he saied onely by warrant of mans authoritie and no grownde in godds worde for the same and had also a longe tyme verye superstitiously in the masse byn wickedly abused But yff he might not be suffred to minister the Sacraments accordinge to his conscience he then requested that some other might minister the Sacraments and he woulde onely preache Iff nether coulde be admitted be besought them that he might be discharged But to that the congregation woulde in no wise consente Whiles these things were thus in handlinge came maister Leuer before elected who assemblinge the congregation requested that he might withe their consentes appointe suche an order as shulde be bothe Godly withowt respecte off the Booke off Geneua or anye other requestinge farther that for so muche as that office was off so great importaunce aÌ„d that he had not byn in the like before that he might betweene that and Easter haue a triall off them and they off him and so at the ende off that terme either take or refuse whiche time off triall as it was willingly graunted him so when they vnderstoode that the order whiche he woulde place and vse was not altogether suche as was fit for a right reformed churche they woulde in nowise yelde to the same Knox whittingham and others perceyuinge that theis beginnings woulde growe to some what yff it were not staid in time drewe forthe a platt off the whole booke off England into the lattin tonge sendinge the same to maister Caluin off Geneua and requestinge his iudgement therin and shewinge him that some off their countrie men went abowte to force them to the same and woulde admit no other sayinge that it was an order moste absolute and that yff euer they came in to their countrie they woulde do their beste to establishe it againe Nowe folowethe the description A description off the Liturgie or booke off seruice that is vsed in Englande FIrste off all morninge praier offreth it selff The minister hauinge put on a white garment whiche they call a surplesse beginninge withe some sentence off holie scripture as for example â–ª yff we shall saie that we haue no sinne we deceyue oure selues c. or some suche of like sorte Then he takethe in harde the exhortat on whiche stirreth vp to a confession off synnes whiche the minister pronounceth with a loude voice the people sainge after him To this is added an absolution and when these thinges are done he rehersethe the lordes praier and afterward lorde open thow my lyppes and my mouthe shall shewe forth thy praise O god be redie to be my helpe c. Then come and let vs singe vnto th Lorde c. By and by also there folowe 3. Psalmes together at th ende off euery one Then foloweth the first lesson whiche conteinethe a whole chapiâ—er off the olde Testament After this lesson they saie or singe we praise â—he lorde or Blessed be the Lorde c. Then an other lesson owte off the Newe testamente vnlesse peraduenture the solemnization off some highe feast haue other set and apointed lessons Nowe in cathedrall churches they vtter their lessons in plaine songe and theÌ„ afterwards is Benedictus added This booke warnethe that they keepe this order through owte the whole yere Afterwards the crede is pronounced by the Minister all the people in the meane tyme staÌ„ding vp Afterwards fallinge downe vppon their knees the Minister saithe The Lorde be with yow The answere And with thy spirite Then Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Christe haue mercy vppon vs Lorde haue mercy vppon vs c. our father c. pronounced owte alowde off all with all boldnesse Then the Minister when he standeth vpp saithe o lorde shewe vs thy mercy The answere and geue vnto vs thy sauinge helthe O Lorde saue the king In the day wherin we shall call vppon thee Iuduâ— thy Ministers withe righteousnes And make thy chosen people ioyfull O Lorde saue thy people And blesse thyne inheritaunce Geue peace in our tyme o Lorde c. At lenghtâ— Collects are had â—n place off a conclusion the firste for the daie the seconde for peace the laste is for the obteininge off Grace Nowe the eueninge praiers are saide 〈◊〉 manner as the other are sauinge that after the firste lessen foloweth my soule doth magnifie the lorde After the 2. lessen Now Lorde c. and in steed off that collect God whiche arte the Author off peace is vsed o God from whom all holie desiers c. besides there is caution added that all Ministers shall exercise them selues continually aswell in morninge praiers as eueninge praiers except perhapp by studie in dyuinitie or some other busynes they be greatly and necessarely let or hindred· Besides vppon euery Sabothe daie wensdaie and fridaie there is yet in vse certeine suffrages deuised off Pope Gregory whiche beginnethe after this manner O God the father off heauen haue mercy vppon vs miserable synners O God the sonne redemer off the worlde c. onely leauinge owte the inuocation off saincts otherwise we vse a certaine coniuringe off god By the misterie off his incarnation by his holy natiuitie and circumcision by his haptisme fastinge and temptation by his agonie and bloudie sweate c. yea it comprehendethe in plaine wordes a praier to be deliuered from suddain deathe the people answeringe to the ende off euery clause either spare vs good lorde or ells Good Lorde deliuer vs or we beseche thee to heare vs Good Lorde O Lambe off God that taketh awaie the sinnes off the worlde is thrise repeated Then Lorde haue mercy vpon vs thrise and then the Lords praier with this praier also o Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes to the same adioined passinge ouer some things least we shulde seeme to syfte all those drosses which remaine still amonge vs. Nowe the manner off the supper is thus The nomber off three at the leaste is counted a fitt nomber to communicate and yet it is permitted the pestilence or some other common siknes beinge amonge the people the Minister alone maie communicate withe the sicke man in his house First therfore the Minister muste be prepared after this manner in a whit lynnin garmente as in sayinge the other seruice he is apointed and muste stande at the Northeside off the Table Then is had the Lords praier after the custome then he reciteth the collect and after folowe in order the ten commaundements but so notwithstanding that euery one off the people maye answere lorde haue mercy vpon vs and inclyne oure hartes to keepe this lawe After the rehersall off the commandements the collect off the daie as it is called and an other for the kinge is had By and by the Epistle and Gospell folowethe to witt suche as the callender apointethe for that daie And there in this place there is a note that euerie holy daye hathe his collect Epistle and Gospell whiche fill 73. great leaues off the booke â— when the reste fill scarse fiftie For all holy daies
as tyme and occasion shall serue Concerninge the Article off contribution when the treasure off the churche faileth it perteineth to the ministers and Deacons to trauell by the waie off exhortation with the riche to helpe in that nede withowte anie further compulsion Concerninge the Article off sendinge off common letters for the relieff off the congregation That there be no mention made off anye parte theroff in the booke off discipline but that the ministerie with all possible secrecie vse such pollicies and means as maie beste serue to the relieff and mainteinance off the congregation Concerninge the Article off makinge off lawes that they be made by the ministerie and bodie off the congregation beinge called together for that purpose And iff the ministerie or anie off them refuse to be present beinge by the bodie off the congregation required therunto whithowte iuste cause by them or him alleaged that then after a dewe time geuen for the hearinge off the cause yff they bringe not in good reason and iuste cause off suche refusall Then to be depriued by the same from their or his ministerie and newe to be chosen Concerninge the article off the election off Ministers That a scrutenie be had euerie yere at the tyme off election for the examination off the Ministers off the worde wherin shal be by the appointmente off the congregation six or eight graue and wise men whiche shall heare what faults be alleadged against the same Minister And yff the faults be waightie and worthie off open correction to signifie the same to thâ— congregation that the offenders or offender maie be corrected or depriued accordingly Yff the offences be lesser then that they ought to be published then the saide ministers or minister offendinge to be monished off his faulte accordinge to the discretion off the Scrutiners Concerninge the Article off Testamentes That no man by order in this congregation shall be forced to Register his Testamente but that their be eight or 10. graue wise substantiall and honeste men chosen by the congregation owte off whiche nomber the Testator shall haue his choise or yff he omit the thinge his executours shall haue the choise to take 2. off the saied 8. or 10. besides suche as are made wittnesses whom the executers withâ—in a monethe after the death off the Testator shall make priuie to the Testamente and that the same two beinge required therunto shall faithfully declare vnto euery partie comprehended in the will so muche off the will as shall particulerly appertaine to euery off them and shall keepe secrete all the reste off the will or Testament as they shall proteste before God and the congregation vppon there consciences at the time off their election And nowe in case it shall seeme good vnto all your wisedomes as well off the Ministerie and bodie off the congregation off the one part as off the dissentinge brethern off the other part That we shall by oure mediation proceede anye further accordinge vnto this forme off reconciliation whiche is here described We doo hartely require yow that signifinge your mindes vnto vs with as conueniente spede as ye maie ye will also appoint owte on either parte 2. Discreet and sober persons louers off peace and concorde whiche by conference with other two off vs whom we shall appointe may drawe theis Articles afore written into such a forme as they maie be conueniently anexed to the reste off your Discipline The 29. September 1557. Your lovinge bâ—ethern and countrie Thomas VVrothe Frances Knollys Roger Parker Iohn Abell Henry Knollys Iohn Browne Fran. willforde Iohn Turner Edwin Sandes Thomas Eaton Ricard Springham The answere off the churche to this offre or the effect off the same We cannot allowe this waie off reconciliation offred to oure churche by oure countrie men for as muche as we shulde condemne oure selues as euell doers and oure doinges vngodly and vnreasonable but we are assured we haue not done in oure discipline anie thinge contrary to goddes worde and good reason The last off Septemb. Dauid VVhithead Iohn Hales Thomas Sorby Iohn Pedder Vhomas Ashley Henry Parry Richard Beesley Robart Crowley Thomas wattes Richard Rogers VVilliam Rawlinges Robart Beste Richart Luddington Edmond Haries The copie off the letters off request sentfoorth for relieff off the poore by Maister Sutton 25. Iuly 1557. To all them that beare an vnfayned Reuerence and zeele vnto the eternall Testament off Iesus Christe ioyned withe the charitable and syncere bowells off mercie towardes the poore Grace Mercie and Peace from God the Father by the same oure Lorde Iesus Christe his sonne the common and onely Sauiour off the worlde IT is not like that the brute of the coÌ„trouersie which hathe nowe at the ende off six monethes continued in this Enshe churche at Franckford is vnknoweÌ„ to strangers it is more like that so manie beinge priuie therto it is caried and spread to farre abroad and moste like by the fruites springinge theroff that it hath byn vntruly reported by the willfull authors and stubburne mainteiners off it not onely to the infamie reproche and discredit off the bodie off this churche and to the intent to stopp all relieff from the poore members off the same but also that their vncharitable and leude behauiours shulde not come to light For it is well knowen that diuerse charitable men albeit their persons and names be neither knowen nor desired to be knowen were before the beginninge off this controuersie verie liberall in sendinge their charitie to the vse off this whole congregation vniuersally and some were beneficiall to sundrie members off the same particulerlie whiche sithe that time to oure knowledge they haue left vndone vtterlie We the Ministers off the churche hopinge that theis men the authors and mainteners off this controuersie would in time haue knowen their faults and made satisfaction to the churche as it becomethe christen men to doo did not onelie with pacience suffer their slaunderous talke and vnquiet demenour but also beare with their vniuste dealinge and as much as in vs laye studied to couer their faultie doinges Neuertheles seinge no likelyhood off their amendment but moste manifeste proffes off their malice this poore congregation rather dailie encreasinge then in anie parte abatinge and thereby the pouertie theroff continually augmentinge we thought it oure bownden dewtie in conscience no longer to hide the matter but thus off necessitie constrained to disclose it so as seinge they will not be as they ought to be they maie at leaste be knowen as they be And thus we doo not for anie malice that we beare to anye mannes person as god the sercher off all hartes knoweth but that the truth beinge knowen such good people as through vntrue reporte haue byn perswaded to withdrawe their good mindes and fauor from this poore congregation might vnderstande that withowte iuste cause they haue so longe done it and hereafter be the more willinge to renewe their charitie in the relieuinge off this poore church off Christe
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
came to passe not many daies after that the lorde began to shewe mercy vnto Englande in remouinge Queene Mary be deathe and placinge the queens maiestie that nowe is whom god longe preserue in the seate the newes wherof as it was ioyfull to all suche as were in exile So it appeared that the churche off Geneua was not behinde the reste who after that they had geuen to god hartie thankes for his great goodnes consulted amonge themselues and concluded that for so muche as there had byn iarres betwene them and other churches abowt the Booke off common praier and ceremonies it was now expedient and necessary not onely that vnfained reconciliation shulde be betwene them but also that they might so ioine together in matters off religion and Ceremonies that no Papist or other enemie shuld take holde or aduantage by a farther dissention in their owne countrie whiche might arise in time to come yff it were not in time foreseen and preuented To this ende was William kethe one off the congregation chosen to do this message to them off Arrowe Basill Strasbrough Wormes Franckford c. And to them off Arrowe and Francford this letter was wrytten which folowith and subscribed by the ministerie in the name off the whole congregation The Copie off the letter written the 15. off December The Father of mercies and god of all coÌ„solation confirme and increase yow in the loue off his sonne Iesus Christ that beinge in the conduite off the lion off the tribe off Iuda ye maie be victorious against Sathan and Antechriste to the ouerthrowinge off Papistrie and errour and establishinge of Christes glorious kingdome AFter that we hearde dearely beloued of the ioiful tidingâ— off Gods fauoure and grace restored vnto vs by the preferment off the moste verteous and gratious Queene Elizabethe We lyfted vp our hartes and voices to oure heauenly father who hathe not onely by his dewe prouidence norished vs in oure banishement preserued vs and as it were caried vs in his winges but also harde oure praiers graunted our requestes pitied oure countrie and restored his worde So that the greatnes off this maruelous benefit ouercomethe oure Iudgements and thoughts howe to be able worthely to receaue it and to geue thankes for the same And when we had withe great comforte wayed the matter to the inteÌ„t that we might at the leaste shewe our selues mindefull off this most wonderfull and vndeserued grace we thought amonge other thinges howe we might beste serue to godes glory in this worke and Vocation off fartheringe the gospell off our sauiour Iesus Christe And bicause all impedimentes and cauillacions off aduersaries might be remoued it seemed good to haue your godly counsell and brotherly conference herein whiche we desier to lerne by this bearer our louinge brother kethe that we might all ioyne hartes and handes together in this great worke wherin no dowte we shall finde many aduersaries and staies Yet iff we whose suffraunce and persecutions are certeine signes off oure sounde doctrine holde faste together it is most certeine that the enemies shall haue lesse power offences shall sooner be taken awaie and religion best proceade and florishe For what can the papiste wishe more then that we shulde dissent one from an other and in steed off preachinge Iesus Christe and profitable doctrine to contende one againste an other either for superfluous Ceremonies or other like trifles froÌ„ the whiche god off his mercy hathe deliuered vs Therfore beare brethern we beseche yow as we dowtâ— not but your godly iudgements will think it so beste that what so euer offence hathe byn heretofore either taken or geuen it maie so cease and be forgotten that hereafter god laie it not to oure charges yff thereby his blessed worde shulde be any thinge hindred And as we for oure partes freely remitt all offences and most intirely imbrace yow oure deare brethern So we beseche yow in the lorde that vnfainedly yow will do the like on your behalff wheroff albeit we assure oure selues as bothe by â–ª good experience we haue proued and also haue receaued by your letters yet â— to cut off all occasions from Papistes and other cauillors we thought it beste to renewe the same amitie and to confirme it by theis oure letters Moste earnestly desiringe yow that we maie altogether teache and practise that true knowledge off Goddes worde whiche we haue lerned in this oure banishment and by goddes mercifull prouidence seene in the beste reformed churches That consideringe oure negligence in times paste and goddes punishemente for the same we maie with zeele and diligence endeauour to recoÌ„pence it that god in all oure doinges maie be glorified oure consciences discharged and the members off Iesus Christ releued and comforted The whiche thinge the lorde god who hathe mercifully visited and restored vs graunt and performe To whom be all honour praise and glory for euer and euer Your lovinge frinds and in the name of vvhole churche Christopher Goodman Miles Couerdale Iohn Knox Iohn Bodliegh VVilliam VVilliams Anthony Gilby Frances VVithers VVilliam Fuller Iohn Pullain VVilliam Bevoyes VVilliam VVhiâ—tingham The Answere returned from Franck. by W. Kethe The grace off god and the assistaunce off the holy goste lighten and strengthen yow to the vnderstanding and constant reteining of his truthe to the fartheraunce off his honor and glorie and to the edifinge and maintenance off his churche in Christe Iesu oure lorde DEarely beloued as your letters were moste welcome vnto vs bothe for that ye reioice at the prefermeÌ„t off our godly queene and alâ—o thaâ— yâ— studie howe to promote the glorie off god So are wâ— right sory that they came not afore the departure off suche as ye seeke a charitable reconciliatioÌ„ with all For where as ye require that all suche offences as haue byn gyuen and taken betwene yow and vs maie be forgotten hereafter there be not here paste foure left which were then present when ye dwelt here and not one off the lerned â— sorte sauinge M. Beesley Yet we dowte not but as they promised in their former letters to forget all displeasures afore conceaued so they will performe the same and esteeme yow as their brethern And for oure partes as we haue had no coÌ„tention with yow at all afore time so we purpos not as we trust there shall be no cause to entre into contention with yow hereafter For ceremonies to coÌ„tende where it shall lye neither in your hands or oures to appoint what they shall be but in suche mennes wisedomes as shall be appointed to the dâ—uising off the same and whiche shall be receyued by coÌ„mon consent off the parliament it shal be to small purpos But we truste that bothe true religion shall be restored and that we shall not be burthened with vnprofitable ceremonies And therfore as we purpos to submit oure selues to such orders as shall be established by authoritie beinge not of themselues wicked so we would wishe yow willingly to do the same
For where as all the reformed churches differ amoÌ„ge them selues in diuers ceremonies and yet agree in the vnitie of doctrine we se no in conuenience if we vse some ceremonies diuers from them so that we agree in the chief points of oure religioÌ„ â–ª notwithstandinge if anie shal be intruded that shal be offensiue we vpon iuste conference and deliberation vpon the same at oure meetinge with yow in Englande whiche we truste by gods grace will be shortly wil brotherly ioine with yow to be sewters for the reformatioÌ„ and abolishinge of the same In the meane season let vs with one harte and minde cal to the almightie god that off his infinit mercie he will finishe and establishe that worke that he hathe begon in oure countrie and that we maie all louingly consent together in the earnest settinge foorthe off his truthe that god maie be knowen and exalted and his church perfectly builded vp throwgh Christe our lorde From Franckford this 3. off Ianuarie 1559. Your lovinge frinds in the name off the rest off the churche Iames Pilkâ—ngton Iohn Mullings Henry Carowe Edmond Isaac Iohn Browne Henry Knolls Frances VVilford Alexander nowell Richard Beesley Iohn Graye Christopher Brickbate An Answer brought from the congregation off Arrow by W. Kethe The Father off mercies and God off all consolation confirme increase and continewe yow allwaie in the loue off his sonne Iesus Christe our lorde PRaised be God through oure lorde Iesus Christe whiche pulled downe marie that did persecute and hathe set vpp the godly lady Elizabeth Queene off Englande to restore and maintaine there the pure preachinge off his word And for that it hathe pleased god to moue your good hartes for the furtherance off the same with godly zeele and charitable desier by your letters to shewe vnto vs your aduise and purpos and also to require oures to be returned and sent vnto yow by oure brother Kethe We doo with moste hartie thanks vnfainedly afore god certifie yow that to your counsell and conference with vs we do consent willingly concerninge your most godly requeste for that we acknowledge that the same shall be to the aduauncement off his glorie and quietnes off his churche Also we desier yow that as ofte as we maie finde hereafter anie occasion to consulte and conferre by worde or writinge that then bothe yow and we so take and seeke the same as maie be moste to our vnitie in mindes and diligence to do good in the lordes worke And farthermore for the forgettinge and puttinge awaie all occasions off offences we do likewise consente vnto your good ensample and requeste And so finallye for the preachinge or professinge off sincere doctrine so as we haue seene and lerned in the beste reformed churches we do gladly heare your aduise to be so agreable to oure purpos that we beseche yow to praie with vs that yow and all we together that be faithfull maie continewe proceade and prosper in godly zeele charitable concorde and earnest diligence to honor and serue god and to comforte and edifie his elect all times and in euery place and especially nowe in England O lord not vnto vs but vnto they name be honor and praise for euer From Arrowe this 16. off Ian. 1559. Your louinge frinds off the ministery in the in the name and by the consent of the vvhole church Thomas Leauer Robart Pownall Richard Laughorne Thomas Turpin NOwe when as W. Kethe was returned to Geneua with answer from the congregations and companies that were dispersed in sundry places off Germany and Heluetia the congregation after that they had rendred their humble thankes to the magistrates for their great goodnes towards them prepared themselues to depart sauinge certeine whiche remained behinde the reste to witt to finishe the bible and the psalmes bothe in meeter and prose whiche were already begon at the charges off suche as were off most habilitie in that congregation And with what successe those workes were finished especially the Bible I must leaue it to the Iudgementes off the godly lerned who shulde best Iudge off the same But yff that Bible be suche as no enemie off god coulde iustly finde faulte with then maie men maruell that suche a worke beinge so profitable shulde finde so small fauor as not to be printed againe Yff it be not faithfully translated then let it still finde as litle fauour as it dothe bicause off the inconueniences that a false translation bringes with it The Ministers off Geneua in an Epliste whiche they wrote before the newe Testament haue theis wordes There is nothinge more requisite to attaine the right and absolute knowledge off the doctrine off saluation wherby to resist all herisie and falshod then to haue the texte off the Scriptures faithfully and truly translated the consideration wheroff moued them with one assent as they saie in that Epistle to requeste 2. off their brethern to witt Caluin and Beza efsonnes to peruse the same notwithstandinge their former trauells Beza also in his Epistle to the prince off condy and nobles of France hathe these wordes Seinge then all theis controuersies muste be discussed by Goddes worde I suppose that this thinge ought chiefly to be prouided for that seinge all caÌ„not haue the knowledge to vnderstand the worde off God in theis peculiar languages the Hebrue and the greek whiche were to be wished that there shulde be some true and apte translation of the olde and newe testameÌ„te made the whiche diuers haue already labored to bringe to passe but yet no man hathe hitherto sufficiently performed it For the olde translation whose so euer it is although it ought not to be condemned yet is it founde bothe obscure vnperfect and superfluous and also false in many places to speake nothinge off an infinite varietie off the copies The whiche texte therfore many lerned and godly men haue labored to amende but not with like successe And yet howe necessary a thinge this is who so euer shall reade those moste lerned wryters off the gretians and shall compare their interpretations whiche are manie times farr from the purpos with the Hebrue veritie he shall confesse it with great sorowe And the same euill was not onely hurtefull amonge the latten wriâ—â—rs but also the ignorance off the greeke tonge wherwitâ— many off them were troubled whiles they did depend off the common translation they oftimes seeke a knott in a rushe accordinge to the olde prouerbe and fell into moste fowle errors This cause therfore hathe moued me to compare moste diligently the diuersitie off copies and to waie the sentences and Iudgementes off the moste parte off the lerned men specially off them that this age hathe brought foorthe skillfull in the languages who are moo in nomber dowteles and better lerned then the churche hath had sithens the time of the Apostles and so ease them some what that desier a more pure interpretation And that it might be done with more profit I haue allso added annotations in the whiche