he saied onely by warrant of mans authoritie and no grownde in godds worde for the same and had also a longe tyme verye superstitiously in the masse byn wickedly abused But yff he might not be suffred to minister the Sacraments accordinge to his conscience he then requested that some other might minister the Sacraments and he woulde onely preache Iff nether coulde be admitted be besought them that he might be discharged But to that the congregation woulde in no wise consente Whiles these things were thus in handlinge came maister Leuer before elected who assemblinge the congregation requested that he might withe their consentes appointe suche an order as shulde be bothe Godly withowt respecte off the Booke off Geneua or anye other requestinge farther that for so muche as that office was off so great importaunce aÌ„d that he had not byn in the like before that he might betweene that and Easter haue a triall off them and they off him and so at the ende off that terme either take or refuse whiche time off triall as it was willingly graunted him so when they vnderstoode that the order whiche he woulde place and vse was not altogether suche as was fit for a right reformed churche they woulde in nowise yelde to the same Knox whittingham and others perceyuinge that theis beginnings woulde growe to some what yff it were not staid in time drewe forthe a platt off the whole booke off England into the lattin tonge sendinge the same to maister Caluin off Geneua and requestinge his iudgement therin and shewinge him that some off their countrie men went abowte to force them to the same and woulde admit no other sayinge that it was an order moste absolute and that yff euer they came in to their countrie they woulde do their beste to establishe it againe Nowe folowethe the description A description off the Liturgie or booke off seruice that is vsed in Englande FIrste off all morninge praier offreth it selff The minister hauinge put on a white garment whiche they call a surplesse beginninge withe some sentence off holie scripture as for example â–ª yff we shall saie that we haue no sinne we deceyue oure selues c. or some suche of like sorte Then he takethe in harde the exhortat on whiche stirreth vp to a confession off synnes whiche the minister pronounceth with a loude voice the people sainge after him To this is added an absolution and when these thinges are done he rehersethe the lordes praier and afterward lorde open thow my lyppes and my mouthe shall shewe forth thy praise O god be redie to be my helpe c. Then come and let vs singe vnto th Lorde c. By and by also there folowe 3. Psalmes together at th ende off euery one Then foloweth the first lesson whiche conteinethe a whole chapiâ—er off the olde Testament After this lesson they saie or singe we praise â—he lorde or Blessed be the Lorde c. Then an other lesson owte off the Newe testamente vnlesse peraduenture the solemnization off some highe feast haue other set and apointed lessons Nowe in cathedrall churches they vtter their lessons in plaine songe and theÌ„ afterwards is Benedictus added This booke warnethe that they keepe this order through owte the whole yere Afterwards the crede is pronounced by the Minister all the people in the meane tyme staÌ„ding vp Afterwards fallinge downe vppon their knees the Minister saithe The Lorde be with yow The answere And with thy spirite Then Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Christe haue mercy vppon vs Lorde haue mercy vppon vs c. our father c. pronounced owte alowde off all with all boldnesse Then the Minister when he standeth vpp saithe o lorde shewe vs thy mercy The answere and geue vnto vs thy sauinge helthe O Lorde saue the king In the day wherin we shall call vppon thee Iuduâ— thy Ministers withe righteousnes And make thy chosen people ioyfull O Lorde saue thy people And blesse thyne inheritaunce Geue peace in our tyme o Lorde c. At lenghtâ— Collects are had â—n place off a conclusion the firste for the daie the seconde for peace the laste is for the obteininge off Grace Nowe the eueninge praiers are saide 〈◊〉 manner as the other are sauinge that after the firste lessen foloweth my soule doth magnifie the lorde After the 2. lessen Now Lorde c. and in steed off that collect God whiche arte the Author off peace is vsed o God from whom all holie desiers c. besides there is caution added that all Ministers shall exercise them selues continually aswell in morninge praiers as eueninge praiers except perhapp by studie in dyuinitie or some other busynes they be greatly and necessarely let or hindred· Besides vppon euery Sabothe daie wensdaie and fridaie there is yet in vse certeine suffrages deuised off Pope Gregory whiche beginnethe after this manner O God the father off heauen haue mercy vppon vs miserable synners O God the sonne redemer off the worlde c. onely leauinge owte the inuocation off saincts otherwise we vse a certaine coniuringe off god By the misterie off his incarnation by his holy natiuitie and circumcision by his haptisme fastinge and temptation by his agonie and bloudie sweate c. yea it comprehendethe in plaine wordes a praier to be deliuered from suddain deathe the people answeringe to the ende off euery clause either spare vs good lorde or ells Good Lorde deliuer vs or we beseche thee to heare vs Good Lorde O Lambe off God that taketh awaie the sinnes off the worlde is thrise repeated Then Lorde haue mercy vpon vs thrise and then the Lords praier with this praier also o Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes to the same adioined passinge ouer some things least we shulde seeme to syfte all those drosses which remaine still amonge vs. Nowe the manner off the supper is thus The nomber off three at the leaste is counted a fitt nomber to communicate and yet it is permitted the pestilence or some other common siknes beinge amonge the people the Minister alone maie communicate withe the sicke man in his house First therfore the Minister muste be prepared after this manner in a whit lynnin garmente as in sayinge the other seruice he is apointed and muste stande at the Northeside off the Table Then is had the Lords praier after the custome then he reciteth the collect and after folowe in order the ten commaundements but so notwithstanding that euery one off the people maye answere lorde haue mercy vpon vs and inclyne oure hartes to keepe this lawe After the rehersall off the commandements the collect off the daie as it is called and an other for the kinge is had By and by the Epistle and Gospell folowethe to witt suche as the callender apointethe for that daie And there in this place there is a note that euerie holy daye hathe his collect Epistle and Gospell whiche fill 73. great leaues off the booke â— when the reste fill scarse fiftie For all holy daies
Senators for a place or churche wherin they and all their country men might haue gods worde truly preached and the Sacraments sincerely ministred in their naturall tonge who ientlie promised his furtherance and that he also woulde move the whole Senate theroff the whiche he did accordingly And the 14. daie off the same monethe yt was graunted that they shulde haue libertie to preache and minister the Sacraments in that churche which the freÌ„che men had the freÌ„che one daie and the Englishe an other daie and vpoÌ„ the Sundaie to chuse also theÌ„ houres as they coulde agree amonge them selues but yt was with this commandement that the Englishe shulde not discent from the frenchmen in doctrine or ceremonyes least they shulde thereby minister occasion off offence and willed farther that before they entred their churche they shulde approue and subscribe the same confession off faith that the frenche men had then presented and abowte to put in printe to the whiche all the afore named and others whiche were by this time come thither did subscribe When the churche was in this sorte graunted they consulted amonge themselues what order off seruice they shulde vse for they were not so stricly bownde as was tolde them to the ceremonies off the frenche by the Magistrats but that iff the one allowed off the other it was sufficient At lenght the englishe order was perused and this by generall consente was concluded that the answeringe alowde after the Minister shulde not be vsed the letanye surplice and many other thinges also omitted for that in those reformed churches suche thinges woulde seeme more then strange It was farther agreed vppon that the Minister in place off the Englishe Confession shulde vse an other bothe off more effecte and also framed accordinge to the state and time And the same ended the people to singe a psalme in meetre in a plaine tune as was and is accustomed in the frenche dutche Italian Spanishe and Skottishe churches that don the minister to praye for â—hassistance off gods holie spirite and so to proceade to the sermon After the sermon a generall praier for all estates and for oure countrie of Englande was also deuised at th ende off whiche praier was ioined the lords praier and a rehersall off tharticâ—es off oure belieff whiche ended the people to singe and other psalme as afore Then the minister pronouncinge his blessinge The peace off god c. or some other off like effecte the people to departe And as touchinge the ministration off the Sacraments sundrie things were also by common consente omâ—tted as superstiâ—ious and superfluous After that the congregation had thus concluded and agreed and had chosen their minister and Deacons to serue for a time they entred their churche the 29. off the same monethe Then was it thought good amonge themselues that forthwith they shulde aduertise their countrie men and betheren dispersed off this singuler benefit the like wheroff coulde nowhere else as yet be obtained and to perswade hem all worldly respectes put aparte to repaier thither that they might altogether with one mouthe and one harte bothe lameÌ„te their foremer wickednes and also be thankfull to their mercifull father that had geuen them suche a churche in a strange lande wherein they might heare gods worde truly preached the Sacraments rightly ministred and Discipline vsed which in their owne countrie coulde neuer be obtained And to this effecte were letters directed to Strausburgh Zurick Densbrugh and Emden in the 2. off Auguste And for that it was thought the churche coulde not longe contynewe in good order withowte discipline there was also a brieff forme deuised declaringe the necessitie the causes and the order theroff wherunto all those that were present subscribed shewinge therby that they were ready and willinge to submitt themselues to the same accordinge to the rule prescribed in gods holie word at whiche time it was determined by the congregation that all suche as shulde come after shulde doo the like before they were admitted as members off that churche Here followethe the generall letter sente from the congregation off Franckforde to Strausbourge Zurick Wezeil Emden c. Grace mercy and peace in Christ our Lord c. We dowte not dearely beloued but yow haue harde aswell by letter as by reporte off the excellent graces and mercy whiche oure good god and heauenly father hathe shewed vnto oure litle congregation in this citie off Franckford for that he hathe not onely made the Magistrats and commons very fauorable towards vs and louinge but also hathe geuen them hartes with muche compassion to tender vs in so muche that euerie man helpethe vs no man is againste vs muche loue no grudge glad to please lothe to annoie vs yea and to declare this good will not to be off the meane sorte nor so small as oure brethern haue felte otherwere they haue graunted that thinge whiche amonge others and in other cities we coulde not obtaine nor durste allmoste hope for For what greater treasure or sweeter comforte can a Christian man desier then to haue a churche wherin he maie serue god in puritie off faithe and integritie off lyfe whiche thinge yff we wishe for let vs not refuse it seinge where we woulde we coulde not there obtaine it And here yet it is graunted in so ample wise that beinge subiecte to no blemishe no nor so muche as the euell off suspition froÌ„ the whiche fewe churches are free we maie preache minister and vse Discipline to the true settinge forthe off gods glorie and good ensample to others And for our partes we haue not bene negligente as touchinge the execution off the sayed benefit graunted For the 29. of Iuly we had god be thanked â— sermons to oure singuler comforte and great ioye off all godly men heere Wherfore brethern seinge your haue indured the paine off persecution with vs we thought it likewise oure dewties to make your partakers off oure consolation that altogether we maie geue thanks to oure louinge father who is more tender ouer vs then the mother ouer hir childe nether suffreth vs to be temped aboue that we maie beare but euen to the issue off the tentation geuethe prosperous successe trustinge by gods grace that he whiche hathe geuen yow that gifte not onely to beleue in Christe but also to suffer for his sake will so directe your hartes that no respecte off commoditie there nor yet feare of burthen here maie once moue yow to shrink from your vocatioÌ„ whiche is in one faithe one ministration one tonge and one consente to serue god in his churche What more manifeste signe what plainer declaration what worde more expresse and lyuely can we haue off dewtie and vocation theâ— when god speakethe in oure hartes by faithe guidethe vs owte off perille throughe his grace and nowe laste of all offrethe vs a restinge place of his exceading mercy Yow remeÌ„ber that before we haue reasoned together in hope to obtaine a churche and shall we nowe drawe
are nowe in like vse as were amonge the Papistes onelye verye fewe excepted Then he goethe forwardes to the crede and after that to the sermon iff there be anie Afterwardes the parishe priest byddeth the holie dayes and fastes on their eues iff there be anye that weeke And here the booke warnethe that none defraude the parishe priest off his due or right specially on those feast daies that are dedicated to offrings Then foloweth a praier for the state off the churche militaunte and that not withowte a longe heape and mixture off matters vntill they come after a certeine confession off sinnes to lift vp your hartes the people answeringe we geue thankes to the lorde Let vs geue thanks to our Lorde God the answer It is meete and right so to do It is verie meete right and our bownden dewtie c. vntill they come to that clause O Lorde holie father c. and so the preface accordinge to the feaste is added Afterwards he saithe Therfore withe Angells and Archangells and so endethe with holy holy holy lord god till he come to hosianna in the highest Nowe the priest bowethe his knee acknowledginge oure vnworthynes in the name off all them that shall receiuâ— And settinge owte gods mercye he beseche the God that oure bodies maye be made cleane by his bodie and that our soules maie be washed through his bloude And then he againe standeth vp and takethe in hande a freshe an other praier appointed for this purpos in which are conteined the wordes off the institution all whiche beinge donne he first communicateth then by and by he saithe to an other knelinge Take and eate this in remembrance that Christ died for thee and feede on him in thy harte by faithe with thanksgeuinge Now abowte th ende the Lordes praier it vsed againe the Minister sayinge it alowde and all the people folowinge to conclude they haue a geuinge off thanks in th ende withe Glory to god in the highest as it was vsed amonge the Papistes yff it happen that there be no sermon onely a fewe thinges are omitted but all other thinges are donne in order aforesaid In baptisme the Godfathers are demaunded in the name off the childe wither they renownce the deuell and all his workes the lustes off the worlde c. and they answere I renownce them Then wither they belieue the Artikles off the faithe whiche beinge confessed wilte thow saith he turninge himself to bothe the witnesses be baptized into this faithe and they saie yea I will. After afewe thinge rehersed he takethe the Child and dippeth it in but warely and discretly as it is in the booke vppon whose forehead also he shall make a crosse in token forsoothe that when he is olde he shall not be ashamed to confesse the faithe off Christe Crucified Afterward sendinge awaie the Godfathers and Godmothers be chargeth them that they bringe the childe to be confirmed off the Bishopp as sone as he can saie the Articles off the faithe the lordes praier and the ten CoÌ„maundemeÌ„ts And seinge there be many causes as the booke saithe whiche shulde moue them to the Confirmation off Children this forsoothe off all others is the waightiest that by imposition off hands they maie receiue strenght and defence against all temptations off sinne and the assaults off the world and the deuell bicause that when Children come to that age partlie by the frailtie off their owne fleshe partly by the assaults off the worlde and the deuell they beginn to be in daunger And leafte anie shulde think any error to be in this Confirmation therfore they take a certeine pamflett off a Catechisme whiche consisteth off the Articles off the faithe the Lordes praier and ten commandements and all this is dispatched in lesse then two leaues To these is ioyned their manner off Mariage off whiche that we maie passeouer many petty ceremonies these follies who can suffer The husbande laithe downe a ringe vpon the booke whiche the minister takinge he geuethe it in his hande and biddethe him to put it on the fourthfinger off his wiues left hande Then he vsethe this forme off wordes withe this ringe saithe he I thee wedd withe my body I thee worship withe all my worldly goods I thee endue In the name off the father the sonne and the holy ghoste A litle after the Minister saithe to the newe maried persons knelinge before the lordes table Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Christ haue mercy vpon vs Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Oure father which arte c. Lorde saue thy seruaunt and thy handmaide c. and so a few things beinge rehersed they muste be brought to the Lordes supper The visitation off the sicke is after this manner Peace be to this howse The answere and to all that dwell in the same Lorde haue mercy vpon vs c. our father c. Lorde saue thy seruaunte Answere whiche trustethe in thee Sende forthe thy helpe from thy holy hil and withe spede saue him c. as in the other prefaces withe questions and answers Off the Buriall The Priest meetethe the Corse at the entraunce off the churcheyarde either singing or softly pronouncinge I am the Resurrection and the liffe c. I knowe that my redemer lyuethe Iob. 19. beinge comme to the graue it is sayed Man borne off a woman Iob. 9. When the earthe is throwen in we committ saithe he earthe to earthe duste to duste c. The Lorde hathe geuen the Lorde hathe taken I harde a voice from heauen sayenge Blessed are the â—ead whiche die in the Lorde Lorde haue mercy vppon vs c. The purification of women in childbed whiche they call geuinge off thankes is not only in all things withe vs almoste common withe the Papistes but also with the Iewes bycause they are commaunded in stede off a lambe or doue to offre monie Other thinges not so muche shame it selff as a certeine kinde off pitie compelleth vs to keepe close in the meane season nothinge diminishinge the honor due to those reuerende men who partely beinge hindred by those times and by the obstinacie and also multitude off aduersaries to whom nothinge was euer delightfull besides their owne corruptions beinge as it were ouerflowen did alwaies in their minde continually as muche as they coulde striue to more perfect thinges Note that this description is verye fauourably put downe yf ye conferre it with the Booke off order in all points and the vsage off the booke in many churches of this realme yow can confesse no lesse And hereoff ye maie gather what M. Caluin woulde haue written yf they had noted all the abuses of the same The answere and Iudgemente off that famous and excellent lerned man Maister Iohn Caluin the late Pastor off Geneua touchinge the Booke off Englande after that he had perused the same faithfully translated owte off Latten by maister Whittingham To the godly and lerned men Maister Iohn Knox and Maister William Whittingham his faithfull brethern at Frankford c. THis thinge trulie
disalowed by the arbytres so that yff the arbyters shulde haue bin deuided equally as many times it comethe to passe the Ministers off the churche might determine nothinge but the Discipline and all other thinges muste continually hange in suspence Againe the churche thoughe it were in great perill and daunger yet least it shulde leaue anye waye vnproued for the obtayninge off peace bicause they thought that some off those three were not meete whom the magistrates had appointed for Arbitres offred vpp an other bill conteining alltogether the selff same matter and write withe the same wordes that they woulde stande to the Iudgement off any other Arbitres who so euer beinge chosen indifferently by the other partie from amonge oure countrie men and leaue all thinges to them plainely and symplie withowte anie exception or condition to be determined and decided But they would allowe no condition offred off vs vnlesse we woulde firste by the subscribinge off oure names allowe that moste vniuste and vnreasonable condition off thers and by oure preiudice condemne oure Mynisters oure Discipline and all other thinges that we had donne And so by this meanes had opened a gapp to them to ouerthowe oure churche And when they had thus behaued them selues before Maister Bartue D. Cox and D. Sandes yet certeine off them when nowe the marte was in the chieff flowre reported through owte the whole cytie that we had reiected their most iuste and paeceable requestes and that we were alltogether troublesome men and plainely bent to suffer no peace nor quietnes howbeit we had rather that they shuld shewe theis thinges that are false off vs to others then that they together with others shulde openly deride oure follie yff we had yelded to such requests as they that with oure great â—oile and trauell had to the quiete off the churche establyshed some churche and nowe vppon a suddaine by the subscribinge off one bill thorough headinesse and foolishe facilitie shulde haue ouerthrowen the whole But they when they coulde not obtaine this went abowte this verie buselie that the whole churche might then be dissolued and broken vpp For Maister Chambers for halff a monethe space and more would geue nothinge to anie man that remained in the churche and folowed not maister Horne and him departinge from the churche To certeine other also he woulde geue nothinge at all whiche were in the publique Ministerie to preache the word and reade lectures and also in the exercise of disputinge by his owne appoyntemente and the order taken by Maister Horne alwais from the time sithens they came to oure churche when nowe they were for their bourde in debte to their hostesses for 4. monethes neither had don anie other faulte vnlesse it were bicause they remained in their functions off preachinge and readinge lectures in whiche they were placed by Maister Horne and Maister Chambers leaste the churche shuld altogether be destitute bothe off sermons and lectures Onely bicause in this dissention they agreed not with them and tooke their partes and had with them withdrawen them selues from the churche that it might be vtterlie scattered wheÌ„ as notwithstandinge which is moste vnhonest they had promised to geue 3. monethes warninge before they woulde forsake them whiche notwithstandinge Maister Chambers affirmed they woulde neuer do vnlesse it were that they were constained by extreame necessitie Abowte the middest off the marte or a litle after ther beganÌ„e a rumor to be spread off the departure of maister Horne and maister Chambers from this citie but whither they woulde go or whither they woulde at all departe it was yet vncerteine For neither was it likely that maister Chambers hauinge gathered so muche common mony and that by the authoritie and in the name off the churche seinge he had bin here so longe with owte makinge off anie accoumpte to the churche woulde go awaie in suche sorâ—e Neither was it credible that M. Horne who had gouerned in his pastorall office and charge so longe no reconciliation nor pacification beinge made for so great offences woulde so departe yea not so muche as haue taken his leaue of the churche In the meane time it is incredible to be spoken but more shameful to be hearde what reportes certeine had spred that marte tyme secretly and especially amonge the rycher sorte that were able to helpe the poore off oure churche forsoothe that there were certeine traitors amonge vs That we desired to knowe the names off those persons that were liberall towardes the poore off oure churche to the ende to betraie them and vndoo them That we had caste our Pastor and Ministers owte headlonge from ther ministeries and offices In all whiche thinges they went aboute nothinge ells but to stirre vp newe braules and contentions And that they maie alienate the hartes off the welthie sorte from vs and so bringe the poore of oure churche first to famine and then vs into deadly hatred off them as thoughe they were by vs throwen in to theis miseries But foras muche as all theis thinges are vaine and vntrue and fained by the secret sleightes off those priuie whisperers who dare speake nothinge openly we haue thought them rather to be contemned theÌ„ to be answered hopinge that at laste when they are weary off lyinge they will be quiet But iff they go forwarde still to belie vs so impudently and outragiously surely we will not neglecâ—e oure fame and honest estimation but we wil diligently wipe awaie all their slanders with one spunge and there with all will open to the worlde their wicked endeauors against oure churche In the meane time nothinge distrustinge the lordes mercie how soeuer the deceites off men would let it hopinge that neither liuinge nor foode shall euer want to oure poore congregation who also feedeth the rauens and that he will allwaies be present by his spirit to vs and to oure whole churche continually whiche thinge that it maie please him to bringe to passe we beseche the good reader who so euer thow art praie vnto god togither with vs and farewell Here folowithe the exhortation off the Magistrate for the amendinge and establishinge off the Discipline The Englishe Thus. WE think it Good and profitable for the establishinge off peace and tranquilitie off your churche that yow altogether consulte and determine as concerninge the amendinge off discipline nowe whiles ye all be yet priuate men and withowte anie Ecclesiastâ—call ministerie For whiles none off yow dothe yet knowe wither he shall be a priuate person or ells shall haue anie authoritie Ecclesiasticall euerie man man wiâ—l applie his minde and studie to that whiche shall seme moste reasonable and profitable aswell for the coÌ„gregation as for the Mynisters But after that the Mynisters be once elected it is to be feared leaste they will drawe some what more then reason to themselues and in likewise the congregation to it selff And so your consulation maie chaunce to be somewhat troublous whiche we woulde not shuld happen Wherfore that all thinges maie
specially whiche I purposed not but that I might be the rather moued to doo as before I had donne And they then required whiche was after promesse made to further my doinges with all faithfull secrecie in suche sorte as I shulde from time to time deuise an requier to bestowe suche summes off monie as shulde hereafter come to my handes to suche vses and purposes as I thought good Therfore as by force off those letters I gathered not So the gatheringe for Franckford churche hathe not byn nor is in my handes nor off any other at my appointmente as ye do write Wherfore as I might so I did and that by the aduise off manie honeste graue and godly men departe from thense withowte making that accoumpte to whiche I am not bownde nor leauinge for the relieff off the poore off whom such haue had their portion in this blessinge for the time as I thought meete to be relieued Vnto the Students whom I neuer placed there I haue performed whar so euer I promised The accoumpt off receiptes paiments and remaines which ye require I intende not to make vnto yow But I shall be ready at all times and in all places to make a iuste accoumpte off my whole dealinges in this behalff vnto them whiche haue authoritie to demaunde it off me In the meane tyme as I shall by gods helpe truly do my indeauour to relieue the poore as I shal haue wherwithe and finde them meete to receiue it So shall I keepe the names and summes secret as I am bownde till by them whiche haue iuste authoritie to louse me I be otherwise appointed Thus I committ yow to the grace off allmightie god from Strasbrough this 20. off Iune Anno. 1557. Richarde Chambers AFter I had written this answere to your firste letters reteining them in my hands vntill I might haue a conuenient Carior I receaued your Seconde letters the principall matters therin are answered before To the rest that be any thinge materiall thus I saie As touching the delaye off mine answere yow call contempte more vncharitablie then truly as vnto godly wise men is well knowen As my departure was not so my returne to Franckfurt maie not be at your appointement Your generall accusations off misbehauiors and contemptes in the whiche yow saie I am faultie I admitt noâ— Iff yow can iustly charge me with particulers I shall make answere to the contentation off all godly mindes Where the discipline off Christe is vsed in iuste causes it is to be regarded but your vnorderly abusinge off it and againste me that am not off your churche I esteeme not Yff yow vse ciuill proffes againste me I shaâ—be as ready to answere the cause as yow to entre the sute As for your displayinge off me to our dispersed brethern to my vndeserued dispraise in this matter cannot be such but that I shall easilie purge my self As god knowethe who with his holy spirite molifie your hartes and geue yow the vnfained true sight off your selues amen From Strasbrough the 30. off Iune 1557. Richard Chambers Deliuered the 20. off Iuly to M. Iohn Hales by Iohn Escot Nowe Whiles theis sharpe and greuous contentions grewe more and more at Franckf as ye haue harde manye thinges happened in other places whiche maie in this place be shortly touched to the glory off god I hope and also to the great comforte off the godlie who maie by the same beholde moste euidently the maruelous prouidence off God towarde his poore afflicted and dispersed churche After that M. Bartue and the dutches of Sulff were saffely arriued at Wezell in Westphalia the brute theroff was the cause that moo Englishe people in shorte time resorted thither It pleased god also that M Couerdale after that he had bin withe the kinge of Denmark shuld come to the same Towne who preached there no longe time till he was sent for by woulgange duke off bypont to take the pastorall charge off Bargzaber one off his Townes off Germany at whose comminge to the duke he made it knoweÌ„ bothe to himselff and to other noble meÌ„ abowte him off M.B. and the dutches beinge in the lowe countries They vnderstaÌ„dinge the daunger that might come vnto them in those partes as also calling to remeÌ„brance what great curteisie strangers had founde in Englande at the dutches handes made offre that iff they were forced to remoue or otherwise if it pleased them they shuld haue the Castle of Winchaim by Hedleberge within the liberties of Otto Henricus theÌ„ Palsgraue and a godly Prince who most gladly as well appeared gaue coÌ„sent to the same M. Bartuc and the Dutches acceptinge this offre lefte Wezeli and came vp to the saide Castle aÌ„d there coÌ„tinued til leauinge Germany they traueled towardes the lande off Pole. The congregation that was at Wezell wantinge amonge them partly the comforte whiche many off them had by M. B. and my L. beinge there and partly also other reasonable coÌ„siderations mouinge them they left Wezel and folowed after But passinge by Franckf and perceauinge the contention to be amoÌ„ge them so boilinge hott that it ran ouer on bothe sides and yet no fier quenched many had small pleasure to tarie there but went to Basil and other places whiles M. Leauer made sute to the lordes of Berna for a churche with in their dominions whose letters he obtained with great fauour to all their subiects for the frindly entertainement off the Englishe nation Theis letters obtained M. Leauer M. Boye 's M. Wilforde M. Pownall and T. Vpchaier came to Geneua to haue the aduice off that churche what was best to be done touching the erection off a new churche They of Geneua gaue god thanks for that it had pleased him so to incline the hartes off the lordes off Berna towardes them and gaue incouragemeÌ„t that they shuld not let slyppe so good an occasion M. I. Bodliegh who was no small staie as well to that churche as to others and W. Ke. he traueiled with them And passinge thorough manie partes of the L. of B. dominion in Sauoy and Switzerland they founde suche fauour in all places where they came as verelie maie be to the great condemnation off all such Englishe men as vse the godly stranger I meane those who come for religion so vncourteously M. Leauer and the company at lenght chose Arrow for their restinge place where the congregation liued together in godlie quietnesse amoÌ„ge themselues with great fauour of the people amonge whom for a time they were planted Not longe after this Maister Horne and maister Chambers came by Arrowe to Geneua seminge at that tyme to like verie well off those congregations as the churche of Frank. also then did as apearethe by their letters afore in so muche as the said Maister Horne and Chambers did distribute larglie to the necessitie of those churches So that it appeared that the olde grudge whiche had bin betweene the churche off Franck. and Geneua had bin cleane forgotten It
came to passe not many daies after that the lorde began to shewe mercy vnto Englande in remouinge Queene Mary be deathe and placinge the queens maiestie that nowe is whom god longe preserue in the seate the newes wherof as it was ioyfull to all suche as were in exile So it appeared that the churche off Geneua was not behinde the reste who after that they had geuen to god hartie thankes for his great goodnes consulted amonge themselues and concluded that for so muche as there had byn iarres betwene them and other churches abowt the Booke off common praier and ceremonies it was now expedient and necessary not onely that vnfained reconciliation shulde be betwene them but also that they might so ioine together in matters off religion and Ceremonies that no Papist or other enemie shuld take holde or aduantage by a farther dissention in their owne countrie whiche might arise in time to come yff it were not in time foreseen and preuented To this ende was William kethe one off the congregation chosen to do this message to them off Arrowe Basill Strasbrough Wormes Franckford c. And to them off Arrowe and Francford this letter was wrytten which folowith and subscribed by the ministerie in the name off the whole congregation The Copie off the letter written the 15. off December The Father of mercies and god of all coÌ„solation confirme and increase yow in the loue off his sonne Iesus Christ that beinge in the conduite off the lion off the tribe off Iuda ye maie be victorious against Sathan and Antechriste to the ouerthrowinge off Papistrie and errour and establishinge of Christes glorious kingdome AFter that we hearde dearely beloued of the ioiful tidingâ— off Gods fauoure and grace restored vnto vs by the preferment off the moste verteous and gratious Queene Elizabethe We lyfted vp our hartes and voices to oure heauenly father who hathe not onely by his dewe prouidence norished vs in oure banishement preserued vs and as it were caried vs in his winges but also harde oure praiers graunted our requestes pitied oure countrie and restored his worde So that the greatnes off this maruelous benefit ouercomethe oure Iudgements and thoughts howe to be able worthely to receaue it and to geue thankes for the same And when we had withe great comforte wayed the matter to the inteÌ„t that we might at the leaste shewe our selues mindefull off this most wonderfull and vndeserued grace we thought amonge other thinges howe we might beste serue to godes glory in this worke and Vocation off fartheringe the gospell off our sauiour Iesus Christe And bicause all impedimentes and cauillacions off aduersaries might be remoued it seemed good to haue your godly counsell and brotherly conference herein whiche we desier to lerne by this bearer our louinge brother kethe that we might all ioyne hartes and handes together in this great worke wherin no dowte we shall finde many aduersaries and staies Yet iff we whose suffraunce and persecutions are certeine signes off oure sounde doctrine holde faste together it is most certeine that the enemies shall haue lesse power offences shall sooner be taken awaie and religion best proceade and florishe For what can the papiste wishe more then that we shulde dissent one from an other and in steed off preachinge Iesus Christe and profitable doctrine to contende one againste an other either for superfluous Ceremonies or other like trifles froÌ„ the whiche god off his mercy hathe deliuered vs Therfore beare brethern we beseche yow as we dowtâ— not but your godly iudgements will think it so beste that what so euer offence hathe byn heretofore either taken or geuen it maie so cease and be forgotten that hereafter god laie it not to oure charges yff thereby his blessed worde shulde be any thinge hindred And as we for oure partes freely remitt all offences and most intirely imbrace yow oure deare brethern So we beseche yow in the lorde that vnfainedly yow will do the like on your behalff wheroff albeit we assure oure selues as bothe by â–ª good experience we haue proued and also haue receaued by your letters yet â— to cut off all occasions from Papistes and other cauillors we thought it beste to renewe the same amitie and to confirme it by theis oure letters Moste earnestly desiringe yow that we maie altogether teache and practise that true knowledge off Goddes worde whiche we haue lerned in this oure banishment and by goddes mercifull prouidence seene in the beste reformed churches That consideringe oure negligence in times paste and goddes punishemente for the same we maie with zeele and diligence endeauour to recoÌ„pence it that god in all oure doinges maie be glorified oure consciences discharged and the members off Iesus Christ releued and comforted The whiche thinge the lorde god who hathe mercifully visited and restored vs graunt and performe To whom be all honour praise and glory for euer and euer Your lovinge frinds and in the name of vvhole churche Christopher Goodman Miles Couerdale Iohn Knox Iohn Bodliegh VVilliam VVilliams Anthony Gilby Frances VVithers VVilliam Fuller Iohn Pullain VVilliam Bevoyes VVilliam VVhiâ—tingham The Answere returned from Franck. by W. Kethe The grace off god and the assistaunce off the holy goste lighten and strengthen yow to the vnderstanding and constant reteining of his truthe to the fartheraunce off his honor and glorie and to the edifinge and maintenance off his churche in Christe Iesu oure lorde DEarely beloued as your letters were moste welcome vnto vs bothe for that ye reioice at the prefermeÌ„t off our godly queene and alâ—o thaâ— yâ— studie howe to promote the glorie off god So are wâ— right sory that they came not afore the departure off suche as ye seeke a charitable reconciliatioÌ„ with all For where as ye require that all suche offences as haue byn gyuen and taken betwene yow and vs maie be forgotten hereafter there be not here paste foure left which were then present when ye dwelt here and not one off the lerned â— sorte sauinge M. Beesley Yet we dowte not but as they promised in their former letters to forget all displeasures afore conceaued so they will performe the same and esteeme yow as their brethern And for oure partes as we haue had no coÌ„tention with yow at all afore time so we purpos not as we trust there shall be no cause to entre into contention with yow hereafter For ceremonies to coÌ„tende where it shall lye neither in your hands or oures to appoint what they shall be but in suche mennes wisedomes as shall be appointed to the dâ—uising off the same and whiche shall be receyued by coÌ„mon consent off the parliament it shal be to small purpos But we truste that bothe true religion shall be restored and that we shall not be burthened with vnprofitable ceremonies And therfore as we purpos to submit oure selues to such orders as shall be established by authoritie beinge not of themselues wicked so we would wishe yow willingly to do the same