A Briefe RELATION OF That which hath been lately attempted to procure Ecclesiasticall PEACE amongst PROTESTANTS Published by Samuel Hartlib LONDON Printed by I. R. for Andrew Crooke and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Green Dragon 1641. Sir Edwin Sands in his Book called Europae Speculum or a view of the State of Religion in the Western parts of the World Pag. 183. THe end of these unhappy differences in Religion between the Reformed and Lutheran Protestants will be that their enemies shall laugh when themselves shall have cause to weep unlesse the graciousnesse of God stirre up some worthy Princes of renowne and reputation with both the sides to enterpose their wisedome industry and authority for the uniting these factions or at least wise for reconciling and composing those differences in some tollerable sort a work of immortall fame and desert and worthy of none other but of them of whom this wicked base World is not worthy A Brief RELATION OF THAT WHICH HATH BEEN LATELY ATTEMPTED TO PROCURE Ecclesiasticall PEACE amongst PROTESTANTS THE purpose of soliciting a Roncilement amongst Protestants in matters of Religion was first undertaken and afterward prosecuted after this manner When in the yeer 1628 Iohn Dury was in Prussia Minister to the English Company of Marchants residing at Elbing he was sent unto dealt withall 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 businesse of Ecclesiasticall Unitie amongst Protestants which he said his King and Master would be glad to advance So good a motion being readily entertained it came to passe afterward when Sir Thomas Roe was sent Ambassador Extraordinary by his Majesty of great Britain to agree the Sweds and Polonians which also he did successefully 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 doth lead him to favour all good indeavours of a publike nature did very willingly assist them with Counsell and at Master Duryes intreaty conferred with the Lord Chancellor Oxonstiern to see how farre he would shew himself in the businesse 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 Ambassador to joyn effectually therein towards his King and the Lutheran Clergy of his best acquaintance Upon this ground my Lord Ambassador encouraged Mr Dury to proceed and when his Lordship was gone into England the Lord Chancellor sent for him heard his particular proposalls conferred with him about the same testified his willingnesse to give assistance thereunto and desired Mr Dury to give him information of the passages of the work in time to come so he went from Elbing into Engl. in the yeer 1630. Chiefly because his Congregagation at Elbing was dissolved by reason of the inconveniences which warre had brought upon the Trade in that place and because Sr Thomas Roe had promised to move the chief Prelates in England to assist him in the work of pacification Being then arrived there he first acquainted his most familiar friends of the Clergy with his purpose and shewed them some declarations written by the chief Preachers of Dantzigh to make it appear that they were not only 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 Sr Thomas Roe who was mindefull of his promise and became every way as good as his word towards him For he recommended the businesse towards the Kings most Excellent Majestie who was pleased to refer the consideration of this matter to my Lords Grace of Canterbury and to the Bishop of London that they should hear Mr Dury and declare their resolutions to his proposalls This was done accordingly And he was commanded to write unto the Divines of his acquaintance in Prussia and to the Lord Chancellor Oxonstiern to testifie first the good inclination and resolution which the Clergy of England had to cooperate in due time towards so good a work Secondly that their Councell for the present was only this that to prepare a way for future treaties the Magistrates of both sides should inhibite railing disputes in the Pulpit and put down the names of partiality so farre as could be done and not suffer any debatements to be taken up or fomented about matters of Ceremony in the form of publike 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 and that an amiable conference of their Divines had been holden with good successe at Eeipzigh to compose the 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 Councells and endeavours in the work To make away for this purpose he had before hand through Sir Iames Spense Lord of Oreholm and Generall to the Scottish Nation in the Swedish Army given notice to his Majesty of Sweden what his aime was in the businesse of Reconcilement and how it might be effected Therefore when he came in the yeer 1631. into Germany he found the King somewhat prepared whom soon after the Battle fought at Leipzigh he spoke withall at Wirtsburg His Majestie was pleased to give him large audience and by conference received full information of all those deliberations and particular wayes whereby the work could be prosecuted of which the Sammlary resolution whereunto his Majesty gave assent was this That the Councell given by the Reverend Prelates of England was to be followed for the inhibition of disputes and partiall 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 wayes of amitie so his Majesty would recommend the same endeavours to be undertaken by some Divine of the Lutheran fide 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 Publike 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 forraine Divines the businesse might be brought to a solemn conclusion This favourable resolution being taken Mr Dury dealt first with the Divines of Hessen then with those of Hanaw and of the Palatinate and of Deuxpont and of the Wetteraw till he heard the King of Sweden was dead which evill news although they made a stop in some part of his resolutions yet they made him not leave the
from London to Hamburgh where he found Sir Robert waiting for a new Commission to go for Franckfort And whilst his Lordship stayed he took occasion to acquaint the chief Divines of that City in their Consistoriall meeting with his negotiation who having promised to joyn endeavours he went from thence towards Franckfort to a great and solemn meeting of the Protestant States where he arrived in my Lord Ambassadors company in Iune 1634. There he dealt in particular first with his best acquaintance and then made a proposition in generall to the assembly thereupon the States were moved to depute out of every Colledge some to take his businesse into consideration These came together gave Mr 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 forraine 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 Ambassadors had not received any instructions thereabout from their Masters therefore no finall resolution could be taken by them at that present but that they would faithfully relate and recommend these businesses unto their Masters to bring them to some effectuall resolution Secondly That others which had received instructions from their Principalls about the matter had proposed two wayes of proceeding in the work some thought it expedient that the manner of proceeding which Master Dury had suggested unto the States should be followed in bringing a Conference of peaceable Divines to passe that a Fundamentall agreement in points necessary for salvation according to the Example of the Conference held at Leipzigb might be setled And that to this effect the States of the four Upper 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 forraine States and Princes to move them to send thither also some of their Divines Thirdly That others thought it no lesse 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 Universall should be set on foote 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 aymed at that an agreement should be made in a Common Confession of Faith containing all the Fundamentalls of Religion necessary for Salvation setting other points of Scholasticall dispute aside Fourthly That the Ambassadors who had no instructions did promise to relate unto their Principalls their advices and procure fit resolutions thereupon which should be sent unto the Civill 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 aswell in Preaching as in Writing lest if this was not done some hinderance might befall unto their Unitie and being done by this means the Civill 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 blesse 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 applyed and all the chief hands did subscribe it Of this Act the Originall 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-Countries where he informed the Divines of his acquaintance and the Deputies of the Provinciall Synodes of things past at Frauckfort and elsewhere in these consultations obliging them thereby to take the matter to heart And when he arrived into England My Lords Grace of Canterbury 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 To which effect he went over again into Holland with His Majesties Letters of safe Conduct with a testimoniall from my Lords Grace of Canterbury bearing witnesse that Master Dury had acquainted him with the successe of his proceedings that he went again out of England to prosecute the same businesse not only with his knowledge but also with his approbation and assurance that he would be ready in due time to advance 〈◊〉 holy desires of Peace He had also private Letters from Doctor Davenant Lord Bishop of Salisbury and Doctor Hall Lord Bishop of Excester to some of the chief Divines of the Low-Countries to move them to concurre more effectually in these endeavours then they had formerly done Moreover he had Letters from the Ambassador of the Lords States of the Low-Countries residing at London unto the States both of Holland and Zealand Thus he set forth and arrived at the Hague in Iuly the yeer 1635. There he dealt first with the States of Holland to induce them to recommend these thoughts unto their Provinciall Synod which was then begun Afterward he went to those of Zealand and appeared in their Classicall meetings held at Walcheren Zirickzee Tolen and Goes then he dealt with the University of Leyden and the Synods as they came in order namely with that of North-Holland and of Vtrecht and with the French Synod in those parts from which Declarations were obtained fit for the advancement of his purpose When he had thus farre proceeded in Holland and found that evill affected mindes towards Peace raised ungrounded surmises against him to stop the good inclinations of impartiall men he used meanes to clear mens judgements by causing somethings to be Printed for the better information of all And having understood that the Lord Chancellor Oxonstiern was to go from Germany into Sweden where he hoped
Name to give him a Declaration and dimissory Letter whereby his actions in Sweden were approved bearing witnesse that Master Dury being come into Sweden to dispose the minds of their Clergy unto the work of Peace Ecclesiasticall according to the grounds laid by the States of the Empire at Franckfort Anno 1634. he had dealt by permission and command of her Majesty with the chief Divines of that Kingdome and although some difficulties were risen as in waightie matters is usuall yet that he had not omitted any thing which could serve for the taking away of the same Thus he went from Stockholm Anno 1638. and came to Lubeck there he had speech with Doctor Hunnius one of the chief Divines of those quarters Him he prepared to entertain the motion of Peace which afterward should be made unto him From Lubeck he set forward towards Hamburg to meet Sir Thomas Roe who there was residing as Ambassador Extraordinary from His Majesty of great Britaine towards the King of Denmark and Princes of Germany To him he gave attendance all the while he staid in those parts not leaving his former purpose but rather using the advantage of his Lordships favourable countenance In this new period of the negotiation he went slowly to work first because he looked towards the Swedes how they would behave themselves after his departure Secondly because he waited for some overture to begin and make some Proposalls at the publike Treaties of Peace in Germany which then was thought upon by reason of the Emperors Ambassador who was come to those parts and the Mediators which did offer themselves towards that negotiation But when those Treaties were not likely to proceed he went to Bremen that he might acquaint the Divines of that place with his former proceedings and gain in time to come their assistance by way of Councell These were very cordiall in the businesse and entertaining him with all kindenesse and liberalitie which no Germans before them had done such encouragements and declarations were given as he could desire both from the Clergy and Magistrate of that Citie Then he proceeded towards the King of Denmark who was at Gluckstad There with the good liking and countenance of my Lord Ambassador he acquainted the Lord Chancellor Raventâ—low with his desire to deal with the Clergy of Denmark If His Majesty would give him leave so to do His Majesty gave way to his demands and was pleased to recommend certain Writs which his Chancellor received from Master Dury unto the consideration of his Divines of the Universitie of Coppenhagen These gave their judgement and advice concerning his negotiation tending to shew their approbation of the purpose their particular Counsell and Proposalls in prosecuting of it and their willingnesse to treate further about it with Master Dury if his Majesty would give permission thereunto The King caused their judgement to be delivered to Master Dury who thereupon did accept of the offer of their Treatie and gave them a large Answer to all their propositions containing divers overtures towards a constant progresse in a Theologicall way of Treatie Uâ—to this answer by His Majesties Command they gave a further declaration of their judgement whereunto Master Dury having replyed and shewed His Majesty a brief and ready way to come to the purpose the King was pleased to write unto my Lord Ambassador to let him know that he thought it fit Master Dury should be more particularly authorized from England before the matter could proceed betwixt him and his Divines to any issue Whiles these matters were thus in agitation Master Dury dealt also with the Magistrates and Ministry of Hamburg and Lubeck and with the Most Reverend and Most Illustrious Archbishop of Bremen who gave him a reference to some chief Divines who entertained his motions with very good liking and gave him an answer to the same In like manner he made Proposalls to those of Stode who took the same into mature consideration and promised to concurre with others in answering At last he went to those of Brunswick and Luneburg where with the singular favour of those Princes and by the most pious and peaceable inclinations of their Councellors and chief Divines towards the Work of Reconcilement a ground was laid for a very effectuall progresse For they have made the Work their own undertaking to dispose the rest of the Lutheran Churches and Universities unto a reall concurrence in it that afterwards they may proceed with our Churches joyntly to a full conclusion Duke Augustus of Brunswick was the first to whom Master Dury made his addresse this learned and wise Prince was pleased in favour of the Work not only to convocate his chief Divines and appoint them with some of his Councellors of State to conferre Collegially a whole day with Master Dury but also to settle a resolution which his Divines subscribed obliging themselves thereby to joyn in all the wayes of agreement whereof they had conferred together and moreover to recommend the matter to his Cozen Duke George by a large and most effectuall Letter With this addresse he came to Duke George residing at Hildesheim where he had no lesse but rather more favourable entertainment then he had gotten at Brunswick For by an Act of Councell the chief Divines who then were in place were appointed to visit and entertain him till others that were sent for should come And when the chief of them were come Master Dury was lodged and entertained with him in one house at the Princes charge for the space of fourteen dayes that they together might ripen matters and bring their thoughts to a head Which being done a Committee of some Councellors of State was appointed to give them publike audience in the Prince His name to hear them confer upon the matter of agreement to consider their Councels and joynt resolutions and to make relation thereof unto the Prince that by his authority and Countenance such assistance might be given to the Work in due time as should be thought expedient All which being done first the Divines gave to Master Dury a Theologicall Declaration wherein they testified their agreement to all his Proposalls and then their more particular resolutions concerning the manner of proceeding which they would follow in the future advancement of the Work on their part were also imparted unto him The substance whereof was this That Doctor Calixtus chief professor of the University of Helmestat should by order of the Prince put forth some Treaties wherein the heads of matters in dispute amongst Protestants should be handled Historically out of Antiquity to shew what the Church of all ages hath beleeved thereof and how notwithstanding some difference of opinion thereabout among the Ancient Fathers Brotherly love was alwayes maintained These Treaties should be thus improved First they should be sent unto the Lutheran Universities of Wittenberg Leipzigh Iena Marpurg and Rostock and also to those of Brandenburg Hessen and Bremen to move them to declare their