two Laws Canon and Civil and by the warrant of sūdry Examples of the word of God as that worthy learned Deane of the Arches the ornament honor of his profession in his time in his iudicious l The Apolog. 2 part Cha. 9. and so forth to the end of the same Apology of certain proceedings in Courts Ecclesiastical doth proue at large 9 Licenses for Marriage without Banes are most cautiously graunted and that vpon m Const Eccl. 1597 cap. de moder Indulg severe punishmente to ensue if so be the Constitution be violated But what wil satisfie these men who thus intimate vnto his Highnesse that there is rigor in the former point and negligence in this when as al moderation and carefulnes is vsed in them both And are not these heynous enormities Their Conclusion THe idle vaunt that the Petitioners make of being able to shew that these and other such abuses as they call them remaining and practised in the Church of England are not agreeable to the Scriptures doth appeare to be the more ridiculous because they haue passed over in deepe silence many learned n The perpet gover of Chri. Chur. A survey of the pret holy disc The answer to the Abstract The Apol. of certaine proceed in Cour. Eccle. A treatise of Eccles Discip De Presbyt eiusque nova c. De div Minist Evan. grad c The Remonstrance Querimonia Ecclesiae The 5. bookes of the laws of Eccles polit Tracts published long since wherein their vaine fancies and illiterate obiections are refuted at large If notwithstanding they wil yet venture to vvrite it vvil bee answered If they wil needes argue and dispute there are ready that wil either satisfie them or by argument silence them And were it not in regard that we would not seeme as vndutiful in accepting as they haue beene in the offering of this Challendge it is the thing we would vrge instantly entreat that these matters might be debated betweene vs in writing But in the mean time what motiōs are these for the Reformers to make vnto a most prudēt Prince in his setled peaceable government who for many years hath had trial in that his other kingdome of their pretēded reformation in this also hath seene the gracious effectes vnder her Maiesties late happy Raigne of that Church discipline which they would ruinate and ouerthrow God hath appointed his Maiestye vnto this kingdome It is true and wee magnifie the goodnesse of God for it and congratulate his Highnes in the prosperous possession of it from the ground of our heartes But that God hath appointed him to this kingdome for such a purpose as they conceite what spirit of divination is in them that they should forespeake it Nay rather seeing almighty God hath ordained him as the great Physition next and immediatelie vnder himselfe to take care of the body politique both of this Church and Common-wealth he will surely cure such diseases as these men are sicke of For turbulent and discontented humors whether in Papist or in Puritane are like to breede very daungerous diseases in a civill State And not bee perswaded as they fondly imagine by such suggestions as these to alter that state of the Church which is acceptable to God honourable to his Highnes comfortable to many thousand Ministers the Nurse of good learning admirable to strangers approved by our * The letters that Mr Beza hath written to the ArchB of C that nowe is Opposites envied of our enemies distastfull vnto none but such as know neither how to rule nor how to obey The very names of Punishmentes are vnpleasant indeede but the thinges themselues are necessary sometimes and their effects good and profitable for preservation of the whole howsoever the induring of thē may be grievous in the particular And he that will indifferentlie cōsider the true causes of the correctiōs here mētioned shall haue iust cause to approue the Iustice * Conspiracy for pretended Reformation commēd the mildnes that hath bin vsed towards this sort of men As for that clause of Mens traditions it is too too odious would imply superstition or popery to be in some of them But how vainely and how iniuriousty hath in some sort bin heretofore declared That other of beeing preiudiciall to note but those that seeke their owne c. is as iniurious to all the rest of the Ministers of this land Be we the men that are so addicted to our owne Quiet Credite and Commoditie in the world Where then be the fruits of our covetousnes the effects of our ambition the markes of our idlenes VVe be the men that in the testimony of a good Conscience for the repelling of such a malicious contumely slaunderous reproach may truly say We put not out our mony to Vsury we detest al filthy lucre we cōtaine our selues within our Vocations we forsake not our holy callings we omit not to labour in our severall chardges we sustaine the places of great labour travaile and expense wee neglect not in publike in private in word in writing at home abroad to put to silence and stop the mouth of the common Adversary which these men haue enlarged against vs and our most holy faith To conclude the thinge they seeke is so preiudiciall both to the Civil state in general and in particular to so many of the very best of the Ministery that if it shoulde take effect but God of his mercy the Kings most excellent Maiesty in his Christian wisedome will not suffer it it would breede a strange alteration in the One and in the Other it would for the present not only impoverish vs and our Vniversities but make both them and vs and the whole Cleargie very base and contemtible in the eies of our own people as also a By-word a skorne to our neighbour Nations And for succeeding ages it would cut off all hope of a learned Ministery and of that grounded learning which as yet is and heretofore hath beene the glorie and honour of this kingdome For manifestation of this point looke vpon the face of all the reformed Churches in the world and wheresoever the desire of these Petitioners doth take place be it duly cōsidered First how wel their proceedings do suite with the state of a Monarchy And then how poverty on the one side lacke of learning on the other doth creep vpon the whole Clergy in those Dominions As to the first woulde it not beseeme the supereminent auctority and Regal person of a King to be himselfe confined within the limites of some particular parish then to subiect his soveraigne power to the pure Apostolical simplicity of an over-swaying al-commaunding Presbitery Would it not doe him much good in a time of neede that his people should be rooted and grounded in this truth viz. That his meeke and humble Clergie have power to bind their King in chaines their Prince in lincks of
irō That is in their learning to censure him to enioine him penance to excommunicate him yea in case they see cause to proceede against him as a Tyrant We speake not heere of other points as namely that all appeales in causes Ecclesiasticall and what doe they not make Ecclesiasticall must finallie lye not vnto the Prince but vnto the Assembly Provinciall That they allow the supreme Magistrate not potestatem iuris but only facti while they make him the maintainer of their proceedings but no commander in them These and the like are but petty Abridgments of the Praerogatiue Royall while yet the King a T.C. l. 1. pag. 180. submits his scepter vnto the scepter of Christ and lickes the dust of the Churches feete Neither may it be truly said that these are onely Speculations There are some of High place yet alive and other some are dead that haue felte the smarte heereof in their owne experience and haue seene the worst of all this put in wofull execution As to the second Do we not see it at this day verified among them which hath beene so often truly saide as often vnadvisedly denied that Hones alit artes and contrariwise where due reward of learning and liberal maintenance of the Ministery is fraudulently impaired or iniuriously taken away b Ecclesias discipl pag. 114. there Religion and learning come to decay There Atheisme and Barbarisme Confusiō must needes ensue It is to apparent that as the revenewes of those Churches haue bin embeazeled by men of corrupt mindes which saide in their hearts as it is in the Psalme Psal 83.11 Let vs take to our selues the houses of God in possession so the remainder of that grounded learning which was bredde vp in former times is nowe through succession of time almost cleane morne out Nec bonatam sequitur quam bona prima fuit Insomuch that there is neither sufficient maintenāce in those parts for any store of excellēt learned men nor yet many men brought vp among thē in this last reforming age worthy of that wonted honorable maintenance God knowes we speake not this with a detracting spirit but with griefe of hart to see the ruines of the Ministery in particular generally of al profound learning in other reformed Churches As likewise to stirre vp this whole Nation to a thankefull acknowledgement of that singular blessing in this behalfe which God of his goodnesse hath longe and yet doth continue vnto vs of this Realme And with all to put to silence the malicious ingratitude of those evill men which looking vpon vs and this Church through the coloured glasse of their praeiudicate opiniōs can see nothing among vs but defects deformities and abuses and Enormities and the like And therefore in their high discretion would haue vs reduced made conformable to the calamities of other places Wheras in truth if we shal bring backe the eies of our minds frō forraine parts indifferently without either detractiō or flattery take notice of the presēt state of this Church Cōmō-wealth we shal easily discerne that it were an incomparable happines for them if all that professe the truth as it is in Christ Iesus were in our cōditiō We shal see how that our Church governmēt is duly subordinat vnto the supreme civil state withal doth mightily support the same That our Reverend Prelates mē of singular worth not to be matched in any one kīgdome though preferred vnto highes roomes do yet cōtaine thēselues within such boūds as preserue that estate from creeping to any Papal corruptions That our inferiour Clergy by their godly painful labours in their Vocation haue bin are the most effectuall meanes to settle the tranquillity of this land by inducing mens mindes vnto piety towards God Loyalty to their King Civill honesty amōg thēselues That our people generally excepting some few Malecōtents of al sorts whō wee leaue to the mercy of the Magistrate are invred vnto peace accustomed to subiectiō detest disloyalty with al alacritie yeeld their obedience vnto their Soveraigne That the Colledges the Cathedral Churches the Bishops other Ministers of this Land haue yet remaining vnto thē yet after the many great spoiles of this Church which notwithstanding Saravia de sacrilegijs ca 9. never prospered vvith thē that got thē but were as Rust to the rest of their silver their gold or as a Cāker that fretted out themselues their posterity or their possessiōs that yet there is remaining vnto thē more competent sufficient maintenāce more cōfortable honorable encouragemēts thē there are vnto all other the reformed churches in Christēdōe That answerable thervnto to stop that mouth of Iniquity which is wont to traduce vs for a dumb vnlearned Idoll Ministery there are at this day more learned men in this Land in this one Kingdome then are to be found among al the Ministers of the Religion in France Flaunders Germany Poleland Denmarke Geneva Scotland or to speake in a word in all Europe besides Which yet may not iustly be imputed vnto vs for vanity The Apostle that knew how to be abased 1. Cor. 9. 2 Cor. 12. to make himselfe of no reputation yet whē the impeaching of his personall giftes was abused to the disgrace of his calling did without either arrogācy or folly giue his Detractors plainly roundly to vnderstand that he was not inferior to the chiefe Apostles nay that he labored more thē they al so by his own iust defence cōmendation did free himselfe his worth his Vocation from their base and odious imputations In a like case we doubt not a truth may be averred of our selues even by our selues without any ostentation at all when it is so iniuriously impeached and troden vnder foote to the high dishonor of God the disgrace of his Gospel and to the slander of this most Christian Common-wealth Yea the rich mercies that God hath cōtinued vnto vs now these fiue forty years ought to replenish our harts with ioy so that our lippes should breake forth with thankfulnes and sing Psal 47.20 Non fecit taliter omni nationi neither haue the Regions round about vs beene made partakers of the like blessings Now the Father of Mercies and God of al Consolation enlarge the wise and vnderstanding hart of our thrice noble King noble in birth noble in wisedome noble in al manner of good learning assist him ever with his holy spirit the spirit of Counsaile of sanctificatiō of truth make him admirable in the swaying of this Scepter as was Salomon in al the world as long as hee walked in the first waies of his father David That so hee maye longe weare this mortal Crowne in al abundaunce of Piety Peace Prosperity hereafter obtaine that immortal Crowne that Christ hath purchased for them which by continuance in well doing seeke glory and honour and immortality FINIS
proceedings as these factious persons haue beene audatiously venterous praeposteriously heddy to manifest their malice thereby to distract and draw the people from their loue liking of the present state Wherevnto wee were the rather invited by the commendable example of our Reverend brethren of the Vniversitie of Cambridge who to make knowne their dislike of these such like factious Schismatikes haue passed a grace in their publicke Congregation to this effect Placet vobis A grace passed in the Vniversity of CaÌ„bridge Iun. 4. 1603. against factious Puritaines vt quicunque doctrinam vel disciplinam Ecclesiae Anglicanae vel eius partem aliquam dictis aut scriptis aut quocunque alio modo in Academiâ Cantabrigiensi publicè oppugnaverit ab omni suscepto gradu suspendatur à suscipiendo excludatur ipso facto By which their wise and necessary Decree they haue not only encouraged vs vnto this our Apology but with all assured vs that both they themselues and as we conceaue many thousands moe of the iudicious and obedient Ministers of this land are readie to giue vs the right-hand of fellowship in this worke and willing to subscribe vnto the same if the cause did necessarily require it or the time would permitte But your Lordships know right well that Truth obtaineth no great auctoritie by the many voices that acknowledge it at once And for our parts we vtterly condemne the course that these Schismatikes have therein taken Who to bolster out their stale obiections and false calumniatioÌ„s have trudged vp downe diverse Shires to get the consent of they care not whom so they may make vp the tale and pretend a number In which kind that was a notable Stratageme which farre besides the Authors purpose we did light vpon of late May it please your Lordships to haue patience while wee propose it and so leaue it to your Honorable censure H. I. a man that was of ordinarie partes of as ordinary place when he lived among vs is now it seemes become a principall Agent and a speciall Procurator of the publicke cause among the factious He much mistaking in his strong conceipt that to insinuate with a man of wisedome woulde bee sufficient to fetch him over to that side Writes vnto one of eminent sorte among vs after this fashion MOreover I am to let you vnderstaÌ„d that many learned and godly Ministers a a Scilicet in Iune when their Petition was Exhibited in April before are about to exhibite to the Kings Maiestie a Petition for the ReformatioÌ„ of things amisse in our Church wherevnto a consent of as many as coÌ„veniently we can get is very behooueful My opinioÌ„ trust is coÌ„cerning you that you will be not only a partaker but also a furtherer of this ChristiaÌ„ duty I have seÌ„t you here inclosed the forme to be subscribed by all such as have good will to this purpose I pray you let me have an answere hereof from you as soone as you may vvith so manie of your well affected friendes handes therevnto as shall bee thought good It is not intended that your names shall bee rashly shewed to any mans preiudice but be reserved to a fit opportunity if we shall perceive that they altogither being brought forth will further our desires suite Of the good successe whereof we conceave good hope thanks be to God Thus beseeching God to keepe and sanctifie vs for his service and to give vs vvisedome in all thinges Ibid you hartely farewell VVoodstreete in London the XXX of Iune 1603. Yours to his power H. I. Post script I could wish you to conferre with D. A. about this matter Thus much of the Letter Now the Forme to be subscribed vnto is this VVe whose names are vnder written doe agree to make our humble Petition to the Kinges Maiestie that the present state of the Church may bee farther reformed in all things needefull according to the rule of Gods holy worde â—nd agreeable to the example of other reformed Churches which haue restored both the Doctrine Discipline as it was delivered by our Saviour Christ and his holy Apostles Your Lordships see the manner of the men This collusion and coven were very base betweene man man But for them thus to vse their Soveraigne first to give him a Petition in the name of a Thousande and then to scatter it abroad with this glosse Of the good successe of our suite we do conceaue good hope thanks be to God Therby ex post facto to begge and steale as many hands to it as could be got this is such stuffe as wee will passe over with reference to that of Tully vnto Antonie a Philip. 2. Tu autem eò liberior c. It is the advantage some Men have that they dare to do such things as a modest Adversarie cannot well reprove But it is suteable to the Imputations they have laide vpon their late Princes governement And now also wheÌ„ his Maiesty shall frustrate their vaine imaginations they have lefte their olde wont if some of them doe not verifie that of the Poet Fermentum quae semelintùs Pers Satyr 1. Innata est rupto iecore exibit Caprificus Howsoever the Thing that we would specially obserue out of this Script is in the maÌ„ner of SubscriptioÌ„ Where hence it doth most plainely appeare that the particulars specified in the Petition are not the vtmost End whereat they aime they haue another marke All thinges needefull according to the rule of Gods VVord agreable to the example of other reformed Churches is their Vp-shot But is it so indeede Why They of the Petition desire onely Reformation of certaine Ceremonies and Abuses They neither as factious men affect a Popular Paritie in the Church nor as Schismatickes aime at the dissolution of the State Ecclesiasticall their humble suite is that the offences follovving may bee removed amended qualified They good men desire That vvhich shall be preiudiciall vnto none but c. It is true The voice of the Petition might seeme to be the voice of Iacob though the hands of the Subscription appeare plainely to be the hands of Esau were it not that there is also a Clause in their Petition Now that we have their owne exposition of it we can observe it and that it is repeated thrice for failing viz. These and some other vsed These and other such like These vvith other such Abuses which houldeth very good correspondeÌ„cy with the forme of Subscription Heeretofore we could not tell what to make of those wordes and therefore made them no answere They seemed vnto vs a very Nemo Scit a Mathematike Line diuisibilis in semper devisibilia but now vpon this new Advertisement having coÌ„pared theÌ„ we finde them Paralele to those All things needfull c. in the SubscriptioÌ„ Which tell vs plainly They wil never have an end till either they have set vp the Presbitery Or else be cut of by Authority The
third last remarkeable matter which we humbly referre vnto your Lordships due regard is a certeine Semblance which in this our halfe yeares silence vvee haue observed in two contrary Factions that haue shewed themselues by their Petitions discontented with the praesent State Ecclesiasticall Government namely in the Papists and the Puritants VVe will vse their owne style and come as neere as we can to their very words 1 They Both intitle themselues the Kinges afflicted subiectes and aboue all other his devoted servants 2 They Both pretend an enforcement of a speedy recourse to his Maiestie for a present Redresse and Reformation 3 They Both cōplaine of being overwhelmed with enduring persecution through losse of Living Liberty 4 They Both ground their Doctrine and Discipline vpon the sacred text of Gods word and Gospell 5 They Both condemne the obedience of Protestantes to the Lawes Established to bee not for Conscience and zeale but for Morall honestie and feare of temporall punishment saith the Papist For their owne quiet credit and profit in the world saith the Puritaine 6 They Both renoūce a publicke alteratiō dissolutiō of the State Ecclesiast but the one pleads for a private Toleration the other forsooth for a Godly Reformation 7 They Both deny that they exhibite their Petitiōs with a tumultuous spirit or with a disloyall Schismatical minde Of vvhich their Semblable Assertions in arguments so opposite we might say in a word as the Orator doth of contrarie Opinions It cannot be that more then one of them should possiblie bee true but it is very possible that both may bee false Yet we rather take vp that in the Booke of * Iud. 15.4 Iudges and say of them and their designes Verily these men are like Samsons Foxes They have their heades severed indeed the One sort looking to the Papacy the Other to the Presbiterie But they are tyed togither by the tailes vvith fire brandes betvveene them Which if they bee not quenched in time are able to set the whole Land in a Combustion and Vprore IF in any of these or in them all there do appeare vnto your Lordships such matter of moment as might move men of care some discretion to write in defence of themselues and the present State if in our manner of writing wee haue held that hand not by way of large discourse but as the brevity of Notes will suffer which doth beseeme a modest and ingenuous answere if in neither of them there be any thing so offensiue or defectiue or impertinent but that vnder the winges of your Honorable Patronage it may passe into the Presence of his Excellent Maiestie and there attend his most iudicious and learned Censure yet so attempered with his rare singuler mildnes as in it he is wont to accept the duty service of his meaner Subiects then and not otherwise we beseech your Lordships that of your wonted favour you will accompany it with your gracefull Presence and as the Argumēt of our religious Affectiōs in al humility present it to his Highnes then wee entreate that in the Honorable regard you have of those Noble partes of this Church which God hath specially betaken into your Protectiō in the loyal remembrance you retaine of Her Maiestie that late was and her happie Government in the bounden dutie you owe to his Maiestie that nowe is and the Well doing of his whole Kingdome in the Pietie and zeale which you beare to God his Church and to his sacred truth you will take occasion heereby All as one man ioyntly to imploy that great Grace and high Favour which God hath given you in the eies of your Soveraigne to the present supporte of Religion maintenaunce of Learning defence of the Church strengthening the State setling the mindes of the People establishing peace and tranquillitie in the Land by taking the Foxes the little Foxes vvhich marre our Vines that they beare small Grapes and by chasing away the wilde Boare of the Wood and the Beastes of the Forrest that otherwise would eate them vp and vtterly destroy them So God shall take Pleasure in your Care and Conscience the King in your faithfull Service his Subiects shal dwel safe vnder the shadow of his Wings and we your Clients shall send this testimony after you Many Patrones of the Clergie many Chauncelours of the Vniversities have done vertuously but These surmoūted them all Now the God that giveth both Glorie and Grace give your Lordships all manner of Graces fitte for your High Callings in this World and That farre most excellent and eternall waight of Glorie in the World to come Your Lordships in all dutie The Vicechancelour the Doctors the Proctors and other the Heades of Houses in the Vniversitie of Oxford To the Reader IMmediately after the Printing of our answere to the Petition there came vnto vs a very kinde and wel-penned Letter concerning this matter Which wee might not suppresse though it bee but rudely here inserted without great iniury to that whole Vniversity and no lesse detriment vnto the cause it selfe JNDORSED To the Vicechancelour and others of the Vniversity of Oxford CVm nuperrimè quidem serò admodum ad aures nostras pervenisset fama de libello Regiae Maiestati pro reformandà scilicet Ecclesià à Ministris mille vt perhibentur exhibito et si nihil in eo novi reperiretur cui non plus millies antehà c responsum sit tamèn quoniam numerum iactant vt intelligerent Millenarij isti Si Saulo mille adstent Davidi in hac causa decies mille nunquam de futuros nihil prius habuimus aut antiquius quam vt Operi omni responsione indignissimo aliquod tamen responsum pararemus Quod dum meditamur defertur ad nos Academiae Oxoniensis Apologia certè disertissima quae rationum momentis brevissimè refutaret quicquid ab Istis tanto anteà labore confectum esset aut confictum Qua conspecta nihil nobis reliqui videbatur quos ita anteverterat Fratrū nostrorum in causa optima zelus industria prompta satis parata ad hominum levissimorum ictus omnes vel ex tempore refellendos quà m cum illi pondere certassent argumentorum nos numero quo Isti maxime gloriantur pugnaremus Quod anteà quasi divinantes praevidimus providimus Cum enim defuncta Elizabetha Regina optima in causa optima quod in muliere prope singulare est inauditum semper constantissimâ semper eâdem non tam Principis Religiosissimae interitum religionis si non intereuntis at summè certè periclitantis casum deplorare quam in adventum Regis novi novas res meditari Isti caepissent in dies moliri peropportunè succurrendum censuit Academia convocato senatu frequenti admodum celebri decernendum vt Quicunque Ecclesiae Anglicanae doctrinam vel Disciplinam vel ejus partem aliquam legibus publicis stabilitam scriptis vel dictis
vel quocunque modo in Academia Cantabrigiensi publicè oppugnaverit ab omni gradu suscipiendo excludatur à suscepto suspendatur ipso facto Quod quidem Decretum concensu propè vnanimi comprobatum tabulis publicis Iunij * * Our private instructiō was as if it had bin decreed the 4. of Iune 9. 1603. consignatum nunc demum testatum cupimus vniversis vt intelligant omnes de Disciplina nostra non imposita sed suscepta liberè retenta quid existiment non in angulis Opiniastri nonnulli sed in aperto Senatu Cantabrigienses propè vniversi Quorum consensus cum tam fraternè concinat conspiret cum Apologia Oxoniensi cum Scripturis Patribus Concilijs Principum nostrorum Decretis Legibus Parliamentis eant nunc mille Isti libris nostris fere mille in hunc finem editis conscriptis cum erit otium facultas respondeant prius quà m Cramben toties decoctam Regitam prudenti tam literato tam impudenter obtrudant Aut si numerari malint quam ponderari suffragia cogitent homunciones miseri ab Academijs Musisque relicti quam nullius numeri sint quam planè nihili Valete fratres in Christo Charissimi nos nostramque Academiam summa vobis studiorum morum similitudine coniunctissimā vt facitis amate Cantab. Octob. 7. 1603. SVBSCRIBED By the Vice chancelour and others the Heades of the Vniversity of Cambridge THE HVMBLE PETITION OF THE MJNJSTERS OF THE Church of England desiring Reformation of certaine Ceremonies and abuses of the Church To the most Christian and excellent PRINCE our Gracious and dread Soveraigne IAMES by the grace of God c. Wee the Ministers of the Church of England that desire Reformation vvish a long prosperous and happie Raigne over vs in this life and in the next everlasting salvation MOST gracious dread Soveraigne seeing it hath pleased the devine Maiestie to the great comfort of all good Christians to advaunce your Highnes according to your iust title to the peaceable goverment of this Church and Common wealth of England we the Ministers of the Gospell in this land neither as factious men affecting a popular Paritie in the Church nor as Schismatikes ayming at the dissolution of the state Ecclesiasticall but as the faithfull servants of Christ and loyall subiectes to your Maiesty desiring and longing for the redresse of diverse abuses of the Church could doe no lesse in our obedience to God service to your Maiestie love to his Church then acquainte your Princely Maiestie vvith our particular griefes For as your Princely penne writeth The King as a good Physition must first know what peccant humors his pacient naturally is most subiect vnto before he can begin his cure And although divers of vs that sue for Reformation have formerly in respect of the times subscribed to the booke some vpon Protestatiō some vpon expositions given them some with condition rather then the Church shoulde haue beene deprived of theie labour and Ministery yet now we to the number of more then a thousand of your Maiesties subiectes and Ministers all groaning as vnder a common burden of humane Rites and Ceremonies do with one ioint consent humble our selues at your Maiesties feete to be cased and relieved in this behalfe Our humble suite then vnto your Maiestie is that these offences following some may be removed some amended some qualified 1 In the Church service That the Crosse in Baptisme interrogatories ministred to Infants Cōfirmation as superfluous may bee taken away Baptisme not to bee ministred by VVomen and so explaned The Cap and Surplice not vrged That examination may goe before the Communion That it bee ministred with a Sermon That diverse termes of Priests and Absolution and some other vsed with the Ring in mariage other such like in the booke may be corrected The long somenes of service abridged Church songs and Musicke moderated to better edification That the Lords day be not prophaned The rest vpon Holy-daies not so strictly vrged That there may bee an vniformity of doctrine prescribed No popish opinion to be any more taught or defended No Ministers Charged to teach their people to bow at the name of Iesus That the Canonicall Scriptures onely be read in the Church 2 Concerning Church Ministers That none hereafter be admitted into the Ministery but able and sufficient men and those to preach diligently and especially vpon the Lords day That such as bee already entred and cannot preach may either be removed and some charitable course taken with them for their reliefe or else to be forced according to the valew of their livings to mainetaine preachers That Non-residencie be not permitted That King Edwards statute for the lawfulnes of Ministers mariage be revived That Ministers be not vrged to subscribe but according to the Law to the Articles of Religion and the Kings supremacy onely 3 For Church livings and maintenance That Bishops leave their Cōmendams some holding Prebends some Parsonages some Vicarages with their Bishoprickes That double beneficed men be not suffered to hold some two some three benefices with cure and some two three or foure dignities besides That Impropriatiōs annexed to Bishoprickes and Colledges be demised only to the Preachers Incumbēts for the old Rent That the Impropriations of Lay mens fee may be charged with a sixt or seaventh part of the worth to the maintenance of the preaching Minister 4 For Church Discipline That the Discipline and Excommunicatiō may be administred according to Christs ovvne institution Or at the least that enormities may bee redressed As namelie That Excommunication come not forth vnder the name of Lay persons Chauncellours Officials c. That men be not excommunicated for trifles and twelue-penny matters That none be excōmunicated without consent of his Pastor That the officers be not suffered to extort vnreasonable fees That none having iurisdiction or Register places put out the same to farme That diverse Popish Canons as for restraint of marriage at certeine times be reversed That the Long-somnes of suites in Ecclesiasticall courts which hang sometime two three foure five sixe or seaven yeares may be restrained That the Oth ex officio wherby men are forced to accuse themselues bee more sparingly vsed That Licenses for mariage without Banes asked be more cautiously granted These with such other Abuses yet remaining practised in the Church of England we are able to shew not to be agreeable to the Scriptures if it shall please your Highnes farther to heare vs or more at large by writing to be enformed or by cōference among the learned to be resolved And yet we doubt not but that vvithout anie farther processe your Maiesty of whose Christian iudgement we have received so good a tast alreadie is able of your selfe to iudge of the equity of this cause God we trust hath appointed your Highnes our Physition to heale these diseases And we say with Mordecai to Hester who
knoweth whether you are come to the kingdome for such a time Thus your Maiesty shall do that which we are perswaded shall be acceptable to God honorable to your Maiestie in all succeeding ages profitable to his Church which shall be thereby encreased comfortable to your Ministers which shall be no more suspended silenced disgraced imprisoned for mens TraditioÌ„s preiudiciall to none but to those that seeke their owne quiet credit and profit in the world Thus vvith all dutifull submission referring our selves to your Maiesties pleasure for your gracious answere as God shall direct you wee most humbly recommend your Highnes to the divine Maiesty whome wee beseech for Christ his sake to dispose your royall heart to doe heerein what shal be to his glory the good of his Church and your endles comfort Your Maiesties most humble Subiects The Ministers of the Gospell that desire not a disorderly innovation but a due and godlie Reformation THE ANSWERE OF THE VICE-CHAVNCELOVR THE DOCtors both the Proctors other the Heads of Houses in the Vniversity of Oxford To the Petition of the Ministers of the Church of England desiring Reformation In their Petition there are three principall partes 1 A Preface 2 A Conplaint consisting of fowre speciall pointes In everie of them the desire that certaine Ceremonies and Abuses may bee some of them removed some amended some qualified 3 A Conclusion FOR ANSWERE WHEREVNTO 1 In Generall WEE most humbly beseech his most excellent Maiestie that it may bee considered how inconvenient and vnsufferable it is in Christian policie to permit a long and well setled state of government to be so much as questioned much more to bee a Ipsa mutatio consuetudinis etiam quae adiuvat vtilitate novitate perturbat August ad Ianuar. Ep. 118 cap. 5. altered for a few of his Subiects especially considering the matter pretended to bee the cause of these mens griefe and of their desired Reformation vniustly so called For it is either the Ceremonies of the Church or Abuses in the Church as they alleadge Wherein wee humbly recommende to his Princely remembrance First concerning Ceremonies that they are either superstitious theÌ„ no waies to be admitted Of which sort it should seeme by the Petitioners and we are ready to proue that the Ceremonies of our Church are not Because these men coÌ„fesse that in respect of the times they did subscribe vnto them or if they were such with what conscience did they subscribe in respect of the times Or els things in themselues indifferent And then the supreme Christian Magistrate hath lawfull b Melan. in 13. ad Rom. PeccatuÌ„ mortale est violate edicta Magistrat c. Heming in Syntag ca de Adiaph Qui vi olat Ecclesiasticam politiaÌ„ peccat multis modis c. Bez. Epist 24. ad artic 7. authoritie to forbid and we must forbeare to commande and wee must obey not only for feare but for conscience sake Of which kinde if these Ceremonies be as wee will iustifie and they cannot deny where is then their pretended obedience Where is their applause of his Maiesties peaceable government Why doe they trouble both Church Common wealth in respect of matters which in duty and conscience they may wel and ought willingly to submit themselues vnto Secondly concerning Abuses be it considered first of what qualitie they are secondly of what degree 1 Touching the nature or quality of them whether they are in the very Constitutions of our Church or rather in the Execution of the said Constitutions If not in the Constitutions themselues as when we descende to the particulars it wil appeare there is no cause why the government should be changed or these men suffered thus to calumniate the State wherein there is nothing Positiue that is worthy of blame If in the Execution which as we wil not absolutely deny so these men cannot easily proue that may be remedied by amending or removing of some certaine offendors without alteration of the state 2 Touching the degree or grievousnes of these abuses whether in the Constitution as they suppose we deny or in the Execution vvhich simply and in every particular c Calv. adv Aab art a. Vâ—ique sc Caâ—ari Donastae in eodeÌ„ rrore fueruÌ„t Quo isti somiatores Ecâ—lesiaÌ„ quaereÌ„â—s in qua niâ—il posset desiâ—rari c. no Church in Christendome is able to iustifie and yet none so much as this of ours we vndertake to proue against the ThousaÌ„d that maske vnknowne vnder that generalitie that they are not such nor so heynous as deserue this their bitter reprehension much lesse such an alteration in the Church and Common-wealth as would ensue if these Petitioners might haue their desire 2. In Particular Concerning the Preface VVe doe but note 1 WHAT reckoning in truth these men doe make of iust titles vnto kingdomes vvho favour them d De lur reg apud Scot. De lur Magist in subd Vind cont tyr Hotto FraÌ„cog to much that were wont to subiect all kings titles vnto popular election and approbation 2 What comfort in deede the Petitioners take in the peace of his Maiesties government who in the very entrance thereof by seeking this and the like daungerous alterations doe disquiet disturbe the same Were other men as litle inured to peace subiection it might occasion some inconvenience 3 Howsoever in wordes they decline the imputation of factious men affecting popular parity in the Church of Schismatikes ayming at the dissolution of the State Ecclesiasticall yet it is to well knowen in this kingdome and by experience it hath bin felte in that of e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 39 40 41 c. Scotland what manner of men they be as also what haue bin the lamentable effects of their reformations there would haue bin likewise heere had not the prudent fore-sight and constant resolution of our late gracious Soveraigne continually repressed their attemptes 4 These men might haue performed better Their obedience to God their service to his Maiestie their love to his Church as in the particulars will appeare if they had forborne to trouble his Maiesty the church of God this common-wealth with these their causeles griefs and discontentments They haue thereby made such a breach as will not easily without much wisedome patience bee cured For what are these men that they should assume so much for what are the whole Cleargy of England besides that they should bee so abased and contemned 5 That which they alleage out of his Highnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a childish fallacie absurdly taking that for granted which is the maine question They must proue and not assume that these are the peccant humours of this Church which in trueth is the f Iuel Apo. 170. Accessimus quantuÌ„ maximè potuimus ad EcclesiaÌ„ Apost c. Et 46. Ea omnia quae aut luperstâ—â—ola c. Aut cum lacris literis pugnaÌ„tia aut
greater consequence theÌ„ the Abstractor or many moe such shallow heads can possibly coÌ„ceave allotted that simply no Non-residency should bee permitted and yet withall a learned Ministery mainetained Princes and Peeres of the Land attended Colledges Cathedrall Churches continued the Vniversities present and hope of succession in them for hereafter preserved propagated and supported 4 The Marriage of Ministers wee doe not dislike but maintaine the lawfulnes thereof against the Church of Rome and humblie desire if there be need that the supreme Magistrate will adde therevnto by his royal authority and the law of the land such farther strength and confirmation as shall seeme fit to his high wisedome 5 We know of no Subscription that is vrged which is not agreeable to law required by the orders of our Vniversity necessary in a Christian Common-wealth profitable for the Church of God approueable by all iudicious learned men and disliked of none but a few folke that are overmuch addicted to their own opinioÌ„s Who notwithstanding where a The lawes statuts of Gen. In the forme of Oth which the Ministers receiue Sect 2 Beza in vita Cal pag 910. they beare the sway it is worth the Consideration how strictly they tie all them that wil liue among them to the observation of their Church government And in truth so the things in themselues bee not intollerable better so then that which is heere proposed For the not vrging of a coÌ„formity in Church discipline is to set open the high way to all disorder and Confusion 3. Concerning Church mainetenance 1 THat Bishops leave their CoÌ„meÌ„dams In case some of the auncient revenew might bee restored to their Bishoprickes hee were vtterly vnworthie to be a Bishop that would desire a Commendam But as now the most of them are impaired to take away froÌ„ all Bishops al manner of Commendams is in truth to tie the Kings hands that he shal not be able though he would and where he will not no Commendam can be given to make his most faithfull servants or other men of best desert in the Ministery able to mainetaine their places and callings by his Maiesties favour and gracious dispensation when otherwise their Bishoprickes are not sufficient so to doe So as if it bee well wayed they doe not so much intend in this particular to impoverish some fewe Bishops as indeede vtterly to overthrow them and generally to restraine the Kings prerogatiue 2 Of the same nature is that which followeth For no man except hee bee the Kings Chaplaine may holde Three benefices with Cure and those of his Highnes own gifte So that here also they desire to limit the Kings favour Againe it is not knowne that there be fiue in al this land that hold three such benefices And then what good dealing is this in the Petitioners to make the worlde beleeue that it is a coÌ„mon fault which is scarse to be found in a few 3 Their disposing of Impropriations doeth notably bewray their lacke of c The Ecclesiastical discipl pag. 114. CoÌ„science their litle loue to learning and religion their temporizing and fitting their motions to the Laities good liking For who seeth not that it would bee the certaine overthrow and vtter ruine of Bishoprickes Colledges and Cathedrall Churches if their Impropriations should bee demised to the Vicars or Curates the Incumbents at the old rent without fine without improuement Againe who be they and how many that by this meanes would be provided for A few and those the meanest of the Cleargy But the inconveniences that would hereof ensue are very many intollerable Therfore we reserue that discourse to a fit opportunity On the otherside who doth not know that for a Lay-man to hold an Impropriation which is a Tith is originallie vnlawful and cleane contrary to their first institution Yet these men in all their puritie zeale conscience can coÌ„tent themselues and their preaching Incumbents vvith the seventh parte onely of an Impropriation in a Lay-mans fee. 4 Are these al or the best meanes that a Thousande meÌ„ such as they would be reputed can propose to his Highnes for the bettering of the Church maintenance If we might know that it would stand with his Maiesties good liking and should not be imputed vnto vs as a breach of duetie It were very possible that the men whom they so much contemne woulde bee able to propose some other course for the bettring of the Church maintenance with out the alteration or iniurie of any other state 4 Concerning Church Discipline 1 VNder the name of their Discipline we haue bin heretofore taught by these men to vnderstand The kingdome of Christ vpon earth A thing of no lesse importance then the d Eccles Disci pag 13 T C Epist to the Church of England Gospell of Christ Iesus An essentiall part of the Gospell A matter of faith to be received vpon paine of damnation An essentiall marke of the true Church without the which our Church was no Church our faith no faith our Gospell no Gospell c. And it is now come to be so indifferent as that it may bee administred accordingly Or els at the least that these enormities may be redressed Will it now suffer such an Or else at the least Were we perswaded that their Discipline their Presbytery the life and being of their Discipline were indeed of Christes institution were we perswaded it were a part of Gods word an essentiall part of his word coulde wee be contented to be without it Could we content our selues to liue any where but vnder it Would we not redeeme it with much perill and paine With certaine losse And that willingly But the experience that his most excellent Maiestie hath had of the manifolde mischiefes and miseries that attend their pretended Discipline doth make them not dare to speake plainly for it They therefore faulter in seeking to obtaine that which yet in hart they do affect and specially desire But to these Enormities these heinous Enormities Is it not well that nowe at length these quick-sighted men can espie no fowler enormities in our Church governement Enormities 1 THAT ExcoÌ„munication come not forth vnder the name of Lay persons First it may truely be said that though it did come forth vnder the name of a Chauncelour or a Comissarie yet came it not forth vnder the name of Lay-persons For a Chauncelour or a Comissary is not a Lay-man in this case The ordinary and he are but Vnus iudex Or rather whatsoever the Chauncelour doth in this behalfe hee doth it in the auctority of the Ordinary according to the power that is committed vnto him A thing not vnusual in the Civill state wherein the Lord-Chauncelour doth dispose of many thinges which are Originally in the Crowne and againe writeth Teste meipso vnto manie particulars that never passe by bill assigned Secondly no Lay-Chauncelour or Comissary whatsoever doth at any time excoÌ„municate any man or sendeâ—h out in
THE ANSVVERE OF THE VICECHANCELOVR THE DOCTORS both the Proctors and other the Heads of Houses in the Vniversitie of Oxford Agreeable vndoubtedly to the ioint and Vniforme opinion of all the Deanes and Chapters and all other the learned and obedient Cleargy in the Church of England To the humble Petition of the Ministers of the Church of England desiring Reformation of certaine Ceremonies and Abuses of the Church Beware of the Concision Philip. 3.2 Cum sub specie studij perfectionïs imperfectionem nullam tolerare possumus aut in Corpore aut in membris Ecclesiae tunc Diabolum nos tumefacere superbia hypocrisi seducere moneamur Calvin advers Anabapt Art 2. AT OXFORD Printed by Ioseph Barnes and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Crowne by Simon VVaterson 1603. TO THE MOST REVEREND and Right Honorable the L. Archb. of Canterbury his Grace Primate and Metropolitane of all England the L. Buchurst L. High Treasurer of England and Chancelour of the Vniversity of Oxford the L. Cecill of Esingden Principall Secretarie to his Maiestie and Chancelour of the Vniversity of Cambridge Lords of his Maiesties most Honorable Privie Counsell MANY and excellent were the blessings which it pleased Almightie God to bestowe vpon this Nation by the Ministery of his chosen servant our late Soveraigne yet none of theÌ„ were comparable vnto these the Purity of Religion perpetually supported by one Vniforme most ancient kind of commendable Church government and the plenty of al manner of good learning abundantly derived from the two Welsprings therof into al the parts both of the Church and Common-wealth For the continuance both of them and the rest it was her wise and happy care to select and take neere vnto her successiuely Men of rare EndowmeÌ„ts personal gifts men of deepe iudgment long experience great moderation loving learning and fearing God Whome therefore shee did place in chiefest authority vnder her that vnder her they might be the greater comfort to the Ministery the better encouragement vnto learning the more noble countenance to Religion and as the Prophet speaketh a Psal 21.6 set as blessings to the whole land In this honorable rancke we cannot Most Reverend Right Honorable without open wrong but acknowledge your Lordships to be second vnto none of all your predecessours The long experience that this kingdome hath had of your honorable Imployments for the maintenance of Religion and learning as your severall places doe speciallie require would checke our want of duty if wee did dissemble it and silence the detraction of any other that should goe about to impeach it Which as wee recount with singuler comfort for the daies that are past so for the present it is the very stay of our harts that the same â—od of his accustomed goodnes hath given the same minde vnto our most gracious and dread Soveraigne to preserue and propagate the same things in Church and Common-wealth by the Godly care prudent counsaile of the very selfesame Persons For had we not vnder his Princely wisedome clemency such immediate Patrones which now with long vse are growne into a very sympathy of our estates to whoÌ„ we might resort in our needful times of trouble it would amate our mindes and vtterly astonish vs in our vnderstanddings to see the insolent endevours straunge attempts of sond Familists absurd Brownists perfidious Papists all of them with importunity and selfe-conceited confidence intending and expecting the innovation of Religion through the overthrow of the Cleargy and ruine of the Vniversities All which notwithstanding had not opened the dores of our lips nor made way to this our iust complaint but that there came to our sight long since An humble petition of a Thousand Ministers at once Which wee may well resemble vnto still running streames which are deepest there where they seeme to be most calme This wee beheld with great sorrow of heart considering how it is repleate with vnthankefulnes towards God for his mercies towards vs with iniury to Her gracious governmeÌ„t whose Memory be precious vnto all posterity with reproach to their Fathers that begot them in the Gospell with preiudice to the Breasts that if they be any thing did give them sucke with contempt of their Brethren and fellow Laborers at the least in the Lordes harvest Howbeit as long as it passed in private vnder the name of a particular motion made to his most excellent Maiestie we lâ—id our handes vpon our mouthes and with due reverence expected in silence the wise resolution of His religious heart But these men as they are impatieÌ„t of delay or els to gaine credite with the people on whom they greatly do rely soone after send forth into al quarters of the Realm store of these pretended Petitions accompanied vvith such lewd false and absurde suggestions as if our noble King had lent their motion a favourable eare and given it some kind of consenting intertainment as if in all this they had done nothing whervnto they were not animated and encouraged by some of speciall credite with his Highnes as if some busie headed strangers had vndertaken their cause and ensured the safe conduit of their weather beaten barge to the haven of their hope Were there any such wee would request them to remember that it is neither manners nor discretion to take vppon them in a State wherein for ought we know they haue nothing to doe It may suffice that they are partakers of the good things of the land let them thanke God and the King and be quiet But wee are verily perswaded there are none such that this as all the rest is given out vnder hand among their credulous adherents onely ad faciendum populum A tricke of theirs with which we have bin long acquainted This course Right Honorable did make vs thinke that nowe they had altered the nature of that foresaide Schedule and of an Intitled Petition to his Maiesty Had made it a covert kind of libell Wherby securely as they thought they might depraue and slaunder not only the CommunioÌ„ booke but the whole estate of the Church as it standes reformed by our late Soveraigne VVhich vndue dishonest practise having so changed the quality of their Petition whether it hath brought the Contrivers and Preferrers of it within the compasse of that statute 1. Elizab and made them lyable to the Penalties of the same we take not vpon vs to determine Howbeit hereof we could not but take notice that by their impunity diverse other very lewdly affected haue in diverse parts of the kingdome presumed to trouble his Maiesty and taxe the state with the like clamorous libelles and defamatory supplications The consideration whereof beganne to admonish vs that now it sorted with our duty to shewe our selues as truly zealous carefully religious in the defence of the Church for the quieting of mens mindes and setling of their consciences by some shorte animadversions vpon their