PART boasting of the Holy Ghost, and the sincere word of God, hath enterprised to correct and overthrow the whole church.

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Augustinus, lib. 1. contra Julianum Pelagium, à Græcis pro suâ heresi profugum, querentem, ad hunc modum, respondit: puto (inquit) tibi eam partem orbis debere sufficere, in quá primum apostolorum suorum voluit Dominus gloriosissimo martyrio coronari. Et idem paulo post; Te certe (Julianum alloquitur) occidentalis terra generavit, occidentalis regeneravit ecclesia. Quid ei quæris inferre, quod in eâ non invenisti, quando in ejus membra venisti? Imò, Quid ei quæris auferre, quod in eâ tu quoque accepisti? Hæc ille.

A number of authorities out of the doctors we could rehearse, that maketh for the unity of the church, and for not disturbing the quiet government of the same; which all impugn this their first assertion by way of argument. But because they have framed their assertion so, that we be compelled to defend the negative, (in the probation whereof, the doctors use not directly to have many words;) therefore of purpose we leave out a number of the sayings of the doctors, (which all, as I said before, would prove this first matter by way of argument,) lest we should be tedious, and keep you too long in a plain matter.

And therefore now to conclude, for not changing the divine service, and the ministration of the sacraments from the learned tongue (which thing doth make a schism, and a division between us and the catholick church of God) we have brought in the scripture that doth forbid all such schism. And also the consent and custom of the whole church, which cannot err, and maketh us bold to say as we do; with other things, as ye have heard, for confirmation of the same. And in answering to the first matter, we intend (God willing) to say much more; beseeching Almighty God so to inspire the heart of the queen's majesty, and her most honourable council, with the nobility of this realm, and us that be the pastors of the people in these causes, that so we may dispose of the service of God, as we may therein serve God: and that we do not, by altering the said service from

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the uniform manner of Christ's church, but also highly dis- BOOK please God, and procure to us infamy of the world, the worm of conscience, and eternal damnation; which God forbid: and grant us grace to acknowledg, confess, and maintain his truth. To whom be all glory. Amen.

Number 5.

The declaration of the proceedings of a conference begun at Westminster, the last of March, 1559, concerning certain articles of religion; and the breaking up of the said conference, by default and contempt of certain bishops, parties of the said conference.

gio.

THE queen's most excellent majesty having heard of di- Ex chartoversities of opinions in certain matters of religion, amongst phylac. resundry of her loving subjects; and being very desirous to have the same reduced to some godly and Christian concord, thought it best, by advice of the lords, and others of her privy council, as well for the satisfaction of persons doubtful, as also for the knowledg of the very truth, in certain matters of difference, to have a convenient chosen number of the best learned of either part, and to confer together their opinions and reasons; and thereby to come to some good and charitable agreement. And hereupon, by her majesty's commandment, certain of her said privy council, declared this purpose to the arch-bishop of York, being also one of the said privy council, and required him, that he would impart the same to some of the bishops, and to make choice of eight, nine, or ten of them; and that there should be the like number named of the other part; and further also declared to him (as then was supposed) what the matters should be: and as for the time it was thought upon; and then after certain days past, it was signified by the said arch-bishop, that there was appointed (by such of the bishops to whom he had imparted this matter) eight persons; that is to say, four bishops and four doctors, who were content, at the queen's majesty's commandment, to shew their opinions, and, as he termed it, render account of their

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PART faith in those matters, which were mentioned, and that specially in writing. Although, he said, they thought the same so determined, as there was no cause to dispute upon them. It was hereupon fully resolved, by the queen's majesty, with the advice aforesaid, that, according to their desire, it should be in writing on both parts, for avoiding of much alteration in words. And that the said bishops should, because they were in authority of degree superiours, first declare their minds and opinions to the matter, with their reasons, in writing. And the other number, being also eight men of good degree in schools, (and some having been in dignity in the church of England) if they had any thing to say to the contrary, should the same day declare their opinions in like manner. And so each of them should deliver their writings to the other to be considered what were to be improved therein; and the same to declare again in writing at some other convenient day; and the like order to be kept in all the rest of the matters.

All this was fully agreed upon with the arch-bishop of York, and so also signified to both parties; and immediately hereupon divers of the nobility, and states of the realm, understanding that such a meeting and conference should be, and that in certain matters, thereupon the present court of parliament consequently following, some laws might be grounded, they made earnest means to her majesty, that the parties of this conference might put and read their assertions in the English tongue, and that in the presence of them, the nobility, and others of her parliamenthouse, for the better satisfaction, and enabling of their own judgments to treat and conclude of such laws, as might depend thereupon. This also being thought very reasonable, was signified to both parties, and so fully agreed upon. And the day appointed for the first meeting to be the Friday in the forenoon, being the last of March, at Westminsterchurch, where both for good order, and for honour of the conferences by the queen's majesty's commandment; the lords and others of the privy-council were present, and a great part of the nobility also.

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And notwithstanding the former order appointed and BOOK consented unto by both parties, yet the bishop of Winchester, and his colleagues, alleadging, that they had mistaken that their assertions and reasons should be written, and so only recited out of the book, said, Their book was not then ready written, but they were ready so argue and dispute, and therefore they would for that time repeat in speech, that which they had to say to the first proposition.

This variation from the former order, and specially from that which themselves had, by the said arch-bishop, in writing before required, (adding thereto the reason of the apostle, that to contend with words, is profitable to nothing, but to the subversion of the hearer) seemed to the queen's majesty somewhat strange; and yet was it permitted, without any great reprehension, because they excused themselves with mistaking the order, and argued, that they would not fail, but put it in writing, and, according to the former order, deliver it to the other part.

And so the said bishop of Winchester, and his colleagues, appointed Dr. Cole, dean of Pauls, to be their utterer of their minds, who partly by speech only, and partly by reading of authorities written; and at certain times being informed of his colleagues what to say, made a declaration of their meanings and their reasons to the first proposition.

Which being ended, they were asked, by the privy council, If any of them had any more to be said? and they said; No. So as then the other part was licensed to shew their minds, which they did accordingly to the first order, exhibiting all that which they meant, to propound in a book written. Which, after a prayer, and invocation made most humbly to Almighty God, for the enduing of them with his Holy Spirit, and a protestation also to stand to the doctrine of the catholick church, builded upon the scriptures, and the doctrine of the prophets and the apostles, was distinctly read by one Robert Horn, batchelor in divinity, late dean of DuAnd the same being ended, (with some likelyhood, as it seemed, that the same was much allowable to the audience)

resm.

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it was

PART certain of the bishops began to say contrary to their former answer, that they had now much more to say to this matter; wherein, although they might have been well reprehended for such manner of cavillation, yet for avoiding any more mistaking of orders in this colloquie, or conference, and for that they should utter all that which they had to say, both ordered, and thus openly agreed upon of both parts, in the full audience, that upon the Monday following, the bishops should bring their minds and reasons in writing, to the second assertion, and the last also, if they could, and first read the same; and that done, the other part should bring likewise theirs to the same; and being read, each of them should deliver to other the same writings. And in the mean time the bishops should put in writing, not only all that which Dr. Cole had that day uttered, but all such other matters, as they any otherwise could think of for the same; and as soon as might possible, to send the same book, touching the first assertion to the other part; and they should receive of them that writing which master Horn had there read that day; and upon Monday it should be agreed, what day they should exhibit their answer touching the first proposition.

Thus both parts assented thereto, and the assembly was quietly dismissed. And therefore upon Monday the like assembly began again at the place and hour appointed; and there, upon what sinister or disordered meaning, is not yet fully known, (though in some part it be understanded) the bishop of Winchester, and his colleagues, and specially Lincoln, refused to exhibit or read, according to the former notorious order on Friday, that which they had prepared for the second assertion; and thereupon, by the lord keeper of the great seal, they being first gently and favourably required, to keep the order appointed, and that taking no place, being secondly, as it behoved, pressed with the more earnest request, they neither regarding the authority of that place, nor their own reputation, nor the credit of the cause, utterly refused that to do.

And finally, being again particularly every one of them