Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfort, Part 3 – Letter 13

Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfort · Part 3 – Letter 13

p. XLThe ſupplication to the Senate.

Let it not moleſt yow (moſte graue and worthie Senators / that your affayers are letted with a fewe wordes. And leaſte we ſhulde trouble yow with prolixitie / yow ſhall vnderſtande the matter briefly. When your great and vnſpeakable humanitie / through the prouidence of god had graunted vsus a churche / we vndertooke forthwith (as became vsus) p. XLIto conſulte abowte the orders off the ſame / and to ſet ow… … Liturgie. And bicauſe we ſawe that in the prolixe and Ceremonious booke of the liturgie of Englande / be manie thinges (that 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 churche where in we teache / and to whom we hauehave ſubſcribed But when this enterpriſe offended ſome off oure countriemen (althoughe the greateſt nomber agreed vntounto vsus) for that we woulde decline from the decrees off our elders / To weet, the frenche churche.here vppon there grewe to vsus for a fewe monethes no ſmall trouble.

At the lenght / whē there appeared no ende / for peace and concordes ſake we gaue place to their will / and ſuffred them at their pleaſure to pike owte. off their booke the chiefeſt or beſte thinges vponupon this condition that the ſame ſhulde continewe with owte alteration / at the leaſte / vntounto the laſte daie off Aprill / at the whiche daie (iff there ſhulde anie newe contention ariſe (that then all the matter ſhulde be referred to theſe 5. notable men / Calvin / Muſculus / Martir / Bullinger / vnd Viret. What nedethe manie wordes. This condition was willingly accepted / and the couenaunte rated on bothe partes. A writinge was alſo theroff to teſtifie the promeſſe made off the one to the other. Moreouer thankes were geuen to god withe great ioye / and common praiers were made / for that men thought that daie to be thende off diſcorde. Beſides this / they receyued / the communion as the ſure token / or ſeale off their mutuall agremente / whiche was omitted before / by the ſpace off 3. monethes. Valaran alſo the frenche Miniſter was partaker off this communion and a furtherer off concorde and a wittnes off theis thinges. Nowe of late daies / certeine of our countrey men / came to vsus who hauehave indeuored by all meanes to obtrude that huge volume off ceremonies vponupon vsus to break the couenaunte and to ouerthrough the libertie off the Churche graunted by your beneuolence. And no dowte / this they enterpriſe and minde to do vnderunder the p. XLIItitle and name off your defence / Wherby they maie abuſe the authoritie off your name to ſatiſfie their …uſt…. We are here cō pelled to omitte manie thinges whiche woulde make for oure cauſe / no leſſe rightly then profitab…y / but we remit thies to oure brethern for concordes ſake.

Yow hauehave here / moſte honorable Sen. a brieff ſumme of oure caſe / and contention / wherby yow may eaſilie vnderſtande / what to iudge off the whoſe matter.

What manner off Booke this …s for the whiche they ſo cruel…ie contende / The letter a litle before.ye maie conſider by the Epiſtle that Caluin lately wrote vntounto vsus / in the whiche he hathe ſignified his minde / aſwell plainly off the booke / as alſo off the vprightneſſe off oure cauſe. We coulde hauehave pointed owte vntounto yow the fooliſhe and fonde things off the booke / but paſſinge ouer an infinite nomber off thinges / this one will we bringe for manie the whiche ſhalbe neceſſarie well to be ma…ed. within theſe three yeres aroſe a great conflicte betweene the the Biſhopps off the realme and the Biſhoppe off Gloceſter Maiſter Hooper / This controuerſie hath byn ſi…hins kinge Edward his raigne as ye ſe.a man worthie off perpetuall memorie / whom we heare to be burned off late. This man beinge made Biſhopp By kinge Edwarde / there was obtruded by other B. off the ſame order (accordinge to this booke) a roche… / and and a biſhops robe this man being well lerned and a longe tyme nouriſhed and brought vp in Germany / as ſoone as he refuſed thies proud thinges that fooles marve…l a… / he was caſte into priſon and at lenght by their importunitie ouercome / and relentinge / he was compelled to his ſhame to geue place to their impudency withe the common grieff and ſorowe off all godlye mindes.

But wherfore ſpeake yow off theis thinges will yow ſaie / that apperteneth nothinge to vsus? yes verely / we thinke it touchethe yow verie moche / for yff thies men armed by your authoritie ſhall do what they liſte / this euell ſhalbe in t…me eſtabliſhed by yow and neuer be redreſſed / nether ſhall there for euer be anie ende off this controuerſie in Englande. But yff it woulde pleaſe your honorable authoritie to decree this moderation betweene vsus / that this whole matter may be referred p. XLIIIto the iudgements off the fiue aboue named not we alone that are here preſent / but oure whole poſteritie / yea oure whole eng…iſhe nation … and all good men / …o the perpetuall memorie off your names / ſhalbe bownde vntounto yow for this great benefit We might hauehave vſed moo wordes in this narration / for we feared not / that we ſhulde lake reaſons / but rather that tyme ſhulde fa…e yow / letted with more ſerious buſines. Therfore / we by theis thinges / leaue the reſte to the conſideration off your wiſdomes.

The 22, off Marche ma…ſter Glauburge came to the Engliſhe Churche and ſhewed the congregation / that it was commaunded them / by the magiſtrate… (when by his procurement the church was graunted) that they ſhulde agree withe the frenche churche bothe in Doctrine and ceremonies / and that they vnderſtood howe the fallinge from …hat order had bred muche diſſention amonge them. Therfore / …e ſtrait…y charged and commaunded that from thenc foorthe they ſhulde not diſſent from that order / yff they did / as he had opened the churche dore vntounto them / ſo woulde he ſhutte it againe. And that ſuche as woulde not obey therunto ſhulde not tarie within that citie / willinge them to conſulte together owte off hande and to geue him an anſwere before he departed. D. Coxe / then ſpake to the congregation in this wiſe / I hauehave (ſaithe he) redd the frenche order and do thinke it to be bothe good and godly in all pointes / and therfore wiſhed them to obaie the magiſtrates commaundement wherupon the whole congregation gaue conſent / ſo as before the Magiſtrate departed the churche / D. Coxe / leuer / and whittingham made reporte vntounto him accordingly. D. Coxe alſo at that preſente requeſted that it woulde pleaſe him / notwithſtandinge their ill behauiour) to ſhewe vntounto them his accuſtomed fauor and goodneſſe / whiche he moſte iently and louinglie promiſed.

At the nexte meetinge off the congregation that order was put in practiſe / to the comforte and reioycinge off the moſte parte. Neuertheles / ſuche as woulde ſo faine hauehave had the booke of England / lefte not the matter thus. And for that they p. XLIIIIſawe Knox to be in ſuche credit withe many off the congregation / they firſte off all aſſaied by a moſte cruell barbarous and bloudie practiſe to diſpatche him owte off the waie / to thende they might withe more eaſe attaine the thinge whiche they ſo gredely ſought / whiche was the placinge of their booke. They had amonge them a booke off his intituled an admonition to Chriſtians written in the Engliſh tonge / wherin by occaſion he ſpake off the Emperour / off Philip his ſonne / and off Marie then Queene off Englande. This booke cericine off them preſented to the Magiſtrates / who (vponupon receipte off the ſame) ſente for whittingham and aſked him off Knox their Miniſter / what manner off man he was: whittingham anſwered that ſuche a one their was amonge them and to his knowledge bothe a lerned / wiſe / graue and godly man.Knox accuſed off treaſon. Then one off the Magiſtrates ſaied vntounto him / certaine off your countrie men hauehave accuſed him vntounto vsus Laeſae Maieſtatis Imperatoriae, that is off high treaſon againſte the Emperour / his ſon̄e / The places in all were 8.and the Queene off England / here is the booke / and the places whiche they hauehave noted / the true and perfect ſence wheroff we commaunde yow (ſub pena pacis) to bringe vntounto vsus in the latten tonge at one off the clock in the after noone / which thinge he did accordingly / at whiche time (after certeine communication amonge themſelues / they commanded that Knox ſhulde preache no more till their pleaſure were farther knowen. The wordes concerninge the Emperour were theis / ſpoken in the pulpit in a Towne off Buchingham ſheere in the beginninge off Queene Maries raigne / as by the ſaied booke apearethe where it is ſaied O Englande Englande / yff thow wylte obſtinately returne into Egipte / that is / yff thow cōtracte mariage / confederacy / or leage with ſuche princes 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 frindſhip (I ſaie) of ſuch princes thow returne to thine oulde abhominations before vſed vnderunder P… piſtery: then aſſuredly (O England) thow ſhalt be plaged and brought to deſolation by the meanes off thoſe whoſe fauour p. XLVthow ſekeſte / and by whom thow arte procured to fall from Chriſte and ſerue antechriſte. There were other 8. places / but this was moſt noted / in that it touched the Emperour. But it ſeemed the magiſtrates abhorred this bloudly / cruell / and outragious attempt / for that when as certeine off Knox his enemies folowed hardly the Magiſtrates to knowe what ſhuld be donne with him / they did not onelyonly ſhewe moſt euident ſignes of diſlikinge their vnnaturall ſuite / but alſo ſent for maiſter Williams and Whittingham / willinge them / that maiſter Knox ſhuld departe the City.The baniſhment off Knox. For otherwiſe / (as they ſaide) they ſhuld be forced to deliuer him / yff the Emperour his counſaile (whiche then lay at Auſburge) ſhuld vppon like information ſend for him.

The 25 off marche maiſter Knox the night before his departure made a moſte comfortable ſermon at his lodginge to 50. perſons or there abowte / then preſent / which ſermō was of the deathe and reſurrection off Chriſte / and of the vnſpeakable ioyes whiche were prepared for Goddes electe / whiche in this liffe ſuffre trouble and perſecution for the teſtimonie off his bleſſed name. The next daie he was brought 3. or 4. mile in his waie by ſome off ſome off thoſe vntounto whom the night before / he had made that exhortation / who with great heauines off harte and plentie off teares cōmitted him to the lorde.

The verie ſame daie beinge the 26.Many off the lerned men were now come from al places. off marche one Adulphus Glauburge (A Doctor off lawe and nephew to Maiſter Iohn Glauburge the Senator) whom D. Cox and the reſt had wonne vntounto them / ſent for wittingham / and tolde him that there were preſented to the Magiſtrates thre Docters / 13. batchelers off deuinitie beſides others / and that the magiſtrates at their ſuites had graunted them the full vſe off the Engliſhe booke cōmaunding and charginge him therfore not to medle any more to the contrary.This Adulphus was before this tyme a great fartherrer off the churche and the orders off the ſame howe ſo euer he was turned. for (as he ſaied) it was fullie concluded that ſo it ſhuld be. And ſuppoſing that Whittinghā woulde let it what he might / the next daie againe he ſent for him home to his howſe where he gaue the like charge (D. Coxe and other preſent by whoſe procurement the ſame was donne) p. XLVIWhittingham anſwered / that yff it were ſo concluded / he woulde willingly obaie / not dowtinge / but that it might be lawful for him and others to ioine themſelues to ſome other churche. But D. Coxe beſought the lawier that it might not ſo be ſuffred / wherto whittingham anſwered that it woulde be to great crueltie to force men contrary to their conſciences to obate all their diſorderly doinges / offringe / that iff it woulde pleaſe the Magiſtrates to geue him and others the hearinge / they would diſpute the matter againſt all the contrary parte and proue that the order whiche they ſought to eſtabliſhe / ought not to take place in anie reformed churche. The D. off lawe made a plaine anſwere that diſputation there ſhulde be none / vſing his former wordes off charging and commaundinge not to deale farther in that matter.

Marck the placing off the Engliſhe book and off the reiecting thother.When as the congregation harde off the cruell and more then tirannicall dealinges off this Doctor / Maiſter Gilby and others withe him / were ſente to maiſter Iohn Glawburge (by whoſe commaundment as ye harde / they had receiued the frenche order) puttinge him in remembrance off the ſame and ſhewinge him that certeine lately come amonge thē had ſought (as they were crediblie enformed) to ouerthrowe their churche by placing the Engliſhe booke amonge them. To this maiſter Glauburg made anſwere / that he was enformed howe that bothe partes were full agreed and contented / and that theruppon he had committed the whole matter to the lawier his couſen.Marck this practiſe. Then he aſked for whittingham: it was anſwered that ſtrait charge was geuen him that he ſhuld medle no more in that matter. The magiſtrate aſked againe off whom he had that commaundement / and when it was tolde him that the Doctor his couſen had geuen him that charge / he then began / verie gentlie to perſwade with maiſter Gilby and the reſt that they ſhulde be contented / and he would ſe that nothinge ſhulde be vſed but that which ſhuld be tollerable / and ſo maiſter Gilby withe the reſt departed.

The 28. off marche D. Coxe aſſembled all ſuche as had byn Prieſts and Miniſters in Englande to his lodging and p. XLVIIthere declared howe the Magiſtrates had graunted them the vſe off the Engliſhe booke / and that he thought requiſite that they ſhulde conſulte together / At lenght they agreed vppon the name Paſtor.whom they thought moſte meete to be Biſhop / Superintendent or Paſtor withe the reſt off the officers / as Seniors Miniſters and Deacons. Wherunto maiſter Chriſtopher Goodmā anſwered that his opiniō was / that they ought firſt to agree vponupon ſome perfect an godly order for the churche / and therto to hauehave the cōſent of the congregation wherby it might appeere / that they contemned not the reſte off their brethern: And farther / to proceade to the electiō which he thought alſo ought not to be attempted withowte 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 no… hauehave / ſo that the perſwaſions off Goodman nothinge at all preuailed nether in one thinge or other / yea / the proceadings off ſundrie perſonnes (whiche I coulde name) were ſuche as if there had bin nether orders / officers / or churche there / before their comminge / or any promes to be kepte off their partes / after they came / as maie more plainly apeere to the reader by this lette folowinge / written by maiſter Whittingham to a frinde off his in Englande / whiche letter is (off his owne hande) to be ſeene.

Grace, mercy and peace throught Chriſt our lorde.

AS yow require a brieff anſwere to your ſhorte letter / An anſwere to a letten ſent him owte off England.ſo nether tyme permitteth / nor I intend to trouble yow farther then the verie neceſſitie off the matter aſkethe. And firſte / for that ye ſeeme to hange in ſuche extreame perplexitie / partly / bicauſe of ſundry talkes / and diuers letters off men off good credit which cauſe the yow not a litle to merueile / and partly / by reaſon off the Good opinion once conceyued and yet reteined off certeine perſons bothe godly and lerned / whiche maketh yow to dowte▪ I think it beſte / briefly and ſimplie p. XLVIIIto open a fewe chieff pointes vppon the whiche the reſte off the matter dependethe After certeine monethes that we had here liued in great conſolation and quietnes it chaunced that as oure nomber did increaſe / ſo ſome entred in / whiche buſilie vndermined oure libertie and labored to ouerthrowe oure diſcipline / whiche troubles grewe at lenght in ſo great quantitie / that by the greateſt parte it was concluded / that no man ſhulde neede here after to ſubſcribe to anie diſcipline for as muche as they preſuppoſed that none wou…d come hither whiche ſhulde hauehave nede theroff. Whiche donne / they altered oure orders in praiers and others thinges / thinkinge to bringe in place the full vſe off the great Engliſhe booke / whiche notwithſtandinge / by reaſon off diuers imperfectiōs we coulde not admit / ſo that to growe to a common concord it was agreed and the name off god inuocated that the whole matter ſhulde be referred / to maiſter Caluin Maiſter Muſculus Maiſter Martir / Maiſter Bullinger and Maiſter Viret that bothe partes ſhulde drawe their orders and that to be receyued whiche by the iudgements off theis 5. excellent men ſhuld be thought moſte agreable to a reformed churche. In the / meane time euerie man to ſtand content withe that order whiche was then agreed vpō and vſed. But within fewe daies after / this determinatiō was broken▪ A ſtranger craftely brought in to preache / who had bothe byn at maſſe and alſo ſubſcribed to blaſphemous Articles▪ Many tauntinge bitter ſermons were made (as they thought) to oure defacinge / in ſo moche / as maiſter Knox beinge deſired therunto off diuers / was inforced to purge him ſelf in ſundrie pointes / and ſpake his mind freely in the pulpit / aſwell in reprouinge certeine partes off the Engliſhe booke / as declaringe the puniſhmente off God whiche partly had light vponupon oure countrie for ſlacknes in Religion / ſo as they ſeemed to take the matter ſo to harte that by their falſe delation in accuſinge him before the Magiſtrates off treaſon againſte the Emperour and the Queene in a certeine boke off his written to oure countrie men off England he was commaunded to departe.

p. XLIXAnd the Magiſtrates vnderſtandinge their fetches / and greedy cerchinge off their owne glorie (who ſeemed to ſpare no kinde off contention to purchaſe the ſame) commaunded that we ſhulde receiue the frenche order (whiche is accordinge to the order off Geneua the pureſte reformed churche in Chriſtendome (Wherupon all agreed and D. Coxe with others commendinge the ſame to the congregation) gaue thankes to the Magiſtrate in all oure names. Here yow maie note their double faces / who / bearinge the Magiſtrate in hande that they receyued his cōmaundement ioyfully / priuily practiſed / and ſo laboured vnderunder hande / that they made this Magiſtrate vnſaie / and ſo obtained their booke / promiſinge notwithſtandinge / bothe to the Magiſtrate / and certaine off the congregation / as well to proue by the worde off God ſo muche off the booke as they woulde vſe / as alſo to ſet forthe the ſame in writtinge / that they (before the forſaied order ſhulde be chaunged (might iudge off the equitie theroff. But preferringe the ioye off their vnhoped victorie before their promeſſe / did nether the one bycauſe they coulde not / nether the other bicauſe they durſte not. And yet hauehave they not made an ende off their triumphe. For beginninge in marche not onelyonly to neglecte all orders in the election off their Miniſters and other officers / but alſo to ſkoff 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 vnſupportable yoke / God off his mercy hathe prouided better for vsus / and for this incommoditie hathe graunted vsus a double benefit in ſo muche that contrary to their hope he hathe not onelyonly at Baſill moued the Magiſtrates hartes towardes vsus in grauntinge vsus a churche / but alſo at Geneua / where as Gods worde is truly preached manners beſte reformed and in earthe the chiefeſt place off true comforte. Thus in fewe lines I hauehave gon abowte to ſatisfie your requeſte bearinge with tyme whiche haſteth and alſo folowinge mine owne Iudgement / whiche perſwadeth p. Lme rather to geue yow a taſte off thinges (whiche I moued in conſcience wryte as moſte true) then to fill yow with the whole diſcours / whiche / iff this maie not ſuffice / yow maie by continuaunce hauehave at your commaundement. Pray for vsus brother in this oure baniſhement / that the frutes off this vncorruptible ſeede maie ſpringe moſte abundantly / as we praie cōtinually that oure heauenly father woulde ſo ſtrengthen yow with his ſpirite off boldenes / that yow maie not onelyonly reſiſte / but alſo triumphe ouer all your enymies to the glorie off God and the confuſiō off the aduerſaries. Knowe before yow iudge / and beleue not all fleinge tales / keepe one eare open and reporte the the beſte.

Your VVilliam VVhittingham.

WHere as maiſter whittingham in this his letter makethe 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 fauour / who (in his iourney) paſſed by Zurik to knowe off Maiſter Bullinger what he thought off the booke off Englande for that he (who had raported to maiſter Williams / Whittingham. Gilbie and others / that Cranmer Biſhop off Canterbury had drawen vp a booke off praier an hundreth tymes more perfect then this that we nowe hauehave / the ſame coulde not take place / for that he was matched withe ſuche a wicked clergie and conuocation / with other enymies) Euen he / I ſaie / yet ſtood in this that maiſter Bullinger did like well off thingliſhe order / and had it in his ſtudy. But when Whittingham had demaunded that queſtion / Bullinger tolde him / that indede Maiſter H and Maiſter C. aſked his iudgemente concerninge certeine pointes off that booke / as Surples / priuate baptiſme. Churchinge off wemen / the ring in mariage / with ſuche like / whiche / (as he ſaied) he allowed not / and that he nether coulde yff he woulde / nether woulde yff he might p. LI/ vſe the ſame in his churche / what ſo euer had byn reported.

Whittingham paſſinge from thence to Geneua / maiſter Caluin ſhewed him a letter ſent from D. Coxe and from 14. more off Franck. in whiche letter / they partly excuſed them ſelues that they put order in their churche withowte his coūſaile aſked / and partely reioycīge for that they had (as they ſaide) brought the moſte parte that had withſtande their doynges to their opinion / which not withſtandinge / was farr otherwiſe.

They wrote alſo / that they had elected a paſtour / 2. Miniſters. 4. Seniors. and 2. Deacons / &c. but howe parciallie they proceaded in their elections (thoſe that were in office / nether diſcharged / nor yet their conſents required) I leaue to the conſciences off them whiche ſawe thoſe diſorders.

To this letter off thers the contentes wheroff are aboue touched / maiſter Caluin anſwerethe in this wiſe.

To the worſhippfull my louinge brethern in the lorde maiſter Richard Coxe and the reſt off the Engliſhemen whiche nowe remaine at Frankford.

PAraduenture I anſwere your letter (worſhip. frinds and brethern) more ſlowlie then ether ye hoped or looked for / but for ſo muche as ye knowe the wayes for a tyme ſo to be beſet withe thenes that no meſſenger allmoſte coulde paſſe from hence to yow the excuſe of my long delay towardes yow ſhalbe the eaſier.

I expreſſed my minde frankly to oure beloued brother Thomas Sampſon / off that wheroff I was enformed by the letters off certeine men as touchinge the contention vnluckelie ſtirred vp amonge yow. For certene off my frindes founde thē ſelues greued that yow woulde ſo preciſelie vrge the ceremonies off Englande / wherby it might appeere that ye are more geuen and addicte to your countrie then reaſon woulde. I confeſſe that I harde certeine reaſons alledgod on your behalff p. LIIwhiche woulde not ſuffer yow to departe from the receyued order / but they might be ſoone and eaſilie confuted Nowe / as I counſailed mine owne frindes wh…che diſſented from yow / ſomewhat to y…lde / yff they might conueniently / ſo…t offended me that there was nothinge graunted or relented on your partes. Bicauſe there was no man named vntounto me / I durſte not entr…priſe to medle with the matter / leaſte my credit ſhuld incurre the ſuſpecte off ra…henes. Nowe that ye are more myleder and tractable in this controuerſie and that ye hauehave (as ye ſaie) ſtilled the matter withe quietnes / I am verie glad.

Verely no man well inſtructed or off a ſounde Iudgement / will deny (as I think that lights and croſſings or ſuche like trifles / ſprange or iſſued owte off ſuperſtition / wherupon I am perſwaded that they whiche reteine theis ceremonies in a fre… choiſe / or when they maie otherwiſe doo / they are ouer greedy and deſyrous to drink off the dregges nether do I ſe to what purpoſe it is to but …hen the churche with tryfflinge and vnprofitable ceremonies / or as I ma…e terme them with their propre name / hurtefull and offenſible ceremonies / when as there is libertie to hauehave a ſymple and pure order. But I keepe in and refraine my ſelff leaſte I ſhulde ſeeme to beginne to moue a newe contention off that ma…ter whiche as yow reporte / is well ended.

All good men will allowe the Paſtours and other Miniſters elections with common voices / ſo that none complaine that the other parte off the churche was oppreſſed fraudulently and with craftye practiſes. For it ſtandethe your wiſedomes in hande to conſider / that howe muche commoditie the goodneſſe off the Senate dothe deſerue / ſo muche enuie ſhall yow be giltie off / or charged withall / yf yow hauehave abuſed their lenitie or gentleneſſe / whiche were ſo well affected towardes your nation. Yet / I woulde not hauehave this ſo taken / that I go abowte to be preiudiciall to anie man but I had rather ſhewe plainely what maie be ſaide / then to noriſhe an ill opinion by ſilence / or in holdinge my peace. But certenly / this one thinge p. LIIII cannot keepe ſecret / that Maiſter Knox was in my iudgemen nether godly nor brotherly dealt withall / iff he were accuſed by the ſubtill ſuggeſtion of certeine / it had byn better for them to hauehave …aried ſtill in their owne lande then vniuſtly to hauehave brought in to farr countries the fierbrande off crueltie to ſet on fier thoſe that woulde not be kindled.

Notwiſtandinge / becauſe it greueth me to ſpeak ſleightly off theis euells / the remembrance wheroff I woulde wiſhe to be buryed in perpetuall forgetfullnes: therfore / I onelyonly counſaile yow (not withowt a cauſe) to be wounded / that ye applie your ſelues to make them amendes for the faulte committed.

When I harde that the one parte was minded to departe frō thens.They begin pre…ely. I earneſtly admoniſhed them (as it became me) that iff they coulde not well remaine there / that the diſtance off place ſhulde not diſſ…pate / or rent in ſunder their brotherly agrement / for I feared muche leaſt that ſome priuie grudge off the former contention remained. And certainely / nothinge coulde more comforte my harte / then to be delyuered from this feare. For iff anie haplie come to vsus / it woulde grieue me that there ſhulde be (as it were) but a ſuſpition off any ſecret debate betwene yow.

Therfore as touchinge that ye hauehave written off your agrement I deſier that it maie be firme and ſtable that iff it chaunce the one parte to go to an other place / yet / that yow beinge ſo ſundred by diſtance off places maie keepe ſure the holie 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 diligentlie what ſo euer remainethe off this breache.

Fare ye well brethern / the lorde ſuccour yow with his aide / and gouerne yow with his ſpirite / powre his bleſſinges vponupon yow and mittigate the ſorowe off your exile From Geneua this laſt off maie. Anno 1555. Your Iohn Caluin.

p. LIIIIBYcauſe that Maiſter Caluin in his letter maketh mention off lightes / ſome might gather that he was vntruely enformed / that in the Engliſhe booke lightes were preſcribed (the contrary wheroff appeareth by the deſcr…ption before) where it is manifeſt to ſuch as be lerned that he vſethe the figure auxeſis / and that this is his argument / a maiore ad minus / for ſo muche as lightes and croſſinges be 2. off the moſte auncienſteſt ceremonies / hauinge continued in the churche aboue 13 hundreth yere / are yet for ſuche cauſes aboliſhed. howe muche more ought all other / that hauehave no… had the like continuance / and yet abuſed / be vtterly remoued.

And for that maiſter Caluin in this letter earneſtly wiſhed that all ſtrife ſhulde ceaſſe / and that yff anie were minded to departe their departure might be ſuche / as all occaſions off offence might be cut of and cleane takē awaie: it was thought good to ſuche as were determined to go awaie with in 3. weekes after / to folowe his counſaile. And the rather for that ſome whiche tooke them ſelues / to be lerned / had openly termed their departure a ſiſme / whervpon / they wrote to the paſtor Miniſters / and whole congregation this letter folowinge and deliuered it in the open congregation.

For ſo muche as through the benefit off God / we hauehave obtained a churche in an other place / we thought it good to aduertiſe yow of the ſame. And to the intent that not onelyonly ſlanderous 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 other 2. Who hearinge our matters throughly opened maie witnes where the faulte reſtethe / at whiche time / we will vndertake / to defende oure departure to be lawfull contrary to the ſlanderous reportes off ſome which vnlernedly terme it a ſchiſme. Thus farre brethern we thought good to ſignifie vntounto yow / thinkinge this to be the onelyonly meanes of oure mutuall quietnes wheroff howe deſirous we are / our tedious and chargeable iourney maie be a ſufficient proffe / beinge throughly perſwaded / that hereby ſtryfe maie be ended charitie p. LVreuiued / frindſhipe continued / Goddes glory aduaunced / and oure brethern edified.

Fare ye well this 27. off Auguſt.

VVilliam VVilliams

VVilliam VVhittingham

Anthony Gilby

Chriſtopher Goodman.

Thomas Cole.

Iohn Fox.

Thomas VVood

VVilliam Kethe.

Iohn Kelke.

Iohn Hilton.

Chriſt. Soothous

Nicholas Purfote

Iohn Eſcot

Thomas Crofton

VVilliam VValton

Laurence Kent

Iohn Hollingham

Anthony Carier.

WHen the Paſtour had redd this letter openly to the congregation and was deſired to knowe when they ſhulde hauehave an anſwere / he ſaied vntounto them that ſo farre as he perceiued / it required none but that whiche might preſently be made / whiche was / that they might departe ſeinge they were ſo minded. It was replied that for ſo muche as it was manifeſt that they had byn ſlaundered not onelyonly by letters into diuers partes / but alſo / by ſome that then were preſent / who had affirmed their departure to be a ſchiſme / and farther / that they coulde finde no indifferency at their handes: it was thought neceſſarie to commit the hearinge off that controuerſie to lerned and indifferent iudges / by bothe partes to be choſen wherby the faulte might appear where it was in dede / and ſo they either excuſed or founde giltie.

D. Cox / at lenght / tolde them that their letter ſhulde be conſidered off / and an anſwere ſhulde be geuen them the fridaie after. On fridaie the 30, off Auguſte bothe partes mette: The Paſtor (accompanied with the Miniſters and elders) ſpake this vntounto 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 worde (yff) importethe a dowte / ſo that yff ye dowte it is but follie to apointe arbitres. fynally / to excuſe your departure / yow call them vnlerned whiche iudge it a ſchiſme but (ſaithe) p. LVIIhe) terme it as yow lifte yet can yow not let men to think. And yff arbitres ſhuld pronounce it to be none / yet mennes opinions will be di…s.

Now …he…fore / your anſwere ſhall be / that iff anie man be offended either with any priuate mā / or publiquely / let him or them complaine to vsus / or yff they refuſe vsus / to the Magiſtrat.

As for Arbitres / we will appoint none. Then ſpake whittingham and ſaied that it was to him no ſmall wonder that men of ſuche lerninge and wiſedome ſhuld ſo ſhrink in a moſte equall requeſte / and ſo / withowte all reaſon to cauill where no matter was offred. For / as concerninge (ſaithe he) the firſte pointe / it was not vnknowen to them that at that time / thorough their occaſion / their was no ſmall contention / and that ſeinge they had geuen ſuch offence it coulde not be but that mennes mindes were moued.

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 vncerteine▪ but as the letter truly purporteth / off iniuries longe agoo begonne / yet continued / and here after not like to be ended excepte ſome good meane were vſed to ſtaie their ſlanderous letters and falſe reportes / to the vtter periſhinge and loſe off mennes Good names.VVittinghā here interrupted. And where ye ſeeme to be ofended that the letter ſhulde call them vnlerned / whiche terme oure departure a ſchiſme (yow omitt ſaide D. Coxe the 2. pointe / whiche is off no ſmall importaunce) to whom he anſwered that he thought 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 vnſkilfulnes for as muche as eueryevery departure from a congregation was not a ſchiſme / nether were anie that departed for iuſte cauſes ſchiſmatikes as we (ſaith he) will proue vntounto yow / yff yow will take p. LVIIoure reaſonable and moſte equall offre. Naie / ſaithe the paſtor / Arbitres in this point can litle availe for be it they iudged it none / yet mennes thoughts are free / and we knowe that all men be not off one mynde in ſacraments and predeſtination / ſhulde men therfore take arbitres? Alſo ſaith he maiſter Caluin and Bullinger / are againſt yow. To this was anſwered / that thoughtes / yff they were not grownded vponupon Goddes worde / were euell / neither was this controuerſie off like force withe the matter off the Sacraments and predeſtination / notwithſtanding / woulde to God that not onelyonly the difference in thoſe articles but alſo in all other whiche be off waight and importaunce might be decided by the authoritie off Goddes worde and arbytrement off godly lerned men. But men maie iuſtly ſuſpecte your cauſe to be nought whiche refuſe the iudgments off the wiſe and godly.

And where yow ſaie that Caluin and Bullinger are againſte vsus / yow abuſe your ſelff and there names / for we knowe bothe what they and other wryte as touchinge this matter.

Then the Paſtor aſked what ſchiſma was but a cuttinge off from the body / and that it was Caluins definition. To this Whittingham anſwered that he woulde vndertake firſte / to proue that definition to be falſe / and ſecondly to be nonone off Caluins definition for yff eueryevery cuttinge off from the body ſhulde be a ſchiſme / then yow and all other whiche once had ſworne to the pope and now hauehave refuſed him are ſchiſmatiques. Then the paſtor added / from a churche 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 comprehendeth in theis wordes: one god / one faithe / one baptiſme / not beggerly ceremomies and obſcurations / although that ſundry cauſes beſides moued them to departe. Then Maiſter Treherren / aſked whither the donatiſts were not ſchiſmatiques.

Yes / ſaith Whittingham and alſo heretiques / but yow are deceiued yff yow thinke that they ſeperated them ſelues p. LVIIIfor ceremonies. It is manifeſt ſaid Treherren / that the churches off Aſia were excommunicate as ſchiſmatiques for that they kepte not Eaſter at the ſame time that the Romaine churche did. And it is no leſſe euident ſaid Whitthingham that Ireneus and other godly men aſwell off that time / as ſithens hauehave ſharply reproued and condemned Pope Victor for the ſame.

Here D. Coxe put Whittingham in remembraunce that he had not anſwered to the faultes off the letter. Whittingham tolde him / that as touchinge that poore worde (yff) he marueled howe it coulde Miniſter anie cauillation / ſeinge / the text ioininge therto was ſo plaine / whiche declarethe bothe the offences by yow geuen and by vsus 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 a ruſhe / ſo that that worde (yf) mente not that we do / dowte who were oppreſſed with infinit wronges / but iff they woulde diſſemble ſo farre that they m…ght 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 ſhuld hauehave none / and that yff they founde themſelues greued / they ſhulde ſeeke remedy 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 Iohn Fox / William Kethe / Roger harte / Iohn Hilton with certeine other / demandinge 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 ſhulde not counterfait ignorance (amonge other) theis were ſome cauſes firſte / their breach off promes / eſtabliſhed with inuocation off goddes name: 2. Their ordreles thruſtinge themſelues in to the churche. 3. Takinge awaie the order off diſcipline eſtabliſhed before p. LIXtheir comminge and placinge no other. 4. The accuſaſion off maiſter Knox their godly Miniſter off Treaſon and ſeekinge his bloude 5. Their ouerthrowinge off the common order / taken and commaunded by the Magiſtrate 6. The diſplacinge off officers withowte anie cauſe alleadged. 7. The bringing in off Papiſticall ſuperſtitions and vnprofitable Ceremonies whiche were burthens yokes and clogges / beſides other thinges / whiche / yff they woulde abide the triall they ſhulde heare 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.

Not many daies after the oppreſſed churche departed from Franck. to Baſill and Geneua / ſome ſtayinge at Baſill as maiſter Fox with other. The reſt 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 Goodman for their Paſtor / and Gilby requeſted to ſuplie the rome till Knox returned owte off france.

The lerned men whiche came 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 bownde to the excerciſes of the congregation / ſo that / the exile whiche was to many a poore man full bitter / greuous and painefull / was (to ſome off the greateſt perſecutours off their poore brethetn (as it were / a pleaſant progreſſe or recreation.

But nowe it ſhall be neceſſary to declare what order was taken in this newe erected congregation for the proſperous continuance off the ſame / whiche thinge to do / I cannot by a better meane then placinge here this letter folowinge whiche maiſter cole (late deane off Sarum) wrote to a frinde off his / whiles yet he ſtaied (behinde his company) in Franck. amonge them, his letter is yet to be ſeene.

p. LXThe holie ſpirit off God that guideth the children off God in truthe and godlines be your comforte thorough oure mercies ſeate Ieſus Chriſte / now and for euer Amen.

THe tempeſte off the ſwellinge ſeas whiche in times paſte thretned ſhipwrack to eueryevery veſſell that ſailed with a faire winde and full ſailes to the porte off bleſſed truthe / whiche off her ſelffe is ſtronge ynoughe / with owte anye barr or wall off mannes inuentions / are ſomewhat (the lorde be praiſed) caulmed to me warde / ſo that withowt farther reaſoninge they permit me to my conſcience as touchinge their ceremonies.

The cauſe I iudge is not for that they beare leſſe louelove to them then in tymes paſt / but that they perceiue the ſturdy defendinge off them / to worke them that they looke not for / or rather / that whiche they are lothe to ſe / namely / the decreaſinge off their companie▪ yet they labour with policie what they maie or can / to preuent this daunger but yet that whiche they feare / I ſuppoſe will fall vponupon them / vnleſſe god geue them to repent their olde faultes and humble them more to knowe them ſelues.

They hauehave ſet vp an vniuerſitie to repaier againe their eſtimation by mainteinance of lerninge (whiche ſurely is well done) that was fondly brought in decaie by willfull ignorance / in defendinge off ceremonies / to the whiche Maiſter horne is choſen to be the 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 Whitthead was appointed therunto but bicauſe he woulde eſcape the labour off the lecture (for iuſte cauſes as he ſaide) he forſooke the paſtorall office alſo / ſtowtly (as yow knowe) denyinge to be in office anie longer. Great holde there was abowte this matter in the congregation / in ſo muche as they haſted to a newe election / and verie fewe (as it ſemed) were off a contrary minde / no / not his owne frindes ſauinge p. LXIMaiſter makebray and Maiſter Sorby / who deſired him to take reſpit / and the congregation to geue it. But ſome lookinge for the office themſelues woulde not in ſuche a matter ſuffer delay / but againe Demaunded off Maiſter Whithead whither he woulde keepe his office or no ſuppoſinge that he whiche had ſo ſtowtely denied it in worde / woulde not ſoone be flexible to the contrary. But he perceauinge that ſome woulde hauehave had him owte one the one ſide / and by leauinge off it / his eſtimation was like to decaie on the other ſide / (for many rough wordes were geuen him) when occaſion off intretie was offred / non reſpuit conditionem by that meanes bringinge to him ſelfe wittily / a triple commoditie / one / the preuentinge off them whiche looked for the office / an other / the refuſall off the diuinitie lecture / Thirdly / a faſter growndinge himſelff in that office / whiche he lefte in mouthe / but as it ſemed / not in harte. Thus ended that comedie.

But ſhortly after (notwithſtandinge a vehement ſermon made for the purgation from mannes inuentions) the ſeas begin againe to ſwell (ſo fickle an element is water) for Maiſter Kent hauinge a childe to Chriſten purpoſinge to hauehave it done ſimplie / withowte the bewtifinge off mennes traditions / came with his childe accordinge to the frenche order whiche we once receiued / and one to holde it there to profeſſe his faith yff it were required / but the paſtor denied the Chriſtening / vnles 2. Godmothers were had after the order off the booke / as concerninge the Godfather / Maiſter Makebray (who is nowe comme to that office) ſupplied it. A lucky matter is attained at Wezell in Weſtphalia / an open churche for oure Engliſhe men / to whiche bicauſe off nighneſſe) they feare many will go from hence / but moo wil come owte off Englande to yt. I pray yow commende me to M. Tell him that Maiſter wiſedom railed on them that were gon to G. Callinge them mad heades with many pretye names / I will not ſaie vnwyſely / But I maye well ſay vncharitably / in whiche Sermon / he ſhewed p. LXIIhim ſelff an Antagoniſt for the booke off Englande / &c.

Your Thomas Cole.

SHortly after thies thinges to wete / the 6. off Ian. When as maiſter Whithead gaue vpp off his owne good will / as he ſaide / the paſtorall office / Maiſter horne was in the election to ſuccede him / who proteſted that he woulde not medle therwith / till he were cleared off certeine ſuſpitions which ſome had bruted to the diſcredit off his miniſterie / and obtaininge his requeſte / he withe the Seniors entred the churche the firſt off marche Anno Domini 1556. were they receiued all ſuch perſons (as members off that churche) which were contented to ſubſcribe and ſubmit themſelues to the orders off the ſame. From whiche tyme forward the troubles and contious were ſo ſore amonge them / that who ſo ſhall well waie it with due conſideration / I ween / he ſhall think it to be the iuſte iudgement off our righteous God that fell vponupon them / for ſupplantinge a churche there before them in great quietnes and off muche ſinceritie.

The hiſtorie of that ſturre and ſtrife which was in in the Engliſhe church at Franckford from the 13. daie off Ian. Anno Domini 1557. forwarde.

THere fell a certeine controuerſie the xiij. daie off Ian. at ſupper betwene Maiſter Horne the Paſtor and Maiſter Aſheley whiche controuerſie was handled / with ſomewhat more ſharpe wordes then was meete / but yet they ſo departed / by the induſtrie and labour off ſome certeine perſons / that they dranke wyne one to an other / and all that ſtrife and contention was thought to be wholie taken awaie. Afterward / to witt / the 16. daie off Ian. at one off the clock in the after p. LXIIInoone / thre off thelders ſent for Maiſter Aſheley in to an howſe off one off the Elders and they began to debate the matter with him touchinge an iniurye done / not to the paſtor alone / but to all the Elders (as they affirmed) and to their miniſtery which thinge / Maiſter Aſheley denied that he euer did at any tyme.

The next daie beinge the 17. off Ian. After that publique praiers were ended / Maiſter Aſheley was by the Paſtor and all the Elders called into the churche / and there / in the name off them all it was obiected vntounto him / that he had ſpoken vponupon the 13. daie off Ian. in ſupper while / certeine wordes tendinge to the ſlander off them and their miniſtery.

Aſhely anſwered that he perceiued and vnderſtood that they all were offended as in their owne matter / and that therfore he wou…de n…t anſwere before them as competent iudges off the cauſe / but would referre the cauſe / that he had againſt the Paſtor and them (ſeinge they ſhewed them ſelues an aduerſarie parte to him) to the whole churche and Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline. Then the Paſtor exhorted him that he would not ſo proceade / for yff he ſo did / that then they were minded to ſeeke and demaunde helpe off the magiſtrate agaynſt him A…ter that the 24. off Ian. Aſheley himſelff handled his owne cauſe in his owne name before the paſtor and elders / and thē in the afternoone / he ſent 2. mē of the churche who / in his name require the paſtors and elders that they would not proceed againſt him in that cauſe / wherin they themſelues were a parte / and therfore not f…tt or competent iudges / but to geue ouer the whole ma…ter to 8. or 10. men vpright in conſcience and inclininge to nether parte / by whoſe iudgementes / iff he were founde in faulte / he woulde willing…y ſubmit himſelff to all Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline. Anſwere was made him by the Paſtor in the name off them all / that they had receiued their authoritie from the whole churche and vvould reteine and keepe the ſame till ſuch time as they from vvhom they had receiued it vvoulde againe demaunde it. And in the meane vvhile / they purpoſed to proceede thereafter againſte p. LXIIIIall ſuche as had offended and ſo muche the more ſeuerely and ſharplie againſt Maiſter Aſheley / by howe muche it might be more profitable for the whole churche / to make him beinge a worſ…hipfull man / an enſample to others to take heed and beware by aſheley (that anſwere beinge receiued the 26. off Ian. Whiche was a daie off ſolemne praier) fearinge thoſe things whiche Horne had ſaide before / theateninge him with the Magiſtrate / when common praier was ended declared the whole ma…ter to the churche and deſired that the churche woulde vnderſtand off the whole matter betwene the paſtor and elders / as the one partie and him ſelff as thother.

Wherupon certeine men did in the name off the whole churche demaunde off the paſtor and elders whither they were a parte againſt Aſheley. The paſtor anſwered in all their names that they were not a parte againſt him / but that Aſheley had ſlandered them all. Againe / it was demaunded in the name off the churche who were his accuſers / to whiche / vvhen the paſtor anſwered nothinge / neither in his owne name / nor in the name of the ſeniors: Aſheley was cōmaunded by the church publiquely and openlie to reade thoſe things whiche he had comprehended in vvrytinge concerninge his cauſe. Afterward the paſtor and elders were aſked vvither thoſe things vvhiche Aſheley had redd vvere true. The paſtor anſwered in all their names that they would not anſvvere either more largely or anie othervviſe / to anie queſtions then they had ervvhile anſvvered and ſo the congregation vvas diſmiſſed vvithowte anſvvere / yet not vvith ovvte cōtempt 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 contention / did vvryte his letters to ſome certeine perſonnes that ſemed deſirous 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 pacifie this trouble and turmoile before it waxed more ſtronge / or ſhulde be more publiſhed abroad and made better knowen to the ſenate or magiſtrats.

p. LXVThe very dryfte and purpos off the letters / together vvith them that were called / as them alſo whiche came to the place appointed / dothe appeere by the letters themſelues / the copie whereoff inſewethe.

The ſuperſcription. To his brethern off the Engliſhe churche.

Maiſter Crawley

Maiſter Railton

Maiſter warcope.

Maiſter Faulconer

Maiſter Nowel

Maiſter Carell.

Maiſter Kente

Maiſter Kelke

Maiſter Dauies

Maiſter Benthame

Maiſter Brikbeke.

Maiſtee Sutton.

Maiſter Chriſt. Hales.

Iohn Hales ſendethe greetinge in the lorde.

I Heare brethern / that whiche is to me greuous to heare / to witt / that ſtriffes are ariſen in oure churche / whiche tende either to the diſſolution off the churche / or to the hurte and deſtruction of the poore / wherefore I pray yow whoſe names are in the ſubſcription off the letters / that (if yow ſhall ſo think good) we maie meete to morowe in the morninge in oure churche / there to conſulte and take aduiſe what maie be the beſte waie to quiete this ſtyrre / to the glorie off God and our owne quietnes. god geue vsus his peace.

This 26. of Ian. 1557. Your louinge brother Iohn Hales.

I pray yow / that ſo 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 reherſed came except maiſter warcope.

p. LXVIAfter conſultation and aduiſe taken / it ſemed beſt to al them that were called together and mett there / that the nexte daie after / one off them in all their names ſhulde deale withe the Paſtor and elders / that ſith Aſhley complained that they were aduerſarie parte vntounto him / they woulde ſuffer the churche / or ſome ſuche certeine perſons as the churche ſhulde appoint / to take knowledge off the cauſe / and to heare firſte whither they were an aduerſarie parte to Aſhley whiche iff they were not founde to be / then the knowledge off the matter ſhuld be put back againe to thē and that withe the ignominie and ſhame off him that had appealed from them. But yff they were founde to be aduerſary parte / that then it ſhulde ſeeme vniuſte / that they ſhuld ſit in their owne cauſe as iudges / but more meete and vpright it would be / that then the churche ſhulde knowe and vnderſtand off the whole matter / wherupon the next daie after / that is to ſaie / the 18 off Ian. when praiers were ended / the matter was propoſed to the paſtor and Elders / by one apointed for that purpoſe. When this counſaile was once knowē / the miniſter by the conſent off the Elders drew owte off his boſome a decree whiche the magiſtrate off that city had made / and redd it with a lowde voice before the whole churche. The decree beinge redd he added in graue wordes / that theis oure aſſemblies and meetinges woulde be verie daungerous no… to vsus onelie but to all the congregations off ſtrangers. for it was greatlie to be feared leaſt the magiſtrate beinge offended withe ſuch meetings / did not ſhut vp the gates off oure churche alone / but alſo off all the ſtrange churches And therfore that he (to thend he might in good ſeaſon prouide for ſuche daungers) would ſurely by Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline handle according to his deſerte / maiſter Halee (who then by occaſion of ſicknes was abſente) the author of that aſſemblie / and that he woulde pronounce of vsus generally / that if it were not ſchiſmaticall / yet / that it did withowte dowte tēd to ſchiſme / hovv ſo euer we excuſed oure mindes ād purpoſes. moreouer he affirmed / that we had don verie yll / in that we had excluded / and ſhut owte certeine p. LXVIIwhich came in to the church in the time off oure conſultation and meetīge· Anſwere was made in the names of the churche / that that decree off the magiſtrate was by them before bothe read ouer throughly / vnd alſo verie diligentlie waied / and that they iudged that decree to be moſt vpright and iuſtlie to be feared off wicked and lewde men / ſuch as were ſectaries and factious perſons and that they did aſſuredly knowe that the threats of that 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 the magiſtrat woulde praiſe thē 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 we (ſaie they) were baniſhed men / and had by the meanes off a very good magiſtrate / receiued that ſinguler and moſte excellent benefit off reſte and quietnes / we ſhulde do that whiche ſhulde be moſt vnfit and vnſeemly for vsus / iff we ſhulde by occaſion of our ſtriffes and hurley burlies / trouble the magiſtrate / and to render vntounto that verie good Magiſtrate vnquietnes / troubles and ſtirrs whiche ſhulde be verie euell thankes / for ſo great a benefit off quietnes and reſt as we hauehave receiued. And we affirmed that we ſo muche the more dililigentlie and wilingly labored in pacifiynge and endinge this controuerſie bicauſe there were amongeſt vsus certeine / who raſhly and with owte aduiſe / brought vntounto the Magiſtrat all light and ſmall controuerſies / whiche might eaſilie hauehave bin determined and ended amonge our ſelfes / herein deſeruinge no fauour at all either at the the handes off ſo Good a Magiſtrat / whom they oftimes withowte cauſe troubled / or of their countrie men whom they by thies their priuie complaints and accuſations did amonge ſtrangers ſlander as vnquiet and troubleſome men / and that they had done no leſſe diſpleaſure to the goſpell we profeſſe / (whiche by occaſion off ſuche accuſations / is comonlie euell ſpoken off amonge the aduerſaries) p. LXXVIIIthen to that ſo good a magiſtrate and to their owne countrie men. And that we therfore (to thende the Magiſtrate might not be troubled / nor our nation ſlaundered as vnquiet and troubleſome / nor the worde off God through vsus euell 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 off the Magiſtrat there was no mention at all made / either off the whole churche / or off the authoritie off whole churche: We anſwere (ſay they) that we do not ſo interprete the Magiſtrats 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 whole Churche ſubiecte to ſome certeine perſons. For we bothe well inoughe knowe by the example off the frenche churche in a like controuerſie / and we hauehave tried that ſo verie good a Magiſtrate hathe very great care off the churche. And as concerninge Ma…ſter Hales / yt was anſwered / that he was then abſente / by reaſon off his ſickneſſe / and not for feare / or that he was giltie to him ſelff off any ill.

And cōcerninge oure whole purpoſe and buſines / bycauſe it was ſaid thoughe oure mynds parhaps were vpright / yet the dede it ſelff was / yff not ſchiſmaticall / yet verelie tendinge to ſchiſme / anſwere was made in all our names that we woulde render accompte aſwell off oure mindes and purpoſe before God / as off our dede before the whole churche / and that vnderunder perill and paine off the laſte puniſhement that Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline can apointe / or yff the matter ſo r…qui…e / before the ciuyll Magiſtrate in paine off oure lyffe. And as touchinge 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 that whiche might be profitable / and that therfore they had no greater iniurie done thē in not beinge at the conſultation to whiche they were not called or ſent for / then if p. LXIXhad not byn admitted in to ſome certeine priuate ſtone or howſe. for as touching the churche / ſeinge it was then emptie and voide off people / it was / as it were / a priuate howſe. Nether is eueryevery aſſemblie mett there to be counted the churche. For when the paſtor or ſome other readeth there a lecture / or moderateth the diſputations / it is not then a church but a ſcoole. And therfore / not the place / but the company off men gathered together did make a churche or congregation. Afterwards / it was ſkarcely by many wordes obtained off the paſtor and Seniors / that the churche might withowt their fauour and good will meete together for the finiſhing and takinge vp off this controuerſie / and vprightly determine whether the ſaid paſtor and elders were an aduerſarie parte to aſhley yea or no whiche thinge yet at the lenght the paſtor and elders graunted to the churche. And the paſtor and Elders beinge required and deſired that they would together be preſent with vsus in the congregation / they anſwered that there was no ſuche nede / nether that they would at anie hand… hinder vsus. The next daie after / to wit / the 29. off Ian. the paſtor and Elders agreinge therto / as is ſaide before / when the whole churche was mette together / maiſter hales / who then was ſomewhat better / and was preſent when they began to take aduiſe and coūſaile / roſe vp and ſpake to this purpoſe. My brethern (ſaithe he) ſeinge I am accuſed of the paſtor before the whole churche / as the author of ſchiſme or of a ſchiſmaticall facte / or at the leaſt rendinge to ſchiſme / if yow alſo iudge of me in like ſorte I 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 / Afterwards / he was called back by all the men there aſſembled and intreated to abide amongeſt them. Afterwarde he drewe foorthe thoſe letters by whiche he had called certaine men together to make peace and ende the ſtirre / as is before ſaide / and preferred them to the church to be openly redd. Whiche letter beinge redd / that / his dede was iudged off all them that were preſent / bothe honeſt and moſt meete for a Chriſtian man nether p. LXXthat anie man that had called either others to make peace by their meetinge / was for ſuche a facte to be accounted a ſchiſmatick. Then they were all deſired / that ſeinge they had ſo iudged and determined / they would appoint this their ſentence to be regiſtred and put downe in writinge / that it might ſtande in ſteed off a recorde and teſtimonye / not for Maiſter Hales onelyonly but for all other in the like caſe / and with all / that this newe and preſent vpſtartinge matter might by their iudgemēts be decided and ended leaſt it might bringe forth and ſtirre vv new contentions amonge them. Wherupon it was put downe in wrytinge to this effecte. Iff two / foure / eight / twelue or mo or leſſe / meete in the churche when it was voide off people / praier and other exerciſes / or els in priuate howſes to make peace betwene ſome members off the churche / or to conſulte off anie other thinge profitable for the church that that their dede and acte ſhulde not in anie caſe be iudged or eſteemed vnorderlie / ſeditious / ſchiſmaticall / or tendinge to ſchiſme.

Neither that he whiche either by writinge 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 ſchiſme and diuiſion. And bicauſe nowe no place off ſpeakinge in the congregation withowte offence did ſeeme anie more to be left to anie man / it was ordeined the ſaide 29. off Ian. that it ſhulde be lawfull for any man hauinge before deſired / off the paſtor / elders / and whole churche licence and libertie to ſpeak / to ſhewe his iudgement and opinion in the churche withowt any reproch off a diſordered dede therfore / ſo it be / that he did it godly quietlie and ſoberlie▪ yff he ſhulde ſpeake anie vngodly thinge that thē it was lawfull for the paſtor and Seniors / or anie off them foorthwith to commaunde him to holde his toung. The laſte daie off Ian. beinge the Sabath daie after morninge praier was ended / pardon was offred of all priuate offences / by the paſtor in his owne name and the name off the elders to all the people off the churche ād in like ſorte the people were deſired to pardon them yet in ſuche p. LXXIſorte this was done that the Paſtor and Elders woulde reſerue to themſelues ſuche cauſes as concerned their Miniſterie / to be purſued and followed off them. It was anſwered againe in oure names off the churche that we in like ſorte did pardon all men / all priuate grudges / yet / that the churche did accordinge to their example reſerue vntounto it ſelff publike cauſes belonginge to the churche and the libertie theroff quietlie and Chriſtianly to be purſued and folovved / vvhichwhich anſvvere allthoughe it were meaſured by the rule off that pardon and forgeuenes vvhiche the paſtor had before offred / yet / it did no white at al pleaſe him whiche thing alſo I warrāte yow he did not diſſemble. Afterwards / the paſtor and elders ſuffered that the ſame daie in the afternoone / the church ſhulde againe meete / and ſhulde trie owte 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 deſyred 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 mē and by this alſo / that in the vvhole churche there coulde no other be founde that woulde accuſe Aſhley but the paſtor and elders (for it vvas 3. times verie diligently enquired of and publiſhed amōge the people / that if their vvere anie in the vvhole churche whiche either vvould or coulde accuſe maiſter Aſhley / he ſhulde then vter it) It vvas I ſaie iudged and determined that the Paſtor and Elders / vvere an aduerſarie parte to Maiſter Aſhley and that therfore they vvere not fit and competent iudges in that matter. Furthermore / it vvas fullie decreed that the Paſtor and elders in ſuche cauſes as in vvhiche they vvere an aduerſary parte were not fit arbitres or iudges / but that ſuche cauſes did apperteine and belōge / either to the knovvledge off the congregation or off ſuch as the congregation vvoulde appointe to that purpos. And bycauſe the paſtor and elders hauehave bene oftētimes deſyred to be preſent vvith vsus and yet vvoulde not (notvvithſtanding that they themſelues ſuffred the congregation to meete together) leaſte parhapp ſome deceite might be amonge many of the congregation as p. LXXIIthoughe it were not off it ſelff lawfull / or to ſmall purpoſe to apointe anie thinge with owte the paſtor and elders (whiche thing afterwarde tried) it was decreed that iff the paſtor and elders were required to be preſent at an aſſemblie and woulde not come / that the aſſembly was laufull notwithſtandinge their abſence / and that thoſe thinges whiche they decreed ſhulde be had and eſteemed as a lawfull decree. Theis Eccleſiaſticall decrees and ordinaunces / whiche euen nowe we reherſed were ſubſcribed vntounto with the names off 33. perſons whiche is a great deale the bygger parte off the churche / and the 2. off February were offred vpp to the paſtor and Elders in the name off the whole churche with this proteſtation folowinge.Maiſter No wel was the mouthe for the reſt. We preſent vntounto yow theis our decrees and ordinaū ces agreing withe right and reaſon and not contrary to the holie ſcriptures / deſyringe to hauehave yow knowe them and further requiring that yow woulde with vsus conſent / yelde and ſubſcribe to the ſame. Or yff ye will not ſo do / ſhewe we praye yow vpright reaſons and good cauſes why ye refuſe. For we are ready to correcte and amend oure faultes yff they be ſhewed vsus / at the monition off any priuate perſon / but muche more at yours the paſtor and Elders. For as we deſier their wiſedomes to come to perfecte truthe: ſo we will not thorough ſtubbernes defende anie errour / beinge ſhewed vntounto vsus to be an errour in dede. Yet notwitſtanding / afterward vponupon in the aforeſaie daie off February / the Paſtor did in his owne name and in the name off the Elders / openly reade certeine written letters to whiche he and the Seniors had before in the preſence off the churche ſubſcribed their names. The ſumme theroff was this. Seinge the churche had left vntounto them a vaine ſhadowe onelie off authoritie withowte anie other matter / that therfore they did in oure preſence ſhake off from themſelues and vtterly forſake all Eccleſiaſticall miniſterie and ſeruice to the churche.

Amonge other thinges they added this that we had geuen them a cauſe to complaine off vsus to the magiſtrats / but that for oure ſakes they worlde not do it. Afterward ſome of p. LXXIIIthem departed and ſate downe in priuate mennes places / neither woulde they ſuffer ſo muche as to be called by the name off paſtors and Elders. Then one in the name off the whole / hauinge fullie ſhewed before / that there was no iuſte cauſe geuen thē by the churche / ſo to forſake their miniſterie / did afterward in the name of the whole churche verie earneſtly deſier thē that they woulde not in ſuche manner forſake and leaue the churche that had deſerued no ſuche thinge at their hands.

This was with moſte e…rneſte and effectuall wordes required off them / thre or foure tymes in the name off the whole churche / but they remained willfull and obſtinate in their purpos / not ſo muche as once ſuffringe themſelues to be called by the name off paſtors and elders. Then at the lenght / it was ſhewed vntounto them in the name off the whole churche / that the churche woulde not admit that their forſakinge of their miniſterie / but would ſtil take and eſteme them for their paſtor 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 withowte anie cauſe or reaſon ſhewed / and did in the name off the churche deſier them to make anſwere vntounto him concerninge this their dede / they vtterlie refuſed the ſame. But horne who then was Paſtor / haſtely takinge a penne / 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 anſwere / that when ſo euer we ſhal be ordinarelie demaunded before the churche or them whiche the churche ſhall apointe / we will then anſwere / or if we ſhall be called before the ciuill magiſtrate we will ther anſweare. other anſweare then this they woulde geue none / to anie off the queſtiōs whiche we had propoſed 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 nothinge at all / but alſo to pretēd a cloaked cauſe of anſweringe nothinge at all. Moreouer / they were deſired in the name of the churche that they woulde deliuer p. LXXIIIIto the churche the letters ſigned withe their owne hādes / by whiche they had ſhewed their renounſall and denyinge of the miniſterie: or if they woulde not do that / that thē againſt a certeine daie they woulde graūte and giuegive to the churche a coppie therof. But neither woulde they geue them the letters whiche they had in their boſome neither woulde promiſſe any copie to the churche / who moſte earneſtlie required the ſame off thē. At the laſte / the paſtor and elders departed / ſome certeine fewe folowinge thē / but the multitude remained and ſo farrforthe as they coulde remember / committed to writinge the actes off that daie and the ſumme off thoſe letters (by whiche the Paſtor and Elders had willingly put them ſelues from the miniſterie) ād for witneſſe ſubſcribed thereto with thirtie and there names. The next daie after / that is / the 3. off February the Paſtor and Elders beinge called off the churche by the Deacon / to intreate off makinge peace / they came together ād met. But the Paſtor and elders ſet them downe in priuate places. Afterwardes / 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 perceyued that verie fewe folowed him / and by ſome conſailed / he returned / and ſuddanly placed himſelff in the paſtors place / and called the elders to him / whiche thinge / before he had refuſed to do although he were by the whole churche verie inſtantly and erneſtlie required therto. Then / he ſpake to this effecte: we in dede (ſaith he) did diſplace oure ſelues from the miniſterie / not withſtandinge / abſolutely and fullie we did it not / but vnderunder this condition onelyonly / yff yow ſhulde proceade to deale in ſuche ſorte as yow hauehave done againſt the olde ād receiued diſcipline. Nowe then / yff ye goo forwarde as yow hauehave appointed and purpoſed / then will we wholie and alltogether diſplace oure ſelues from oure Miniſteries / but yff yow will obaie the olde diſcipline then will we continew paſtor and elders as we are. Anſwere was made that there was nothinge at all conteined in the olde diſcipline / wherby they might medle with / or proceed againſte the paſtor and elders / iff parhapps p. LXXVthey were founde faultie and in ſome offence. Moreouer / that there was nothinge put downe concerninge ſuche cauſes / as in whiche the paſtor and elders were an aduerſarie parte / and therfore it was deſired that they woulde ſuffer the diſcipline in that behalff to be amended and to be made more perfect. Nowe the paſtor beinge offended as it ſhuld ſeeme / with ſo free ſpeeche woulde im̄ediatlie againe hauehave bin gone / and rann euen to the churche dore / but yet ſeinge but fewe folowinge him / by the counſaile and aduiſe off certeine perſons he returned / and ſat him ſelff downe in the paſtors place with the ſeniors.

And in like ſorte / by and by againe vppon the ſuddaine / he ran̄ for the thirde tyme / but within a litle while after here 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 at the 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 puniſhe him / and in this behalff aboundantly ſatiſfie the paſtor and Elders and all good men. But the paſtor and Elders would at no hande ſuffer that. And as concerninge the amendinge off the diſcipline / the paſtor ſaide that he and the elders with certeine others by the authoritie off the church beinge ioined vntounto them woulde (yff the churche ſo thought good▪ amende the diſcipline. But anſwere was made vntounto bothe / in the name off the churche. Firſt that it was verie vniuſt that / the churche ſhuld not be ſuffred to hauehave iudgement and determination. For therby the authoritie and right off churche was wholie as it were / taken from the 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 hereafter deteined in dutie (ſome off them alſo beinge already accuſed) it ſhulde be vniuſte dealing to admit them to the framinge and makinge off ſuche decrees. And when they affirmed p. LXXVIthey would anſwere no other thinge / and they were deſired to ſuffer thos things to be cōmitted to writinge whiche were done alreadie / they woulde not agree / but the paſtor ſayinge he was a colde made himſelf ready to departe / ād goinge his waie a fewe folowinge him / he pronownced / that he diſſolued the aſſemblie. But the companie that taried in the churche and wrote the doings of that daie by their decree / and appointed 8. men to amend the diſcipline / and Afterward to offre it the churche to be ſeene of thē / did alſo apointe other. 8. men (of whiche 8. three / allwaies ſtuck the paſtor) arbitres and iudges to decide the cauſe betweene the paſtor and elders / ād Aſhley. Theis are their names. maiſter Railton / maiſter Warcope / M. Kelke M. faulconer / M. Bentham M. Cockroft / M. Carell and M. Wiſon. Three off theis were addicted the to paſtor but M. Bentham and M. Kelke alwais ſhewed themſelues indifferent and equall to bothe ſides. From that time forwarde the paſtor and elders and certaine others beinge often times called of the churche / by the Deacons and certeine other to intreate of making peace and agrement / would neuer apeere or be preſent.

Morouer the paſtor and the Deacons / and certaine painefull poore men / ceaſed bothe from preachinge and alſo the Eccleſiaſticall lectures and other ordinary functions and charges whiche they ought to hauehave executed / neither woulde they come to ſolemne and publick praiers in the churche. notwithſtanding the churche yet thorough Gods fauour 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 ſo muche ſpread abroad throughowt the citie as the fame and reporte off oure ſtriffes and as the dede off maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers. For when they off themſelues had forſaken the churche and had by their example ſtirred vp ſome other with their families to do the like / and ſome off theis nowe frequented and went / partely to the frenche churche / and partly to the Germanie p. LXXVIIchurches / the matter nowe coulde not anie longer be hyd and in ſecret ſeinge it was publiſhed and knowen not thorowe the citie alone / but the fame theroff ran̄ to other ſtrangers alſo▪ whiche matter and buſines withe their brethern / woulde to God they had choſen rather to hauehave had it ended quietlie and peaceablie in their owne churche / then in ſuch trobleſome ſorte to hauehave conſulted ſo greatly / bothe to their owne diſhoneſtie and oures. The fourth daie off Februarie which was Thurſdaie and appointed for publick praier / the paſtor who that daie ſhuld hauehave preached / and all the Elders were abſent. Nowe the paſtor beinge before by the Deacon deſired in the name off the churche that either he himſelff would preache or apoint ſome other in his place / made anſwere / that neither woulde he preach him ſelff nor apointe anie other. For that matter did nothinge at all belong vntounto him. After praiers were ended ſome there were that diſputed and reaſoned in the paſtors behalff and ſaide / that that aſſemblie whiche remained after the paſtors departure (in as muche as he had authoritie to call together the churche and to breake vp the aſſemblie 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 owte himſelff from his paſtorall dewtie / and therfore / both for that matter and manie other recited before amonge the Act. of the 2. daie of Feb. he had not anie authoritie / or any māner of right either to gather together or to break vp the aſſemblie. And although it were graunted that he were their lawfull paſtor / yet / it was affirmed that the churche was aboue the paſtor and not the paſtor aboue the churche ād that therfore thowghe the paſtor departed / before the actes off that daie were confirmed / and pronounced that he brake vp the aſſemblye yet was the aſſemblie whiche remained ād taried behind a lawfull aſſemblie / ād had authoritie to make effectuall decrees / by whiche they might binde all ād eueryevery mēber of the churche with owte exception. And that this queſtion (whither the pope was aboue the churche or the churche aboue the pope) was ſtirred vp in the councelles off conſtance and Baſill / and vvas decided p. LXXVIIIalſo by the authoritie off the ſchole off pariſe ioyned therto. Nowe they whiche reaſoned in the paſtors behalff did ſeeme by the ſpace off certein daies after / to approue thes 2. councells / for they placed the paſtor aboue the churche. They brought foorth openly all the olde ſtore and howſholde ſtuffe of Pighius and Eckius of the primacie of the pope vnderunder 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 5. off Februa. Maiſter horne and the ſeniors beinge required off the congrega…ion by a deacon to come and treate off reconciliation woulde not appeare. After this there were 3. Meſſengers ſente from the congregation vntounto them / off whom / one was to be ſpecially reuerenced off all that be off the congregation bothe for his age and grauitie / the other… ſpecially well lerned / to the intent they ſhuld be moued by theis ſo honeſt a company off Meſſengers ſent by the congregation. Theis men / whē they had in the churches name inſtantly deſired / and praied them that they woulde come to the congregation and there common brotherly amonge themſelues for a quyete agrement to be had / ſo as the matter might not come to the magiſtrates eares / nor be bruted anie farther abroade to the great infamie of oure nation / coulde do no good with them at all. for they ſaide they woulde not come vnleſſe they were ordinarily called. As for other anſwere at that preſent they would make none. When this anſwere was declared to the congregation / it was determined that for aſmuche as R Horne had openly put himſelf owte off his paſtorſhipp by writinge ſubſcribed with his owne hand / and confirmed the ſame by wordes and deedes in lōge 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 meetīgs: And for aſmuche alſo as the Seniors come not at the meetings of the churche / leaſte the congregation thorough the forwardnes of p. LXXIXthe ſaied Robart Horne and abſence off the Seniors / beinge voide and deſtitute off common praier / preachinge / and readinge the ſcriptures ſhulde be vtterly diſſolued / that certein men ſhuld take charge off the churche and for all things to be done in the congregation as it hathe by Gods goodneſſe byn yet hitherto done.

other decrees alſo whiche are ſpecified in the Acts off the …. daie off Februa. they eſtabliſhed: all whiche everie one that was preſent confirmed by his name ſubſcribed with his owne hande / as they were wont to do in other actes and decrees. And to the decrees off that daie ſubſcribed 33. hands. But in this beha…ff bothe maiſter Horne and maiſter Chambers and other in their behalf did finde verie muche faulte with vsus / for that we had proceaded vnordinarilie / that is (yow muſt vnderſtand) contrary to the olde diſcipline. For where they coulde not iuſt…y finde faulte with thoſe thīgs that the churche had done / they made cauillation at the manner off doinge off things as an vnordinary man̄er. And we anſwered as well manye other things grewe now by occaſion off that matter / as this chiefly: in caſe Maiſter Chambers or anie other man / either woulde or coulde ſhewe anie ordinarie waie in the olde diſcipline wherby the congregation / or anie other might com… mence matter / and proceade againſt him or againſte a Senior or Seniors beinge accuſed: or howe we might proceade ordinarely according to the olde diſcipline in cauſes / wherin he ād the ſeniors were the one parte as they nowe were proued to be: And yff Maiſter Horne / or anie other man either woulde or coulde ſhewe the tytle or wordes in the ould Diſcipline / wherin this ordinarie waie is ſet forthe and conteined: Then we would confeſſe thvt we had gon amiſſe owt off the ordynary way and olde diſcipline. But yff neither he nor anie other woulde or coulde ſhewe in deede / that they would not be diſcontent at vsus that reduced the congregation to their right authoritie and amended that olde diſcipline as athinge amiſſe / or filled it vp as a thinge vnperfect and brought the matter to the hearinge off the churche as it ought to be: p. LXXXAnd that they woulde at lenght geue ouer to vaunte them ſelues ſo off the order whiche they neuer had / or to blame vsus hereafter for proceading vnordinarely. The ſumme off this anſwere / we dyuyded in to certein Articles / and ſent them pryuately to Maiſter Horne to peruſe / requiring his anſwere to the ſame vnd alſo we ſticked them vponupon the pu…pit in the churche where they remained a great many daies. And where it was required in that ſame writinge that Maiſter Horne / or the Seniors or ſome other man ſhulde make anſwere vntounto thes matters / there is no man yet hitherto that hather made anye anſwere / either by worde or by writinge / ſauinge that Maiſter Horne fallinge to his olde generall anſwere / ſaide / he woulde make anſwere when he were ordinarely called or queſtioned withe for by this ſhift he thinkethe he vndoeth all dowtes at once / where as in dede / to anſwere after that ſorte / is to anſwere nothing at all / but to pretend falſe cauſes to holde his tonge when he is able to ſhewe no reaſon for himſelff. For this was his meaninge that he is not ordinarely called nor queſtioned with all / nor accuſed ordinarely / ſauinge onelyonly before him ſelff / and the Seniors as Iudges / Where as they bothe in their geuinge ouer off their miniſtery / and in the principall cauſe againſt maiſter Aſhley were the aduerſary parte ſo that by his iudgement there is no ordinary waie to medle againſt the paſtor and Seniors excepte they call themſelues to be hearers of their owne cauſe and their owne Iudges themſelues. For other ordinary waie againſt the paſtor and Seniors in that olde diſcipline off theirs / neither he nor anie other ſhall be hable to ſhewe.

After this / when thoſe 8. Perſons which were appointed by the Churche to heare the variance betwene Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers one thoneſide / and Maiſter Aſley one the other ſide / ſhulde proceade in the hearinge off that matter / Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers whiche had abſented themſelues nowe 11. daies from the churche were commaunded by the Magiſtrate the 12. off February (for that daye / they and certeyne others were ſeen with the p. LXXXIMagiſtrate) that they ſhuld in no wiſe comme at our church. when we harde off yt / we had maruell / fyrſte that the matter was comme to the Magiſtrats eare (for Maiſter Horne and the reſte teſtified the 2. off February by their owne hand writinge / that they would neuer open it to the Magiſtrate) and ſecondarely / ſeinge Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers coulde by no meanes be intreated to come to the churche yt ſemed awonder that yt was commaunded by the Magiſtrats that they ſhulde not come / as though they had byne deſyrous to come / whiche in dede neded not.

Therfore / the moſte parte thought that that commaundement was obtained by their owne ſute / at the Magiſtrates hands / bothe that ſuch perſons as knewe not the matter / ſhuld be perſwaded that yt was longe off the Magiſtrats commaundement that they did not their offices in the Church. Where as before this Commaundement was geuen they had off a purpoſed frowardnes abſented themſelues now allready more then ten dayes from the congregation. And alſo beſides / that the congregation might not proceade agaynſt them ſeinge the Magiſtrate commaunded them that they ſhulde not appeere. And this was the very let in dede why the congregation proceaded not in hearinge and determining off the varyance betweene Maiſter Horne and Chambers off the one partie and Aſhley on the other.

And in this they burthen vsus maliciouſly with owte cauſe / As thoughe we woulde hauehave Aſhley ridd from Iudgment off that matter / and as though that were the onelyonly thinge whiche was ſought in oure contention / where as in deede yt was longe off them that his cauſe was not determined. Wetherfore / hauing knowledge off this matter / for feare leaſt we ſhulde be falſely accuſed / as though we had vttered yt to the Magiſtrate / and had ſeemed / firſt to hauehave accuſed our brethern vntounto the Magiſtrate / whiche we might not abide to do / aſſembled together p. LXXXIIin the churche the 13. off Februar. and there was openly recited in writing this that folowith. Foraſmuche as oure contention is alreadie bruted abroad not onelyonly through this citie but alſo come to the Magiſtrats eare (for we heare ſaie that maiſter Horne and maiſter Chamber were commaunded by the magiſtrat yeſter daie that is the 12. off Febr. that they ſhulde in no wiſe come at the congregation till the magiſtrate had fuller knowledge off the ma…ter) we profeſſe that neither Maiſter Horne nor Maiſter Chamber nor no man els was complained vponupon to the magiſtrate by vsus or any off vsus / or by oure meanes / but that we ſought rather by all diligent endeauor / that the matter ſhuld not come abroade / but that all matters might hauehave byn ſecretly agreed amonge oure ſelues and that we woulde all men ſhulde vnderſtand by this oure writinge. This done / thoſe that knewe themſelues to be of an vpright cōſciēce in this behalf were req…red to ſet their handes to that writinge / and ſo there were 37 hands ſubſcribed as appearethe in the actes off the 13. off Febru. And were Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chamber beinge ſo often deſyred by all inſtant means off the congregation that they woulde be content to hauehave all ma…ters pacified amonge …e by brotherly communication / did neuer ſuffer them ſelues to be …alked with all off anie matter / leaſte they ſhuld afterward alleadge to ſuche as knewe not the matter / that they did it off force bicauſe off the magiſtraies commaundement / whiche forbad them to come to the congregation. All the tyme wherin they abſented them ſelues / and contemned ſo manie deſires and intreties off the churche to hauehave met vponupon agrement makinge / before anie commaundement was geuen them off the magiſtrate (whiche commaundement notwithſtandinge maie ſeeme that they at lenght for the cauſes before mentioned procured themſelues) was recorded amonge the Acts off that 13. off Febru and confirmed by the teſtimonies off 37. names ſubſcribed as in the acte app…arethe more at large.

The 14 off Febru. thoſe 8. whiche were appointed the …. off Febru: by the congregation to amende the diſcipline / preſented p. LXXXIIIthe booke off the Diſcipline to the congregation agayne and the congregation allowed it. And thoſe matters that were altered or augmented in the diſcipline were ſuch as ſpecially perteined to thoſe cauſes / wherin the paſtor and ſeniors were the one parte / and howe it muſte be proceaded againſt the paſtor and ſeniors / in caſe anie off them were accuſed. For concerninge theis thinges there was neuer a worde in the olde diſcipline. And where in the olde diſcipline there was no certeine mention / howe the churche ſhulde be gouerned / and ſeinge maiſter Horne and other had now vtterly forſaken the congregation / who in leauinge there offices had drauen awaie with them the moſte parte off them that were appoynted preachers / and diſpoſinge off the churche monie / were more largely and more trulie ſet forthe and expreſſed.

For where maiſter Chamber had authoritie to gather all godly mennes almeſe for the poore off the congregation confirmed vntounto him (as he him ſelff required) in writinge / ſigned by the paſtor and ſeniors and certeine other off the chieff men off the churche with their owne hands / and had exerciſed the ſame gathering nowe a yere / and half / that he alone / ſhulde receiue all / he alone diſtribute / and be accomptable to no mā and he alone to be priuie to the mony / that matter) were he neuer ſo faithfull a man) ſemeth verie ſuſpitious to him and …urtefu…l to the churche / yff he ſhulde dye ſuddanly as the ſtate off man is caſuall: And the example alſo ſhulde ſeeme pernitious to the churche leaſt parhapp an other man off ſmall fidelitie ſhuld by the ſame reaſon drawe all the churche mony in to his owne onelyonly handes.

And for as muche as the Deacons (vntounto whom the charge off the churche monie ſemeth to apperteine by the worde of God / and by the example off all right…y 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 fit men to whom the common mony ſhuld be cōmitted: and by that coulour Maiſter Chamber thought he might with owte controlinge receiue all the cōmon p. LXXXIIIImonye in his owne handes alone. The congregation thought good to hauehave a deaconſhipp appointed more vprightly according to the rule deſcribed in the Actes off the Apoſtles / and the example off other Godly inſtituted churches / and to the intent the Church mony might be medled with all by the Deacons with owte all ſuſpition it is prouided in the amendinge off the diſcipline that ſuche men ſhulde be choſen Deacons / as be not onelyonly off a moſt aproued Good fidelitie / but alſo ſuche as were able hanſomly to liue off their owne withowte anie nede off the Churches Almes. And in dede this ſeemed to be nowe ſo muche the more neceſſary / for that many complained: ſome that the almes whiche they receyued before priuatlie off priuate frinds was taken vpp by the waye / ſythens Maiſter Chamber began to gather / as in dede Maiſter Horne then Paſtor threatned openly owte off the pulpit in his Sermon ſayinge that he woulde ſtoppe all mennes vents (as he termed it) and receiptes. Againe / ſome complaine that they coulde hauehave nought at Maiſter Chambers hande / but after beſeching and vnreaſonable longe delais / ſome that they coulde hauehave nothing with owte bytter vpbraid… and ſome / that they could obtaine nothing off gyfte but onelyonly off loane / and other ſome that they coulde gett nought at all. So that nowe it ſemed requiſite off neceſſytie to ſeeke ſome remedie for theis miſheues. All whiche complaints we ſhall be conſtrained off extreame neceſſitie to put in to one ſeuerall peece off worke touching the whole matter and communicatinge it to good men. And concerning the Diſcipline / ſeinge there was no certeine expreſſe waye in the olde diſciplyne how the congregation ſhuld be gouerned / neither coulde anie longe quietnes indure ſo longe as Maiſter Horne had the gouernement by that diſcipline. And ſeing nowe Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers hauehave vtterlie forſaken the Churche / not onelyonly themſelues / but alſo hauehave drawen awaie with them many other / and of them / the moſt parte ſuch as were appointed preachers and readers off the Scriptures: ſo as they might plainely appeere to ſeke nothinge ells but that p. LXXXVthe congregation beinge deſtitute off preaching and reading (as thoughe it coulde not ſtand withe owt thoſe men) ſhulde be vtterlie broken vpp / the congregation was off neceſſitie enforced to deuiſe and prouide for ſome certeine waie for the gouerning off the churche / wherby the congregation might be ſet at a fyrme and a conſtant quietnes.

After this 14. off Februar. preachers off the frenche and Flemiſhe Churches and Maiſt…r Valeran pullain came to the congregation with the Magiſtrats Edicte. The meaninge off the edicte was / that Ma…ſter Horne / Maiſter Chambers / Maiſter Iſaac and the reſte off the Seniors ſhulde be reſtored into their former full authoritie and that Maiſter Horne ſhulde do the office off paſtor / and they off Seniors in our churche till the Magiſtrates might hauehave the hearing and determining off the matter more at large. And yt was commaunded / that all ſuche men as had anie thing to ſaie againſt Maiſter Horne and the reſte ſhulde exhibit the ſame to the Magiſtrate in writing. Maiſter Horne / the decre beinge red conſulting firſt with ſome off his complices / as in a newe matter that he neuer knewe before / ſaid to this effecte: that he was ready to obeie the honorable Magiſtrate / as con… cerninge other functions belonginge to the Paſtor / that is to ſaie conſultations with the Seniors and adminiſtration off diſcipline / but he woulde not medle with preaching / bicauſe his miniſterie was infamed by ſome men / he coulde not do yt with owt the offence off himſelff and off many. Anſwere was made in the Churches name for that the honorable Magiſtrate had ſent the Seniors againe to the Churche / the churche was glad off it. For they were all ſory for their departure and nowe were verie ioyous off their comminge againe. Concerninge Maiſter Horne for ſo muche as he refuſed the chiefeſte parte off the Paſtors office wherin he hathe behaued himſelff well (yff in anye thinge well) that is / in the office off preachinge. Againe / where he woulde take vppon him that parte wherin he is iuſtly reprehended / as wantinge diſcretion / and ſobernes therin / that is / the adminiſtration p. LXXXVIoff Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline with the Seniors / he ouer ſhoteth him ſelff in bothe thes pointes.

Therfore in as muche as he exempteth himſelf from that office wherin he might profit the congregation: the congregagatiō in like caſe will not admit him to that office wherin he bothe ill behaued him ſelff before / as the congregation (yff nede be) ſhall declare vntounto the Magiſtrats: wherin likewiſe the congregation cannot admit Maiſter Chambers to the office off Senior for certe…n Cauſes. And for the reſt off the Seniors / We (ſaie they) geue vntounto the Magiſtrats right humble thankes.

This done / thoſe 3. men whiche came vntounto them with the Magiſtrats edicte / did earneſtlie exhorte / firſte in the magiſtrates name and ef…ſones in their owne / to fall to a quiet agremente amonge them ſelues / for that were more honeſtie then to accuſe one an other vntounto the congregation: Whiche thinge / as it is moſt vnworthly off Chriſten men / ſo is it vntounto vsus ſpecially that profeſſe our ſelues baniſhed for the goſpell ſake. Anſwere was made in the name off the churche as foloweth. We wiſhe for a brotherly peace from the bottome off our hartes praing Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers inſtantly to bend their mindes vntounto quietnes / and moſte hartely beſechinge theis 3 men our bretherē / and baniſhed for the ſame goſpell that we are / that they will helpe with their authoritie to ſet a quietnes amonge vsus / ſo as the matter ſhulde 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 / ſeing the matter is allready before the M the magiſtrat ſhall hauehave the hearing and determining off it. Iff anie had ought againſt him let them put it vp in writing before the magiſtrate / for he was ready to anſwere all men and either he woulde trie his innocencie or (being founde faultie) ſuffer puniſhement for the ſame. Maiſter Chambers made like anſwere for himſelff.

Then / for as muche as there could be no other ende the p. LXXXVIIcongregation requeſted thoſe 3. graue and lerned preacher… to make reporte to the magiſtrate off their deſier And readines to hauehave agrement. And ſo they (as ſoone as theis things were put in writinge) departed. And the churche alſo made an acte off that daie ſubſcribing with their hands to the ſame. The ſame daie at after noone the Magiſtrates hauing more plaine intelligence off the matter / commaunded by their edicte / ſubſcribed with their handes / that Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers ſhulde medle no more the one with the paſtorſhipp and the other withe the Seniorſhipp till all the controuerſies were throughly harde and decided. And commaundement was geuen / that the eight daie after (whiche was the 3. off marche / ſuche as had to ſaie off anie parte ſhuld be preſent This matter was greuous to the church (as ma…e be thought) that things ſhuld growe to ſuche extremitie.

When they had gathered certeine matter / they exhibited it to the Magiſtrates when as they came to the Engliſhe churche where all the company were aſſembled before them whiche was the laſt off February. Where the Magiſtrates made an ende (by their owne authoritie) off the controuerſie as ſhall be ſaide here after.

The laſte off Feb. the Magiſtrate came to oure Temple a litle before ten off the clock and there off his authoritie reconcilied certeine off the congregatiō that were at variaunce amonge them ſelues / and tooke order that all former offences ſhulde be vtterly extincte and buried in the graue off forgetfulnes. Wheruppon at the commaundement / and in the preſence off this Magiſtrate / the parties ioined handes together in token that they were reconcilied and were Good frinds and lovers. Afterwarde / the paſtor / Elders and Deacons / were put from their Eccleſiaſticall functions by an Edict ſigned and ſubſcribed with three off the Magiſtrates handes and were all made priuate men / as the reſt off the congregation: And by the ſame edicte off the Magiſtrates it was decreed that that congregation might freely / when they woulde p. LXXXVIIIchuſe either them or other miniſters. likewiſe / it was permitted and graunted / that accordinge to the abilitie off the congregation they might chuſe one / or many miniſters off the worde or doctors. Moreouer / order was taken by the ſame Edicte / that the treaſure or common monie off the congregation ſhulde 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 Seniors.

We were licenced by the ſame Edicte off the magiſtrats. to drawe owte an Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline wherby the congregation ſhuld be gouerned. Afterward / there was thankes geuen to the magiſtrate in the name off the whole congregation for his ſinguler good will and affection to the congregation. And the magiſtrate depar… / wiſſhinge well in like ſorte to the companie. But by wh…e meanes the magiſtrat came thus vntounto vsus and toke ſuch order / or whither the Magiſtrate off himſelff wrought this deuiſe we cannot certeinly ſaie. But that we off the churche were not the cauſe / that anie ſuche thinge was done / we take God and oure conſciences / and the magiſtrate to witnes / who knoweth the whole matter.

The morowe after / whiche was the firſte off marche the Magiſtrate gaue vsus Counſaile by a fewe lynes that he wrate vntounto vsus to drawe forthe the Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline owte of hande / whiles we were as yet all priuate men and therfore might beſt take counſaill / for that that ſhulde be moſte behouable for the whole companie: leſte / that yff we differred the doinge off it vntill the Miniſters were choſen and appointed / oure cōſultation ſhulde be more troubleſome / whiles the miniſters on the one ſide and the congregation on the other / might pluck and force more vntounto them ſelues then off right they ought. This moſt wholſome and profitable counſell off the Magiſtrate was the nexte daie after / whiche was the 2. off marche propoſed in the congregation / and it liked and ple…ſed the whole company, notwithſtanding bicauſe Maiſter p. LXXXIXHorne made ſome matter / for that ſome were abſent the matter was differred vntounto the nexte daie.

The thirde off marche / by the aduiſe off that Good and godlie magiſtrate / eight and thirtie off the congregation choſe by voices 15. men to write Eccleſiaſticall lawes. Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers and almoſte to the nomber off 14 moo ſa… by and woulde geve no voices / notwithſtanſtandinge that we requeſted and intreated them: But they required they might hauehave leaue to put downe there minds in writinge. So then beinge requeſted to write downe their mindes Maiſter Horne roſe vpp and wrate in the paper in theis wordes folowinge. My minde is that the olde diſcipline be kep…e ſtill and not mended. Maiſter Chambers and Maiſter Iſaac and other to the no…ber off 14. wrote downe their mynds to the ſelff ſame purpoſe. Nowe when we ſaw far… beyounde oure expectation and otherwiſe then we looked for that there was a newe diſſention ar…ſinge betweene vsus / being ſet at one and recōciled one to the o…her / not ſcarſe 3. daies before and in witneſſe therof had geuē handes eche to other (we coulde not otherwiſe doo but be greued and ſorowe greatly / to ſe the growndworke of mo troubles and diſſentions laide.

And bicauſe thoſe. 14. gaue to vnderſtande by their hands put downe vntounto it in writinge that they thought it no… Good to alter their olde diſcipline / to the ende that it might euidently appeare / howe many we were that had conſented vppon the choiſe off 1…. men whiche ſhulde ſet downe in writinge a forme off diſcipline accordinge as the magiſtrate had commanded / we on the otherſide truſted / that we thought it for the behouff and profit off the congregation that a forme of diſcipline ſhuld be made and put downe as the magiſtrate had commaunded. And to this determination and ſentēce beinge put in writinge / we in nomber eighte and thirtie ſubſcribe doure names / with proteſtation that we did nothinge but that was Good and lawfull and accordinge to the magiſtrates will and mind requeſtinge them to geue their conſent and to agree with vsus.

p. XCBut they / after muche debatinge and many wordes to and fro for their olde diſcipline / that it neded not to be diſplaced or altered / The ſimple ſutteltie off …. factious head.came to this paſſe at the lenght / that they ſaide (we had to conſulte off correctinge but not off makinge a diſcipline and verie inſtantly vnd earneſtlye vrged the ſame vponupon the wordes off that aduice and councell whiche the magiſtrate had geuen touchinge the ſpedie diſpatche off the diſcipline of the churche before the election of the miniſters. we therfore which thought it not muche materiall whither it were termed a newe made / or a corrected diſcipline to hauehave no occaſion of diſſentiō / chaunged / oure copie and put in in ſteade of the is wordes / diſcipline ſhulde be made / ſhuld be corrected. And ſo thoſe 14. whiche made aſhewe before as though they wolde not ſuffer anie one iote of the olde diſcipline to be altered / ād chaunged / callinge to minde (I ſuppoſe / either their fewneſſe off their nomber or the oddes off the matter bycauſe …hat olde diſcipline was vtterly taken awaie by the Magiſtrates edicte / the laſte off Februa. as the chiefeſt cauſe off oure controuerſies: or ells foreſeinge / that the magiſtrate would be offended with that their diſſention: they all ioyntly together Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers beginninge the daunce put their hands to oures / for the correction off the diſcipline.

Horne and his companie ſubſcribs to the other parte.Then did Maiſter Horne requeſt that ſeinge nowe they had conſented vntounto vsus / for the wrytinge downe off the diſcipline / he and the reſidewe for that fourtene might freely geue their voices for the choſinge of thoſe fourtene whiche they had alreadie appointed or ſome ſuche other as they woulde. But we bicauſe we had before requeſted them to geue their voices and three refuſed / cōſidering that thoſe fourtene drew all one line and were fullye bent in all points to do one as the other / beinge all like affected and by that meanes / might off purpos wholie beſtowe their voices vponupon ſome certeine / and ſo ouerthrow oure election whiche they knewe already / denied to graunt and ſuffer them and yet we ſaide / that yff they woulde we wold not refuſe to appointe an o…her daie / to chuſe the ſayde 14. men or other. yet geuinge Maiſter Horne in the meane p. XCIwhile to wit / that that matter whiche might hauehave bin quietlie diſpatched in three houres / would ſcarſly by his meanes be fyniſhed in three daies.

At the lenght Maiſter Horne / after conſultation had with certain / ſpake alowde in the name off the fourtene in this wiſe.

Although (ſaide he) it were meete that we all ſeuerally geue oure voices / yet that we maie be no longer an hinderance / I pronoūce in all their names / that we all do by our voices chuſe thoſe 14. men Whom yow hauehave alreadye appointed. When the reſidew were aſked whither they conſented to this or no▪ Maiſter Iſaac / anſwered that all agreed: otherwiſe / yff anie were contrarie minded he woulde ſpeake. And thus by a generall conſente off all not one man excepte fiuetene men were choſen to write Eccleſiaſtical lawes the thirde off marche.

The 15.M. Horne came not til two. Elected agreed betwene themſelues to aſſemble and come together the fourth of marche at one of the cloke at afternoone. Whē they came together ther was muche a doo a great while whither the olde diſcipline ſhulde be corrected or a newe made. We (of the churche) alleadged that all occaſions off olde controuerſies (wheroff the olde diſciplie but vnperfecte and naught was one) were vtterly taken awaye by the magiſtrates Edicte. ſome vrged this worde corrected / or amended which was in the aduiſe and counſaile that the Magiſtrat gaue vsus for the ſpedie diſpatche off diſcipline. For / ſaide they / that is not corrected whiche is cleane taken waie.The book of diſcipline brought foorth and read. At lenght / the booke off the olde diſcipline and an other off the newe diſcipline / whiche was corrected in the abſence off maiſter Horne and others were read / and ſo they departed for that daie appoynting to meete agayne the 8. off marche the ſame houre.

The 8. off marche the 15. men aſſembled againe and there agreed vponupon articles for makinge off diſcipline / M. Horne came at 3.whiche were ſet downe in a paper and ſubſcribed all vntounto them / ſauinge that maiſter Horne / Maiſter Chambers and Maiſter p. XCIIIſaac and Maiſter Bentham woulde not ſubſcribe to that Article concerning the hauinge off two miniſters off the worde / and yet notwithſtandinge they all agreed vponupon this that is was a matter indifferent whither there ſhuld be one or many miniſters off the worde. for it is not defined in the ſcriptures but left free. Afterward Maiſter Hales gaue to Maiſter Chambers a booke off diſcipline (which was writen in the abſence off maiſter Horne and others / and was off the ſame Articles as the congregation had made and agreed vponupon) that maiſter Horne / and he / and maiſter Iſaac might reade it ouer / and if they allowed ought therin that it might be annexed to the diſcipline that was in hande. But afterwarde / when maiſter Horne through occaſion off talke abowte the correctinge off the diſcipline / ſaide that there had byn no other diſcipline in the churche / but that olde diſcipline / and that therfore the magiſtrate / ſpake off correctinge off that no… off the v…ter aboliſhinge theroff and that it was anſwered / that that ſame other booke off diſcipline beinge written when he was abſent might as well be vnderſtoode to be ment / as that ſame olde diſcipline▪ bothe for that there was more equitie in it and alſo was ſuſcribed vntounto off ſo many as well as that olde diſcipline whiche he ſo extolled: Then maiſter Horne brake owte in to moſt ſpitefull wordes againſt all his countrie men that had agreed to that diſcipline which were at the leaſte 36. perſons / affirminge that all they that had thus conſpired together for the eſtabliſhing off thoſe articles (accordinge to the ſhortnes off the time wherin they met) that they were in a certeine degree / giltie off treaſon againſte the magiſtrat / againſt the Senate / and (to be ſhorte) againſt the whole citie.

Then maiſter Hales vnderſtandinge by maiſter Hornes wordes that nothinge was ſought but newe trouble / and beinge put in minde alſo aff maiſter Bentham) reherſeth agayne that booke off diſcipline which a litle before was offred to maiſter Chambers affirminge that he vnderſtode / they went abowte to ſeeke rather an occaſion off chalinginge at the booke by readinge off it / then a way off makinge a new diſcipline.

p. XCIIIThe eleuenth off marche the fiftene men meete againe vpō certeine Articles to whiche (excepte one whiche maiſter Horne and M. Chambers would not ſubſcribe) they al ſubſcribed.

A litle before our departure it was thought profitable that thoſe thinges which we had collected and agreed vppon ſhulde be brought in to a certeine forme of a booke / adding either owte off the olde diſcipline / or by occaſion / as we were gatheringe theis thīges together ſuch things as might ſeeme profitable. Maiſter horne / and maiſter Chambers beinge intreated / that they would gather thoſe things in ſuche ſorte / or ells be preſent to conferre withe other that reade: Maiſter Horne anſwerethe that he woulde not / neither that there was any ſuche neede. The 16. daie of marche they met againe in the churche and there a certeine bill (in whiche were writen certeine articles tendinge to diſcipline) is exhibited vntounto them that amonge the fiften it might be deliberated vponupon and debated. maiſter Iſaac ſpake many things verie ſharplie againſt one Article as verie daungerous and perilous againſte thoſe good men through whoſe liberalitie the poore off the church were ſuſteined / and makinge wiſe as thoughe he woulde knowe the matter better / he requeſted the bil / whiche / beinge reached vntounto him / he putteth it vp in his boſome / neither woulde he geue it againe. And ſo by this meanes / he tooke away the matter for vsus to worke vponupon ſith that we had no other copie.

Afterwarde / the booke in whiche thoſe thinges were written that were agreed vppon amonge the 15. and certeine thinges owte off the olde diſcipline / and other alſo were gathered in to ſome order was brought owte amōge them to be conſulted vponupon / and beinge redd / maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers fyrſte off all complained / that booke was gathered they not wittinge theroff / and had byn longe beatten vppon amonge certeine of them / and therfore that it was reaſon that a copie ſhuld be geuen to them / and to maiſter Iſaac and a farther tyme alſo to delyberate / maiſter Iſaac affirmed that he neded 2. monethes / or one at the leaſte to conſider off that booke. It was anſwered that although Maiſter Horne and p. XCIIIIChambers complained that they were not admitted to the collectinge off the booke) in that they did vsus wronge / for beinge of vsus therunto required they refuſed it and left it to others. In that they required a copie / it ſemed vniuſte / (ſeinge that the church had decreed / that we the 15. ſhulde debate tog…ther as concerninge the writinge off the diſcipline) for that thinge tended againe to a newe diſſention. Againe / that they required ſo longe a tyme to deliberate / and eſpecially Maiſter Iſaac / it was moſte vniuſte. For ſeinge the marte was nowe at hande / it was profitable or rather neceſſarie that oure churche ſhulde with ſpede be eſtabliſhed and oure miniſters elected leaſte / to oure great infamie / men comminge h…ther owte off all Europe / they might alſo ſe the broyles off oure churche and ſo ſpread them farr abroad amoge all nations: more ouer: that it woulde fall owte to the great hurte off the poore / yff godly men being offended / with oure diſſentions / (beinge before beneficiall to the poore) withdrawe nowe their liberalitie / and that …herforee there was nede off ſpedie helpe in pacifiynge and quietinge the churche before the mar…e beinge nowe at hande. Maiſter Horne anſwereth / that he requireth not to muche tyme 2. or 3. daies ſhulde be enough for him to del…berate / notwithſtandinge that the copie ought to be graunted for no leſſe tyme / ſeinge many thinges were conteined in that booke / and ſome alſo darke and dowtefull thinges and to him before that tyme vnharde off / or / at the leaſt / vnknowen: and that therfore he requeſted that all ſhulde be aſked mā by mā whither they thought not this reaſonable ād iuſte that he required. For if to the moſte it ſhulde ſeeme reaſonable he would at anie hande hauie a copie off that booke EueryEvery man therfore was aſked / beginninge at Maiſter Bentham: he / aſwell forthe cauſes before alleadged as alſo that no occaſion off wranglinge might ariſe off the booke / and leaſte the booke ſhulde come to the handes off anye other before it were brought to the congregation / and for certeine other cauſes / thought it not meete that anie copie ſhulde be geuen to anie / but that the booke ſhulde be brought foorthe amonge them / and p. XCVall they hearing it that were appointed off the congregation / it ſhulde be after read and that tyme enoughe ſhulde be geuen to ſtande vponupon euerie decree and ſentence and more exactly to examin them: and that this ſeemed to him very iuſte and reaſonable. And this iu…gement is condeſcended to off all the reſte / and ſo Maiſter Horne leaueth off from requeſtinge the copie. Afterwardes / the booke is begonne to be redd / from the beginnige / and in examininge off euerie off the decrees longe time is ſpente / and off ſome articles in the beginninge mutche diſputation and debatinge is had. But Maiſter Horne / Maiſter Chambers and Iſaac beinge aſked their iudgemēts would not anſwere / no / not in the moſte plaineſ…e maters / and knowē of all men / either to allowe or diſalowe / as for exāple: There was one article: we profeſſe the ſelfſame doctrine which is conteined in the Canonicall bookes off all the holie ſcripture / to witt / Yff maiſter Horne tooke ſuch deliberattō before he would ſubſcribe to that article: what meanethe this that poore ignorant men and wemen muſt thus ſubſcribe vpō the ſudden or ells to newgate.in the bookes off the olde and newe Teſtamente / in whiche is conteined fullie all doctrine neceſſary for oure ſaluation. To this and ſuche other beinge moſte plaine and manifeſte maiſter Horne anſwered as to all thother that he woulde anſwere nothinge with owte great deliberation. By whiche his doinges / he gaue occaſion to all men to wonder. And ſo / ſome other decrees off that booke beinge examined a meetinge off the 15. was appointed againſte the nexte daie / and ſo they departed. The nexte daie beinge the 17. off march and againe the daie folowinge beinge 18. twelue off the 15. mette. For Maiſter Iſaac / Maiſter Horne and Chambers came not. VponUpon bothe daies the diſcipline was more diligently read and examined / and off eleuen off them whiche were appointed / alowed and ſubſcribed vntounto. VponUpon the 20. daie off marche the diſcipline was offred to the whole congregation / that it might of them either in the whole or in parte be alowed or diſalowed / and the ſame daie was it twiſe reade ouer.

After the readinge Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers require a copie off the diſcipline / that at their leaſure they might farther deliberate vpō it. It was anſwered that it was to be opēly read and reade againe / bothe to them and others p. XCVI/ as often as they woulde / with time ynough geuē to eueryevery man more diligently to examine euerie Artikle / but ſeinge the Magiſtrate had commaunded that we ſhulde exhibite to them a copie off the diſcipline turned in to laten / ſo ſoone as poſſible might be / Therfore we durſte not ſcatter any copice before the Magiſtrate had ſeene it. Beſydes that we feared leaſte Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers (Who were amonge the 15. (appointed) off the churche for the writinge off the diſcipline who might alſo when they woulde not onelyonly he are the diſcipline but alſo examine the ſame diligently / and yet woulde not meete with the others at the appointed time) would requeſte a copie not ſo muche to knowe the diſcipline as to ſturre vpp newe broiles. Neuertheles when the Magiſtrate had once ſeene it / leaue to be geuen to anye man that woulde to ſe it. Withe this anſwere they and ſome others beinge offended / at the ſecond readinge off the diſcipline they departed a waye and abſtained agayne with their whole howſoldes from the churche / from publick prayers and ſermons whiche thinge blewe vp and increaſed the reporte off our diſagrements and ſtriffes. Neither woulde they from that time forwarde vnleſſe they were commaunded by the magiſtrate come to the churche when as notwithſtandinge they coulde not ſhewe vsus anie iuſte cauſe to be giuen them why they ſhulde ſo departe from the churche and refraine the publicke prayers and godly ſermons / as yff we had byn Ethnickes or publicannes.

The 25. daie oure diſcipline was read the 3. time / and the 26. daie it was read the forthe tyme by the commaundement off the Magiſtrate at the reading wheroff all Engliſhe men that were off the churche were commaunded to be preſent. The 30. off marche it was read the fyfte tyme and ſo at diuers times there ſubſcribed 42. in the good allowance theroff whiche was the greater parte by a greate deale off the churche. For the whole churche at that preſent had not aboue: 62. And bycauſe nowe the marte was at hande / that there might be ſome better forme off a well ordred churche: fiue were appointed p. XCVIIoff the churche the 20. off marche to nominate certeine from amonge whom / accordinge to the Magiſtrates decree ſhulde be choſen / the Miniſters off the worde / Seniors and Deacons. The 21. off marche the names off twentie men or there abowte were proponed to thoſe fiue appoynted off the churche and therwithall declared that yff anye woulde or coulde reproue anye off them that were named / either in doctrine or manners / they ſhulde ſhewe it the 23. daie after. VponUpon the 2…. daie / none fyndinge anie faulte in anie of thoſe whoſe names were propounded / it was agayne decreed that yet / yff they had anie thinge to ſaie againſt anie man they ſhulde declare that the 21. daie folowing.

The 25 off marche Maiſter Chambers / maiſter Binkes Maiſter Ade / Maiſter Brikbek maiſter Ben…ham / who were amonge them that were named / tolde the churche / that yf peraduenture they ſhulde be choſen / for certeine cauſes they coulde not ſerue the churche / and that they ſignified this to the churche in time leaſte the election were fruſtrat. But when no man coulde obiecte anie faulte in theis or other that were named: the election off the Miniſters was made the 29. off marche / and the ordeininge off them that were choſen was appointed of the churche the daie folowinge. In the meane ſeaſon Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers and certaine other lefte not off to ſue to the Magiſtrates that bothe oure election might be hindred / and alſo that it might be lawfull for them to be off our churche / and yet not to ſubſcribe to oure Dyſciplyne / the thinge that they them ſelues notwithſtanding would neuer graunt to anye others.

The 2…. off Marche after dmner it began to be muttred off certeyne that the Magiſtrate had forbydden that we ſhulde go forwarde in the election / the whiche thinge ſurely greued vsus: for by that meanes we ſawe that we ſhulde hauehave no forme of a Churche before the marte and that therfore we ſhulde become a reproche to all men / which ſeemed p. CXVIIIſhulde be ſpred amonge all nations. But this rumor was altogether vaine / for the 29. of marche which was the daie before the election ſhulde be / after the ſermon / the decree of the Magiſtrate was openly reade in the churche / wherin it was commaunded that we ſhulde take in hand and performe the election off the Miniſters in the ſame order and vponupon the ſame daie that we had apointed / and that all Engliſhe men that were off oure churche ſhulde be preſent the ſame daie / at the election / and geue their voices.

The 29. daie off Marche after praiers / the ſermon and publique faſte / a litle before twelue / the election off the Miniſters began to be made and when we were in the middeſte off the election▪ Maiſter Horne Maiſter Chambers / and others to the nomber off 18. men / (who before were neither with vsus at the ſermon / nor at praiers / but had kepte themſelues in ſome howſes not farre from the churche / beinge warned of their ſide that had watched vsus in the churche) came in ſuddanlie on a troupe together in to the churche and there eche one ſtriuethe who ſhall caſte in his bill firſte / vponupon the table ſtandinge in the middeſte off the churche / all whiche bylles conteined one matter and writen almoſt with like wordes / to witt / that they coulde not geue their voices in the ſame election / bicauſe they coulde not off their conſciences alowe that diſcipline by whiche the election was made. And that they might enlarge their nomber / they brought with them 2. billes off thoſe that were abſent and off ſome others whiche neuer were accompted off the churche. And ſo after they had troubled oure election / and after Maiſter Horne alſo / walking with an other a litle while ouerwhart in the middeſt off the churche / all in a manner departed againe.

Afterwards the election was fully ended / at one off the clock at afternoone / there were choſen 2. Miniſters off the worde .6. Seniors and 4. Deacons. Nowe the Deacons were (beſides the wonted cuſtome off oure churche) off the nomber off thoſe that coulde lyue of their owne / for that the common treaſure might ſeeme withowte all ſuſpition to be committed p. XCIXto ſuche rather then to the poorer ſorte▪ Nowe / in that maiſter Horne neither anie off the other that were before in the Miniſterie (excepte onelyonly maiſter Willforde) were choſen againe to the Miniſterie / was ſpecially through their owne faulte. For Maiſter Horne neuer almoſte ceaſed for certeine daies to profeſſe openly that he woulde neuer exerciſe againe anie Eccleſiaſticall miniſterie in that churche / and beinge before appointed by the magiſtrate to preache in oure churche he would neuer ſo muche as once preach. And maiſter Chambers / when his name amonge the reſte to be choſen / was propounded / the 25. off marche he profeſſed openly in the churche / (all men hearinge it) before the election / that though he were choſen off vsus to ſome Miniſterie / yet that he woulde neuer vſe it: And therfore that we ſhulde not in anie caſe chuſe him vnleſſe we woulde hauehave oure election to be fruſtrate.

Wherfore / it is no maruell / yff they were not choſen / who / leaſt they ſhulde be choſen did them ſelues openly denounce it. And therfore / in this they do vsus great wronge / that would ſeeme to beare men in hande / that they were at the firſte thruſte owte off their miniſterie by vsus / or longe off vsus they were not choſen in againe.

Maiſter Iſaac in like manner / Maiſter Binks Maiſter Brickbek and Maiſter Eſcote openly profeſſed that they woulde in nowiſe vſe any publique miniſterie in oure churche. And here vponupon it came ſpecially to paſſe that onelyonly Maiſter willford / (who had not made anie ſuche exception) was from amonge thē / which were before in the miniſtery choſen agayne.

The thirde off Aprill the Magiſtrate / who deſired that theis churche diſſentions off oures might be pacified and quietted / and he now bicauſe off the marte had no leaſure to do the ſame / writeth his letters to D. Cox / D: Sandes and maiſter Bartue in whiche he exhorteh them / that they / yff they coulde by anie conueniente meanes / as arbitres off ſome eſtimation ende this ſtriffe amonge vsus.

Nowe when either ſide was come before them and all we in the name off the churche (for all had graunted oure controuerſies p. Cto be harde and determined with owte anye exception at all to them and to other arbytres / what ſo euer / whom they ſhulde call vntounto them) and had offred this thinge to the arbytres written and all oure names ſubſcribed vntounto it: Maiſter Horne / Maiſter Chambers and others firſte requeſted that maiſter Horne might be reſtored to his office off paſtorſhippe / Maiſter Iſaac Maiſter Chambers and others / into their offices off Seniors and the olde diſcipline into his former place and autoritie / ſo as they were in the beginninge off theis controuerſies. For then (ſaid they) will we leaue all controuerſies to the arbitres. When we had refuſed this as moſte vniuſte and vnreaſonable / then they requeſted that ſeinge we woulde not reſtore the olde diſcipline / and them to their former authoritie / that then we would ſuffer oure diſcipline and Myniſters to be none otherwiſe then their olde withowte all authoritie and no miniſter at all nor diſcipline to be in oure churche but that the matter ſhulde remaine in that ſtate and condition that it was in the laſt off February / when the Magiſtrate hauinge put all the miniſters from their offices departed frō vsus / and ſo ſhuld the mater be lefte to arbitres

Whan we remembred what and howe great trauelles that diſcipline election off Miniſters had coſte vsus and ſawe that by this meanes oure churche ſhulde be made deſtitute off Miniſters and a large windowe to be opened for newe contentions / and had alſo denied that thinge / Maiſter Horne requeſted that it might be lawfull for him to goo a litle a ſide and to conſulte with ſome off his ſide abowte the whole matter. A litle after returninge againe and ſainge / that they woulde leaue no waie vnſought after / wherby peace might be gotton / although they yelded muche from their right. Then he readeth a certeine bill to thoſe 3. (appointed off the magiſtrate) and to vsus writen in his owne name and the names off others which I hauehave added vnderunder here writen worde for worde / leaſt anie man ſhulde thinke that anie thinge off purpoſe were altred by vsus.

The Bill off maiſter Horne and Others.

WE offre and permit with moſte willinge myndes (hauinge p. CIthe licence of the magiſtrate as it maye well be for this purpoſe) that all oure controuerſies and contentions / what ſo euer / whiche hauehave byn ſowe and brought in amonge vsus ſithēs the beginnige of this breache / and ſynce the firſte daie we began to ſtriue / vntill this preſent time and houre: to be debated decided and determined by Arbytres / beinge none off this oure congregation / and yet from amonge the brethern / oure countrie men / equally and indifferently / by the parties diſagreinge / to be choſen vponupon this condition / that not onelyonly the election off Myniſters and beſides all others thinges don by the order off the ſaied diſcipline / ſtande in ſuſpence / to be allowed or diſſalowed by the determination and iudgemente off the arbytres to be choſen as is aforeſaide writen the 5. off Aprill. Anno 1557.

And that the indifferent reader / maie / by comparinge their offre and oures / ſe whiche is moſte reſonable / we hauehave added oures alſo / writen owte worde for worde as we offred it vpp before the forſaied Maiſter Bartue / D. Coxe and D. Sandes and to the diſſentinge brethern.

The copie wheroff is this.

WE ſubmit our ſelues and are contented to commit all maner off controuerſies that hauehave here tofore ryſen amongeſt vsus in the churche / to ſuche Arbitres as the magiſtrate hathe apointed and to all ſuche as they call vntounto them to the hearinge ād determininge therof / accordinge to gods word and godd reaſon. And thus ſymplie and plainely withowte anie manner off excep…ion or condition.

In witnes wheroff we hauehave ſubſcribed oure names the 5. off Aprill / Anno 1557.

Thow maiſte ſe here / gentle reader / that albeit we had oure Diſcipline writen and allowed off a 11. off the 15. men whom the congregation by the Magiſtrates authoritie had apointed / to wit / the Dyſcipline / and therupon confirmed with the hands off 42. men which was the greateſte parte off our churche by a great deale: Albeit we had alſo / all eccleaſticall miniſters / by the magiſtrats decree / and the authoritie of the congregation p. CIIlawfully elected / yet for quietnes ſake / we put all to the Arbitres wholie / either to be allowed or diſalowed with owte anie manner off exception. But maiſter Horne and maiſter Chambers / and others / ſekinge more their owne will then anie quiete agremente / woulde not at the firſt admit thoſe three Arbitres appointed off the magiſtrates. For Maiſter Horne made exception againſte ſome off them. And afterwardes woulde abide no order or offre / vnleſſe we wolde with oure ſubſcriptions ſuffer and commit oure diſcipline / the election off miniſters / and all other matters off oure churche to ſtande in ſuſpence (as they call it) ſo that by their dryfte we ſhulde hauehave had no diſcipline / no certein miniſtery / no order and ſo conſequently no churche They would that thies Arbiters ſhulde be choſen indifferenly from amonge ſuche as were oure countrie men / But not of oure congregation / ſo that it ſhulde be lawfull for them to chuſe where they lyſte and whom they liſte.Theis three arbytres had their beinge owte from the Engliſhe churches. Nowe conſider with me / who ſo euer thow arte (indiffent reader) yff we / firſte hauinge geuen and ſealed oure writinge in the name off the whole churche had granted our diſcipline / miniſters / and all other orders off oure churche to ſtande in ſuſpence / vntill they ſhulde either be allowed or diſalowed of the arbitres choſen in ſuche ſorte / and till maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers accordinge to their canuaſinge craftines / nowe ynough and more then ynough knowen vntounto vsus / had choſen Arbitres for their parte owte off farr places / who either coulde not or ells woulde not meete together abowte this matter / or (whiche was moſte certeine to come to paſſe) yff Maiſter Horne / and Maiſter Chambers wherſoeuer at lenght they had chooſen arbitres / had not for all that choſen ſuche for their ſide / who vnleſſe thinges vvere don accordinge to their ovvne minde / vvould decree nothinge at all. But the Arbitres diſagreinge on bothe ſides / the matter ſhulde be lefte vndon; vvhat then ſhulde hauehave become off oure churche / vvith thies their ſuſpenſyue miniſters / and vvitherhe diſcipline and all other thinges? For the condition offred vpp off Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers vvas declared p. CIIIto be this / that ſo longe all ſhulde remaine in ſuſpence till they ſhuld be allowed or diſalowed by the arbytres: ſo that yff the arbyters ſhulde hauehave bin deuided equally (as many times it comethe to paſſe) the Miniſters off the churche might determine nothinge / but the Diſcipline and all other thinges muſte continually hange in ſuſpence. Againe / the churche (thoughe it were in great perill and daunger / yet / leaſt it ſhulde leaue anye waye vnproued for the obtayninge off peace (bicauſe they thought that ſome off thoſe three were not meete whom the magiſtrates had appointed for Arbitres / offred vpp an other bill conteining alltogether the ſelff ſame matter / and write withe the ſame wordes / that they woulde ſtande to the Iudgement off any other Arbitres who ſo euer beinge choſen indifferently by the other partie from amonge oure countrie men / and leaue all thinges to them plainely and ſymplie withowte anie exception or condition to be determined and decided. But they would allowe no condition offred off vsus vnleſſe we woulde firſte / by the ſubſcribinge off oure names allowe that moſte vniuſte and vnreaſonable condition off thers / and by oure preiudice condemne oure Myniſters / oure Diſcipline and all other thinges that we had donne. And ſo by this meanes had opened a gapp to them to ouerthowe oure churche. And when they had thus behaued them ſelues before Maiſter Bartue D. Cox and D. Sandes / yet certeine off them (when nowe the marte was in the chieff flowre) reported through owte the whole cytie that we had reiected their moſt iuſte and paeceable requeſtes and that we were alltogether troubleſome men / and plainely bent to ſuffer no peace nor quietnes / howbeit / we had rather that they ſhuld ſhewe theis thinges that are falſe off vsus to others / then that they together with others ſhulde openly deride oure follie (yff we had yelded to ſuch requeſts) as they that with oure great …oile and trauell had (to the quiete off the churche) eſtablyſhed ſome churche / and nowe vppon a ſuddaine by the ſubſcribinge off one bill thorough headineſſe and fooliſhe facilitie ſhulde hauehave ouerthrowen the whole. But they / when they p. CIIIIcoulde not obtaine this / went abowte this verie buſelie / that the whole churche might then be diſſolued and broken vpp. For Maiſter Chambers for halff a monethe ſpace and more would geue nothinge to anie man that remained in the churche / and folowed not maiſter Horne and him departinge from the churche.

To certeine other alſo he woulde geue nothinge at all whiche were in the publique Miniſterie / to preache the word and reade lectures / and alſo in the exerciſe of diſputinge by his owne appoyntemente and the order taken by Maiſter Horne alwais from the time ſithens they came to oure churche / when nowe they were for their bourde in debte to their hoſteſſes for 4. monethes / neither had don anie other faulte / vnleſſe it were bicauſe they remained in their functions off preachinge and readinge lectures in whiche they were placed by Maiſter Horne and Maiſter Chambers / leaſte the churche ſhuld altogether be deſtitute bothe off ſermons and lectures: OnelyOnly bicauſe in this diſſention they agreed not with them and tooke their partes / and had with them withdrawen them ſelues from the churche that it might be vtterlie ſcattered / whē as notwithſtandinge (which is moſte vnhoneſt) they had promiſed to geue 3. monethes warninge before they woulde forſake them: whiche / notwithſtandinge Maiſter Chambers affirmed they woulde neuer do vnleſſe it were that they were conſtained by extreame neceſſitie. Abowte the middeſt off the marte or a litle after ther began̄e a rumor to be ſpread off the departure of maiſter Horne and maiſter Chambers from this citie / but whither they woulde go / or whither they woulde at all departe / it was yet vncerteine. For neither was it likely that maiſter Chambers hauinge gathered ſo muche common mony / and that by the authoritie and in the name off the churche ſeinge he had bin here ſo longe with owte makinge off anie accoumpte to the churche / woulde go awaie in ſuche ſor…e. Neither was it credible that M. Horne / who had gouerned in his paſtorall office and charge ſo longe (no reconciliation nor pacification beinge made for ſo great offences) woulde ſo p. CVdeparte / yea / not ſo muche as hauehave taken his leaue of the churche. In the meane time it is incredible to be ſpoken / but more ſhameful to be hearde / what reportes certeine had ſpred that marte tyme ſecretly and eſpecially amonge the rycher ſorte that were able to helpe the poore off oure churche / forſoothe / that there were certeine traitors amonge vsus. That we deſired to knowe the names off thoſe perſons that were liberall towardes the poore off oure churche / to the ende to betraie them and vndoo them: That we had caſte our Paſtor and Miniſters owte headlonge from ther miniſteries and offices. In all whiche thinges / they went aboute nothinge ells but to ſtirre vp newe braules and contentions. And that they maie alienate the hartes off the welthie ſorte from vsus / and ſo bringe the poore of oure churche / firſt to famine and then vsus into deadly hatred off them / as thoughe they were by vsus throwen in to theis miſeries / But foras muche as all theis thinges are vaine and vntrue / and fained by the ſecret ſleightes off thoſe priuie whiſperers / who dare ſpeake nothinge openly: we hauehave thought them rather to be contemned thē to be anſwered: hopinge that at laſte when they are weary off lyinge / they will be quiet. But iff they go forwarde ſtill to belie vsus ſo impudently and outragiouſly / ſurely we will not neglec…e oure fame and honeſt eſtimation: but we wil diligently wipe awaie all their ſlanders with one ſpunge / and there with all will open to the worlde / their wicked endeauors againſt oure churche. In the meane time nothinge diſtruſtinge the lordes merciemercy (how ſoeuer the deceites off men would let it) hopinge / that neither liuinge nor foode ſhall euer want to oure poore congregation / who alſo feedeth the rauens / and that he will allwaies be preſent by his ſpirit to vsus and to oure whole churche continually whiche thinge that it maie pleaſe him to bringe to paſſe / we beſeche the good reader (who ſo euer thow art) praie vntounto god togither with vsus / and farewell.

p. CXHere folowithe the exhortation off the Magiſtrate for the amendinge and eſtabliſhinge off the Diſcipline.

The Engliſhe Thus.

WE think it Good and profitable for the eſtabliſhinge off peace and tranquilitie off your churche / that yow altogether conſulte and determine / as concerninge the amendinge off diſcipline / nowe / whiles ye all be yet priuate men and withowte anie Eccleſiaſt…call miniſterie. For whiles none off yow dothe yet knowe / wither he ſhall be a priuate perſon or ells ſhall hauehave anie authoritie Eccleſiaſticall / euerie man man wi…l applie his minde / and ſtudie to that whiche ſhall ſeme moſte reaſonable and profitable aſwell for the cōgregation as for the Myniſters. But after that the Myniſters be once elected / it is to be feared leaſte they will drawe ſome what more then reaſon to themſelues / and in likewiſe the congregation to it ſelff. And ſo / your conſulation maie chaunce to be ſomewhat troublous whiche we woulde not ſhuld happen. Wherfore that all thinges maie procede aſwell as maie be to to the eſtabliſhing off ſure peace we exhorte yow that with all ſpede ye take in hand this conſultation abowte the amendinge off your Diſcipline w…th mindes and meanes moſte aplyable to tranquillitie / which Allmightie God graunt / ye maie happely bringe to paſſe.

The firſt off marche. 1…57. Iohn Glauburg.