Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	master_n	norwich_n	vindicate_v	32	3	16.7717	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96027	Vox Norvvici: or The cry of Norvvich, vindicating their ministers. Wherein, the city of Norwich, viz. the Court of Maioraltie, and Common-Councell by their act of assembly; the rest of the well affected citizens, and inhabitants, by the subscription of their names hereunto, doe vindicate their ministers, Master Thornebacke, Master Carter, Master Stinnett, Master Fletcher, Master Bond, Master Stukeley, Master Tost, and Master Mitchell, from the foule and false aspersions and slanders, which are unchristianly throwne upon them in a lying and scurrilous libell, lately come forth, intituled, Vox populi, or the peoples cry against the clergy, or rather the voice of a scismaticke projecting the discouragement, and driving away of our faithfull teachers, but we hope his lies shall not so effect it, Ier.48.30.		1646 (1646)	Wing V722; Thomason E358_4; ESTC R201153	8,721	16

VOX NORWICI OR The Cry of NORVVICH Vindicating their MINISTERS WHEREIN The City of Norwich viz. the Court of Maioraltie and Common-Councell by their Act of Assembly The rest of the well affected Citizens and Inhabitants by the subscription of their names hereunto doe vindicate their Ministers Master Thornebacke Master Carter Master Stinnett Master Fletcher Master Bond Master Stukeley Master Tost and Master Mitchell from the foule and false aspersions and slanders which are unchristianly throwne upon them in a lying and scurrilous Libell lately come forth intituled Vox Populi or the Peoples cry against the Clergy or rather the voice of a Scismaticke projecting the discouragement and driving away of our faithfull Teachers but we hope his lies shall not so effect it Ier. 48.30 Jer. 6.28 They are all grievous Revolters walking with slanders Psal 105.14 15. He suffered no man to doe them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine Anointed and doe my prophets no harme LONDON Printed for William Franckling and are to be sold by Richard Tornlins at the Signe of the Sun in Pie-Corner MDCXLVI To the Impartiall READER Reader VPon the 26th of August last past 1646 being the day of the solemne Fast there came to our City a scurrilous and malicious pamphlet or Libell intituled Vox populi or the peoples cry against the Clergy wherein our most godly and faithfull Ministers namely Master John Thornebacke Master John Carter Master ●illiam Stinnett Master Phinees Fletche Master John Bond Master John Stukeley Master Thomas Tost and Master Nathaniell Mitchell are most maliciously traduced slandered and falsly accused Our Ministers will not be perswaded to ingage their pens in answering that fardell of untruths partly because they have other more necessary imploiments for their precious time but chiefly because they are humble and meeke men who are resolved to tread in the steps of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ who when he was reviled reviled not againe and when he suffred threatned not but this we are assured of that although they be willing in the gentlenesse of their spirits to put up those intolerable injuries yet God will not put them up neither can we their people who have lived under their Ministries and received so much comfort and benefit by them be silent God and our consciences Religion and humanitie binds us to vindicate them from those grosse and Diabolicall slanders and aspersions which are cast upon them and if we should hold our peace the stones would cry The great designe of the Libell appeares plainly viz. through the sides of our City Ministers to wound and if it were possible at one blow to take off all the Orthodox Ministers and fixed Starres of the Church of England but more especially to discourage and drive away from us all our godly and faithfull Ministers and to leave us in a scattered condition as sheep without shepheards or rather to leave us as lambes in the midst of ravening wolves They would have our Ministers thinke that their peoples heares are set against them and their tongues cry out against them But God knowes and all Israel shall know that our City generally excepting only some malignants and members of seperated Congregations doth honour love and reverence them for their works sake As appeares by the Act of common Councell and this Treatise following VOX NORWICI A true Coppy of the Act of Common-Councell Civitas Norwici Congregatio tent ' die Mercurij scilicet secundo die Septembris Anno Regni Domini Caroli Dei gratia Angliae Scot ' Eranc ' Hybern ' Rex fidei defensoris c. vicesimo secundo tempore Henrici Watts Maior Civit ' praed ' Iohan ' Cory Williel ' Rye vicecom ' ejusdem Civitat ' We the Major Sheriffes Aldermen and Common-Councel of the City of Norwich having seen a scandalous pamphlet lately set forth stiled Vox Populi or the peoples cry against the Clergy doe hereby declare that we nor any of us have any hand or did give any counsell or consent to the compiling thereof untill it came to publique view and we are so farre from countenancing of it as that we utterly disclaime it And we doe further declare that there are severall particulars in the said Booke which doe very falsly and scandalously impeach and asperse the Ministers of this City named in that pamphlet And we doe heartily wish that the Author thereof may be found out and punished according to the Law of the Land Baleston The Cry of NORVVICH Vindicating their Ministers IN that libellous Packet called Vox populi are contained many blasphemies heresies errors and malignant expressions To point at a few of them In the preface First That difference in judgement in the mysteries of Divinity is more our sorrow then our sin and the reason they give for this is because it is the irresistable product of our depraved nature c. whence it followes they hold 2. That the depravednesse of our nature by Adams fall is no sin to be sorrowed for or Originall sin is no sinne and in that they doe sorrow for it they sorrow for that which is no sinne They say difference in affection anger and choller c. is more our sin then our sorrow whence it followes 3. That difference in affection and injuries to others are sins of the greatest magnitude or sinnes against our neighbour are greater then any sinnes against God Their desires are meerely to be let alone whence it followeth In the booke pag. 3. lin 28. 4. They hold that every man must be left to the liberty of his conscience 5. That it is a state-troubling principle to compell men against their consciences Pag. 12. lin 7. to Vniformity in Church-Government 6. That our solemne League and Covenant is the same to the Presbyter that the Masse-booke is to the Papist Pag. 25. lin 28 and the Service-booke to the Prelate These things we will not meddle withall but leave them to be censured by Authority and confuted by the pens and tongues of the learned Neither list we to render evill for evill or rebuke for rebuke to revile them that have reviled the servants of Jesus Christ we dare not bring against them any railing accusation but only say to them as the Archangell said to the Divell when he disputed about the body of Moses The Lord rebuke thee We will meddle only with matters of fact and be faithfull witnesses in behalfe of our faithfull Ministers as we are bound by the ninth Commandement to cleere them from those foule aspersions and false accusations which are cast upon them that their innocencie and integritie may appeare to all the world we shall hold forth a Catalogue to publique view not a compleate enumeration of all the lies in the Libell for that were an endlesse taske every Page manifesting so many but of some of them of the greatest magnitude lies with a witnes such as almost every childe in

because they preach for and endeavour to settle Church-government according to our Nationall Covenants But O my soule come not thou into their Assemblies 9. They speake as if our Ministers in their Remonstrance did desire the Parliament-men to baptize their children Pag. 13. For answer to this we who have seen the Remonstrance do testifie it is false For they petitioned for some order for Ordination of Ministers who might baptize and that none might be suffered to preach that will not baptize and not otherwise 10. They taxe our Ministers that they have not taught our people to relieve the poore and that 's the reason they are not provided for But our whole City knowes that our Ministers have ever but especially of late laid downe the Doctrine of Charity and Almes almost in all their Sermons and zealously pressed the care of the poore even till they have reaped much ill will of divers And God hath made their Ministry so successefull as that the Magistrates have doubled their reliefe by rates so as the poore have hardly been ever so well provided for as now they be It is true we cannot so well acquit our selves of the poore as your party can doe for you will not so easily admit them as you will doe silke-gowns for they shall be offered to have their confessions to be made out for them besides you can get so many good women to you that their husbands cannot beare the charge of our poore because their wives prove so chargable to them 11. They endeavour to asperse our Ministers with the guilt Pag. 14. lin 4. Pag. 9. middle and bring them under the suspition of Malignancy But let the world inquire what Ministers in the Kingdome have preached more against Malignants then they who more for the Parliament for the Nationall Covenant * Though not for your Covenant for Reformation who baulkes the secrecie of Malignants more then they who have spent their estates in the Parliaments service more freely then they you must recant this as a most malitious and false accusation 12. They charge our Ministers Remonstrance with this passage Pag. 15. that Traitors to the King were not executed The answer is ready In all the Remonstrance which was presented to the Common-Councell June the 10th there was not so much as the word Treason or Traitor named Reader we will not tire thy patience any further thou maist by this time judge of the Beast by the foote This short collection of these few notorious falsehoods may teach thee what to thinke of the whole And truly we must from henceforth call into question the truth and integritie of all those that goe this way though never so glorious in profession One word only to the Authors and Abettors of this unchristian Libell we speake to you as Joshuah to Achan you have troubled our Israel this day now therefore we pray you give glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him repent of your Injustice aske God and the Ministers of the City of Norwich whom you have abused forgivenesse least the Lord trouble you and all Israel perish for your wickednesse The truth and substance of what is contained in this Booke for the cleering and vindicating of our Ministers herein mentioned Is avouched by us whose names are hereunto subscribed to be the generall Vote of the whole City And if any man desire to be satisfied herein they may repair to the house of Hamond Craske in the said City of Norwich where they may see the Inhabitants of the said City with one consent have subscribed their hands to severall Papers that testifie the same Peter Thacker Hamond Craske Thomas Browne Samp. Townsend John Billingsley Nehemiah Bond. William Browne Violes Benion Edward Woodyard John Ploasa●ts Thomas Hoth Samp. Saberton B●● ●aker William Tooke R●●●●●●l●asants FINIS

Norwich of any discretion is able to testifie the untruth of them as First they charge Master Thornebacke that in his Sermon upon the 16h of June at the Greeneyard Pag 1. lin last he exhorted the people to strike in with some Petition Pag. 5. lin 20. c. and that this was seconded in the afternoon by Master Bond * He uttered not a word to that effect who violently pressed the people according to the patterne delivered him in the Mount meaning Master Thornebacke his Morning Sermon Answ Where by the way Reader thou maist perceive that this Libeller doth not spare to abuse the divine Oracles of God when he is in this jeering straine but concerning this we testifie That Master Thornebacke and Master Bond did both of them in their Sermons exhort the New Magistrate and the whole City there present in generall to doe something to the utmost of their power which might conduce to the publike good and settlement of truth and peace but we do not remember any such word used in either of their Sermons as Petition or Remonstrance But we beleeve it was the desire of them and the rest of the Ministers not violently to presse the people to subscribe any Petition of theirs but only to stirre them up to be active in doing something by mature advice which might tend to the peace and benefit of Church and Common-wealth 2. They charge our Ministers thus Drunkards Swearers Gamesters Lyars Whoremongers Adulterers c. are not petitioned against We answer some of us have seene the Petition framed by the Ministers of Norwich and we testifie that in a speciall manner it strikes expresly at Blasphemy against God Sabbath-breaking Tipling Gaming Ale-houses-haunting c. and the maine scope of it was to suppresse sin disorder and prophanesse to procure peace and to advance the power of godlinesse Observe Reader the secret conveiance of these juglers the emphasis lies in these words we hear nothing almost c. and what 's the reason our Ministers reprove these sins daily in the Pulpit but they are absent viz. in Mrs Ashwells chamber 3. They charge our Ministers thus We heare nothing almost in every Pulpit but Church Discipline Uniformity nothing against the known God provoking sins of the times swearing lying defrauding cosening and over-reaching one another little or nothing of the Doctrine of Faith towards God repentance from dead workes love amongst Brethren Communion with God Union with Christ fellowship with the Spirit c. These things are almost banished the Pulpits and we have nothing but the very formes and shell of Religion To this we answer with amazement and wonder at the impudency of these men in putting forth such grosse lies the falsenesse whereof are knowne to our whole City except only Recusants and Separatists that never frequent our congregations we do testifie all of us as eare-witnesses that those very sins they mention were never more constantly and severely reproved Faith and Repentance c. never more faithfully and powerfully preached by any then by these our Ministers whom they nominate and as for Discipline and Uniformity we never heard any of them make it their worke in any Sermon to preach of them if they meddle at any time with these it is but a touch and away as they meet with occasion in their Text their maine worke is to lay a good foundation and to teach the substantiall grounds of Christian Religion 4. They say our Ministers were unwilling to let their Remonstrance be read in the Court of Maioraltie that they refused to let the Towne Clarke read it but would read it themselves and would not require the advice Counsell and helpe of the Court. We answer the Remonstrance was read at least thrice publikely in the Court the reason why it was read by one of themselves was because there was but one Coppy and that imperfect interlined blotted out in many places and none else could well read it but one of themselves yet to satisfie them the Coppy of it was left in the Court June 17 from morning till night also upon the 19 of June the Common-Councell had it in their hands a competent time The Ministers were so far from refusing the advice of the Magistrates and Court that they did offer divers times that a Committee of three of foure of them might be appointed to joyne with so many of the Ministers to advise about it alter it and prepare it for another meeting This being denied the Ministers thought it was to no end to part with their Coppy and having but one in all they tooke it away with them by which it appeares to all men that our Ministers did goe to advise with the Court and not having their approbation left off the prosecution of their Remonstrance though they were encouraged by many to goe one with it by getting hands among the people 5. They taxe our Ministers of Jesuiticall practises and undermining principles Pag 7. line 7. But they confute themselves for page 5. line the 9. ●nd 10. they confesse the Ministers appeare publike in ●heir designes we are sure that is not the Jesuiticall way for their principles are undermining and secret here they give themselves the lie 6. They charge M. Thorneback M. Carter M. Stinnet and the rest pag. 8. lin 1. that they take upon them to exercise authoritie over the Court that they proceed by way of command expecting their obedience that they should goe when the Ministers bid them goe c. though it be to licke the dust at their feet We answer here 's a deale of malice but not a word of truth Master Thornebacke and the rest went all in a humble way to the Court as Petitioners They did not threaten our chiefe Magistrate that they would set up a Lecture and maintaine it in despite of him as some of you haue done with their hats in their hands they only contributed their advice propounded their feares proposed a remedy gave their reasons and submitted all to the wisdome of the Court This is true and if this be to exercise authority let the world judge 7. Master Thornebacke Master Carter and the rest are accused to be steered by the deceitfull campasse of carnall interests and are moved and acted up and downe according to the motion of their primum mobile worldly preferments and popular concurrencies submitting themselves to the preceps of men to Surplice Tippet High-Altar Liturgies Homilies Cannons Injunctions of the Bishop Write Preach for them and glory in them and as the times wheele about they can throw them all by and be as zealous against them as ever they were for them c. We answer and testifie before the Lord that all this is so notoriously false and scandalous that we even blush to read it here we cannot satisfie in a generall way we will therefore give some short account of our Ministers severally Master Thornebacke since he came to Norwich

did never appeare to us as a man that had any eye or aime at worldly preferments his preaching is against prelaticall tyranny and ceremonies but not for them and though we can speake positively only for so long as he hath lived with us yet we conceive he was ever the same that he appeares now to be and therefore we will give a hint of what we have heard from good hands viz. That Master Thornebacke living in Essex at Steeple-Bumsted in the heate and height of the Prelaticall persecution had an excommunication sent out against him which was never revoked to this day because he refused and opposed the constant wearing of the Surplice and reading of the Service-Booke Wednesdaies and Fridaies and for persisting in his inconformity after his citation to the Court publikely and privately in those times he proclaimed the fall of the Bishops for their Pride and Insolency he was offered a very little Parish but a great living some two hundred pound perannum and he refused it because the worke was little and did rather chuse to take a place of far lesser meanes where there was more of Christs worke to doe this is his ambition of worldly preferment all this we have heard and let Mr Thorne-backes greatest enemies inquire and they shall find the truth of these things Master Carter hath lived Minister of St. Peters Parish now these Seventeen yeares except only that time in which he was banished by Bishop Wrenn and his Chancellour we never could discerne that ever he did seeke after or affect any worldly preferment he hath had advantages of raising himselfe but never improved them so farre as ever we could see or heare this we know he hath often been about to leave St Peters Parish for a lesse people and lesse meanes only as he professed out of the sense of his owne weakenesse being not able to beare so great a burthen as lyeth upon him and as for the Prelaticall ceremonies he hath ever groned under them declaimed against them bitterly both publikely and privately and because his conscience would not suffer him to yeeld to their trash he was unmercifully persecuted by Bishop Wrenn and his Chancellour suspended deprived and molested So he was forced to leave Norfolke and seeke hiding places he suffered with joy the spoyling of his goods and counted exile a Paradice only to be free from the base trash of the Prelates He hath ever been the same keeping close to his principles and if he have varied in any thing it hath been in the increase of his detestation of superstition and Prelacy We all testifie of seventeene yeares experience of him that these aspersions of him are foule and the accusations most false and grosse Master Stinnett hath lived Minister of Saint Johns of Maddermarket Parish thirty yeares and upwards His spirituall living is about twenty foure pounds ter̄ annum and although it be no more we never heard that ever he sought any other place for his preferment If in some things he hath conformed it is no more then some of the five Apologists have done who have been seen in Norwich to reade the Let any in the Surplice and use the Crosse in Baptisme but that it may appeare he hath ever shewed a dislike of them it is upon record that long agoe he hath been troubled and suspended more then once and another put in his place for neglecting the Booke of Common Prayer and other Ceremonies Master Fletcher a learned pious and grave Divine whose living hath been meane in the Countrey where he hath shined as a light for many yeares sure if he had bin ambitious he might have raised himselfe much higher by his noble friends being a man of great relations Since he came to Norwich he hath carried himselfe like a grave and sound Minister of the Gospell a workeman that needeth not to be ashamed and an enemy to Ceremonies c. as appeares by his being suspended in Bishop Wrens time for the omission of some Ceremonies Master Bond a hopefull and learned young man he hath for two yeares together been coadjutor to Master Carter that is his highest hitherto yet we never perceived that ever he made after any worldly preferment he never wore Surplice since he was Minister nor baptized with the Crosse nor observed any Prelaticall Ceremony but hath preached and appeared against those waies often zealously Master Stukeley is but a stranger in our City of no long standing but for the time he hath been amongst us he never sought worldly preferments that we know of he hath declared himselfe against Prelaticall Ceremonies and joynes the right hand of fellowship with the most godly party Master Tost was bred borne and brought up amongst us descended of a religious Family hath been settled in a Pastorall charge some five yeares his Living not worth much above twenty two pounds per annum yet we never heard he sought for any worldly preferment he never wore the Surplice since he was a Minister in Norwich nor observed other Ceremonies but hath often preached and appeared against them Master Mitchell a Citizen of Norwich borne an able godly and precious young man he hath some imploiment but no settled station he hath refused places affording good meanes but never that we know did seeke for any worldly preferment he left off the wearing the Surplice as can be proved before he left the colledge in Cambridge he is cleare of all the old taint that cleaveth to our Church And now let all the world judge the falsenesse of these accusations of our faithfull Ministers 8. They accuse our Ministers that they oppose preach against Pag. 12 13. and trouble those that doe settle Church-Government according to their Covenant Observe Reader the secret craft and subtiltie of these men they would beare the world in hand that they desire peace and union with us as they speake in their Epistle and yet they professe to have a way differing from us and a Covenant differing from the Nationall Covenant And they blame our Ministers because they preach against and trouble them in settling Church-government according to their covenant which that ye may know what it is we will give you a touch of the particulars thereof First they will avouch the Lord to be their God Secondly that they will endeavour to walke in all his wayes Thirdly that they willingly and humbly submit themselves to the government of Christ Fourthly that they will labour to improve their communion and fifthly and lastly they covenant that they will not confine themselves to the words of this covenant Now I would faine know of any ☞ rationall man what these men are tyed unto by their covenant yet how arrogantly doe they beare themselves upon their church and priviledges and covenant and we know not what even till they draw their necks out of the yoke of Christ and under the name of the church they goe about to kicke out Gods Ministers and Ordinances hating our Ministers