A Caveat for Parsons Howlet, Part 4 – Part 5
The testimonie also of the righte honourable, the Lord Zouch: M. Frauncis Harrington Recordor of Stamford, & M. Shepheard Archdeacon of Northhamptonshire, concerning the saide ….
TOuching the propositions set dovvne by Iohn Hovvlet, which (as hee sayth) vvere gathered at two sermons, by a Minister presēt at Stamford at a generall Fast. These are to certifie, that hovvsoeuer the minister youre informer, mistooke the matters by gathering and setting dovvne his notes, or for want of diligence or readinesse of his pen, or for vvant of memory, capacity, or vnderstanding or howsoeuer, the said Iohn Howlet hath altered them to serue his purpose, the truth is so, that I am certen ly informed, by some both of honorable & worship ful callings vvhichwhich vvere then present, that he hath very much abused the prechers in this his report, by setting downe that which they neuer vttered; and that in truth, ther was nothing then & there taught, which was not spoken with all loyall and dutifull obedience, and in good termes, and whiche mighte; without iust occasion of offence giuen, hauehave beene preached before any estate in this land, both for the matter and manner thereof.
And albeit it must needes be confessed, that both … & after the order was set downe, by the Lord Superintendent of the Diocesse (as you terme him) that sayde exercise was secretely vndermined, and some wayes crossed, by false intymations and vntrue …, yet in the end it was reuerently and profitably kept, according to the true meaning which was permitted, prescribed and allovved in vvriting by the letters of the said superintendent, the procee ding herein vvas after this manner At the requeste of the Aldermen and …, not without some allowaunce from the righte Honourable the Lorde Treasurer, to whome the inheritance of that Borough …, vppon such good liking and allovvance as should thereof be made by the ordinary (to vvhome his honor vvrote about that matter) the exercise vvas helde and performed in suche sort, as nothing vvas taught corruptly, disorderly or seditiously, but the godly order set dovvne in that behalfe, by the right honourable the Lordes of her maiesties priuy Counsell, being first kept in euerye point, for the more better edification of the people according to the Byshoppes letter, there vvere tvvo sermons preached by tvvo such as vvere lavvfuly & sufficiently allovved and aucthorised thereunto, one of the sayd preachers being earnestly entreated to preach by the Magistrates and … of the Tovvn, by occasion of the defect of one of the tvvo vvhichwhich vvas named in the Byshops letter, and this vvas thonly difference of the order obserued, from the order prescribed in the bishops letters.
Both the sermons vvere neither tvvelue nor … houres long, nor yet much aboue fiue houres, which time vvas thought to bee little ynough for them, considering they had to … and … the manifold corruptions and abuses of the popish and Pharisaicall fasting, and to teach the true order and ende of true Fast, with the doctrine of true …, and humbling of their soules and bodies by true repentance and newnesse of life, vvhichwhich necessarily ought to accompany …, as without the vvhichwhich it is vnprofitable, which being done, ther vvas a liberall contribution and collection made for the poore, and so the action vvas peaceably and profitably ended. And thus much briefly touching that matter.
Edward zouch. Nicholas Shepheard Francis Harring…on Recorder of Stamford.
The credible report of Tobie Houghton of Cliffe in the County of Northhamp. Gentleman, for & concerning the summe and effect of the late Sermons of M. Richard …, and M. Robert Iohnson preachers, at the … generall Fast at Stamford, the 14 of September. 1580 as follovveth.
The Text of the sayd M. Liuely being conteyned in Esa. 22. 12. 13. 14. 15 verses, vvhereof … the sayde Tobie Houghton, vvrote the quantity of one sheet and a halfe of large … in notes, gathered from the say de preacher, out of his ovvne mouth, and by these presentes do iustifie, that the sayd M. Liuely is … and vniustly charged by Iohn … in his late booke dedicated to the Queenes moste excellent maiesty.
And further, I am in like sort to cleare the sayde M. Iohnson of the sayd Hovvlets like slander against him. I hauing gathered out of his sermon at the said …; to the quantitie of one vvhole … of paper in notes as he spake them, his Text being the 2. of … 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. verses.
And to conclude, I vvill by the grace of God, bee ready to iustifie, that they or eyther of them at that present, spake not anye of the articles obiected agaynst them by the sayd Hovvlet, neither did they vtter any manner of speache agaynst the good and godly gouernment of the estate of this our Realme of England. In … vvhereof. I hauehave vvritten this same vvith mine ovvne hand and set my name to the same, this xii. of February. 1580.
… Houghton.