namely of Canterburie Sandwich and Maidston the Deputies of which churches appeared on the 14. day of April in Master Deanes house before his Commissioners which were Sir Nathaniel Brent the Deane of Canterburie and others the Bishop of Rochester being sicke and absent where were Questions propounded to the Walloone Congregation at Canterburie and the Dutch Congregations of Sandwich and Maidston whereunto they are to make answere in writing severally or jointly on Saterday next in the afternoone betweene the houres of one and five of the clocke First What Liturgie they use and whether they have not the English Liturgie in Dutch or French in use Secondly Of how many desents for the most part they are borne Subiects Thirdly Whether such as are borne Subjects will corforme to the Church of England The Deputies were Gasparus Nieren minister of the Dutch Church of Sandirich Jeha Bulteel and Philip Deline ministers of the French Church in Canterburie Iohn Miller minister of the Dutch Church of Maidston and some Elders Iohn Bulteel was requested by the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the speaker he therefore answered the Commissioners that though 〈◊〉 three forreine Churches were in my Lord Archbishop of Canterburies Diocesse they were not of his Diocesse and that they were of the erempts and whereas Doctor Warner said that the Deane and Chapter were of the exempts also yet were comprehended in the patent and were visited he answered they were in a manner doubly exempted and not contained as they conceived expresly and by name as they were Deanes Archdeacons prebends and others nominated in the patent they added also that no Archbishop did ever propound any such question to their Churches and that it might be easily knowne and was knowne what Liturgie they had it being added ordinarily to the end of the psalmes as it was practised and used in France Germanie and Holland in the French Walloone and Dutch Congregations As for the English Liturgy it was translated into French but not in Dutch that they knew neither was it in use among them they having their owne Liturgy Now the Deputies being pressed to answer more particularly to the three questions desired of the Commissioners a longer time to answer to those propositions because they were to communicate them to their congregations and they of Sandwich and Matdston could not returne an answer so soone So the Commissioners did prorogue the time and did appoint the day of answering to those questions that day three weekes namely the fifth of May Sir Nathaniel Brent Deane Bargrave and Doctor Iackson spake of their governmenr and discipline concerning refractary and deboshed perions and praising them for the care they had of their poore in setting them on worke and not permitting them to beg giving them sufficient maintenance But Doctor Warner could not endure to heare those praises startled and snuft at it using some discurteous words as if those praises were to the disparagement of the English Churches c. notwithstanding some Justices of peace at Sessions in giving the charge would often make honourable 〈◊〉 of the forraigne Churches in England and wish theirs would 〈◊〉 them propounding them as patternes and examples to English Churches concerning their poore in setting them to worke and hindering them from begging The Church of Canterbury being assembled together according to its custome namely the Ministers Elders and Deacons and considering it was a subject of great importance and a matter of consequence that concerned all the forraign Churches found it sitting to write to the Coetus that is to say to the two stranger Churches the French and Dutch Consistory of London and to aske their councell advice and helpe who returneó their answer that the three Congregations of Canterbury Sandwich and Maidstone should doe well to depute some of every Church and send them up to London to conferre there together with the Coetus about the businesse as being a subject of great concernment The Church of Canterbury deputed their two Ministers John Bulteel and Philip Delme and two of their Elders with instructions to conferre with those of London and gave them in writing the answer to the three propositions which were to be shewed to the company there but not to be delivered up to the Arch-bishops Vicar-generall but with the advice and consent of the Coetus and but upon necessity the Answer was this Upon the first Question THat we have that Liturgy which all the Churches of the French tongue both in France and in the united provinces of the estates have had since the blessed reformation and which our Churches refuged here have had this sixty or siventy years or more and which is annexed to the 〈◊〉 of the book of psalms That the English Liturgy is translated into French but we use it not we know not whether it be in Dutch or no On the second Question THat the greatest part of the heads of the families are not borne here but about a third part because that the greatest part of the old ones are strangers borne and many others are newly come since a few yeers To the third Question THe mentioned in that proposition desire not to doe that which is inquired of because they see that the 〈◊〉 of the Church would ensue both in regard of the entertainment of the Ministry 〈◊〉 particularly for the subvention of the poore to the whch they are not onely brought up but also ingaged by promise made unto God and the church Besides many of the Natives understand not nor speak so well the English as they should to understand well the Sermons and prayers Moreover the families would be divided in the publike exereises of piety therfore they find it fit and necessary that a 〈◊〉 be made by all meanes that they may continue as they have hitherto done And that first according to the priviledges since Edward the sixth both by royall word and promise with approbation of our order as by letters of the most honourable privy-counsell under whom we have and doe as refuged subsist and continue 〈◊〉 on the testimony both of the 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 of this towne as also the certificate of the gentry and country concerning our good behaviour c. This was made and subscribed by divers of the said Church in the name of all the rest Aprill 27. 1634. Whereupon the Deputies of the said Church with those of Sandwich went up to London where they met with the Minister of Maidston and having conferred together with the Coetus or two forraigne Churches of London they made this answer in writing to my Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury Questions propounded to the Walloon Congregation at Canterbury and the Dutch Congregations at Sandwich and Maidston by the right worshipfull Commissioners of my Lord Arch-bishop of Canterburie's Grace Aprilis 14. 1634. First what Liturgy they use and whether they haeve not the English Liturgy in Dutch or French in use Secondly of how many descents for the most part they are borne Subjects
A RELATION OF THE TROUBLES Of the three forraign Churches in KENT Caused by the Injunctions of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Dom. 1634. c. Written by J. B. Minister of the Word of God Et quorum pars magna fui 2 SAM. 10. 12. Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and the Lord doe that which seemeth him good Imprinted at London for Sam. Enderbie at the Starre in Popes head Alley 1645. To the Christian Reader THE Honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament did exhibite divers Articles against William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury unto the Lords of the upper house the twelft whereof is set downe in these words He hath traiterously indevoured to cause division and discord betwixt the Church of England and other Reformed Churches And to that end hath supprest and abrogated the Priviledges and Immunities which have been by his Majestie and his Royall Ancestors granted to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdome and divers other wayes hath expressed his malice and dis-affection to these Churches that so by such dis-union the Papists might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both The truth of this appeares by the Archbishops proceeding against our forraign Churches in England for although the Deputies of all the forraign Churches met at London Anno 1625. and held a Synod whereof I was a Member deputed by the Church of Canterbury and went to the King who was accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Pembroke and Sectetary Morton all deceased and others and a Speech was made in French to the Kings Majesty by M. Primrose containing among other things a Petition for the continuance of our Priviledges concerning our Discipline according to our custom granted heretofore by his Ancestors and Royall Progenitors The King gave us a gracious Answer and 〈◊〉 Promise and gave us his hand to kisse and we enjoyed our Priviledges as long as Archbishop Abbot lived Yet as soone as 〈◊〉 was warme in his Archbishops seat he indeavoured with tooth and naile to suppresse and abrogate our Priviledges and Immunities granted to our forraign Churches by his Majestie and his Royall Ancestors to introduce the Book of Common Prayer in our Churches and subject us to the English Liturgie translated into French c. and to withdraw from our Churches those of the first and second descent to have them goe to the English Parishes as may fully appeare by this Relation True it is that in King James his raigne the two forraign Churches French and Dutch in Norwich were assaulted and troubled by Dr. Overald Bishop of Norwich and especially by his Chancellour but that was about two points the one was a prohibition to observe Publicke Fasts without the Kings permission which the Churches had implicite in the toleration of their Discipline The second was A command to the Communicants of both Congregations to receive the Communion not sitting but standing Indeed when the French forraign Churches held their Synod at Norwich Anno Dom. 1619. to the which I was deputed and was chosen Scribe by the Synod at that time the Bishops Chancellour came to our Synod and told us That my Lord would have the Communicants kneele at the Communion which seemed very strange to us I was chosen to goe to the Chancellour accompanied by the whole Synod and declared to him what Priviledges we had from time to time from King Edward Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie and from King James then reigning The Chancellour answered us That the King might alter his word revoke his promise But we replied That we esteemed the Kings word as much as a Patent We went afterwards to the Bishop who told us that his Chancellour had abused him he never intended that those of the forraign Congregation should receive the Communion Kneeling but Standing as they did in France He told us that his Majesty commanded him to look to his Diocesse We answered That the two forraign Congregations in Norwich were in his Diocesse but not of his Diocesse and desired his Lordship to let the Churches be in quiet till we had communicated the businesse to our Consistories and returned our answer to the two Churches Which he promised to doe In the meane time the Bishop died The Bishop who succeeded him was content to let the two Congregations enjoy their Discipline in their Fasts and Communion so that Archbishop Abbot would set his hand to such a permission which was a strange Condition for he might have considered that the Archbishop did not trouble the forraign Churches in his Diocesse but let them enjoy their Priviledges quietly But after the Bishop had heard the Kings answer to the forraign Churches permitting the continuance of their Discipline he did not molest them but the two Congregations lived in peace till Archbishop Lauds time who was not content to trouble the three forraign Churches in his Diocesse but endeavoured to assault all the forraign Churches in this Kingdome and did cite their Deputies to appeare and meant not to deprive them of two or three points of their Discipline but to dispossesse them of all and to submit them to the English Discipline Yet when he saw he could not bring it to passe he would have perswaded the world he never intended such an Injunction as will appeare by this following Treatise We intend not to write of the troubles of all the forraign Churches in England or those of London or of Norwich but by the by or a touch of them by occasion our purpose is to write principally and summarily what hapned to the three forraign Churches in Kent In which Narration it will appeare the malice and dis-affection of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdome which stood in his way intending the dissipation and extirpation of them that so his fine designe of bringing in Popery might have taken effect and sure footing in England to the overthrow of the true Protestant Religion had not God in his great mercy put an end and set a period to his ambition his tyranny designes and life A Relation of the Troubles of the three forraigne Churches in KENT AFter the death of George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud Bishop of London was promoted to that See and made Archbishop thereof who at his entrance obtained of the Kings Majesty a Patent for a generall Visitation of all the Diocesses under his jurisdiction as well of those that were exempts as otherwise And although the foraigne Churches of this Realme were not comprehended in that Patent for whereas Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Canons prebendaries ministers and others were nominated the forraine Churches were not named yet the Archbishop presupposed and pretended them to be and therefore in the visitation of his Diocesse of Canterburie by his Commissioners in Aprill Anno Domini 1634. he caused the three forreine churches to be cited to appeare by their deputies in Canterburie
la Religion Mondesir est de vous defendre 〈◊〉 a fait la Reyne defuncte 〈◊〉 renommee par tout le monde qui vous a receuen son royaume pour la quelle vous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dieu Que si aulcun estoit si ose que de vous molester en vos Eglises vous addressant a 〈◊〉 je vous en feray telle justice qu'il 〈◊〉 point d'envie par apres d'y retourner Anno 1612. The perpetuity granted to the Dutch of Colchester Anno 10 Jacobi the 17. of October As also their orders in their hurch and Assemblies there tending to the good government of the said congregation in as free large and ample manner in all respects and to all intents constructions and purposes as heretofore they have used and have been tolerated and allowed unto them according to the true intent of this our present Ordinance any law act statute ordinance provision or jurisdiction to the contrary thereof notwithstanding Anno 1613. The Order of the Privy-Counsell for the French Church of Canterbury the 2. of May That the said congregation within the city of Canterbury shall accordingly to his Majesties gracious pleasure peaceably and freely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such priviledges liberties and immunities and be permitted to use their Assemblies and congregations in as ample manner as heretofore hath been allowed unto them in the time of Queen Elizabeth or since Anno 1616. The Order of King James under the Signet the 30. of June These are therefore to will and command all our courts of 〈◊〉 and others our loving Subjects to permit and suffer the said 〈◊〉 members of the Outlandish Churches and their children to of our favours before declared in this behalfe 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 kindnesse and good entertainment which our Subjects and their children doe receive and find beyond the seas Anno 1621. The Order of the Privy-Counsell for the Walloons of Norwich the 10. of October Those of Norwich although borne in the Kingdome shall continue to be of the said church and society and shall be subject to such 〈◊〉 as hath been all the time of 55 yeers practized among them and if any shall be refractory they shall be bound to appeare at this Board Anno 1625. The gracious Answer of King Charles to the Deputies of the forraigne Churches the 30. of Aprill I thanke you for this and I assure you I will continue unto you the same favour which the King my Father did shew unto you and I hope my marriage shall not be any dammage unto you but rather an occasion of much good to your Country-men Anno 1625. The Order of King Charles for all strangers the 13. of November We will and command our Judges c. to permit and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 strangers members of the Outlandish Churches and 〈◊〉 children 〈◊〉 to enjoy all and singular such priviledges and immunities as have been formerly granted unto them without any troubles arrests or 〈◊〉 by way of information or otherwise considering the faire usage and good intertainment which our Subjects and their children doe receive 〈◊〉 the seas Anno 1630. The Order of the Privy-Counsell for the Dutch of Norwich the 7. of January That all those that are now or that hereafter shall be members of the Dutch congregation although borne within the Kingdome shall continue to be of that church and society so long as his Majesty shall be pleased without any prejudice to their priviledges or birth-right and shall be subject to such discipline as hath been by all the time aforesaid usually 〈◊〉 among them and from time to time contribute to the maintainance of the ministry and poore and the defraying of all other necessary charges of the same congregations as they shall be assessed and occasion shall in that behalfe require The second Paper or writing contained the Reasons in a Petition to his Majesty in this forme To the KINGS most excellent Majesty The most humble Petition of the Forraigne Churches within this REALME Most gracious Soveraigne A sentence having been pronounced by the 〈◊〉 of my Lord Arch-bishop has grace to the foreigne churches of Canterbury Sandwich and Maidston 〈◊〉 these two Injunctions The one that some of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as are borne in this Kingdome should resort to their parish churches And the other of the strangers which shall remaine shouldreceive the book of common-Prayer of this Kingdome Whereupon the other foraigne churches of the said Kingdome being advertised thereof by letters are all met together according to their order and ancient practice to cast themselves at your Majesties feet by their Deputies and to entreat your Majesty in all humility to consider if the said sentence be executed that there will follow much more hurt then good as your Majesty cleerly may perceive by the reasons following As for the hurt it will fall very great as well in regard within as without this Realme of this sentence be executed For thereby will be abolished the priviledges granted and confirmed to the said churches by King Edward the VI Queen Elizabeth and the late King James your Father all excellent Princes and of glorious memory Thereby likewise the royall promise of your Mrjesty given at your comming to the Crowne will remaine fruitlesse and without effect from thence will follow a great confusion in families some going to one Church some to another and many of the natives not understanding the English tongue so that the heads of the said families will not be able duly to discharge themselves of the duty towards those that are under them Yea from thence infallibly will ensue the dissipation of the said churches forasmuch as the Natives who are the pillars thereof being cut off there wil be no meanes left to entertaine the ministry nor to help the necessities of a great number of poore By reason of that many good workmen will retire themselves elswhere who daily furnish excellent manefactures to this Kingdome and of all kind and by their retiring many thousands of your Subjects who are imployed by them will find themselves destitute of work yea from thence your custome is like to receive a great prejudice If this sentence be executed in this time of confusion and trouble it will cause a most sensible and sharp displeasure to all the reformed churches of divers countries and more particularly to those of France Yea which is more this will make the said churches not onely more hatefull and contemptible to their adversaries but even will be able to draw persecution upon them their enemies judging by this change that the good will of your Majesty will be changed towards them And Sir if the persecution should begin there as alwayes it is much to be feared with what courage could the poore afflicted ones retire themselves hither as formerly they have done knowing that their Liturgy should have been there overthrowne Your Majesty will be also pleased to consider that this alteration will hinder the conversion of many that are out of the way living in