as oure poore condition and callinge dothe permit In the meane space we shall moste intirely beseche almightie God so to assiste yow withe his holy spirit that your doings maie helpe to confounde papistrie set forthe gods glorie and shewe suche light in the face off the worlde that bâ—othe the wicked maie be ashamed hauinge no iuste cause off reproche and also oure weake brethern confirmed and woone to the truthe From Zurick this 13. off October â—554 Your louing frinds Robart Horne Richard Chambers Thomas Leuer Nicholas Karuile Iohn Mullingâ— Thomas Spencer Thomas Bentham VVilliam Cole Iohn Parkhuste Roger Kelbe Robart Beamont Laurence Humphry Henry Cockrafft Iohn Pretio Abowte this tyme Letters were receyued from maister Haddon Wherin he desired for diuers considerations to be excused for comminge to take the charge vppon him at Franckford The 24. off October came maister Whitheaâ— to Franckford and at the requeste off the congregation he tooke the charge for a time and preached vppon the Epistle to the Romains Abowte the 4. off Nouember came Maister Châ—mbres to Franckford with letters from Zurick whiche were partlie an answere to an other letter written vnto them from Franckforde the 26. off September whiche was as followithe Grace mercy and peace c. AFter longe hope off Your answere to our letter we thought it good to put you once againe in remembraunc And as we in our former so nowe in theis also in gods behalff moste ernestly require yow deeplie to waie this matter off gods callinge and the necessitie off this congregation We haâ—e throughly lerned your estate and also made yow priuie to oures â–ª and eftsonnes wishe we might be together to bewaile our synnes paste to praie together for oure poore brethern that are vnder Antechristes captiuitie to comforte instructe and profit one an other And finally to bestowe the time off oure persecution together and redeeme theis daies whiche are so euell And iff anye desier off knowledge staye yow certenly it woulde not be so litle increased here that yow shulde iustâ—y repent For as touchinge the companie off lerned men as yow cannot bere be withowte so that thinge whiche chiefly your can require of lerned mens IudgmeÌ„ts and knowledge owte off their workes your maie suck moste plentifully wherof with vs yow can lake no store We nede not brethern to make loÌ„ge discouse in reasoninge â–ª for we partlie knowe that gods spirit whiche workethe in your hartes shall preuaile withe yow more theÌ„ disputinge not dowtiÌ„ge but the same holie spirit knocketh at the dore off your coÌ„scieÌ„ces not only to moue yow of oure behalffs but to admonishe yow to auoide the incoÌ„ueniences of talkes and the offences of oure poore brethern of Englande whose marueilinge cannot otherwise be satisfied Remember therfore dearly beloued that we wryte as bretheren to oure deare brethern who altogether seeke oure fathers honor oure owne discharge and the comforte off oure afflicted countrie men The same sweete father graunt for his Christs sake that we maie assemble together to the buildinge off this his Temple to let the false workemen and vnderminers and diligently in our vocation to helpe to the furnishinge off the same till it rise to perfection Fâ—â— ye well in Christe From Franckford this 16. off Septemb. 1â—54 Your louinge frinds as in the letter afore so vnder this subscribed The answere to them off Franckford was as foloweth WE beinge placed here in quietnes with many and great commodities for oure studies tendinge all to edification off Christes churche haue vnto the earneste requests off your letters vnto vs answered in our letters vâ—to yow that to discharge all dewtie in conscience and to increase and instructe your congregation at Franckford withe oure presence and diligence wilt noâ— deny to remoue from hence vnto yow so that yow charged off conscience do constantly affirme that ye haue so great neede off vs as by letters was signified and certeinly assure vs that we with yow maie and shall vse the same order off seruice concerninge religion whiche was in Englande laste set forthe by kinge Edward And nowe also for the better vnderstaÌ„ding off suche requests and charitable performance of dewtâ—e vpon bothe partes desired and procured Maâ—ster Richard Chambers our beste frinde a man moste charitable and câ—refull for the Christian congregation to take pains to trauell vnto yow and wiâ—he yow for vs so that this matter as it is begon and moued in writingâ— maie be fully debated and concluded by his faithfull means and diligence For we be all agreed and do purpose to allowe and performe what so euer he shall saie and promes in oure names vnto yow Wherfore we beseche yow in Goddes name conscionably to consider the estate and condition bothe off yow and vs and iff there vppon yow conclude withe the saied master Chambers off oure comminge vnto yow then let him not lack your charitable helpe in necessary prouision for our continuance withe yow And thus besechinge god that your doings maie tende to his glorie and the spedy comforte off his afflicted churche we wishe yow all helthe and increase off true knowledge in Christe our lord and sauiour From Zurick this â—7 off October Anno 1554. Your lovinge frinds as in the letters before When Maister Chambers had conferred with the congregation and sawe that they coulde not assure him the â—uâ—â— vse off the Englishe booke withowte the hazardinge oâ—f their churche he prepared to departe from whens he came and by this time was Maister Knox come from Geneua and chosen minister vppon the receipte off a letter sent him from the congregation whiche letter was as folowethe WE haue receiued letters from oure brethern off Strausbrough but not in suche sorte and ample wise as we looked for wheruppon we assembled together in the B. Goaste we hope and haue with one voice and consent chosen yow so partâ—culerly to be one off the Ministers off our congregation here to preache vnto vs the moste liuely worde off God accordinge to the gift that God haâ—he geuen yow for as muche as we haue here throughe the mercifull goodnes off God a churche to be congregated together in the name off Christe and be all of one body and also beinge of one natioÌ„ tonge and countrie And at this presente hauinge neede off suche a one as yow we do desier yow and also require yow in the name off God not to deny vs not to refuse theis oure requests but that yow will aide helpe and assiste vs with your presence in this our Good and godlie entreprise whiche we haue take in hand to the glorie off god and the profit off his congregation and the poore sheâ—pe off Christ dispersed abroad who withe your and like presences woulde come hither and be of one folde where as nowe they wander abroad as loste sheepe withowte anie gide we mistruste not but that yow will ioâ—fully accepte this callinge Fare ye well from Franckford this 24. off September Your louinge brethern Iohn
dissipation And woulde to god the slaunder were not allready to our great grieff in sundry places scattered in so muche that in Englande manie take occasion to remaine in their filthe And some thinke they maye dissemble vntill a churche oâ— confirmed perceauinge that this our scatteringe augmentethe the griefe of persecution and so throughe our negligeÌ„ce we leese them for whom Christe died Consider brethren it is gods cause he requirethe yow it is your dewtie necessitie vrgethe time willethe your father speakethe children muste obeie oure enemies are diligente and the aduersary is at hande Almightie god graunt for his sonnes sake that we maie rightly ponder the maâ—ter followe oure callinge serue â—he turne heare the speaker walke in obedience and resist oure enemies We desier yow all take this in good parte seinge we haue written nothinge but what charitie did indite and that whiche we truste and wishe yow woulde haue don to vs in case like From Franckford this 2. off August 1554. Your louynge brethern Iohn Stanton Iohn Makebray VVilliam VVilliams VVilliam VVittingham VVilliam Hammon Thomas VVood. Mighell Gill. SHortlye after the lerned men off Strausbrough answered to this generall letter before mentioned in this sorte That they had considered the contentes theroff and perceiued that the effecte was no other but to haue one or two take the chieff charge and gouernaunce off the congregation And that in case they might get D. poinet Maister Scory D. Bale or D. Cox or two off them they shulde be well furnished yff not they woulde appointe one at Strausbrough and an other shuld come from Zurick to serue the turne at whiche tyme master Grindall wrote to master Scory at Emden perswadinge him to be Superintendent off this churche off Frankf who in 2. seuerall letters to his priuate frinds offred his seruise to the congregation but before the receipte theroff the congregation had writteÌ„ their letters to maister Knox at Geneua to master Haddon at Strausb and master Leuer at Zurick whom they had elected for their ministers and aduertised master Scory by a generall letter off the same Nowe when the answere that came from Strausbrough was read and compared withe the letter written vnto them it did not in anie pointe answere it â–ª For the congregation wrote not particulerly for anie certeine nomber but generally wishinge all mens presence nether did they require to haue anye superintendent to take the chieff charge and gouernement for the choise and election theroff yff suche a one had bene necessary ought to haue byn reserued to the congregation whiche fully determined at that tyme to haue the churche gouerned by 2 or 3. graue godly and lerned Ministers off like authoritie as is accustomed in the beste reformed churches The â—1 off October the Students off Zurick wrote also an answere to the generall letters afore saied in this wise The grace and peace off God the Father and off our Lorde Iesus Christe be vvith your all Amen AS God by his singuler prouidence hathe wonderfully blessed vs aswell in mouinge the hartes off the Senators and ministers here to lament oure state fauor and aid vs in oure requests as also in geuinge happie successe for all kinde off prouision to oure vse and behoufe So he well knowethe that we no other wise esteeme the same then maie stande withe his glory oure professioÌ„ and the comforte off his afflicted churche but dailie labor in the knowledge off his worde to thintent that when god oure mercifull father shall so think good we maie be bothe faithfull and skilfull dispensers theroff And as runninge in the sweete race off oure vocation ye haue ernestly written vnto vs for to repaier thyther burtheninge vs so sore with your necessitie that ye think our shrinking back in this behalff shulde argue want off charitie keepe manie in Englande still whiche else would willingly come foorth and shewe oure selues careles off that congregation wwhose edefyinge and winninge to Christe we onely pretend to seeke These are great causes but touchinge vs nether so truly obiected so firmely grounded nor yet so aptlie applied but that as sounde reasons on our partes might fully answere the same Yet notwithstanding in as muche as yow appeale to our consciences whiche in the daie off the Lorde shall accuse or excuse vs in this thinge and all other we will not vtterlie deny your requests but shewe oure selues as ready to seeke gods glorie and the increase off his kingdome other there or elsewhere to the vttermoste off oure powers as euer we did pretende to do requiringe yow all in the name and feare off god that as we all respects set aparte and vnfainedly trauelinge in the necessary knowledge off Christe to the profit off his churche here after refuse not for your nedie comforte to accomplishe your desyres So ye will not interrupte oure studies vrge oure remouinge and bringe vs thither feelinge here aâ—lreadie the exceadinge goodnesse off god towardes vs vnlesse ye thinke and that before god that oure absence on th one parte shulde greatly hinder and oure presence one the other side verie muche further your godly attemps alreadye begonne for the furnishinge off that churche so happely obtained to all oure comfortes for the whiche in oure dailie prayers we geue god moste hartie and humble thankes Yff by this doinge ye geue occasion to breake oure godlie feloshippe to hurte our studies to dissolue oure exercises and vtterly to euerte our godly purposes ye haue to answere euen vnto him whiche is a faithfull and a iuste Iudge and will geue to euerie man accordinge to his dedes Wherfore deare brethern in consideration that we be all not onely off one nation but also members off one misticall body in Iesus Christe our head and ought therfore especially in this time off exile and moste worthely deserued crosse by all means possible one to aide and comforte an other besechinge god for his mercies sake to asswage his wrathe to geue vs repentinge hartes and patient continuance to our brethern at home with pity to beholde his vineiarde there miserablie spoiled and trodden vnder foote and to call vs home after his fatherly chastisemente eftsones frutefully to worke in the same we briefly make this answere Yff vppon the receipte here off ye shall withowte cloke or forged pretence But onely to seke Christe aduertise vs by your letters that our beinge there is so needfull as ye haue alreadie signified and that we maie altogether serue and praise god as freely and as vprightly wheroff pryuate letters receiued lately from Franckf make vs muche â—o dowte as the order laste taken in the churche of England permittethe and perscribethe for we are fully determined to admitt and vse no other then abowt easter nexte for afore we cannot god prosperinge vs and no iuste cause or occasion to the contrary growinge in the meane time wherby our intente maie be defeated with one consente we agree to ioine oure selues vnto yow and moste willinglie to doo suche seruise there
Bale Edmond Sutton Iohn Makebraie VVilliam VVhitingham Thomas Cole VVilliam VVilliams George Chidley VVilliam Hammon Thomas Steward Thomas wood Iohn Stanton VVilliam VValton Iasper swyft Iohn Geofrie Iohn Graiâ— Mighell Gill. Iohn Samford Iohn VVood. Thomas Sorby Anthony Caâ—iâ—r Hugh Alforde Nowe to ruturne to the tenor of the letter which the congregation off Franckford wrate by Maister Chambers to the students off Zurick WE haue receyued your 2. seuerall letters the one dated the 23. off October sent vs from Strausbrough and the other the 27. off the same by the hands off your deare frinde Maister Chambers and haue conferred with him at large touching the contents theroff And when as after diuers assemblyes and longe debatings the saied Maister Chambers perceyued that we coulde not in all points warrant the full vse off the booke off seruice whiche semethe to be your full scope and marke and also waying in conscience the great benefit that God hathe in this câ—â—e offred to our whole nation he not only reâ—oised at the same but also promised to trauell in perswadinge yow to the futheraunce therof As touchinge the effecte off the booke we desire the execution theroff as muche as yow so farr as Gods worde dothe commende it but as for the vnprofitable ceremonies aswell by his consent as by ours are not to be vsed And althoughe they were tollerable as some are not yet beinge in a strange commoÌ„ wealthe we coulde not be suffred to put them in vre and better it were they shulde neuer be practised then they shulde be the subuersion off oure churche whiche shulde fall in great hassard by vsinge them The matter is not oures more then yours excepte anie excell others in godly zeele but bothe wishe gods honor Iff a larger gate be opened there to the same then to vs vppon your perswatione ye shall not finde vs to drawe back for this is that necessitie brethern that maie not be neglected yff we wishe the comforte and gatheringe together off oure dispersed brethern Yff anie think that the not vsinge off the booke in all pointes shoulde increase our godly fathers and bretherns bands or els anye thinge deface the worthie ordinances and lawes off our Soueraigne Lorde off moste famous memory K. Edward the 6. he semethe ether litle to waie the mater or ells letted through ignorance knowethe not that euen they themselues haue vppon considerations off circumstances altered heretofore many thinges as touchinge the same And iff god had not in theis wicked daies otherwise determined woulde here after haue chaunged more yea and in oure case we dowte not but that they woulde haue don the like Theis fewe lines concerninge bothe our coÌ„munications we haue accordingely written vnto yow referringe the reste to the discretion off oure Good frinde Maister Chambers who knoweth that we haue shewed oure selues most conformable in all thinges that standethe in our powers and moste desirous off your companies accordinge to our former letters The spirit off God moue your hartes to do that which shal be most to his glory and the comforte off your brethern At Franckford this 15. off Nouember Your louinge frinds c. The 28. off Nouember Maister Chambers came againe to Franckford from Sâ—rousbrough and with him Maister Grindall with letters from the lerned men there subscribed with 16. off their handes whiche letter was as folowethe WHen we do consider what inwarde comforte it were for â—he faithfull people off Englande now dispersed for the gospell and wandringe abroad in strange countries as shepe withowte pastor to be gathered together in to one congregation that with one mouth one minde and one spirit they might glorifie God we haue at all tymes and do presently think it oure dewties not only in harte to wishe that thinge but also to labor by all means so muche as in vs lyethe to bringe the same to passe And hauinge nowe perfit intelligence off the Good mindes whiche the magistrats off Franckford beare towardes yow and others oure scattered countrie men and also vnderstandinge off the free graunt off a churche vnto vs wherin we maie together serue god and not dowtinge off their farther frindshipp in permittinge vs franckly to vse our religion accordinge to that godly order sett forthe and receaued in England We bothe geue god thankes for so great a benefit and also thinke it not fit to refuse so frindly an offre or to let slippe so good an occasion Therfore neither dowtinge off their good furtherance hereunto not yet distrustinge your good conformitie and ready desiers in reducinge the Englishe churche now begun there to it former perfection off the laste had in Englande so farre as possiblie can be atteined least by muche alteringe off the same we shulde seeme to condemne the chieff authors theroff who as they nowe suffer so â—re they moste redie to confirme that facte with the price off their blouds and shulde also bothe geue occasion to our aduersaries to accuse oure doctrine of imperfection and vs of mutablitie aÌ„d the godly to dowte in that truthe wherin before they were perswaded and to hinder their coÌ„minge hither whiche before they had purposed For the auoidinge off these and the obtaininge off the other moued hereunto in conscience and prouoked by your ientle letters we haue thought it expedient to sende ouer vnto yow oure beloued brethern the bringers hereoff to trauell withe the magistrats and yow concerninge the premisses whose wisedomes lerninge and godly zeele as they be knowen vnto yow so their doings in this shall fullie take place withe vs And yff they obtaine that whiche we truste will not be denied at no hands Then we intend God willinge to be with yow the firste off February next there to helpe to set in order and stablishe that churche accordingly And so longe altogether to remaine with yow as shall be necessary or vntill iuste occasion shall call some off vs awaie And we dowte not but that our brethern off Zurick Emden Duesbrough c. will do the same accordingly as we haue praied them by oure letters trustinge that yow by yours will make like requeste Fare ye well from Strasbrough this 23. off Nouember Your louing frinds Iames Haddon Edwin Sands Edmond Grindall Iohn Huntington Guido Eaten Iohn Geoffrye Iohn Pedder Thomas Eaten Mighell Reymuger Augustine Bradbridge Arthur Saule Thomas Steward Christ Goodman â–ª Humphry Alcocson Tho. Lakin Tho. Crafton THis letter was red to the congregation at whiche tyme maister Grindall declared the occasioÌ„ of ther coÌ„minge whiche amoÌ„ge other things was chieflie for thestablishinge of the booke off England not that they mente as he saied to haue it so strictly obserued but that suche ceremonies and thinges whiche the countrie coulde not beare might well be omitted so that they might haue the substance and effecte theroff Maâ—ster Knox and whâ—ttingham aâ—ked them what they mente by the substance off the booke It was answered by the other that they had no coÌ„mission to dispute those matters but they requested
that the congregation would answere to certeine interogatories whiche were thies First that they might knowe whaâ— partes off the booke they woulde admit The seconde was for a seuerall churche and the thirde what assuraÌ„ce they might haue for their quiete habâ—tation To â—he firste answere was made that what they coulde proue off that Booke to stande wiâ—he gods worde and the countrie permit that shuld be graunted them To the 2. whiche was for a church it was tolde them that they vnderstoode by the Magistrats the tyme serued not to moue anie suche matter till the counsaile brake vp at Ausburge To the third it was saied that a generall graunt was made at their first comminge thither to the whole nation and the fredome off the citie offred to all suche as were desyrous off it in as large and ample manner as they coulde require whiche was to them assurance sufficient Theis 3. questions thus answered maister Chambers and Maister Grindall departe back againe with a letter from the congregation whiche was as followethe Grace mercy and peace c. AS it was euer moste true so at this present we feele most sensiblie that where so euer god layeth the foundation to builde his glory there he continueth till he bringe the same to a present worke All thanks and praise be vnto him therfore that hathe moued your hartes so as in no pointye seeme to forslowe your diligence to the furtheraunce off the same And as the worke is off moste excellencie So the aduersaries cease not most craftely to vndermine it or at the leaste through false reportes and defacing off the worke begon to staâ—e the laborers whiche shulde traueil in the finishinge theroff But truthe euer cleareth itselff and as the Sonne consumethe the clowds so misreportes by triall are confounded Oure brethern sent from yow can certifie yow at lenght touchinge the particulers off your letter to whom we haue in all thâ—ngs agreed whiche semed expedient for the state off this congation As for certeine Ceremonies whiche the order off the countrie will not beare we necessarily omit with as litle alteration as is possible which in your letters ye require so that no aduersary is so impudent that dare either blame oure doctrine of imperfection or vs of mutabilitie excepte he be altogether willfull ignorante rather seekinge howe to finde faultes then to amend them Nether doo we discente from them whiche lie at the raunsome off their blouds for the doctrine wheroff they haue made a moste worthye confession And yet we thinke not that anye godlie man will stande to the deathe in the defence of ceremonies whiche as the booke specifie the vpoÌ„ iuste causes maie be altered and chaunged And yff the not full vsinge off the booke cause the godly to dowte in that truthe wherin before they were perswaded and to staye theyr comminge hither accordinge as they purposed either it signifieth that they were verye slenderly taught whiche for breach off a Ceremonie will refuse suche a singuler benefit or ells that yow haue harde them misreported by some false brethern who to hinder this worthie enterprise spare not to sowe in euerie place store off suche poore reasons Laste off all it remainethe that ye write that the firste off February nexte yow will come to helpe to set in order and establishe this churche accordingly whiche thinge as we moste wishe for your companies sake and for that ye might se oure godly orders alreadie here obserued So we put yow owte of dowte that for to appointe a iourney for the establishing off Ceremonies shulde be more to your charges then anie generall profit excepte ye were determined to remaine with vs longer then 2 monethes as ye write to our countriemen at Densbrorow and Emden whiche letters notwithstandinge are nowe staid and as apearethe we neuer the neere We referre the reste to oure brethern maister Chambers and maister Grindall who by their diligent inquisition haue learned so farre off our state as we wrote vnto yow in our former letters that is that we haue a churche freely graunted to preach gods word purely to minister the Sacraments sincerely and to execute discipline truly And as touchinge our booke we will practise it so farre as gods worde dothe assure it and the state off this countrie permit Fare ye well At Franckf this 3. off December Your louinge frinds Gorge VVhetnall Thomas VVhetnall Iohn Knox. Iohn Bale VVilliam VVhitingham Edward Sutton Thomas VVood VVilliam VVilliams Iohn Stanton Iohn Samford Iohn fox VVilliam Kethe Iohn Makâ—braie VVilliam VValton Mighell Gill. Laurence Kert Iohn Hollingham The answere to this letter from Sâ—rausbrough was as foloweth Grace mercy and peace c. WE haue receaued your letters and also your answere in wrytinge concerninge certeine Articles and do perceyue aswell by the same as by maister Chambers and Maister Grindall your state But for so muche as your opinion is that the tyme doâ—he not presently serue to moue the magistrats in those requests the obteininge wheroff was the principall cause of our sending vnto yow we cannot at this present condescend vppon anie generall meetinge at anie certeine tyme ether to remaine with yow or otherwise And therfore iff yow shall certeinly perceaue a time conuenient that the Magistrats may be traueled withe all aswell for the good and quiete habitation off the commers and especially Students as also a seuerall churche and to knowe whither the exercise off the booke shall be vsed suche we meane as no reasonable maÌ„ shall iustly reproue and that the certeintie off theis matters maie be knowen at the magistrats hands then yff yow can let vs haue intelligence we will farther consuâ—te what is to be done on oure parâ—ye trustinge god shall directe vs to do so as maye be moste to his glorie in the ende howe so euer the presente tyme shall iudge off it From Strausbrough this 13. off December Your louing frinds c. as in the letteers before WHen this letter was redd to the congregation they requested that for so muche as the lerned men coulde not coÌ„descend vppon any generall and certeine tyme off meetinge as nowe appeared by their letters they might conclude vppon some certeine order by common consent still to continewe and that wihowte farther delaye and also to haue the holie communion ministred whiche the moste part ernestlie desired At lenght it was agreed that the order of Geneua whiche then was alreadie printed in Englishe and some copies there amonge them shulde take place as an order moste godly and fardeste off from superstition But Maister knox beinge spoken vnto aswell to put that order in practise as to minister the communion refused to do ether the one or the other affirminge that for manie considerations he coulde not consente that the same order shulde be practised till the lerned men off Strausbrough Zurik Emden c. were made priuy Neither yet woulde he minister the communion by the booke off Englande for that there were thinges in it placed as
serue antechriste There were other 8. places but this was most noted in that it touched the Emperour But it seemed the magistrates abhorred this bloudly cruell and outragious attempt for that when as certeine off Knox his enemies folowed hardly the Magistrates to knowe what shuld be donne with him they did not onely shewe most euident signes of dislikinge their vnnaturall suite but also sent for maister Williams and Whittingham willinge them that maister Knox shuld departe the City For otherwise as they saide they shuld be forced to deliuer him yff the Emperour his counsaile whiche then lay at Ausburge shuld vppon like information send for him The 25 off marche maister Knox the night before his departure made a moste comfortable sermon at his lodginge to 50. persons or there abowte then present which sermoÌ„ was of the deathe and resurrection off Christe and of the vnspeakable ioyes whiche were prepared for Goddes electe whiche in this liffe suffre trouble and persecution for the testimonie off his blessed name The next daie he was brought 3. or 4. mile in his waie by some off some off those vnto whom the night before he had made that exhortation who with great heauines off harte and plentie off teares coÌ„mitted him to the lorde The verie same daie beinge the 26. off marche one Adulphus Glauburge A Doctor off lawe and nephew to Maister Iohn Glauburge the Senator whom D. Cox and the rest had wonne vnto them sent for wittingham and tolde him that there were presented to the Magistrates thre Docters 13. batchelers off deuinitie besides others and that the magistrates at their suites had graunted them the full vse off the Englishe booke coÌ„maunding and charginge him therfore not to medle any more to the contrary for as he saied it was fullie concluded that so it shuld be And supposing that WhittinghaÌ„ woulde let it what he might the next daie againe he sent for him home to his howse where he gaue the like charge D. Coxe and other present by whose procurement the same was donne Whittingham answered that yff it were so concluded he woulde willingly obaie not dowtinge but that it might be lawful for him and others to ioine themselues to some other churche But D. Coxe besought the lawier that it might not so be suffred wherto whittingham answered that it woulde be to great crueltie to force men contrary to their consciences to obate all their disorderly doinges offringe that iff it woulde please the Magistrates to geue him and others the hearinge they would dispute the matter against all the contrary parte and proue that the order whiche they sought to establishe ought not to take place in anie reformed churche The D. off lawe made a plaine answere that disputation there shulde be none vsing his former wordes off charging and commaundinge not to deale farther in that matter When as the congregation harde off the cruell and more then tirannicall dealinges off this Doctor Maister Gilby and others withe him were sente to maister Iohn Glawburge by whose commaundment as ye harde they had receiued the frenche order puttinge him in remembrance off the same and shewinge him that certeine lately come amonge theÌ„ had sought as they were crediblie enformed to ouerthrowe their churche by placing the Englishe booke amonge them To this maister Glauburg made answere that he was enformed howe that bothe partes were full agreed and contented and that theruppon he had committed the whole matter to the lawier his cousen Then he asked for whittingham it was answered that strait charge was geuen him that he shuld medle no more in that matter The magistrate asked againe off whom he had that commaundement and when it was tolde him that the Doctor his cousen had geuen him that charge he then began verie gentlie to perswade with maister Gilby and the rest that they shulde be contented and he would se that nothinge shulde be vsed but that which shuld be tollerable and so maister Gilby withe the rest departed The 28. off marche D. Coxe assembled all suche as had byn Priests and Ministers in Englande to his lodging and there declared howe the Magistrates had graunted them the vse off the Englishe booke and that he thought requisite that they shulde consulte together whom they thought moste meete to be Bishop Superintendent or Pastor withe the rest off the officers as Seniors Ministers and Deacons Wherunto maister Christopher GoodmaÌ„ answered that his opinioÌ„ was that they ought first to agree vpon some perfect an godly order for the churche and therto to haue the coÌ„sent of the congregation wherby it might appeere that they contemned not the reste off their brethern And farther to proceade to the electioÌ„ which he thought also ought not to be attempted withowte the consent off the whole churche To this was answered that for the order it was already determined and other order then the booke off Englande they shulde noâ— haue so that the perswasions off Goodman nothinge at all preuailed nether in one thinge or other yea the proceadings off sundrie personnes whiche I coulde name were suche as if there had bin nether orders officers or churche there before their comminge or any promes to be kepte off their partes after they came as maie more plainly apeere to the reader by this lette folowinge written by maister Whittingham to a frinde off his in Englande whiche letter is off his owne hande to be seene Grace mercy and peace throught Christ our lorde AS yow require a brieff answere to your shorte letter so nether tyme permitteth nor I intend to trouble yow farther then the verie necessitie off the matter askethe And firste for that ye seeme to hange in suche extreame perplexitie partly bicause of sundry talkes and diuers letters off men off good credit which cause the yow not a litle to merueile and partly by reason off the Good opinion once conceyued and yet reteined off certeine persons bothe godly and lerned whiche maketh yow to dowte â–ª I think it beste briefly and simplie to open a fewe chieff pointes vppon the whiche the reste off the matter dependethe After certeine monethes that we had here liued in great consolation and quietnes it chaunced that as oure nomber did increase so some entred in whiche busilie vndermined oure libertie and labored to ouerthrowe oure discipline whiche troubles grewe at lenght in so great quantitie that by the greatest parte it was concluded that no man shulde neede here after to subscribe to anie discipline for as muche as they presupposed that none wouâ—d come hither whiche shulde haue nede theroff Whiche donne they altered oure orders in praiers and others thinges thinkinge to bringe in place the full vse off the great Englishe booke whiche notwithstandinge by reason off diuers imperfectioÌ„s we coulde not admit so that to growe to a common concord it was agreed and the name off god inuocated that the whole matter shulde be referred to maister Caluin Maister Musculus Maister
ouerthrowinge off the common order taken and commaunded by the Magistrate 6. The displacinge off officers withowte anie cause alleadged 7. The bringing in off Papisticall superstitions and vnprofitable Ceremonies whiche were burthens yokes and clogges besides other thinges whiche yff they woulde abide the triall they shulde heare at large When he and some off the rest had rendred their reasons for their departure to this effecte certaine warme wordes passed to and fro from the one to the other and so in some heate departed Not many daies after the oppressed churche departed from Franck. to Basill and Geneua some stayinge at Basill as maister Fox with other The rest came to Geneua where they were receiued withe great fauour and mutche curtesie bothe off the magistrates Ministers and people So soone as they entred their churche they chose Knox and Goodman for their Pastor and Gilby requested to suplie the rome till Knox returned owte off france The lerned men whiche came from all places to Frank. abowte this matter when they had donne that whiche they came for they returned againe from whens they came and some to other places where they might saue charges and not to be either burthened or bownde to the excercises of the congregation so that the exile whiche was to many a poore man full bitter greuous and painefull was to some off the greatest persecutours off their poore brethetn as it were a pleasant progresse or recreation But nowe it shall be necessary to declare what order was taken in this newe erected congregation for the prosperous continuance off the same whiche thinge to do I cannot by a better meane then placinge here this letter folowinge whiche maister cole late deane off Sarum wrote to a frinde off his whiles yet he staied behinde his company in Franck. amonge them his letter is yet to be seene The holie spirit off God that guideth the children off God in truthe and godlines be your comforte thorough oure mercies seate Iesus Christe now and for euer Amen THe tempeste off the swellinge seas whiche in times paste thretned shipwrack to euery vessell that sailed with a faire winde and full sailes to the porte off blessed truthe whiche off her selffe is stronge ynoughe with owte anye barr or wall off mannes inuentions are somewhat the lorde be praised caulmed to me warde so that withowt farther reasoninge they permit me to my conscience as touchinge their ceremonies The cause I iudge is not for that they beare lesse loue to them then in tymes past but that they perceiue the sturdy defendinge off them to worke them that they looke not for or rather that whiche they are lothe to se namely the decreasinge off their companie â–ª yet they labour with policie what they maie or can to preuent this daunger but yet that whiche they feare I suppose will fall vpon them vnlesse god geue them to repent their olde faultes and humble them more to knowe them selues They haue set vp an vniuersitie to repaier againe their estimation by mainteinance of lerninge whiche surely is well done that was fondly brought in decaie by willfull ignorance in defendinge off ceremonies to the whiche Maister horne is chosen to be the reader off the Hebrue lecture Maister Mullings off the Greke and Maister Treherren when he is stronge shall take the diuinitie lecture in hande Maister Whitthead was appointed therunto but bicause he woulde escape the labour off the lecture for iuste causes as he saide he forsooke the pastorall office also stowtly as yow knowe denyinge to be in office anie longer Great holde there was abowte this matter in the congregation in so muche as they hasted to a newe election and verie fewe as it semed were off a contrary minde no not his owne frindes sauinge Maister makebray and Maister Sorby who desired him to take respit and the congregation to geue it But some lookinge for the office themselues woulde not in suche a matter suffer delay but againe Demaunded off Maister Whithead whither he woulde keepe his office or no supposinge that he whiche had so stowtely denied it in worde woulde not soone be flexible to the contrary But he perceauinge that some woulde haue had him owte one the one side and by leauinge off it his estimation was like to decaie on the other side for many rough wordes were geuen him when occasion off intretie was offred non respuit conditionem by that meanes bringinge to him selfe wittily a triple commoditie one the preuentinge off them whiche looked for the office an other the refusall off the diuinitie lecture Thirdly a faster growndinge himselff in that office whiche he lefte in mouthe but as it semed not in harte Thus ended that comedie But shortly after notwithstandinge a vehement sermon made for the purgation from mannes inuentions the seas begin againe to swell so fickle an element is water for Maister Kent hauinge a childe to Christen purposinge to haue it done simplie withowte the bewtifinge off mennes traditions came with his childe accordinge to the frenche order whiche we once receiued and one to holde it there to professe his faith yff it were required but the pastor denied the Christening vnles 2. Godmothers were had after the order off the booke as concerninge the Godfather Maister Makebray who is nowe comme to that office supplied it A lucky matter is attained at Wezell in Westphalia an open churche for oure Englishe men to whiche bicause off nighnesse they feare many will go from hence but moo wil come owte off Englande to yt I pray yow commende me to M. Tell him that Maister wisedom railed on them that were gon to G. Callinge them mad heades with many pretye names I will not saie vnwysely But I maye well say vncharitably in whiche Sermon he shewed him selff an Antagonist for the booke off Englande c. Your Thomas Cole SHortly after thies thinges to wete the 6. off Ian. When as maister Whithead gaue vpp off his owne good will as he saide the pastorall office Maister horne was in the election to succede him who protested that he woulde not medle therwith till he were cleared off certeine suspitions which some had bruted to the discredit off his ministerie and obtaininge his requeste he withe the Seniors entred the churche the first off marche Anno Domini 1556. were they receiued all such persons as members off that churche which were contented to subscribe and submit themselues to the orders off the same From whiche tyme forward the troubles and contious were so sore amonge them that who so shall well waie it with due consideration I ween he shall think it to be the iuste iudgement off our righteous God that fell vpon them for supplantinge a churche there before them in great quietnes and off muche sinceritie The historie of that sturre and strife which was in in the Englishe church at Franckford from the 13. daie off Ian. Anno Domini 1557. forwarde THere fell a certeine controuersie the xiij daie off Ian. at supper betwene