desyers Eyther also he is a disobedient and rebellious Puritan vvho being altogether inclyned to Envy Pryde and presumption shameth not to resist the good lawes of the King 1. Pet. 2. and in steed theâ—â—â—f to set vp his owne Imaginations meaning thereby to alluer â—he hearts â—f the People from their dutifull obedience to God and gouernours whosâ— Conscience shall in the end testify agaynst him and if he repent not in tyme to his owne condemnation But now I would gladly knowe how all things were taken in the end And whose Religion was best accepted of the King and the rest there assembled Ben. After great aduise and deliberation taken among them all The King sayd this Plowman hath last of all manifested vnto vs in playne speech the right Rel gion and the very Trueth which may not in any wise be denyed Therefore great is Obedience great is the Trueth Mar. 12. a. I see well now that it was not for naught that it standeth written I am the God of braham 1. Cor. 13. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 13. Iaco. 2. c. d. the God of Isack the God of Iacob a God of the Liuing but not of the Dead Let Proclamation the efore goe forth into all parts of the Land and let it also be made knowen from vs the King to all mens preservation thâ—t he which wil become a Christyan and would be saved by Iesus Christ must after true repentance shewforth the fruits of fayth in his obedience and Christian lyfe Then last of all spâ—ke the Counsell the Lords Spiritual and Temperall together with the Commons all at oâ—ce and sayd lâ—â—de honour and thanksgeuing be to that God for euer more which hâ—â—h gevâ—n us such a wâ—se King to raigne ouer vs â—hat can so righâ—ly discerne the best Religion and the Trueth from all others and thereupon gâ—uâ—n true Iudgement wiâ—hout parcealâ—ty And now if vve should not henceforth auouch publish for â—h mayntayne and allowâ— as also liue according to the same so farre-forth as God shall geue vs grâ—â—e then vvere vve very much to blame because that vve see that Obedience is the thing that the Lord hath commaunded all men to liue in yea and more it is whereby we his Ministers Rule and gouerne vnder him in peace quietnes Also that Iesus Christ once dwelling in vs is the Trueth or good lyfe it self so fast coupled vnto Fayth as is the Soâ—ne vnto brightnes or fyer vnto heat and therefore bringeth with it everlasting lyfe and felicity And so the Parlament brake vp and I came away GOD SAVE THE KING Amen Behold euen through such a great Trouble and trauell aforesayd will gentle Ladye Tyme bring forth her most bewtifull Daughter Trueth now in these last daungerous dayes to the glory of God the preseruation of Princes and to an euerlasting peace among all People Amen Amen TO THE READER After such tyme as I had considered the many-maner of Religions Sects and Opinions gentle Reader that are now risen vp out of mens high knowledge and goodthinking and whereout for the most parte proseedeth also all contention Envy Disobedience Rebellion Lying Baâ—kbyting Slaundering Imprisoning Killing Murdering c together with al liberty of life in committing wickednes which is now frequented without feare or shame among the children of men I tooke this deuise in hand for six speciall causes The first was for that the Magistrats who are Gods ministers on earth mought the better remember their office and calling and how that they are appointed of the Lord to suppresse euill Disobedience Falshood and wickednes and to maintayne Gods obedience Trueth or godlynes of lyfe The second was for that all simple and ignorant people mought see how easily men may be seduced now in these dangerous dayes through faire speeches and outward shewes of holines yet neuerthelesse I am not against the right Cathâ—lique the true Protestant or the perfect Praecisian so long as they holde them to Obedience in the holy life aforesayd The third was for that my hope standeth in the Lorde there are many good willing hearts to the righteousnes yet remayning vpon the earth 2. Cor. 5. c.d. 6. c. Rom. 8. a. c. who once knowing the Trueth and what euerlasting felicitie it bringeth with it will not by any sinister meanes of the disobedient and rebellious route be drawne away therefrom whether it be then by theyr smothe speeches cruell threats feare of Persecution Blasphemyes Tyranous handling Imprysonments 2. Cor. 10. a. b. c. 1. Pet. 2. Vnjustice or most cruell death that they can deuise but will rather indevour them still to liue vnder Obedience to God and gouernours so exercise them dayly in the godly life that right Religion fast grounded on the vnconfutable Trueth wherein the Lord had alwayes still hath and for euermore shall haue his pleasure and delight The fourth cause was this 2. Cor. 5. b. for that all men if it were possible mought see or vnderstande that the good life is not so slight a thing as many men make accompte of For the Lorde looketh not so muâ—h vpon the outward oblations Sacrifices Seruices or Ceremonyes which the man offereth or vseth for to serue him withall as he doeth vpon the single heart of the man Psal 51. d. Ioh. 4. c. Mar. 12. c. in his Obedience and good lyfe for the Lorde will be honoured onely of his in spirit and Trueth therefore the Oblations Seruices and Ceremonies are respected of the Lorde for the good hearts cause and nor the euill hearted respected for the Oblations Seruices or ceremonies cause Example by Cain and Abell Gen 4. a. they both offered sacrifice to the Lord The one for the bloudynes of his heart his Oblation was refused And the other for the singlenes of his heart his Oblation was accepted c. The fift cause was for to answere and satisfie all such as praesently stand at the gaze as it were afarre-of wayghting what will come of this my Religion or els doubting of the goodnes and contynuance thereof c. 2. Cor. 4. c. And the sixt or last cause is this for that I who haue bin these many yeres most Injuriously slaundered and defamed most cruelly persecuted and Imprisoned as also most dispitefully spoyled and Impouerished to my vtter discredit and vndoing Like as some that be honourable if they remember it can partly tell am still ready during lyfe to answere boldly for my felfe beleefe and Religion in the Trueth And therefore for the clearing of my selfe and for the recouering of my good name which I esteeme aboue golde and syluer I am bolde to dedicate this my deuise to her Majesty and to make knowne there through my Religion openly And moreouer I meane hereafter by Gods grace and vnder correction and submission of my Prince to perswade all my friends and acquaintance whether they be then Catholiques Protestants Puritans or what other Religions soeuer so much as I may in the Lorde to inclyne theyr hearts wholely to lyue vnder such obedience and godlynes of lyfe as is aforesayde Also to pray for the Queenes Majesty and al the honourable of his priuie Counsell for that they mought so maintayne the gospell of Iesus Christ whereby the Trueth mought get the victorie in all our hearts To the end all mought become one in Christ And Christ one in all AMEN
Temporis Filia Veritas A mery devise called the Troublsome travell of Tyme and the daungerous delivery of her Daughter Trueth Equity is gone asyde and Righteousnes standeth farre of the Trueth is fallen downe in the streets and the thing that is playne may not be shewed The Trueth is layde in prison and he that refrayneth himselfe from evill must bee spoyled Esa 59. a. Therefore thus sayth the Trueth those myne Enemyes which would not that I shoud Raygne ouer them bring them hither and slay them before my face Luc. 19. c. Geve no sentence before thou hast heard the cause but first let men tell out ther Tales Eccles 11. If a man love me he will keepe my sayings sayth Christ and my Father will love him yea we will come vnto him and dwell with him Ioan. 14. b. Interlocutours BENNION the Button-maker and BALTHESAR the Barber Anno 1589. BENION WEll ouertaken neighbour BALTHASAR where haue you bin this longe tyme for I haue not seene you in your shoppe these 3. or 4. dayes BALTHASAR I have bin washing shauing and triming in the Countrye Ben. Then I trust you can tell vs of some good newes for men say all newes are to be heard of at a Smyths Forge a Barbers shopp or at a mill Balt. Verely I can heare of little or no good newes in the Contry to be had wherefore I pray you neighbour Benion tell me in sadnes what doe you heare Ben. Suerly neighbour I can tell you of very good newes wherat I trust to God we all shall reioyse this is the matter I came no sooner into the Citty and had gotten a Chapman for my buttons but in comming by a Smiths Forge I heard say there was a worthy Parlament appoynted and a gratious day set wherin euery man conserning his religion should be permitted freely to speake without any lett or interruption and also heard without any perceality And then whosoeuer hath the best on his syde in the Trueth it was concluded that his religion should take place he preferred of the Kinge and the Trueth set vp aboue all Balt. But tell me is that possible Ben. Yea truly but what would you saye if I were there present and hearde all the same parley euen from the beginning to the end Balt. Suerly I would say then that this Realme should be most happy of all nations vnder the Sonne yea and moreouer that the Lord would blesse and prosper such magistrates in all things that they tooke in hand Now therefore I pray thee tell me more of this matter but wast thou in deed from the beginning to the end of this parley Ben. I heard al that was there spoken and concluded amongst them Balt. What were the company there assembled canst thou tell Ben. Yea For there was none that sate in Iudgment vnlesse they were of great dignity honour or worship Videlicet 1. The Kinge which executeth true judgment without percealety and he sate vppermost in his royall seate 2. The Counsell which are good aduouching alwayes therunto they sate next vnto him 3. The Lords Spiritual who are zelous for the trueths cause and were placed next them 4. The Lords Temperall who are redy to defend the Trueth and they were placed next them 5. And lastly the comons who are redy to liue therin euery one of these aforesayd so much as they may attayne grace therto of the Lord and they sate in the nethermost roome Balt. This was doubtlesse a ioyfull sight Toâ— beholde the Lord blesse them all and geue them of his grace to haue all men speake whithout perseality to judge vprightly and also to establish those things that may redounde to Gods glory Amen but what speaker was appoynted to the same parlament Ben. Such a one as in lyke maner feared the Lord and is desyerous that all things mought be done for the best according to Gods will Balt. Then first of all I pray thee let me heare what the speaker sayd and what matters were their cheifly handled by him conserning the effect oâ— principall causes of theyr assembly for it should seeme by this thy saying that there were matters handled of great importance Ben These or the lyke so farre as my memory would serve me were the words of the speaker SPEAKER For as muche as I at this tyme although vnmeet therunto am appoynted to speake before the Kings highnes as also before you all Right high Honorable anâ— worshipfull here assembled in matters appertayning to a common welth sowell for soule as body Therefore must I first of all in most humble wise craue perdon of his Majestie and also of all you Honorable and worshipfull in this audience that if any thing chaunce for the want of skill audacitie or wisdom to escape my mouth it may be taken to the best according to my good meaning Thus it is ò most renoumed Prince and you Honorable Lords Spirituall temperall together whith you worshipfull and commons of this present Parlament here assembled also be it knowne vnto you all That the cheif and principall thing wherethrough all Nations Kingdoms Princes People and commonwelths are vphoulden kept and preserved from harmes and destruction is God which God therefore ought of all Nations Kingdoms and People most cheifly and aboue all other things to be feared loued obeyed honored served And seeing that your calling is cheifly to that end also that all your cares and Industryes is now gratiously bent therunto in somuch as this honorable assembly is come together there about I beseech you therefore in the name of the same liuing God to heare me For as-much as it is not vnknowne vnto the Kings highnes as also to the honorable and worshipfull here assembled that although the scriptures haue bin to the same effect aforsayd most plentifully read vnto the People these many yeres according to the Kings appoyntment and good intention yet not-withstandinge we see that the liues of the People for the most part are become worse and worse sowell among the learned as among the layhood and the cause is for that the Preachers themselues doe not desyer to become such as they would frame theyr hearers to be And not that alone but also by thAt meanes and for the want of obedience there are sprâ—ng vp sondry sect and sortes of religions here among vs at this daye so thatt euery one being notwithstanding contrary mynded one towards an other will haue his owne for the best yea although they must all needs graunt that there is but one onely trueth it would be to long to resyte how many haue bin deceiued and are yet through superstition and Idolatry likewise how many in these haue taken to their selues A freedom and liberty of lyfe in comitting wickednes out of their miscoÌ„rstuing of holy scriptures And more ouer how mâ—ny haue bin expulced the vniuersities for their dissobedience forsaken heir benefice and exhibition gathered together their conventikles Prâ—ached false and sedicious
doctrine ronne here and there â—here â—hey myght be hearde anâ—â—atinge the People against obedience due to the gooâ— manly 〈◊〉 2. and poâ—eâ—ke lawes and ordinances of theyr Prinâ—es and gouernours Aâ—â—ikâ—â—ise whâ—t â—â—â—sâ—â—g vp of tumults whâ—t murdering and â—onâ—umâ—ng one of an other is come to â—â—â—e daylie in other lands therabout videlicet about religion the Trueâ—h it woulde be I say too long to reâ—vie for sâ—eedy reformation wherof aâ—d that the lyke inconuenience in alâ— whiâ—h God forbid coâ—e not to passâ— with in this Land but rather may in tyme through your good providenâ—e and Noble wisdoms in the Lord before seene and peruented May it therefore please the Kings Majestie the Lords Spirituall and Temperall together with the worshipfull and commons here assembâ—ed to let proclamation go forth into all coasts of the Land and that it be permitted and graunted of euery Religion one at the least to come into the peâ—lament house there to speake freely his mynd conserning the Trueth and the effect or ground of his religion And when eueryone hath sayd his mynde and your princely wisdome aduisedly and deeply considered therof as which of them all shall go nearest the Trueth So may you then doe your best in the Lord that the Trueth onely may take place for as-much as God who alone is worthy of all honour is a spirit and wil none otherwise be honored saue in spirit and Trueth And thus to thend all enuy contencion and disobedience mought once seace amongst vs that now boast so much of â—hristianity and that all godly loue obedience vnity peace and concord in the Trueth myght come in place whereby God myght rightly be honored Iesus Christ myght faythfully be beleeued the King and you all that beare authority dutifully obayed the People that are vnder you become blessed and the common welth alwayes florish to your euerlasting fame I make an end Referring all thing here spoken to the Lord and your wisdomes to consider of and so I committ you to God and to his good tuicion who is well able to endow you with his heauenly wisdom or holy spirit for to doe in all his wil Amen And so he ended Balt. This was no doubt a maruellous good waie for to bring all to one vniformity of Religion as also for to fynde out the Trueth if so be the King majestrates when they haue harde all speâ—ke caÌ„ discerne the Trueth and true religion from all others which thing they may easily doe when as the Lord shall see it good for as much as the Trueth is playne and seeketh no corners and they also Gods Ministers appoynted to that end but yet thou hast not tolde me what was sayd to this matter nor what ensued therupon Ben. Then sayd the King this mans consell is very good let therefore proclamation go forth and let them come before vs to wit of euery Religion one and then shall euery one say his mynde freely conserning his Religion and conserning the Trueth And for my part after I haue heard euery one speak and aduisedly coÌ„sydered therof according vnto the Trueth of the Scriptures I wil by the grace of God giue true Iudgement without perceality because that God whose minister I am mought rightly be honored in Spirit and in Trueth Then spake the Counsell all at once and sayd God saue thee ò Kinge for euer For â—e likewise are good advouching thereunto and therefore wish with all our haertes that it mought euen-so come to passe After that spake the Lords Spirituall and sayd God blesse the King in his determination for we also are zealous for the Trueths cause and therefore woulde gladly that it vvere manifested And then spake the Lords Temperall and sayd God preserue the King and graunt him good suckcesse in all that he taketh in hand for vve are redy to the vttermost of our power to defend the Trueth vvere it once made knowen Then last of all spake the commons and sayd God prosper the King in his good purpose for vvee stand also ready to liue therin mought vve once know certaynlie vvhich vvere the Trueth Balt The God of all Trueth blesse them vvith his euerlasting blessing make manifest his Trueth vnto them and then geve them and vs all grace to liue in the same But vvhat followed I pray you tel me Ben. Vpon this the proclamation vvent forth into all quarters and therevpon came into the Parlament house 4. men diuersly Apareled also of sundry myndes or Religions Videlict A Catholick comonly called a Papist A Protestant câ—monly called a Liberâ—in A Puritan comonly called a Rebell And a playne Plowmâ—n vvhose religion vvas vnknowen comonly called an Heretique Balt Now of Fellowship let me heate more of this matter for there is like alwaeys to iâ—sue some good sporte vvhere so many Players doe resorte Ben After such tyme as they all kneeling vpon their knees had craued perdon and lisence euery man to speak freely his mynde vvithout any interruption for the profe of his Religion and the manifesting of the Trueth and that free liberty vvas graunted them Then vvas it concluded also that the Catholick shoulde speake first next after him the Protestant 3. the Puritane and last of all the playne Plowman Balt. Suerly this vvas excellent vvel now then as thou louest me let me heare vvhat good stuffe the Catholique coulde bring for his old rusty Religion Ben Then the Catholique after his humble submission made to the K. and to the Honourable and vvorshipfull there assembled he sayd Most Noble Prince you all most Honourable worshipfull audience In as much as you haue most graciously graunted me to speake for my Religion and the Trueth so I most humbly beseech you all to heare me Be it knowne vnto you all that the Catholique generall Religion had her first foundacion as it is thought neare vpon 1â— hundred yeares past and hath remayned in force and no other generall Religion among the Christians with in Europe knowen or frequented vntill about 80. yeares past that one Matin Luther someâ—ymes a ffryer tooke vpon him vpon a displeasure taken aganst the Pope to vvryte dispitefully there agaynst and this our Religion vvas instituted accâ—rding to the holy scriptures by a generall councell of holy Fathers For after such tyme as they out of a great zeale towards the Trueth beheeld the increase of all Iniquity amongst the People in somuch as Chrâ—st and his doctrine vvas almost forgotten yea and more ouer fearing least in processe of tyme the Natiuety Death and Passion of Christ together vvith his doctrine lyfe and miracles as also the doctrine lyfe and miracles of the Prophets Apostles Euangilests and holy fathers should likevvise be altogether forgotten especially nâ—w in these last lisencious dayes vvherin they vnderstood in the Spirite that all iniquity vvould abound lyke as it is come to passe at this day Then they thought it good to call a generall Councell at the vvhich counsell they ordayned not vvithout the
of life hath bin taken on For the longer this Protestant hath preached vnto the people the worse the liues of the same people are become Ioan. 8 a 13 a â— Esd 16 â— Math. 3.4 experience hath taught vs and no maruell for he in forsaking the good life hath there withal forsaken the Trueth and for that cause onelie the Lorde hath no pleasure in this licencious Protestant nor yet in his absurd Religion And as touching the 3. namely the Puritan for as much as he vvill not liue as a subject vnder all good lawes and ordinances of Kings Magistrates Rom 13. 1. Pet. 2. 2. Pet. 2. Tit. 3 a. 2. Tim. 3. a. b. 1. Ioan. 3. a. 4. b. Ioan. 14. 1. Ioan. 4. b. and therefore hath out of enuious persumption and rebellious heart forsaken the obedience and godlie lyfe due to God and gouernors notwithstanding it is required of vs all in holy scripture so hath he in lyke maner there vvith all forsaken the Trueth it vvere too muche to name how many honest hearted and true faythfull subjects to their Prince haue bin by this Puritan belyed slaundered persecuted and imprisoned for that they held them to obedience and the good lyfe like as they were taught Mala 3.4 Psa 50. â— Ioan. 13. â— and would neuer consent to his rebellyous doctrine nor come to his nightly conuentikles and therefore although he out of his great zeale sought the reformation of the Church and yet he himself not reformed vnto obedience and godlines of lyfe God hath no more pleasure in this disobedient Puritan nor yet in his absurd Religion 4. Esd 16. c. Thus you may see Right Noble 1. Cor. 3. d. Ioan. 8. d. Mar. 8. d. Ioan. 15. a. Ioan. 14. a. Ioan. 8. d. Luc. 8. b. Mar. 4. b. Matth. 13. b. Esa 6. c. Ioan. 12. f. g. Honourable and vvorshipfull how euery one in his vvay seeketh religiously after the Trueth if he myght any way fynde it And againe you may see also that the Trueth is neuerthelesse hid from them all And why for if we consider of the Scriptures vnto all those that walke without the true lyfe and godly obedience which is required in gods holy vvord all things chaunce in similitudes parables and closed bookes because that men should not see with their earthly eyes or myndes nor heare with their earthly eares or thoughts nor yet comprehende in theyr darke stony harts the secrete works of the Holy Spirit of Christ. Ioan. 14. b.c. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 13. a. 2. Tâ—â— 3. a For that cause all People that are zelous for Religion for the Trueths sake be they what they be or dwell they where they shall so they loue God and desyer to liue vnder obedience to the King and his good lawes or at the leastwise liueth quietly and harmelesly among the People bearing a true and faithfull heart to the Prince of the Land are to be borne withall in their ignorant zeale for Conscience sake in asmuch as all good gifts proceed from God yea and moreouer Math. 13. for that the tyme of haruest is at hand in the vvhich the Lord vvill send out his Angels to gather together the good wheat into his barnes to burne the weeds with vnquenchable fyer Ioan. 1. a. b. 14. a. Ioan. 5. c. 6. e. f. Ioan. 17. 2. Ioan. 4. b. For doubtles the Trueth it self wherabout men so striue is an other maner of thing then flesh and bloud was euer able to fynd out for it is the louely lyfe or being of God or of his holy word vvhich lyfe is the thing as I sayd before that all sacrifices signes or shadowes in the whole lawe as also the Sacraments and ceremonyes of the new Testament ordained in the Christian Catholicke Church together with all that the holy scriptures Ioan. 3. a b. c. d. c. Ioan. 16. d. e. f 17. c. â—1 c. Gen. 2. b. 3. a. Prov. 3. c. Apo. 2. b. â— Cor. 15. c. Gen. 3. 2 Cor. 1. d. 3. a. b. c. Deut. 1â— a. b 1. Tit. 3. a. 1. Pet 2. â— Cor. 13. Matth. 7. b. Ioan. 13. d. 14 15. Gal. 2. d. e. Ioan â— â— Gen. 2 b. â— a. d 〈…〉 1â— a. b c. do â—oynt vpon signify and requier at all our Hands I say once agayne the louely lyfe of God or of his holy worde is the very Trueth namely Iesus Christ It is also the Tree of lyfe that was plaÌ„ted in the beginning in the midst of the Paradise or Lust-garden of the Lord which tree of lyfe euen like as the first through the disobedience in the knowledge hath lost the same euen so the second man through the obedience in the lyfe winneth the same agayne it is very true And therefore to liue in Obedience to God and his holy vvord also in obedience to the King and his good lawes and ordinances and to loue myne neighbour as myne owne selfe also to deale louingly vprightly vvith all men like as I vvould be dealt with all is the effect of my religion grounded vpon the Trueth vvhich obedience had his originall from Adam Abell Seth Noah Abraham c and is also confirmed by Christ and his Apostles c. and therefore shal continue for euer Ioan. 13 c. 14 a 15. a. b. c 1. Cor. 13. 2. Ioan. 3. a.b. c. 4 a.b. Thus I conclude that my Religion in the good lyfe goeth beyond them all so farre as the Heauens from the Earth or the Light from Darknes also that all maner of Religious people boast they neuer somuch of their Religions Preachings Seruices Sacraments Seremonyes Freedomes by Christ or elswhat that are found vvithout this obedience to God and Gouernours Ioan 8. a. 〈◊〉 8 d. â—oan 14 a b. 1. Cor. 13. Eph 4 a.b. c. 6. b c. Ioan 〈…〉 Colo. 1. c. 2. b. vvithout this goodlyfe aforesayd or at the least haue not any earnest inclination thereto somuch as they may in the Lord the Religion their God seruice and all els that they boast vpon is nothing worth in the Lords sight and the cause is they haue forsaken the Trueth vvhich is the flower and beauty of all good Religions yeâ— and is all in all Now haue I shewed you Right High and Honorable the inconfutable ground of my Religion which God of his gracious goodnes hath made knowen vnto me 1 Cor. 13. 2. c. 13. Ioan 13. c. 14. a. b. and for the vvhich I haue bin long suspected together vvith the vnfallible Trueth vvherout all right obedience vnto God and Gouernours proseedeth and vvherout also the right repentance appeareth Gal 2. d. 3. a. b d Ioan. 14 a b. Gal. â— â— Colo 1 c. Ioan. 8. d. 15. a. and the true and liuing fayth is alwayes working by loue so well towards God and Christ also towards my neighbour and vvherunto I meane by the grace of God to indevour my self night and day by prayer and supplication