Search York

tainly. I pray your Lordship in any wyse to cause that to

be furthwith looked up ; for yt is to purpose. But, as I re-

member, yt shal appere that then our said master, being

left by the King his father mervelous welthy, rich, wel

obeyed of his subjects, in peace ; furnished with friendship

of Spain, Flaunders, Rome, and Almaine, entred the warrs

to recover his right of France. But in conclusion what

right gat he ? Mary, made a peace, and calculing certain

old debts to King Edward his graundfather, and some to

the King his father, agreed with the French King upon a

mas of ten hundred thousand crowns, to be payd, as I re-

member, in yeres, without having any pension, or other

thing. Delivered afterward Turwin and Turnaye : having

for Turwyn nothing, and for Turnaye (which had cost the

keping no smal sommes of mony) six hundred thousand

crownes. This being thus, as I take yt to be, (praying your

Lordship to let yt be loked up,) the exemple is much to

move the peace.

Now comparing the times, the estates, and al other cir-

cumstances of the Kings Majesty our master that now is,

to the tyme, estates, and circumstances of the King his fa-

ther, being in his most florishing prosperitie, which yt may

like you by your wisdome to consider with the rest of the 1 1 7"

wise heddes there, and to take in good part my good mean-

ing in this matter: which is not to prejudice your wis-

domes, (knowing my self a fool,) but to lay before you the

fondnes of my imagination : which yf you find fond in al

degrees, lay that under the feet, (I pray you,) and cover yt

with a heap of my good wyl and desire. But that the af-

fah-s shuld go wel forward, I could not chuse but open my

442 A REPOSITORY

fantasie : and the rather, for tliat your Lordship and sum

others, that be my good lords and frends, have the may-

ninge of them ; beseching God to give you the grace to

mayne and conduct them as I do wish.

If you find any thing in it not fond, use yt as you hke.

It may please your good Lordship to move the rest, that yf

ye shal think good to agree upon a somme of mony, then to

advertise us in your common letter the most and the least,

the maner of the payment, in hand or at dayes. If at any

days, (which under correction I wish not, though yt be

less,) than what dayes, and what assurance for the payment.

Item, the lowest point you wil come to for Scotland. And

thus with my humble and most hartie commendations, &c.

KK.
The prayer used at a public Jastjbr a great dearth.

As yt pleasyth God, so be yt.

Foxii MSS. OH ! eternal, everlastyng, and righteous God, before

whose Hyghnes we, presentyng us this day accordyng to

our dewtyes, and fourme of thy word, do confess unto thee

owr offences, sinnes, and wickednes, which thus have de-

sarved theys thy great plagis and grevous punishments ; for

neglectyng thy word and brekyng thy commaiuidments.

And as thou hast commaundyd by Joel thy prophet to pro-

clayme a fastyng, to call the congregac'ion, gather yug the

elders and inhubytcrs qf the land unto the house of God,

and cry unto hym, sayeing, Alass! alaas'.Jbr thys day. And

xvhy? the Lords day is at hand, and eomyth as a destroyer

Jrom the Almighty. The sede shal perish in the groxcnd,

the graners shal ly wast, the Jhris shall be brolcen down:

for the corn shal be destroyed. And by cans, sayeth Aggeus,

every man runne to his owne, the heavens is Jbrbodden to

gyve eny dew, the earth isjlyrboden to gyve you encrease.

I liave callydjbr a droxvght upon the land and moontayns,

upon corn, upon wyne, upon oyl, and every thing that the

grownd bryngythjurth, upon meny upon cattel, and upon al

OF ORIGINALS. ^ 44S

handy labour. And also, O Lord God, as thou hast sayd by

Moses, that yf owr harts deceyve us, thow beyng wroth

ageynst us, wouldest shut up the heavens, that ther he no

rayne, and that the land shuld not y eld fur th hyr encrease.

And thowgh we have deservyd, as in Ahabs tyme Elias

prayer prevaylyd, that for the space of three yeris no rayne

or dew dyd fal, tyl al thyngs was consurayd, as now thys

day y t ys cum to pass : yet, O Lord, behold us with the 118

Ninivites, owr humylyacion befor thy Maiestie, apperyng

thus this day, to cal on thee for mercy, which with Solo-

mon pray unto thee, Yfthat the heaven be shut up, and that

there be no rayne, bycause that we have synnyd against

thee, yet prayeng in this place, and knowledge to thy name,

and turne us from owr synnes through thy scourging us,

then heare thou us in heaven, and he merciful to the synnys

of thy sarvants and people, that thoxo shexv us that good

way, wherinfor to walk, and gyve rayne on the land thow

hast gyven us to enheryt. Send, O Lord, thy sweet dewes

of thy heavenly grace, so to refresh and water the plants of

owr harts, that we so repent, and so optayne thy marcy, as

this our general prayer may be acceptyd of thee. And as

thow hast promysyd, wher two or three he gatheryd toge-

ther in thy name to graxont their requests, behold here so

many as callyth upon thee in feyth and humylyacion. Ap-

pealyng to thy marcy, thow canst us not deny to grawnt

us owr requests ; lest the ungodly host against the cause of

our religion. They wold deny thy favour unto us oft ex-

tendyd, they, seyng now thy work in our peticion grawnt-

yng, may with us altogether prayse and worship thee with

thanks for this thy marcy. To whom, O God owr Father,

the Son, and Holy Ghost, be al prayse and glory, for ever

and everlastingly. Amen.

444 A REPOSITORY

LL.
Buccr to A Lasco, concerning the controversy about wear-

ing the habits.

Amplissiino Domino et Colendissimo SymmystcE^

Joanni A Lasco.

EBiiiiiotb. THE Lord graunt unto us, in these troublesome times

Episc'*^ of the Church, to begin and finish al things, that offences

Eiien. and dangers be not encreased. Amen.
The more dihgently I weigh and consider, both what

fruit we may gather by this controversy of vestures, and

also what Satan goeth about therbv to work, I would have

wished before the Lord, that it never once had been spoken

of, but rather that al men of our function had agreably

and stoutly gon forward, and continued in teaching true

repentance, the wholsome use of al things, yea, and com-

mending and putting on the apparel of salvation. I se,

not in a few, alas ! I say, I se mervailous diligence in abo-

lishing Amalec, concerning stones, stocks, vestures, and

those things that be without us, when in their deeds and

whole life they most stiffly maintain the whole Amalec stil.

I know also some that help forward this strife, so that in

the mean time the chief and most necessary points are les

regarded and called upon ; that is, of removing sacrilegious

persons from spoiling of churches, of providing fit ministers

for every parish, of the restoring of disciplin again.

Uq As for my part, if I thought ceremonies and vestvu'es

were impure of themselves, I would not take upon me in

any wise the office of a bishop, till by ordinary authority

they were taken away, &c. But to the purpose, I think it

not impertinent unto this matter, that we al be admonished

to take heed of Satans accustomed slights, wherby he lead-

eth us away from the care of necessary things, to carefulness

about those things which may be wel let pass, and from the

searching out of the true doctrin of Christ, to induce to use

those things wherin few can consent alike ; and finally, by

the which he kindlcth in divers men a zele to pui'ge those

things which are without us; therby to neglect our inward

OF ORIGINALS. 445

deformities. And seeing whatsoever we do, in word or deed,

both privately and pubhcly, we ought to do it in the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks by him to God the

Father ; surely it is our duty no les circumspectly to be-

ware, that we neither do, nor leave undon any thing wher-

by we have not sure or certain authority out of Gods word,

touching our actions and matters, domestical and ecclesias-

tical. It is alway and in all things sin, whatsoever is not of

faith of the certain word of God.
But to consider this question in it self. I have, according

to my gift, weighed your reasons ; and yet I can perceive

no other, but that the use of al external things, as wel in

holy ceremonies as in private matters, ought to be left free

to the churches of God. I cal ihat^ree tise wherin godly

men use things created of God without any superstition, and

to a certain edifying of their faith in Christ. I verily, as I

have confessed unto you, and have declared indeed unto our

countrymen, had rather that no kind of vesture which the

Papists used were retained among us. And that both for

the more ful detestation of the Antichristian priesthood,

and also for plainer advouching of Christian liberty ; yea,

and to be short, for the avoiding of dangerous contentions

among the brethren. Tho' notwithstanding I would have

the ministers of churches to use sage vesture, and such

wherby they might be discerned from other men. But

chiefly, I would have al the disciplin of Christ to be in

force among us. Yet I cannot be brought by any scrip-

tures, as far as I se hitlierto, to deny, that the true ministers

of Christs Church may use without superstition, and to a

certain edification of faith in Christ, any of those vestures

which the Antichristians abused. For what should let, but

that the churches may use that white vesture, or more ves-

tures, to admonish us precisely of that divine benefit which

he by the holy ministry of the Church dealeth unto us : the

benefit, I say, of the hght and dignity of that heavenly

doctrin ; and by the which also the ministers themselves

may be the more mindful of their office, and had, both for

it, and by the admonishment of that outward token, in

446 A REPOSITORY

greater reverence of the common people of the Church ?

Whether we wil or no, we are compelled to confes, that the

ensignes of them that bear public offices help somewhat to

retain and encrease the authority of magistrates and public

powers, if other things want not, by the which the true

reverence is given unto them. For if these things be not

joyned with ensig7ies, they induce not a veneration, but ra-

ther the singular detestation of them who unworthily use

these notes of vertue. Ensignes indeed are signes, and not

1 20 the things : yet how much they are able to admonish and

move the mind, God giving the encrease, he that observeth

wil wonder.

Wherfore, wheras otherwise the true dignity of ministers

is evident, and if any particular Church by public judgment

do consent upon the retaining of certain vestures, only for

the commending unto us of the gifts of God, which he

giveth by the ministry of the Church ; and for to put the

yonger and ruder sort in mind without al superstition, truly

I cannot se, why such use of vestures in such a Church may

not serve to some commendation of the holy ministry, and

so consequently to the edification of faith. For what let is

there, but that at this day they which are endued with the

same spirit of faith, may use a few signes as godly, as the

antient holy men have used many. They had, you wil say,

expres writing concerning the use of their signes. I grant ;

and indeed it made much touching the true use of their

signes. But in that God did command the use of those and

many other things, we certainly know that the use of those

signes may serve, he giving grace, to promote true religion ;

and that it hath none uncleannes in itself or superstition,

neither can be by the abuse of the wicked so polluted, that

it cannot be healthful to godly men, using it godly. Now

when as God by his word hath sanctifyed al things by our

prayers, and hath made al things pure to the pure, what

cause can we allege out of the word of God, to deny, that

God wil not bless such use of signes wherof we speak, that

it should not be etfectuous to that Church, to some commen-

dation of the ministry, and therof also to some edification

OF ORIGINALS. 447

of faith ? For how can it be, but that he which promised

to bles al the work of our hands, which we take in his name,

wil deny his blessing to these signes, seing he hath no where

forbidden such an use of them as we have expounded, and

hath made us lords of his sabboth, and al other things of

this world ?

But if we grant that these things which I have spoken

concerning the use of such signes, may be, it is certainly

the part of brotherly charity, commanded us by God, to

leave such use of such signes in such a Church, free to the

judgment and conscience of that congregation ; except we

se an open abuse either of superstition, as if these things

were used as containing in them some part of godly worship

of themselves ; or of contention, as if they displeased the

greater and better part of the Church ; or of getting of good

wil of some men, whom in these things we ought not to

gratify, because they therby go about to bring a servitude

unworthy for Christian men.

It is evident at S. Pauls time, by the most clear scrip-

tures of God, that the use of days, meats, and al other par-

ticular things were made free. And it was a sure token of

infirmity in faith to doubt therof Yet the Holy Ghost

pronounceth, that such weaklings ought to be received, not

to the troubling of their cogitations, and not to be con-

temned of the stronger in faith. And that in these things it

might be granted to every one to be sure of his own sense,

seeing that the Lord hath received these weaklings. Now

if the Holy Ghost would have men to yield so much to

them which were in a manifest error, in as much as they

depended upon him in the chiefest and necessary parts of

sincere religion, what ought to be granted to these concern-

ing the free use of external things, which we cannot convict 121

of any error by Gods word ? For howsoever I expend and

examine those your two arguments, (that is, they are the

imitation of the Aaronical priesthood, and the marks of An-

tichrists priesthood, and therfore ought to be eschued of

them that love Christ,) yet that thing which you would is

not hereby excluded. For to imitate Aarons ceremonies is

448 A REPOSITORY

not of it self villous, but only then when men use them as

necessary to salvation, or to signify that Christ is yet for to

come, to take flesh upon him. For if by no means it be

lawful to use those things which were of Aarons priesthood,

or of the gentils, then is it not lawful for us to have

churches nor holydays. For there is no expres command-

ment by word. It is gathered notwithstanding from the

example of the old people, that they are profitable for us to

the encrease of godlines.
Which thing also experience proveth. For any thing to

be a note of Antichrist, is not in the nature of any creature

in it self, (for to that end nothing was made of God,) but

it hangeth altogether of consenting to Antichrists religion,

and the professing therof. The which consent and profes-

si(m being changed into the consent and profession of

Christianity, there can stick in the things themselves no

note or mark of Antichrists religion. The use of bels was a

mark of Antichristianity in our churches, when the people

by them was called to masses, and when they were rung

against tempests ; now they are a token of Christianity,

when the people by them are gathered together to the gos-

pel of Christ, and other holy actions. Why may it not then

be, that the self same garments may serve godly with godly

men, that were of wicked signification with the ungodly .'*

Truly, I know very many ministers of Christ, most godly

men, who have used godly these vestures, and at this day

do yet use them. So that I dare not for this cause ascribe

unto them any fault at al, much les so hainous a fault of

communicating with Antichrist. For the which fault we

may utterly refuse to communicate with them in Christ.

Tile priests of devils did celebrate in their sacrifices the

distribution of bread and the cup, as Justinus Martyr and

Tertullian make mention. What let is there why we may

not use the same ceremonies also ? You wil say. We have a

commandment of the Lord touching this ceremony. Very

wel : and by the self same it appeareth, 'same thing to

serve among tlie children of God to the service of Christ,

whicli the wicked abused in the service of devils, if the

OF ORIGINALS. 449

commandment of Christ be added therto. But it is the com-

mandment of Christ, that in our holy actions we institute

and use al things, so as comehnes and order be observed,

that faith may be edified.

Now if any Church judge and have experience, (such as

I doubt not there are many this day in Germany,) that the

use of such vesture bringeth some commendation to the

holy ministration, and therby helpeth somewhat in the

way of comehnes and order to the encrease of faith ; what,

I pray you, can be brought out of the Scriptures, why that

Church is not to be left to her own judgment in this matter,

neither therfore to be contemned, or to be called into ques-

tion for her judgment sake? That Church verily wil keep in

these things a mean agreeable to the cros of Christ, and

wil diligently attend, that no abuse creep into it. If ther-122

fore you wil not admit such liberty and use of vesture to

this pure and holy Church, because they have no com-

mandment of the Lord, nor no example of it, I do not se

how you can grant to any Church, that it may celebrate the

Lords supper in the morning, and in an open church espe-

cially consecrate to the Lord ; that the sacrament may be

distributed to men kneeling or standing, yea, to women as

wel as to men. For we have received of these things neither

commandment of the Lord, nor any example ; yea, rather

the Lord gave a contrary example. For in the evening, and

in a private house, he did make his supper, and distri-

bute the sacrament, and that to men only, and sitting at the

table.
But it wil be objected, that in England many use ves-

tures with manifest superstition, and that they do nourish

and confirm in the people superstition. Even so, it may be

answered, very many abuse al this whole sacrament, as also

baptism, and al other ceremonies. Therfore let us withstand

this mischief, and vanish it utterly. Wherunto, tho' it may

be that the taking away of vestures may help something,

yet to drive away al this mischief it will not suffice. Nay,

the priests themselves must be first removed, and in their

rooms placed faithful ministers in the kingdom of Christ,
VOL. II. PART JI. ti g

450 A REPOSITORY

sucli as be learned indeed, and godly affected. To this

tiierfore, to this, I say, must we chiefly cndeavoiu' our

selves, that the hearts of the people may be purged by

faith : which faith is first encreased by the hearing of the

word of God. This hearing is brought by the preachers of

the gospel.

Such therfore let us pray for. And that there may be

store of them, let us be earnest in our reformation : let there

be a visitation of the Universities, whence many fit ministers

for churches may be gotten : let us never cease to cry out

against that sacrilege, that the fattest benefices are granted

to unworthy men, in respect of their worldly service ; that

the parishes are so miserably undon through papistical

slights and violence. These, these, I say, are certain pa-

pistical facts : against these ought we chiefly to bend our

force ; but to be stout and earnest against stones, stocks,

vestures, and such other things, which of themselves neither

bring gain, plesure, nor honor, it is a very easy matter to the

hearer and speaker, especially those that be discharged from

papistical superstition : for by the shaking off' such things,

great mens stomacs are not offended. But to remove

church-robbers from the spoils of churches, and to do al

things possible to this end and purpose, that every parish

may be provided of convenient ministers, and that curats

may have sufficient for their sustentation, and to aid them

to the ful restitution of Christs disciplin ; this is a thing of

great moment. This is a hard thing to al them which are

not able to say with S. Paul, For Christ is to me life, and

death is to me advantage. And again, God forbid that I

should rejoyce, saving in the cros of' our Lord Jesus Christ,

wherin the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
It pleaseth me right wel, that al Antichrists trash should

be removed as far as might be: I mean not only his ensignes

and marks, but al his steps and shadows, in what thing so-

ever they seem to stand, whether it be in stocks, stones,

garments, or whatsoever other thing else it be. But let us

endeavour our selves to banish first the body and substance

of Antichrist ; and then after, liis ensignes, steps, and sha-

OF ORIGINALS. 451

dows. The body and substance of Antichrist consisteth in 123

the wicked destroyers and spoilers of churches : by whose

means not only Christs disciplin, but also the whole doctrin

is opprest, and put out of place.

When I consider these things, and again look back, as I

ought to do, towards the precepts of the Lord, and his ex-

amples, I wish with al my heart, that as many of us that wil

be Christs followers indeed, even so we earnestly go about

to restore his kingdom, as the Lord himself went about to

begin it, and that we seek it before al other things ; and let