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FROM THE LIBRARY OF
LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D.
BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO
THE LIBRARY OF
PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
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M Brieff diſcöure off the troubles begonne at Franck ford in Germany Anno Domini 1854. Abowte the Booke off off common prayer and Ceremonies / and conti⸗ nued by the Engliſhe men theyre / to thende off Q. Maries
Kaigne / in the which diſcours / the gentle reader ſhall {ee the very originall and beginninge off all the contention that bathe byn / and what was ttilhe cauſe off the ſame.
vy
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Wi Tine’ | Rare. 4. For there is nothinge hid that (hall not be o⸗ pened neither is there a ſecreat but that it ſhall co
me to light / yff anie man bane cares to heare / let bim heare.
1 * 21
<Any OF PN ek MAY 16 1992
Lf
. The Preface. To the Chriſtian readers / grace
mercy / and peace in Chrifte Jefe our Lorde.
m= J Vche as doo well obſerue the .) varietie of mẽnes Judgemen e ies abowte ctheſe matters off e cõtrouerſie / and the ſuppoſed 5 cauſes of the ſame / ſhall finde
to beholde / and paſſinge ſtran ge to heare. But who ſo ſhall well waye and cõſi⸗ der / what extreame calamities and miſertes this broile bathe brought with it to manic godly per fons whiche vnfainedly feare god: the fame mu⸗ ſte off foꝛce / as I think (iff he haue but one drop off humanitie within him) drawe forthe deepe and ſorowfull fighes from the harte / and teares from the eyes. To paſſe oner ſundrie J will note but this one. where as in tymes paſte (bothe at Paules croſſe and other places) the ſoundes w⸗ biche were wont to be ſo ſweete as might inſtely haue moued the godly hearers to crye owte with the Prophet E ſay O howe beutifull are the feete off them which bring glad ty dinges off peace / ꝛc. are nowe become ( commonly fo ſoure and vnſa⸗ nery / that in ſteede off ſweetnes / is founde litle oꝛ nothinge but woꝛmewood and * gall, And i yet
a 18 r ae eee a. ry a «tao ae 8 „
aT ee a
AS 5 yi
yet J ſpeak not off ſuche / whoſe cruell ſcoffin
ge / and vnbridled natures / are to well kno⸗
wen ſo fare to exceede / as fewe / ( diſcreete and
wiſe in dede ) can be muche moued with anie thin ge almoſte they eyther (peat or write: but enen
off thoſe J meane / whofe wiſedomes grauitie /
and lerninge / as the fame claimeth by good viz
ght / dew reuerence to the perſons / bycauſe off
thoſe good giftes whiche God hath beſtowed v⸗
pon them ſo ſhuld it alſo put them in minde (eſ⸗ peciaily in ſuch places) to vſe (me femess ſome o⸗
ther veine. And for fo muche as fore impute the cauſe off all theſe troubles to the ambitious he⸗
ades off certeine ſpeciall perſons / who (honlde
By D. Von. (as hathe bene at Paules croſſe bothe publicly ge in Nouẽ⸗ and very furiouſly declared ſtirr vpp this ſtrif⸗ ber. Annen fe in the churche for that they could not attaine 7 to Biſhopprikes when as other enioned them: Some alſo imputinge it to the ſtrange churches
aſwell beionde the ſeas as here amonge vs rema⸗ yninge / eherby to prouoke the diſpleaſures of the 3 againſt 8 e
. nd ſome ſuppoſinge / yea roaringe owte) ee that this hath As ei ſuch fantaſticall hea me: d esas cã abyde no platfotme but off their owne deuiſinge: J haue for theis and ſuche like conſi⸗
der ations / thought good by a ſhorte and brieff diſcours to let your ſe the verye originall and be ginninge off all this miſerable contention / leauin
3 ge ne⸗
P 8 1 III. ge neuertheles to your diſcreet iudgmentes / who (in theis matters) are to be thought innocente / and who moſt to blame. And as one bothe off credit / learned / and off au thoritte / thought is not onely meete and expedi . ent openly at paules croſſec in preſence off the ho⸗ gy isos, norable and worſhipfull there) to ſignifie vnto | them that ſuch a hotte contention (abowte theis matters had bin / but alſo / noted the place where and the time whan: So Jin this diſcours / thou⸗ prranekford ght it needefull / leaſt happelie that honorable au the place, diẽce might miſtake the matter) to fet fourthe by in Q. Mae writinge the verie order / maner / and proceadin Ves me. ge off the fame; followinge herein the ſteppes off sa ſuch / whom god off his goodnes hath ralſed vp Pisin at all tymes and amonge all nations / to come ot cin rox mit thinges to memorye / whiche bath paſſed with many in common weales / who haue with great fredom other. and libertie byn faffeed to make manifeſt to the whole worlde the ill dealinges enen off Popes / Cardinalls / Emper ours / KAinges and Pꝛinces/ where as( in this diſcours) the higheſt that J ton che (and that with great grieff off hart) are (to my knowledge) but certeine Biſ hopps / and therfore J hope the more to be borne withall / be⸗ ſechinge allmightie god that as by theis my poo⸗ re ſimple tꝛauailes / my meaninge was notſ(either in contempt or ſekinge reuenge) to provoke the farther diſpleaſures off the cane that fo if ij it be
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ry al
tt be his bleſſed will / che fame male finde fauor in in the eies off oure ſoneragine L. the queenes moſt evcellẽt maleſtie / and iht right honorable⸗ whom it hathe pleaſed him to place in high au⸗ thoritie / for whofe proſperitie andwelfare it bee commeth all true and faithfull ſubiects (as they are dutifully bounde) moſte earneſtly to praie.
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V.
ye The hiſtorie. N S Ter that yt had pleaſed the Cag /p \ lorde God to take avwaie for our ſyn⸗
r * nes that noble prince off famous me QE ee morie / kinge Edwarde the ſixthe / and 72 2 ; > 8 had aced / Queene Marie in his rou 8 me .Sundrie godly men afweil ſtran⸗ gers / as off the Engliſ h nation / fledd / d for the libertie off their conſciences / excise ouer the ſeas / ſome into France / ſome into Flanders / and ſome into the high countries off the Em pire / and in the yere of oure lorde. 1554. and the 27. off June ca me Edmonde Sutton / William Williams / William Whiting ham / and Thomas wood / with their companies / to the citie off Franckford in Germany the firfte Engliſ he men / that the re arriued to remaine and abide. The ſame night came one Maiſter Valaren pullan Miniſter / vnto their lodginge / ãd declared ho we he had obtained a churche there / in the name of all ſuche as ſhuld come orote off Englande for the Goſpell / but Eſpecially from Glaſſenbury rohiche were all french men. Anſwere was made him / that as god was to be praiſed / who had moued the Magiſtrats hartes to ſ hewe the frenche ſu⸗ che fauour: Euenſo / for fo muche as fewe off them vnder⸗ ſtoode the frenche tonge / it woulde be ſmall commoditie to
them / or to ſuche as ſhulde come afterwarde to ioyne theme ſelues to that churche.
The nexte daye they communed with Maiſter Morellio
f 8 ’ * 7
* 1 0
1 4 1 9 * 5 * a
another Miniſter of the frenche churche / and alſo wih maiſter
Caſtalio a Senior off the ſame / (bothe off them god!y and ler⸗ ned mẽ) By their aduiſe and connſaile it was determined / ihat a Supplication ſhulde be drawẽ owt / and offred to the Magi giſtrats / to knowe / firſte whither they woulde be contented / that not onely the parties before named / but alſo all other En⸗ gliſ he men that woulde repaire thither for the like cauſe / mi⸗ ght through their fauour be fuffred ſaffely to remame wuhin Nich. then
a their city. This application was ſubſcribed afwell by the ſa⸗
yed Sutton / whirtingam / and the reſte off the Englifbe men / as alſo by Morellio / Caſtallio / and one Adrian a Cit⸗ tezẽ there / withrohom they lodged. And within three daies af⸗ ee vp off their Supplication / they obtained their requeftes, : eer eo Ches. off July followinge / labor was made(by the cous ſaile and aduice off Morellio and Caſtalio( who duringe their iyues ſhewed them ſelues fathers to all Engliſhe men) to Maiſter John Glawberge one off the chiefeſt Senators / for a piace or churche / wherin they and all their country men might haue gods worde truly preached / and the Sacraments ſincerely miniſtred in their naturall tonge / who ientlie pro⸗ miſed his furtherance / and that he alſo woulde move the who le Senate theroff / the whiche he did accordingly. And the 14. daie off the ſame monethe yt was graunted that they ſhulde haue libertie to preache and miniſter the Sacraments / in that churche which the freche men had / the frẽche one daie and the Enghͤſhe an other date and vps the Sundaie / to chuſe alſo thẽ houres as they coulde agree amonge them ſelues / but yt was with this commandement / that the Engliſ he ſhulde not die ſcent from the frenchmen in doctrine / or ceremonyes / leaſt
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they (bulde thereby miniſter occafion off offence / and willed
farzher / that beforethey entred their churche / they ſhulde aps proue and ſubſcribe the ſame confeſſion off faith / that the fren che men had then preſented / and abowte to put in printe / to the whiche all the afore named (and others whiche were by
this time come tbither)did{ubferibe, - When the churchs was in this forte graunted / they cone ſulted amonge themſelues / what order of feruicerbey ſhulde vſe (for they were not ſo firicly bownde / as was tolde them / to the ceremonies off the frenche / by the Magiſtrats / but that iff che one allowed off the other it was ſufficient.) At lenght / the engliſ be order was peruſed / and this by generall conſente was concluded that the anſweringe alo rode after the Mini⸗ ſter ſhulde not be vſed / che letanye / ſurplice / and many other thinges alſo omitted / for that in ihoſe reſormed baie : e thin⸗
VII.
che ihinges wonlte ſeeme more then ſtrange. It was farther agreed vppon / that the Miniſter (in place off the Enguſ he € onfeffion ( bulde vſe an other / bothe off more effecte / and alſo framed accordinge to the ſtate and time. And the ſame ended / the people to ſinge a pſalme in mectre in a plaine tune as was / and is accuſtomed in the frenche / dutche / Italian / Spani{ be / and Skottiſhe churches / that don / the miniſter ta praye for thaſſiſtance off gods holie ſpirite and fo toproceas de to the ſermon. After the ſermon / a generall praier for all e⸗ ſtat es and for oure countrie of Englande was alſo deuiſed / at thende off whiche praier / was ioined the lords praier and a reherſall offt harticies off oure belieff / whiche ended the peo⸗ ple to ſinge and other pſalme as afore. Then the miniſter pro nouncinge this bleſſinge. The peace off god /ꝛc.or ſome other off like effecte / the people to departe.
And as touchingethe miniſtration off the Sacraments ſundrie things wert aifo by common conſente om tted / as ſuperſtiious and ſuperfluous. After that the congregation had thus concluded and agreed / and had choſen their miniſter and Deacons to ſerue for a time:they entred their churche the 29. off the ſame monethe. Then was it thought good amonge themſelues that forihwith they ſ hulde adnertiſe their couns trie men and betheren diſperſed off this ſinguler benefit / the lie
e wheroff coulde nowhere elſe as yet be obtained / and to per ſwade them (all worldly reſpectes put aparte) to repaicr ibis ther / that they might altogether with one mouthe and one
harte bothe lamẽte their foremer wickednes and alſo be thank fullre their mercifull father that had geuen them ſuche a dure che in a ſtrange lande wherein they might heare gods worde truly preached / the Sacraments rightly miniſtred / and Diſci⸗ pline vſed / whic in their owne countrie coulde neuer be ob⸗ tained. And to this effecte were letters directed to Strauſ⸗ burgh / Surick / Denſſbrugh / and Emden in the v off Auguſte.
nd for that it was thought the churche coulde not longe contynewe in good order withowte diſcipline / there was als ſo a brieff forme deuiſed / declaringe the neceſſitie / the cauſes /
B and
W dowte not ( dearely beloued) but yo w haue harde cell by letter / as by reporte / off the excellent graces and mercy whiche oure good god and heauenly father bathe ſ he
VIII.
and the order theroff/wherunto all thoſe that were prefens ſubſcribed / ſhewinge therby that they were ready and willin ge to ſubmitt themſelues to the ſame / accordinge to the rule prefcribed in gods holie word / at whiche time it was deter⸗ mined by the congregation that all ſuche as j hulde come aſter / ſhulde doo the like / before t hey were admitted as mem bers off that churche. cht * Here followethe the generall letter ſente from the congregation off Franckforde / to Strauf/
bourge / Surick / Wezeil / Emden / c. Grace mercy and peace in Chriſt our
Lord:&c.
wed vnto oure litle congregation in this citie off Franckford /
for that he bathe not onely made the Magiſtrats and come
mons very fauorable towards vs and louinge / but alſo / ha⸗ the geuen them hartes / with muche compaſſion to tender vs / in fo muche that euerie man helpethe vs / no man is aga⸗
inſte vs / muche loue / no grudge / glad to pleaſe / lothe to an⸗
noie vs / yea / and to declare this good will not to be off the meane ſorte / nor fo ſmall as oure brethern haue felte other⸗ were / they haue graunted that thinge / whiche amonge ot⸗ pers and in other cities / we coulde not obtaine nor durſte allmoſte hope for. For what greater treaſurt or ſweeter com forte can a Chriſtian man deſier / then to haue a churche whee rin he maie ſerue god in puritie off faithe / and integritie off lyfe / whiche thinge yff we wif he for / let vs not refuſe it / ſe⸗ inge where we woulde / we coulde not there obtaine it. And here yet it is graunted in ſo ample wiſe / that beinge ſubiecte to no blemiſhe / no / nor fo muche as the evell off fufpition fr | the whiche fewe churches are free) we mate preade/munifter/
Ad vſe Diſcipline / to the true ſettinge forthe off gods pane
IX.
‘and good enſample to others. And for our partes / we hank not bene negligente as touchingethe execution off the ſayed benefit gtraunted. For the ry, of July / we had ( god be thanked) 1 ſermons to eure fingnler comforte / and great ioye off all godly men beere. Wherfore brethern / ſeinge your haue indu⸗ ted the paine off perfecution with vs / we thought it like wiſe oure dewoties to mate your partaters off oure conſolation / that altogether we maie geue thanks to oure louinge father / who is more tender ouer vs / then the mother over hir chil⸗ Cor de / nether ſuffreth vs to be temped aboue that we maie bea⸗ Pl. a. re / but euen to the iſſut off the tentation / geuethe proſperous ſucceſſe / truſtinge by gods grace / that he vohiche bathe geuen yow that giſte / not onely to beleue inChriſte / but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake: will ſo directe your hartes / that no reſpecte off commoditie there / nor yet feare of burt hen here maie once mo ne pore to ſhrinkfrom your vocatis / whide is / in one faithe / one miniſtration /one tonge and one conſente / to ſerue god in his churche. What more manifefte ſigne / what plainer declaration / what worde more expreſſe and lyuely can we haue off dewtie and vocation / then when god ſpeakethe in oure hartes by faithe / gundethe vs owte off perills throughe his grace / and nowe bite of all offrethe vs a reſtinge place of his erceading mercy. Mow remẽ ber that before / we haue reaſoned together in bos pe to obtaine a churche / and (hall we nowe drawe backe as vnmindfull off gode prouidence / whiche hathe procured vs one free from all dreggs off ſuperſtitious ceremonice? N What / th inke yow / yf the Prophet Dauid had had this offre Pfal 4x who deſired to be porter in the houſe of God / and more eſtee⸗ med one daie ſo ſpente / then a thouſande otherwaies. Tuber what mente he when he ſaied: one requeſte J de⸗ p maunde off the Lorde / Wyhiche J will ſecke after / that is / fal, 1. that 3 maie dwell in the howfe off the lorde all the daies off in lyfe. Had awd no experience: or felre he not what grieff yt was to wante the congregation? And ſurely we muſte graunt that he was farre more perfect then we be: For he beinge conuerſant in thie worlde / ſett hie delight 4 wholie
Matth. 12.
Mich. 3. Heb, LE,
2 3 N 8 * 1
wholie in heauen y things. And many off vs / (we ſpeake it te our ſhame ) as if we had already forgottẽ the ende of our crea tion / are plunged in earthlye affectiõs / and worldly reſpectes / fo that throughe oure infirmities / this excellente benefu is liz ke to be fruſtrate. For / ſome do wie who ſ halbe preferred: o⸗ thers ſeeke increaſe off lerninge: Many follo we the commodi⸗ tie off lyuinge:certein / looke for a newe vocation / ſo that it is a wonder to fe the deformitie off mans affections: God gran te / we maye lerne at their enſamples whiche beinge called to the mariage came not / what it is to eſteeme in tin e the wor⸗ thenes off gods benefits / leaſte / by the loſſe off the ſame we a⸗ frer fall vnto vnprofitable repentance / ſeekinge againe oure loſſe withe teares as the reprobate Eſau and yet neuer the ne⸗ ere. We charge no one man (brethren ) nor yet meane all / and on what conſiderations theis excuſes were pretended / we ſu⸗ ſpende oure Judgmentes / referringe the fame to our imper⸗ fection and infirmitie / wherby the aduerſary ceaſethe nos to batter dailie the walles off Gods temple. E e 8 As touchinge the pointe off prefermente / we are perſwa ded throughly that it hathe this meaninge / that euery mã thos ughrof himſelf modeſtlie / humblie ſubmittinge himſelf to all mẽ vnablinge no man / for fo mucheas your knowe that he wh iche ſeketh ambition / glory / aduantage or ſuche like / is not mo⸗ ued roithe gods ſpirite as witneſſe the inſtructions that Chris fie our Maiſter gaue to his diſciples / who laboring of like di⸗ ſeaſe were admoniſhed that he wohiche did excell amenge thẽ / ſhoulde abaſe bimielf to his inferior. whiche malady S. Paul perceauinge to infecte like a canter / moge diligently framethe his. ſtyle / that he might not ſeeme to preferr bi ſelffe to others in the courſe of his miniftery And as for lernĩge / as we wiſ he
to all men moſte abũdanily: ſo we moſte erneſtly require / that cCõparinge ihe congregations neceſſitie with your owne priua
te cõmoditie / your wou de rather for Chriſts (ake choſe the bet ter yea / and we aſſure your one good aduertiſemente / that tho rowe / gods grace / when wef halbe aſſẽbled together / ſuche or⸗ der wube taken / that / beſides theſe thinges whide *. babe
XI.
f halbe able to furniſhe / we haue the citie moſte forwarde te procure others. ff anye woulde pretende the hardnes off the countrie and charges / oure experience ma e (ufficiently ſatif⸗
fie them / who hauinge traveiled throrogh moſte places / whee
re the goſpell is preached / haue not founde ſo manie commo⸗ dites nor leſſe charges. f
Reſtethe the tyme off callinge / whiche we referre to your cons ſciences / beſechinge your for Chriſtes ſake to deſcende into your ſelues withowt all parcialitie / wayinge the grauitie off the atacter vohiche is goddes / and the ſelie excuſe whiche the fleſhe miniſtreihe. Conſider what god woulde (aie/ J haue prepared a p.entifull and ripe harueſte whiche ſtandethe in a redines and waitethe for the mower and J haue appointed thee thy taxe J haue geuen inſtrumentes / and allthings fit for
the labor / yffthow forſ lowe it / the croppe is in daunger yff show loke for oft warning thow declareft great negligence.
This fpeade( Dearly belo ved) or very like / god vſed
to Noah. Abraham / Jeremiah / ꝛc. and they thought their vo⸗ cation ſtronge. But yow through Goddes benefit / do not o⸗ nely heare god thus perſwadinge in your hartes / but alſo ha⸗
ue bene by externe callinge confirmed / and accordinge therun to haue walked tothe great glorie off God and profit off the cõgregation. We truſte therfore (brethern) and in Jeſus Chri
fie requixeit / that your woulde hyde your talent no longer but haumge newe occaſionto imploye it / your woulde put it for⸗ the for your Malſter his aduantage and your owone diſchar⸗ ge. For iff your feele in your hartes comforte as wee doo whi⸗
che are here aſſembledto heare the worde of god pꝛeached and
the Sacramento miniſtred / we aſſure yow / yow ſhould feng ſiblie perceaue that which the Prophet ſpeakethe in theis ters meeꝛas the harte chaſed pantethe for gredines off waters: es Pil 42 uen ſo / (o lorde) my ſoule ſeekethe after thee. My foule burne⸗ f . theforthirftein ſeekinge the Lorde andfaithe: las when ſhall I be able to appeere before the face off ihe lyuinge god? what thinge then ought wero haue in greater recommenda⸗ non / then the order and policie whiche god bathe eſtabliſhed
Biles. | Biß in his
4
b
XII. yee Def that we maie be Caught by his worde / Mae
we maie worſ hippe him and call vpon his name with one ac
Spheſ. .
Englande / manie take occaſion to remaine in their filt me
corde / that we mate haue the true vſe eff his Sacraments to helpe vs tothe (ame? For theis be the means wherby we muſte be confirmed in the fait he / in the feare off God / in holynes off conuerſation / in the contempte of the worlde / and
in the loue off life euerlaſtinge. And for this conſideration S. Paule ſauthe not that this order whiche the Lorde bathe. ſet in his churche ſhulde onely be for the rude and ſymple / but make the it common to all / exceptinge no man. For he hathe ordeined (ſait he he) ſome to be Apoſtles / ſome / prophetes / ſo⸗ me Euangeliſtes / others / to be teachers and inſtructors / te confirme the godly and to labor to finiſhe the buildinge off Chriſtes body till we be all brought to one conſente in faithe
to the knowledge off the ſonne off god / to a perfect man / and
ſinally / to the iuſte meaſure off a ripe Chriftian age. Let vs all marke / that he ſaithe not / that god bathe left the ſcriptures onely / that euery one ſ hulde reade it / but alſo / that be bathe erected a policie and order / that their ſhulde be (ome to teas che / and not for one daye / but all the time off our lyffe euen to the deathe for that is the tyme off our perfection. Wherfore brethren / let vs ſubmit our ſelues / and leaue off farther to tempte God / ſeinge / that yff we wilbe off the body off Chr⸗ iſt / we muſt obeie to this generall rule. Let no reſpecte off worldly policie ftaie vs. Let no perſwaſion blinde vs. But let vs fulfyll in oure ſelues that whiche Eſaias forwarncthe that goddes children ſ halbe as pigions / whiche fice by flocks in to their doue houſe / whiche is the place where the worde of god is preached / the ſacraments miniſtred / and praier vſed. To conclude therfore(dearely beloued) let euery man call his conſcience to counſaile / and beſides theſe ſweete allure⸗ ments / let vs learne to preuent our aduerſaries / who ſekinge euer to obſcure goddes glorie / maye eaſelie canell at this diffs
pation. And woulde to god the ſlaunder were not allready to
our great grieff in ſundry places ſcat tered in fo muche / that in
5
XIII.
Ind ſome thinke they maye diſſemble / vntilla churche be con firmed / perceauinge that this our ſ catteringe / augmentethe the grieſe of perſccution / and fo throughe our negligẽce we lee ſe them for whom Chriſte died. Conſider brethren / it is gods cauſe / he requitethe yow / it is your dewtie / neceſſitie vrgethe / time wi lethe / your farher ſpeakethe / children muſte obeie / ou⸗ re enemies are diligente and the aduerſary is at hande.
Amigbtie god graunt for his ſonnes fake that we mate rightly ponder the mater / ſollowe oure callinge / ſerue ihe tur ne / heare the ſpeaker / walke in obedience and reſiſt oure ene⸗ mies. We deſier yow all take this in good parte / ſeinge we ha ue written nothinge but what charitie did indite and that w⸗ bide we truſte / and wiſhe yo w woulde haue don to vs in ca⸗ fe like. From Franckford this off Auguſt. 1554.
Your lonynge brethern.
lohn Stanton. — Vvilliam VVilliams. VVilliam Hammon. lohn Makcbray = VVilliams Vvittingham. Thomas VYood, | Mighell Gill.
Sy Lortlveafrer/ thelerned men off Strauſbrough anſwa⸗
red to this generall letter before mentioned in this fortes That they had conſidered the contentes theroff and perceiued that the effecte was no other but to haue one or two tate the hich charge and gouernaunce off the congregation. And that in caſe they might get. D. poinet. Maiſter Scory. D. Bale or D. Cox / or two off tbem / they ſ hulde be well furniſhed / yff not / they woulde appointe one at Stꝛauſbꝛougb and an other fpuld come from Zurick to ſerue the turne at whiche tyme maſter Grindall wrote to maſter Scory at Emden perſwa⸗ dinge him to be Superintendent off thie churche off Frankf. wholin 2. ſeuerall letters to his priuate frinds / offred hie fee uiſe tothe congregation / but before the receipte theroff the congregation had worittẽ their letters to maiſter Rnox ai Gee neuato mafter Haddon at Strauſb. and mafter Kener at Zu⸗ rick / vyhom they had elected for their miniſters and aduertiſed walter Scory by a general lime offrbe lame.
Ns Nowe / dohen the anſwere that came from Strauſ bron⸗
gh was read / and compared withe the letter written vnto them / it did not in anie pointe anſwere it. For the congregati⸗ on wrote not particuler'y for ante certeine nomber / but genes rally wiſhinge all mens preſence / nether did they require to haue anye ſuperintendent to tate the chieff charge and gouer⸗ nement / for the choiſe and election heroff(yff ſuche a one had bene neceſſary) ought to haue byn reſerued to theicongrega⸗ tion / whidve fully determined at that tyme to haue the chur⸗ che gouerned bya or z. graue / godly and lerned Miniſters off 4 auth oritie / as is accuſtomed in the beſte reformed chur⸗ es. ee
The i. off October the Students off Jurick wrote alſo an anſwere to the generall let? ters afore ſaied in this wiſe.
The grace and peace off God the Father and off our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte be vvith your all amen. As God by his ſinguler prouidence hathe wonderfully bleſſed vs aſwell in mouinge the hartes off the Senators and miniſters here / to lament oure ſtate / fauor and aid vs in oure requeſts: as alſo in geuinge happie ſucceſſe for all kinde off prouiſion to oure vſe and behoufe: So he well knowethe / that we no other wife eſteeme the (ame then maie ſtande wis the his glory / eure profeſſiõ / and the comforte off his afflicted churche / but dailie labor in the knowledge off his worde to thintent that when god oure mercifull father ſ hall fo think a we maie be bothe faithfull and ſ kilfull diſpenſers thes roff. | me And as runninge in the ſweete race off oure vocation / ye haue erneſtly written vnto vs for to repaier thyther / burthe⸗ ninge vs ſo ſore with your neceſſitie / that ye think our ſhrin⸗ king back in this behalff ſhulde argue want off charitie / keepe manie in Englande ſtill whiche elſe won d willingly come fos orth / and ſhewe oure ſelues careles off at W ore | e oſe
XV.
Boke ge and winninge to Chriſte we onely pretend to ſeeke. Theſe are great cauſes / but touchinge vs nether fotraly obiected / fo firmciy grounded / nor yet fo aptlie applied / but that as ſounde reaſons on our partes might fully anſvocre ibe fame, Net notwithſtanding / in as muche as · yow appeale to our conſciences whiche in the date off the Lorde ſ hallaccuſe or excuſe vs in this thinge and all other / we will not vtterlie deny your requeſts / but ſhewe oure ſelues as ready to ſecke gods gloric and the increafe off his kingdome other there or elſe where tothe vttermoſte off oure powers / as euer we did pretende to do / requiringe yow all in ihe name and feare off god / that as we / all reſpects fer aporte and vnfainedly traue⸗ linge in the neceſſary knowledge off Chriſte to the profit off his churche here after / refuſe not for your nedie comforte re accompliſhe your deſyres: So ye will not interrupte oure ſtu⸗ dies / vrge oure remouinge / and bringe vs thither / feelinge bere allreadie the exceadinge goodneſſe off god towardes vs / vnleſſe ye thinke / and that before god / that oure abſence on thone parte ſhulde greatly hinder / and oure prefence one the other ſide verie muche further your godly artemps alreadye begonne for the ſurniſ hinge off ihat churche fo happely obras ned to all oure comfortes / for the whiche in oure dailie pra⸗ yers we geue god moſte hartie and humble thankes. ff by this doinge ye geue occaſion to breafe oure godlie feloſ hip⸗ pe / to hurte our ſtudies / to diſſolue oure exerciſes / and vtterly to cuerte our godly purpoſes / ye haue to anſwere euen vnt⸗ him vohiche is a faithfulland a uſte Judge / and will geue to e⸗ uerie man accordinge to his dedes. Wherfore / deare brethe⸗ rn / in conſ deration that we be all not onely off one nation / but alſo members off one miſticall body in Jeſus Chriſte our head / and ought therfore eſpecially in ibis time off exile and moſte worthely deſerued croſſe by all means poſſible / one to aide and comforte an other / befechinge god for his mercies ſate to aſſwage his wrathe / to geue vs repentinge hartes and patient continuance to our brethern at home with pity to beholde his vinciarde there miſerablie Lars and trod
te mate be defeated with one conſente we agree to 108
XV 9 280
den vnder foste / and to call vs home efrer his fatherly chaffi ſemente eftſones fruteſully to worke in the ſame: we bri
make this anfwere, ff vppon the receipte bere off / ye ſhall
witho wee cloke or forged pretence / But onelx to (eke Chriſte aduertiſe vs by your letters / that our beinge there is ſo need⸗ fullas ye haue alreadie ſignified / and that we maie altogether ſerue and praiſe god as freely and as vprightiy / wheroff pry⸗ uate letters receiued lately from Frauckf. mate vs muche to dowte ) as the order laſte taken in the churche of England pers mittethe and perſcribethe (for we are fully determined to ad⸗ mitt and vſe no other) then / abo wt eaſter nexte (for afore we cannot) god proſperinge vs / and no iuſte cauſe or occaſion to the contrary growinge in the meane time wherbz our inten⸗
oure ſelues vnto yow and moſte willinglie to doo ſuche fers
wife there / as oure poore condition and callinge dothe permit. In the meane ſpace / we (hall moſte intirely beſeche almigh⸗ tie God ſo to aſſiſte yow withe his holy ſpirit / that your do⸗ ings maie helpe to confounde papiſtrie / ſerforthe gods gio⸗ rie / and ſhewe ſuche light in the face off the worlde / that b o⸗ the the wicked maie be aſhamed / hauinge no iuſte cauſe of reproche / and alſo oure weake brethern confirmed and woone to the trurbe, From Surick this z. off Ortober. 251 4.
Yourlouing frinds.
Richard Chambers Thomas Spencer. Roger Kelbe. Thomas Leuer. Thomas Bentham. Robart Beamont.
Henry Cockrafft. | lohn Pretio, Me. Pe Abowee this tyme Letters were receyned from maiſter Haddon Wherin he deſired for diners conſiderati⸗ ons to beexcufed/for comminge to take the charge vppon him at Franck ford. ae "ED be
XVII. The 24. off October came maiſter Whithead te Franckford / and at the requeſte off the congregation / he tooke the charge for a time / and preached vppon the Epiſtle to the Rom ams. Abowte the 4 off Nouember came Maiſter Cyhombres to Franckford with letters from Zurick wh che were partlie an anſwere to an other letter written onte
them from Hranckforde the 26. off September / whide sas as followithe
Grace mercy and peuce, &c.
A Ster/longe hope off Nour anſwere to our letter / we thou ghe tt good to put you once againe in remembraunc. And as we iu our former / fo nowe in theis alſo in gods behaiff moſte erneſtiy require yow deeplie to wale this matter off gods callinge / and the neceſſitie off this congregation We ha de throughly lerned your eſtate and alſo made yow priuie to eures / and efiſonnes / wiſ he we might be together to bes waile our ſynnes paſte / to praie together for oure poore bres thern that are vnder Antechriſtes captiuine / to comforte / inſt⸗ tucte / and profit one an other. And finally to beſto we the time off oure perſecution together and redeeme theis daies whi⸗ che are ſo euell. And iff anye defier off knowoledge ſtaye yow / certenly / it woulde not be ſo litle increaſed here that yow ſhul de iuſtly repent. For as touchinge the companie off lerned men (as pow cannot here bewitho we) ſo / thar thinge whiche chie ſty your can require of lerned mens Judgmẽts and kno wo ledge o rote off their workes / your maie fuck moſte plentifully wherof with vs yo w can lake no ſtoꝛe We nede not / brerhern / to make loge diſcouſe in reafoninge. for we parthe knowe that gods ſpirit / vohiche workethe in your hartes {ball preuaile wie he yo wo more / thẽ diſputinge / not dowiĩge / but the fame holie ſpirit knsckeib ce the dore off your cõſciẽces not only to moue yo of oure behalffs / but to admoniſhe yow / to auoide the ina cõueniences of taltes / and ihe offences of oure pox wa big 4 ss
x V 1 I.. 7
re marueilinge cannot otherwiſe be ſati d. Remember therfore (dearly beloued) that we wryte as bretheren / to oute deare brethern / who altogether ſeeke oure fathers honor / oure owne diſcharge and the comfo rte off ou⸗ re afflicted countrie men. ~The fame ſweete father graunt for his chriſte ate bet we maie aſſemble together / to the buldinge off this his Tem⸗ ple / to le: the falſe workemen / and vnderminers / and diligen⸗ tly in our vocation to belpe to the furniſhinge off the fame till it riſe to perfection. Fare ye well in een Keane this see etree 1554. =
a “Your louinge frinds: en
letter afore fo vnder this
eles bai 8 ſubſcribed. Theanfiveee to ith off Franck ford was / as folowerh.. |
Ope beinge placed bere in quietnes / with many and great commodities for oure ſtudies tendinge all to edification off C hriſtes churche / haue / vnto the earneſte requeſts off your letters vnto vs / anſwered in our letters vnto yow / that
to diſcharge all dewtie in conſcience / and to increaſe
and inſtructe your congregation at Franckford withe oure preſence and diligence will not deny to remoue from hence vn to ow / ſo that yowo charged off conſcience do conſtantly af⸗ firme / that ye haue ſo great neede off vs as by letters was ſignified / and certeinly aſſure vs that we with yoro mate and hall vſe the ſame order off ſernice concerninge religion wht: che was in Englande laſte fet forthe by kinge kdward. And no we alſo for the better vnderſtãding off ſuche requeſts and cha ritable performance of devotie / vpon bothe partes defired and procured Maiſter Richard Chambers our beſte frinde / aman moſte charitable and carefull far the Chriſtian congregation / to take pains to ttauell vnto yow and wirhe yow for vos: ſo sha: this matter as it is begon and moued in writinge mie
be ful
e
wal de fully debated and concluded by his Faithfull means and diligence, For we be all agreed and do purpoſe to allo we and performe what fo euer he (Hall (aie and promes in oure nas mes vnto yow. Wherfore / we beſeche yow in Goddes name confcionably to confider she eſtate and condition bothe off Fo do and vs / and iF there vppon yow conclude withe the ſaied maſter Chambers off oure comminge vnto yow / then let him not lack your charitable helpe in nece ſſary prouiſion for out continuance wirhe yo w. And thus beſechinge god that your doings maie tende to his glorie / and the ſpedy comforte off his aff licted churche we wiſ he yow all heithe and increafe off true kno wiedge in Chriſte our ord and (autour, From Sus rick this v. off October. Anno 1354.
Jour lovinge frinds as in the letters before
When Maiſter Chambers had conferred with the congregation and ſawoe that they coulde not aſſure him the full vſe off the Engliſhe booke withowte the hazardin ge off their churche / he prepared to departe from whene be came / and by this time was Maiſter Knox come from Ge neua / (and choſen min ſter) vppon the receipte off a letter a ** or {rom the congregation / whiche letter was as fos o withe. We haue receined letters from oure brethern off Strauſ⸗ brough / but not in ſuche ſorte and ample wiſe as we lo⸗ oked for / vheruppon we aſſembled together in the H. Goaſte we hope / and haue with one voice and conſent choſen yow fo art:culerly to be one off the Miniſters off our congregation exe /to preache vnto vs the moſte huely worde off God / aca tordinge to the gift that God barbe geuen yow for as mus che as we haue here rhroughe the mercifall goodnes off God a churche to be congregated together in the name off Chriſte / and be all of one body / and alſo beinge of one natiõ / tonge / and tountrie, And at this preſente / hauinge neede off ſuche a one W l C & aa yo /
Bs)
3 42 de do deſter yo w and alſo require yor inthe name krerk the off Bod not to deny vs / nor to refuſe th eis oure requeſts / but calling off that yow will aide / helpe and aſſiſte vs wich yout pr⸗ſence i Kiox to this our Good and goolie entrepriſe / whiche we haue take in the pajtor hand to the giorie off god and the profit off his congregation. (hipp. and the poore ſheepe off Chriſt diſperſed abroad / who withe
| your and like preſences / woulde comme hither and be of one fol⸗ de where as nowe they wander abroad as loſte ſheepe with⸗ oxote anie gide. we miſtruſte not but that pow will ioifully acs, eepte this callinge. Fare ye well from Franckford thie 24, off
Four louinge brethern. 5 lohn Bale e fe
September. Edmon i sutton, En
viniam vvbitingbam Thomar wood. ape! Gill. Thomas Cole lohn stants ſloebssanerd V villiam VVilliems v villiam v Valten lobe v Veod. George Chidley laſper ſwyft T5 | Vvillians Hammon. lohn Geofrie. Thomas Steward lohn Greie
Nowe to ruturne to the tenor of the letter which the congregation off Franckſord wrate by Maiſter Cyam⸗ bers to the ſtudents off Surick. mae 0 5
es
E haue receyued your v. ſeuerall letters the one dated tbe 3. off October ſent vs from Strauſbrough and the oe * eher the 27. off the ſame by the hands off your deare frinde Ja:fter Chambers and haue conferred with himat large / touching the contents theroff. And when as after diners x 7 ſemblyes and longe debatings the fated Maiſter 8 1 perceyued that we coulde not in all points warrant the full yſe off the booke off ſeruice ( whiche ſemethe to be your full * ata, 5810 pe a
XXI.
pe and marke) and alſo waying in conſclence the great benefit that God hathe in this citie offred to our whole nation / he not oniy reioiſed at the ſame / but alſo promiſed to trauell in per⸗ ſwadinge pow to the futheraunce therof. As touch inge the ef fecte off the booke / we defire the execution theroff as muche as yow / (ſo fart as Gods worde dothe commende it) but as for the vnprofitable ceremontes / aſweli by his conſent as by ours / are not to be vſed And althougbe they were tollerable (as fome are not) yet beinge in a ſtrange comms wealthe / we coulde not be ſuff red to put them in vre / and better it wers they ſhu lde neuer be practiſed / then they | bulde be the ſub⸗ uerſion off oure churche / whiche ſhulde fall in great haſſard by vſinge them. pts
The matter is not oures more then yours / (excepte anie excell others in godly zeele) but bothe wif he gods honor.
Iff a larger gate be opened there / to the ſame then to vs / vppon your perſwations / ye ſhall not finde vs to drawe back.
ae 3
for this tether neceſſitie / breihern / that mare not be negleca ted / fe ö 25 comforte and gatheringe together off
oure diſperſed breihern. Aff anie think that the not vſinge off the booke in all pointes ſ houlde increaſe our godly faihers / and bretherns bands / or els anye thinge deface the worthie ordinances and lawes off our Soueraigne Lorde off moſte
famous memory, R. Edward the 6. he ſemethe ether litle to waie the mater / or ells letted through ignorance knowethe nat that euen they themſelues haue vppon confiderations off circun ſtances / altered heretoſore many thinges as touchin⸗ ge the fame. And iff god had not in theis wicked daies other⸗ wife determined / woulde here after haue chaunged more / yea and in oure cafe we do vote not but thatthey woulde haue don the like. Theis fewe lines concerninge bothe our coömunicatis ons we haue accordingely written vnto yow / referringe the reſte to the diſcretion off oure Good frinde Maiſter Chama bers / who knoweth that we haue ſhewed oure ſelues moſt conformable in all thinges that ſtandethe in our powers and moſte deſuous off your companies accosdinge is dur formes:
GHk i tte
—
XXII.. W letters. Che ſpirit off Bod mone your hartes to do that we hich ſhalbe moſttohis glory and the comforte off your bre⸗ sheen, At Franckford. this 1. off Nouember.
Your louinge finds, &e.
The 28. off Nouember Maiſter Chambers cas me againe to Franckford from G:roufbrough / and with him Maiſter Grindall with letters from the lerned men there / ſubſcribed with 16. off their handes / whiche letzer was as folowethe. e
OR orn we do confider what inwarde comforte it were for
che faithfull people off Englande now diſperſed for che
E 5
goſpell / and wandringe abroad in ſtrange countries as ſhepe with owe paſtor / to be gathered together in to one congrega⸗ tion / that with one mouth / one minde / and one ſpirit they might glorifie God: we haue at all tymes and do preſently think it oure dewties / not only in harte to wiſhe that thinge / but alſo to labor by all means fo muche as in vs lyethe to brin ge the ſame to paſſe. And hauinge nowe perfit intelligence off the Good mindes / whiche the magiſtrats off Franckford be⸗ are to wardes pow and others oure ſcattered countrie men / and alſo vnderſtandinge off the free graunt off a churche vn⸗ to vs wherin we mate together ſerue god / and not do wotinge off their farther frindſ hipp in permittinge vs franckly to vſe our religion e to that godly order ſettforthe and receaued in England: We bothe geue god thankes for fo great a benefit / and alſo thinke it not fit to refuſe fo frindly an offre / or to let ſ lippe fo good an occaſion.Therfore / neither do votin⸗ ge off tbeir good furtherance hereunto / nor yet diſtruſtinge hour good conformitie and ready deſiers in redueinge theikns gliſhe churche now beguntthere / to it former perfection off the laſte / had in Englande / ſo farre as poffiblie can be atteined / leaſt by muche alteringe off the (amie we ſhulde ſeeme to con demne the chieff authors theroff / who as they nowe ſuffer / ſo are whey moſte redie to conſ irme that facte with the price off
their
XXIII.
ace blonds and ſhulde alfo bothe gene occaſion to our adnex ſaries / to accuſe ouꝛe doctrine of imperfection / and vs of muta dlitie / ãd the godly to dowte in thattruthe woherin before they were perſwaded / and to hinder their cõminge hither whiche before they had purpoſed: For the auoidinge off theſe / and the obtaininge off the other / moued hereunto in conſcience and prouoked by your ientle letters / we haue thought it expedient to ſende over vnto yow / oure beloued brechern the bringers hereoff to trauell withe the magiſtrats and yow concerninge the pre miſſes / whofe wiſedomes lerninge and godly zeele / as they be knowen vnto yow / ſo their doings in this ſhallfullie take place withe vs. And yff they obtaine that whiche we trus fie will not be denied at no hands: Then we intend (God willinge)to be with yo w the firſte off February next / there to 85 to ſet in order and ſtabliſhe that churche accordingly, d ſo longe altogether to remaine with yo wo as ſ han be ne⸗ ceſſary / or ontill iuſte occaſion ſ hall call ſome off vs a waie. And we do wie not but that our brethern off Zurick / Emden Sueſ brough rc. will do the fame according y / as we haue praied ihem by oure letters truſtinge that ow by yours will make like requeſte. Fare ye well from Straſbroughthis . off Nouember. 5 N rad net Your louing frinds,
\
Tames Haddon lohn Geoffrye Arthur Saule. Edwin Sands lohn Pedder. Thomas Steward. Edmond Grindall, Thomas Eaten. Chyift. Goodman lohn Huntington Mighell Reymuger Humphry Alcocfow — Guido Eaten. Auguftine Bradbridge. Tho. Lakin 22 gm Tho: Crafton.
2 Bis letter was red to the congregation / at whiche tyme maiſter Grindall declared the occafid of ther cõminge ws biche Range ober things) was chieflie for theſtabliſ hinge of the booke off England not that they mente / (as he ſaled)to ha ne it fo ſtrictiy obſerued bus that (ude gement {ab Hans 40 , ges
4
that barbe moued your hartes for ſlo we your diligence to thefurtheraunce off the fame. And
XXII “oy |
ges whiche the countrie conlde not beare / might well be o mute ( ſo that they might haue tbe ſubſtance and effecte thes roff kMeiſter Anox and wbittingham al ked them what bey mente by the ſubſtance off the booke / It was anſwered by the other that they had no comiſſion to diſpute thoſe matters / but they requeſted that the congregation would anſwere to cer⸗ seine interogatories / whiche were thies Fiſt / that they might knowe whar partes off the booke they woulde admit. The ſe⸗ conde was foꝛ a ſeuerall churche / and the thirde what aſſurãce they might haue for their quite hab tation. To the firſte / anſ⸗ were was made that what they coulde proue off that Booke to ſtande withe gods worde / and the counirie permit / that ſhuld be graunted them. To the ꝛ. whiche was for a church / it was tolde them / that they vnderſtoode by the Magiſtrats / the tyme ſerued not to moue anie ſuche matter till toe counſaile brake vp at Auſburge. To the rhird it was ſaied that a gene⸗ vail graunt was made at their firſt comminge thuher / to the whole nation / and ihe fredome off the citie offred to all ſu⸗ che as were deſyrous off it in as large and ample manner as they coulde require / whiche was to them aſſurance ſufficient.
Theis 3. queſtions thus anſwered maiſter Cham bers and Maiſter Grindall departe back againe with a let⸗ terſ rom the congregation whiche was as follo wehe.
Grace, metcy and peace, c. rae. As it was euer moſte true / ſo at this preſent we feele moft enſiblie / ihat where ſo euer god layeth the foundation to builde his glory / rhere he continueih till he bringe the ſame to
a preſent worke. All thanks and praiſe be vnto him therfore/
2 as in no point ye ſeeme to
as the worke is off moſte excellencie So ihe aduerſaries cea⸗ ſe not moſt craſtely to vndermine it / or at the leaſte / through falſe reportes and defacing off the worke begon / to ſtate the
laborers / wyiche ſ hulde trauell in the finif .
, a X XV 0 But truthe ener cleareth it ſelff / and as the Sonne confume⸗ the the clowds/ fo miſteportes by triall are confounded. Ou⸗ re brethern ſent from yo to can certifie yow at lenghi touch in ge the particulers off your letter / to whom we haue in all thin N whiche ſemed expedient fot the ſtate off this con⸗ gatio n. As for cerreine Ceremonies wh iche the order off the countrie will not beare: we neceffarily omit with as lule ale teration as is poſſible (which in your letters ye requite) fe that no aduerſary is fo impudent tbat dare either blame oure Doctrine ofimperfection / oꝛ ve of mutadilitie / excepte he be als together willfull ignorante rather { ecFingeboweto finde fa⸗ ultes / then to amend them. Vether doo we diſcente frem the whiche lie at the raunſome off thar blonde for the doctrine wheroff they haue made a moſte wort hye cor feſſion. And yet we thinke not that anye godlie man will ſtande rothe deal he in the defence of ceremonies / whiche las the boo Wel the) ppd itifte cauſes mare be altered and chaunged. And yff the not full vſinge off the booke cauſe the godiy to d e wherin before they were perſwaded / and 0 eyr comminge hither / accordinge as they purpofeds either it ſignifieth that they were verye ſlenderly taught whi⸗ che for breach off a Ceremonie will refuſe ſuche a ſinguler bez nefit / or ells that yo w haue harde them mifreported by ſome falſe brethern / who / to binder this worthie enterpriſe / (pare not to ſowe in euerie place / ſtore off (ude poore reaſons. Las ſte off all it remamethe that ye write / thatthe firſte off Febru⸗ ary nexte yow will come to helpe to ſet in order and eſtabli⸗ fhe this churche accordingly / whiche thinge / as we moſte wis ſhe for pour companies ſate and for that ye might fe oure gos dly orders alreadie bere obſerued: So we put yow owte of do⸗ we that for to appointe a iourney for the eſtabliſhing off Cere monies [hu de be more to your charges then anie generall profit / excepte ye were determined to remaine with vs lone er then moncthes / as ye write to our countriemen at Den⸗ ſbrorow and Emden / whiche letters not withſtandinge are nowe ſtaid and as apearethe we neuer the nere. sag | . O § we
We referre the reſte to oure brethern maiſter Chambers:
and maiſter Grindall / who by their diligent inquifition has ue learned fo farre off our ſtate as we wrote vnto yom in our
former leitets thatis / that we haue achurche freely graunted: to preach gods word purely / to miniſter the Sacramenis ſin⸗ cexely and to execute diſcipline truly. And as touchinge our booke we will practiſe it ſo farre as gods worde dorbe aſſure it and the ſtate off this countrie permit. Fare ye well. A Fran
ck: this , off December, ee
tx 2 a N ‘ J
Your louinge frinds.
Gorge WVhetnall Thomas VVood lohn Makebraie Thomas Vvhetnall vviliam v villiam: Vyilliam v val, lohn Knox. john Stanton 1 Mighell Gill. : 38 3 Edward Sutton. VVilliam Ketgesess 18 SHS
The anſwere to this letter from Strauſ brough
was as folowety. e
925 Grace, mercy and peace, ce. Wi haue receaued your letters / and alſo your anſwere in V wrytinge concerninge certeine Articles / n 3 ue aſwell by the ſame as by maiſter Chambers and WMaiſter Grindall your flare. But for fo muche as your opimon is that the tyme do he not preſent iy ſerue to moue the magiſtrats in thoſe requeſto the obteminge wheroff was the principall cas fe of our (ending onto yo ro / we cannot at this preſent condes ſcend oppon ante generall meetinge / at anie certeine tyme / es ther to remame with gow or other wiſe. And therfore / iff yow (ball certeinly perceauꝭ a time conuenient / that the Magi⸗ firare may be traue ed wit he all aſwell for the good and quie te habitat on off the commers / and eſpecially Students / as alſo a ſeueran churche / and to knowe whfiher ihe exerciſe off the booke i hall be vſed / ſuche we meant as eee 1
1 gh „ io Daw Ge 3S Pp 3 380 Ga
hall iuftly reproue / and that the certeintie off theis matters maie be knowen at the magiſtrats hand:
then / (yff yo w can let vs haue intelligence) we will fa⸗ rther conſulte what is to be done on oure par ye / truſtinge / god ſhall directe vs to do ſo as maye be moſte to his glorie in tde ende / howe ſo euer the prefente tyme ſ hall iudge off it, From Strauſbrough this 13. off December.
‘wy 1 Your louing frinds, &c. n as in the letteers before.
Hen this letter was redd to the con gregation / they re⸗
queſted that for ſo muche as the lerned men / coulde not cõde ſcend vppon any generail and certeine tyme off meetinge as Nowe appeared by their letters / they might eonclude vps pon ſome certeine order by common conſent ſtill to contme⸗ we and that wihowte farther delaye / and alſo to haue the hos lie communion miniſtred / whiche the moſte part erneſtlie de⸗ ſired. At lenght (it was agreed that the order of Geneua wyh⸗ iche then was alreadie printed in Engliſ he and ſome copies there amonge them) ſ hulde take place as an order moſte gos dly and fardeſte off from ſuperſtition. But Maiſter knox be⸗ inge (poten vnto / aſwell to put that order in practiſe / asto miniſter the communion / refuſed to do ether the one or the other / affirminge / that for manie conſiderations he coulde not conſente that the ſame order ſhulde be practiſed / till the lerned men off Strauſbrongh / Zurit / Emden / ꝛc. were made priuy. Neither yet woulde he miniſter the communion by the boote off Englande / for that there were thinges in it placed (as he ſaied ) onely by warrant of mans authoritie and no gro ronde in godds worde for the ſame / and had alſo a longe ty⸗ me verye fuperfiitioufly in the maſſe byn wickediy abuſed. But yff he might not be ſuffred to miniſter the Sacraments accordinge to his conſcience / he then requeſted that ſome other might miniſter the Sacraments / and he woulde onely preache . Iff nether coulde be admitted be beſought them
}
XXVII.. mightbe diſcherged. Henna .
We in no wi e conſente. n ek
5
Wye heſe things v were u in n handlinge came ou 105 £ cucr(befo; ꝛc elected) who / aſſemblinge the congregation, requeſted that he might withe their conſentes appointe {ude an order / as ſhulde be bothe Godly. withowt reſpecte off the Booke off Geneua or anye other / requeſtinge farther / that for ſo muche as that office was off fo great importaunce / ãd that he had not byn in the like before / that he might betwoeene that and Eaſter haue a triall off them / and they off him / and ſo at the ende off that terme either take or refuſe / ene time off triall / as it was willingly graunted him: fo when they vnder⸗ ſtoode that the order whiche he woulde place and vſe was not altogether ſuche as was fit for a right Neem qursbelthey woulde in nowiſe yelde to the ſame. 5 5
Bnox / whittingham / and others / perceyuinge 45 theis. beginnings woulde growme to ſome what / yff it were not ſtaid in time / dre we forthe a platt off ihe whole booke off England into the lattin tonge / ſendinge the ſame to maiſter Caluin off Geneua and requeftinge his indgement therin / and ſ he win⸗ ge him that ſome off their countrie men went abowte to fora ce them to the ſame and woulde admit no other / ſayinge / that it was an order moſte abſolute and that yff euer they came in to their countrie they woulde do their beſte to eſtabliſhe it as een c
~
A defripton off the Sarai or fo jot, 8 Fe off ſerutce that is vſed in 15 8 Englande.
Gut off alljiperntode praier offtetht it ſelff The aie hauinge put ona hure garment (whiche they e f pie
Bawa
begisninge withe ſome ſentence off holie ſcripture / as for ey xample:yff we (ball ſaie that we haue no ſinne we deceyue ou⸗ re ſelues / ic. or forme ſuche of like ſorte. Then hetakethe in han de the exhortat on / wohiche ſtirreth vp to a confeſſion off ſy nes / whiche the miniſter pronounceth with a loude voice / the people ſainge after him. To this is added an abſolution / and when theſe hinges are done / he reherſethe the lordes praier / and after ward lorde open thow my lyppes / and my mourbe ſhall ſhewe forth thy praiſe. O god be redie to be my helpe / ꝛc. Then / come and let vs ſinge vnto th Lorde / ꝛc. By and by ale ſo there folo we z. Pſalmes together at thende off euery one. Then foloweth the firſt leſſon / whiche conteinethe a whole hari er off the olde Teſtament. After this leſſon they (aie or ſinge we praiſe he / lorde / or Bleſſed be the Lorde / ꝛc. Then an other leſſon owre off the Newe teſtamente / vnie ſſe perad⸗ uenture the ſolemnization off ſome highe feaſt haue other ſet and apointed leſſons. Nowe in cathedrall churches they vtter then leſſons in plaine ſonge and thẽ after wards is Benedictus added. This boo ke warnethe thatthey keepe this order throu⸗ Sh owte he whole yere. After wards / the crede is pꝛonounced by the Nmiſter / (all the people in the meane tyme ſtãding vp) After wards fallinge downe vppon their knees / the Miniſter 8 CLorde be with yow / The anſwere / And withthy ſpfrite. ‘ Tyen / Lorde haue mercy vppon vs / Chriſte haue mercy vppon vs / Lorde haue mercy vppon vs / zc. our father / ꝛc. ronounced owte alowode off all wih all boldneſſe. Then the niſter / wben he ſtandeth opp ſaithe / o lorde ſhewe vs ihy mercy. Che anſwere / and geue vnto vs thy ſauinge helthe. O orde ſaue the king In the day wherin we ſhall call vppon thee. Judue thy Miniſters w the righteouſnes. And make thy choſen people ioyfull. O Lorde ſaue thy people. And blejs fe thyne inheritaunce. Gene peace in our tyme o Lorde/ ꝛc. At lenght ;. Collects are had in place off a concluſion / the firſte / for the daie / ihe ſeconde for peace / the laſte is for the obs seiminge off Grace, Nowe / ihe cueninge praicts are ſaide in a
> ae manner as the other are / ſauinge / that after r e
lo we th my ſoule doth magnifie the lorde. After thes. leffen Nod Lorde / ꝛc. and in ſteed off that collect / God whiche arte
the Aut hor off peace / is vſed o God from whom all holie de⸗
ſiers / ꝛc. beſides / there is caution added that all Miniſters
{ball exerciſe them felues continually aſwell in morninge praiers as eueninge praiers / except perhapp by ſtudie in dye uinitie or ſome other buſynes / they be greatly and neceſſa⸗ rely let or bindred Beſides / vppon every Sabot he daie / wen⸗ ſdaie and fridaie there is yet in vſe certeine ſuffrages deuiſed off Dope Gregory wh iche beginnethe after this manner, O God the father off heauen haue mercy vppon vs miſera⸗ ble ſynners. O God the ſonne redemer off the worlde / ic. one ly leauinge owte the invocation off ſaincts / otherwiſe we vfe a cer taine coniuringe off God. By the miſterie off his incar⸗ nation / by his holy natiuitie and circumciſion by his baptifs mey/faſtinge and temptation / by his agonie and bloudie (wes ate / ꝛc. yea / it eomprehendethe in plaine wordes a praier to be deliuered from ſuddain deathe / the people anſweringe to the ende off euery clauſe / either ſpare vs good lorde / or ells / Good Lorde deliuer vs / or we beſeche thec to heare vs Good Lorde. OLambe off God that taketh awaie the ſinnes off the worlde is thriſe repeated. Then Lorde haue mercy vpon vs thriſe / and then the Lords praier with this praier alſo / o Lord deale not with vs after our ſinnes to the ſame adioined / paſſinge ouer ſome things leaſt we ſ hulde ſeeme to ſyfte all thoſe droſſes which remaine ſtul amonge vs. Nowe the manner off the ſupper is thus. The nomber off three at the leaſte is counted a fitt nomber to communi⸗ cate / and yet it is permitted (the peſtilence or ſome other com mon ſiknes beinge amonge the people) the Miniſter alone ma ie communicate wit he the ſicke man in his houſe. Firſt ther⸗ ſore / the Miniſter muſte be prepared after this manner / in a whit lynnin garmente (ae in ſayinge the other ſeruice he is apointed( and muſte ſtande at the Northeſide off the Table. Then is had the Lords praies after the cuſtome / then he — a | tet
XX XY,
eth the collect) and after folowe in order the ten comma dements (but ſo notwithſtanding / that euery one off the pes⸗ ple maye anſwere:lorde haue mercy vpon vs and inclyne ons re hartes to keepe this la we. After the reherſall off the coms mandements / the collect off the daie (as it is called) and an ether for the kinge is had. By and by the Epiſtle and Gos ſpell folo wethe / to witt / ſuche as the callender apointethe for that daie. And there in this place there is a note / that euerie
holy daye bathe his collect Epiſtle and Goſpell( whichefill 75s great leaues off the booke/when the reſte fill ſcarſe fiftie. For
ell holy daies are nowe in like vſe as were amonge the Papi⸗
ſtes / onelye verye fewe excepted,
Then he goethe forwardes to the crede and after that to che ſermonliff there be ante) After wardes the pariſ he prick
byddeth the holie dayes and faſtes on their eues / iff there be
anye t hat weeke. And here the booke warnethe that none de⸗
fraude the pariſ he prieſt off his due or right (pecially on tho⸗
ſe feaſt daies / that are dedicated to offrings. Then folo weth
a praier for theſtate off the churche militaunte / and that not wu horte a longe heape and mixture off matters vntill they come (after a certeine confeſſion off ſinnes) to lift vp your bars tes / the people anſweringe / we geue thankes to the lorde. Let vs geue thanks to our Lorde God / the anſwer / It is meete
and right ſo to do. It is verie meete / right and our bo wunden
'
de wtie / ꝛc. vntill they come to that claufe: O Lorde holie fath⸗ er / ꝛc. and ſo the preface accordinge to the feaſte is added. Af⸗ terwards he ſaithe: Therfore withe Angells and Archangells
and ſo endet he with holy holy holy / lord god / till he come to be ſianna in the higheſt. Nowe the prieſt bowethe his knee ack⸗
nowledginge oure vnworthynes in the name off all them that ſ hallreceius. And ſettinge owote gods mercye / he beſeche the God that oure bodies maye be made cleane by his bodie and that our ſoules maie be waſhedthrough his blonde, And then he againe ſtandeth vp and takethe in hande a freſhe an other praier appointed for this purpos / in which are contei⸗
5 ned the wordes off the inftiturion / all whiche brine a
Her Sieh : 8 N 6 haem he firſt commonicateth/then/by and by he ſaithe to an other / knelinge / Take / and eate this in remembrance that Chriſt died for ihee and feede on him in thy harte by faitbe with thanks Now aborote thende the Lordes praier it vſed againe / the Miniſter ſayinge it alowde and all the people folo winge / to conclude / they haue a geuinge off thanks in thende / withe Glory to god in the hig heſt / as it was vied amonge the Pa⸗ piſtes / yff it happen that there be no ſermon / onely afewe th inges are omitted / but all other thing es are donne in order aforeſaid. f ee ee e In baptiſme the Godfathers are demaun ded in the na⸗ me off the childe / wither they reno wonce the deuell and all his workes / the luſtes off the worlde / ꝛc. and they anſwere J reno ronce them. Then / wither chey believe the Artikles off the faithe / wohiche beinge confeſſed / wite thow(ſaith be turninge himſelf to bothe the witneſſes / be baptized intolhis father and they ſaie yea / J will. After afewe things reherſed / he ras kethe the Child and dippeth it in / but warely and diſcretly as it is in the booke / vppon whoſe fore head alſo he ſ hall make a croſſe in token forſoothe that when he is olde he ſ hall not be aſhamed to confeſſeſthe faithe off Chriſte Crucified. After⸗ ward / ſendinge awaie the Godfathers and Godmothers / be chargeth them that they bringe the childe to be confirmed off the Biſhopp as ſone as he can ſaie the Articles off the fai⸗ the / the lordes praier / and the ten Cõmaundemẽts. Andſeinge there be many cauſes / as the booke ſalthe / whiche ſhulde mo ue them to the Confirmation off Children / this / forſoothe / off all others is the waightieſt / char by impoſition off hands they maie receiue ſtrenght and defence againſt all temptations off inne / and the aſſaults off the world and the deuell / bicaufe that when Children come to that age / partlie / by the frailtie off their ovone fleſhe / partly / by the affaults off the worlde and ihe deuell they beginnto bein daunger: And leaſte anie ſbulde think any error to be in this Confirmation / therfore Hey take a certeine pamflest off a Catechiſme / W 2 cf | 2
two leaues.
xxxIII ſteth off the Articles off the faithe / the Lordes praier / and een commandements / and allthis is diſpatched m leſſe then
To theſe is ioyned their manner off Mariage off whiche that we maie paſſeouer many petty ceremonies theſe follies who can ſuffer? The buf bande lait he Downe a ringe vponthe booke / whiche the miniſter takinge / he geuethe it in his bande and biddethe him to put it on the fourthfinger off his wines left hande / Then he vſethe this forme off wordes: withe this ringe (ſaithe be) I thee wedd / withe my body Ithee worſ hip
wir he all my worldiy goods I thee endue. In the name off
thefather / the ſonne / and the holy ghoſte. 1 Alitle after the Miniſter ſaltheto the newe maried per⸗ fons knelinge before the lordes table! Lorde haue mercy ops pon vs Chriſt haue mercy vpon vs / Lorde haue mercy vppon vs. Oure father which arte / ꝛc. Lorde ſaue thy ſeruannt and thy handmaide / ꝛc. and ſo a few things beinge reherſed they muſte be brought tothe Cordes ſupper. The viſitation off the lee is after this manner. Peace be to this howſe. The anſ⸗
were / and to allthat dwell in the fame. Lorde haue mercy vs
pon vs /ic. our father / ꝛc. Lorde ſaue thy ſeruannte. Anſwere / whiche truſtethe in thee. Sende forthe thy helpe from thy holy bil / and wilt he ſpede ſaue him / ꝛc. as in the other prefa⸗ ces tothe queſtions and anſwers. Off the Buriall . 2 The Prieſt meetethe the Corfe at the entraunce off the churcheyarde either ſinging or foftly pronouncinge / J am the Refurrection and ne lige ꝛxc. I knowe that my res demer lyuerhe Job. 19. beinge comme to the graue it is (as yed. Man borne off a woman Job. 9. When the carthe is throroen in / we committ (ſaithe he) earthe to earthe / duſte to duſte / ꝛc. The Lorde hathe geuen / the Lorde hathe taken / J harde a voice from heauen / ſayenge / Bleſſed are the dead wohiche die in the Lorde, Lorde haue mercy vppon vs / zc. The purification of women in childbed / whiche they call f oe Eu geum⸗
1 * 1 *
— —
XXXIII.
geuinge off chankes / is not only in all things withe vs almo⸗ |
fte common withethe Papiſtes but alſo with the Jewes / by⸗
canſe they are commaunded in ſtede off a lambe or doue to of⸗ vvhitting⸗ ne kinde off pitie compelleth vs to keepe cloſe / in the meane ſes ham aſ ha⸗ aſon nothinge diminiſ hinge the honor due to thoſe reuerende med to ope men / who partely beinge hindred by thoſe times / and by the
bome things obſtinacie and alſo multitude off aduerſaries (to whom nos
thinge was euer delightfull beſides their omne corruptions), beinge as it were ouerflowen / did alwaies in their minde continually as muche as they coulde ſtriue to more perfect thinges. ae demi
Note, that this deſcription is verye fauolrably put downey f e conferre it with the Booke off order in all points, andthe vſage off the booke in many churches of this realme yow can confeſſe no leſſe. And hereoff ye maie gather what M. Caluin woulde haue u ritten, yf they had noted all the abuſes of the fame. Panda ae The anſwere and Judgemente off that famous and excellent lerned man Maiſter John Caluin the late Paſtor off Geneua / touchinge the Boas ke off Englande after that he had peruſed the ſame faiths fully translated owte off Latten by mai⸗ | ſter Whittingham. 9 To the godly and lerned men Maiſter John Knox / and Maiſter William Whittingham / his faithf ull brethern at Frankford ꝛc. 4 ee ee His thinge trulie greuethe me very muche / and it is a greg Vat ſhame that contention ſhulde ariſe amonge brethern baniſ hed and driuen owte of their countrje for one faithe / re
e for that cauſe whiche onely ought to haue holden yow boun⸗ de together as it were withe an holy bande in this your di⸗ ſperſton. For what might yow do better in this dolorous and miſerable plage / then (beinge pulled violently from your coun trie) to procure your ſelues achurch / vohiche ſhulde receme ad nouriſhe yow (beinge ioyned together in mindes and langua dg ) in her motherly lappe. But nowe for ſome men to ſtriue as touchinge the forme off praier and for Ceremonies as tho⸗ ughye were at reſte and proſperitie / and to fufferthar to be an impedimente that ye cannot there ioyne in to one body off the churche (as I think it is to muche o wte off ſeaſon. Pet notwithſtanding / J allowe their conſtancie whiche ſtriue for a iuſte cauſe beinge foꝛced againſte their willes vnto contention, J do worthely condemne fro wardnes / whiche 1 and ſtaie the holye carefullnes of reforminge the urche. ; And as J behaue myſelff gentle and tractable in meane things (as externall ceremonies ) So doo J not alwaies iudge it profitable / to geue place to their foliſ he ſtowtenes / whiche will forſake nothinge off their oulde wonted cuſtome. In the liturgie off Englande / J ſe that there were manye tollerable fooliſhe thinges / by theis wordes Imeane / that there was not that puritie whiche was to be deſired. Theis vices / thou⸗ Mam tolle ghe they coulde not at the firſte daie be amended / yet / ſeinge rable fooli⸗ there was no manifeſte impetie / they were for a ſeaſon to be ſbe things tollerated. Therfore / it was lawfull to begin off ſuche rudi⸗ in the book mentes or abſedaries / but ſo / that it behoued the lerned / gra⸗ by Calains ue / and godly miniſters off Chriſte to enterpriſe farther / and udoement o to ſetfoorthe ſome thinge more filed from ruſte / and purer. Yf See odly Religion had florif hed till this daie in Englande / there ought to haue bin athinge better corrected and manie thing ges cleane taten awaie Nowe / when theis principles be over throwne / a churche muſte be (et vp in an other place / where ye maie freely make an oꝛder againe / whiche (hall be apparent to be moſte commoditious to the vſe and edification off the urche . J cannot tell what they meane whide fo.greatly bes #2, j
Maa, -
litẽ in the leauinges off Dopifbedreg ges. They lone the thin ges wherunto they are accuſtomed. Firſte off all / this is a The booke thinge bothe triflinge and Childiſ he. furthermore / this nea. triß liag and we order farre differe eh from a chaunge. br pe eas
chlaſbe Cherfore ſae J wou de not haue yo w feirſe ouer them
by Calains whoſe infirmitic will not ſuffer to aſcend an higber ſteppe ſo dugement. woulde J aduertiſe other / that they pleaſe not them ſelues to muche in their fooliſhnes. Alſo / that by their frowardnes they doo not let the courſe off the holie buildinge. Laſte off all / leaſt that fooliſ he vaine glorie ſteale them awoaie. Foz vohat cauſe haue they to contende / excepte it be for that they are as ſhamed ts gene place to better thĩges. Bur J ſpeake in vaine to them whiche perchaunce eſteeme me not fo well / as they will vouchſaffe to admitt the conſaile that commethe from ſu che an aui hour. If they feare the e vell rumor in Englande / as though they had fallen from that Religion rohich was the cauſe off their baniſ hment / they are farre deceiusd for this true and ſincere Religion / will rather compell ihem that thes. re remaine / faithfully to conſider in to what deepe gulff they haue fallen For there do wone fall (ball more greuouſ ly woun de them / when they perceyue your goinge fore woarde beionde
mid courſe / from the whiche they are turned. Fare ze well dea rely beloned brethern / and faithfull ſeruants off Chriſte. the Lorde defende and gouerne pow from Geneua this ae, off
.
Jan. Anno. 1533. ats * 5 | Your Iohn Caluin
-’ gregation/itfe wrought in the hartes off many / that
they were not before ſo ſtowte to maintaine all the partes off the boke off England as afterward they were bent againſt it⸗ But no we to returne. Opiles theſe things were in doyinge / the congregation(as yow haue harde afore ) coulde not agree vpon anie certeine order / till after longe debatinge to and fo
it was concluded / that maiſter Knox / maiſter Whittingham /
Maiſter Gilby / Maiſter Fox and Maiſter C. Cole ſhulde dra
we folg
\
Wöben this letter of Caluins was red to them of the con
wy = : 2 ee eee ee eee
XXXVIf. weforthe ſome order meete for their ſtate and time: whiche thinge was by them accompliſhed and offred to the congre⸗ gation beinge the fame order off Geneva whiche is nowe in print) This order was verie well liked off many / but ſuche as
were bent to the booke off Englande coulde not abide it / yea /
cõtention grewe at lengh t fo hot / and theone partye vohich fo ught ſincer tie / ſo fore charged / with ne vof anglednes and fia gularitie and to be the ſtitrers of cõtention and vnquietnes / that Malſter Guby with a godly grieff (as well apeared) kne led downe before hem and beſought them (withe teares) to reforme their iudgementes / ſolemelie proteſtinge / that (in this matter) they ſought not themſelues / but onely the glorie off god / as he woas verely perſwaded / wiſ hingef arther that that hande whiche he then helde vp were ſtricken of if by that a godiy peace and vnitie might enſue and foliowe. In thende an otherwaie was taken by the congregation / whiche was / that maiſter Rnox and maiſter whittingham / Maiſter parry
The burnbs lenet of Gil by and bts godly xeci¢
and Maiſter lea ulde deuiſe ſome order yff it might be iſter leauer f bulde deuiſe fo yff it migh Urte 5
to ende all ſtriff and contention.
Thies 4, aſſembled for that purpos. And firſt / Maiſter Bnoxr ſpake to the reſte in this i For ſo muche / (ſaithe he) ae J perceiue / th at no ende of cStention is to be hoped for / vn le ſſe the one parte ſomethinge relent / this will J doo for my parte /th at quiet nes mate inſue. I will ſhewe my iudgement howelas I th ink )it maie be beſte for the edification off this poore flocke / whiche if ye will not accepte / nor followe (after th at I haue diſcharged my conſcience) J will ceaſe and cõmit the whole matter to be ordered by yow as yo w will anſwere before Chriſt Je ſus at the laſte daie / and to this his congrega tion in this liffe / c Wherupon after ſome conference / an order was agꝛeed vpõ: ſome parte tat᷑ẽ forthe of the Engliſhe booke and other things put to / as the ſtate of that chuꝛche required.
And this order by the confent of the cogregation ſhulde
contine we to the laſte of Aprill folowing. yff ame contention ſbulde ariſe in the meane time / the matter then to be determi ned by theis S. notable lerned mẽ / to wete / Caluin / Nuſculus aa Warsi
ſtie of Kao
This erdey waz taken the 6. off
Fh
XXXVIII.
Martyr / Bullinger / and Vyret. This agremente was put in wrytinge. To that all gaue their conſentes. This daie was ioy
. full. Thanckes were geuẽ to God / brotherly reconciliation fos
lo wed / great familiaritie vſed / theformer grudges ſeemed to
be forgotten. Nea the holie communion was vppon this hap⸗
pie agremente / alſo miniſtred. And this frindſhipp continued
d. Cox ws ill the n. off March folowinge / at whiche tyme. D. Core and 5 othe others with him came to Frankford orte off Englande / whe ith others began to break that order whiche was agreed vppon / firſte in come to anſweringe alowde after the miniſter / contrary to the chur⸗ Frankf ches determination / and beinge admoniſhed theroff / by the Seniors off the congregation / he / with the reſt that came wi⸗
the him made anſwere / that they woulde do as they had don⸗
ne in Englande / and that they would haue the face off an En⸗
gliſh churche. And the ſundaie folowinge / one off his compas
ny witho wt the conſent and knowledg off the congregation
gate vpp ſuddainly into the pulpit / redd the lettany / and D.
Cox withe his companie anſwered alowde / wherby the de⸗ termination off the churche was broken. The ſame ſundaie at
after noone it came to maiſter Knox his turne to preache / who
hauinge paſſed fo farre in Gen. that be was come to Noah as
he laie open in his tente / he ſpake theis wordes folowinge.
| , As diners thinges (ſaithe he)ought to be kepte ſecret / e⸗ FTpeffrate nenſo ſuche thinges as tend to the diſ honor off God and difs of Knox ſer quieting of his churche ought to be diſcloſed and openly repro ie ued. And therupon he ſhewed / howe that after longe trouble and contention amonge them / a godly agremente was made /
and howe that the ſame / that daie was vngodly broken / whis
che thinge / became not (as he ſaied) the prowdeſt off them all
ts haue attẽqpted / alleadginge furthermore that like as by the
worde off God we muſte / ſeeke oure warrant for the eſtabli⸗
ſ hing of religion / and withowt that to thruſte nothinge into
anie Chriſtian congregation: ſo for as muche as in the Engli⸗
{be booke were thinges bothe ſuperſtitious / vnpure / and vn⸗
perfect ( whic be offred to proue before all men) he would
pot conſent that off that qhurche it ſhulds be receiued / 2
2 XXXIX. chat in caſe men woülde go abowte to burthen that free cone gregation ther with / ſo ofte as he ſhulde come in that place 97 25 offringe occafion) he woulde not faile to ſpear aga⸗ nſte it. Be fart her affirmed that amonge manye thinges whide prouoked godds anger againſte Engiãde / ſlacknes to reforme religion (when tyme and place was graunted) was one. And therfore it became them to be circũſpecte / howe they laid their foundation. And wherefore men aſhamed not to ſaie / that there was no let or ſtopp m Englande / but ihar Religion mis ght be / and was already broug t to perfection / he proued the contrary, by the wante off diſciplme. Alſo by the troubles whid maiſter Hooper Suſtained / for the Rochet and ſuch like / in the booke commanded and allowed. And for that one man was permitted to haue z. 4. orf. benefices tothe great (launder off the goſpell and defraudin⸗ ge off the flock off Corifte off their liuely foode and ſuſtenaun⸗ ce. Theſe were the chieff notes off his ſermon / whiche was ſo ſtomaked off ſome / eſpecially off ſuche as had many liuinges in Englande / thar he was verye ſ harplie charged / and repro⸗ ued fo ſoone as he came owte off the pulpit / for the ſame. 5 The tweſdaie folowinge / was appointed to talke off thies ~* Cox ſba thinges more at arge. When all were aſſembled earneſte xe rply rebie queſte was made rhat D. Core with his companie might be d him. admuted to haue voices in the congregation. Anſwere was made by others that the matter yet in controuerſie N them / ought firſte to be determmed / Secõdly / that they ſhuld ſubſcribe to diſcipline as others had don before them / and far ae ther yt was greatly ſuſpected that they had byn (ſome off t that them) at maſſe in Englande / and others had fubfcribed to wi they refus cked articles / as one oft them ſhortly after euen in the pulpit ſed, and at ſerowſully confeſſed. For theis conſiderations and ſuche like / lenght ouer The congregation wen h ſtoode the admiſſion off D. Core and thre w yt. bis companie. Buoy at aſte / began to make in tretie that they might haue their voices among th e reſte / to w hoſe requeſte N 1 whencerteine had gelded sey then betame the greater par? lle we we | & tr and
brought in.
ann — ef 1 —— — “ oe eS ast?
:
5 A, oe a a ea x 28 =" edtce Ve. widest cons 2 2 „ AAA SE Ue SIS 4G Pee Bihe- „ de and ſo were by them admitted as members off the churche.
They thus admitted / by the moſte parte. D. Core foorth w
forbad Knox ts meddle ange more in that congregation. Che nexte daie beinge wenſdaie / whittingham wente to Knox pute Miaiſter John Glauburge ( who was the chieff meane in ob⸗ ewt by tho taininge the churche) and brake the matter vnte him! dect ſe which he ringe / owe that certeine / nowe come orte off Englande had forbidden their miniſter apoꝛnted / to preache that daie / and in ended to fet ppp an other / whiche he do wted woulde not de well taken. And therfore / leaſte ame inconuen ence ſhulde happe / he thought good to make him priuie iherto. Wher⸗ upon the fact dement that ther ſ hulde be no ſermon that daie. After warde be ſent for Valeran the frenche Miniſter / commanndinge him
agiſtrat ſent immediatlie and gaue cõmaun⸗
that 2. lerned men ſhulde be appointed off either parte / and that he and they ſhulde conſulte and agree vppon ſome gocd ordre / and to make report vnto him accordingly. Then were apointed D. Cox and leuer off the one fide and knox and wh te
tingham on the otherſide To decꝛde the matter. Valeran was appointed to put downe in writinge what they { hulde agree vpon. But when in this conference / they came to the order off Mattins and that D. Core ſaide / Ego volo habere, there coul
de be no agrement amonge them / and ſo brake off / wherupon
the congregation drew vp a ſupplication in latten and preſen⸗
ted it tothe ſaied maiſter Glauburge requeſtinge him to bea meane thatthe ſame might be conſidered off amonge the Se⸗
vators. The Engliſhe wheroff was as folowethe.
The ſupplication to the Senate.
Ert it not moleſt pow ( moſte graue and worthie Senators / that your affayers are letted with a fewe wordes. And leaſte we ſhulde trouble yo w with prolixitie / yow ſ hall vn⸗ derſtande the matter briefly. When your great and vnſpe⸗ akable humanitie / through the prouidence of god had graun⸗ bed vs a churche / we vndertooke forth with (as became vs)
4 8 do Cone
XIV..
eo n abornte the orders off the ſame / and to ſet oer Liturgie. And bicauſe we fawe that in the prolige and Ceres monious booke of the liturgie of Englande / be manie thinges (ttbat we maie ſpeake no worſe off it) not moſte perfecte / it
ſeemed beſte to reduce it to the perfecte rule off the ſcriptures and to accommodate our ſelues to the enſamples off that chuꝛche where in we teache / and to whom we bane ſubſcribed But when this enterpriſe offended ſome off oure countric⸗ men (alihoughe the greateſt nomber agreed vnto vs) for
To weth
that we woulde decline from the decrees off our elders / here the f enche vppon there grewe to vs for a fewe monethes no ſmall churche.
trouble. At the lenght / whẽ there appeared no ende /for peace and concordes fake we gaue place to their will / and ſufred them at their pleaſure to pike ovte off their booke the chiefeſt or beſte thinges vpon this condition that the fame ſ hulde conti newe with owe alteration / at the leaſte / vnto the laſte date off Aprill / at the whiche daie (iff there ſhulde ante newe cons “tention ariſe (that then allthe matter ſhulde be referred to theſe s. notable men / Calvin / Muſculus / Martit / Bulliss ger / vnd Viret. What nedethe manie wordes. This condi⸗ tion was willingly accepted / and the couenaunte rated on be the partes. A writinge was alſo theroff to teſtifie the pres meſſe made off tbe one to the other. Moreouer thankes we⸗ re geuen to god withe great ioye / and common praiere wes re made / for that men thought that daie to be thende off di⸗ ſcorde. Beſides this / they receyued / the communion as the ſure token / or ſeale off their mutuall agremente / whiche was omitted before / by the ſpace off . monethes. Dalaran alfo the frenche Miniſter was partaker off this communion and a fu rtherer off concorde and 4 wittnes off tbeis thinges. Nowe of late daies / certeine of our countrey men, came to vs who haue indeuored by all meanes to obtrude that huge volume off ce remonies vpon vs to break the couenaunte and to ouerthrou gh the libertie off theChurche graunted by your beneuolence. And no dowte / this they enterpriſe and 2 vnder * ann tit
W title and name off your defence / Ot herby they maie abuſe te
authoritie off your name to aii eit uſte. We are here cõs pelled to omute mame thinges wol iche woulde make for oure cauſe / no leſſe righ: y then prof tab y / bur we remit thies to oure brethern for concordes fake.
- Po chaue here / moſte honorable Gen a brieff ſumme of oure caſe / and content on / herby yo w may eaſilie onderſtan⸗ de / what to iudge off the whole matter. What manner off Booke thisis for the wohiche they fo trey cruelſie contende / ye mate conſider by the Epiſtie tha Calin
The: leiter 8 e
aliile te rt ee in the whiche be barye. ſignif.ed bis :
; ininde/afwell plainly off the booke / as alſo off the wprighinefe — 15 fe off oure cauſe. We cou de haue pointed owre vnto yowihe fooliſ he and fonde ttiigs offthe booke / bur paſſinge ouer an
infinite nomber off thinges / this one will we brin⸗
ge for manie the whiche ſ halbe neceffaric wel tobe marked.
within theſe three yeres aroſe a great conflicte betweene he
1 conte the Biſhopps off the realme and the Sif hoppe off Gioceſter
| Maiſter Hooper / a man worchie off perpetuall memorie /
nerſie hath whom we beare to be burned off late This man beinge made
bys firbins “Bit hopp By kinge Edwarde / there was obtruded by other hinge Ed. B. off the fame order(accordinge to this booke )a rochet / and ward his and a biſ hops robe zhis man being well lerned and a longe ty raigne as me nouriſ hed and brought vp in Germany / as ſoone as he res vc ſe. fuſed thies prond thinges that fooles mar vell at / he was ca ſte into priſon and at lenght by their importunitie ouercome /
and relentinge / he was compelled to his ſhame to geue place
to their impudency wuhe the common grieff and ſoro we off
all godlye mindes. e
But wherfore ſpeake yow offtheis thinges will yow (as ie / thar apperteneih nothinge co pay yes verely / we thinke it touchethe yow verie moche / for yff thes men armed by your
author tie ſ hall do what they liſte / this euell halbe in me
e ſtabliſ bed by yo w and neuer be redreſſed / nether ſhallthere for euer be anie ende off this controuerſie in Engl ande. But ff it woulde pleaſe your honorable authoritie to decree this mo deꝛation bei weene vs / that this whole matter may re :
5 re
REE. 4
ed to the iudgements off the fiue abone named not we alone that are here preſent / but oure wheie-pofteritie/ yea cure who le engliſ he nation / and all good men / o the perpetuall memo rie off your names / ſ halbe bo onde vnto yo w for this great benefit. Ve might haue vſed moo wordes in this nartauon / for we feared not / that we ſhulde lake rraſons / but rather that tyme ſ bulde falle yo w/ letted wich more ſerious buſines. Therfore / we by thera thinges / leaue the reſte to the confides tration off your wiſdomes. Che off Marche maiſter Glauburge came to the En⸗ gliſ be C hurche and ſhewed the congregation / that it was com maunded them by the magiſtrates (when by bis procure ment che church was graunted) that they ſhulde agree withe the frenche churche bothe in Doctrine and ceremonies / and that they vnder ſtood howe the fallinge from hat order had bred muche diſſention amonge them. Theifore / he firaitly charged and commaunded ihat from thenc foorthe they {bul de not diſſent from that order / yff they did / as he had opened the churche dore vnto them / fo woulde he ſhutte it agame. And that ſuche as woulde not obey therunto ſhulde not tarie within that cite / willinge them to conſulte together owte 8 off bande and to geue hom an anſwere before he departed. D. Coxe / then ſpake to the congregation in this wiſe / J haue (ſai⸗ the he) redd the frenche order and do thinke it to be boibe gos od and god y in all pomtes / and therfore wiſhed them to obs aie the magiſtrates commaundement wherupon rhe whole congregation gaue conſent / ſo as before the Magiſtrate des partedthe churche / D. Core / lever / and whittingham made reporte vnto him accordingly. D. Core alſo at that preſente requeſted that it wou de pieaſe him / not wichſtandinge their ill behauiour)to ſhewe vnto them his accuftomed fauor and goodneſſe / whiche he moſte iently and louinglie promiſed. At the nexte meet / nge off the congregation ihat order was put in practiſe / to the comforte and teioycinge off the me ſte parte. Neuertheles / ſuche as woulde fo faine haue had the booke of England / lefte not the matter ihůs. And for that they oe Fun (laws Gs:
1 d
ag KLINE: ſaror Knox to be in (ude credit withemany off ebe e
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Sarion/they firſte off all affaicd bya moſte ernell barbarous and bloudie practiſe to diſparche him owte off the waie / to thende they might withe more eaſe attaine the thinge whiche they fo gredely ſonght / whiche was the placinge of their boos. ke. They had amonge them a booke off bis int: tuled an admo⸗ nition to Chriſtians written in the Engliſ h tonge / wherin by occaſion he ſpake off the Emperour / off Philip his ſonne / and off Marie then Queene off Englande. This booke cerieine off them preſented to the Magiſtrates / who ( vpon receipte o the ſame ) ſente for whittingham and aſ ked him off Bnox their Miniſter / what manner off man he was: whittingham anſ⸗ wered that ſuche a one their was amonge them and to his Knox accus Fnowledge bothe a lerned / wiſe / graue and godly man. Then ſedoff trea- one off the Magiſtrates ſaied vnto him / certaine off your -fon. countrie men haue aceuſed him vnto vs Læſæ Maieſtatis Im- | peratoriæ, that is off higytreaſon againſte the Emperour / The places his ſoñe / and the Queene off England / here is the booke / and in all were the places whide they haue noted / the true and perfect fence 8 wyheroff we commannde yow . ſub pena pacis) to bringe vn⸗ 5 to vs in the latten tonge at one off the clock in the after noo⸗ ne / which thinge he did accordingly / at whiche time (after cer⸗ teine communication amonge themſelnes / they commanded that Knox ſhulde preache no more till their pleaſure were far ther knowen. The wordes concerninge the Emperour were theis / ſpoken in the pulpit in a Towne off Buchingham {bees re in the beginninge off Quecne Maries raigne / as by the (as ied booke apearethe where it is ſaied: O Englande Englande / yff thowo wylte obſtinately returne into Egipte / that is / pF tho w cõtracte mariage / confederacy / or leage with ſuche prin ces as doo maintaine and aduaunce ydolatrie / ſuche as the Emperour (who is no leſſe enemie to Chriſt then was Nero) yff for the pleaſure and frindſ hip (IJ (aie) of fad) princes thor returne to thine oulde abbominations before vſed under Das f e hen aſſuredly( O England) thow (bale be plaged and brought to deſolation by the meanes off yee Cay ” | o
XN How ſekeſte / and by whom thow arte procured to fall from Chriſte and ſerue antechriſte . There were other s. places / but this was moſt noted / in that it touched the Emperour. Bare fee med the ma giſtrates abhorred this bloudh / cruell / and ous tragious attempt / for that when as certeine off Rnox his ene mies folowed hardly the Magiſtrates to knowe what ſhuld de donne with him / they did not onely ſhewe moſt euident (is
. dif likinge their vnnaturall ſuite / but alſo ſent for mai ſter Willams and Whutingham / willinge them / that maiſter Boog ſhuld departe the City. For other wiſe / (as they (aide) The banis they ſ huld beforced to deliuer him / yff the Emperour his coun ſhment off ſaile (whiche then lay at Auſ burge ) ſ huld vppon like inſorma⸗ Knox. tion ſend for him. N TChess off merche maiſte: Knox the night before his des partute made a moſte comfortable ſermon at his lodginge to 30, perſons or theꝛe abo wete / then preſent / which ſermo wae of the deathe and refurrection off Chriſte / and of the vnſpeakable ioyes wh iche were prepared for Goddes electe / whiche in this liffe ſuffre trouble and perſecution for the teſtimonie off his ble ſſed name. The next daie he was brought 3. or 4. mile in his waie by ſome off ſome off thoſe vnto whom the night before / he had made that exhortation / who with great heaui⸗ nes off harte and plentie off teares cõmitted himto the lorde. The verie ſame date beingethers. off marche one Adul⸗ Marg off phus Glauburge (A Doctor off lawe and nephew to Maiſter 1 John Glauburge ibe Senator) whom D. Cox and the reft e had wonne vnto them / ſent for wittingham / and tolde him n were that there were preſented to ihe Magiſtrates thꝛe Docters / iz, "OW come batchelers off deuinitie beſides others / and that the magiſtra⸗ from al pls tes at their ſuites had graunted them the full vſe off the En⸗ es. gliſhe boote cõmaunding and charginge him therfore not to medle any more to the conirary. for (as he ſaied) it was fullie _,- Aduls concluded that fo it ſhuld be. And ſuppoſing that Wh ittinghã woulde let it what he might / the next daie againe be ſent for 5 an him home to his ho wſe wherebe gaue the like charge D. Coxe cfore this and other preſent by whofe procurement she fame was dons 8 a il wie ne) @ farbe
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— — — — ~ — A ͤ ́'üGä— — — —
i| ty 7 i
: XUV. ate rer off ne) lh litingham an ſwered / chat yff it were ſo concluded) the chur be woulde willingly obaie / not dowtinge / but that it night che and tbe be lawful for bim and oih ers to ioine themſelues to ſome o⸗ orders eff ther churche. Bui D. Core be ſonght the lawier that it might the ſame ho not fo be ſuffred / wherto whit tingham anſwered that it woul
we fo euer de be to great erueltie to force men contrary to their conſci⸗
be was tur ences to obaie all their diſorderly doinges / offringe / that iff it ne.. wou de pleafe the Magiſtrates to geue him and others the hearinge / they would diſpute the ma ter againft all the con⸗ trary parte and proue that the order rohiche they ſought to e⸗ ſtabliſ he / ought not to take place in anie reformed churche. The D. off lawe made a plaine anſwere that diſputation the⸗ re ſ hulde be none / vſing his former wordes off charging and commaundinge not to deale farther in ihat matter. Munk be Wyen as the congregation harde off the cruell and mos tacine off re then tirannicall dealinges off this Doctor / Maiſter Gil⸗ F he by and others withe him / were ſente to maiſter John Glaw⸗ the Engle burge (by whofe commaundment as ye harde / ihey had recei⸗ fhe book ned the frenche order) puttinge him in remembrance off the and off the ſame and ſhewinge him that certeine lately come amonge thé |
reiecting had ſought(as they were crediblie enformed) to ouerthrowe
thother. their churche by placing the Engliſhe booke amonge them. To this maiſter Glauburg made anſwerce / that he was enfor med howe that bothe partes were full agreed and contented / kithis and that theruppon he had committed the whole matter to Marck OM the la wier his couſen. Then he aſked for whittingbam:it was pr acliſe. anſwered that ſtrait charge was geuen him that he ſhuld mes | dle no more in that matter. The magiſtrate aſked againe off whom he had that commaundement / and when it was tolde
him thet ibe Doctor bis coufen had geuen him that charge / he then began / verie gentle to perſwade with maiſter Guby and the reſt that they ſhulde be contented / and he would ſe that nothinge ſ hulde be vſed bur that which ſhuld be tollera⸗
dle / and ſo malſter Hilby withe the reſt departed. ii Tue as. off marche D. Core aſſembled all (ude as had byn Prieſts and Miniſters in En glande to his lodging 2 : | lghere
AI
re declared howe ihe Magiſtrates had graunted them the
oſe off ede Engliſ he booke and that he thought requiſite that ey ſyulde conſu lte together / whom they thought meſte me⸗ At lenght
ete to he Biſ hop / Superintendent or Paſtor withe the reſt off they agreed
ope leg Seniors Miniſters and Seacons, Wyerunte vppon the
maiſter Chriſtopher Goodmã anſwered that his opiniõ was / name Pa.
that they ought fitſt to agree vpon ſome perfect an godly or⸗ flor.
der forthe churche / andtherto to haue the cdfent of the congre
gation woherbyit might appeere / that they contemned norihe
refte off their brethern: And farther / te proceade to the elects}
which he thought alſo ought not to be attempted withovo⸗
te the conſent off the whole churche. To this was anſwered
that for the order / it was already determined / and other order
then the booke off Englande they ſhulde not haue / ſo that
the perſwaſions off Goodman nothinge at all preuailed neo
ther in one thinge or other / yea / che proceadings off ſundrie
perſonnes (whiche J coulde name) were ſuche as if there had
bin nether orders / offtcers / or churche there / before their com
minge / or any promes to be kepte off their partes / after they
came / as mate more plain y apeere tothe reader by this lets
te folowinge / writien by maiſter Whittingham to a frinde
off his in Englande / whiche letter is (off his owne bande) to
be ſeene.
Grace, mercy and peace throught Chriſt our lorde.
As yow require a briefFanfwere to your ſhorte letter / fo An anſwe⸗
nether tyme permitteth / nor J intend to trouble yow far⸗ re to a lets
ther then the verte neceſſitie off the matter aſkethe. And fir ten ſent him
ſte / for that ye ſeeme to hange in ſuche extreame perplexitie / gte off
partiy / bicauſe of ſundry talkes / and divers letters off men off England. good credit whic caufethe yow not a litle to merueile / and partly / by reaſon off the Good opinion once conceyued and yet reteined off certeine perſons bothe god'y and lerned / wl i⸗ che maketh pow to dowte: I think it beſte / briefly * ſimplie 19
\
XL VIII.
to open sfewe chieff pointes vppon the whi@ethe reſte off the matter dependethe After ceiteine monethes hat we had here liued in great conſolation and quiet nes it chaunced that
as oure nomber did increaſe / ſo ſome entred in / whiche buſi⸗
lie vndermined oure libertie and labored to ouerthrowe oure diſcipline / whiche troubles grewe at lenght in ſo great quan⸗
titie / that by the greateſt parte it was concluded / hat no man ſ hulde neede here after to ſubſcribe to anie diſc pine for
as muche as they prefuppofed that none would come hither whiche ſ hulde haue nede theroff. Whiche donne / they altered oure orders in praiers and others thinges / thinkinge to brn ge in place the full vſe off the great Engliſ he boote / whiche notwithſtandinge / by reaſon off diners imperfectiòs we coul de not admit / ſo that to growe to a common concord it was agreed and the name off god inuocated that the whole mate ter ſhulde be referred / to maiſter Caluin Maiſter Muſculus Maiſter Martir / Maiſter Bullinger and Matſter Viret that bothe partes ſ hulde drawe their orders and that to be recey⸗ ued wohiche by the iudgements off theis g. excellent men ſhuld be thought moſte agreable to a reformed churche. In the/mes ane time euerie man to ſtand content withe that order whide was then agreed vps and vſed. But within fewe daies after / this determinatiõ was broken A ſtrangercraftely brought in to preache / oho had bothe byn at maſſe and alſs ſubſcribed to blaſphemous Articles / Many tauminge bitter ſermons were madelas they thought) to oure de facinge / in fo moche / as mai ſter Knox beinge deſired therunto off omers/ was inforced te purge him ſelf in ſundrie pointes / and ſpake his mind freely in the pul pit / aſwellin reprouinge certeine partes off the Engli⸗ {be booke / as declaringe the puniſhmente off God whide
partly had light open oure countrie for ſlacknes in Keligion /
fo as they ſeemed to tabe the matter fo to harte that by their falſe delation in accuſinge him before the Magiſtrates offtre⸗ aſon againſte the Emperour and the Queene in a certeme bos e off dis written to oure countrie men off England he was tommaunded bo de parte. e And
XLIX.
And ide Magiſtrates vnder ſtandinge their fetches /
d greedy cerchinge off their orone glorie ( who ſeemed t⸗ sare no kinde off contention to purchaſe the ſame ) commaan⸗ ded that we ſhulde teceiue thefrenche order ( wohiche is accor⸗ dinge to the order off eneua ihe pureſte refermed churche in hriſtendome ( Wherupon all agreed and D. Coxe with others commendinge the ſame to the congregation)gaue thankes te
, iftrarein all oure names. Here yow maie note thew double faces / who / bearinge the Magiſtrate in bande that they receyued his cõmaundement ioy fully / priuily practiſed / and ſo laboured vnder bande / tbat they made this Magia
rate vnſaie / and ſo obtained their booke / promiſinge nots wubſtandinge / botbe to the Magiſtrate / and certaine off the gongregation / as well to proue by the worde off God fo mas che off the booke as they woulde vſe / as alſo to ſet forthe the fame in rorittinge / that theyl before the forfaied order ſhulds be chaunged might iudge off the equitie theroff. But pres ſerringe be ioye off their vnhoped victorie before their pros meſſe / did nether the one bycauſe they coulde not / nether the other bicauſe they durſte not. And yet hane they not made an ende off their triumphe. For beginninge in marche not onely to neglecte all orders in the election off their Miniſters end other officers / but alſo to ſ off and taunte others in their dailie ſermons / do not yet ceaſſe as nowe appearethe by their ſlanderous and lyinge letters.
But to thende we might be deliuered from this vnſup⸗ portable yoke / God off his mercy hathe prouided better for vs / and for this incommoditie hathe graunted vs a double benefit in fo muche that contrary to their hope be bathe not onely at Baſill moued che Magiſtrates hartes towar⸗ des vo in grauntinge vs a churche / but alſo at Geneua / where as Gods worde is truly preached manners beſte reformed and in eartbe the chiefeſt place off true comfor⸗ se. Thus in fewe lines J haue gon abowte to farisfie your requefte bearinge with tyme whide haſteth and alſo folowinge mine ewone Judgement / 1 perſwadeth * | 65 me
„ ie ee 1
me rather to geut yo w a taſte off thinges ( whiche J moned in conſcience wryie as moſte true) then to fill yo o with the whole diſcours / whiche / iff this mate not ſuffice / yo wo mate by continuaunce haue at your commaundement. Pray for vs brother in this oure baniſhement / that the frutes off this vncorruptible ſeede maie ſpringe moſte abundanily / as voe praie cornually that oure heauenly father woulde fo ſtrengt⸗ hen yow with his (pirite off boldenes / that yow mate nor o⸗ nely reſiſte / but alfo iriumphe ouer all your enymies to the glo rie off God and the confuſtõ off the aduerſaries. Rnowe be⸗ fore yo w iudge / and beleue not all fleinge tales / keepe one ea⸗
4
re open and reporte the the befte. | tb * e Your Vvilliam VVhittingham.
Op Sere as maiſter whittingham in this his letter make⸗
the mention off a churche graunted them bothe at Baſill and Geneua / it is to be noted that he himſelff was the man whiche the oppreſſed congregation required to trauel therin and through goddes great mercy obtained it with great fas . uour / who in his iourney)paſſed by Zurik to knowe off Mai⸗ ſteꝛ Bullinger what he thought off the booke off Englande for that hel who had raported to marfter Williams / Whittin⸗ gham. Gilbie and others / that Cranmer Biſ hop off Canter⸗ bury had drawen vp a booke off praier an hundreth tymes more perfect then this that we nowe haue / the ſame coulde not take place /ſor that he was matched withe ſuche a wicked clergie and conuoc. tion / with other enymies) Tuen he / J ſaie / yet ſtood in this that maiſter Bullinger did like well off thingliſ he order / and had it in his ſtudy. But when Whit⸗ tingham had demaunded that queſtion / Bullinger tolde him / that indede Ma ſter H and Maiſter C. aſ ked his iudgemen⸗ te concerninge certeine pointes off that booke / as Surples / private baptiſme. C hurchinge off wemen / the ring in maria⸗ ge / with ſuche like / whiche / (as he fared) he allowed not / and shat he nether coulde ylf he woulde / nether woulde yff 1
ey 601 — ght,
LY, gytlofe che fame in bis churche / what fo euer had byn repo
VWhittingham paſſinge from thenceto Geneua / maiſter Caluin ſ hewed him a letter ſent from D. Core and from 46. more off Franck. in whiche letier / they partly excuſed them ſel⸗ ues that they put order in their churche wit howte his coũſai⸗ le af ked / and partely reioycigefor that they had (as they ſa de) brought the moſte parte that had withfiande their doynges 5 opinion / which not withſtandinge / was farr others wiſe. They wrote alſo / that they had elected a paſtour / r. Mis niſters. 4. Seniors. and 1. Deacons / 2c. but howe parciallie they proceaded in their elections (thoſe that were in office / ne⸗ ther diſcharged / nor yet their conſents required) J leaue to the conſciences off them whiche ſawethoſe diſorders.
To this letter off thers the contentes wheroff are aboue bouched / maiſter Caluin auſwereihe in this wife,
To the worſ hippfull my louinge brechern in the lorde maifter Richard Core and the reſt off the Engliſ he⸗ men rohiche nowe remaine at Frankford.
— anſwere your letter (worſ hip. frinds and orethern) more ſlowlie then ether ye hoped or looked ſor / but for ſo muche as ye knowe the wayes for a tyme fo to be beferwithe theues that no meſſenger allmoſte coulde paſſe from hence to yow the excuſe of my long delay towaꝛdee yow ſhalbe the eaſier. J expreſſed my minde frankly to oure beloued brother Thomas Sampſon / off that wheroff J was enformed by the letters off certeine men as touchinge the contention vnlucke⸗ lie ſtirred vp amonge yow For certene off my frindes founde thẽ ſelues greued that yow woulde ſo preciſelie vrge the cere⸗ monies offnglande / wherbyit might appeere that ye are mo re geuen and addicte to your countrie then reaſon woulde. J confeſſe thai I garde certeine reaſons alledgod on your behalf W G ¥ whide
uuuchs monde not ſuffer yow to departe from thereceyned order / but they might be ſoone and eaſilie confuted. Nowe / 40 J counſailed mine owne frindes whiche diſſented from. je m / ſome what to yelde / yff tbey might conueniently / ſo it offended me that there was nothinge graunted or relented on your partes. Bicauſe there was no man named vnto me J durſte not entrepriſe to medle with the matter / leaſte my ere dit ſhuld incurre the ſuſpecte off ra henes. Nowe that ye are more myleder and tractable in this controuerſie and ibat ye haue (as ye ſaie) ſtilled the matter withe quietnes / J am Verely no man well inſtructed or off a ſounde Judges ment / will deny (as Ithink that lights and croſſings or ſuche like rrifles / ſprange or iſſued owte off ſuperſtition / wherupon I am perſwaded that they whiche reteine theis ceremonies | in a free choiſe / or when they mate other wiſe doo / hey are os, ner greedy and deſyrous to drink off the dregges neither do , fe to what purpoſe it is to bur. hen the churche with tryfflin⸗ ge and vnprofitable ceremonies / or as J mare terme them with their propre name / hurteſull and offenſibie ceremoni⸗ es / when as there is libertie to haue a ſymple and pure order. But J keepe in and refraine my ſelff leaſte J ſhulde ſeeme to beginne ro moue a newe contention off that matter whiche as Ow reporte / is well ended. | " seni All good men will allowe the Paſtours and other Mini⸗ fers elections with common voices / ſo that none complaine that the other parte off the churche was oppreſſed fraudulen⸗ gly and with craftye practiſes. For it ſtandethe your wiſedo⸗ mes in hande to conſider / that howe muche commoditie the good neſſe off the Senate dothe deſerue / ſo muche enuie ſ hall ye be giltie off / or charged wuhall / yf yow haue abuſed their nitte or gentleueſſe / whiche were ſo well affected towardes your nation. et / J woulde not haue this fo taken / that 3g aborote to be preiudiciall to ante man but 3 had rather ſhe woe plainely vohat maie be ſaide / then to noriſ he an ill opinion by lle nce / or in holdinge my peace,. But cextenly / th is one ihinge N : J cannot
Lili,
FeannotPeepe fecret/ehat Maiſter Rnox was in un hoger men nether godly nor brotherly dealt withall / iff he were ace
cuſed by the ſubtill ſuggeſtion of certeine / n had byn better for
them to haue taried ſtul in their orone lande then vnuſtly te
haue brought in to fare countries the fierbrande off crueltit
to fet on fier thoſe that woulde not be kindled.
Not wiſtandinge / becauſe it greueih me to (peak ſ leighe tly off theis euells / tte remembrance wheroff J woulde wi⸗ ſhe to be buryed in perpetuall forgetfullnes therfore / J ones ly counſaile yow (not withorota cauſe) to be wounded / that ge applie your ſelues to make them amendes for the faulte committed.
When J barde thatthe one parte was minded to depar They beg te frõ thens. J earneſtiy admoniſ hed them (as t became me) pretely that iff they cou de not well remaine there / that the dꝛſtance ° off place f buldenot diff pate / or rent in (under their brother! y agrement / for J feared mude leaſt that ſome priuic grudge off the former contention remained. And certainely / noihinge cou de more comforte my harte / then to be delyuered from this feare. For iff anie haplie come to vs / it woulde grieut me tha there ſhulde be(as it were) but a ſuſpition off any ſecres debate bet wene pow,
Therfore as touchinge that ve haue written off your as grement J deſier that it mate be firme ard ſtable that iff it chaunce the one parte to go to an other place / yet / that you be inge ſo ſundred by diſtance off places maie keepe {ure the hos le bande off off amitie / for the fault alreadie committed is to muche / although thorowgh diſcorde it creepe no further. Wherfore it ſhall well be ſeeme your wiſedomes (that ye maie be frinds) to purge diligenilie what ſo euer remainethe off this breache. Fare ye well brethern / the lorde fuccour yo w with his aide / and gouerne yo w with his ſpirite / powre bis bleſſinges vpon yo w and miieigate the ſorowe off your exile From Gencus tis left off maic, Anno 1555.
Your Iohn Caluin,
: Bicaufe
|.
throughly perſwaded / that hereby ſtryſe maie be ended 2 *
e Heanbe that Maiſter Caluin in his letter maketh mention
x off ligytes / ſome might gather that he was onstady
euf ormed / that in the Engliſhe booke ligytes were preſcribed (the contrary wheroffappearecl by the deſcrpt ion before
where ꝛt is manifeſt to ſuch as be lerned that he vſethe the fi⸗
gure auxeſis / and that this is his argument / a ms ore ad mi⸗ nus / for ſo muche as lightes and croſſinges ber. off the moſte auncienfteft ceremonies / hauinge continued in the churche as boue u bundreth yere / are yet for ſuche cauſes abolij bed: bos we muche more ought all other / that haue nos hadthe like con tinuance / and yet abuſed / be vtterly remoued. i
And for that maiſter Caluin in bis leiter earneſtiy wi be
that all ſtrife ſ hulde ceaſſe / and that yff anie were minded to departe their departure might be ſuche / as all occaſtons off offence might be cut of and cleane takẽ aroaie:it vas hought
good to ſuche as were determined to go awaie with ins wee
eckes after / to folowe his counſaile. And the rather for that jos
me rohiche too kethem ſelues / to be lerned / had openly termed
their departure a ſiſme / whervpon / they wrote tothe paſtor
Miniſters / and whole congregation this leiter folowinge und deliuered it in the open congregation. N
For ſo muche as throughthe benefit off God / we haue obtai⸗ ned a churche in an other place / we thought it good to aduer⸗
tiſe yow of the ſame. And to the intent that not onely ſlande⸗
rous reportes maie ceaſſe / but alſo / iff anie offence be either taken or geuen / the ſame maie come to triall / we deſier that
yow for your parte woulde apointe 2 Arbyters and we ſhall
appointe others, Who hearinge our matters throughly ope⸗ ned maie witnes where the faulte reſtethe / at wohiche time / we will vndertake / to defende oure departure to be lawfull cons
trary tothe ſlanderous reportes off ſome which vnlernedly terme it a ſchiſme. Thus ſarre brethern we thought good to
ſignifie onto yow / thinkinge this to be the onely meanes of ou re mutuall quietnes woheroff howe defirous we are / our tedi⸗ ous and chargeable tourney maie be a (nificient proffe / beinge
LV. e reuſned/frindſhipe eontinued / Goddes glory aduannced / and oure brethern edified. Fare yewell this 7. off Auguſt.
v villiam vvilliamm Thomas VVeod john Efcot vvilliamvvhittingham V villiam Kethe. Thomas Crofton
Anthony Gilby lohn Kelke. vvilliam VV alton Chriftopher Goodman. lohn Hilton. Laurence Kent Thomas Cole, Chrift. Soothous lohn Hollingham lohn Fox. Nicholas Purfote Anthony Carer.
¶¶ Men the Paſtour had redd this letter openly to the con⸗
gregation and was deſired to knowe when they ſhulde haue an anſwere / he ſaied vnto them that fo farre as he per⸗ ceiued / it required none but that whiche might preſently be made / whiche was / that they might departe ſeinge they were fo minded. It was replied that for fo muche as it was mani⸗ feſt that they had bys ſlaundered not onely by letters into di⸗ uers partes / but alſo / by ſome that then were preſent / who had affirmed their departure to be a ſchiſme / and farther / that they couide finde no indifferency at their handes: it was thou gbt neceſſarie to commit the hearinge off that controuerſie to lerned and indifferent iudges / by bothe partes to be choſen wherby thef aulte might appear where it was in dede / and ſo they either excuſed or founde giltie.
D. Cox / at lenght / tolde them that their letter ( bulde be conſidered off / and an anſwere ſhulde be geuen them the fris daie after. On fridaie ihe zo, off Auguſte bothe partes mette: The Paſtor (accompanied with the Miniſters and elders) ſpake this vnto them. It ſeemeth very fonde that arbytrers ſhuld be apointed to take vpp ſtrife that maie come hereafter / as your letter ſignifieth. And furthermore / ye write / yff anie offence be taken or geuen / whiche ſemethe as ſtrange / for this wordelyff importethea dowte / ſo that yff ye dowte it is but follie to apointe arbitres. fynally / to excuſe your departure / gow call them vnlerned whiche iudge it a ſchiſme a" vst
he) terme it as you liſte yet can ow not let men to think. f And off arbitres ſhuld pronouncete to be none / yet mennes opinions will be diners, „„ Novo herfore / your anſwere ſ hall be / that iff anieman be offended euher with any private mã / or publiquely / let him or them complaine to vs / or yff they refuſe vs / to the Magi⸗ rat. 1 As for Arbitres / coe will appoint none. Then ſpake whit tingham and ſaied that it was to him no ſmali wonder that men of ſuche lerninge and wiſedome ſ huld fo (brink in a mo⸗ ſte equall requeſte / and ſo / witho rote all reaſon to cauill whe⸗ re no matter was offred. For / as concerninge (faithe he) the firſte pointe / it was not vnknowen tothem that atthat time / thorough their occaſion / their was no ſmall content; on / and that ſeinge they had geuen ſuch offence it coulde not be but that mennes mindes were moued. e And therfore / to thende that contention ſhulde growe no farther / Arbytres were very neceſſary / who neded not to deliberate (as he ſaied) off thinges to come whiche were vn⸗ certeine, but as the letter truly purporteth / offiniuries longe agoo begonne / yet continued / and here after not like to be en⸗ ded excepte ſome good meane were vſed to ſtaie their ſlande⸗ rous letters and falſe reportes / to the viter periſhinge and vvittiagha loſe off mennes Good names. And where ye ſeeme tobe of⸗ : 2 ended thar the letter ſhulde call them vnlerned / whiche terme bere inter- oure departure aſchiſmelyow omitt (aide O. Core the ꝛ. poin⸗ rupicd. te / whiche is off no (mallimportannce)to whom he anſwered that hethought he did them a pleaſure in omittinge thinges of ſo ſmall value / notwithſtandinge / he woulde obaie his will but (ſaithe he) as touchinge this worde vnlernedly / it was not vnaduiſedly placed. For either they be withowte lerninge / and therfore maie be ſo called in dede / or yff they beare the name off lerninge / yet in this they ſhewed their vnſ kufulnes for as muche as euery departure from @ congregation was not a ſchiſme / nether were anie that departed for iuſte cauſes ſchiſ⸗ matikes as we (ſaith he) will proue vnto yow / yff yow 3 : e oure
VII.
ke oure reaſonable and moſte equall offre Naie / ſaithe the paz ſtor / Arbitres in this point can litle availe for beit they iud⸗ ged it none / yet mennes thoughts are free / and we knowe that all men be not off one mynde in ſacraments and prede⸗ ſtination / ſhulde men therfore take arbitres? Alſo faith he maiſter Caluin and Bullinger / are againſt yow. To this was anſwered / t hat thoughtes / yff they were not groronded vpon Goddes worde / were euell / neu her was this controuerfte off like force withe the matter off the Sacraments and predeſti⸗ nation / not withſtanding / woulde to God that not onely the difference in thoſe articles but alſo in all other whiche be off waight and importaunce might be decided by the authori tie off Goddes worde and arbytrement off godly lerned men. But men maie iuſtiy ſuſpecte your cauſe to be nought whide ref uſe the iudgments off the wife andgodly,
And where yow fate that Caluin and Bullinger are aga⸗ inſte vs / yow abuſe your ſelff and there names / for we kno⸗ d what they and other wryte as touchinge this matter. :
Chen the Paſtor af Fed what ſchiſma was but a cuttin ge off from the body / and hat it was Caluins definition. To this Whittingham anfwered that he woulde vndertake fir⸗ ſte / to proue that definition to be falſe / and ſecondly to be no⸗ none off Caluins definition for yff euery cuttinge off from the body ſ hulde be a ſchiſme / then yow and all other whiche once had ſworne to the pope and now haue refuſed him are ſchiſmatiques. Then the paſtor added / from achurche well reformed. Anſwere was made that a churche well reformed muſte be builded vppon the doctrine off the Prophetes and Apoſtles / the vnitie wheroff S. Paule comprchendeth in theis wordes: one god / one faithe / one baptiſme / not begger⸗ ly ceremomies and obſcurations / although that ſundry cau⸗ ſes beſides moued them to departe. Then Maiſter Treherꝛen / al Fed cohither the donatiſts were not ſchiſmatiques.
Jes / [aith Whittingham and alſo heretiques / but pow es re deceiued yff yow thinke that they ſeperated them ſelues 3 ‘fied . for
Bey o art
for ceremonies. It is manifeſt (aid Treherren / that che churches off Aſia were excommunicate as ſchiſmat ques for that they kepte not Eaſter at the ſame time that the Romaine: churche did, Andit is no leſſe euident faid Whütthingham that Sreneus and other godly men aſwell off that time / as ſuhens haue ſharply reproued and condemned Pope Victor for the ſame. 7 Bette oie Here D. Coxe put Whittingham in remembraunce that he had not anſwered to the faultes off the letter, Dh ttings: ham tolde him / that as touchinge that poore worde (yff) he marueled howe it coulde Whnifter anie cauillation / ſeinge / the text ioininge therto was ſo plaine / whiche declarethe bos the the offences by yow geuen and by vs taken. And alſo your
conſciences beare yow witnes / the thinge to be moſte true
excepte a man will be wilfully blinde / and finde a knot in aru⸗ ſhe / ſo that that worde ( yf) mente not that we do / do vote voho were oppreſſed with infinit wronges / but iff they woulde diſe ſemble fo farre that they might ſeeme to dowte theroff / yet / at the leaſte / they woulde abide the tryall theroff before theis Arbitres. But here the diſputation brake vp with this plaine and finall anſwere that arbitres they ſ huld haue none / and that yff they founde themſelues greued / theyſhulde ſeeke re⸗ medy where they thought Good and he the Paſtor withe the reſte off the congregation woulde anſwere them. The nexte daie the Paſtour / D. Coxe / maiſter parry and maiſter Aſheley ſent for Whittingham / Thomas Cole John Fox / William Bethe/ Roger harte / John Hilton with certeis ne other / dem andinge off them what ſhulde be the cauſe off their departure. Whittingham made anſwere that the daie before they had declared ſufficiently / and yet woulde farther ſhewe reaſons / yff they would permit the controuerſie to Arbytrement. And to the intent they ſ hulde not counterfait ignorance(amonge other )theis were ſome cauſes:firſte / their breach off promes / eſtabliſhed with inuocation off goddes name:. Their ordreles thruſtinge themſelues in to the churs che. 3. Takinge awaie the order off diſcipline eſtabliſhed mee ac BS. ee , re then
LIX,
re their comminge and placinge no orber.4. The accuſaſion off maiſter Rnox their godly Miniſter off Treaſon and ſeekinge bis bloude . Their ouerthrowinge off the commoff order / taken and com maunded by the Magiſtrate 6. The diſplacinge off officers withowre ante cauſe alleadged. . The bringing in off Papiſticall ſuperſtitions and vnprofitable Ceremonies whiche were burthens yokes and clogges / beſides other thin⸗ ges / whiche / yff they woulde abide the triall they ſhulde hea⸗ re at large. When he and ſome off the reſt had rendred their reaſons for their departure to this effecte / certaine warme wordes paſſed to and fro from the one to the other / and ſo in ſome heate departed.
UNot many daies after the oppreſſed churche departed from Franck. to Baſill and Geneua / ſome ſtayinge at Baſill as maiſter Fox with other. The reft came to Geneua where they were receiued withe great fauour and mutche curteſie / bothe off the magiſtrates Miniſters and people. So ſoone as they entred their churche / they choſe Knox and Goodmanfor their Paſtor / and Gilby requeſted to ſuplie ihe rome till Bnox returned owte off france.
The lerned men whiche ca me from all places to Frank. abowte this matter ( when they had donne that whiche they came for / they returned againe from whens they came / and ſome to other places / where they might ſaue charges / and not to be either burthened or bo wude to the excerciſes of the con⸗ gregation / ſo that / the ex ile whiche was to many a poore man full bitter / greuous and painefull / was (to ſome off the grea⸗ teſt perſecutours off their poore brethetn(asit were / a plea⸗ ſant progreſſe or recreation.
But nowe it ſ hall be neceſſary to declare what order was taken in this newe erected congregation for the proſpe⸗ rous continuance off the ſame / whiche th inge to do / J cannot by a better meane then placinge bere this letter folowinge whide maiſter cole (late deane off Garum ) wrote to a frinde off his / whiles yet he ſtaied ( behinde his company) in Franck. amonge them. bis letter is yet to be ſeene. The
ee
ae a
The holie ſpirit off God that aquidserh che child⸗
ren off God in tzuthe and godlines be your comforte thos
rough oure mercies ſeate Jeſus Chriſte / now and for euer
Amen.
ex· Oe tempeſte off ibe (wellinge ſeas w hiche an timespaſte a
Dthretned ſhipwrackto every veſſell that failed with a faue winde and full ſailes ro the porte off bleſſed truthe / whiche off her ſelffe is ſtronge ynoughe / with ovwre anye barr or wall off mannes inuentions / are ſomewhat (the lorde be praiſed) caulmed to me warde / ſothat wi howt farther reaſoninge they permit me to my conſcience as touchinge their ceremo⸗ nies. Wek Oe Tyhe cauſe J iudge is not for that they beare leffeloue
to them then in tymes paſt / but that they perceme the ſtur⸗
dy defendinge off them / to worke them that they looke not for / or rather / that whiche they are lothe to ſe / namely / the de⸗ creaſinge off their companie:yet they labour with policte w⸗ hat they mate or can / to prevent this daunger but yet thar whiche they feare / J ſuppoſe will fall vpon them / vnleſſe god geue them to repent their olde faultes and humble them mo⸗ re to knowe them ſelues. chan
They haue ſet vp an vniuerſitie to repaier againe their
eſtimation by mainteinance of lerninge ( whiche furely is well
done) that was fondly brought in decaie by willfull ignoran⸗ ce / in defendinge off ceremonies / to the whiche Maiſter hor?
ne is choſen to bethe reader off the Hebrue lecture / Maiſter
Mullings off the Greke / and Maiſter Treherren when he is ſtronge / ſhall take the diuinitie lecture in hande. Maiſter Wyitthead was appointed therunto but bicauſe he woulde eſcape the labour off the lecture (for iuſte cauſes as he ſaide) p forſooke the paſtorall officealſo / ſtowtly (as ow Enowe) denyinge to be in office ante longer. Great holde there was abo rote this matter in the congregation / in ſo muche as they haſted to a newe election / andverie fewe (as it ſemed) Pere off acontrary minde / no / not his owne frindes Fe
alſten
8 : oe Be NS
err
Maiſter makebraß and Maiſter Sordy / who deſired him to
—
take reſpit / and the congregation to geue it. But ſome lookinge fot the office themſelues woulde not in ſuche a mat⸗ ter ſuffer delay / but againe Oemaundrd off {Marfter Whit⸗ head whither he coculde feepe his office or no ſuppoſinge that he wyhiche had jo ſtowrely denied it in worde / wouldé not ſoone be flexible to the contrary. But he perceauinge that ſome woulde haue had him owte one the one ſide / and by leauinge offit / his eſtimat ion was like to decaie on the o⸗ ther ſide / (for many rough wordes were geuen him) when @ccafion off intretie was offted / non reſpuit conditionem by that meanes bringinge to him ſelfe witrily / a tripie commo⸗ ditte / one / the preuentinge offt hem whiche looked for the off ce / an other / the refuſall off she diuinitie lecture / Thirdly / a faſter growndinge hunſelff in that office / vohiche he lefte in mouthe / but as it ſemed / not in harte. Thus ended that comedie.
But ſhorti after (not withſtandinge a vehement fers mon made for the purgation from mannes inuentions) the ſeas begin againe to fovell (fo fickle an element is water) for Maiſter Kent hauinge a childe to Chriſten purpoſinge to has ue it done ſimplie / withowte tye bewtifinge off mennes tras ditions / came with his childe accordinge to the frenche order whide we once receiued / and one to holde it there to profeſſe his faith yff it were required / but the paſtor denied the Chris ſtening / vnles 2. Godmothers were had after the order off the booke / as concerninge the Godfather / Maiſter Make⸗ bray( who is nowe comme to thar office) ſupplied it. A lucky
matter is attained at Wezell in Weſtphala / an open durz
che for oure Engliſhe men / to whiche bicauſe off nighneſſe) they feare many will go from hence / but moo wil come orote off Englande to yt. I pray yow commende ms to WM. Tell him that Maiſter wiſedom railed on them that were gonto G. Callinge them mad beades with many pretye names / J will not faie vnwyſely / But J maye
— fay vncharitably / in wohiche Sermon / he eee * 8
„„ dim ſelff an Antagoniſt for the booke off Englande / ꝛc. 3 Your Thomas Cole. :
errs after thies thin ges to wete / the s. off Jan. when
as maiſter Whit head gaue vpp off his owne good will / as he ſaide / the paſtorall office / Maiſter horne was in the ele⸗ ction to ſuccede him / who proteſted that he woulde not medle ther with / till he were cleared off certeine ſuſpitions which ſo⸗ me had bruted to the diſcredit off his miniſterie / and obtainin
ge his requeſte / he withe the Seniors entred the churche the
firſt off marche Anno Domini 1556. were they receiued all {uch perſons ( as members off that churche) which were con⸗ tented to ſubſcribe and ſubmit themſelues to the orders off the ſame. From wohiche tyme forward the troubles and con⸗ tions were fo ſore amonge them / that who fo ſhall well waie
it with due conſideration / 3 ween / he ſ hall think it to be the inſte iudgement off our righteous God that fell vpon them /
for ſupplantinge a churche there before them in great quiet⸗ nes and off muche ſinceritie. .
The hiſtorie of that ſturre and ſtrife which was in in the Engliſ he church at Franck⸗ ford from the „ Domini | ae
THere fell a certeine controuerſie the rif. dale off Jan. at ſupper betwene Maiſter Horne the Paſtor and Maiſter Aſheley whiche controuerſie was handled / with ſome what more ſharpe wordes then was meete / but yet they fo depar⸗ ted / by the induſtrie and labour off ſome certeine perſons / that they dranke wyne one to an other / and all that ſtrife and cons tention was thought to be wholie taken awaie. Afterward / to witt / the 16. daie off Jan. at one off the clock in the he 3 i noone
*
Ein
noone / thꝛe off thelders ſent for Maiſter Aſheley in to anbow fe off one off the Elders and they began to debate the matter with him touchinge an inturye donc / net tothe paſtor alone /
but to all the Elders (as they affirmed ) and to their miniſtety
which thinge / Maiſter Uj heley denied thal he euer did at any
tyme,
The next daie beinge the tv. off Jan. After that publi⸗
que praiero were ended / Maiſter Aſ heley was by the Paſtor and all the Eiders called into the churche / and there / in the naz me off them all it was obiected vnto him / that he had ſpoken
vpon the 13. date off Jan. in ſupper rohile / certeine wordes ten dinge to theſ lander off them and their miniſtery.
Af hely anſwered that he perceiued and vnderſtood chat they all were offended as in their owone matter / and thar ther
fore be wou de net anſwere beſore them as competent iudges off be came / but would referre ihe cauſe / that he had aga⸗
inſt the Paſtot and il em (ſeinge they ſhewed them ſelues
an aduerjar e parte to bim ) to the whole churche and es
cleſiaſticall diſciphne. Then the Paſtor exhorted him that he would not fo proceade / for yff he fo did / that then they were minded to ſeeke and demaunde helpe off the magiſtrate aga⸗ ynſt him After that ther. off Jan. Aſ heley himſelff hand⸗
led his orone cauſe in his owne name before the paſtor and els ders land thẽ in the afternoone / he ſent . mẽ of the churche we
ho / in his name requirethe paſtoꝛs and eldere that they would not proceed againſt him in that cauſe / wherini hey themſel⸗ nes were a parte / and herſore not f tt or competent zudges /
but to geue ouer the whole matter ios. or 10. men vpright in
conſcience and inclininge to neiher parte / by vohoſe iudgemen tes / iff he were founde in faulte / he woulde willingly ſubmit
phumſelff to all Eccleſiaſticall diſc pine. Anſwere was made
him bythe Paſtor in the name off them all / ihatthey had res
ceiued their aut horit ie from the whole churche and vvould re⸗ teine and keepe the fame till ſuch time as they from vvhom
they had recemed it vdoulde againe demaunde it. And in the
mesne vph ile / they purpoſed to proceede tf W againſte
all
and beware by aſheley (that anſwere beinge recetued the26, off Jan. Whiche was a daie off ſolemne prater) fearinge thofe things whiche Horne had (aide before / iheateninge him with the Magiſtrate / when common prater was ended declared the whole matter to the churche and defired that the churche woulde vnderſtand off the whole mat er betwene the paſtor andelders / as the one partte and hem ſelff as thother. Wr erupon certcine men did in the name off the whole churche demaunde off the paſtor and elders whither they we⸗ re a parte againſt Aſheley. The paſtor anſwered in all their names that they were not a parte againſt him / but that Aſ he ley had ſlandered ihem all. Againe / it was demaunded in the name off the churche who were his accuſers / to whiche / vv⸗ hen the paſtor anſwered nothinge / neither in his owne name / noꝛ in the name of the ſenioꝛs: Aſheley was cõmaunded by the churchpubliquely and openlie to reade thoſe things whiche he had comprehended in vprytinge concerninge his cauſe. Afterward the paſtor and elders were aſ Fed vvither thoſe th⸗ ings vvhiche Aſ heley had redd vvere true. The paftor anſ⸗ wered in all their names that they would not anſvvere either more largely or anie othervviſe / to anie queſtions then the had ervvbile anfovered and fo the congregation vvas Difnnf {ed vvithowre anfovere/yetnot vvith o vvte cõtempt as was thought. The ſame daie at afternoone / Maiſter Hales / vvho vvas abſent when theis thinges vvere done) vnderſtanding that this matter tended to more greuous ſtriffe and conten⸗ tion / did vvryte his letters to ſome certeine perſonnes that fee med defirous off the peace off the churche / and deſired / that they would come together the nexte daie after to the churche / to conſulte / and deliberate what were the beſte vvaie to pacts fie this trouble and turmoile before it waxed more ſtronge / or ſhulde be more publiſ hed abroad and made better knowen to the ſenate or magiſtrats. The
—
LXV.
The very dryfte and purpos off the letters / together vws ith them that were called / as the m alſo whiche came to the place appointed / dothe appeere by the letters themſelues / the copie whereoff inſe wethe.
The ſuperſcription. To his brethern off the Englifhe churche. Maiſter crawley Maiſter Nowe! Maiſter Dakies Maiſter Railton Maiſter Carell. Maiſter Benthame Maiſter warccpe. Maiſter. Kente Maiſter Brikbeke. Naiſter Faulconer Maifter Kelke Maiſtee Sutton. ) oe nuaſter Chrift, Haier:
Iohn Hales ſendethe greetinge in the lorde.
J Heare brethern / that whiche ie to me greuous to heare / to witt / thar ſtriffes are ariſen in oute churche / woh che tende either to the diffolurion off the churche / or to the burte and deſtruction of the poore / wherefore J pray yow w hoſe na mes are inthe ſubſcription off the lerters / thar(if yow ſ hall ſo
think good) we maie meete to morowe in the morninge in ou⸗ re churche / there to confulre and take adutſe what marc be ibe beſte waie to quiete this ſtyrre / to the glorie off God and our
o wne quietnes. god geue vs his peace. This 26. of Jan. 15 57,
Your louinge brother John Hales,
J pray yow/thdt fo many off yow as will mette at the tyme and place apointed to put Downe your names / leſt ſome parhap maie come in vaine. Nowe all thoſe whoſe names are before reher⸗ ſed came except maifter warcope, 13 4 Aſter
LX VI.
Iſkrer eonſultation and aduiſe taken / it fered beſt to al them that were called rogether and mett there / thatthe nexte dale after / one off them in all their names ſhulde deale withe the Paſtor and elders / that ſith Uf hley complained that they were adnerſarie parte vnto him / they woulde ſuffer ihe hur che / or ſome ſuche certeine perſons as the churche ſ hulde aps: point / to take knowledge off the cauſe / and io heare firſte w⸗ dither they were an aduerſarie parte to Bj hley wohiche iff hey were not founde to be / ihen the knowledge off the matter 1 ſhuld be put back agame to ihẽ andſthat wube the ignominie ö
and (Dame off him that had appealed from them. But yff they
were founde to be aduerſary parte / ihat then it ſhulde ſeeme vniuſte / thai they ſ huld ur in their owne cauſe as iudges / but * more meete and vpright it would be / chat then the churche ſhulde knowe and vnderſtand off the whole matter / wheru⸗ pon the next date after / that is to ſaie / the is off Jan. when
praiers were ended / ihe matter was propoſed to ibe paſtor
and Elders / by one apointed for that purpoſe. When this
counſaile was once knowẽ / the miniſter by the conſent off ihe Elders drew owte off his boſome a decree whiche the magi⸗ ſtrate off that city had made / and redd it with a lowde voice
| before the whole churche. The decree beinge redd he added in 16 graue wordes / that theis oure aſſemblies and meetinges : woulde be verie daungerous not to vs onelie but to all the congregations off ſtrangers. for it was greatlie to be feared 4 leaſt the magiſtrate beinge offended wurhe ſuch meetings / fi did not (hut vp the gates off oure churche alone / but alſo off hie all the ſtrange churches And therfore that he (to thend he
ee: might in good ſeaſon prouide for ſuche dDaungers ) would ſu⸗ rely by Eccleſiaſt call difcipline handle according to his de⸗
Me ſerte / maiſter Hales ( who then by occafton of ſicknes was ab: 5 ſente ) the author of that aſſemblie / and that he woulde prono⸗ unce of vs generally / hat if it were not ſchiſmaticall / yet / chat it did withowre Dowre tẽd to ſchiſme / ho vv ſo euer we excuſed oure mindes ãd purpoſes.moreouer he affirmed / that we had don verie yl / in that we had excluded / and ſhut o rote 2
N 831 4 whi
LXVII.
which came into the church in the time off oure conſultatton
and meetige Anſwere was made in the names of the churche / that that decree off ihe magiſtrate was by them before bothe read ouer throughly / vnd alſo verie diligentlie waied / and that they iudged that decree to be moft vpright and iuſtlie to be fea ared off wicked and lewde men / ſuch as were ſectaries and factions perſons and that they did aſſurediy knowe that the threats of thar decree did nothinge at all concerne them who were mett together to make peace and vnitie / and that they for this deede did ſo litle feare the angre and diſpleaſure of the magiſtrats that they truſted ihe magiſtrat woulde praiſe thẽ for this matter / yff parhappes he knewe off the thinge it ſelff and that therfore they were aſſembled and comme together that the whole matter might be quietlie ended amonge themſelues and not brought before the magiſtrat. for where woe(fare they) were baniſhed men / and had by the meanes off a very good magiſtrate / receiued that ſinguler and moſte ex⸗ cellent benefit off reſte and quietnes / we f bulde do that whi⸗ che ſhulde be moſt vnfit and vnſeemly for vs / iff we ſhuide by occafton of our ſtriffes and hurley burlies / ttouble the maz giſtrate / and to render vnto that verie good Magiſtrate vn⸗ quietnes / troubles and ſtirrs whiche ſhulde be verte euell thankes / for ſo great a benefit off quietnes and reſt as we ha⸗ ue recetued. And we affirmed that we fo muche the more dili⸗ ligentlie and wilingly labored in pacifiynge and endinge this controuerſie bicauſe there were amongeſt vs certeine / who raf bly and with owre aduiſe / brought onto the Magiſtrat all light and {mall controuerſies / whiche might eaſilie haue bin determmed and ended amonge our ſelfes / herein deſeruinge no fauour at all either at the the handes off fo Good a Magis ſtrat / rohom they of times withowre cauſe troubled / or of thes ir countrie men wh om they by thies their priure complain⸗ ts and accuſations did amonge ſtrangers [lander as vnqui⸗ et and troubleſome men / and that they had done no leſſe difs pleaſure to the goſpell we profeffe / (vobiche by occafion off
ſuche accuſations / is comonlir euell ſpoken off amonge the ads J i uerſa⸗
LX XVIII.
uerſariès) then to that ſo good a magiſtrate and to cheir ows ne countrie men. And that we therfore (to thende the Magia ſtrate might not be tzoubled / noꝛ our nation (laundercd as vn quiet and troubleſome / nor the worde off God through vs e⸗ well ſpoken off) met together to take counſaile and auiſe howe al the matter might be peaceably ended and for no other cauſe or purpoſe. And where it was obiected that in that decree o the NMagiſtrat there was no mention at all made / ei her of the whole churche / or off the authoritie off whole churche: We anſwere (ſay they) that we do not ſo interprete the Magiſt⸗ rats decree / as though yt were the Magiſtrats minde and pleaſure to take from the churche the right and authoritie due to the Churche and make the roh ole Churche ſubiecte to ſome certeine perſons. For we bothe well inoughe knowe by the example off the frenche churche in a lke controuerſie / and we haue tried that ſo verie good a Magiſtrate hathe very gre at care off the churche. And as concerninge Ma ſter Hales / yt was anſwered / that he was then abſente / by reaſon off his hickneſſe / and not for ſeare / or that he was giltie to him ſelff off any ill. | ite hk oak And cõcerninge oure whole purpoſe and buſines / bycau⸗ ſe it was (aid thougbe oure mynds parhaps were opright / yet the dede it felff was / yff not ſchiſmaucall / yet verelie tendinge to ſchiſme / anſwere was made in all our names that we woul⸗ de render accompte aſwell off oure mindes and purpoſe befos re God / as off our dede before the whole churche / and that vnder perill and paine off the laſte puniſhement that Eccle⸗ ſtaſticall diſcipline can apointe / or yff the matter fo require /
before the ciuyll Magiſtrate in paine off oure lyffe. And as
touch inge them that were not admitted in to the churche / to our conſultation / it was anſwered that we were vniuſtlie
accuſed / for that it was not a publick and common aſſemblie
of the whole churche. But a metinge of ſome certeine perſons to conſulte of chat whiche might be profitable / and that thers
fore they had no greater iniurie done thẽ in not bein ge at the conſultation to whiche they were net called or ſent ſor / then if
ne che
LXIX.
had not byn admitted in to ſome certeine prinate ſtoue or ho⸗ wofe. for as touching the churche / ſeinge it was then emplie and volde off people / it was / as it were / a priuate howſe. Ne⸗ ther is cuery aſſemblie mett there to be counted the churche. For when the paſtor or ſome other readeth there a lectute / or moderateih the diſputations / it is not then a church bur a {cos ole. And therfore / not ihe place / but the company off men gas thered together did make a churche or congregation. After wards / it was ſkarcely by many wordes obtained off the pas a ſtor and Seniors / that the churche might witho rot their fa⸗ uour and good will meete together for the finiſ bing and tas kinge vp off this controuerſie / and vprightiy determine whe⸗ ther the (aid paſtor and elders were an aduerſarie parte to a ſhley yea or no whiche thinge yet atthe lenghi the paftor and elders graunted to the churche. And the paſt or and ders be inge required and deſired that ihey would together be prez ſent with vs in the congregation / they anſwered that thes te was no ſuche nede / nether that they would at anie hande hinder vs. The next daie after / to wit / the 19. off Jan. the pas ſtor and Elders agreinge therto / as is faide before / when he whole churche was mette together / maiſter bales / who then was ſome wb at better / and was preſent when they began to tate aduiſe and coũſaile / roſe vp and ſpake to this purpoſe. My brethern ( ſauhe he) ſeinge Jam accuſed of the paſtor bes fore the whole churche / as the author of ſchiſme oꝛ ofa ſchiſma tic allf acte / or at the leaſt tendinge to ſchiſme / if gow alſo iud⸗
ge of me in like ſorte J will departe oute off this companie / as one beinge vnmeete to tarie amonge yow in this aſſemblie. This beinge ſaide / he addreſſed himſelff to departe / After war dos / he was called back by all the men there aſſembled and in⸗ treated to abide amongeſt them. After warde he drewe foor⸗ the thoſe letters by whiche he had called certaine men toge⸗ ther to make peace and ende the ſtirre / as is before ſaide / and preferred them tothe church to be openly redd. Whiche letter beinge redd / rhat / his dede wasiudged off all them that were
preſent / bethe honeſt and moſt meete ſor a Chriſtian man nes
——
3 3 ther that anie mant hat had called either others to make pee ce by their meetinge / was for ſuche a facte to be accounted a ſchiſmatick. Then they were all deſired / ih at ſeinge they had fo iudged and determined / they would appoint this their ſenten cee to be regiſtred and put downe in writinge / that it might ſtande in ſteed off a recorde and teſtimonye / not for Maiſter
ales onely bur for all other in the like caſe / and with all / that this newe and preſent vpſtartinge matter might by their iud⸗ gemẽts be decided and ended leaſt it might bringe forth and ſtirre vv new contentions amonge them. Wherupon it was put do wne in vorytinge to this effecte. Ifft wo / foure / eight / 4 t oelue or mo or leſſe / meete inthe churche when it was vois + de off people / prater and other exerciſes / or els in priuatehow ſes to make peace betwene ſome members off the churche / or to conſulte off anie other thinge profitable for the church that tha: their dede and acte ſ hulde not in anie cafe be iudged ta eſtee med vnorderlie / ſeditious / ſchiſmaricall / or tendinge to
5 iſme. ü N Neither that he whiche either bywritinge or vvorde off mouth had ſo called them together ſhulde be thought to be the author off anie ſchiſme or a ſchiſmaticall facte or tendinge to ſcheſme and diuiſion. And bicauſe nowe no place off ſpea⸗ kinge inthe congregation withowte offence did ſeeme anie more to be left to ante man / it was ordeined the (ade 29. off Jan. that it ſhulde be lawfull for any man hauinge before drſired / off the paſtor / elders / and whole churche licence and liber tie to ſpeak / to ſhewe his iudgement and opinion in the churche wit owt any reproch off a diſordered dede therfore / fo it be, that he did tt godly quietlie and ſoberlie. yff be ſhulde ſpeake ante vngodly thinge that thẽ it was lawful! foꝛ the pa ſtor and Seniors / or anie eff them foorth with to commaun⸗ de him to holde his toung. The laſte date off Jan. beinge the Sabath date after morninge praier was ended / pardon was offred of al priuate offences / bythe paſtor in bis owne name and the name off the elders to allthe people, off the churche ãd in likeſoꝛtethe people were deſired to pardon them yet in bs -
LX XY,
che forte this was done that the Paſtor and Elders woulde re ſerue to themſelues ſuche cauſes as concerned their Miniſte⸗ ie / to be purſued and followed off them. It woas anſwered a⸗ gaine in oure names off the churche that we in like forte did Pardon all men / all prinate grudges / yet / that the churche did gocordingeto their example reſerue vnto it ſe ff publite cans ſes belonginge to the churche and the liber tie iheroff quietlie and Chriſttanly to be pur ſued and folovved / vvhich anſvvere allthoughe it were meaſured by the rule off ihat pardon and forgeuenes vvphiche the paſtor had before offred / yet / it did no white at al pleaſe him whide thing alſo J warꝛãte yow he did not diſſemble. Afterwards / the paſtor and elders ſuffered that the ſame daie in the afternoone / the church ſhulde againe mee
te / and ſ hulde trie o vote and knowe the matter betvvene them and Aſheley / to vvit / vvhither they vvere an aduerſary parte / to Aſhley yea or no / But the Paſtor and Elders beinge deſy⸗ red that they alſo vvoulde be preſent / they vvoulde not therto agree. Wherfore the churche beinge gathered together in the afternoone / it was iudged by the teſtimonie off ſome meete mẽ and by this alſo / that in the vvhole churche there coulde no other be founde that woulde accuſe Aſhley but the paſtoꝛ and elders (for it vvas . times verie diligently enquired of and pu bliſ hed amõge the people / that if their vvere anie in ihe vrho
le churche whiche either vvould or coulde accuſe maiſter Uf hz
ley / he ſhulde then vter it) It vvas J (aie iudged and determi ned that the Paſtor and Eiders / vvere an aduerſarie parte to Maiſter Aſhley and that therfore they vvere not fit and com petent iudges in ihat matter · Furthermore / it v vas fullie de creed that the Paſtor and elders in ſuche cauſes as in vvhiche they vvere an aduerſary parte were not fit arbitres or iudges / but that (ude cauſes did apperteine and belõge / eit her to the novvledge off the congregation or off ſuch as the congrega tion vvoulde appointe to ihat purpos. And bycauſe the paſtor andeldere haue bene oftẽtimes deſyred to be preſent vvithvs and yet vvoulde not (notvvithſtanding that they themſelues ſuffred the congregation to meete together) leaſte parhapp ſome deceite might be amonge many of the n as
thoughe
L XXII.
thoughe it were not off it ſelff lawfull / or to ſmall purpoſe to apointe anie thinge with owte the paſtor and elders ( whiche thing after warde tried) it was decreed that iff the paſtor and elders were required to be preſent at an aſſemblie and woul⸗ de not come / that the aſſembly was laufull eee ge their abſence / and that thoſe thinges whiche they Oecreed ſhulde be had and eſteemed as a lawfull decree, Theis Ecele⸗ ſtaſticall decrees and ordinaunces / vohiche euen nowe we te⸗ herſed were ſubſcribed vnto wir the names off 35. perſons whiche is a great deale the bygger parte off the churche / and the z. off february were offred vpp to the paſtor and Elders in the name off the whole churche with this proteſtation fez Maiſter No lo winge. We pꝛeſent vnto yo wo theis ourdecrece and ordinate wel wasthe ces agreing withe right and reaſon and not contrary to the mouthe for bholie ſcriptures / deſyringe to hau yow knowe them and furs thereſt. ther requiring that yow woulde with vs conſent / yelde and ſubſcribe to the ſame · Or yff ye will not ſo do / ſhewe we pra⸗ ye yow vpright reaſons and good cauſes why ye refuſe. Fer we are ready ro correcte and amend oure faultes yff they be ſhewed vs / at the monition off any prinate perſon / but mus che more at yours the paſtor and Elders. For as we deſi⸗ er their wiſedomes to come to perfecte truthe: fo we will not thorough ſtubbernes defende anie errour / beinge ſhewed vn to vs to be an errour in dede. Pet not witſtanding / after ward vpon in the aforeſaie daie off February / the Paſtor did in his o wone name and in rhe name off the Elders /openiy reade cere teine written letters to whiche he and the Seniors had befo⸗ re in the preſence off the churche ſubſcribed their names. The ſumme ther off was this. Seinge the churche had left vn to them a vaine ſ hadowe onelie off authoritie withowte az nie other matter / that therfore they did in oure prefence ſ ha⸗ Fe off from themſelues and vtterly forſake all Eccleſiaſticall miniſterie and ſeruice to thechurche. Bee Amonge other thinges they added this that we had ges uenth em acauſe to complaine off vs to the magiſtrats / but that for oure ſakes they worlde not do it. After ward one 3 | them
LXXIII.
them departed and ſate downe in priuate mennes places / nei⸗ ther woulde they ſuffer ſo muche as to be called by the name off paſtors and Elders. Then one in the name off the whole / bauinge fulne ſhewed before / that there was no iuſte cauſe geuen thé by the churche / ſo to forſake their miniſterie / did af⸗ ter roard in the name of the whole churche verie earneſtlz deſi⸗ er thẽ that they woulde not in ſuche manner forſake and leaue the churche that had deſerued no ſuche thinge at their hands. Tyis was with mofte earneſte and effectuall wordes re quired off them / thre or foure tymes in the name off the w⸗ hole churche / but they remained willfull and obſtinate in their urpos / not ſo muche as once ſuffringe themſelues to be cals d by the name off paſtors and elders. Then at the lenght / it was ſhewed vnto them in the name off the whole churche / that the churche woulde not admit that their forſakinge of the ir miniſterie / but would ſtil take and eſteme them for their pa ſtor and Elders. And when one in the name off the churche did accuſe the paſtor and Chambers to be ſuche as had abuſed the churche / leauinge it and forſakinge it in ſuche manner wi⸗ thorte anie cauſe or reafon ſ hewed / and did in the name off 17 churche deſier them to make anfwere vnto him concerning ge this their dede / they vtterle refuſed the fame. But horne who then was Paſtor / haſtely takinge apenne / wrote to this purpos in a pece of paper in his owne name and in the name off the elders. Where as we are vrged and preſſed by one in the name off the churche to make anſwere / we generally anſ⸗ were / that when / ſo euer we ſhal be ordinarelie demaunded be fore the churche or them whide the churche { hall apointe / we will then anſwere / or if we ſ hall be called before the ciuill ma giſtrate we will ther anſweare. other anſweare then this they woulde geue none / to anie off the queſtiõs whiche we had pro poſed in all oure names of the churche. (and they aſſigned this writinge by puttinge to their names) where as in dede this was not onelie to anſwere noth inge at all / but alſo to pretẽd a cloated cauſe of anſweringe nothinge at all. Moreouer / they were deſired in the name of the churche that they woulde deli⸗ : a ae | BG ues
eS — = ree
Meine gd ae ee —
— — — oe —— - — > 4 — 2 * — = . TT . set
8
— a
LXXIIII.
ver tothe churche the letters ſigned withe their owne hãdes / dy whiche they had ſhewed their renounſall and denyinge of the miniſterie: or if they woulde not do that / that thẽ againſt a certeine daie they woulde graũte and giue to the churche a cop pie therof. But neither woulde they geue them the letters wi che they had in their boſome neither woulde promiſſe any co⸗
ie to the churche / who moſte earneſtlie required the fame off thẽ. At the laſte / the paftor and elders departed / ſome certeine fewe folowinge thẽ / but the multitude remained and ſo farr⸗ forthe as they coulde remember / committed to writinge the actes off that daie and the ſumme off thoſe letters (by whi⸗ che the Paſtor and Eiders had willing!y put them ſelues from the miniſterie) ãd for witneſſe ſubſeribed thereto with thirtie and there names. The next daie after / that is / the z off Febru⸗ ary the Paſtor and Elders beinge called off the churche by the Deacon / to intreate off makinge peace / they came together d met. But the Paſtor and elders fet them downe in priuate
places. After wardes / the paſtor (becauſe one ſpeakinge in the congregation did not by and by ſo ſoone as he bad him holde
his peace) fayned that he woulde departe. But when he pers
ceyued that verie fewe folowed him / and by ſome conſailed /
he returned / and ſuddanly placed himſelff in the paſtors pla⸗ ce / and called the elders to him / whichethinge / before he had
refuſed to do although he were by the whole churche verie in⸗
ſtantly and erneſtlie required therto. Then / he'ſpake tothis ef⸗ fecte:we in dede ( ſaith he) did diſplace oure ſelues from the mi niſterie / not withſtandinge / abſolutely and fullie we did it not / but vnder this condition onely / yf yow ſ hulde proceade to
deale in uche forte as yor haue done againſt the olde ad recen
ued diſcipline. Nowe then / yff ye goo for warde as yow haue appointed and purpoſed / then will we wholie and alltoge ther
diſplace oure ſelues from oure Miniſteries / but yff yow will
obaie the olde diſcipline then will we continew paftor and els ders as we are. Anſwere was made that there was nothinge
at all conteined in the olde diſcipline / wherby they might me⸗ dle with / or proceed againſte the paſtor and eldeteſiff parhap N po they
LXXV.
ps they were founde faultie and in ſome offence, Moreouer / that there was nothinge put downe concerninge ſuche caus ſes / as in whiche the paſtor and elders were an aduerſarie par te / and therfore it was deſired that ihey woulde ſuffer the dic ſcipline inthat be halff to be amended and to be made more perfect. Nowe the paſtor beinge offended as it ſhuld ſeeme / with fo free ſpeeche woulde im̃ediatlie againe haue bin gone / and rann euen to the churche dore / but yet ſeinge but fewe fo⸗ lowinge him / by the counſaile and aduiſe off certeine perſons he returned / and far him ſelff dowone in the paſtors place with the ſeniors. l
And in like ſorte / by and by againe vppon the ſuddaine / he refifor the thirde tyme / but within a litle vohile after he re turned and planted himſelff in the paſtors accuſtomed place. Afterwards intretie was made with the paſtor and elders in the name off the church / that they would ſuffer Aſhleis cauſe (in whiche matter they themſelues were founde artbe lenght to be an aduerſarie parte) and the hearinge theroff to come before the churche / And that the churche woulde (yff Aſhley were founde faultie ) verie ſharply and ſeuerely puniſ he him / and inthis behalff aboundantly ſatiſfie the paſtor and El⸗ ders and all good men. But the paftor and Elders wonld at no hande ſuffer that. And as concerninge the amendinge off the diſcipline / the paſtor ſaide that he and the elders with cer teine others by the authoritie off the church beinge ioined vn to them woulde (yff the churche fo thought good) amende the diſcipline. But anſwere was made vnto bothe / in the name off the churche. Firſt that it was verie vniuſt that / the chur⸗ che ſhuld not be ſuffred to haue iudgement and determinati⸗ on. For therbythe authoritie and right off churche was who⸗ lie as it were / taken fromthe churche. To the ſeconde it was anſwered that ſith ſuche ordinaunces and decrees were to be made / as by whiche the Paſtor and Elders ſhulde be heres after deteined in dutie (ſome off them alſo beinge already ac⸗ cufed, it ſhulde be vniuſte dealing to admit them to the fra⸗ tinge and makinge off ſuche decrees And nye they 2 Bom ii me
med they would anfwere no other thinge / and they were de⸗ fired to ſuffer thos things to be cõmitted to writinge whiche were done alreadie / they woulde not agree / but the paſtor (ays inge he was a colde made himſelf ready to departe / ãd goinge his waie a fewe folo winge him / he pronowaced / that he diſ⸗ ſolued the aſſemblie. But the companie that taried in the chur⸗ che and wrote the doings of that daie by their decree / and aps pointed s. men to amend the diſcipline / and Afterward to of⸗ fre it the churche to be ſeene of thẽ / did alſo apointe other. g. men (of whiche s. three / allwaies ſtuck the paſtor) arbitres and a indges to decide the cauſe betweene the paſtor and gyi Eg 7 Aſ hley. Theis are their names. maiſter Railton / maiſter Var ie cope / N. Kelke MN. faulconer / MN. Beniham vA. Cockroft; N.
1 Carell and M. Wiſon. Three off theis were addicted the to pa ae ſtoꝛ but M. Bentham and M. Kelke alwais ſhewed themſel nes indifferent and equall to bothe fides. From that time for⸗ warde the paſtor and elders and certaine others beinge often times called of the churche / by the Deacons and ceꝛteine 9195
to intreate of making peace and agrement / would neuer ape⸗
ere or be preſent. N
Morouer the paſtor and the Deacons / and certaine pai⸗ nefull poore men / ceaſed bothe from preachinge and alfo the Ecclefiafticall lectures and other ordinary functions and char
ges whiche they ought to haue executed / neu her woulde they
come to ſolemne and publick praiers in the churche. not with⸗
ſtanding the churche yet thorough Gods favour obſerued
bothe publike praiers / ſermons and Eccleſiaſticall lectures /
and all other things accuſtomed and minded to keepe them
ſo longe as the godlie Magiſtrats ſhulde ſuffer and graunt
| the ſame. And no other matter did fo made ſpread abroad
0 throughowt the citie as the fame and reporte off oure ſtriffes
and as the dede off maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers. For vohen they off them ſelues had forſaken the churche and
had bytheir example ſtirred vp ſome other with their families to do the lite / and ſome off theis nowe frequented and went /
partely to the frenche churche / and parily to the Germante
n h 2 ee eee
LXXVII.!
Sur matter nowe coulde not anie longer be hyd and in ſectei ſeinge t was publiſhed and Enowen not thorowe the citie alone / but the fame theroff rañ to other ſtrangers al⸗ fo. whiche matter and buſines withe their brethern / woulde
to God they had choſen rather to haue had it ended quietlie and peac eablie in them owne churche / then in ſuch trobleſome forte to hane conſuſted fo grratly / bol he to their owne diſ bos neſtie and oures. Che fourih date off Februarie wind was
Tyhurſdaie and appointed for publick praier / the paſtor who
that dete ſhuld haue preached / and all the Elders were abs fat. Nowe the paſtor beinge before by the Deacon deſired in the name off the churche that either he himſelff would prea⸗ che or apoinr ſome other in his place / made anſwerce / that nei⸗ ther wou de he preach him ſelff nor apointe ante other. For that matter did nothinge at all belong vnto him. After prai⸗ ers were ended ſome there werethat diſputed and reaſoned in the paſtors beha ff and ſaide / that that aſſemblie whiche tes ma ined after the paſtoꝛs departure (in as muche as he had aus thoritie to call together the churche and to breake vp the aſ⸗ ſemblie and he goinge his waie ſaide / that he brake vp that aſſemblie) was no lawfull aſſemblie To whom it was (in the name off the churche ) anſwered / that Maiſter Horne had put owe himſelff from his paſtorall dewtie / andtherfore / both for that matter and manie other recited before amonge the Act. of the . daie of Feb. he had not ante authoritie / or any man er of right either to gather together oꝛ to bꝛeak vp the aſſemb lie. And although it were graunted that he were their lawfull paſtot / yet / it was affirmed thai the churche was abone the pa ſtor and not the paftor aboue the churche Gd that therfore tho voghe the paſtor departed / before the actes off that date were confirmed / and pronounced that he brake vp the aſſemblye yet was the aſſemblie whidbe remained ãd tariedbehind alawfull
aſſemblie / ãd had authoritie to make effectualldeerees / by w⸗ bide they might binde allãd every mẽber of the churche with
owe exception. And that this queftion( whither the pope was
aboue the churche or the churche aboue the pope) was ſtirred ~ pp in the councelles off conſtance and Baſill / and pyas yan
LXXVIII.
me by the ſpace off certein daies after / to approue thes 1. cos
Februa. Maiſter horne and the ſeniors beinge required off the congregation by a deacon to come and treate off reconcili ation woulde not appeare. After this there were z. Meſſen⸗ gers ſente from the congregation vnto them / off whom / one
was to be (pecially reuerenced off all that be off the congre⸗
gation bothe for his age and grauitie / the other: (pecially well
lerned / to the intent they ſhuld be moned by thers fo honeſt a
company off Meſſengers ſent by the congregation. Theis
men / wohẽ they had in the churches name inſtantly defirediand
praied them that they woulde come to the congregation and there common brotherly amonge themſelues for a quyete a⸗ grement to be had / ſo as the matter might not come to the
magiſtrates eares / nor be bruted anie farthrr abroade to the great infamie of oure nation / coulde do no good with them at
all. for they faide they woulde not come vnleſſe they were ordi narily called. As for other anſwere at that preſent they would make none. When his anſwere was declared to the congre⸗ gation / it was determined that for aſmuche as R Horne had
openly put himſelf owte offhis paſtorſ hipp by writinge ſub⸗
ſcribed with his owne hand / and confirmed the ſame by wor
des and deedes in loge abſteining from preachinge and other
paſtorall functions / and affirminge that ſuche matters were no point off his charge: In as muche as now beinge called of the churche / he will not appere / and ſo abſteinethe all together from publicke praiers and all Eccleſiaſticall meetĩgs: And for aſmuche alſo as the Seniors come not at the meetings of the
churche / leaſte the congregation thorough the forwardnes —
ded alſo dy the authoritie off the (ole off (etoyned thers —— they vohiche reaſoned in the paftace bebalff bib fee s
uncells / for they placed the paſtor aboue the churche. They brought foorth openly all the olde ſtore and howſholde ſtuffe of Pigyius and Eckius of the primacie of he pope vnder the name off the Paſtorall authoritie and for the proffe theroff. The actes and diſputations off that daie were in teſtimonie / ſigned and confirmed vvith two and thirtie names. The g. off
LXXIX.
the faied Robart Horne and abſence off the Seniors / being voide and deſtitute off common praier / preachinge / and rea⸗ dinge the ſcriptures ſhulde be vtterly diſſolued / that certein
men ſ huld take charge off the churche and for all things to be done inthe congregation as it haihe by Gods goodneſſe byn
yet hitherto done.
bobher decrees alſo whiche are ſpecified in the Acts off the
8. date off Februa. they eſtablſhed:all whiche everie one that
was prefent confirmed by his name ſubſcribed with his ows
ne hande / as they were wont to do in other actes and decrees,
And to the decrees off that date ſubſcribed 33, hands. But in
this behalff bothe maiſter Horne and maiſter Chambers and
other in their behalf did finde verie muche fau'te with vs / ſoꝛ
that we had proceaded vnordinarilie / ihat is (yo wo muſt vn⸗
derſtand) contrary to the olde diſcipline. For where they coul⸗
de not iuſt y finde faulte with thoſe thige that the churche had
done / they made cauillation at the manner off do inge off thin
GS as an vnordinary mañer. And we anſwered as well manye
other things grewe now by occaſion off that matter / as this
chiefly: in cafe Maiſter Chambers or anie other man / either
woulde or coulde ſhewe anie ordinarie waie in the olde diſci⸗ pline wherby the congregation / or anie other might com mence matter / and proceade againſt him or againſte a Ges nior or Seniors beinge accuſed:or howe we might proceade ordinarely according to the olde diſcipline in cauſes / wherin
he Gd the ſeniors were the one parte as they no we were pro
ued to be: And yff Maꝛſter Horne / or anie other man either woulde or coulde ſhewe the tytle or wordes in the ould Diſ⸗ cipline / voherin this ordinarie waie is fet foꝛthe and conteined: Then we would confeſſe thrt we had gon amiſſe owt off the ordynary way andolde diſcipline. But yff neither he nor
anie other woulde or coulde ſhewe in deede / that they woe uld not be diſcontent at vs that reduced the congregation to their right authoritie and amended that olde diſc pline as a⸗ thinge amiſſe / or filled it vp as athinge vnperſect and brought the matter to the hearinge off the churche ih t sped i n
EN NN And that they wonlde at enght geue ouer to vaunt them ſel us ſo off be order whiche they neuer had / or to blame os bes re after fot proceading vnordinaccly. The ſummeoffthis GNnj were / we dyuyded into certemn Artictes / and ſent chem prynateiy to Nlaiſter Horne to pet uſe / requiring his an were to the ſame vnd alſo we ſticked them vpon the pu pit in che churche where they remained a great many dares, And where it was required in hat ſame writinge that Maiſter Hotne or the Seniors or ſome other man ſ hulde mate anjwere ong to thes matters / thereis no man yet hitherto that hather ma⸗ de anye anſ were / either by worde or by writinge / ſaunge that Maiſter Horne fallinge to his olde generall anſwere / ſaide / he woulde make anſwere when he were ordinarely cals led or queſtioned withe for by this ſhift he thinkethe he vn⸗ doeth all do wtes at once / where as in Dede / to anſwere after that forte / is to anſwere nothing at all / but to pretend falſe caufes to holde his tonge when he is able to ſhewe no reas fon for himſelff. For this was his meaning: that he is not ore dinarely called nor queſtioned with all / nor accuſed ordinares Iy / ſauinge onely before him iſelff / and the Semors as Fade ges / Where as they bothe in their geumnge ouer off their mi
niſtery / and in the principall canſe againſt maiſter Aſhley we
re the aduerſary parte fo that by his iudgement there is no or dinary waie to medle againſt the paſtor and Sepiors excepte they call them felues to be bearers of their oronecauſe and thes tr owne Judges themſelues. Foꝛ other oꝛdinary ware againſt the paſtor and Seniors in that olde diſcipline off theirs / nei⸗ ther he nor anie other (hall be hable to ſhewe. Shea Ze
After this / when thoſe s. Perſons which were appoin⸗ ted by the Churche to heare the variance betwene Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers one thone ſide / and Maiſter Aſley one the other fide 6 ſhulde preceade in the hearinge off that matter / Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers wht che had abſented themſelues nowe in. daies from the churcht were commaunded by the Magiſtrate therz, off February (for th at daye / they and certeynt others were ſeen mye
LXXXI. Magiſtrate) that they ſhuld in no wiſe comme at our church. when we harde off yt / we had maruell / ſyrſte that the mate ter was comme to the Magiſtrats eare (for Maiſter Horne and the reſte teſtified the 2. off february bytheir owne hand writinge / that they would neuer open it to the Magiſtrate) and ſecondarely / ſeinge Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Shame bers coulde by no meanes be intreated to come tothe churche yt ſemed a wonder that yt was commaunded by the Magi⸗
ſtrats that they ſhulde not come / as though they had byne deſyroue to come / whiche in dede neded not.
Therfore / the moſte parte thought that that commaun⸗ dement was obtained by their owe ſute / at the Magiſt⸗ rates hands / bot he that ſuch perſons as knewe not the mate ter / ſhuld be perſwaded that yt was longe off the Magiſt⸗ rats commaundement that they did not their offices in the Church. Where as beſore this Commaundement was enthey had off a purpoſed frowardnes abſented them⸗ ſelues now allready more then ten dayes from the con⸗ gregation. And alſo beſides / that the congregation might not proceade agaynſt them ſeinge the giſtrate com⸗ maunded them that they ſhulde not appeere, And this was the very let in dede why the congregationproceaded not 2577757 e and determining off the varyance betweene iſter 2 and Chambers off the one partie and Aj hley
on the other. =; And in this they burthen vs malicioufly with ows cauſe / As thoughe we woulde bane Uf bhicy ridd from —.— off that maiter / and as though that were the oncly thinge whiche was fought in ovre conten⸗ tion / where as in deede yt was longe off them il at his cau fe was not determined. We therſore / hauing knowledge off tais matter / for feare leaſt we fhu'de be falſely accu fed / asthough wee had vttered ytto the Magiſtrate / and had ſeemed / fuſt to haue accufed our breihern onic the Ma iſtrate / whiche we might not abide to do / aſſembled roge 2 L ij . the
“a
EXKX.. ther in the churche the us. off Februar. and there was openly
recited in writing this that folo with. Foraſmuche as oure
contention is alreadie bruted abroad not onely through this
eitie but alſo come to the Magiſtrats eare (for we heare faie that maiſter Horne and maiſter Chamber were commaunded by the magiſtrat yeſter date that is the 1. off Febr. thar they ſhulde in no wife come at the congregation tulthe magiſtra⸗ te hadfuller knowledge off the matter) we profeſſe that nets ther Maiſter Horne nor Maiſter Chamber nor no man els was complained vpon tothe magiſtrate by vs or any off vs / or by oure meanes / but that we ſought rather by all diligent endeauoꝛ / that the matter ſhuld not come abroade but that all matters might haue byn ſecretly agreed am onge oure fels ues and that we woulde all men ſhulde vnderſtand by this oure writinge. This done / thoſe that knewe themſelues to be of an vpright cõſciẽce in this behalf were requ red to ſet their handes to that voritinge / and ſo there were 7. bands ſubſcri⸗ bed as appearethe in the actes off the iz. off Febru. And were Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chamber beinge fo often deſy⸗ red by all inſtant means off the congregation that they woul de be content to haue all matters pacified amonge vs by bro⸗ therly communication / did neuer ſuffer them ſelues to be tal⸗
Fed with all off anie matter / leaſte they ſhuld afterward alle⸗
adge to (ade as knewe not the matter / that they did it off for⸗ ce bicauſe off the magiſtrates commaundement / whiche for⸗ bad them to come to the congregation. All the tyme wherin they abſented them ſelues / and contemned fo manie deſires and intreties off the churche to haue met vpon agrement ma⸗ kinge / before anie commaundement was geuen them off the magiſtrate ( whiche commaundement notwithſtandinge mas ie ſeeme that they at lenght for the cauſes before mentioned procured themſelues ) was recorded amonge the Acts off that iz. off Febru and confirmed by the teftimonies off 37, nag mes ſubſcribed as in the acte appearethe more at large.
The 14. off Febru.ihoſe s. whiche were appointed the 3. off Febru: by the congregation to amende the diſcipline / pres | ſented
*
2 LXXXUI
fefited the booke off the Diſciplineto the congregation agay⸗ neandrhe congregation allowed it. And thofe matters that were altered or augmented in the difcipline were ſuch as ſpe⸗ cially pn to thoſe cauſes / wheꝛin the paftor and feniors were the one parte / and ho we it muſte be proceaded againſt
the paſtor and ſeniors / in cafe anie off them were accuſed. For
concerninge theis thinges there was neuer a worde in the ol⸗ de diſcipline. And where in the olde diſcipline there was no certeine mention / howe the churche ſ hulde be gouerned / and ſeinge maiſter Horne and other had now vtterly forſaken the congregation / who in leauinge there offices had drauen awa⸗ ie with them the moſte parte off them that were appoynted preachers / and diſpoſinge off the churche monte / were
more largely and more trulie ſet forthe and expreſſed. |
For vohere maiſter Chamber had authoritie to gather all godly mennes almeſe for the poore off the congregation con⸗ firmed vnto him (as he him ſelff required) in writinge / ſigned by the paſtor and ſemors and certeine other off the chieff men off the churche with thew owne hands / and had exerciſed the fame gathering nowe a yere / and haf / thar he alone / ſhulde re ceiue all / he alone diſtribute / and be accomptable to noma and
e alone to be priuie to the mon /t hat matter) were be neuer ſefaubful a man) ſemeth verie fufprrious to him and hurte⸗ full to the churche / yff he ſhulde dye ſuddanly as the ſtate off man is caſuall: And the example alſo ſ hulde ſeeme pernitious to the churche leaſt parhapp an other man off ſmall fidelitie ſhuld by che lame reaſon drawe all the churche mony in to his o tone one iy handes.
Andlfor as muche as the Deacone (onto whom the char ge off the churche monie ſemeth to apperretne by the worde of God / and by the example off all righ tly inſtituted churches) in oure congregation had not a mite to beſtowe: for their were made Deacons honeſt men in dede / but yet ſuch as for their poueritie ſemed not fitinen to whom the common mony ſhuld be cõmitted: and by that coulour Maiſter Chamber ths ought he might with owte controlnge receine all the cõmon 9 8 1 menie
LXXXIIII. monye in his owne handes alone, The congredation thought
good to haue à deaconſ bipp appointed more vprightiy acco ing
to the rule deſcribed in the Actes off the Apoſtles / and
the example off other Godly inſtituted churches / and to the in tent the Church mony might be medled with all by the Des cons with owete all fafpition ie is prouided inthe amendinge off the diſcipline that (ude men ſhulde be choſen Deacons / as be not onely off a moſt aproued Good fidelitie / bur alſo ſu⸗
che as were able hanſomly to line off their owne withowre
anie nede off the Churches Almes. And in dede this ſeemed to be nowe jo muche the more neceſſary / for thar many com
plained : ſome that the almes woiche they receyued before
priuatlie off priuate frinds was taken vpp by the waye / ſy
thens Maiſter Chamber began to gather / as in dede Mais
ſter Horne then Paſtor threatned openly owte off the pul pic in his Sermon ſayinge that he woulde ſtoppe all men
nes vents (as he termed it) and receiptes. Againe / ſome com
plaine that they coulde haue nought at Maiſter Chambers hande / but after beſeching and vnreaſonable longe delais / fo me hai they coulde haue nothing with owre byrter vpbraids
and ſo:ne / that they could obtaine nothing off gyfte but onely off loane / and other ſome that they coulde gett nought at all. So that no we it ſemed requiſite off neceſſytie to ſeeke ſome remedie for theis miſheues. All whiche complaints we foall be conſtrained off extreame neceffitieto put in to one fe uerall peece off worke touching the vohole matter and com munic atinge it to good men. And concerning the S ſciplne /
(ein ge there was no certeine expreſſe waye in the olde diſcipiy
ne how the congregation ſhuld be gouerned / ne ther coulde
anie longe quietnes indure fo longe as Ma:ſter Horne had the gauernement by that diſcipline. And ſeing nowe Mai⸗
fice Horne and Maiſter Chambers haue vtterlie forſaken
the Churche / not onely themſelues / but alſo haue drawen awa ie with them many other / and of them / the moſt parte ſuch as rere appointed preachers and readers off «be Gcripruree 3 ſo go they in gyt plainely appeere to ſeks not inge elis n we the
43 LXXXV. the congregation beinge deſtitute off preaching and reading
(as th oughe it coulde not ſtand withe owt thoſe men) ſhul⸗
de be rtrerlie broken vpp:the congregation was off neceſſitit
enforced to deuiſe and prouide for ſome certeine waie ſor the
Sets off the churche / wherby the congregation might e ſet at af yrme and a conſtant quietnes.
After this 14. off Februa z. preachers off he ſrenche and Flemiſ he Churches and Maiſter Valeran pul an came to the congregation with the Magiſtrats Edicte. Che meaninge
fF the edicte was / that Wa:fier Horne / Maiſter Chambers / Mate Iſaac and the reſte off the Se mots ſhulde be reſto⸗ ted into their former full authoritie and that Maiſter Bors ne ſhulde do the office off paſtor / and they off Seniors in our churche till the ¶Nagiſtrates might haue the hearing and des termining off the matter more at large. And yt was come maunded / that all ſuche men as had anie thing to ſaie again ſt Maiſter Horne andthe refte (buide exhibit the ſame to the Magiſtrate in writing. Maiſter Horne / ihe decre beinge red confuisng firfi with ſome off his complices / as in a née we matter that he neuer knewe before / ſaid to this effecteꝛ that he was ready to obeie the honorable Magiſtrate / as cont cerninge other ſunct ons belonginge tothe Paſtor / tö at is to ſaie conſultations with the Seniors and adsmnifiration off diſcipune / but he woulde not medle wih preaching / bicauſe hie m niſterie was infamed by forme men / he coulde not do yt with owr the offence off himſelff and off many. Anſwere was made in the Churches name for that the honorable Ma⸗ giſtrate had ſent the Seniors againe to he Churche / the chur che was glad off it. For they were all ſory for their departu⸗ re and nowe were veric ioyous off their comminge againe. Concerninge Maiſter Horne for ſo muche as he reſuſed the chief eſte parte off ihe Paſtors office wherin he hathe behaued him ſelff well (yff in anye ꝛhinge well) that is / in the office off preachinge. Againe / where he woulde take vppon him _ that parte wherin he is iuſtly reprehended / as wantinge diſcreuon / and ſobernes iherim / that is / che adminiſtration
off
LXxxVI.
off Ecele ſlaſtic all diſcipline with the Seniors / he ouer ſhos een
teth him ſelff in bothe thee pointes, Tyherfore in as muche as he exempteth himſelf from that office wherin he might profit the congregation: the congre⸗ gagatiõ in like caſe will not admit him to that office wherin he dothe ill behaued him ſelff before / as the congregation(yffne⸗
de be) ſ hall declare vnto the Magiſtrats:wherin likewiſe the congregation cannot admit Maiſter Chambers to the office off Senior for certein Cauſes. And for the reſt off the Genis ors . We ( fate they) geue vnto the Magiſtrats right humble thankes. 8 5 eee sa. This done / thoſe 3. men vohiche came vnto them with the Magiſtrats edicte / did earneſtlie exhorte / firſte in the mae giſtrates name and eftſones in their orone / to fall to a quiet agremente amonge them ſelues / for that were more honeſtie then to accuſe one an other vnto the congregation: Whiche thinge / as it is moſt vnworthly off Chriſten men / ſo is it vnto vs (pecially that profeffe our ſelues baniſ hed for the goſpell ſake. Anſwere was made in the name offthe churche as folo⸗ weth. We wiſhe for a brotherly peace from the bottome off our hartes praing Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers inſtantly to bend their mindes vnto quiernes / and moſte har⸗
tely beſechinge theis z men our bretherẽ / and baniſ hed for the fame goſpell that we are / that they will belpe with their au⸗
thoritie to ſet a quietnes amonge vs / ſo as the matter ſ hulde come no more to the Magiſtrats eare. Theis 3. anſwered that they woulde heare what anſwer Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers would make / hereto Maiſter Horne anſwered /
feing the matter is allready before the M the magiſtrat ſhall
haue the hearing and determining off it. Iff anie had ought againſt him let ihem put it vp in writing before the magiſt⸗ rate / for he was ready to anſwere all men and either he woul⸗ de trie his innocencie or( being founde faultie) ſuffer puniſhe⸗ ment for the fame, Maiſter Chambers made like anſwere for
Thpen/ for as muche as there could be ho other ende the
4 . ke
0 congre⸗
ILXXXVII.
Congregation requeſted thoſez. graue and lerned precchers /
to make reporte tothe magiſtrate off their deſier And readi⸗ nes to haue agrement. And ſo they (as ſoone as theis things Were put in woritinge) deparred. And the churche alſo made an acte off that dare ſubſcribing with their hands to the faa me. The ſame daie at after noone the Magiſtrates h auing more plaine intelligence off the mal ter / commaunded by thes ir edicte / ſubſcribed wih their handes / that Mar fier Horne and Maiſter Chambers foulde medle no more tbe one with the paſtorſ lip and the other withe the Seniorſ hipp tillall the controuerſies were throughly harde and decided. And com maundement was geuen / chat the eight daie after ( whi⸗ che wasche z. off marche ſuche as had to ſaie off anie parte ſhuld be preſent. This matter was greuous to the church (as maie be thought) that things (hud growe to ſuche exite⸗ mitte. ; , When they had gathered certeine matter they exhibited it to the Magiſtrates when as they came to the Engliſ he churche vohere all the company were aſſembled before them whiche was the laſt off February. Where the Magiſtrates made an ende (by their owe authoritie) off the controuerſie as ſ hall be ſaide here after. Chelaſte off Feb. the Magiſtrate came to oure Temple a litle before ten off the clock and there off his authoritte rez concilied certeine off the congregatiõ that were at variaunce amonge them ſelues / and tooke order that all former offen: ces ſ hulde be vtterly extincte and burted in the graue off for⸗ getfulnes. Wheruppon at the commaundement / and in the preſence off this Magiſtrate / the parties ioined handes toge ther in token that they were reconcilied and were Hood frinds and lovers. Afterwarde / the paſtor / Elders and Deacons / were put from their Eccleſiaſticall functions by an Edict fiz gned and ſubſcribed with three off the Magiſtrates handes and were all made priuate men / as the reſt off the congrega t on. And by the fame edicte off the Mag ſtrates it was decre edthat that congregation migyt freely / when they wou de
=e M chuſe
4 . . i ;
10 , i — 8 e . } N fr
chuſe either them of other miniſters. like wiſe / it was permits ted and graunted / that accordinge to the abilitie off rbecomm gregation they mighe chuſe one / or many miniſters offthe worde or doctors Morceouer / order was taken by the ſamm Edicte / rhat the treaſure or common monie off the congrega⸗ tion ſ hulde be kept and diſtributed by the Deacons. And that the Deacons ſhulde at certeine appointed times geue vpp an accounte off it before the Miniſters off the worde and Se⸗
he
iors. , 4 elites Poke GasteD ont We were licenced by the (ame Ediete off the magiſtrate to drawe orte an Eccleſiaſticall Diſciphine wherby the cons gregation ſ huld be gouerned. After ward / there was thankes geuen to the magiſtrate in the name off the whole congregatt on for his ſinguler good will and affection to the congregati⸗ on. And the magiſtrate departed / wiſſ hinge well in like ſorte to the companie. But by whoſe meanes the magiſtrat came thus vnto vs and toke ſuch order / or whither the Magiſtra⸗ te off himſelff wrought this deuiſe we cannor certeinly ſaie. But that we off the churche were not the cauſe / that anie ſu⸗ che thinge was done / we take God and oure conſciences / and the magiſtrate to witnes / who knoweth the whole matter. The moro we after / whiche was the firſte off marche the Magiſtrate gaue vs Connſaile by a fe we lynes that he wra⸗ te vnto vs to drawe forthe the Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline ow⸗ te of hande / whiles we were as yet all priuate men and therfo⸗ re might beſt take counſaill / foꝛ that tha: ſhulde be moſte beho uable for the whole companie: leſte / that yff we differred the doinge off it vntill the Miniſters were choſen and appointed / oure cõſultation ſhulde be more troubleſome / whiles the mis niſters on the one fide and the congregation on the other / might pluck and force more vnto them eee off right they ought. This moſt wholſome and profitable counſell off the Magiſtrate was the nexte daie after / whiche woas the z. off marche pꝛopoſed in the congregation / and it liked and ples aſed she whole company. not wuhſtanding wn E 1 4 Pe oxne
ee
— — —
TRY MMI,
Bornemade ſome matter / ſoꝛ that ſome were abſent the maß ter was differred vnto the nexte daie,
T be tbirde off marche / by the aduiſe off that Good and godlie magiſtrate /