The Plea of the Innocent, Chapter 4
Cap. 4.
Wherin is proued. 1. that it cannot be that the Miniſters and people deſiring reformation ſhuld be enemies to the ſtate. 2. They cannot but vnfainedlie louelove the Queenes moſt gratious Maieſtie. 3. They hartely reuerence and thankfully obſerue the Lordes of her moſt honourable priuie councill. 4. They reioyce to liue vnderunder the common lawes and ciuill cōmunitie of this Realme. 5. And in all their doings, maintaine the faith & promote the good proceeding of the ſtate of the church 6. Their cariadge peaceable.
Hieremie the Prophet,Hierem. Cap. 29. verſ. 1.2.3. writed to the people of Iuda and Hieruſalem, which were caried captiue vntounto Babylon, vnderunder the heatheniſh king Nebuchadnezar, this cōmandement of the lord: Seeke the proſperitie of the Cietie, whether I hauehave cauſed you to be caried captiues, and pray vntounto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof ſhall you hauehave peace. And the Apoſtle Paule exhorteth the chriſtians which were conuerted by his miniſtrie, vnderunder Kings & gouerners which were infidels, that Supplications, praiers, 1, Tim. 2.1.2▪interceſſions, and giuing of thanks ſhould be made for Kings and for all that are in authoritie, that they might leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſſe and honeſtie. How much more muſt it needes follow, that the godly faithfull Miniſter and zealous Chriſtian man,It is contrarie to all reaſon, that the godly Miniſters and people, ſhould be enemies to the ſtate; dwelling in a Chriſtian common vvealth and vnderunder a moſt vertuous and religious Prince: hauing for a ciuill life, ſuch libertie as no nation vnderunder heauen hath greater: and For a Chriſtian life and freedome of conſcience, in the ſeruice & worſhip of God, ſuch peace and protection, as hardlie will bee founde in anie other Chriſtian kingdome: hovv much more (I ſay) muſt it needs be, that ſuch men moſt carefullie and zelouſly, vſe all prayer and ſupplication, for her moſt excellent Maieſtie, and all godlie Magiſtrates vnderunder her, and the whole ſtate of this Realme: and to ſeeke the proſperitie and peace of the ſame. For ſeeing the chiefeſt cauſe of their trouble and reproach, is their carefull and zealous following of Gods holie vvorde and their tender conſcience in offending of God: hovv ſtrange and contrarie to reaſon, ſhoulde it bee, that they coulde but thinke anye one euill thought againſt the holie ordinance of God, and the higher powers ordained of him, to vvhome they ought to ſubmitte themſelues for conſcience ſake. And when the blind man, vvho can not ſee a farre of, if he hauehave anie the leaſte diſcretion, muſte needes perceaue: that in the peace and proſperitie of her Maieſtie and of this Realme, euerie way, conſiſteth their peace, their ioy and happienes. Hovv farre ſhoulde they bee vvithout all grace and feare of God, how contrarie to them ſelues, & enemies to their ovvne apparant good, if they ſhoulde be enemies to the preſent ſtate of her Maieſties moſt Chriſtian and godlie gouernement.
2 And here I thank God I can ſpeak boldlie, and with the cheerefull teſtimonie of a good conſcience, euen in the ſight of God. For God knovveth, and vve humblie acknowledge vvith thankſgiuing to his holye and diuine Maieſtie: that our gracious Ladie and deare Soueraigne Elizabeth, in the tyme of her ſiſter the late Queene Marie,Queene Elizabeth perſecuted for the Ghoſpell. ſuffered & endured great trobles and reproach: and endeuouring to preſerue a good conſcience, and to keepe her ſelfe a chaſte & pure Virgine vntounto the Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, her bleſſed Sauiour, ſhee was in greate daunger. And this not ſo much in regarde of her owne perſon, as much more, as that ſhe was the onelie hope vnderunder God, which all honeſt & good Chriſtians had: by whoſe prayers it pleaſed his heauenlie goodnes, in cō paſſion to his poore diſtreſſed Church to preſerue her ſacred perſon, & in his due tyme to ſet her at libertie; and to raiſe her vp, & to eſtabliſh her Kingdome: to be an hauen of reſt, and an heauen of ioye, to the deare children of God: who euerie daye were in a great affliction, & counted as ſheepe readie for the ſlaughter. And this all ye world knoweth to be ſo, & that god hath made his name glorious by her deliuerance. He hath choſen his ſeruant Elizabeth, and taken her out of the iawes of the Lyons, & made her a ioyfull & bleſſed nourſemother, to ſeed the people of his Church, and to foſter his inheritance. By her wee enioy our country, our liues, our wiues, our children, our goods, our peace & proſperitie: by her we are garded againſt enemies a broad, inuaſions & cruell warre, and againſt all domeſticall iniuries and wronges at home, which euill and vngodly men would bring vponupon vsus. We ſit quietlie euerie man vnderunder his vine, & ioyfully reape the fruites of a plentifull land, vnderunder the happie, and aſſured protection of her moſt bleſſed gouernement.Merueilous great bleſſings by her Maieſties raigne. By her we are deliuered, out of the ſpirituall thraldome and bondage of that proud Prelate of Rome, from all Antichriſtian ſlauerie of ignorance, ſuperſtition & idolatrie; and our ſhoulders are eaſed from that moſte grieuous burden and importable. By her we hauehave the holie foode of our ſoules & the life of our life, the ſacred word of God. By her we enioy the pleaſures of Gods houſe, and enter into his tabernacles with ioye, beholding the beautie of God, and the glorie of hi… power. By her our minds and our bodies are made ſecure, & our mouthe are filled with laughter, & we cheerfullie ſing the new ſonge of all Gods Saintes, Halelu-Iah. Saluation and glorie, and honour, and power to the Lord our God, God euen our God, the mightie and holie one, hath loued her: and in the louelove & honour, wherewithall he hath made her name renoumed, amongſt the mightie nations of the earth; hee hath made his greate louelove and rich merciemercy, to vsus his poore people, to bee knowne and admired. He hath eſtabliſhed her throne in righteouſnes, & made her mountaine moſt ſtrong, againſt all her & our enemies. So that ſhe hath bene nowe theſe 40 and 3 yeares, an hiding place for the wind, and a refuge for the tempeſt, as riuers of waters in a drie land, & as the ſhadow of a great rock in a wearie land. The remembrance of her is our comfort, her ioy, health and honour, our glorie: her faithfulnes and conſtancie in religion and godlines, our exceeding treaſure. In one word ſhe is the light of eies & the breath of our noſtrels, the very marrow of our bones, and the aſſured pledge of our reioyſing. For who knoweth not, but that, as by her moſt Chriſtian and godlie raigne, we enioye that which is more of price vntounto vsus, then all that we hauehave yea, then our owne liues. So when ſo euer God ſhal take her from vsus vntounto his heauenlie & glorious kingdome (which we pray may not bee, till ſhe hath had that fulnes of daies, which may make her Crowne perfect in the world to come, and the ioy of Chriſts Church firme & ſtable in this world) who ſhall then lament, weep & waile and who ſhall hauehave cauſe to greeue, ſigh and mourne, their mother, their nourſe and faithfull comforter? but euen all thoſe Miniſters and Chriſtian people, who nowe deſire, that thoſe honourable and holie workes which God hath begun, & brought to a great perfection by her miniſtrie, might by her alſo be made abſolute, entire, and fullie compleat. Therefore we are ſo farre from thinking the leaſte euill, vntounto her ſacred perſon, that we pray hartely, and wiſh vnfainedly: Confounded be all they, which deſire her hurt, and God euen the mightie God, ſtrike thorow the loynes of al them that riſe vp againſt her: & binde thou vp (ô mercifull God) her ſoule in the bundell of life, with the Lord our God & cast out the ſoule of all her enemies, as out of he midle of a ſlinge, and let all faithfull ſubiects ſay, Amen.
3 Next vntounto & vnderunder her moſt royall Maieſtie,The Lords of counſell greatly to be reſpected. we think vponupon the Lords of her Maieſties moſt honorable coū ſell. Heere we hauehave alſo great matter to moue vsus vntounto all ioyfull thankfulnes. Firſt that they hauehave wiſelie and Chriſtianlie, managed the generall ſtate & ſway of the common wealth: principallie for their carefull & prudent watch, ouer her Maieſties moſt ſacred perſon, in all theſe moſt deuiliſh treacheries and wicked deſignements of all traiterous Papiſtes, and Popiſh Seminarie Prieſtes, Ieſuites, and deſperate murdering wretches: & in all the hidden plottes & ſhameles villenies deuiſed & contriued by our mortall enemies abroad, and by all factious Eſpaniolized and Italianized heads at home. That God hath bene with them and proſpered them in all their godly counſell & foreſight Secondly we can not but praiſe God, that their honorable table, is and alwaies hath bene, a place of refuge, & a ſeate of great iuſtice, equitie & clemencie, to all men, howſoeuer otherwiſe wrongfullie oppreſſed: And tha… vvhichwhich we moſt of all reioyce of, vv… bleſſe our Lord Chriſt for their conſtant perſeuering in the maintenance of Gods true religion & Ghoſpell. In ſo much as beſide all other times and occaſions, vvhen now a little before the laſt Paliamēt, the pert bragging of popiſh recuſants & their fauourers (here and there ſtraglinglie ſcattered thorowe the lande) did ſomewhat amaſe and trouble the mindes of infinite her Maieſties, moſte godlie, louing, obedient & faithfull ſubiectes: we yet ſe by firme experience the holie conſtancie of her Maieſties vnchangeable faith, and the honorable cariadge of their wiſedomes, to the confuſion of ſuch vaine perſones in their vndutifull & wicked hope: and to the exceeding ioy and contentation of millions of godlie Chriſtians, who depend vponupon her Maieſties moſt gracious preſent gouernement: and whoſe life is not deere vntounto them, ſo as they may ſe her, in helth, ioy, comfort and honour: being readie to beſtow the beſt blood in their heartes, to doe her true and faithfull ſeruice, and euerie day, night & hower to aduenture all they hauehave for her ſafetie, and to curbe & beate downe all wicked Prieſtes, Papiſtes, & treaſonable perſons, what ſo euer.
The vnchangeable louelove of Queene Elizabeth and her godly ſubiectes.And this I thank God, I may to the honour and ioy of her Maieſtie boaſt and glorie (with an humble & gratefull minde & reuerence to the diuine magnificent bountie of oureternall Father) that neuer Prince, King nor Queene, ſince the foundation of the world, had more faithfull louelove, obedience and chearfull duetie of their ſubiectes: then all the Proteſtantes of England, hauehave moſt gladly, conſtantlie and vnchangeablie performed and continued to their moſt louing and kind-mother Queene Elizabeth, and that ſo manie yeares with ſo little diſcontentment and diſturbance: and her louelove and holie affection and conſtancie in religion hath bounde them moſt neerlie vntounto her. And therefore I am verely perſwaded, that if euer any Prince, might eſteeme the louelove of their ſubiectes, a ſtrong wall and bulwark and garde to their perſon: then certes Queene Elizabeth both may & … mak high account of the Proteſtant in England, as the moſt faithfull and loyall people; which will not ſuffer her Maieſtie, to hauehave the leaſt indignity if it lye in them, by ſpending verie many thouſands of their liues, to doe her good. And that ſhall the Papiſts, Prieſts, & Seminaries wel know if euer they goe about, to put in executiō, their hoped butchery, & bloody obediēce, to the Popes cruel buls. And this is not all that bindes vsus to their honors:The Lords of the counſell a great ſtay to godly Miniſters. for in our priuate troubles about the ceremonies and ſubſcription, wee the poore and faithfull Miniſters of Chriſt, when ſo euer we hauehave opened our cauſe and humbled our ſelues vntounto them, we hauehave found great iuſtice and equitie, and diuers times great reliefe and eaſe from our troubles. No doubt they ſeing our innocencie, that of meere conſcience, without anye the leaſt inclination to diſloyaltie to our Soueraigne, we did forbeare to doe thoſe thinges: they hauehave tendered our cauſe and louingly effected, that we might not be to to much ouerburdened. Yea my L. G. of Cantur. himſelf (though he ſeeme to be the greateſt oppoſite to our cauſe) by wiſe experience finding the ſame thing: hath many times and vntounto divers men (whereof I muſt confeſſe my ſelf to be one) moderated the extremitie, which by other men was hotly and vncharitablie perſued. God bee thanked. And I humblie praye almighty God, euermore to bleſſe them that they may be alwaies, the faithful eyes, eares and hands of her Maieſtie to the continuall ſafetie of her ſacred perſon, the vnchangeable vpholding of religion, and the ioy of all faithfull and dutifull ſubiectes, the terror and keeping vnderunder of all wickednes, ſuperſtition and idolatry, to the ſaluation of their own ſoules, & the bright ſhining glory of God, in this land, for euer and euer.
The ciuil and politike ſtate of this land verie good.4. Now if any man vnderſtand by the ſtate; the conſtitution of the common lawes and ſtatutes of this land, now preſently in force: whereby vve are combined into one bodie of a ciuill politike common wealth, vnderunder one head and Monarchicall gouernment, in all priuileges, duties, offices and works of Prince and people, and of the whole, and repulſe and repreſſing of all domeſticall and priuate euill in the whole or any member: and for defence againſt all forren power or Potentate whatſoeuer, who ſhall claime any title, iuriſdictiō or intereſt within theſe her Maieſties Dominions of Englande or Irelande, or ells make inuaſion againſt our Noble countrie or Soueraigne, or offer violence or anie wrong to her Maieſties perſon, Crowne, or dignitie. In all theſe thinges wee the Miniſters and people aforeſaide, doe profeſſe ourſelues as happie people as anie vnderunder the Sunne, to be vnderunder ſo iuſt, equall and free lawes, gouernement and iuriſdiction, & right ordered common wealth. And we proteſt before God, that we, and all we, are bounde, both by the law of God and of nature, to ſpend our goods, ſtrength, life, and all we hauehave, for the maintenance, preſeruation, and quiet proceeding, execution, and floriſhing proſperitie of the ſame common wealth and monarchicall gouernement, and for the maintenance of her Maieſties ſupreame authoritie, ouer all perſons in theſe her dominions, either eccleſiaſticall or ciuill, and in all cauſes what ſo euer, next & immediatelie vnderunder God, and his holy ſonne Ieſus Chriſt the King of glorie. And I hauehave that aſſurance of our vprightnes in this matter, that I truſt, no man euer did or could, neither yet at this time either will or can (except it bee ſome popiſh Prieſt, or ſeditious perſon, that maligneth our happineſſe in this common wealth) challenge, accuſe, charge or ſuſpect vsus, or any of vsus, that we are not for our places, as obedient, faithfull & glad of preſent ſtate, as any other Engliſh men, ſubiectes in this land (without inparagement be it ſpoken, and with reuerence to our ſuperiours) what ſo euer.
5 Heere vponupon it ſeemeth to me that the queſtion is truely and naturallie about the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate, conſtitutions, orders & maner of gouernement that if it may appeare that heerein we be not enemies, then are we no way to be touched; of which point the 2 and 3 chapters doe in ſome ſort intreate, and doe thus farre iuſtifie vsus: that we ſeeming in ſome ſorte, to goe againſt the preſent gouernement, for not obſeruing ſome ceremonies and for not ſubſcribing, &c. are yet verie much warranted, by the ſame conſtitutions, articles & proceedings of the ſame Eccleſiaſticall ſtate. But we hauehave many moe honeſt and iuſt reaſons, for the approuing of our doinges: which I doubt not but that the reuerende Fathers themſelues, and all other Chriſtians; waying with the balance of truth and equitie; will afoord to be of better acceptance, then in the cōmon account of our cauſe many doe eſteem or affirme.The eccleſiaſticall ſtate. What. Firſt therfore, the eccleſiaſticall ſtate, is the conſtitution of our churches reformatiō, as we are departed from the apoſtaticall ſynagogue of Rome: wherein we hauehave eſtabliſhed an order of Eccleſiaſticall miniſtrie and of liturgie, and a confeſſion of faith in articles, as neere as wee could for the time, to the Canon of holy Scripture. Which thing is confirmed and ratified by lawes and actes of Parliament Anno 1 and 13 of the Queene Ordered, executed, expounded, explained, and defended by iniunctions, Canons and apologeticall writinges. Wherein and whereby we hauehave iuſtlie ſeparated our ſelues, from the erring ſea of Rome: becauſe they are fallen from the true faith and doctrine of the primitiue Church: as it was taught and planted, by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, according to the Scriptures of the old & new Teſtament. And we are vnited into the fellowſhip of the true Church of God, whereof Chriſt onlie is the head, and his word and holy writings, the only law, Canon and rule. Now concerning all theſe things,The Miniſter and people deſiring reformation, be louers of the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate. the Miniſters and people which deſire reformation, doe glorifie God on our behalfe. And with all godly quietnes are glade, to enioye the benefit and comfort of theſe things and labour to make the moſt profit to their ſoules they can, by the vſe of the ſame, deſiring and labouring onlie for the perfection thereof: namelie that ſuch remnants of poperie that remaine (thogh in compariſon of the other they be not ſo great altogether) might alſo be aboliſhed. The Miniſters, they doe enioy and execute their miniſtrie, according to the order heereof: they accept and acknowledge no other faith and doctrine, and vſe in their miniſtrie no other liturgie. And that which they doe (in requiring reformation in ſome things) is not oppoſite to any of theſe things in generall: but only tendeth to the further building vp & beautifying of our Eccleſiaſticall ſtate in particular. According to that which is ſaith: let vsus follow the truth in louelove, Epheſ. 4 15.and in all things grow vp into him which is the head, that is Chriſt. In tymes of reformation, eſpeciallie when ignorance, apoſtaſie, and ſuperſtition hath raigned ſo many hundred yeares;It is hard to reforme all thinges at the firſt. it is harde and rare that euerie thing ſhoulde be reformed at the firſt inſtant, and he that commendeth that which is well done at the firſt & wiſheth that men ſhoulde goe forwarde to doe more & more in like ſort, is he an enemie to the firſt doeings, or a friende? Doubtleſſe an vpright man, voide of a cauilling minde, will ſay, he is a friend. When the inhabitantes of Iudah and Hieruſalem, Ezra. 3…firſt came out of Babylon, in the firſt yeare of Cyria King of Perſia, & built the Altar of God for burnt offeringes, they were in ſtate of ſaluation, being entred againe into the couenant of God: yet are not they to be called enemies to the ſtate, which in the ſecond yeare after, laid the foundation of the Temple. And in the verie laying of the foundations▪ whereas many ſhouted for ioy, many of the Prieſts & Leuites, and the chiefe Fathers, auncient men, which had ſeene the firſt houſe: when the foundation of this houſe was laid before their eies, wept with a loud voice: no doubt becauſe it appeared not vntounto them ſo glorious as the other: ſhall they therefore bee reputed enemies to this laſt houſe,Cap. 47.24. becauſe they deſire it were better? Which being hindred in the time of Artabſhaſte, by malicious men, vntill the ſecond yeare of Darius, King of Perſia, Cap. 3…at which time Zachariah the Prophet and Haggai, called vponupon the people and encouraged them to goe forwarde in the building of the Temple: and after Ezrah came and taught them the lawe yea euen the Prieſtes,Cap. 7. & 9. and cauſed them to put a way their ſtrange wiues: ſhall wee ſay that theſe latter comming manie yeares after, were enemies to the ſtate, becauſe they endeuoured, to bring them to further perfection, according to Gods word? Laſtlie Nehemiah, Nehem. 1. and 2. and 3.when they had the Temple, and as it ſhould ſeeme the full and whole worſhippe of God: yet is he not content; but mourned when he hard that the walles of Hieruſalem & the gates thereof were not built. Although he came after, and went a bout a thing not done before, not onlie in building the wales of Hieruſalem, but alſo in taking order for the carefull obſeruation of the Sabbath and diuers other things: yet is he not called a Puritane, which was not content when things were well; but his ſtorie is commended to the Church, and his example to be imitated of the people of God according to euerie mans calling and place throughout all ages. And if wee with the Prophet Haggai doe reprooue the people which ſay:Hag. 1.2.3. The time is not yet come that the Lords houſe ſhould be builded: are we by and by enemies and troublers of the ſtate? God forbid. If we ſubſcribe that the preaching of the pure word of God is a mark of the true Church of God: & here vponupon deſire that all things in the Church, euen all our actions ſhould be ſquared according to the ſame pure word, and nothing left contrarie to the ſame, are we by and by enemies? If we be ſworne to her Maieſties moſt lawful ſupremacie ouer all perſons, and eſpie in our Church a Lordelie prelacie (a thing brought into the Church by humane inuention) by meanes whereof, it is apparant, that the Pope of Rome, hath climed aboue all eſtates both Eccleſiaſticall and ciuill: & ſo the Crowne and royall dignitie of this Realme hath in time paſt, bene in bondage to a forraine Potentate, euen a proud and vſurping Prelate: If now our deſire extende it ſelfe ſo farre; that our Lordlie dignities and power of our Biſhoppes, might be examined by holy Scripture and brought back, a degree or twaine neerer to the Apoſtolicall practiſe and Chriſts inſtitution, that ſo all occaſions might be cut of hereafter, that this climing vſurpation, might neuer take holde vponupon England any more: are we troublers of the ſtate? I proteſt vntounto you before God, it hath bene a griefe vntounto me, when in a ſimple mind, I hauehave according to the Queenes iniunctions preached and declared, the right of her Maieſties authoritie and againſt the vſurped preſumption of the Pope of Rome, vſing verilie ſuch arguments, as the Apologeticall writings of our learned men hauehave done, agreeing to holie Scriptures: I hauehave bene reprooued as preaching againſt law, and againſt the reuerend Fathers and Biſhopes of our Church. Surely if I were an Archbiſhop or a Lord Biſhop, I would caſt my ſelfe downe at her Maieſties feet, and craue & humblie begge of her Highnes; that by her Chriſtian wiſedome and godlie moderation, ſome meane-way might be foūd profitable for the Church, that might in no manner hinder the free courſe of the preaching of her Maieſties moſt lawfull authoritie: neither euer hereafter leaue ſuch a power in the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate, as might bee made preiudiciall, to the royall preheminēce and ſupreame dignitie of the. Prince. If our ſtate in the orderinge of Miniſters, ordaine them to preach: are we enemies, if we would hauehave none tolerated but ſuch as can and will preach? if our ſtate ſay, the abſence of the Paſtor from his flock is a pernicious thing in it ſelfe: are we diſturbers of the peace if we deſire ſuch pernitious thinges to bee aboliſhed altogether? And if wee finde that the power to commaunde Miniſters, and to direct orders of the Church, commeth from the ſtatutes of the land, made in her Maieſties gracious raigne, namelie that they commaund a kinde of ſubſcription, giuing authoritie to the Biſhoppes and Ordinaries, to depriue and keepe out men from Eccleſiaſticall promotions, who will not ſo ſubſcribe: ſhall we bee enemies to the ſtate, if offering ſo ſubſcribe according to the ſtatute, we humblie craue to be free ſo farre as the lawes & ſtatutes doe free vsus? And that the reuerend Biſhops content themſelues with that power, which her Maieſtie & the lawes of the Realme doe giuegive vntounto them? If we ſubmitte our ſelues to that ſubſcription which the lawe commandeth, are we diſobedient and enemies? If we meeklie beſeech them not to bee moleſted, for ſuch a ſubſcription as the law and ſtatute doth not commaunde. And if the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate call vsus vntounto ſermons, to ſing Pſalmes, & reuerentlie & in the feare of God to common about the word of God: alas are we Puritanes, and vile Preciſians, conuenticlers, ſchiſmatikes & wicked people if we doe the ſame? I deſire therefore all the reuerend Fathers, and all other good Chriſtian ſubiectes, to conſider of our cauſe as it is, and to take pittie vponupon vsus, and to vſe vsus as the truth of our cauſe requireth: & let them not ſpare, if in deed they find any of vsus trulie ſchiſmaticall, a trobler of the church and an enemie to the ſtate.
6 Laſtlie, let it be examined what hath bin our doings and proceedings from the firſt great ſtorme that roſe againſt vsus,The cariage of the Miniſters & people verie dutifull and peaceable. which was about the 10 yeare of her Maieſties raigne, when the Papiſtes begann to aduaunce themſelues in their treacherous platformes: and euer ſince that tyme, wee hauehave had, more or leſſe at one time or another, ſome tryales: and namelie verie great was that of ſubſcription, and ſince that time a great while together, was there euer any of vsus that went about anye treacherous practiſe; had we intelligence with anye other nation againſt her Maieſtie or the ſtate? Was not all our doings, by humble ſupplications, honeſt & Chriſtian Apologeticall writing, and by lowlie and earneſt ſuing and intreating by our friends? Neuer did wee iuſtifie any man, neither yet doe: if either by word or writing he pas the bonds of comely modeſtie, and not with a meek and quiet ſpirit, conſtantlie perſeuer in following of this good cauſe. And I my ſelfe ſhould bee right ſorie, if vnwittinglie I ſhoulde in this treatiſe let fall any thing, which might be an vniuſt and vncharitable diſgrace to any mans perſon, which vnfainedlie fauour the preſent ſtate and gouernement. And that I may end this chapt. with words of peace, I meeklie & humblie deſire the reuerend Fathers and all other good men to iudge, whether wee hauehave not done as good Miniſters and Chriſtian ſubiectes ought to doe: when we hauehave quietlie borne ſuch puniſhments, as hauehave bene inflicted vponupon vsus; till by great ſure and tract of tyme we hauehave reſpit or deliueraunce. And diuers honeſt men hauehave changed their dwellings, from vnderunder vnable and vnpreaching Miniſters (becauſe they and their families found not that comforte which they did in other places) that by this meanes with great loſſe they might cut a way occaſion from them which deſired to count them diſquiet perſons and troublers of the Church. And if we be called Puritans for ſuing to the honourable houſe of Parliament, or the Lords of her Maieſties Councill, for any caſe of our greeuances: then may all men of all ſortes, bee ſo accounted. Let them yeeld vsus the libertie of Chriſtians, & grant vsus that freedome which other ſubiectes hauehave: and there will be but little matter left, to make any good ground, whereby we ſhould bee called or reputed troublers or enemies to the State.