Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfort — William Whittingham

Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfort · William Whittingham

To the miniſterie and bodie off the congregation off the Engliſhe Churche off Franckford.

FOr as muche as at the requeſt off all oure brethern and countrie men off this churche off Franckford / we hauehave vndertakē to endeauour oure ſelues to make an ende of this ſorowfull controuerſie whiche ſo grieuouſly / ſo longe tyme hath vexed this congregation / ſlaundered Religion / and infamed the name off all Engliſhemen we thought we coulde neither ſatiſfie the duetie off Chriſtian charitie / nor the office off louinge countrie men / iff we did omitt any thinge / whiche / by anie probable coniecture might ſeeme to bringe to effecte oure honeſt entrepriſe in this behalfe. wherupon we hauehave thought good to offer vntounto yow oure brethern on bothe parties ſuch a forme off agremente touchinge certeine pointes off your diſcipline as had ſemed vntounto vsus vppon conference betwene certeine choſen perſons / on bothe ſides before vsus moſt conuenient / ſo to ſatiſfie all men / that eueryevery man might willingly and cheerfully ſubmitt him ſelff vntounto the the obedience theroff. Deſiring yow all as ye hope to hauehave fauour at goddes handes in the bloude off Ieſus Chriſte / ſo to applie your fauorable mindes eche to other that all ſtriff and contention ſe… aparte / yow maie ioine together in a bleſſed Chriſtian and happie ſocietie / peace and concorde / and the thinge wherevnto we wiſhe bothe the parties ſhuld agree is as folowithe.

The forme off reconciliation.

Firſte / where as in this whole treatie off reconciliation and alteration of diſcipline / ſome thinges might happē to ſeeme to rēde to the condēnation of ſome partie or parſon: we do all frelie pronounce and teſtifie eche parte off other / that neither off vsus do condemne either partie / or anie perſon as thoſe whiche hauehave don anie thinge contrary to gods word / or probalitie off reaſon in this matter off diſcipline / but frindly and louingly euerie man dothe imbrace all men omittinge all reherſall and diſputation off thinges paſte with common and hartie praier vntounto god / that from hens forthe we maie remaine / and liue together in brotherly louelove to the glorie off god and comforte off vsus all.

Concerninge the article for exerciſe off lerninge / that there be no mention made off the ſame in the booke off diſcipline but that for ſo muche as lerned men remaine in the congregation / that the miniſterie ſhall for the furtheraunce off lerninge / labor to put in vre ſuch exerciſe off lerninge as the lerned can performe and the abilitie off the churche beare.

Concerninge the receiuinge and diſtributinge off the treaſure off the churche· The receauinge and diſtributinge theroff dothe apperteine to the Deacons / yet not ſo that they doo it withowt the knowledge and conſent off the Miniſters and Seniors. concerninge the kepinge off the ſaide treaſure / it maie verie well apperteine to the Deacons / yet is it not off ſuch neceſſitie out that the reſte off the miniſterie maie otherwiſe ſet order for the cuſtodie theroff / as tyme and occaſion ſhall ſerue.

Concerninge the Article off contribution / when the treaſure off the churche faileth / it perteineth to the miniſters and Deacons to trauell by the waie off exhortation with the riche to helpe in that nede withowte anie further compulſion.

Concerninge the Article off ſendinge off common letters for the relieff off the congregation: That there be no mention made off anye parte theroff in the booke off diſcipline but that the miniſterie with all poſſible ſecrecie vſe ſuch pollicies and means as maie beſte ſerue to the relieff and mainteinance off the congregation.

Concerninge the Article off makinge off lawes / that they be made by the miniſterie and bodie off the congregation beinge called together for that purpoſe. And iff the miniſterie / or anie off them refuſe to be preſent beinge by the bodie off the congregation required therunto / whithowte iuſte cauſe by them or him alleaged / that then / after a dewe time geuen for the hearinge off the cauſe / yff they bringe not in good reaſon and iuſte cauſe off ſuche refuſall: Then to be depriued by the ſame from their or his miniſterie and newe to be choſen.

Concerninge the article off the election off Miniſters That a ſcrutenie / be had euerie yere at the tyme off election for the examination off the Miniſters off the worde / wherin ſhalbe by the appointmente off the congregation ſix or eight graue and wiſe men whiche ſhall heare what faults be alleadged againſt the ſame Miniſter / And yff the faults be waightie and worthie off open correction / to ſignifie the ſame to th… congregation that the offenders or offender maie be corrected or depriued accordingly. Yff the offences be leſſer then that they ought to be publiſhed / then the ſaide miniſters or miniſter offendinge / to be moniſhed off his faulte accordinge to the diſcretion off the Scrutiners.

Concerninge the Article off Teſtamentes. That no man by order in this congregation ſhall be forced to Regiſter his Teſtamente / but that their be eight or 10. graue wiſe / ſubſtantiall and honeſte men choſen by the congregation owte off whiche nomber the Teſtator ſhall hauehave his choiſe / or yff he omit the thinge / his executours ſhall hauehave the choiſe to take 2. off the ſaied 8. or 10. beſides ſuche as are made wittneſſes / whom the executers with…in a monethe after the death off the Teſtator ſhall make priuie to the Teſtamente / and that the ſame two / beinge required therunto / ſhall faithfully declare vntounto eueryevery partie comprehended in the will / ſo muche off the will as ſhall particulerly appertaine to eueryevery off them / and ſhall keepe ſecrete all the reſte off the will or Teſtament as they ſhall proteſte before God and the congregation vppon there conſciences / at the time off their election.

And nowe in caſe it ſhall ſeeme good vntounto all your wiſedomes as well off the Miniſterie and bodie off the congregation off the one part as off the diſſentinge brethern off the other part That we ſhall by oure mediation proceede anye further accordinge vntounto this forme off reconciliation / whiche is here deſcribed: We doo hartely require yow / that ſignifinge your mindes vntounto vsus with as conueniente ſpede as ye maie / ye will alſo appoint owte on either parte / 2. Diſcreet and ſober perſons / louers off peace and concorde / whiche by conference with other two off vsus / whom we ſhall appointe / may drawe theis Articles afore written into ſuch a forme as they maie be conueniently anexed to the reſte off your Diſcipline.

The 29. September 1557. Your lovinge b…ethern and countrie.

Thomas VVrothe.

Frances Knollys

Roger Parker.

Iohn Abell.

Henry Knollys.

Iohn Browne

Fran. willforde

Iohn Turner.

Edwin Sandes.

Thomas Eaton.

Ricard Springham.

The anſwere off the churche to this offre / or the effect off the ſame.

We cannot allowe this waie off reconciliation offred to oure churche by oure countrie men for as muche as we ſhulde condemne oure ſelues as euell doers / and oure doinges vngodly and vnreaſonable / but we are aſſured we hauehave not done in oure diſcipline anie thinge contrary to goddes worde and good reaſon.

The laſt off Septemb.

Dauid VVhithead.

Iohn Hales.

Thomas Sorby

Iohn Pedder

Vhomas Aſhley

Henry Parry.

Richard Beeſley

Robart Crowley

Thomas wattes

Richard Rogers.

VVilliam Rawlinges

Robart Beſte

Richart Luddington.

Edmond Haries.

The copie off the letters off requeſt ſentfoorth for relieff off the poore by Maiſter Sutton

25. Iuly 1557. To all them that beare an vnfayned Reuerence and zeele vntounto the eternall Teſtament off Ieſus Chriſte / ioyned withe the charitable and ſyncere bowells off merciemercy towardes the poore. Grace / MercieMercy and Peace from God the Father by the ſame oure Lorde Ieſus Chriſte his ſonne the common and onelyonly Sauiour off the worlde.

IT is not like that the brute of the cōtrouerſie / which hathe nowe at the ende off ſix monethes continued in this Enſhe churche at Franckford / is vnknowē to ſtrangers: it is more like that ſo manie beinge priuie therto / it is caried and ſpread to farre abroad: and moſte like by the fruites ſpringinge theroff / that it hath byn vntruly reported by the willfull authors and ſtubburne mainteiners off it / not onelyonly to the infamie / reproche / and diſcredit off the bodie off this churche and to the intent to ſtopp all relieff from the poore members off the ſame / but alſo / that their vncharitable and leude behauiours ſhulde not come to light. For it is well knowen that diuerſe charitable men (albeit their perſons and names be neither knowen nor deſired to be knowen) were / before the beginninge off this controuerſie verie liberall in ſendinge their charitie to the vſe off this whole congregation vniuerſally / and ſome were beneficiall to ſundrie members off the ſame particulerlie / whiche ſithe that time to oure knowledge they hauehave left vndone vtterlie. We the Miniſters off the churche / hopinge that theis men the authors and mainteners off this controuerſie would in time hauehave knowen their faults and made ſatiſfaction to the churche as it becomethe chriſten men to doo / did not onelie with pacience ſuffer their ſlaunderous talke and vnquiet demenour / but alſo beare with their vniuſte dealinge / and as much as in vsus laye ſtudied to couer their faultie doinges. Neuertheles / ſeinge no likelyhood off their amendment / but moſte manifeſte proffes off their malice / this poore congregation / rather dailie encreaſinge then in anie parte abatinge / and thereby the pouertie theroff continually augmentinge / we thought it oure bownden dewtie in conſcience / no longer to hide the matter / but thus off neceſſitie conſtrained / to diſcloſe it / ſo as ſeinge they will not be as they ought to be / they maie at leaſte be knowen as they be. And thus we doo not for anie malice that we beare to anye mannes perſon (as god the ſercher off all hartes knoweth) but that the truth beinge knowen / ſuch good people as through vntrue reporte / hauehave byn perſwaded to withdrawe their good mindes and fauor from this poore congregation might vnderſtande that withowte iuſte cauſe they hauehave ſo longe done it / and hereafter be the more willinge to renewe their charitie in the relieuinge off this poore church off Chriſte. And to come to the matter / ye ſhall vnderſtand that after maiſter Horne late paſtor / and the Seniors that were ioyned in the miniſterie with him had by a writinge ſubſcribed with their owne handes / openly before the congregation ſurrendred and geuen ouer their offices / reteininge neuertheles the writinge off their ſurrender in their owne handes / and yet beinge deſired by the congregation not to leaue their miniſteries / but ſtill to exerciſe the ſame: they in no wiſe woulde doo it / wherby the churche was diuers daies deſtitute off the preachinge off goddes worde. Wheruppon / the more part off the congregation / mindinge to hauehave the churche kept in good order and to redreſſe thoſe thinges that were a great occaſion off the former contention / ſo that after there might be a perpetuall quietnes and concorde amonge vsus / went earneſtly abowte the …ame. But it hapened contrarie to oure expectation / the former grudges continuinge / and newe buſines daily increaſinge / which at lenght came to the Magiſtrates eare / contrary to oure mindes and determination. For when we thought that it ſhulde withowte anie further brute / amongeſt oure ſelues hauehave bin pacified and ended as we would to god it had bin. Wheruppon the godly magiſtrates lamentinge muche oure diſſention / ad deſiringe oure quietnes came into oure churche and there / firſte made vsus to promeſſe one to an other / that from thens foorth no mention ſhulde be made off anie former grudge or contention betweene vsus but that all thinges paſte ſhuld be clene forgotten. Afterwarde / for the better continuance off louelove amonge vsus and good order in the churche / with the conſent off Maiſter Horne the paſtor and the Seniors diſcharged him and them off their offices and willed the churche to chuſe newe miniſters and to make a newe diſcipline (for by reaſon off the vnperfectnes off the olde Diſcipline a great parte off the former controuerſie was) as iff there had bin neuer anie churche here before. Wheruppon the church diuers times aſſemblinge / at lenght / the moſte parte of the churche thought moſte reaſonable that amonge other an order ſhulde be in this churche like as it was in the primatiue churche and is nowe in all well reformed churches / that the treaſure ſhulde be in the cuſtodie off all the Deacons and not off anie one man alone. Maiſter Horne with certeine off the Seniors and a fewe others woulde in no wiſe agree vntounto it / but to their vttermoſte reſiſte it / which gaue vsus occaſion off farther iuſte ſuſpition / that the treaſure off the churche in time paſte had not bin Chriſtianly vſed.

And where as alſo we had deuiſed an other order / that for ſo muche as the magiſtrate dothe permit vsus to vſe the cuſtomes and manners off makinge off willes that be vſed in Englande / that for the more ſuretie off oure frindes that were here or ells where / yff we were diſpoſed by oure willes to geue vntounto them anie off that litle ſubſtance that god hath leſte vsus / (yff we ſhulde die here) owre willes ſhulde be ſeene and exemplyfied by the Seniors / ād ſo to be owte of all daunger off countre faitinge at anie time: Horne / and chambers onelie vppon fonde will withowte any iuſte conſideration / or good reaſon cauilled againſt the ſame order / onelyonly affirminge it to be pernitious. Theis thinges we finde manifeſtly at lenght / not to proceede off anie good minde or purpoſe but off contentious frowardnes grownded vppon ſelff louelove and gaine that vnderunder a colour of the churche they might gather good mennes deuotions / and neuer diſtribute anie penny theroff or at the leaſte / to none (had they neuer ſo great nede) vnles they woulde / either faune / and hange on them / or ells ſuſtaine vncharitable tauntes and reproches at their handes.

For where Chambers aboue 13. monethes paſte had off maiſter Whithead then Paſtor and the Seniors then a letter to receaue of one ſpecial mā 20. powndes and beſides / through Horns procurement / a generall proxie to Chambers / and his deputie / to gather the deuotion off good men for the relieff off this poore congregation / whiche by their owne proceedings here before the Magiſtrates (their owne hands wrytinge teſtifinge the ſame) and otherwiſe by oure knowledge we are certeine / they did put in practiſe / and receiued muche therby / yet Chambers vponupon the accoumpt here left behinde him / neither confeſſeth that he receyued the ſaide 20. powndes nor yet anie other ſumme / neither hathe he diſtributed (duringe all the tyme he was in office yet to this daie) in this congregation / to anie one perſon (ſauing to 3. ſcollers that came with him) one penny / that he did not receiue here in this congregation and citie.

And yet / at his departure hence / he lefte 2. off the ſaide ſcollers (vntounto whom neuertheles he promiſed ſufficient prouiſion and findinge / and neuer warned them to the contrary) in dette for their boorde and for other neceſſaries almoſt 20. guilderns whiche this poore congregation was forced to paie. Finallie / where good Miſtres Wilkinſon off bleſſed memorie / put Horne and Chambers in truſte with the deuiſinge and makinge of hir will / whereby ſhe gaue to this and other poore congregations of the poore baniſhed Engliſhe men a Chriſtian liberall relief: Albeit they hauehave cauſed ſome off the ſaied congregations to be paide of the ſame bequeſte / yet hithertoo wolde they not make this poore congregation priuie to the ſumme bequethed vntounto it / muche leſſe paie it / nor yet (accordinge to the order of oure churches diſcipline aforeſaide) let the will be ſeene / ſo as the frindles younge ientle woman hir daughter ſhuld not be defrauded off hir right nor hir mothers will altered to hir loſſe. Furthermore / Maiſter Chambers vnderſtandinge that we were minded (accordinge to oure dewties) to requyre an accoumpte of him / for the vſe off his proxie / getteth him ſuddainly hence (accompanied with Maiſter Horne) earely in a morninge / withowte the conſent or leaue takinge off the congregation or the Miniſterie theroff / and contrarie to his one openly made promeſſe / that he would not departe / till he had anſwered all that any man coulde charge him with.

And at his goinge awaie / he left behinde him an accoumpt / which by cuttinge owte the leaues / and newe written / ſe…ethe not to be nowe at the laſt as it was at the firſte / albeit it was neuer ſo perfect as Chriſtian fidelitie woulde hauehave required it to be. And moreouer / albeit we hauehave twiſe writtē vntounto him charitably exhortinge ād requiringe him to come hither / and diſcharge himſelff of thoſe thinges that ſhall be ſaide vntounto him in the behalff off this congregation / and to the inthent he ſhuld reſtore vntounto it the proxie he receiued / and no longer by himſelff or his deputie exerciſe it in the name off this poore churche / as we are informed he dothe: he neither commeth nor yet maketh anſwere to oure letters / wherby we cannot but think that he meaneth not onelyonly crafte and ſubtiltie (much vnworthie the integritie and fidelitie that he pretendeth) but alſo / to hinder / and as muche as in him lieth / to vndoo this poore congregation / not onelyonly off that he hath already receiued and caried awaie / (as he hath heretofore dealt with the companie off poore ſtudents at Zurick) but alſo / through vntrew reportes off all good mennes deuotions and liberalitie that hereafter woulde ells be beſtowed. Their reportes (whiche amonge many other vntruthes to hinder this poore congregation they ſlanderouſly brute abroad) are chiefly theis: firſte / that the poore off this churche be ſo well prouided for / that the worſte hathe after the rate of 2. ſhillinges by the weeke. Secōdly / that ſome of the poore here / be ſo ſtowte tha… they diſdaine t… aſke relieff in their nede / ſo that oure poore ſeeme either not to nede or not to be worthie off helpe. And thirdly / that men here ſeeke to knowe the names off the geuers to this congregation to their great perill and vtter vndooinge / whiche reportes be all vtterly vntrue / but the truthe is that for lack / many poore men hauehave byn driuen bothe to depart hence / to ſeeke their liuinge in other places and ſome forced to go for relieff into England. Theis ſpeciallties (beſides muche more that we hauehave thought good and very neceſſarie / that good godly men ſhulde knowe / bothe that they ſhuld not conceaue anie euell opinion off this congregation by falſe reporte / and alſo / that mindinge to relieff the poore and miſerably afflicted members off Chriſte their brethern in this churche / they ſhulde when god ſhall moue them to departe with anie thinge to that vſe / ſo deliuer it / as it maie ſauffly come / and iuſtly be diſtributed / where they would hauehave it beſtowed. And therfore we / (conſidering the ſtate off oure fellowe exiles liuinge here with vsus in nede and pouertie / and fedde by the onelyonly good prouidence off god) deſier all Chriſtian men for the louelove off oure ſauiour Ieſus Chriſte to conſider / howe pleaſant a ſacrifice howe ſweete a ſauor the relieuinge off the poore for his ſake is before the face off oure heauenly father. A good mannes liffe / is almoſte nothinge ells then a continuall exerciſe off merciemercy. All the daie longe he hathe mercy and pitie / ſaith the prophet Dauid.

Geue almes off thy goodes (ſaith the holie man Tobiah) and turne neuer thy face from the poore: and ſo ſhall it come to paſſe / that the face off the lorde ſhall not be turned awaie from the. Be mercifull after they power yff thow haſt… muche / geue plenteouſlie: yf thou haſte litle / do thy diligence gladlye to geue of that litle / for ſo gathereſt thow thy ſelff a good rewarde in the daie off neceſſitie. for almes deliuereth from deathe and ſuffreth not the ſoule to come in darknes. A great comforte is almes before the high God / vntounto all them that doo it.

Bleſſed is he that conſideth the poore (ſaith the Prophet Dauid (the lorde ſhall deliuer him in the tyme off trouble / &c. The good man (ſaith Dauid) hath diſtributed abroad and geuen to the poore / his righteouſnes remaineth for euer: his horne ſhalbe exalted with honor / he that geueth to the poore ſhall not lack / ſaith the Wyſe man in the prouerbes. As water / quencheth burninge fire / ſo dothe merciemercy reconcile ſynnes: whiche god ſhall rewarde and not forget / and the dooer ſhall fynde a ſtaie to keepe him vpp when he falleth / ſaithe Ieſus the ſonne off Sirach. Break vntounto the Hungrie thy bread ſaith the Prophet Eſaie and bringe the poore fatherles into they howſe / when thow ſeeſte the naked / couer him / and hide not they face from thine owne fleſhe. Then ſhall thy light break foorthe / as the morninge / and thy helthe flouriſhe right ſhortly / thy righteouſnes ſhall go before thee / and the glorie of the lorde ſhal embrace thee. Thē yf thow calleſt / the lorde ſhall anſwere the: yf thou crieſt / he ſhall faye / here I am. Laie ye not vp treaſures in earthe / where the ruſt and the moth maie deſtroy it / and theues maie digge it owte and ſteale it / ſaithe Chriſte / but laie vpp your treaſures in heauen.

Geue almes off that ye hauehave and behold / (ſaithe Chriſte) all is cleane vntounto yow. What ye geue to one off theis litle ones (ſaithe he) ye geue it vntounto me. And alſo he ſaith: bleſſed are the mercifull for they ſhall finde merciemercy▪ when the ydolatrus Kinge Nabuca…nezer ſhuld be conuerted vntounto god what ſaied the Prophet Daniell vntounto him? redeeme they ſynnes with almes / and thy wikedneſſe with merciemercy on the poore / ſo perhappes god will pardon they ſinnes. Think ye that god forgate abdias that preſerued the hundreth Prophetes in caues and fedd them there? Paule and the other apoſtells diligently bothe with wordes and writinge did labor for the relieff of the poore brethern that were at Ieruſalem and ells where /

And we hope that god will open your hartes and mindes to conſider oure ſtate and by theis ſaynges and examples moue yow to hauehave pitie on your poore brethern / whiche yff it ſhall pleaſe his merciemercy to graunte yow cheerfully to doo / it is not to be dowted / but albeit he ſuffer yow to ſlyde and fall for a time / yet will he heaue yow vp (when it ſhalbe his good pleaſure) and preſerue yow / ſo as at the lenght ye maie be partakers off the ioyfull kingdome off god whiche oure ſauior Ie-Chriſt hathe purchaſed for his electe with the price off hi… blood The holy ſpirite off god be allwayes with yow amen.

This controuerſie which yow hauehave now harde from the …3. off Ianuary hitherto. I finde written by the handes off ſuch as are bothe lerned and off credit / but yet / I muſte nedes ſay / by thoſe that were parties in this broyle. And for ſo much as Maiſter Chambers in this controuerſie is very ſore charged amonge the reſte: who yet / was thought off manie wiſe and godlymen / to be verye godly / vpright / and honeſt / ād ſo no dowte he tooke his leaue of this lyffe: I hauehave therfore here thought good to place a letter whiche is yet off his owne hande to be ſeene / wrytinge the ſame in his owne defence touchinge theis matters ſo as the reader wayinge bothe the one and the other / maie vſe his iudgemente with diſcretion▪

The copie off the letter.

To the worſhip. Maiſter Iohn Hales / M. Thomas Crawley. Maiſter Iohn Willford / and to Maiſter Whitthead / Tho / mas Sorſby / William Maiſter and Iohn olde at Franckford.

Immanuell.

I wiſhe vntounto yow the peace off god with my commendations. The tenor of your demaunde hathe cauſed me to differr anſweringe to your letters vntill this time not off purpos / to geue no anſwere / but that I then vppon the ſuddain wanted ſure knowledge in that thinge wherby yow chiefly charge me. At my comminge from Zurick to Frankford I was intreated by certaine men to continewe my traueiles / in gatheringe the Almes and liberalities off godly mē / to relieue therwith ſuch poore diſperſed Engliſhe brethern / As I ſhuld think moſte meete to be relieued euen as before time I had done. This requeſte put in writinge / ſubſcribed by certeine / was deliuered vntounto me / not as letters teſtimoniall off authoritie / whiche as I neded not / or I required them not / neither yet that I ſhuld by force off them gather for the church off Franckford onelyonly / or ſpecially / whiche I purpoſed not / but that I might be the rather moued to doo as before I had donne. And they then required (whiche was after promeſſe made to further my doinges with all faithfull ſecrecie / in ſuche ſorte as I ſhulde from time to time deuiſe an requier) to beſtowe ſuche ſummes off monie as ſhulde hereafter come to my handes to ſuche vſes and purpoſes as I thought good. Therfore / as by force off thoſe letters I gathered not: So the gatheringe for Franckford churche hathe not byn nor is in my handes / nor off any other at my appointmente as ye do write.

Wherfore as I might / ſo I did / and that by the aduiſe off manie honeſte / graue / and godly men / departe from thenſe withowte making that accoumpte / to whiche I am not bownde / nor leauinge for the relieff off the poore / off whom ſuch hauehave had their portion in this bleſſinge for the time as I thought meete to be relieued. VntoUnto the Students whom I neuer placed there / I hauehave performed whar ſo euer I promiſed. The accoumpt off receiptes / paiments and remaines which ye require / I intende not to make vntounto yow. But I ſhall be ready at all times and in all places to make a iuſte accoumpte off my whole dealinges in this behalff vntounto them whiche hauehave authoritie to demaunde it off me. In the meane tyme / as I ſhall by gods helpe truly do my indeauour / to relieue the poore as I ſhal hauehave wherwithe and finde them meete to receiue it: So ſhall I keepe the names and ſummes ſecret as I am bownde / till by them whiche hauehave iuſte authoritie to louſe me I be otherwiſe appointed.

Thus I committ yow to the grace off allmightie god from Straſbrough this 20. off Iune / Anno. 1557. Richarde Chambers.

AFter I had written this anſwere to your firſte letters reteining them in my hands vntill I might hauehave a conuenient Carior: I receaued your Seconde letters the principall matters therin are anſwered before. To the reſt that be any thinge materiall / thus I ſaie. As touching the delaye off mine anſwere yow call contempte more vncharitablie then truly as vntounto godly wiſe men is well knowen. As my departure was not / ſo my returne to Franckfurt maie not be at your appointement. Your generall accuſations off miſbehauiors and contemptes in the whiche yow ſaie I am faultie / I admitt no… Iff yow can iuſtly charge me with particulers / I ſhall make anſwere to the contentation off all godly mindes.

Where the diſcipline off Chriſte is vſed in iuſte cauſes / it is to be regarded but your vnorderly abuſinge off it / and againſte me that am not off your churche / I eſteeme not. Yff yow vſe ciuill proffes againſte me / I ſha…be as ready to anſwere the cauſe as yow to entre the ſute. As for your diſplayinge off me to our diſperſed brethern to my vndeſerued diſpraiſe in this matter cannot be ſuch but that I ſhall eaſilie purge my ſelf. As god knowethe who with his holy ſpirite molifie your hartes and geue yow the vnfained true ſight off your ſelues amen.

From Strasbrough the 30. off Iune 1557. Richard Chambers.

Deliuered the 20. off Iuly to M. Iohn Hales by Iohn Eſcot.

Nowe / Whiles theis ſharpe and greuous contentions grewe more and more at Franckf. (as ye hauehave harde) manye thinges happened in other places whiche maie in this place be ſhortly touched / to the glory off god (I hope) and alſo / to the great comforte off the godlie / who maie by the ſame / beholde moſte euidently the maruelous prouidence off God towarde his poore afflicted and diſperſed churche.

After that M. Bartue and the dutches of Sulff. were ſaffely arriued at Wezell in Weſtphalia / the brute theroff was the cauſe that moo Engliſhe people in ſhorte time reſorted thither.M. couerdale ſent by the duke of bipont. It pleaſed god alſo / that M Couerdale (after that he had bin withe the kinge of Denmark) ſhuld come to the ſame Towne / who preached there no longe time / till he was ſent for by woulgange duke off bypont / to take the paſtorall charge off Bargzaber / one off his Townes off Germany at whoſe comminge to the duke / he made it knowē / bothe to himſelff and to other noble mē abowte him off M.B. and the dutches beinge in the lowe countries. They vnderſtādinge / the daunger that might come vntounto them in thoſe partes / as alſo calling to remēbrance / what great curteiſie ſtrangers had founde in Englande at the dutches handes: made offre that iff they were forced to remoue or otherwiſe if it pleaſed them / The curteſie off the noble men off Germany to M. Bartuc & the D. o… Sulff.they ſhuld hauehave the Caſtle of Winchaim by Hedleberge within the liberties of Otto Henricus thē Palſgraue and a godly Prince / who moſt gladly (as well appeared) gaue cōſent to the ſame. M. Bartuc and the Dutches acceptinge this offre / lefte Wezeli and came vp to the ſaide Caſtle / ād there cōtinued / til leauinge Germany they traueled towardes the lande off Pole. The congregation that was at Wezell wantinge amonge them / partly the comforte whiche many off them had / by M. B. and my L. beinge there / and partly alſo other reaſonable cōſiderations mouinge them they left Wezel and folowed after: But paſſinge by Franckf. and perceauinge the contention to be amōge them ſo boilinge hott / that it ran ouer on bothe ſides / and yet no fier quenched: many had ſmall pleaſure to tarie there / but went to Baſil and other places / whiles M. Leauer made ſute to the lordes of Berna for a churche with in their dominions / whoſe letters he obtained with great fauour to all their ſubiects for the frindly entertainement off the Engliſhe nation. Theis letters obtained / M. Leauer / M. Boyes / M. Wilforde / M. Pownall and T. Vpchaier / came to Geneua to hauehave the aduice off that churche what was beſt to be done touching the erection off a new churche. They of Geneua / gaue god thanks for that it had pleaſed him ſo to incline the hartes off the lordes off Berna towardes them and gaue incouragemēt that they ſhuld not let ſlyppe ſo good an occaſion. M. I. Bodliegh (who was no ſmall ſtaie as well to that churche as to others) and W. Ke. he traueiled with them. And paſſinge thorough manie partes of the L. of B. dominion in Sauoy and Switzerland / they founde ſuche fauour in all places where they came / as verelie maie be to the great condemnation off all ſuch Engliſhe men as vſe the godly ſtranger (I meane thoſe who come for religion) ſo vncourteouſly.

M. Leauer and the company at lenght choſe Arrow for their reſtinge place / Engliſhe men placed at Arrow.where the congregation liued together in godlie quietneſſe amōge themſelues with great fauour of the people amonge whom for a time they were planted.

Horne and Chambers come to geneua.Not longe after this / Maiſter Horne and maiſter Chambers came by Arrowe to Geneua / ſeminge at that tyme to like verie well off thoſe congregations / (as the churche of Frank. alſo then did as apearethe by their letters afore) in ſo muche as the ſaid Maiſter Horne and Chambers / did diſtribute larglie to the neceſſitie of thoſe churches. So that it appeared that the olde grudge whiche had bin betweene the churche off Franck. and Geneua had bin cleane forgotten.

It came to paſſe not many daies after / that the lorde began to ſhewe mercy vntounto Englande in remouinge Queene Mary be deathe / and placinge the queens maieſtie that nowe is (whom god longe preſerue) in the ſeate / the newes wherof / as it was ioyfull to all ſuche as were in exile / So it appeared that the churche off Geneua was not behinde the reſte / who / (after that they had geuen to god hartie thankes for his great goodnes) conſulted amonge themſelues and concluded / that (for ſo muche as there had byn iarres betwene them and other churches / abowt the Booke off common praier and ceremonies) it was now expedient and neceſſary not onelyonly that vnfained reconciliation ſhulde be betwene them but alſo that they might ſo ioine together in matters off religion and Ceremonies / that no Papiſt or other enemie ſhuld take holde or aduantage by a farther diſſention in their owne countrie / Kethe ſent into Germany and Hel…ia.whiche might ariſe in time to come / yff it were not in time foreſeen and preuented. To this ende was William kethe / one off the congregation choſen to do this meſſage / to them off Arrowe / Baſill / Strasbrough / Wormes / Franckford &c. And to them off Arrowe and Francford this letter was wrytten which folowith and ſubſcribed by the miniſterie in the name off the whole congregation.

The Copie off the letter written the 15. off December.

The Father of mercies and god of all cōſolation confirme and increaſe yow in the louelove off his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt / that beinge in the conduite off the lion off the tribe off Iuda / ye maie be victorious / againſt Sathan and Antechriſte to the ouerthrowinge off Papiſtrie and errour / and eſtabliſhinge of Chriſtes glorious kingdome.

AFter that we hearde (dearely beloued) of the ioiful tiding… off Gods fauoure and grace reſtored vntounto vsus by the preferment off the moſte verteous and gratious Queene Elizabethe: We lyfted vp our hartes and voices to oure heauenly father / who hathe not onelyonly by his dewe prouidence noriſhed vsus in oure baniſhement / preſerued vsus / and as it were / caried vsus in his winges / but alſo harde oure praiers graunted our requeſtes / pitied oure countrie and reſtored his worde. So that the greatnes off this maruelous benefit ouercomethe oure Iudgements and thoughts howe to be able worthely to receaue it and to geue thankes for the ſame. And when we had withe great comforte wayed the matter / to the intēt that we might at the leaſte ſhewe our ſelues mindefull off this moſt wonderfull and vndeſerued grace / we thought amonge other thinges howe we might beſte ſerue to godes glory in this worke and Vocation off fartheringe the goſpell off our ſauiour Ieſus Chriſte. And bicauſe / all impedimentes and cauillacions off aduerſaries might be remoued / it ſeemed good to hauehave your godly counſell and brotherly conference herein / whiche we deſier to lerne by this bearer our louinge brother kethe / that we might all ioyne hartes and handes together in this great worke / wherin no dowte we ſhall finde many aduerſaries and ſtaies. Yet / iff we (whoſe ſuffraunce and perſecutions are certeine ſignes off oure ſounde doctrine) holde faſte together it is moſt certeine / that the enemies ſhall hauehave leſſe power / offences ſhall ſooner be taken awaie / and religion beſt proceade and floriſhe.

For what can the papiſte wiſhe more then that we ſhulde diſſent one from an other / and in ſteed off preachinge Ieſus Chriſte and profitable doctrine / to contende one againſte an other / either for ſuperfluous Ceremonies or other like trifles frō the whiche god off his mercy hathe deliuered vsus. Therfore / beare brethern / we beſeche yow (as we dowt… not but your godly iudgements will think it ſo beſte) that what ſo euer offence hathe byn heretofore either taken or geuen: it maie ſo ceaſe and be forgotten that hereafter god laie it not to oure charges yff thereby his bleſſed worde ſhulde be any thinge hindred. And as we for oure partes freely remitt all offences and moſt intirely imbrace yow oure deare brethern / So we beſeche yow in the lorde that vnfainedly yow will do the like on your behalff wheroff albeit / we aſſure oure ſelues / as bothe by▪ good experience we hauehave proued / and alſo hauehave receaued by your letters: yet … to cut off all occaſions from Papiſtes and other cauillors / we thought it beſte to renewe the ſame amitie / and to confirme it by theis oure letters. Moſte earneſtly deſiringe yow that we maie altogether teache and practiſe that true knowledge off Goddes worde / whiche we hauehave lerned in this oure baniſhment and by goddes mercifull prouidence / ſeene in the beſte reformed churches: That conſideringe oure negligence in times paſte and goddes puniſhemente for the ſame / we maie with zeele and diligence endeauour to recōpence it / that god in all oure doinges maie be glorified / oure conſciences diſcharged and the members off Ieſus Chriſt releued and comforted. The whiche thinge the lorde god who hathe mercifully viſited and reſtored vsus graunt and performe. To whom be all honour / praiſe / and glory for euer and euer.

Your lovinge frinds, and in the name of vvhole churche.

Chriſtopher Goodman

Miles Couerdale

Iohn Knox

Iohn Bodliegh.

VVilliam VVilliams

Anthony Gilby

Frances VVithers.

VVilliam Fuller.

Iohn Pullain

VVilliam Bevoyes

VVilliam VVhi…tingham

The Anſwere returned from Franck. by W. Kethe.

The grace off god and the aſſiſtaunce off the holy goſte lighten and ſtrengthen yow to the vnderſtanding and conſtant reteining of his truthe / to the fartheraunce off his honor and glorie and to the edifinge and maintenance off his churche in Chriſte Ieſu oure lorde.

DEarely beloued / as your letters were moſte welcome vntounto vsus / bothe for that ye reioice at the prefermēt off our godly queene / and al…o tha… y… ſtudie howe to promote the glorie off god: So are w… right ſory that they came not afore the departure off ſuche as ye ſeeke a charitable reconciliatiō with all. For where as ye require that all ſuche offences as hauehave byn gyuen and taken betwene yow and vsus maie be forgotten hereafter: there be not here paſte foure left / which were then preſent when ye dwelt here and not one off the lerned … ſorte ſauinge M. Beeſley. Yet / we dowte not / but as they promiſed in their former letters / to forget all diſpleaſures afore conceaued / ſo they will performe the ſame and eſteeme yow as their brethern. And for oure partes / as we hauehave had no cōtention with yow at all afore time: ſo we purpos not (as we truſt there ſhall be no cauſe) to entre into contention with yow hereafter. For ceremonies to cōtende (where it ſhall lye neither in your hands or oures to appoint what they ſhall be but in ſuche mennes wiſedomes as ſhall be appointed to the d…uiſing off the ſame and whiche ſhall be receyued by cōmon conſent off the parliament) it ſhalbe to ſmall purpos. But we truſte that bothe true religion ſhall be reſtored / and that we ſhall not be burthened with vnprofitable ceremonies. And therfore / as we purpos to ſubmit oure ſelues to ſuch orders as ſhall be eſtabliſhed by authoritie / beinge not of themſelues wicked / ſo we would wiſhe yow willingly to do the ſame. For where as all the reformed churches differ amōge them ſelues in diuers ceremonies / and yet agree in the vnitie of doctrine: we ſe no in conuenience if we vſe ſome ceremonies diuers from them / ſo that we agree in the chief points of oure religiō ▪ notwithſtandinge / if anie ſhalbe intruded / that ſhalbe offenſiue / we / vponupon iuſte conference and deliberation vponupon the ſame at oure meetinge with yow in Englande (whiche we truſte by gods grace will be ſhortly) wil brotherly ioine with yow to be ſewters for the reformatiō and aboliſhinge of the ſame. In the meane ſeaſon / let vsus with one harte and minde cal to the almightie god that off his infinit merciemercy / he will finiſhe and eſtabliſhe that worke that he hathe begon in oure countrie / and that we maie all louingly conſent together in the earneſt ſettinge foorthe off his truthe / that god maie be knowen and exalted / and his church perfectly builded vp throwgh Chriſte our lorde.

From Franckford this 3. off Ianuarie 1559. Your lovinge frinds in the name off the reſt off the churche.

Iames Pilk…ngton

Iohn Mullings

Henry Carowe

Edmond Iſaac

Iohn Browne

Henry Knolls

Frances VVilford

Alexander nowell

Richard Beesley

Iohn Graye

Chriſtopher Brickbate.

An Anſwer brought from the congregation off Arrow by W. Kethe.

The Father off mercies and God off all conſolation confirme increaſe and continewe yow allwaie in the louelove off his ſonne Ieſus Chriſte our lorde.

PRaiſed be God through oure lorde Ieſus Chriſte whiche pulled downe marie that did perſecute / and hathe ſet vpp the godly lady Elizabeth Queene off Englande / to reſtore and maintaine there / the pure preachinge off his word. And for that it hathe pleaſed god to moue your good hartes / for the furtherance off the ſame / with godly zeele and charitable deſier by your letters / to ſhewe vntounto vsus your aduiſe and purpos and alſo to require oures to be returned and ſent vntounto yow by oure brother Kethe: We doo with moſte hartie thanks vnfainedly afore god certifie yow / that to your counſell and conference with vsus / we do conſent willingly concerninge your moſt godly requeſte / for that we acknowledge / that the ſame ſhall be to the aduauncement off his glorie and quietnes off his churche. Alſo / we deſier yow that as ofte as we maie finde hereafter anie occaſion to conſulte and conferre by worde or writinge / that then bothe yow and we ſo take and ſeeke the ſame as maie be moſte to our vnitie in mindes / and diligence to do good in the lordes worke. And farthermore for the forgettinge and puttinge awaie all occaſions off offences we do likewiſe conſente vntounto your good enſample and requeſte / And ſo finallye for the preachinge or profeſſinge off ſincere doctrine ſo as we hauehave ſeene and lerned in the beſte reformed churches we do gladly heare your aduiſe to be ſo agreable to oure purpos that we beſeche yow to praie with vsus / that yow and all we together that be faithfull maie continewe / proceade / and proſper in godly zeele / charitable concorde and earneſt diligence to honor and ſerue god and to comforte and edifie his elect all times and in eueryevery place and eſpecially nowe in England. O lord not vntounto vsus but vntounto they name be honor and praiſe for euer.

From Arrowe / this 16. off Ian. 1559. Your louinge frinds off the miniſtery in the in the name and by the conſent of the vvhole church.

Thomas Leauer.

Robart Pownall.

Richard Laughorne.

Thomas Turpin.

NOwe when as W. Kethe was returned to Geneua with anſwer from the congregations and companies / that were diſperſed in ſundry places off Germany and Heluetia / the congregation (after that they had rendred their humble thankes to the magiſtrates for their great goodnes towards them prepared themſelues to depart ſauinge certeine whiche remained behinde the reſte / to witt to finiſhe the bible / and the pſalmes bothe in meeter and proſe / whiche were already begon / at the charges off ſuche as were off moſt habilitie in that congregation. And with what ſucceſſe thoſe workes were finiſhed / (eſpecially the Bible) I muſt leaue it to the Iudgementes off the godly lerned / who ſhulde beſt Iudge off the ſame.

But yff that Bible be ſuche / as no enemie off god coulde iuſtly finde faulte with: then maie men maruell that ſuche a worke / (beinge ſo profitable) ſhulde finde ſo ſmall fauor / as not to be printed againe. Yff it be not faithfully tranſlated / then let it ſtill finde as litle fauour as it dothe bicauſe off the inconueniences that a falſe tranſlation bringes with it. The Miniſters off Geneua in an Epliſte whiche they wrote / before the newe Teſtament hauehave theis wordes.

There is nothinge more requiſite to attaine the right and abſolute knowledge off the doctrine off ſaluation / wherby to reſiſt all heriſie and falſhod / then to hauehave the texte off the Scriptures faithfully and truly tranſlated / the conſideration wheroff moued them with one aſſent (as they ſaie in that Epiſtle to requeſte 2. off their brethern / to witt / Caluin and Beza / efſonnes to peruſe the ſame notwithſtandinge their former trauells. Beza alſo in his Epiſtle to the prince off condy and nobles of France hathe theſe wordes. Seinge then all theis controuerſies muſte be diſcuſſed by Goddes worde / I ſuppoſe that this thinge ought chiefly to be prouided for / that ſeinge all cānot hauehave the knowledge to vnderſtand the worde off God in theis peculiar languages / the Hebrue and the greek (whiche were to be wiſhed) that there ſhulde be ſome true and apte tranſlation of the olde and newe teſtamēte made the whiche diuers hauehave already labored to bringe to paſſe / but yet no man hathe hitherto ſufficiently performed it. For the olde tranſlation (whoſe ſo euer it is) although it ought not to be condemned / yet is it founde bothe obſcure vnperfect and ſuperfluous and alſo falſe in many places / to ſpeake nothinge off an infinite varietie off the copies. The whiche texte therfore many lerned and godly men hauehave labored to amende / but not with like ſucceſſe. And yet howe neceſſary a thinge this is / who ſo euer ſhall reade thoſe moſte lerned wryters off the gretians / and ſhall compare their interpretations (whiche are manie times farr from the purpos) with the Hebrue veritie / he ſhall confeſſe it with great ſorowe.

And the ſame euill was not onelyonly hurtefull amonge the latten wri…rs / but alſo the ignorance off the greeke tonge wherwit… many off them were troubled / whiles they did depend off the common tranſlation / they oftimes ſeeke a knott in a ruſhe (accordinge to the olde prouerbe) and fell into moſte fowle errors. This cauſe therfore hathe moued me to compare moſte diligently the diuerſitie off copies / and to waie the ſentences and Iudgementes off the moſte parte off the lerned men ſpecially off them that this age hathe brought foorthe / ſkillfull in the languages / who are moo in nomber dowteles and better lerned then the churche hath had ſithens the time of the Apoſtles / and ſo eaſe them ſome what that deſier a more pure interpretation.

And that it might be done with more profit I hauehave allſo added annotations / in the whiche I hauehave alſo compared together the diuerſitie off interpetations and as muche as I coulde I hauehave labored to make plaine and euident the ſence and meaninge off all the darke places / &c.

Thus farr Beza / by whoſe Iudgement and the reſt ye ſe / that to hauehave the holy Scriptures truly and faithfully tranſlated is a matter off no ſmall importaunce. Here might I touche a thinge parhapp worthe the hearinge yff hope were off redreſſe / whiche is / that yff the lerned were but one halff ſo earneſte zelous / and carefull / to ſe that the holy Scriptures in this Realme might be faithfully tranſlated and trulye corrected / as they are many tymes abowte matters nothinge ſo neceſſarie: I woulde not dowte to ſaie that they ſhulde do vntounto god an excellent peece off ſeruice. For the moſte parte off oure Engliſhe Bibles are ſo ill tranſlated (as the lerned report) and ſo falſely printed (as the ſimple maie finde) that ſuche had nede to be verie well acquainted with ſcripture / as in many places ſhulde get owte the true meaninge and ſence. And it is high time to looke vntounto this / conſideringe / that in moſte partes off this Realme preachers ye hauehave none / nor anie that can or will preache (verie fewe excepted) ſauinge certeine wanderers / amongeſt whom (and ſpecially in ſome ſheers) are ſuch ruffenly …ak…helles / and cō mō cōſen̄ers permitted and ſuffred / by whoſe preachings … the worde off truthe is become odious / in the eies off the people. Seinge then (I ſaie) that in moſte places / the miniſtery dothe ſtande and conſiſte of olde popiſhe preiſtes / tollerated readers and many newe made miniſters / whoſe readinges are ſuche / that the people cannot be edified / eſpecially / where one is tollerated to ſerue 2. or 3. churches ād turninge their backes to the people. I leaue to the conſidera…ion off ſuche (who hauehave to deale in this matter) what great ād intollerable miſcheiues maie come more and more / (by ſuffringe ſuche corrupted Bibles in churches and ells where) to the poore ſimple flock off Chriſte. But nowe to drawe to an ende. ye ſe (brethern) by this brieff and ſhorte diſcours / that the grudge wherupon this diſſention hangethe is paſte the age off a childe / and therfore maie (withowte offence I hope) be called an olde grudge / whiche / as it ſeemeth / was neuer yet throughly healed / as will more and more appeare / as this diſcourſe ſhall be from time to time continued / till it be brought euen to this preſent tyme / which time verely / is ſo extreame as the like hathe rarely bin hard off. For it is come to paſſe / that iff anie ſhulde but with a godly grief bewaile the imperfections that remaine and craue for redreſſe: yea / but ſuſpected / or ſhulde but by malice off an Atheiſt / a Papiſt / or Epicure be preſented: ſuch are not onelyonly reuiled and taunted / ſkoffed at and termed by theis odious names off preciſian / puritain / contentious / ſeditious / rebell / traitor and what not: but alſo yff he come once in preſence off the Biſhopps / and ſubſcribe not to what ſo euer they will / then / (yf he hauehave liuinge) to be depriued / or whither he hauehave liuinge or not / be he lerned or vnlerned / be he man or woman / halt or blinde / to priſon he muſte / withowte all redemption.

I wil not ſaie that (in the meane time) ſuch as are turne coates and can chaunge with al ſeaſons / ſubſcribinge to what ſo euer / and can cap it can cope it an curry for aduantage / that ſuch / I ſaie / how ignorant / how vitious / and vngodly ſo euer they be / liue at their eaſe in all pleaſure and in ſome place are thought to be moſte meete men for the miniſterie. But this I maie be bolde to affirme / that / (although in very dede I neither do nor dare condemne certeine godly perſons / who off infirmitie / but yet with moſt ſorowfull and heauy hartes (as hathe well appeared by their moſt lamentable proteſtations with plentie off teares to their congregations) hauehave yelded to more then expedient it were they ſhulde / (prayinge the lorde to let them ſe it in time) yet / it maie not onelyonly be ſaide / but proued too I truſte / that neither is ſubſcribinge allwaies a ſure note off good ſubiect nor yet the refuſall dew proffes off a rebell.

The greateſt Traitors and rebells that godly Kinge Edwarde had in the weſte partes / were prieſts / and ſuch as had ſubſcribed to the booke or what ſo euer by lawe was then in force / but for all their ſubſcribings / there was no ſkirmiſhe / where ſome off thoſe ſubſcribers left nor their karkaiſes in the filde againſte god and their prince. Plumtree and his fellowe prieſts off the northe / I dowte not but they were conformable and applyable to all orders and neuer ſtaggered at ſubſcriptions. But for all that / time tried their traiterous hartes.

But in all the ſturres whiche hauehave happened either ſithens the Queenes maieſtie came to the crowne or before I hauehave not hard off ſo m…che as one (miniſter or other) that hath lifted vp his hande againſt hir maieſtie or ſtate / whom it pleaſeth the enuious and malicious man / to terme preciſion / and puritain in great deſpite and contempt. In dede / this hauehave I founde oute and lerned / that euen ſuche as muſte be cōtente and patiently beare thoſe odious names of puritane preciſian / traitor / and rebell / hauehave yet bin the men / who moſte faithfully (in their callinge) hauehave ſerued the queens maieſtie and their country bothe with in the realme and with owte the realme in Garniſon and in filde / hazardinge their bodies againſt hargabuze and cannon / when as thoſe who nowe ſo furiouſly charge them both owte off pulpits and other places durſt not or at leſte woulde not in anie ſuch ſeruice off the prince and countrie be ſeene. For proffe hereoff / yff yow call to remembrance / who hazardid his liffe with that olde / Honorable Erle off Bedford when as he was ſent to ſubdue the popiſhe rebells off the weſte / yow ſhall finde that none off the clergie were haſtie to take that ſeruice in hande / but onelyonly olde father Couerdale. When moſte likelode was off daunger betweene the Sko…s and vsus / the preacher to the ſouldiars was firſte Maiſter Sampſon / and afterward Maiſter Greſhopp when as the right honorable Erle off Bedford that nowe is had there the charge. The Erle off warwick at his beinge in Newhauen / had in dede with him certeine Miniſters for a time / but after that the Cannon came and began to roare / and the plage off peſtilence ſo terriblie to rage / then (I weene) not a Miniſter there left / but Maiſter Kethe alone. And whē as meanes were made to hauehave mo Miniſters ouer / to aide the ſaied Kethe (who had ſo muche to doo / what with preaching / and viſitinge the poore ſick Souldiars which were in no ſmall nombers) there coulde not be founde (as that right noble Erle can vppon his honor teſtifie ſo muche as one whiche coulde be brought to ſomuche comformitie / as to ſubſcribe to any ſuche ſeruice off the Queens Maieſtie.

When S▪ Henry Sidney had to do with the Popiſhe rebells pff Ireland. Maiſter Chriſtop. Goodman ſhewed his faithfull diligence in that ſeruice. When the Erle off warwick was ſent to ſubdue the popiſh rebells in the north-partes / the preachers off the Queens maieſties Army were Kethe / Temes / and ſtandon who offred themſelues in that ſeruice voluntarily with owte all conſtraynte. And thus it is euidente / that theis with a nomber moo who are now ſo ill thought off / as iff they were traitors and rebells / hauehave yet byn ſo farre off from bringe ſedicious / that they hauehave at all times aduentured their liues againſte ſeditious perſons and rebells / when as ſuche as nowe ſo hardly charge them bothe by worde and writinge / hauehave byn right hartely well content / to take their eaſe and reſte at home.

Conſideringe then / how many waies we are vniuſtly burthened and brought into hatred withowte iuſte cauſe / I ſuppoſed / that no godly man wolde be offended / yff by ſuch lawfull meanes as I might / I ſought bothe to purge my ſelff and the reſt off my brethern / from ſuch heinous and odious crimes as ſome would ſeeme to charge vsus. And that coulde I not doo ſo well anie waie / as by the gatheringe together off this diſcourſe / wherin the indifferent reader ſhall finde / that the religion whiche we holde and profeſſe / is not onelyonly the true ād ſincere religiō of Chriſte / and the ſelf ſame with all the reformed churches in Chriſtendome / but alſo that whiche this Realme hathe eſtabliſhed / touching the true doctrine comonly taught therein. By this diſcours alſo / yt maie be ſeene / bothe when / where / how / and by whom this controuerſie firſte began / who cōtinued it / who was on the ſuffring ſide and who readieſte to forget and forgeue / that godly peace and concord might be had. Nowe / iff anie ſhall ſeeme to be offended with this that I had don / I do moſte humblie beſeche them / to way well and expende with themſelues / firſte / whither I hauehave geuen them anie ſuche cauſe / yff it be for that I hauehave in this diſcours brought to light ſome thinge that might hauehave bin keept ſecret / (the contention beinge amonge brethern) to the ende the common enemie ſhulde not hauehave cauſe to triumphe; let this ſatiſfie them: firſte / that the wicked and common enemye cannot (for his harte) more tryumphe ouer the Godly then he dothe allready and that throughe owte this whole realme. Againe / the crueltie off Cain to Abell / off Iſmaell to Iſaac / off Eſau to Iacob / off the Patriarkes to their brother Ioſeph / the hot contention betweene Paule and Barnabas and Paule and Peter &c. all theis beinge knowne / to the worlde hathe turned notwithſtanding to the great glorie off God / as my aſſured hope is that euen this will alſo in the ende.

And therfore / as the lorde off heauen knoweth that the keepinge off theis thinges almoſte by the ſpace off theis twentie yeres in ſecret / might ſuffice to witnes with me that I had nowe no great pleaſure to vtter it / ſo I wote not howe it commethe to paſſe that euen in the middeſt off great ſtriuing / and ſtruglinge with my ſelff what to doo / I coulde not be by anie meanes reſolued / or ſe iuſte cauſe / why I ſhuld any longer conceale it.

Yff anie ſhulde thinke that I hauehave not with indifferencie / penned the ſtorie: I referre me (to ſatiſfie ſuche) to the iudgements and conſciences off thoſe perſons / who were the plaiers off this tragedie / (off bothe partes many yet liuinge) aſſuringe my ſelff that neither part ſhall be able iuſtlie to charge me / excepte it be for that in verie dede I hauehave ſought rather howe to couer manie thinges / then to laie them wide open to the worlde / as I nothinge dowte to proue iff I might be but harde indifferently / in ſo muche as in this diſcours I hauehave (aſmuche as I coulde) paſſed ouer the names off all where credit might ſeeme to hauehave bin impaired therby (ſauing onelyonly off ſuche as were off verie neceſſitie to be noted for the better vnderſtanding off the hiſtorie.

To conclude: againſte the offences whiche ſome maie take at theis my trauells / I hauehave ſett the greate profit that this maie bringe to goddes churche and to the poſteritie / who beinge taught by other mennes harmes (yff they be happie) will lerne to beware the hope wheroff had greater force to puſhe my pen forwarde to the finiſhinge off this worke / then the diſpleaſures off certaine (ariſinge ſo far as I ſe off no grownd) coulde be to withdrawe me from the ſame. beſechinge almightie god ſo ſtrenghē me with his holie ſpirite / that what troubles or trialls ſo euer ſhall by the lordes good prouidence happen to me hereby / he will vouchſaffe to geue me a contented minde quietly and with patience to beare it / before whom I proteſte / that in wrytinge this diſcourſe I hauehave had reſpecte to his glorie / the defence off his ſacred truthe / the cleeringe / ſo farr as I might / off ſo many excellent lerned men (on whoſe neckes this ſturre is laied as authors off the ſame) and not that I hauehave willingly ſought the hurte / hinderance / or diſcredit off anie man.

And this I / Phi…praie that your louelove maie abounde yet more and more in knowledge and in all Iudgement that ye maye diſcerne thinges that differ one from another / that ye maie be pure and withowte offence vntill the daie off Chriſte

Keepe the true paterne off the wholſome wordes whiche thow haſte harde of me in faithe and louelove whiche is in Chriſte Ieſu.…. Tim. ….

Study to ſhewe thy ſelff approued vntounto god a workman that nedethe not to be aſhamed deuidinge the worde off truthe aright.2. Tim. ….

Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfort, Letters 1

p. CLXXTo the miniſterie and bodie off the congregation off the Engliſhe Churche off Franckford.