King that such Commissioners as they should sende to the Parliament and Councell might from thence forth be authorized in the Bishops places for the estate They also directed their Commissioners to the Kings Maiestie commanding him and the Councell vnder paine of the censures of the Church meaning excommunication to appoint no Bishops in time to come because they the brethren had concluded that state to be vnlawfull Hereof as it seemeth they writt to Geneua their newe Rome or Metropolitane Citty From whence they were greatly animated and earnestly perswaded to continue in that course Beza the Consistorian Patriarche assureth them that they had done well and mooueth them ne vnquam illam pestem admittant quamuis vnitatis retinendae specie blandiatur that they would neuer admit againe that plague meaning the calling of Bishoppes although it might allure them with colour of keeping vnitie After they had discharged the Bishops as it hath beene noted they agreed amongst themselues to haue their Superintendents But that deuise continued not long for in the ende it was determined that needes all Ministers of the word must be equall And then especially their Presbyteries began to flourish They tooke vpon them with their adherents to vsurpe the whole Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction They altered the lawes after their owne appetite They assembled the Kings subiects and enioyned Ecclesiasticall paines vnto them They made Decrees and put the same in execution They vsed very trayterous seditious and contumelious words in the pulpits schooles and otherwise to the disdaine and reproch of the King and being called to answere the same they vtterlie disclaimed the Kings authoritie saying he was an incompetent Iudge and that matters of the Pulpit ought to be exempted from the iudgement correction of Princes They prescribed lawes to the King and State They appointed Fasts throughout the whole Realme especially when some of their faction were â—o mooue any great enterprise With these manner of proceedings the King there and the State finding great cause of iust discontentment and danger after diuers consultations and good deliberation order was taken about the yeare 1582. for the checking redressing of them His Maiesty began to take vpon him his lawfull authoritie belonging to all Christian Princes in causes Ecclesiasticall Wherupon he caused the foresaid courses held by the Ministers to be examined and looked into And they were found to be such as that some of them were remoued from their charges some were imprisoned some indighted Commaundement was also giuen that they should not proceede in the execution of their Ecclesiasticall censures as they had done A Proclamation was made in diuers of the chiefest places in the Realme for discharging the Ministers of their foresaid conuentions and assemblies vnder paine to bee punished as Rebels They were published in that Proclamation to be vnnaturall subiects seditious persons troublesome and vnquiet spirites members of Sathan enemies to the King and the Common-wealth of their natiue countrey and were charged to desist from preaching in such sort as they did amongst other matters against the authoritie in Church causes against the calling of Bishops for the maintenance of their former proceedings But the issue of the Kinges good intention to haue refourmed these disorders was this In August 1582. his Highnesse being drawn vnto a certain Noble mans house to be feasted in Rutheuen there he was surprised restrained Which attempt was qualified and tearmed in a Declaration set out 1582. to iustifie the same to be onely a repaire of the Kings faithfull subiects to his Highnes presence and to remaine with him for resisting of the present dangers appearing to Gods true religion c. and for the remouing from his Maiestie the chiefe authors thereof After a time the King deliuered himselfe out of their hands that so had restrained him and by the aduise of his three estates assembled in Councell notwithstanding the saide qualification or pretence of repayre the action in it self was iudged and published in December 1583. to be Crimen lesae Maiestatis the Offence of Treason and some were executed for it others fled and diuers of the Ministers that had bin dealers in that matter pretending they were persecuted escaped into England With this his Maiesties course for Reformation the Disciplinarian faction was greatly displeased and did proceede in their Consistorian humour accordingly In an assembly of Ministers and Elders forsooth at Edenburgh shortly after the State of the Realme was stoutly encountred For although the King with the aduise of his estates had resolued the saide fact of surprising his Maiesties person to be treasonable yet the brethren did not onely authorise and avow the same but also esteeming their owne iudgements to be the soueraigne iudgement of the Realme did ordaine all them to be excommunicated that would not subscribe vnto that their iudgement About the same time or not long after vz. in Aprill 1583. there was another most treasonable conspiracie and rebellion attempted at Sterling and intended to haue beene further executed and prosecuted against his Highnesse person and all vnder pretence of Religion and chiefly in shewe for the Consistorian or Presbyteriall soueraignetie With these and many more such vnduetifull insolencies the King and State there beeing greatly mooued a Parliament was called and held in May 1584. wherein order was taken for a generall Reformation in causes Ecclesiasticall throughout the whole Church of Scotland The Kings lawfull authority in causes Ecclesiasticall so often before impugned was approued and confirmed and it was made treason for any man to refuse to answere before the King though it were concerning any matter which was Ecclesiasticall The third estate of Parliament that is the Bishoppes was restored to the auncient dignity it was made treason for any man after that time to procure the innouation or diminution of the power and authority of any of the three estates The foresayd iudgements Senates and Presbyteriall iurisdictions were discharged and it was enacted in these words that after that time none should presume or take vppon them to conuocate conuene or assemble themselues together for holding of Councells conuentions or assemblies to treat consult or determine in any matter of estate ciuill or Ecclesiasticall excepting the ordinary iudgements without the Kinges especiall commandement It was further then ordayned that none of his Highnesse subiects in time comming should presume to take vppon them by worde or writing to iustifie the most treasonable attempt at Ruthuen or to keepe in Register or store any bookes approouing the same in any sort An Acte was also made for the calling in of Buchanans Chronicle and his booke de iure regni apud Scotos Lastly sayth the Acte of Parliament it selfe Forasmuch as through the wicked licentious publike and priuate speeches and vntrue calumnies of diuers his Highnesse subiects to the disdaine contempt and reproach of his Maiestie
priests These examples are left for our instruction Where this iustice is not executed the state is most corrupt When Magistrates do cease to do their duties in thus deposing or killing of Princes the people are as it were without officers then God giueth the sword into their hands he himself is become immediatly their head for to the multitude a portion of the sword of iustice is committed from the which no person King Queene or Emperour being an Idolater is exempt he must die the death The people in the 25. of Numbers did hang vp certain of their heads and captains which ought to be for euer a perpetuall example of their duetie in the like defection from God to hang vp such rulers as shall draw them from him If neither the inferior magistrates nor the greatest part of people will doo their offices in punishing deposing or killing of Princes then the minister must excommunicate such a King any minister may doo it against the greatest Prince God will send to the rest of the people which are willing to doo their duty but are not able some Moses or Othoniell If they know any Ionathan they must goe vnto him to be their Captaine and he ought not to refuse them By the worde of God in such a defection a priuate man hauing some speciall inward motion may kill a tyrant as Moses did the Egyptian as Phinees did the lecherous and Ahud did king Eglon or otherwise a priuate man may doo so if he be commaunded or permitted by the common-wealth And vnto some obiections that be made to the contrarie these answeres are shaped Ob. Be subiect to higher powers the powers be ordained of God Ans. Wicked Kings are not Gods ordinance Saint Paule speaketh of lawfull powers Ob. Seruants must be obedient to their Masters thogh they be froward Ans. Paul speaketh of bondmen not of subiects obedience Ob. Peter was commanded to put vp his sword Ans. He was a minister and no magistrate Ob. Christ could haue called for twelue legions of Angels for his defence if it had beene lawfull to haue vsed force for the setting vp of the Gospell Ans. Christs kingdome was not of this world he tooke vpon him no temporall sword but that hindreth not those that haue it Ob. Ieremy was commanded to obey the king of Babel Ans. The secret counsell of God was reuealed to him to that effect It is no generall rule Ob. Dauid said God forbid that I should touch the annointed of the Lord. Ans. It was in his owne priuate cause and so vnlawfull Ob. Sir Thomas Wyat did as you would haue others to do c. but he had no good successe Ans. The goodnesse of his cause is not to be measured by his successe He was no traytour his cause was Gods and none but papists and traytours can iustly accuse him of treason The Councellors and all others that would be accounted nobles and tooke not his part are in very deede traytours to God and his people and to their countrie The author of the booke of obedience he should haue sayd of rebellion endeth his treatise with significatiō that the nobilitie of England hee speaketh of them that were in Queen Maries daies are not to be trusted either by their words othes or handwritings furder then a man doth see hear them scarsely so far And Goodman likewise for his conclusion is most earnest with all english subiectes that they would put his doctrine in practise assuring them that in so doing if they be cast in prison with Ioseph to wild beasts with Daniell into the sea with Ionas into the dungeon with Ieremy into the fiery furnace with Sidrach Misach Abednago yet they shalbe comforted whereas if they will not in seeking to saue their liues they shall loose them they shall be cast out of the fauor of God their consciences shall be wounded with hell like torments they shall despaire seeke to hang themselues with Iudas to murther themselues with Frauncis Spira drowne themselues with Iudge Hales or else fall mad with Iustice Morgan at Geneua This doctrine saith Whittingham afterward vnworthily Deane of Durham was approued by the best learned in these parts meaning Caluin and the rest of the Geneuians The Englishmen of name there at that time besides Goodman and Whittingham were as I take it Anthony Gilby Miles Couerdall Dauid Whitehead and sundry others Who liking the sayde doctrine also exceedingly were very earnest to haue the same printed for the benefite as they sayde of their brethren in England Whittingham made a preface to Goodmans booke wherein hee greatly commendeth this doctrine and writeth thus in the name as it seemeth of all his fellowes there We desire that you meaning all in England and elsewhere that loue to know the truth and follow it should bee perswaded in this trueth Againe here thou doest heare the Eternal speaking by his minister c. quickly giue eare and obay c. And again If thou wish for Christian liberty come and see how it may easily be had c. From Geneua Here it is very material further to be obserued that the rest of the learned men that fled in Queene Maries time as Iohn Scory William Barlow Richard Cox Thomas Beacon Iohn Bale Iohn Parkhurst Edmond Grindall Edwine Sandes Alexander Nowell Robert Wisdome Iohn Iewell very many more hauing no great affection to Geneua bestowed themselues in Germany especially at Zuricke Basill and Franckeford These men maintained the reformation of the Church of England in King Edwards time they vsed in their holy assemblies the forme of seruice and order of ceremonies which were then established and they vtterly misliked condemned the foresayd propositions as very seditious rebellious according to the iudgement of all the reformed Churches for ought I can learne both in Germany and else-where besides Geneua and her offspring Besides they of Franckeford as it appeareth notwithstanding their griefe that they were constrained to leaue their country for their conscience yet in the middest of all their afflictions they retained such duetifull harts vnto Queene Mary imitating therein the Apostles and Disciples of their Maister as that they coulde not endure to heare her so traduced into all hatred and obloquy as shee was by the other sort Maister Knox comming vpon occasion from Geneua to Franckeford was by these graue men accused of Treason as he himselfe confesseth for matters that he had published in print against their Soueraigne and the Emperor and was faine thereupon for the sauing of his life to flye thence secretly backe againe to Geneua Lastly by meanes of their disliking of the sayd propositions and their further course helde in the defence of the foresayde reformation in England against the other mens counterfeit presbyteries these learned men at Franckeford could haue small reputation with them of Geneua Thus
one of that crew then hath written since of them The English Church which was assembled at Geneua was seperated from that superstitious and contentious company that was at Franckford And againe They were more giuen vnto vnprofitable ceremonies then to sincere Religion These things I thought meete for your aduertisement to set downe that the propositions precedent might appeare vnto you not to haue proceeded from any rash or light conceit in our English propounders publishers and maintainers of them but that they doo containe their resolute iudgement agreeable to those points of the Geneua resolution mentioned before out of Knox and Buchanan Whereby it is apparant that if our sayd English Geneuians had found as redy assistance at that time in England as Knox and his complices about or soone after the same time did in Scotland they would not haue fayled to haue put the sayde positions aswell in practise heere with vs as some Scottish Ministers did in that Country Which great mischiefe and disloyall outrage as the state here did then prouidently suppresse and withstande So her Excellent Maiesty hath since preuented by abolishing of the Romish Religion and the restoring of the Gospell which was the quarrell in those dayes pretended So as our English Reformers hauing hitherto had no cause for this point to imitate the foresayde proceedinges in Scotland it remayneth that I shew vnto you how far as yet it is disclosed and how directly they endeuour to follow the said practises of the Scottish Ministers for the erecting vp in England of the Geneua new Papacie CHAP. II. Our English Disciplinarians doo imitate the Scottish in their desire of the Consistoriall gouernement sauing that they are more bewitched with a kind of dotage after it IN Scotland notwithstanding that at the last the Ministers had obtayned in some sorte the allowance of the confession of their faith contayning the summe of that doctrine which before they had so greatly desired yet because they wanted the Geneua discipline wherein consisted their very great ioy together with the hope of their future soueraignety they were but a little satisfied with all the rest And euen so it hath fallen out since in England sauing for ought I can read that the sayd Scottish ministers were not then come vnto so great a dotage after this Discipline as there now is growne amongst vs. About some two or three and forty yeares agone and after in the beginning of her Maiesties Raigne the deuisers themselues of this new platforme were well content to accept of and commend such Churches as had abandoned Popery though they had withall imbraced another kinde of Discipline Then in disputation against the Papists and Anabaptists there could bee found in all Fraunce and Geneua but two essentiall notes of the Church vz. the true preaching of the word and the right administration of the Sacraments Then vpon Goodmans Whittinghams Gilbies returne with the rest of their associates from Geneua into England although it grieued them at the hart that they might not beare as great a sway here in their seuerall consistories as Caluin did at Geneua and so not onely repined and grudged at her Maiesties reformation of this Church but laboured as they might to sowe abroade in the lande that seede which hath brought forth a great part of all the disorders troubles and disobediences that since haue ensued Yet notwithstanding they meddle not much in shewe for any thing I can heare of with matters of this Discipline but rather busied themselues about the apparrell of ministers ceremonies prescribed and in picking of quarrels against the common Booke Marry since that Maister Beza deuised a way howe to bring in the Geneua Discipline to be a third essentiall note of the Church since Maister Cartwright hath beene at Geneua and vpon his returne did ingage his credit to iustifie that platforme to be a necessary forme of Gouernement prescribed by Christ for all times and places since Maister Trauerse hath also beene there and did take vpon him in his booke de Disciplina Ecclesiastica to do the like since Maister Cartwright did likewise at his second beeing beyonde the seas sende vs worde in his second booke that Master Beza accounted his sayde third note of the Church vz. the Geneua Discipline to bee as necessarie a note as either the word or Sacraments and since Maister Cartwright and Trauers with the chiefest of their followers in England haue of later yeares vpon consideration of the premisses and further deliberation in their conferences and meetinges to that purpose resolued and concluded generally for the necessity of the same Discipline which before had beene onely deliuered with vs as their priuate opinions Since these times I say the friends and fauorers of it haue from time to time by certain degrees so increased in their fond affections towards it as that now they are in a manner ouercome with the strength and violence of them and doo bragge in their bookes that they will not sticke to dye in the cause Maister Cartwright as I take it had an especiall eye to this deuise when he sayth that certaine of the things which he and his followers do stand vpon are such as if euery haire of their heads were a seuerall life they ought to afford them all in defence of them Diuers other besides doo offer to aduenture their liues for the iustifiyng of it as Vdall Penry nothing will content them without the Geneua discipline For say they it is found to be the onely bond of peace the bane of heresie the punisher of sinne and maintainer of righteousnes It is pure perfect and full of all goodnes for the peace wealth and honour of Gods people and is ordained for the ioy and happines of all Nations The want of the Eldership is the cause of all euill It is not to bee hoped for that any common-wealth will flourish without it This Discipline is no small part of the Gospell it is of the substance of it It is the right stuffe gold for building the Church of God This would make the Church a chast spouse hauing a wonderfull brightnes as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne and terrible like an army with banners Without this Discipline there can be no true Religion This gouernement is the scepter whereby alone Christ Iesus ruleth among men The Churches of God in Denmarke Saxony Tigurin c. wanting this gouernement are to bee accounted maymed and vnperfect The establishing of the Presbyteries is the full placing of Christ in his kingdome They that reiect this Discipline refuse to haue Christ raigne ouer them and deny him in effect to be their king or their Lord. It is the blade of a shaken sword in the hande of the Cherubins to keepe the way of the tree of life Ridiculous men and bewitched As though Christs
at the least as egerly per fas nefas by slaunder reproch and malitious practises to discredit all those that withstand them in their desires for the Geneua-like discipline as any other Scottish Ministers Papistes or old Geneuians haue laboured to discredit those that maintayned al kind of Popery Idolatry and superstition it is to be feared least they proceede in the Geneua Resolution as their fellowes whō they do imitate in Scotland or rather whom they do excell haue done before them The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP I. The practises of certaine English Reformers for Discipline from the yeare 1560. vntill the yeare 1572. AS in Scotland when they could not obtaine their desires for the full establishing of their booke of Discipline by lawfull authority they procured such priuate subscription therunto as they were able and so fell themselues to the practise of it as it hath beene said in the sixt chapter of the first Booke euen so haue our men in England of the same consort and faction proceeded in effect vpon the like occasion for their new platforme but yet in a different manner For the first ten or eleuen yeares of her Maiesties raign through the peeuish frowardnes the out-cries and exclamations of those that came home from Geneua against the garments prescribed to Ministers and other such like matters no man of any experience is ignorant what great contention and strife was raysed insomuch as their sectaries deuided themselues from their ordinary congregations and meeting together in priuate houses in woods fields had and kept there their disorderly and vnlawfull conuenticles These kinds of assemblies notwithstanding the inconuenience and absurdnes of them in a Church reformed M. Cartwright within a while after tooke vppon him in sort to defend saying that the name of conuenticles was too light and contemptuous for them About the twelfth yeare of her highnesse said gouernment these malecontents growing weary of the foresaide dissentions and being of restlesse dispositions began to stir vp new quarrels concerning the Geneua Discipline being the matter indeede which they still aymed at in all their former proceedings Herevpon the 14. of her Maiesty two admonitions were framed and exhibited to the high Court of Parliament The first contayned their pretended griefes with a declaration forsooth of the onely way to reforme them vz. by admitting of that platforme which was there described This admonition finding small entertainement the authors or chief preferrers thereof being imprisoned out commeth the second admonition towardes the end of the same Parliament with great lightning and thunder as though heauen and earth shoulde haue met together because of the little regard which was had before to the former admonition In this second admonition the first is wholly iustified the Parliament as it hath beene shewed is mightily challenged great wordes are vsed and in plaine tearmes it is there affirmed That if they of that assembly woulde not then followe the aduise of the first admonition they would surely themselues be their owne caruers The Church say they may and must keepe God his orders and surely this is only God his order vz. the sayd platforme ought to bee vsed in his Church so that in conscience wee are forced to speake for it and to vse it Whereupon presently after the sayd Parliament vz. the twentieth of Nouember 1572. there was a Presbytery erected at Wandesworth in Surrey as it appeareth by a bill endorsed with Master Fields hande thus the order of Wandesworth In which order the Elders names eleuen of them are set downe the manner of their election is declared the approuers of them one Smith of Micham and Crane of Roughampton are mentioned their offices and certaine generall rules then giuen vnto them to bee obserued were likewise agreed vpon and described CHAP. II. The secrete meetinges for Discipline and the matters handled in them here in England from 1572 till 1583. HOwe they grew to be so farre gone at Wandesworth that I find not they of London at that time were nothing so forward And yet as it appeareth by the lawfull deposition and othe of one then of that faction but now a very honest man a Batcheller of Diuinity and an auncient Preacher they had then their meetings of Ministers tearmed brethren in priuate houses in London as namely of Field Wilcox Standen Iackson Bonham Seinctloe Crane and Edmondes which meetinges were called conferences according to the plot in the first and second admonitions mentioned In these London-meetings at the first little was debated but against subscription the attyre and booke of common prayer Marry after saith he that Charke Trauers Barber Gardiner Cheston and lastly Crooke and Egerton ioyned themselues into that brotherhood then the handling of the Discipline began to be rise then many motions were made and conclusions were set downe As for example That forasmuch as diuers bookes had beene written and sundry petitions exhibited to her Maiesty the Parliament their LL s and yet to little purpose therefore euery man should labour by all the meanes he could to bring into the Church the said reformation themselues That the present gouernement of the Church by Archbishops Bishops was Antichristian that the only Discipline gouernment of Christ as they termed it vz. by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons should be established in place of the other That for the better bringing in of the said forme of Discipline they should not onely aswell publikely as priuately teach it but by little and little as much as possibly they might draw the same into practise though they concealed the names either of Presbytery Elder or Deacon making little account of the name for the time so that their offices might be secretly established There was an assembly of three-score Ministers appointed out of Essex Cambridge-shiere and Norfolke to meete the eighth of May 1582. at Cockefield Maister Knewstubs towne there to conferre of the common booke what might be tollerated what necessarily to be refused in euery point of it apparel matter forme dayes fastings iniunctions c. Of this meeting it is thus reported Our meeting was appointed to be kept very secretely and to be made knowne to none c. That this assembly was also kept accordingly it appeareth by these words Concerning the meeting I hope all things were so proceeded in as your self would like of aswell for reuerence to other brethren as for other matters I suppose before this time some of the company haue told you by word for that was permitted vnto you Another meeting was also appointed to be helde that yeare at the Commencement in Cambridge as is plaine by these wordes Concerning the Commencement I like well your motion desiring it might so come to passe and that it be procured to be as generall as might be which may easily be brought to passe if you at London shall so thinke well of it and
about it But we haue taken order for our monthly assembly and after our owne consents yeelded vnto it for associating other into our companie whom we shall thinke approued And an other We hartilie giue God thanks sayth one for the godly most Christian paines of the brethren in the trauaile of the Discipline which is come to our hands to be considered-of Gelibrands letter of his receit of the booke of Discipline was written in the name of the brethren in Oxford At which time there was another Synode held in London whither sayth the letter Maister West and Maister Browne were sent from Oxford to whom they referred the estate of their Church to be related and by whom they desired to vnderstand directions from the Synode how they might deale afterwardes in those matters Within a while after vz. 1587. as I suppose there was in like sort an assemblie or Synode helde of the Cambridgeshire brotherhood accompanied peraduenture with some of other shires About which time also vpon the new edition of the foresayd booke the further practise of the Discipline mentioned by Cholmeley 1583. as is before shewed began to spread it selfe more freely into the most parts of the Realme but especially for ought I doo yet vnderstand it was most friendly intertained amongst the ministers of Northamptonshire as it appeareth in recorde by some of their owne depositions 16. of May 1590. in these wordes following About two yeares and a halfe since the whole shire was diuided into three Classes 1. The Classis of Northamptonshire consisting of these Ministers Maister Snape Maister Penrie Maister Sibthorpe Maister Edwards Maister Littleton Maister Bradshaw Maister Larke Maister Fleshware Maister Spicer c. 2. The Classis of Dauentrie side consisting of these Maister Barebon Maister Rogers Maister King Maister Smart Maister Sharpe Maister Prowdloe Maister Elliston c. 3. The Classis of Kettring side consisting of these Master Stone Maister Williamson Maister Fawsbrooke Maister Patinson Maister Massey c. This deuise saith Maister Iohnson is commonly receiued in most parts of England as I haue heard in sundrie of our meetings but especially in Warwickshire Suffolke Norfolke Essex c. The maner of euery perticular Classis is this At their meeting which is alwaies in some priuate house but yet in their Mother Cities first a moderator is chosen in this sort one of them conceiueth a praier for Gods direction in that choyse Then he that conceiued the praier sitteth alone in scrutonie and euery one giueth his voice secretlie vnto him He that hath most voyces is chosen The moderator thus chosen conceiueth another praier that God would blesse him in the course of his office Then being set at the tables end with his brethren by him the names of all the brethren are called If any were absent at their first sitting downe he sitteth after in order as he commeth for auoiding of superioritie The authoritie of the moderator endureth vntill the next meeting of that Classis At the breaking vp of euery Classis there is euer some certaine time appointed when they shall meete againe which is sometime within a fortnight but commonly three weeks at the furthest If any thing do fall out in the meane time fit to be consulted vpon the moderator may call the Classis together sooner according to an order made amongst themselues It is a generall order that when any is admitted into a Classis he doth promise vnder his hand that he will submit himselfe and be obedient to all such orders and decrees as shall be set down by the same Classis to be obserued As for example these were part of the particular articles whereunto euerie one of Northampton Classis did subscribe at his entring or admittance into it we doo promise to submit our selues vnto such orders and decrees as shall be set downe by our Classis We do promise to submit our selues to be censured by our brethren of this Classis in all matters concerning doctrine and Discipline c. In this Classis it was furthermore concluded and agreed vpon that when any controuersie did arise touching any matters of doctrine or about the interpretation of any place of Scriptures euerie one of that Classis should alwaies yeeld therein vnto that interpretation and resolution which the brethren of that Classis should determine of And so also when any questions did rise amongest them of greater difficultie As for example Maister Stone mooued this question to the Northampton Classis in the behalfe of one vz. two are contracted one of them marrieth with a third hee or shee so married are free againe The question is whether the former contract doo nowe againe binde And the resolution was it did not which was a false Resolution The determinations and acts concluded vpon in this Classis were registred in a booke by Snape chosen Register by the companie and who alwaies kept the same Besides these perticular Classes there is another kind of meeting which is termed the Assembly And it consisteth for example in Northamptonshire of the number of six that is two of euery Classis which are sent thither by election The ordinarie place of this assembly in Northāptonshire was at Northampton where Snape commonly was one and a chiefe man Barbon King were the men that vsually came from Dauentry side and Stone and Williamson from Kettring side At the meeting of the sixe there is alwaies a moderator first chosen in manner and forme as in the Classis and so likewise for their further order of proceeding The moderator continueth his authoritie ouer all the three Classes vntill the like meeting happen again which is neuer certain But yet commonly within six or eight weeks vpon occasion signified from the Classes vnto this moderator For vnto him belongeth the calling of this assembly The matters which here are handled are those of great moment such as concerne the state of the Church generally As for example the writing of letters to the brethren at Oxford Cambridge London to certifie them of their proceedings to know what course is held amongst them in those places for the Discipline and gouernement which they tearme Reformation to the intent that the particular Classes vpon their aduertisements may direct themselues and their Churches accordingly It is likewise alwaies concluded at such times which of the sixe assembled shall penne the letters And in this choise Snape was commonly the man The men to whom they vsuallie did write were one in Cambridge Trauers in London and Gelibrand in Oxford When any answeres were returned from those places they were commonly directed to Snape or to him that had written to them in the name of the brethren Two especiall points I remember were concluded in this assemblie the one was for a suruay of all the Churches in Northhamptonshire th'other for an order to bee obserued at the last Parliament which then drew neere The suruay was to
know what euerie benefice in the shire was worth how many soules by a generall coniecture were in euerie parish who were the incumbents and of what life paines and qualities they were To this purpose the fittest men and such as were best acquainted in the shire were nominated as Litleton for Haddon Deanerie c. Which duetie he performed for his part to the vttermost and brought a most rayling Discourse against euery Minister which was not of our companie The end propounded of this suruey was vz. that if vpon signification to the brethren abroad what was done there they would likewise make the like suruey in other countries the Parliament if neede required and to the better furthering of their purposes might haue a generall viewe of all the Ministers in England that impugned their desires The second point before mentioned was this vz. a conclusion to send vp to London one or two of euerie Classis in Northhamptonshire with letters of credite to attend at the Parliament to ioine themselues with the brethren of other countries and to offer disputation if it should be so thought meete and to vndertake any other such matter as should then and there be determined of amongst them and that there should be letters written of this resolution to know how the brethren abroad liked it or what other course they would hold at that time for the bringing in of Discipline and Church gouernement These two points were penned by Snape and sent to the brethren abroad as it was ordered What answere was returned to Snape from the brethren in Oxford Cambridge I know not but well I remember that Trauerse did write to Snape a very cunning Letter wherein he shewed himselfe not to mislike the foresaid suruay to be generallie made but signified that the Parliament drawing on so fast it could not be done so soone But for the second point that he writ was liked and meete to be followed Whereupon the Classes of Northamptonshire did send vp some three or fower as Settle for Northampton Rogers for Dauentry c. with a further conclusion that if any of them vpon occasion should be committed others should be sent vp in their places Although the time was short for the generall accomplishing of these forenamed pointes yet this examinate thinketh some thing was done in the first vz. as hee hath heard a suruay was made to the purpose before touched of the Ministers in Northfolke Suffolke and Essex And for the second true it was that many were sent to attend at the Parliament from the most parts of England And one resolution was that some twenty or thirty of them should haue come in their gownes with all grauitie to the Parliament-house-dore and there haue desired by petition a disputation Furthermore concerning some censures vsed there was a generall consent and purpose amongest the brethren touching a secret kinde of excommunication for examples sake A lay man committeth some sinne One of the Elders was to admonish him The partie is obstinate The Elder must take two or three with him the second time And if this serue not then he is to be debarred from the communion In this case if the said party shuld notwithstanding intrude himselfe to communicate then it was agreed to repell him vppon pretence of certaine words in the communion booke So as thereby they might keepe their owne course for their Discipline and yet haue a cloake to couer them withall out of the booke Againe an other thing is notable to this effect About a yeare and a halfe a goe Iohn Nelson of Northampton an Elder or a Deacon of Saint Peters as I thinke hauing eyther his daughter or his sister gotten with childe in his house by one of his seruants Master Snape dealt with the said seruant to vrge him to publicke repentaunce and at the last so farre preuailed with him as it was thought that he promised the next sunday so to doe but came not Whereupon Snape made a verie bitter Sermon against him The next Sonday he came indeede And then Snape made a long praier that God would giue him grace to make a faithfull acknowledgement of his sinne c. That done the penitentiary made publique confession c. Which being perfourmed Snape absolued him and then entred into a great discourse how cleare the partie was and free from that sinne committed euen as though he had bin newlie born charging the congregation that no man should presume at any time after to obiect the same vnto him But that which was most wondred at whereas this poore man was thus dealt withall Snape caused lame Prettie a Souldier of Barwicke who without any calling in the Church at all sauing that he had a tolleration to read did such seruice in that place as was appointed by Snape to bee read till he came to Church the next morning to marrie the saide penitentiarie to the woman with childe before named without anie bringing of her vnto anie such publicke repentance Hereof grew amongst the people great speech that the pore man was so vsed the cicher mans sister or daughter was so freed The saide lame Souldier hath married manie in that place vpon Snapes commaundement for that Snape holdeth that dutie to appertaine no more to the Ministers office then to anie other man And as touching that point mentioned of the bretherens submitting of themselues by subscription to be censured in their Classis it was thus vsed in the Northampton Classis The brethren being together in a chamber the partie to be first censured as they were all to be in course goeth forth out of the chamber Then the moderator asketh euery mans opinion of him how he behaueth himselfe aswell in his life as in his Ministerie and euerie man hauing spoken his opinion the partie is called in and then if he were not any way touched he is greatly commended if otherwise then reprooued as the causes require For example Edwards of Cortnall comming vnder this censure was blamed for vsing the Crosse in Baptisme and at his comming-in againe was wonderfull sharpely dealt withall for the same Thus farre Maister Iohnson of the Northampton Classis With whom doe also agree in the principall points Maister Littleton as touching the same Classis Maister Sharpe Maister Walker Preachers and persons deposed concerning the Classis of Dauentry side and Maister Stone a Preacher likewise vpon his oth for that of Kettring side One or two points I may not omitte which Maister Stone hath deliuered He confesseth that at diuers times Maister Snape Master Barbon Maister Sharpe Maister Prowdloe Maister King Maister Iohnson Maister Sibthorp Maister Spicer Maister Baxter Maister Littleton Maister Williamson Maister Bradshaw Maister Fleshware Maister Harrison and hee haue mette in Northampton and likewise at Kettring and at his house the most of them with some others as Maister Rishbrooke Maister Atkinson Maister Dauyes Maister Massye Maister Okes c. about matters of discipline And he saith further
nourish the superstition of some men or giue ouer themselues to the preseruation of vanity Likewise festi dies sunt commodè abolendi holy daies as we tearme them must be abolished commode as they may handsomely Nowe if this booke had not beene meant to haue beene put in practise in these two pointes before it had come forth authorised by law they would haue said for the reasons alledged from henceforth let there be or it is ordered that there shall be no more preaching at burials nor holy dayes obserued or let them henceforth be abolished Moreouer reliquae liturgiae tota ratio in sacramentorum administratione ex vsu ecclesiae in nuptiarum benedictione consist it Cuius forma commodissima est quae ab ecclesiis vsurpatur quae disciplinam ex Dei verbo instaurârunt The rest of the liturgy doth consist in the administration of the Sacraâ—ents and as the vse of the Church is in blessing of mariages The forme whereof is most fit and commodious that is vsed by those Churches which haue erected the discipline according to the worde of God In the Parliament 27. of her Maiestie as I remember the brethren hauing made another booke tearmed at that time A booke of the forme of common prayers c. and contayning in it the effect of their whole pretended discipline the same booke was penned altogether statute and lawlike and their petition in the behalfe of it was vz. May it therefore please your maiesty c. that it may be enacted c. that the booke hereunto annexed c. intituled a booke of the forme of common prayers administration of Sacraments c. and euery thing therein contained may be from henceforth authorized put in vre practised throughout all your maiesties dominions See here when they hoped to haue attained their purposes by law and to haue had the same accordingly established they offered to the Parliament a booke of their own for the forme of common praiers c. and thought it as it seemeth altogether inconuenient to leaue euery minister to his owne choyse to vse what forme hee list other then such as were allowed in some Church which had receiued the Discipline for any such they liked-of indefinitly Whereby it to me it seemeth manifest that they neuer meant to haue required the enacting of that Chapter de reliquis liturgiae officijs but onely to set downe what course their bretheren should follow for the interim vntill they might take further order for a booke of their owne Lastly in all this whole booke of Discipline there is not once mention made of any authority or office in or ouer the Church belonging to the Christian ciuill Magistrate Hee hath not so much as either voyce or place in any of their Synodes as a member thereof except he be chosen to be an Elder He hath not any power assigned vnto him to call a Synode no though it bee a Nationall Synode nor so much as to appoint the particular times or places of their meetinges nor which is most strange so much as that his assent is to be required to any of their Canons But all these thinges are set downe in this booke as of right to appertaine vnto their Ministers and Elders For the tryall whereof I must needes referre you to the booke it selfe which is in many mens handes where you shall finde the brethren ascribe that to themselues which in the greatest darkenes of Popery all the BB s. in the Land for ought I doo remember durst neuer challenge Which is a proofe sufficient that either they meant by cunning to haue depriued her Maiesty by her owne consent of all her regall authority in these and such like causes of the Church as not of right belonging vnto her which they will not acknowledge or otherwise that they had agreed without her consent to take this authority vnto themselues which if they had any conscience they would not stick to confesse that being assuredly their currant doctrine as in some other place it shall hereafter more fully appeare But it may be said that these are onely collections Well let them be as they are Indeede there is no cause why I should stand vpon collections hauing yet in store most euident demonstrations CHAP. XI Further proofe for their practise of their Discipline out of the articles they subscribed THere hath beene often mention made of the articles whereunto the brethren subscribed for their allowance and practise of the sayd booke of Discipline and they are worde for worde as here I doo set them downe according to the deposition of those that subscribed vnto them and as they are to bee shewed vnder Maister Wights hand We the brethren assembled together in the name of God hauing heard and examined by the word of God according to our best abilitie and iudgement in it a draught of discipline essential and necessary for all times and Synodicall gathered out of the Synodes and vse of the Churches haue thought good to testifie concerning it as followeth We acknowledge and confesse the same agreeable to Gods most holy word so farre as we are able to iudge or discerne of it excepting some fewe pointes which wee haue sent to our Reuerend brethren of this assembly for their further resolution We affirme it to be the same which wee desire to be established in this Church by daily praier to God which we promise as God shall offer oportunity and giue vs to discerne it so expedient by humble suit vnto her Maiesties honour able Councell and the Parliament and by all other lawfull and conuenient meanes to further and aduance so farre as the lawes and peace and the present estate of our Church will suffer it and not enforce to the contrary We promise to guide our selues and to be guided by it and according to it For more especiall declaration of some points more important and necessarie we promise vniformely to follow such order when we preach the word of God as in the booke by vs is set downe in the Chapters of the office of Ministers of the word of preaching or sermons of Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper Further also wee promise to followe the order set downe in the Chapters of the meetings as farre as it concerneth the Ministers of the worde For which purpose we promise to meete euery sixe weekes together in Classicall conferences with such of the brethren here assembled as for their neighbourhood may fit vs best and such other as by their aduise we shall be desired to ioyne with vs. The like wee promise for Prouinciall meetinges euery halfe yeare from our conferences to sende vnto them as is set downe in the Chapter concerning the Prouinces and the conferences belonging vnto them beeing deuided according to the order following Likewise also that we will attend the generall assembly euerie yeare and at all Parliaments and as often as by order it shall be thought good to be assembled Hitherto
and their children nay their liues in respect therof were not greatly deare vnto them Moreouer it is manifest how long they were exercised with great feare and many perplexities what entertainement and continuance the Gospell should finde amongst them In which case euery man may easily coniecture how easie a matter it was for them to be miscaried by their teachers Preachers perswading them that by Gods commandement they were bound to vndertake that course withall not omitting great threates of excommunication damnation if they refused so to doo They found their sayd Ministers doctrine very good and sound in the chiefe points of saluation and who would then haue suspected them in matters of lesse importance So as whatsoeuer was done amisse by them as touching their proceedings mentioned I doo wholly in a manner ascribe it to their Ministers of the Geneua learning Vnto whom also it ought of right to be imputed that I or any other either haue or hereafter shall haue any occasion at all so much as once to make mention of the least thing that might be any waies offensiue to the meanest of that natiō For what had I or any other priuate man in England to doo with their matters otherwise then to haue prayed for them had their sayd Ministers but onely taken vppon them to haue iustified their sayde proceedinges by their owne Lawes customes and priuiledges and could haue contented themselues to haue gone no further Marry nowe that the chiefest of them for the excusing of themselues and that they might shew whose schollers they are haue presumed to publish and that in print such strange seditious doctrine as doth tend to the like disturbance and indeede to the vtter ouerthrow of the freest and most absolute Monarchies that are or can be in Christendome not omitting withall to solicite and incourage our pretended reformers in England to proceed as they haue begun in following their steps contrary I am sure both to the word of God and to all the lawes and customes of this Realme I am in very good hope that there is no man of any sound iudgement who will be offended with mee in that to disclose and thereby to preuent such mischiefes as might otherwise ensue with vs I haue beene bolde to lay downe but yet out of their printed bookes some of the proceedinges of the sayde Ministers of Scotland which at this time our owne Preachers in England of the Disciplinarian consort as nowe it followeth to bee shewed doo take vppon them to imitate and haue already proceeded further in them then some of their fauorers will acknowledge or I thinke doo as yet suspect The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP. I. The doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to haue procured the like course for reformation in England to that which was in Scotland AS you haue hearde in the first Booke howe M. Knox beeing at Geneua in Q. Maries time laboured and afterward proceeded to reforme Religion in Scotland by force and armes so did sundry English men that then liued there in like sort according to the Geneua resolution in that point endeuour as much as lay in them to haue kindled the like stirres at that time here in England To which especiall ende they did write hither sundry letters and bookes wholy of this argument vz. that the then Councellors the Noble men inferiour Magistrates and rather then faile the very people were bound before God to ouerthrowe the superstition and Idolatrie that was then in the Land and to reforme Religion whether the Queene would or no yea though it were by putting her to death Out of two of these English bookes I haue collected these seditious and consistoriall propositions following All men councellors noble men inferior magistrates and people are bound and charged to see the lawes of God kept and to suppresse and resist Idolatrie by force If the magistrates shall refuse to put massemongers and false preachers to death the people in seeing it performed doo shewe that zeale of God which was commended in Phinees destroying the adulterers and in the Israelites against the Beniamites To teach that it was not lawfull in any case to resist the superior powers but rather to submit our selues to punishment is a dangerous doctrine taught by some by the permission of God for our sinnes It is not sufficient for subiects not to obey wicked commandements of their Princes but to withstand them also in dooing the contrarie euerie man in his vocation and office Shieriffes Iaylors and other inferior officers ought not onely not to cast the saintes of God in prison hauing commandement thereunto by the Prince for feare of loosing their offices but to withstand euill to support them and to deliuer them to the vttermost of their power If we see a sheepe in daunger to be deuoured of a wolfe wee are bounde to deliuer it euen so to our power wee are bound to put to our hands to deliuer the children of God when wee see them pitiouslie in danger by Gods enemies It is the office of Councellors to bridle the affections of Princes and gouernors Noblemen were first ordained to bridle Princes Noblemen haue their honour of the people to reuenge the iniuries of their Kings and not for their lustie hawking nimble dicing carding singing and dauncing open bragging swearing false flearing and flattering subtle picking and stealing cruell polling and pilling c. The authoritie which Princes haue is giuen them from the people Kings princes and gouernours haue their authoritie of the people and vpon occasion the people may take it away again as men may reuoke their proxies and letters of Atturney Subiects do promise obedience that the Magistrate might help them which if he doo not they are discharged of their obedience If Magistrates without feare transgresse Gods laws themselues and command others to doo the like then haue they lost that honour and obedience which otherwise their subiectes did owe vnto them and ought no more to be taken for Magistrates but be examined accused condemned and punished as priuate transgressors Iudges ought by the lawe of God to summon Princes before them for their crimes and to proceed against them as against all other offenders Euill Princes ought by the lawe of God to bee deposed and inferior magistrates ought chieflie to doo it Examples allowed of Kings deposed Edward 2 Richard 2. Christierne of Denmarke c. It is lawfull to kill wicked kings and tyrants and both by Gods lawe and mans lawe Queene Mary ought to haue beene put to death as being a tyrant a monster a cruell beast c. Examples The subiects did kill the Queenes highnesse Athalia Iehu killed the Queenes maiestie Iesabell Elias beeing no magistrate killed the Queenes maiesties chaplaines Baals
soueraignety kingdome and lordship were no where acknowledged or to be found but where halfe a dosen artizans Shoomakers Tinkers and Tailors with their Preacher and Reader eight or nine Cherubins forsooth do rule the whole parish But I haue noted vnto you out of these few places omitting many other this their wonderfull dotage to this end that it may be considered whether it be likely that our English Consistorians hauing ouerrunne the Scottish ministers or at the least ouertaken them in their opinions of the necessity of this Discipline will be left behind them in their practises according to the Geneua resolution for the attayning of it or no CHAP. III. Our pretended English reformers doo imitate or rather exceede the Scottish Ministers in rebelling and rayling against all that doo encounter them WHen in Scotland they first had in minde to reforme religion and after to erect their Discipline according to the Geneua resolution they spent their wittes and all their deuises by railing and slandering to bring the Bishoppes and the rest of the Clergy with the whole course of their gouernements into detestation and hatred with the people They write their owne pleasures of them and to them and that in the name of the people They stirred the Nobility by their writings against them they had their supplications to their Parliaments and to the Queene Regent they had their appellations from their Bishops their exhortations to the Nobility to the Estates and comminalty and many such practises they had to that purpose yea after their Bishops and Clergy had receiued the Gospell But in this course our reformers in England haue not onely imitated them but as ready Schollers and apt for such mischiefe haue very farre exceeded both them and as I thinke all others that hitherto haue dealt that way They haue renued ouer againe applied to our Church gouernours two or three of the most bitter Treatises that euer were made against the Popes Cardinals Popish Bishops Monkes and Friers c. in King Henry the eight his dayes They haue foure or fiue very diuellish and infamous Dialogues likewise their complaints and petitions to her Maiesty and Parliament in the name of the comminalty their appellation their exhortation and diuers other most lewd scurrilous Epistles and Letters When they are called before any Magistrate and dealt withall for their factious proceedings they vsually afterward doo take vpon them to write and publish vnder the name of a conference what wordes and arguments haue passed which they perfourme with all reproch disdaine vntruth and vanity and so do pester the Realme and their fauourers closets with infinite such shamelesse and slaunderous discourses as is most intollerable They haue had fiue or sixe supplications to seuerall Parliaments penned altogether according to Knox his stile and violent spirit in many places word for word besides Martin and his two sonnes their holy imitations of Beza his Passauantius that all things might proceede Geneua like in their sixe bookes of Consistorian grauity And now vpon better care taken by her Maiesty that no such libels should be hereafter printed in England at the least without some daunger to the parties if it may bee knowne they haue founde such fauour as to procure their chiefe instrument and old seruant Waldgraue to be the King of Scots Printer from whence their wants in that behalfe shall be fully supplyed For hauing obtained that place as hee pretendeth in Print they haue published by hundreths certaine spitefull and malicious bookes against her Maiesties most honorable priuy Councell Also their humble motion to their LL s. with three or foure other very slanderous Treatises And now it seemeth for feare that any of all their sayd Libels rayling Pamphlets that haue bin written in her highnesse time should perish being many of them but triobolar chartals they haue taken vpon them to make a Register and to Print them altogether in Scotland in two or three volumes as it appeareth by a part of the sayde Register all ready come from thence and finished which containeth in it three or foure and forty of the sayd Libels In all which courses taken more then heathnish this is their drift and especiall end that hauing by their forged lies their poysoned tongues and their hypocriticall outcries procured a generall mislike of her Maiesties reformation the present gouernment of the Church the chiefest defender thereof the Lords that fauour it the Archbishops and Bishops that haue authoritie in it the rest of the Clergy that doe submit themselues vnto it they might come at the last to attaine their purpose and by fishing in our troubled waters according to the Geneua resolution set vp and establish their glorious scepter and kingdome Out of these bookes because some might otherwise charge the premises herein with slander of the godly brethren I haue thought it very conuenient to lay downe before you particularly some most lewd and wicked speeches in maner and order as in tenne of the next Chapters following is specified CHAP. IIII. The speaches of the said pretended reformers concerning England the state the present reformation and gouernment of the Church ENgland with an impudent forehead hath sayd I will not come neare the holy one And as for the building of his house I will not so much as lift vp a finger towardes that worke nay I will continue the desolations thereof England hateth them to this day that faithfullie doe their office Of all the nations that haue renounced that whore of Rome there is none in the world so farre out of square as England in retaining the Popish Hierarchy We in England are so farre off from hauing a Church rightly reformed that as yet we are scarse come to the outward face of the same We are neuer the better for her Maiesties reformation seeing the walles of Syon lie euen with the ground that is seeing their discipline is not established Your reformation as it standeth will be little better then that of the Samaritanes who feared Iehouah but worshipped their owne Gods Men belike doe thinke no more to be required at their handes then the rasing of Babell the diuell as yet contenting him selfe with Bethel Your gouernment is that which giueth leaue to a man to be anie thing sauing a sound Christian. Omnia cum liceant non licet esse bonum We lacke a right gouernement of the Church In stead of the ordinance of God in the gouernment of his Church the marchandize of shamelesse Babylon is maintayned The gouernment now vsed by Archbishops Bishops c. is both Antichristian and diuelish Rome is come home to our gates Antichrist raigneth amongst vs. The established gouernement of the Church is trayterous against the maiestie of Iesus Christ it confirmeth the Popes supremacie it is accursed It is an vnlawfull a false a bastardly gouernement In the state of
monstrous Antichristian Pope a most bloudie oppressor of Gods Saintes a very Antichristian beast a most vile and cursed tyrant In respect of his Antichristian prelacie ouer Gods Church and for the notable hatred which he hath euer bewrayed towardes the Lord and his truth I thinke him one of the dishonorablest creatures vnder heauen And againe of the Bishops but especially of the Lord Archbishop In his behauiour wrath anger reproch and disdaine as in a wood so manie Lions Beares Tigers and cruell beastes were seene to range and in this more sauage that whereas they by time and vsage may be tamed and appeased this man neuer It would be knowen whether they haue some secret meaning if oportunitie would serue to aspire vnto the Crowne CHAP. XIII Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergie in England generally that mislike their designements WE lacke in England a right ministery of God The Ministers are neither prooued elected called nor ordeyned according to Gods word I. B. is to be inuested into the place of a naturall foole after a solemne manner according to the booke of ordayning Bishops and Priests The Clergie is indicted as the followers of Antichrist and that their Ministerie is from the Pope Little or nothing is required of our English Priests but to say the Catechisme and to weare a cap coap and tippet Antichrists rags shall make him a Priest be he neuer such a dolt or a villaine The most part of our Ministers are either Popish Priests or Monkes or Fryers or ale-house haunters or boyes and lads dronkardes and dolts that wil weare a fooles hood for liuing sake They are Hogges Dogges Wolues Foxes Simoniakes Vsurers procters of Antichrists inuentions Popish chapmen halting Newtrals They seeke nothing but like greedy dogges how to fill their paunches Our supposed Ministers are a multitude of desperate and forelorne Atheists a cursed vncircumcised and murthering generation you shall finde amongst this crue nothing else but a troope of bloudy soule-murtherers and sacrilegious Church robbers Bene quod malitia non habet tantas vires quantos conatus CHAP. XIIII Their especiall drift in their saide railing speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose BY the former so wicked and slaunderous speeches contayned in the tē last Chapters you see how the brotherhood endeuoreth with the multitude as I saide not onely the disgrace of our Church and Clergiemen but likewise how bold they are with her most excellent Maiesty the high Court of Parliament the Lords of her priuy Councel the Iudges lawyers lawes and all thinges besides that do giue any impediment vnto their deuises and complots Harding Dorman Stapleton Sanders Allen Gregorie Martin and diuers other fugitiues and Traytors to make a more easie way for the bringing in againe of popery haue taken the like course in her Highnesse time meaning principally by such vile slaunders to withdraw her Highnesse subiects from their dutifull approbation of the present estate and reformation of Religion Goodman Wittingham Gilby the author of the booke of obedience with the rest of the Geneua complices in Queene Maries dayes practised the very same pollicie when as you haue heard according to the Allobrogicall resolution they vrged all states by degrees rather to take armes and to reforme Religion themselues by force then to suffer such Idolatrie and superstition to remaine in the land But in these more political then Christian practises as I said that our English Disciplinarians of these dayes haue farre exceeded the Scottish Ministers so may it bee truely affirmed of them that al the popish Traitors that hitherto haue written and all the said Geneuians that then liued for malitious and spitefull tauntes for rayling and bitter tearmes for disdaineful and contemptuous speeches did not come neere them Besides it is especially to be obserued that in their own opinions they haue by these vngodly meanes so preuayled with the multitude as that now they begin to vaunt and bragge of their good successe already therein attayned One of them sendeth vs word from Scotland that such as haue withstood their pretended Church gouernment are made already in England to bee despised and vile before all the people that a poore simple Minister of their c. is hearde with more reuerence and resorted vnto with more diligence then one of ours though he haue the great bell rong and men to helpe him vp into the pulpit that this was wrought by a contemptible and very base and straunge meanes meaning Martin and his sonnes libels c. not once dreamed off by a thousand of Gods saintes and that when their creastes meaning the Bishops were set vp and they began to say all is ours then their presumption was dashed daunted and taken downe They might as well haue signified vnto vs in what tearmes and reputation her Maiestie her Parliaments her Lords her Iudges and her lawes do stand and hold with the people In dealing as they haue done by their particular supplications and motions vnto her Highnes and vnto their LL s. their intents to that purpose when the time shall serue if in the meane while they be not preuented are not ablie disclosed For otherwise it might haue sufficed them to haue deliuered their discontentments in priuate manner by writing both to her Maiestie their LL s and other in authority thereby to haue discharged their consciences without their publishing of them in Printe to the world except their purpose had likewise beene by that lewd meanes to haue brought them all into contēpt as well as the Bishops What priuate man if his friend should write a letter vnto him and lay open in the same eyther truely or falsely many great crimes to his charge afterward should by Printing or any other waies publish it could otherwise account of his dealing therein but that he meant to make him thereby odious to the world or at the least to be of no great account or estimation Queene Marie was of nature disposition very mild and pitifull and yet because shee suffered such crueltie superstition to be practised maintained in her days you haue heard by the consistorian propositions before mentioned what was resolued by Goodman Whittingham Gilby the rest of the Geneuians against her concerning her deposition c. Which is a matter that would be wel considered-of and in time prouided-for accordingly considering that these our home-bred Sicophantes men of the Geneua mould as proud and presumptuous as any that euerliued do charge the present state vnder her Maiestie as before it is noted with such great impietie corruption idolatrie superstition and barbarous persecution Which may touch her highnesse as neerely by their doctrine for maintayning the present state as Queene Marie was for defending of Poperie Well the conclusion of this Booke is this vz that seeing our English consistorians do labour more vehemently or
we here may vnderstand your minde we will I trust as we can further it M. Allen liketh well of the matter CHAP. III. A forme or booke of Discipline is drawen and a resolution is agreed vpon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church WHilest the brethren in the Countrey were comming thus fast on forward as you haue heard in the ende of the former Chapter you must not thinke that the Rabbies in London were in the mean time idle Hitherto it should seeme that in all their former proceedings they had relied chiefly vpon the first admonition and Cartwrights booke as hauing had no particular and seuerall platforme that was generally allowed of amongst them for the Church of England But now at the length about the yeare 1583. the forme of Discipline which is lately come to light was compiled and thereupon an assembly or Councell being helde as I thinke at London or at Cambridge certaine decrees were made concerning the establishing and the practise thereof In which decrees mention is made of a collection concluded vpon for the Scottish Ministers fugitiues here in England 1583. which sheweth the time when they were made order is likewise taken for the putting in vse of the Synodicall Discipline which also prooueth the age of that booke The decrees themselues are extant to bee seene vnder Maister Wights hande a man of that brotherhood But it may not be omitted that you must thinke how the godly brethren in all these and such other their zealous courses had neuer any meaning to disturbe the present state established And thereupon forsooth in this conspiracy or councell mentioned like good and quiet spirited men they had an especiall care that the peace of the Church might not be broken by any order or decree of theirs So as then the question amongst them was seeing the Discipline must needs vp how farre they might proceede in the establishing and practise of it keeping notwithstanding the peace of the Church established already by her Maiesty And it was ouerruled accordingly as it followeth in the decrees themselues faithfully translated worde for word out of their owne Latin coppy The title thereof vz. These be the thinges that doo seeme may well stande with the peace of the Church The Decrees Let no man though he be an Vniuersity man offer himself to the Ministery nor let any man take vpon him an vncertaine and vague Ministery though it be offered vnto him But such as bee called to the Ministery by some certaine Church let them impart it vnto that Classis or conference wherof themselues are or else vnto some greater Church assembly and if such shall be found fit by them then let them bee commended by their letters vnto the Bishop that they may bee ordayned Ministers by him Those ceremonies in the Booke of common prayer which being taken from Popery are in controuersie doo seeme that they ought to bee omitted and giuen ouer if it may bee done without danger of being put from the Ministery But if there be any imminent danger to be depriued then this matter must bee communicated with the Classis in which that Church is that by the iudgement thereof it may be determined what ought to be done If subscription to the articles of Religion and to the booke of common Prayer shall be againe vrged it is thought that the booke of articles may be subscribed vnto according to the statute 13. Eliz. that is vnto such of them onely as containe the summe of Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments But for many waighty causes neither the rest of the articles in that booke nor the booke of common prayer may be allowed no though a man should be depriued of his Ministery for it It seemeth that Churchwardens and Collectors for the poore might thus be turned into Elders and into Deacons When they are to be chosen let the Church haue warning fifteene dayes before of the time of election and of the ordinance of the Realme but especially of Christs ordinance touching appointing of watchmen and ouerseers in his Church who are to foresee that none offence or scandall doo arise in the Church and if any shall happen that by them it may be duely abolished And touching Deacons of both sorts vz. men and women the Church shall be monished what is required by the Apostle and that they are not to choose men of custome and of course or for their riches but for their faith zeale and integrity and that the Church is to pray in the meane time to be so directed that they make choise of men that be meete Let the names of such as are so chosen be published the next Lords day and after that their dueties to the Church and the Churches towards them shall be declared then let them be receiued vnto the Ministery to which they are chosen with the generall prayers of the whole Church The Brethren are to be requested to ordaine a distribution of all Churches according to these rules in that behalfe that are set downe in the Sinodicall Discipline touching Classicall Prouinciall Comitiall or of Commencements and assemblies for the whole kingdome The Classes are to be required to kepe acts of memorable matters which they shall see deliuered to the Comitiall assembly that frō thence they may be broght by the prouincial assembly Also they are to deale earnestly with patrones to present fit men whensoeuer any Church is fallen voide in that Classis The Comitiall assemblies are to bee monished to make collections for reliefe of the poore and of schollers but especially for reliefe of such Ministers here as are put out for not subscribing to the Articles tendred by the Bishoppes also for reliefe of Scottish Ministers and others and for other profitable and necessary vses All the prouinciall Synodes must continually afore hand foresee in due time to appoint the keeping of their next prouinciall Synodes and for the sending of chosen persons with certaine instructions vnto the Nationall Synode to be holden whensoeuer the Parliament for the kingdome shall be called and at some certaine set time euere yeare Hitherto the Decrees of this graue Councell whereby it seemeth to me that when they resolued they might proceede thus farre and keepe notwithstanding the peace of the Church of England established they opposed in that resolution the worde peace to warre as though they should haue agreed how far they might runne on in this race without vrging of their followers to force armes For otherwise how could any sober men so much as once haue imagined that they might in this sort ouerthrow in effect the present gouernement and establish their owne deuises and yet neuer breake the peace of the Church But I will not presse this point It is more agreeable to my purpose to pursue the chase CHAP. IIII. About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their Discipline and of a Consistorian question TO
that in an assembly had either at his house or at Kettring it was propounded treated and concluded that the Apocrypha writings were not to be read in the Church And in an other assembly which of them he doth not remember he affirmeth likewise that it was debated and concluded vpon that the superiority of the Bishops of this land ouer the rest of the Ministers is not warranted by the word of God To these depositions concerning the Northamptonshire Classes I might adde the depositions of one maister Parker Vicar of Dedham in Essex for the proofe of the Classes in that shire as of one about Brayntree side consisting of these Ministers maister Culuerwell maister Rogers maister Gifford c. another about Colchester consisting of these Ministers Doctor Chapman Doctor Chricke maister Dowe maister Farrar maister Newman master Tey c. and so likewise the depositions of others Ego singulis sabbatis si non alius adueniens locum suppleat cum prescripta leiturgias formula nihil habens cōmertij in coetu concionem habeo idque reuerendorum fratrum consilio qui suos habent singulis ferè hebdomadis conuentus qui etiam me in eorum numerum sic est mihi propitius Deus benigne ascripserunt I preach euery Sabbaoth day if no other that commeth by chance doth supply the place hauing nothing to do at all with the forme or booke of Common Prayer and that by the counsell of the reuerend brethren who haue their meetings almost euery weeke who haue also God being so mercifull vnto me admitted me very kindly into their number But in following of that course I should be too tedious I will onely set downe one mans witnesse more agreeing with Master Iohnson for the proofe that the like Classes are or haue beene held in most Shires in England and so referring you to iudge of them all by that of Northampton I will goe forward About two yeares since Maister Snape did say and affirme in the presence of Edward Smith Robert Vicars Edward Birde Richard Holmes himselfe that there were three or foure small Classes of Ministers in euery shire where there were any learned Preachers who did vse in their meetinges to debate of the Discipline by Pastors Doctors Elders Deacons and that the said seuerall small Classes did send their resolutions and opinions to the greater assemblies at Cambridge at Sturbridge Fayre time and at London at Bartholomew Fayre time which did meete together also for the same purpose and that if the said great assembly did like of that which was done by the smaller Classes then was the same so liked of generally concluded to be that which ought to be or stand in the Church As for example That it was concluded and agreed vpon both in the said Classicall and generall assemblies that the dumbe ministerie was no ministerie or else no lawfull ministerie and that the Ministers in their seuerall charges should all teach one kind of doctrine tending to the erecting of the foresaid gouernement by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons which pointes sayth Holmes of himselfe in another examination were concluded in the Synode at Sturbridge Fayre last vz. 1588. CHAP. VI. A Synode is held at Couentrie 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of Discipline is subscribed vnto THere is mention made in the last chapter of a Synode or meeting 1587. of the Cambridgeshire Classicall Ministers and peraduenture of some others also with them In which meeting there were certain questions propounded dealt in the which questions were afterwards sent by their direction to the Warwickshire Classes or brethren assembled in those parts to bee further intreated of and resolued The next yeare after vz. 1588. the saide Warwickeshire Classes c. assembling themselues together in councel as it seemeth at Couentry the questions mentioned were determined vpon and besides other matters were also concluded as by the acts themselues following to be shewed vnder Maister Wights hand and are acknowledged in effect vppon two mens othes in the Starre-chamber may sufficiently appeare Thus the proceedinges of that meeting are intituled Acta conuentus Classium Warwic die decimo quarti 1588. The Acts of the assembly of the Warwickeshire Classes the tenth day of the fourth moneth And touching the questions specified Questiones a fratribus ex Synodo Cantabrigiensi anno superiore delatae eâ quae sequitur formulâ sunt explicatae The questions brought the other yeare from the brethren of the Cambridge Synode are resolued in manner as followeth I will not trouble my paper with the fourme which they vsed but these were some of their resolutions vz. That priuate Baptisme is vnlawfull That it is not lawfull to read homilies in the Church That the signe of the Crosse is not to be vsed in Baptisme That the faithfull ought not to communicate with vnlearned ministers although they may be present at their seruice if they come of purpose to heare a sermon The reason is because lay men aswell as ministers may read publike seruice That the calling of Bishops c. is vnlawfull That as they deale in causes ecclesiasticall there is no duety belonging vnto them nor any publikely to be giuen them That it is not lawful to be ordained by thē into the ministery or to denounce either suspensions or excommunications sent from thē That it is not lawfull to rest in the Bishops depriuation of any from the ministerie except vpon consultation with the neighborministers adioyning and his flocke it seeme so good vnto them but that he continue in the same vntill he be compelled to the contrary by ciuill force That it is not lawfull to appeare in a Bishops Court but with protestation of their vnlawfulnes That Bishops are not to be acknowledged either for Doctors Elders or Deacons as hauing no ordinary calling That touching the restauration of their Ecclesiasticall discipline it ought to be taught to the people data occasione as occasion should serue That nondum as yet the people are not to be solicited publicè publickly to the practise of the discipline donec till they be better instructed in the knowledge of it That men of better vnderstanding are to be allured priuatly to the present imbracing of the Discipline and practise of it as far as they shall be well able with the peace of the Church And thus farre the prouinciall Synode of the Warwickeshire Classis Likewise at that time there was in the same assembly a great approbation obtained of the foresaid booke of Discipline as to be a draught of Discipline essentiall necessarie for all times and certaine articles being deuised in approbation and for the maner of the vse of that booke were then brought forth treated-of and subscribed vnto as Maister Nutter Maister Cleuely two that were then present haue deposed by Maister Cartwright Maister Fenne Maister Wight c. who promised to guide themselues by the saide Discipline and according to it as it is set downe in the
saide articles which herafter shall be likewise declared It appeareth also by the said parties depositions that diuers others did subscribe at the same time or at the least within a short time after but they might not forsooth by reason of their owne consciences name them Howbeit the matter is otherwise plaine inough who they were by a note taken with Maister Litleton vz. Iohn Oxenbridge Edward Gellibrand Hercules Cleuely Anthony Nutter Leonard Fetherstone Mathew Hulme Edward Lord c. This booke hauing thus at the last receaued this great allowance more authentically was carried farre and nere for a generall ratification of all the brethren It was offered to the Dauentry side Classis as Master Sharp and Master Walker haue deposed and likewise at Northampton by Penry as Maister Litleton affirmeth But that which Maister Iohnson hath set downe is worthy the remembrance The effect of it is this that when the booke of Discipline came to Northampton to be subscribed vnto there was a generall censuring vsed amongst the brethren there as it were to sanctifie themselues partly by sustaining a kinde of penance and reproofe for their former conformity to the orders of the Church established by her Maiestie and other matters of conuersation and partly to prepare their mindes for the deuout accepting of the foresaid booke In which course of censuring vsed at that time there was such ripping vp one of anothers life euen from their youth as that they came vnto great bitternes with many reuiling tearms amongst themselues one growing thereby odious to another and some did thereupon vtterly forsake those kinde of assemblies CHAP. VII The booke of the pretended Discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certaine Synodes are kept and of their estimation IT might haue beene deemed that after so many viewes Synodes and subscriptions this worthy draught of discipline would haue growne to great perfection but it falleth out otherwise For as it is confessed vppon othe at Sturbridge fayre-Fayre-time the next yeare after the sayd Classicall counsell of the Warwicke-shire brethren vz. in the yeare 1589. there was another Synode or generall meeting helde in Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge Where saith M. Barber they did correct alter and amend diuers imperfections conteined in the booke called Disciplina ecclesiae sacra verbo Dei descripta and as maister Stone affirmeth did not onely perfect the saide forme of Discipline but also did then and there as he remembreth voluntarily agree amongst themselues that so many as would should subscribe to the saide booke of Discipline after that time The persons that met in this assembly were as these two last deponents affirme maister Cartwright maister Snape maister Allen maister Gifford maister Perkins maister Stone maister Barber maister Harrison with others c. I finde mention also of another Synode 1589. held as I take it at Ipswich Thus one Iohn Warde did write that yeare to certaine at Ipswich I thinke not to come ouer till the Synode which is as I take it a moneth after Michaelmas It hath beene obserued before out of maister Edmonds deposition cap. 2. who were the Classicall brethren of London It is also fit to be vnderstood who they are that most commonly met there also at their more generall prouinciall or nationall assemblies or Synodes And this both maister Barber and maister Stone doo sufficiently declare For the space of about foure yeares last past saith maister Barber and since the last Parliament saith maister Stone there haue bin seuerall meetings in London at the houses of maister Gardiner maister Egerton maister Trauers and maister Barber The persons that vsually mette in these assemblies saith maister Barber were maister Cartwright maister Charke maister Trauers maister Egerton maister Gardiner maister Oxenbridge maister Gelibrand maister Culuerwell maister Browne of Oxford maister Allen maister Gifford maister Sommerscales and himselfe Maister Cartwright maister Trauers and maister Egerton were at sundry times chosen Moderators or Presidents in the said assemblies And afterwardes generally of the office of the Moderators The resolutions conclusions and determinations of such matters as were disputed-of and agreed-vpon by the more number of them that so disputed in the said assemblies were by the saide Moderators or Presidents before named at the times and places of the saide seuerall assemblies summarily and briefly either written in a booke or otherwise set-downe in loose papers as to the saide Moderators or Presidentes should bee thought meet or conuenient As the Classicall assemblies of London were of greater estimation then those in the Country so these more generall meetings or Synodes last mentioned were of highest authoritie and indeed the grand test of all the rest It may be said truely of them both that they haue been the kindling sparkes of all those flames which are in the Church What was there ordered went as perfectly currant From thence the brethren of other places did fetch their light As doubts did arise thither they were sent to be resolued The Classicall and Synodicall decrees in other places were neuer authenticall indeede as it seemeth till there they were ratified The chiefest directions for all the brethren else-where were sent from thence It is wonderfull to consider how men so obstinate and wilfull in their owne waies against the Church of England established by her Maiestie should be brought to submit themselues in such sort as they did to be led by these assemblies as elswhere it doth appeare CHAP. VIII Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed IN the yeare 1590. vpon the detecting before some of her Maiesties Commissioners in causes Ecclesiasticall of the most of these things wherof I haue hitherto spoken Interrogatories were drawen containing in them the effect of all the premisses and diuers such Ministers were sent for as were sayde to haue beene the chiefe ringleaders in all those actions Accordingly they appeared but in the place when they shuld be examined they refused to answere vpon their othes Diuers pretences therof were made as one that first they would see the Interrogatories whereof they should be examined The generall summe of them was imparted vnto them and it was likewise told them that they should bee charged to answere no further then by the lawes of the Realme they were bound to doo But all this would not serue Whervpon the Interrogatories themselues were shewed vnto some as namely to Maister Snape who stood most at the first vppon that point and did pretend that if first hee might see them hee would then aunswere vnto them But the issue was accordingly as it was expected For hauing perused them he was further-of then he was before and writ to his friends what was the summe of them to the intent they might be forewarned and so as he sayd become better armed Which course taken by him was not without the great prouidence of God For thereby their whole plot
booke affirmeth should be in euery parish they want in effect nothing of all their whole platforme if they could but once attaine vnto the publike erecting vp of those thrones And how far it is likely they haue already preuailed therin without staying any longer for her Maiestie let these thinges following whereof some haue beene touched alreadie make it knowne vnto you Mention hath beene made of a Presbytery set vp at Wandesworth It was a decree of the London brethren that the Ministers should by little little as much as possibly they might draw the Discipline into practise though they concealed the names eyther of Presbytery Elder or Deacō making little account of the names for the time so their offices might secretly be established There was an order sette downe in an assembly 1583. as I take it for the conuerting of Churchwardens and Collectors into Elders and Deacons as before in the Actes themselues it appeareth According to this order the brethren afterward sent their directions abroad to their fellowes for their execution of it I receiued saith Master Barbon from our faithfull brother Maister Gelibrande a direction of the brethren concerning the Conuerting of Churchwardens into Elders and Collectors into Deacons Richard Holmes affirmeth that by such speeches as he hath heard hee doth verily thinke that the Ministers in their Classes haue resolued to erect vp their seuerall Presbyteryes in their owne parishes With him agreeth Master Iohnson according to the rules of that booke I thinke that sercetly in most places where the brethren of the Classes are there are Elders chosen and that they put the Discipline in practise so farre as they may amongst themselues without any apparant shew thereof to the ouerthrow of their safe-standing Further also he deposeth that he himselfe hath beene blamed diuers times priuatelie in that he would make no such choise of Elders where he preached to practise the Discipline And what els should Gellibrand meane by these words in a Letter to Field I haue written to Maister Cartwright seuerally and ioyntly to him and the Elders signifying my readines and what aduersaries there are Lastly there was a nomination of Elders at Kilsby in Northampton-shiere made by Maister Lee the Pastor in the yeare 1588. Their names as it was deposed before Sir George Farmer and Sir Iohn Spencer were William Greene Roger Cowley Thomas Hall Richard Wolfe Iohn Browne and William Mariat which sixe saith the deponent Maister Lee thought sufficient to determine and end all matters of controuersie in the said towne Henry Pinson also affirmeth that he being enformed of this election of Elders by the said Browne and others would not yeelde his consent thereunto but said hee would stand to the lawes of this realme appointed by her Maiestie One especiall reason as it was enformed why Pinson refused in this sort to ioyne with his neighbours was for that there should haue beene some punishment inflicted by the said Elders vppon his sonne for flinging a stone at Elder-Mariats window which he would none of but was faine to flie to her Maiesties lawes So here then it appeareth in some sort whether the brethrē meant to stay any more for the ciuile Magistrate in erecting of their Presbyteries then they confesse they did concerning their vniformitie in Sermons and tripartite meetings Besides it doth also appertaine to the further proofe of the said Presbyteries that as it seemeth some of those censures haue beene vsed for example excommunication Which by the rules of the Discipline booke are of right to be exercised by them One Bluet a Minister as I suppose being excōmunicated as it seemeth did write a Letter to Field and Egerton wherein hee is most earnest that vpon his repentaunce hee might bee restored againe to the Church Woe is me saith he that I am cast out of your presence this day but shame and sorrow is vnto the cause And if this woe and shame did but touch the bodie it were tollerable for then at the day of death I should end my miserie and no more heare the words of reproach For now euery one that seeth mee reprooueth me and I am become a rebuke vnto all men But this is not all Woe is me that there is a partition-wall betweene heaven and my conscience c. If my offence may not bee passed by without further confession euen before God and his Church in London will I lie downe and licke the dust at your feet and confesse more against my selfe then any of you know Seuere Catoes I warrant you But is this the matter they contend for that men may fall downe and kisse their feete There is also another example to this effect worthie of your remembrance one La. Thomson writeth in this sort of it I thinke of him as an vnsound member vnfit to bee continued in the bodie vnles he would be subiect to the gouernment of a bodie especially the bodie of our sauing God The partie meant by Thomson was as I take it maister Wilcox the author of that admonition which caused the first breaking-out of all those troubles that since haue ensued This appeareth by foure letters written about the yeare 1583. three of them from Field to Wilcox and one from Wilcox to Field What the cause was though it bee expressed in one of the said Letters I omit to rehearse it no waies minding to touch any mans priuate behauiour or infirmities But this I must tel you that the brethren that is in Thomsons sense the body of our sauing God were so displeased and angrie with him that they suspended him from his Ministerie and did vse their censure of excommunication against him If you aske mee how Wilcox tooke this course at their handes I answere euen as Pinson before named did when his sonne should haue beene punished hee disliked it so much as that hee began to call their authoritie for such kind of their proceedings in question he refused to submit himselfe to their censures and told Field plainely that he had bin dealt disorderly withall both for matter and manner adding that hee had perhaps concealed as great infirmities of Fields and of some others as his were With these and many such like words Field was greatly prouoked and for his owne part defied him Whereas saith hee for the hiding of your owne shame you beginne to score vp my faults which you say are sixe in number as great as yours if you should vtter them I say it is no help to you but testifieth that old pride hipocrisie and malice which long time hath lurked in that cankered heart of yours c. But I doe defie you c. And for his refusing of their proceedinges you ought not saith Field so lightly to esteeme that holy censure of the brethren but in true repentance to haue hidden your face c. Againe if God hath made you an instrument to seeke for the aduancement of Christs Scepter kisse it your selfe and bee subiect