to know his mind who told him he was content to receive a petition but would not heare any discourse so those that were deputed to that action on the 12 of February waited for the King at his comming forth out of his Chappell going to dinner and Master Marmet one of the Ministers of the French Church of London accompanied by the foresaid Deputies Ministers and Elders gave unto his Majesty the petition This was the Petition To the KINGS most excellent Majesty The humble Petition of the forraigne Churches in this Realme of ENGLAND Humbly sheweth to your sacred Majesty That the Petitioners and their predecessours by your Highnesse favour and your noble Progenitors have and doe 〈◊〉 enjoy severall priviledges concerning the state of government of their Churches But of late they have beene acquainted with an Injunction made by the right honourable the Lord of Canterbury his grace and directed to the forraigne Churches which are in his Diocesse By the execution whereof 〈◊〉 will ensue the dissipation not onely of the said Churches but also of all other forraigne Churches in this your Majesties Kingdome The Petitioners therefore humbly beseech that your sacred Majestie would extend your highnesse favour towards them still and be graciously pleased to heare the Petitioners deputies in your most honourable Privie Councell upon the most humble Remonstrances which the Petitioners will produce unto your Majestie and their Honours therein And as in duty bound the Petitioners will continue to pray to God for your Majesties long and prosperous reigne c. The King going to dinner gave the Petition to my Lord Chamberlin to give it to one of the Secretaries who told the King many considerable things in the behalfe of the forraigne Churches which he affected and favoured to whom the King said We must beleeve our Archbishop of Canterbury in the hearing of Master Gasparus one of the Deputies My Lord Chamberlin came and told the Deputies what he had told the King and what the King had charged him with and that he went to give the Petition to Sir John Cooke Secretary they thanked his Honour for his good will towards them and care of them glad that the Petition should fall into the hands of that religious Secretary 〈◊〉 that good Patriot and not in the hands of Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Popish Secretary and my Lord of Canterburies creature The said afternoone Sir William Saint 〈◊〉 waiting on the Kings Majesty in Saint James Parke give unto his Majesty the Speech in French which should have beene made unto him in the morning The Tenour whereof was this thus translated into English To the King Most gracious Soveraigne The forraigne Churches which under the favour maintenance and support of the Kings your Predecessours whose memory is blessed have been established and who doe as yet subsist in your Kingdome under the same favour of your Majesty Having 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prejudication or fore-judgement of their dissipation in an Injunction directed from my Lord Archbishop of canterbury to those churches that reside in his Diocesse are here in the persons of 〈◊〉 Deputies at your Majesties feet to intreat your Majesty most humbly that with the same affection and royall promise with the which it was pleased at its happy comming to the crowne to confirme unto them their priviledges granted unto them by your Majesties predecessours it will be also pleased now to prevent their 〈◊〉 just apprehensions and stop the blow of their ruine The said Injunction hath two branches the one whereof is directed unto 〈◊〉 that are borne in this land tending that they are to seperate themselves and to goe and remaine every 〈◊〉 in his owne Parish the other concernes the strangers that they are to leave and quit their ordinary Liturgy and to range and ranke themselves to that of England The first command Sir doth undermine at one blow and overthrow the fovndation of the subsistence of their churches For although the natives doe in some places make the greater and in some others the least part thereof yet neverthelesse they are every where the most important and considerable part because they onely possesse some meanes and by their extraordinary liberall reliefe the Ministrie is entertained and a great quantity of Poore maintained 〈◊〉 they are charged So that those withdrawing themselves the Pastors will remaine without entertainment 〈◊〉 churches without exercise the Poore without assistance and the rest being composed of no others then Artificers ignorant of the English tongue and whose abode being not stable for want of meanes is as uncertaine as indifferent shall be constrained to goe and seeke elsewhere the exercise 〈◊〉 their religion Thus all being dissipated by this first command the second will remaine very unprofitable The singular Pietie of your Majestie is well knowne of all and we have seen with our eyes notable effects of its good naturall and mercifull disposition towards those that professe with it the same purity of doctrine to make us ever to beleeve that it will suffer under its reigne or can see with his eyes so great adesolation That these poore flocks who hath escaped the fire the massacres and persecutions are come here and have been received and put under covert as in a place of refuge and sanctuary of a holy Temple shall be now dispersed and compelled to seek elswhere some certaine and sure seat and dwelling That these forraigne plants cast by divers stormes and violent tempests on the coasts of this Island so carefully gathered together by the good Edward the VI and welcomed by him so favourably maintained and entertained by that vertuous Princesse Queen Elizabeth attained to perfection under the reigne as happy as peaceable of that great and wise King James your Majesties Father and in this time flourishing as much as ever under your gracious dominion and government shall be now plucked up by the roots as it were to the blame check and contempt of the prudence and charity of all those who hitherto have beheld it with a good eye and favoured their growth That those lively Monuments erected to the everlasting memory of all those good Princes and that doe highly publish over all the world the fame and glory of their piety charity and hospitality towards the afflicted members of the Lord Jesus should be cast downe and reduced into dust That those 〈◊〉 and expressed testimonies of the union of this Kingdome with the reformed Churches of France and of Germany and of the united Provinces so religiously kept and upheld hitherto should now be broken and sent back as in signe and token of a sad and totall seperation they are things unto the which we hope your Majesty will never wholy condescend and resolve Especiall at this time wherein the Churches of Germany swimming in their owne blood those of France in their teares all in the midst of their ruine and apprehensions of a greater desolation they have no other then your Majesty on whom they can turne cast and settle both
which being observed would in time undermine the Churches and blow them up And concerning a Petition mentioned by my Lord about one degree it was not thought fit to doe it as being very prejudiciall to the Churches a thing that the Deputies could not doe not knowing the resolution of their Churches and whether they would submit and subject themselves and their posterity So the Deputies went to Sir Nathaniel Brent told him they had beene long absent from their Churches and intended by Gods grace to returne to them thanking him for all his favours shewed towards them praying him to continue them In the meane time the Synod thought it fit to send some of their company to thank divers persons for their good affections towards them and paines taken for them the Deputie were Doctor Primrese President John Bulteel and Master Timotheus with two Elders Master Lucie and Master L'Amj who went to the Duke of Soubise and thanked his Highnesse for the paines he had taken for them as being the prime man under God who had laboured the most and most obtained for the Churches and desired him at his first occasion to thank the Kings Majesty for his royall bounty and favour towards their Churches he took it very kindly and promised them his help as much as lay in his power and to goe to the King and thanke him and to pray him to continue his royall favour towards the said Churches especially touching the execution of that part of the injunction about the natives borne of the strangers and their children that they might not be liable to the observation thereof They went also to my Lord Joachimi Ambassador of the Estates of the united Provinces with whom they dined and thanked him for his good counsell and advices he told them his affection was good offered unto the Churches all kind of good offices and services according to his power They went to Secretary Cooke and thanked his Honour for all the good offices he had done in their behalfe who answered Je n'ay rien fait que mon debuoir vous troumtez le Roy fort gracious They also thanked Master Weckerlin in the name of the three forraigne Churches of Kent and John Bulteel in especiall in his Churches name for his love and paines taken for them they were to thanke others who were absent from Court as my Lord Chamberlaine and Sir William St. Ravi the Deputies of the Churches of London did undertake and promise to thanke them at the returne of my Lord Chamberlaine and St. Ravi in the name of the Churches of Kent and their owne They met Sir Theodore Mayerne Knight and the Kings prime Physician at Court and thanked him in like manner c. And J. B. thanked Master Burlamacht for his paines taken in the behalfe of their Churches Meane while Sir Nathaniel Brent sent to the Deputies of Kent to speak to them who went to him he told them my Lord was not satisfied with their answer they were booted and ready to returne for Kent but he told them they should doe well to speake to my Lord at Court where they met Sir Nathaniel who went to my Lord with whom he was not long because he went to the Chappell to heare the Sermon so he came to them as they were in the Court and told them my Lord had no leisure to speak to them any more but gave him a command to enjoyne them the observation of the Injunction touching natives on the first day of April which he told them openly in the Court-yard in the presence of his owne Secretary and of my Lord's generall Aparitor whom he called as a witnesse thereof so seeing there was no meanes to have further audience of my Lord businesse creeping on him by the death of the Lord Treasurer that morning they took their leave of him and returned to London where they related to the Synod what had passed who counselled them that in no manner they should publish the Injunction in their Churches namely that the natives should resort unto the parishes where they dwell as absolute members of the Congregations in the said parishes because it tendeth to the destruction of the said Churches which they are bound to edisie telling them also that if the execution of the said Injunction were harshly prosecuted that they should certifie the Coetus thereof and they would speake to the Duke of Soubise who would goe to the King and tell his Majesty of it that he might remedy it according to his royall promise connselled them to goe home with expedition and follow their charges March 13. 14. dayes So after thanksgiving to Almighty God and mutuall imbracings of one another in taking their leaves the Synod brake up and the Deputies of Kent returned to their houses Churches and charges to the comfort of their Churches and Families and preached on the Lord's day to their Congregation with thanksgiving to God to the edification and joy of their flocks The Churches of Kent continued their ordinary course untill the moneth of April and there was an intercourse of letters between some honourable friends at London and the Ministers of Canterbury who hoped matters would goe well at last and the Injunction would dye of it selfe But the Vicar-generall having been at Norwich and given an Injunction from my Lord to the two forraigne Churches Dutch and French concerning the natives that they were to resort to their parish Churches the Ministers and Elders of the forraigne Churches of Canterbury and Sandwich were cited to appeare before my Lords Commissioners in his Consistory at Canterbury on April 13. where they appeared where J. B. said that it was the first time that ever they were in that place namely in the Consistory in that manner the Deane asked him whether he refused Episcopall jurisdiction whereunto he answered he desired him not to presse that question they had appeared before my Lord heretofore the Deane told them that the Injunction was to be published in their Churches the next Sabbath day by the Ministers they desired to be excused as being not their office to disperse or dissipate their stocks but rather to unite and preserve them then the Commissioners said it might be done by the Elders it was answered that they answered in their names they could not doe it neither for the reason afore alleadged neither was there any such circumstance in the Injunction that it should be published by Ministers or Elders then the Deane said it might be published by Master Somner or his sonne in the said Churches whereunto the Deputies answered that they desired not that also although they could not hinder it the Commissioners gave a charge to Master Somner to certifie the Ministers of the parishes that they might receive all those that would come to their parishes being natives and so departed Master Sumner gave to the two Elders of the two Churches the declaration of the Injunction in this forme Decimo tertio die Aprilis 1635.
Thirdly whether such as are borne Subjects will conforme to the Church of England To the which Questions the answer of the said Churches is THat they doe greatly honour and respect the dignity person and merit of my Lord Arch-bishop his Grace but doe most humbly beseech his grace not to be offended if in particular they doe not answer the said Questions Because it is a thing not used heretofore by any of the Lords Archbishops his predecessors And because the forraigne Churches of this Kingdome have obtained a patent from King Edward the sixth confirmed by Queen Elizabeth by the late deceased King James Princes of glorious memory and by his Majesties now reigning whom God long blesse and preserve In which patent by a speciall grace the said forreigne Churches in regard of their Liturgy and Ecclesiasticall discipline are exempted from the jurisdiction of the Lord Arch-bishops and Bishops as also from 〈◊〉 Officers and Justices of this Kingdome therefore the said churches doe most humbly beseech my Lord Archbishop his grace for the avoyding of the ruine and dissipation of the said churches to shew them his favor in the continuance of the modest and peaceable exercise of their said Liturgy and Ecclesiasticall discipline seeing the said exercise is grounded on the royall promise of his Majesty for the preservation and prosperity of whose person as also of the Queens Majesty and the royall issue they make continuall prayer to the Lord And also in testimony of their gratitude and acknowledgement they will not faile to pray c. Aprill 30. 1634. John Bulteel Ministers of the Word of God to the Walloon congregation of Canterbury Philip Delme Ministers of the Word of God to the Walloon congregation of Canterbury John de Bever Elders of the said church Ph. Lernott Elders of the said church Gasparus Nierenius Ecclesiae Belgicae quae est Sandwici pastor Jo. Vanden Broumker Elder of the said church John Miller Minister of the Word of God in the Dutch congregation at Maidston In the name of the said congregations This Answer was delivered up to Sir Nathaniel Brent by the Deputies at his house in London who said it was a modest answer and with respect and that he would deliver it to my Lord desired them to shew the parent of King Edward the sixth or a copy thereof that my Lord might have a fight thereof who were not willing to shew him the Originall but gave him a copy thereof written by a Notarie to deliver it to my Lord So taking their leaves of Sir Nathaniel Brent and dilmissed with very curteous words the Deputies returned to their severall Churches and charges The Churches were in good hope that their answer would have given my Lord satisfaction and content and nothing was heard from my Lord or his Vicar-generall for a long time all seemed husht and asleep but not dead for Sir Nathaniel having ended his perambulation and visitation of divers provinces for that yeer returned to Canterbury and intimated unto the Ministers of the French congregation that my Lord was not satisfied nor content with their precedent answer and had order to cite them to appeare with those of Sandwich and Maidston before him and other commissioners the 19. of December in Master Sumners house to heare my Lords injunctions The Deputies of Canterbury and Sandwich appeared at the place time before them who propounded the injunctions spake somwhat of the English Liturgy wished it were received in their churches for the glory of the English churches and seeing that both the english and strangers had but one Religion in substance why should there be a different Liturgy and discipline between them told them that if they would confer discourse with the Divines the Deane and Master Casaubon they might goe downe into the Garden and there talk and communicate together The Deputies answered they came not there to conserre or dispute together but to heare what they had to say from my Lord and because the time to answer to the said injunctions was short as that the natives should resort to their parish churches the third day of January and the Liturgy should be read in the forraine churches the 14. of February they demanded some more respite for their answer the commissioners were content to give them time to the first of March and so Master Sumner by charge of Sir Nathaniel Brent sent them 〈◊〉 Act and in this forme Decimo nono die Decembris Anno Domini 1634. coram venerabilibus viris Domino Nathanaele Brent milite legum Doctore Reverendissimi in Christo patris ac Domini Domini Gulielmi 〈◊〉 Archiepiscopi 〈◊〉 in spiritualibus generali Isaaco Bargrave saerae Theologiae professore Decano Ecclesiae cathedralis Metropolicae Christi 〈◊〉 Merico Casaubon sacrae Theologiae bacchalanreo ejusdem Ecclesiae Praebendario commissariis Reverendissimi Domini Archiepiscopi in pro visitatione sua Metropolitica constitutis in aedibus ac in praesentia Willielmi Sumner notarii publici Registrarij principalis deputati Quibus die loco comparuerunt magister Joannes Bulteel Clericus magister Philippus Delme Clericus 〈◊〉 Ecclesiae 〈◊〉 apud Cantuarium una cum senioribus uti vocant ejusdem Ecclesiae quibus Domini Domini commissarij intimarunt that all the Natives of their Walloon congregation must resort to the severall parish churches of those 〈◊〉 wherein they inhabite to heare divine service and Sermons and performe all duties of parishioners required in that behalfe and that the Ministers and all others of the same Walloon or French congregation which are Aliens borne shall have and use the Liturgy used in the English churches as the same is or may be faithfully translated into French 〈◊〉 eos to informe their congregation hereof and to conforme them and themselves hereunto by the first of March next Examinatur per me Willielmum Somner notarium publicum The like was given unto those of Sandwich and the Vicar-generall passing through Maidston gave the like charge unto the Minister and Elders of the Dutch congregation there the Deputies of Canterbury and Sandwich found it fitting that the passages of the businesse should be related unto their owne churches and thought good to write to the two forreigne churches or coetus of London and certifie them what had passed between them and the commissioners who returned an answer that seeing it was a case that concerned all the forraigne churches French and Dutch of this Kingdome and their case was a leading case to the other churches it was fitting nay necessary that they should be advertised thereof So the Deputies of both churches Canterbury and Sandwich wrote to all the forreigne churches Dutch and French or Walloon in this Kingdome entreating them to send their Deputies to London armed with good instructions and reasons for the maintaining of the subsistence of their churches 〈◊〉 bring with them their writings and priviledges to that end and to be
prejudice to the Church-government of England that his intention was to governe the Church of England according to the Canons except the King would restraine him that he told the King that he would begin with his owne Diocesse that they vanted they did not feare him nor care for his injunctions but he hoped the King would maintaine him he could not abide to heare so much of Churches and said there was but one Church and many such like things these criminations and scoffes were not uttered with one breath but intermixed in his discourse The Deputies that came not there to dispute and answer every thing but to request and heare what my Lord would say did answere but now and then as they durst or might not going beyond their commission told him that they were not the cause of scisme and that there were many such scismaticks as he termed them but indeed godly reformed Protestants in those places where no strangers Churches were as in Devonshire Dorsetshire and other Counties that they never vanted in that manner did never exalt their owne discipline but contented with their owne medled not with theirs they hoped they should enjoy their priviledges as heretofore that they could shew certificates of their good behaviour civill and quiet carriage both of the Mayor Aldermen yea Bourmouth of Canterbury of the Deane and Chapter of Christs Church and of the Lords Knights and Gentry of the Country He told them he had heard good report of them and would not disgrace them so much as to aske for certificates and that he thought charitably of them that they were not the cause nor counsellours and maintainers of scismaticks but the permission of the forraigne Churches and discipline was the occasion of many factious persons in his Diocesse The Deputies told him that the execution of his injunctions would be the dissipation yea the destruction of their Churches that the ministry and poore could not be maintained he seemed not to beleeve it and said that they were not to regard two or three Ministers they replyed they did not speak for themselves but for their Churches many among them not understanding the english tongue he said that was but a designe and that from the beginning they should have sent their children to the parishes to learne the language and accustome them to it from their infancy and youth In fine his full resolution was to have his injunctions put in full execution on the day prefixed and that they should look to it to their perils and commanded Sir Nathaniel Brent his Vicar-generall to goe on with them the Deputies said they had the Kings royall promise who said he would shew unto the forraigne Churches the same savour which the King his Father had shewed unto them my Lord said that they might goe unto the King if they would as any Subject might doe and his hand should not be the heavier on them for it those that were English borne and the Kings Subjects should be subject to his jurisdiction and if they had any thing to say to him hereafter they might come to him againe and so dismissed the Deputies Now because mention is made of the certificate and good testimony of the Chapter of Canterbury it may be fitly inserted in this place We the Deane and chapter of the cathedrall and Metropoliticall church of Christ canterbury At the request of the Walloon congregation here being and residing do testifie and declare that the body of the same congregation for many yeeres past and still doe very religiously obediently orderly and civilly demeane and behave themselves towards God and all the Kings Majesties officers and others in these parts for any thing we have ever heard to the contrary and most painfully and industriously labour in their severall vocations so as none of them are chargeable or axy wayes burdensome to the English but rather very helpfull to the poorer sort by setting them to spinning and other workes whereby they are much relieved 〈◊〉 kept from idlenesse Neither have we knowne or heard of any just complaints made against the same Congregation for any hinderance or prejudice done by them to the English people 〈◊〉 these parts And we are verily perswaded that the example of their painfull industry and diligent labours doth move and stirre up the honest poore of our Nation to set themselves to worke In testimony whereof we have set our cemmon seale Dated 〈◊〉 our chapterhouse the 25. of March in the yeere of the reigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith c. the one and twentieth and of Scotland the six and fiftieth Anno Dom. 1623. There was another certificate of the Knights and Gentlemen neere Canterbury couched in the same tenor and words and there was one of the Major Bourmouth of Canterbury in the same stile onely an exception by parenthesis except some few of them whom the body of the said Congregation did not nor doe approve of The Deputies related to the Coetus what had passed between my Lord Arch-bishop them who together found it fitting that they should stay till the fifth of February the day appointed for the assembly of the Synod of all the Deputies of all the stranger Churches in this Kingdome then and there to make a relation of all the passages which had happened unto that day The Deputies of the forraign Churches appeared at the appointed time shewed their letters of credence the persons chosen to be the moderator the Assistant and the Scribe of the Synod according to its custome we intend not to write downe the acts of that Synod in this short Epitome but onely what concernes this businesse the Deputies of Kent made a discourse to the Assembly of what they had done and were approved as having begun there where they should namely with my Lord of Canterbury who otherwise would have been very much offended if they had gone first to the King who would without doubt have sent them to his Arch-bishop but they seeing the Deputies could not by their petition to my Lord cause him to revoke his injunctions and that my Lord told them they might goe to the King if they would they holding their priviledges from the Kings Majesty immediatly and not from my Lord and that they had no other way then to goe directly to the King there being especially no Parliament assembled at that time the Synod found it fitting yea necessary to send joyntly together some Deputies to the King in the name of the whole Synod who represented the forraigne Churches of this Kingdome with a petition to his Majesty and a speech to be made unto him The Deputies were Master Marmet Master Primrose Master Gasparus Master Proast Master Beauuois and John Bulteel Ministers besides Master Lucie and Master du Mont Elders Sir William St. Ravi a French Gentleman was the man who at the request of the Deputies went to the King
second petition to his Majesty who without doubt would bring an answer whereas if the Deputies gave it they might he as long without an answer as they had been before but if the Duke of Soubise found it not fitting to doe it then to entreat one or two of the Gentlemen of the Kings Bed chamber to tender it and if they refused to do it as it may be they 〈◊〉 not tender it least they should incurre the Lord Arch-bishop's indignation then the Deputies themselves were to present it to the King the petition to be tendered and the short speech to be made by J. B. The Deputies went to Duke Soubise and beseeched him that he would continue his good affection towards their Churches and those good offices he had begun and that he would be pleased to tender unto the Kings Majesty their second petition and if possible to have an answer knowing that none of the Kings Subjects no not any Noble-man would venture to doe it though some of them were familiar with the King and gracious in his eyes and affected the forraigne Churches and 〈◊〉 them well and told to some of the Deputies that if their cause came to a hearing before the King at the Counsell-board they would speak their mindes and doe some good offices to the Churches but durst not oppose the Arch-bishop under board in that businesse least they should incurre the Kings indignation for his sake who was so potent and gracious with the King The Duke of Soubise Noble-man of a curteous disposition who took to heart the cause of the Churches and pittied their case was very willing to accept of that charge and goe to the King and present him the petion the Deputies offered to goe with him to the Court if he thought good according to the charge given them by the Company and wait on him yea and speak to the King if need were but the Duke found it not convenient they should goe with him for some reasons but went himselfe even that day to the King as having accesse unto him at any time waited in the chamber of presence the Kings returne from dinner and delivered this petition unto him in writing The second petition of the three forraigne Churches of Kent delivered to the Duke of Soubise beseeching his Highnesse that he would be pleased to present it to the Kings Majesty To the KINGS most excellent Majesty The humble Petition of the forraigne Churches of Canterbury Sandwich and Maidston Humbly shewing to your sacred Majesty that the time limited by the most reverend Father in God the Lord Arch bishop of Canterbury his grace concerning the injuctions on Sunday next expireth and your Majesty as yet hath not signified your pleasure upon their petition delivered about fifteen dayes past your sacred Majesty is most humbly prayed to give order that the execution of the said Injunctions be respited and deferred untill their cause may be heard as in all humility they desired And as in duty bound they will daily pray for your Majesties long and prosperous reigne My Lord Soubise delivered this Petition unto the King desired his Majesty to read it which he did the King answered him Je ne puis faire cela and when the Duke said si vostre Majeste ne le fait point l'execution seta rude dure aux Eglises his Majesty replyed l'execution ne seta pas si rude qu'ils craignent and many other words that passed in French betweene the King and the Duke So having taken his leave of the King he told the Deputies what had passed who related it to the Synod The Company seeing the King gave no answer at all or at least not dearely to the Petition of prorogation of time untill his Majesty had leasure to heare them and that the time approached and that there was no appearance to have any other answer from the King thought it convenient to send some of the Company to my Lord of Canterbury who seemed over-swayed the King to know the Kings minde and pleasure and his owne which was also the opinion of a Councellour of State the Deputies therefore of the three forraigne Churches in Kent whom it concerned primarily by the advice and votes of the Sinod went to Sir Nathaniel Brent Vicar generall and told him that my Lord of Canterbury gave them permission to goe to the King which they had done and now came to him to know the Kings pleasure and answer they told him besides that they had studied the case better since they were with my Lord for they had kept the principall arguments in the reare and desired to speake to him againe and to shew him some reasons which he had not seene as yet they told him also that the time of the execution of the Injunction was neere to wit the first of March that they could not returne to their Churches at the appointed time because they had not as yet the Kings answer and hoped that their Churches might continue their accustomed order Sir Nathaniel told them that he would speake to my Lord about it who was not so straight 〈◊〉 for a weeke or two He went to my Lord on some occasion and returned told them they should doe well to goe to my Lord either at Whitehall or Lambeth to know his pleasure concerning the time he would appoint to heare them The Deputies went to Lambeth and expected his comming from the Councell somewhat late for there was a cry in the Hall Hats off and lights for my Lords grace is at hand where in the Hall they met my Lord I.B. told him that his Vicar generall had told them that his grace was content to heare them againe and therefore they came to know his pleasure desiring a time when they might be heard He told them their motions did not please him because they were not according to his judgement that he was full of businesse and knew not when he should be at leisure but that Sir Nathaniel might pitch upon a probable time he might be at leasure and so dismissed them It might have beene returned to him his judgement did not please them because it was not according to their motion but he held his peace So when the Archbishop said here above mentioned that their Discipline and Bishops were jure 〈◊〉 they might have answered him that though Bishops are indeed jure divino that is to say Ministers who are Bishops are jure divino yet there is but one Archbishop jure divino who is Christ 1 Pet. 5.4 named there the chiefe Shepheard but though that was true yet they did not use such tearmes because they had no order and durst not goe beyond the commission The Deputies sent word to the Vicar generall my Lords minde who esteemed Saturday in the afternoone the fittest day Doctor Primrose and I. B. went to the Duke of 〈◊〉 that day and there dined where they had much discourse together about that businesse and the said Lord thought it
were better not to goe at all there had not the promise bin made to goe there So I. B. went from thence by water to Lambeth where he found the other Deputyes and went together to my Lord of 〈◊〉 house where was Sir Nathaniel Brent according to his promise and where had beene a religious Gentleman who told my Lord many things concerning his proceeding and gave him wholesome counsell and mollified him in some measure My Lord received the Deputies courteously and spake to them kindly but before he would enter into the businesse he told them he had something to say to them to wit that he had heard say that they had reported that he had said they had no ministery among them and secondly that he was very harsh and would give them no hearing as indeed Doctor Primrose and J. B. had told to divers Lords how harsh and discourtious he shewed himselfe to the Deputies who came in the name of their Congregations J. B. who was the fore-man told my Lord that for the first they never heard from my Lords mouth those words directly and for the second the words he used might be heard publikely for there was but a curtaine drawne between them and the people that were there but my Lord said he would not insist thereupon they presented unto him the two papers containing the fundamentalls and reasons which he read and said as for the Orders made by the Counsell they might be changed and all was to continue so long onely as the King was pleased and those reasons of State might be presented to the Counsell Many things passed to and 〈◊〉 betweene my Lord and the 〈◊〉 they had told him heretofore which is there omitted in part that in case the Injunctions were observed there would be a persecution in France for they had heard that the Cardinall Richelieu should have said if a King who is a Protestant would not permit two disciplines in his kingdome why should a King of France a Papist permit two religions besides they had told him there were divers hundred Papists converted by their Ministry at least 600. Papists that came from the Archdukes Countrey that had beene converted by their Ministery in Canterbury and renounced popery in the space of ten yeers they might have said a thousand in lesse then twenty yeers that in the french Church in London there were at one time 47. Papists that abjured popery that their Congregations were beneficiall to the Engish especially poor that the Congregation of the Dutch in Colchester who were 700. Communicants in number did imploy 17000. English at work in and about Colchester and that they of Canterbury and Sandwich did set a great number of English at work My Lord kept the Fundamentals and reasons and took out of his pocket the two Injunctons and read them and said he never commanded the second Injunction about the receiving the English Liturgy translated into French in their Churches nay he said it was impossible it could be done at that time appointed namely the first of March especially in regard of the Dutch translation he never minded to tye the strangers to it nor had given such order but that the strangers should hold their owne Liturgy and said God forbid he should take away their Liturgy or change their discipline telling his Vicar-generall that he was mistaken and therefore changed the words of the Injunction as we shall see anon notwithstanding Sir Nathaniel Brent could have shewed my Lords hand to both the Injunctions and the Order above mentioned commanding the two Injunctions to be observed But my Lord said as for the other Injunction he would have it observed namely that the Natives Subjects to the Kings Majesty should be members of the Parishes and resort to them he would not have them to be mungrels which was a harsh and 〈◊〉 terme who knowes what the word Mungrell signifies so that most Princes of Europe and their issue might be taxed by that phrase It was told him that many went to the Parishes heard Sermons which might suffice and that if there were a command they desired that it might be a command without prohibition he said he would not change his Injunction and that would not hinder but that they might go sometimes to the forraigne Churches and Sir Nathaniel Brent spake to my Lord in their behalfe and asked him if it would not suffice that the Natives went now and then to the Communion as once or twice a yeere but my Lord would not permit that for he should finde an inconvenience in that kinde as of those that put on the Surplice once or twice a yeere A proposition was made unto him by Master Miller about the Ministers of those forraigne Churches that were English borne Whether they might continue in their charge He answered he would not disturbe those that were already in the Ministry but hereafter none should be admitted to be Ministers in their Congregations but those that were strangers c. At last the Deputies requested two things of my Lord the one that he would conceive a good opinion of them the other that he would be a mediator betweene them and the King it was the advice of the Synod for he had said It was the Kings will and command He said that he had a very good opinion of them that they were honest and good men And as for the second he could not be an intercessour for them because he was the man that had set this businesse on foot but if they would make a Petition to him he would tender it to his Majesty In fine ready to dismisse them he desired an uniformity in the Church asked the names of the Ministers wished the Deputies as much good as the greatest friends they had prayed God to blesse their Ministery and endeavours tooke his leave of them and said he would goe to Service and serve God The Deputies had occasion to thanke God being glad that the principall Injunction was taken off so were those of the Synod and the Duke of Soubise and my Lord Ambassadour and some Noble men of the Court of the honourable Privie Councell As for the Deputies they had occasion to rejoyce for their Churches good that the Kalends of March were past which Julius Casar did not passe and they and the Churches rejoyced that the principall or moitie of the Injunctions was taken away Dimidium facti qui bene caepit habet and dimidium plus toto for the observation of that Injunction would have given a deadly wound to the Churches and made a shipracke of them Qui venit hinc fluctus fluctus supereminet omnes Posterior Nono est undecimoque prior So that a great number of the Strangers would have beene indangered to have suffered shipracke and compelled to save themselves on boords like to Saint Paul at Malta among the Barbarians As the Assembly rejoyced that one of the Injunctions was taken away so were they sorry that the other remained
A RELATION OF THE TROUBLES Of the three forraign Churches in KENT Caused by the Injunctions of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Dom. 1634. c. Written by J. B. Minister of the Word of God Et quorum pars magna fui 2 SAM. 10. 12. Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and the Lord doe that which seemeth him good Imprinted at London for Sam. Enderbie at the Starre in Popes head Alley 1645. To the Christian Reader THE Honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament did exhibite divers Articles against William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury unto the Lords of the upper house the twelft whereof is set downe in these words He hath traiterously indevoured to cause division and discord betwixt the Church of England and other Reformed Churches And to that end hath supprest and abrogated the Priviledges and Immunities which have been by his Majestie and his Royall Ancestors granted to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdome and divers other wayes hath expressed his malice and dis-affection to these Churches that so by such dis-union the Papists might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both The truth of this appeares by the Archbishops proceeding against our forraign Churches in England for although the Deputies of all the forraign Churches met at London Anno 1625. and held a Synod whereof I was a Member deputed by the Church of Canterbury and went to the King who was accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Pembroke and Sectetary Morton all deceased and others and a Speech was made in French to the Kings Majesty by M. Primrose containing among other things a Petition for the continuance of our Priviledges concerning our Discipline according to our custom granted heretofore by his Ancestors and Royall Progenitors The King gave us a gracious Answer and 〈◊〉 Promise and gave us his hand to kisse and we enjoyed our Priviledges as long as Archbishop Abbot lived Yet as soone as 〈◊〉 was warme in his Archbishops seat he indeavoured with tooth and naile to suppresse and abrogate our Priviledges and Immunities granted to our forraign Churches by his Majestie and his Royall Ancestors to introduce the Book of Common Prayer in our Churches and subject us to the English Liturgie translated into French c. and to withdraw from our Churches those of the first and second descent to have them goe to the English Parishes as may fully appeare by this Relation True it is that in King James his raigne the two forraign Churches French and Dutch in Norwich were assaulted and troubled by Dr. Overald Bishop of Norwich and especially by his Chancellour but that was about two points the one was a prohibition to observe Publicke Fasts without the Kings permission which the Churches had implicite in the toleration of their Discipline The second was A command to the Communicants of both Congregations to receive the Communion not sitting but standing Indeed when the French forraign Churches held their Synod at Norwich Anno Dom. 1619. to the which I was deputed and was chosen Scribe by the Synod at that time the Bishops Chancellour came to our Synod and told us That my Lord would have the Communicants kneele at the Communion which seemed very strange to us I was chosen to goe to the Chancellour accompanied by the whole Synod and declared to him what Priviledges we had from time to time from King Edward Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie and from King James then reigning The Chancellour answered us That the King might alter his word revoke his promise But we replied That we esteemed the Kings word as much as a Patent We went afterwards to the Bishop who told us that his Chancellour had abused him he never intended that those of the forraign Congregation should receive the Communion Kneeling but Standing as they did in France He told us that his Majesty commanded him to look to his Diocesse We answered That the two forraign Congregations in Norwich were in his Diocesse but not of his Diocesse and desired his Lordship to let the Churches be in quiet till we had communicated the businesse to our Consistories and returned our answer to the two Churches Which he promised to doe In the meane time the Bishop died The Bishop who succeeded him was content to let the two Congregations enjoy their Discipline in their Fasts and Communion so that Archbishop Abbot would set his hand to such a permission which was a strange Condition for he might have considered that the Archbishop did not trouble the forraign Churches in his Diocesse but let them enjoy their Priviledges quietly But after the Bishop had heard the Kings answer to the forraign Churches permitting the continuance of their Discipline he did not molest them but the two Congregations lived in peace till Archbishop Lauds time who was not content to trouble the three forraign Churches in his Diocesse but endeavoured to assault all the forraign Churches in this Kingdome and did cite their Deputies to appeare and meant not to deprive them of two or three points of their Discipline but to dispossesse them of all and to submit them to the English Discipline Yet when he saw he could not bring it to passe he would have perswaded the world he never intended such an Injunction as will appeare by this following Treatise We intend not to write of the troubles of all the forraign Churches in England or those of London or of Norwich but by the by or a touch of them by occasion our purpose is to write principally and summarily what hapned to the three forraign Churches in Kent In which Narration it will appeare the malice and dis-affection of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Dutch and French Churches in this Kingdome which stood in his way intending the dissipation and extirpation of them that so his fine designe of bringing in Popery might have taken effect and sure footing in England to the overthrow of the true Protestant Religion had not God in his great mercy put an end and set a period to his ambition his tyranny designes and life A Relation of the Troubles of the three forraigne Churches in KENT AFter the death of George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud Bishop of London was promoted to that See and made Archbishop thereof who at his entrance obtained of the Kings Majesty a Patent for a generall Visitation of all the Diocesses under his jurisdiction as well of those that were exempts as otherwise And although the foraigne Churches of this Realme were not comprehended in that Patent for whereas Bishops Deanes Archdeacons Canons prebendaries ministers and others were nominated the forraine Churches were not named yet the Archbishop presupposed and pretended them to be and therefore in the visitation of his Diocesse of Canterburie by his Commissioners in Aprill Anno Domini 1634. he caused the three forreine churches to be cited to appeare by their deputies in Canterburie
namely of Canterburie Sandwich and Maidston the Deputies of which churches appeared on the 14. day of April in Master Deanes house before his Commissioners which were Sir Nathaniel Brent the Deane of Canterburie and others the Bishop of Rochester being sicke and absent where were Questions propounded to the Walloone Congregation at Canterburie and the Dutch Congregations of Sandwich and Maidston whereunto they are to make answere in writing severally or jointly on Saterday next in the afternoone betweene the houres of one and five of the clocke First What Liturgie they use and whether they have not the English Liturgie in Dutch or French in use Secondly Of how many desents for the most part they are borne Subiects Thirdly Whether such as are borne Subjects will corforme to the Church of England The Deputies were Gasparus Nieren minister of the Dutch Church of Sandirich Jeha Bulteel and Philip Deline ministers of the French Church in Canterburie Iohn Miller minister of the Dutch Church of Maidston and some Elders Iohn Bulteel was requested by the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the speaker he therefore answered the Commissioners that though 〈◊〉 three forreine Churches were in my Lord Archbishop of Canterburies Diocesse they were not of his Diocesse and that they were of the erempts and whereas Doctor Warner said that the Deane and Chapter were of the exempts also yet were comprehended in the patent and were visited he answered they were in a manner doubly exempted and not contained as they conceived expresly and by name as they were Deanes Archdeacons prebends and others nominated in the patent they added also that no Archbishop did ever propound any such question to their Churches and that it might be easily knowne and was knowne what Liturgie they had it being added ordinarily to the end of the psalmes as it was practised and used in France Germanie and Holland in the French Walloone and Dutch Congregations As for the English Liturgy it was translated into French but not in Dutch that they knew neither was it in use among them they having their owne Liturgy Now the Deputies being pressed to answer more particularly to the three questions desired of the Commissioners a longer time to answer to those propositions because they were to communicate them to their congregations and they of Sandwich and Matdston could not returne an answer so soone So the Commissioners did prorogue the time and did appoint the day of answering to those questions that day three weekes namely the fifth of May Sir Nathaniel Brent Deane Bargrave and Doctor Iackson spake of their governmenr and discipline concerning refractary and deboshed perions and praising them for the care they had of their poore in setting them on worke and not permitting them to beg giving them sufficient maintenance But Doctor Warner could not endure to heare those praises startled and snuft at it using some discurteous words as if those praises were to the disparagement of the English Churches c. notwithstanding some Justices of peace at Sessions in giving the charge would often make honourable 〈◊〉 of the forraigne Churches in England and wish theirs would 〈◊〉 them propounding them as patternes and examples to English Churches concerning their poore in setting them to worke and hindering them from begging The Church of Canterbury being assembled together according to its custome namely the Ministers Elders and Deacons and considering it was a subject of great importance and a matter of consequence that concerned all the forraign Churches found it sitting to write to the Coetus that is to say to the two stranger Churches the French and Dutch Consistory of London and to aske their councell advice and helpe who returneó their answer that the three Congregations of Canterbury Sandwich and Maidstone should doe well to depute some of every Church and send them up to London to conferre there together with the Coetus about the businesse as being a subject of great concernment The Church of Canterbury deputed their two Ministers John Bulteel and Philip Delme and two of their Elders with instructions to conferre with those of London and gave them in writing the answer to the three propositions which were to be shewed to the company there but not to be delivered up to the Arch-bishops Vicar-generall but with the advice and consent of the Coetus and but upon necessity the Answer was this Upon the first Question THat we have that Liturgy which all the Churches of the French tongue both in France and in the united provinces of the estates have had since the blessed reformation and which our Churches refuged here have had this sixty or siventy years or more and which is annexed to the 〈◊〉 of the book of psalms That the English Liturgy is translated into French but we use it not we know not whether it be in Dutch or no On the second Question THat the greatest part of the heads of the families are not borne here but about a third part because that the greatest part of the old ones are strangers borne and many others are newly come since a few yeers To the third Question THe mentioned in that proposition desire not to doe that which is inquired of because they see that the 〈◊〉 of the Church would ensue both in regard of the entertainment of the Ministry 〈◊〉 particularly for the subvention of the poore to the whch they are not onely brought up but also ingaged by promise made unto God and the church Besides many of the Natives understand not nor speak so well the English as they should to understand well the Sermons and prayers Moreover the families would be divided in the publike exereises of piety therfore they find it fit and necessary that a 〈◊〉 be made by all meanes that they may continue as they have hitherto done And that first according to the priviledges since Edward the sixth both by royall word and promise with approbation of our order as by letters of the most honourable privy-counsell under whom we have and doe as refuged subsist and continue 〈◊〉 on the testimony both of the 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 of this towne as also the certificate of the gentry and country concerning our good behaviour c. This was made and subscribed by divers of the said Church in the name of all the rest Aprill 27. 1634. Whereupon the Deputies of the said Church with those of Sandwich went up to London where they met with the Minister of Maidston and having conferred together with the Coetus or two forraigne Churches of London they made this answer in writing to my Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury Questions propounded to the Walloon Congregation at Canterbury and the Dutch Congregations at Sandwich and Maidston by the right worshipfull Commissioners of my Lord Arch-bishop of Canterburie's Grace Aprilis 14. 1634. First what Liturgy they use and whether they haeve not the English Liturgy in Dutch or French in use Secondly of how many descents for the most part they are borne Subjects
at London the fifth of February following there to conferre together concerning those injunctions But because the time prefixed seemed somewhat long which notwithstanding cou'd not well be abreviated by 〈◊〉 of the great distances of the Churches and their preparation and that the 〈◊〉 required haste for it was thought the Kings Majesty would be gone from White-hall the 16. of the moneth of February and that some presupposed that my Lord of Canterbury might be 〈◊〉 with complements in 〈◊〉 him and offering him their service although there were others that thought otherwise requesting him to let them enjoy their priviledges as they had hitherto done and not be troubled but permitted to live in peace the Deputies therefore of the three forementioned Churches whom it most and primarily concerned were counselled to anticipate the time and goe to London to goe first to my Lord of Canterbury and beseech him to revoke his injunctions and in case he would not be moved to recall them they might prepare matters before the arrivall of the Deputies of other Churches and if need were goe joyntly together to the King So the Deputies of Canterbury and Sandwich went for London and met there the Deputies of Maidston where consulting together with the Ministers and Elders of the French and Dutch congregation in their Coetus it was found expedient to goe to the Arch-bishop to petition him by word of mouth So the Deputies went to the Vicar-generall told him the cause of their comming and the desire they had to speak to my Lord who told them he would goe to my Lord and wisht them to be at White-hall at my Lords lodging on the last of January where the Deputies went at the appointed time my Lord did not call them into his inward room but came out into his outward there being but a curtaine between him and the people who comming there and sitting in his pontisiciall Chaire not so much as vailing his Bonnet to the Deputies who came in the name of their Churches John Bulteel made this speech unto my Lord in the name of the rest Most reverend Father in God WE the Ministers with some Elders of the three 〈◊〉 Churches of Canterbury Sandwich and Maidston deputed by the said congretions doe present our selvs before you tendring in humility our service to your Grace knowing the 〈◊〉 place which you have under our gracious Soveraign whom God long preserve But my Lord interrupted him saying I know your dostrine parity of Ministers hatle fellow well met and used discurteous words and would heare no more of the speech telling the Deputies he had appointed the Munday following for the day of hearing and had no leisure to heare a thing twice had spoken to his Vicar generall and Sir John Lambe Judge of the Arches to be there at the appointed time so he put it off and dismissed then who much wondred at his harsh salutation and hard words at the first meeting and began to conjecture what the issue would be being wo roughly dealt at their first comming and found the contrary by experience of what they had heard that my Lord was affable and curteous to those that came to him The same Deputies returned to my Lord at the appointed houre where the soresaid Minister who began the former speech and had pezed his words the former time as namely when he said knowing the eminent place he had under the King he said not under God for he had it not 〈◊〉 divino but by the liberality and munificence of the King The said J. B. omitting that which he had said before proceeded on My Lord WE returne here to represent unto your grace that the injunction which hath been made unto us by your Commissioners are 〈◊〉 to our priviledges which we have enjoyed for the space of fourscore yeers by the grace favour liberality permission and protection of three high and mighty Princes of blessed and happy memory King Edward the VI Queen Elizabeth and King James and confirmed by the royall promise of our dread Soveraigne whom God long preserve and never were as yet hindered by the command of any of the Lords Arch-bishops your predecessors we hope we shall enjoy the like favour as having never abused of the same liberty as may appeare by divers certificates of our good behaviour and 〈◊〉 conversation in the places Where we live As for the observation of those injunctions it wil be very prejudicial unto our Churches as an occasion of the dispersion and diseput on of them the ruine of many Families and a hinderance of the conversion of many papists which come from beyond the seas to our churches We beseechmost humbly your grace that you would be pleased to revoke these injunctions and to permit us to continue to enjoy our priviledges with out any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and molestation to the comfort of our churches that are very much perplexed with these injunctions so shall we be the moreobliged and bound c. My Lord made a discourse of his proceedings before he answered to the discourse told them he had a visitation to make in all the Diocesses of his Jurisdiction and would begin with his owne house and Diocesse and so with them he thanked them for their prayers and wishes and he would pray for them but whether they prayed for him or no he would goe on and would them good but in a Canonicall way that he did nothing but that he had communicated it to the King and Counsell which had been there debated that their discourse contained some reasons but he could see no reason that the observation of the injunctions could or would bring such inconveniences that he had a copy of the patent of King Edward the VI which he drew out of his pocket and said that would not serve them and that they were much mistaken He spake often very harshly and bitterly unto the Deputies and in a jeering and scoffing way spake very basely of their communion said that their Churches used irreverence at their communion sate altogether as if it were in a Tavern or Ale-house where one drunk to another the Minister beginning and the people following him that their Ministry Discipline was not secundum Evangelium the english was and Bishops 〈◊〉 divine that he would engage his Arch. bishoprick theron and would dispute with the best of them that all they did was to take away Bishops that they were the wise and religious and he with the rest the superstitious and idolaters that they were Israel in AEgypt that they would make a state in a state and if they did so he needs not be there in that place that their Churches were nests and occasion of scisme that his intention was to hinder the scisme in Kent where there are so many factious who though they were not guilty of death yet worthy to be punished that it were better there were no forraigne Churches nor strangers in England then to have them thereby to give occasion or
their eyes and their hope What trances perplexities and despaires will fame which publisheth things worse then they are ordinarily seize on the afflicted hearts publishing every where that there are no forraigne Churches in England that there is now no place of resuge nor of succour and safeguard to those that are persecuted for the true Religion sake 〈◊〉 and agonies which will be redoubled by the reproaches of 〈◊〉 who will shew their condemnation in ours and will never faile to tell them and it may be to cause them to feele that it is with more then reason and justice that the popish Princes doe persecute and 〈◊〉 them away seeing that they cannot be tolerated and supported even by those that are of their owne profession We most humbly beseech your m esty that you would be pleased to 〈◊〉 well these things and as our consciences 〈◊〉 testifie unto us that by our demeanour which even to this day have by the grace of God avoyded the blowes and girds of 〈◊〉 it selfe we have not made our selves unworthy of the continuation of your royall favours you will be pleased in this 〈◊〉 to cause us to feel the effects thereof and receiving the most humble petitition which we present unto your Majesty to answer it as favourably as you have been graciously pleased heretofore to promise us that our entertainment and usage shall not be worse under your government then it hath been under the dominion of your royall predecessors And so filled with joy and comfort we will continue our servent prayers unto God for your Majesties health long and prosperous life the good of the Estate the encrease the glory and prosperity of your royall and most flourishing Family This Speech was set downe in its owne language and termes which cannot be so well expressed in another tongue for nunquam tmitator par fit authori containing as you see reasons and arguments sufficient to move his Majestie to permit the continuance of enjoying the priviledges granted unto the forraigne Churches and confirmed by his Predecessours and his royall Majesty The Sinod held it convenient to depute some of their Assembly to the Duke of 〈◊〉 to intreat his Highnesse to goe and speake to the Kings Majesty in their behalf because they had not nor heard any answer from him that he would be pleased to heare the Deputies of the Churches in his most Honourable Privie Councell The said Lord a very religious Prince who had done much for the Churches in France spent his meanes and blood for the true Religion refuged in England and as a member of the forraigne Churches in England much in favour with the King being his Godfather and Cozen did willingly and freely promise to doe it The very same day he went to the King made the motion to him in the behalfe of the stranger Churches The King and the Duke had some discourse about it among many words he said that we were more afraid then hurt and that his intention was onely touching the first proposition concerning the Natives The Synod omitting no meanes for the continuance of the subsistance of their Churches hoping as Nicodemus said the Law judgeth no man before it heare him and know what he doth and esteeming that the King as another Alexander would give them an hearing as he had given to my Lord of Canterbury and so reserve an eare for them in case the King would heare them before his Councell according to their Petition chose some of the Company and that but few who should accompany him that was to speake in the name of the rest who had all the writings and papers requisite the President was chosen to be the foreman who upon some considetations desired to be excused whereupon John Bulteel was elected to be the man which charge though he refused at the first yet was faine at last to accept and undergoe it who among other paper had two especially which contained the Fundamentals and reasons all which were given into his hands by the Assembly the reason why it was thought convenient one of the Company should doe it and rather one of Kent then of any other Province was because if a Councellour had spoken none of the Deputies should have had the liberty to speake whereas they could best answer to the Objections and difficulties and none of the Churches were charged by my Lord of Canterbury at that time but those of Kent The Sinod was glad that the Petition was in Master Secretary Cookes hand and found it convenient to send to him two of the Company Master Primrese and John Bulteel to solicite him in the cause of the Church that he might well understand the state of their Churches see their reasons and inconveniences that would arise and arrive upon the execution and observation of the Injunctions that so by his meanes the King might be the better informed they presented unto him the fundamentals and the reasons which were to be presented to the King and his Councell in two severall papers As for the Fundamentals they were these Fundamentals for the subsistance of the forraigne Churches within this Realme Anno 1550. The parent of King Edward the VI where these words are found 1. Quod 〈◊〉 facti sunt corpus corporatum successionem habeant 2. Quod habeant authoritatem 〈◊〉 Ministros 3. Mandatur omnibus Archiepiscopis episcopis ut permittant 〈◊〉 quiete frui gaudere 〈◊〉 exercere ritus caeremonias suas proprias disciplinam ecclesiasticam propriam peculiarem non 〈◊〉 quod non conveniant cum ritibus ac 〈◊〉 in regno nostro uisitatis absque 〈◊〉 impetitione 〈◊〉 aut in quietatione Per breve de privato sigillo de actis praedict a authoritate Parliaments Anno 1573. The Letters of the Privy-Counsell to the Church of London containing these words Non ignoramus in varijs ecclesijs varios ac diversos iam ab initio 〈◊〉 Religionis semper fuisse ritus ac caremonias dum hi stamtes alij in 〈◊〉 procidentes alij 〈◊〉 procumbentes adorant precantur tamen 〈◊〉 Pietas est ac Religio si vere ad verum Deum or at 〈◊〉 tendat absitque impietas ac superstitio c. non contemnimus ritus vestros nee vos ad nostros cogimus probamusque caeremonias vesiras ut vobis vestris reipublicae unde orti estis aptas convenientes Anno 1574. The order of the Privy-counsell the 29. of June If others would joyne themselves to the said Churches that such people shall be counselled to betake themselves to some other parts of the Kingdome where they may be commodiously received If they doe 〈◊〉 we will call in willingly our former commandement Anno 1630. The Answer of King James to the French and Dutch Ministers the 21. of May Je vous 〈◊〉 ainsi quil convient a un bon Prince de defendre 〈◊〉 ceux qui 〈◊〉 abandonne leur patrie pour
〈◊〉 service there is no more reason for that then for any of the rest for so long as they live in the City and 〈◊〉 their trades both Native and Alien must ratably serve the King and the State and I hope the repairing of the Natives to the English 〈◊〉 cannot take off any of 〈◊〉 duty and to the City it is all one so the severall 〈◊〉 be payed whether they be paid in a lump from the whole congregation or part from the particular men which are 〈◊〉 and partly from the congregation which remaines yet as Aliens In all these respects though I have at your 〈◊〉 made knowne to his Majesty and the Lords all that you have suggested in your Petition yet a Mediator for you 〈◊〉 cannot be in these particulars which are so disserviceble both to Church and State neither would I ever have made my Injunctions if I had not formerly weighed them well and found them sit to be put in practice 〈◊〉 are therefore to let 〈◊〉 know that my Injunctions must be 〈◊〉 and that I shall goe 〈◊〉 on with them and therefore doe hereby pray and require you the 〈◊〉 and Governours of that city to second all these things in all faire and due proceedings for the 〈◊〉 of uniforme government as well concerning those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as any other and to let them to know that this is the resolution of the Lords as well as of my selfe and I doubt not but that the strangers themselves may live they and their posterity to 〈◊〉 the State for this care taken of them so I leave you all to the grace of God and rest Lambeth May 25. 1635. Your very loving Friend W. Cant. This Answer was communicated to the French Congregation by their Ministers and in May the Deputies presented themselves before the Commissioners in the Consistory who were the Deane and Doctor 〈◊〉 who told the Deputies namely the Ministers of the three forraigne Churches 〈◊〉 Sandwich and Maidston of the respit my Lord did give till the first of July if they desired it who answered they desired it and a longer respit too if it might be obtained who 〈◊〉 they wished it might be in their power to doe it and so dismissed them The Deputies wrote to the Coetus in London how matters passed and thought it sitting to send some to London the Coetus returned their answer that they were sorry to heare of my Lord's resolution 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the Churches in the sending of their 〈◊〉 and would be 〈◊〉 to give them their best counsell and help The Deputies of Canterbury Sandwich Maidston went up to London and so much the 〈◊〉 because the time would be quickly expired the first day of July was at hand the King would goe shortly his progresse and my Lord of Canterbury would after the Tearme goe to his House of Croydon so they went to the Assembly of the French and Dutch Ministers and Elders of London assembled together in Coetus and made a Narration of what had passed the 〈◊〉 couched an 〈◊〉 these tearms Master 〈◊〉 in the name of the French 〈◊〉 of Canterbury that the Major of the said towne had presented a Petition unto my Lord 〈◊〉 of Canterbury in favour of the said Church unto the which he had received no favourable answer On this relation advice hath been demanded of this company what order they shall take and how they shall proceed to 〈◊〉 the churches under covert of the tempest that threatneth them whereupon it 〈◊〉 been found good to communicate all that which is past in Lord the Duke of 〈◊〉 and to the Lord 〈◊〉 Knight Ambassador of the States of the united 〈◊〉 of the Low 〈◊〉 and to intreat them to give their advice how they are to govern themselves in these extremities and to aske the said advice have been named Mr. 〈◊〉 Mr Gasparus Mr. Primrose Pastors and Master Host and Master 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elders Who went to the said Duke and Lord and they advised the Deputies of Kent to addresse themselves unto the King and the said Lord Duke offered himselfe to represent unto the King whatsoever they found good and fitting This relation being made to the 〈◊〉 by the Deputies it was thought fit that they should goe first to my Lord of Canterbury to give him a cleere interpretation concerning some 〈◊〉 of the petition which was presented unto him by the Major of Canterbury and to use such complements towards him as they shall judge fit using in the meane time such generall termes without saying any thing to the prejudice of their Churches On the 17. of June the Deputies of Kent were with my Lord there were divers waited to speak to him about businesse J. 〈◊〉 observed his time seeing my Lord in a merry humour stept to him accompanied with the Deputies my Lord said he might well perceive he had much 〈◊〉 and he would hold him long who returned to my Lord this answer that he would not hold him long and contracted his intended speech in these 〈◊〉 Most Reverend Father in God We come to your grace tothank you most humbly for the favour you have shewed to our Churches in giving them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 your Grace to be 〈◊〉 to continue it and permit them to enjoy those priviledges and 〈◊〉 which they have had hitherto under our most gracious Soveraigne 〈◊〉 the which the families will be divided the poore no maintained and the Churches ruined But he interrupted him in the midst of his 〈◊〉 and said he would not call back that which he had begun bat would goe forwards with it that he would not put an heavier burden on them then on the rest and that he would goe through all England if he lived but of necessity must begin with them Now because J. R. saw that he might not be long with my Lord he did contract his speech as brlesly as possible he could and told him that in the Petition which the Major of Canterbury had made to his Grace there were two mistakings the one touching the trade amongst them as if no English man had knowledge or interrest in them whereas it was well knowne that they refused none to teach them the trades and that many had learned the trade and French tongue among them The other mistake was the summe of 〈◊〉 l. which notwitstanding was 〈◊〉 l. which the Church had expended on the poore of their Congregation that yeere and that sometimes they had spent 50 l. a moneth yea and more Concerning the ponre it was told him it was 〈◊〉 they could be maintained if the the Natives went to their 〈◊〉 because besides the seizing there were voluntary contributions the one at the Church doo e at every meeting of the Assembly to heare the Sermons whether on the Lord's day or on the week dayes the other extraodinary collections when the Churches were in arrerages He answered that the Scripture made not mention of any contribution at the doore of the Church and
that there would and might be found another way whereas notwithstanding Saint Paul 1 for 16. 1 〈◊〉 speaks of collections for the Saints upon the first day of the week and Christ Mark 12.41 Luke 〈◊〉 1 2. fate over against the creafury and beheld how people cast mony into the creafury it was cast in a chest such a one as 〈◊〉 the Priest caused to be made and lec as one commeth into the house of the Lord where the mony was put in though to another end 2 Kin. 12. 9. and a cartaine lame man lay daily at the gate of the Temple which is called beautifull to aske almes of them that entred into the Temple 〈◊〉 3. 2. for none was to appeare before the Lord empty Exod. 23. 15. these things might have been told my Lord by them but they found it no 〈◊〉 to dispute The Deputies told my Lord that the Injunction would hinder the conversion of Papists strangers who would not come to their Churches seeing that baptisme would be wanting in the Church he said they might come as well as before but they should not be 〈◊〉 for there were English men enough if they came they should be conformable and as or baptisme that was all 〈◊〉 Master 〈◊〉 Minister of the Dutch Church of 〈◊〉 told him that there were many that went to the English Church and Communion he said he would see what they would 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 they would doe so or no Many passages were between my Lord and the Deputies he said 〈◊〉 was not made of sower leaven nor did he this 〈◊〉 envy or 〈◊〉 but upon good consideration and grounds He told the Deputies he had given them respit till the 〈◊〉 of July of his free will and would not have them to 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 in the businesse for he did meane to goe through 〈◊〉 with it 〈◊〉 he did it because they shauld not think they had not time enough given them he would goe a faire way with them if they did as they should And because there had been some mistakings and they might know his 〈◊〉 and have the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he would commit the businesse to no 〈◊〉 but leave it to his Vicar-generals 〈◊〉 John Belteel told him the first day of July did approach he told him for feare of mistakes he would have nothing done till Sir 〈◊〉 Brent's returne were it till the last of August after some discourse he spake to my Lord concerning the first of Iuly againe and againe who answered he was not so 〈◊〉 for a day if Sir Nathaniel came not 〈◊〉 the last of September it should not goe forwards he replyed that that was not 〈◊〉 for if Master Somner had no present order from him he would put the Injunction in execution and durst not doe otherwise and therefore he desired his Grace to commend Master Dell his Secretary to write a Letter to Master Somner about that businesse and respit my Lord commanded his Secretary to doe it so the Deputies taking their leaves of him he said God blesse you The Deputies related unto the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon the Company thought it fit that the Deputies should returne to their 〈◊〉 and there 〈◊〉 for the returne of 〈◊〉 Nathaniel Brent the Deputies made a relation of all the passages hereto fore mentioned unto my Lord the Duke of Soubise and my Lord Ambassidour and some other Lords 〈◊〉 and Gentlemen and so departed Our purpose is not to speak of the other forraigne Churches in England 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the Bishop of the 〈◊〉 speaking 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 saying it were 〈◊〉 their Congregations should be 〈◊〉 then the Church of England should 〈◊〉 its glory and for the poore who sent for them nor to speake of the Congregations of London or others but onely of the three forraigne of Kent which my Lord primarily and principally did question and assault and who were like David's three Worthies who endured the greatest 〈◊〉 stood in the gap were in the front received the blowes and bare the reproaches and did what they could to save and deliver the Churches from the 〈◊〉 and thraldome whereunto my Lord intended to subject them whereas the other Churches were but in the reare who although they were honourable worthies and mighty and came to the 〈◊〉 yet 〈◊〉 attained not unto the first three 2 Sam. 23 8 19.23 But to 〈◊〉 to the point the Deputies of Kent took leave of the 〈◊〉 and returned home every one to his Church and house About that time J. 〈◊〉 received divers letters from divers learned men from beyond the seas as from Master de Moulin Master Polyander Master Festus Hommius Master Bugnet and others in French and in Latin Wherein one deplores the condition of the forraigne Churches and 〈◊〉 the rigor wherewith they were troubled and prayed God to remedy it by his holy 〈◊〉 another that God would dispose the heart of my Lord Arch-bishop to follow the wayes of wildnesse a third that mens 〈◊〉 are in God's hand who turneth them as the rivers of waters where and when he will Balaam goeth with an intention to curse but God turneth his words into blessings Saint Paul goeth to Damas with bloody designes but God changeth him and and of a persecutor maketh him an Apostle a Paster and of a Wolfe becomes a Lambe Another writeth thus 〈◊〉 vestrarum nove edicto non tantum pacem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 statum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex animo dolemus Coe erum an nulla affulget spes tanti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nos quidem sperare jubet 〈◊〉 clementia 〈◊〉 as vestra qua non desinet omnem movere lapidem ut Deus optimus 〈◊〉 buic vestro 〈◊〉 clementer benedicat others 〈◊〉 God that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tempestuous winds and dangerous tempest to cause a shipwrack even he who hath appeased in some sort this tempest will if he please let you enjoy an assured calme and will chide the winds that have raised this 〈◊〉 me and such like things and to the said purpose and end So that the persecution was divulged in many parts of Europe and the forraigne Churches had the good wishes and prayers of many beyond the seas for a good and happy issue 〈◊〉 and of many godly Ministers and others zealous persons in England the Deputies telling divers of them that they did what they could not onely for the good of their owne Churches but for the good of the English Churches also theirs being a leading case for if their Churches were blowne up the English would in time sinke and their Pastors persecuted if 〈◊〉 doe 〈◊〉 things in a greene tree what shall be done in the dry if such things be done to the forraine Churches who have patent priviledges and 〈◊〉 and promises from such great Princes for themselves and their posterity in regard of their Discipline exempted from the subjection of 〈◊〉 bishops and Bishops what can the English Churches expect subjected to the power and authority of Prelates nay what can they not expect but