the Low-countries under the dominon of the King of Spaine who to the encrease of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ come hither in great number Thereby will be broken the outward union and good intelligence of the English church with all other reformed churches whereof our adversaries of the Romish church will triumph and make bonefires thereof at Rome From thence will follow that there will remaine but one Sacrament in our churches being not admitted to administer baptisme to little children which shall be borne in this Kingdome yea it will come to passe that the use of catechizing will faile amongst us having no children to be catechized To make short most gracious Soveraigne thereby will be abolisht the entire use of our Liturgy and discipline which we have enjoyed so many yeers together and have common with many churches in Germany with those of the Low-countries and of the Kindome of France all renowned in regard of the purity of their doctrine common with that of this Kingdome As also in regard of great and excellent persons which from time time are come out of the midst of them And for all the good that can be pretended for it will be That by this meanes your Majesties Subjects will be seen to goe to their parishes and to serve God after the ordinary forme of the Land but in the most part of the said churches this is done hitherto by them going thither many times being imployed in all sorts of charges and offices at others causing their children to be baptized there often receiving there the holy communion and contributing for the Ministers and other Officers even as the rest of the Kingdome Briefly making profession with them of one and the same Religion and 〈◊〉 they joyn themselves often in 〈◊〉 which concerneth the Liturgy and divine service but besides they come themselves with liberty amongst those of their owne tongue to maintaine unity among them and to provide for the entertainment of the ministry as also for the relieving of the poore and needy Which things the late King your glorious and wise Father having ripely considered would never consent to the change howsoever he were many times solicited thereunto Wherefore most gracious Soveraigne seeing by these reasons it is altogether evident that this change going forward there will issue out of it more hurt then good your Majesty is entreated in all humility by all the said forraign Churches to enjoyne that the said sentence of my Lord Arch-bishop's grace be not executed and that the said churches continue in their liberties and priviledges that they have peaceably injoyed hitherto And so our selves being full of consolation and joy we will more and more beseech the Almighty for the conservation of your royall person of the Queens Majesty of your royall Issue as also for the good and continuall prosperity of your Crownes Now because the Strangers seemed in the opinion of many to be very many in number in this Kingdome and especially many thousands in London as if they were Israel in AEgypt as my Lord of Canterbury said whereas they are but few the two forenamed Ministers Doctor Primrose and John Bulteel according to their commission gave also to Sir John Cooke Secretary a note and number of the forraigne Churches and of the Communicants with the two foresaid papers and writings that the world might perceive its errour and being otherwise informed might be reformed in it The list of the number of the forraigne Churches which are ten and the number of the Communicants was in this order French and Walloons of London 1400 Dutch of London 840 Walloons of Canterbury 900 Dutch of Colchester 700 Walloons of Norwich 396 Dutch of Norwich 363 Dutch of Maidston 50 Dutch of Sandwich 500 Dutch of Yarmouth 18 Walloons of Southampton 36 Summa 5213 This is the totall number of the Communicants of men women and children men-servants and maid-servants both strangers and nativeborne in the ten forraigne Churches of this Kingdome nothing so many as they were presupposed to be Nay there were some Earles Lords and others who would not beleeve at first that there were so few strangers Protestants in England till it was told them and this list shewed to them by J. B. Nay they thought there were many more in London then that number in the list but the two soragin Churches in London had no more then 2240 Comunicants as above True it is that the royal Exchange seemeth to 〈◊〉 with them but they are not all French and Dutch there are Spaniards Italians Portugals and others and a great number of such Papists live in the 〈◊〉 and skirts of the City and therefore John Bulteel told my Lord of Canterbury who spake often of the great number of strangers in 〈◊〉 especially that there were five French 〈◊〉 to one French 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meant not Walloons protestants and my Lord 〈◊〉 the said party in a kind of anger where so many were answered 〈◊〉 they might be found at Sommerset house and at the French 〈◊〉 house and at Court and elswhere all the world as well as himselfe could not but take notice of the great confluence of French papists in London and in part because of the Queens Court All this while there was no answer nor reference made by the King to the petition although he was informed by Secretary 〈◊〉 and that the Duke of Soubise was with the King in behalfe of the said Churches who told him they desired his Majesty that they might have a hearing and he seemed to condescend to it by some words he let fall But whatsoever the matter was whether it was the businesse of London Derry in Ireland between the Kings Majesty and the City of London which imployed the Lords of the honourable Privy Counsell so many dayes in the Starre chamber being a matter of great importance and much pressed by the Kings Attourney generall and so were hindered and had no leisure to heare the Churches case and cause or that the Arch-bishop who was powerfull with the King was the Remora and hindered it and that it was his Majesties pleasure to put it off nay not to have that matter so publike nor to have it debated in his presence at the Counsell-Board we know not The Churches seeing the time passed away hearing of no answer and perceiving that the time of the execution of the injunctions approached found it necessary that not all the Deputies of the Churches but the Deputies of the three Churches only 〈◊〉 Kent should tender a second petition to his Majesty for the respiting and deferring of the execution untill their cause might be heard And although there were some of the company that thought it fitting the petition should be given to his Majesty by the Deputies themselves that some short speech should be made by mouth yet it was thought fitter by the most votes that the Duke of Soubise who had tendered the first petition should be requested to tender this
their eyes and their hope What trances perplexities and despaires will fame which publisheth things worse then they are ordinarily seize on the afflicted hearts publishing every where that there are no forraigne Churches in England that there is now no place of resuge nor of succour and safeguard to those that are persecuted for the true Religion sake 〈◊〉 and agonies which will be redoubled by the reproaches of 〈◊〉 who will shew their condemnation in ours and will never faile to tell them and it may be to cause them to feele that it is with more then reason and justice that the popish Princes doe persecute and 〈◊〉 them away seeing that they cannot be tolerated and supported even by those that are of their owne profession We most humbly beseech your m esty that you would be pleased to 〈◊〉 well these things and as our consciences 〈◊〉 testifie unto us that by our demeanour which even to this day have by the grace of God avoyded the blowes and girds of 〈◊〉 it selfe we have not made our selves unworthy of the continuation of your royall favours you will be pleased in this 〈◊〉 to cause us to feel the effects thereof and receiving the most humble petitition which we present unto your Majesty to answer it as favourably as you have been graciously pleased heretofore to promise us that our entertainment and usage shall not be worse under your government then it hath been under the dominion of your royall predecessors And so filled with joy and comfort we will continue our servent prayers unto God for your Majesties health long and prosperous life the good of the Estate the encrease the glory and prosperity of your royall and most flourishing Family This Speech was set downe in its owne language and termes which cannot be so well expressed in another tongue for nunquam tmitator par fit authori containing as you see reasons and arguments sufficient to move his Majestie to permit the continuance of enjoying the priviledges granted unto the forraigne Churches and confirmed by his Predecessours and his royall Majesty The Sinod held it convenient to depute some of their Assembly to the Duke of 〈◊〉 to intreat his Highnesse to goe and speake to the Kings Majesty in their behalf because they had not nor heard any answer from him that he would be pleased to heare the Deputies of the Churches in his most Honourable Privie Councell The said Lord a very religious Prince who had done much for the Churches in France spent his meanes and blood for the true Religion refuged in England and as a member of the forraigne Churches in England much in favour with the King being his Godfather and Cozen did willingly and freely promise to doe it The very same day he went to the King made the motion to him in the behalfe of the stranger Churches The King and the Duke had some discourse about it among many words he said that we were more afraid then hurt and that his intention was onely touching the first proposition concerning the Natives The Synod omitting no meanes for the continuance of the subsistance of their Churches hoping as Nicodemus said the Law judgeth no man before it heare him and know what he doth and esteeming that the King as another Alexander would give them an hearing as he had given to my Lord of Canterbury and so reserve an eare for them in case the King would heare them before his Councell according to their Petition chose some of the Company and that but few who should accompany him that was to speake in the name of the rest who had all the writings and papers requisite the President was chosen to be the foreman who upon some considetations desired to be excused whereupon John Bulteel was elected to be the man which charge though he refused at the first yet was faine at last to accept and undergoe it who among other paper had two especially which contained the Fundamentals and reasons all which were given into his hands by the Assembly the reason why it was thought convenient one of the Company should doe it and rather one of Kent then of any other Province was because if a Councellour had spoken none of the Deputies should have had the liberty to speake whereas they could best answer to the Objections and difficulties and none of the Churches were charged by my Lord of Canterbury at that time but those of Kent The Sinod was glad that the Petition was in Master Secretary Cookes hand and found it convenient to send to him two of the Company Master Primrese and John Bulteel to solicite him in the cause of the Church that he might well understand the state of their Churches see their reasons and inconveniences that would arise and arrive upon the execution and observation of the Injunctions that so by his meanes the King might be the better informed they presented unto him the fundamentals and the reasons which were to be presented to the King and his Councell in two severall papers As for the Fundamentals they were these Fundamentals for the subsistance of the forraigne Churches within this Realme Anno 1550. The parent of King Edward the VI where these words are found 1. Quod 〈◊〉 facti sunt corpus corporatum successionem habeant 2. Quod habeant authoritatem 〈◊〉 Ministros 3. Mandatur omnibus Archiepiscopis episcopis ut permittant 〈◊〉 quiete frui gaudere 〈◊〉 exercere ritus caeremonias suas proprias disciplinam ecclesiasticam propriam peculiarem non 〈◊〉 quod non conveniant cum ritibus ac 〈◊〉 in regno nostro uisitatis absque 〈◊〉 impetitione 〈◊〉 aut in quietatione Per breve de privato sigillo de actis praedict a authoritate Parliaments Anno 1573. The Letters of the Privy-Counsell to the Church of London containing these words Non ignoramus in varijs ecclesijs varios ac diversos iam ab initio 〈◊〉 Religionis semper fuisse ritus ac caremonias dum hi stamtes alij in 〈◊〉 procidentes alij 〈◊〉 procumbentes adorant precantur tamen 〈◊〉 Pietas est ac Religio si vere ad verum Deum or at 〈◊〉 tendat absitque impietas ac superstitio c. non contemnimus ritus vestros nee vos ad nostros cogimus probamusque caeremonias vesiras ut vobis vestris reipublicae unde orti estis aptas convenientes Anno 1574. The order of the Privy-counsell the 29. of June If others would joyne themselves to the said Churches that such people shall be counselled to betake themselves to some other parts of the Kingdome where they may be commodiously received If they doe 〈◊〉 we will call in willingly our former commandement Anno 1630. The Answer of King James to the French and Dutch Ministers the 21. of May Je vous 〈◊〉 ainsi quil convient a un bon Prince de defendre 〈◊〉 ceux qui 〈◊〉 abandonne leur patrie pour
second petition to his Majesty who without doubt would bring an answer whereas if the Deputies gave it they might he as long without an answer as they had been before but if the Duke of Soubise found it not fitting to doe it then to entreat one or two of the Gentlemen of the Kings Bed chamber to tender it and if they refused to do it as it may be they 〈◊〉 not tender it least they should incurre the Lord Arch-bishop's indignation then the Deputies themselves were to present it to the King the petition to be tendered and the short speech to be made by J. B. The Deputies went to Duke Soubise and beseeched him that he would continue his good affection towards their Churches and those good offices he had begun and that he would be pleased to tender unto the Kings Majesty their second petition and if possible to have an answer knowing that none of the Kings Subjects no not any Noble-man would venture to doe it though some of them were familiar with the King and gracious in his eyes and affected the forraigne Churches and 〈◊〉 them well and told to some of the Deputies that if their cause came to a hearing before the King at the Counsell-board they would speak their mindes and doe some good offices to the Churches but durst not oppose the Arch-bishop under board in that businesse least they should incurre the Kings indignation for his sake who was so potent and gracious with the King The Duke of Soubise Noble-man of a curteous disposition who took to heart the cause of the Churches and pittied their case was very willing to accept of that charge and goe to the King and present him the petion the Deputies offered to goe with him to the Court if he thought good according to the charge given them by the Company and wait on him yea and speak to the King if need were but the Duke found it not convenient they should goe with him for some reasons but went himselfe even that day to the King as having accesse unto him at any time waited in the chamber of presence the Kings returne from dinner and delivered this petition unto him in writing The second petition of the three forraigne Churches of Kent delivered to the Duke of Soubise beseeching his Highnesse that he would be pleased to present it to the Kings Majesty To the KINGS most excellent Majesty The humble Petition of the forraigne Churches of Canterbury Sandwich and Maidston Humbly shewing to your sacred Majesty that the time limited by the most reverend Father in God the Lord Arch bishop of Canterbury his grace concerning the injuctions on Sunday next expireth and your Majesty as yet hath not signified your pleasure upon their petition delivered about fifteen dayes past your sacred Majesty is most humbly prayed to give order that the execution of the said Injunctions be respited and deferred untill their cause may be heard as in all humility they desired And as in duty bound they will daily pray for your Majesties long and prosperous reigne My Lord Soubise delivered this Petition unto the King desired his Majesty to read it which he did the King answered him Je ne puis faire cela and when the Duke said si vostre Majeste ne le fait point l'execution seta rude dure aux Eglises his Majesty replyed l'execution ne seta pas si rude qu'ils craignent and many other words that passed in French betweene the King and the Duke So having taken his leave of the King he told the Deputies what had passed who related it to the Synod The Company seeing the King gave no answer at all or at least not dearely to the Petition of prorogation of time untill his Majesty had leasure to heare them and that the time approached and that there was no appearance to have any other answer from the King thought it convenient to send some of the Company to my Lord of Canterbury who seemed over-swayed the King to know the Kings minde and pleasure and his owne which was also the opinion of a Councellour of State the Deputies therefore of the three forraigne Churches in Kent whom it concerned primarily by the advice and votes of the Sinod went to Sir Nathaniel Brent Vicar generall and told him that my Lord of Canterbury gave them permission to goe to the King which they had done and now came to him to know the Kings pleasure and answer they told him besides that they had studied the case better since they were with my Lord for they had kept the principall arguments in the reare and desired to speake to him againe and to shew him some reasons which he had not seene as yet they told him also that the time of the execution of the Injunction was neere to wit the first of March that they could not returne to their Churches at the appointed time because they had not as yet the Kings answer and hoped that their Churches might continue their accustomed order Sir Nathaniel told them that he would speake to my Lord about it who was not so straight 〈◊〉 for a weeke or two He went to my Lord on some occasion and returned told them they should doe well to goe to my Lord either at Whitehall or Lambeth to know his pleasure concerning the time he would appoint to heare them The Deputies went to Lambeth and expected his comming from the Councell somewhat late for there was a cry in the Hall Hats off and lights for my Lords grace is at hand where in the Hall they met my Lord I.B. told him that his Vicar generall had told them that his grace was content to heare them againe and therefore they came to know his pleasure desiring a time when they might be heard He told them their motions did not please him because they were not according to his judgement that he was full of businesse and knew not when he should be at leisure but that Sir Nathaniel might pitch upon a probable time he might be at leasure and so dismissed them It might have beene returned to him his judgement did not please them because it was not according to their motion but he held his peace So when the Archbishop said here above mentioned that their Discipline and Bishops were jure 〈◊〉 they might have answered him that though Bishops are indeed jure divino that is to say Ministers who are Bishops are jure divino yet there is but one Archbishop jure divino who is Christ 1 Pet. 5.4 named there the chiefe Shepheard but though that was true yet they did not use such tearmes because they had no order and durst not goe beyond the commission The Deputies sent word to the Vicar generall my Lords minde who esteemed Saturday in the afternoone the fittest day Doctor Primrose and I. B. went to the Duke of 〈◊〉 that day and there dined where they had much discourse together about that businesse and the said Lord thought it