as in the Kinges ecclesiasticall Courte of Comission, the Admirall court and court of Delegates, for admirall causes, and not be driven to seeke after execution of theire decrees and sentences by processe owt of the temporall Courte as the Chauncery or otherwise, with greate delay and expences. If this be not thought convenient then as followeth. The ecclesiasticall Judge uppon the citation executed and returned conteyning the offence of the partie shall preceede first by suspension and uppon 20 daies. contumacye and contempt of the said censure and denuntiation thereof (beinge also in effect a second citation) then to proceede to excommunication and not before. And that no man be suspended or excommunicated upon a formall certificate by a Proctor, but that there be an affidavit made of the due servinge of the processe. Also the said ecclesiasticall Judge decreeinge an excommunication as aforesaid the same shall be executed by a grave minister who by a former canon is to assiste the Judge for that purpose. Provided that in such cases as concerned Ministers, the ecclesiasticall Judge shall neither suspende, excommunicate nor deprive any of them but with the assistance of 2 grave and learned preachers att the least. And in greater and more greevous crimes where the Bishopp then in person shall sitt as Iudge, he shall be assisted in the said censures for the greater solemnitie of the Action with the Deane and some of the Prebendaries or with 3 or 4 suche grave preachers as the Bishopp shall thinke fitt to call unto him in that behalfe. AN ANONYMOUS ACCOUNT IN FAVOUR OF THE BISHOPS HAMPTON COURT CONFERENCE (Baker MSS. M. m. 1. 45, f. 155-157.) Anno Domini, 1603. Acts Ecclesiastical in the pryvi Chamber. The Conference began upon the xvith daye of January at xi and continued untill v of the clocke. none suffered to be present but the Counsaile and suche as were Agents thereunto summoned. The Kinge maid a speache unto them, wherein he signified his desire to establishe truthe of Religion. And forasmuch as they (speaking of the Puritans) had excepted against the present State of Religion and Church Discipline as erroneous and imperfect, he was desirous to heare the objections that yf they were approved and allowed to be just and equall, they might be reformed accordingly. Wherupon Dr. Reynolds as the mowthe of the rest answered the Kinges speache, and excepted against many points, which he deryved from these generall heads. (1) Articles of Religion. (2) Subscription to the Articles and Booke of Common Prayer. (3) Sufficiencie and Residencie of the Ministrie. (4) Iurisdicion of the Bishoppes and Chauncellours. In the Articles he made exception and a contradicon between the Article of Predestinacon: and fallinge from faithe, affirminge th'one to overthrow th'other. The second against the Article of Sacraments, because that our Churche renounceth confirmacon and yet the Booke of Common Prayer alloweth yt. To the first Dr. Overall craved audience, and replied as a partie particularly aymed at therin. The Kinge graunted him verie willingly licentiam loquendi, and was fully satisfied by him, advysyinge in the conclusion, that this additon mighte be putt to the Article, that the Elect might often fall from grace and faithe. To the second the Bishop of Winchester and London answered, that confirmacon was rejected as a Sacrament, and in the prayer Booke allowed as a holy and godly practice of the Apostles in the primitive Churche. After that he made some exception against the Translation of our Bible and the readinge of the Apocrypha, the former was a little debated, and so passed over as a matter of no great moment: and yet the Kinge content to allowe some newe Translation, yf the Bishoppes would consent thereunto. As for the Apocrypha he allowed and iustified the use thereof. The second maine and generall point of subscription the Kinge did utterly reiect, and would no waye yeld to their request, to be freed from subscription. Here were handled all matters of Controuersie, as Cappes, surplice, Ringes, and Crosses, and after much opposition and Replies, the Kinge made a peremptorie conclusion, for the allowance and continuance of all these particulars as decent and expedient. Mr. Knewstubbes was fierce ageinst and so was Dr. Andrewes as feirce for the Crosse, and the Kinge most resolute for yt. They made a Peticon: to be exempted from the superstitious surplice in regard to the weaknes of many consciences which therby were dryven from their function: but the Kinge replied with derision of their allegacon, and sayd that those weake consciences were such as ought to strengthen others, and in all matters of faction shewed themselves most headstronge, proude and violent. The third point was judged impossible, because ther were not Ministers sufficient to furnishe everie parishe: nor everie parishe able to finde a sufficient minister: and so that point was passed over. For ther last point of Jurisdicon: there desire was that they Bishopps should not execute yt alone by themselves, but joyntly with the Presbiterie of their Brethren the Pastors and Ministers of the Churche. Wherunto the Kinge replied merily sayeinge he would have the Presbitery buried in silence for these 7 yeares, and yf then he grewe idle, lasie, fatt and pursie, I will sett up Presbitery (saith he) to exercise my body and my patience, otherwise yt shall never up for me, and so rest contented for that matter. This is the Truthe and nothinge but the truthe, yf anie contradict this, you maie resist hym. They had a could pull of yt and are utterly foyled. They are greived at nothinge so muche, as the continuance of a Popishe Relique of the Surplice. It is thought they sewe for connivencie in yt behalfe, and rather loose theyr lyvinges, then weare yt, God graunt yt. Puritan Actors in thes Pointes. Dr. Reynolds. Oxon. the principall mouthe and speaker. Dr. Sparke. spake verie sparingly. Dr. Feythe (Feilde) went in with the Puritans, he never spake but once, and that altogether ageinst them. Furthermore Chaderton must conforme, and his irregular colledge to weare the surplice, and receive the communion kneelinge or els be putt owt of yt. The Kinge imposed this by reason of Information, gyven him from the Lord Henry. The Chancellors of both the Universities must send their letters downe, that none shall be admitted without subscription. This is the Triumphe they so longe expected. Dr. Reynolds and his brethren are utterly condempned for silly men. PURITAN ACCOUNTS OF THE HAMPTON COURT CONFERENCE I Letter of January 15, 1603. (Barlow, Summe and Substance of the Conference at end of the Edition of 1604.) Sir: I cannot conceale from you, the good successe, which it hath pleased God to sende us, by the Conference, which his Maiestie had with the Bishops at the court. There appeared none but the Bishops which were with the King aboue three houres: Can. Lon. Win. fell downe on their knees, and desired, that all things might remaine, least the Papists should think we haue bene in an error. The King replied, that in 42 yeares corruptions might creep in. He spake of confirmation, priuate Baptisme, the Crosse, dumbe Ministerie, non residence, the Courtes; which he promised to amend; especially he spake bitterly against priuate Baptisme; sayinge hee had as liue an Ape as a woman should Baptise his childe, and againste Courtes which hee saide he would put downe. The Lo: chiefe Iustice, and the Lo: Cecil, against Excommunications by Laymen. Maister Deane of the Chappell, speaking something to the King in his eare, the Bishop of London, insolently said unto him, Doctor Montague speake out, that we may heare you, and seeke not to crosse us. At their departure, they said, that if the King should use the Ministers in such sort as they were used, they would be too insolent. The King said they were his subiectes, and if hee would not heare them, then they had iust cause to complayne. The Bishops brought foorth many Popish arguments which the King very ernestly answered, and learnedly, more then tenne times calling them Popish arguments, and saide by those reasons, they might prooue Popery. The Bishop of Winchester saide, that if he tooke away priuate Bap tisme, he ouerthrew all antiquitie. The Bishop of Peterbrough brought a foolish argument, with much disgrace to himselfe. The Bishops haue taken Wednesday to consider the Kings speech. The Ministers come to the King on Munday at nine of the clocke. Honest People about the Court are comforted. Conformitans hang down their heads, and the bishops men curse the Puritanes. Sic. explicit: 1. dies. 1 II I haue sent you the declaration of the Conference which was in this manner: The firste day the Bishoppes mette before his Maiestie: Bishops of Canterburie, London and Winchester, making earnest sute, that all things might stand as they did, least the Papists should take offence, who might say, we would perswade them to come to a church hauing errors in it: and the Puritans will say, they haue bin persecuted long: The King answered, that the best state would gather corruptions, and that it was no argument for them, to say, they would not be cured of the pox because they had had it 30 yeares: he concluded against absolution, confirmation, priuate Baptisme, the dumbe and scandalous Ministers: pluralities, the Courtes, and the authoritie of Bishoppes by the high Commissioners, etc. The second day the Ministers were conuented before the King, who answered fearefully and modestly. The Bishop of London behaved himselfe insolently, sayinge these are Cartwrightes schollers, scismatikes, breakers of your Maiesties lawes; you may know them by their Turkie gownes, and silke Grogorum: the third day they met all where the King spake much to unitie, that they might ioyne against the Papists: All the three dayes the King behaued himselfe admirable to the beholders, graunting to the Ministers their earnest request, that |