TOGETHER WITH AN APPENDIX OF ORIGINAL PAPERS OF STATE, RECORDS, AND LETTERS BY JOHN STRYPE, M.A.

A NEW EDITION VOLUME 1 (FORMERLY VOLUME 1 PART 1) THE KING.

THIS presumption, dread sovereign, of setting your august name before these Annals of the Reformation of the Church of England, will, I hope, obtain your majesty’s pardon; since God hath placed you, next under himself, the great patron and supreme head of the same happy reformed church. And you have often, in a most gracious manner, declared to your people your royal defence and protection thereof: the evident and remarkable blessing of Almighty God, from your auspicious entrance upon the government of these kingdoms, accompanying your majesty therein; and preserving us in this holy religion, (as we pray in our excellent office,) in “wealth, peace, and godliness.”

Nor is it without precedent that I offer my dedication of this part of our church’s history to your majesty, since the beginning and progress of it, written by a right reverend bishop of this church, the former part of which was inscribed to one of your royal predecessors, and the latter part to yourself, with good acceptance. And so the favour to these volumes may seem entitled to your royal patronage, as being but a continuation of the same history, where the former ended; viz. commencing at the happy access of queen Elizabeth to the throne: when the great and divine work was taken in hand again, of removing the gross superstitions and errors of Rome, which had been restored by queen Mary, her immediate predecessor; shewing the steps then taken in the restoring and reestablishing that excellent primitive religion professed among us, and continued (thanks be to God) to this day.

And I cannot but add, that as we, your majesty’s subjects of this protestant communion, have abundant cause to give God thanks for his peculiar blessing in setting over us a prince under whom we enjoy this true, reformed religion; so also for your preserving and maintaining us in our civil rights and properties, together with peace at home and abroad: insomuch that we seem to be altogether as happy a people now, under your majesty’s influence and care, as they that lived under the glorious queen Elizabeth.

And as your majesty’s reign over us hath hitherto been so signally blessed by God, moved by the many devout petitions, daily and constantly made, in the words of the liturgy of this our church, and the good effect they have found, so I cannot conclude this my humble address to your majesty better than in another address to the great” King of kings and Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes,” that (as we pray in our said holy office) you may long reign over us; and that he would rule your heart in his faith, fear, and love; and give you the victory over all your enemies: and that as God hath set your majesty, and other kings and princes of the earth, in great place and dignity, so to make you and them great instruments of benefiting mankind; and as you are earthly gods, so you may have grace to imitate the God of heaven in doing good to all, and in executing justice, mercy, and truth in the earth: and that we, your subjects, duly considering whose authority you have, may faithfully serve, honour, and humbly obey you, according to God’s holy word and ordinance. And lastly, that your royal issue, that God hath blessed you and us with, may be enriched with all heavenly graces, and prosper in all earthly happiness; and, after you, may happily reign over these kingdoms in a long succession of after-ages. These are the sincere and daily prayers of, May it please your majesty, Your most dutiful and ever loyal subject, JOHN STRYPE.

THE PREFACE.

For the church of England, piously and rightly reformed under queen Elizabeth, have been written solid apologies and vindications, both of its doctrine and discipline, ministry and worship, by divers able and learned men. Care also hath been taken from time to time to preserve and establish it by wholesome laws and constitutions. And the members of it have (thanks be to God) enjoyed plentiful means of Christian knowledge and edification, not only by the constant preaching of God’s word, but by the practical and devotional books frequently published for their use. But one thing hath been wanting still, after so long a time that this excellent church hath flourished; viz. an historical account of its reformation, and the particular method and order of the proceedings in that glorious work; and what oppositions or encouragements it met with from time to time; what friends or enemies it found; what bishops or divines, singular for their piety or learning, it was adorned with; and the various successes and occurrences that attended it after its first settlement.

And it is some wonder that we should be left destitute to this day of so material a branch of our English history under that incomparable princess, except what is written by Mr. Fuller, (who is very brief,) and Dr. Heylin, and the right reverend bishop of Sarum, who goes little further than the beginning of her reign. It is probable such an undertaking was intended long since, that is, in Camden’s time: for in his Annals of that queen, he purposely passeth lightly over church-matters; and in some places hinteth the reason, that he left them for the ecclesiastical historian; as if there had been some such fixed upon for that work in his time. And before him John Fox intended his last labours that way, and had prepared very considerable materials for that purpose; some whereof are fallen into my hands; many are dispersed elsewhere; and not a few lost. And I have been told, great heaps of collections were in and after the times of that queen got together, in order to write her ecclesiastical history; but that this good work and the collections themselves were stifled, and lost in the civil wars.

Notwithstanding, of the use of such an history, there is none, I believe, but is sensible. Both the clergy of this church, (who are the ministers and professed servants of it,) and all its other members, may hereby satisfy themselves, and (as occasion serves) inform others, what reasonable, just, and wise methods were taken in the reforming of it; and how signally the providence of God all along favoured and furthered it. It will shew us upon what firm ground of scripture and antiquity our reformation stands, and will help to direct and enlighten us in our controversies about it. And by making us understand what our original constitution is, we shall not be easily imposed upon; and we shall know, When we, or others, go beyond, fall short of, or vary from the true reformed church of England.

Since then, after so long a time, no abler pen hath undertaken this province; viz. to relate how true religion was restored, under the foresaid princess, so regularly, wisely, and legally, by consent of prince and people, and what progress was made therein; I have at length attempted it, and done my endeavour, according to my small capacity, to serve God, and this church herein; and that from proper collections by me, for many years made, as well out of private studies, as other public libraries and treasuries of MSS.: where many choice and secret matters are discovered, to furnish out a true account of these religious transactions.

And that I might not write superficially, by undertaking too much at once, I have stinted myself to go no further than to the thirteenth year of queen Elizabeth. Within which compass of time, as there was great variety of events, so at that period the religion seemed to have surmounted its chief difficulties, and to have been well and strongly settled. However, there is room enough, in the succeeding years of the queen, for the pen of an ecclesiastical historian.

In this work I have pursued truth with all faithfulness and sincerity. My relations of things are not hearsays, nor taken up at second hand, or compiled out of other men’s published writings; but I have gone as near the fountainhead as possible; that is, to archives, state-papers, registers, records, and original letters, or else to books of good credit printed in those times; directing more surely to the knowledge how affairs then stood.

And the unfeigned disposition I have ever had to truth, and my inclination to give fair and just representations of men and things, will prepare the reader, I hope, to have a good opinion of my integrity, and of the impartiality of my writing.

I have set down as much as hath come to my knowledge, of moment, for the illustration of our religion, and to open a true prospect into the affairs of our church in those times: though I suspect, I may be censured by some of different persuasions: as, that I had not used a discretion in concealing some things rather than in relating them; and that the knowledge of other things might have better, for the service of the church, been buried in oblivion; because the bringing them to light might tend to provoke and irritate party against party, or supply matter for contest, or perhaps betray some imperfection in the government, or the like. But this practice (which cannot be exempted from partiality) becomes not a just historian; nor ought he to assume such a power to himself; nor, in my judgment, by any means to omit or obscure any thing material, (whatever the supposed consequences be,) no more than to alter or misrepresent what he pleaseth: when by taking this liberty, the history becomes defective, actions and events are not set in a full light: and hence the reader is not sufficiently instructed; and so either is led into error, or disabled from making a true judgment of things. And therefore, had I taken this course, I could not have avoided the heaviest charge against an historian; which is, of writing odio aut favore; i.e. with favour to some, or displeasure towards others.

Besides the general course of the history, (for the further laying open to view those times,) I have mentioned the books written of religious subjects or controversies, that were published from year to year, as many as I have seen, and given some brief account of them. I have also made notes and remarks of the several eminent men, of what persuasions or principles soever, that have been spoken of in the series of the history, and have given them their just and due characters. I have also observed the several bills brought into the parliaments relating to religion, and shewn, as I have had light, their ends, how they were managed, and with what success passed or rejected. And many short and particular notices I have interspersed of civil or more private affairs and transactions, passed over by our historians, and yet perhaps not unworthy recording to posterity.

I have chosen commonly to set down things in the very words of the records and originals, and of the authors themselves, rather than in my own, without framing and dressing them into more modern language: whereby the sense is sure to remain entire as the writers meant it. Whereas by affecting too curiously to change and model words and sentences, the sense itself, I have observed, often to be marred and disguised.

In conclusion, he that readeth and weigheth this history, will see great reason to acquiesce in the reformation of our church, and to be a peaceable and thankful member of it; and be convinced what a mighty hand of God overruled in this blessed work, and overthrew all opposition before it. For (take it in the words of one that lived in the beginning of these times, and bore a great part in them,) “All these things came to pass at such a time, as to any man’s reason it might seem impossible, when all the world, the people, priests, and princes were overwhelmed with ignorance; when the word of God was put out of sight; when he [the pope] took upon him the great rule of all together, was crept into the holy place, and had possessed the consciences of men, as if he had been God; and had set himself above the scriptures of God, and gave out decrees, that whatsoever he should do, no man should find fault with him: when all schools, priests, bishops, and kings of the world were sworn to him, that whatsoever he took in hand, they should uphold it: when he had chosen kings’ sons and brothers to be his cardinals; when his legates and espies were in every king’s council; when nothing could be attempted any where, but he by and by must have knowledge of it; when whosoever had but muttered against his doings must straight ways have been excommunicated, and put to most cruel death, as God’s enemy; when no man could have thought there had been any hope that even these days should have been seen, that God of his mercy hath given us to see; when all things were void of all hope, and full of despair; even then, I say, even contrary to all men’s reasons, God brought all these things to pass. Even then God defeated their policies; not with shield and spear, but only with the Spirit of his mouth; that is, with the preaching of the gospel. And therefore this is the day that the Lord [and not man] hath wrought. “And the power of God was as remarkable, that all the bloody, cruel, and inhuman methods, to destroy all that would not submit to their errors, could not prevail. No persecution, no torments, no fire, no fagot did ever weaken the cause of the gospel. This must be acknowledged the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in our eyes. “And such a religion now was brought in and settled, that whosoever shall come near (as the foresaid father shewed) and view it well, and try it to the uttermost, shall find that all things were done seemly and orderly, according to the old doctors, to the apostles, and to the primitive church of Christ; and shall fall down to the ground and confess, that the order and manner thereof, or any thing that is taught therein, is not heretical, as the papists most falsely charged it. And if any stood in doubt of this religion, whether it were of God or no, he bade him but consider and think with himself, how great numbers of errors were now revealed; superstition was removed, idolatry was taken away, the sacraments rightly and duly used, the dumb speak, the blind see, the poor afflicted minds receive the gospel; the prayers are in such sort used, as the people may take profit and comfort by them.” Thus bishop Jewel.

And by whose influence, under God, these blessed things in our church were brought to pass is another contemplation, wherein more of the miracles of mercy towards us shine forth: which I will give in the words of another great divine, that lived a little after the former. “That work [namely, that king Henry VIII. and king Edward VI. had begun and proceeded in] was in short space so overthrown, as if it almost had never been; till such time as that God, whose property is to shew his mercies then greatest, when they are nearest to be despaired of, caused in that depth of discomfort and darkness a most glorious star to rise; and on her head settled the crown, whom himself had kept as a lamb from the slaughter of those bloody times: that the experience of his goodness in her own deliverance might cause her merciful disposition to take so much the more delight in saving others, when the like necessity should press. But that which especially concerns ourselves was the state of the reformed religion; a thing which at her coming to the crown was even raised, as it were, by miracles, from the dead: a thing which we so little hoped to see, that even they which beheld it done, scarcely believed their own senses at the first beholding.” “Here we have a work,” (writeth another great divine and bishop, not long after him,) “for which we are bound to glorify God.

Elizabeth, a prince at the beginning weak, destitute of friends, unfurnished of treasure, unprepared of all things, had in no other account of her great neighbours round about her, but as one left as a prey to the strongest that would invade her and her kingdom: yet preparing her heart to God, giving God the glory, establishing his truth in her land, and trusting in him, she was in a few years made strong against her enemies. They feared her more than she feared them. This is an example can hardly be paralleled: it was the work of God in the deliverance of his church here.”

This was the sense of those wise, learned, and godly fathers, concerning this great work of the reformation, and of her that under God was the chief instrument thereof.

These passages concerning the queen, together with her vigorous methods used for the overthrowing of popery, and her frequent public declarations of her mind, (apparent in the following history,) are abundantly sufficient to evince how little affection she had to that religion; however Parsons the Jesuit would impose upon the world a different conceit of her: which hath indeed amused some observing men. But we may resolve briefly what he relates concerning her, partly into her dissembling for her life, in her sister’s reign; the rest into uncertain hearsays, and popish calumny.

This church thus planted, reformed and continued by the wonderful providence of God, still stands now for a century and half of years, and more, and flourishes at this day under the influence of an incomparable king, by the same peculiar and singular care and favour of God towards it, notwithstanding all the plots and machinations used by its open sworn enemies, and its pretended friends, to overthrow it. “Thus many years” (to use the words of the aforesaid judicious author) “it hath continued standing by no other means, but that one only hand which erected it: that hand, which as no kind of imminent danger could cause at the first to withhold itself, so neither have the practices, so many, so bloody, following since, been ever able to make weary.”

Mr. Hooker goes on: “And no other aid or help hath been hereunto ministered for the preservation of the work of reformation, other than such kind of help as the angel in the prophet Zachary spake of: Neither by army nor strength, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts: which grace or favour Of divine assistance hath not in one thing or two, nor for some few days or years appeared, but in such sort, so long continued, (our manifold sins and transgressions striving to the contrary,) what can we less thereupon conclude, than that God would at leastwise by tract of time teach the world, that the things which he blesseth, defendeth, keepeth so strongly, cannot choose but be of him.”

This conclusion is more abundantly illustrated since that writer’s time, by those manifold additions of divine protection, and signal footsteps of Providence, shewn in the behalf of this reformation, and this reformed church.

The reason of this second impression of these Annals was, because the first was gone off some years ago, and was wanted by divers learned persons, especially such as are studious of the history and transactions in the introducing and settlement of our happy reformation, when queen Elizabeth first set that great work on foot, and our holy religion then so regularly and carefully reformed, according to the word of God, and the primitive practice. And I, having since met with many other historical remarks, for the further improvement of this volume, (communicating more knowledge of those ecclesiastical affairs,) was loath to let them lie in obscurity, since an opportunity by this new edition presented itself, to make them public.

These additions are of two sorts: some entered in the body of the history in many places of it, and divers records more set in the Appendix. Among which are not a few original letters of our divines and bishops at the beginning of the reformation to the divines of Zuric in Helvetia, and of them to ours: for between them there was a very brotherly correspondence.

They are authentic, having been transcribed from the originals (extant in the library of that church) divers years ago by Daillee, a French refugee, and communicated to me by Mr. Roger Morice, who had employed the said learned man to write them out: as were divers more of them sent hither. At the end of all which the said French minister wrote thus: Superiores epistolas ex MSto codice ecclesiae Tygurinae (quae Magnum Monasterium vocatur) ubi autographae servantur, scripsi mense Martio, ineunte anno Christi 1689. Joannes Dallaeus, Jo.

Fil. Parisiensis ecclesiae patriae Carentonae olim (heu!) sacros coetus habebat, pastor; nunc autem evangelii causa exul, Tiguri.

And for the supply of both sorts of additions, to such as have the first edition, and so want them, they are all, upon request, printed by themselves, and may be added at the end of the second volume; together with directions to the several places to which those additional insertions and records do belong. Thus, good reader, I take my leave, and wish you both profit and pleasure in the reading. J. STRYPE.