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
of them they propound to themselues as the fittest patternes for them to followe and namely the Ministers of Geneua but more especially some of the Ministers of Scotland as may hereby appeare As we haue beene an example to the Churches of France and Scotland sayth M. Cartwright to followe vs so the Lorde would haue vs also to profite and be prouoked by their example An other also in this sort Nobiles quidam praecipui huius regni mecum egerunt vt author essem regi meo de tollendis omninò Episcopatibus vt exemplum posteà posset manare in vicinam Angliam Certaine of the chiefe Noble men of England who I thinke nowe are gone dealt with mee by the instigation no doubt of some of our Ministers Anno 1583. to persuade the King of Scotland my maister to ouerthrowe all the Bishoprickes in his countrey that his proceedinges therein might bee an example for England adioyning Vpon a certaine repaire of terme thousand in armes to the King of Scots at Sterling Anno 1585. whereupon the Bishoprickes were indeed suppressed Knewstubbe a Consistorian Minister of Suffolke did write thus to Fielde I would bee glad to heare somewhat of the estate of Scotland it doth more trouble me then our owne For I am conceiuing some hope vpon the change of their former proceeding It also appeareth that there is great and ordinary intelligence betwixt their and our especiall presbyterie ministers for the better and more ready compassing of such deuises and platformes as are sought for by our said ministers so busily amongst vs. The best of our Ministerie sayth Iames Gibson a minister of Scotland to a brother in England are most carefull of your estate and had sent for that effect a Preacher of our Church this last summer 1590. of purpose to conferre with the best affected Ministers of your Church to laye downe a plot how our Church might best trauell for your reliefe And again The Lord knows what care we haue of your Church both in our publike and priuate praiers c. For as feeling members of one bodie we reckon the affliction of your Church to be our owne One Dauison in like manner an other minister of that countrey taketh vpon him to iustifie the proceedings of our malecontent ministers here as it shall herafter more plainely appeare and for the better incouraging of them in their peeuishnes hee telleth them that the iust defence of their holie cause of Discipline must not be left which hath no lesse warrant to bee continued perpetuallie within the Church vnder this precept Feede my sheepe then hath the preaching of the word and ministration of the Sacraments Hee doth also publish it so as the world might take notice of it that the good brethren of England are of the same minde with them of Scotland that both their causes are most neerelie linked together Lastly there is almost nothing more ordinary in all the Consistorian discourses and libels of our owne countreymen whether they bee printed here or in Scotland then to presse vs with the examples of Geneua and Scotland and to inueigle the people of England with I knowe not what great commendation of the proceedings and platformes of some of the ministers in both those places Which points considered being required by those that might command me that whereas certaine writings and letters were come to my handes concerning some courses taken by our saide more friendly disturbers then the Iesuites are but yet very great disturbers I should make the same in some sorte knowne I thought it my best way for the discharging of my duety therein first to lay downe before you the examples patternes proceedings of those Ministers and Churches which those our factious crew propound to themselues to follow secondly that I may not bee enforced to passe by them as one saith D. B. was in his sermon at Paules crosse to make it most apparant vnto you how artificially and effectually they haue already by imitation expressed them Whereby you shall perceiue that although by reason of their said combination and secretnesse vsed many things lie hid from those in authority which they haue done already in the setting forward of their pretended discipline yet there will fall out so much to bee disclosed as laying it to their patternes you may easily discerne notwithstanding all their goodly pretences what to iudge of their proceedings and whereat in truth they doo ayme CHAP. II. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion of the doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached IT seemeth that when the Gospell began first to be preached by Farellus Viretus and others at Geneua they coulde haue beene well content with the gouernement of the Bishop there if hee would willingly haue reiected the Pope and ioyned with them for the reformation of Religion This appeareth by M. Caluins wordes to Cardinall Sadolete Talem nobis Hierarchiam si exhibeant in qua sic emineant Episcopi vt Christo subesse recusent vt ab illo tanquam vnico capite pendeant ad ipsum referantur in qua sic inter se fraternam societatem colant vt non alio modo quà m eius veritate sint colligati tum vero nullo non anathemate dignos fatear si qui erunt qui non eam reuerenter summaque obedientia obseruent If they doo bring vnto vs such an Hierarchie or priestlie gouernement wherein the Bishops shall so rule as that they refuse not to submit themselues to Christ that they also depend vpon him as their onely heade and can be content to rèferre themselues to him in which priestlie gouernment they doo so keepe brother lie societie amongst themselues that they bee knit together by no other knot then by the trueth then surelie if there shall be anie that shall not submit themselues to that Hierarchie or priestlie gouernement reuerentlie and with the greatest obedience that may be I confesse there is no kinde of Anathema or curse or casting to the diuell whereof they are not worthie Thus farre then it must needes be thought that the Bishoppe was offered by suche as soughte to refourme that Church which offer he refusing as I gesse to accept of they dealt as it appeareth by the issue with the inferiour magistrates and people to make such a reformation themselues as they required of them Whereupon the Bishop beeing Lord of the City and hauing aswell in his handes the Soueraigne ciuill Iurisdiction ouer it or as M. Caluin speaketh Ius gladij alias ciuilis iurisdictionis partes c. as the Ecclesiasticall they saide He was a thiefe and an vsurper and so of themselues with such assistance as was procured did thrust him from both those authorities Euen like in my opinion as if a Christian Prince being possessed within his dominions of the supreame Iurisdiction as well in Ecclesiasticall as in ciuill causes might vpon the like occasion
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
DAVNGEROVS POSITIONS AND PROCEEdings published and practised within this Iland of Brytaine vnder pretence of Reformation and for the Presbiteriall Discipline 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My sonne feare the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious Prou. 24. 21. They despise gouernement and speake euill of them that are in authority Iude. LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe 1593. An aduertisement to the Reader THE Author of this Treatise was required by some persons of honor who might dispose of him and his labours to set downe by way of an historicall narration what hee had obserued touching certaine positions holden and some enterprises atchieued or vndertaken for recommending and bringing the Presbiteriall Discipline into this Iland of Brittaine vnder pretence of reformation The performance of which dutie when hee had vndertaken and was entred into it hee found the worke to grow farre greater vpon him then at the first he did imagine Insomuch as although in the beginning he verily supposed tha hee might easily haue contriued his matter into a few sheetes of paper so that as many coppies as were to bee disposed might easily and in very short time haue beene written forth yet by the necessary length of the Discourse as it fell out and through his manifold quotations hee was constrained as the time required to procure for the better dispatch that some fewe copies might bee printed And albeit there is no meaning that this Treatise laboured but for the priuate satisfaction of some fewe especiall persons should otherwise continue then as an vnpublished Copie yet the writer of it wished to haue it signified that nothing is alleadged therein which is not to be found either in Bookes and writinges published to the view of the world such as he thinketh will not be disclaimed or in publike records or else is to be shewed vnder those parties own hands that haue beene either the principall procurers fauorers or dealers in those thinges whereof hee intreateth Which asseueration of his thus made he will be ready as he sayth God assisting him to iustifie at any time for the satisfaction of such as shall make doubt of it And doth further protest with all sinceritie that he hath not willingly detorted any thing in this whole Discourse to make either the cause it selfe or the fauorors thereof more odious then their owne wordes and deeds shall necessarily inferre and enforce against them with all indifferent and considerate Readers Farewell in Christ. The Contents of the first Booke OF two sorts of men that especially disturbe the Church of England and of the drifts of them both by way of a Preface Chap. 1. Fol. 1. Of the course held at Geneua for reformation of religion and of the Doctrine which vpon that occasion hath beene broached Chap. 2. Fol. 7. Of the proceeding of some Scottish Ministers according to the Geneuian rules of Reformation Chap. 3. Fol. 9. How the Geneuian Doctrine or principle for Reformation hath beene amplified by certaine pretended Reformers in Scotland Chap. 4. Fol. 14 The obiections against the doctrine reported of in the former chapter with the Consistorian answeres vnto them Chap. 5. Fol. 16. The proceedinges of certaine Scottish Ministers according to the groundes mentioned in the two last chapters for setting vp of the Consistorian Discipline and of their vrging of our English Disciplinaries to follow their steppes Chap. 6. Fol. 18. The Contents of the second Booke The Doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to have procured the like course for Reformation in England to that which was in Scotland Chap. 1. Fol. 34. 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 Chap. 2. Fol. 41. Our pretended English reformers doo imitate or rather exceede the Scottish Ministers in reuiling and rayling against all that doo encounter them Chap. 3. Fol. 44. The speeches of the said pretended reformers concerning England the State the present reformation and gouernement of the Church Cha. 4. Fol. 47. Some of their vndutifull and consistorian speeches concerning her Maiestie c. Chap. 5. Fol. 48. Some of their rayling speeches against the high court of Parliament and all others generally that do maintaine the present gouernment of the Church of England Chap. 6. Fol. 50 Some of their Disciplinarian speeches concerning the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell Chap. 7. Fol. 52. Some of their rayling speeches against the Magistracy in England the Iudges Lawyers and lawes both ciuill and ecclesiasticall Chap. 8. Fol. 54. Some of their consistoriall sayings as touching our Religion Communion booke Sacraments and ceremonies Chap. 9. Fol. 55. How they doo charge the present gouernement with persecution Chap. 10. Fol. 56. Some of their consistorian speeches of the Clergy of England assembled as occasion hath required in the Conuocation house Chap. 11. Fol. 58. Some of their presbiterial speeches of the Bishops of England professing the Gospell Chap. 12. Fol. 58. Some of their vncharitable wordes against all the Clergy in England generally that mislike their designements Chap. 13. Fol. 60. Their especiall drift in their said rayling speeches as outragiously published as if they were meere Iesuites and peraduenture to as dangerous a purpose Chap. 14. Fol. 61. The Contents of the third Booke The practises of certaine English reformers for Discipline from the yeare 1560. vntill the yeare 1572 chap. 1. Fol. 65 The secret meetings for Discipline and the matters handled in them heere in England from 1572. till 1583. chap. 2. Fol. 67 A forme or booke of discipline is drawne and a resolution agreed vppon how far they might proceede for the practise of it without breaking the peace of our Church chap 3. Fol. 69 About the yeare 1583. they fell againe to the practise of their discipline and of a consistorian question chap. 4. Fol. 73 Their Booke of Discipline is reuiewed it was after sent abroad about 1587 it was put in practise in Northamptonshire and many other places cha 5 Fol. 75. A Synode is held at Couentry 1588. many questions are resolued the booke of discipline is subscribed vnto chap. 6. Fol. 85 The booke of the pretended discipline is made perfect at Cambridge certain Synods are kept and of their estimation chap. 7 Fol. 88 Vpon some detecting of the premisses some were called into question they refuse to be examined all they were charged which is in effect confessed chap. 8. Fol. 91 Cartwright is called for by authority a Synode is held in London it is there resolued that he shall refuse to be examined vpon his oath chap. 9. Fol. 93 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline collected out of the rules of their subscribed booke chap. 10. fol. 94 Further proofe for their practise of their discipline out of the articles they subscribed cha 11. fol. 98. It is confessed that they agreed to
and their children nay their liues in respect therof were not greatly deare vnto them Moreouer it is manifest how long they were exercised with great feare and many perplexities what entertainement and continuance the Gospell should finde amongst them In which case euery man may easily coniecture how easie a matter it was for them to be miscaried by their teachers Preachers perswading them that by Gods commandement they were bound to vndertake that course withall not omitting great threates of excommunication damnation if they refused so to doo They found their sayd Ministers doctrine very good and sound in the chiefe points of saluation and who would then haue suspected them in matters of lesse importance So as whatsoeuer was done amisse by them as touching their proceedings mentioned I doo wholly in a manner ascribe it to their Ministers of the Geneua learning Vnto whom also it ought of right to be imputed that I or any other either haue or hereafter shall haue any occasion at all so much as once to make mention of the least thing that might be any waies offensiue to the meanest of that natiō For what had I or any other priuate man in England to doo with their matters otherwise then to haue prayed for them had their sayd Ministers but onely taken vppon them to haue iustified their sayde proceedinges by their owne Lawes customes and priuiledges and could haue contented themselues to haue gone no further Marry nowe that the chiefest of them for the excusing of themselues and that they might shew whose schollers they are haue presumed to publish and that in print such strange seditious doctrine as doth tend to the like disturbance and indeede to the vtter ouerthrow of the freest and most absolute Monarchies that are or can be in Christendome not omitting withall to solicite and incourage our pretended reformers in England to proceed as they haue begun in following their steps contrary I am sure both to the word of God and to all the lawes and customes of this Realme I am in very good hope that there is no man of any sound iudgement who will be offended with mee in that to disclose and thereby to preuent such mischiefes as might otherwise ensue with vs I haue beene bolde to lay downe but yet out of their printed bookes some of the proceedinges of the sayde Ministers of Scotland which at this time our owne Preachers in England of the Disciplinarian consort as nowe it followeth to bee shewed doo take vppon them to imitate and haue already proceeded further in them then some of their fauorers will acknowledge or I thinke doo as yet suspect The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP. I. The doctrine of certaine English Ministers which they learned at Geneua and published of purpose to haue procured the like course for reformation in England to that which was in Scotland AS you haue hearde in the first Booke howe M. Knox beeing at Geneua in Q. Maries time laboured and afterward proceeded to reforme Religion in Scotland by force and armes so did sundry English men that then liued there in like sort according to the Geneua resolution in that point endeuour as much as lay in them to haue kindled the like stirres at that time here in England To which especiall ende they did write hither sundry letters and bookes wholy of this argument vz. that the then Councellors the Noble men inferiour Magistrates and rather then faile the very people were bound before God to ouerthrowe the superstition and Idolatrie that was then in the Land and to reforme Religion whether the Queene would or no yea though it were by putting her to death Out of two of these English bookes I haue collected these seditious and consistoriall propositions following All men councellors noble men inferior magistrates and people are bound and charged to see the lawes of God kept and to suppresse and resist Idolatrie by force If the magistrates shall refuse to put massemongers and false preachers to death the people in seeing it performed doo shewe that zeale of God which was commended in Phinees destroying the adulterers and in the Israelites against the Beniamites To teach that it was not lawfull in any case to resist the superior powers but rather to submit our selues to punishment is a dangerous doctrine taught by some by the permission of God for our sinnes It is not sufficient for subiects not to obey wicked commandements of their Princes but to withstand them also in dooing the contrarie euerie man in his vocation and office Shieriffes Iaylors and other inferior officers ought not onely not to cast the saintes of God in prison hauing commandement thereunto by the Prince for feare of loosing their offices but to withstand euill to support them and to deliuer them to the vttermost of their power If we see a sheepe in daunger to be deuoured of a wolfe wee are bounde to deliuer it euen so to our power wee are bound to put to our hands to deliuer the children of God when wee see them pitiouslie in danger by Gods enemies It is the office of Councellors to bridle the affections of Princes and gouernors Noblemen were first ordained to bridle Princes Noblemen haue their honour of the people to reuenge the iniuries of their Kings and not for their lustie hawking nimble dicing carding singing and dauncing open bragging swearing false flearing and flattering subtle picking and stealing cruell polling and pilling c. The authoritie which Princes haue is giuen them from the people Kings princes and gouernours haue their authoritie of the people and vpon occasion the people may take it away again as men may reuoke their proxies and letters of Atturney Subiects do promise obedience that the Magistrate might help them which if he doo not they are discharged of their obedience If Magistrates without feare transgresse Gods laws themselues and command others to doo the like then haue they lost that honour and obedience which otherwise their subiectes did owe vnto them and ought no more to be taken for Magistrates but be examined accused condemned and punished as priuate transgressors Iudges ought by the lawe of God to summon Princes before them for their crimes and to proceed against them as against all other offenders Euill Princes ought by the lawe of God to bee deposed and inferior magistrates ought chieflie to doo it Examples allowed of Kings deposed Edward 2 Richard 2. Christierne of Denmarke c. It is lawfull to kill wicked kings and tyrants and both by Gods lawe and mans lawe Queene Mary ought to haue beene put to death as being a tyrant a monster a cruell beast c. Examples The subiects did kill the Queenes highnesse Athalia Iehu killed the Queenes maiestie Iesabell Elias beeing no magistrate killed the Queenes maiesties chaplaines Baals
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
faithfulnes doe they alledge for their platformes both Scriptures Councels Fathers and Histories Moreouer what with the pretence of Gods law of mans law and I know not of what law they haue been suffered to go so farre against all lawes that now they haue taken such heart as that some of them are not affraid to affirme and that in print because the people might take notice of it that there is no authoritie which may lawfully suppresse their foresaid proceedinges No Magistrate saith one of the brotherhood may lawfully mayme or deforme the body of Christ which is the Church no lawfull Church gouernment is changeable at the pleasure of the Magistrate of necessitie all christian Magistrates are bound to receiue this gouernment c. And thus hither to you haue seen the proceedings of our English reformers according to their ringleaders actions in Scotland they haue had their draughts of discipline they haue subscribed a particular book for England they haue put their former platformes their said particular booke for the most part of it in practise as neare as they could they haue had their meetinges and Synodes generally throughout all the lande they haue made decrees conclusions not only to further their own conspiracy but also to ouerthrow the present gouernment of the Church they haue had in some places their Elders they haue exempted themselues from the ecclesiastical gouernment in this Realme accounting the same in some respects to be Antichristian and so not to be obeyed in some other to be a meere ciuile and a parliament church-gouernment and in that regard onely after a sort to bee yeelded vnto for their better safer standing in their owne seditious and consistorian waies They haue by their false gloses seduced many of her Maiesties subiectes they haue combined themselues together into a strange brotherhood They challenge to their vnlawfull and seditious assemblies the true and most proper name of the Church They say their doings are according to law They affirme in effect that no Magistrate may lawfully ouerthrow that which they haue builded in asmuch as now it is saide that the Bishops in seeking by the authority which her Maiestie hath giuen and confirmed vnto them to maintaine as they are bound the present church-gouernment and state established by her highnes lawes within this Realme and to suppresse and reforme their schismaticall seditious disorders and such like are the disturbers of the peace of the church that the Bishops beginne the quarrel in disquieting of them who in towne and country were very greatly at vnity tooke sweete councell together for the profiting of the Church That the Bishops are the schismatickes and not they that the crime of schisme which the prelates woulde fasten vppon them doth iustly cleaue to the Bishops and that Bishops may be discharged by the Church And they haue entred alreadie into this consideration how Archbishops Bishops Chauncellors Deanes Cannons Archdeacons Commissaries Registers Apparitors c. All which by their said pretended reformation must be thrust from their liuings should be prouided for that the common wealth be not thereby pestred with beggars Whereby it appeareth that in their owne conceites they haue already attained their soueraintie They and their conuenticles forsooth are the true Church and all England besides is in a schisme So as now it may be dayly expected when these godly brethren for a full conclusion of their attempts will take vpon them as their maisters did in Scotland to discharge the estate of Bishops and to direct their commissioners to her most excellent Maiestie commanding both her and her highnesse most honourable priuie Councell vnder the pain of excommunication to appoint no Bishops hereafter because they haue concluded that state to bee vnlawfull and that furthermore her Highnes vnder the same penaltie shall not presume from thenceforth either any longer to maintaine the present Antichristian Church-gouernment or once to attempt the ouerthrowing of theirs And thus much of this matter vz. concerning our English reformers and their imitation of the Ministers of Scotland in that seeing they could not preuaile with their suites supplications to her Maiestie and the Parliament for the setting vp of their discipline they haue taken vpon them to doe it themselues The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF DISCIPLINARY GROVNDES and Practises CHAP. 1. Some of them seeme to growe desperate and propound to themselues a strange example to follow for the adauncing of their Discipline As the Ministers of Scotland with their adherentes finding sondry impedimentes in theyr foresaide proceedings and in the setting-vp of their discipline did grow to be very angry ther-vpon often-times before they came to armes or violence did cast out many greate speaches and threatnings as it hath beene before declared euen so also it fareth now rightly with our Disciplinarians in England They threaten and bragge aboue measure what shall come to passe and I pray God they be suffered to go no further One of the brethren in the name of the rest complaining that they are oppugned and as he saith persecuted desireth that the same may be prouided for and addeth therwithall these words It is the case already of many a thousand in this land yea it is the case of as many as seeke the Lorde aright c. Greate troubles will come of it if it be not prouided for None seeke the Lord aright but this brotherhood Great ioy of them But what troubles meane they That an other seemeth to cleare where he sayeth that they can endure no such hard dealing as is vsed against them any longer Alas saith hee wee are neuer able to stand against the pouerty losses imprisonment discountenance by our superiors that our bretheren haue sustayned c. Neuer able to swallow vp the slaunders and bitter names of puritanes precisians traitors seditious libellers c. Why what will you doe The best that can bee gathered of his wordes is this Come saith hee let vs make a Captaine and returne againe into Egipt If they haue not their mindes the danger may bee which in deede will bring some troubles that they are not vnlike to become either Atheists or Papistes Shortlie after the straunge attempt before mentioned that was made against the king of Scotland Anno 1585 by ten thousand of his owne people at Sterling whereby the consistorian Ministers preuailed aswell against their Soueraigne as against their Bishops for the aduancing of their presbiteries there came out a rayling Dialogue here in England published abroade in print and scattered by the brotherhoode throughout the whole Realme This Dialogue is intituled the state of the church of England laid open in a conference betweene Diotrephes representing the person of a Bishop Tertullus a Papist brought in to pleade for the orders of our church Demetrius a Vsurer signifying such as liue by vnlawful trades Pandocheus an Inkeeper a receyuer of al and a soother
determined Non dum solicitandum esse publicé vniuersum caetum ad praxim Disciplinae donec meliùs instituantur homines in eius cognitione that is As yet the whole multitude are not to be allured publikely to the practise of the Discipline vntil men bee better instructed in the knowledge of it As though for the answering of Payne they had said that when by that means they had gotten a sufficient number to assiste them then his counsaile should be followed For you must vnderstand that their chiefest trust is reposed in the people as it may be further made more plain vnto you by the deposition of maister Edmonds whose wordes I will set downe as they remaine in record I doe well remember saith he that after I had left that company meaning the London assemblies meeting with Master Field I talked with him what harme was already done by inueighing against the present state of the Church and by their proceedings in beating this their new reformation into the heades of the common people because they were alreadie growen thereby amongest themselues into great diuisions very contemptuous insolent intractable c Whereunto hee answered tush holde your peace seeing we cannot compasse these things by suite nor dispute it is the multitude and people that must bring them to passe But I will leaue their endeuours a while how they may seduce the people and enter into a discourse to their further proceedings CHAP. III. They would haue the nobility and the inferior Magistrates to set vp their discipline of their supplication with a 100000 hāds IT is here to be considered what course they take to bring the Nobility and inferior magistrates of England to the before said stifnes mentioned in the first Chapter that was in them of Scotlād Maister Penry exhorteth the Lord President of Wales by the examples of Moses Iehosuah Dauid Salomon Iehosophat Hezechiah Iosue Nehemiah c. to take in hād their pretended reformation in that countrie prouing that he hath authority therunto because hee is a gouernour vnder God and that if hee refused so to doe he could haue no commission to rule there in that therby Christ being reiected he was become but the Lieutenant of Sathan Here you haue Allobrogical and Consistoriall stuffe able of it selfe if it were receiued to fill all Christian kingdomes with all kinde of mutinies sedition and rebellion They would make the inferior Magistrates vnder their Soueraigne to beleeue that they had for their times and within their limittes as absolute authority as if they themselues were fully Princes there and were not manie waies restrayned by the supreme Magistrate Surely if they shall bee able by these and such like perswasions to draw vnto them the Iustices of Peace the Shirifes or Lieutenants of euery Shire and so make them the executioners of their good pleasures and platformes without any further Commission or warrant from her Maiestie they shall not neede to expect eyther Prince or Parliament but may throwe downe and set vp as greate builders doe whatsoeuer shall be most agreeable to the mutabilitie of their owne affections And whereas an obiection might haue beene made that if either the Noblemen Gentlemen or people shold take vpon them to cast downe the Bishops and to reforme the church according to their raigning frēzy without her maiesties commandement that in so doing they shold greatly disturbe the state of the Realme and highly offēd her most excellent maiestie these points are both of them passed ouer with a snuffe with great disdaine as being no such impediments as ought to hinder the valiant corages of Consistorian subiects I tell you true saith one of their Captaines I thinke it a greate blessing of God that hath raised vp Martin to hold tackling with the Bishops that you may haue some time of breathing or rather a time to gather courage and zeale c. to set vppon these ennemies c. For if as hitherto you haue you bee so loth for disturbing of our state forsooth and the offending of her Maiestie not onelie to speak against but euen vtterlie to reiect this Hierarchy of our Bishops euen to haue no more to doe with it then with the seate of the beast you shall declare vnto our children that God can set vp but a company of whiteliuered souldiers c. Forsooth if this exhortation be according to their Discipline it ought no longer to be tearmed Christs as they tearme it but the Diuels Discipline And yet because they would not haue her Maiestie altogether neglected an other of their Lieutennants can be content that before their souldiers mentioned shoulde beginne the skirmish there might bee first as it were for a parlee some little ouuerture of duetie signified that if as yet her Highnesse woulde bee ruled by them they would desist To this purpose hee moueth all the Puritanes as hee tearmeth them in England both Lordes Knightes Gentlemen Ministers and people to offer a supplication to her Maiestie in effect for the full obtayning of all their desires To this saith he an hundred thousand hands would be gotten c. and then thou speaking to his reader may well thinke what a stroke so many would strike together c. It should appeare that they are not few and of small reputation but in a manner the strength of our land and the sinow of her Maiesties royal gouernment which our Bishops do falsely note with the names of Puritanes The consideration whereof I tell thee euen in policie would make that this their suite should not bee hastily reiected especially in such a time as wherein we now liue in daunger of our enemies abroad and therefore had need of no causes of discouragement at home I like it well when men will deale plainelie You see indeede their hearts And is it not then euident whereat they ayme In such a time no pollicy Indeede the returne of the Spaniard was then expected No neede then of discouragement at home Why wanting your desires wold you haue taken no part if the Spaniard had come or purposed you to haue made a more readie passage for him by rebelling at home before he should haue come or would you haue ioyned with him if he had come or meant you thereby through terror to haue enforced her Maiestie to your purposes least you should haue taken some of these courses Chose which of them you list the best is seditious CHAP. IIII. Presuming vpon some vnlawful asistance they vse very violent wordes HOw true it is that they haue a hundreth thousand ready at their direction I know not but they haue surely too many if the companion of the brotherhood that sent his humble motion abroade may be herein beleeued Thousands he saith do sigh for this discipline and ten thousand haue sought it and approued and worthy men of euery shire haue consented vnto it But certaine it is such is their hope to thrust the people with the rest of