of her Majesty in these dangerous times compelled them their own Offices of Justice which by the word was so well aided and which without it they could not steer in a storm of so great confusion drew them to sue in all humble sort to the Archbishop testifying the wholesome Doctrine together with the honest life of their Pastors declaring the breaches waste and wrecks of their Country the present evil the dangers to come finally craving that in regard of the souls of the people and their own he would accept such a Subscription as the Law expresly appointed 13. Eliz. c. 12. and restore the poor men both to their Preaching and Livings This second means prevail'd with him Archbishbp Whitgift no more than the first The third was attempted This refuge was to the Honourable Senate of her Majesties Privy-Council There it was in like manner sought and declared the proceedings before used with the Archbishop The inconveniency by this new dealing sprang up in the Church and Commonwealth was shewed and witnessed by Subscribed Hands These supplications with Letters of favour were sent to the Archbishop in the behalf of Preachers did he yet any thing relent surely no nay I would he had not been more indurate Six or Eight months were thus spent the Country devoid of Preaching the calamities of some Shires increased testimonies informations multiplied At the length such were the complaints that her Majesties most Honourable Council dealt very feelingly in the case Lest any should traduce that Book as giving a false account I could out of a MS. in my hands fill a competent Volume with Copies of Supplications of this nature It shall suffice to give an instance or two 1. Of the Ministers Applications to Archbishop Whitgift 2. The peoples and several Gentlemens applications and supplications to the Archbishop then 3. To the Council Letters from Noblemen and Privy-Councellors to the Archbishop c. That of the Ministers of the Diocess of Ely is one of the shortest I shall therefore transcribe that for a specimen of Applications to the Archbishop Whereas two Canonical Admonitions upon our obedience are already past most Râ—verend Father in God and suspension ready to proceed against us for not subscribing to some things we know not and others that we greatly doubt of We having received good hope upon our own knowledg of your Lordships wonted hatred of sin and love of true Religion and godliness are bold to offer our humble supplication unto you as well to shew our obedience to all superiority over us in the Lord as also to crave your Lordships lawful favour for larger space of time to be granted to us considering how carefully we have used our Ministry to the building of the Church endeavouring with all our hearts to keep the good peace thereof which we daily pray for Wherefore if it shall please your Lordship to deal so graciously with us as either to free us from all subscriptions saving to her Majesties authority and the Articles of the Christian Religion which the Law requireth or to give us so long time as divers Treatises may be perused by us that either we may be satisfied in our persuasions to subscribe or if there be no remedy quietly to give place to the peace of the Church In the mean time we judg them not that have subscribed as we desire not to be judged in this our staying Thus if it shall please Almighty God to move your Lordship to take compassion on our troubled consciences that we may feel our burden lighter by your good favour we shall praise God for the same and shew our thank fulness to your Lordship which we pray God to preserve and keep to the good and benefit of his Church and to your own comfort 12. March 1583. Your Graces most humble Robert Garret Bowter Martin Henry Dickenson Mat. Chapman Edw. Brain Christopher Jackson Thomas Brain Many Supplications of this nature were in that and in the two following years presented to the Archbishop to particular Bishops of Diocesses c. which I forbear to transcribe the matter being much the same These not finding their due effect the Gentlemen of several Counties petitioned the Archbishop I could insert several Copies I shall only insert that of the Gentlemen in Cambridgshire to the Archbishop bearing date the 26. of April 1583. May it please your Lordship that under your good favour we whose 〈…〉 en â—â—y be acceptable suitors on the behalf of divers godly Ministers with in this County of Cambridg whose names are set down in a schedule herewith sent unto you concerning the manner of subscribing to the articles lately published the execution whereof towards our Ministers we fear would be to the displacing of them as some are already whereby we think great inconvenience must follow in these parts by reason that both the sufficiency and good conversation of these already placed with the good success and blessing on their labours is evidently known unto us and we are persuaded that they continue their places by bond in conscience for that hitherto we have not heard of any contentiousness in Religion or disquietness and disorder in any of them or their people Wherefore altho in your wise and fatherly care your desire is to make choice of a good supply if these fail yet if it should seem good unto your Wisdom we should acknowledg our selves much bound unto your Lordship in the continuance of these men being known unto us already the other hereafter to come being unknown what they shall be and so much the rather because of the bare Livings which some of them have whereby it is to be feared it will be no easie matter to place sufficient men in their stead Thus trusting and nothing doubting but that they may find your honourable favour so far forth as you may grant not contrary to the Law of this Realm and most humbly beseeching that we may enjoy them in their rooms as long as any others in other places whereof we and they hope so much the more for that it pleased God once to make your Lordship a special member in this County for a time whereby as you gave and bestowed a great cause of love so you reaped much good will which as it remaineth in us and them to stand you in any stead to our powers so we trust that we and they shall find this latter fruit of it to our great comfort and benefit and thus we humbly take our leave Your Graces assured John Cutts Fr. Hind John Hutton Fitzralph Chamblein Thomas Wendy Thomas Chickly Anthony Cage Some others there were of this nature but it seemed â—â—â—h by what followed and also by what the Author of the Book aforementioned saith that the Archbishops ear was deaf to all Supplications of this nature and has resolved to carry his Subscription through The poor Ministers in this distress together also with the Gentlemen of several Counties and the people of several places addressed
people rooting out all private Meetings enforcing people to come to hear the Common-Prayer and to conform to the Ceremonies and hear their Parish-Ministers and receive the Sacrament with them 2. The Second is by taking off these Impositione which all agree to be of things not in their own nature necessary but such as the Magistrate may if he pleaseth relax For the first method to unite us it is a strange one it aims only at uniting by destroying and purchases such a Church-Vnity as the Papists boast of who by destroying of hundred thousands of righteous men at last made all of one mind in appearance The experience of more then 100 years hath taught us that multitudes are neither to be argued nor cudgelled into their conformity The multitude of Nonconformists hath increased all a long in stead of abateing even from the first beginning of the difference at Francfurt to this day and he is very ignorant that knoweth not that since the fire of London they have been almost doubled to what they were before Nor hath the warmth of many Clergymen of late in decrying the Plot or lessening it and indeavouring to make people believe it was a Nonconformist Plot a little contributed to let the world know what they are and would be at Would any have these impositions still inforced what can they pursue but the old design of Reconciling us and the Church of Rome in which the Papists will listen to them till they have ripen'd a design to cut their throats as well as other mens but those are mightily ignorant of Popish principles that can so much as fancy a possibility of reconciliation with them so long as we maintain the Kings Supremacy or a married Clergy so that in truth a reconciliation to the Church of Rome is a thing not to be thought on by a married Clergyman unless he be weary of his wife and children nor by a Loyal Subject that understands sense The Vnion must therefore be effected by taking off these impositions which now for an hundred years have produced so ill effects in this Nation It is easy to see how great the good of this would be We should all then be known by the single name of Protestants and be hearty as one man in opposition to all Popish designs Our Civil and Ecolesiastical Courts might possibly then be at leisure to execute the power with which they are betrusted against Papists and profane persons Sober and industrious men would be encouraged to push out in trading to their utmost There would be no complaining in our streets for want of the Ordinances of God so administred as that concientious people might freely partake of them without so much as a fancy that might make them call out Death is in the pot and sit at the Lords feasts without so much as a jealousy of a Divine Sword hanging over their heads spoiling their Spiritual appetite In short it would restore us to one of the greatest pieces of Christian liberty To serve the Lord without fear either of offending God whom they know in matters of Worship to be a jealous God or of being undone in their temporal concerns for the exercise of a tender conscience towards God All good men should rejoice under the shadow of the King and Parliament and unite their Prayers with chearfulness for both What would be the Evil of it The foundations of Archbishop Whitgift and Archbishop Laud and my Lord Chancellor Hide the buildings upon which hath hitherto been kept up with no less guard than the trouble of all the Courts of Judicature in England would be something shaken and our foundations laid upon the word of God which surely is far better the credit of some men who have laid all the stress of Religion upon a Common-prayer-book and some Ceremonies would be thought a little impaired the Magistrate should do nothing displeasing to God who never required the imposition of these things at his hands and doubtless hath been highly displeased at a great deal of force used which hath not been good for the enforcing of them It is as I have said before more than an hundred years since these impositions have been the cause of so much evil in these Nations and that not only to particular families and persons but even to the whole Nation Though our Civil Wars were bottomed upon Questions and Grievances of a Civil Nature yet it is hardly imaginable the common people should have been so inflamed had they not before been wounded in so tender a part as that of their Consciences towards God By reason of these contests Papists have been connived at and gained a great deal of Reputation so much that till within these 2 years it was dangerous for Protestants to vie with them for Loyalty or Religion We see the issue while they have been thus neglected yea credited they have been hatching the most hellish Plot that was ever heard of hardly to be parallel'd by any story The Plot hath in the bowels of it been discovered so full of Blood and Cruelty and Ingratude to his most Sacred Majesty and in the defence of themselves from the imputation of it they have been found guilty of so many Lies so much Perjury and Subornation so much ungodliness and unrighteousness that they cannot but see their Catholick Cause is wounded under the fifth rib and their pretended Religion not like to recover its reputation until there be none left of this Geration They have nothing to do but to wait a time when they may fight out their way with some probable hope of prevailing It is certainly now high time to restore all Protestants be their persuasions what they will to a just liberty in the things of God than the want of which nothing can more dispirit good men in their duty as to a common watchfulness and defence for what spirit can be in them who know they shall be ruin'd by one hand or another I surther offer it to the consideration of our grave Senators who come up from the several parts of the Nation and must best know the complexion of it Whether those who are most against the taking of these Impositions be not I do not say all but forty for one the persons whom several Proclamations of his Majesty and several votes of two Parliaments declaring it and the several judgments upon some of the Traytors given by our Courts of Justice have not been able to convince That there is any Popish Plot but in all their converse they have made it their business to deny or lessen the Plot to defame and vilify the Kings Evidence to impose upon people that it was a Plot of the Nonconformists to make the dying words of the Jesuits creditable In short by all manner of ways to turn the whole Popish Plot into Ridicule I do know some few very few others zealous for these Impositions have born a Testimony against the Papists and freely declare their Judgments about the
qualified 1. In the Church Service That the Cross in Baptism Interrogatories ministred to Infants Confirmation as superfluous may be taken away Baptism not to be administred by Women and so explained The Cap and Surplice not urged That Examination may go before the Communion That it may be administred with a Sermon That divers terms of Priests Absolution and some others used with the Ring in Marriage and other such like in the Book might be corrected The longsomeness of Service abridged Church-songs and Musick moderated to better edification That the Lords day be not profaned The rest upon Holidays not so strictly urged That there may be an Vniformity of Doctrine prescribed No Popish opinion any more taught or defended No Ministers charged to teach the people to bow at the Name of Jesus That the Canonical Scriptures only be read in the Church 2. Concerning Church Ministers That none hereafter be admited into the Ministry but able and sufficient men and those to preach diligently and especially upon the Lords day That such as be already entred and cannot Preach may either be removed and some charitable course taken for their relief or else to be forced according to the value of their Livings to maintain Preachers That non-Residency be not permitted That King Edwards Statute for the lawfulness of Ministers Marriages may be revived That Ministers be not urged to subscribe but according to the Law to the Articles of Religion and the Kings Supremacy only 3. For Church-livings and Maintenance That Bishops leave their Commendams some holding Prebends some Parsonages some Vicarages with their Bishopricks That double beneficed men be not suffered to hold some two some three Benefices with Cure and some two three or four Dignities besides That Impropriations annexed to Bishopricks and Colledges be demised only to Preachers incumbent for the old Rent That the Impropriations of Lay-mens fees may be charged with a sixth or seventh part of the worth to the maintenance of the â—reaching Ministers 4. For Church-Discipline That the Discipline and Excommunication may be administred according to Christs Institution or at the least that enormities may be redressed as namely That Excommunication come not forth under the names of Chancellors Lay-persons Officials c. That men be not Excommunicated for trifles twelve peny matters That none be Ecommunicated without consent of his Pastor That the Officers be not suffered to extort unreasonable fees That none having Jurisdiction or Registers places put out the same to farm That divers Popish Canons as for restraint of Marriage at certain times be reversed That the longsomeness of Suits in Ecclesiastical Courts which hang sometimes 2 3 4 5 6 7 years may be restrained That the Oath ex Officio by which men are forced to accuse themselves be more sparingly used That Licenses for Marriage without Banes asked be more cautiously granted These with such other abuses yet remaining and practised in the Church of England we are able to shew to be not agreeable to the Scriptures if it shall please your Highness further to hear us or more at large to be informed or by conference amongst the Learned to be resolved And yet we doubt not but that your Majesty without further process of whose Christian judgment we have received so good a taste already is able of your self to judg of the equity of this cause God we trust hath appointed your Highness our Physician to heal these diseases and we say with Mordecai to Esther Who knoweth but you are come to the Kingdom for such a time Thus your Majesty shall do that which we are perswaded shall be acceptable to God honourable to your Majesty in all succeeding ages profitable to his Church which shall be thereby increased comfortable to your Ministers which shall be no more suspended silenced disgraced imprisoned for mens traditions and prejudicial unto none but those who seek their own credit quiet and profit in the world Thus with all dutiful submission referring our selves to your Majesties Pleasure for your Gracious answer as God shall direct you We most humbly recommend your Highness to the Divine Majesty whom we beseech for Christ his sake to do herein what shall be for his glory the good of his Church and your endless comfort Your Majesties most humble Subjects the Ministers of the Gospel who desire not a disorderly Innovation but a due and Godly Reformation How his Majesty resented this Petition is variously reported But sure it is saith Fuller it ran the Gantlop through all the Prelatical party every one giving it a lash some with their Pens more with their tongues and the dumb Ministers as they term it found their speech most vocal against it How many the number of those was who joined in this and several other Petitions at the same time and were suspended deprived imprisoned c. I cannot tell but a great division arose which held during the Archbishop Bancrofts time Bishop Abbot who succeeded him in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury was much calmer Several Books were wrote at this time against the Nonconformist by Mr. Hutton Mr. Rogers Dr. Lovel and Dr. Spark who had himself been a Dissenter but in the year 1607 1608 they were learnedly answered by a Book of three parts call'd A Defence of the Ministers Reasons for refusal of Subscription The first part was concerning the holy Scriptures the ill Translation of several Texts The second concerning the Holy Scriptures and Apocrypha The third was about kneeling at the Sacrament Several able Ministers left the Nation many others with their Families were undone in it Thus Conformity stood till the time of King Charles the First some Bishops being more some less rigid in pressing the Canons But when Archbishop Laud came to be Archbishop of Canterbury who succeeded Abbot he made a new Edition of Impositions to which he required Conformity saying second Service at the Table setting that at the East end of the Church Altarwise commanding the Communion Table to be railed in and all people to come up thither to receive the Communion kneeling enforcing the bowing at the Name of Jesus Forbidding Lectures and Afternoon-Sermons Pressing the Book of Sports on the Lords day Not injoining but commending bowing toward the East-end c. and twenty more things What havock hese things made is yet within the memory of many and what disturbance Bishop Wren made in Suffolk and other places as several other Bishops that were his Creatures did in other Diocesses many alive know multitudes of Ministers were again deprived and suspended Many undone in the High Commission At last in the Convocation 1640 an Oath with c. was devised which had perfected the business in rooting out all Puritan Preachers had not a Parliament came and spoil'd that design Scarce any is ignorant what numbers of Godly Ministers and people left the Nation upon this account betwixt 1630. and 1640. so many as to make one of the noblest Colonies at this day in the world that