Negotiation to Procure True Gospel Peace, Account

Negotiation to Procure True Gospel Peace · Account

A SUMMARIE ACCOUNT OF M^r Iohn Dury's FORMER and LATTER NEGOTIATION: For the procuring of true Goſpell Peace, with Chriſtian Moderation and Charitable Unity amongſt the Proteſtant Churches, and Academies.

…ABORE ET CONSTANTIA

LONDON, Printed for the Author, in the year 1657.

p. 1A SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF Maſter JOHN DƲRYE's former and latter NEGOTIATION.

WHen in the yeer 1628. John Dury was in Pruſſia Miniſter to the Engliſh Company of Merchants reſiding at Elbing, he was ſent unto,The firſt occaſion of this work was at Elbing. dealt withal, Anno. 1628 and moved by Dr. Godeman a wiſe, godly, and learned man, one of the King of Swedens Privy Councellors, and Judge of his high Court in thoſe parts, to ſecond him in a buſineſs of Eccleſiaſticall Unity amongſt Proteſtants, which he ſaid his King and Maſter would be glad to advance. So good a motion being readily entertained, it came to paſs afterward, when Sir Thomas Roe was ſent Ambaſſadour Extraordinary by his Majeſty of Great Brittain, Mr. Durre's being at Elbing.to agree the Swedes and Polonians (which alſo he did ſucceſsfully perform) that both Doctor Godeman and Maſter Dury did make him throughly acquainted with all the paſſages of their Negotiation. Whereupon he according to that generous diſpoſition, which did lead him to favour all good endeavours of a publick nature, did very p. 2willingly aſſiſt them with Counſel, Anno. 1629 and at Maſter Duryes intreaty, conferred with the Lord Chancellor Oxenſtiern, to ſee how far he would ſhew himſelf in the buſineſs, and what courſe might be reſolved upon to proceed joyntly to the effect thereof. The Lord Chancellor manifeſted a good liking to the work, and promiſed to my Lord Ambaſſadour to joyn effectually therein towards his King, and the Lutheran Clergy of his beſt acquaintance. Upon this ground, my Lord Ambaſſadour encouraged Maſter Dury to proceed; and when his Lordſhip was gone into England, the Lord Chancellor ſent for him, heard his particular Propoſals, conferred with him about the ſame, teſtified his willingneſs to give aſſiſtance thereunto, and deſired Maſter Dury to give him information of the paſſages of the work in time to come; ſo he went from Elbing into England in the year 1630.England. Chiefly, Anno. 1630 becauſe his Congregation at Elbing was diſſolved, by reaſon of the inconveniences which war had brought upon the Trade in that place: and becauſe Sir Thomas Roe had promiſed to move the chief Prelates in England to aſſiſt him in the work of pacification.Mr. Dury's being in England. Being then arrived there, he firſt acquainted his moſt familiar friends of the Clergie with his purpoſe, and ſhewed them ſome Declarations written by the chief Preachers of Dantzigh to make it appear, that they were not onelyonly ready to joyn in ſuch a Negotiation, but alſo deſirous and in hope that the Divines in England would in like manner concur; which being done, he came to Sir Thomas Roe, who was mindfull of his promiſe, and became every way as good as his word towards him. For he recommended the buſineſs towards the King, who was pleaſed to refer the conſideration of the matter to the Biſhop of Canterbury, and to the Biſhop of London, that they ſhould hear Maſter Dury, and declare their reſolutions to his Propoſals. This was done accordingly; and he was commanded to write unto the Divines of his acquaintance in Pruſſia, and to the Lord Chancellor Oxenſtiern, to teſtifie firſt the good inclination, and reſolution which the Clergie of England had, to co-operate in due time towards p. 3ſo good a work. Secondly, That their Counſell for the preſent was onelyonly this, that to prepare a way for future Treaties, the Magiſtrates of both ſides ſhould inhib… railing diſputes in the Pulpit, and put down the names of partiality, ſo far as could be done, and not ſuffer any publick Diſputes to be fomented about matters of Ceremony in the form of publick Worſhip.

This he did, and after a good ſpace, when news came, that the Proteſtant Princes in Germany had leagued themſelves together for their mutuall defence, Anno. 1631 Mr. Dury's being in Germany.and that an amiable conference of their Divines had been holden with good ſucceſs at Leipzigh to compoſe their differences in Religion, Maſter Dury was permitted to go into Germany, that he might ſee how the Divines of all ſides might be diſpoſed towards a Conjunction of Councels, and endeavours in the Work.

To make a way for this purpoſe, he had before-hand by the means of Sir James Spenſe Lord of Oreholm, and Generall to the Scottiſh Nation in the Swediſh Army, given notice to his Majeſty of Sweden, what his aim was in the buſineſs of Reconcilement, and how it might be effected: Therefore when he came in the year 1631. into Germany, he found the King ſomewhat prepared, whom ſoon after the Battell fought at Leipzigh, he ſpoke withall at Wirtſburg. His Majeſty was pleaſed to give him large audience,At Wirtſburg. and by conference received full information of all thoſe deliberations, and particular waies, whereby the Work could be proſecuted; of which, the Summary reſolution whereunto his Majeſty gave aſſent, was this: That the Counſel given by the Prelates of England was to be followed, for the inhibition of Diſputes and partial names: and that as Maſter Dury did intend to labour with the Divines of the Reformed ſide to diſpoſe them, to joyn unanimouſly in the means and waies of amity, ſo his Majeſty would recommend the ſame endeavours to be undertaken by ſome Divines of the Lutheran ſide, who ſhould in like manner work upon the reſt of their own party, and afterward when a fit preparation ſhould be found on both p. 4ſides, then His Majeſty did offer to give unto Maſter Dury his Letters of publick recommendation towards the Princes of Germany, and chiefly towards the Elector of Brandenburg, and Landgrave of Heſſen, that with his and their concurrence, and the help of forrain Divines, the buſineſs might be brought to a ſolemn concluſion. Anno. 1632 This favourable reſolution being taken, Maſter Dury dealt firſt with the Divines of Heſſen, then with thoſe of Hanaw, and of the Palatinate, and of Deuxpont, and of the We… teraw, till he heard the King of Sweden was dead; which evil news, although they made a ſtop in ſome part of his reſolutions, yet they made him not leave the ſame, but altering a little his courſe, he procured from all the foreſaid Divines certain Letters and Declarations, whereof ſome were inſcribed to the Biſhop of Canterbury, ſome joyntly to him and to the Biſhop of London, whereby they ſhewed their ſerious intention to labour for unity, with a deſire to be aſſiſted by the Church of England.

Whiles this was a doing,At Heilbron. Sir Robert Anſtruther arrived as Extraordinary Ambaſſadour from his Majeſty to the Princes of Germany. With him Maſter Dury (having now gained the conſent of ſome of the chief reformed Churches in thoſe parts, and thinking it fit to deal with the Lutheran ſide alſo) went to the meeting of the Proteſtant States, which was appointed at Heilebron, Anno. 1633 to frame an Evangelicall League. There he made uſe of ſome Lutheran Stateſmen to inſinuate to the Divines of that ſide certain Propoſitions, which made known unto them his purpoſe. This firſt motion was not without effect towards many,Mr. Dury's being at Franckfort. and chiefly towards thoſe of Strasburg and Norimberg, and ſome in the land of Wurtenburg. The meeting being ended, and the League framed at Heilebrone, he returned from thence towards the quarters of Franckfort, and dealt with two ſuperintendents, Doctor Dunner who was ſet over Mentz by the Lord Chancellor of Sweden, and Doctor Le… ſering who had the inſpection of Darmſtat, and with the Senior Paſtor of the City of Franckfort, Doctor Tettelbach. All theſe were brought to recommend the Work p. 5unto their Brethren, and in the mean time the Churches at Paris, Geneva, Metts, and the Univerſity of Sedan, ſent their anſwers (for Letters formerly had been written to them) wherein they aſſiſted Maſter Dury with Counſell. Some alſo of the Lutheran ſide declared in like manner a forward zeal and inclination to the work, by certain Declarations imparted to that effect unto him. Therefore when a larger opportunity to work more effectually upon all, was offered by another meeting of the Proteſtant States, which was appointed at Frankfort, he thought good to make his intention known unto the convocated Ambaſſadours, and deſired their aſſiſtance to further the ſame; whereupon a reſolution was taken to this effect:

Whereas Mr. Dury having deſired of the Confederate Evangelicall States, permiſſion to treat with the Divines and Paſtors of their Churches, concerning the means of Peace Eccleſiaſtical; Although the Ambaſſadours then preſent had not gotten any particular Inſtructions concerning this matter from their Principals: yet nevertheleſs their opinion was, that if the Lord Chancellor Oxenſtiern would by his authority adv…nce this matter, that their Masters who wiſh from their hearts for this Ʋnity, will be ſo much the more ready with all their endeavours to give aſſistance thereunto, according to the beginning made at the Conference held at Leipzigh, whereunto the Lords States, who are now preſent, in like manner unanimouſly do compromitte.

Having gotten this approbation of the Work, and recommendation thereof by the States unto the Lord Chancellor; and being much incouraged by the private promiſes of aſſiſtance, which the ſeverall Ambaſſadours from all parts made unto him, he thought fit to write Letters to all the Lutheran Univerſities, and to thoſe of the Low-Countreys, p. 6to acquaint them with his purpoſe of ſeeking Unity in matters of Religion. Which being done, when afterward another meeting was in agitation to be held at Erfurt in the Spring,Mr. Dury's being at Frankfort. he thought it fit (becauſe he was minded to return in the mean time for England) to move the Ambaſſadours of the Palatinate, of Brandenburg, Anno. 1633 of Deuxpont, and of Heſſen; in caſe that any meeting ſhould be held before he could come back again, that they would be pleaſed to frame amongſt themſelves ſome courſe, how this matter might be proſecuted thereat; leſt ſo good beginnings might be without effect. They conſented to this motion, and met to conſult about the matter. The effect of their reſolution was this, That they would labour, in caſe a meeting ſhould be called, to cauſe inſert in the Letters invitatory this Clauſe:

That every one of the Princes would be pleaſed to bring along with him a Divine or two, inſtructed and authorized by his Churches, to give advice about the means of procuring Ʋnity, and compoſing differences in Religion; and if the States ſhould not meet there, that nevertheleſs in time and place convenient, ſome particular Convocation of their own Divines ſhould be brought to paſs, wherein theſe two Points ſhould be put to deliberation;

Firſt, Whether, yea, or no, the Acts of the laſt Conference held at Leipzigh, ſhould not be received by all the Churches, ſo far as they contain an agreement of the Articles of the Confeſſion of Ausburg?

Secondly, Whether, yea, or no, the heads wherein a diſagreement may be yet remaining in that Conference, cannot admit of a Reconciliation; if yea, what that Reconciliation may be; if no, then it is to be inquired, whether or no, thoſe remaining differences of opinion, be of ſuch importance, that by reaſon of the ſame, a Schiſme ſhould be upheld betwixt the Churches.

p. 7Theſe things the Ambaſſadour, and Chancellor of the Elector of Brandinburg did take upon him to ſet forward by the means of his Prince.Mr. Dury's being in Holland. So then Maſter Dury went through Holland (where he ſaluted the chief Divines to whom he had written out of Franckfort, and ſome others of his acquaintance) and arrived at London about the end of the yeer, 1633. There he found D. Laud, In London.Archbiſhop of Ganterbury in his Predeceſſors place. Therefore the Letters and Declarations of forraign Churches and Divines were preſented to him, with a brief Narrative of more particular proceedings. All was well liked, and a reſolution agreed upon, that Maſter Dury ſhould proceed, and return again into Germany; which that he might do with greater advantage to the work, he dealt before his departure with Doctor Morton the Biſhop of Durham, Doctor Hall Biſhop of Excester, and Doctor Davenant Biſhop of Salisbury, who gave him certain Theologicall Declarations for the advancement of his purpoſe. Anno. 1634 To which effect, he alſo wrote into Ireland to Dr. Uſher, Archbiſhop of Armagb, and Primate of Ireland, and to the two Biſhops of Kilmore and Ardach, who in like manner did afterward joyntly aſſiſt him with their advices to the ſame end. In the mean time Letters were ſent alſo from Helvetia, and from Norimberg, giving ſuch teſtimony of concurrence, as were fit to encourage him to proceed. For which cauſe alſo when he was ready to go back again into Germany, the Biſhop of Canterbury gave him in anſwer to the Letters which he had brought from the German Proteſtants of both ſides, two Letters, the one to be communicated unto the Reformed, the other unto the Lutheran party, wherein he did acknowledge the receit of their Letters, and moving them to proceed in the good purpoſe which they had undertaken, he promiſed in due time his further co-operation therin. With theſe Declarations, together with a Recommendatory Letter unto Sir Rob. Anſtruther, who was then Ambaſſadour for his Majeſty in Germany, In Germany. At Hamburg.Maſter Dury went from London to Hamburg, where he found Sir Robert waiting for a new Commiſſion to go for Frankfort; and whilſt p. 8his Lordſhip ſtayed,Mr. Dury's being at Franckfort. he took occaſion to acquaint the chief Divines of that City in their Conſiſtoriall meeting, with his Negotiation; who having promiſed to joyn endeavours, he went from thence towards Franckfort, to a great and ſolemn meeting of the Proteſtant States, where he arrived in my Lord Ambaſſadours company in June, 1634. There he dealt in particular, firſt with his beſt acquaintance, and then made a Propoſition in generall to the Aſſembly; thereupon the States were moved to depute out of every Colledge ſome, to take his buſineſs into conſideration. Theſe came together, gave Maſter Dury audience, received informations of the circumſtances of this Work, and peruſed ſeverall declaratory Writings, which divers Univerſities and Divines of both ſides in Germany, as alſo out of Germany in forraign Churches, as England, France, Helvetia, and Tranſilvania, had given to him, which moved them to take the matter into ſerious conſideration, and make a Decree, whereof the heads are theſe:

Firſt, That Maſter Dury having been heard by a ſolemn Committee, and the Writs which he produced, taken into conſideration by the reſt of the States, all of them with unanimous conſent, did judge his Work moſt laudable, moſt acceptable to God, and moſt neceſſary and uſefull to his Church; yet ſeeing it was of great and weighty conſequence, and that many of the Ambaſſadours had not received any Inſtructions thereabout from their Masters, therefore no final reſolution could be taken by them at that preſent, but that they would faithfully relate and recommend the buſineſs unto their Maſters, to bring them to ſome effectual reſolution.

Secondly, That others who had received Inſtructions from their Principals about the matter, had propoſed two ways of proceeding in the Work; ſome thought it expedient, that the manner of proceeding which p. 9Maſter Dury had ſuggeſted unto the States, Mr. Dury's being at Franckſert.ſhould be followed in bringing a Conference of peaceable Divines to paſs, that a fundamental agreement in points neceſſary for ſalvation, according to the example of the Conference held at Leipzigh might be ſetled; And that to this effect, the States of the four Ʋpper Circles ſhould give up unto the Prince Elector Palatine, their more particular advices towards the furthering of the matter; and that the Declarations of the two Saxon Circles ſhould be given up to the Elector of Saxony and Brandinburg, who then ſhould agree amongſt themſelves concerning the time and place of a Meeting, which might be named unto the reſt, and afterwards invitatory Letters ſhould be ſent to forraign States and Princes, to move them to ſend thither alſo ſome of their Divines.

Thirdly, That others thought it no leſs expedient to proceed thus; namely, that the Electors of Saxony and Brandinburg ſhould be intreated by the States, then met together, to reaſſume the amiable Conference which was begun three yeers ago, betwixt their Divines, and thoſe of Caſſell; and to this effect, that (if not ſooner, at leaſt then) when the Treaties of Peace Ʋniverſal ſhould be ſet on foot, a meeting ſhould be appointed, whereunto peaceable Divines on both ſides, both within and out of the Empire, ſhould be called: In which meeting this ſhould chiefly be aimed at, That an agreement ſhould be made in a common Confeſſion of Faith, containing all the Fundamentals of Religion neceſſary for Salvation, ſetting other points of Scholaſticall diſpute aſide.

Fourthly, That the Ambaſſadours who had no Inſtructions did promiſe to relate unto their Principals p. 10theſe advices, Mr. Dury's being at Frankfort.and procure fit reſolutions thereupon, which ſhould be ſent unto the Civil Electors, profeſſing the Protestant Religion.

Fifthly, Moreover, that it was fully conſented unto by ſome, and by ſome taken ad referendum, that in the mean time all Chriſtian moderation was to be uſed on both ſides, as well in preaching, as in writing; leſt if this was not done, ſome hinderance might befall unto their Ʋnity, and being done by this means, the Civil Peace alſo might ſo much the more be advanced.

Sixthly, That Prayers were to be conceived in the Churches of both ſides, to intreat Almighty God to bleſs theſe attempts.

This was made an Act the fourteenth day of September, Sept.1634. To which the ſeal of thoſe which had the direction of the meeting was applied, and all the chief hands did ſubſcribe it.

Of this Act, the Original ſealed and ſubſcribed, was given to Maſter Dury, to enable him to teſtifie authentically to other Churches, the reſolution of the Proteſtant States, that thereby all well-willers unto the work might be encouraged to continue in ſetting it forward. Upon this ground he went again towards England through the Low-Countreys, In the Low Countreyswhere he informed the Divines of his acquaintance, and the Deputies of the Provincial Synods, of things paſt at Franckfort and elſewhere in theſe conſultations, obliging them thereby to take the matter to heart. And when he arrived into England, England.the Biſhop of Canterbnry being informed of all matters, did by Sir Thomas Roes procurement recommend him to the King, who was pleaſed in taking more particular notice of his perſon and work, then in former time, to permit him ſtill to proceed.Holland. To which effect he went over again into Holland, Anno. 1635 with his Majeſties Letters of ſafe Conduct, with a teſtimonial from the Biſhop of Canterbury, bearing witneſs that p. 11Maſter Dury had acquainted him with the ſucceſſe of his proceedings,Mr. Dury's being in Holland. that he went again out of England to proſecute the ſame buſineſs, not onelyonly with his knowledge, but alſo with his approbation, and aſſurance that he would be ready in due time, to advance ſuch holy deſires of Peace. He had alſo private Letters from Doctor Davenant Biſhop of Salisbury, and Doctor Hall Biſhop of Exceſter, to ſome of the chief Divines of the Low-Countreys, to move them to concur more effectually in theſe endeavours, then they had formerly done. Moreover, he had Letters from the Ambaſſadour of the Lords States of the Low-Countreys, reſiding at London, unto the States both of Holland and Zealand. Thus he ſet forth, and arrived at the Hague in July, the yeer 1635. There he dealt firſt with the States of Holland, to induce them to recommend theſe thoughts unto their Provincial Synod which was then begun. Afterward he went to thoſe of Zealand, In Zealandand appeared in their Claſſical meetings held at Walcheren, Zirickzee, Tolen and Goes, then he dealt with the Univerſity of Leyden, Leyden.and the Synods as they came in order; namely, with that of North-Holland, and of Utrecht, and with the French Synod in thoſe parts, from which Declarations were obtained, fit for the advancement of his purpoſe: When he had thus far proceeded in Holland, and found that evil-affected mindes towards Peace, raiſed ungrounded ſurmiſes againſt him, to ſtop the good inclinations of impartiall men, he uſed means to clear mens judgements, by cauſing ſome things to be printed for the better information of all. And having underſtood that the Lord Chancellor Oxenſtiern was to go from Germany into Sweden, where he hoped that his Lordſhip would do more then in Germany he was able to do for the work of Peace; at the perſwaſion of ſome friends, he took a journey thitherward, where he arrived in June, Anno. 1636 Anno 1636.In Sweden. Nor was he altogether diſappointed of his expectation. For the Lord Chancellor coming thither favoured his work; and although his proceedings were flow, yet much reality was found in them. For when a reſolution was taken to permit Mr. Dury to treat p. 12with the Divines of that Kingdome,Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm. four places were named, Stockholm, Ʋbſall, Weſteroſe, and Strengneſe, to which he might addreſs himſelf particularly, and lay open his intention, having therefore firſt dealt with thoſe of Stockholm, he had the Lord Chancellors Letters to make way for him at the other places,Upſall. of which the Univerſity of Ubſall was the chief. There he had conference both Collegially and ſeverally with the Profeſſors of Divinity, who gave full aſſent unto his deſires, and ſet down theſe Conditions, upon which they were ready to agree and joyne with the Reformed ſide.

1. That a full agreement ſhould be made in all the fundamentall Articles of faith.

2. That all errors overthrowing the foundation, or tending to overthrow the ſame, ſhould be condemned.

3. That in matters ceremoniall and of indifferency, there ſhould be a mutuall toleration.

4. That betwixt the parties united, ſincerity and uprightneſs ſhould be maintained, leſt ancient Errours might he upheld under doubtfull ſpeeches.

5. That when peace is made, none ſhould be ſuffered to maintain, excuſe, or ſpread any more the Errors once condemned

6. That ambitious and needleſs Diſputes and brablings ſhould be inhibited on all ſides

p. 137. Anno. 1637 Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm.That former reproaches and injuries ſhould be put to oblivion.

8. That the Church-Government ſhould be ſettled according to Apoſtolical Rules.

Theſe demands the reſt agreed unto, neither was any thing of moment added thereunto by any. Therefore being returned back again into Stockholm, and having informed the Lords Regents of that which was paſt, thoughts were entertained about the firſt and the laſt of theſe Conditions, as the chief of all the reſt; namely, concerning Fundamentall Articles of Faith, and the eſtabliſhment of Eccleſiaſticall Government. Touching the firſt, namely, how to limitate the number of Fundamentals, and diſtinguiſh the ſame from not-Fundamentals, Mr. Dury did impart a brief Diſcourſe unto thoſe of Ubſall, to which they made no reply, as being loth to go too faſt, before they ſhould have the conſent of their Brethren, yet ſilently they aſſented thereunto. Concerning the ſecond, becauſe they then were in deliberation to ſettle their Eccleſiaſtical Government by Canons, which they were about to make. Therefore both the Dean of the Faculty of Divinity at Ubſall, the Queens Tutor at Stockholm, and the Lord Chancellor, conferred ſeveral times with Mr. Dury about that matter, to know the Conſtitutions of the chief Reformed Churches; wherein he laboured to give them ſatiſfaction; and imparted unto them alſo the printed judgements of the Engliſh Prelates, Doctor Morton, Doctor Davenant, and Doctor Hall, which beſides ſome other publick Treatiſes of the ſame nature, were communicated unto them. But the Lord Chancellor being deſirous to confer more particularly, and at leiſure, with Maſter Dury, about all matters belonging to the further advancing of the work of pacification, took him along in his company and Coach towards Ubſall, in a Circuit which he made thitherward from Stockholm, thorow Strengneſe, and Weſteroſe. In this progreſs the Biſhops of Strengneſe and Weſteroſe p. 14were dealt withall the ſecond time.Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm. They ſetled good reſolutions, and laid grounds for conſtant future Treaties; ſo far, that they had thoughts of ſending ſome body into England; nevertheleſs, before matters could be brought to full maturity, ſome of the German Lutherans hearing large reports of Maſter Dury's proceeding in Sweden, and being moved with jealouſie that the Swedes would come to ſome publick Treaties, and therein to a Concluſion without them, did expoſtulate the matter, and by Letters endeavoured to diſſwade them from all further entertaining of his motions, by which means their ſpirits were troubled, and their reſolutions ſo clogged, that from that time forward, they went heavily to work; yet Mr. Dury hoping to overcome all ſuch letts, did not leave the work, but laboured ſo much the more to engage them to it, by ſhewing ways free from all exception, whereby the differences which they did ſtick at, might be compoſed. This he did firſt at Ubſall, and afterward at Stockholm, in a meeting of the chief Clergie, which was commanded to deal with him; wherein he gave them ſatisfaction to all their demands, in a whole days conference inſtituted to that effect, ſo that they ſeemed to acquieſſe. And becauſe they had laid this as a main ground, That if a Fundamentall agreement could be found in the Doctrine of the Lords Supper, they would not much ſtand to debate other matters. Therefore not long after their conference, he offered to the Archbiſhop and Profeſſors of Ubſall, a learned and patheticall Declaration, which from the Univerſity of Aberdein, and Miniſtry of Edinburg, was ſent unto him, to ſhew the fundamentall agreement of Proteſtants in that point. At this Declaration ſome ſmall exceptions were taken, in reſpect of certain forms of ſpeeches contained therein; which Maſter Dury having fully explained, and thereby reſolved their doubts, thoſe of Ubſall did reſt ſatisfied; but ſome others there were, who having ſet themſelves profeſſedly againſt the work, would by no means receive any content. For the more humbly and diſcreetly it was offered unto them, the more they ſought to avoid it, p. 15and laboured by all means to cry down and diſcredit the very purpoſe of agreement, Anno. 1638 Mr. Dury's being at Stockholm.leſt the good liking which the Lords Regents did ſhew thereunto, might take ſome reall effect, and work upon the ſpirits of the common Clergie a good impreſſion to give way unto it. This their perverſeneſs being fully apparent, moved Maſter Dury to deal in ſome kinde more ſtrictly with them, than otherwiſe his inclination would have ſuffered him to do; yet at laſt, to avoid occaſions of ſtrife, he reſolved to depart from thence, and let the buſineſs lie a while aſleep; but leſt ſome unconſcionable men might falſly traduce all his proceedings in his abſence, as then already in his preſence they had begun to do, by miſ-informing others of his words and actions, and miſ-interpreting ſuſpiciouſly his aim, he cauſed to print (before he went away from thence) a Summary and true Narrative of all his chief actions, and Propoſals which he offered to the Clergie of that Kingdom met in a Convocation. And afterward, to the end they ſhould have no juſt cauſe of falſe ſurmiſes, or pretext to traduce his intentions, he made a ſolemn Vow to binde himſelf to lawfull purpoſes, and unblameable ways of proceeding, which he put to paper and preſented to the Lord Chancellor, to be imparted unto the chief of that Clergie. Theſe preventions being uſed, when he was reſolved to be gone, the Lords Regents were pleaſed in the Queens Name to give him a Declaration and dimiſſory Letter, whereby his actions in Sweden were approved, bearing witneſs that Maſter Dury being come into Sweden to diſpoſe the minds of their Clergie unto the work of Peace Eccleſiaſticall, according to the grounds laid by the States of the Empire at Frankfort, Anno 1634. he had dealt by permiſſion and command of her Majeſty, with the chief Divines of that Kingdom; and although ſome difficulties were riſen, as in weighty matters is uſual, yet that he had not omitted any thing which could ſerve for the taking away of the ſame. Thus he went from Stockholm, Anno 1638. and came to Lubeck, there he had ſpeech with Dr. Hunnius, At Lubeck.one of the chief Divines of thoſe quarters. Him he prepared to entertain the p. 16motion of Peace,Mr. Durye's being at Lubick and Hamburg. Anno. 1639 which afterward ſhould be made unto him. From Lubeck he ſet forward towards Hamburg to meet Sir Thomas Roe, who there was reſiding as Embaſſadour Extraordinary from his Majeſty of Great Brittain towards the King of Denmark, and Princes of Germany. To him he gave attendance all the while he ſtaid in thoſe parts, not leaving his former purpoſe, but rather uſing the advantage of his Lordſhips favourable countenance.

In this new period of the Negotiation, he went ſlowly to work, firſt becauſe he looked towards the Swedes, how they would behave themſelves after his departure; Secondly, becauſe he waited for ſome overture to begin, and make ſome Propoſals at the publick Treaties of Peace in Germany, which then was thought upon by reaſon of the Emperours Ambaſſadour, who was come to thoſe parts, and the Mediators which did offer themſelves towards that Negotiation. But when thoſe Treaties were not likely to proceed,At Bremen. he went to Bremen, that he might acquaint the Divines of that place with his former proceedings, and gain in time to come their aſſiſtance by way of counſel. Theſe were very cordial in the buſineſs, and entertaining him with all kindneſs and liberality (which no Germans before them had done) ſuch encouragements and declarations were given, as he could deſire, both from the Clergie, and Magiſtrate of that City. Then he proceeded towards the King of Denmark, At Gluckſtad.who was at Gluckſtad; there with the good liking and countenance of my Lord Ambaſſadour, he acquainted the Lord Chancellor Raventclow with his deſire to deal with the Clergie of Denmark, if his Majeſty would give him leave ſo to do. His Majeſty gave way to his demands, and was pleaſed to recommend certain Writings (which his Chancellor received from Maſter Dury) unto the conſideration of his Divines of the Univerſity of Coppenhagen.

Theſe gave their judgment and advice concerning his Negotiation, tending to ſhew their approbation of the purpoſe, their particular counſel, and propoſals in proſecuting of it, and their willingneſs to treat further about it p. 17with Maſter Dury, Mr. Dury's being at Gluckſtad.if his Majeſty would give permiſſion thereunto.

The King cauſed their judgment to be delivered to Maſter Dury; who thereupon did accept of the offer of their Treaty, and gave them a large Anſwer to all their Propoſitions, containing divers overtures towards a conſtant progreſs in a Theological way of Treaty. Unto this Anſwer, by His Majeſties command, they gave a further Declaration of their judgment; whereunto Maſter Dury having replied, and ſhewed his Majeſty a brief and ready way to come to the purpoſe, the King was pleaſed to write unto my Lord Ambaſſadour, to let him know that he thought it fit Maſter Dury ſhould be more particularly authorized from England, before the matter could proceed betwixt him and his Divines to any iſſue. Whiles theſe matters were thus in agitation, Maſter Dury dealt alſo with the Magiſtrates and Miniſtry of Hamburg and Lubeck, and with the Illuſtrious Archbiſhop of Bremen, At Bremen.who gave him a reference to ſome chief Divines, who entertained his motions with very good liking, and gave him an anſwer to the ſame.at Stade. In like manner he made Propoſals to thoſe of Stade, who took the ſame into mature conſideration, and promiſed to concur with others in anſwering. At laſt he went to thoſe of Brunſwick and Luneburg, where,at Brunſwyck. with the ſingular favour of thoſe Princes, and by the moſt pious and peaceable inclinations of their Counſellors and chief Divines, towards the work of Reconcilement, a ground was laid for a very effectual progreſs. For they have made the work their own, undertaking to diſpoſe the reſt of the Lutheran Churches and Univerſities unto a real concurrence in it, that afterwards they may proceed with our Churches joyntly, to a full concluſion.

Duke Augustus of Brunſwick was the firſt to whom Maſter Dury made his addreſs: this learned and wiſe Prince was pleaſed, in favour of the Work, not only to convocate his chief Divines, and appoint them, with ſome of his Counſellors of State, to confer Collegially a whole day with Maſter Dury, but alſo to ſettle a reſolution, p. 18which his Divines ſubſcribed,Mr. Dury's being at Hildeſheim. obliging themſelves thereby, to joyn in all the waies of agreement, whereof they had conferred together: and moreover, to recommend the matter to his Couſin Duke George, by a large and moſt effectual Letter.

With this addreſs he came to Duke George, reſiding at Hildeſheim, where he had no leſs, but rather more favourable entertainment then he had gotten at Brunſwick. For by an Act of Councell the chief Divines, who then were in place, were appointed to viſit and entertain him, till others that were ſent for ſhould come: And when the chief of them were come, Maſter Dury was lodged and entertained with them in one houſe at the Princes charge, for the ſpace of fourteen days, that they together might ripen matters, and bring their thoughts to a head. Which being done, a Committee of ſome Counſellors of State was appointed to give them publick audience in the Princes Name, to hear them confer upon the matter of agreement, to conſider their Counſels and joynt reſolutions, and to make relation thereof unto the Prince, that by his Authority and Countenance, ſuch aſſiſtance might be given to the Work in due time, as ſhould be thought expedient: All which being done, firſt the Divines gave to Maſter Dury a Theological Declaration, wherein they teſtified their agreement to all his Propoſals, and then their more particular reſolutions concerning the manner of proceeding which they would follow in the future advancement of the Work on their part, were alſo imparted unto him. The ſubſtance whereof was this:

That Doctor Calixtus chief Profeſſor of the Univerſity of Helmeſtat, ſhould by order of the Prince put forth ſome Treaties, wherein the heads of matters in diſpute amongſt Proteſtants ſhould be handled hiſtorically out of Antiquity, to ſhew what the Church of all ages hath believed thereof; and how, notwithſtanding ſome difference of opinion thereabout among the ancient Fathers, Brotherly love was alwaies maintained. Theſe Treaties ſhould be thus improved: Firſt, they ſhould be ſent unto the Lutheran p. 19Univerſities of Wittenburg, Leipzigh, Iena, Marpurg, Mr. Dury's being in Hildeſheim.and Roſtock, and alſo to thoſe of Brandenburg, Heſſen and Bremen, to move them to declare their judgments therein for mutuall agreement. Then, at ſome fit occaſion ſome body ſhould go to Leipzigh and Wittenberg, and deal with the Saxon Electoral Profeſſors by word of mouth, to diſpoſe them to a full reſolution in this buſineſs. To which effect alſo the Prince ſhould move the two Dukes of Saxon Weymer, Duke William, and Duke Erneſtus, who have long wiſhed for this Reconciliation, to cauſe their Univerſity of Iena to co-operate therein; And in proceſs of time, when the buſineſs ſhould be brought by this way of proceeding to ſome conſiderable ripeneſs, then it ſhould be moved, that from Great Brittain and elſewhere ſome body might be joyned to Maſter Dury, and alſo from Germany ſome body ſhould go into England, and other parts, to ſpeak with the chief Divines of thoſe Churches, that when there ſhould be good hopes of bringing the matter to paſs, the Soveraign Princes and States of all ſides ſhould be intreated to agree upon a meeting, to make ſome concluſion in the matter: for the good ſucceſs whereof, publick prayers ſhould be made with common conſent in all the Churches.

Theſe reſolutions being taken, when the Prince himſelf had ſpoken to Maſter Dury, and given him aſſurance of his willingneſſe to ſet forward this purpoſe, he did diſmiſſe him with a recommendatory Letter unto his brother, Duke Frederick, reſiding at Zelle, Zelle.who in like manner received Maſter Dury very kindly, and moved his Divines to confer with him. In this conference, when they had received ſatisfaction to ſome doubts which were propoſed, they gave conſent unto all which was concluded at Brunſwick and Hildeſheim. Luneburg.From Zelle he went to the free City of Luneburg, where he acquainted the Miniſtry of the place with his propoſalls made unto other Churches, that they might alſo take the ſame into their conſideration, and in due time with conſent of their Protector, D^k. Frederick, reſolv what to do therein.

p. 20Thus the Circuit of Brunſwick and Luneburg being finiſhed,Mr. Dury's being at Gluckſtat. he returned to Hamburgh in February, An. 1640. Anno. 1640 from whence without delay he went towards my Lord Ambaſſador, Sir Thomas Roe, who was at Gluckſtad, with the King of Denmark, to giuegive him account of all the paſſages of his proceedings. There he alſo dealt further with the Lord Chauncellor, Detloff Raventlow, and the King himſelf was pleaſed, upon my Lord Ambaſſador his recommendation, to give him acceſſe to kiſſe his hand, and in preſence of his Son, the Archbiſhop of Bremen, to ſpeak with him about the ſetting forward of his purpoſe. In which diſcourſe, his Majeſty ſhewed a good liking to his proceedings, and gave way that if he thought fit, he ſhould make new propoſalls, touching means of Reconcilement, unto his Divines, that they might have further occaſion to entertain theſe thoughts as well as others. Hereupon Maſter Dury did impart unto the forenamed Lord Chancellor, a paper, containing certain heads, fit to be Theolagically conſulted upon by them, that their reſolutions touching the ſame, might in due time be framed, and alſo made publick, if they themſelvs thought it expedient. Thus the Treaties at Denmark being again ſet on foot, hee returned from Gluck ſtad with my Lord Ambaſſador towards Hamburg, and gave by letters, information into England, concerning all matters of moment, which paſſed in his work. Then alſo ſom writingspreſented formerly unto the Divines of Denmark, were made publick, that many who deſired to know the paſſages of that negotiation, might have ſatisfaction therein. Not long after, my Lord Ambaſſador was recalled from Germeny into England, about which time the private diſputes amongſt thoſe of Bremen were come to ſome height: for thoſe that were moſt inclinable to moderation, ſuffering wrong, had ſought: Maſter Dury's advice, and deſired his help to compoſe their doubtfull queſtions. Therefore he ſent to ſome of the Prelates of the Church of England, and ſome of the Profeſſors of Divinity, in both Univerſities, certain writings, which the chief Divines of Bremen ſubmitted unto their judgments,at Bremen. containing the p. 21true ſtate of their difference, Mr. Dury's being atwhich reflected much upon the main controverſie debated betwixt the reformed, and the Lutheran Divines; therefore the deciſion thereof, was thought to be a ſingular preparative for the common and more publick Unity of all Proteſtants. To theſe writings the Biſhops of Salisbury, and of Exceter gave their anſwers, and the reſt to whom they were ſent, promiſed to do the like; In the mean time Maſter Dury ripened, ſomwhat matters towards the Lutherans, and endeavoured to ſmooth the knottineſſe of the Clergy of Hamburg and Lubeck.

For finding ſome warping of their intentions,At Lubeck. which he perceived would bend another way then was expedient; hee dealt firſt with Doctor Hunnius a leading man at Lubeck, and then with the Senior Preacher of Hamburg, at Hamburgthat when theſe two ſhould bee ſet in a right way, the leſſeknowing and more clamarous Clergy might be more eaſily perſwaded, and wrought to admit the thoughts of moderation. As for Doctor Calixtus, although ſome men of ſtrife, and evill willers to him, did undertake to diſturb him in theſe peaceable thoughts, yet being ſtrongly countenanced by Superiors, hee began to perform his promiſe, and gave Maſter Dury full aſſurance of his conſtancy, and of the concurrence of many others towards the furtherance of the ſame Councells. And becauſe the oppoſition made againſt Doctor Calixtus, by his Brethren, was like unto that which the chief Profeſſors of Bremen ſuffered by their Brethren, Maſter Dury conceived that the ſimilitude of their caſes, might be a motive to induce them to mutuall correſpondency, in the work of reconcilement. Therefore having gotten the Originall Writings which Biſhop Davenant, and Biſhop Hall ſent to thoſe of Bremen, At Bremen.hee went thither, to deliver the ſame, and conferre with them about the matter, whereunto hee found them exceeding well inclined. In the way going thither, hee dealt with one Statius Buſcherus, Doctor Calixtus his chief oppoſer, endeavouring to mollifie and withdraw him from ſome prepoſterous courſes: and coming back again, hee ſtayed a p. 22whole day at Bremenvorde, Mr. Dury's being at Bremervorde.the Reſidence of the Illuſtrious Archbiſhop of Bremen, with whom he had twice occaſion of large conference, tending to give him ſatisfaction (which hee alſo received) concerning ſome doubts, which hee had conceived of the Work. From thence paſſing through Stade, at Stade.and having inſinuated unto the chief Preacher of that place M. Haveman ſome writings tending to Pacification,at Buxtebude. hee arrived at Buxtethude where hee met with Maſter Scholvinus the Paſtor of the place, a learned and moderate Lutheran Divine, whom hee confirmed in a courſe of conference, and correſpondency, begun with Doctor Bergius at Bremen, towards the ripening of matters belonging to Pacification.

Then being come back to Hamburg hee made himſelf ready to return for England: At Hamburg.And to this effect took his leave of the Magiſtrate, and Miniſtry of that place; ſome of the Magiſtrate were very earneſt with him to perſevere in the proſecuting of his work, and the Miniſtry gave him their anſwer in writ, ſhewing that they were willing to proceed; firſt, by way of private correſpondency in writing, and then by way of publick meeting, when things ſhould be repined. Before he went from Hamburg he ſent by Sea to the chief Prelates, who in England had aſſiſted him, a Treatiſe, which Doctor Calixtus of Helmiſtat, had written in behalf of the work, that they might declare their judgment unto him concerning the ſame. Then he paſſed again through Buxtehude, and Stade, where hee confirmed Maſter Haveman and Scholvinus, in their reſolutions to moderation, and dealt again with Statius Buſcherus, to take off the edge of his ſpirit againſt Doctor Calixtus. At Bremen hee ſtayed fourteen days,at Bremen. to print an Information directed to all the Reformed Churches, concerning the Councells of peace, whereunto the Lutheran ſide did give way, that if the ſame ſhould finde on the reformed ſide in like manner approbation, the buſineſſe might bee in due time ſet forward by publick authority.at Oldenburg. at Embden. From Bremen hee went to Oldenburg, where he dealt with the Superintendent of that place, and by his means preſented to the Earl p. 23of Oldenbueg that which was fit to give him information of his work. Anno. 1641 From thence hee came to Embden, Mr. Dury's being at Groningen.where hee ſtayed certain days, to inſinuate the printed information unto the Divines, both of the City,at Amſterdam. and of the County. At Groningen hee did the like: from whence coming to Amſterdam, the Hague.hee conferred with the chief Divines of his acquaintance there, and ſent to all the Presbyteries (which they call Claſſes) of North-Holland, and neighbouring parts, ſo many copies of the printed information, with adjoined letters, as were requiſite to bee imparted unto them. From the Hague hee did the like unto all the Presbyters of South-Holland and Zealand, and of the neighbouring places, as alſo to the Synods which were to bee held in every Province. Thus having given ſatisfaction to the chief of the Low-Countries, and uſed means to ſend information from Amſterdam into Helvetia, and from the Hague into France, in England.hee came to Zealand, and took Shipping for Eengland: Where being ſafely arrived, hee made his application to the King and Parlament, and to all that were in power and place to move them to countenance and aſſiſt his deſigne, but the diviſion between the King and Parlament increaſing daily; his motions though not unſeaſonable, yet were not effectually entertained by any either in England or Scotland; becauſe ſeverall applications being made to the Churches, and to the men of eminency in both Nations, all the year 1641. hee found all to bee in vain, be cauſe every one was intent upon his particular occaſions,the Hague. and all minding onelyonly their Domeſtick grievances; the common intereſt of Proteſtants could not bee laid to heart: therefore when hee ſaw that nothing could bee effected or intended, ſo long as the differences were like to grow greater; hee accepted of a Call, which was given him to the Court of the Princeſſe Royall at the Hague, to attend the Service of that family in the education of that Princeſſe. Hee was in that imploiment in the years 1642, 1643. till he received a Summons from the Parlament, whereby hee was called unto the Aſſembly of Divines; and becauſe tht Prince of p. 24Orange would not give him conſent to go thither,Mr. Durye's being in England Anno. 1645. till 1654. nor could hee find any comfort in his imploiment at Court, hee reſigned his charge at that place, and accepted of the c…l which the Marchant-adventurers at Roterdam gave him, to bee the Miniſter of their Company: there hee was in the year 1644. and the firſt Summons whereby hee was called unto the Aſſembly of Divines, beeing ſtill inſiſted upon; he went from Rotterdam in the year 1645. and cam to London, where in the ſervice of the Churches, for the compoſure of Domeſtick differences, he imploied himſelf between all emergent parties, till the year 1654. So the work of his publick Negotiation for the Unity of Proteſtants was ſuſpended for the ſpace of almoſt thirteen years; wherein he entertained onelyonly a correſpondency by letters with ſome of the Divines of his acquaintance beyond the Seas, to keep the thoughts of ſo good a work a foot amongſt them, ſo far as the times could permit.

Then the Peace being happily concluded between England and the United Provinces, on the fifth day of Aprill, 1654. Maſter Dury having gotten his Highneſſe the Lord Protectors approbation and countenance, for the continuance of his deſign of Pacification amongſt Proteſtants, and having obtained the aſſiſtance of the two Univerſities, and of the chief Miniſters in and about London, to concurre with him in his endeavours,In the Low Countreys In high Germany. in Switzer Land at Zurich. he went from London on the foreſaid day of April; and through the Low-Countries, and a part of High Germany, hee came to Zurich in Switzerland on the eighteenth day of May, where having delivered his Highneſſes letter inſcribed to the Proteſtant Cantons, recommending his deſigne unto them; thoſe of Zurich at his deſire appointed three profeſſors of Divinity and three of the chief Miniſters to treat with him; till they ſhould call a meeting of deputies from all the other Reformed Cantons to hear his propoſalls, that a generall reſolution might bee taken to carry on his work. This meeting was held at Araw, in the Canton of Berne, on the thirteenth of June; where Maſter Dury having propoſed the ſcope of his Negotiation, and the main grounds upon which it was to p. 25be agitated,Mr. Dury's being at Zurich. and communicated ſome Documents to bee conſidered of by all the Cantons; Anno. 1654 the deputies returned home, and made report of that which had been propoſed and imparted unto them; and on the twenty ſeventh day of the following MonethMonth, the Generall Reſolution of the Cantons was delivered in writing to him by the Senate of Zurich; July 27which was to this effect.

That the Cantons rejoiced much to find his Highneſſes favourable affection expreſſed unto them; and acknowledged it a great honour, that hee had acquainted them before others, with his purpoſe to advance the Ʋnion of Proteſtants in Europe.

That to Maſter Dury's propoſall and ſcope, they gave their full aſſent as to a work moſt commendable and neceſſary.

That they would not onelyonly commend it to all their Churches and Academies, but would concurre to further it with their advice and authority.

That to find the effect of this their imclination, they, invited him to viſit their chief Cities and Academies.

Intreating him withall to teſtifie unto his Highneſs, their reciprocall love and affection; and that his recommendatory letters have with them a great weight.

By this time Maſter Dury had even made an end of his Theologicall Treatiſe with the Divines of Zurich: at Zurich.wherein, their agreement concerning the meanes and manner of proceeding, by which the ſcope of his deſigne might bee obtained was ſet down. Augu. 5Therefore upon the declaration of the Cantons, whereby hee was invited to viſit their chief Cities and Churches, hee went from Zurich to Berne. At Berne.Where hee arrived the fifth of Auguſt, and having ſaluted the chief Magiſtrate, and treated with the Divines whom they appointed to hear his propoſalls, hee came to a full concluſion with them; wherein they agreed to all that had been reſolved upon at Zurich; and when they had given him at a full meeting of the Miniſtry and of the profeſſors; p. 26their declaration in writing,Mr. Dury's being at Baſel. Anno. 1654. in Sept. whereby the ſame was atteſted, hee went from thence and came to Baſel the firſt September.

At Baſel he proceeded in the ſame way, for having ſaluted the chief Magiſtrate, and gotten ſix Deputies appointed to treat with him: Some of the Miniſters and ſome of the Profeſſors of that Univerſitie; hee dealt with them to the ſame effect as he had done with thoſe of Zurich and Berne, onelyonly they varied a little in their declaration concerning the way of proceeding; adding ſome advices and limitations to the work which the others had not expreſſed, although they had not been unmindfull of them; and after a publick entertainment which the Magiſtrate made for Maſter Dury and all the Miniſters and Profeſſors, he went to Schaffhuſen, where being com the 20 of October, by the direction of the Sena…e the whole Miniſtry was convocated with the profeſſors of the School,Schaffhu. ſen. and ſom of the Senators being preſent, he had audience on the twenty fifth, wherein relating his progreſſe, he communicated unto them the matters tranſacted at Zurich, Berne and Baſell, deſiring them to impart unto him, their judgment concerning the ſame; which they did on the twelfth of November following by a written Declaration, approving Maſter Durys deſigne and concurring with the reſt to further it: Theſe four chief Cantons beeing ſeverally prepared thus to concur; it was moved by thoſe of Schaffhuſen, that the Canton of Zurich, ſhould according to former Cuſtoms begin to think of a common Declaration which might be given to Maſter Dury in the name of all;Zurich. this they reſolved to do as ſoon as Maſter Dury ſhould have made an end of going through the reſt of the Churches; therefore beeing returned to Zurich; by their advice hee went to S. Gall, thither alſo the Deputies of the Cantons of Appenzall (beeing forewarned of the time of Maſter Dury's coming) were ſent;S. Gall. that at that time hee might meet with the Miniſters of both places in a Synodical way;Appenzel. which was done in the preſence of ſome of the Magiſtrates of S. Gall, on the twenty eight of November. And having given them at large an information p. 27on of all that was formerly done in his work,Mr. Dury's being neer the border of the Griſons. and conferred afterward with ſome of the chief, concerning particular matters; hee went towards the borders of the Griſons (whiles they ſhould prepare the Declaration which they would reſolve to give him) that hee might in a place of ſafety; confer with ſome, who from the Churches of the Griſons were to give him a meeting without being obſerved. To that place he went in December, and there having ſpent one whole day, and a part of another, in conference with thoſe that came thither to him; hee returned to S. Gall; received their approbatorie Declaration, and went back to Zurich to adviſe with them what courſe ſhould be taken to deal with their other confederates:Zurich. theſe deliberations being brought to ſome concluſion, Maſter Dury went from Zurich towards Berne, where on the twenty third hee arrived; and with their advice and by their addreſſe to the places of ſafety within their Dominion, hee ſet forward and dealt firſt with the Miniſters of Biel, then with thoſe of Neuſtat, thirdly with thoſe of Neuſchatel, Berneand in the way towards Lauſanna with the chief preacher of every conſiderable town, till on the twelfth of January, 1655. he came to Lauſanna; where as in other places, by the Magiſtrat's Direction hee conferred with the Miniſters and Profeſſors of that Church and Academie,Lauſanua. and having furniſhed them with ſufficient information concerning his proceedings, hee left them preparing the Declaration which they promiſed to give him at his return from Geneva; for thither hee was bent; and was to return back again the ſame way.

At Geneva hee arrived on the twentieth, and ſtayed there ten days; hee had a Letter from his Highneſs the Lord Protector to the Magiſtrate of that place, which being delivered, the whole Miniſtry of the City and Territorie, with the Profeſſors of the Academy; came together and received the information, which was at large delivered unto them, by Maſter Dury concerning his work. This being done on the twenty third, they appointed Deputies who treated with him day by day, afterward concerning p. 28the particulars which hee offered unto their conſideration;Mr. Dury's being at Anno. 1655 whereof the chief matter was concerning the Harmony of Confeſſions to bee put by them in another forme, then formerly it hath been in: Maſter Dury thought it not fit to make any long ſtay there, leſt being much obſerved, his Negotiation at the Court of France (whence many ſpies are upon Geneva) might become ſuſpected, and ſo prejudiciall unto their good correſpondency there, for this cauſe hee made haſt to bee gone, not ſtaying for their anſwer in writing, but referring them to ſend it after him towards Berne (whither hee was purpoſed to returne) hee came on the firſt of February to Lauſanna, Feb.where having received the judgment of that Church and Academy,Berne. hee ſet forward and came on the ſeventh to Berne. There hee ſtayed to print ſome thing which was to bee ſent to Geneva, that it might bee by them diſperſed amongſt the Churches of France, to cure them of ſome prejudices which were taken up againſt his work by ſome in that Kingdom, and to expect their anſwers which they promiſed to ſend unto him:Araw. which things being being performed; hee went to Araw, where hee found the Deputies of all the Proteſtant Cantons at a meeting, to whom hee gave an account of the ſucceſs of his Negociation, thanked them for their aſſiſtance, and deſired them to move their Churches to give him their common Declaration to bee made uſe of, in the name of all, to adde a Declaration in their own name thereunto, as a State, and to write to the German Princes of the reformed Religion, to preinformthem of this Negotiation, and to prepare themto a Concurrance in the work at Mr. Dury's arival amongſt them. To theſe propoſals they gave their aſſent; and Mr.Zurich. Dury went forward to Zurich, where on the twenty ſeventh of February hee arrived; and haviving given them an account of his proceedings in all the quarters where he had been, ſince the time hee had been abſent from them; he moved them (by the means of a Divine who came from Berne with him for that end) to ſettle a neerer correſpondency between themſelves and thoſe of Berne, in the proſecution of this work.

p. 29At Zurich hee ſtayed all March, and April, Mr. Dury's being at Baſel.and a part of May following, to write letters to all parts, to expect the promiſed Declarations of the Church and State; to print ſome preliminary informations to bee ſent before hand into Germany; to ſettle the courſe of a Theologicall Correſpondency; and to receive the anſwer of the Proteſtant Cantons to his Highneſs Letter; which things beeing done he went to Baſel and came thither on the nineteenth of May.

At Baſel, having informed the Divines of all that was paſt, and propoſed unto them the courſe of correſpondency agreed upon by the other Cantons, and received a letter from the Magiſtrate of the place to his Highneſs the Lord Protector; in anſwer to that which hee had formerly brought unto them from him: and when hee alſo had treated with the Prince Elector Palatins Agent Charles Mieg reſiding at Baſel, how to correſpond at a diſtance in the Negotiation with his Prince; becauſe for ſome reaſons of State, the Prince was not willing to have Maſter Dury come to Heidelberg to him: hee took his journey through the Dukedom of Wirtemberg towards Hanaw; in the way he ſtayed one day at Stutgard, which is the reſidence of the Prince;Stutgard. there although the Duke was in great heavineſſe by reaſon of the ſickneſſe of his Lady (who dyed ſoon after), yet having underſtood that Maſter Dury was in the town; hee cauſed ſome of his Counſell to ſalute him, to confer with him concerning his buſineſſe, that he might know the true intent thereof, and to ſettle a way of correſpondency in time to come about it, as one who deſired to co-operate towards the furthering of it.

On the fourteenth of June hee came to Hanaw (one of the chief towns of the Wetteraw), June.Hanaw.there hee ſtayed to deal with the Miniſtry of the place; and to print ſuch papers as were neceſſary to bee ſent abroad, to all the reformed Churches of Germany, Julyand to their Princes for information. At this time there was a meeting of the Deputies of the States of the Empire at Franck fort; at Bremen.this gave Maſter Dury an p. 30opportunity to meet with the Ambaſſadors of the reformmed party;Mr. Dury's being at Wetteraw. & Naſſaw. and to make uſe of their addreſſes, in ſending the papers of Information to their Princes and Churches. And whiles he ſtayed at Hanaw he acquainted the Prince Elector Palatine with all his proceedings, and by the means of Doctor Hottinger, who was appointed his correſpondent, hee ſatisfied all his ſcruples. Auguſt.In this kind of Negotiation Maſter Dury continued till the fifth of September; and becauſe before that time hee had received ſome anſwers from moſt of the Churches of the Wetteraw, to which hee had written; and the Declaration of the Miniſtry of the City and County of Hanaw; Septem.hee then begun to make a progreſs to viſit the particular Churches of that circle, that he might engage them diſtinctly to co-operate in his work. Thus he dealt effectually with the Earls of Yſenburg and Budingen and their Divines; at Offenback, at Wechtersback and at Birſtein. Then with the Earls of Solms, at Hoing, at Braunfells and Griffenſtein; and laſtly with the Divines and Counſellors of the Princes of Naſſaw at Herbone, Dillenberg, Sigen and Dietz; and with the Counſellor of the Earl of Witgenſtein (who is the Director of the Circle of the Wetteraw) himſelf being abſent with the Elector of Brandenburg in Pruſſia: this circuit through the territories of the Wetteraw and of Naſſaw, was ended before the end of September, then returning again to Hanaw to make ſome diſpatches; he ſtayed there till the eighteenth of October, from whence at that time he went into Heſſen, Octob,and arriving at Marpurg on the nineteenth he ſtayed there in conferences with the Profeſſors of Divinity of that Univerſity, Doctor Crocius and Doctor Curtius, eminent men of the reformed ſide,Caſſel. till the beginning of November, Novem.then hee ſet forward and came to Caſſell on the third of that monethmonth; where having ſaluted the Prince, ſome Deputies of the chief of the Miniſtry were appointed to hear his propoſalls, theſe having received the information which he imparted unto them, made a report thereof, unto the chief of the Princes privie Councell; who ſoon after conferred with Maſter Dury, to be cleered in ſome doubts, p. 31they had, Anno. 1655 Febru. Mr. Dury's being atconcerning the propoſalls made unto the Miniſtry: and they having received ſatisfaction therein; at Maſter Dury's deſire, they aſſiſted him very affectionately,Anhalt. in furthering his deſignes by counſell, and by addreſſing and directing his Negotiation in the neighbouring Churches of Lowe Saxonte and Weſtphalia, and alſo towards the Palatinate and ſom other quarters with which Maſter Dury did keep conſtant correſpondency; and in this courſe of acting with them, he continued till the latter end of January, 1656. then he went from Caſſel towards Anhalt, and arrived at Deſſaw, where the Senior Prince of that Family reſides, to whom the direction of all common affairs doth belong: with his Chancellor Maſter Dury having had acquaintance in former time, he had much freedom of Communication, and a ready addreſſe unto the Prince, who favourably heard his propoſalls, and appointed his chief Divines and Counſellors to confer with him; who having made their report, and the matter being liked in Councell;Anhalt. a two-fold Declaration was drawn up, the one to be given Maſter Dury in the name of all the Princes; the other in the name of all the Superintendants; which were delivered unto him before he went out of the Principalitie of Anhalt: and after hee was gone from Deſſaw; for having taken his leave from the director, and ſaluted the Princes reſiding at Koeton, and at Berenburg, with each of whom he ſtayed but one day, he went to the Prince whoſe reſidence is at Pletzkow, whoſe ſingular courteſie and zeale towards the work obliged him to ſtay five days with him, during which time the Declarations aforeſaid were delivered unto Maſter Dury, together with a letter or two of addreſſe unto ſome of the Counſellors of the Dukes of Weimor; for hee reſolved to returne through the Dukedome of Weimar towards Caſſell, March-to the end that hee might by thoſe two Lutheran Princes ſeek ſome ouverture towards the reſt;Weimar. and by a cleer information gievn to them of his deſigne, prevent the falſe reports which might bee p. 32raiſed,Mr. Durye's being at Weimar. and remove the prejudices which were conceived by ſome concerning his work.Auon. 1656. About the beginning of March hee was at the City of Weymar, and ſtayed two days for the Dukes arrivall who was not in the town; beeing then come home, hee gave Maſter Dury private audience, and having received the papers which were prepared to give him an inſight in his buſineſſes; March.hee diſcourſed thereof with Maſter Dury about the ſpace of two hours, hee ſhewed his likeing to the work, and appointed one of his Councill to confer with Maſter Dury about ſome particulars; and when he went away, the Prince gave him a letter to his chief Counſellor; who is the Governour of the Dukedome of Iſennach; willing him to learn more fully of Maſter Dury the circumſtances of his way, that in due time they might judge what to do in it; from Weymar he went to Gotha, Gotha.where Duke Erneſtus lives, who is the younger Brother of him who lives at Weymar. With this Prince Maſter Dury had a whole days conference, without any intermiſſion; for hee ſent for him about eight in the morning, and continued till twelve; and then began again at two in the afternoon, and continued till ſix without any interruption. The next day hee ſent again unto Maſter. Dury by eight of the Clock, and appointed one of his Councill (becauſe other affairs did hinder himſelf, as hee told Maſter Dury) to confer with him, about the deſignes of advancing Religion and Learning, which hee did proſecute: and the ſame day again in the afternoon from about two, till evening, this Prince continued his diſcourſes with Maſter Dury, the Councellor whom in the morning hee had emploied being preſent; ſo that in effect two whole days were ſpent totally in a ſerious propoſall and diſquirie, of the means and ways, by which true Chriſtian Unity and Goſpel Moderation of affections ſhould bee advanced amongſt Proteſtants; and the reſult of all was, that the Prince would contribute all that lay in his power to further the deſignes whereof they had conferred together; and that Maſter Dury was deſired in time to come to entertain a correſpondency p. 33about the ſame with the Prince his Chancellor,Mr. Dury's being at Iſennac… or with the Gentleman then preſent, Anno. 1656 who was Tutor to his Eldeſt Son. Thus thanking Maſter Dury for his coming to him, the Prince diſmiſſed him, and he went from thence to Iſennach. Where hee arrived on the ninth of March, there having delivered Duke William his Letter to the Governour of the place; March.hee ſtayed with him other two days, wherein hee had three times conference with him, for the ſpace of two or three hours at a time, and once at Supper, where others were preſent; they and hee entertained Maſter Dury in diſcourſes of his own buſineſſe, and of the publick affairs of England, from ſix till almoſt twelve at night; the reſult of all was a full agreement to Maſter Dury's undertaking, and a free engagement on his part to concurre therein, and to correſpond by Letters with him to that effect.

Theſe buſineſſes beeing thus ſucceſsfully tranſacted in the Dukedom of Weymar, Maſter Dury went from Iſennach to Rotenburg on the twelfth,Rotenburg where Landgrave Herman the Uncle of Landgrave William of Caſſel reſides; to him (for he had given Maſter Dury ſom addreſſ both into Anhalt and to Weymar) he gave an account of his Negotiation in both places; and conſulted with him of a further progeſſe to bee made in the work.Eſchwegen From Rotenburg …ee went to Eſchwegen, where he dealt with the Swediſh Ambaſſador Mounfieur Horn; who reſided with the Kings Siſter in that place; at his Perſwaſion Maſter Dury wrote unto the King, to let him know the progreſſe of his work, both amongſt the Reformed and alſo ſom of the Lutberan party. AprillCaſſelFrom thence he returned on the ſeventeenth of March to Caſſel. Where having given the Landgrave an account of his proceedings; and acquainted the Provinciall Synod, which then was met at Caſſel therewith in like manner, hee ſtayed there till the eight of May to make a full end of his Negotiation in thoſe quarters, and to fit himſelf for his journey which he intended towards the Churches of Weſtphalia, Maywhich hee then took in hand and, arrived at the Academie of Rintelen in the County of Schaumburg on the eleventh. This Academie p. 34is wholly Lutheran, Mr. Dury's being at RintelenAnno. 1664. May but ſo moderate that Maſter Dury thought fit to make acquaintance with them to prepare them to co-operate with him in the work of Peace towards the Churches and Univerſities of their own ſide; with theſe Latheran Divines he ſpent nine days, to inform them of the way of his Negotiation, and of the progreſſe thereof, whereunto they having promiſed their concurrence, hee took the opportunity of viliting two Earls who were in the neighbourhood, viz. the Earl of Schaumburg, and the Earle of Lippe; with whom and with ſome of their Preachers and Councellors hee conferred; to let them know the nature and chief circumſtances of his work, that they might countenance the furthering of it in their places; whith they promiſid to do.

Then beeing gone from Rintelen on the 20 of May, hee came to Detmold in the County of Lippe, where having ſpent two days with the Superintendant of the place,Detmeld and the Earls Chancellor: to confirm them in the good inclinations which they had towards his buſineſſe; he ſet forward and came to Tecklenburg, a ſeat of one of the Earls of Bentheim; there hee ſtayed eight days, in which time the Earl did convocate the chief of the Miniſtry of his Territories,Tecklenburg who having been preinformed before Maſter Dury came to them of his work they had prepared their approbation of it, which upon conference had with him they compleated and ſubſcribed; and the Earl with his Chancellor having alſo conferred with Maſter Dury, and ſeen the Declarations of other Princes and States touching his work, he gave him his Declarations to further it in like manner; whereupon on the fifth of June being gone from thence hee came to Bentheim, where the two brethren Earls of that houſe young men couſins to him of Tecklenburg were then reſiding, who received Maſter Dury very courteouſly: and hee having in generall terms propoſed the intention of his coming to them, they appointed the Chancellor and two of the chief Miniſters of the place to confer with him, to underſtand the particular matters which were to be offered to the conſideration of their p. 35Churches, Anno. 1656. June and of the profeſſors of the School at Steinfurt, Mr. Dury's being at Emdontheſe having received the papers which were to bee Communicated to their Churches, the reſolution was taken to ſend them to their chief Miniſters abroad; and then to call them together that they might give their joint Declaration concerning the bufineſſe. When this reſolution was made known to Maſter Dury, he thought fit to redeem time, that whiles they ſhould be acquainting their Churches with the particulars of his work; he ſhould go to Emden, to acquaint them with the ſame matters, and return back again thither by that time they ſhould have ripened their thoughts. Therefore he took his journey thitherward, and on the thirteenth conferred with the Miniſtry of that place, and afterward with the chief of the Magiſtracy, and laſtly with the whole aſſociation of the Neighbour Miniſters; which conveniently was met on the ſecond day of the week, they all having promiſed their aſſiſtance and concurrence in the work; and taken a Reſolution to ſend unto him their written Declaration in due time, Junehe left thoſe at Emden and came to Groningen, where hee conferred with Doctor Mareſius to renew old acquaintance,Groningen and to diſcourſe ſomewhat in a preparatorie way concerning his Negotiation; which being done he returned to Bentheim on the twenty one day; there the Miniſters of the Counties of Benthem and Steinfurt, with the Divinity profeſſor of the School met on the twenty ſixth and prepared their written Declaration,Bentheim which the day following they delivered unto Maſter Dury at their Aſſembly and conferred with him of ſervall particulars wherein, Julythey deſired to have ſome more light then the papers imparted unto them could affoard; which being done to their ſatisfaction;Weſel the Earls gave him afterward alſo jointly their Declaration ſigned and ſealed; whereupon the next day which was the firſt of July he ſet forward from thence towards Weſel. There being arrived,Duysburg he found the chief Miniſters gone towares Duysburg, to a generall Synod, in which the Deputies of the Churches of four Dukedoms, viz. Gulick, Cleve, Berg and Mark were met, for which cauſe p. 36he inſtantly went thither;Mr. Dury's being at Duysburg and had audience at their meeting in the morning without delay, where having repreſented the ſum of his buſineſſe unto them, they Deputed ſix to receive the particular information, which was done in the afternoon; and they having made their report of that which then had been delivered unto them; they were ordered to continne their conference the next day early by ſeven of the Clock with Maſter Dury, that they might bee able to relate the ſtate of the buſineſſe more fully, Julyto ground ſome reſolution thereupon: which being done accordingly, they reſolved that a Declaration ſhould be penned inthe name of all their Churches, to bee givento Maſter Dury in approbation of his work, and that to this effect four of their Members whom they named ſhould draw it up; and being ſent to the Claſſes of all the Churches, and approved by them it ſhould be ſent to Maſter Dury under the ſeal of the Synod; which was alſo done afterward: this Reſolution being enacted the Synod was diſſolved;Weſel and Maſter Dury did return to Weſel in the company of two of the Aſſembly who went home that way. At Weſel he ſaulted the chief Magiſtrate to move the Senate to concur with their Miniſtry; in promoting the Reſolution taken at the Generall Synod, and went towards Cleve. At Cleve he ſtayed certain days, not to treat with any of the Divines,Cleve but to make acquaintance with the Governour who is Prince Mauriee of Naſſaw, and with the Senators of that Dukedom. The Prince gave him publick audience in the Senate, where having briefly propoſed his bufineſs unto them; he delivered a Memorandum of his demands; which were theſe. Firſt, that as a State they would be pleaſed to declare their ſenſe of his buſineſs, as other States had done. Secondly, that they would authoriſe the profeſſors of Divinity in the Acedemie of Duysburg to give their judgment of it. Thirdly, that Maſter Hundius the chief preacher of the place ſhould be commanded to claborate the task of fundamentall truths, which he had hitherto maintained againſt the Jeſuits ſo well, that they had not been able to except hitherto any thing againſt them; and that task being wrought out, it ſhould by their order bee imparted to p. 37Maſter Dury for the furthering of his worke.Mr. Dury's being at Nimwegen

To theſe demands the anſwer was that they would firſt acquaint his Electorall Highneſs with them, and then let him know their anſwer, which they doubted not would bee approbatorie; having then conferred in private with ſome of the Councell, and agreed with the Vice Chancellor concerning the way of a future correſpondency, hee wentfrom thence, and on the tenth of July he came to Nimwegen. This City is a frontier of the Low-Countries towards Germany; in it he ſaluted the Deputy of the Synod of Gelderland, who was well enclined to advance the Counſels of Peace towards the Churches of that Province, therefore Maſter Dury did conſult with him concerning the way of furthering his work in the united Provinces: July.His advice was that he ſhould inſtantly apply himſelf unto the Synods which then were convocated, which Maſter Dury took into conſideration, not reſolving to follow it except emergent circumſtances ſhould move him thereunto,Utrecht and with this reſolution he went to Utrecht, where he ſtayed no longer then was requiſite, to ſaulte the chief Preachers of his acquaintance, and the Profeſſors of the Univerfity, to let them know ſummarily the progreſſe of his work, and ſo came to Amſterdam; Amſterdamwhere having adviſed with Maſter Rulice concerning the way how to propoſe his work in thoſe Provinces, by him hee was induced to make his firſt application to the Synod of South-Holland, then aſſembled. at Dort; thither therefore he went, and acquainted the Synod with his aim, but becauſe they were towards the end of their ordinary work,Dort and were loath to enter upon a new and extraordinary buſineſs, which might occaſion ſome debates amongſt them, they gave him a dilatorie anſwer which made him perceive their unwillingneſſe to take the buſineſſe into conſideration; therefore hee went ſuddenly from thence and came to Amſterdam on the twentieth.Hardewick Where having undeſtood that the Synod of Gelderland was the next day to meet at Harderwick, hee went thither, and having made way by private addreſſes to bee heard in publick, the Synod gave him audience on the 23. p. 38and having propoſed the ſum of his buſineſs unto them,Mr. Dury's being at Amſterdam. and deſired that ſom Deputies might be named to underſtand the particulars thereof to make a report unto the Synod; four were named to that effect, who met twice with him, and having fully perceived the grounds and progreſſe of his work, they made their report, Auguſt.upon which the Synod after mature deliberation declared by the mouth of their Preſident, That they thanked him for imparting his buſineſſe unto them; that they highly approved the work, that they would join with their correſpondent Synods to ſurther it; that they would take the advice of their ſeverall Claſſes about it, and if need were would alſo confer with their ſupreme Magiſtrate concerning it; and that this their Declaration and Reſolution ſhould bee enacted: and the extract thereof given to Maſter Dury to be able to teſtifie ſo much on their behalf. For this reſolution Maſter Dury having thanked them, and gotten the extract in debita forma ratified, when hee had converſed in private with the chief of them hee went back again to Amſterdam; where having ſtayed two days, he went to the Hague to learn the way how to apply himſelf unto the States, but finding no cleer way of addreſſe hee went to Leyden, and conferred with one of the Divinity Profeſſors Doctor Hornbeeck, the other two being out of the way; hee went back again to Amſterdam, and from thence to Utrecht, to preinform the Claſſes of that Province, of his buſineſſe, that at their Synod which was to bee held in the beginning of September, they might com prepared to concur in his work. To this effect hee put papers in the hands of the Deputy of that Synod, to bee ſent unto all the Claſſes; and dealt with the Profſſors of Divinity of that Academy in the ſame way, to engage them to co-operate towards the ſame effect. This beeing done in the beginning of Auguſt; becauſe ſoon after the Synod of North-Holland was met as Alcmaer, Alcmaerhe went thither, before the Synod was opened, that hee might prepare the Leading men to entertain his motions; but hee found after hee had dealt with the Preſes of the Synod, that debates ariſing amongſt themſelves concerning the way of dealing with Maſter Dury; the Commiſſioners p. 39miſſioners of the States who in all Synods are preſent at their meetings to countenance the ſame, Anno. 1656. Auguſt. Mr. Dury's being at Alomaerdid ſtop their proceeding, alledging that the ouſineſſe ought firſt to bee brought to the cogniſance of the States before the Churches ſhould meddle therewith, thus beeing taken off, front making any further application to that Synod; hee w…nt through Amſterdam, towards Leyden, and from thence to the Hague. At Leyden hee imparted to the Divinity Profeſſors and to the French Miniſters,Leyden the papers which were requiſite for their information, to oblige them to join in the work with him; which hee found them willing to do. At the Hague having learned the way to make his application to the States Generall: hee delivered unto their Aſſembly with a Memorandum (containing the ſubſtance of his buſineſs) ſeven bundles of papers each bundle inſcribed to a Province for their informationconcerning his purpoſe.Hague. Upon the receit of theſe papers the States took the matter inſtantly into conſideration, and the next day the extract of their Reſolution was delivered unto Maſter Dury to this effect; that having received papers from him concerning the unity of Proteſtants, and conſidered his demands, they were reſolved to ſend the ſame unto each particular Province, that there the buſineſſe might bee taken into conſideration:Holland. thus beeing referred unto the Severall Provinces, hee made it his work to deal by viſits and by letters, with the chief Leading men of Holland, Zealand, and Utrecht in Church and State, that when any publick meetings ſhould bee in any of theſe Provinces, they might bee furniſhed with matter to further his deſigne. Thus the time was imploied till the latter end of Auguſt: then in the beginning of September hee went to Utrecht, to bee at the Synod, which was to bee held there on the ſecond day of that monethmonth; Sept.there in one day he dealt with the Profeſſors as a body, in the morning,Utrecht and had in the afternoon publick audience in the Synod, where his buſineſſe beeing examined by Deputies, a Reſolution was Declared to approve his work, and to concur in it: whereupon (making all poſſible haſt to bee at the French Synod, which the next p. 40day was to begin at Middelburg in Zealand) hee took his journey in the night towards Dort, Mr. Durye's being at Middelburgand came on the fourth of September to Middelburg in the forenoon, where in one hours time he had the opportunity to ſalute the members of the French Synod at their riſing, and the Claſſes of the Iſle of Walcheren happlly met at the ſame time upon an extraordinarie occaſion. Auguſt.At this Claſſes, hee propoſed his deſigne of coming to them, and deſired them to reſolve upon the moſt expeditious way of ſatisfactorie communication, which might bee uſed towards themſelvs and towards the other Claſſes of Zealand; becauſe before the end of that MonethMonth hee was to bee in Holland, to attend the Aſſembly of the States of that Province.

At this motion they reſolved to meet again that day ſeven-night, to take his buſineſſe into conſideration, in the mean time they did appoint the Miniſtry of Middelburg to confer with Maſter Dury about the particulars whereof the Churches were to be informed, that when the Claſſes ſhould meet, they might bee able to make a report; and having determined the ſhorteſt times, within which the other Claſſes could ſucceſſively meet, to give Maſter Dury audience; they ordered their Scribe to write letters to each of them, Sept.to appoint them to meet at thoſe times to receive Maſter Dury's propoſalls. Theſe things being thus ordered in the morning, Maſter Dury in the afternoon had audience in the French Synod; where having briefly related his deſign, and the progreſſe thereof, and deſired that ſome ſhould bee Deputed to confer with him about particulars; they did appoint four of their chief members to meet with him; who having conferred twice with him, and underſtood the whole State of the buſineſſe, and made a report thereof unto the Synod; they reſolved to give him a Declaration of their judgment written in Latine, whereby their approbation of his work, their advice to carry it on, and their willingneſs to concur therein ſhould be made apparent. No ſooner had the French made an end of conferring with him, but the Dutch Miniſters came together and invited him to their conſiſtorie; ſo from the one hee went to the other, p. 39and gave them the ſame information which the former had received, when hee had met twice with them.Mr. Dury's being at Fliſhing Theſe things beeing tranſacted at Middelburg, Maſter Dury went to Fliſhing, to make acquaintance with ſome men of note, who could contribute ſomwhat to the furthering of his deſign, with whom hee ſpent two days; and then came back to Middelburg, Sept.and conferred the third time with the Miniſtry of that City; to impart unto them the judgment of the French Synod, which the day before hee had received from their Preſes; and to reſolve ſom doubts, and incline ſome to a more full compliance then they ſeemed to bee bent unto. This beeing done in the morning;Goes Maſter Dury went the ſame day about night towards Goes; where the next morning hee met with the Claſſis which came together about his buſineſſe; and they having underſtood the ſtate thereof, and received the papers which he had prepared for their information, and gotten a promiſe of concurrence from them,Middolburg hee returned to Middelburg the ſame day at night. Where the next day the States of Zealand being come together, their Penſionary beeing much inclined to further Maſter Dury's deſign, did move to give him audience in their Aſſembly, where having opened ſummarily the nature and progreſſe of his work unto them, they appointed one of every Colledge, with the Penſionarie or Secretary, to confer with him about particulars.

On the day following, which was the 11, the Claſſis of Walcheren, as they had appointed the week before, met in the morning; and when the Miniſtry of Middelburg had made their report, Maſter Dury was called into the Aſſembly, where Maſter Appollonius was choſen Preſes, who in the name of the Claſſis thanked him for acquainting them with the progreſs of his work, for which they praiſed God; and ſeeing they had been deſired by him to propoſe all the doubts which might ariſe in their minds about this buſineſs, to hear what could be ſaid for the removing of them; therefore they had gathered together the heads of doubtful matters, and were willing to propoſe them, to underſtand p. 40how they ſhould bee reſolved: Anno. 1656. Sept. and when Maſter Dury had ſhewed a willingneſſe to confer with them about thoſe matters,Mr. Dury's being at Middelburg Maſter Appollonius by way of queſtion, propoſed the doubts out of a paper, to which when Maſter Dury had given his anſwers, and continued in conference with him above two hours and a halfe; hee left off making further enquiries; and Maſter Dury deſired of them if they were ſatisſied, that they would impart unto him their judgment as others had done in writing; and if they intended to concur in the work, that they would appoint ſome to correſpond with him in their name for future communication. Having made theſe motions, hee went out, that they might conſider by themſelvs what to anſwer. And beeing called in again, They did thank him for the pains taken in anſwering their doubts, declaring themſelvs ſatisfied thereby, and that they would give him their written Declaration to make known their aſſent to his worck. And that they had named two of their Brethren to correſpond with him for a concurrence. For this reſolution Maſter Dury having thanked them hee took his leav of the Aſſembly; and in the evening about ſix of the Clock, Maſter Dury being ſent for to meet with the Deputies of the States appointed to confer with him; hee went to them and ſtayed with them till eight, diſcourſing of the particular paſſages of his Negotiation, and giving unto them the copies of certain writings which they compared with the originalls. At parting they promiſed to make their report, and Maſter Dury delivered a Memorandum unto them to be preſented in his name to the States, wherein hee deſired; Firſt, that they would recommend the work unto their Churches. Secondly, that they would declare their own ſenſe of it, as other States had done. Thirdly, that they would further the enterpriſ towards the other Provinces in the Aſſembly of the Generall States. Two days were ſpent after this at Middelburg, Bergen on the Zoom.and then Maſter Dury went to Bergen on the Zoom: where hee expected to meet the Claſſis convocated, but ſome neglect beeing fallen out in the conveyance of the letter which was ſent from Middelburg p. 41to give them warning of the time of Maſter Dury's arrivall,Mr. Dury's being at Utrecht Anno. 1656. Septe. they came not: Therefore Maſter Dury got the Miniſtry of Bergen on the Zoom to meet, and to them hee delivered the information which the Claſſis ſhould have had if it had met, intreating them at their next ordinarie meeting, which was to bee in October, to impart it unto them, which they promiſed to do, and Maſter Dury having ſaluted the chief Magiſtrates of the place, went the next day to Zirickzee, where he found the Claſſis met at the time appointed; and having conferred with them, and acquainted them with all proceedings, they promiſed their concurrence with the other Churches to further the work.

Having made an end with the Churches of Zealand, hee returned to Dort, and from thence to Ʋtrecht; where having received the Act of the Synod of that Province, and the Declaratiou of the Profeſſors of Divinity, hee begun to make ſom acquaintance with ſome of the States of Utrecht to prepare a way for a future application, and hearing that the meeting of the States of Holland was drawing towards an end, hee went to the Hague, Hague.and there having repreſented to the States his buſineſſe, and deſired them to depute ſom to conſider of pauticulars as the States of Zealand had done; hee received on the firſt of October this anſwer.

That the States of Holland wiſhed all good ſucceſs to Maſter Dury's endeavours in the work hee had in hand.

That they found it not yet expedient for them to enter upon the particular conſideration of that work.

That when they ſhould underſtand how far the Lutherans were willing to concur in it, then they would not bee wanting to further it.

By this anſwer Maſter Dury finding that their dilatorie reſolutions did proceed from a miſtruſt of the Lutherans inclination; for the want of information how far the chief of them were ingaged, he reſolved to cauſe print ſome Declarations p. 42of the Lutheran party to remove this obſtacle: Mr. Dury's being at Hague.and to that effect gave to a Printer in the Hague, Firſt, a Declaration of the Saxon Divines, in a Conferrence held at Leipzich concerning their agreement with us. Secondly, a Declaration of the Protestant States at their Aſſembly held at Frankfort, wherin they allow of that conferrence, and Declare their reſolution to advance the agreement. Thirdly, a Letter written to the King of Sweden by one of his chief Biſhops, to perſwade him to advance this deſigne.

Hee ſpoke alſo to the Reſidents of the King of Sweden, and of Denmark, to move them to co-operate in removing this obſtacle, either by procuring ſome Commiſſion from their Maſters to that effect, or by private conferrences with ſome of the States, to let them ſee, that on the Lutheran ſide would bee no averſion from the work, when the way of tranſacting matters ſhould bee duely prepared: this laſt both of them promiſed to do, and concerning the firſt they promiſed to acquaint their reſpective Maſters with Maſter Dury's motion.Utrecht Thus having made an end with the States of Holland, he returned to Utrecht, where he addreſſed himſelf unto the ordinary Deputies of the States of that Province, becauſe it was uncertain when the States themſelves would have any meeting. Theſe knowing by the information of the States Generall, and by the Declaration of their Divines of the Academy, and the Act of their Provinciall Synod the nature of the work; appointed without delay three Commiſſioners, to confer with Maſter Dury concerning particular matters, which when they had done and alſo made their report, an Act was drawn up in the name of theſe Deputies, declaring fully their approbation of the work; thanking Maſter Dury for his pains in it; and promiſing their ready concurrence to further it: Leyden.and as an act of State was delivered unto him. From thence beeing gone to Leyden, hee got the Divinity profeſſors to meet as a faculty, and reſolve (upon the information which they then fully received) to give him their judgment approbatorie of his undertaking in writing. And whiles they were about doing p. 43this, Anno. 1656. Octob. Mr. Dury's being at Haguehee took that time to viſit the Leading men of the French Churches at Dort, Rotterdam, Delft, and the Hague; from whence beeing returned to Leyden on the 24 of October, hee received the judgment of the Proſeſſors of that Univerſitie; commending his endeavours; approving fully the deſigne; giving their advice in it, and promiſing freely their concurrence to advance the effect thereof. When hee had dealt thus far with the States, Churches, and Univerſities of Holland, Zealand, and Utrecht, hee was encouraged by ſome of the States Generall, to make a ſecond application unto their Colledge, that they ſhould declare their approbation of his work in a publick way. But the anſwer on the 29, was to refer him to the remaining Provinces, with a promiſe of Recommending his deſign unto them. Whereupon hee found himſelf obliged to go the Circuit of the other four Provinces, to gain their aſſent to his undertaking; and to inform their Churches and Academies of the circumſtances of his Negotiation; as he had informed thoſe with whom hee had formerly dealt; So then on the 2 of November hee went from Amſterdam towards Frieſland, Frieſlandwhere hee dealt firſt with the Divinity Profeſſors of Franeker; then with the Deputies of the States of Frieſland met at Lewarden; with the Deputies of the Synod of that Province, to addreſſe the information requiſite to bee given to all their Claſſes: and laſtly, with Prince William the Governour of the Province; by whom, as by all the reſt, the deſigne was approved, and a ready willingneſſe declared to help towards the advancement of it.

From Lewarden hee went to Groningen, where proceeding in the ſame Method and way towards the Deputies of the States, towards the Profeſſors of the Univerſity,Groningen and towards the Deputy of the Synod for the information of the Claſſes, he found the ſame acceptance of his work, and received the Declarations requiſite to evidence the ſame. From Groningen hee went to Swoll in the Province of Over-yſſel; there although hee found the Province ſo di…ided p. 44within it ſelf,Mr. Dury's being at Over-Yſſel that there was no meeting of Deputies to eprelent as elſewhere the Souveraignty of that Province, yet it fell happily out that there was an extraordinary meeting of the Deputies of the chief City at Swoll about the time when he was there;Swoll to theſe having made his application, Novem.and gotten ſeverally their promiſe to further the work in their quarters; and having alſo dealt with the Miniſtry of that Diſtrict at an extraordinary Claſſis which then was called, and with the Deputie of the Synod for the information of the other Claſſes of the Province;Deventer he went to Deventer, where hee conferred with two of the chief Miniſtrers for the ſpace of an hour onelyonly; and then ſet forward towards Arnhem, where the Court of the Dukedom of Gelderland reſides. There the Senators of that Court having been preinformed of Maſter Dury's deſigne (by their Commiſſioners,Arnhem who had been at the Synod of that Province in July) were ready to further his work, and without delay gave him an act of approbation concerning the ſame.

Thus all the Provinces, Churches, and Academies of the united Provinces were dealt withall, and the buſineſſe beeing accepted and imbraced by all, Maſter Dury ſet himſelf to give information of this ſucceſs to all his correſpondents in forraign Churches where hee had been Negotiating before; and to this effect hee remained conſtantly at Amſterdam, for the conveniency of ſending letters to all quarters; in which imploiment hee continued from the middle of December till the end of January, in the year 1657; in which time two things fell out, much tending to the furtherance of his work;Amſterdam the one was, that by the means of the Miniſtry of Amſterdam, the obſtruction which was put unto his Negotiation towards the Churches of South-Holland and North-Holland in their two Synods, was removed by the opening of a door of communication with them in time to come which theſe of Amſterdam did undertake to procure by their Claſſis and correſpondency with the other Churches of the Province. The other was that the Prince of p. 45Sweden beeing come to Amſterdam; Mr. Dury's being at AmſterdamAnno. 1656. Januar. Maſter Dury had conference with him, and having informed him of the progreſs of his work, and how far matters were prepared on the ſide of the reformed party, the Prince declared his reſolution that hee would move the King his brother to ſet ſome Lutheran Miniſter a work, who ſhould prepare the Lutheran Churches by going amongſt them, as Maſter Dury did amongſt the Reformed, that when Maſter Dury ſhould come afterward unto them; for the matter of reconcilement he might find them willing and fitted to entertain his motions. to confirm the Prince in this reſolution Maſter Dury dealt afterward with his Secretary and gave him a Memorandum, intimating the way by which it might bee effected, with much credit to the Church of Sweden, and without any offence to the other Lutheran Churches.

When all matters were diſpatched at Amſterdam Maſter Dury went to take his paſſage for England from Rotterdam, where whiles hee did ſtay for a wind, a Claſſis was held, wherein his buſineſſe was propoſed, but could not at that time bee taken into conſideration, the Claſſis beeing convocated for another end; therefore it was referred to another meeting appointed at a certain time for that end; in the mean time the wind continuing croſe, Maſter Dury went to Zealand, hoping for a readierpaſſage from thence;Rotterdam then was likely to fall at Rotterdam, chiefly becauſe hee thought hee might bee able in the interim of his abode, to further his deſigne by ripening the reſolution of the States of Zealand to appear therein; which in ſome meaſure was effected; for before hee came from thence; the States did write an order to their ſeverall Claſſes to give in their advices concerning his bufineſſe,In Zealand with the reaſons which move them to approve of the deſigne; to the end that having underſtood the advice and motives of their Churches, they might have a better ground to appear in the work as a State. This Maſter Dury did underſtand from the Penſionarie, and from the Secretary of p. 46the States of that Province;Mr. Durye's being at and not long after, Anno. 1657. Febru. the wind turning fair, he went from Fliſhing on the 14 of February, and landed at Marget on the day following. From whence hee came up directly for London, in the company of a publick Miniſter of State, from one of the Electors of the Empire, who makes his application to his Highneſs the Lord Protector.

FINIS.

End of the text · John Dury, Negotiation to Procure True Gospel Peace (1657)