A petition directed to her most excellent Maiestie wherein is deliuered 1 A meane howe to compound the ciuill dissention in the church of England 2 A proofe that they who write for Reformation do not offend against the stat of 23. Eliz. c. 2. and therefore till matters be compounded deserue more fauour Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the causes of the children appointed to death PROV 31. 8. I beleeued and therefore haue I answered For SIONS sake I will not ceasse and for IERVSALEMS sake I will not holde my tong ESA. 62. 1. Herevnto is annexed Some opinions of such as sue for Reformation By vvhich is made appeare hovve vniustlie they are slaundered by the Bishops c. pag 53. Together vvith the Authours Epistle to the Reader pag. 58. Also Certeyne Articles wherein is discouered the negligence of the Bishoppes their Officialls Fauourers and Follovvers in performance of sundrie Ecclesiasticall Statutes Lawes and Ordinances Royall and Episcopall published for the gouernement of the Church of England pag. 60. Lastlie Certeyne Questions or Interrogatories dravven by a fauourer of Reformation vvhich he desireth to be resolued by the Prelates pag. 74. To the Queenes most excellent Maiestie Elizab. by the grace of God Queene of Englande France and Ireland supreme gouernesse in all causes and ouer all persons within her Maiesties Realmes and Dominions CRauing vppon my knees pardon for my boldnes I beseech your most excelleÌ„t maiesty to heare me a little All your Highnes subiects that loue the religion honour your maiesty and desire the good of the Realme doe hartily bewaile the bitter contentioÌ„ about the questions of reforming the Church Many seeke to increase this contention Some labour to appease it but this will neuer bee till the trueth in these matters be assured in the hearts of both parties I doe not nowe write eyther to pull downe Bishoprickes or erect presbiteries With whom the trueth is I will not determine For I knowe not What seemeth most probable and true to me that I knowe Howe trueth should come to light that is the question Writing of bookes in such manner as is nowe vsed is endlesse wearinesse to the fleshe matter of further contention by reason of impertinent and personall discourses The troubles of Churches and enmitie of Princes wil not admit a generall Councell A free Nationall or Prouinciall Councell at home were much to be wished so that the Bb. and their followers did not ouerrule the rest For it is against religion law and reason that the same men should be both iudges and parties Or if this be not thought so conuenient There is a way deuised and much commended by learned men as a notable meane to compounde controuersies namely priuate conferences by aduised writing not extemporall speaking the question agreed of The arguments thâ— answeres replies and reioinders set downe till both parties had fully said all by-matters laid aside In fine the whole to be published that your maiesty the honourable Councellours and Parliament may iudge thereof that those thinges which on eyther part are founde faultie may be redressed That all thinges be not so cleare with the Bb. but that further conference triall and reformation is requisite appeareth 1 By the lawes established which expect a better and further reformation in Church-causes 2 By the writings of our Diuines in the common cause against the papistes 3 By the confession of the Bb. them selues and such aâ— write in their defence 4 By their suspicious and doubtfull handling of the matters in question 5 By the testimony of learned men and christian Churches who seeme to speake against the gouernment by Bb. and for the gouernement by assisting Elders 1 The lawes expect a further reformation of the Church Your Maiesties most noble Father vnderstanding that the lawes Ecclesiasticall of this lande were corrupt prouided by Parliament that 32. persons should peruse and correct them gathering into one booke those that were good which by his Royall assent should haue the strength of lawe all other Ecclesiasticall lawes to be abandoned out of this Church for euer Maister D. Cranmer and other reuerend men were delegated to this purpose They collected into one booke many good thinges as they thought touching Aduouson of benefices Excommunication for small matters Residence of Vniuersitie men vpon their benefices Mariages without consent of parentes Nursing of children by their owne mother Diuorces for infirmitie of body Pluralities Broken Musicke in Cathedrall Churches Deacons The solemnitie of ExcoÌ„munication and absoâ—ution with the assent of the people and many other things which are directly contrary to the practise and orders of the moderne Bishops But this booke wanteth the Kinges confirmation and the lawes Ecclesiasticall remaine in the same corruption as your Maiesties Father left them notwithstanding the labours of those Reuerend personages and the act of Parliament which was reuiued and confirmed in the beginning of your Highnes most happy reigne 2 Also in the booke of common prayer which was sette forth by your Maiesties brother accepted by your highnes there is prescribed a Commination to bee vsed at a certaine time in the yeare not to continue euer but till an order of Discipline practised in she primitiue Church bee restored which were greatly to bee wished as the authours of that booke doe saie Yet this Commination staÌ„deth and the Discipline there mentioned is yet wanting 3 The booke of ordering Ministers confirmed by lawe presumeth that euery Minister should be a Preacher For at the Ordination the Bishop sayeth Take thou authority to preach the word of God Yet where the Bb. ordeine one Minister that can preach they make twenty that can not 4 â—astly it is enacted That all ornaments of the Church and Ministers thereof such as are Surples Coapes c. shall be retained and be in vse as was appointed by King Edward the 6. not for vnchangeable continuaunce but vntill other order were taken by your Maiestie and your Highnes Ecclesiasticall Commissioners 2 The Defenders of our common cause expect a further Reformation Those thinges in effect be acknowledged by some of our chiefe defendours of religion against the papistes For vvhen they obiect That we are glad to borrowe their ceremonies to haue an apish imitation of their Masâ—e booke answere is returned That diuers abuses in Ceremonies and Discipline were tollerated among vs our Church therein yeelding to the infirmitie of the weaker sorte which were to be altered when people grewe to ryper knowledge 3 The Defenders of the state of Bb. expect further Reformation 1 Al the Bishops in their Canons do confesse that Non-residencie is a filthie thing odâ—ous to men pernicious to the church yet what is more common 2 By the lawes of England in the ordination of Bb. the Archbishop should lay the Bible vpon the Bishops neck
Daneus Vrsinâ—â—s Bullinger Stephen Caluetus Collodanius Tremulius Pinaldus Tauergius Perottus Chaussaeus Bertrandus Carpenterius De Pluâ—re Perilius Henricus Sâ—rranus Calâ—â—s Poâ—â—â—us Gâ—lartius Iacomotus Dupleus Szegedinus Hâ—shâ—sius De Loques Bastinguius Pollanus Snecanus Fulke Rainolds and others most rare politikes of this time especially Euseb. Cosmopolitan and Bodin Bodin hauing discoursed vppon the rising falling conuersion and translation of the principall Empires Kingdomes states and common wealthes in the worlde at length descendeth to the stâ—te of Geneua giueth a very honourable testimony of the great profit aâ—â—sing by the Discipline and Eldershippe to that common wealth â—is wordes be these But this is to be commended in Geneua If there bee any thing in the worlde worthy commendation vvhâ—ch also maketh the common wealth to flour she though not in riches and largenesse of dominion yes surely in vertue and Godlinesse I meane the Discipline of the Ministers or Elders vvhich is as excellent and heauenlie a vvaie as can bee deuised to represse the faultes of men and such enormities as can not bee redressed by anie humane Lawes and iudgementes Yâ—t this censure is according to the rule by Christ prescribed Namely at the first secretlie and friendlie afterwarde somewhat more roundelie and sharpely Then if the partie doe not relent hee is interdicted solemnely and seriously from the participation of the heauenlie misteries If this doth no good then the Magistrate punisheth Whereupon it falleth out that such thinges as are not punishable any where by Lawe are without anie stirre or tumult reformed there by those Censors or Elders who bee greatlie reuerenced among the people by reason of their vertue Therefore it is that no whoores no drunkardes no diâ—ncing no begging no idle persons are to bee founde in that cittie The more popishe and corrupt that this Bodin is the more auaileable and lesse partiall is his testimony in this matter I would to God we might see the like effect in any City or Towne in England wrought by the gouernement of â— Bb. 4 This gouernement by Elders is commended to bee vsed in all Churches for euer by the Churches in France the Lowe Countries in Heluetâ—a in their latter confession whereâ—unto subscribed the Churches of Tigure Beâ—ne Scaphusia Saint Galls Rhetia Myllaine Bienna Geneua Sauoy Polonia Hungary and Scotlande Wherein be thousandes and ten thousandes of the most excellent Diuines vpon earth 5 Lastly this gouernement by Elders â—oyned to the ministers hath beene vsed as I haue heard reported vnder the Emperour in Bohemia the Turke and Bassaes in Hungarie the Papistes in France the Protestant magistrates in Scotland Saxonie Countie Palatine of Rhene Heluetia Sauoy France The lowe Countries Scotlande and many places in Germanie Though some Churches and learned men doe not like of excommunication in which matter they condemne our state yet I protest in the presence of â—â—mighty God that in all the course of my studie touching these controuersies I haue not to my remembraunce founde reade or hearde of any protestant Church or learned man in the worlde who misliketh that certaine Elders or graue personages should iointly gouerne the Church with the ministers but onely wee of England Wherein we at vnwares doe impeach the Parliament and hir maiesty of indiscretion which haue thought most meete to giue the chiefe managing of the Church not into the handes of one Bishoppe but of many ecclesiastical Commissioners vvhereof some bee ministers and some lay men therein resembling an ecclesiasticall Eldership The Bishops wishe that the ecclesiasticall Commission were more common And I thinke if it were settled in 500. places more then it is and should gouerne by the worde of God and lawes of this Realme that there would arise more profit thereby to Religion then yet hath beene founde by the Bb. To drawe towardes a conclusion of this matter It may be that they who haue attained to as sounde knowledge in all pointes of doctrine as any since the Apostles time should mistake in Discipline It may be that they whom the spirite of wisedome hath guided in expounding the scriptures shoulde be alwaies forsaken of that spirite vvhen they came to expounde or speake oâ— a text concerning discipline It may bee that all these lightes of the world which aâ—owe there was a gouernement by Elders in the primitiue and best Church did and doe grope in dâ—rkenesse and that the authours of the Remonstrance and Matthewe Sutcliffes treatises haue founde out the trueth but vntill they haue approued themselues as profitable to the Church as the fourmer vvriters haue done men not partiall will still make scruples in these matters Againe it maie be that the exercise of this gouernement is a matter of confusion discord dishonour to the magistrate puritanisme rebellion a mâ—â—prince a â—arlawe a marstâ—te and mar-all but it is vnlikely that it should be admitted vnder so many Princes Christiâ—nâ— and infidels papists and proâ—estants and commended by such pearelesse Diuines if it deserued any such taxation It is froÌ„ my puâ—pose in this place to dispute which gouernement is better or worse or whether these authorities and testimonies which I call God to witnes I take to be according to the allegation be agreeable to the trueth or otherwise onely I trust I haue sufficiently prooued mine intention namely that Seeing the lawes established expect a further and better reformation Seeing the writiâ—gâ—s of our Diuines in the common cause against the Papistes Seeing the confession of the Bishâ—ps their fauourers Seeing their doubtfull suspicious handling of these contâ—ouersies and Seeing the testimonies of Councells Fathers late writers and Churches imply so much I conclude that things go not so cleare for the Bb. but that further reformation conference or triall is expedient Till which Reformation tryall and conference be aâ—chieued all that bee not blinde in effection doe wiâ—â—e that these followers of Reformation may receiue more curteous vsage then yet appeareth For most gracious Souerâ—â—â—e they bee your maiesties subiectes aswell as the Bb. They be proâ—esâ—ors of your owne religion aswell as the Bb. They be â—mbasâ—adors of Christ Iesus aswell if not more in regarde of their painfulnesse then the Bishops If you will not heare them whom can they fly vnto If you will not pity their manifolde miseries and molestations then they are destitute of humane comforte They deserue fauour They haue brought many to the knowledge of God who otherwise shoulde haue remained captiues vnder Sathan and traytours to your Highnes They are vnreproueable before all men saâ—e in this question of Reformation Wherein if they offende as it maie bee they doe for the best men bee lyable to errour surelie it is to bee thought they fall of ignorance 1 The writings of the Bb. them selues 2 The disputations of our Diuines against the papistes published
Seek of Reformation doe mainteine that their iurisdiction is contrary to the worde of God Not condemning externall honor which is good and godly in it selfe but misliking that it should be accepted by such persons as are disabled and made vncapable there of by the Scripture Thus much for better vnderstanding of this question To proceed 1 There must diuers things concurre to make bookes felonious by this statute First they must be written Aduiseâ—ly against the Queene that is of purpose wittingly not of simplicitie or ignorance Ignorantia factâ— excusat Ignorance of the fact excuseth the fault And therefore as the Prell dealt miâ—â—iouslie with Richard Carmicheill in Scotland in compelling him to burne his bill because in his dreame hee did crie out The Diuell take away the Priestes for they are a greedy packe so if any man in his sleepe or at vnwares shal cast forth diâ—â—amatory wordes against the Queene he is not within this statute Secondly the booke must be writen of malicious intent and as the preamble of the statute is by one ill affected to hir Maiestie and therefore if a man vse such a speach as Burder the Marchant did when he saide He would make his sonne the heire of the crowne meaning his house at the signe of the Crowne not intending any hurt to the King or Crowne of Englande he could not without great iniustice be drawne within this or the like statute Thirdlie the wordes must conteine false and seditious matter therefore if a man shoulde haue saide that the King William Rufus did wickedly who to geâ—t mony of the Iewes caused some coÌ„uerted to Christianity to returne to Iudaisme the fact beeing trew and words not seditious he could not iustly be punished by this or any like statute The Seekers of Reformation hâ—ue not neither doe write Aduisedlie to diffame the Queene for they name not hir Maiestie to any diâ—honor in any of their bookes If the contrary can be proued Currat lex let the offender be punished as he deserueth They onely seeke to haue as they thinke the corruption of the tâ—â—e redressed as â—he Prophetes the holy men of God haue done heretofore without â—â—tending anie dishonour to good Princes such as her Maiestyâ—s The Seek of Reformation write against ignoraunt and vnlearned ministers so the Prophet Esaâ—e liuing vnder the godly king did call the priestes that wanted knowledge Dumbe dogges such as can not barke The Seekers of Reformation write against such as be careles and negligent in feeding the soules that depende vpon them that take the fleece turne ouer the care of the flocke to other so Esaâ—e reprooueth the priestes of his time That lye and sleepe and delight in sleâ—ping And another Prophet taxeth them that did not Keepe the ordinaunces of holy thinges them selues but set other to take charge of the sanctuarie The Seekers of Reformation doe cry out against plurified persons that can not be content with a competent liuing but insatiablie by dispensations and qualifications doe ioine benefice to benefice and charge to charge rather to enriche them selues then benefite the Church against such men did Esaie complaine calling them Greedie dogges that can neuer haue inough euerie one of them looking to his owne waie and to his owne aduantage The Seekers of Reformation write against the ciuill authority and rule of Ministers So Ieremy in the dayes of Iosiah a vertuous Prince condemned Priestes For bearing rule The Seekers of Reformation write to haue the Church throughly purged of all remnants of popery idolatry So the spirit of God did note as a fault euen vnder most excellent Kings That the hâ—e places remained vnremoued All these and many other witnesses of the trueth did speake and write against the state of the Church in Iudah and were not I trust aduised deâ—famers of the Princes vnder whome these corruptions had gotten strength In like maner the writinges of the Seek of Reformation against such thinges as they verilie beleeue to be enormious corruptions can not iustly bee deemed aduisedly and of purpose diffamaâ—orie to hir Highnesse When persecution was most furious in Englande they that wrote most vehemently against the Bishops their proceedings contenanced by lawe were neuer accounted aduised diffamers of the Prince for then they should haue bene reputed and punished as traytours or rebells râ—ther then as sâ—ismatikes and heretikes Neither hath their bene in all the thirtie yeares of her Maiesties most flourishing raigne till within 2. or 3. yeares last part any such conclusion euer made though the same lawes in substance haue bene in force and occasion giuen of great extremity I am perswaded that vpon hearing the matter debated by learned I awiers on the part of the defendantes as lawe and reason would in this matter of difficulty that toucheth life that our reuerende Iudges would at the first make a quaere whether the aduised diâ—â—amation of the Bb. were an aduised diffamation of the Queene Therefore it may well come vnder the title of Newes that the Seekers of Reformation should resolue in a point of lawe wherein the best lawiers may stand in doubt â—f my father were a â— Bishop or a Noâ—resident and â— would write against the state of the Bb. or Nonresidence to make men conformable to the lawe of God it were adsurde to affirme that I did write of purpose and aduisedly to diffame my Father So in our case mutatis mutandis c. Neither doe the Seekers of Reformat write against the iurisdiction of Bb. of any hatred or Malice to the Queene For whosoeuer were King or Queene of England though it were Dauid him selfe they would vvrite to the same effect that they doe nowe It is not like that they malice her Maiesty for sauing the matters in variâ—nce no man can charge them with any shewe of disloyall behauiour They are instant for hir Maiesty in prayer both publike and priuate They detract no duety no imposition no taxe or subsidie as becommeth duetifull and louing subiests It was neuer heard that any one no not one of them did euer attempt any hurt to hir Royall person Search the Rolls looke the Recordes it will appeare that some oâ— them whom England while England indureth shall still with thankfulnes remember haue hazarded themselues asmuch for her Maiesties safety and Englands good as any subiect what soeuer When the Spaniards intended an inuasion the establishment of a forraine potentate in the Sea Royall and the conuersion of this lande into Aâ—eldama a fielde of bloude the Ministers that seeke Reformation gaue great assurance of their affection and loyalty to the Queenes maiesty and the seate They were importunate with the Lord by priuate and publike prayer fasting for the safety of her Royal person before the Bishops or their followers were seen to goe about any such matter And being interdicted by the Bishops such was their zeale to the
state they still continued as they had begun some of them weake in body though strong in spirite preaching three or foure times a day manie daies togither as London can witnesâ—e incouraging the people to fight for the Gospell and for their soueraigne still calling for repentaunce that God might bee mercifull to vs our Prince and Countrie Also when the expedition was made into Portugall they renewed these exercises a fortnight or 3. weekes before the Bishops sent to their fauorers any precepts or instructions to doe the like Is it likely that these men doe malice her Maiesty Surely they malice hir as Esay Ieremy other prophets did malice Ezechiah Iosiah and other godly Kings of Iudah when they reproued the abuses of the Church vnder them seeking that they might flourish in al honour by the due obseruation of the lawe of God adding vertue to vertue and reformation to reformations till Iudah and Ierusalem were clearely purged Is this malice to Princes No. They that hide froÌ„ princes the deformity of a state crying peace peace where no peace is they be the most malicious and pestilent enemies of the state The men that call for Reformation may pretend cause or coulour of cause both in matters of doctrine fact why they may hate the Bishops which in no sorte may be applyed to hir Maiesty The Bishops impugne that which heretofore they haue deliuered as the trueth of God as I haue shewed They confesse there be infinite corruptions in the Church which yet they will not reforme nor sâ—ffer other to sue for amendment or reformation thereof They confesse that by Gods word a Priest and Bishop are all one yet they and their followers make it heresie so to beleeue building vpon Epiphanius who also erroniously in the same place calleth the Bishops and all them heretikes that denie prayer for the dead Which determination of heresie vpon one mans worde as it is against the lawes of this Realme so it wrappeth in heresie both the Syriake Interpreter vvho vseth one worde Kashisha both for Priest and Bishop And also Chrysostome Ambrose Theodoreâ—e Hierome Occumenius Iâ—idore The Canon Lawe in force in Englande which sayeth That the primitiâ—e Church had no other sacred orders but Deaconship and Priesthood Also Wicklef Marsilâ—â—s of Padâ—a Luther Caluin Musculus Hofman Sadel Mornce Marlorate 〈◊〉 Whitakers Fulke Iewell Bullinger The Waldenses Alley Bâ—shop of Excester Lambert Beza Daneus The Magdeburgenses Knitsius Melaâ—â—thon Szegedinus Many Christian Churches and all Protestants that haue writen of this matter who teach expresly that by the trueth of Gods word Bishops and Priestes bee all one and of like authority therfore are condemned by Bellarmine Turrian Dureâ— Spence Harding The Rhemistes Stapleton Sanders Bristowe and other papistes to bee Aertan heretikes euen as the â—b doe account for the same cause all the maintemers of Reformation The enemies to Reformation doe esteeme it an absurde and monstrous thing to holde That a Pastour and Teacher differ in office though the Syriake interpreter doe distinguishe them aswell as Apostle and Euangeâ—ist vith deragnavathâ— vith demalphane which Guido translateth Ephes. 4. 11. Some Pastours and some Teachers And although Musculus Hâ—perius Caluin Martyr Kemâ—tâ—â—s Bezâ— Sadeel Danâ—us Szegedinus Hemingius Bucer Bertrand de Loques Villiers Iunius and tâ—n Protestante Churches as Maister Rogers confesseth doe account of them as distinct callings The Bishops doe affirme that by the common exposition of all writers Christ by katakyrieuâ—in Matth. 20. 25. doeth onely prohibite in the ministerie tyrannâ—call not lawfull Lordly rule yet of all these writers they can onely name threc or foure whereas the Seekers of Reformation may produce Luther Zuinglâ—us Melancton Caluin Bullinger Hemingius Illiricus Gualter Nowell Iewell Sadâ—â—l Beza Munster Bridges against the papistes Bilson Broughton Rainolds Withers Whitakers Snâ—canus Szegedinus Fulke Erastus and the Churches of Bohemâ—a who say that Christ speaketh there of lawfull Lordely rule for bidding his Apostles and Ministers of the Gospell to vse the same The 〈◊〉 and their friendes adiudge it a popedome and tyranny to excommunicate Princes although themselues do excommunicate inferiour Magistrates whom the Scripture doth honour with the hie title of Gods aswell as the most glorious Emperour and although both Bucer Caluin Snâ—canus De Loques Beza Daneus Zanchius Nowell Poinet Bishop of Winchester Iewell Bâ—â—son and Bridges do by their doctrine in priuiledged bookes approue the same The Bb. charge the Seek of Reformation flatlie and fullâ—â— to agree with the papistes in the article of the Princes Supremacie in matters Ecclesiasticall yet the Seek of Reformation differ froÌ„ them in these substantiall pointes following 1 They giue the Prince authoritie ouer all persons ecclesiasticall whatsoeuer the papistes exempte their cleargie 2 They holde that a Prince may depose a priest as Salomon did Abiathar and accordingly they obey being silenced the papistes deme it 3 They affirme that if Priests do make wicked decrees that the Prince may enforce them to better the papistes denie it 4 They say that Princes may and ought to make lawes for the Church but with the aduise of godly Pastoures the papistes denie it 5 They hold that if the Pastours be vnlearned and vngodly the Prince may of himselfe without their assent or aduise make orders and lawes for ecclesiasticall matters the papistes doe vtterlie denie Lastly they will subscribe in this point to the Articles of Religion established by lawe to the Apologie to the Church of England to the writers of M. Iewell M. Nowell M. Horn Maister Whitakers Maister Bâ—â—son Maâ—ster Rainoldes M. Fulke for I protest I haue sought but found nothing in these mens writinges touching this matter that dissenteth from the opinions of them that sue for Reformat Besides they take the othe of the Supremacie as hir Maiestie and the Parliament doeth expound it Whereupon by expresse allowance of law they are in that respect hir Maiesties good and obedient subiectes and they that inforce more vpon them in this point of the Magistrates authoritie then that othe vvith the Queenes exposition therof comprehendeth are vpon hir Maiesties roy all woorde and enact of lawe Malicious persons Furthermore the Bb. saye That the generall opinion of the best writers is against the gouernement by Elders vvhere as they can name onely foure whereof Caluin and Beza are two who
be true In Parliaments that concerned the Bb. as parties they haue bene excluded But the law and state of England you will say accouÌ„t these things False So the lawes of other nations account them true In matters of God as is the gouernement of the Church the lawes of God ought to determine trueth and falâ—hood They only should informe the conscience of Iudges There is not alia veritas Theologica alia Philosophica one trueth in Diuinitie another in Philosophie or humanity That distinction is false and contradictory God is one his worde one his worke one his trueth one We may aswell say There be two Sunnes as two Truethes respectiuely in one thing The worde of God not lawe of man is the touchstone of this trueth Iustice Gascoine being demaunded of King Henrie the 4. what he would doe if a man guiltles in his owne knowledge vvere founde guilty of murther by verdict afore him made this aunswere although the verdict was as good in lawe as any lawe That hee would respite iudgement and craue the Kings pardon for the partie conuicted With which answere the King was well pleased Whereby we learne that our owne knowledge and the lawe of God assured in our conscience ought rather to guide our iudgement then the verdict of law or testimonie of men Seeing then that the seekers of Reformat haue not writen neither doe write Aduisedly Maliciously or Falslie muchlesse both Aduisedlie Maliciouslie and Falslie to diffame her Maiesty for the wordes be in the copulatiue I conclude in this generally negatiuely to the aduersaries argument though I should admit it to be true yet considering these things doe not coÌ„curre in writing of bookes for Reformation that they bee not within compasse of this statute 2 This statute is not meant of her maiesties lawes her politike members or state of Bb. but only of her Highnes Royall person as appeareth by wordes and drift thereof It is taken almost verbatim from an act made by King Philip Queene Marie which throughout still aimeth at their owne persons Of whom the statute saieth but could not meane of their members politike or lawes Wee are forbidden by Gods lawe so much as to thinke ill much lesse to speake ill This act determined with Queene Maries life In this statute of 23. the preamble importeth that it vvas made to suppresse such persons as were ill affected to her maiestie The body of the lawe bendeth against them onely that slaunder the Queenes most excellent Maiestie that nowe is By the last prouiso in it this acte hath no longer continuaunce then during the naturall life of hir Maiestie that nowe is The state of Bb. vnles God shorten it and the politike members and lawes if speciall prouisoes doe not choake them are to continue euer Wherefore this statute being meant of her Maiesties naturall person which is subiect to mortality aswell as other and not of her body politike which liueth euer they that diffame the members of the body politike can not be truely saide to diffame the Queene as this statute doeth intende 3 By the wordes of this statute If any offendâ— in vvriting bookes to the diffamation of the Queene the same offence not beeing made treason by any other statute such diffamation shalbe deemed felonie By the wordes Other statute is meant among the rest a lawe made 13. Eliz. c. 1. Whereby it is enacted that whosoeuer shall publâ—she that her Highnes is an heretike schismatike tyraÌ„t c. shalbe punished as a traytor By comparing these statutes which haue apparant relation the one to the other it should seeme that by the one namely that of 23. her maiesties honour is protected from peâ—ite slaunders such as in temperancy vncleanenesse and such like and by the other grand slanders are preuented as heresie schisme tyranny and such like The one adiudged felony the other treason Out of which statutes I reason thus If the Seekers of Reformation diffaming her maiesties lawes and members politike doe diffame the Queene and are there fore felons by the statute of 23. Eliz. then they that in a higher degree diffame the lawes and body politike doe diffame her Highnes and are traytours by the statute of 13. Eli. But the papistes diffaming her maiesties lawes in making the articles of Religion established by law flat heresies and accounting of the Bishops as hereticall schismatical and vsurping doe diffame the lawes and members politike of the Queene in a higher degree then the Seekers of Reformation yet were neuer taken and punished as traytours for diffaming the Queene though they haue by monstrous conspiracies horrible practises giuen cause of extreame rigour Therefore the seekers of reforma diffaming the Queenes lawes and body politike doe not diffame the Queene nor are felons by the statute of 23. Elizab. 4 Euery penall lawe concerning life is to be expounded strictly according to the literall and grammaticall sence not by inference or equity as appeareth by these examples There is a statute that whosoeuer doeth call her Maiestie heretike bee traytours as I noted before The papistes call all Protestants in generall Heretikes yet they be not for such speeches drawne within the statute though they doe inclusiuely call the Queene heretike Moreouer None that feloniously steale horses shall haue their cleargie Accessories to stealers of horses be stealers of horses both by the lawe of God before whome euery sinner is a principall and by the lawe of this lande For if they cannot reade they shall suffer as felons Yet accessories to stealing of horses shall haue their cleargie though in nature there is the greatest proximity and in argument the most equall inference and easie slide from the generall 〈◊〉 the speciall that can be imagined Lastlie because I will not insist in a matter so common the same statute of stealing of horses affordeth the like learning Therein it is saide that No stealer of horses in the plural number shall haue his cleargie Which number is often in common speach and in penall lawes touching landes goods taken Synecdochechios for the singulare Yet King Edwardes Iudges pursuing the precise letter of the statut were so scrupulous for the life of a man that they durst not deny the benefite of the Cleargie to him that had stolne one horse Whereupon the wise of Englande whome we are more to regarde then any one man made a newe I awe That whosoeuer stole any horse should not be admitted to his cleargie These Iudges that would not wrest a law one heare breadth against a horse stealer would haue bene as fauourable to honest Christians But some thinke that we haue cheuerel lawes that may be recked stretched at mens pleasure wheras penall lawes that touch mans life haue beene alwaies expounded in a most strict sence This statute of 23. is a penall lawe concerning the body life of man The expresse syllables and wordes directed onely against them that diffame
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
word 13 That euery Congregation professing the faith and obedience of Christ might haue one or two sufficient Teachers faithfully labouring in the word of God doctrine so mainteyned as they might keepe hospitalitie not hindred or intangled with ciuill offices wherby their flocke should be neglected 14 That euery such Congregation might haue assistant to their teachings Elders some of the fittest best most godly of the church who should ioin the Teachers with the ecclesiasticall ruling and gouerning of the Church according to the worde of God 15 They would not haue these me any whitt to encroch vpon the Maiesties authoritie to punishe anie man externallie with any pecuniary or corporal penaltie but that they also be subiect to the higher powers keepe theÌ„selues within the compasse of their calling for the seruice of the Church as Christ hath appointed 16 That in euery such Congregation there might bee some appointed of the most honest and sufficient men to gather for the poore to keepe the Church treasurie for the vses of that Church and to the relife of the poore among them other neighbour churches 17 That also there might bee appointed some graue and olde Helpers or Widowes qualified as the Apostle commaundeth 1. Timoth. 5. 5. 9. 10. to thend the sicke aged friendlesse and needy of the Church and as they coulde other neighboures or wayfaringe men that people might not languishe or dye in our streetes and high wayes for want of reliefe as is most pitifully to beholde in manie places 18 That all these shoulde bee chosen and ordeyned in such manner and by such persons as the woorde of GOD the practise of the best primitiue and â—od erne Churches doeth warrant 19 That if any dissention growe or cause of 〈◊〉 bee giuen in any particular Church by the Minister or Officers the partie grieued might appeale to a particular Synode from the particular Synode to a Prouinciall Synode from a Prouinciall Synode to a nationall Synode Which Synodes should bee appointed at sett times The more particular the Synode is the more often the Synode for the time to bee moderated by some fitt man chaungeably by election that might write speake and praye in behalfe and at the direction of the rest Or the paâ—tie grieued might appeale from the particular Congegration or Synode immediatlie or at the firste instaunce to the Magistrate vvho oughte to punishe both the Ministers and other ecclesiastical officers if they abuse their places and authoritie not vsing them according to the direction and warrant of the worde of God 20 They doe not meane that there shoulde bee appointed presently and out of hande these Officers aâ—oresaide in euery of our Churches as they now stande for there do lacke Ministers and people fitt for these purposes but they humbly desire that such people as be alreadie capable hereof and willing to liue as becommeth the Churches of Christ might as they are commaunded by Christ so also bee permitted by the Magistrate thus to ioyne and walke togither according to the worde of God that it might be enacted and required also by publike authoritie of the Magistâ—at that all they should execute their offices and liue in such â—orte manner and 〈◊〉 as Christ hath giuen direction to his Church in his vvill and Testament a that withall good ordâ—r might bee taken for trayning vppe of youth for the ministerie of the Church and thus at length by the blessing of GOD all her Maiesties subiectes vvhich will walke as the Churches of Christ might be furnished guyded and gouerned in manner aforesaide and so 〈◊〉 in all christian and duetifull obediâ—nce to God and her Maiestie 21 They doe professe and protest that they can and will auowe this ReformatioÌ„ which they desire to be most agreeable to the Scriptures to haue the testimony of the best and most learned men that haue bin since the Apostles that it is not preiudiciall to hir Maiestie to the Lawes to the state but profitable euery way and commaunded by Christ to bee 〈…〉 his Church vnto the ende of the worlde both vnder 〈…〉 HeatheÌ„ Magistrates as they make challenge to proue 〈◊〉 all the learned men in the worlde that are contrary 〈◊〉 if they may be heard This is the summe of their professed opinions and of the Reformation desired as I doubte not but they will testifie if they bee called in question to acknowledge the same They that condemne them vppon their aduersaries reportes who intollerablie doe slaunder them in manie thinges and are altogither partiall in their ovvne cause doe shewe them selues to bee men of smal discretion or Christian charity To the godlie Reader MAruell not good Reader that iÌ„ doe not affixe my name to this my Treatise It is not knowen who was the vâ—riter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes and of diuerse other monumentes of hâ—lie Scripture neyther of sundry bookes published heretofore of latter daâ—es in defence of the doctrine and gouernement of our Church in England If a truth nothing but the truth be deliuered it skilleth not whether the professor therof be knowen or not Wherfore I doe iustlie coÌ„deÌ„ne the vaine cuâ— iositie of some vndisâ—reet persons vvho beeing placed in noe degree of authoritie are not content to eniâ—â—e the fruites of other mens labours with thankesgiuing but doe continuallie exercise and trouble them selues in calculating and diuining vvho bee most likelie to bee the authours and procurers of their good If they had anie consideration of the 〈◊〉 of the time vvherein an indifferent vvell vviller maie scarcely bee hearde to speake the trueth or if they vveighed the grâ—euous molestations to others and vnprofitable pleasure that maie hereby ensue vnto them selues they woulde bridle these vnrulie longing affections least that they preuayling against them in needelesse trifles doe at length gâ—tte ground vppon them in greater matters Rahab hath procured to hir selfe a memorable commendation for hiding Gods seruauntes when their aduersaries and her Maisters sought to apprehende them If the holy man that wrote to the Hebrewes thought it most coÌ„uenient in godly policy to keep his name vnknowen assuredly they should haue beene deemed curious and idle brained that would eyther haue beene inquisitiâ—e to know the same or hauing knowledge thereof would foolishlie haue blabbed it abroad to others Which thinges I speake rather in behalfe of others than in feare of axie danger that might growe vnto my selfe by this enterprise For first that which I haue writen cannot I trust offende anie reasonable and not partiallie affected person or if it doe the vprightnesse of mine owne conscience and loyaltie both to this Church and commonwealth will I hope inable me to sustaine and eâ—dure with cheerefulnesse all the malice and displeasure of anie enemie to a godlie peace Secondlie I doe not desire at any mans hands the fauour of concealement in this action For although I haue attempted and published this my trauell without