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
part of its glory renown that it provides best for Government and obedience for the security of Princes and the peace of the people of any perswasion under Heaven is the Reverend person instanced in many of its Theorems and principles especially Rom. 13. a Pet. 2. to which I had my replies ready from the several discourses in justification of the late War and the Kings death still extant and still someting mens dangerous and discontented thoughts especially the sermons before the Parliament from 1641. to 1649. 3. The third and so much the more cogent argument as Fear is more prevailing then Conscience and a care of our selves of more force with us then a sense of our duty was the dreadful event of all attempts against Government mentioned in Holy Scripture which the good man urged with much earnestness and power As Had Zimri peace that flew his Master Can a man touch the Lords Annointed and be guiltless My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them who are given to change for their calamity shall arise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Whosoever loveth Rebellion a cruel Messenger shall be sent unto him Curse not the King no not in thy thought for a Bird of the air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter The terrour of which words was yet much allayed by the immunity and indulgence we already had and might alwaies expect only one day considering with my self that the events and issues of things in the World were exactly correspondent with the Prophecies and predictions in the Scripture that Heaven and Earth might pass away and the Government of the Creation be altered and not one jot or title of the Word of God should fall to the ground I resumed the last argument examined those sayings of Scriptures aforementioned comparing them with what happened upon that occasion in the World and particularly recollected such Memoires and observations of that nature as occurred in the English Nation from the time of William the Conquerer to our Age out of which to my great astonishment I gathered this great Conclusion which I think it the interest of this present age and posterity to take notice of that as the Scriptures have foretold some 3000. years Since so we find it true in every age that Government is so secured by the ordinance and providence of God that all attempts against it have come to nought and all open and secret conspiraties and plots have had only this remarkable issue That they ended in the â—â— ine of those that were engaged in them § 1. It is now near 600. since the Government and Monarchy of this Kingdome was after the barbarousness of the Brittains and Romans the confusion and unsettledness of the Saxons the Incursions and Intervalls of the Danes setled upon the Foundation it now stands upon by William Duke of Normandy In the year 1074. Edgar Æthelin King Harolds Son with his Mother Agatha and his two Sisters Margaret and Christine all of the Blood Royal retyred in discontent to Scotland Our ancient and most desperate enemy followed by the great Earles Edwyn and Morchor his Uncles the two Arch-Bishops Stigand and Aldred and many other Lords where first by alliance with the King of Scots who married Margaret 2. By a correspondence with the Danes they procured an invasion that made the North for 60. miles desolate 3. And by their Agents in England raised Insurrections in Exceter Oxford the Isle of Ely the issue of which notwithstanding the dangerous combination was first the ruine of the King of Scots who submitted to King William's mercy 2. The Imprisoument of Edgar and his Lords during the Kings pleasure and the settlement of the Government by the Curfeau bell the Law against the peoples Armes and the provision against the Clergies temporal Jurisdiction § 2. But restless discontent notwithstanding those dreadful examples foregoing of the ill success of Rebellion goeth ou for the year 1079. Waltheoff Earle of Northumberland with the Earls of Bologn Norfolk and Hereford with the King of Scotland and the Princes of Wales whom the Kings of Denmark and Ireland asisted with 265. sail of Ships contrived a most dangerous plot to seize the Kings Castles and Sea-Towns while the King was engaged in the Siege of Dole in France a conspiracy that threatned another change when behold Lanfrank to whom Waltheoff had communicated the design discovereth the whole to the King who prevented their uniting and engaging them one by one overcame them all putting Waltheoff to death sequestring imprisoning banishing all the rest Who are observed never after to prosper in any thing they undertook § 3. In the year 1087. King William leaving his Dukedome to his eldest Son Robert and his Kingdome to his youngest Son William Robert making use of the Bishop of Bayeux and many other Lords grudges against his Brothers Government especially his Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Lanfranke with their assistance surprizeth the North as furthest from Loudon divides the Kings Councel raiseth some disturbances in the South and West thereby dist acting the King so that he knew not where to begin nor where to turn himself the King having the Arch-Bishop and the Bishop of Winchester of his side and obliging his people by some Acts of grace defeated all the Rebells made his Brother abjure the Realm and be contented with a Pension and ruined 700. Families that were concerned in that Conspiracy And a while after hearing that Mans in Normandy was besieged as he was at Supper the King asked which way it lay and immediately commanded Masons to make way for him thither through the Wall and when his Lords entreated him to stay untill his people were ready he replied That they who loved him would immediately follow him and a Tempest arising when he was at Sea he commanded the Master of the Ship to go on notwithstanding For said nt never was King drowned Thus he came suddenly to Mans raised the siege dispersed the Rebells undid 652. Families that were of the Confederacy and left a fatal Monument of conspirators success behind to late Posterity § 4. Anno 1100. no sooner had Henry the first succeeded his brother William who died Childless and compounded with his brother Robert of Normandy but Robert de Belesm Earle of Shrewrbery and the Earle of Cornwall in discontent made a general Insurrection about Wales and the borders surprize the Castle of Bridgenorth stop Trade gathered the people together who no sooner heard that the King was drawing towards them but they fled and left their traiterous Leaders at the mercy of an incensed Soveraign who seized their Estates banished their Persons and put a period to their Names Honours and Families in England § 5. Although Steven invaded the Kingdome against the right of
intermedling made against them and the Queen at last so incensed that she would not to her dying day heare any in their behalfe To mention no more Conspiracies in her Reign the Earle of Essex a popular and powerfull Man that had some pretence in that variety of claimes to the Crown that were layed in the latter end of her reign to the Throne that was Governour of Ireland and General of England had a great Army at his command and a great Interest to serve him for 158. Lords favour him and the people generally love him this upon some affronts in the declining age of the Queen sets up a plot to remove ill Councellors keepes open house for all comres entertaines silenced Ministers to preach to great throngs of people every day engageth the Lord Mayor and Aldermen resolves to seize VVhitehall by Water and by Land under the pretence of a Shew what success I pray Why the City fail him his Complices disclose him the Queens Councel surprizeth him with a summons and a Message the Nobility follow him to the City proclaime him Traytor he flieth to his house he is there besieged taken and secured in the Tower whence he is brought forth to Trial and Execution with 20. more of his Complices in whose busi-300 good Families were utterly undone and ruined § 21. Anno 1603. King James is setled on the Throne of his Ancestors by all the establishments that are as yet discovered to the World when the Lord Cobbam Sir VValter Rawleigb the Lord Grey of VVilton and others some Protestants some Papists some Priests some Lay-men some upon discontent some for Conscience some Noble-men some Knights some Gentlemen and these backed by the Popes Bull seconded by the Kings of France and Spaine endeavoured to alter Religion and change the Government but with what fortune why their Plot is discovered they themselves are apprehended arraigned and condemned VVatson Clarke and Brooke are executed and the rest come to miserable ends within a while after Yet the discontented will take no warning for not long after Catesby Percy VVinter Sir Everard Digby Garnet contrive to blow up the Royall Family the Clergy Nobility and Gentry of Great Brittain sitting in Parliament they are encouraged by the Pope set on by their own Ghostly Fathers assisted from Spain take an Oath of secresie hire a convenient Room under the Parliament House furnish it with Materials for the blow as Powder Faggots Iron the Villain is ready his Candle and his Match light but doth it succeed No the Parliament is twice adjourned and the very night before they were to sit a Letter must be sent from one of the Conspirators to the Lord Mounteagle to save himself yet the Court understood not the Letter but the King laying hold upon some odde expressions as this There is no danger as soon as the Letter is burned c. ordereth a more diligent search the store-house is found 36. Barrels of Pouder are discovered Faux that should have fired them is apprehended the other Catholiques that made the Hunting match to surprize the Lady Elizabeth are amazed at the discovery and commit Outrages are pursued by the high Sheriffes of Warwick and Worcestershire Catesby and Piercy are slain the rest are hanged drawn and quartered several Lords are fined the Government is firmely setled the Oath of Allegiance is devised two thirds of Papists Estates are forfeited to the King most severe Lawes are made against the Papists who lye under the dismal consequences of this treason to this day § 22. Anno 1625. King James dieth and leaves King Charles an empty Treasure a Warr abroad an incensed Parliament and People at home envied and hated persons of his Councel his necessities put him upon calling Parliaments the Kingdomes discontents debauched those Parliaments they demurre his Supplies they draw up remonstrances they clip the Prerogative they question his Favourites and Servants they set the Ministers of State one against another as Digby and Buckingham they raise some petit disturbances in Lancashire and thereabouts and occasion some ill resented Proclamations upon those disorders some Favourites are murthered Parliaments are dissolved in discontents many great men are laid aside the King is necessitated to take some displeasing courses for Money daring offendors provoke his Majesty to severe courses and those severe courses make more daring offendors a dark Cloud hangs over the face of the Nation Scotland armes Ireland Rebells England could not remedy either without a Parliament after twelve years discontinuance and grievances all the ill humour of the Nation meets in Parliament as in the Common-Shore where some would reforme Religion others would reforme Grievances all would embroyle the State the King parts with his most faithful Councellours it becomes dangerous to serve him he gives away his Prerogative the Tower the Militia of London a power to the Parliament to sit as long as they pleased suffers the Scots to rage and domineer leaves the City the whole Kingdome is up against him for Religion Law Liberty and the removal of ill Councellors the Treasure the Magazines and Militia is in his enemies hands with whom yet he contested four or five years When they prevailed they seized on the whole Kingdome imprison the King defeat all the attempts for his release and at last put him to death reduce his three Kingdomes under their Tyranny Banish all his Family and notwithstanding all forreign assistance all endeavours at home all the resolutions of Scotland and Ireland and Holland with thirty thousand men to restore his Son at several times as 1649. 1650. 1651. 1654. 1655. 1657. 1658. they settle first a Commonwealth then a Protectorship the first Protector carryeth all before him dieth a natural death and succeeded by his Son Credimus esse deos And now you will say Treason prospereth and Rebellion thrives but alas nothing less the first party is divided into Presbyterians and Independents they are first jealous of one another the Presbyterian Officers are displaced as Essex c. they plot against one another in the House the Old Officers fall off the City of London and the old Puritans revolt close with the Kings party for peace Duke Hamilton marcheth in order to that peace in the head of 30000 men Waller Brown and Massey correspond with him the Ministers preach against the present Proceedings the Scotch stand by the K. Son the Presbyterians are all discontent neither are the Independents unanimous an evil spirit of division creepes into the Army Cromwell takes the Government upon him and so disobligeth the Commonwealths men and the Long Parliament aimes at a succession and displeaseth the great Officers they watch the opportunity of his death and with the countenance of the people lay aside his Son and Interest they Quarrel among themselves call in General MONK who suppresseth them all makes way for his most Excellent Majesty and puts a period to twenty years Treason what was the effect