and printed by authoritie 3 The testimonie of the principall Diuines in Europe 4 The vntoward ruling of the Bb. 5 And the apparant vtilitie by gouerning Elders doe lye as offensiue stumbling blockes in their way To the ende that these men may haue more mercifull acceptation and may not be subiect and lie open to the bloudie desires of their aduersaries whereof no doubt some bee hollowe harted papistes and some without God in this worlde who neither regarde Religion Prince Bishop or Countrie but with their own ease and aduantage I haue vnder the fauour of better iudgement taken in hande to pleade not for any landes or tenementes but for the liues of your Maiesties most loyall subiectes and Gods faithfull seruauntes for God may haue great interest in them though they erre in Discipline whom some do drawe within the statute of Newes because they doe write for Reformation The wordes of the statute Be these If anie shall aduisedly and with a malicious intent deuise vvrite c. anie manner of booke writing c. containing false seditious and slaunderous matter to the diffamation of the Queenes Maiestie that nowe is or to the incouraging stirring or mouing of rebellion or insurrection within this Realme hee shall suffer and forfait as a felâ—n From this law it is thus reasoned VVhosoeuer write bookes to the diffamation of her Maiestie and to raise rebellion doe offende against this Statute and are felons They that write for Reformation make bookes to diffame the Queene and raise rebellion Therefore the writers for Reformation offende against this statute and are felons They proue the first parte of the Minor in this mâ—ner They that diffame the Bb. who bee members of hâ—r Maiesties body politike and vphelde by hir lawes doe diffame the Queene They that write for Reformation diffame the Bb. c. Touching the second point in the Minor the followers of the Bishops would proue that the seekers of Reformation doe write to stirre and moue Rebellion First by argument drawnâ— from the generall scope of their writings Secondly by particular supposed mutinous and rebellius sentences scattered in the bookes written in defence of Reformation Their generall argument is to this effect They that write to worke discontentment in the mindes of the subiects against the gouernement receiued doe write to mooue a rebellion For Discontentment is the mother of Rebellion The Seek of Reformation write to worke a discontentment in the mindes of the subiectes against the gouernment receiued Therefore they write to moue a Rebellion The supposed mutinous speaches which they gather out of the bookes which speake for Reformation are these D. Banc. sayeth that Martin threatneth Fists Others obiect a place in Martin Senior where hee mentioneth a hundred thousande handes and saith That these so manie togither would strâ—ke a great stroke D. Cosins citeth one Fran. Iunius pag. 28. who holdeth That people may resist the Princes that hinder the Presbyteries And that in the seconde Admonition pag. 29. it is sayd That many thousandes in Englande desire that platforme and that greate troubles wil come of it if they be withstoode in their deuises c. If I were perswaded that any seeker of ReformatioÌ„ did intende either to diffame hir Maiestie or to raise rebellion I am so farre from approuing his fact or writing in his defence that I adiudge him rather to be punished as a traytor then a felon But because I assure my selfe that they bee guiltlesse of these crimes in tender regarde of innocencie and of hir Maiesties most godly lawes which ought not to bee peruerted I haue at tempted to aunswere the quarelles of their aduersaries in this behalfe Saluo semper meliore iudicio Which clause I will haue to runne and reache from the beginninge to the midsts from the midsts to the endâ— of all this treatise For answere to the first point in the argument I doe make good that Admit the Seek of Reformation doe diffame the Bb. who bee members of her Maiesties bodie politike and vphelde by hir lawes yet they doe not diffame the Queene as this statute intendeth In my vnderstanding there be two generall Bodies politike in this lande The one the Bodie politike of the Realme the other The Bodie politike of hir Maiestie The bodie politike of the Realme is All the people in the common wealth contracted and distinguished into the Three states of the Parliament The first is the Queenes Maiestie The second The Lordes The thirde The Commons The Bb. be not one of the Three states though Matthewe Sutcliffe shoulde affirme it twenty times vnlesse he will turne out either the Queene the Lords or the Commons and assigne their place to the Bishops Although the Bb. since the time of H. 11. Haue beene present in the Kings Courtes with other Barons till the matter came to the losse of limme or life for at such time by the lawes they are to auoyde the place And although they are de facto intituled as Authours of our Statutes yet I holde that this is onelie of grace and fauour and de iure or by necessarie right For our Princes as was conuenient at the assembly of their Parliamentes haue vsed to call the Bb. so long as they vvere taken for godly and learned into their consultations that did concerne the state of the Church but yet they haue not so inthralled themselues to the aduise and assent of Bb. as if no statute might be of force without them as the Bishops doe nowe to boldelie insinuate For many lawes haue bin made and do yet stande in force the Bb. being absent or vtterly refusing to assent vnto them as is expresly proued and shewed out of the statutes and Parliament rolles by Maister Iewell Maister Nâ—well Maister Fox Maister Bilson and Maister Lambert a learned lawier of Lincolns Inne Wherefore seeing the Bb. according to their dignities bee none of the three states of the Parliament or of the Bodie politike of the Realme no otherwise then common subiects be in which respect they are not diffamed it can not be taken that in this sence they bee members of hir Maiesties Body politike and therefore the diffaming of them doeth no more touch the Queene then the diffamation of a common subiect whicâ— fault is otherwise preuented then by the punishment due to felons The generalâ— Bodie politike of hir Maiestie is as I conceiue all the Officers and Magistrates of this lande who deriue all their authoritie either mediatelie or immediatelie from the Queene In which regarde the Bb. be members of hir bodie politike drawing from hir Highnes their ciuill authoritie and lordship For their ecclesiasticall authoritie hath bene heretofore deduced from hir Maiestie but I see that of late they begin to claime it from God as the Queene doeth hir Crowne But howsoeuer the Bishops claime their worldly state or spiritual primacie the Seek of Reformation doe mainteine that their iurisdiction is
her Maiestie that nowe is There is not one pricke pointing at the Queenes lawes or state of Bb. Therefore it is to be taken strictly of the Queene against whom the Seekers of Reformation haue not writen and by consequent haue not infringed this statute 5 Her maiesty is a body politike and hath members politike in fiction onely and in politicall imagination not in truth and verity In like imagination the lawe sayeth shee cannot doe wronge shee is alwaies of perfect age shee is not subiect to any passion shee can not bee imprisoned sicke or due Thinges in themselues vntrue Therefore he that diffameth her members politike doeth diffame her maiesty only in fiction that is in plaine english not at all 6 If they that write against the state of Bb. diffame her maiesty that vpholdeth it Then doe they that call the gouernement by Elders antichristian a popedome c. diffame the Queene also For hir maiesty hath authorized or at the least openly and notoriously tollerated the gouernement by Elders in forraine Churches that haue fled for succour into Her Dominions and haue bene admitted to vse the gouernement by Elders euen as our fugitiues in Queene Maries time founde like liberty and fauour in strange nations 7 If they that diffame the Queenes members politike diffame the Queene then they that take awaye the life of her members politike commit treason against the Queene The same reason caeteris paribus maketh the same lawe But euery puisne knoweth it is no treason to kill the Bb. though it bee worthily treason to attempt any hurt to her Highnesse Therefore the diffamation of the Bb. is no diffamation of the Queene 8 All men be lyers Churches Vniuersal Councells Parliamentes and lawes of all nations doe controll one another Therefore it is no diffamation to her Maiesty if men ascribe errour in some of their lawes seeing it is incident to all men to erre in some thinges Though Princes be called Gods yet as they die so doe they erre like other men Homines sunt mendaces non angels Men be lyers they bee not Angels sayeth Iustice Shelley 9 If you doe offer violence to the most base subiect in this Realme you doe periudice the Crowne and dignitie of our Soueraine Lady the Queene yet if you diâ—fame them it is no diffamation of the Queene the murthering of them is onelie felony though by estimation of lawe their life doeth more neerely touch the Crowne then can be shewed for the state of Bishops 10 If the diffaming of the Bishops and Queene be al one punishable by one lawe and one penaltie then the lawes defende the name and credite of a subiect with as great care as the name of the Queene Which were absurde in the law and a presuÌ„ptuous challenge in any subiect that doeth not represent the person of the Queene 11 If the writers against the gouernement of Bishops doe maliciouslie diffame the Princes that bear it vp then do they malitiously diffame the Dukes of Saxonie and Hie Almaine that mainteine the state of Bishops as our Prelates say But it were madnes to say that they write aduisedly maliciously to diffame these Christian Germaine Princes who neuer harmed them much lesse our Soueraine Ladie the Queene by whom they haue receyued incomparable benefites and who hath beâ—e more beneficiall to the church then anie Prince or Poâ—â—ntate in all the worlde 12 They that write to diffame the Queene shoulde die as felons by this statute None that writeth against the gouernement of Bishops ought to dye as a felon For they can make that but an errour in Religion at the worst for writing is not materiall to make an error or not an error The papists sayeth D. Bilson bee not executed for making the Pope chiefe pastor ouer their soules or for giuing him an Episcopall authoritte ouer all the vvhole Church though that bee also a frantike heresie but for giuing him an externall dominion ouer this Realme and Prince This is it that the Execution of Iustice doeth dâ—ely respect vvhich is farre froÌ„ anie matter of faith and religion Thus you see hee mainteineth that the papists haue not nor doe not suster for religion or heresie but onely for treason The Christian Emperours Gratian Theodosius c. neuer punished heretikes with death but onelie blasphemers and idolaters They that holde errors shoulde not bee killed but corrected sayeth Augustine And in another place It neuer pleased any good man in the Catholike Church that heretikes much lesse such as erre in externall matters should be put to death Thus it hath bene reasoned by our Diuines against the but châ—ries of the papistes It is also helde in a booke published by authoritie to which D. Bilson had reference and translated into many languages that neuer anie papist did suffer death for his religioÌ„ since hir Highnes raigne Which thing the Papists in Wisbich castell can also witnesse Seeing then our state and Diuines haue sought to remoue from them the suspition of executing any papists for their religion though they defende infinite heresies much lesse should the Seekers of Reformation suffer death for their religion If the papistes ought to be executed but of â—auour and grace are spared much more curtesie shoulde bee shewed to Seekers of Reformation whose offences both to God the Prince and Realme are nothing matchable with the detestable heresies and practises of the traiterous papistes Verely all the Protestants in the world would wonder to hear that among Protestantes vnder a Protestant Prince gouernmeÌ„t any Protestant should haue his bloud shed for maintaining a doctrine of the Protestants imbraced by Christian Churches and confederate Princes round about 13 If the writers against Bishops do offend against this statute then the Speakers and Reporters against Bishops and the publishers or deliuerers from hande to hande of these book â—s or any popishe bookes against the receiued doctrine of Englande be likewise within this statute The Speakers and Reporters must either loose their eares or redeeme them with two hundred poundes or two hundred markes The publishers are adiudged and deemed felons But it were ridiculous to aâ—â—iâ—me that the law had any such intent For theÌ„ there should be more eareles people in Englande then in al Christendome besides and many thousandes of the Bishops friendes shoulde be in case of â—elons Which woulde comfort the writers when they sawe like iustice done to Speakers Reporters and publishers For the Poet truely sayeth Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris It cheereth vp a wofull heart When company doe beare a parte Seeing then that the Speakers Reporters and publishers of such matters against Bishops are not within this statute neither be the writers 14 That is onely lawe which the lawe-makers intende The Law-makers did not intende by this statute protect the Hierarchie For there was no bill preâ—erred in the
let him doe alwaies his best diligence If hee be so necessarie for the Court that in ciuâ—ll causes hee can not bee spared let him vse that vocation and spare the other It is not possible hee should doe both well It is a great ouersight in Princes thus to charge them with two burthens If this excellent and right famous man were now aliue and should say thus much hee might peraduenture if some had their will be martyred once againe Hee addeth further That the primitiue Church had no such Bb. as we They had such Bishops as did preach many godly Sermons in lesse time then our Bb. horses bee a bridling Their house was the schoole and treasure house of Gods Ministers If it bee so nowe let euery man iudge The Magistrates that suffer the abuâ—â— of these goods bee culâ—able of the fault If the fourth part of the Bishoprâ—ck remained to the Bishop it were sufficient The third part to schoolemaisters The second to the poore and souldiers were better bestowed If any be offended with me for this my saying hee loueth not his owne health nor Gods lawes nor mâ—ns Out of which I am alwaies readie to prooue the thing I haue saide to be true Further I speake of loue not hatred This was writen by this noble Maâ—tyr against the protestant Bb. vnder king Edward the sixt In these words he doeth not obscurely reproue the King and all Princes that mainteine the state of Bb. yet neither the Bb. nor Iudges in King Edwards time did adiudge this holy man to be a diffamer of princes His bookes touching this maâ—â—er haue bene publikely printed and solde and euen nowe are to be solde vnder hir maiestie Father Latimer another man of God and holy martyr was a Bishop in King Henry the eight his time but he gaue ouer his Bishoprike as also Shaxton Bishop of Salisburie did at the same time being diuested of his Bishoplike habite he skipped for â—oy as maister Foxe reporteth feeling his shoulders so light and being discharged as he said of so heauie a burthen Thus he speaketh of the Bishops in King Edwarde the sixts dayes in his sermon of the ploughe Ye that be Prelats looke well to your office for right Prelacâ—e is busie labouring and not Lording Thus much I say that since Lording and Loitering hath come vppe preaching hath come downe contrarie to the Apostles times They preached and Lorded not And nowe they Lorde and preache not They that bee Lordes will ill to ploughe It is no meete office for them If the ploughmen that nowe be vvere made Lordes they would cleane giue ouer ploughing and fall to Lording out right and let the ploughe stande By the loytering and lording of Prelates preaching and ploughing is cleane gone They are occupied some in the Kinges matters some are Embassadours some of the priuie Councell some to furnishe the Court some are Lordes of the Parliament some are Presidentes and Controllers of Minâ—es Well Well is this their duetie is this their office If the Apostles might not leaue preaching to be Deacons shall one leaue it for minting Heare my country Englande as Paul saâ—â—d in his first Epistle to the Corinths 6. chap. Is there vtterly among you no wise man to be arbitratours in matters of iudgement What none that can chuse between brother and brother c. Ad erubescentiam vestram dicâ— I speake to your shame So Englande I speake to thy shame Is there neuer a Noble man to bee a Lord Preâ—iaent but it must bee a Prelate Is there neuer a wise man in the Realme to bee a controller of the Mâ—nâ—e I speake it to your shame I speake it to your shame If there bee neâ—er a wise man make a Waterbearer a Tiâ—ker a Cobler a Slaue a Pagâ— controller of the Minte Make a meane Gentleman a Grome a Yeoman make a poore begger Lorde President This I speake not that I would haue it so but to your shame if there bee neuer a gentleman meete nor able to bee Lorde President It is a slaâ—â—der to the Noble men as though they lacked wisedome and learning to bee able for such office or else vvere men of no conscience or else vvere not meete for such offices A Prelate hath a charge and a cure otherwise and therefore hee cannot bee both a Lorde President and discharge his duetie too For a Presidentship requireth a vvhole man and a Bishop can not be two man Let the Priest preache and let the Noblâ— man handle temporall matters Then he proceedeth and telleth who is the most diligent Bb. in all England euen the Diuell who is alwaies in his Cure and Dioces keeping alwaies Residence He is no vnpreaching prelate Hee is no lordly loyâ—erer from his cure but a busie ploughman Therefore yee vnpreaching prelates learne of the Diuell to bee diligent in dooing of your office Learne of the Diuell if you will not learne of God nor good men For shame learne of the Diuell Ad erubescentiam vestram dico I speake it to your shame And in a Sermon before the King Though I say that I vvould wishe moe L. Presidents I meane not that I vvould haue Prelates Lorde Presidentes The office of a President ship is a ciuill office and it cannot bee that one man should discharge both offices well Thus Puritan-like wrote Father Latimer the famous martyr yet he vvas neuer esteemed a troubler of the state a Marprince and a diffamer of the King though in deede he was a Mar-bishop and Mar-prelate His Sermons containing this matter are publikelie to bee solde with authoritie testified in these wordes seene and allowed according to the order of the Queenes inâ—â—nctions And Matâ—hewa Sutcliffe saieth That bookes which passe with this approbatioÌ„ doe conteine nothing contrary to the State of this Realme Therefore it were straunge that the Seekers of Reformation should suffer as felons for writing against the ciuill offices of Bishops against their authority in the Parliamâ—nt in the councell and such like ciuill places seeing writings to that effect be seene solde and allowed as not preiudicall to our estate neither diffamatorie to her maiesty Maister Nowell in his Catechisme fully grounded on Gods worde and receyued and allowed by the church of England as the Bishops say and commaunded to be learned of ministers taught of all schoolemaisters doeth write thus of the Eldership If the Church were well ordered there should be in it a gouernement by chosen Elders or ecclesiasticall Magistrates such as was in the primitiue Church Shall men suffer as felons for such things as are fully grounden on Gods worde and receyued allowed and coÌ„maunded to be taught in the church and schooles of Englande The Lord forbid Doctor Rainolds the iewell of Englande publike professor of Diuinitie in Oxforde at the appointement and charges of the right vertuous and noble Earle of Essex did alleadge in open
sermon at Oxforde this testimony of Maister Nowell to proue that men by authoritie might speake in defence of gouernement by Elders To be short I haue shewed that my L. of Canterburie and the other Bb. That D. Coâ—â—ns and the aduertiser doe in writing reproue many things couÌ„tenanced by law as excommunication by lay Chauncellours Nonresidence Ignoraunt ministers the milde punishment of Adultery Subscription and such like and yet these men be not deemed indited conuict or attaint as diffamers of her maiesty and felons by this statute Such be our times that Iisdem de causis alij plectantur alij ne appellentur quidem Thus much may serue touching the accusation of diffaming of our Soueraine Ladie the Queenes most excelleÌ„t maiesty Now it remaineth to consider how iustly the writers for Reformation be charged with rebellion VVHereas the aduersaries to Reformation do take as a principle that whosoeuer writeth to worke a discâ—â—tentment in the mindes of the subiectes doe intende a rebellion That is a most vntrewe assertion and sophistical paralogisme For although Rebellion doth grow of Discontentement yet all discontentement doth not bring forth rebellion or if the writinge against the state of Bishops shoulde moue some men to discontentment who being discontented should stirre vp rebellioÌ„ yet it doeth not followe that the writers against the Bb. were rebels as this stat doeth intende For the writers must write Aduisedlie and of purpose to stirre rebellion So that if a man write in humble loyall and duetiful manner hauing no purpose and intent to worke rebellion though rebellion should here of insue yet could not such a writer without great iniustice be drawn within this statute For he can not be a felon that hath not a felonious intent and purpose Christ by his preaching had wrought such a dislike of the Priests and their proceedinges in the mindes of his Disciples that one of theÌ„ in defence of his Maister did strike of the eare of Marchus a seruant of purseuant of the high priestes yet the Priestes did not charge Christ with this outrage of his Disciple For albeit Christ did speake against the Rulers Priests in his time drawing after him many dislikers of that present state yet Christ neuer meant to woorke in mens mindes a discontentement which should bring forth mutinies or rebellion but amendement and reformation In like manner these Seek of Reformation haue descried manie supposed abuses in the church gouuernement they beare vs in hande that there is another forme of Ruling the church more agreeable to the Scriptures then this which we haue receyued They write to lay open the faultes of the one the necessitie and profit of the other that the one beeing remoued by lawful authoâ—itie the other by like authoritie might be entertained For considering that hir Maiestie and Lordes without the Commons can not by the order of our state reforme the abuses imperfections of the laws it is requisite that the Commons of this land should be acquainted with the wants both of the Church and common wealth For euery man and woman of this Realme is partie and priuie to all Actes of Parliament Their assent is needefull to the making of euery lawe In their name and as the deputies the Knightes Burgesses are present and haue voices in the Parliament Nowe howe shoulde the commons their Knightes and Burgesses conceyue what is amisâ—e in the Lawes and state but by publike writings for that purpose That hauing deepelie weighed and pondered what and how thinges should be reformed they might be able in time of Parliament after the lawfull and laudable custome of this Realme to take order for them according to knowledge A few daies or weekes are are not sufficient throughly to examine what may bee said what should be done in these matters Wherefore if these Seekers of Reformation should by publike writinge in duetifull and Christian sorte communicate to hir Maiestie the Lordes and commons of this Realme the enormities of the state to the ende that they in their Parliamentes should reforme the same though some of the Commons should take occasion herevpon desperately and vndutifullie to rebell yet the Seekers of Reformation coulde not iustly be condemned as aduised and malitious mouers of rebellion Much lesse can their writinges which haue as yet neuer effected nor affected rebellion be deemed rebellions Their writing for Reformation doeth rather prooue that they bee not rebells For if they purposed a rebellion they would rather tumultuouslie rise vp and reforme thinges them selues then write bookes to moue the Queenes Maiestie the â—ords and Commons in their Parliaments to lay their handes to reformation They that be not blinded with malice do see wel that the Ministers who seeke Reformation doe preache true obedience to the Magistrates with greater zeale and sincerity then any Bishop in this lande It is not oriously knowen that they teach as an article of their faith That no subiect or seruaunt ought to rebell against his Prince or Maisters though hee bee cruell and frowarde but rather shoulde meekely suffer oppression and violence at their handes They teach that the lawes must either be performed by obeying them or else the punishment for not yeelding vnto theÌ„ patiently suffered and vndertaken Therefore howsoeuer they write to bring a discontentment into mens mindes yet they would not haue the subiect to intrude vpon the Magistrates office much lesse to rebell against his Soueraine Furthermore if all they that write to bring the people to adiscontentement and dislike of the authorized gouuernement doe write of purpose to moue rebellion then doe the lawes the Bishops and whole state of Englande intende a rebellion I proued that both the lawes Bishops of this lande doe expect a further reformation which can not be accomplished vnlesse hir Maiestie the Ll. and commons be drawen to a discontentement and disâ—ike of the present state For amendement and redresse can neuer follow but where discontentement goeth before â—ikewise it is prooued that the Church of Englande hath seene allowed and suffered to be printed and publikely solde diuerse bookes which doe speake most effectualliâ— against the state of â—orde Bishops I shewed that bookes wherin the Lordship of Bb. hath bene coÌ„demned haue bene allowed by expresse act of Parliament I shewed also that the gouernement by Elders is approued in books which are commended by the Bb. to be fully grounded vpon Gods worde which are commanded to be taught learned throughout this Realme If it be rebellion to worke a dislike discontentement in the state of Lord Bb. If it bee rebellion to commende the reformed gouernement by Elders then doth the state of England intende a rebellion against hir Maiestie But God forbid that we should thinke so dishonorably or disâ—oyally of our Christian State though it hath wrought in mens mindes a dislike of the present Church-gouernement If then this argument be vaine
it euidently appeare where the fault lyeth This is the intent of this humble petition made onely for the peace of this Church quiet of the Realme Which two things it behooueth all Christian subiectes to aduaunce forward with their whole endeuour The God almighty who to the great wonder of the world hath most miraculousâ—ie defended and deliuered you from all the cursed enterprises against your Realme and person preserue your Maiestie many yeares in health honour prosperity and victory to his glory the good of his Church the reliefe of his Saints to the ioy of Englande and all Nations that professe the trueth AMEN good Lord and cursed be he from heauen that sayeth not from the heart AMEN AMEN To the ende that it may appeare howe vniustlie the Seekers of Reformation are slaundered by the Bishoppes and others I thought good briesâ—â—e and truely to deliuer the opinions of such as sue for Reformation which I haue gathered out of their bookes and seene in their practise and heard in conference which I haue had with them 1 THEY openly professe and acknowledge that they be sinfull men subiect to infirmity as well as others They doe not call or account them selues Catharâ— or 〈◊〉 and therefore if Augustine say true that Catharâ— sunt qâ—i â—eipsos isto nomine quafi propter munditiâ—â— suberbissime at que oâ—iosissimè nominant They bee Puritanes That in conceipt of their owne puritie doâ— most proudly and odiously call them selues by that name then vvithout question they be no Puritanes vnles in that sence that all the Apostles saue Iudas and all other true Christians are called 〈◊〉 or Puritanes in the Scriptures 2 They doe absolutely yeelde and subscribe to all the articles of Christian fâ—â—th and doctrine professed in the Church of Englande according as they bee inioyned by the lawes of the lande and therefore they doe not offende against the Statute made in the thirteenth yeare of her Highnes raigne and withall haue open iniurie in being called schismatikes 3 They doe vnfeinedly giue to her maiesty all that power soueraâ—tie and authoritie whatsoeuer is recognised to be in her Highnes by the othe of the Supremacies as her maiesty 〈◊〉 and the Parliament haue expounded 〈◊〉 and thereâ—ore they be not Traytours by the statutes of 〈◊〉 or quinto of her Maiesty 4 They professe all submission reuerence and obedience to the right Honourable the Lordes of the priuy Councell the Iudges and all other ciuill Magistrates of this state honouring them as Lieutenants of God and her Maiesty and therefore they be not Anababtists who would abandon the authority of Magistrates and distinctions of states among Christians And although they beleeue that it is not agreeable to the doctrine and example of Christ and his Apostles that Bb. and Preachers should accept temporall Lordship and ciuill authority yet they honour that authoritie which is deriued to them from her Maiestie in regard whereof they submit them selues to be conuented imprisoned fined c. by them much lesse will they vvith force and armes resist or rebell against her Maiesties most lawfull authority eyther in her selfe or being deputed to others who are not disabled by Gods worde to vse it and therefore they bee not within the statute of vice â—imo tertio of Raising rebellion against her Highness 5 They hold it lawfull and necessarie before Magistrates to take an oth being called thereunto so that the oth being a matter highly concerning the worship of God be guided and taken as the Scriptures allowe that is not in vaine where a matter may bee otherwise proued by sufficient euidence or witnesse nor yet rashly as swearing to answere they know not to what or before the Articles which they must answere vpoÌ„ their oth be made knowen vnto them 6 They seeke not to pull downe the Courts of Iustice as the high Court of ParliameÌ„t the Starchamber the Kings bench the Chanceriâ— or any of the rest but they desire they may stande as they doe sauing that Bb. Ecclesiasticall persons should be shut out from them set to preach the gospell follow their owne vocation not being charged with other offices vnles they were sometimes called in weighty difficult causes to giue counsell aduise what may or should be done by the word of God 7 They denie not but that matters of Testamentes and Mariages may bee determined by Ciuilians in their Courtes if it seeme not good to the Parliament to transferre these things to the temporall Lawiers alwaies prouided that their Courtes may be made meere teÌ„porall not intermedling wi the Church Censures prouided likewise that the Bb. or other Ministers haue no dealing therin prouided also that causes may be iudged there not by popes lawes but by the word of God the laudable Customes Statutes Iniunctions Synodall and Prouinciall Constitutions accepted in this Realme a greable to the word of God and established by hir Maiesties authoritie and act of Parliament 8 They teach that neyther the Ministerie nor people of this Realme ought to make any general Reformation neither with force and armes or otherwise of their owne authoritie change any lawes made or established for religion by authoritie of Parliament but they holde that the generall reformation doeth belong to the Magistrate as Gods Lieuetenant to deale in and that for them selues they may and oughte in dutifull and christian forte both preache write and sue to the Magistrates for redresse of enormities and also practise the or dinances of Christ which he hath commanded his Church to keepe to the ende of the world and therefore they haue not incurred the dangers of lawes made against Riots Routes or vnlawfull Assemblies 9 They detest all such as aduisedly falsly or maliciousâ—ie slaunder or disâ—ame her most excellent Maiestie and therfore they be not felons by the statut prouided against spreaders of Newes or false rumours 10 They doe maineteyne that according to the approued doctrine of Englande Emperours or any Christian magistrats whatsoeuer being members of the Church of Christ ought to submit themselues to excommunication or other ecclesiastical censures being duely orderly vpon iust occasion according to the commaundements of Christ executed 11 That a Magistrate standing excommunicated ought to be obeyed and honoured in all respectes of subiection for custome subsidie loue or any other imposition or seruice whatsoeuer of body goods and landes as if hee were not excommunicated And therefore they abhorre the Antichristian and most pestiferous doctrine of the popish â—orte that giueth liberty to the subiect to withholde his seruices and duties from the Magistrate so long as he standeth excommunicate 12 Their suite to her Mâ—iesty and this honorable state is that it may be permitted and enacted by law that the church of Christ may bee ruled by such lawes orders and officers as Christ himselfe hath expressed in his