Search York

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 435

of them calling the other Papist, and the other part calhno-

the other heretic : wherby is Uke to follow * sedition * [dis-

sension] and tumult, * to their otcn destruction, * [not only

to their own confusions, that teach and use the same, but

also to the disturbance, and liklihood to destruction of al

the rest of the Kings true and welbeloved subjects,] if his

Majesty, like a godly and Catholick Prince, of his excellent 296

goodnes, by his princely power and authority given him by

God, should not politicly, in the beginning, provide for the

same.
For remedy whcrof his most royal IVIajcsty, by his most

excellent wisdome, knowing and considering his kingly of-

fice and charge touching the premisses, and daily painfully

studying and devising, with a most noble and earnest heart,

to reduce his people conmiitted by God to his cure, to luiity

of opinion, and to encrease love and charity among them-

selves, and constantly to conserve them in the same, intend-

eth, God willing, by advice of his Prelates and Clergy, and

other of his Council, to procede to a ful order and resolu-

tion to extinct al such diversities of opinions by * terrible *

[good and just] laws to be made for the same, by authority

of his Parlament. And yet nevertheles now in the begin-

ning of his Parlament, of his most excellent and virtuous

goodnes, mindeth by a proclamation set forth * iz/ * [by his

Highnes with] the advice of his Council b^ authority of

Parliament, * [according to authority of Parlament already

to his Highnes successors and Council granted] to extirpe

and take away some occasions, * and * [as hereafter follow-

eth,] which have moved and bred division among sundry

of his subjects:
And therfore by authority of this his present Parlament,

straitly chargeth and commandeth, that no person or per-

sons shal from henceforth slanderously and maliciously

name or cal any other Papist or heretic, unles the person

or persons, so using themselves, can and do lawfully and
justly prove the same to be true, upon pain of
And over this, his Majesty straitly chargeth and connnand-

V f 2

430 APPENDIX OF
eth, that no person, except such as be curates, or graduates

in any of the Universities of Oxford or Cambridg, or such

as be or shal be admitted to preach by the Kings hcence,

or by his Vicegerent, or by any Bishop of the reahn, shal

teach or preacli the Bible, or New Testament, nor expound

the mysteries therof to any other ; nor that any person

or persons shal openly read the Bible or New Testament in

the English tongue in any churches or chappels, [or else-

where] with any loud or high voice ; [and especially] during

the time of divine service, or of celebrating and saying of

masses: but virtually and devoutly to hear their divine

services and masses, and use that time in reading and pray-

ing with peace and stilnes, as good Christen men use to do

[for his own erudition] upon the like pains, as is afore re-

hersed. *And also * [notwithstanding] his Highnes is pleased

and contented, that such as can [and Avil] in the English

tongue, shal and may quietly and reverently read the Bible

and New Testament by themselves [secretly] at al times and

places convenient for their own instruction and edification,

to encrease therby godlines and vertuous learning : * and if

they shal happen to stond in * [with this admonishment ne-

vertheles, that if they shal hap to find] any doubt of any

text or sentence in the reading therof, to beware and take

heed of their own presumptuous and arrogant expositions

of the letter : but to resort humbly to such as be learned in

H. Scripture for their instruction in that behalf

Finally, his Highnes signifieth to al and singular his

loving and obedient subjects, that his Majesty was nor is

compelled by Gods word, to set forth his Scripture in Eng-

297 lish to his lay subjects, but of his own liberality and good-

nes was and is pleased, that his said loving subjects should

have and read the same in convenient places and times, to

the only intent to bring them from their old ignorance and

blindnes, to virtuous living and godlines, to God's glory

and honor ; and not to make and take occasion of dissension

or tumult by reason of the same. Wherfore his Majesty

chargeth and commandeth al his said subjects to use the H.

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 437

Scripture in English, according to his godly purpose and

gracious intent, as they would avoid his most high disple-

sure and indignation, beside the pain above renienibred.
Let it he noted, that the sentences and zvords of this pro-

clamation in Italic within tivo stars, are scratched out

hy the Kinff in this MS. and the sentences and words

standing within tzoo CJ'otchets are inserted hy the King s

hand, sometimes as amendments of the xoords immedi-

ately preceding.

Number CXI.

The Elector of Saxony s letter to the King, iqmn his 7nar-
riage with the Lady Aiine qfCleves.

Excellent and most renowned King, our Cousin, and dearly cieop. E. 5.

beloved Alliance, and a Lord xvorthy great reverence :

S. D. Our Counsellors, when they returned, shewed us,

that the beginning of the mariage of your royal Majesty

was joyful and prosperous, which we desire God to bless

and fortunately to continue. We perceived also by our

said Counsellors, that your Majesty had loving and familiar

communication with them of many other matters, and of

the common wealth : shewing your mind to be enclined and

bent to make a league in honest causes, beside the cause of

religion, with the famous Prince Landgrave Hassie, and

with us [Elector of Saxony] as your Highnes made like

league with the most noble Prince Duke Juliacens our al-

liance. And when we were so united, then your Majesty

would, that afterwards we should intreat of religion, and a

league should be made in the cause of religion. Of al the

premisses how lovingly your Highnes hath opened and

shewed your mind and wil towards us, and with how

great gentlenes you received and entreated our Counsel-

lors, both your letters do manifest a great part, and also

they do plainly expres the whole. And though we also

would desire to be confederated with your Majesty in honest

causes, beside the cause of religion, as in time past there

Ff3

438 APPENDIX OF

hath been a special confederacy between Kings of England

and Dukes of Saxony, as stories do testify ; yet this league,

which is made by us with other princes and states of Ger-

many, against the ungodly religion and tyranny of the Bi-

shop of Rome, doth comprehend no other causes therto

annexed. Therfore because your Gr. would rather joyn

your self to our league in other honest causes, beside the

298 cause of religion, that is clean contrary to the meaning of

our league, which containeth only the causes of religion,

nother Landgravius Hassie nor we can, without the con-

junction of other, make a covenant of causes not appertain-

ing to religion.

Your royal Majesty doth wel remember, how diligently,

before this time, you have treated with us by ambassadors,

orators, and letters, to make a league in the cause of reli-

gion, and have advertised us to constancy in the defence

enterprized of true religion. And this last year the orators

of your regal Majesty entreated with us in the Council of

Frankford of the same matter, that we should send our

orators with commandments to make a league with the de-

fence of true religion, against the tyranny of the Bishop of

Rome, and not of other causes. And as at that time we

did send some : but not only that thing was left unfinished,

but also there followed a decree of the Parlament, which,

as we hear, was made by the conspiracy and craftiness of

certain Bishops, in whose mind hitherto the veneration or

worshipping of Roman ungodlines is rooted. With the bit-

ternes of that decree [of the Six Articles] both we and many

others, which do think wel of your Graces Majesty, are

astonied. For when your Highnes had clean extinct, and

put forth the power and dominion of the Bishop of Rome

out of the realm of England, we had good confidence that

your Gr. would not have suffered the Bishops to have

established errors brought into the Church by covetousnes

and ambition of the Bishop of Rome. But yet we under-

stand the sharpnes of that decree to be mollified by the wis-

dom and moderation of your Highnes, and the execution

therof not put in ure : and that your H. hath protested

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 439

before our Counsellors, that ye desire nothing so earnestly

as the true doctrin may flourish or shine in churches. But

it seemeth to your Gr. as it doth to some other learned men

in England, that our men in some articles do pass their

bands [bounds.] For the which cause your Gr. desired the

confirmations of those articles taken out of true foundations,

to be sent unto you, that yee might better weigh those ar-

ticles, and deliberate of the whole matter with bishops and

divines, which exceed others in learning and godlines. And

ye sey, that the truth known, ye wil execute your office, and

gladly prefer heavenly doctrin before mens traditions.
This remembrance of a will, worthy so wise and wel

learned a King, hath provoked us again to great hope, that

your H. (things better weighed) wil emend the abuses of

the Church, and wil exhibit or propose to other kings an

example of aiding or helping the Church. Therfore we

have commanded certain of our divines, that they should

gather sure confirmations, and not very long, of four articles,

that is to wit, of the Mass ; of the use of the whole Sacra-

ment ; of the mariage of Priests ; and of Vozoes. These we

send to your H. and lovingly and earnestly desire you, that

ye wil ponder and weigh diligently so great things ; and

the thing being reasoned with men of right judgment,

godly, and loving the truth, may make the Son of God,

our Lord Jesus Christ, arbiter or judg of this deliberation ;

of whom the Heavenly said. Hear him. That the churches

of England set in a true trade, the honor and glory of God

may flourish, and may set forth a godly example to other

kings to reform the Church. And it becometh your Ma- 299

jesty so much the more that to do, because ye have begun

amendment, in abolishing the tyranny of the Bishop of

Rome, and taking away some idols, and commanding the

people to be more purely and sincerely taught. Truly some

felicity it is, and a way to more light, that you have expelled

the Bishop of Rome, and his tyranny, seeing it is the king-

dom of Antichrist, which is ruled by the Devil, enemy unto

Christ, it is no mcrvail that he doth impugn the Gospel with

j^ f i

4^ APPENDIX OF

an horrible boldnes and cruelty, and, as Daniel saith, ah-

jecteth the truth, treading it under foot. The Bishop of

Rome doth perceive, that, if the Gospel do flourish, his au-

thority wil be darkned, his power made weak, his plesures

troubled. Therfore he endeavoureth with al his powers to

oppres the truth, appearing or budding forth.

Wherfore altho he doth hinder other kingdomes from

better counsil, yet after that he is driven out of England,

the Churches there may be better holpen and provided for.

And tho it be said, that there be left there many bishops

and divines which carry about in their hearts a desire of

the Bishop of Rome, yet your H. may other heal them, or

else restrain them.
We offer also unto your gracious Majesty our labor and

diligence, [and] if you wil, learned men to common toge-

ther of these matters, and shal think [convenient that] both

English divines and our divines to be sent on both parties

in Geldria, Hamburgh, or Bremen: or, if your Gr. had

lever, any other meeter place, we gladly wil send chosen or

picked men of great learning and godlines. And if after

that, your Gr. wil common also face to face with some of

ours, we wil send good men and wel learned ; and wil gladly

help with al dihgence your Gr.'s good counsils. For we

greatly desire a true and a godly consent to be made be-

tween the Churches of England and Germany. That thing-

should greatly ornate the glory of God, and allure other

nations. Therfore we promise our labor in this busines,

with al study to your H. both for the glory of God, and

our friendship.

For seeing now we be more conjoyned with a new knot

of affinity, we greatly desire our conjunction somewhat to

profit the Church of Christ, and the common wealth. To

the which end the friendship of Princes ought chiefly to be

applied. And for that cause we do the more rejoyce at the

affinity of your Grace ; and we desire that God may give to

the mariage of your Graces Majesty, and of the most noble

Queen our alliance, continual felicity. We desire that

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 441

yoiu' Graces Majesty wil take in good worth these our let-

ters written with most gentlenes, and with a certain singular

love to your Gr. and to accept them with as good mind as

they were written.

We also thank your Gr. that so lovingly hath declared

your good wil towards us, and beneficial mind, both by let-

ters and commandments given to our Counsellors ; and that

so honorably entreated our Counsellors, and at their de-

parting gave them such rewards. We also understode that

the letters of allowing the instruments concerning doweres

sent thither, to have taken a little wet, for the which cause,

if you wil [have] another like example to be written, and

signed with a greater seal to be sent thither, gladly we wil 300

in that behalf gratify your Majesty.

And further, we thought it expedient to enform your

Majesty of this, that we, beside those things wherof our

cousin and brother Landgrave instructed you, have per-

ceived again, that the Bishop of Rome, and certain of his

adherents, yet hitherto doth go about divers things against

your Graces Majesty. Wherfore you may not depart from

the watch-place, but must take heed to their counsils, and

devise in what things the Germans may be profitable unto

you.
These things have we written for the great love we bear

towards your H. as to our most intyrely beloved lord,

cousin, and alliance, and that in this thing you wil accept

and take in worth our carefulnes and study. And we pray

God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, tt) keep long in

good health your royal Majesty, and the most noble Queen,

our dearly beloved alliance : unto whom we desire saluta-

tions be spoken in our behalf. To conclude, we connnit

luito your royal Majesty al our duties, with singular ob-

servance and love.

We wil not keep secret from your Majesty, that we have

assembled here a few dayes together with the noble Prince

Landgrave Hassie, and with orators and legates of other

princes and states of the empire, conjoyned with us in the

cause of religion, and have deliberated to amend Christian

442 APPENDIX OF

concord in the cause of faith. Wherof Cesars Majesty doth

put us in hope or comfort. Of the which, if it fortune, as it

is wont, with unjust rumours to be brought unto your Gr.

we wil desire you to give no faith unto them : but to be

persuaded, that we wil be both desirous of sincere concord

and pubhc quietnes ; and also do covet nothing more, than

that a godly reformation be enterprized of the Church by

the word of God : which doth seem to be very necessary.

And that we verily wil not refuse truth and Catholic

doctrin of the Church, which we confes to be agreeable to

H. Scripture. For this God wil keep and defend, we

doubt not, for the consolation and health of godly minds,

against the Bishop of Romes wil, and also the gates of hel.

Christ!

cognita.

Number CXII.

Quidam DoctrincB ChristiancB JrticuU, pro Ecdesia Angli-
cana. With some notes of the King in the margin.
I. De Ecclesia.

Cieop. E. 6. ECCLESIA praeter alias acceptiones in scripturis duas

habet praecipuas. Unam, qua Ecclesia accipitur pro con-

gregatione sanctorum, et vere fidehum, qui Christo capiti

vere credunt, et sanctificantur Spiritu ejus. Haec autem una

Sponsa est, et were^ sanctum, cor/?t<

qui hominvun corda solus intuetur. Altera acceptio est,

qua Ecclesia accipitur pro congregatione omnium hominum,

qui baptizati sunt in Christo, et non palam abnegarvmt

•> Juste. Christum, nee sunt ^ excommunicati <^.

nati QQi" Quag Ecclesiae acceptio congruit ejus statui in hac vita

rt Et cogni- dumtaxat ; ubi habet malos bonis simul admixtos ; '^ et de-

tio hujusEc- ^^^ gg^g coffuita pcT verhum et lesitimitm usum sacramen-
clesiae per- " . ^. . ^. i ^i • ^ • t^ 7 •
venit per 11- toruvi^ ut possit audiri. Sicut docet Christus, Qui Ecclesiam

^^^^^¦'^rhi,^^ non audierit.

Sacramen-
torum acceptione, perfecta unitate, ac unanimi consensu, acceptata.
Porro, ad veram unitatem Ecclesiae requiritur, ut sit con-

sensus in recta doctrina fidei, et administratione sacramento-

rum.
Tradit'nmcs vero et ritus atqne ctcremonia^, qiuc vfl ad

RECORDS AND ORIGINALS. 443

decorem, vel ordinem, vel disciplinam Ecclesiae, ab homini-

bus sunt institutae, non omnino necesse est, ut eadem sint

ubique aut prorsus similes. Hae enim et variag fuere, et

variari possunt, pro regionum atque morum diversitate ac

commodo. ^ Sic tamen ut sint consentientes verho Dei. ' ^^•"•o
rectoribus

placeant : quibus semper obteniperandum est. Sic tanieii ut eorimi jussio atque lex verbo

Dei non adversetur. Ista est Ecclesia nostra catholica et apostolica, cum qua nee Pontifex

Romanus, nee quivis aliquis [alius] Prelatus aut Pontifex liabet quicquam agere, praeter-

quam in suas dioeceses.
Et quamvis in Ecclesia secundum posteriorem acceptio-

nem, mali sunt bonis admixti, atque etiam ministeriis verbi

et sacramentorum nonnunquam praesint, tamen cum mini-

strent non suo, sed Christi nomine, mandato, et auctbori-

tate, licet eorum ministerio uti, tam in verbo audiendo, quam

recipiendis sacramentis. Juxta illud, Qui vos audita rnc

audit. Nee per eorum maliciam imminuitur efFectus, aut

gi'atia donorum Christi rite accipientibus. Sunt enim effi-

cacia propter promissionem, et ordinationem Christi, etiamsi

per malos cxhibeantur.

[Annotatio7ies in margine sunt D. Regis Henrici VIII.

manu propria sc7-ipt(E.^

II. De Justijicatione.
Item, Tie justijicatione docemus, quod ea proprie slgnifi-

cat remissionem peccatorum, et acceptionem seu reconcilia-

tionem nostram in gratiam et favorem Dei : hoc est, veram

renovationem in Christo : et quod peccatores licet non asse-

(juantur banc justificationem absque poenitentia, et bono ac

propenso motu cordis, quem Spiritus efficit, erga Deum et

proximum, non tamen propter dignitatem aut meritum poe-

nitentiae, aut uUorum operum seu meritorum suorum justifi-

cantur, sed gratis propter Christum per fidem ; cum cre-

dunt se in gratiam recipi, et peccata sua propter Christum

remitti, qui sua morte pro peccatis nostns satisfecit.
Hanc^(/r/« imputat Deus pro justitia coram ipso, Rom.

3. et 4. Fidem vero intelligimus non inanem et otiosam,

sed eam quje per dilectionem operatur. Est enim vera et

Christiana fides, de qua liic loquimur, non sola notitia arti-

culorum fidei, et credulitas doctrina? Christianae, dumtaxat

historica, sed una cum ilia notitia, et credulitatc, firma fiducia

444. APPENDIX OF

misericordise Dei promissae propter Christum, qua videlicet

certo persuademus ac statuimus eum etiam nobis misericor-

dem et propitium. Et hasc fides vere justificat, vere est saluti-

fera, non ficta, mortua, et hypocrytica ; sed necessario habet

302 spem et charitatem sibi individue conjunctas; ac etiam stu-

dium bene vivendi ; et bene operatur pro loco et occasione.

Nam bona opera ad salutem sunt necessaria: non quod

de impiojustumfaciens, nee quod sunt pretium pro peccatis,

aut causa justificationis; sed quia necessum est, ut qui jam

fide justificatus est, et reconciliatus Deo per Christum, vo-

luntatem Dei facere studeat, juxta illud, Non omnis qui

dicit mihi, Domine, Domine, intrabit regnum ccelorum, sed

quiJacH volimtatem Patris i?iei, qui in coel'is est. Qui vero

haec opera facere non studet, sed secundum carnem vivit, ne-

que veram fidem habet, neque Justus est, neque vitam aeter-

nam (nisi ex animo resipiscat et vere poeniteat) adsequetur.

III. De Eucharistia.
De Eucharistia constanter credimus, et docemus, quod in

Sacramento corporis et sanguinis Domini, vere et substan-

tialiter, et realiter adsunt corpus et sanguis Christi, sub

speciebus panis et vini; et sub eisdem speciebus vere et

realiter exhibentur, et distribuuntur illis, qui Sacramentum

accipiunt, sive bonis sive malis.

IV. De Baptismo.
De Baptismo dicimus, quod Baptismus a Christo sit in-

stitutus, et sit necessarius ad salutem ; et quod per baptis-

mum offerantvu' remissio pcccatorum, et gratia Christi, in-

fantibus et adultis. Et quod non debeat iterari baptismus.

Et quod infantes debeant baptizari : et quod infantes per

baptismum consequuntur remissionem peccatorum, et gra-

tiam; et svmt filii Dei. Quia promissio gratiae et vitae

aeternae pertinet non solum ad adultos, sed etiam ad infantes.

Et haec promissio per ministerium in Ecclesia, infantibus et

adultis administrari debet.

Quia vero infantes nascuntur cum peccato orighds, ha-

bent opus remissione illius peccati. Et illud ita remittitur,

ut reatus tollatur, licet corruptio naturae, scu concupiscentia,

maneat in hac vita: et sic incii)it sanari, quia Spiritus