then made a Proposition in generall to the Assembly thereupon the States were moved to depute out of every Colledge some to take his business into consideration These came together gave Master Dury audience received informations of the circumstances of this Work and perused severall declaratory Writings which divers Universities and Divines of both sides in Germany as also out of Germany in forraign Churches as England France Helvetia and Transilvania had given to him which moved them to take the matter into serious consideration and make a Decree whereof the heads are these First That Master Dury having been heard by a solemn Committee and the Writs which he produced taken into consideration by the rest of the States all of them with unanimous consent did judge his Work most laudable most acceptable to God and most necessary and usefull to his Church yet seeing it was of great and weighty consequence and that many of the Ambassadours had not received any Instructions thereabout from their Masters therefore no final resolution could be taken by them at that present but that they would faithfully relate and recommend the business unto their Masters to bring them to some effectual resolution Secondly That others who had received Instructions from their Principals about the matter had proposed two ways of proceeding in the Work some thought it expedient that the manner of proceeding which Master Dury had suggested unto the States Mr. Dury's being at Francksert should be followed in bringing a Conference of peaceable Divines to pass that a fundamental agreement in points necessary for salvation according to the example of the Conference held at Leipzigh might be setled And that to this effect the States of the four Vpper Circles should give up unto the Prince Elector Palatine their more particular advices towards the furthering of the matter and that the Declarations of the two Saxon Circles should be given up to the Elector of Saxony and Brandinburg who then should agree amongst themselves concerning the time and place of a Meeting which might be named unto the rest and afterwards invitatory Letters should be sent to forraign States and Princes to move them to send thither also some of their Divines Thirdly That others thought it no less expedient to proceed thus namely that the Electors of Saxony and Brandinburg should be intreated by the States then met together to reassume the amiable Conference which was begun three yeers ago betwixt their Divines and those of Cassell and to this effect that if not sooner at least then when the Treaties of Peace Vniversal should be set on foot a meeting should be appointed whereunto peaceable Divines on both sides both within and out of the Empire should be called In which meeting this should chiefly be aimed at That an agreement should be made in a common Confession of Faith containing all the Fundamentals of Religion necessary for Salvation setting other points of Scholasticall dispute aside Fourthly That the Ambassadours who had no Instructions did promise to relate unto their Principals these advices Mr. Dury's being at Frankfort and procure fit resolutions thereupon which should be sent unto the Civil Electors professing the Protestant Religion Fifthly Moreover that it was fully consented unto by some and by some taken ad referendum that in the mean time all Christian moderation was to be used on both sides as well in preaching as in writing lest if this was not done some hinderance might befall unto their Vnity and being done by this means the Civil Peace also might so much the more be advanced Sixthly That Prayers were to be conceived in the Churches of both sides to intreat Almighty God to bless these attempts This was made an Act the fourteenth day of September 1634. To which the seal of those which had the direction of the meeting was applied and all the chief hands did subscribe it Of this Act the Original sealed and subscribed was given to Master Dury to enable him to testifie authentically to other Churches the resolution of the Protestant States that thereby all well-willers unto the work might be encouraged to continue in setting it forward Upon this ground he went again towards England through the Low-Countreys In the Low Countreys where he informed the Divines of his acquaintance and the Deputies of the Provincial Synods of things past at Franckfort and elsewhere in these consultations obliging them thereby to take the matter to heart And when he arrived into England England the Bishop of Canterbnry being informed of all matters did by Sir Thomas Roes procurement recommend him to the King who was pleased in taking more particular notice of his person and work then in former time to permit him still to proceed Holland To which effect he went over again into Holland Anno. 1635 with his Majesties Letters of safe Conduct with a testimonial from the Bishop of Canterbury bearing witness that Master Dury had acquainted him with the successe of his proceedings Mr. Dury's being in Holland that he went again out of England to prosecute the same business not onely with his knowledge but also with his approbation and assurance that he would be ready in due time to advance such holy desires of Peace He had also private Letters from Doctor Davenant Bishop of Salisbury and Doctor Hall Bishop of Excester to some of the chief Divines of the Low-Countreys to move them to concur more effectually in these endeavours then they had formerly done Moreover he had Letters from the Ambassadour of the Lords States of the Low-Countreys residing at London unto the States both of Holland and Zealand Thus he set forth and arrived at the Hague in July the yeer 1635. There he dealt first with the States of Holland to induce them to recommend these thoughts unto their Provincial Synod which was then begun Afterward he went to those of Zealand In Zealand and appeared in their Classical meetings held at Walcheren Zirickzee Tolen and Goes then he dealt with the University of Leyden Leyden and the Synods as they came in order namely with that of North-Holland and of Utrecht and with the French Synod in those parts from which Declarations were obtained fit for the advancement of his purpose When he had thus far proceeded in Holland and found that evil-affected mindes towards Peace raised ungrounded surmises against him to stop the good inclinations of impartiall men he used means to clear mens judgements by causing some things to be printed for the better information of all And having understood that the Lord Chancellor Oxenstiern was to go from Germany into Sweden where he hoped that his Lordship would do more then in Germany he was able to do for the work of Peace at the perswasion of some friends he took a journey thitherward where he arrived in June Anno. 1636 Anno 1636. In Sweden Nor was he altogether disappointed of his expectation For the Lord Chancellor coming thither favoured
A SUMMARIE ACCOUNT OF Mr Iohn Dury's FORMER and LATTER NEGOTIATION For the procuring of true Gospell Peace with Christian Moderation and Charitable Unity amongst the Protestant Churches and Academies â—ABORE ET CONSTANTIA LONDON Printed for the Author in the year 1657. A SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF Master JOHN DVRYE's former and latter NEGOTIATION WHen in the yeer 1628. John Dury was in Prussia Minister to the English Company of Merchants residing at Elbing he was sent unto The first occasion of this work was at Elbing dealt withal Anno. 1628 and moved by Dr. Godeman a wise godly and learned man one of the King of Swedens Privy Councellors and Judge of his high Court in those parts to second him in a business of Ecclesiasticall Unity amongst Protestants which he said his King and Master would be glad to advance So good a motion being readily entertained it came to pass afterward when Sir Thomas Roe was sent Ambassadour Extraordinary by his Majesty of Great Brittain Mr. Durre's being at Elbing to agree the Swedes and Polonians which also he did successfully perform that both Doctor Godeman and Master Dury did make him throughly acquainted with all the passages of their Negotiation Whereupon he according to that generous disposition which did lead him to favour all good endeavours of a publick nature did very willingly assist them with Counsel Anno. 1629 and at Master Duryes intreaty conferred with the Lord Chancellor Oxenstiern to see how far he would shew himself in the business and what course might be resolved upon to proceed joyntly to the effect thereof The Lord Chancellor manifested a good liking to the work and promised to my Lord Ambassadour to joyn effectually therein towards his King and the Lutheran Clergy of his best acquaintance Upon this ground my Lord Ambassadour encouraged Master Dury to proceed and when his Lordship was gone into England the Lord Chancellor sent for him heard his particular Proposals conferred with him about the same testified his willingness to give assistance thereunto and desired Master Dury to give him information of the passages of the work in time to come so he went from Elbing into England in the year 1630. England Chiefly Anno. 1630 because his Congregation at Elbing was dissolved by reason of the inconveniences which war had brought upon the Trade in that place and because Sir Thomas Roe had promised to move the chief Prelates in England to assist him in the work of pacification Mr. Dury's being in England Being then arrived there he first acquainted his most familiar friends of the Clergie with his purpose and shewed them some Declarations written by the chief Preachers of Dantzigh to make it appear that they were not onely ready to joyn in such a Negotiation but also desirous and in hope that the Divines in England would in like manner concur which being done he came to Sir Thomas Roe who was mindfull of his promise and became every way as good as his word towards him For he recommended the business towards the King who was pleased to refer the consideration of the matter to the Bishop of Canterbury and to the Bishop of London that they should hear Master Dury and declare their resolutions to his Proposals This was done accordingly and he was commanded to write unto the Divines of his acquaintance in Prussia and to the Lord Chancellor Oxenstiern to testifie first the good inclination and resolution which the Clergie of England had to co-operate in due time towards so good a work Secondly That their Counsell for the present was onely this that to prepare a way for future Treaties the Magistrates of both sides should inhibâ—â— railing disputes in the Pulpit and put down the names of partiality so far as could be done and not suffer any publick Disputes to be fomented about matters of Ceremony in the form of publick Worship This he did and after a good space when news came that the Protestant Princes in Germany had leagued themselves together for their mutuall defence Anno. 1631 Mr. Dury's being in Germany and that an amiable conference of their Divines had been holden with good success at Leipzigh to compose their differences in Religion Master Dury was permitted to go into Germany that he might see how the Divines of all sides might be disposed towards a Conjunction of Councels and endeavours in the Work To make a way for this purpose he had before-hand by the means of Sir James Spense Lord of Oreholm and Generall to the Scottish Nation in the Swedish Army given notice to his Majesty of Sweden what his aim was in the business of Reconcilement and how it might be effected Therefore when he came in the year 1631. into Germany he found the King somewhat prepared whom soon after the Battell fought at Leipzigh he spoke withall at Wirtsburg His Majesty was pleased to give him large audience At Wirtsburg and by conference received full information of all those deliberations and particular waies whereby the Work could be prosecuted of which the Summary resolution whereunto his Majesty gave assent was this That the Counsel given by the Prelates of England was to be followed for the inhibition of Disputes and partial names and that as Master Dury did intend to labour with the Divines of the Reformed side to dispose them to joyn unanimously in the means and waies of amity so his Majesty would recommend the same endeavours to be undertaken by some Divines of the Lutheran side who should in like manner work upon the rest of their own party and afterward when a fit preparation should be found on both sides then His Majesty did offer to give unto Master Dury his Letters of publick recommendation towards the Princes of Germany and chiefly towards the Elector of Brandenburg and Landgrave of Hessen that with his and their concurrence and the help of forrain Divines the business might be brought to a solemn conclusion Anno. 1632 This favourable resolution being taken Master Dury dealt first with the Divines of Hessen then with those of Hanaw and of the Palatinate and of Deuxpont and of the Weâ—teraw till he heard the King of Sweden was dead which evil news although they made a stop in some part of his resolutions yet they made him not leave the same but altering a little his course he procured from all the foresaid Divines certain Letters and Declarations whereof some were inscribed to the Bishop of Canterbury some joyntly to him and to the Bishop of London whereby they shewed their serious intention to labour for unity with a desire to be assisted by the Church of England Whiles this was a doing At Heilbron Sir Robert Anstruther arrived as Extraordinary Ambassadour from his Majesty to the Princes of Germany With him Master Dury having now gained the consent of some of the chief reformed Churches in those parts and thinking it fit to deal with the Lutheran side also went to the meeting of the
his work and although his proceedings were flow yet much reality was found in them For when a resolution was taken to permit Mr. Dury to treat with the Divines of that Kingdome Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm four places were named Stockholm Vbsall Westerose and Strengnese to which he might address himself particularly and lay open his intention having therefore first dealt with those of Stockholm he had the Lord Chancellors Letters to make way for him at the other places Upsall of which the University of Ubsall was the chief There he had conference both Collegially and severally with the Professors of Divinity who gave full assent unto his desires and set down these Conditions upon which they were ready to agree and joyne with the Reformed side 1. That a full agreement should be made in all the fundamentall Articles of faith 2. That all errors overthrowing the foundation or tending to overthrow the same should be condemned 3. That in matters ceremoniall and of indifferency there should be a mutuall toleration 4. That betwixt the parties united sincerity and uprightness should be maintained lest ancient Errours might he upheld under doubtfull speeches 5. That when peace is made none should be suffered to maintain excuse or spread any more the Errors once condemned 6. That ambitious and needless Disputes and brablings should be inhibited on all sides 7. Anno. 1637 Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm That former reproaches and injuries should be put to oblivion 8. That the Church-Government should be settled according to Apostolical Rules These demands the rest agreed unto neither was any thing of moment added thereunto by any Therefore being returned back again into Stockholm and having informed the Lords Regents of that which was past thoughts were entertained about the first and the last of these Conditions as the chief of all the rest namely concerning Fundamentall Articles of Faith and the establishment of Ecclesiasticall Government Touching the first namely how to limitate the number of Fundamentals and distinguish the same from not-Fundamentals Mr. Dury did impart a brief Discourse unto those of Ubsall to which they made no reply as being loth to go too fast before they should have the consent of their Brethren yet silently they assented thereunto Concerning the second because they then were in deliberation to settle their Ecclesiastical Government by Canons which they were about to make Therefore both the Dean of the Faculty of Divinity at Ubsall the Queens Tutor at Stockholm and the Lord Chancellor conferred several times with Mr. Dury about that matter to know the Constitutions of the chief Reformed Churches wherein he laboured to give them satisfaction and imparted unto them also the printed judgements of the English Prelates Doctor Morton Doctor Davenant and Doctor Hall which besides some other publick Treatises of the same nature were communicated unto them But the Lord Chancellor being desirous to confer more particularly and at leisure with Master Dury about all matters belonging to the further advancing of the work of pacification took him along in his company and Coach towards Ubsall in a Circuit which he made thitherward from Stockholm thorow Strengnese and Westerose In this progress the Bishops of Strengnese and Westerose were dealt withall the second time Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm They setled good resolutions and laid grounds for constant future Treaties so far that they had thoughts of sending some body into England nevertheless before matters could be brought to full maturity some of the German Lutherans hearing large reports of Master Dury's proceeding in Sweden and being moved with jealousie that the Swedes would come to some publick Treaties and therein to a Conclusion without them did expostulate the matter and by Letters endeavoured to disswade them from all further entertaining of his motions by which means their spirits were troubled and their resolutions so clogged that from that time forward they went heavily to work yet Mr. Dury hoping to overcome all such letts did not leave the work but laboured so much the more to engage them to it by shewing ways free from all exception whereby the differences which they did stick at might be composed This he did first at Ubsall and afterward at Stockholm in a meeting of the chief Clergie which was commanded to deal with him wherein he gave them satisfaction to all their demands in a whole days conference instituted to that effect so that they seemed to acquiesse And because they had laid this as a main ground That if a Fundamentall agreement could be found in the Doctrine of the Lords Supper they would not much stand to debate other matters Therefore not long after their conference he offered to the Archbishop and Professors of Ubsall a learned and patheticall Declaration which from the University of Aberdein and Ministry of Edinburg was sent unto him to shew the fundamentall agreement of Protestants in that point At this Declaration some small exceptions were taken in respect of certain forms of speeches contained therein which Master Dury having fully explained and thereby resolved their doubts those of Ubsall did rest satisfied but some others there were who having set themselves professedly against the work would by no means receive any content For the more humbly and discreetly it was offered unto them the more they sought to avoid it and laboured by all means to cry down and discredit the very purpose of agreement Anno. 1638 Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm lest the good liking which the Lords Regents did shew thereunto might take some reall effect and work upon the spirits of the common Clergie a good impression to give way unto it This their perverseness being fully apparent moved Master Dury to deal in some kinde more strictly with them than otherwise his inclination would have suffered him to do yet at last to avoid occasions of strife he resolved to depart from thence and let the business lie a while asleep but lest some unconscionable men might falsly traduce all his proceedings in his absence as then already in his presence they had begun to do by mis-informing others of his words and actions and mis-interpreting suspiciously his aim he caused to print before he went away from thence a Summary and true Narrative of all his chief actions and Proposals which he offered to the Clergie of that Kingdom met in a Convocation And afterward to the end they should have no just cause of false surmises or pretext to traduce his intentions he made a solemn Vow to binde himself to lawfull purposes and unblameable ways of proceeding which he put to paper and presented to the Lord Chancellor to be imparted unto the chief of that Clergie These preventions being used when he was resolved to be gone the Lords Regents were pleased in the Queens Name to give him a Declaration and dimissory Letter whereby his actions in Sweden were approved bearing witness that Master Dury being come into Sweden to dispose the minds of