The Arch-bishops Questions.

Faithfull Commin, what Profession art thou off?

Of Christs Order.

What Order is that?

A Preacher of the Holy Gospel.

What Gospel is that you call the Holy Gospel?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Under whose power do you Own to hold that Holy Gospel?

Under Christ and his Saints.

Do you acknowledg any other power save Christ, to be on Earth?

Yes I do.

What power is that?

The Holy Catholique Church.

Do you not acknowledg a Defender of the Holy Catholique Faith?

God is the only Defender thereof.

Your Gracious Majestie may perceive, that this Man either hath been Instructed what to say, or otherwise he must be by his an­swers a man of Craft.

I suppose so my Lord.

Then Faithfull Commin, being commanded to withdraw, Her Grace and the whole Councell Consulted what to do, and how to proceed further in this matter, cau­sed the said John Clerkson to come in before the Board.

What is your name.?

May it please Your Grace, my name is John Clerkson.

Were you acquainted with Faithfull Commin?

I was.

How long?

Within this year and more.

What have you say against Faithful Commin, that he is suspected to be an Impostor.

Three things.

What be they?

Thr [...] things, First let him prove his Ordination since he fell from the Dominican Order.

Secondly, why he never cometh to the Prayers of the now Est [...]blished Church of England; but [...]arteth up and Preacheth to the people not coming into the Church, till the Prayers be finished. Thirdly, let him prove that he ever Re­ceived the Sacrament, according to the Church of England, from any of our Or­thodox Clergy-men.

Her Grace and the Councell considering of these three things, sent out for the said Faithful Commin to come in.

The Arch-Bishop.

Were you ever Ordained?

Yes I was Ordained.

By whom?

By the Cardinal (meaning Poole.)

Had you not other Certificate since under any of the Bishops hands, since the Reformation?

Not any.

Wherefore would you dare to Preach, having not got a Licence or Per­mission under some of Our Bishops hands; How shall We be Certified that you are not of the Romish Church?

There are several have heard my Prayers, and my Sermons, and can tes­tifie that I have spoken against Rome and her Pope, as much as any of the Clergy have done since they have fallen from her; I wonder therefore why I should be suspected.

B. By your answer I perceive Mr. Commin, you would have any one Preach, so that he sprake but against the Pope in his Sermons.

Not every one, save he whose Function it is, and he who hath the spirit.

What spirit is this you mean?

The spirit of Grace and Truth.

But is this spirit that is in you, either the spirit of Grace or Truth, that doth not comply with the Orders of the Church, lately purged and Cleansed from S [...]ism and Idolatry?

Therefore I en [...]eavour to make it purer, as far as God permits me.

How do you endeavour to make the Church purer, when you neither Commune with Her Sacrament, or in Prayer.

Yes I endeavour it when I pray to God, That He would open the Eyes of Men to see their Errors & feveral have joyned with me when I have prayed amongst them, and I have both given, and taken the Body of Christ to those of tender con­sciences, who have assemblae with me together in the fear of the Lord.

By your words, you have then a Congregation that follows you?

I have.

Of what Parish, and in what Dioscess?

Neither of any certain Pa [...]ish, or in any certain Dioscess.

Where then, I pray?

Even in the wide World amongst the Flock of Christ, scatter'd over the whole Earth.

Your Dioscess is very large, Mr. Commin.

Faithfull Commin being commanded to withdraw, the other two Witnesses were called into the Council-Chamber.

Mr. Draper, what have you to say to this Faithfull Commin?

He came to my house at the Maidenhead in Maidstown, with several of his Followers, where they bespoke a Joint of Mutton, and two Hens for a Dinner, hearing that my Profession was a Cook. I shewing him a Room, for him and the Company that came with him, perceived several to come and enquire for this Mr. Commin; but by chance going up the stairs, I heard one groan and weep, which caused me to lift up the Latch, at the first I was startled, and stood in a maze; but enquiring of one of his Followers what ayled the Man, he replied, Do you not see that wee be all at Prayers? The Maid wondering where I was, came to seek me, and found me amongst them, and can testifie the very same.

Are you Mr. Drapers Maid?

Yes, may it please your Grace.

What is your Name?

My Name is Mary Deane.

Did you see this Faithfull Commin, that was here before Us now, praying to the people.

I saw him, and I thought he was distracted, when I heard him pray; but the people said he was a heavenly man, and that it was Gods Spirit made him weep for the Sins of the World.

How long continued they at Prayers, do you know Mr. Draper?

May it please your Grace about two hours, or near that time.

What did they after that they had prayed?

Some went from the House, and about ten, or thereabouts, stayed to eat what they had bespoken, and paid me to the utmost penny.

Call in this Faithfull Commin.

Mr Commin, if you will receive Orders, and become of the Church of England, you may; otherwise you must not be permitted to pray or preach amongst my Sub­jects, and though you have, as appears by several other Witnesses, preached against the Pope; yet have you usurped over the Power both of State and Church, in doing contrary to the Orders that We, Our Council and Parliament have unanimously a­greed on by and with the whole Consent of the Clergy of my Realm.

Give me time to consider, and to prepare my self, and I shall give your Grace a further Answer in a short space.

I there any will be bound for your Appearance, otherwise you must be kept close prisoner; for we have other Examinations to take, and questions to demand.

I have three who will answer for my Appearance.

Then came Richard Bland Brother to the said Faithfull by the Mothers side, and two others, which gave Bond for his Appearance.

April 12. Mr. Commin appearing before Her Majesty and the Council, it was put off till the next day, by reason of the Spanish Embassadors Appearance before Her Grace, who had that day Audience. But it sell out, that the said Faithfull having appeared, according to the Bonds of those who were bound for the said Faithfulls Appearance, that this said Faithfull gave them all the slip, and never appeared afterwards; so that the Farties being summoned to appear, for to answer the Penalties of the Bond, made this Answer to the whole Council, that the said Faithfull appeared, but they were not bound for his second Appearance, by reason they never demanded them to be bound, or gave them any further Charge of him; so these Bonds-men came off and paid nothing.

This Faithfull Commin coming before his Followers the same day, told them, that Her Majesty and the Council had quitted him, And that he was warned by God to go beyond Seas, there to instruct the Protestants, and that he would return to his Flock e're long with better success. Saying to the people, that Spiritual Prayers was the chief Testimony of a true Protestant, and that the set Form of Prayer in England was but Mass translated. So after he had prayed an extemporary prayer, he feigned a Crocadile-like weeping before all of his Flock, and took leave of them; saying, that he had not a farthing to support him in his Journey; yet, it being Gods Cause, he intended to undertake it out of Charity; he was certain that the Almighty would raise him up Friends where ever he travelled. Upon this Speech of his, the poor simple people fell most of them a weeping, especially the Women, who mov­ing their Husbands to contribute to this Impostor, who was amongst them esteemed as a Demy God: so that it appeared upon further enquiry, after he had escaped out of England, that at that present the poor people collected for him, 130 l. over and above what the silly women gave him unknown to their Husbands.

April 13. The next day the Council waiting on Her Grace at the Board, and seve­ral numbers attending to hear this Impostor examined, staid a long time; Her Grace and the Council wondering at this delay, sent unto his Brother Richard Bland, and the other two, who were Bail for this Impostors Appearance. They coming before Her Grace and the rest of the Council, made this Answer, We have performed as much as we undertook to perform; but had we received any further Directions from Your Grace, and this Honourable Board, for to have brought him this day, we should have obeyed Your Commands; but You spoke unto the party accused to come this day, and not to us; so that we suppose our selves to be released of what we had undertaken, having presented him before your Grace and this Honourable Board.

It being a publick Hearing, and the Auditors that were present, in expectation to have heard Commin speak, and not those who were bound for him, caused the Coun­cils he to rage more than ordinary; hereupon the Council caused searches immedi­ately to be made over all London and Kent, especially where ever they suspected him to be, but could not find him; for he was fled that very evening: yet by this Inquiry, they found out several of Creatures whom he had deluded, and the true Relation of what Sums of Money, the poor people had gathered, and bestowed on him. Most of thest who were supposed to be of this Impostors Freek, were examined before Her [Page 7]Graces Privy Council, who said, that to their opinions and thoughts they had ne­ver beheld so Zealous and so Heavenly a man as he seemed to be.

Septem. 14th. By a Vessel arriving at Portsmouth, called the Swan of London, John Baker, being the Master of the same, among other Discourses declared how he had seen Faithfull Commin in the Low Countries, and some of the Council hear­ing of this Mans arrivall, acquainted the Queen with what they had heard, concer­ning this Villain: Upon which information Her Majestie, and the Rest of the Privie Council sent a Pursevant for the said John Baker, who comeing to the man on the 20th of this said instant, and found him abed, the man was startled, and demanded of the Pursevant what was his Crime, the Pursevant made answer, he knew not what it was he was sent for, only it was Her Graces Will and the Councils to speak with him: Yet the poor man, whether through sear, or to Comage his spirits, call'd for a Cup of Sack, and Drank Her Graces Health to the Pursevant, saying (her's a health to my Royall Queen;) if She intends to Try my Fidelity, and Employ me in her Navy, I will venture all the Blood in my Body to Defend Her Graces Right. But when he appeared before the Board, they Demanded of him, if he had seen Faithfull Commin, he made answer, he had seen him in the Low Countries, and enquiring further he related this Relation as followes.

Coming with other Vessels to Land some Goods at Amsterdam, Martin Van Davall a Merchant of that City hearing me Talk of this man, told me, that this Commin, had been lately at Rome, and that Pope Pius the 5th. caused him to be Clapt up in Prison, and that Commin had wrote to his Holiness the next day, say­ing, that he had something to say unto his Holiness, upon which the Pope sent for him, and as soon as he had seen Mr. Commin, he spoke to him, saying, Sir I have heard how you have set me, and my Predecessors forth amongst your Hereticks of England, by Railing against my Person and my Church. And that Commin made answer, I confess my Lips have open'd that which my Heart thought otherwaies. But your Holiness little thinks that I have done you a kindness, not­withstanding I have spoken so much against your Holiness. And that the Pope should Returne Commin this answer (How in the Name of Jesus Mary, & of all His Saints hast thou done so?) and that Commin should make this answer saying, I Preached against set Forms of Prayer, and I called the English Prayers (English Mass,) and have perswaded severall to pray Spritually and Extempore, which hath taken so much with the People that the Church of England is become as Odious to that Sort whom I instructed, as Mass is to them, which will never be but a Stumbling Block to that Church, while it is a Church, and that upon this Relation the Pope Che­rished him, and gave him 2000 Duckets for his Labour.

Her Grace, and the Whole Council, thanking Mr. John Baker for his Relation, bad him withdraw, and upon this Information wrote over to Her Correspondents be­yond Seas, if possible he might be sent ever hither in to England, but it being talk­ed all over England, how that the Pope had Rewarded this Impostor, some know­ing where he was, gave him notice, and thereby he Escaped out of those Territories and fled into the Romish holdings.

The Council Consulting with Her Grace, to prevent not only Popery, but all other Sectaries, caused an Act to be Framed and to be Enacted, that the seve­rall Ministers of severall Parishes, should take the Names of all the Families li [...] ­ing [Page 8]within the several Parishes, both Male [...]nd Female from Ten years of Age, and that every Parish should have a certaine Clerk for that purpose, and that every house within the said Parish should have a particular seat for them and their Families; Each Man or Woman missing prayers every Sunday, to forfeit a shilling, Excepting those who had Certificates under a Protestant Physitians hand to be sick, The Clerk to have one third part, the poor the second third part, and the third towards the Church for Broomes, Sweet strowing Herbs, Flowers, and Bushes, &c.

This Act at First, was Irksom to many; but at long running, rather then a Master would pay for his Family, or for his Servants they began to come to Pray­ers and Sermons. Then the Clerks spying but little to be got, when the People began to come to Church, neglected their Office, and severall agreeing with the Ministers of Each Parish, to give them a yearly Stipend, the Act ceased, and Popery and Sectaries increased

This being a Copy of the Lord Cecills Memorandums of Faithfull Commin, with many other Memorandums in the same Book worth the Printing; which Book was amongst Arch-Bishop Ʋshers Manuscripts before his Death.