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BEcause we heare that it is determined of the magistrats and such as be in authoritie, especially of the Clergye, to send vs speedely out of the prisons of the kings Bench, the
Fleet, the Marshalsey, and Newgate, where presently we are, and of long time some of vs hath ben, not as rebelles, traytors, seditious persons, theeues, or transgressours of any lawes of this realme, inhibitions, Proclamations, or commaundements of the Queenes highnes, or of any of ye Councels (Gods name be praysed therfore) but alonely for the conscience we haue to God and his most holy word & truth, vpon most certayne knowledge: because we say, we heare that it is determined, we shal be sent to one of the v∣niuersities of Cambridge, or Oxford, there to dispute with such as are appointed in that behalfe:* 1.2 in that wee purpose not to dispute otherwise then by writing, except it may be before the Queenes highnes and her Counsell, or before ye Parlament houses, and therfore perchaunce it will be bru∣ted abroad, that we are not able to mayntaine by the truth of Gods word, and the consent of the true and Catholicke Church of Christ, the doctrine we haue generally and seue∣rally taught, and some of vs hath writtē & set forth (wher∣through the godly and simple may be offended & somwhat weakened:) we haue thought it our bounden dutie, now whilest we may, by writing to publish and notifie the cau∣ses why we will not dispute otherwise then is abouesayd, to preuent the offences which might come thereby.
First, because it is euidently knowne vnto the whole world,* 1.3 that the determinations of both the Uniuersities in matters of Religion, especially wherin we should dispute, are directly against Gods word, yea against their own de∣terminations in the time of our late soueraigne Lord and most godly Prince, King Edward: and further it is kno∣wen they be our open enemies, and haue already condem∣ned our causes, before any disputation had of the same.
Secondly, because the Prelates and clergie do not seeke either vs or the verity, but our destruction and their glory. For if they had sought vs (as charity requireth) thē would they haue called vs forth hereaboutes before theyr lawes were so made, that franckly and without perill we might haue spoken our consciences. Againe, if they had sought for the veritie, they woulde not haue concluded of contro∣uersies,* 1.4 tofore they had bene disputed: so that it easely ap∣peareth that they seeke their owne glory and our destruc∣tion, and not vs and the veritie: and therefore we haue good cause to refuse disputation, as a thing which shall not further preuaile, then to the setting forth of their glory, and the suppression of the veritie.
Thirdly, because the Censors and Iudges (as we heare who they be) are manifest enemies to the truth, and that which worse is, obstinate enemies, before whome pearles are not to be cast,* 1.5 by the commaundements of our Sauior Iesus Christ, and by his owne example. That they be such their doings of late at Oxford, and in the Conuocation house in October last past, do most euidently declare.
Fourthly, because some of vs haue bene in prison these 8. or 9. monethes, where we haue had no bookes, no paper, no penne, no inke, or conuenient place for study, we thinke we should do euill thus sodainly to descend into disputa∣tion with them, which may alledge as they list, the fathers and their testimonies,* 1.6 bicause our memories haue not that which we haue read so readily, as to reproue, when they shall report and wrest the authors to their purpose, or to bring forth that we may haue there for our aduantage.
Fiftly, because in disputation we shall not be permitted to prosecute our Argumentes,* 1.7 but be stopped when we would speake, one saying thus, another that, the third his mind,* 1.8 &c. As was done to the godly learned fathers, espe∣cially D. Ridley at Oxford, who could not be permitted to declare his minde and meaning of the propositions, & had oftentimes halfe a dosen at once speaking against hym: al∣wayes letting him to prosecute his argument, and to aun∣swere accordingly: we will not speake of the hissing, scof∣fing, and taunting, which wonderfully then was vsed. If on this sorte and much worse they handled these fathers, much more will they be shameles bold with vs if we shuld enter into disputation with them.
Sixtly, because the Notaries that shall receiue & write the disputations, shal be of their appointment, and such as either do not or dare not fauour ye truth, and therefore must write eyther to please them, or else they themselues (the Censours and Iudges we meane) at their pleasure wyll put to and take from,* 1.9 that which is writtē by ye Notaries, who can not,* 1.10 nor must not haue in their custody that which they write, longer then the disputation indureth, as their doings at Oxford declareth. No copy nor scroule could a∣nye man haue by their good will. For the Censors and Iudges will haue all deliuered into their hands: Yea, if a∣ny man was sene there to write (as the report is) the same man was sent for, and his writings taken from him: so must the disputation serue only for the glory, not of God, but of the enemies of his truth.
For these causes we all thinke it so necessary not to dis∣pute with them, as if we did dispute we shuld do that whi∣che they desire & purposely seek, to promote the kingdome of Antichrist, and to suppresse (as much as may be) ye truth. We will not speake of the offence that might come to the godly, whē they shuld heare, by the report of our enemies, our aunsweres and arguments framed (you may be sure) for their fantasies, to the sclaundering of the veritie.
Therfore we publish, and by this writing notifie vnto the whole congregation and church of England,* 1.11 that for these aforesaid causes we will not dispute with thē, other∣wise then with the penne, vnlesse it be before the Queenes highnes and her Councell, or before the houses of the par∣liament, as is aboue sayd. If they will write,* 1.12 we will aun∣swere, & by writing confirm and proue out of the infallible veritie, euen the very word of God, and by the testimonye of ye good and most auncient fathers in Christes Churche, this our fayth and euery peece thereof, which hereafter we in a summe do write and send abroad purposely, that oure good brethren and sisterne in the Lord may knowe it: and to seale vp ye same,* 1.13 we are ready through Gods helpe and grace to geue our liues to ye halter of fire, or otherwise as God shall appoynt, humbly requiring, & in the bowels of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, beseeching all that feare God, to behaue themselues as obedient subiects to the Queenes highnes and the superiour powers, which are ordeyned of god vnder her, rather after our exāple to geue their heads to the blocke, then in any poynt to rebell or once to mutter agaynst the Lordes annoynted: we meane our soueraigne Lady Queene Mary, into whose hart we beseech the Lord of mercye plentifully to doure the wisedome and grace of his holy spirite, now and for euer. Amen.
First we confesse and beleue all the Canonicall bookes of the old Testament,* 1.14 and al the bookes of the new Testa∣ment, to be the very true word of God, and to be written by the inspiration of the holy Ghost, and are therfore to be heard accordingly, as the Iudge in all controuersies and matters of religion.
Secondly,* 1.15 we confesse and beleue the Catholick church whiche is the spouse of Christ, as a most obedient and lo∣uing wife, to embrace and follow the doctrin of these books in all matters of religion, and therefore is shee to be heard accordingly: so that those which will not heare this church thus following and obeying the word of her husband, we accompt as heretickes and schismatickes, accordyng to this saying: If he will not heare the Church, let him be vnto thee as a Heathen.
Thirdly, we beleue and confesse all the Articles of faith & doctrine set forth in the Simbole of the Apostles,* 1.16 whiche we commonly cal the Creede, and in the Symboles of the Councels of Nice, kept. An. dom. 324. of Constantinople An. dom. 384. of Ephesus kept An. dom. 432. of Calcedon, kept An. dom. 454. of Toletum, the first and fourth. Also the Symboles of Athanasius, Irenaeus, Tertullian, & of Dama∣sus, which was about the yeare of our Lorde. 376. we con∣fesse and beleue (we saye) the Doctrine of the Symboles generally and particularly: so that who soeuer doth other∣wise, we hold the same to erre from the truth.
Fourthly, we beleue and confesse concerning iustifica∣tion,* 1.17 that as it commeth onely from Gods mercy through Christ, so it is perceaued and had of none whiche be of yeares of discretion, otherwise then by fayth onely: which fayth is not an opinion, but a certaine perswasiō wrought by the holy Ghost in the minde and hart of man,* 1.18 where through as ye minde is illumined, so the hart is soupled to submitte it selfe to the will of God vnfaynedly, & so shew∣eth forth an inherēt righteousnes,* 1.19 which is to be discerned in the Article of iustification, from the righteousnes which God endueth vs withall iustifying vs, although insepera∣bly they goe together. And this we do not for curiositie or contention sake, but for conscience sake, that it might be quyet, whiche it can neuer be, if we confounde without di∣stinction, forgeuenes of sinnes, and Christes Iustice im∣puted to vs, with regeneratiō and inherent righteousnes. By this wee disalowe Papisticall doctrine of free will, of woorkes of supererogation, of merites, of the necessitie of auricular confession, and satisfaction to Godwardes.* 1.20
Fiftly, we confesse and beleue concerning the exteriour seruice of God, that it ought to be according to the word of God, and therfore in the congregation al thinges publike ought to be done in such a tongue as may be most to edifie & not in Latin, where the people vnderstād not the same.
Sixtly, we confesse and beleue that God onely by christ Iesus is to be prayed vnto and called vpon,* 1.21 & therfore we disalow inuocation or prayer to Saints departed this life.
Seuenthly, we confesse and beleeue, that as a man de∣parteth this life, so shall he be iudged in the last day gene∣rally, & in the meane season is entred either into the state of
the blessed for euer,* 1.22 or damned for euer, and therefore is ei∣ther past all helpe, or else needes no helpe of any in this life. By reason whereof we affirme Purgatory, Masses of Sca∣la coeli, Trentals, and suche Suffrages as the Popishe Church doth obtrude as necessary,* 1.23 to be the doctrine of Antichrist.
Eightly, we confesse and beleeue the Sacramentes of Christ, which be Baptisme and the Lordes Supper, that they ought to be ministred according to the institution of Christ, concerning the substantiall partes of them: and that they be no longer Sacraments, then they be had in vse, and vsed to the end for the which they were instituted.
* 1.24And heere we playnly confesse that the mutilation of the Lords Supper, and the subtraction of the one kinde from the lay people, is Antichristian.
And so is the doctrine of transubstantiation of the Sa∣cramentall bread and wyne after the words of consecrati∣on, as they be called.
Item, the adoration of the Sacrament, with honor due vnto God: the reseruation and carying about of the same.
Item, the Masse to be a propitiatory sacrifice for the quicke and dead, or a worke that pleaseth God.
All these we confesse and beleeue to be Antichristes do∣ctrine: as is the inhibition in Mariage as vnlawfull to a∣ny state. And we doubt not by Gods grace, but we shal be able to prooue all our confessions heere to be most true by the veritie of Gods word, and consente of the Catholicke Churche, which followeth and hath followed the gouer∣naunce of Gods spirit, and the iudgement of his word.
And this thorough the Lordes helpe we will do, eyther in disputation by word before the Queenes hyghnesse and her Counsayle, eyther before the Parliament houses, of whome we doubt not but to be indifferently heard, eyther with our pennes, whensoeuer we shall be thereto by them that haue authoritie required and commaunded.
In the meane season, as obedient Subiectes wee shall behaue our selues towardes all that be in authoritie, and not cease to pray to God for them, that he woulde gouerne them all, generally and particularly with the spirite of wisedome & grace. And so we hartily desire, & humbly pray all men to do,* 1.25 in no point consenting to any kinde of rebel∣lion or sedition against our soueraigne Lady the Queenes highnes: but where they can not obey, but they must diso∣bey God, there to submit themselues with all patience and humilitie to suffer as the will and pleasures of the higher powers shall adiudge: as we are ready thorough the good∣nes of the Lord to suffer whatsoeuer they shall adiudge vs vnto, rather then we will cōsent to any doctrine contrary to this which we heere confesse, vnlesse we shall be iustly conuinced therof, either by writing or by word, before such Iudges as the Queenes hyghnes and her Counsell,* 1.26 or the Parlamēt houses shall appoint: For the Uniuersities and Clergy haue condemned our causes already by the bigger, but not by the better part, without all disputation of the same: and therefore most iustly we may, & do appeale from them to be our Iudges in this behalfe, except it may be in writing, that to al men the matter may appeare. The Lord of mercy endue vs all with the spirit of his truth and grace of perseuerance therein vnto the end. Amen.
The 8. of May, Anno Dom. 1554.
☞To these things abouesayd, do I Myles Couerdale late of Exon, consent and agree with these my afflicted bree∣thren being prisoners with mine owne hand.
And thus much concerning this present declaration sub∣scribed by these preachers, which was on the viij. day of May.
Furthermore, the xix. day of the sayd moneth, the Lady Elizabeth,* 1.28 Sister to the Queene, was brought out of the Tower, and committed to the custody of Syr Iohn Wil∣liams, after Lord Williams of Tame, of whom, her high∣nes was gently and curteously entreated: who afterward was had to Woodstocke, and there committed to the kee∣ping of Sir Henry Benifield Knight of Oxeborough in Northfolke:* 1.29 who on the other side, both forgetting her e∣state, and his owne duty, (as it is reported) shewed hym∣selfe more hard & straight vnto her, then either cause was geuen of her part, or reason of his owne part would haue led him,* 1.30 if either grace or wisedome in him might haue sene before, what daunger afterward might haue ensued there∣of. Whereof we haue to entreate more at large (the Lorde willing) hereafter in the story & life of Queene Elizabeth.
Upon the Friday following, being the xx. of Iuly, and S. Margarets day, the prince of Spaine lāded at South∣hampton. The Prince him selfe was the first that landed: who immediately as he set foote vppon the land, drew out his sword, and caried it naked in his hād a good prety way.* 1.31
Then met him without the Towne a little the Maior of Southampton, with certayne Commoners, who deliue∣red the keyes of the Towne vnto the Prince, who remo∣ued his sword (naked as it was) out of his right hand, into his left hand, and so receiued the keyes of the Maior with∣out any word speaking, or countenaunce of thankefulnes, and after a while deliuered the keyes to the Maior againe. At the Towne gate met hym the Earle of Arundell and Lord Williams, and so he was brought to his lodging.
Upon the Wednesday following, being S. Iames day,* 1.32 and the xxv. of Iuly, Philip Prince of Spayne, & Mary Queene of England, were maryed together solemnely in the Cathedrall Church at Winchester, by the Byshop of Winchester, in the presence of a great number of noble men of both the Realmes. At the time of this mariage the Em∣perours Embassadour being present, opēly pronounced, yt in cōsideration of that Mariage, the Emperour had graū∣ted & giuen vnto his sonne, the Kingdome of Naples, &c.
Whereupon the first daye of August following, there was a Proclamation, that from that tyme foorth, the style of all maner of writings should be altered,* 1.33 and this follo∣wing should be vsed.
☞ Philip and Mary by the grace of God, Kyng and Queene of England, Fraunce, Naples, Ierusalem, and Ireland, defenders of the Fayth, Princes of Spayne and Cicill, Archdukes, of Austrich, Dukes of Millaine, Burgundie, and Brabant, Counties of Has∣purge, Flaunders and Tyroll.
Of this Mariage, as the Papistes chiefly seemed to be very glad, so diuers of them after diuers studyes, to shew forth their inward affections, some made Interludes and Pagentes, some drewe foorth Genealogies, deriuing his petigrue from Edwarde the third and Iohn of Gaunte, some made Uerses. Amongst all other, Mayster Whyte, then Byshop of Lincolne (his Poeticall vayne beeyng drunken with ioye of the Mariage) spued out certayne Uerses: the copy whereof we haue heere inserted.
A declarati••on of the godly prea∣chers writ∣ten and sen•• abroad out of prison.
A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a pre••en••ed 〈…〉〈…〉 at Cambridge.
The causes wh•• they 〈…〉〈…〉 o∣therwise dispute the•• before indifferent Iudges.
The matter of the dis∣putation is against Gods word. The second cause.
In the dis∣putation neither cha∣ritie nor ve∣ritie sought for.
The third cause. The Iudges of the dis∣putation professed e∣nemies a∣gainst the truth.
The 4. cause.
Want of boo••es ne∣cessa•••• for disputation.
The 5. cause.
Example of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 disputa∣tion at Ox∣ford.
The 6. cause.
Notaries 〈◊〉〈◊〉 indiffe∣••••nt.
Exceptions ta∣ken aga••nst the aduersaries.
Conditions as∣signed how they would dis∣pute.
Exhortation to obedience.
The confession and fayth of the prisoned Prea∣chers.
The Catholicke Church.
The Creede▪
Iustification by fayth onely in Christ.
What fayth is.
Righteousnes in man, righte∣ousnes without man.
The doctrine of free iustification defended for no curiositie, but for quiet of con∣science.
Seruice in the vulgar tongue.
Inuocation to God alone. Purgatory and Masses suffraga∣tory, denied.
An. no 1554. May.
Two sacra∣mentes.
The supper to be ministred in both kindes. Against tran∣substantiation. Agaynst Ado∣ration of the sa∣crament.
The masse to be no propitiatory sacrifice.
Inhibition of Priestes mari∣age Antichristi∣an.
Exhortation a∣gaynst rebelliō.
The bigger part agaynst the bet∣ter.
Appeale from the Vniuersitie Doctors as not indifferent iud∣ges.
The names of the prisoned preachers sub∣scribing to this declaration.
May. 19. Lady Elizabeth. Sir Iohn Willi∣ams.
Sir Henry Be∣nefield.
Iuly 20. K. Phillip arri∣ueth at South∣ampton.
King Phil∣lip caryeth his sword naked com∣ming into England. The keyes of South∣ampton de∣liuered to K. Phillip.
Iuly. 25. Mariage be••tweene K. Phillip an•• Q. Mary.
August. 1.