A petition directed to her most excellent Maiestie wherein is deliuered 1 A meane howe to compound the ciuill dissention in the church of England 2 A proofe that they who write for Reformation do not offend against the stat of 23. Eliz. c. 2. and therefore till matters be compounded deserue more fauour Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the causes of the children appointed to death PROV 31. 8. I beleeued and therefore haue I answered For SIONS sake I will not ceasse and for IERVSALEMS sake I will not holde my tong ESA. 62. 1. Herevnto is annexed Some opinions of such as sue for Reformation By vvhich is made appeare hovve vniustlie they are slaundered by the Bishops c. pag 53. Together vvith the Authours Epistle to the Reader pag. 58. Also Certeyne Articles wherein is discouered the negligence of the Bishoppes their Officialls Fauourers and Follovvers in performance of sundrie Ecclesiasticall Statutes Lawes and Ordinances Royall and Episcopall published for the gouernement of the Church of England pag. 60. Lastlie Certeyne Questions or Interrogatories dravven by a fauourer of Reformation vvhich he desireth to be resolued by the Prelates pag. 74. To the Queenes most excellent Maiestie Elizab. by the grace of God Queene of Englande France and Ireland supreme gouernesse in all causes and ouer all persons within her Maiesties Realmes and Dominions CRauing vppon my knees pardon for my boldnes I beseech your most excelleÌ„t maiesty to heare me a little All your Highnes subiects that loue the religion honour your maiesty and desire the good of the Realme doe hartily bewaile the bitter contentioÌ„ about the questions of reforming the Church Many seeke to increase this contention Some labour to appease it but this will neuer bee till the trueth in these matters be assured in the hearts of both parties I doe not nowe write eyther to pull downe Bishoprickes or erect presbiteries With whom the trueth is I will not determine For I knowe not What seemeth most probable and true to me that I knowe Howe trueth should come to light that is the question Writing of bookes in such manner as is nowe vsed is endlesse wearinesse to the fleshe matter of further contention by reason of impertinent and personall discourses The troubles of Churches and enmitie of Princes wil not admit a generall Councell A free Nationall or Prouinciall Councell at home were much to be wished so that the Bb. and their followers did not ouerrule the rest For it is against religion law and reason that the same men should be both iudges and parties Or if this be not thought so conuenient There is a way deuised and much commended by learned men as a notable meane to compounde controuersies namely priuate conferences by aduised writing not extemporall speaking the question agreed of The arguments thâ— answeres replies and reioinders set downe till both parties had fully said all by-matters laid aside In fine the whole to be published that your maiesty the honourable Councellours and Parliament may iudge thereof that those thinges which on eyther part are founde faultie may be redressed That all thinges be not so cleare with the Bb. but that further conference triall and reformation is requisite appeareth 1 By the lawes established which expect a better and further reformation in Church-causes 2 By the writings of our Diuines in the common cause against the papistes 3 By the confession of the Bb. them selues and such aâ— write in their defence 4 By their suspicious and doubtfull handling of the matters in question 5 By the testimony of learned men and christian Churches who seeme to speake against the gouernment by Bb. and for the gouernement by assisting Elders 1 The lawes expect a further reformation of the Church Your Maiesties most noble Father vnderstanding that the lawes Ecclesiasticall of this lande were corrupt prouided by Parliament that 32. persons should peruse and correct them gathering into one booke those that were good which by his Royall assent should haue the strength of lawe all other Ecclesiasticall lawes to be abandoned out of this Church for euer Maister D. Cranmer and other reuerend men were delegated to this purpose They collected into one booke many good thinges as they thought touching Aduouson of benefices Excommunication for small matters Residence of Vniuersitie men vpon their benefices Mariages without consent of parentes Nursing of children by their owne mother Diuorces for infirmitie of body Pluralities Broken Musicke in Cathedrall Churches Deacons The solemnitie of ExcoÌ„munication and absoâ—ution with the assent of the people and many other things which are directly contrary to the practise and orders of the moderne Bishops But this booke wanteth the Kinges confirmation and the lawes Ecclesiasticall remaine in the same corruption as your Maiesties Father left them notwithstanding the labours of those Reuerend personages and the act of Parliament which was reuiued and confirmed in the beginning of your Highnes most happy reigne 2 Also in the booke of common prayer which was sette forth by your Maiesties brother accepted by your highnes there is prescribed a Commination to bee vsed at a certaine time in the yeare not to continue euer but till an order of Discipline practised in she primitiue Church bee restored which were greatly to bee wished as the authours of that booke doe saie Yet this Commination staÌ„deth and the Discipline there mentioned is yet wanting 3 The booke of ordering Ministers confirmed by lawe presumeth that euery Minister should be a Preacher For at the Ordination the Bishop sayeth Take thou authority to preach the word of God Yet where the Bb. ordeine one Minister that can preach they make twenty that can not 4 â—astly it is enacted That all ornaments of the Church and Ministers thereof such as are Surples Coapes c. shall be retained and be in vse as was appointed by King Edward the 6. not for vnchangeable continuaunce but vntill other order were taken by your Maiestie and your Highnes Ecclesiasticall Commissioners 2 The Defenders of our common cause expect a further Reformation Those thinges in effect be acknowledged by some of our chiefe defendours of religion against the papistes For vvhen they obiect That we are glad to borrowe their ceremonies to haue an apish imitation of their Masâ—e booke answere is returned That diuers abuses in Ceremonies and Discipline were tollerated among vs our Church therein yeelding to the infirmitie of the weaker sorte which were to be altered when people grewe to ryper knowledge 3 The Defenders of the state of Bb. expect further Reformation 1 Al the Bishops in their Canons do confesse that Non-residencie is a filthie thing odâ—ous to men pernicious to the church yet what is more common 2 By the lawes of England in the ordination of Bb. the Archbishop should lay the Bible vpon the Bishops neck
that is to be ordeined and put a pastorall staffe into his hande If the Archbishops did not esteeme these as vaine ceremonies they would vrge them with as great vehemency vpon Bb. as they doe Surplesses vpon ministers 3 My L. of Canterb in his booke against Maister Cartw. sayeth That Chauncellours who are not Ministers should not excommunicate The authours of the Remonstrance and Matthewe Sâ—tcliffes bookes defenders of the Hierarchie by writing thinke it a most vnmeete thing that such as bee no ministers of the worde should meddle with the keies of the Church yet the contrary is daily vsed 4 The Bishop of London confesseth That he made his Porter minister and the other Bb. doe acknowledge That manie lewde and vnlearned ministers haue beene made of late in Englande which they will not seeme to defende Besides they say Wee haue yet but a tollerable manner of reformation all which doe euince a further reformation 5 D. Cosins one of the high Commissioners writeth That the punishment of Adulterie is to milde 6 A learned man and friend of the Bb. noteth as abuses Their vrging of Subscription Their oth ex officio Their excommunication for trifles and easie silencing of ministers 4 The suspicious and doubtfull handling of the controuersed matters imployeth some neede of reformation and conference 1 My L. of Cant. speaking of the maine controuersie touching gouernement By Seni. or Elders sayeth That hee knoweth that the primitiue Church had in euery Church certaine Seniors to whome the gouernement of the Congregation was committed In a booke against the Marprelate subscribed as I haue heard by the Archb. of Cant. the Bb. of Winch. Linc. London it is affirmed that the gouernement by Elders was vsed vnder the Lawe and practised vnder the Gospell by the Apostles though not fit for our times But repenting this plaine confession they haue caused certaine wordes importing the contrarie to be printed vpon a shred of paper which paper was pasted in all the bookes of the first impression to couer conceale their former assertion 2 The Remonstrance comming after holdeth there vvas neuer any gouernement by Elders in the Church but yeeldeth that if the Eldership begun in the Lawe and continued in the Gospell that then it shoulde stande to the worldes ende For somuch as is prescribed in the new lawe no prescription ought to bee made against it Vpon which crosse assertions laide one vppon another the aduerse partie may presse out the conclusion of all the controuersie If the Eldership begun in the Lawe and continued in the Gospell then no prescription may be made against it but it shoulde stande for euer So saith the Remonst But the Eldership begun in the Law and continued in the Gospell So say the Bb. Therefore no prescription may be made against the Eldership but it shoulde stande for euer 3 But one Matthewe Sutcliffe comming after these controlleth both for he protesteth there was neuer anie gouernment by Elders vnder the Gospell or if there were yet the gouernement vsed by the Apost is changeable not of necessitie to bee continued Not content herein to make the rent of our Church deeper then euer it was hee hath openlie in latine defaced forreine Churches of whom D. Whitgift and other haue alwayes written honorably that wee might not onely be at warre within our selues but with straungers also Whereby it is likely there will arise as daungerous trouble to the Churches about Discipline as hath growen by the question of Consubstantiation to the great offence of the common aduersarie and generall disquiet of all Christendome Touching the state of Bb. diuers who nowe most egerly defende when they were nearest to God that is in miserie anguishe of soule did speake against it but afterwarde inclining to the worlde with their conditions they altered their opinions 1 Maister Elmar nowe Bishop of London writeth thus Christ sayeth Luc. 1. 2. Who made me a Iudge betweene you As though hee woulde saie It belongeth not to my office to determine matters of pollicie and inheritance that belongeth to the ciuill Magistrate If hee had thought it had beene within the compasse of his function why and with what conscience refused bee to set them at one who were at strife and to put that out of doubt which was in sute If hee might doe it and woulde not hee lacked charitie and did not his duetie If it belonged not to him howe belonged it to anie of his Disciples or successours Had not bee as large a commissâ—on as he gaue Or coulde bee giue that he had not But hee knowing his office as the Prophete Esay had foretolde to preach the 〈◊〉 and woulde doe nothing without warrant And therefore being asked if hee were a King answered siâ—plie and by a plaine negatiue My kiâ—gdome is not of this worlde If his kingdome were not here neither the ordering of pollicies c. Yea when they woulde haue taken him vp to haue made him a King as one that refused that belonged not to him hee conueyed him-selfe from amonge them If Imperiall iurisdiction belonged to him why refused hee his calling If it did not where had Paul or any other anie authoritie to meddle with that which hee refused Seeing hee sayeth As my Father sent mee so sende I you In another place Christ knowinge the bondes of his calling woulde not medle with externe pollicie c. Diuines methinkes by this example shoulde not giue them-selues too much the bridle and too large a scope to meddle too farre with matters of pollicie If these two offices I meane ecclesiasticall and ciuill bee so â—umbled in both functions there can bee no quiet or well ordered common wealth And againe Princes of the Nations doe heare rule like Lords it shall not bee so with you It falleth not into an Apostles or Church-mans office to meddle with such matters For none going to warre intangleth him selfe with the affaires of this life it is enough for them to waite vpon one office to attende as sole priestes not as errant Baylliffes And elswhere Come off yee Bishops away with your superfluities yeelde vp your thousandes bee content with hundreds as they bee in other reformed Churches where there be as great learned men as you are Let your portion bee priestlike and not Princelike Let the Queene haue the rest of your temporalities to mainetaine warres and to builde schooles throughout the Realme that euerie parishe Church may haue his Preacher euery Citie hir Superintendent to liue not pompeouslie Which will neuer bee vnless your landes bee dispersed and bestowed vpon manie which nowe feede and fat but one Remember that Abâ—nelech when Dauid in his banishment woulde haue dined with him kept such hospitalitie that hee had no breade to giue him but the Shewbâ—ead Where was all his superfluitie to keepe your pretended
her Maiestie that nowe is There is not one pricke pointing at the Queenes lawes or state of Bb. Therefore it is to be taken strictly of the Queene against whom the Seekers of Reformation haue not writen and by consequent haue not infringed this statute 5 Her maiesty is a body politike and hath members politike in fiction onely and in politicall imagination not in truth and verity In like imagination the lawe sayeth shee cannot doe wronge shee is alwaies of perfect age shee is not subiect to any passion shee can not bee imprisoned sicke or due Thinges in themselues vntrue Therefore he that diffameth her members politike doeth diffame her maiesty only in fiction that is in plaine english not at all 6 If they that write against the state of Bb. diffame her maiesty that vpholdeth it Then doe they that call the gouernement by Elders antichristian a popedome c. diffame the Queene also For hir maiesty hath authorized or at the least openly and notoriously tollerated the gouernement by Elders in forraine Churches that haue fled for succour into Her Dominions and haue bene admitted to vse the gouernement by Elders euen as our fugitiues in Queene Maries time founde like liberty and fauour in strange nations 7 If they that diffame the Queenes members politike diffame the Queene then they that take awaye the life of her members politike commit treason against the Queene The same reason caeteris paribus maketh the same lawe But euery puisne knoweth it is no treason to kill the Bb. though it bee worthily treason to attempt any hurt to her Highnesse Therefore the diffamation of the Bb. is no diffamation of the Queene 8 All men be lyers Churches Vniuersal Councells Parliamentes and lawes of all nations doe controll one another Therefore it is no diffamation to her Maiesty if men ascribe errour in some of their lawes seeing it is incident to all men to erre in some thinges Though Princes be called Gods yet as they die so doe they erre like other men Homines sunt mendaces non angels Men be lyers they bee not Angels sayeth Iustice Shelley 9 If you doe offer violence to the most base subiect in this Realme you doe periudice the Crowne and dignitie of our Soueraine Lady the Queene yet if you diâ—fame them it is no diffamation of the Queene the murthering of them is onelie felony though by estimation of lawe their life doeth more neerely touch the Crowne then can be shewed for the state of Bishops 10 If the diffaming of the Bishops and Queene be al one punishable by one lawe and one penaltie then the lawes defende the name and credite of a subiect with as great care as the name of the Queene Which were absurde in the law and a presuÌ„ptuous challenge in any subiect that doeth not represent the person of the Queene 11 If the writers against the gouernement of Bishops doe maliciouslie diffame the Princes that bear it vp then do they malitiously diffame the Dukes of Saxonie and Hie Almaine that mainteine the state of Bishops as our Prelates say But it were madnes to say that they write aduisedly maliciously to diffame these Christian Germaine Princes who neuer harmed them much lesse our Soueraine Ladie the Queene by whom they haue receyued incomparable benefites and who hath beâ—e more beneficiall to the church then anie Prince or Poâ—â—ntate in all the worlde 12 They that write to diffame the Queene shoulde die as felons by this statute None that writeth against the gouernement of Bishops ought to dye as a felon For they can make that but an errour in Religion at the worst for writing is not materiall to make an error or not an error The papists sayeth D. Bilson bee not executed for making the Pope chiefe pastor ouer their soules or for giuing him an Episcopall authoritte ouer all the vvhole Church though that bee also a frantike heresie but for giuing him an externall dominion ouer this Realme and Prince This is it that the Execution of Iustice doeth dâ—ely respect vvhich is farre froÌ„ anie matter of faith and religion Thus you see hee mainteineth that the papists haue not nor doe not suster for religion or heresie but onely for treason The Christian Emperours Gratian Theodosius c. neuer punished heretikes with death but onelie blasphemers and idolaters They that holde errors shoulde not bee killed but corrected sayeth Augustine And in another place It neuer pleased any good man in the Catholike Church that heretikes much lesse such as erre in externall matters should be put to death Thus it hath bene reasoned by our Diuines against the but châ—ries of the papistes It is also helde in a booke published by authoritie to which D. Bilson had reference and translated into many languages that neuer anie papist did suffer death for his religioÌ„ since hir Highnes raigne Which thing the Papists in Wisbich castell can also witnesse Seeing then our state and Diuines haue sought to remoue from them the suspition of executing any papists for their religion though they defende infinite heresies much lesse should the Seekers of Reformation suffer death for their religion If the papistes ought to be executed but of â—auour and grace are spared much more curtesie shoulde bee shewed to Seekers of Reformation whose offences both to God the Prince and Realme are nothing matchable with the detestable heresies and practises of the traiterous papistes Verely all the Protestants in the world would wonder to hear that among Protestantes vnder a Protestant Prince gouernmeÌ„t any Protestant should haue his bloud shed for maintaining a doctrine of the Protestants imbraced by Christian Churches and confederate Princes round about 13 If the writers against Bishops do offend against this statute then the Speakers and Reporters against Bishops and the publishers or deliuerers from hande to hande of these book â—s or any popishe bookes against the receiued doctrine of Englande be likewise within this statute The Speakers and Reporters must either loose their eares or redeeme them with two hundred poundes or two hundred markes The publishers are adiudged and deemed felons But it were ridiculous to aâ—â—iâ—me that the law had any such intent For theÌ„ there should be more eareles people in Englande then in al Christendome besides and many thousandes of the Bishops friendes shoulde be in case of â—elons Which woulde comfort the writers when they sawe like iustice done to Speakers Reporters and publishers For the Poet truely sayeth Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris It cheereth vp a wofull heart When company doe beare a parte Seeing then that the Speakers Reporters and publishers of such matters against Bishops are not within this statute neither be the writers 14 That is onely lawe which the lawe-makers intende The Law-makers did not intende by this statute protect the Hierarchie For there was no bill preâ—erred in the
let him doe alwaies his best diligence If hee be so necessarie for the Court that in ciuâ—ll causes hee can not bee spared let him vse that vocation and spare the other It is not possible hee should doe both well It is a great ouersight in Princes thus to charge them with two burthens If this excellent and right famous man were now aliue and should say thus much hee might peraduenture if some had their will be martyred once againe Hee addeth further That the primitiue Church had no such Bb. as we They had such Bishops as did preach many godly Sermons in lesse time then our Bb. horses bee a bridling Their house was the schoole and treasure house of Gods Ministers If it bee so nowe let euery man iudge The Magistrates that suffer the abuâ—â— of these goods bee culâ—able of the fault If the fourth part of the Bishoprâ—ck remained to the Bishop it were sufficient The third part to schoolemaisters The second to the poore and souldiers were better bestowed If any be offended with me for this my saying hee loueth not his owne health nor Gods lawes nor mâ—ns Out of which I am alwaies readie to prooue the thing I haue saide to be true Further I speake of loue not hatred This was writen by this noble Maâ—tyr against the protestant Bb. vnder king Edward the sixt In these words he doeth not obscurely reproue the King and all Princes that mainteine the state of Bb. yet neither the Bb. nor Iudges in King Edwards time did adiudge this holy man to be a diffamer of princes His bookes touching this maâ—â—er haue bene publikely printed and solde and euen nowe are to be solde vnder hir maiestie Father Latimer another man of God and holy martyr was a Bishop in King Henry the eight his time but he gaue ouer his Bishoprike as also Shaxton Bishop of Salisburie did at the same time being diuested of his Bishoplike habite he skipped for â—oy as maister Foxe reporteth feeling his shoulders so light and being discharged as he said of so heauie a burthen Thus he speaketh of the Bishops in King Edwarde the sixts dayes in his sermon of the ploughe Ye that be Prelats looke well to your office for right Prelacâ—e is busie labouring and not Lording Thus much I say that since Lording and Loitering hath come vppe preaching hath come downe contrarie to the Apostles times They preached and Lorded not And nowe they Lorde and preache not They that bee Lordes will ill to ploughe It is no meete office for them If the ploughmen that nowe be vvere made Lordes they would cleane giue ouer ploughing and fall to Lording out right and let the ploughe stande By the loytering and lording of Prelates preaching and ploughing is cleane gone They are occupied some in the Kinges matters some are Embassadours some of the priuie Councell some to furnishe the Court some are Lordes of the Parliament some are Presidentes and Controllers of Minâ—es Well Well is this their duetie is this their office If the Apostles might not leaue preaching to be Deacons shall one leaue it for minting Heare my country Englande as Paul saâ—â—d in his first Epistle to the Corinths 6. chap. Is there vtterly among you no wise man to be arbitratours in matters of iudgement What none that can chuse between brother and brother c. Ad erubescentiam vestram dicâ— I speake to your shame So Englande I speake to thy shame Is there neuer a Noble man to bee a Lord Preâ—iaent but it must bee a Prelate Is there neuer a wise man in the Realme to bee a controller of the Mâ—nâ—e I speake it to your shame I speake it to your shame If there bee neâ—er a wise man make a Waterbearer a Tiâ—ker a Cobler a Slaue a Pagâ— controller of the Minte Make a meane Gentleman a Grome a Yeoman make a poore begger Lorde President This I speake not that I would haue it so but to your shame if there bee neuer a gentleman meete nor able to bee Lorde President It is a slaâ—â—der to the Noble men as though they lacked wisedome and learning to bee able for such office or else vvere men of no conscience or else vvere not meete for such offices A Prelate hath a charge and a cure otherwise and therefore hee cannot bee both a Lorde President and discharge his duetie too For a Presidentship requireth a vvhole man and a Bishop can not be two man Let the Priest preache and let the Noblâ— man handle temporall matters Then he proceedeth and telleth who is the most diligent Bb. in all England euen the Diuell who is alwaies in his Cure and Dioces keeping alwaies Residence He is no vnpreaching prelate Hee is no lordly loyâ—erer from his cure but a busie ploughman Therefore yee vnpreaching prelates learne of the Diuell to bee diligent in dooing of your office Learne of the Diuell if you will not learne of God nor good men For shame learne of the Diuell Ad erubescentiam vestram dico I speake it to your shame And in a Sermon before the King Though I say that I vvould wishe moe L. Presidents I meane not that I vvould haue Prelates Lorde Presidentes The office of a President ship is a ciuill office and it cannot bee that one man should discharge both offices well Thus Puritan-like wrote Father Latimer the famous martyr yet he vvas neuer esteemed a troubler of the state a Marprince and a diffamer of the King though in deede he was a Mar-bishop and Mar-prelate His Sermons containing this matter are publikelie to bee solde with authoritie testified in these wordes seene and allowed according to the order of the Queenes inâ—â—nctions And Matâ—hewa Sutcliffe saieth That bookes which passe with this approbatioÌ„ doe conteine nothing contrary to the State of this Realme Therefore it were straunge that the Seekers of Reformation should suffer as felons for writing against the ciuill offices of Bishops against their authority in the Parliamâ—nt in the councell and such like ciuill places seeing writings to that effect be seene solde and allowed as not preiudicall to our estate neither diffamatorie to her maiesty Maister Nowell in his Catechisme fully grounded on Gods worde and receyued and allowed by the church of England as the Bishops say and commaunded to be learned of ministers taught of all schoolemaisters doeth write thus of the Eldership If the Church were well ordered there should be in it a gouernement by chosen Elders or ecclesiasticall Magistrates such as was in the primitiue Church Shall men suffer as felons for such things as are fully grounden on Gods worde and receyued allowed and coÌ„maunded to be taught in the church and schooles of Englande The Lord forbid Doctor Rainolds the iewell of Englande publike professor of Diuinitie in Oxforde at the appointement and charges of the right vertuous and noble Earle of Essex did alleadge in open
ecclesiasticall lawes put in execution rather then to inforce such as be lesse profitable needfull For wâ—ether is it more requisite to the glorie of God and good of hir Maiestie and this Realme that Ministers shoulde Catechise their Pariâ—he that they should debarre notorious offendours from the Communion That Sabboth dayes shoulde be kept holy That Church Wardens and Ministers should admoniâ—he pâ—â—uatelie all euen the most Noble to leaue their faultes The Nonresidentes and fat beneficed persons shoulde relieue the poore at home studious scollers abroade That there should be twelue sermons yerelie in euerie parish through Englande Wales and Ireland That no Aduowsons should be graunted That the pernicious and detestable sinne of Nonresidence and Pluralities shoulde bee reformed and such good orders practised Is it not more requisite I sâ—â—e that these thinges should be looked vnto rather then the wearing of a surplesse Marying with a ring Christening with a crosse Subscription to an Article and such like Yet it is apparaunt to all men that Bishops their Officialles Deacons Doctoures and Fauoures are more curious in vrging and vsing the latter then the former yet both haue like authoritie from hir Maiestie and them selues I suppose the Bishops and their followers would be as vnwilling to execute the Queenes lawes and Iniunctions as any fauourers of reformation if they were vrged there vnto in earnest It is certaine that the Bb. can tollerate the neglect of all these and innumerable other dueties in one of their flatterers whereas if a mâ—n bee but suspected to mislike in hearte the Lordlie goueâ—nement of Bishops hee shâ—lbe sure to haue all extremitie shewed against him if hee oâ—â—ende but in the least ceremonie Yea greater seueritie shall be vsed for neglect of the least and most improfitable obseruation then for neglect of the most necesâ—arie and important O Englande Englande howe long wilt thou bee missed by those carnall wordlinges that haue their speciall care to adnance and inriche them selues and their posterity rather then to obey thy lawes or the lawes of thy God bee they neuer so holy so necessarie and godlie Who hath bewitched thee that thou canst not see that they bee more rebellious more sâ—hismaticall more disloyall and disobedient subiectes vvho acknowledge thy lawes to bee good and godly but doe despise them euen the greatest of them then they that yeelding to the greatest matters doe of conscience refuse such thinges as be least profitable and expedient in any Church O that hir Maâ—esty would appoint faithfull trewe christian and â—nglish-harted men indeede to examine these thinges to call the Bb. their Chaplens and Officers to account in these matters shee shoulde finde that they bâ—e of the most vnduetiful subiects in all the lande and they that be now least regarded would bee founde the most trustie most godly and obedient of all other My wordes will proue true in the daies of triall when these things shall be regarded and rewarded with indifferency and then Bishoppes assure your selues that the day of your desolation is at hande Howe long O Lord holie and trewe Reuel 6. 10. Come Lord Iesus come quickelie 22. 21. Certaine Questions or Interrogatories drawen by a fauourer of Reformation out of the former treatises and other writinges concerning Reformation wherein hee desireth to be resolued by the Prelates which the Printer hath thought good here to annexe QVaeâ—e whether the right honorable and chieâ—e â—ustice of England Sir Christopher Wraâ— Knight did not at th' examinâ—tion of H. Barrowe in the Bish of Londons pallace affirme that men should incurre no penaltie for opinions which they helde doubtinglie And whether a man may not without breach of lawe Diuine or Humane for his further satisfaction make quaerees and doubtes in speciall causes shewing withall the reason of his doubting affirming nothinge peremptorily or positiuely but submitting him selfe to sounde resolution If that be graunted why may not I be a Put-case say as followeth 2 Quaere whether the forme of praiers administration of the Sacramentes attire of Ministers and other Church-ceremonies in Englande doe more agree to the Apostolical primitiue order or to the vse of the Romiâ—h Church And whether popish orders be more seemely conuenient then the Apostolike 3 Quaere whether our rites and ceremonies taken from the papistes doe not giue them offence and harden them in their sinne seeing Harding doeth gather thereby that Poperie is not so ill as it is commonlie reputed And Bristowe saith That our religion and Communion were nothing worth vnlesse we borrowed from them their Masse-booke whether al indifferent things that giue ofâ—ence vnto the weake ought not by Paules doctrine be remoued from the church 4 Quaere whether the square Câ—ppe Surplesse and other monumentes of popery and idolatry condemned in generall by the Queenes Iniunctions Bishops Articles and publike doctrine of Englande and other Christian Churches misliked and wished to be abolished by Bullâ—ger Alasâ—o Bucer B. Pâ—â—kington and Bale derided by Bucer and Maister â—ox refused to be worne by Peter Martyr Bucer Hoâ—per Rogers Humfrey Philpot Bradfort Haddon Saunders as I haue credibly hearde whether the Surplesse called by Martyr monstrous apparell by Caluin Player-like apparell and vaine visardes by Bezâ— Insignes of the Baaltticall Priesthoode by B. Râ—â—ley foolish and abhominable too fond for a vice in a play by D. â—aâ—lor apish toyes and toyishe trumperie by D. Poinet a Porters weed at Billingsgate by the Bee-hiue of the Romish Church a smocke and long shirt by Bale pretie toyes by Becon Histâ—â—onicall seeâ—â—call and hick-scorneâ—like appâ—rell Whether I say this apparell thus accounted of by leâ—rned men the best iudges of decencie be decent comely for a preacher of the Gospell and whether things vncomely should not by Paules doctrine be abâ—ndoned the Church 5 Quaere If Maiors Iustices Stageplayers and others may not aswell be inforced to subscribe to the Biâ—â—ops three articles by the â—â—at of 1. â—liz cap. 1. as Ministers seeing the stat vrged by D. Bridges to that purpose doethreach to them aswell as Ministers 6 Quaere If the Bb. that appoint other prayers to be vsed in the Church besides the prayers in the Communion booke doe not oâ—â—ende against their owne articles and the statute of 1. Eli. c. 1. which inioinâ— that Ministers should vse the forme of publike prayer presâ—ribed in that books and no other IteÌ„ whether the Bb. thus oâ—â—ending against the stat ought not to deale more mercifully with the ministers who haue offended in like quality 7 Quaere whether the Marcionites did well who as Chrisostome vpon the words what doe they that are baptized for the dead reporteth when any of their Catechumeni or nouices in religion did die had wont to hide one vnder the bed where
the maior saniorque pars polloâ— kagathoi did not condemne the practises of the Prelates as repugnant to lawe 26 Quaere if these Iudges that haue onely commission to deale in causes which by Ecclesiasticall authoriâ—ie may bee ordred may cite men ex officio to take an othe before them to accuse them selues in matter neither Testaâ—entarie nor Matrimoniall Item vvhether such ecclesiasticall Iudges may by vertue of the stâ—tute whereupon their commission is grounded commit the Queenes naturall subiestes to prison espeally for refusing to take the oth ex officio beeing ministred in causes neither Matrimoniall or Testamentarie â—tem whether they ought to commit any of the Queenes subiectes to prison when he tendreth sufficient baile or â—â—ertie especiallie in cases where baile and mainprise is not taken away by anie statute Item whether if any in such case be committed the Writt Dâ— homine replegiandâ— doeth not ly Item what satisfaction D. Cosins D. Bancroft D. Stanop and others hauing onely commission in matters to be ordered by Ecclesiasticall power ought to make hir Maiesty free and louinge subiectes who haue ex officio bene cited by them to take an othe in cases neither Matrimoniall nor Testamentarie and refusing to take that othe haue bene committed by great multitudes to prison without baile or mainprise in cases not debarred from baile by any statute Item whether may they keepe such persons by them committed in prison monethes and yeares without calling them to aunswere or accusing them of any crime Item whether for this dealing they doe not deserue to smell of the like punishment themselues 27 Quaere whether any Ecclesiasticall Iudge hath conuented examined and committed any for matters felonious touching the Queenes Crowne dignitie whether these practises do not instanter instantius instantissime craue the Prâ—munire 28 Quaere Whether Sir Iohn Markham chiefe Iustice of Englande did not tell King Edwarde the 4. that hee might not arrest any man for suspicion of treason or felonie as any of his subiects might because that if he did any man wronge the party might haue no actioÌ„ against him And if the King by imprisoning a man may do him wrong much more may any subiect and therefore good remedy may be had against him for so doing 29 Quaere Whether it be not lesse danger to blaspheme the blessed Name of the great God then to speake against a L. Bishop Item whether â—oe â—inisters haue bene depriued within these seauen yeares for ceremonies of men then for drunkenesse whoredome and other breaches of the lawe of God 30 Quaere Why the Ministers may not refuse to weare a Surplesâ—e as a Bishop to vse a Pastoral staff seeing the lawes inforce them both alike 31 Quaere whether the Seek of Reformation bee not indaungered of their life and withhelde from their liberty on lie for their religion and conscience in matters of Discipline proâ—essed by forraine Christian Churches yea and authorized in Englande seeing notwithstanding all 〈◊〉 of dâ—ffaming hir Maiesty or raâ—â—ing Rebellion their life and libertie is daiely offered to them by the Bishops if they will renounce and recant their opinions And whether 〈◊〉 the popishe peâ—secuting â— b in â—nglande at any time heretofore executed any man that agreed with them in their fâ—ith and 〈◊〉 onely because he differed from them in matters of externall forme ceremonie or circumstance as our â—b doe attempte by all indeuâ—ur 32 Quaere whether he that publisheth bookes with long premeditation fore-consideration doeth publish the same with a Malicious intent seeing fewe men deale in any action of importance but with great deliberation though it falleth out often that they labour against the trueth and yet are not adiudged Malicious persons And if a Councelour or Seâ—ieant doeth often by long aduise argue against the trueth and yet without Malice howe doeth a prepensed and long intended purpose proue a Malice in the Authour of Demonstration or any other writer 33 Quaere whether the Bishops and their Officialles doe not oftentimes in their Courts sentence iudge and rule cauâ—es contrarie to the customarie and common lawes of Englande aswell as against the Statutes in matters of Diffamation Testaments such like And whether a Prohibitâ—o shoulde not proceed against them if they determine any case against the common lawes customes and statutes of this Realme seing the statute of 25. H. 8. cap. 19 doth establish such spirituall lawes onely as are not repugnant to the Lawes Customes and Statutes of Englande 34 Quaere By what authoritie the Bishops do practise put in execution the Popish and Ciuill Lawes in their Courtes seeing the statute of 1 Eliz cap. 1. doeth banishe out of this Realme all forreine authoritie And seeing the statutes of 25. H. 8. cap. 19. 1. Eliz. cap. 1. doe onely respect and authorize the Canons Constitutions c. Prouinciall and Synodall vvhich haue bene made heretofore within this Realme of Englande And whether the Bb. for doing thus be not in the Premunire or at least imprisonable and finable at hir Maiesties pleasure 35 Quaere Whether they incroache more vppon the ciuill Magistrate that in their Courtes deale with Willes Tithes Mariages c. That excommunicate for mony â—hat disable men by their excommunications to sue any accusations in their owne right That make dispensations to their Soueraine vnder their hande and seale That be Barons of the Realme â—ustices of peace And punish by fine imprisonment losse of limme and 〈◊〉 as the Bishops doe or they that onely admonishe suspende and excommunicate and proceede no whit at all any further as the Eldershâ—p doth would doe 36 Quaere if Moses vnder the lawe and Timothie and others vnder the Gospell needed to haue a forme of gouuerning the Church prescribed to them by the Lorde whether it be likely that the Lorde woulde commit the Church to M. Whitgift M. Cooper M. Bancroft and others to frame a gouernment for it at their pleasures 37 Quaere if Iohn a Stile should graunt there vvas a gouuernement by Elders in the primitiue Apostolicall and best Church and should call the same gouernement a popedome and tyranâ—y whether this did not ranckly smell of detestable atheisme 38 Quaere whether the Churches in Scotlande France the lowe Countries Hungarie Polelande Bohemiâ— Saxonâ—e Heluetâ—a And the County Palatine of Rhene and vvhether Zumglâ—us Occolampadâ—us Melancthon Bucer Caluin Zanchius Martyr and infinite other the most excellent Diuines in all the worlde commending the continuance of the Eldership be all Anabaptistes Puritanes rebells traytours mare-states mar-lawes mar-princes and mar-alls and Doctor Bancrofte Matthewe Sutcliffe c. the onely good subiectes in all the worlde 38 Quaere whether the Kinges of France and Scotlaâ—de the Princes of Condy and Orange the Duke of Saxonie the Countie Palatine of Rhene the States of the lowe Countries manie other Dukes Princes Marquesses Earles Barons and
hospitalitie For that is the cause that you alleadge you must haue thousandes as though you were commanded to keepe hospitalitie rather with a thousande then with an hundred This booke was written in defence of the lawefull regiment of women but now the authour laboureth to suppresse this booke tenderinge more the state of the â—b then the Queenes Crowne 2 Maister Bullingham before hee was Bishop being arriued at Embden after many stormes wrote vnto a godly man in this manner Would God Master Bull that all the Prelates in Englande had beene with mee when wee fell to cutting off Cables reding at anchor in the raging seas There woulde haue beene tearing of square cappes renting of Rochets defyiâ—g of Bâ—shoprickes despising of pompe promising a newe life crâ—ing for mercy O what a tragedie woulde there haue beene VVell well though nowe they walke drâ—e shoode in their pallaces there is a God that will trie them and all his people by fire or by water vnlesse wee hartilie repent Grace to repent graunt vs O Lorde without delaâ—e Amen Amen 3 D. Bridges before he intangled himselfe with the Disciplinarie controuersies writing against the papists vseth these woordes Christ hath put such a barre betweene Bb. and Princes that his spirituall Bb. cannot haue earthly kingdomes And againe where the papists helde that the Pope was not properlie but vnproperly aâ—â— orde to take awaye this he addeth Christ simply debarreth all his spirituall Ministers from ruling of temporall kingdomes Christ hath both properly and vnproperly debarred them Vos autem non sic You shall not doe so These wordes strike deade Maister Sanders Further whereas the papists account Aerius and al Protestants heretikes because they holde that by Gods booke A Bishop and a Priest are all one D. Bridges doeth therein iustifie Aerius and the Protestantes out of Hierome Peter Lambarde Durand and the Institution of Collen But sithens that time writing in defence of Bishops he mainteyneth their Lordshippe and accounteth his brethren Aerian heretikes This doublinge by such as defende the Hierachie must needes cast great doubtes in the heartes of all men 5 Testimonies of learned men imply some further Reformation These followers of Reformation giue greater colour to their cause by the testimonie of auncient and late writers whom they pretend to speake against the manner of our gouernement by Bishops and for the gouernement of their Elders 1 Against the authoritie and practise of our Bb. they alleadge the Canons of the Apostles the Councels of Carthâ—ge Calcedone Constans Turon and Macra the testimonie of Cyprâ—an Tertullian Augustine Hierome Ambrose Chrysostome Gregorie Hillarie Synesius Nazianzene Origene and Bernard 2 Touching late reformed Churches they mainteyne that there is no protestant Church in all Hungarie Poleland Denmark Friselande Swevelâ—nd Heluetia Saxony Auspurg of in anie part of Germanie in France Scotlande the lowe Countries or in any nation truely prosessing the Gospell in all the world that doth either by their doctrine or practise attribute so much authority ciuill and ecclesiasticall in sole excoÌ„munication and ordination of Priestes as is now vsed and challenged by English Bishops 3 Among late writers they drawe to this purpose Luther Melancâ—â—â—on Bucer Martyr Caluâ—â— Beza Bullinger Zanchius Daneus Erastus Gualter Munster and many other 4 Lastly out of our owne English Writers they fetch matter against the Bb. 1 Harding woulde proue by the example of Moses who exercised both a Priestes and Princes office that the Pope may vse ecclesiasticall and ciuill authoritie Master Iewell answereth thus Christ him selfe sayeth to the Pope and to all other Priestes and Bb The kings of the nations rule ouer them and they that are great exercise authoritie ouer the people but it shall not bâ—e so among you Hee addeth the saying of Cyprian Christ by seuerall dueties and distinct honours both set a difference betweene the offices of both powers Also he vrgeth an effectuall speach of Bernard to the Pope That hee cannot be both a successour of the Apostles and a Lord. For doubtles hee was forbidden the one of them Yet our Bb. be both 2 Mai. Nowell Deane of Paules saieth that Christ refused pompe riches and dominions when the Deuill offered them Hee denyed his kingdome to bee of this worlde and forbad his true Disciples the possession of such riches and vvorldelie dominions as the Pope nowe clymeth In another place Christ forbad his Ministers all Dominion and worldly gouernement Mat. 20. And againe S. Peter forbiddeth Ministers to exercise Dominion or Lordship ouer their flockes 3 D. Bilson Warden of Winch. hath thus writen Christ expresly forbiddeth his Apostles to be rulers of Nacions The Kinges of the nations rule ouer their people c. with you it shall not bee so In which wordes Christ doeth not traduce the power of Princes as vniust but distinguisheth the calling of the Apostles from the manner of regiment which God hath allowed the Magistrate Christ saieth not Princes are tyrants you shall deale more courteouslie but he saieth Princes be Rulers by Gods ordinaunce you shall not be so c. Then he proueth that Katakyrieuein is not meant of Tyrannical but of Rule with authority and shutteth vp his argument in this sorte Therefore the conclusion is ineuitable That Princes may lawfullie compell and punish their subiectes buâ— Bishops may not This manner of reasoning against the papistes hath incensed men vehemently against L. Bb. If these reasons be not good Maister Iewell Maister Nowell and D. Bilson haue much to aunswere 5 On the other side these whoâ—e pursuers of Reformation haue had great inducementes to enforce the â—Idership 1 That there was a gouernement by Elders assisting the ministerie in the primitiue Church is collected obscurely out of Ignatius Tertullian Cyprian Augustine More clearely out of Ambrose Hierome Possidonius Socrates and the Canon lawe 2 The Diuines of later time almost generally doe gather the Eldership out of the Script namely Zuinglius Martyr Aretius Caluâ—â— Illiricus Hemingâ—â—s Hiperius Iunius Bucer Beza Piscator Oleuian Bulliâ—ger Szegedinus Musculus Heshusius Robert Stephen Daneus an Italian Bertrand de Lâ—ques Bastingius Morneus Sadâ—ell Nowell Fulk Whitakers Snecanus Vâ—sinus and Trelcaâ—ius Lastly the Churches in the lowe Countries France â—eluetia and Scotlande doe consent herein 3 That the same gouernement by Elders should continue vnder the Christian magistrates is agreed by Iohn Alasco Vâ—enhouius Microâ—â—us Zuinglius Oecolampidius Zuichius Capito Miconius Farell Viret Melancthon Bucer Caluin Martyr Iunius Beza Zanchius
state they still continued as they had begun some of them weake in body though strong in spirite preaching three or foure times a day manie daies togither as London can witnesâ—e incouraging the people to fight for the Gospell and for their soueraigne still calling for repentaunce that God might bee mercifull to vs our Prince and Countrie Also when the expedition was made into Portugall they renewed these exercises a fortnight or 3. weekes before the Bishops sent to their fauorers any precepts or instructions to doe the like Is it likely that these men doe malice her Maiesty Surely they malice hir as Esay Ieremy other prophets did malice Ezechiah Iosiah and other godly Kings of Iudah when they reproued the abuses of the Church vnder them seeking that they might flourish in al honour by the due obseruation of the lawe of God adding vertue to vertue and reformation to reformations till Iudah and Ierusalem were clearely purged Is this malice to Princes No. They that hide froÌ„ princes the deformity of a state crying peace peace where no peace is they be the most malicious and pestilent enemies of the state The men that call for Reformation may pretend cause or coulour of cause both in matters of doctrine fact why they may hate the Bishops which in no sorte may be applyed to hir Maiesty The Bishops impugne that which heretofore they haue deliuered as the trueth of God as I haue shewed They confesse there be infinite corruptions in the Church which yet they will not reforme nor sâ—ffer other to sue for amendment or reformation thereof They confesse that by Gods word a Priest and Bishop are all one yet they and their followers make it heresie so to beleeue building vpon Epiphanius who also erroniously in the same place calleth the Bishops and all them heretikes that denie prayer for the dead Which determination of heresie vpon one mans worde as it is against the lawes of this Realme so it wrappeth in heresie both the Syriake Interpreter vvho vseth one worde Kashisha both for Priest and Bishop And also Chrysostome Ambrose Theodoreâ—e Hierome Occumenius Iâ—idore The Canon Lawe in force in Englande which sayeth That the primitiâ—e Church had no other sacred orders but Deaconship and Priesthood Also Wicklef Marsilâ—â—s of Padâ—a Luther Caluin Musculus Hofman Sadel Mornce Marlorate 〈◊〉 Whitakers Fulke Iewell Bullinger The Waldenses Alley Bâ—shop of Excester Lambert Beza Daneus The Magdeburgenses Knitsius Melaâ—â—thon Szegedinus Many Christian Churches and all Protestants that haue writen of this matter who teach expresly that by the trueth of Gods word Bishops and Priestes bee all one and of like authority therfore are condemned by Bellarmine Turrian Dureâ— Spence Harding The Rhemistes Stapleton Sanders Bristowe and other papistes to bee Aertan heretikes euen as the â—b doe account for the same cause all the maintemers of Reformation The enemies to Reformation doe esteeme it an absurde and monstrous thing to holde That a Pastour and Teacher differ in office though the Syriake interpreter doe distinguishe them aswell as Apostle and Euangeâ—ist vith deragnavathâ— vith demalphane which Guido translateth Ephes. 4. 11. Some Pastours and some Teachers And although Musculus Hâ—perius Caluin Martyr Kemâ—tâ—â—s Bezâ— Sadeel Danâ—us Szegedinus Hemingius Bucer Bertrand de Loques Villiers Iunius and tâ—n Protestante Churches as Maister Rogers confesseth doe account of them as distinct callings The Bishops doe affirme that by the common exposition of all writers Christ by katakyrieuâ—in Matth. 20. 25. doeth onely prohibite in the ministerie tyrannâ—call not lawfull Lordly rule yet of all these writers they can onely name threc or foure whereas the Seekers of Reformation may produce Luther Zuinglâ—us Melancton Caluin Bullinger Hemingius Illiricus Gualter Nowell Iewell Sadâ—â—l Beza Munster Bridges against the papistes Bilson Broughton Rainolds Withers Whitakers Snâ—canus Szegedinus Fulke Erastus and the Churches of Bohemâ—a who say that Christ speaketh there of lawfull Lordely rule for bidding his Apostles and Ministers of the Gospell to vse the same The 〈◊〉 and their friendes adiudge it a popedome and tyranny to excommunicate Princes although themselues do excommunicate inferiour Magistrates whom the Scripture doth honour with the hie title of Gods aswell as the most glorious Emperour and although both Bucer Caluin Snâ—canus De Loques Beza Daneus Zanchius Nowell Poinet Bishop of Winchester Iewell Bâ—â—son and Bridges do by their doctrine in priuiledged bookes approue the same The Bb. charge the Seek of Reformation flatlie and fullâ—â— to agree with the papistes in the article of the Princes Supremacie in matters Ecclesiasticall yet the Seek of Reformation differ froÌ„ them in these substantiall pointes following 1 They giue the Prince authoritie ouer all persons ecclesiasticall whatsoeuer the papistes exempte their cleargie 2 They holde that a Prince may depose a priest as Salomon did Abiathar and accordingly they obey being silenced the papistes deme it 3 They affirme that if Priests do make wicked decrees that the Prince may enforce them to better the papistes denie it 4 They say that Princes may and ought to make lawes for the Church but with the aduise of godly Pastoures the papistes denie it 5 They hold that if the Pastours be vnlearned and vngodly the Prince may of himselfe without their assent or aduise make orders and lawes for ecclesiasticall matters the papistes doe vtterlie denie Lastly they will subscribe in this point to the Articles of Religion established by lawe to the Apologie to the Church of England to the writers of M. Iewell M. Nowell M. Horn Maister Whitakers Maister Bâ—â—son Maâ—ster Rainoldes M. Fulke for I protest I haue sought but found nothing in these mens writinges touching this matter that dissenteth from the opinions of them that sue for Reformat Besides they take the othe of the Supremacie as hir Maiestie and the Parliament doeth expound it Whereupon by expresse allowance of law they are in that respect hir Maiesties good and obedient subiectes and they that inforce more vpon them in this point of the Magistrates authoritie then that othe vvith the Queenes exposition therof comprehendeth are vpon hir Maiesties roy all woorde and enact of lawe Malicious persons Furthermore the Bb. saye That the generall opinion of the best writers is against the gouernement by Elders vvhere as they can name onely foure whereof Caluin and Beza are two who
Parliament at that time to this purpose but rather for the ouerthrowe of the Hierarchie As many yet aliue can witnes who would with great vehemencie haue spoken against that matter for their owne and their friendes safety When Maister Stubs of Lincolns Inne had written against the mariage intended by Monsieur the Daulphine of France towardes hir Maiestie to the ende that men should bee terrified from writing dishonorably of hir Highnes this statute made that offence felonie which by former statutes was onely the losse of the right hande Which proueth that the â—aw-makers prouided for hir Maiestie not for the Hierarchie The Parliament hath bene more ready for Reformation then against it as appeared most euidently the last Parliament when the bill against Nonresidencie passed the lower house and had like to haue also passed the higher house by the right honorable the Lord Treasurer his meanes and other right noble Lordes who spake for it had not the Bishops laboured against it 15 Some of the lawes be faultie euen in Church matters as our Prell not popish will acknowledge reporte and write if neede be There was a lawe made by King Henrie the 8. and confirmed by hir Maiestie That such Canons Constitutions c. which bee not contrariant to the lawes statutes customes of this Realme nor preiudiciall to the Kinges prerogatiue shalbee executed as before the making of that act Amonge which Canons c. there be many vnlawful foolish thinges though neither against the lawes customes or kings prerogatiue yet repugnant to the Lawe of God As namely That women maie not sue their husbandes for adulterie that Heretikes after their death shoulde be excommunicate that there is such affinitee betweene the Godfather and the childe for whom he promiseth in baptisme that it hindereth mariage that a man maie not fast vpon Thursday That all Clearkes shoulde absteine from flesh 7. whole weekes before Easter Infinite corruptions bee in these Canons yet in force and good in lawe I suppose that our Bb. coulde be content that this statute of 25. were corrected Sure I am the Bishops in King Edwarde the 6. dayes did see manie things out of order in the Canon lawes or else they woulde not haue a whole booke for Reformation of them which booke can haue no intertainement in our time But seeing the Bb. will not deny but that some abuses be established for lawe lette them beare with others that espie greater faultes then those bee 16. Lastly many haue writen both against the state of the Church and common wealth as it was is fenced by law who were neuer accounted diffamers of our Princes Some write against Triall by battell Some against Forfaiture of Traytours landes The returne of writtes in one terme the lingring of men in prison before they come to tryall the priuiledges of Parliament men the pardoning of murtherers pluralitie of farmes c. Some against Racking Some against feined recoueries to defeat them in remainder or reuersion vpon estates taill Some against buying and selling of Wardes and such like Against the gouernement of the Church in England manie subiectes haue written neuer deemed diffamers of the King as In Edwarde the thirdes reigne did Wicleve arise one of whose articles was this That Popes Cardinalls Bishops or other Priests maie not ciuiliter dominari absque mortali peccato may not rule like ciuill Lordes without deadlie sinne Also hee taught That no Prelate ought to haue any prison to punish offendors And that no King should impose vppon any Bishop or Curate any secular matter for then both the King and the Clearke should be proditor Iesu Christi a betrayer of Christ Iesâ—s although the Archbishop of Cant. and the Bishop of London did put Wicleue to silence for this doctrine as their successours do at this day yet they did not call him a diffamer of the king William Swinderby a professour of the Gospell vnder Rich. the seconde helde That the more Lordship a Priest hath the neerer he is to Antichrist Also that The Priestes of the old lawe were for bidden Lordship and that Christ himselfe refused and forbad his Priests Lordships saying Reges Gentium c The Kings of the Heathen beare rule c. but you shall not doe so Piers Plowman likewise wrote against the state of Bishops and prophecied their fall in these wordes If Knighthood and Kinâ—wite and Comone by consciencâ— Together loue Lelly leueth it well ye Bishops The Lordship of Landes for euer shall ye lese And liue as Leuitici as our Lord ye teacheth Deut. 8. Numb 5. per primitias decimas c. Geffry Chaucer also in Henry the fourthes time wrote effectually against the state of the Bb. in this maner The Emperour yafe the Pope sometime So hiâ— Lordship him about That at the last the silly Kime The proude Pope put him out So of this Realme is doubt But Lords beware and them defende But nowe these folke beene wondrous stoute The King and Lords nowe this amend Moses lawe forbade it tho That Priestes should no Lordships weld Christes Gospell biddeth also That they should no Lordships held Ne Christes Apostles were neuer so bold No such Lordships to hâ—m imbrace But smeren her sheepe and keepe her folde God amende hem for his grace Thus wrote this famous Poet against the English Bishops and yet was neuer accounted diffamer of the King though the Bb. in his time did holde their Lordships of the King as they doe now in Englande Sir Geffrey Chaucer his workes were in K. Henry the eight his daies authorized to be Printed by act of Parliament to which that glorious king would neuer haue condescended if hee had thought that the diffamation of the Bishops had beene a diffamation of him selfe In King Henry the eights time the renowmed professor of the Gospell Maister Tindall did write That it was a shame of all shames and a monstrous thing that Bishops should deale in ciuill causes And againe What names haue they My Lorde Bb. My Lord Archbishop If it please your Lordship if it please your Grace D. Barnes a right learned man at the same time did write That he would neuer beleeue nor could euer beleeue That one man may by the lawe of God be Bishop of two or three citties or of a whole Country for that is contrarie to the doctrine of S. Paul c. Maister Hooper in the daies of Edward the sixt did effectually write against the English Bish. For the space saieth he of 400. yeares after Christ the Bish. applyed all their witte onelie to their owne vocation but our Bish. haue so much witte that they can rule and serue they say in both states in the Church and also in the ciuile policie when one of them is more then anie man is able to satisfie
sermon at Oxforde this testimony of Maister Nowell to proue that men by authoritie might speake in defence of gouernement by Elders To be short I haue shewed that my L. of Canterburie and the other Bb. That D. Coâ—â—ns and the aduertiser doe in writing reproue many things couÌ„tenanced by law as excommunication by lay Chauncellours Nonresidence Ignoraunt ministers the milde punishment of Adultery Subscription and such like and yet these men be not deemed indited conuict or attaint as diffamers of her maiesty and felons by this statute Such be our times that Iisdem de causis alij plectantur alij ne appellentur quidem Thus much may serue touching the accusation of diffaming of our Soueraine Ladie the Queenes most excelleÌ„t maiesty Now it remaineth to consider how iustly the writers for Reformation be charged with rebellion VVHereas the aduersaries to Reformation do take as a principle that whosoeuer writeth to worke a discâ—â—tentment in the mindes of the subiectes doe intende a rebellion That is a most vntrewe assertion and sophistical paralogisme For although Rebellion doth grow of Discontentement yet all discontentement doth not bring forth rebellion or if the writinge against the state of Bishops shoulde moue some men to discontentment who being discontented should stirre vp rebellioÌ„ yet it doeth not followe that the writers against the Bb. were rebels as this stat doeth intende For the writers must write Aduisedlie and of purpose to stirre rebellion So that if a man write in humble loyall and duetiful manner hauing no purpose and intent to worke rebellion though rebellion should here of insue yet could not such a writer without great iniustice be drawn within this statute For he can not be a felon that hath not a felonious intent and purpose Christ by his preaching had wrought such a dislike of the Priests and their proceedinges in the mindes of his Disciples that one of theÌ„ in defence of his Maister did strike of the eare of Marchus a seruant of purseuant of the high priestes yet the Priestes did not charge Christ with this outrage of his Disciple For albeit Christ did speake against the Rulers Priests in his time drawing after him many dislikers of that present state yet Christ neuer meant to woorke in mens mindes a discontentement which should bring forth mutinies or rebellion but amendement and reformation In like manner these Seek of Reformation haue descried manie supposed abuses in the church gouuernement they beare vs in hande that there is another forme of Ruling the church more agreeable to the Scriptures then this which we haue receyued They write to lay open the faultes of the one the necessitie and profit of the other that the one beeing remoued by lawful authoâ—itie the other by like authoritie might be entertained For considering that hir Maiestie and Lordes without the Commons can not by the order of our state reforme the abuses imperfections of the laws it is requisite that the Commons of this land should be acquainted with the wants both of the Church and common wealth For euery man and woman of this Realme is partie and priuie to all Actes of Parliament Their assent is needefull to the making of euery lawe In their name and as the deputies the Knightes Burgesses are present and haue voices in the Parliament Nowe howe shoulde the commons their Knightes and Burgesses conceyue what is amisâ—e in the Lawes and state but by publike writings for that purpose That hauing deepelie weighed and pondered what and how thinges should be reformed they might be able in time of Parliament after the lawfull and laudable custome of this Realme to take order for them according to knowledge A few daies or weekes are are not sufficient throughly to examine what may bee said what should be done in these matters Wherefore if these Seekers of Reformation should by publike writinge in duetifull and Christian sorte communicate to hir Maiestie the Lordes and commons of this Realme the enormities of the state to the ende that they in their Parliamentes should reforme the same though some of the Commons should take occasion herevpon desperately and vndutifullie to rebell yet the Seekers of Reformation coulde not iustly be condemned as aduised and malitious mouers of rebellion Much lesse can their writinges which haue as yet neuer effected nor affected rebellion be deemed rebellions Their writing for Reformation doeth rather prooue that they bee not rebells For if they purposed a rebellion they would rather tumultuouslie rise vp and reforme thinges them selues then write bookes to moue the Queenes Maiestie the â—ords and Commons in their Parliaments to lay their handes to reformation They that be not blinded with malice do see wel that the Ministers who seeke Reformation doe preache true obedience to the Magistrates with greater zeale and sincerity then any Bishop in this lande It is not oriously knowen that they teach as an article of their faith That no subiect or seruaunt ought to rebell against his Prince or Maisters though hee bee cruell and frowarde but rather shoulde meekely suffer oppression and violence at their handes They teach that the lawes must either be performed by obeying them or else the punishment for not yeelding vnto theÌ„ patiently suffered and vndertaken Therefore howsoeuer they write to bring a discontentment into mens mindes yet they would not haue the subiect to intrude vpon the Magistrates office much lesse to rebell against his Soueraine Furthermore if all they that write to bring the people to adiscontentement and dislike of the authorized gouuernement doe write of purpose to moue rebellion then doe the lawes the Bishops and whole state of Englande intende a rebellion I proued that both the lawes Bishops of this lande doe expect a further reformation which can not be accomplished vnlesse hir Maiestie the Ll. and commons be drawen to a discontentement and disâ—ike of the present state For amendement and redresse can neuer follow but where discontentement goeth before â—ikewise it is prooued that the Church of Englande hath seene allowed and suffered to be printed and publikely solde diuerse bookes which doe speake most effectualliâ— against the state of â—orde Bishops I shewed that bookes wherin the Lordship of Bb. hath bene coÌ„demned haue bene allowed by expresse act of Parliament I shewed also that the gouernement by Elders is approued in books which are commended by the Bb. to be fully grounded vpon Gods worde which are commanded to be taught learned throughout this Realme If it be rebellion to worke a dislike discontentement in the state of Lord Bb. If it bee rebellion to commende the reformed gouernement by Elders then doth the state of England intende a rebellion against hir Maiestie But God forbid that we should thinke so dishonorably or disâ—oyally of our Christian State though it hath wrought in mens mindes a dislike of the present Church-gouernement If then this argument be vaine
suâ—plication as before hee had mentioned to her maiesty that they vvould make aunswere that to deale in such a suite were to rebell to pull the Crowne off her Highnes head to make a faction to vvrest the scepter out of her Maiesties hande and to shake off all authoritie A wonderfull thing sayeth heâ— it is that humblie and duetifullie to entreate should in the English tongue signifie by vnbrideled force vnduetifullie to compell and that to seeke the remoouing of vnlawefull callinges out of the Church should bee to threaten that the lawefull Magistrate shoulde bee thrust out of the common vvealth Thus farre writeth this Martin explaning fullie that though it was like the Bb. woulde peruert and miâ—conster his wordes as if he meant to moue rebellion that yet notwithstanding he went about no other thing but to incline the magistrate by his owne authority to reforme all matters that were amisse That an hundred thousand hands would strike a great stroke in this suite hath no other sence then this that if her maiesty should vnderstand that an hundred thousand of her most louing and loyall subiectes should subscribe to such a petition it would greatly mooue her Highnes to accept the same This phrase is vsuall and knovven to an English man For we vse to saye the cause hath receyued a great blowe or a great stroke So D. Bridges writing against Lordship of Bb. sayeth that vos autem non sic striketh dead that is vtterlie ouerthroweth Lordly authorâ—tie in the Ministers A man by wresting of such speaches as this might make the best subiect in this Realme a very traytor if his writing and speaking were well obserued But let traitours be traitours and rebels be rebells and suffer as is due to traytours or rebells God forbid that a Tropologicall or Metaphoricall speach without intendement of anie harme should come within the compasse of treason or rebellion Touching the wordes of Franc. Iunius we desire D. Consins to take a little paines in shewing which Franc. Iunius he meaneth If he vnderstand Fraâ—ciscus Iunius the famous learned man who with Tremellius translated and of late hath reviewed the Bible who hath also writen a whole booke in defence of the Eldership and Discipline he doeth that worthie man exceeding wrong It can not be proued that euer he wrote any such thing But if he meane one who calleth him selfe Stephen Iunius in a booke against tyrants whom peraduenture it pleased D. Cosins of purpose to call Franc. Iunius that men might suppose a louer of the Eldership to be a fauourer of treason I aunswere that this Stephen Iunius doth not mention the Praesbyteries in all his booke And whether he doth approue any such Eldership it doeth not appeare or if hee helde anie such frensie as D. Cossins fasteneth vppon him the Seek of Reform doe disclaime him That many thousandes in Englande Desire the Discipline is true and the number doeth increase daily That great trouble would come of it if it were not admitted hath appeared For we see howe schismatikes doe trouble the Church and what endles writing is on both sides and all touching this Discipline that yet wanteth But what is here that carieth the countenance of any sedition or rebellion vnlesse D. Cosins thinketh there can bee no trouble but in rebellious and warlike order D. Bancroft not finding pregnent matter for his purpose at home to giue shewe that the Seekers of Reformation bee rebellious he maketh roade into Scotlande challenging those Churches as his friendes the Papistes had done before That the Scottishe Ministers who fauour Discipline haue abused their King preaching factions and seditious doctrine treading vpon his scepter imitating the papall iurisdiction labouring to establishe an ecclesiasticall tyrannie of an infinite iurisdiction putting the King in daunger of his life whereupon the King ouerthrewe their presbytertes and restored the Bishops to their places And galloping on the way in this order he making in effect that right noble Christian King hir Maiesties most neere friende and knisman a â—lat hypocrite grounding himselfe vppon a booke counterfait by the gracelesse Archbishop of S t Andrewes in the Kings name Wherevnto the King neuer assented as the Ministers can shewe by his Royall letters yet reserued in Edinborowe the wicked Prelate since that time hauing sought to be reconciled to the Ministers whome hee slaundered Which thing you may the rather beleeue if you consider that the King hath taken so good liking of the Ministers the Presbyteries that he hath made publike protestation to mainteine the fame while he liueth And to subiect the Nobilitie therevnto Likewise when the King reade D. Banc. booke and came to the pag 75. where the Doctor chargeth him to be an hypocrite or dissembler The King vppon the margent of the booke did write these wordes My speking vvriting and actions were and are euer one vvâ—tthout dissembling or bearing vp at any time what euer I thought Ergo Castes the libell ne quid asperius that is Therefore the Doctor sayeth vntruely that I vse no rougher wordes Signed thus I. R. that is Iacobus Rex Iames the King The same Doctor bringeth in some forraine authoures whom he saieth were fauoures of Discipline yet brochers of rebellious and straunge propositions These authours did write either against such as they accounted vsurpers or Princes by election popishe tyrants such as hated our religion they did not write aginst any protestant Prince neither in defence of the Disciplice but rather of the doctrine which is nowe mainteined in Englande As D Bancroft doth alleadge these authours to proue the Discipline to bee trayterous and rebellious so the papistes do alleadge the same meÌ„ to proue that the doctrine of the Protestantes is seditious The allegation doeth holde against both alike Our Religion doeth not depende vpon the opinions of one or two men Where one fauourer of the Eldership hath written trayterously I coulde produce fiue hundred who were mainteiners of the Hierarchie and ranke traytors Our English Bish. haue resisted rebelled and deposed many kings of England They haue most sawcilie abused the Nobilitie as might bee shewed I heare of none that either attempted or effected treason or rebellion against hir Maiesty but papists all such do approue the principâ—lity and iurisdiction of L1 Bb. Thus farre haue â— proued as I hope sufficientlie that it is not lawfull or agreeable to the trewe intent of this staâ—ute to iudge these writers for Reformation as diffamers of hir Maiestie or rebels and therefore that they ought not suffer as felons Some haue helde that though it be not consonant to the lawes of England that the Bishops should presse the othe ex officio as they vse to doe yet that it is expedient they shoulde continue their proceedings as they haue begunne if any in the same conceite should holde that albeit it is not lawfull to execute the Seekers of
making my selfe knowen to any creature yet when my apparance shall be found more profitable to the Church then my concealement I will come forth and iustifie my words in such maner and forme as I haue writen In the meane time I wish euery true harted Christian To pray for the peace of Ierusalem that nowe at length her Maiestie of God will rather then any other Prince succeeding may haue the honor in reconciling the two twinnes that striue togither is the body of our Church to the great perill and danger of the whole Nubecula est citâ— transibit Certaine Articles vvherein is discouered the negligence of the Bb. their officialles fauourers and followers in perfourmaunce of sundry Ecclesiasticall Statutes Lawes and Ordinaunces Royall and Episcopall published for the gouernement of the Church of England Out of the Statutes 1 BY the statute of 25. H. 8. cap. 15. It is accouÌ„ted by the Parliament against equity and due order of iustice to bring any man in dâ—unger of his life name goods or landes by any intrapping interrogatories or by any other meane then witnesse verdict confession or presentment Yet the Bishops doe examine the Queenes subiectes vpon intrapping interrogatories vvithout verdict vvitnesse confession or presentment to the daunger of then liues names landes and goods for making printing or dispersing of seditious bookes and sundry other grieuous crimes vpon vaine surmises or secret suggestions of lewde persons who dare not auow their accusations in the face of the Defendants Whereby the subiects be intollerably molested without remedy or costs daÌ„mages awarded for their vexations molestatioÌ„s wrongfully susteined 2 All men are baylable that are not prohibited by law to be bayled 2 West ca. 14. yet the Bb. deny bayle to some that ought not to be imprisoned much lesse be vnbayleable by any lawe 3 No officiall or other officer should take any more then three pence for the seale of a citation else they forfayte double costes and dammages to the partie grieued 23. H. 8. ca. 9. 1. Eliz. cap. 1. yet they vsually take more vnder colour of signing or subscrâ—bing a citation which is a thing in lawe materiall Iermes in lawe Tit. Faits 4 No forreine Constitutions whether they be the Popes or Emperours lawes haue any force in our state Onely such Synodall and Prouinciall Ordinances as haue beene made within this Realme are confirmed for lawe 25. H. 8. cap. 19. yet the Bishops in their Consistories doe put in practise the Romish and imperiall constitutions not contenting themselues with the Statutes Iniunctions and other Ecclesiastical ordinances of this Realme 5 Such Canons and Constitutions onely as be not repugnant to the lawes statutes customes of this Realme ought to be put in practise 25. H. 8. cap. 19. But the Bishops giue sentence in infinite matters which would be otherwise ruled by the common lawes 6 The law accompteth them Ministers who are made after anie other order then is prescribed in the lawes of Englande so that they will subscribe to the Articles of saith and doctrine 13. Eliz. cap. 12. yet the Bishops haue reckoned such men as haue bene ordeined ministers in reformed churches to be lay men though they esteeme a popish priest a sufficient minister 7 The lawe requireth a subscription to the Articles of religion onely that concerne the confession of true faith and doctrine of Sacramentes 13. Eliz. cap. 12. The Bishops vrge a subscription to the bookes of Homilies and diuers ceremoniall and transitorie matters neither concerning faith nor Sacrament 8 If the Bishops publishe any Canons or orders to be practised without the Royall assent of her Maiestie they should be fined and imprisoned 25. H. 8. cap. 19. Notwithstanding this statute they publish Subscriptions in their prouinces and Articles in their Diocesses without any assent of hir highnes 9 By the Statute 23 Eliz. cap. 1. the Ordinarie of his Ministers should not take any thing for allowing or licensing a Schoolemaister to teach And neither the statute nor any iniunction or lawe requireth a subscription by Schoolemaisters yet it is famouslie knowen that they extort of Schoolmaisters for licences to teach of some 7 shillings of some tenne shill of some a marke according to his state that admitteth them whether he be Archb. Bishop Chauncelour or officiall The Iustices of peace ought to cause this grosse and palpable extortion to be inquired of at their Sessions The inforcing of subscription vpon Schoolmaisters is vpon like warrant of law and iustice 10 By the great Charter coÌ„firmed by many Kings of England in parliamentes and by the auncient Bb. by their Excommengments None should bee imprisoned but by the lawefull iudgementes of this Peeres or by the lawe of the lande Mag. Chart. Cap. 29. The Bishops will punishe men for not swearing vainly and Women for not being Churched c. without triall or shewing authority of law to warrant their proceedings to the great periudice of the auncient and lawfull libertie of English subiects Out of the Common lawes 11 By common law a man shall not be examined vpon his othe in matters that sound to his reproch For no man is bouÌ„d to accuse him selfe Crompt 182. yet Bishops would examine men vpon their othes in case of felonie as for writing publishing of seditious bookes 12 No man should be cited to a spirituall court to depose there in any matter as witnesse for this is extortion and tort to the party Fitz. Iust. of peace pag. 172. b. Crompt 219. this is not remembred of our spirituall Doctours 13 No Bishop ought to appoint a man to appeare before him to take an oth ex officio sauing in matters of mariage and Willes And the cause of the appearance must be expressed particularly in the citatioÌ„ otherwise it is against law as Iustice Fitzherbert saieth Nat bre pag. 41. yet the Bb. boldly presume against this lawe Out of the booke of common prayer authorised by act of Parliament 14 It appeareth by the Kalender which assigneth 4. chapters to be read euery day through the yeare Also by the preface and order of reading the Psalmes that the morning and euening prayer should be read euery daie through the yeare either publikelie or priuately except great busines hinder yet they be onely read vpon Sundaies Holidaies Wednesdaies and Frydaies and Saintes Fues 15 The Curate must toll a bell to seruice that is he must eyther doe it himselfe or appoint another yet this is deputed to the Sexten or Clarke who is founde by the Parish and not by the Curate 16 The people are to answere the Priest to say AMEN and such like yet this is permitted to the Clearke alone in most places who after the popish order must supply the room of the vnlearned and say Amen as the papists doe abuse the scriptuâ—e to that purpose 17 Where there is singing there the Lessons