Princes that looked towards Reformation Mr. Hooker Your advice we highly value as esteemed by us the most learned and wise man that ever the French Church did enjoy since the hour it enjoyed you yet you must understand that it did not become you to obtrude upon the Church of England a new way you had found out for the City of Geneva agreeable to the temper of that people and that time so disagreeing with our temper and our time especially since you could not bring that way to Geneva it self without the consent of the people Two things of principal note there are which deservedly procure you honour throughout the Christian World 1. Your exact institutions of Christian Religion 2. Your no less industrious exposition of Scripture according to those institutions in which two things whosoever bestowed their labour after you you gained the advantage of prejudice against them if they gainsaid you or of glory above them if they consented yea that which you did in the establishment of your way was harmless as being necessary but what you have taught for the countenance of it established is blame-worthy because out of love to your own prudent invention you endeavour to perswade the World that what you found out as yesterday was established by God since the beginning of Christianity we take it not well that what you with much ado imposed upon your own people by your own should be imposed upon us as from Divine Authority and that you should to that purpose disparage the antient Rites of the Church as Ineptiae nugae trifles and I know not what O Mr. Calvin Mr. Calvin There will come a time when three words uttered with charity and moderation shall receive a far more blessed reward then three thousand Vollumes written with disdainful sharpness of wit We wonder that you who said That you did highly approve a Forme of Prayer Doctrine and established Administration of Sacraments which it should not be lawful for the Ministers themselves to neglect that Provision might be made for the ignorant and unskilful 2. That the consent of the Churches might be more apparent 3. That Order may be taken against the desultory levity of them who delight in Innovations We wonder that you should encourage some Zelots at home and abroad to procure so many alterations of and enemies to the Common Prayer in the year 1547. and 3. of King Edward the sixth in so much that Reverend Father Latimer was faine to say in a Sermon before King Edward a little before his Death That the Admiral was gone I heard say he was a seditious man a contemner of Common Prayer I would there were no more in England well he is gone I would he had left none behind him Bish. Bancroft Mr. Calvin was not the only man that disturbed the peace of our Church by countenancing these Innovations and practising in Court City Country and Universities by his Agents till he had laid the first Foundation of the Zuinglian faction who laboured nothing more then Innovation in Doctrine and Discipline Court We pray you Sir what was the maine engine that Mr. Calvin used to bring his way into so much credit and esteeme among us Bish. Bancroft By insinuating to some men well affected the practise of the poor reformed Churches who not being able to set up the Primitive were over-ruled by his authority to comply with his way and gaining an improvident Indulgence unto John a Lasco with a mixt multitude of Poles and Germans to have the Priviledge of a Church for him and his distinct in Government and Worship from the Church of England by Letters Pattents in St. Augustine neer Broadstreet to be hereafter called the Church of the Lord Jesus whence we may observe 1. Of what consequence it is totolerate any people though never so inconsiderable in a way of separation Mr. Durel Dr. Basile Whereas it was suggested by several that most Reformed Churches walked in the way of Calvin and that the Church of England must submit to that way to preserve its Communion with other Churches We will make it appear that there is no Rite Ceremony or order of the Church of England but is observed in some of the Reformed Churches and some of them are observed in all Court Thus encouraged from abroad and indulged at home that party began to appear more publickly And you Mr. Bucer and Dr. Peter Martyr must needs seruple at some Ceremonies Vestments the one as Kings professor at Cambridge the other as Margaret professor and Cannon of Christ-Church in Oxford though with such moderation as that we have no more to say to you but that we are sorry the oversight of those times furnished the Universities and filled up the Chaires with men of your Principles to lay up in those nurseries of Religion and Learning the seed of a separation dissent and chisme that may continue as long as this Church stands we are sorry to hear that you Doctor Bucer refused some Ceremonies at Cambridge especially that you would not use a square Cap because forsooth your head was Round We are sorry likewise that you Dr. Martyr should encourage the Nonconformists in your Letter July 1. 1550. by saying that You thought it most expedient to the good of the Church that they and all others of that kind should be taken away when the next opportunity should present it self for say you as we iudge unchariteably Where such Ceremonies are so stiftly contended for as are not warranted and supported by the word of God there commonly men are less sollicitous of the substance of Religion then they were of the cicumstances of it and that you say in your Letter of the 4. Nov. 1559. that you never used the Surplice when you lived in Oxford though you were then a Cannon of Christ-Church and frequently present in the Qaire And for your part John a Lasco you might have been contented with the great indulgence of a gracious Soveraign to set up a Church with an express order to all the Bishops of the Realm not to disturbe you in the free exercise of your Religion and Ecclesiastical Government notwithstanding that you differed from the Government and formes of Worship established in the Church of England and not have abused his Majesties goodness so far as to appear in favour of the several factions which then began more openly to shew themselves against the established orders and laudable Customes of the Church and to write that scandalous Book called Forma Oratio totius Ecclesiastici Ministerij much to their encouragement who impugned all Order and Discipline and you must countenance those that refuse to wear the Cap and Surplice and to write to Dr. Bucer to declare against them for which you were severely reproved by that moderate and Learned man Doctor Martyr Doctor Bucer and John a Lasco Truly we are very sensible of the great favours we
I shall informe your Honours what I know in this matter Court Where did they meet Mr. Stone 1. At London in Travers Egertons Gardiners and Barbers House 2. in Cambridge at St. Johns 3. in Northampton at Mr. Johnsons and Snapes house 4. at Kettering in Mr. Dammes and my House Court When did they meet Stone 1. Since the beginning of the last Parliament of which they had great hopes Court Who met Stone Cartwright Travers Egerton Clark Gardiner Brown Barber Somerscales Chatterton Gyfford Allen Edmunds Gellibrand Culverwell Oxenbridge Barbon Flud Snap Johnson Sibthorpe Edwards Spicer Fleshwore Harrison Littleton Williamson Rushbrook Baxter King Proudtome Mastre Bradshaw Dammes Pallison Okes Atkinson and my Self and several Schollars of Oxford and Cambridge Court This is ingenuously done of you Mr. Stone and we look upon you as a man in whom there is no guile Stone I can do nothing against but for the Truth let Truth and Justice take place et ruet Mundus L. B. L. Thus one Linke being slipped out the whole chaine was quickly broken and scattered this one discovery marred all their meetings there being none now that could trust or be trusted Court Yet they were not quiet but being disappointed one way they attempted another for one Travers ordained beyond Sea and of so great repute among that party that with Mr. Cartwright he was invited to be a professor at St. Andrews upon Mr. Melvins motion being setled at the Temple a Lecturer endeavoured to gaine the great Interest of the Law on his side and there opposed Mr. Hooker about predestination the Church of Rome c. with a design as some think to make parties there for other purposes untill he was silenced by the Arch-Bishop 1. because he was not lawfully ordained 2. because he preached without Licence 3. because he had disturbed the peace and that wholsome order of Her Majesties That no Opinions should be publickly refuted but that notice should be given to the Ordinary to hear and determine such cases to prevent publick disturbance L. B. C. It was that he looked for that he might as he did afterwards in a supplication to the Councel set his Patron Cecil and others to revive the Good old Cause which if opposed by others as he knew they would be would be Patrons to that Cause if not for conscience yet for their honour Court He knew that if once great men be inveigled to appear they will go through with It. What became of this Master Travers L. B. W. When he could not prevaile in England he went to try whither he might reforme Ireland and to that purpose very cunningly got to be Priest of Trinity Colledge neer Dublin where he might have the advantage to instill his Principles into the Youth of that Nation and so secure to himself and Part if not this yet the next Generation Court Now it may be presumed that the Church of England had rest round about P. H. Not so for these men finding that people were weary of small diffences about Cap Surplice c. that they might have some just occasion to oppose the Church one Dr. Bound set up Judaisme in a Book asserting that Christians are bound to as strict an observation of the Sabbath as the Jewes by a precise rest from all recreations feasts study and whatsoever but praying hearing reading and holy conference which Doctrine was very taking for its own purity and their piety that owned it Court The cunning of these men while the Bishops are providing for Ecclesiastical authority against their Discipline they leave that as not so considerable among the vulgar and set up extraordinary directions for the Lords day which while the Church opposed it was looked upon as ungodly and prophane and now it was that this party got the opinion of purity and holiness among the people which was no small advantage to their Cause the piety of the persons being a fair way to perswade the world of the truth of their opinions but how were these men maintained when they were suspended P. H. Mr. Cartwright had a Catalogue of sixteen hundred sixty three Patrons who allowed the least of them five pounds a year towards the maintainance of that way and it is observed of him that he was very rich and it s known that Mr. Travers left Zion Colledge an excellent Library with 60 l. worth of Plate Court Some of them gained more by their private conferences then by their publick preaching they could otherwise have expected CHAP. IV. King James Reign COurt But now Queen Elizabeth was dead these men thought they were sure of King James who was alwaies bred under them and frighted to their way in his Mothers belly what was their carriage upon that alteration Sand. One Mr. Pickering a Northamptonshire Gentleman a favourer of that way rid post with the newes of Queen Elizabeths death to King James and no doubt took his occasion to urge something in favour of the Nonconformists but how far and with what answer he moved the King is uncertain But Dr. Tho. Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by Whitgist brought back a wellcome answer of his Majesties purpose to uphold and maintaine the Government of the late Queen as she left it setled Court King James foresaw the dismal things the World was to look for from those men as appeares by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He knew that a Presbytery as well agreeth with Monarchy as God and the Devil they are his own words He knew no Bishop no King L. B. C. Yet Mr. Cartwright dedicates his Comment on Ecclesiastes to King James and the Presbyterians prepared a Petition before hand against the Parliament sat managed by Mr. Hildersham Mr. Egerton which though called the millenary Petition yet with seven hundred and fifty two Preachers hands was it presented to the King and Parliament Court How did the King like this canvasing for hands L. B. E. His Majesty foreseeing that they were likely to trouble him and the next Parliament granted them a Conference at Hampton Court where Dr. Reynolds Sparkes and Mr. Knewstubs and Chadderton appeared on the one hand Bishops Bancrost Mathew Bilson Babington Rudd Watson Robinson and Dove Dr. Andrews Overall Borlow and Bridges Field and King appeared Court What did they desire Dr. R. 1. That the Doctrine of the Church of England should be kept pure for now to make us more odious they quarelled with our Doctrine 2. That good Pastors might be planted in all Churches to teach the same 3. That Church Government might be sincerely ministred according to Gods Word 4. That the Book of Common Prayer might be fitted to more increase of Piety Court What would they have altered in the Doctrine A. They would have predestination and perseverance more clearly held forth Court By all meanes and the Church must be now looked upon as unsound in Doctrine as it was afore corrupt in Discipline yea the nine Lambeth Articles and all the controversies about them
This cut off all the Orthodox men that were already root and branch but what care did they take of the next Generation A. C They furnished the Universities with active men that might instill their Principles into all the Youth yet lest some honest men as D. H. Dr. S. Dr. G. and others should take care for the succession of true Ministers by encouraging some youth to embrace the antient Catholique and Apostolique way they set up a company of Triers as Manton Caryl Nie c. at Church door as it were who were to take care that every man should be true to their faction before he were admitted to any place bestowed upon him L. O. Yea and least any man that was approved by the Triers should afterwards embrace any of the antient Rites and orders of the Church of England they set up in the several Counties Commitees of Ejection who upon the first discovery of an Orthodox man had power to render him uncapable of any livelyhood in the Church L. W. And that they might be sure of the following age they set up new Ordinations and new associations of Ministers L. I. Yea and rather then fail if they had not the Clergy to serve their turn they were resolved to take away Tythes and all the setled maintenance of Ministers and to let into the Church all persons whatsoever that were well affected to themselves and the good Old Cause in somuch that we were like to be all Teachers and no Hearers yea in a word they intended to destroy all Law Order Civility Learning and pure Religion before God and undefiled they denyed the being of the Church and so began to set up a new Church but that God who seteth in Heaven laughed at their devices and brought their Counsel to nought CHAP. VI. King Charles the Seconds Reign COurt When a miracle restored the Church and a wonder defeated these prosperous Parties to their own and the worlds amazement we presume that they acquiesced in it and thought this is the Lords doing and it is marvelous in our sight stand off from these designes lest we be found fighters against God R. L. Especially when besides a providence that might awe these men there came along with his Majesty so much Clemency mercy and goodness as made him ready to condescend as far as reason honour ' or conscience would give him leave and content to yield them all that seemed to advance true piety he onely desiring to continue what was necessary in point of order maintenance and authority to the Church Government and what he was perswaded was agreeable to the true Principles of Government raised to its full stature and perfection as also to the Primitive and Apostolical pattern and the practice of the universal Church conforme thereto nor were the remaining differences so essential to the peoples happiness or of such consequence as in the least to have hindred the Subjects security or prosperity for the best enjoyed both many years before those demands were made Court But the violence of these men was not so allayed R. L. No as soon as ever the King set foot on English ground Smectymnuus was Re-printed the Covenant maintained the Kings engagement in Scotland was urged and many more pestilent Papers whose common business was by affronting the Law and slattering the rabble to cast all back into a confusion a multitude of persons are dissatisfied to whom his Majesty must either yield or endanger himself and three Kingdomes whereby they extorted from his Majesty an Interim or a Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical assaires which allowed them their own liberty untill his Majesty could with the advice of his Divines take further order Court Where they herewith satisfied L. R. No for I do not well remember where ever that party was ever satisfied with less then all allow these people their askings in what concernes their Discipline will they rest quiet there without further hankering after the Legislative power the Milita or some such thing C. How did they proceed R. L. They endeavoured to settle that temporary indulgence for ever in Parliament and when that would not do they endeavour to confirme the people in what they had taught them formerly and urged his Majesty to a Conference which he granted them at the Savoy between Mr. Baxter Dr. Seaman Mr. Calamy Bishop Reynolds Dr. Jacomb Dr. Manton Dr. Conant Dr. Spurstow and Dr. Gunning Dr. Pearson Dr. Peirce c. C. What was the success of that Conference R. L. The same with all others of that nature whence both parties go away as firme in their several Opinions as they came it was not very likely that a day or two's conference should perswade them out of that way out of which the last hundred years law power and reason could not force them C. It 's strange to see a few people endeavouring to impose upon a whole Nation it's strange that a novel and vulgar imagination should bear down an Apostolical institution that a private opinion should consist with a publick and solemn sanction R. L. Yet what these men could not do by argument they endeavour by policy using all meanes to secure to themselves the next Parliament by the most notorious canvasing that was seen this twenty years elections being carried with much partiality and popular heats in most places by the last endeavour of a gasping faction C. It is well they kept themselves within the compass of private policy and design R. L. Not so for at first all the lesser factions were hid in Presbytery till time and military success discovering to every one his own advantage invited them to part into several parties as Independents Anabaptists Quakers Fifth-Monarchy men who all before the King came drove on their several designes but were united since as against a common enemy C. Then these factions grew to the same excess with them in Germany who were at first an harmless people but at last made havock of all Order Law peace Religion c. and whatsoever is sacred among Mankind But what did they attempt R. L. They contrived a design so comprehensive as might take in the whole stream and strength of discontent and faction in the Nation a design for liberty of Conscience in Religion for ease of all payments as Taxes Tythes c. in estate for recovery of King and Bishops Lands to the thousands that bought them of selling all in common to all the poor people that in quiet times could not live C. O their cunning they knew that they were inconsiderable untill discontents drave men into sidings as ill humours fall to the disaffected part so all who affected any novelties or complained of any grievances adhere to that way as the most remarkable and specious note of difference in point of Religion But did they break out into any violence R. L. Yes they set up a desperate party to break the Ice as Venner c. according to whose success the rest were ready to