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
his Councell and proceedinges stirring vp his Highnesse subiectes thereby to misliking sedition vnquietnes to cast off their due obedience to his Maiestie Therefore it is ordained that none of his subiects shall presume or take vpon them priuatelie or publikelie in sermons declamations or familiar conferences to vtter any false slanderous or vntrue speeches to the disdaine reproach and contempt of his Maiestie his Councell and proceedings or to meddle in the affaires of his Highnesse vnder paine c. And thus you haue seene some part of the practise of the Geneua resolution in Scotland for their booke of Discipline and reformation in Religion But yet I must needes draw you on a little further Presently after that the sayde Parliament was ended notwithstanding the kings maiesty had in the same most royally religiously cōfirmed with great sincerity the articles of true Religion for preaching the worde and administration of the sacraments accordingly and had likewise vnited to his Crowne the supreame authority in all causes within his Realme aswell Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill yet because their Presbyterial soueraignty was therby abridged diuers very spitefull disloyall and slaunderous speeches were cast abroade by them and their associates against his Highnesse For they gaue out as though the King had beene declined to Popery and had made Acts to derogate the free passage of the Gospell that he endeuored to extinguish the light of the Gospell that there was left nothing of the whole auncient forme of iustice and pollicie in the spirituall state but a naked shadow with many other the like reprochfull and calumnious reportes which they spread abroad in their owne Country Diuers of the chiefe Ministers of that faction likewise that were fled out of Scotland into England for feare of punishment in respect of many their great and haynous offences pretended as it hath beene noted that they fledd hether because they were persecuted at home for their consciences and could not be suffered to preach the Gospell One Dauison a Scottish Minister so rayled against the King of Scots in the pulpit at the parish Church of the olde Iury in London that vpon complaint made thereof by the Lord Ambassador of Scotland direction was giuen to the Lord Bishop of London for the silencing of all the Scottish Ministers in the City And this disloyall and slaunderous course was helde both in Scotland and England so farre as they durst from May vntill Nouember following At what time this stratagem here ensuing was wroght as I am perswaded by the Consistorians instigation The King of Scotland being vpon occasion of a contract nere Striueling heard of certaine enemies as hee then accounted them comming towards him Whereupon his Maiesty raysing such power as hee could conuayed himselfe to Striueling Where before he looked for them ten thousand men presented themselues in armes They pitched their Tents before the towne the first of Nouember and there made a Proclamation in their owne names commanding all the Kings subiects to assist them Many pretenses are alleaged of that their attempt And these namely that whereas there had beene Acts and Proclamations a little before published against the Ministerie and Clergie inhibiting their Presbyteries assemblies and other exercises priuileges and immunities and that the most learned and honest were compelled for safetie of their liues and consciences to abandon their Country c. Nowe the afflicted Church might be comforted and all the said Acts lately made in preiudice of the same might bee solemnely cancelled and for euer adnulled This Proclamation thus knowne the King fortified the towne as he could but to no purpose For within two houres assault it was wonne The King thereupon was enforced to flye vnto the Castle The Conquerours of the towne placed their ensignes before the blockehouse of the Castle and so ordred the matter that there was no way for any in the Castle to escape their hands Wherupon a parley being concluded the King desired by his Commissioners three petitions The first That his life honor and estate might be preserued The second That the liues of certain of his friends with him might not be touched The third That all things might be transacted peaceably The other side by their Commissioners likewise desired other three petitions The first That the King would allow of their intention and subscribe their Proclamation vntill further order were established by the estates c. and that he would deliuer vnto them all the strong Holds in the land The second That the disquieters of the Common-wealth might be deliuered vnto them and abide their due tryall by Law The third That the old guard might be remooued and another placed Vppon mutuall relation from the Commissioners on both sides the parties that were assembled in armes did yeeld vnto the first and third of the Kings petitions and the King graunting to all theirs as there was no remedy committed himself into their hands and had a new guard immediately appointed to attend him And thus the Presbyteries of Scotland by the Kings subscribing to the foresaid Proclamation recouered againe a great part of their strength But not all as it seemeth vpon the sodaine which was the occasion of a new stirre For presently after the sayde Noble victory the Scottish Ministers that were in England hauing al their former disloyalties vppon composition remitted made their repayre without delay into Scotland where finding not such readinesse as they expected for a more authenticall repealing of the statutes made in the foresaid Parliament 1584. they began notwithstanding the Kings late goodnes towards them to exclaime in their Pulpits with most proud and bitter Inuectiues against him One Iames Gibson compared his Maiesty publikely in his preachings vnto Ieroboam tearmed him a persecutor and threatned him that if he tooke that course he should be the last of his race And being called for such his disloyall speeches before the King Councell the xxj of December 1585. he very boldly iustified the same saying to his Highnesse As long as you maintayne these cursed Actes of 1584. the tyranny of Bishops c. Ye are a Persecutor And againe As Ieroboam for the leading of the people of Israell from the lawes of the house of Iudah and from the true worshipping of God to serue Idolatry was rooted out he and all his posterity so should the King if he continued in that cursed course maintaining those wicked Acts against God be rooted out and conclude that race c. What else hath fallen out since that time by reason of the raines which now as it hath beene noted these zealous brethren haue gotten to themselues and how moderately and duetifully they doo proceede in the practise of their Presbyteries and Consistorian Kingdomes the articles which the King not long since offred vnto the Ministers to haue beene subscribed vnto by them doo sufficiently declare and make manifest Ex malis moribus nascuntur bonae leges
enemies to the Gospell of Christ to her Maiestie and people that seeke to keepe Christes holy Discipline from amongst vs. This is that cause against which neuer man yet striued and prospered All the Newgates and Oldgates yea and all the Tiburns in England are too little for such rash and presumptuous he ades that will not giue God leaue to rule but will take the scepter out of his handes I do feare that many of the forwardest ennemies of reformation are not the backwardest frendes that the king of Spain hath in England at this day CHAP. VII Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honorable priuie Councell OVr Councell may truelie be saide to delight in the iniury violent oppression of Gods saincts Ministers therefore the Lord wil surely visite our Councel with an heauie plague Our Councel cannot possibly deale truely in matters of iustice betweene man and man insomuch as they bend all their forces to bereaue Iesus Christ of his gouernment The which vngodly and wicked course as they haue held on euer since the beginning of her Maiesties raigne so at this day they haue taken great boldnesse and growne more rebellious against the Lord and his cause then euer they were In so much as their honors in token of thankefulnesse to him that exalted them dare now charge the cause of reformation to be an ennemie vnto our state and such as fauor the same to be vnquiet and factious men disturbers of the common peace and quietnes and sowers of sedition among the subiects They do not ablie detect their impiety against God and their enmitie to the kingdome of his Sonne Christ they offer iniury to her Maiestie If her Maiesty giue eare to such Councellors shee may haue cause one day to lament Assuredly those that are our ennemies for the profession of the truth meaning the pretended Discipline cannot bee her Maiesties sure frendes whatsoeuer they pretend Sathan worketh the defacing of the way of truth supporteth his owne kingdome by instruments of no meane countenance Be they noble or vnnoble Councellors or inferior men I am so farre from fearing their power that the more I see them rage the greater strength I haue to stand to the truth which they raue against I do warne and admonish those Councellors with whome and against whome especially I deale in this Treatise to repent them of their great insolencie whereby they haue beene puffed vp with Senacharib to magnifie and oppose themselues against the cause and people of the Lord of Hosts as against the Religion and people of some of the Gods of the earth Otherwise they are to feare least the Lord hauing raised vp many of them out of mean places into the throne of iustice meaneth to shew his power and great name by making them examples of his fearefull wrath as he did Pharaoh who wrought his owne ouerthrow If men will wonder that we being so contemptible in the sight of the world dare yet be so bold as to controll great states and mightie men and to chalenge them of iniustice against the Sonne of God and his members who will not sticke to brag with Pilate that they haue power to crucifie Christ to absolue him they are to vnderstand that wee know of no power but from aboue and therefore of no power that is able to beare out iniustice and wrong The hils of the Robbers wee grant to bee high and vnassayleable in the sight of an eye of flesh but we haue learned of the holy man to account the habitation of the wicked to be accursed euen when hee seemeth to be best rooted for we know that the steppes of his strength shall bee restrayned and that his Counsaile shall cast him downe CHAP. VIII Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall THe Magistracy and ministery haue walked hand in hand in the contempt of true Religion and vnto both the worde of the Lorde is made a reproch Amongst those who deale in the cause of iustice there are found wicked persons euen wicked lawyers and iudges who seeme to know of no other God but their owne gaine that lay waite for the blood of Gods saints as hee that setteth snares and marke whether they can heare of any that go further in the cause of God then the corruption of our state doth permit And if they finde any such they know how to wrest against them a clause of some statute contrary not onely to the meaning thereof but euen contrary vnto all iustice and equity yea common reason it selfe and the verie groundes of all good lawes and statutes So that it is now growen and hath bene of a long time a common practice of these Godlesse men to make of the statutes ordained for the maintenance of Religion and common quietnesse a pit wherein to catch the peaceable of the land The common inditements of the Lords true and faithfull Ministers for matters of trifles as the omission of the surplisse churching of women crosse in Baptisme c. doth manifestly witnesse the iniquitie of these Atheists The lawes that maintaine the Archbishops and Bishops are no more to bee accounted of then the lawes maintaining the Stewes The humaine lawes that maintaine them are wicked and vngodly The lawes are made their common sanctuarie to defend all our wickednesse Impiety is suffered to beare sway against the maiestie of God and that by law and authority Such lawes are retayned in force as iustle and ouerthrow the royall prerogatiue of the sonne of God As great indignity is offered vnto Iesus Christ in committing his Church vnto the gouernement of the common law as can be by meane hyrelings unto a king in committing his beloued spouse vnto the direction of the mistresse of the Stewes and enforcing her to liue after the lawes of a brothel-house CHAP. IX Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and Ceremonies WE striue for true religion As our lackes are there can be no right religion Many religions are mixed together of Christ and Antichrist of God and the deuill Christes Religion is fondly patched with the Popes ioyning fire and water heauen and hel together The truth in a manner doth but peepe out from behinde the screene Their prescript forme of seruice is full of corruption In all the order of their seruice there is no edification but confusion The Communion booke is an vnperfect booke culled and picked out of that popish dung hill the portuise and masse-booke and many of the contents therein be such as are against the word of God And Martin senior calleth it our sterue-vs Booke The Sacraments are wickedlie mangled and prophaned They eate not the Lords supper but play a pageant of their own to
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
make good lawes and not see them executed is but labour lost And therefore it should seeme that these wise Law-makers were presently after as carefull to put the sayde orders in practise as they were before to resolue vpon them as it may appeare by a letter written to Master Field from Antwerpe the 25. of Iune 1583. by one Cholmeley in answere of a former Letter sent vnto him from the said Field For thus Cholmeley writeth Laetor intùs in corde de meliori successu rerum vestrarum quòd cum de conuentibus vestris audiam tum de Disciplinae Ecclesiasticae formali 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multò lubentissimè Dicam quòd verum est serò nimis incepistis quisquis iam tandem vel incipere recusauerit vel a tam praeclaro incepto desistat peccatum suum feret paenitendumest de priori lentitudine I am glad with all my heart for the better successe of your affaires not onely in that I heare of your assemblies but most willingly of all in respect of your effectuall practising of the Ecclesiasticall Discipline I will tell you that which is true you haue begun this course too too late Whosoeuer shall now either refuse to begin or shall desist from so notable an enterprise he shall beare his owne sin You ought to repent you for your former slownes And afterward thus out of the same Letter to incourage Maister Field and the brethren In nulla re terreamini ab ijs quise opponunt quod illis quidem est exitij indicium vobis autem salutis idque a Deo In nothing feare your aduersaries which is to them a token of perdition but to you of saluation and that from God In Iuly the next yeare vz. 1584. some of the Scottish Ministers afore spoken of went to the Act in Oxford where Maister Gelibrand with his brethren gaue them great entertainement At that time there was a notable question propounded amongst their fauourers there by the sayde Ministers as is manifest by these wordes Here haue beene a good company of godly brethren this Act. Maister Fen Wilcox Axton the Scottish ministers and wee haue had some meeting and conference to our great comfort that are here One point which then was moued I would wish to be throughly debated among you and them concerning the proceeding of the Minister in his duety without the assistance or tarrying for the Magistrate c. What was resolued amongst the brethren of London about this matter at that time I know not Marry this I finde that presently thereupon they grewe more violent and prepared themselues to proceede more resolutely in the challenging of their Discipline as it is plaine by the dealing both of them and of their fauourers that yeare in Nouember and December after at the Parliament 27. of her Maiesty And besides let the sayd Maister Gelibrands words in a Letter to Field dated the 12. of Ianuary after vz. 1584. bee considered For as it seemeth to me they either tend to sedition or to the admitting in Oxford of the foresayd Decrees or Discipline Sure I am that they can hardly for ought I see receiue any good construction Thus he writeth I haue already entred into the matters whereof you write and dealt with three or foure of seuerall Colleges concerning those among whom they liue I finde that men are very dangerous in this point generally fauoring reformation but when it commeth to the particular point some haue not yet considered of these things for which others in the Church are so much troubled others are afraid to testifie any thing with their hands least it breed danger before the time And after many fauour the cause of reformation but they are not Ministers but young students of whome there is good hope if it be not cut off by violent dealing before the time As I heare by you so I meane to goe forward where there is any hope and to learne the number and to certifie you thereof Furthermore at the time of the Parliament last mentioned I finde that there was a nationall Synode helde likewise in London by these brethren according to their former decisions and Synodicall Discipline This appeareth by three letters The first was from eleuen ministers of Essex to Field wherin they desire to be certified whether the brethren meant to be exercised in prayer and fasting and vpon what day The seconde was from nine of the saide Ministers to Fielde and Charke wherein they writ thus We haue elected two Godly and faithfull brethren Maister Wright and Maister Gifford to ioyne with you in that businesse The third was from Gelibrand to Field Wherein he excuseth himselfe of a great ouersight in these words Touching my departure from that holy assembly without leaue c. I craue pardon both of you them c. And thus sayth he commending this holy cause to the Lord himselfe and your godly counsaile to the President thereof I take my leaue CHAP. V. Their Booke of Discipline is reuiewed it was after sent abroad about 1587. it was put in practise in Northamptonshire and many other places NOtwithstanding that the booke of Discipline was abroad as it hath beene noted in the third chapter and that the brethren had framed themselues as they might vnto the rules thereof yet there were found some imperfections in it which in the Synode mentioned in the former chapter as I take it were referred to Maister Trauers to bee corrected and ordered by him as his leysure will permitte Which appeareth by a letter of Maister Fields to Maister Trauers in these words Concerning our other busines I would wish that the Discipline were read ouer with as much speed as could be and that some good directions were giuen for the brethren abroad who are earnest to enter some good course for the furtherance of the L cause And after in the same place I finde many abroade very willing to ioyne with the best to put in practise that which shall bee agreed vpon by the brethren If it might please the brethren therefore that those or the like instructions which wee had with a perfect coppie of the Discipline might be sent I would wholly imploy my selfe in that seruice Another also vpon the longer stay thereof I pray you hasten the forme of Discipline and send it And the same man againe I pray you remember the forme of Discipline which Master Trauers promised to make perfect and send it me when it is finished We will put it in practise and trie mens minds therein as we may According to these requests the draught of Discipline was at the last finished and then sent abroade to be approued generally by all the brotherhood as may thus appear The discipline we haue receiued and we giue you and the brethren hartie thanks for it As yet we are not resolued in all points of it hauing had but small time to peruse it nor the commoditie of often meeting
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
of euery man for his gaine and Paule a preacher of the worde of God sustayning the place and persons of the Consistoriall brethren Where by the way see againe the account they make of all that do maintaine the present state of the Church they are but ambitious worldlings Papistes liuers by vnlawfull trades and men pleasers But themselues are Apostles In this Dialogue Paule is set forth as a man desirous vppon the Innekeepers motion to heare some good newes from Scotland who meeting with the Bishop hee vseth him according to the Consistorian humor that is most proudly most spitefully and most slaunderously He condemneth both the calling of Bishops as Antichristian and censureth al their proceedings as wicked Popish vnlawfull and cruell He affirmeth that all the good that hath beene done for the present flourishing estate of the Gospell in England hath beene brought to passe by those men whom the Bishops despise and by that course which they were euer ennemies vnto He saith that very many of all degrees are fully perswaded in the matters of reformation and that he is perswaded this will come of it vz. that he shall see the gouernement of the Church by the rules of their discipline set vp before it be long The Bishop is supposed to haue beene sent out of England into Scotland for the suppressing of the Presbiteries there and so is made vpon his returne homewarde to be the reporter of the Scottish affaires and withall to signifie his great feare least he and the rest of the Bishops in England should bee serued shortly as the Bishops had lately beene in Scotland namely at Edenburgh and Sainct Andrewes c. Ah saith the pretended Bishop my hoste The Puritanes in Scotland haue got-vp their discipline and vtterly ouerthrown all the soueraignty of Bishops by which they preuailed so mightily that we feared our fal in England shortlie to ensue Whereupon I was sent together with this my frend Tertullus who came out of Fraunce into England to goe and seeke the subuersion of their great assemblies and the rest of their iurisdiction wherein I preuailed a while but now it is worse then euer it was And it came so to passe because the whole land cried for Discipline againe and the Noble men so stifly did stand to it and lastly the Ministers that came home from England dealt so boldly with the king that I was vtterly cast out without all hope euer to doe any good there againe and now I make homeward in hast least I loose all there also Here you haue the brethrens approbation of the aforsaide attempt in Scotland whereby it is apparaunt that if they shal be able to bring the people to such a kind of clamor and the nobility to such a manner of stifnes they can be wel content for their partes to haue her maiestie vsed as the Scottish king was for it is according to their Geneua Diuinity Tertullus the Papist he is made the Bishops only Councellour in the whole course of the gouernment of our Church by whose aduise the author of the Dialogue saith that the Bishops do beare with the Popish recusants and that so many waies are sought to suppresse the Puritanes This Tertullus together with the Host and the Vsurer do relate to the Bishop those occurrents in Englande which had fallen out and hapned in his absence And vppon the occasion of this question asked by the Bishop vz. haue not the Bishops yet suppressed the Puritans neither with countenance nor by authority Tertullus maketh this aunswere Suppressed no my Lord a friend of mine writte vnto me that one of their preachers saide in the Pulpit he was perswaded that there were a 100000. of them in England and that the number of them increased dayly in euery place of all estates degrees Is it not time for the Magistrates to looke about them They do take it in scorne to bee thought so weake as that they could bee suppressed Bee it they flatter themselues therein yet their desire is apparant that if they be suffered and shall euer be able they will bring it to that passe And if this be not a necessary consequent of the premisses my iudgement faileth me But to proceede CHAP. II. Of their doctrine for making a reformation themselues and how the people must be thrust into that action ABout foure yeares since it should seeme that some of the brethren were of opinion that they had dealt long inough in the practise of their Discipline after such a secret manner and that then they were bound in dutie to proceede to the publike exercise of it notwithstanding any daunger that might therby ensue For thus one of them writeth Our zeale to Gods glorie our loue to his Church the due planting of the same in this horheaded age should be so warme and stirring in vs as not to care what aduenture we giue and what censures we abide c. The Iesuites Seminaries their diabolicall boldnes will couer our faces with shame c. And after also in the same letter We cānot be discharged of great disloyalty to our cōming Christ except we proceed with practise and so to further the Lords cause by suffering forasmuch as that dutifull suffering for so honorable a matter is as sure a signe of subiection as obeying the time so vrging that bounden duetie It is verily more then time to Register the names of the fittest and hottest brethren round about our seuerall dwellings whereby to put Maister Snecanus godly counsell in execution vz. Si quis obijciat c. If any man obiect that the setting vp and the lawfull practise of the discipline in the Church is hindred by the ciuill magistrate let the magistrate bee freely and modestlie admonished of his duety If he esteeme to be accounted either a godly or a Christian magistrate without doubt hee will admitte wholesome counsailes But if he do not yet let him bee more exactlie instructed that he may serue God in feare and bend his authority to the defence of the church and of Gods glory Marry if by this way there happen no good successe then let the ministers of the Church execute their office according to the appointment of Christ. For they must rather obay God then men In this last point we haue dolefully failed which now or neuer standeth vs in hand to prosecute with all celerity without lingring and staying so long for Parliaments This aduise of Paines was thought by the brethren as I gesse to be somewhat too rash For of likelihoode they could not finde at that time so sufficient a number of such hotte brethren as might serue their turne Whereupon as I suppose out commeth the decrees of the Warwick-shire Classes that for the increasing of the said number euery minister as occasion serued should teach the Discipline vnto the people as wel as the other partes of the Gospel And for the moderating of Paines too hastie aduise it was thus
according to Copingers humor aunswered them all affirmatiuely as his aunswers are to be shewed vnder his owne hand and as Copinger did also write vnto maister Cartwright the effect of which Letter will follow in course Vpon Copingers receite of this aunswere that there was high time for such extraordinary callings presently after ther was an other fast procured by Copinger for a better cōformation of such his manner of calling and to see if any mo might be drawn thereby into the same conceipt This fast was held vppon the Wednesday in a Marchauntes house where Wigginton then lay and Wigginton himselfe with three or fower others was present at it But before this fast was held meanes was vsed saith Copinger to haue some notice giuen to some of the Preachers in Prison of the day of their humiliation and of their desire to haue them commend vnto God in their praiers the holy purposes which any fearing God should in time attempt to take in hand by seeking the glorie of God and the good of the Church The effect of their prayers in this fast was this vz. They humbly beseech Almighty God that if hee had appointed to vse any of them to doe any special seruice to him and his and that to that end would extraordinarily call them that he would seale vp his or their so calling by some special manner and by his holy spirite and giue such extraordinarie graces and giftes as were fitte for so waightie an action How the rest of this company sped hereby I finde it not but Copinger as hee sayth was called againe the same night in a dreame The manner whereof he thus describeth About the midde part of the night I thought my selfe in my sleepe to be carried into Heauen and there being wonderfullie astonished with the Maiestie of God and brightnes of his glorie I made a lowde and most strong noice c. since which time I find euery day more more comfort and suppose there is somwhat in me c. to worke he meaneth some strange reformation As before it hath bene partly touched Copinger did not only craue the aduise of some ministers in these his great actions as oft he tearmed them but also of such of the Laity as he thought were most fitte to ioine with him or to aduise him and I doubt not but that he dealt as plainly with them as he had done before with Dauison a Scotte and others This doth appeare in some sort by a Letter written vnto Copinger by Peter Went worth the fiue and twentith of Ianuarie 1590. in answere of one sent vnto him before from Copinger It seemeth that Copinger hauing desired maister Wentworth to come vnto him to London that they might conferre together c. for answere he excuseth himselfe in respect of his lamenes c. and of his debillitie and weakenes to giue aduise in matters of importance wherein I perceiue saith hee you are labouring And further saith hee I do assure my selfe that the purpose tendeth vnto the true seruice of God and of her Maiestie I beseech you resort to the Lorde to direct your labours both in matter and manner For an ill manner may marre a good matter You are in a plentiful soile where you may vse the aduise of many godly wise Vse the benefite thereof and then as Iosuah saide bee bolde and of good courage feare not to bee discouraged Besides it appeareth by a Letter of Copingers to Thomas Lancaster the Icholemaister dated the nine and twentith of Ianuarie that he had disclosed as it should seeme all the premises vnto diuerse of the Ministers of London desiring to haue had some conference with them and offering himselfe to be directed either to proceede or draw backe as the Church should aduise But they supposing the matter to bee too harde to bee effected and him an vnfitte man to manage it refused to admitte of any such conference In the same letter it is also euident that Copinger had made the night before a rude discourse as he tearmeth it to Lancaster of these matters which Lancaster disliked And touching some speeches had with maister Egerton thus he there writeth Most true it is that he refused to take triall of mee and of my giftes alledging that he was a meane ordinarie man c. and one that could not iudge of extraordinary giftes and withall most Christianly wisely and louinglie perswaded me to be carefull circumspect ouer my selfe to take heede least I was deceiued by the subtiltie of Sathan and so misse-led whereby I might endanger my selfe both for my liberty estate and credit and also bee an hinderance to the great cause which I would seeme to be most desirous to further But withall he concluded that he would bee loath to quench the spirite of God in mee or to hinder my zeale In another letter also to the said Lancaster from Copinger concerning other his proceedings with Egerton he saith it cannot bee denied but that the cause is good which I desire to be an actor in but it is saide by some that it is impossible that I should be fit to meddle therein He also desireth Lancaster to deal with Egerton that he might haue a sight of al the letters which he the said Copinger had written vnto him about these matters About this time it also appeareth that Copinger fell in to some dealings with M. Cartwright concerning the premises and that he had sent vnto him the questions before mentioned for to know his resolution whether it would be agreeable to Wigintons He writ a letter vnto him dated the 4. of February 1590. beginning thus Right reuerend Sir your most wise and christian councell together with offer to take knowledge by writing frō me of such matters as might induce me to suppose my selfe to haue receiued some hope of speciall fauor from god to some special vse doth moue me more and more to admire his mercies towardes mee c. In this letter he signifieth to M. Cartwright as before I haue noted the number of their fastes his seuerall callings his writinge to some preachers within the Realme and to some without and his confirmation by Wigintons said answeres and maketh these petitions vnto him vz. that the church I meane saith he your selfe such as you shal name vnto me would look narrowly into him for the trial of his extraordinary calling If saith he I bethought to be any wayes miss-led I craue sharpe censuring If I be guided by Gods spirit to any good end as heareafter shall be adiudged I shal be ready to acquaint you and them with generalities and particularities so far-foorth as you and they be desirous to looke into them And his second petition was vz. to haue saith hee your further answere to some questions wherein I desire to be resolued with your direction also what hereafter I am to signifie to your selfe concerning the matter it selfe After M. Cartwright had receaued
from E. C. And now followeth Throgmortons letter beeing an answere as I take it vnto Coppingers My good brother c. I reioyce that you will vouchsafe so to account of mee Your godlie conference at anie time when oportunitie shall serue I will not refuse And albeit our busines may hinder vs now to meet yet there is no time ouerpast but that it may be performed when it please God The next terme you heare I must appeare here againe vppon my band at which time you shall find that I will be glad of your christian conference or of any other brothers by whom I may be enlightened Lord deliuer mee from that pride of heart to reiect or refuse that while I liue That course you speake of intended by you I was neuer you know in particular acquainted with And therefore for mee to like or dislike a matter that I had no knowledge of had beene I take it without ground or warrant Onlie I confesse I heard some buzzes abroad of a sole and singular course that either you or some other had plotted in his head which was greatly feared and condemned of the brethren What that was as I know not so had I small reason to speake of it with preiudice Onelie I would wish you and all that beare good will to the holie cause in this perilous age of ours to take both your eyes in your handes as they saie and to be sure of your ground and warrant before you striue to put in exeecution For as I like not of coldnes of zeale vnder colour of discretion so on the other side I think that this sentence of our sauiour be ye wise as serpents was not written in vain neither and had great neede to be practised of some in this age A sanctified cause you know would alwayes haue a sanctified course Our rule and square must be the word of truth which so long as we lay before vs as our leuel we shall not lightly swarue much from the marke The Lord therefore direct vs in these feareful and miserable daies and let not our infirmities be a barre to his mercies I know my good Brother that the greatest workes of the Lord are wrought by the weakest instrumeuts least men should boast in the arme of flesh And therefore were it not for my sinnes and vnworthynes I could easilie perswade my selfe in regarde of my weaknes that the Lord might effect something by me who am priuy to mine owne wants and farre short of those good giftes it pleaseth you of your loue to loade mee with But this worke that you speake of howsoeuer the instrument bee compassed with weaknes must sure be wrought by a more sanctified heart then my selfe can yet without hypocrisie boast of And therefore though in affection and good will I ioyne yet I resigne the honor of the worke to those that the Lord hath more enabled The man you speake of if he be at Oundhell dwelleth hard by a Sister of mine and thereupon I shall haue the better occasion to see him when it please God Forget me not in your holy praiers and meditations and salute good Giles with many thankes whose debtor I am in the Lord. Blessing vpon Syon confusion vpon Babell hast this 18. of the 5. Moneth Euer yours in the Lord. CHAP. VIII Copinger to Hacket of an appearance in the Starre-chamber his letter to Vdall why Cartwright c refused to conferre with him Cartwright resolued some questions of Coppingers of eight preachers that did fast and pray for Coppingers successe AFter some few dayes that Hacket had taried in London the said Easter terme he returned home againe to Oundle hauing first promised Coppinger that he would come vp againe vnto him whensoeuer he sent for him Nowe Coppinger by his said conferences and acquaintance with Hacket was grown as he said very bold and couragious But yet shortly after vz as I thinke the seuenteenth of May he liked so well of Hackets company that he sent for him againe to come vp vnto him saying If Gods spirit direct you to come come if not stay But write with all speed and conuey your letter and inclose it in a letter to him who brought you and me acquainted that was Wigginton put not too your name for discouery c. And in the same letter hee sendeth Hacket this newes The zealous Preachers as it is thought are to be in the Star-chamber to morrow I thinke he meaneth the last day of Easter tearme last The L. by his holy spirit be with them and stay all euill that is intended against them My selfe if I can get in am moued to be there and I feare if sentence with seueritie shall be giuen I shall be forced in the name of the great and fearefull God of heauen and earth to protest against it About this time also he writ a verie couragious letter to Vdall in prison for he confesseth it was written about tenne weekes before his examination which was the nineteenth of Iuly In this letter he telleth him that notwithstanding some brethrens hard opinions of him and other discouragementes yet now the Lord hath not onelie enabled him to fight but at the length in some sort to vanquish and ouercome He signifieth also vnto him that the next day there were some few that purposed to ioyne together in a holy fast in regard of the afflicted Saintes in generall c. He greatly commendeth the Ministers cause and suffringes that are in prison assuring himselfe that God will blesse all the actions in it He saith there were diuerse out of prison lying hid that in this great worke were hammering their heads bestowing their braines and spending their spirites who doe hope in short tyme to be brought forth into the sight of their and your enemies to defend the cause you stand for whose presence God assisting them will daunt the enemies more then yours for that they be men voyde of learning wisedome and gifts such as can challenge nothing to themselues but must giue all to God who in all the greatest workes that euer haue beene wrought hath vsed the weakest meanes least men should boast in the arme of flesh And therefore I beseeche you cheare vp your selues in the Lord for the day of our redemption is at hand and pray that the hand of the Lord may be strengthened in them whom he hath appointed to take part with you in this cause Here you see he was growne to a wonderfull resolution But yet there is another letter of his that wil make the same more euident and likewise lay open more plainelie some of the premises then hitherto they haue beene Hee sheweth therein that hee could be still well contented to haue some conference with Maister Charke Maister Trauers Maister Egerton Maister Gardiner Maister Philips and Maister Cooper But sayth he I make not this suite for that I would seeke to haue approbation from them or any other liuing creature but
aduenturing of all the mischiefes that were intended It was not denied amongst them as Coppinger sayth but that the cause was good which he desired to be an actor in but the thing that stucke in their teeth was this vz. they thought it impossible that he should be fit to intermeddle in it without the endaungering both of himselfe as Egerton saide and of the greate cause which hee would seeme to bee most desirous to further Howbeit though Egerton would not take vpon him to approue his extraordinarie calling for feare of him-selfe yet for all the saide daunger hee thought it no pollicy greatly to discourage him when he qualified his speeches after this sort vz. hee would bee loth to quench the spirite of God in Coppinger or to hinder his zeale Iosuah was called extraordinarily by God him-selfe to cast the enemies of the Israelites out of the land of Canaan that they might possesse it Which example M. Wentworth applying to Coppinger and encouraging him vpon aduice taken as the Lord did Iosuah vz be bold of a good courage feare not to bee discouraged c. he shewed no greate mislike of Copingers purposes Likewise though M. Throgmorton notwithstāding his cōference as it seemeth with Coppinger Arthington and Hacket was not acquainted as he saide with Copingers particular platformes yet in that he confesseth he had heard some buzzes abroade of a sole and singular course intended doth not only aduise him to imitate the serpentes wisedome but saith also that in affection and good will he ioyned with him it could not otherwise be but that Coppinger was thereby greatly animated When Copinger tolde Vdall that certaine vnlearned men then lyinge hid would shortlie take vpon them the defence of the cause which hee and his brethren in prison stood-for and woulde thereby daunt all their ennemies more then they coulde willinge both him and the rest ther-vpon to cheare vp themselues for the day of their redemption was at hand I doe greately maruaile what Vdall thought to bee Copingers meaning It might well haue stoode with M. Charkes duety seeing Coppingers full resolution to enter into some desperate attempt by vertue of his extraordinarie calling to haue disclosed the same to the state When he preached in the Blacke Friers to the brotherhood there about two days after his said intelligence of Copingers resolution and but fiue or six daies before their proclamation that there were some persons so desperate that they would willinglie thrust themselues vpon the rockes of the Land thereby to haue disswaded Copinger who then was present or for what other purpose I know not hee should forth with haue acquainted the saide rockes also what boisterous tempestes and violēt stormes had beene ready to assault them In this briefe summary I omitte the rest of Wiggintons actions referring you to his fellow Hackets iudgement both of him and them They are so apparant by that which hath been sayd as they seeme to me to be past coniectures And I would withal my hart that all which hath bene hetherto saide of the other ministers touching this pointe did onely depende vpon probabilities For then charity would binde vs to iudge the best But men may not cal good euill nor darkenesse light nor treasonable conspiracies ecclesiasticall pollicies Marke them if it please you for disciplinarian practises and then bearing that brande owne them who liste and tearme them as you fancy CHAP. XV. If Hackets treasons had preuailed for the pretended discipline how they might haue beene defended by the disciplinarie doctrine I Am not ignorant that now if any of the saide ministers or their fauorers were asked how they like of Coppingers and his companions proceedings no men will more eagerlie exclaime against them When Hacket with his adherents found themselues preuented and that they were cut of in the beginning of their race then to saue their liues they could confes their extraordinary purposes pretended before with teares with fasting with grones and imprecations to haue proceeded from the spirit of God to be nothing else but illusions of Sathā cruel bloody trayterous designements But if they had preuailed what would haue been said of them then Surely it is no hard matter to gesse If Coppinger Hacket and Arthington had murthered two or three of the Lords in the Star-chamber the last day of the said Trinity Terme the Consistorian doctrine would easily haue defended it especially if their further intents for the discipline had thereby succeeded I will tell you a notable historie to this purpose About the yeare 1545. M. Caluin then raigning in the Consistorie at Geneua one Norman Lesly son to the Earle of Rothsey fell at some iarre with the Archbishop of S. Andrewes then a Cardinall for a priuate cause saith our Chronicle Buchanans betwixt them two for his dealing concerning the burning of one George Wisehart saith the history of the Church of Scotland Whereupon the said Normā with some of his partakers conspired the Cardinals death they being the rather animated therunto throgh the Councell of some greate men of the Realme that had conceiued some deadly hatred against him The effecting of which conspiracie proceeded after this sort as is set downe in the saide Ecclesiasticall history The 29. of Maie 1546 the saide Norman with 16 or 17. moe entred by a wile into the Castle of S. Andrewes where the Cardinal dwelt early in the morning and after some course taken for possessing themselues of the castle Norman Lesly Iames Meluin and Peter Carmichaell got into the Cardinals chamber where finding him set in his chayre and crying vnto them I am a Priest yee will not slay mee the saide Leesly stroke him first once or twise and so did the saide Peter But Iames Meluin a man you may be sure of nature most gentle and most modest perceiuing them both in choller withdrew them and saide This worke and iudgement of God although it be secrete ought to be done with greater grauitie And presenting vnto him the point of the sworde saide Repent thee of thy former wicked life but especially of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God M. George Wisehart which albeit the flame of fire consumed before men yet cries it a vengeance vpon thee and we from God are sent to reuenge it For here before my God I protest that neither the hatred of thy person the loue of thy riches nor the feare of any trouble thou couldest haue done to mee in particular moued or moueth me to strike thee but onely because thou hast beene and remainest an obstinate enemie against Christ Iesus and his holy Gospell And so hee stroke him twise or thrise through with a stog-sworde and so he fell The Cardinall being thus murthered they seized vpon the Artilllerie and munition wherewith that fortresse was plentifully furnished and likewise vpon the rich hangings householde stuffe of all sortes apparell Copes iewels ornamentes of Churches
greate store of gold and siluer plate besides no small quantitie of treasure in ready coine Some amongst vs in Englande haue laboured very earnestlie to qualifie Copingers words where he said that God would throw some fearefull iudgement amongst the Lordes so as some the chiefe of them should not goe aliue out of the place as though there had beene no violent course intended by him his associates but that in his fond conceit he had imagined that God himselfe from heauen should haue shewed that iudgement for the deliuerance of Cartwright and the rest And in my conscience one gentelman of good credit not acquainted at all with the Consistorian doctrine in these such like matters thought so in his hart But here this maske is pluckt from such faces as could not be ignorant what was ment in that the same spirit which Was in Copinger speaking before in Iames Meluin or rather as I thinke in Knox and his fellow-ministers according to whose humor he penned that history doe tearme the saide cruell murther of the Cardinall to bee the worke and iudgement of God that for the manner of the executiō of it Besides in the margent of the Booke ouer against the Stabbers blasphemous wordes this note is set downe vz. the godly fact and wordes of Iames Meluin But that which mooueth me most and for the which I haue troubled you with this historie is this that men are animated to commit the like murthers and the doctrine thereof is stoutely iustified according to the heathenish conceit of a certaine tyrant whom Cicero also a heathen man but yet of better iudgement doth confute Dionisius hauing spoiled the temple of Proserpina at Locris of Iupiter in Peloponesus of Aesculapius at Epidaurus because Proserpina drowned him not as he sayled to Syracuse nor Iupiter stroke him in peeces with his thunderboltes nor Aesculapius made an ende of him by some long miserable consumption both he himselfe and many others accounted such his sacrilege to be both iust and lawfull And euen so it falleth out for the murther I speake of He that hath eyes to see let him see After the foresaid Castel was surprised and the Cardinall was murthered Lesly with his company Knox and the rest kept the same Castel by force against the Gouernor But at the last they were compelled to yeeld it vp and being thereupon sent as prisonners into Fraunce they were by directions there committed some of thē to the Gallies and some to other prisons Howbeit in the ende they all escaped with their liues by one meanes or other sauing the saide Iames Meluin who dyed in prison wherevpon commeth in this notable Consistorian doctrine borrowed of the said heathenish conclusions This we write vz. how all but Meluin escaped to let the posterities to come vnderstand saith Knox and his fellowes how potently God wrought in preseruing and deliuering of these that had but a smal knowledge of his truth for the loue of the same hazarded all That if that eyther we now in our dayes hauing greater light or our posterities that shall follow vs shal see a fearefull dispersion of such as oppone themselues to impiety or take vpon them to punish the same otherwise then lawes of men will permit if wee say we or they shall see such left of men yea as it were despised and punished of God yet let vs not damne the persons that punish vice and that for iust cause nor yet despaire but that the same God that deiects for causes vnknowen to vs will raise vp againe the persons deiected to his glorie and their comfort Againe if our said seditious persons had preuailed with the multitude in their other plot concerning their purposes of remouing some of her maiesties most honorable Priuy Councell from her seruice in that place and in appointing others to succeede them whom they fancied to be fauourers of their Discipline you should haue heard I warrant you no cries of the brotherhood nor complaints in your streets of any of that faction It would haue beene saide as Goodman taught at Geneua that seeing the saide Councellors were enemies to Christes kingdome and did seduce her Maiestie now that God had raised them vp an Othoniel or a Ionathan to assist them why should they not haue ioyned themselues vnto him Oh would some haue said the holy discipline the holy discipline the holy discipline what Prince or Potentate may resist the holy discipline and prosper Others See the hand of the Lorde when men do faile what God can doe Others the greatest workes that euer were done in the behalfe of the Church haue beene brought to passe by the basest meanes Others this is the worke of God and it is admirable in our eyes Others thus Iosuah being extraordinarily strengthned by God threw thirty kings out of the land of Canaan Others sufficient warning was giuen what would they haue had men to haue done Then should you haue had such a declaration or proclamation as you haue before heard of penned no doubt by some of the Consistorian ministers in Scotlād vz. of the iust and necessary causes mouing them and their assistantes her Maiesties faithfull subiects to repaire to her Maiesty for resisting of the present daungers appearing to Gods true religion and professors thereof c. and to seeke redres and reformation of abuses remouing from her Maiesty the chiefe authors therof c. that with common consent redresse and remedy might bee prouided Or termed The repairing towards Greenwitch to the Q. Maiesty as else where such attempts haue been colored Likewise if yet thinges had not squared to their likings and that they had gone further with good successe in any violent course against her maiesty as it is confessed they purposed to haue done then also the Geneua-diuinity must haue borne the brunt for the iustification of such extraordinary iudgementes of God And thus you should haue had these matters smoothed ouer as partly it may appeare by the assault mentioned at Sterling wherein the king was present in person and partly by the Consistorian propositions before set down touching this point with many other things both to be noted in the premises and also in those bookes out of the which the saide propositions are drawen I will not trouble you any further with Ifs although I could adde that if the said traitors had proceeded on forward with their confessed purposes to haue touched her maisties estate there wanteth no lesse defence by Disciplinarian learning for such a matter then for the premises You may remember the seditious intollerable propositions before mentioned as they are truely collected out of our own countrey mens books infected at Geneua with that pestilent doctrine Many examples also would haue beene brought for that purpose out of Buchanan Beza Knox and the rest of that humor especiallie the graue resolution giuen by Knox and Wollocke generally against all Princes but particularly then vrged and
man to extenuate these things shal say let euery man beare his own burthen be charged with his own particular actions what some in the heate of their zeale haue published it ought to haue a charitable construction cannot wel be further extended to touch any other as if al the factioners had entred into such a seditious conspiracie as the said threatning speeches do import I answere that some indeede there be that do cast these such like colours ouer this matter to bleare mens eyes withall Some commends their zeale but not their discretion some allow their matter but not their manner and some will take vpon them to excuse both but as yet I neuer heard any of that crue but hee would eyther in one respect or other find some occasion to commend the worst of them Besides where so many of any one sect do concurre in their writings about any new point it is commonly taken to be the iudgement of them all And who knoweth not that if Cartwright and the rest had not secretly clapped such fellowes on the backs for their zeale and laughed in their sleeues to see them go so forward but had disliked them his earnest reproofe of the first being their Apostle and worthy would haue preuented all the others that followed being his Disciples But if it be true that I haue heard reported that vpon the comming forth of Martins Epistle Maister Cartwright should say seeing the Bishops would take no warning it is no matter that they are thus handled Surely those words from him were enough to set these men agogge So as that which is commonly reported of great robberies may fitly serue to satisfie the bowlsterers of such lewdnesse There are say they in such attemptes not onely executioners but also setters receiuers and fauourers and in matters of treason concealers who are all of them within the daunger compasse of law How this may be applied I leaue it to any reasonable mans consideration that shall be pleased to weigh the premisses aswell concerning the said threatning speaches great bragges as also the course which was helde by the ministers in prison and those of the London-fraternitie together with some others touching the attemptes which Coppinger and his fellowes tooke vpon them to effect CHA. XIII Briefe collections whereby it may summarily appeare that certaine Ministers in London did know what Coppinger intended WIgginton as you haue heard vpon Cartwrightes commitment c. writeth of a bickering and then a battell to be looked for Coppinger with his companiōs fasteth so dreameth of a way howe to worke wonders He sendeth into Scotland concerning an extraordinary calling signifying that some did fancy to themselues such a manner of calling who would hazard their liues that Christ himselfe by the abolishing of the Antichristian tyranny which he affirmed did raigne in our Church might gouerne in his owne kingdome Wigginton afterwarde approueth the lawfulnesse of such a calling in these dayes our Churches lying wast c. Copinger and Wigginton with some others do thereupon fast againe to know which of them should be so called The lot forsooth falling vpon Copinger chiefly he is not silent but maister Wentworth amongst others must be of his priuy Councel He also disclosed himselfe after a sort as you haue heard to certaine of the Ministers in London before mentioned and namely to Maister Cartwright imparting vnto him his seuerall callings to an extraordinary course for the discipline c. His said writings into Scotland and Wiggintons said approbation of an extraordinary calling He sent Maister Cartwright the same propositions that Wigginton had allowed whereof maister Cartwright afterwardes thought there might bee good vse hee signified vnto him that by his calling he was to take in hand such busines as in the eyes of flesh and bloud was likely to bring great danger to himselfe and vnlikely to bring any good successe to the Church he told him that if he had not beene discouraged he had before that day procured the release of some that stoode then in daunger of their liues meaning as I suppose Vdall and Newman c. As he dealt with Cartwright so did he with the other Ministers and with some of them more plainely desiring still of them all both Cartwright and the rest and that most instantlie that he might be conferred withall offering himselfe to be altogether ruled by them either to proceede if they thought meete in his saide so dangerous businesse or otherwise wholy to desist and leaue it off He also offered to imparte vnto them all his designements as to M. Cartwright not onely in generality what he intended but also the particular meanes whereby he purposed to bring the same to passe Afterwardes when through his acquaintance with Hacket by Wiggintons meanes other incouragements giuen him by an other of his lay friendes and by Wigginton c that he grew to be more resolute hee signifyed the same to M. Charke not past six days before their furie brake forth stil yet desiring conference with him Trauers Egerton Gardiner Cooper and Philips CHAP. XIIII The cunning dealing of certaine ministers in London how notwithstanding they wished Coppingers plot to goe forward yet they might be if it were possible without the compasse of law COnsider I pray you the policy which the saide ministers mentioned in the end of the former Chap. vsed They at the beginning no sooner heard of Copingers conceit of an extraordinary calling to worke such great matters but by by as mē acquainted with the fore-saide Geneua positions they very well knewe wherunto that matter tended And therefore wher-as the poore misse-led gentleman would haue imparted vnto them al his secretes they started from that point and refused wholy to take from him any knowledge of them They sent him some cold messages of their dislike of his proceedings which they after qualified as it hath been shewed not so much to with-draw him from his lewdenesse as that therby if thinges fell out amisse they might haue some meanes to cleare themselues by the testimonies of such their messengers as Hockenhull and others And touching conference that was also by them denied and surely vpon good and prouident reasons For if therby they should haue yelded in opinion vnto him they knewe it might haue broughr them into apparant danger Besides they were not vnlike by sufficient arguments to haue disswaded him from such a fantasie which as it seemeth was very farre from their meaning And lastly it was almost impossible but that in their debating with him of his pretended calling he must needes haue made some mention of such particulars as with their own safety they durst not haue concealed so that way also his platforme would haue beene dashed The safest way therefore for them was not to haue any conference at all with him and that course for ought I finde they tooke to the hardning of Coppingers hart and his fellowes and to the greate