from the ministery Which by all likelihoode can not be meant of a people of a stâ—aunge parish nor of the Bishops family vnlesse the Bish. famely be like the knights of the post in Westminster who know al men their conditions lands and estates though they neuer saw or heard of them before 35 All the Bishops that be present at the consecration of Bishops should we are Coapes and Surplesses hauing their Pastorâ—ll Staues in their handes they reteâ—ne the Surplesse seldome the Coapes but they neuer vse their Pastorall Staues Out of the Queenes Iniunctions 36 By the Queenes Iniunctions which should be executed in all her Highnes Realmes and Dominions all ecclesiasâ—icall persons hauâ—â—g cure of soules ought to preach in their church and 〈◊〉 other cure they haue one sâ—imon euery moneth And in their owne person they should preach once euery quarter or else read an Homely so that in euery parishâ—â— England Ireland Wales there should haue bin twelue sermos preached euery yeare either by the Minister or his deputy as it is expounded and the minister in proper person should haue preached foure sermons or read foure Homilies euery yeare since her Maiesty began hir raigne yet there bee many hundred churches within theese Dominions especially in Wales Irelande the Northen Western partes that haue scarcely had twelue sermons in twelue yeares and there be many persons that cry formality that come not twise in a yeare at their charge to benefite the people by any duty 38 Erasmus Paraphrases should bee had in all Churches yet the Bishops wilbe more carefull to enquire if euery parish haue a suâ—plesse rather then to enjoyne any booke learning 38 Ecclesiastical persons should not play at dice cardes tables or any other vnlawful game but vse some other honest exercise as shooting but the Bb. chaplens and followers that pretend most obedience to the Queenes lawes doe more offende in these matters then any other Ministers 39 All Nonresidents which may dispende aboue twentie pound yearly ought to distribute the 40. part of their liuing to the poore of the parish but this is lightly regarded of the most as I suppose 40 Whosoeuer Parson Vicar c. may dispend in ecclesiasticall promotions aboue 100. pounde yearely should giue for euery 100. pound three pounds six sâ—illings and viij pence yearely to so many poore schollers in the Vniuersitie or Grammer schooles as he hath hundred poundes that hauing profited in learning they might bee made partners of their Patrons cure and otherwise be imployed for the good of the common wealth The Bishops doe not inioyne their Chapleins their Deanes and Doctours to subscribe to this article though if this one article had beene obserued by our formall Prelates who be accompted the onely obedient subiectes as it should haue bene and yet bee if our Bishops and regarde the Queenes orders there would haue growed and hereafter growe more profite hereby to the Church state vnder hir Maiesty then hath ensued by all episcopall subscription for these huÌ„dred yeares Marke Bish. it is your fault that learning decayeth and that there wanteth a continuall supply of learned Ministers If this Article had bene performed there might haue bene relieued yearely euer since her Maiest came to the Crown aboue 1000. poore schollers who for want of maintenance haue applyed her time trauell to other matters Blush at your negligence herein 41 The Queenes Iniunctions ought to be read in the Churches openlie once euery quarter But this were no wisedome for then the people would expect many things at the Bishops and their Pâ—â—estes handes that are not conuenient to be knowen of the common sort 42 The holidaies should be spent in hearing Gods word in priuate and publike prayers in reconciliation of enemies receyuing the Sacramentes and visiting the poore vsing all sobernes and godly conuersation yet the Bb. themselues and their Priests who should be ensamples to the flocke bestow these daies prophanely at bowles hearing Commedies and Tragedies c. Which be farre from the dueties both here in the scriptures commaunded 43 All superstitious pictures paintings in walles and glasse windowes should be abolished out of Churches and houses yet many Church-windowes bee full of such pictures and as I heare the Bb. be not without such paintings in their Chambers 44 The Wiues of Ministers and Deacons should be allowed by the ordinarie and two Iustices of peace Many foreward Chapleins regard not this 45 All Cleargie people should weare their habits sqare cappes c. and noâ— hattes in iourneying yet there bee a number of the Bishops Priestes that breake this order as well as the Ministers that seeke reformation 46 The Iniunctions allow a man to be absent from common prayer at his owne parish Church and to resort to another in the same Towne to heare a sermon yet the Bishops and their Oâ—â—iciâ—lles punishemen in such cases vnlesse they will giue them a Marke or such like see for a licence of absence 47 Where Musicke is vsed in churches it should bee in such a distinct modest song that the same might be plainlie vnderstood as if it were read without singing But the curiosity of Cathedrall churches doth disdaine this simplicity 48 None
ecclesiasticall lawes put in execution rather then to inforce such as be lesse profitable needfull For wâ—ether is it more requisite to the glorie of God and good of hir Maiestie and this Realme that Ministers shoulde Catechise their Pariâ—he that they should debarre notorious offendours from the Communion That Sabboth dayes shoulde be kept holy That Church Wardens and Ministers should admoniâ—he pâ—â—uatelie all euen the most Noble to leaue their faultes The Nonresidentes and fat beneficed persons shoulde relieue the poore at home studious scollers abroade That there should be twelue sermons yerelie in euerie parish through Englande Wales and Ireland That no Aduowsons should be graunted That the pernicious and detestable sinne of Nonresidence and Pluralities shoulde bee reformed and such good orders practised Is it not more requisite I sâ—â—e that these thinges should be looked vnto rather then the wearing of a surplesse Marying with a ring Christening with a crosse Subscription to an Article and such like Yet it is apparaunt to all men that Bishops their Officialles Deacons Doctoures and Fauoures are more curious in vrging and vsing the latter then the former yet both haue like authoritie from hir Maiestie and them selues I suppose the Bishops and their followers would be as vnwilling to execute the Queenes lawes and Iniunctions as any fauourers of reformation if they were vrged there vnto in earnest It is certaine that the Bb. can tollerate the neglect of all these and innumerable other dueties in one of their flatterers whereas if a mâ—n bee but suspected to mislike in hearte the Lordlie goueâ—nement of Bishops hee shâ—lbe sure to haue all extremitie shewed against him if hee oâ—â—ende but in the least ceremonie Yea greater seueritie shall be vsed for neglect of the least and most improfitable obseruation then for neglect of the most necesâ—arie and important O Englande Englande howe long wilt thou bee missed by those carnall wordlinges that haue their speciall care to adnance and inriche them selues and their posterity rather then to obey thy lawes or the lawes of thy God bee they neuer so holy so necessarie and godlie Who hath bewitched thee that thou canst not see that they bee more rebellious more sâ—hismaticall more disloyall and disobedient subiectes vvho acknowledge thy lawes to bee good and godly but doe despise them euen the greatest of them then they that yeelding to the greatest matters doe of conscience refuse such thinges as be least profitable and expedient in any Church O that hir Maâ—esty would appoint faithfull trewe christian and â—nglish-harted men indeede to examine these thinges to call the Bb. their Chaplens and Officers to account in these matters shee shoulde finde that they bâ—e of the most vnduetiful subiects in all the lande and they that be now least regarded would bee founde the most trustie most godly and obedient of all other My wordes will proue true in the daies of triall when these things shall be regarded and rewarded with indifferency and then Bishoppes assure your selues that the day of your desolation is at hande Howe long O Lord holie and trewe Reuel 6. 10. Come Lord Iesus come quickelie 22. 21. Certaine Questions or Interrogatories drawen by a fauourer of Reformation out of the former treatises and other writinges concerning Reformation wherein hee desireth to be resolued by the Prelates which the Printer hath thought good here to annexe QVaeâ—e whether the right honorable and chieâ—e â—ustice of England Sir Christopher Wraâ— Knight did not at th' examinâ—tion of H. Barrowe in the Bish of Londons pallace affirme that men should incurre no penaltie for opinions which they helde doubtinglie And whether a man may not without breach of lawe Diuine or Humane for his further satisfaction make quaerees and doubtes in speciall causes shewing withall the reason of his doubting affirming nothinge peremptorily or positiuely but submitting him selfe to sounde resolution If that be graunted why may not I be a Put-case say as followeth 2 Quaere whether the forme of praiers administration of the Sacramentes attire of Ministers and other Church-ceremonies in Englande doe more agree to the Apostolical primitiue order or to the vse of the Romiâ—h Church And whether popish orders be more seemely conuenient then the Apostolike 3 Quaere whether our rites and ceremonies taken from the papistes doe not giue them offence and harden them in their sinne seeing Harding doeth gather thereby that Poperie is not so ill as it is commonlie reputed And Bristowe saith That our religion and Communion were nothing worth vnlesse we borrowed from them their Masse-booke whether al indifferent things that giue ofâ—ence vnto the weake ought not by Paules doctrine be remoued from the church 4 Quaere whether the square Câ—ppe Surplesse and other monumentes of popery and idolatry condemned in generall by the Queenes Iniunctions Bishops Articles and publike doctrine of Englande and other Christian Churches misliked and wished to be abolished by Bullâ—ger Alasâ—o Bucer B. Pâ—â—kington and Bale derided by Bucer and Maister â—ox refused to be worne by Peter Martyr Bucer Hoâ—per Rogers Humfrey Philpot Bradfort Haddon Saunders as I haue credibly hearde whether the Surplesse called by Martyr monstrous apparell by Caluin Player-like apparell and vaine visardes by Bezâ— Insignes of the Baaltticall Priesthoode by B. Râ—â—ley foolish and abhominable too fond for a vice in a play by D. â—aâ—lor apish toyes and toyishe trumperie by D. Poinet a Porters weed at Billingsgate by the Bee-hiue of the Romish Church a smocke and long shirt by Bale pretie toyes by Becon Histâ—â—onicall seeâ—â—call and hick-scorneâ—like appâ—rell Whether I say this apparell thus accounted of by leâ—rned men the best iudges of decencie be decent comely for a preacher of the Gospell and whether things vncomely should not by Paules doctrine be abâ—ndoned the Church 5 Quaere If Maiors Iustices Stageplayers and others may not aswell be inforced to subscribe to the Biâ—â—ops three articles by the â—â—at of 1. â—liz cap. 1. as Ministers seeing the stat vrged by D. Bridges to that purpose doethreach to them aswell as Ministers 6 Quaere If the Bb. that appoint other prayers to be vsed in the Church besides the prayers in the Communion booke doe not oâ—â—ende against their owne articles and the statute of 1. Eli. c. 1. which inioinâ— that Ministers should vse the forme of publike prayer presâ—ribed in that books and no other IteÌ„ whether the Bb. thus oâ—â—ending against the stat ought not to deale more mercifully with the ministers who haue offended in like quality 7 Quaere whether the Marcionites did well who as Chrisostome vpon the words what doe they that are baptized for the dead reporteth when any of their Catechumeni or nouices in religion did die had wont to hide one vnder the bed where