by the hard dealing of our aduersaries For we are a people but fewe in number and yet most of vs very poore in worldly wealth The Examination HIs Maiestie by good aduise and counsell hath ratified the Religion of his immediat Predecessor cōprised in 39. Articles agreed vpon by the whole Clergie of this Realme in a lawful assembly or Conuocation holden Anno. 1562. Hee hath also published his directions (a) Eccles constitut can an 1604. how all and euery his Subiects of England publikely shall carry themselues according to their religion in all places If these Familistes therefore will professe the same religion with him and his truly good Subiectes if they also will frequent orderly the sacred Assemblies and Sacraments if they will demeane themselues as it becommeth sober Christians and laye aside all H. N. his erroneous and detestable writinges if they will approoue the Seruice of the Church of England and finally forsake their conuenticling chaire preachinges and Seruices administred among them by their illuminated and codeified Elders they neede feare no persecution or trouble otherwise why should they not feare the sword when they will not be ordered by the word of God They say they are in number but fewe But herein they abuse his Maiesties royall eares and eyes It is well knowen howe twentie fiue yeares agoe the number of them was great and they dispersed in diuers partes as Surrey Sussex Middlesex Bark-shire Hamshire Essex I le of Eley Cambridge-shire Suffolke Norfolk in the North parts and finally in most shires of this Realme In those daies they did abound were growen to such a number as the displayer of the Secte deliuered howe his heart did rue to speake that which one of the same societie did auouch to him for truth (b) Display pref Not a fewe Ministers of the simple sort were with H. N. his fancies entangled nor the chiefest place of the Realme free from these men (c) Ibid. E. 4. a. Since that they are diminished I heare not but them to bee hugely encreased through rufull conniuence I haue arguments to thinke but that their encrease may be hindered I hope authoritie will take order They say they are also poore or the most of them but if the booke of their names called of them The booke of Life could be seene it would then appeare I doubt not that both the number of them is great and most of them very rich It is further obserued that those poore ones which suffer imprisonment any where for H. N. and his Seruice are well maintained while they are in durance which argueth that good contributions among them are made for the supportation of their Secte which cannot be performed without good store of wealth The Family of Loue. OSacred Prince we humbly pray Their Conclusion that the Almightie will mooue your Princely heart with true iudgement to discerne betwixt the right wrong of our cause according to that most certaine and Christian rule set downe by our Sauiour Christ vnto his disciples Math. 7.12 Yee shall know the tree by his fruites and in our obedience peaceable and honest liues and conuersation to protect vs and in our disobedience and misdemeanor to punish vs as resisters of Gods ordinance or the kingly authority most high office of iustice committed vnto your Maiestie to that purpose towards your subiects Rom. 13. The Examination THey woulde insinuate into his Maiesties heart how they are The good trees In their Courtly deuice they say that the onely difference betwixt them and the learned Preachers whom they take of all others to be their most capitall enemies is That what the said Preachers do say The Familists desire to doe as if they onely and none besides had a desire to doe the will of God But what speake I of desiring to do Gods will They do it indeed and really perform it For they cannot bring-foorth any thing else but all good and Loue (a) Docum sent c. 2. §. 1. nothing is able to plucke them from the Word nor to make them consent to any euill or vanitie (b) Ibid. c. 13. §. 5. That which they know not in the death is now appeared vnto them in euerlasting Life The death is nowe among them swallowed vp in the death the euerlasting Life is come vnto them in the Renewing of their Life The Hell is iudged or condemned to the pit of Hell The Heauen is shewed vnto them in the heauenly Being or forme (c) Spir. Land c. 44. §. 10.12 They are come to the Rest of all the Holy ones and children of God and euen so they eate of the wood of life which standeth in the middest of the pleasant garden and liue eternally (d) Ibid. c. 55. §. 9. They are subiect to no Gods nor lawes or Ceremonies but onely to the Lord their God and to his most-holy Seruice of Loue. They are not likewise subiect in bondage vnto the Creatures neither yet to any created thing but only to the Creator c. All their Life Minde and delight only is in God and God himselfe likewise with his mind Life or Spirit is in them and they are euen so of one Conformitie or substance with each other namely God and his people of peace (e) Ibid. c. 40. §. 1.2.18 There is no wickednesse nor malicious Imaginations among them neither yet vision of euill (f) Ibid. c. 33. §. 9. Holie good are pure are all their workes and thoughts (g) Ibid. c. 34. §. 11. They are Gods habitation (h) 1. Exhort c. 12. §. 38. c. 20. §. 7. the seale of Gods Maiestie (i) Proph. of the Spir. c. 7. §. 15. God his Saints (k) Ibid. c. 19. §. 14. his acceptable people (l) Fidel. decl c. 4. §. 11. the children of the kingdome (m) Spir. land pres §. 7. the holy Cittie of peace the new Ierusalem descended from Heauen (n) Ibid. §. 17. the rest of all the Saints or children of GOD (o) Cri. voice cap. 1. §. 1.3 the bodie of Christ (p) Ibid. c. 3. §. 2. one with GOD and GOD one with them (q) Spir land c. 36. §. 1. they are risen from the death with the Resurrection of the Righteous in the euerlasting Life and liue eternally (r) Ibid. c. 37. §. 2. Infinite such words and places from themselues and their H. N. might be alledged or shewe the heauenly condition of these aboue all other men iustifying his Maiesties words altogether that they are a vile Sect thinking themselues onely pure and in a manner yea altogether many of them without sinne the onely true Church and only worthy to be participant of the Sacraments and all the rest of the world to be but abhomination in the sight of God and so rightly properly and principally the most odious Puritans vnder the coape of Heauen The Almightie and all-prouident God which hath inspired his Maiestie with the
haue framed diuers subtle Articles for vs being plaine and vnlearned men to aunswere vpon our oath whereby to vrge and gather some things from our selues so to approue their false and vnchristian accusations to be true or else will force vs to renounce recant and condemne that which wee doe not wilfullie maintaine nor iustifie much like as it was practiced in the Primitiue Church against the Christians yea they are not ashamed to laie their owne and all other mens disobedient and wicked actes of what profession soeuer they be vpon our backes to the ende cunningly to purchase fauour and credite to themselues and to make vs seeme monstrous detestable before the Magistrates and the common people euerie where for that wee and the doctrine of H. N. mought without any indifferent triall and lawfull or orderly proceeding as heretofore hath beene vsed in the Christian Church in such cases for confutinge and condemning of heresies be vtterly rooted out of the Land with diuers other most cruell practices proceeding out of thei bitter and enuious hartes toward vs tending to the same vnchristian and mercilesse purpose the which wee will here omit to speake of because wee haue alreadie beene ouer-tedious vnto your Highnesse most humblie crauing your most gratious pardon and patience therein in respect that wee speake to cleare our selues of such matter as may touch our liues and liberties which are two of the chiefest iewels that GOD hath giuen to mankinde in this world and also for that we haue fewe friendes or anie other meanes then this to acquaint your Highnesse with the truth and state of our cause whereof we thinke your Maiestie is altogether ignorant but haue verie many enimies whom we doe greatly suspect will not be slacke to prosecute their false and malitious purpose against vs vnto your Highnesse euen like as they haue accustomed to doe in times past vnto our late Soueraigne Queene through which preuailing in thier slanderous defacing of us our cause diuers of vs for want of friendes to make it rightly knowen vnto her Maiestie haue sundrie times been constrained to endure their iniurious dealinges toward vs to our great vexation and hinderance The Examination HEre haue wee an intricate and long perplexed period deuoide of charitie discretion and truth but full of gaule odious comparisons and vniust complainings and that not only of priuate persons their accusers whosoeuer but euen of publike Magistrates their proceedings first and last against this Familie and all for their fauouring and wel-wishing to H. N. and his doctrine which because it is fitter for the said Magistrates her odiously traduced to censure and aunswere whose doings against the Familists I am ignorāt of and yet am perswaded haue alwaies beene both mild towards them and iust I omitte and commend the further consideration of this their hainous complaint vnto the supreme authoritie and his Assistants and delegats The Familie of Loue. WHerefore most gratious Soueraigne this is nowe Their 1. Petition our humble suite vnto your Highnesse that when your Kingly affaires of importance which your Maiestie hath nowe in hand shall bee well ouer-past and finished for the prosperous performance wherof we will as dutie bindeth vs daiely pray vnto Almightie God that then your Highnesse will be pleased because we haue alwaies taken the same authors worke aforesaid to proceed out of the great grace and loue of God and Christes extended towards all Kings Princes Rulers and people vpon the vniuersall earth as hee himselfe in many of his workes doth witnesse no lesse to their saluation vnitie peace and concord in the same godly Loue to grant vs that fauour at your Maiesties fitte and conuenient time to peruse the bookes your self with an vnpartial eie conferring thē with the holy Scriptures wherein it seemeth by the bookes that are set-foorth vnder your Highnesse name that you haue had great trauaile and are therefore the better able to iudge betwixt trueth and falsehoode and wee will whensoeuer it shall please your Highnesse to appoint the time and to command and licence vs thereto doe our best indeuour to procure so many of the bookes as we can out of Germanie where they bee printed to bee deliuered vnto your Maiestie or such godly learned and indifferent men as it shall please your Maiestie to appoint And wee will also vnder your Highnesse lawfull licence and commaundement in that behalfe doe our like indeuour to procure some of the learned men of that Countrie if there bee any yet remaininge aliue that were well acquainted with the author and his workes in his life time and which likewise haue exercised his workes euer since to come ouer and attend vpon your Maiestie at your appointed time conuenient who can much more sufficiently instruct and resolue your Highnesse in anie vnusuall wordes phraze or matter that may happilie seeme darke and doubtfull vnto your Maiestie than any of vs in this your land are able to do The Examination NOwe are wee come at the length vnto their Petition The grounde whereof is a deepe and heauenly conceipt which they haue of their H. N. and the worke by him vndertaken for the saluation of mankind Many are H.N. his prophecies of his good successe and future preuailing through out the world This same kingdome of peace and of Loue saith the said H. N. speaking of this Familie shall through the administration of the gratious word of the Lord spread abroad and bid all people to their preseruation therunto to the intent that all Kingdomes of the world should assemble them to this one Kingdome of peace and of Loue and that c. to the ioy and saluation of all the children of men (a) H. N. 1. exhort c. 12. §. 40. Againe This same God seruice this loue and louely being and the sound or fame of the same shall breake in among all nations of people and let it selfe to be heard ouer all lands (b) Ibid. c. 14. § 9. Of all Prouinces the first that receiued the Christian faith by publike allowance was Britany (c) Sabel Aeneiad 7. lib. 5. The first king christened that we read of was Lucius K. of Britanie And among Kings christened if not the first yet with the first hee that expelled the Pope and his courtes was Henry the viij and that rooted out all his detestable enormities out of his dominions was Edward the vi Kings of England Oh what a cordiall ioy and comfort would it be vnto this Family that of all Prouinces which shall fauour their Loue Seruice Britanie would be the first and to the glorie of his noble auncestors that it might be added how our most illustrious King IAMES was the first that supplanted the Scripture learning brought in by King Lucius and reestablished by great Henry and Edward last mentioned for the implanting of the Seruice of Loue and H. N. his illusions I should say illuminations which that all Kings one day will implant they haue no
Our Heart is the Mind of God most high Our Beeing amiable as the sweete Lillie Our faith fullnes Loue and Trueth upright Is Gods Light life and Cleernes bright A SVPPLICATION OF THE FAmily of Loue said to be presented into the Kings royall hands knowen to be dispersed among his Loyall Subiectes for grace and fauour Examined and found to be derogatorie in an hie degree vnto the glorie of God the honour of our King and the Religion in this Realme both soundly professed firmly established Reuel 2. Ver. 14.15 I haue a fewe things against thee because thou hast them that mainetaine the doctrine of BALAAM c. Euen so hast thou them that mainetaine the doctrine of the NICOLAITANES which thing I hate Printed for Iohn Legate Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1606. TO THE KINGS most excellent Maiestie IAMES the first by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the Fayth c. MOST gracious Soueraigne Lord The exordium where there is published in a booke written by your Highnesse as an instruction to your most noble Sonne whome Almightie God blesse with much honour happinesse and long life of a people that are of a vile secte among the Anabaptists called the Family of Loue who doe hold and mainetaine many proud vncharitable vnchristian and most absurd opinions vnto whome your Highnesse doth also giue the name of Puritanes affirming in the say de booke that diuers of them as Browne Penrie and others doe accord with them in their foule erroneous heady and fantasticall opinions which are there set downe at large by your Maiestie aduising your Royall Sonne as is most meet to punish them if they refuse to obey the Lawe and will not cease to stirre vp rebellion The Examination THis is the Families Exordium and containeth an heauie and pitious complaint vnto and of the Kings Maiestie himselfe for that in his booke and Instruction vnto his most noble Sonne hee tearmeth the Familie of Loue a vile Sect amongst the Anabaptists and also giueth them the title of Puritans This goeth to their verie hearts The Exordium quare some that they should be so ranked and stiled and that by his Maiestie and that in a printed booke and that divulged in a knowen tongue ouer his dominions and the same directed vnto his royall and deatest Sonne euermore to continue Hence their quarrell and contention euen with their King hidden yet vnder the faire wordes of an humble petition A memorable Exordium or preface The Familie of Loue. NOw gratious Soueraigne A Propestatiō because it is meete that your Highnesse should vnderstand by their supplication and declaration of the truth herein by themselues of whom your Maiestie hath beene thus informed prostrate at your Princely seete as true faithfull loyall and obedient subiects to all your lawes ordinances ciuil and politique spirituall and temporall they with humble hearts do beseech your Princely Maiestie to vnderstand that the people of the Familie of Loue or of God doe vtterly disclaime and detest all the said absurd and selfe-conceited opinions and disobedient and erroneous Sects of the Anabaptistes Browne Penrie Puritanes and all other proude-minded Sectes and heresies whatsoeuer protesting vpon paine of our liues that we are not of consent nor agreeing with any such brain-sicke Preachers nor their rebellious and disobediet Sectes whatsoeuer but haue been euer wil be truely obediēt to your Highnesse and your lawes to the effusion of our blood and expenses of our goods and lands in your Maiesties seruice highly lauding Almightie God who hath so gratiously peaceablie appointed vnto vs such a vertuous wise religious and noble King and so carefull and vnpartiall a Iusticer to gouerne ouer vs beseeching him daiely to blesse your Highnesse with his godly wisedome and holy vnderstanding to the furtherance of his truth and godlinesse and with all honor happinesse peace long life to iudge rightly betwixt false hood and truth The Examination IN this Section they protest that they are not as the King saith they are a vile Sect but The Familie of Loue Against their Protestation or of God or Gods Familie neither that they doe hold maintain as his Maiestie hath published any much lesse many proud vncharitable vnchristian and most absurd opiniōs yea they doe vtterly disclaime detest al the said absurd and self-conceited opinions as also the disobediēt and erroneous Sectes of the Anabaptistes Browne Penrie Puritanes all other proud-minded Sects heresies whatsoeuer c. And therfore that his Highnes both misconceiueth and misreporteth of them good men In which their Protestation hee that seeth not his most excellent and sacred Maiestie most odiously to be traduced as a publike defamer of Gods people is verie blinde and againe obseruing so much is not grieued thereat sheweth that hee neither carrieth sound affection vnto his Souereigue nor tendereth the honour of his Prince Now forsomuch as both his Maiesties book is extant and this their supplication but more truly infamous Libell in many mens hands especially of the young ones in this Family of Loue for few else can haue so much as a viewe thereof vnlesse they be of the vulgar sorte and withall inclineable to receiue their doctrine of all others the vnfittest to read or heare such dangerous discourses whereby both the Familistes are confirmed in their familiar instructions and his Maiestie by such Libels ignominiously dispersed is not a little wounded it is verie behoouefull somewhat to examine the truth of this their protestation And because they say how the premisses are published in the sayd booke of the Kings it shall not be amisse heere to set downe his Maiesties verie words and the occasion of them expressed by his royall hand to the end that it may appeare who is more abused either the Family who are charged as there is set down by his Highnesse or his Maiestie thus traduced and that to his face by the Family In the second booke therefore of his most Fatherly Kingly and diuine directions vnto the royall Impe of rare hope Prince Henry his best beloued sonne his Maiesty hauing at large set down the diseases of the church and from his owne experience declared how the Puritanes all his raigne and some yeares afore had troubled the quiet of the Scottish kingdome Church opposed themselues against the throne of Maiestie laboured by the peoples fauour and assistance the erection of a gouerment Democraticall by the ruine of the royall State and sought to bring in a parity equalitie of all degrees aswell into the Common-weale as Church in the ende he giueth his aduise and sayth Take heede therefore my Sonne to such Puritanes Puritanes to beauoided very Pestes in the Church and Common-weale whome no desertes can oblige neither oathes or promises binde breathing nothing but sedition and calumnies aspiring without measure railing without reason making their owne imaginations without any warrant of
the word the square of their conscience I protest before the great God and since I am here as vpon my Testament it is no place for me to lye in that ye shall neuer find with any Hie-land or border theeues greater ingratitude and moe vile lies and periuries then with these Phanatick spirits And suffer not the principals of them to brooke your land if you like to sit at rest except ye would keepe them for trying your patience as Socrates did an euill wife And for preseruatiue against their poison entertaine and aduance the godly learned and modest men of the Ministrie whom of God be praysed there lacketh not a sufficient nomber and by their promotion to Bishoprickes and benefices annulling that vile acte of Annexation if ye finde it not done to your hand ye shal not only bannish their conceited paritie whereof I haue spoken and their other imaginary groundes which can neither stand with the order of the Church nor the peace of a Common-weale and well ruled monarchie but also shall ye reestablish the old institution of the three Estates in parliament which can no otherwise be done But in this I hope if God spare me dayes to make you a faire entrie alwayes where I leaue followe you my steps And to end my aduise anent the Church estate cherish no man more then a good Pastor hate no man more then a proude Puritane c. These and the like wordes describing the humours of Puritanes and rash headie Preachers which thinke it their honour as his sayd Maiestie in his preface to the sayde booke doth say to contend with Kings and perturbe whole Kingdomes were verie offensiuely taken of the Puritan faction in Scotland against which they were vttered made them to suspect or at least in reuenge of the censure to call his Highnesse profession into question among themselues and to make others doubtfull whether his Maiestie so sincerely fauoured the religion in Scotland established as he did pretend And albeit the whole instruction especially the first booke therof and these words of his Maiesty aboue mentioned in the second booke Entertaine and aduance the godly learned and modest men of the Ministerie whom-of God be praysed there lacketh not a sufficient number And againe Cherish no man more then a good Pastor reuealeth sufficiently the sound and zealous affection that his Maiestie beareth vnto true Religion and may and do satisfie all indifferent men yet if possible it were that no scruple might rest in the minde of any men his Highnesse voluntarily and in ample wordes and fully further explaned his very inwarde conceites of the faction mentioned First then sayth his Maiestie as to the name of Puritans Who Puritans I am not ignorant that the stile therof doth properly belong onely to that vile secte amongst the Anchaptisus called the Family of Loue because they thinke themselus onely pure and in a manner without sinne the onely true Church and onely worthy to bee participant of the Sacraments and all the rest of the World to be but abhomination in the sight of God Of this speciall Secte I principally meane where I speake of Puritanes diuers of them as Browne Penry and others hauing at sundrie times come in Scotland to sowe their popple amongst vs and from my heart I wish they had lefte no schollers behinde them who by their fruits will in the owne time be manifested and partly indeed I giue this stile to such braine-sicke and headie Preachers their disciples and followers as refusing to be called of that Secte yet participate too much with their humours in maintaining the aboue mentioned errors not onely agreeing with the generall rule of Anabaptists in contempt of the ciuill Magistrate and in leaning to their owne dreames and reuelations and particularly with this Secte in accounting all men prophane that sweares not to all their fantasies in making for euery particular question of the policie of the Church as great commotion as if the article of the Trinitie were called in controuersie in making the Scripture to be ruled by their conscience and not their conscience by the Scripture and he that denies the lest iot of their grounds Sit tibi tanquā Ethnicus Publicanus not worthy to enioy the benefit of breathing much lesse to participate with them of the Sacraments and before that any of their grounds be impugned let King people law and all be trode vnder foot Such holy warres are to be preferred to an vngodly peace no in such cases Christian Princes are not onely to be resisted vnto but not to be prayed for For Prayer must come of Fayth and it is reueiled to their conscience that God will heare no prayer for such a Prince Iudge then Christian Reader sayth his Highnesse if I wrong this sort of people in giuing them the stile of that Secte whose errors they imitate and since they are contented to weare their liuerie let them not be ashamed to borrow also their name Whō his Masty meaneth by Puritans in his Booke It is only of this kind of men that in this booke I write so sharpely and whome I wish my Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the lawe and will not cease to stir vp a rebellion whom against I haue writtē the more bitterly in respect of diuers famous Libels and iniurious speeches spread by some of them not onely dishonorably inuectiue against all Christian Princes but euen reproachfull to our profession Religiō in respect they are come out vnder colour therof c. So more to his Maiestie which I would the Family had fully and at large set downe For then it would appeare that his Maiestie most iudiciously speaketh of Puritanes The kindes of Puritanes distinguishing them into two ranks Sects sorts principal lesse principal the principall he sayth properly called Puritans are a vile Sect of the Anabaptists called the Family of Loue with whom in certain main points both Browne Peury and others do conioyne the lesse principall are certaine brain-sicke heady Preachers the disciples followers of Browne Penry and others in their fantasticall conceipts and rebellious complottings I dare say affirm his Maiesty taketh not the Family of Loue to be simply Anabaptists nor the Brownists such like to be simply Familists nor the brain-sicke Preachers and their dependants to be simply Brownists but insome respects wherin they do all concur It is onely of this later kind of men viz. the disciples of Brown Penry such like that in his booke his Maiesty writeth so sharpely and whome he wisheth his Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the law will not cease to stir vp rebellion And yet his Maiesty taketh the Family of Loue to be Puritanes and the chiefest Puritanes and properly though not the only Puritans and a vile Sect among the Annabaptists albeit happily they do vtterly disclaime and detest both the rebellious actions of the braine-sicke Preachers
blessed gift of discerning spirits enhable his Maiestie with spirit and vertue from aboue that hee may remoue these stumbling blockes and causes of diuision if they will not repent and both in heart and hand ioyne with his Church and people For hee beareth not the sword in vaine Rom. 13. The Familie of Loue. AND gratious Soueraigne wee humbly beseech your Highnesse with Princely regard in equitie fauour to pouder and grant the humble sute contained in this most lowely supplication of your loyall true harted faithful afflicted subiects to remember that your Maiestie in your book of Princely graue fatherly aduise to the happie Prince your Royal Sonne doth conclude that Principis est parcere subiectis debellare superbos and then to doubt God will blesse your Highnesse and all your noble off-spring with peace long life and all honors and happinesse long to continue and raigne ouer vs. For the which we will euer pray with incessant prayers to the Almightie The Examination HITHERTO in their Supplication the Familistes haue quarrelled with his Maiestie for calling them Puritanes they haue callenged his Highnesse of vntrueth as vttering that in a publike writing against them which neither himselfe is able to iustifie nor any indifferent man dare auouch they confesse further they haue by them and haue reade certaine bookes which the royall and supreame authoritie of this Realme hath prohibited them either to reade or haue they haue commended to the Starres that monster among men H.N. both for his heauenly vocation calling Office bookes and writinges which not onely all the learned and godly Prelates and Preachers but the whole Church of England yea all Churches Christian as most impious and Antichristian vtterly condemne they haue intimated that neither his Maiestie nor his people vnlesse they submitte themselues vnto the Seruice of Loue deuised by H. N. shall be saued they haue enticed his Highnesse to read and peruse bookes both poysonfull and dangerous they haue condemned all other men in this Realme not siding with them as cursed and vnfruitefull trees and all this willingly studiously professedly and apparantly they haue done the least of these crimes deseruing royall indignation in an hie degree Now what doth our Familie Craue they pardon meekly at his Maiesties hands for these their offences audaciously committed Noe such thing yea they proceede in their disloyall course boldely crauinge though with humble wordes yet with proud hearts what they haue sued for may readily bee graunted them Yea as earst so here they both set out themselues as submisse and duetifull subiectes condemning all others especially their aduersaries as proude and wishing punishment vnto them and aduancement with fauour vnto themselues yea they let not to say how his Maiesty may feare great plagues to light vpon him if hee punish them but shall bee sure both hee and his posteritie of longe life much prosperitie and eternall happinesse if he shewe fauour to the Familie of Loue and their cause A gracelesse and audacious companie The Familie of Loue. MOst-gratious Soueraigne Their Postscript here followeth the briefe rehersall and Confession of the Christian Beliefe and religion of the company that are named the Familie of Loue. Which for the causes therein specified was by them set out in print about that time whē they were first persecuted imprisoned in this Realme for the same profession by their aforesaid aduersaries and by meanes of their false accusations and complaints vnto the Magistrates against them the which we haue thought necessarie to present here with vnto your Maiestie for that you may therby the better vnderstand of our innocent intent and profession whatsoeuer you shall heare reported to the contrarie by our enimies or by any that be ignorant therof humblie beseeching your Highnesse to vouchsafe to read the same and with your vnpartiall and godly wisedome to consider and iudge of vs and our cause in equitie and fauour accordinglie till your Maiestie shall haue further true intelligence thereof The Examination THe confession here mentioned and tendered as they saie I neuer sawe yet haue I heard well thereof It was published in the yeare of our Lord. 1575. That so long ago or since the Familie of Loue were persecuted and imprisoned for the same Confession or professing the same is both an egregious vntruth a slander of the State and a false information It is obserued concerning H. N. that for the propagating of his Loue Seruice hee hath bookes of sundry natures and sorts some for Nouices wel-willing ones and some for the elder sort grown into the manly vnderstanding of the Familie mysteries Of the former be N. N. his Instructions of the vpright Faith and christian Baptisme his Crying voice his First exhortation and such like which may bee confessed among the adulterous and sinnefull generation and the false hearts of the Scripture learned (a) H. N. 1. Exhort c. 6. §. 5.7.8.9 The latter sort containe the Loue secretes or priuie mysteries communicable only with such as are come vnto the manly age and haue Beards (b) H. N. Prou. c. 21. § 1. and sit vpon the seates of the Elders or wise and daiely heare the secret mysteries of all matters (c) Ibid. §. 2. Yee shall not talke of your Secrets either yet vtter your mysteries openly or nakedly saith H. N. vnto these Familists in the hearing of your young children and disciples but spare them not saith hee in the Eares or hearing of the Elders which can vnderstand the same and are able to beare or away with the sound thereof For it is giuen to the Elders to vnderstand the priuie mysteries of the wise and to expounde their parables (d) Ibid. c. 22. §. 15. So these Companions this Familie of Loue they haue among them good bookes after the Scripture learning common with vs and agreeable to the religion professed by his Maiestie and ratified by the lawes of this Realme and they haue also the workes and bookes of H. N. Elidad Fidelitas and other Familie Elders vndermining the found and Christian doctrine comprised in the Confession mentioned This Confession of theirs or ours rather they waus about which worde H. N. vseth in scorne of our Confessions and religion (e) Spirit land cap. 5. §. 5. as Children doe their Banners when they are at play but H. N. and their Familie Elders books are they which they only studie read at their meetings delight in and practice Besides which both Confession of ours and bookes of H. N. and such Illuminates they haue their Conuenticles verball traditions vnwritten or vnprinted verities and priuate exercices through which they growe vp in the Loue according to the Requiring of her Seruice (f) Elidads exhort § 5. where all things needfull to be knowen or declared are alwaies according to the capacitie of their vnderstanding brought and declared vnto thē (g) Ibid. §. 17. viz. vnto the young or newborne Children according to their yongnesse vnto the weake according to their weakenesse vnto the stronge vp-growing Men according to their habilitie or strength and vnto the Elders according to their Dayednes or olde age (h) Ibid. §. 18. where neither some heart All nor all heare some secrets or priuie mysteries of their Sect. It is not for the confession here spoken of it is for H. N. and other Familie books which they detaine by them and studie and for their vnlawfull Loue exercises and meetinges that they are troubled let them leaue burne or deface these bookes of H. N. and cleaue vnto this Confession and then without farther molestation imprisonment or persecution they may enioy the benefites and liberties of his Maiesties good subiects which that they may doe is mine hartie desire and prayer vnto Almightie GOD. FINIS