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whose sins they remitted were remitted. But you in giving BOOK orders have neither a commandment to say, Receive the Holy Ghost, neither any promise, that the Holy Ghost shall be given by your hands. You may as well breathe upon them, which is Christ's action, as use his words, saying, Receive the Holy Ghost. And you may as lawfully allow the papists these words, in consecrating their massships shavelings, Receive the yoke of chastity, as arrogate to yourselves power and authority to use these words, in ordering of ministers, Receive the Holy Ghost. But if you do worthily mislike and disallow that in popery, so do not, contrary unto right, retain this or any other ceremony in the time of the clear light of the gospel.

Again, if these words, Receive the Holy Ghost, had been either commanded or thought necessary of the Holy Ghost to have been used, the eleven apostles would not have omitted the same, in the allotting of Matthias: and also with the rest, would have used it in making of their ministers. Of whom we read no such words, altho' you affirm you never heard or read the contrary. God grant you speak not contrary to knowledge.

Now whereas you wished, that if you were the cause of this rent in the church, you might be cast into the sea with Jonas: surely wee are not of that mind. But this we wish, and heartily do pray to God, for that he would once in mercy stir you up from slackness in doing your duty, as he did Jonas from drowsy sleep under the hatches, to an earnest and diligent executing of your office, in preaching the gospel sincerely and purely. And that as he moved the mariners to cast Jonas into the sea, so he would put it into the heart of the queen's majesty (whom God preserve) to move you from your over-quiet states, pompous livings, and lordly titles. Neither crave we at this present any other thing, but that which once Mr. Elmer exhorted bishops unto: as appeareth in a book, intitled, The harborough of faithful subjects. And this also we wish further, that that be not verified in you, which Christ pronounceth against Scribes and Pharisees; namely, that you shut up the king

1.

BOOK dom of heaven. For yee yourselves go not in; neither suffer yee them that would enter, to come in. Our meaning is, because yee will neither reform religion, in God's church, yourselves, for fear of losing your pomp and honour: neither will ye suffer those that would, even with the loss of living, liberty, and life, that the beautiful face and purity of the apostolic church might once shine in England. Which God, for his crucified Christ Jesus sake, bring to pass at this parlament, if it be his good pleasure. Amen.

26

IV. That Paul's word, 1 Cor. iii. (where he only blameth those which preferred one with the dispraise and contempt of another, they all teaching one sincere truth, without any pharisaical mixture, and may rightly be applied against such, who only refuse to follow those which couple their own devices and antichristian remnants with the gospel of Christ) is yet unbelieved of us. For it is very unlike that Paul, who so boldly reproved Peter, because he went not the right way to the truth of the gospel, would so sharply rebuke such, as sectaries, which did walk rightly therein; but after his doctrine and example: who willed to be followed, as he followed Christ. And who also said, Be yee followers of me, and look on them which also walk so, as ye have us for an example.

But now whether more nigh the apostles institutions and ordinances; whether treadeth more rightly the paths; whether walketh more sincerely in their ways, they which are said to be sectaries, or renters of the church, or they which so term us, let the mighty word of God, which only is the truth it self, and which alone must end controversie, and which shall either justify or condem us in the terrible day of the Lord, uprightly judge.

V. You said, As meat was for the belly, and the belly for meats, yet God should destroy both: even so the back was for apparel, and apparel for the back: but God shal destroy both. To which we answer, God indeed shall destroy the use of both. For in heaven we shall neither hunger nor be a cold. But meat is prepared for the belly in this life, to serve necessity, not for excess and gluttony. And so is ap

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parel for warmeness; and not for pride or superfluity: as BOOK woolen upon linnen, and linnen upon woolen, and silk upon silk, &c.

VI. Yee said, Meat commendeth us not to God: but if I

eat, I am not the worse; neither, if I eat not, am I the bet-
ter. This is very true. But if we drink till we are drunk,
and eat till we surfet, and that with the offence of our bro-
ther also, wee are then the worse. For drunkards and
gluttons shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Even so,
if wee use excess or pride in apparel, or delight to wear
strange apparel, as is the habit of antichrist; and do wear
the same to the hurt of our brother, and to offend the weak,
grieve the strong, encourage the obstinate, confirm the hy-
pocrite; and by defending the same, make glad the hearts
of God's enemies, and make sad the hearts of his dear chil-
dren; then we see that apparel thus used maketh a man the
worse and God will punish such as so use it. And if you
had but one spark of that love which Paul had in Christ
Jesus, yee would not have said, What is white? What is
black? What is square? What is round? But ye would have
said with Paul, you would never wear white, black, round,
nor square, while the world standeth, that you would not
offend your brother. Neither would you for these matters,
which
you yourself confess are but trifles and of small im-
portance, have deprived from livings, thrust into prison,
stopped the mouths of so many grave, learned, and godly
zelous preachers, as you have done. Neither would you
have kept back, as you daily do, from preferment such as
well and worthily have deserved the same; and such as the
Lord God himself hath from time to time stirred up to the
simple service of, according as he hath reveled. The Lord
lay not the sin of persecution to your charge.

And what should move you to maintain them so stoutly, seeing you confess they are but trifles? Wee say, not. For trifles are not to be maintained in God's church; because they edify not; because they are not expedient; because they are not to be allowed in the service of our jealous God; because God will be worshipped as he himself hath

BOOK prescribed in his word; which is not with trifles, but with I. earnest, pure, and undefiled religion.

VII. The last thing which grieved our consciences was, your demand which you made: What is white? What is black? What is round? What is square? They are, said you, the good creatures of God. But we are sure, that white, black, and square, as you now use them, are not God's creatures, as he created them, but as antichrist hath formed them. From whence you have received both fashion and form. And therefore still the creatures of antichrist. And that in such sort, as all the laws and procla mations that ever have been or shall be in England, cannot make them theirs, as [to] form and fashion, neither God's creatures, nor the princes; no more than the king of France can with a proclamation make acts of another noble king his. As also, for example, if the Turk should decree by laws, statutes, and edicts, that all the ceremonies of Moses law, as offering of calves, incense, oyl, and flower; and all Aaron's attyre should no more be taken for Moses's ceremonies and Aaron's attyre, but for his ceremonies and his attyre: should not Moses's ceremonies continue Moses's ceremonies still? and Aaron's holy garments continue Aaron's garments still? Wee think, yea: and wisdom hath so thought also. Then no proclamation, law, or statute can dispossess antichrist, the pope, from his ceremonies, ordinances, constitutions, and attyre. But look, what ceremonies, ordinances, and constitutions and attyre were his twenty years ago, shall be his ceremonies, ordinances, and constitutions and attyre still, tho' a thousand proclamations should command the contrary.

27 Therefore herein we consent with you, that in respect of substance they are God's good creatures; but in the consideration of the use, form, fashion, and end, whereunto they were and are appointed, we judge them altogether unlawful, proceding from antichrist, that man of sin, and the sworn enemy of God and his truth.

And what estimation shall the minister get by wearing the badge and cognizance of his masters deadly foe, we re

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ferr it to your own wisdom and discretion. And thus, al- BOOK though rudely, yet truly, we have declared the cause of our griefs; wishing them to be satisfied by you or some others, out of God's word: whereupon we may ground and settle our consciences. For bare asseverations are but weak confirmations. Neither may we be carried away with the countenance of any man's calling: but whereunto we must subject both our senses and our selves, is the mighty word of the eternal God. Which if it might bear sway, as of right it ought, O Lord, how many sinners should be extinguished and buried, that now a vain policy doth maintain and strengthen! How many and grievous burthens should then be taken from us, that no Christian's eyes and ears can scarce behold and hear! God grant, that all abuses may be with expedition reformed; and that you and your fellow bishops may labour speedily to reduce our English church as nigh as may be to the form and patern of the apostles church. Amen.

Number XIII.

A true report of the words and confession of Thomas late duke of Norfolk, at his death on the Tower-hill, June the 2. 1572.

brary, Ju

THE duke came forth of the Tower to the scaffold on Cott. LiTower-hill, guarded with the sheriff of London and officers; lius, F. 6. and accompanied with sir Owen Hopton, lieutenant of the Tower, sir Henry Lee, Mr. Nouel, dean of St. Pauls, and Mr. Fox, sometime his schoolmaster, with other gentlemen. When he ascended the scaffold, after a little talk that he had with Mr. Nouel, he demanded of the standers by, which way he might best direct his face to speake unto the people. And it was answered him, Toward the east side of the scaffold. Where presently he placed himself, and uncovered his head, with taking view of the people, and especially of such as stood neer him. To whom with a cheerful countenance and bold looks, he uttered these words: