Elders of the Familie or some one of them yea they take not God any where to be truely serued but in their priuate meetings and among themselues Hence Our God of Loue is the true liuing God say they besides him there is no God more and his Gods seruice which we minister vnder the obedience of his Loue is the true safe-making Gods seruice and besides the same there is not any Gods seruice more neither in Heauen nor Earth (k) Fid el. declar c. 4. §. 11 This without producing further testimonies either forraigne or froÌ„ our selues may suffice to proue that they varie froÌ„ the now established religion in this land both in the Seruices Ceremonies Doctrine SacrameÌ„ts of the same al which in their iudgements they disallow except which is not credible they condemne the iudgement of H. N. and other their Illuminate Elders touching the same who haue published these their concepts to the open world The Familie of Loue. OR haue publikely spokeÌ„ or inueighed either by word or wrighting against our late Soueraigne Princes gouernment in cases spirituall or temporal the let vs bee reiected for sectaries and neuer receiue the benefite of suiects The Examination IT cannot bee denied but the Puritanes I meane the English faction whatsoeuer the Scottish haue done whereof onely his Maiestie speaketh haue publikely spoken and inueighed aswell by word as writing against our late Princes authoritie in cases spirituall Penrie said plainely that her gouernment was traiterous to the Maiestie of our Sauiour Christ (a) Penry Supplic and therest not so far gon as he tooke her not as neither doe they our now King to be any officer at all of the Church I finde not the Familie euer publikely depraued her Highnesse gouernment either spiritual or temporall and verie bad men they and most vngrateful if they should diuerse of the chiefest among them receauing yearely both countenance and maintenance from her Princely coffers being her housholde seruants But this cleareth them noe whit from being Sectaries euen in this respect mentioned For in their publike writinges they speake basely and inueigh odiously against all Princes gouernment Magistracy and eminencie whatsoeuer spirituall and temporall The Familistes condemn all Magistracy and Eminencie and therefore against our late Princes gouernement in cases not onely spirituall with the Puritanes but temporall to with the Anabaptistes Among the excellencies of this people this louely people the Family of Loue for so doe they stile themselues the least is not that among them there is no masterfull dominion there raigneth no man ouer other (b) H. N. Spirit land c. 34. §. 8. they haue no heads nor Kings which are borne of the flesh and bloude of sinne (c) Ibid. c. 38. §. 1. It is well pleasing sayth N. H. that the one man of God Lordeth not ouer the other neither that the one be the others bond-seruant (d) Ibid. c. 37. §. 9. And as they please God in that they exercise no superioritie but are equall in degree among themselues all Kings and a kingdome of Kings (e) Ibid. c. 38. §. 4 so they terme a King the scum of ignorance (f) Ibid. c. 2◠§. 14 and deeme it an abhominable thing in the eyes of God for men to Lord ouer each other and tearme such persons Bond-seruants and Captiue-slaues (g) Ibid. c. 38. §. 5 Last of all they haue Prophecies that all Maiesties Dominions Powers and gouernments whatsoeuer shall (h) Ibid. c. 49. §. 1 and make prayers that they may (i) 1. Exhort c. 17. §. 6. submit themselues vnto the seruice of Loue euen as the Puritanes would haue Kings to submit their Scepters to throw downe their crownes before the Church yea and to licke vp the dust of the feet of the church (k) T. C. 1. Reply p. 144. and yielde obedience vnto the presbiterie (l) Eccles discip p. 165. and also that themselues as Kings and onely Kings shall euerlastingly liue and raigne (m) H N. Prou. ca. 1. §. 18. Fidel. declar c. 4. §. 5. Praph of the Spir. c. 19. §. 1â— yea and doe raigne vpon the earth (n) Proph. of the Spir. c. 19. §. c. It is therfore apparantly and from their own books writings sufficiently without other needlesse demonstrations proued that the Family is a Secte most vile both varying in Seruices Ceremonies Doctrine and Sacraments from the Religion now established in this land and openly inueigh against all gouernment of Kings and Magistrates spirituall and temporall sighers and seekers for a paritie and commixtion of all states and therefore whatsoeuer they doe not worthie to receiue the benefit and freedome due to loyall and good Subiects The Family of Loue. ONly The â—arâ—ation right gratious Soueraigne we haue read certain bookes brought forth by a Germane Author vnder the characters of H. N. The Examination HItherto their Proclimarie Now ensueth a narration It is much to bee lamented that a promiscuous reading of all writings hand ouer head is permitted vnto all men the lamentable effectes whereof we haue and see in this Family of Loue. And yet I would they had but onely read and not studied followed and applauded these bookes as the very message and oracles of God from Heauen neither delighted in the darke exercises and Conuenticles of the sayd Family The time was when the letters H. N. were thought to signifie no cedrtaine man but either the heauenly nature or Homo Nouus a newe or renewed man or which A.O. doth in the Reuelation (a) Let of the Fam. but now he is acknowledged here to be a Germane Auctor and was though they say not so much as by letters vnto my selfe from Embden I can shew by trade a Mercer of Amsterdam in Holland which course of life it had been a blessed thing for Gods Church he had still followed and neuer giuen his minde to the writing of bookes The Family of Loue. WHo affirmeth their that he is prepared chosen Of H. N. and sent of god to minister set forth the most holy seruice of the loue of God and Christ or of the holy Ghost vnto the children of men vpon the vniuersal earth The Examination VVHat they say of H. N. he affirmeth euery whit of himself if his owne testimonie without proose or warrant be of any validitie In his Prouerbs The God of heauen H. N. a most impious and blasphemous magnifier of himselfe as the Father himselfe is come downe and bringeth in the seruice of Loue himselfe with his Christ and holy Ghost and withall that which with him is Gods vnto his obedient Man H.N. And Goding the same with him he hath Manned him with the same (a) H.N. Prouerbs c. 8. §. 3 In his Prophecie of the Spirit he termeth himselfe Gods elected Minister (b) Proph. c. 13. §. 8. In the foresayd booke of his Prouerbs he hath these words The Lord out of his mercifull
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
loue raised-up the gracious word according to his promises and elected H.N. thereto for to minister the same c. (c) H. N Prouerbs c. 1. §. 6. And in this Prouerbs againe Through which gracious word and N.N. God reuealed sayth he the appearing of the comming of Christ and the newe day of his righteous iudgement as also the flowing foorth of his holy Spirit of loue to the awaking and raising vp of all his holy-ones out of sleepe to their glorious Lordliness with Iesus Christ and to an euerlasting fast-standing Kingdome of the godly Maiestie vpon earth according to his promises (d) Ibid. §. 17. And afterward Thus hath God declared with H.N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light vpoÌ„ the earth wherein the Lord the God of heauen restered the former Kingdome with his garnishing together with all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the World through the mouth of his holy Prophets c. (e) Ibid. §. 18. In his exhortation God hath illuminated him he saith with his light for to illuminate or giue light to them that dwell yet in darknesse vpon the earth (f) 1. Exhor c. 19 §. 8. And finally in his first Epistle All people are called and friendly bidden through H. N. to the repentance for their sinne c. Not alone with his calling but also with all the Scriptures heauenly Testimonies and spirituall voyces of the Eternall Truth which are gone forth from the holy spirit of loue and brought to light through H. N. (g) 1. Epist or Cri. vâ—â—ce c. 1. § 1. And why all this but to the ende that as himselfe aduiseth the young ones in the Family should not distrust nor suspect any manner of euill or vnwisedome by him nor yet in any wise perswade themselues that the Exercises Documents and instructions which are taught or set forth before them by him the Father of the Family of Loue or oldest elder are too childish or too vnwise for the to follow after (h) 1. Exhort c. 13. §. 11. But the childe of God must alwaies haue in remembrance that many false Prophets are gone into the world and therfore is not to belieue whatsoeuer is affirmed but trie the spirits whether they are of God Because men receiue not the loue of the truth that they may be saued God will send them strong delusion that they shall belieue lies that they may be daÌ„ned which belieued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse (i) 2. Thes 2. V. 10.11 The more H. N. boasteth of himself that he is illuminated from aboue the lesse is he to be credited the more to be suspected Let him proue his preparation his election vocation and generall Apostleship from Gods word which he shall neuer doe or let him be accursed yet a because he arrogateth to himselfe the diuine nature and most heretically and blasphemously auoucheth that whatsoeuer the Prophets haue foretold are fulfilled in him and the like and all this to the end that his idle reuelations cloaked vnder his Loue-seruice may the more slily enter into the mindes of wel willing and good meaning people hold him and all that hold with and applaud him and his fanaticall speculations euermore accursed The Family of Loue. O Out of which Seruice or writings we be taught all dutiful obedience * Vntrue towards God and Magistrates The seruice of Loue. and to liue a godly and honest life and to loue God aboue all things and our neighbours as our selues agreeing therein with all the holy Scriptures as wee vnderstand them The Examination ALL this tendeth to the raising vp of credit to H. N. his writings which sheweth of what spirit these men are In their Courtly deuise inscribed vnto the last Earle of Lecester they let not to say that were all the books of H. N. rightly considered of with indifferencie so should they be found Assistants in all to the Religion established in the Church of England and no hinderers Here I take which they grant that the holy Scriptures teach all these things next that the religion established in the Church of England is sound and euery way good and true But that the Seruice of Loue the writings of H. N. truly indeed so teach as they would beare his Maiestie in hand I cannot thinke for diuers reasons 1. They hold That neither before nor without their most holy Seruice of Loue c. the true light hath not been set forth ministred nor taught that there shal likewise no other light nor cleerenes that can be true appeare nor yet come hereafter but the light of loue (a) H. N. 1. â—r doct c. 16. §. 10 which is the new doctrine deuised by H. N. that we so condemne 2. They teach that it is assuredly al false lies seducing deceitful that the vngodly or vnilluminated Men out of the imaginatioÌ„ or riches of their own knowledge out of their learnednesse of the Scriptures bring forth institute and teach (b) Ibid. §. 17. Then is not H. N. his doctrine Seruice of Loue grouÌ„ded vpon the written word of God but vpon I know not what visions Anabaptisticall reuelations and therefore to be held most execrable Thirdly they say There is nothing more needfull to the man at the first where-to enter into life then that he humble himself vnder the obedience of loue meaning the instructions of H. N. so become taught in the Seruice of Loue for to vnlearne againe al what he hath taken on and learned to himselfe (c) Spir. land c. 56 §. 7. which counsayle of vnlearning is rife and euery where as it were the first thing deliuered to the Nouices in the Loues seruice (d) H. N. exhort c. 13. §. 9. Cri. voice c. 1. §. 7. which manifesteth their religion to be newe and singular when the doctrine in our Churches taught and embraced must all be vnlearned and abhominable and corrupt for the entertaining of theirs which they vaunt to be celestiall Fourthly because they may not talke of their secrets either yet vtter their mysteries opeÌ„ly or nakedly in the hearing of their young children disciples (e) H. N. Prouerbs c. 22. §. 15. that is as H. N. sayth til they haue attained the age of 30 yeares and are come to their manly age and haue beardes (f) Ibid. c. 21. §. 1. They might and would talke of their secrets might their exercises and mysteries abide the hearing of godly modest persons as Gods holy word and our doctrine deriued from the sacred Scriptures will Last of al because the Seruice of Loue and books of H. N. so and none otherwise make to the aduancement of godlinesse and furtherance of virtue then they vnderstand the Scriptures And indeed the make od interpretations of Gods word turning light into darkenesse truth into falsehood histories into allegories and sound religion into fancies of men But as others
vnderstand them they tend to the supplanting of true religion and ouerthrowe of Gods house which is the Church of God for the erecting of a newe Family whereof they take their name The Family of Loue. AGainst which auctor and his books wee neuer yet heard nor knew any law established in this realm by our late gracious Souereigne but that we mought read theÌ„ without offence whose writings wee suppose vnder your Highnesse correction your Maiestie hath yet neuer seen or perused heard of by any indifferent nor true information The Examination IT Is well knowne there be lawes canons and iniunctions against erroneous and infectious books and that Proclamations houe come out expresly against H. N. and his scandalous inuentions When there be lawes against Sect-masters and Heritickes bee there no lawes shall we thinke against H. N. and his bookes Scarse had I proceeded thus farre in this examination but vpon searche I founde a paper which many yeares hath lyen by mee in my priuate studie conteining a forme of abiuration offered by the Lords of the late Queene ELIZABETHS most honorable priuie Counsayle vnto certaine persons suspected to fauour the vile Heresies of H. N. which forme vvas this Whosoeuer teacheth that the dead which are fallen asleepe in the Lord An abiuration tendred vnto the Familistes the tenth of October An. 1580 by ten of the Lords of Q. Elizabeths priuy Counsel rise vp in this day of his iudgement and appeare vnto vs in godly glorie which shal henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ and raigne vpon the earth is a detestable Hereticke But H. N. teacheth so Euang. c. 37. Sect. 9. Therefore H. N. is a detestable Heretike Whosoeuer teacheth that to be born of the Virgin Marie out of the seede of Dauid after the flesh is to be expounded of the pure doctrine out of the seede of Loue is a detestable Hereticke But H. N. teacheth so Document sent c. 3. Sect. 5. Therefore H. N. is a detestable Hereticke Whosoeuer teacheth that Iesus Christ is come againe vnto vs according to his promise to the ende that they all which loue God and his righteousnesse and Christ and his perfect Being might presently enter into the true Rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his his elect and inherit the euerlasting life is a detestable Hereticke But H. N teacheth so Euang. c. 1. Sect. 1. Therefore H. N. is a detestable Hereticke Nauing examined these reasons with the bookes of H. N. wee doe finde that in truth hee holdeth these heresies and we thinke in our hearts and of our owne knowledge affirme that H. N. is in these heresies a detestable Hereticke Promising faithfully before God and your Honors neuer hereafter to haue any dealing with his bookes and doctrine nor to go-about to bring any to the loue liking or reading of them And that we now speake is the true meaning of our hearts as wee looke for mercie at his hands which searcheth the heart Would her Maiesties Councell minister this Abiuration vnto these Familistes euen of her owen Familie had they noe law nor authoritie so to doe Or would the saide Courtiers as before their Honors they did abiure these Heresies if both the said heresies had not been contained in the bookes of H. N. and themselues by Lawe compellable either to abiure or abide the punishment due for obstinate Heretickes And was there Lawe then viz. Anno. 1580. for in that yeare and so long agoe was this donne and is there noe Lawe now Haue they not heard nor knowen of these things by lawfull authoritie performed which were both heard andmade knowen both in Court and CouÌ„trie the parties some of them and the cheifest yet liuing and in Court which so abiured their Children in right auncient place about his Maiesty before whome they abiured But haue they not heard nor knowen as they pretend of any Lawe established in this Realme against H. N. and his bookes by our late gratious Soueraigne Then pray wee vnto God that they may both heare and knowe some lawe to bee established against them by our nowe raigning and gratious Soueraigne the King The rest of this section that his Highnesse as they feare not to say neuer yet hath seene or perused the writings of H. N. nor somuch as heard of them by any indifferent or true information are words derogatorie in an high degree to his Maiesties honour because both his Highnesse hath affirmed vpon his knowledge the Familistes to be a vile sect of Anabaptistes yeelding inuincible reasons of his certaine knowledge which are aboue specified and they say his Maiestie neuer yet sawe nor perused nor so much as heard of H. N. his writinges by any indifferent and true information in the which the points wherewith hee chargeth them are most truely contained The Familie of Loue. FOr the saide H. N. in all his doctrine and writings being as we are crediblie enformed as much matter in volum if they were all compiled together as the whole Bible containeth doth * Vntrue neither take part with nor write against any particular partie or companie whatsoeuer as naming them by their names nor yet prayse or dispraise any of themy by name * Vntrue Hee magnifieth the Church of Rome The Examination THis vain boasting of the bulke of H. N. his writings is verie vsuall among the Familistes About thirtie yeares agoe mine eares heard his disciples much bragge of the multitude of H. N. his bookes as if his greate paines in writing were argument stronge enough to induce men to the liking of his opinions Which if it beeso then haue the Papistes a stronge reason that the trueth is with them on their side the monkes and Friars of whose Religion hauing bestowed infinite paines in writinge and composing of bookes Then haue wee whose doctrine and religion deriued and drawen from Gods word as Scripture learning the Familistes labour to supplant the truth and not the Familistes to whom for multitude of writinges they are not comparable some one of vs as Caluin hauing written so much as noe one man eitherin these or our Fathers daies hath done the like (a) Beza in vit Cal. Musculus and Luther and Erasmus and euerie of these hath written more then any man can read in many score of yeares (b) Bodin in method hist c. 5. which Erasmus composed so many Epistles and Letters as gathered together would neere loade two Cartes or Wagons (c) Eras catal Lucâ—b And therefore equall many Bibles in bulke and bignesse And could not the heretickes in all ages say as much for their founders as the Familistes here doe of H.N. viz. that their bookes were many and themselues as studious and painefull in writing of discourses for the propagating of their inuentions as euer the true and faithful seruants of God were or bee for the implanting of the truth Manes that Arch-hereticke and great grand Father to H. N. his errors was the Father of sundrie
GOD and man in one person but commonly with him hee is an allegoricall CHRIST meant either by the Sabbaoth day which the Lord commaunded to be alwayes had in remembrance (h) H. N. Enang cap. 13. §. 2. 2 Document-sent c. 3. §. 4. or by the Seruice or doctrine of H. N. which also is CHRIST after the flesh (i) Exhort c. 14. §. 1. as hee vnderstandeth the Scriptures or by the vertuous qualities and Being in godly men (k) Enang c. 13. §. 16. 1. Exhort c. 1 §. 24.25 ca. 20. §. 5. or by the oldest Elder in the Familie which sometimes was H. N. and is now one man now another (l) Euang. c. 31. §. 12.14.16 An obedient and godly life is Christ Iesus saith the Exile (m) Patterne of pres Temps And so are men saued by the doctrine of this Familie either by their owne workes or vertues or by their Oldest Elders or by the doctrine of H N or Seruice of Loue or by the holie Rest but neuer by our Christ acknowledged in the Church of England Thus haue yee the ende of H. N. his writinges suitable certes vnto his method and doctrine for which he is so renowned but to their small comfort and credit among the Familistes The Familie of Loue. NOtwithstanding deare Soueraigne yet hath the said Author and his doctrine a lone time and stillis The Families complaint most shamefully and falsely slandered by our foresaide aduersaries both in this Land and in diuers others as to be replenished with all manner of damnable errors and filthie libertie of the flesh The Examination AFter a long and lothsome narration they come now to a new complaint and that still on the behalfe of their H. N. and his disciples It is not yet an hundred yeares since the said author was borne nor 60. yeares since his doctrine came first to light and was broched nor 50. yeares yet since it arriued in this realme a blessed thing had it beene for many a Christian soule had either H. N. neuer breathed or his doctrine neuer beene hatched But how many yeares soeuer haue passed since his opinions and mysteries came to light if hitherto they bee all knowen through the goodnesse of God yet there is not one of al the Churches Protestant and reformed that fauoureth but all bid open and vtter defiance to H. N. his bookes and errors H. N. himselfe in his life time much complained that all degrees in all Lands abhorred his writings (a) H.N. 1. refrein §. 4. In this Land both H.N. and his lothsome which he calleth Louely Familie of Loue haue beene displaied once confuted often resisted alwayes but shamefully and falsely slandered either by forraine or home-writers it was neuer that hetherto I could heare and so must I thinke till I see the extant writings against them conuicted of vntruthes and disproued as slanderous That H.N. his bookes are replenished with damnable errors it will be iustified and hath alreadie in this examination and else where beene manifested The Familie of Loue. AND wee his wel-willers and fauourers in the vpright drift of his doctrine as aforesaid haue also been by them complained on and accused vnto our late gracious Soueraigne the Magistrates of this Land both long time past and nowe lately againe as to bee a people so infected and stained with all manner of detestable wickednesse and errors that are not worthie to liue vpon the earth but yet would neuer present any of his bookes vnto his Maiestie to peruse nor yet set them forth in any indifferent or true manner to the viewe of the world least their malitious and slanderous reportes and accusations against the same and vs should thereby haue beene reuealed and disproued to their great shame The Examniation NOw complaine they of iniuries offered to themselues The verie drift of H.N. is to thwart or discredit rather whatsoeuer is taught in the Church of England and else-where from the letter of the holy Scriptures and to bring in another Gospell viz. after H. N. Such as are the wil-willers and fauourers of H.N. in the said his drift as the Familists here confesse themselues to be not only deserue to bee complained vppon and accused vnto authoritie but to bee accursed of God and man if they persist in their wicked course as a people infected with most detestable wickednesse and errors and the verie plague and bane of sound religion And those men which haue acquainted authoritie with their errors and impieties haue done good seruice therin and their bounden duties both vnto God his Church and the State Whether any of H. H. his bookes haue beene presented vnto our late most gratious Soueraigne of aie blessed memorie I cannot say but I surely coniecture that shee could not be ignorant of the contents of his writinges when the Lords of her Counsaile as afore hath beene declared censured some of her house-hold seruants for abbetting H. N. and his detestable heresies They which againe doe say that their aduersaries would neuer present any of H. N. his bookes vnto her Maiestie to peruse say more then they can affirme yea which is palpably vntrue For who abhorreth H. N. his bookes or H.N. rather for his hereticall blasphemies but euer were desirous that his said errors contained in his books might in his said bookes be read of her Maiestie that by her authoritie the better they and al such as fauour those bookes containing such errors might condignely be censured When these Familistes dare tell his Maiestie that their aduersaries would neuer present H. N. his bookes nor any of them vnto her Highnesse it appeareth they herein saying true that she had alwayes about her some Familistes or fauourers of that Sect who alwaies related or bare tidinges what was donne or intended against them It is wished that his nowe Maiesties Court were purged from such well willers and fauourers of H. N. in the maine drift of his hellish hereticall doctrine where-with her Maiesties was but too-much replenished How H. N. his bookes by their aduersaries haue beene set-forth the worlde may iudge 26. yeares haue they beene extant a sufficient time for the Familie both to iustifie their H. N. and to discouer the malice slanderous reports of their accusers if there were iust cause Hitherto haue the Familistes beene silent and yet are both confident in their wicked courses not ashamed to expresse so much before his most-Christian and royall Maiestie The Familie of Loue. THrough which their most-odious false complaints against vs the Magistrates did then A new and odious narration and also haue now lately cast diuers of vs into prison to our great hinderance and discredite but yet haue neuer proued against vs by sufficient and true testimonie any one of their many foule accusations as the records in such cases and the magistrates that haue dealt therein can testific but are so vtterly voide of due and lawfull proofe thereof that they
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
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