Princes that looked towards Reformation Mr. Hooker Your advice we highly value as esteemed by us the most learned and wise man that ever the French Church did enjoy since the hour it enjoyed you yet you must understand that it did not become you to obtrude upon the Church of England a new way you had found out for the City of Geneva agreeable to the temper of that people and that time so disagreeing with our temper and our time especially since you could not bring that way to Geneva it self without the consent of the people Two things of principal note there are which deservedly procure you honour throughout the Christian World 1. Your exact institutions of Christian Religion 2. Your no less industrious exposition of Scripture according to those institutions in which two things whosoever bestowed their labour after you you gained the advantage of prejudice against them if they gainsaid you or of glory above them if they consented yea that which you did in the establishment of your way was harmless as being necessary but what you have taught for the countenance of it established is blame-worthy because out of love to your own prudent invention you endeavour to perswade the World that what you found out as yesterday was established by God since the beginning of Christianity we take it not well that what you with much ado imposed upon your own people by your own should be imposed upon us as from Divine Authority and that you should to that purpose disparage the antient Rites of the Church as Ineptiae nugae trifles and I know not what O Mr. Calvin Mr. Calvin There will come a time when three words uttered with charity and moderation shall receive a far more blessed reward then three thousand Vollumes written with disdainful sharpness of wit We wonder that you who said That you did highly approve a Forme of Prayer Doctrine and established Administration of Sacraments which it should not be lawful for the Ministers themselves to neglect that Provision might be made for the ignorant and unskilful 2. That the consent of the Churches might be more apparent 3. That Order may be taken against the desultory levity of them who delight in Innovations We wonder that you should encourage some Zelots at home and abroad to procure so many alterations of and enemies to the Common Prayer in the year 1547. and 3. of King Edward the sixth in so much that Reverend Father Latimer was faine to say in a Sermon before King Edward a little before his Death That the Admiral was gone I heard say he was a seditious man a contemner of Common Prayer I would there were no more in England well he is gone I would he had left none behind him Bish. Bancroft Mr. Calvin was not the only man that disturbed the peace of our Church by countenancing these Innovations and practising in Court City Country and Universities by his Agents till he had laid the first Foundation of the Zuinglian faction who laboured nothing more then Innovation in Doctrine and Discipline Court We pray you Sir what was the maine engine that Mr. Calvin used to bring his way into so much credit and esteeme among us Bish. Bancroft By insinuating to some men well affected the practise of the poor reformed Churches who not being able to set up the Primitive were over-ruled by his authority to comply with his way and gaining an improvident Indulgence unto John a Lasco with a mixt multitude of Poles and Germans to have the Priviledge of a Church for him and his distinct in Government and Worship from the Church of England by Letters Pattents in St. Augustine neer Broadstreet to be hereafter called the Church of the Lord Jesus whence we may observe 1. Of what consequence it is totolerate any people though never so inconsiderable in a way of separation Mr. Durel Dr. Basile Whereas it was suggested by several that most Reformed Churches walked in the way of Calvin and that the Church of England must submit to that way to preserve its Communion with other Churches We will make it appear that there is no Rite Ceremony or order of the Church of England but is observed in some of the Reformed Churches and some of them are observed in all Court Thus encouraged from abroad and indulged at home that party began to appear more publickly And you Mr. Bucer and Dr. Peter Martyr must needs seruple at some Ceremonies Vestments the one as Kings professor at Cambridge the other as Margaret professor and Cannon of Christ-Church in Oxford though with such moderation as that we have no more to say to you but that we are sorry the oversight of those times furnished the Universities and filled up the Chaires with men of your Principles to lay up in those nurseries of Religion and Learning the seed of a separation dissent and chisme that may continue as long as this Church stands we are sorry to hear that you Doctor Bucer refused some Ceremonies at Cambridge especially that you would not use a square Cap because forsooth your head was Round We are sorry likewise that you Dr. Martyr should encourage the Nonconformists in your Letter July 1. 1550. by saying that You thought it most expedient to the good of the Church that they and all others of that kind should be taken away when the next opportunity should present it self for say you as we iudge unchariteably Where such Ceremonies are so stiftly contended for as are not warranted and supported by the word of God there commonly men are less sollicitous of the substance of Religion then they were of the cicumstances of it and that you say in your Letter of the 4. Nov. 1559. that you never used the Surplice when you lived in Oxford though you were then a Cannon of Christ-Church and frequently present in the Qaire And for your part John a Lasco you might have been contented with the great indulgence of a gracious Soveraign to set up a Church with an express order to all the Bishops of the Realm not to disturbe you in the free exercise of your Religion and Ecclesiastical Government notwithstanding that you differed from the Government and formes of Worship established in the Church of England and not have abused his Majesties goodness so far as to appear in favour of the several factions which then began more openly to shew themselves against the established orders and laudable Customes of the Church and to write that scandalous Book called Forma Oratio totius Ecclesiastici Ministerij much to their encouragement who impugned all Order and Discipline and you must countenance those that refuse to wear the Cap and Surplice and to write to Dr. Bucer to declare against them for which you were severely reproved by that moderate and Learned man Doctor Martyr Doctor Bucer and John a Lasco Truly we are very sensible of the great favours we
have received from the Church of England and are very sorry that there fell from us any expressions and that there was allowed by us any practice that occasioned the saddest difference that ever happened in the Church of England if we consider the time how long it continued the eminent persous therein engaged and the doleful effects thereby produced and we observe that there have been three degrees of Nonconformists 1. Those in our dayes in King Edwards who scrupled only at some Vestures and Gestures 2. Those in Queen Elizabeths time who excepted against several things in the Common Prayer Cannons and Articles 2. Those since who have laid the Axe to the Root of the Tree and destroyed the Government it self Court After these men had been a while among us two opposite parties plainly appeared I. The Founders of Conformity such as by politick compliance and cautious concealement of themselves in the dayes of King Edward the sixth were possessed of the best preferments in the Church and retained many Ceremonies decent and ancient the Authority of Cranmer and the Activity of Ridley headed these Parties the former being the highest the latter the hotest for Conformity II. The Founders of Nonconformity such exiles as living in States and Cities of popular reformation were well affected to the Discipline of the places they lived in who returning late to England were at a loss for preferment and renounced all Ceremonies practised by the Papists John Rogers Lecturer of Pauls and Vicar of St. Sepulchers and John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Gloucester were the Ringleaders of this party And that these Divisions grew to that heighth that the King with the advice of his Counsel sets out a Proclamation Septem 23. to this purpose Whereas of late by reason of certain Controversies and seditious Preachers his Majesty moved with the tender Zeal and love he had to the quiet of his Subjects hath forbidden any to Preach without Licence from the Lord Protector or the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury upon hope that they whom they Licensed should Preach and set forth only such things as should be to Gods honour and the benefit of the Kings Majesties Subjects Yet seeing such Preachers did still behave themselves irreverently and contrary to good order in Preaching against such good instructions as was given them whereby much contention and disorder might rise and ensue in his Majesties Dominions Wherefore his Highness minding to see shortly one Uniforme Order throughout the Realm and to put an end to all Controversies in Religion for which purpose he hath called together the Learned men of the Realm doth inhibit all publick Preaching wishing all Ministers in the mean time to pray for a blessing on the Convocation and so to endeavour themselves that they may be ready to receive from the Convocation a most Godly quiet and Uniforme order to be had throughout all his Majesties Realmes and Dominions L. A. B. C. I pray who appeared first against the order of the Church and how did they behave themselves L. B. W. To feel the pulse of authority one Dr. Glasier as soon as ever Lent was over 1547. and it was well he had the patience to stay so long affirmes publickly in a Sermon at St. Pauls Cross That Lent was not ordained of God to be fasted on nor the eating of Flesh to be forborn but that the same was a politick Ordinance of men and might therefore be broken by men at their pleasure For which Doctrine as the Preacher was never questioned the temper of the times giving encouragement enough to such extravagancies so did it open such a gap to carnal liberty as the King was faine to shut up by Proclamation on the 16. of Jan. and the Protector by an Army raised under pretence of a Warr with Scotland He knowing very well that all great Counsels tending to Innovation in the publick Government especially where Religion is concerned are either to b 〈…〉 cked by Armes or otherwise prove destructive to the undertakers L. B. L. Who was the next who appeared against the Kings Orders and injunctions L. B. G. Encouraged by Glasiers boldness and impunity several persons began to run out to some excesses which occasioned these Words in a Proclamation of the 8. March 154 7 8. We wish all men with such obedience and conformity to receive our Order that we may be encouraged from time to time further to travel for the Reformation and setting forth of such Godly Orders as may be most to Gods glory the edifying of our Subjects and the advancement of true Religion Willing all our Subjects in the mean time to stay and quiet themselves with this our Direction c. As men contented to follow authority and not rashly to run upon such courses as may hinder what they intend to promote For now there arose persons by the name of Gospellers that dispersed as Bishop Hooper observes in the Preface to his Commandments several Blasphemies and Heresies and some Anabapists who lurking in the late Kings time began to appear publickly and were convicted at St. Pauls before the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and others where being convicted of their errors some of them were dismissed with an admonition some were sentenced to a recantation and others were condemned to bear their Faggots at St. Pauls Cross these persons among the many wild Opinions they vented were notorious for this one as Campneyes Writings one of themselves but coaverted declared That they laid all they did upon the eternal Predestination making God who is of purer eyes then to behold any the Author of their iniquity Court It 's true these wild persons and the Women that were burnt for heresie might disturbe us but who kept up the old cause of Nonconformity Witnesses One Mr. John Hooper a grave and Learned man who had lived a while in Zuricke with Bullinger and returned after Henry the 8s death with very good affections for the way of the Zuinglian and Helvetian Churches and by his frequent preaching and learned Writings having got credit and esteem with the Earle of Warwicke and other great men was preferred Bishop of Gloucester but when he came to be Consecrated he utterly refused the Episcopal Habits wherein he was to appear at his Consecration by the rules of the Church and the Arch-Bishop Cranmer would not Consecrate him without them Court Why do not you my Lord use these innocent and harmless Weedes Hooper I put my self upon the trial of the Searcher of Hearts that no obstinacy but meer Conscience makes me refuse these Ornaments Court These Ornaments are indifferent of themselves and of ancient use in the Church Hooper They are useless being ridiculous and superstitious Court Nay my Lord being enjoyned by lawful authority they become necessary not to Salvation but to Church Unity Hooper Being left indifferent by God it is presumption in man to make them necessary Court By a moderate use of these Ceremonies we may gain Papists into the
I shall informe your Honours what I know in this matter Court Where did they meet Mr. Stone 1. At London in Travers Egertons Gardiners and Barbers House 2. in Cambridge at St. Johns 3. in Northampton at Mr. Johnsons and Snapes house 4. at Kettering in Mr. Dammes and my House Court When did they meet Stone 1. Since the beginning of the last Parliament of which they had great hopes Court Who met Stone Cartwright Travers Egerton Clark Gardiner Brown Barber Somerscales Chatterton Gyfford Allen Edmunds Gellibrand Culverwell Oxenbridge Barbon Flud Snap Johnson Sibthorpe Edwards Spicer Fleshwore Harrison Littleton Williamson Rushbrook Baxter King Proudtome Mastre Bradshaw Dammes Pallison Okes Atkinson and my Self and several Schollars of Oxford and Cambridge Court This is ingenuously done of you Mr. Stone and we look upon you as a man in whom there is no guile Stone I can do nothing against but for the Truth let Truth and Justice take place et ruet Mundus L. B. L. Thus one Linke being slipped out the whole chaine was quickly broken and scattered this one discovery marred all their meetings there being none now that could trust or be trusted Court Yet they were not quiet but being disappointed one way they attempted another for one Travers ordained beyond Sea and of so great repute among that party that with Mr. Cartwright he was invited to be a professor at St. Andrews upon Mr. Melvins motion being setled at the Temple a Lecturer endeavoured to gaine the great Interest of the Law on his side and there opposed Mr. Hooker about predestination the Church of Rome c. with a design as some think to make parties there for other purposes untill he was silenced by the Arch-Bishop 1. because he was not lawfully ordained 2. because he preached without Licence 3. because he had disturbed the peace and that wholsome order of Her Majesties That no Opinions should be publickly refuted but that notice should be given to the Ordinary to hear and determine such cases to prevent publick disturbance L. B. C. It was that he looked for that he might as he did afterwards in a supplication to the Councel set his Patron Cecil and others to revive the Good old Cause which if opposed by others as he knew they would be would be Patrons to that Cause if not for conscience yet for their honour Court He knew that if once great men be inveigled to appear they will go through with It. What became of this Master Travers L. B. W. When he could not prevaile in England he went to try whither he might reforme Ireland and to that purpose very cunningly got to be Priest of Trinity Colledge neer Dublin where he might have the advantage to instill his Principles into the Youth of that Nation and so secure to himself and Part if not this yet the next Generation Court Now it may be presumed that the Church of England had rest round about P. H. Not so for these men finding that people were weary of small diffences about Cap Surplice c. that they might have some just occasion to oppose the Church one Dr. Bound set up Judaisme in a Book asserting that Christians are bound to as strict an observation of the Sabbath as the Jewes by a precise rest from all recreations feasts study and whatsoever but praying hearing reading and holy conference which Doctrine was very taking for its own purity and their piety that owned it Court The cunning of these men while the Bishops are providing for Ecclesiastical authority against their Discipline they leave that as not so considerable among the vulgar and set up extraordinary directions for the Lords day which while the Church opposed it was looked upon as ungodly and prophane and now it was that this party got the opinion of purity and holiness among the people which was no small advantage to their Cause the piety of the persons being a fair way to perswade the world of the truth of their opinions but how were these men maintained when they were suspended P. H. Mr. Cartwright had a Catalogue of sixteen hundred sixty three Patrons who allowed the least of them five pounds a year towards the maintainance of that way and it is observed of him that he was very rich and it s known that Mr. Travers left Zion Colledge an excellent Library with 60 l. worth of Plate Court Some of them gained more by their private conferences then by their publick preaching they could otherwise have expected CHAP. IV. King James Reign COurt But now Queen Elizabeth was dead these men thought they were sure of King James who was alwaies bred under them and frighted to their way in his Mothers belly what was their carriage upon that alteration Sand. One Mr. Pickering a Northamptonshire Gentleman a favourer of that way rid post with the newes of Queen Elizabeths death to King James and no doubt took his occasion to urge something in favour of the Nonconformists but how far and with what answer he moved the King is uncertain But Dr. Tho. Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by Whitgist brought back a wellcome answer of his Majesties purpose to uphold and maintaine the Government of the late Queen as she left it setled Court King James foresaw the dismal things the World was to look for from those men as appeares by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He knew that a Presbytery as well agreeth with Monarchy as God and the Devil they are his own words He knew no Bishop no King L. B. C. Yet Mr. Cartwright dedicates his Comment on Ecclesiastes to King James and the Presbyterians prepared a Petition before hand against the Parliament sat managed by Mr. Hildersham Mr. Egerton which though called the millenary Petition yet with seven hundred and fifty two Preachers hands was it presented to the King and Parliament Court How did the King like this canvasing for hands L. B. E. His Majesty foreseeing that they were likely to trouble him and the next Parliament granted them a Conference at Hampton Court where Dr. Reynolds Sparkes and Mr. Knewstubs and Chadderton appeared on the one hand Bishops Bancrost Mathew Bilson Babington Rudd Watson Robinson and Dove Dr. Andrews Overall Borlow and Bridges Field and King appeared Court What did they desire Dr. R. 1. That the Doctrine of the Church of England should be kept pure for now to make us more odious they quarelled with our Doctrine 2. That good Pastors might be planted in all Churches to teach the same 3. That Church Government might be sincerely ministred according to Gods Word 4. That the Book of Common Prayer might be fitted to more increase of Piety Court What would they have altered in the Doctrine A. They would have predestination and perseverance more clearly held forth Court By all meanes and the Church must be now looked upon as unsound in Doctrine as it was afore corrupt in Discipline yea the nine Lambeth Articles and all the controversies about them
preach and write for serious holiness as they call it as if it were now leaving the Land now or never they cry a Saint or a Brute in the preface or conclusions whereof they had their dogged insinuations that the Church was an enemy to holiness and the Professors of it when it discourageth nothing but hypocrisie and when the men of the nose smell out that out-comes a Book of hypocrisie preached at the Abbey at Westminster for the brethren have the thriving way of selling their Sermons first from the Pulpit and then from the Press wherein the Cavaliers who had been formerly the profane were now the Hypocrites But he that made all sure is the man that writes the sighs and groans of the Church that party paleman that speakes high Fullam in the beginning of the Book and Colemanstreet in the end of it this maus Masters stabbed the King with his own power and he a good proficient I 'le warrant him the Church with her own weapons But above all the Legerdemaines of this party commend me to their Sermons of persecution and their preparation of people for it as if the Common Prayer had been as dreadful as a Faggot to wear a Surplice as to wear Irons to exchange a benefice of an 100 l. a year for a collection of 200 l. had been a martyrdome and to visit the Capon eaters and the sop Ladies were a misery that should compleat Mr. Fox his volumn Lord what a work is here forsooth a few factious fellowes that had gone too far in the late Rebellion dare not recant yea rather then they will recant they will leave their flockes their dear flockes for which they would die but cannot be honest for their sakes C. But did not his Majesty order a Conference between both parties F. D. He did indeed between Dr. Reynolds Dr. Conant Dr. Spurstow Mr. Calamy Mr. Baxter Dr. Manton Dr. Jacomb Dr. Bates Mr. Newcomen Dr. Seaman c. and Dr. Heylin Dr. Gunning Dr. Pearson Dr. Pierce Dr. Sparrow c. but what was the issue the sober party came off and would have acquiesced in his Majesties gracious concessions upon those exceptions they made to the Liturgy and Ceremonies of the Church But a more fiery party for all the faction was then in Town flew so high as to say That an indifferent thing if commanded was no more indifferent but unlawfull C. Sure such a position could not come out of their mouths F. D. Indeed it is strange it should but it is attested by Dr. Gunning and Dr. Pearson who had the chief management of that affair C. But would they do nothing towards a closure F. D. Upon some Parishes petition particularly that of Covent-Garden to my Lord of London some of them got Readers as too many do still to say Common Prayer which they could not vouchsafe to do C. But was there any further newes of the Conference F. D. Yes when the concessions would not satisfie them they disperse a thing called a Petition for peace to incense the people to which they annexe an unauthorized forme of Worship composed printed published and dispersed by private persons to affront publick authority C. A petition for peace from them who fomented all our Warrs whose discipline was setled with conspiracy and promoted by Rebellion conscience opposing authority men for their private conscience urging the King his own a petition for peace as if no peace without indulging the faction liberty of conscience now but what will it come to at last Lord is there no peace to be had in the world unless these people are pleased F. D. No really for now they muster up the old objections against the Common Prayer and add new ones particularly Mr. Zachary Crofton runs out into that excess that we find him in the Tower for a year together and still abroad upon Baile C. But now all will not do what shall we do then D. F. Then we interrupt the proceedings of Parliament by fly diversions we watch advantages so that one Session is over without any considerable effect towards a settlement and in the interim of the adjournement we perswade the world they shall never meet or if they do shall speedily be dissolved and besides we have a plot managed by one Philips his brother that usurped Agmond Shiam Gibbs and others to surprize Whitehall Windsor Castle the Magazine of London C. How was that plot discovered D. F. Even as the 150. plots that were managed against the Government since the Conquest by their own Agents who cannot be true to one another since they have been false to the Government C. But when his Majesty declared for an Indulgence did they acquiesce in that D. B. No! but they immediately petition for more viz. that the tender consciences of young men in the University should be free which was as much as to say that we might have a young Sett of Presbyterians Elders against the old one decayeth and over and above all this they sent to the forreign Churches to keep correspondence with them C. Now I hope they have done D. B. Not so neither but they are up with their old trade of Prophecying of Wonders Prodigies Star-gazing Conjunctions and the judgements of God which they would say were the same now as in Queen Maries dayes and in times of great alterations and changes C. But were they true J. B. No but upon the examination of particulars those were alive and well whom they writ dead and they dead of a natural death whom they printed Thunderstruck c. after all this stir they joyned issue with the Papists even when they were most fiercely declaiming against them and by that combination the excellent Act of Uniformity was once thrown out of the Lords House and likely to have stuck there for ever But when all these shifts fail they prepared themselves for persecution as they called it and preached that the lights were extinguished the dear Pastors torne from their beloved flockes then they say they preach their last and that they are dying men and that this may be the last opportunity Now they give their rules one 17. another 25. another 36. all may be reduced to these six 1. That they should not forget their faithful pastors 2. That when they cannot hear their Words they may read their Workes 3. That they should take heed whom they hear 4. That they have nothing to do with Idols 5. That they persevere 6. That they hold Communion one with another C. Had they any more hope B. D. None at all but that they thought the disbanded Souldiers would be troublesome an expectation the prudence and wariness of our Superiours defeated in that most eminent Act of his Majesties Government the disbanding of the Army C. What then D. B. No more but that they encouraged their party to go on and stand out against the Act that they might appear so considerable as to prevaile either with his Majesty for an