ELIZABETHAN NON-CONFORMIST TEXTS ELIZABETHAN NON-CONFORMIST TEXTS VOLUME I Cartwrightiana Edited by Albert Peel and Leland H. Carlson VOLUME II The writings of Robert Harrison and Robert Browne Edited by Leland H. Carlson and Albert Peel VOLUME III The writings of Henry Barrow 1587-1590 Edited by Leland H. Carlson VOLUME IV The writings of John Greenwood 1587-1590 Edited by Leland H. Carlson VOLUME V The writings of Henry Barrow 1590-1591 Edited by Leland H. Carlson VOLUME VI The writings of John Greenwood and Henry Barrow 1591-1593 Edited by Leland H. Carlson ELIZABETHAN NON-CONFORMIST TEXTS VOLUME II The writings of Robert Harrison and Robert Browne Edited by Leland H. Carlson and Albert Peel ~~ ~~o~~~;n~R;up LONDON AND NEW YORK First published 1953 by George Allen & Unwin Ltd Published 2014 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 7 11 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017, USA Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business O 1953 Leland H. Carlson and Albert Peel Typeset in Times by Keystroke, Jacaranda Lodge, Wolverhampton All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Lihray Coraloping in PubIication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress CataIoging in Publication Duta A catalog record for this book has been requested. ISBN 13: 978-0-415-31990-4 (hbk) ISBN 13: 978-0-415-86451-0 @bk) Publisher's note The Publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original book may be apparent THE WRITINGS OF ROBERT HARRISON AND ROBERT BROWNE BdUed by ALBERT PEEL LITT. ID. and LELAND H. CARLSON l'Ev D. Routledge Taylor &Francis Group LONDON AND NEW YORK This page intentionally left blank THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO CHARLES E. SURMAN RESEARCH SECRETARY OF THE CONGREGATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY WITH GRATITUDE AND RESPECT This page intentionally left blank PREFACE HIS is the second volume in the series on Elizabethan T Nonconformist Texts. Volume I was issued as Gart­ wrightiana in 1951. Although Thomas Cartwright was not a Brownist, a Barrowist, an Independent, or a Congregation­ alist, the unpublished writings of this Presbyterian leader were so interlocked with those of the Independents that they were issued as the first in the series. Volume II presents for the first time the collected works of Robert Harrison and Robert Browne. There are five separate works of Harrison and ten separate works of Browne. Although this volume is as complete as we have been able to make it, there is always the possibility that some lost work may be discovered. This is especially true of Browne, whose writings, known to have been written but undiscovered, are listed in the present volume (p. 5). Inasmuch as Harrison was slightly older than Browne, and since his writings as t1. group antedate those of Browne, they have been placed first. It is the hope of the present editor that these writings of the early nonconformists will further the \vork of students of Tudor history. After the completion of a corpus of non­ conformist writings, Dr. Peel had planned to write a volume on Elizabethan Puritanism, but his untimely death precluded that hope. He took great satisfaction, however, in the know­ ledge that he was making available source materials that would facilitate the work of other scholars in the field of Elizabethan Nonconformity. The task of assuming the editorship upon the death of Dr. Peel has not always been easy. I have sought to con­ tinue his work in the same way that he would have planned, and I can only hope that the present volume would meet tJii Harrison & Browne with his approval. Where our judgments differ, I have preferred his to mine. For example, in the matter of putting the writings of Harrison before those of Browne, I should have preferred to have those of Browne come first, since they are more important, but I deferred to the judgment of Dr. Peel, whose knowledge is greater than mine. I have tried to make the text as accurate as possible, but the variants in the sources, the difficulties in the reading of manuscripts, and the peculiarities of Elizabethan writing, spelling, and abbreviations have made me painfully conscious of the possibility of errors. At the present time I am engaged in the work of editing the third and fourth volumes on the writings of Henry Barrow and John Greenwood. Volume V is to be devoted to the writings of John Penry, and Volumes VI- VII to A Parte of a Register. There remains the pleasant task of making acknowledg­ ments. To Mxs. Albert Peel and Miss Margaret Peel I feel deeply grateful. For their interest in this series, and their suggestion that I undertake it, I express my thanks to Pro­ fessor Herbert Heaton of the University of Minnesota, Pro­ fessor Marshall Knappen of the University of Michigan, and Professor J. E. Neale of the University of London. I owe a debt of gratitude to the attendants at the British Museum, the Public Record Office, the Lambeth Palace Library, Dr. Williams's Library, Union Theological Seminary Library, New York Public Library, Library of Congress, Northwestern University Library, Newberry Library, and the Huntington Library. Likewise, to the officials and staff of the Bodleian Library, the University Library, Cambridge, Trinity College Library, the Houghton Library at Harvard, and the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale, I wish to acknowledge my great indebtedness. My obligations to Northwestern University are heavy. To Dr. Gray C. Boyce, chairman of the department of history, I express my sincere thanks for assistance, encouragement, and unfailing kindness. I feel deeply grateful to Dean Simeon Preface E. Leland, who made possible my trip to England, and to Dean Arthur R. Tebbutt, who has given generous financial assistance to my research. To the Committee on Research of the Graduate School of Northwestern University, and to Dr. Moody E. Prior, Dean of the Graduate School, and to n:tY colleagues in the department of history, I wish to record my appreciation. I have drawn inspiration from the friendship and books and ideas of Professor Pieter Geyl, of the University of Utrecht, and to him I express my gratitude for his reading and correct­ ing the introduction. To the American Philosophical Society, and to its executive officer, Luther P. Eisenhart, I am deeply indebted for a gener­ ous grant which made possible my return to England, and which enabled me to complete this volume and see it through the press. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the many hours of unselfish toil which Charles E. Surman gave to the reading of this work. The dedication of this book to him is a joy to me personally, and a tribute to him for his work as research secretary of the Congregational Historical Society and for his close association and friendly co-operation with Dr. Peel. My obligations to my wife and family exceed the Miltonic sentiment that they also serve who not only stand and wait, but help in so many other ways. To Miss Dallas Fincham I tender my thanks for her expert typing of very difficult material. Lastly, I wish to thank Mr. W. Gunns and the sorely tried printers for their patience and courteous co-operation. To the publishers, George Allen and Unwin Ltd., and to the trustees of the Sir Halley Stewart Trust I express my sincere and heartfelt thanks for making this series possible. LELAND H. CARLSON Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois August 22, 1952 ix This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS PREFACE PAGE Vii INTRODUOTION Robert Harrison 1 Robert Browne 4 HARRISON's WoRKS: I. Preface to Lavater's Of ghostes and spirites walking by nyght. 1572 26 II. A Treatise of the Church and the Kingdome of Christ. [1580 1] 29 III. A Little Treatise vppon the firste Verse of the 122 Psalm. Stirring vp vnto carefull desiring & dutifull labourin~ for true church Gouernement. 1583 70 IV. Three Formes of Oatechismes. 1583 124 V. Letter on Robert Browne. [1584] 149 BROWNE's WoRKs: I. A Treatise of reformation without tarying for anie. 1582 150 II. A Treatise vpon the 23. of M atthewe. 1582 171 CONTENTS III. .A Booke which sheweth the life and manners of aU true Christians. 1582 221 IV. .A True and Short Declaration. 1584 396 V. .An .Anawere to Master Cartwright His Letter [1585 1] 430 VI. Submission and Commentary. 1585 507 VII. Fragments collected from Stephen Bred- well's Writings : (a) From a "Conference with M.F. and M. E [dmondes ]." [1586 1] 509 (b) From a "Replie for the doubts." [1586-7 1] 510 (c) From a " Raging Libell." [1586- 7 n 512 VIII. Fragment of " a treatise against one Barowe." [1588] 515 IX. An aunswere to Mr. Flowers letter. 1588/9 516 X. Letter to Lord Burghley. 1590 530 APPENDICES : (a) Notes owt of Harrysons booke 532 (b) Royal Proclamation of 1583 538 (c) The Will of Robert Browne 540 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 545 INDEX 557 INTRODUCTION ROBERT BROWNE AND ROBERT HARRISON During the present century much has been written about Robert Browne and Robert Harrison, but he would be a bold man who claimed that the definitive word had been spoken about them -about their characters and personalities, or even their careers.