ON

LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE

AND

PERSECUTION.

16141661.

EDITED FOR

The Hanserd Knollys Society,

WITH AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION,

BY

EDWARD BEAN UNDERHILL.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, BY

J. HADDON, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.

M.DCCC.XLVI.

ADVERTISEMENT:

In the prospectus of the Hanserd Knollys Society it was stated, that "to the baptists belongs the honour of first asserting in this land, and of establishing on the immutable basis of just argument and scripture rule, the right of every man to worship God as conscience dictates, in submission only to divine command."

The Council have now the pleasure of laying before the Subscribers the earliest writings extant in our language, on this deeply important subject.

They were the first articulations of infant liberty. The voice of truth and Christianity was heard in the mild and gentle entreaties of their despised and calumniated authors: unfortunately it was unheeded, and soon spake in the whirlwind and the storm of contending armies and national convulsion.

Happier times have succeeded, and it is permitted us to reap the fruits of the humble, but noble and selfdenying labours of these pioneers of the soul's freedom. They fell martyrs "for conscience' sake;" it it were

ingratitude to withhold a coronal of deserved commendation, wreathed from the bright leaves and blossoms of the tree they planted in sorrow, and watered with their blood; but under whose shadow it is our happiness to live.

It is scarcely necessary to add, that the Council must not be held responsible for the sentiments contained in these pieces; their duty is accomplished by laying before their brethren these memorials of our forefathers without alteration or abridgment.

The Editor is alone responsible for the notes and illustrations, which are uniformly placed in brackets. He has to regret that in one instance he was unable to discover a copy of the original edition.

The Historical Introduction closes with the reign of Mary, as the accession of much new and original matter relating to the baptists of Elizabeth's reign, would, if added, have unduly enlarged the size of the volume: it will however form a most appropriate introduction to the next.

Oxford, April 13, 1846.

EDWARD BEAN UNDERHILL.