suche names as be in the congregation and such as shall be here after admitted to be wriâ—ten in the same Item that mariages Christenings and burialls with the daye and yere theroff be registred in the same booke Item for the auoyding all controuersyes that hereafter maye happen it is ordeined that all testamentes and willes made by any off oure nation dyinge in this congregation shall be brought foorthe and exhibited to the Seniors off this congregaâ—ion for the tyme being for a perpetuall testimonye off the truthe in that behalff Item that bicause all mennes doinges be vncerteine and changeable the discipline and orders off the churche shal be read openly once euery quarter and warninge theroff before shall be geuen to the whole congregation bothe that euerie member therof maye knowe their dewtie and that euerie man maye with librrtie quietly speak his minde for the chaunging and amending of it or anye parte therof according to goddes worde and the same exhibited in writinge with the arguments and reasons off that his requeste The names off suche as subscribed to this discipline and were off the churche THomas Crawley Christopher Hales Thomas Ashley Edmond Oldsworth Edmonde Sutton Thomas Acworth Richard Alvaie VValter Franck Richard Leâ—ler Richard Mason Richarde Beâ—sley Richard Nagoâ—â— Robart beste Henry Reignoldes Perciuall Harrington Richard Porter Magnus Elyot Henry Perryus Iohn Browne Dauid VVhitthead Iohn Mullins Iohn Pedder Iohn Hales Gre. Railton Alexander nowell Iohn VVilford Iohn Fauconer Thomas Serbis Thomas VVilsoâ— Iohn Bedell Iohn Olde Iames Peers Thomas Sandes Edward Parpoint Thomas VValker Iohn Kelke Thomas VVatts Leonarde parry Robarte Crowley VVilliam Master Laurance Kent Thomas Knolle Peter sade Iohn Vates VVilliam Raulinges Thomas VVater Thomas VVillobie Edmond Tomson Richard Luddington Thomas oldsworthe Edmond Harries Philipp Adishe Gawin dixson Iohn Geoffrie Anthony Donningâ— Edward Colton Iohn Turpin The 21. off December 1557. theis were added to the churche Sir Frances Knolls Edward Boyes Iohn Browne Frances VVilforde Thomas Knot Thomas Donnell Arthure Saule Richard Sandell Robart Ioyner Henry VVood Richard Lynbroâ—ghe Ralfe Selye Henry Knolls Thomas VVilford VVilliam Dauage Reignolde Baker Robarte Hodgston Iohn Penteny Mighell Coke Thomas Tod Chamber Alaxender Nowell Iohn Ade Thomas Bagster Daniell Rogers Now that yow haue harde bothe the olde discipline and that whiche was by the authoritie off the magistrate deuised order requireth that I place here the reasons whiche Maister Horne and the rest off his side brought against the newe discipline established And to the ende this volume shuld not excede measure in greatnes I think it expedient to do here as I haue done allready and minde to do through owt the whole story whiche is off a leafâ— to take as I might saie a lyâ—e or two as one lothe too weary yow sith a taste maie suffice To the 7. Article off the newe Discipline To the Article off 2. Minâ—sters off like charge and authoritie we think we haue good â—easons to require that there be no moo in the speciall burthen and charge pastorall then one to whom the others ioyned with him for preachinge off the worde and ministringe the Sacraments shall not in cure and charge gouernment and preheminence be in all respectes coequall The Reasons Firste the scripture speakinge or treatinge of the office of a Bishopp or minister so speakethe as it were to be presupposed and as an order receiued that one shuld in cure and charge be burthened aboue other and in gouernement for order sake in preheminence Item the expositions off all auncient Authors and Wryters vpon the scripturs that toucheth that matter do alltogether as they secure to gather owte off the texte conclude declare and teache one Minister or pastor in respectes aforesayde preferred and charged aboue other and thus dothe the newe also Item this order off one in cure charge and gouernement preferred haue all the churches to be red off planted by the Apostels and all others in the primatiue churche obserued whose examples off vs are not to be neglected Item like as good reason off it selff forceth and concludeth so all good autors bothe newe and olde doo freely teache that for conseruation off vnitie and concorde and for auoidinge off schismes and discorde it is requisite and necessarie that a prerogatiue and preheminence for cure charge and gouernemente be committed and geuen to some one to be as it is afore saide charged aboue others Item all the reformed churches off Germany for the moste parte be off that iudgement and therfore obserue that order Item yff Nicene councell decreed and ordered for good order sake that one Bishopp and not many shulde be appoynted to euerye one cytie howe more is it off necessitie for order sake that one litle flocke shulde be content with one Item who is ignorant off this that for the moste parte wher not one but rather two muste haue the especiall cure and charge there commonly thinges be moste negligentlye done and not so muche regarded and cared for as otherwise they woulde be The answer off the churche touchinge this 7. Article to the reasons off the dissenting brethern We se not by the scriptures that anie authoritie is geuen to anie one aboue others but rather to the contrary As concerninge olde wryters we knowe that Ierome expresly declarethe that in the beginninge the churche was ruled equally by manie But after when schismes began to springe the chiefe authoritie was geuen to one for authorities sake and by mannes ordinaunce rather then by deuine authoritie wherfore we coÌ„clude that as for schismes the firste order of many was left aÌ„d one chiefe apointed So nowe for the auoidinge of tyraÌ„nie a worse euell in the churche then schismes whiche as apearethe by the Bishop of Rome is grownded vppon one we thinke it good to returne to the firste order off two or moo equall ministers accordinge to the institution off the Apostells as Saint Ierome teacheth And that those lerned men who do moste earnestly maintaine the gouernment off one confesse that vntill the tyme off Dionysius who was after Christe 300. yeres and more the Regimente was equally committed to manye And as for the newe there be examples off the beste churche to the contrary And Maister Caluin in the 8. Chap. off his Institutions the 42. and 52. dyuisions Declarethe expresly that there were From the beginninge more Ministers off the worde and that it is but off mannes ordinaunce that one was afterwarde made chieff That is alleadged off the reformed churches in Germany the multitude ought to serue no more for one then the best reformed churches for two ministers off the worde As concerninge Nicene councell it is before answered and in that they decreed there shulde be but one it consequenquently folowithe that before the saide decree there were many And iff those godly fathers were nowe lyuinge and did se how Antechriste is established vppon one they woulde more gladly returne to the firste order off many equall for the
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
and indifferent iudges by bothe partes to be chosen wherby the faulte might appear where it was in dede and so they either excused or founde giltie D. Cox at lenght tolde them that their letter shulde be considered off and an answere shulde be geuen them the fridaie after On fridaie the 30 off Auguste bothe partes mette The Pastor accompanied with the Ministers and elders spake this vnto them It seemeth very fonde that arbytrers shuld be apointed to take vpp strife that maie come hereafter as your letter signifieth And furthermore ye write yff anie offence be taken or geuen whiche semethe as strange for this worde yff importethe a dowte so that yff ye dowte it is but follie to apointe arbitres fynally to excuse your departure yow call them vnlerned whiche iudge it a schisme but saithe he terme it as yow lifte yet can yow not let men to think And yff arbitres shuld pronounce it to be none yet mennes opinions will be diâ—â—â—s Now â—heâ—fore your answere shall be that iff anie man be offended either with any priuate maÌ„ or publiquely let him or them complaine to vs or yff they refuse vs to the Magistrat As for Arbitres we will appoint none Then spake whittingham and saied that it was to him no small wonder that men of suche lerninge and wisedome shuld so shrink in a moste equall requeste and so withowte all reason to cauill where no matter was offred For as concerninge saithe he the firste pointe it was not vnknowen to them that at that time thorough their occasion their was no small contention and that seinge they had geuen such offence it coulde not be but that mennes mindes were moued And therfore to th ende that contention shulde growe no farther Arbytres were very necessary who neded not to deliberate as he saied off thinges to come whiche were vncerteine â–ª but as the letter truly purporteth off iniuries longe agoo begonne yet continued and here after not like to be ended excepte some good meane were vsed to staie their slanderous letters and false reportes to the vtter perishinge and lose off mennes Good names And where ye seeme to be ofended that the letter shulde call them vnlerned whiche terme oure departure a schisme yow omitt saide D. Coxe the 2. pointe whiche is off no small importaunce to whom he answered that he thought he did them a pleasure in omittinge thinges of so small value notwithstandinge he woulde obaie his will but saithe he as touchinge this worde vnlernedly it was not vnaduisedly placed For either they be withowte lerninge and therfore maie be so called in dede or yff they beare the name off lerninge yet in this they shewed their vnskilfulnes for as muche as euery departure from a congregation was not a schisme nether were anie that departed for iuste causes schismatikes as we saith he will proue vnto yow yff yow will take oure reasonable and moste equall offre Naie saithe the pastor Arbitres in this point can litle availe for be it they iudged it none yet mennes thoughts are free and we knowe that all men be not off one mynde in sacraments and predestination shulde men therfore take arbitres Also saith he maister Caluin and Bullinger are against yow To this was answered that thoughtes yff they were not grownded vpon Goddes worde were euell neither was this controuersie off like force withe the matter off the Sacraments and predestination notwithstanding woulde to God that not onely the difference in those articles but also in all other whiche be off waight and importaunce might be decided by the authoritie off Goddes worde and arbytrement off godly lerned men But men maie iustly suspecte your cause to be nought whiche refuse the iudgments off the wise and godly And where yow saie that Caluin and Bullinger are againste vs yow abuse your selff and there names for we knowe bothe what they and other wryte as touchinge this matter Then the Pastor asked what schisma was but a cuttinge off from the body and that it was Caluins definition To this Whittingham answered that he woulde vndertake firste to proue that definition to be false and secondly to be nonone off Caluins definition for yff euery cuttinge off from the body shulde be a schisme then yow and all other whiche once had sworne to the pope and now haue refused him are schismatiques Then the pastor added from a churche well reformed Answere was made that a churche well reformed muste be builded vppon the doctrine off the Prophetes and Apostles the vnitie wheroff S. Paule comprehendeth in theis wordes one god one faithe one baptisme not beggerly ceremomies and obscurations although that sundry causes besides moued them to departe Then Maister Treherren asked whither the donatists were not schismatiques Yes saith Whittingham and also heretiques but yow are deceiued yff yow thinke that they seperated them selues for ceremonies It is manifest said Treherren that the churches off Asia were excommunicate as schismatiques for that they kepte not Easter at the same time that the Romaine churche did And it is no lesse euident said Whitthingham that Ireneus and other godly men aswell off that time as sithens haue sharply reproued and condemned Pope Victor for the same Here D. Coxe put Whittingham in remembraunce that he had not answered to the faultes off the letter Whittingham tolde him that as touchinge that poore worde yff he marueled howe it coulde Minister anie cauillation seinge the text ioininge therto was so plaine whiche declarethe bothe the offences by yow geuen and by vs taken And also your consciences beare yow witnes the thinge to be moste true excepte a man will be wilfully blinde and finde a knot in a rushe so that that worde yf mente not that we do dowte who were oppressed with infinit wronges but iff they woulde dissemble so farre that they mâ—ght seeme to dowte theroff yet at the leaste they woulde abide the tryall theroff before theis Arbitres But here the disputation brake vp with this plaine and finall answere that arbitres they shuld haue none and that yff they founde themselues greued they shulde seeke remedy where they thought Good and he the Pastor withe the reste off the congregation woulde answere them The nexte daie the Pastour D. Coxe maister parry and maister Asheley sent for Whittingham Thomas Cole Iohn Fox William Kethe Roger harte Iohn Hilton with certeine other demandinge off them what shulde be the cause off their departure Whittingham made answere that the daie before they had declared sufficiently and yet woulde farther shewe reasons yff they would permit the controuersie to Arbytrement And to the intent they shulde not counterfait ignorance amonge other theis were some causes firste their breach off promes established with inuocation off goddes name 2. Their ordreles thrustinge themselues in to the churche 3. Takinge awaie the order off discipline established before their comminge and placinge no other 4. The accusasion off maister Knox their godly Minister off Treason and seekinge his bloude 5. Their
he hath heretofore dealt with the companie off poore students at Zurick but also through vntrew reportes off all good mennes deuotions and liberalitie that hereafter woulde ells be bestowed Their reportes whiche amonge many other vntruthes to hinder this poore congregation they slanderously brute abroad are chiefly theis firste that the poore off this churche be so well prouided for that the worste hathe after the rate of 2. shillinges by the weeke SecoÌ„dly that some of the poore here be so stowte thaâ— they disdaine tâ— aske relieff in their nede so that oure poore seeme either not to nede or not to be worthie off helpe And thirdly that men here seeke to knowe the names off the geuers to this congregation to their great perill and vtter vndooinge whiche reportes be all vtterly vntrue but the truthe is that for lack many poore men haue byn driuen bothe to depart hence to seeke their liuinge in other places and some forced to go for relieff into England Theis speciallties besides muche more that we haue thought good and very necessarie that good godly men shulde knowe bothe that they shuld not conceaue anie euell opinion off this congregation by false reporte and also that mindinge to relieff the poore and miserably afflicted members off Christe their brethern in this churche they shulde when god shall moue them to departe with anie thinge to that vse so deliuer it as it maie sauffly come and iustly be distributed where they would haue it bestowed And therfore we considering the state off oure fellowe exiles liuinge here with vs in nede and pouertie and fedde by the onely good prouidence off god desier all Christian men for the loue off oure sauiour Iesus Christe to consider howe pleasant a sacrifice howe sweete a sauor the relieuinge off the poore for his sake is before the face off oure heauenly father A good mannes liffe is almoste nothinge ells then a continuall exercise off mercie All the daie longe he hathe mercy and pitie saith the prophet Dauid Geue almes off thy goodes saith the holie man Tobiah and turne neuer thy face from the poore and so shall it come to passe that the face off the lorde shall not be turned awaie from the. Be mercifull after they power yff thow hastâ— muche geue plenteouslie yf thou haste litle do thy diligence gladlye to geue of that litle for so gatherest thow thy selff a good rewarde in the daie off necessitie for almes deliuereth from deathe and suffreth not the soule to come in darknes A great comforte is almes before the high God vnto all them that doo it Blessed is he that consideth the poore saith the Prophet Dauid the lorde shall deliuer him in the tyme off trouble c. The good man saith Dauid hath distributed abroad and geuen to the poore his righteousnes remaineth for euer his horne shal be exalted with honor he that geueth to the poore shall not lack saith the Wyse man in the prouerbes As water quencheth burninge fire so dothe mercie reconcile synnes whiche god shall rewarde and not forget and the dooer shall fynde a staie to keepe him vpp when he falleth saithe Iesus the sonne off Sirach Break vnto the Hungrie thy bread saith the Prophet Esaie and bringe the poore fatherles into they howse when thow seeste the naked couer him and hide not they face from thine owne fleshe Then shall thy light break foorthe as the morninge and thy helthe flourishe right shortly thy righteousnes shall go before thee and the glorie of the lorde shal embrace thee TheÌ„ yf thow callest the lorde shall answere the yf thou criest he shall faye here I am Laie ye not vp treasures in earthe where the rust and the moth maie destroy it and theues maie digge it owte and steale it saithe Christe but laie vpp your treasures in heauen Geue almes off that ye haue and behold saithe Christe all is cleane vnto yow What ye geue to one off theis litle ones saithe he ye geue it vnto me And also he saith blessed are the mercifull for they shall finde mercie â–ª when the ydolatrus Kinge Nabucaâ—nezer shuld be conuerted vnto god what saied the Prophet Daniell vnto him redeeme they synnes with almes and thy wikednesse with mercie on the poore so perhappes god will pardon they sinnes Think ye that god forgate abdias that preserued the hundreth Prophetes in caues and fedd them there Paule and the other apostells diligently bothe with wordes and writinge did labor for the relieff of the poore brethern that were at Ierusalem and ells where And we hope that god will open your hartes and mindes to consider oure state and by theis saynges and examples moue yow to haue pitie on your poore brethern whiche yff it shall please his mercie to graunte yow cheerfully to doo it is not to be dowted but albeit he suffer yow to slyde and fall for a time yet will he heaue yow vp when it shal be his good pleasure and preserue yow so as at the lenght ye maie be partakers off the ioyfull kingdome off god whiche oure sauior Ie-Christ hathe purchased for his electe with the price off hiâ— blood The holy spirite off god be allwayes with yow amen This controuersie which yow haue now harde from the â—3 off Ianuary hitherto I finde written by the handes off such as are bothe lerned and off credit but yet I muste nedes say by those that were parties in this broyle And for so much as Maister Chambers in this controuersie is very sore charged amonge the reste who yet was thought off manie wise and godlymen to be verye godly vpright and honest aÌ„d so no dowte he tooke his leaue of this lyffe I haue therfore here thought good to place a letter whiche is yet off his owne hande to be seene wrytinge the same in his owne defence touchinge theis matters so as the reader wayinge bothe the one and the other maie vse his iudgemente with discretion â–ª The copie off the letter To the worship Maister Iohn Hales M. Thomas Crawley Maister Iohn Willford and to Maister Whitthead Tho mas Sorsby William Maister and Iohn olde at Franckford Immanuell I wishe vnto yow the peace off god with my commendations The tenor of your demaunde hathe caused me to differr answeringe to your letters vntill this time not off purpos to geue no answere but that I then vppon the suddain wanted sure knowledge in that thinge wherby yow chiefly charge me At my comminge from Zurick to Frankford I was intreated by certaine men to continewe my traueiles in gatheringe the Almes and liberalities off godly meÌ„ to relieue therwith such poore dispersed Englishe brethern As I shuld think moste meete to be relieued euen as before time I had done This requeste put in writinge subscribed by certeine was deliuered vnto me not as letters testimoniall off authoritie whiche as I neded not or I required them not neither yet that I shuld by force off them gather for the church off Franckford onely or