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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
coram venerabilibus viris Dominis Isaaco Bargrave sacrae Theo'ogiae professore Decano Ecclesiae Ca hedralis Metropolicae Christi Cantuar. Thoma Jackson sacrae Theologiae professore inter alios Commissarijs reverendissimi in Christo 〈◊〉 ac Domini Domini Gulielmi providentia divina Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi in visitatione sua Metropolitica constitutis loco Consistorij in Ecclesia praedicta judicialiter pro tribunali sedentibus venerabilibus viris Dominis Willielmo 〈◊〉 sacrae Theologiae professore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joanae Jeffrey sacro etiam professore Theologiae eis tune ibidem assistentibus assidentibus presente me Willielmo Somner 〈◊〉 publico c. Quibus die ac 〈◊〉 dicti venerabiles viri cemmissarij tradidcrunt mihi notario publice 〈◊〉 Injunctiones 〈◊〉 reverendissimi Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi praedicti Ecclesias Gallicas Belgicas anglice the Dutch or Walloon Congregations concernentes in praesentijs Magistrorum Joannis Bulteel Philppi Delme Ecclesiae Gallica sive Wallonensis infra civitatem Cantuariensem existentis Magistr Gaspari van Nierne Ecclesiae Belgicae 〈◊〉 Sandwicum constitutae 〈◊〉 sive Ministrorum 〈◊〉 non in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de Bever Quintin Galmar seniorum uti 〈◊〉 Ecclesiae 〈◊〉 apud Cantuarienses ac in 〈◊〉 Petri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rickeseys 〈◊〉 uti vocantur Ecclesiae Belgicae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In quorum omnium praesentijs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 publice dictis 〈◊〉 per me notarium publicum ante dictum de mandato dictorum Commissariorum quarum quidem tenor sequitur est talis The two Injunctions of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury concerning the Dutch and Walloon Churches within his Diocesse Anno 1635. That all the Natives of the Dutch and Walloon Congregations in his Graces Diocessa are to resort to their severall parish Churches of those parishes wherein they inhabit to heare divine service and Sermons and performe all duties as parishoners required in that behalfe 2. That the Ministers and all others of the Dutch or Walloon Congregations which are not Natives and borne Subjects to the Kings Majesty or any other strangers that shall come over to them while they remaine strangers may have and use their owne discipline as formerly they have done yet it is thought fit that the English Liturgy should be translated into French and Dutch for the better fitting of their children to the English government Dicti comissarij peremptorie solemniter Monuerunt dictos Ministros sive Presbiterios ac seniores dictarum respective Ecclesiarum ad conformand se congregationes respective suas quantum in eis est Injunctionibus praedictis ne oblivioni tradatur vel errors sit abnoxium decreverunt copias Injunctionum Praedictarum eis respective tradendas eodem die tradiderunt ac etiam decteverunt intimandum fore Ministris omnibus singulis respective Ecclesiarum parochalium infra civitatem Cantuar. Sandwich pro receptione dictorum nativorum in Ecclesijs suis tanquam parochianorum c. praesentibus tunc ibidim praeter me notarium publicum antedictum venerabili viro Domino Edwar-Master Milite Willielmo Hammon generoso Willielmo Somner Juniore multis alsis c. Concordat cum actis Curiae facta examinatione per me Willielmum Somner notarium publicum Presently after some of the English Ministers were very busie to publish in their Churches the Injunction touching the Natives with threatnings by some of the Churchwardens that they would present those that did absent themselves from the Parishes going from house to house to admonish the Natives yea to command them and which is more to threaten them which was above their comission more then was enjoyned them to do by the act of the Commissionors who charged them only to receive those that would come to their parishes This kinde of proceeding made the Church of Canterbury to write to the Caetus or two 〈◊〉 Churches of London who returned an answer that they should doe well to send Deputies to London to conferre with them whereupon the Church of Canterbury intended to send but one Minister and an Elder whereas before they had sent both the Ministers because they would not leave their Church unfurnished of the Ministery and Preaching So they chose John 〈◊〉 Minister and an Elder Meane while the two Ministers and others of the Church of Canterbury went to the Major who 〈◊〉 some of the Aldermen were requested to make a Petition in their behalfe to my Lord of Canterbury shewing unto them the inconveniences would 〈◊〉 unto their Towne and Corporation by the observation of the Injunction especially in regard of the poore Natives by whom they would be very much charged The Major and the Aldermen were very much sensible of their case and of their owne imbraced it with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and promised to doe what lay in their power in their behalfe and Petition my Lord not at the strangers request but as a thing which concerned themselves and not by Petition in writing onely but by some person gracious in my Lords eyes whom they would imploy in that businesse Whilest these things were a doing above all expectation and hope Master Somner came unto J. B at his house told him he had a Letter from my Lords Secretary which he shewed him wherein he certified him that my Lord had respited the observation of the Injunction to the first of July whereof he was glad for although quod differtur non 〈◊〉 yet there was some hope that matters would goe better This was related to the French Congregation and the Deputies did put off the voyage if not for altogether yet at least for a time hopeing that cloud would passe over as Ahanasius said of the persecution of Julian the apostate Emperour and the Churches might be at quiet In the meane time it was thought fit and now the time and opportunity seemed to be that the Citie should make a Petition to my Lord in the Churches behalf according to their proffer and promise So some of them went to the Major pressing him to win time and that in the opinion of some my Lord did as it were expect some such thing who promised to doe it with as great speed as possibly he could and had confered with the Major of Sandwich who promised to concurre with him in a Petition to my Lord in that matter and manner and to that end and certes vis unita fortior The Major of Canterbury sent the Petition to my Lord in these tearmes To the most reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his grace The most humble Petition of the Major and Comminalty of CANTERBVRY TEndring first all dutifull respect and thankes to your grace for at favours 〈◊〉 received and in particular for your most 〈◊〉 incouragement that upon all future just occasions we should finde your grace as formerly willing to procure the good of our Citie We are now 〈◊〉 most humbly to
〈◊〉 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
multiplication of Ceremonies innovation in rites introduction of Popery Socinianisme Arminianisme prophanation of the Lords day new Canons and oathes persecution banishment and branding suspension imprisonment and fining of those godly Pastors that will not submit their necks to that slavish yoake of Babylon and drinke of the cup of abominations of that purple whore of Rome and inchantments of Jezabel A while after the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 found it fitting to thinke of a fit time of a fast and presse it the occasions thereof being many the afflictions of Germany Hannaw being besiedged matters not going very wel in the Low Countries Skinsken-skonce taken by the 〈◊〉 a place of great importance and as it were the Key to come into Holland the neighbour Churches in France as 〈◊〉 and Marke 〈◊〉 very much diminished if not dissipared and other occasions both in 〈◊〉 of others and especially of themselves in the feare apprehension and appearance of the dissipation dispersion if not of the ruine of their Churches In particular there was an act made in the last Synod at London in these tearmes It is lift to the discretion of the 〈◊〉 of the forraine Churches of London to write betweene this and October to the particular Churches what they thinke concerning the indiction of a Fast and vpon the 〈◊〉 of the said 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 shall indict the said Fast according to the plurality of Votes gathered out of the Letters of the said churches My 〈◊〉 Vicar-generall returning to Canterbury caused the Governours of the stranger Churches of Canterbury and Sandwich to be cited to appeare on the Saturday next in the Consistory Some of them went to him and desired they might not appeare in the Consistory who told them that it was a thing that was to be done in publicke and that the Commissioners knew my Lords resolution so they went to the Cathedrall at the appointed time They found the Commissioners descending downe the Consistory the Vicar-generall telling them he was content to declare unto them the charge he had from my Lord not in the Consistory but in the Church where assembled divers persons about 〈◊〉 and heard what was said unto them where he told them the sum of the charge shewed them the publication of 〈◊〉 Iniunction of those of Norwich who had caused or permitted it already to be read in their Churches with more hafte then good speed that they might take a copy of it and cause such a one or the like to be published in their Churches Among other things Master Sumner thought that it was to be published is it was at Norwich and that was said to have beene done by the Ministers 〈◊〉 the Ministers answered that they desired as 〈◊〉 to be excused in that point as being a thing contrary to their Office for the duty of Ministers is to endeavour the union edification and increase of their flockes and not to publish that which would tend to their discipation or 〈◊〉 they added another reason that seeing the two Ministers of Canterbury were of the first degree of Natives there was no reason they should publish a thing against reason yea nature 〈◊〉 declare their children were to goe to 〈◊〉 Parish-churches and not to the French Church to heare their Fathers 〈◊〉 Afterwards the Deputies of 〈◊〉 came to Canterbury and they with the 〈◊〉 of Canterbury went to Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and told him that seeing a Declaration was of 〈◊〉 to be published they intended to have it done they of Sandwich by their 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of Canterbury by Master Anthony 〈◊〉 and Scribe to the Politicke 〈◊〉 seeing it could not be done 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 of the Spirituall Court and that not on the next Sabbath day being a Comman on day but on the Lords day after wherewith he was contented Then they desired of him that they might not be more 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Officers in his absence then the English were and that none should be molested before he had notice of it he consented to it and gave charge to Master Sumner to 〈◊〉 to it who promised to observe that order They requested also Sir Nathaniel to continue his favour towards them He told them he had done what was in his 〈◊〉 for them and had spoken so much for them that my Lord was awondered and in a manner 〈◊〉 that he was more for the forraine 〈◊〉 then for his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 he had told his grace that the Ministers were his 〈◊〉 friends religious and peaceable men and there were divers 〈◊〉 and Gentlemen his honourable friends had spoken to him in their 〈◊〉 and he could doe no lesse his grace might doe what he pleased so they thanked him againe and tooke their leaves of him Immediately after Master Sumner sent them this Injunction in these tearmes Vicesimo sexto Septembris 1635. coram venerabili 〈◊〉 Domino 〈◊〉 Brent milite legum Doctore reverendissimi in Christo patris ac Domini Domini Guilielmi providentia divina Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi c. vicario in 〈◊〉 generali coeteris ejus 〈◊〉 in Ecclesia Christi 〈◊〉 hora 〈◊〉 convenientibus praesente Willielmo Somner Notario Publico c. QVibus die loco Ministris 〈◊〉 tam Ecclesia gallica five 〈◊〉 apud Cantuariam nosiram quam Ecclesie 〈◊〉 apud 〈◊〉 vicos constitut coram 〈◊〉 antedictis personarum 〈◊〉 Reverendissimi Cantuariensis 〈◊〉 ulteriorem voluntatem in hoc negotio dictus vicarius 〈◊〉 generalis sequentia a Domino Archiepiscope ante dicto nuper 〈◊〉 eisdem ministris senioribus 〈◊〉 in mandatis dedit viz. Quod omnes singuli alienigenae Congregationum respective suarum ab eis infra primum gradum descendentes ordires 〈◊〉 disciplinam cateraque privilegia antehac Congregationibus respective 〈◊〉 authoritate regia impertita concessa licite retineant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnes 〈◊〉 Congregationum suarum ab eisdem Congregationibus discedant Ecclesiis parochialibus capellis paraeciarum quas respective incolant sese conserentes liturgiae disciplina totique Ecclesie Anglicanae politiae quatenus se concernant cum cateris Domini nostri Regis subditis in omnibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conformantes Ita tamen quod sustentationi ministrorum egenorum dictarum suarum Congregationum nihilominus remaneant 〈◊〉 Quibus fic declaratis dictus vicarius generalis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod eadem omnia Congregationibus respective suis cum ea quae 〈◊〉 poterit matura celeritate publicent seu publicars faciant sei sos etiam eisdem submittant ac populum dictarum suarum Congregationum quoad possunt consimilem 〈◊〉 praestare suadeant Revendissimum Dominum 〈◊〉 praedictum inde certificent seu certificari curent Praemissa omnia singula Ministro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Belgicae apud Maidston 〈◊〉 in similibus vel fama teste communieant intimantes ut 〈◊〉 in dicta ecclesia fiat Et sic intimatur eis cura studio 〈◊〉 Domini 〈◊〉 pro corum tuto
them saving his patience was abused which was conceived by the Major to be said in regard of the Injunction and was thought by him that my Lord had an a king tooth against them In the meane time J. B. wrote to one of the court relating what had happened who speaking to S. C. about it said he knew not what to say of it as for himselfe he 〈◊〉 the worst but hoped the best and in his letters a while after wrote that 〈◊〉 he nor others had heard any thing of the affaires so that he hoped the churches should have a calme and serene Ayre after some stormes and cloudy dayes past or at least should gaine time 〈◊〉 In the moneth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir 〈◊〉 Brent came to Canterbury where he sent for the 〈◊〉 of the severall 〈◊〉 of the City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them if the Injunction was observed and obeyed by the 〈◊〉 English that were of the second descent telling them that my Lord had beene informed that it was not kept as it ought to be most of them or all returned their answer that it was obeyed as farre as they could perceive that they that were of their Parishes came to their Churches He asked one of the Ministers if he would set his hand to that he said he would signe such a writing if he required it but it was not pressed The French Ministers were somewhat moved to see that there were so many misinformations and that my Lord should so easily beleeve every false rumour for except there were some Promoters or pick-thankes in every Church who could know it one man could not be at one time in all the Parishes to see and which is more to know every stranger native to know the number in every Parish and to know whether they were there or no none could better informe my Lord or Sir Nathaniel Brent then the Ministers and Churchwardens of the Parishes and complained to Sir Nathaniel Brent of it who went to London where he caused the stranger Churches of London French Dutch and others to appeare before him at Bowe Church but of that Visitation we intend not to write About the same time the Congregation of Sandwich was troubled by one of the Ministers who went to divers that were in his Parish that were strangers by descent but borne in England and that of the first dedegree and told them about a fortnight before Easter that they were to come to his Communion according to my Lords order and pleasure but Master Gasparus the Minister and the Elders of the Dutch Congregation sent and part of them went to their houses told them 〈◊〉 they were not bound to doe it that there was no such order given by my Lord that those that were of the first degree were to goe to the Dutch Church and to the Communion and not commanded to goe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 English Church and Communion and need not feare his threatnings A while after there were some supercilious and 〈◊〉 Ministers and church-wardens in Canterbury that dealt 〈◊〉 with some of the Natives beyond the Order and commission and did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Natives in their Parishes by menaces and threatnings among others the churchwardens of one of the parishes in an imperious and threatning stile sent a note to the 〈◊〉 Householders and Masters of families of their Parish 1 We hereby signifie that we have 〈◊〉 you of the French and Walloon Congregation and that are strangers inhabiting in our Parish whether lately come over or of the first and second descent for this time to pay for the 〈◊〉 and adorning of our Church and necessary 〈◊〉 thereunto belonging the sum of five pounds ten shillings 〈◊〉 which we desire you to 〈◊〉 among your selves because you best know your owne estates and say to us the churchwardens before next Saturday 〈◊〉 at six of the clocke And if this you neglect to doe then we give you notice to appeare in the north chancell of our church next Lords day immediately after evening prayer to see your selves sessed according to our discretions 2 On saturday night next we desire the names of all married persons in your congregation of the second descent that are inhabitants in our Parish that we may take order for decent seats for them as they shall signifie their estates and qualities to be 3 Then we also entreat the names and ages of those unmarried in our parishes of the second descent and whose children and servants they he to the end we may take care of their due resort to our hurch being 〈◊〉 and communicating there according as their severall age require 4 That those of sixteen yeers and upwards that have not this Easter time already communicated prepare themselves to receive the blessed Sacrament in our Church next Lords day and so thrice in the yeere afterwards as the Canons of our church require as they will avoyd 〈◊〉 to their ordinary for their neglect therein 5 We admonish friendly and entreat you that are Parents and Masters of Families of the first and second descent henceforth duly on the Lord's day halfe an houre before evening prayer to send your men children and 〈◊〉 under sixteen to be catechized according to the order of our Church as you your selves upon presentments will answer for their absences April the 15. 1639. But what the reason was that the first Church-warden or both were more forward and strict then the rest of the Towne is not known whether their blind zeale to uphold the ceremony of the English Church or knew water would come to their Mill by presentments or would curry favour with my Lord or were set on it by some of his followers or shew their power and authority Magistratus indicat virum and to make the parish know what they should expect of them in their office yet vana sine 〈◊〉 ira it is good a curst Cow hath short horns for a few dayes after there was an election of new Church-wardens the one of them hoped to continue in his office but whether the parish perceived he would be a busie body and intended to do some fine design he was outed of his place and another chosen in his stead so 〈◊〉 strangers of that parish though threatned were not pressed to it nor presented but had their 〈◊〉 est and the other strangers also for the time For the Archbishop who had many Irons in the fire did not onely trouble the three forraign Churches of Kent and the other forraign Churches in 〈◊〉 but did vex the English Churches advancing superstitious Ceremonies and innovasions by secret 〈◊〉 and open violent persecutions having a designe to doe the like in the English Churches and Regiments in the united Provinces of the States Generall He had an intention to introduce it in Ireland where he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 totum even when he was Bishop of London having the Lord Deputy Counsell Bishops and Clergy at his owne devotion And as soon as he was Arch-bishop he began to put on his
Master-piece 〈◊〉 Scotland in imposing upon them a popish Service book the Hellena of Greece and cause of all these controversies and fuell of this fire who supposed his authority not surely setled nor fully confirmed untill Scotland were conformed but God raised the 〈◊〉 of that Nation to oppose it with zeale indignation and courage a woman Dux foemina 〈◊〉 leading the dance Whereupon they proclaimed them Rebels and Traytors and an Army speedily raised to enforce them to obedience the 〈◊〉 popish Clergy and Papists instigating the King to this warre and contributing very largely so that it might be called bellum Episcopale and Papale This caused the religious and valiant Scots to raise an Army in their owne defence and when the two Armies were ready for a bloody encounter God who is the Lord of Hosts and God of peace the Stickler and Umpire of both Armies did cast downe his Warder whereupon a friendly pacification ensued to the joy 〈◊〉 both Nations But the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 did mightily 〈◊〉 against it as a dishonorable disgracefull and dis-advantagious peace to King and Kingdome caused the King to break his promise and to renew the warre imitating Julian the Cardinall who 〈◊〉 Ladislaus King of Hungarie to breake the 〈◊〉 with Amurath the Turkish Ottaman fought a battell with that Emperour and lost his Army and life for both the 〈◊〉 King and that Popish Legat Jnlian were slaine The King called a Parliament to have supplies towards the maintainance of that warre which by the jealousies and feares of the Arch-bishop and such 〈◊〉 was dissolved to the amazement and griefe of the Subjects but God who turneth all to the good of his children turned that dissolution to the benefit and safety of the Kingdome so that England might say with Themistocles My children we had been undone if we had not 〈◊〉 undone For had that Parliament continued it had in all appearance afforded twelve Subsidies which would have fomented that unnaturall warre and in 〈◊〉 would have made a 〈◊〉 quarrell though otherwise then the Parliament did intend And that Parliament in all likelihood would have been contented with a superficiall reformation of the Service-book of prayers of the Civill and Commission Court of the exorbitancy of Bishops of the irregularity of the Star-Chamber c. as Luther at the beginning intended onely to cry downe the base sale of indulgences and 〈◊〉 of pardons and goe noe farther Now the Scots seeing the precedent Parliament 〈◊〉 the Kings eare stopped he could he would not heare any Petition from them entred this Kingdome with a strong Army as farre as Newcastle not with a sword and trowall but with a sword and a Petition not pressing on the Army though having opportunity and advantage publishing their Declaration and sending their Petition to his Majesty for justice in their innocent cause against their violent enemies The King whose heart was in the hand of God as the Rivers of water to turne it which way he pleased embraceth and entertaineth good counsell at York where a Treaty was agreed and a cessation of arms and a 〈◊〉 called which may be named a healing Parliament a Parliament which worketh wonders In this Parliament the Archbishop of Canterbury was impeached of high Treason and sent to the Tower to whom might be said that which was spoken to Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester coopt up in the Tower in King Edward the sixth his dayes by the religious Dutchesse of Suffocke It is merry with Lambs when the Wolfe is shut 〈◊〉 The Archbishop had a long time to repent had his grace had the grace to doe it he was not like Sir Thomas Palmer who on the 〈◊〉 on Tower-hill where he suffered in Queene Maries dayes thanked God that he had caused him to learne more in one little darke corner of that Tower then ever he learned by any travell The Archbishop did not confesse his sinne as Achan who troubled all Israel did to 〈◊〉 and gave glory to God he was according to his 〈◊〉 beheaded the axe making a divorce betweene his head and body 〈◊〉 and by the just judgement of God who hath occasioned a divoce betweene the King the head and his faithfull Subjects the body A yong Martyr at the stake 〈◊〉 and said 〈◊〉 of God shine upon me and immediately it shone out of a darke cloud at the 〈◊〉 of this yong 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 was constrained to looke another way but here immediately after the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 and death of this old Impostor and Traytor the 〈◊〉 did shine the curtaine of the clouds drawne open and the Sonne of God the Saviour of the world seemed to be pleased with that act of justice but God's justice on offenders goes nor alwayes in the 〈◊〉 path nor the same pace sometimes the Guest in the Inne goes quietly to bed before the reckoning for his supper is brought to him to discharge others pay it before they goe to bed 〈◊〉 who dyed exemplary a strange death his paines saith Austin encreaseth in hell according as his 〈◊〉 encreased on earth sed nolo 〈◊〉 esse we will not enter into Gods private Closet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or dive into his Privy Counsell Lackeys that hold their Masten horses before the Pallace of justice are not to dispute of the causes and sentences of judgement Austin saith Misericordia Dei inter pontem 〈◊〉 My friend judge not me I judge not thee betwixt the stirrop and the ground 〈◊〉 I askt 〈◊〉 I found So might the Arch-bishop find 〈◊〉 the Axe and the Block Howsoever he a tumbling and a stumbling block is taken out of the way and removed from troubling the State and the Church and we leave him to his Lord Master and Judge before whom he stands or fals April 15. 1645. Imprimatur JAMES CRANFORD FINIS Errata Page 6 line 9 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 l. 16 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 11 l. 13 Major Bourmouth r. Major and Bourmouth p. 15 l. 27 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 29 l. 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Majesty p. 29 l. 23 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 32l 15 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 36 l. 38 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 p. 39 l. 21 seizing r. 〈◊〉 p. 40 l. 27. 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 E. Registro curiae com Archiepiscopaliscantuar Extract