he saied onely by warrant of mans authoritie and no grownde in godds worde for the same and had also a longe tyme verye superstitiously in the masse byn wickedly abused But yff he might not be suffred to minister the Sacraments accordinge to his conscience he then requested that some other might minister the Sacraments and he woulde onely preache Iff nether coulde be admitted be besought them that he might be discharged But to that the congregation woulde in no wise consente Whiles these things were thus in handlinge came maister Leuer before elected who assemblinge the congregation requested that he might withe their consentes appointe suche an order as shulde be bothe Godly withowt respecte off the Booke off Geneua or anye other requestinge farther that for so muche as that office was off so great importaunce aÌ„d that he had not byn in the like before that he might betweene that and Easter haue a triall off them and they off him and so at the ende off that terme either take or refuse whiche time off triall as it was willingly graunted him so when they vnderstoode that the order whiche he woulde place and vse was not altogether suche as was fit for a right reformed churche they woulde in nowise yelde to the same Knox whittingham and others perceyuinge that theis beginnings woulde growe to some what yff it were not staid in time drewe forthe a platt off the whole booke off England into the lattin tonge sendinge the same to maister Caluin off Geneua and requestinge his iudgement therin and shewinge him that some off their countrie men went abowte to force them to the same and woulde admit no other sayinge that it was an order moste absolute and that yff euer they came in to their countrie they woulde do their beste to establishe it againe Nowe folowethe the description A description off the Liturgie or booke off seruice that is vsed in Englande FIrste off all morninge praier offreth it selff The minister hauinge put on a white garment whiche they call a surplesse beginninge withe some sentence off holie scripture as for example â–ª yff we shall saie that we haue no sinne we deceyue oure selues c. or some suche of like sorte Then he takethe in harde the exhortat on whiche stirreth vp to a confession off synnes whiche the minister pronounceth with a loude voice the people sainge after him To this is added an absolution and when these thinges are done he rehersethe the lordes praier and afterward lorde open thow my lyppes and my mouthe shall shewe forth thy praise O god be redie to be my helpe c. Then come and let vs singe vnto th Lorde c. By and by also there folowe 3. Psalmes together at th ende off euery one Then foloweth the first lesson whiche conteinethe a whole chapiâ—er off the olde Testament After this lesson they saie or singe we praise â—he lorde or Blessed be the Lorde c. Then an other lesson owte off the Newe testamente vnlesse peraduenture the solemnization off some highe feast haue other set and apointed lessons Nowe in cathedrall churches they vtter their lessons in plaine songe and theÌ„ afterwards is Benedictus added This booke warnethe that they keepe this order through owte the whole yere Afterwards the crede is pronounced by the Minister all the people in the meane tyme staÌ„ding vp Afterwards fallinge downe vppon their knees the Minister saithe The Lorde be with yow The answere And with thy spirite Then Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Christe haue mercy vppon vs Lorde haue mercy vppon vs c. our father c. pronounced owte alowde off all with all boldnesse Then the Minister when he standeth vpp saithe o lorde shewe vs thy mercy The answere and geue vnto vs thy sauinge helthe O Lorde saue the king In the day wherin we shall call vppon thee Iuduâ— thy Ministers withe righteousnes And make thy chosen people ioyfull O Lorde saue thy people And blesse thyne inheritaunce Geue peace in our tyme o Lorde c. At lenghtâ— Collects are had â—n place off a conclusion the firste for the daie the seconde for peace the laste is for the obteininge off Grace Nowe the eueninge praiers are saide 〈◊〉 manner as the other are sauinge that after the firste lessen foloweth my soule doth magnifie the lorde After the 2. lessen Now Lorde c. and in steed off that collect God whiche arte the Author off peace is vsed o God from whom all holie desiers c. besides there is caution added that all Ministers shall exercise them selues continually aswell in morninge praiers as eueninge praiers except perhapp by studie in dyuinitie or some other busynes they be greatly and necessarely let or hindred· Besides vppon euery Sabothe daie wensdaie and fridaie there is yet in vse certeine suffrages deuised off Pope Gregory whiche beginnethe after this manner O God the father off heauen haue mercy vppon vs miserable synners O God the sonne redemer off the worlde c. onely leauinge owte the inuocation off saincts otherwise we vse a certaine coniuringe off god By the misterie off his incarnation by his holy natiuitie and circumcision by his haptisme fastinge and temptation by his agonie and bloudie sweate c. yea it comprehendethe in plaine wordes a praier to be deliuered from suddain deathe the people answeringe to the ende off euery clause either spare vs good lorde or ells Good Lorde deliuer vs or we beseche thee to heare vs Good Lorde O Lambe off God that taketh awaie the sinnes off the worlde is thrise repeated Then Lorde haue mercy vpon vs thrise and then the Lords praier with this praier also o Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes to the same adioined passinge ouer some things least we shulde seeme to syfte all those drosses which remaine still amonge vs. Nowe the manner off the supper is thus The nomber off three at the leaste is counted a fitt nomber to communicate and yet it is permitted the pestilence or some other common siknes beinge amonge the people the Minister alone maie communicate withe the sicke man in his house First therfore the Minister muste be prepared after this manner in a whit lynnin garmente as in sayinge the other seruice he is apointed and muste stande at the Northeside off the Table Then is had the Lords praier after the custome then he reciteth the collect and after folowe in order the ten commaundements but so notwithstanding that euery one off the people maye answere lorde haue mercy vpon vs and inclyne oure hartes to keepe this lawe After the rehersall off the commandements the collect off the daie as it is called and an other for the kinge is had By and by the Epistle and Gospell folowethe to witt suche as the callender apointethe for that daie And there in this place there is a note that euerie holy daye hathe his collect Epistle and Gospell whiche fill 73. great leaues off the booke â— when the reste fill scarse fiftie For all holy daies
Senators for a place or churche wherin they and all their country men might haue gods worde truly preached and the Sacraments sincerely ministred in their naturall tonge who ientlie promised his furtherance and that he also woulde move the whole Senate theroff the whiche he did accordingly And the 14. daie off the same monethe yt was graunted that they shulde haue libertie to preache and minister the Sacraments in that churche which the freÌ„che men had the freÌ„che one daie and the Englishe an other daie and vpoÌ„ the Sundaie to chuse also theÌ„ houres as they coulde agree amonge them selues but yt was with this commandement that the Englishe shulde not discent from the frenchmen in doctrine or ceremonyes least they shulde thereby minister occasion off offence and willed farther that before they entred their churche they shulde approue and subscribe the same confession off faith that the frenche men had then presented and abowte to put in printe to the whiche all the afore named and others whiche were by this time come thither did subscribe When the churche was in this sorte graunted they consulted amonge themselues what order off seruice they shulde vse for they were not so stricly bownde as was tolde them to the ceremonies off the frenche by the Magistrats but that iff the one allowed off the other it was sufficient At lenght the englishe order was perused and this by generall consente was concluded that the answeringe alowde after the Minister shulde not be vsed the letanye surplice and many other thinges also omitted for that in those reformed churches suche thinges woulde seeme more then strange It was farther agreed vppon that the Minister in place off the Englishe Confession shulde vse an other bothe off more effecte and also framed accordinge to the state and time And the same ended the people to singe a psalme in meetre in a plaine tune as was and is accustomed in the frenche dutche Italian Spanishe and Skottishe churches that don the minister to praye for â—hassistance off gods holie spirite and so to proceade to the sermon After the sermon a generall praier for all estates and for oure countrie of Englande was also deuised at th ende off whiche praier was ioined the lords praier and a rehersall off tharticâ—es off oure belieff whiche ended the people to singe and other psalme as afore Then the minister pronouncinge his blessinge The peace off god c. or some other off like effecte the people to departe And as touchinge the ministration off the Sacraments sundrie things were also by common consente omâ—tted as superstiâ—ious and superfluous After that the congregation had thus concluded and agreed and had chosen their minister and Deacons to serue for a time they entred their churche the 29. off the same monethe Then was it thought good amonge themselues that forthwith they shulde aduertise their countrie men and betheren dispersed off this singuler benefit the like wheroff coulde nowhere else as yet be obtained and to perswade hem all worldly respectes put aparte to repaier thither that they might altogether with one mouthe and one harte bothe lameÌ„te their foremer wickednes and also be thankfull to their mercifull father that had geuen them suche a churche in a strange lande wherein they might heare gods worde truly preached the Sacraments rightly ministred and Discipline vsed which in their owne countrie coulde neuer be obtained And to this effecte were letters directed to Strausburgh Zurick Densbrugh and Emden in the 2. off Auguste And for that it was thought the churche coulde not longe contynewe in good order withowte discipline there was also a brieff forme deuised declaringe the necessitie the causes and the order theroff wherunto all those that were present subscribed shewinge therby that they were ready and willinge to submitt themselues to the same accordinge to the rule prescribed in gods holie word at whiche time it was determined by the congregation that all suche as shulde come after shulde doo the like before they were admitted as members off that churche Here followethe the generall letter sente from the congregation off Franckforde to Strausbourge Zurick Wezeil Emden c. Grace mercy and peace in Christ our Lord c. We dowte not dearely beloued but yow haue harde aswell by letter as by reporte off the excellent graces and mercy whiche oure good god and heauenly father hathe shewed vnto oure litle congregation in this citie off Franckford for that he hathe not onely made the Magistrats and commons very fauorable towards vs and louinge but also hathe geuen them hartes with muche compassion to tender vs in so muche that euerie man helpethe vs no man is againste vs muche loue no grudge glad to please lothe to annoie vs yea and to declare this good will not to be off the meane sorte nor so small as oure brethern haue felte otherwere they haue graunted that thinge whiche amonge others and in other cities we coulde not obtaine nor durste allmoste hope for For what greater treasure or sweeter comforte can a Christian man desier then to haue a churche wherin he maie serue god in puritie off faithe and integritie off lyfe whiche thinge yff we wishe for let vs not refuse it seinge where we woulde we coulde not there obtaine it And here yet it is graunted in so ample wise that beinge subiecte to no blemishe no nor so muche as the euell off suspition froÌ„ the whiche fewe churches are free we maie preache minister and vse Discipline to the true settinge forthe off gods glorie and good ensample to others And for our partes we haue not bene negligente as touchinge the execution off the sayed benefit graunted For the 29. of Iuly we had god be thanked â— sermons to oure singuler comforte and great ioye off all godly men heere Wherfore brethern seinge your haue indured the paine off persecution with vs we thought it likewise oure dewties to make your partakers off oure consolation that altogether we maie geue thanks to oure louinge father who is more tender ouer vs then the mother ouer hir childe nether suffreth vs to be temped aboue that we maie beare but euen to the issue off the tentation geuethe prosperous successe trustinge by gods grace that he whiche hathe geuen yow that gifte not onely to beleue in Christe but also to suffer for his sake will so directe your hartes that no respecte off commoditie there nor yet feare of burthen here maie once moue yow to shrink from your vocatioÌ„ whiche is in one faithe one ministration one tonge and one consente to serue god in his churche What more manifeste signe what plainer declaration what worde more expresse and lyuely can we haue off dewtie and vocation theâ— when god speakethe in oure hartes by faithe guidethe vs owte off perille throughe his grace and nowe laste of all offrethe vs a restinge place of his exceading mercy Yow remeÌ„ber that before we haue reasoned together in hope to obtaine a churche and shall we nowe drawe
are nowe in like vse as were amonge the Papistes onelye verye fewe excepted Then he goethe forwardes to the crede and after that to the sermon iff there be anie Afterwardes the parishe priest byddeth the holie dayes and fastes on their eues iff there be anye that weeke And here the booke warnethe that none defraude the parishe priest off his due or right specially on those feast daies that are dedicated to offrings Then foloweth a praier for the state off the churche militaunte and that not withowte a longe heape and mixture off matters vntill they come after a certeine confession off sinnes to lift vp your hartes the people answeringe we geue thankes to the lorde Let vs geue thanks to our Lorde God the answer It is meete and right so to do It is verie meete right and our bownden dewtie c. vntill they come to that clause O Lorde holie father c. and so the preface accordinge to the feaste is added Afterwards he saithe Therfore withe Angells and Archangells and so endethe with holy holy holy lord god till he come to hosianna in the highest Nowe the priest bowethe his knee acknowledginge oure vnworthynes in the name off all them that shall receiuâ— And settinge owte gods mercye he beseche the God that oure bodies maye be made cleane by his bodie and that our soules maie be washed through his bloude And then he againe standeth vp and takethe in hande a freshe an other praier appointed for this purpos in which are conteined the wordes off the institution all whiche beinge donne he first communicateth then by and by he saithe to an other knelinge Take and eate this in remembrance that Christ died for thee and feede on him in thy harte by faithe with thanksgeuinge Now abowte th ende the Lordes praier it vsed againe the Minister sayinge it alowde and all the people folowinge to conclude they haue a geuinge off thanks in th ende withe Glory to god in the highest as it was vsed amonge the Papistes yff it happen that there be no sermon onely a fewe thinges are omitted but all other thinges are donne in order aforesaid In baptisme the Godfathers are demaunded in the name off the childe wither they renownce the deuell and all his workes the lustes off the worlde c. and they answere I renownce them Then wither they belieue the Artikles off the faithe whiche beinge confessed wilte thow saith he turninge himself to bothe the witnesses be baptized into this faithe and they saie yea I will. After afewe thinge rehersed he takethe the Child and dippeth it in but warely and discretly as it is in the booke vppon whose forehead also he shall make a crosse in token forsoothe that when he is olde he shall not be ashamed to confesse the faithe off Christe Crucified Afterward sendinge awaie the Godfathers and Godmothers be chargeth them that they bringe the childe to be confirmed off the Bishopp as sone as he can saie the Articles off the faithe the lordes praier and the ten CoÌ„maundemeÌ„ts And seinge there be many causes as the booke saithe whiche shulde moue them to the Confirmation off Children this forsoothe off all others is the waightiest that by imposition off hands they maie receiue strenght and defence against all temptations off sinne and the assaults off the world and the deuell bicause that when Children come to that age partlie by the frailtie off their owne fleshe partly by the assaults off the worlde and the deuell they beginn to be in daunger And leafte anie shulde think any error to be in this Confirmation therfore they take a certeine pamflett off a Catechisme whiche consisteth off the Articles off the faithe the Lordes praier and ten commandements and all this is dispatched in lesse then two leaues To these is ioyned their manner off Mariage off whiche that we maie passeouer many petty ceremonies these follies who can suffer The husbande laithe downe a ringe vpon the booke whiche the minister takinge he geuethe it in his hande and biddethe him to put it on the fourthfinger off his wiues left hande Then he vsethe this forme off wordes withe this ringe saithe he I thee wedd withe my body I thee worship withe all my worldly goods I thee endue In the name off the father the sonne and the holy ghoste A litle after the Minister saithe to the newe maried persons knelinge before the lordes table Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Christ haue mercy vpon vs Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Oure father which arte c. Lorde saue thy seruaunt and thy handmaide c. and so a few things beinge rehersed they muste be brought to the Lordes supper The visitation off the sicke is after this manner Peace be to this howse The answere and to all that dwell in the same Lorde haue mercy vpon vs c. our father c. Lorde saue thy seruaunte Answere whiche trustethe in thee Sende forthe thy helpe from thy holy hil and withe spede saue him c. as in the other prefaces withe questions and answers Off the Buriall The Priest meetethe the Corse at the entraunce off the churcheyarde either singing or softly pronouncinge I am the Resurrection and the liffe c. I knowe that my redemer lyuethe Iob. 19. beinge comme to the graue it is sayed Man borne off a woman Iob. 9. When the earthe is throwen in we committ saithe he earthe to earthe duste to duste c. The Lorde hathe geuen the Lorde hathe taken I harde a voice from heauen sayenge Blessed are the â—ead whiche die in the Lorde Lorde haue mercy vppon vs c. The purification of women in childbed whiche they call geuinge off thankes is not only in all things withe vs almoste common withe the Papistes but also with the Iewes bycause they are commaunded in stede off a lambe or doue to offre monie Other thinges not so muche shame it selff as a certeine kinde off pitie compelleth vs to keepe close in the meane season nothinge diminishinge the honor due to those reuerende men who partely beinge hindred by those times and by the obstinacie and also multitude off aduersaries to whom nothinge was euer delightfull besides their owne corruptions beinge as it were ouerflowen did alwaies in their minde continually as muche as they coulde striue to more perfect thinges Note that this description is verye fauourably put downe yf ye conferre it with the Booke off order in all points and the vsage off the booke in many churches of this realme yow can confesse no lesse And hereoff ye maie gather what M. Caluin woulde haue written yf they had noted all the abuses of the same The answere and Iudgemente off that famous and excellent lerned man Maister Iohn Caluin the late Pastor off Geneua touchinge the Booke off Englande after that he had perused the same faithfully translated owte off Latten by maister Whittingham To the godly and lerned men Maister Iohn Knox and Maister William Whittingham his faithfull brethern at Frankford c. THis thinge trulie
as tyme and occasion shall serue Concerninge the Article off contribution when the treasure off the churche faileth it perteineth to the ministers and Deacons to trauell by the waie off exhortation with the riche to helpe in that nede withowte anie further compulsion Concerninge the Article off sendinge off common letters for the relieff off the congregation That there be no mention made off anye parte theroff in the booke off discipline but that the ministerie with all possible secrecie vse such pollicies and means as maie beste serue to the relieff and mainteinance off the congregation Concerninge the Article off makinge off lawes that they be made by the ministerie and bodie off the congregation beinge called together for that purpose And iff the ministerie or anie off them refuse to be present beinge by the bodie off the congregation required therunto whithowte iuste cause by them or him alleaged that then after a dewe time geuen for the hearinge off the cause yff they bringe not in good reason and iuste cause off suche refusall Then to be depriued by the same from their or his ministerie and newe to be chosen Concerninge the article off the election off Ministers That a scrutenie be had euerie yere at the tyme off election for the examination off the Ministers off the worde wherin shal be by the appointmente off the congregation six or eight graue and wise men whiche shall heare what faults be alleadged against the same Minister And yff the faults be waightie and worthie off open correction to signifie the same to thâ— congregation that the offenders or offender maie be corrected or depriued accordingly Yff the offences be lesser then that they ought to be published then the saide ministers or minister offendinge to be monished off his faulte accordinge to the discretion off the Scrutiners Concerninge the Article off Testamentes That no man by order in this congregation shall be forced to Register his Testamente but that their be eight or 10. graue wise substantiall and honeste men chosen by the congregation owte off whiche nomber the Testator shall haue his choise or yff he omit the thinge his executours shall haue the choise to take 2. off the saied 8. or 10. besides suche as are made wittnesses whom the executers withâ—in a monethe after the death off the Testator shall make priuie to the Testamente and that the same two beinge required therunto shall faithfully declare vnto euery partie comprehended in the will so muche off the will as shall particulerly appertaine to euery off them and shall keepe secrete all the reste off the will or Testament as they shall proteste before God and the congregation vppon there consciences at the time off their election And nowe in case it shall seeme good vnto all your wisedomes as well off the Ministerie and bodie off the congregation off the one part as off the dissentinge brethern off the other part That we shall by oure mediation proceede anye further accordinge vnto this forme off reconciliation whiche is here described We doo hartely require yow that signifinge your mindes vnto vs with as conueniente spede as ye maie ye will also appoint owte on either parte 2. Discreet and sober persons louers off peace and concorde whiche by conference with other two off vs whom we shall appointe may drawe theis Articles afore written into such a forme as they maie be conueniently anexed to the reste off your Discipline The 29. September 1557. Your lovinge bâ—ethern and countrie Thomas VVrothe Frances Knollys Roger Parker Iohn Abell Henry Knollys Iohn Browne Fran. willforde Iohn Turner Edwin Sandes Thomas Eaton Ricard Springham The answere off the churche to this offre or the effect off the same We cannot allowe this waie off reconciliation offred to oure churche by oure countrie men for as muche as we shulde condemne oure selues as euell doers and oure doinges vngodly and vnreasonable but we are assured we haue not done in oure discipline anie thinge contrary to goddes worde and good reason The last off Septemb. Dauid VVhithead Iohn Hales Thomas Sorby Iohn Pedder Vhomas Ashley Henry Parry Richard Beesley Robart Crowley Thomas wattes Richard Rogers VVilliam Rawlinges Robart Beste Richart Luddington Edmond Haries The copie off the letters off request sentfoorth for relieff off the poore by Maister Sutton 25. Iuly 1557. To all them that beare an vnfayned Reuerence and zeele vnto the eternall Testament off Iesus Christe ioyned withe the charitable and syncere bowells off mercie towardes the poore Grace Mercie and Peace from God the Father by the same oure Lorde Iesus Christe his sonne the common and onely Sauiour off the worlde IT is not like that the brute of the coÌ„trouersie which hathe nowe at the ende off six monethes continued in this Enshe churche at Franckford is vnknoweÌ„ to strangers it is more like that so manie beinge priuie therto it is caried and spread to farre abroad and moste like by the fruites springinge theroff that it hath byn vntruly reported by the willfull authors and stubburne mainteiners off it not onely to the infamie reproche and discredit off the bodie off this churche and to the intent to stopp all relieff from the poore members off the same but also that their vncharitable and leude behauiours shulde not come to light For it is well knowen that diuerse charitable men albeit their persons and names be neither knowen nor desired to be knowen were before the beginninge off this controuersie verie liberall in sendinge their charitie to the vse off this whole congregation vniuersally and some were beneficiall to sundrie members off the same particulerlie whiche sithe that time to oure knowledge they haue left vndone vtterlie We the Ministers off the churche hopinge that theis men the authors and mainteners off this controuersie would in time haue knowen their faults and made satisfaction to the churche as it becomethe christen men to doo did not onelie with pacience suffer their slaunderous talke and vnquiet demenour but also beare with their vniuste dealinge and as much as in vs laye studied to couer their faultie doinges Neuertheles seinge no likelyhood off their amendment but moste manifeste proffes off their malice this poore congregation rather dailie encreasinge then in anie parte abatinge and thereby the pouertie theroff continually augmentinge we thought it oure bownden dewtie in conscience no longer to hide the matter but thus off necessitie constrained to disclose it so as seinge they will not be as they ought to be they maie at leaste be knowen as they be And thus we doo not for anie malice that we beare to anye mannes person as god the sercher off all hartes knoweth but that the truth beinge knowen such good people as through vntrue reporte haue byn perswaded to withdrawe their good mindes and fauor from this poore congregation might vnderstande that withowte iuste cause they haue so longe done it and hereafter be the more willinge to renewe their charitie in the relieuinge off this poore church off Christe