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Handout #178 |
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Puritanism and Catholic Recusancy |
| Puritan clergy organize themselves
Some clergy and gentry decided to work semi-secretly for change in the church within the structure, quietly founding groups for regular cooperation. Here one group of clergy seeks to recruit a member from another (June 1587). The 'exercises' mentioned were a form of theological seminar. Whereas (beloved brethren) at the time of the last Parliament order was taken by consent of many of our godly brethren and fellow laborers assembled at London that all the ministers which favored and sought the reformation of our church should sort themselves together to have their meeting to confer about the matters of the church, besides such exercises as should most make for their profiting every way it was further advised that none should assemble above the number of ten, and therefore they which exceeded that number should sort themselves with others of their brethren next adjoining, where defect was. According hereunto, we your brethren, whose names are underwritten, have had our meeting so often as our troubles would give us leave; but find, in regard to the smallness of our number, and distance of place, that we stand in need of further aid of some to be adjoined unto us. Whereupon, understanding that God hath Blessed you with store, we are constrained to make suit unto you that you would of your abundance supply our want. And namely, considering that our beloved brother Mr. Newman is one who may be profitable unto us, and in place most fit, in respect of you and us, our earnest desire is that you would yield this benefit unto us ... The Lord our God and the merciful Father multiply his graces upon us that, according to the manifold wants of his church, and the times wherein we may live, we may be enabled unto that high and mighty service He hath called us unto...Text quoted in H.C. Porter (ed.), Puritanism in Tudor England, Macmillan 1970, 214-2. |
