Our Heart is the Mind of God most high.  
Our Being amiable as the sweet Lily.  
Our faith fullness Love and Truth upright,  
Is God's Light, life and clearness bright.     

A SUPPLICATION OF THE FAmily of Love (said to be presented into the King's royal hands, known to be dispersed among his Loyal Subjects) for grace and favour.  
Examined, and found to be derogatory in an high degree, unto the glory of God, the honour of our King, and the Religion in this Realm both sound professed & firmly established.  Revel. 2. Ver. 14.15. 
I have a few things against thee, because thou hast them that maintain the doctrine of BALAAM etc. Even so hast thou them, that maintain the doctrine of the NICOLAITANES, which thing I hate.  
Printed for john Legate, Printer to the University of Cambridge. 1606.   

TO THE KING'S most excellent Majesty JAMES the first, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the Faith etc.  
MOST gracious Sovereign Lord, 
The exordium.  where there is published in a book written by your Highness, as an instruction to your most noble Son (whom Almighty God bless with much honour, happiness, and long life) of a people that are of a vile sect among the Anabaptists, called the Family of Love, who do hold and maintain many proud, uncharitable, unchristian, and most absurd opinions; unto whom your Highness doth also give the name of Puritans, affirming in the say de book, that divers of them (as Browne, Penrie, and others) do accord with them in their foul, erroneous, heady, and fantastical opinions, which are there set down at large by your Majesty, advising your Royal Son (as is most meet) to punish them if they refuse to obey the Law, and will not cease to stir up rebellion,  

The Examination.  
THis is the Family's Exordium; and containeth an heavy and piteous complaint unto, and of the King's Majesty himself, for that in his book, and Instruction unto his most noble Son, he termeth the Family of Love, a vile Sect amongst the Anabaptists; and also giveth them the title of Puritans.  
This goeth to their very hearts, 
The Exordium quare some.  that they should be so ranked, and styled, and that by his Majesty, and that in a printed book; and that divulged in a known tongue over his dominions; and the same directed unto his royal, and deatest Son, evermore to continue. Hence their quarrel, and contention even with their King, hidden yet under the fair words of an humble petition. A memorable Exordium or preface.   

The Family of love.  
NOw gracious Sovereign, 
A Propestation.  because it is meet that your Highness should understand by their supplication, and declaration of the truth herein by themselves, of whom your Majesty hath been thus informed, prostrate at your Princely feet, as true, faithful, loyal, and obedient subjects, to all your laws, & ordinances, civil, and politic, spiritual and temporal, they with humble hearts do beseech your Princely Majesty to understand that the people of the Family of Love, or of God, do utterly disclaim and detest all the said absurd, and self-conceited opinions, and disobedient, and erroneous Sects of the anabaptists, Browne, Penrie, Puritans, and all other proude-minded Sects and heresies whatsoever, protesting upon pain of our lives, that we are not of consent, nor agreeing with any such brainsick Preachers, nor their rebellious and disobediet Sects whatsoever; but have been, & ever will be truly obedient to your Highness, and your laws, to the effusion of our blood, and expenses of our goods and lands in your majesties service, highly lauding Almighty God, who hath so graciously, & peaceably appointed unto us such a virtuous, wise, religious, and noble King, and so careful, and unpartial a justicer to govern over us, beseeching him daily to bless your Highness with his godly wisdom, and holy understanding, to the furtherance of his truth, and godliness, and with all honour, happiness, peace, & long life, & to judge rightly betwixt false hood, and truth.   

The Examination.  
IN this Section they protest that they are not (as the King saith they are) a vile Sect, but The Family of Love, 
Against their Protestation.  or of God, or God's Family; neither that they do hold, & maintain (as his Majesty hath published) any, much less many proud, uncharitable, unchristian, and most absurd opinions: yea they do utterly disclaim & detest all the said absurd, and self-conceited opinions; as also the disobedient, and erroneous Sects of the anabaptists, Browne, Penrie, Puritans, & all other proud-minded Sects, & heresies whatsoever, etc. And therefore that his Highness both misconceiveth and misreporteth of them, good men.  
In which their Protestation, he that seethe not his most excellent and sacred Majesty most odiously to be traduced, as a public defamer of God's people, is very blind; and again, observing so much, is not grieved thereat, showeth that he neither carrieth sound affection unto his Sovereigue, nor tendereth the honour of his Prince.  
Now forsomuch as both his majesties book is extant, and this their supplication (but more truly infamous Libel) in many men's hands, especially of the young ones in this Family of Love (for few else can have so much as a view thereof, unless they be of the vulgar sort, and withal inclinable to receive their doctrine (of all others the unfittest to read or hear such dangerous discourses): whereby both the Familistes are confirmed in their familiar instructions, and his Majesty by such Libels ignominiously dispersed is not a little wounded, it is very behoveful somewhat to examine the truth of this their protestation.  
And because they say, how the premises are published in the said book of the Kings, it shall not be amiss here to set down his majesties very words, and the occasion of them, expressed by his royal hand, to the end that it may appear who is more abused, either the Family who are charged, as there is set down by his Highness; or his Majesty, thus traduced, and that to his face, by the Family.  
In the second book therefore of his most Fatherly, Kingly and divine directions unto the royal Imp of rare hope, Prince Henry, his best beloved son, his Majesty, having at large set down the diseases of the church, and from his own experience, declared how the Puritans, all his reign, and some years afore, had troubled the quiet of the Scottish kingdom & Church; opposed themselves against the throne of Majesty; laboured by the people's favour, and assistance, the erection of a government democratical, by the ruin of the royal State; and sought to bring in a parity, & equality of all degrees, aswell into the Commonweal, as Church: in the end he giveth his advise, and saith:  
Take heed therefore (my Son) to such Puritans, 
Puritans to beavoided.  very Pests in the Church and Commonweal: whom no deserts can oblige; neither oaths or promises bind; breathing nothing but sedition, and calumnies; aspiring without measure, railing without reason; & making their own imaginations (without any warrant of the word) the square of their conscience. I protest before the great God, and since I am here, as upon my Testament, it is no place for me to lie in, that ye shall never find with any Hie-land, or border thieves greater ingratitude, and more vile lies and perjuries, then with these Fanatic spirits. And suffer not the principals of them to brook your land, if you like to sit at rest, except ye would keep them for trying your patience, as Socrates did an evil wife. And for preservative against their poison, entertain, and advance the godly, learned and modest men of the Ministry, whom of (God be praised) there lacketh not a sufficient number: and by their promotion to bishoprics, and benefices (annulling that vile act of Annexation, if ye find it not done to your hand) ye shall not only banish their conceited parity, whereof I have spoken, and their other imaginary grounds, which can neither stand with the order of the Church, nor the peace of a Commonweal, and well ruled monarchy: but also shall ye re-establish the old institution of the three Estates in parliament, which can no otherwise be done: But in this I hope (if God spare me days) to make you a fair entry; always where I leave, follow you my steps. And to end my advise anent the Church estate, cherish no man more than a good Pastor, hate no man more than a proud Puritan, etc. These and the like words (describing the humours of Puritans, and rash heady Preachers, which think it their honour, as his said Majesty in his preface to the said book doth say, to contend with Kings, and perturb whole Kingdoms) were very offensively taken of the Puritan faction in Scotland, against which they were uttered, & made them to suspect (or at least in revenge of the censure, to call his highness profession into question among themselves, and to make others doubtful) whether his Majesty so sincerely favoured the religion in Scotland established as he did pretend.  
And albeit the whole instruction, especially the first book thereof, and these words of his Majesty above mentioned in the second book: Entertain and advance the godly, learned, and modest men of the ministery, whom-of (God be praised) there lacketh not a sufficient number. And again: Cherish no man more than a good Pastor, revealeth sufficiently the sound, and zealous affection that his Majesty beareth unto true Religion; and may, and do satisfy all indifferent men: yet, if possible it were, that no scruple might rest in the mind of any men, his Highness voluntarily, and in ample words, and fully, further explained his very inward conceits of the faction mentioned.  
First then (saith his Majesty) as to the name of Puritans, 
Who Puritan.  I am not ignorant that the style thereof doth properly belong only to that vile sect amongst the Anchaptisus called the Family of Love, because they think themselves only pure, and in a manner without sin, the only true Church, and only worthy to be participant of the Sacraments: and all the rest of the World to be but abomination in the sight of God. Of this special Sect I principally mean where I speak of Puritans; divers of them, as Browne, Penry, and others, having at sundry times come in Scotland, to sow their popple amongst us, (and from my heart I wish they had left no scholars behind them, who by their fruits will in the own time be manifested): and partly indeed, I give this style to such brainsick, and heady Preachers their disciples, and followers, as refusing to be called of that Sect, yet participate too much with their humours, in maintaining the above mentioned errors; not only agreeing with the general rule of Anabaptists, in contempt of the civil Magistrate, and in leaning to their own dreams, and revelations: and particularly with this Sect in accounting all men profane that swears not to all their fantasies, in making for every particular question of the policy of the Church, as great commotion, as if the article of the Trinity were called in controversy; in making the Scripture to be ruled by their conscience, and not their conscience by the Scripture; and he that denies, the lest jot of their grounds, Sit tibi tanquam Ethnicus, & Publicanus, not worthy to enjoy the benefit of breathing, much less to participate with them of the Sacraments: and before that any of their grounds be impugned, let King, people, law, and all be trodden under foot. Such holy wars are to be preferred to an ungodly peace: no, in such cases, Christian Princes are not only to be resisted unto, but not to be prayed for: For Prayer must come of Faith, and it is revealed to their conscience, that God will hear no prayer for such a Prince.  
judge then Christian Reader (saith his Highness) if I wrong this sort of people, in giving them the style of that Sect, whose errors they imitate: and since they are contented to wear their livery, let them not be ashamed to borrow also their name. 
Whom his Masty meaneth by Puritans in his Book.  It is only of this kind of men, that in this book I writ so sharply, and whom I wish my Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the law, and will not cease to stir up a rebellion, whom against I have written the more bitterly in respect of divers famous Libels, and injurious speeches, spread by some of them, not only dishonourably invective against all Christian Princes, but even reproachful to our profession & Religion in respect they are come out under colour thereof, etc. So & more to his Majesty which I would the Family had fully and at large set down.  
For than it would appear that his Majesty most judiciously speaketh of Puritans, 
The kinds of Puritans.  distinguishing them into two ranks, Sects, & sorts, principal & less principal: the principal, he saith, (& properly called Puritan) are a vile Sect of the Anabaptists, called the Family of Love, with whom in certain main points, both Brown, Peury and others do conjoin: the less principal, are certain brainsick & heady Preachers the disciples & followers of Browne, Penry, and others, in their fantastical conceits and rebellious complotings.  
I dare say & affirm, his Majesty taketh not the Family of Love, to be simply Anabaptists; nor the Brownists & such like, to be simply Familists; nor the brainsick Preachers and their dependents, to be simply Brownists, but in some respects, wherein they do all concur. It is only of this later kind of men viz. the disciples of Brown, Penry & such like that in his book his Majesty writeth so sharply, and whom he wisheth his Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the law, & will not cease to stir up rebellion. And yet his Majesty taketh the Family of Love to be Puritans and the chiefest Puritans, and properly, though not the only Puritans, and a vile Sect among the Annabaptists, albeit happily they do utterly disclaim and detest both the rebellious actions of the brainsick Preachers in Scotland, and the giddy opinions of our home Puritans.  
The Family's fault is therefore not a little in confounding that which his Highness with great judgement hath distinguished; and in taking his words absolutely to be uttered, which are spoken but in a particular respect. That the Familists be Puritans in the latter sense, his Majesty saith not; and yet that the Familistes be a vile Sect of the anabaptists, and of all other the most odious Puritans, his Highness doth affirm, and his verdict they shall never be able to disprove, though they do protest, vow, & swear never so much to be contrary.   

The Family of love.  
AND because your Majesty should have a perfect view, 
A Prochmary  or an assured persuasion of the truth of the same our protestation: if therefore there be any indifferent man of this kingdom, that can justly touch us with any such disobedient, and wicked handling of ourselves, as seemeth by your majesties book it hath been 
* H. N. hath so informed his Highness: see the answer.  informed unto your Highness (unless they be such our mortal enemies, the disobedient Puritans, and those of their heady humours before named, who are much more zealous, religious, & precise in the tithing of Mint, Annis, and Commin, and in the preferring of such like Pharisaical and self chosen outward traditions, and grounds or hypocritical righteousness, then in the performing of judgement, mercy, and faith, and such like true and inward righteousness, which God doth most chiefly require, and regard (Math. 15.15. etc.); and whose malices have for twenty five years past, and upwards, and ever since, with very many untrue suggestions, and most fowl errors, & odious crimes (the which we could show, if need were) sought our utter overthrow and destruction, but that we have behaved ourselves, in all orderliness, and peaceableness of life, where we dwell and with whom we have had to deal.   

The Examination.  
AFter their protestation, 
Against their Proclamation.  now followeth aproclamation, as it were, for any indifferent man to come in, & say his worst against them, to prove them such indeed, as the King saith they are.  
And yet it is to be marked that of indifferent men, they except against divers; as first against all strangers whatsoever, and next against all disobedient Puritans, their mortal one wies, and such like, whose malice they have had experience of, these twenty five years and upwards. A strange thing that men indifferent, whether Strangers or of this Common weal should be repelled, as partial witnesses; as strange again is it that their mortal enemies the Puritans, and their favourers, should be acknowledged of them to be men indifferent.  
That they do except against Puritans, I could not blame them, being as they say, their mortal and ancient enemies (as are many more beside) had they not confessed them, at least some of them, to be men of good conscience, and indifferent: but that they should except against any indifferent Strangers, without showing probable cause of the same, doth argue in my conceit, that Strangers, especially, Hollanders, Frize-landers, and others in Base-Almaigne would utter strange things of this Family of Love, and charge them justly with gross wickedness, and impious misdemeanours, if they should be heard.  
But his Majesty, besides Strangers, and pharisaical Puritans, hath others no doubt in his Kingdom, which unfeignedly do perform: both judgement, mercy, and faith, not placing religion in outward observations, who (inquired after and called forth) can advertise his Majesty, and the State, both how dutifully towards their Prince, orderly toward their neighbours, and religiously in the Church of God, they have, and do behave themselves.  
In the mean space, till this be known (which I cannot think is utterly unknown to his Highness) I will set down the judgement of one (every way a Stranger to us) against whom notwithstanding none exceptions, I am sure will be taken by the Family of Love, or any of them. For they do believen (if they believe his writings) he no more can err in whatsoever he saith, than could the Prophets of God, or Apostles of Christ 
(a) H.N. Prophet of the Spir. c. 13. §. 8.  and that before whom, and before the eyes of whose heart and spirit, not only all their actions, but also their very secret counsels, and cogitations are naked and bare 
(b) Ibid. c. 3. §. 3. . This man is H.N. himself, that great Prophet, or God rather among the Familistes.  
Alas (saith H. N.) like as the world together with her wise and Scripture-learned are darkened, and blinded in Heart (and deaf in Understanding) which comprehend not the good being of the Love, nor yet consider on any of all that which God, through the Spirit of his Love, requireth: but have alway a lust to themselves, and cleave unto the covetousness, the voluptuousness of the flesh; and the false wisdom, which seduced them: even so I have found many of you (yea almost all, 
H.N. his judgement of the Familistes his followers.  which make boast of Love, and talk much thereof; to stand in such like case: and also advisedly marked, that ye, under the pretence or colour of the House, or service of Love, have taken to yourselves the voluptuousness of the flesh (2. Pet. 2. b. jude. 1. b.) according to the manner of the World, to be your Freedom, and your own Thoughts of the Good-thinking, according to the Imagination of the Knowledge (like unto many unilluminatded Scripture learned, and Good-thinking wise) to be your wisdom: and have no regard to the godly life of the gracious word, nor to the Counsel of the Testimonies of the holy spirit of Love, & her Service. And yet notwithstanding, when one asketh you, whether ye have adjoined you to the Love, or are minded to continue with a good will, by the same; yea answer, and say expressly; O yea, we will cleave unto the Love, and not forsake the same in any case. All this saith, H. N. 
(c) Proph. of the Spir. c. 2. §. 7.  and that not of a few, but of many yea almost all, of the Family of Love, who have taken unto themselves the voluptuousness of the flesh, to be their Freedom, or Felicity: and he citeth both, 2. Pet. 2. b. and jude. 1. b; as if they were the persons reserved unto the day of judgement to be punished, because they walk after the flesh in the lust of uneleanenesse, despise rulers, and speak evil of them that are in authority, having no regard of godly life.  
Again of his, and this Family saith the same H. N. 
(d) Proph. of the Spir. §. 9 : verily after such a manner ye are towards the gracious word of the Lord, and his service of Love, even like unto an whore, which after her hearts Good-thinking to a cloaking of her whoredom, chooseth an husband, & coupleth herself in marriage unto him, for that she mought boast her as a married wife; & under such a covering and boasting that she hath a husband, committeth whoredom: Seeing that ye in like manner without Christ, and against Christ, although ye make great boast of him, commit whoredom, and deal nor walk not according to the doctrine or requiring of Christ.  
If others think hardly and speak badly of these Familistes, which are strangers unto them, and none of their society; and his Majesty termeth them a vile Sect; let them marvel no more, seeing H. N. the oldest Father of that Family, and privy to all their actions and dealings taketh them, I mean many, even Almost all of them, to be but an whorish company, making the voluptuousness of the flesh their freedom, or summum bonum: neither let them blame others hence forward as injurious to their good manners. For H. N. hath taught us what they are.   

The Family of love.  
OR, if we do vary, or serve from the now established Religion in this Land, either in Services, Ceremonies, Sermons, or Sacraments;   

The Examination.  
Here would I know what they mean by varying or swerving from the now established religion in this Land.  
If by varying they understand any outward & public dissenting from the religion established, 
The Familistes, Temporizers.  or from the Services, Ceremonies, Sacraments and exercises of the same, by absenting from the Church, or not frequenting and repairing unto the sacred and approved assemblies, then surely can they not he said to vary from our religion, and exercises at all. For they neither altogether with the Brownistes, nor in any Ceremonial considerations, with the half Brownists, the Puritans, refuse to communicate with us in the Services, Ceremonies, and other exercises of our Religion; and so they do, or will do, lived they at Rome, as H. N. hath taught and willed them 
(a) pattern of the pres. Temps. : The Services or Ceremonies shall not save any one (saith H. N.) without the good nature of jesus Christ and of his service of Love, nor yet condemn any one, in that good nature of JESUS CHRIST, nor in the service of Love 
(b) 3. Refrein. §. 6. .  
Hence it is that they neither accuse nor blame any folk for their religion, whether the Ministers of the Popish Church, or in any other (Protestant, and reformed Church) which minister or use the Ceremonial Services 
(c) Ibid. §. 2. : provided that they hold them still, and suffer the Familists to be quiet, and increase: neither strive they at all (wheresoever they reside) nor vary with any one about Religion 
(d) Patern● of the pres. Temps. . But this doth not extenuate their fault, but aggravate their offence, for that they are pliable and conformable to all religions, Services and times, for their own ease, and advantage, and to shun persecution and trouble, which they will not suffer, come of religion what will.  
But if by varying from the now established religion in this Land, etc. they mean how in their judgement they condemn, and do not approve the religion, Services, Ceremonies, and Sacraments ratified by the high, and lawful authority of this Church, as wherein, 
The Familists most capital enemies unto sound & Christian religion.  without the Service of their Love, or ministry of H. N. his doctrine, God is not delighted, and whereby Christians please not the divine Majesty one whit, but rather irritate and offend him; then surely they do more vary from the religion, Services, Ceremonies, and Sacraments of the Church of England, than doth any Brownist, or Puritan, or other adversary of the Church of England whatsoever. For howsoever they show themselves obedient, and externally conformable by repairing unto our Churches, frequenting of Sermons, using the Sacraments, and the like: yet in their hearts and mind, both present and absent, either as childish, they deride; or as impious, they condemn them all.  
Witness H. N: who speaking of us, and whosoever else be not of his Family, (whom they imagine to sojourn in the land of ignorance) They build (saith he in scoffing and odious manner) They build diverse common houses, which they name God's houses. And they occupy there manie-manner of foolishness, or taken on Services, which they name Religions, or God's services, to wave or hold forth some thing before the ignorant people, to a stay of the consent arising out of their spotted consciences, whereby their might set their foolish consciences at peace 
(e) H.N. Spiritland, c. 5. §. 1. .  
Which our meetings and Services, elsewhere he calleth false Exercises or usages 
(f) H.N. 1. exhort. c. 16. §. 2. , which hear a goodly show, wherewith many ignorant people, that know not any difference between the true, and the false light, become seduced and deceived.  
And in another place: Therefore cannot the Man (whilst that he is not yet wholly Godded, in one spirit of the godly Being with God) occupy, or use any manner of Freedom, that is falser, wickeder, absurder, seducinger, arroganter, nor horribler against God & his upright Service, nor yet daungerfuller, nor distructionabler to the children of men, than this: Namely, that any man should become so arrogant, and free, or unbound of heart, that he, out of an appeased Conscience or contented heart, should dare to teach, or set forth any thing, through the imagination of the knowledge (whether he then have taken on the same, Out of the learnedness of the Scriptures, or out of his good thinking wisdom) as a Word or Commandment of the Lord: or yet to iustitute any Services, Out of the letre of the Scripture, according to his good thinking, and so to pluck or make subject the hearts of men, to destruction, thereunder. So H. N. 
(g) Ibid. §. 14. .  
And further: No man (saith H. N. 
(h) Ibid. 16.  can rightly, according to the truth of the holy Scriptures, nor according to the spiritual understanding of the godly wisdom, deale-in or use the true God's services, nor the services of the holy word (it becometh not like wise that any man (saith H. N.) should take-in hand to busy himself thereabout) but only the illuminated Elders in the godly wisdom, which walk in the House of Love etc. & are cven so Godded with God, or incorporated to God, in all Love. With whom also God in one Being, and power of his holy spirit, is hominified, or become man..  
And then (observe the execrable spirit of these men) Therefore it is assuredly, all false and lies, seducing and deceitful, what the ungodded or unilluminatded Men, out of the imagination or riches of their knowledge, and out of their learnedness of the Scriptures, bring-forth, institute, preach and teach. They preach indeed the Letter, and the Imagination of their knowledge: but not the word of the living God. All this hath H. N: their prophet 
(i) Ibid. §. 17.18. ; which well may show that the bodies of his Familistes may be in our Churches, and at Service, Sermons, and Sacraments, but their hearts do loath whatsoever they do either see, or hear, though it be never so firmly grounded & apparently derived from Gods written word, if the same either proceed not, neither be uttered by the deified Elders of the Family, or some one of them; yea they take not God any where to be truly served, but in their private meetings, and among themselves.  
Hence: Our God of Love is the true living God (say they) & besides him there is no God more, and his God's service, which we minister under the obedience of his Love, is the true safemaking God's service, and besides the same there is not any God's service more, neither in Heaven nor Earth 
(k) Fid el. declare. c. 4. §. 11 .  
This, without producing further testimonies either foreign or from ourselves, may suffice to prove that they vary from the now established religion in this land, both in the Services, Ceremonies, Doctrine, & Sacraments of the same; all which in their judgements they disallow, except, which is not credible, they condemn the judgement of H. N. and other their Illuminate Elders, touching the same, who have published these their concepts to the open world.   

The Family of love.  
OR have publicly spoken, or inveighed either by word, or wrighting against our late Sovereign Prince's government, in cases spiritual or temporal, the let us be rejected for sectaries, and never receive the benefit of suiects.   

The Examination.  
IT cannot be denied, but the Puritans, I mean the English faction (whatsoever the Scottish have done, whereof only his Majesty speaketh) have publicly spoken and inveighed, aswell by word as writing, against our late Prince's authority in cases spiritual. Penrie said plainly that her government was traitorous to the Majesty of our Saviour Christ 
(a) Penry Supplic.  and the rest, not so far gone as he, took her not, as neither do they our now King, to be any officer at all of the Church.  
I find not the Family ever publicly depraved her highness government, either spiritual or temporal, and very bad men they, and most ungrateful if they should; diverse of the chiefest among them receiving yearly both countenance, and maintenance from her Princely coffers, being her household servants. But this cleareth them no whit from being Sectaries even in this respect mentioned. For in their public writings they speak basely, and inveigh odiously against all Princes, government, Magistracy, and eminency whatsoever, spiritual and temporal, 
The Familistes condemn all Magistracy and Eminency.  and therefore against our late Prince's government in cases not only spiritual with the Puritans, but temporal to, with the anabaptists.  
Among the excellencies of this people, this lovely people the Family of Love (for so do they style themselves), the least is not, that among them there is no masterfull dominion; there reigneth no man over other 
(b) H. N. Spirit: land. c. 34. §. 8. ; they have no heads nor Kings, which are borne of the flesh and blood of sin 
(c) Ibid. c. 38. §. 1. .  
It is well pleasing (saith N. H.) that the one man of God, Lordeth not over the other, neither that the one be the others bondservant 
(d) Ibid. c. 37. §. 9 .  
And as they please God in that they exercise no superiority, but are equal in degree among themselves; all Kings, and a kingdom of Kings 
(e) Ibid. c. 38. §. 4 : so they term a King, the scum of ignorance 
(f) Ibid. c. 2●. §. 14 ; and deem it an abominable thing in the eyes of God for men to Lord over each other, and term such persons bondservants and Captive-slaves 
(g) Ibid. c. 38. §. 5 . Last of all they have Prophecies, that all Majesties, Dominions, Powers, and governments whatsoever, shall 
(h) Ibid. c. 49. §. 1 , and make prayers, that they may 
(i) 1. Exhort. c. 17. §. 6. , submit themselves unto the service of Love (even as the Puritans would have Kings to submit their Sceptres, to throw down their crowns before the Church, yea and to lick up the dust of the feet of the church 
(k) T. C. 1. Reply p. 144. , and yield obedience unto the presbytery 
(l) Eccles. discip. p. 165. ; and also that themselves, as Kings, and only Kings shall everlastingly live and reign 
(m) H N. Prou. ca 1. §. 18. Fidel. declare. c. 4. §. 5. Praph. of the Spir. c. 19 §. 1●  yea and do reign upon the earth 
(n) Proph. of the Spir. c. 19 §. c. .  
It is therefore apparently, and from their own books & writings sufficiently, without other needless demonstrations, proved, that the Family is a Sect most vile, both varying in Services, Ceremonies, Doctrine, and Sacraments, from the Religion now established in this land; and openly inveigh against all government of Kings, and Magistrates, spiritual, and temporal; sighers and seekers for a parity and commixtion of all states: and therefore whatsoever they do, not worthy to receive the benefit, and freedom due to loyal and good Subjects.   

The Family of love.  
ONly, 
The ●ar●ation.  right gracious Sovereign, we have read certain books, brought forth by a German, Author, under the characters of H. N.   

The Examination.  
HItherto their Proclimarie. Now ensueth a narration. It is much to be lamented that a promiscuous reading of all writings, hand over head, is permitted unto all men; the lamentable effects whereof we have, and see, in this Family of love.  
And yet I would they had but only read, and not studied, followed, and applauded these books, as the very message and oracles of God from Heaven; neither delighted in the dark exercises, and Conventicles of the said Family.  
The time was when the letters H. N. were thought to signify no cedrtaine man, but either the heavenly nature, or Homo Nows, a new, or renewed man: or which A.O. doth in the Revelation 
(a) Let of the Fam. : but now he is acknowledged here to be a German Auctor; and was, though they say not so much (as, by letters unto myself from Embden, I can show) by trade a Mercer of Amsterdam in Holland: which course of life it had been a blessed thing for God's Church he had still followed, and never given his mind to the writing of books.   

The Family of love.  
WHo affirmeth their that he is prepared, chosen, 
Of H. N.  and sent of god to minister, & set forth the most holy service of the love of God, and Christ, or of the holy Ghost, unto the children of men, upon the universal earth.   

The Examination.  
WHat they say of H. N. he affirmeth every whit of himself, if his own testimony, without prose or warrant, be of any validity.  
In his Proverbs: The God of heaven, 
H. N. a most impious and blasphemous magnifier of himself.  as the Father himself, is come down: and bringeth, in the service of Love, himself, with his Christ and holy Ghost, and withal that which with him is Gods, unto his obedient Man, H.N. And Goding the same with him, he hath Manned him with the same 
(a) H.N. Proverbs. c. 8. §. 3 .  
In his Prophecy of the Spirit, he termeth himself: Gods elected Minister 
(b) Proph. c. 13. §. 8. .  
In the foresaid book of his Proverbs, he hath these words: The Lord, out of his merciful love, raised-up the gracious word, according to his promises, and elected H.N. thereto, for to minister the same &c. 
(c) H. N, Proverbs. c. 1. §. 6. .  
And in this Proverbs again: Through which gracious word, and N.N. God revealed (saith he) the appearing of the coming of Christ, and the new day of his righteous judgement, as also the flowing forth of his holy Spirit of love to the awaking and raising up of all his holy-ones, out of sleep, to their glorious Lordliness with jesus Christ, and to an everlasting fast-standing Kingdom of the godly Majesty upon earth, according to his promises. 
(d) Ibid. §. 17. .  
And afterward: Thus hath God declared with H.N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light upon the earth wherein the Lord, the God of heaven, restered the former Kingdom with his garnishing, together with all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the World, through the mouth of his holy Prophets &c. 
(e) Ibid. §. 18. .  
In his exhortation, God hath illuminated him (he saith) with his light, for to illuminate, or give light to them that dwell yet in darkness upon the earth 
(f) 1. Exhor. c. 19 §. 8. .  
And finally in his first Epistle: All people are called, and friendly bidden, through H. N. to the repentance for their sin, etc. Not alone with his calling, but also with all the Scriptures heavenly Testimonies, and spiritual voices of the Eternal Truth which are gone forth from the holy spirit of love, and brought to light through H. N. 
(g) 1. Epist. or Cri. vince. c. 1. § 1. .  
And why all this? but to the end that (as himself adviseth) the young ones in the Family should not distrust, nor suspect any manner of evil, or unwisedome by him; nor yet in any wise persuade themselves, that the Exercises, Documents, and instructions, which are taught or set forth before them, by him the Father of the Family of Love, or oldest elder, are too childish, or too unwise, for the to follow after 
(h) 1. Exhort. c. 13. §. 11. .  
But the child of God must always have in remembrance, that many false Prophets are gone into the world: and therefore is not to believe whatsoever is affirmed, but try the spirits whether they are of God. Because men receive not the love of the truth, that they may be saved, God will send them strong delusion that they shall believe lies, that they may be damned, which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness 
(i) 2. Thes. 2. V 10.11. :  
The more H. N. boasteth of himself that he is illuminated from above, the less is he to be credited, the more to be suspected.  
Let him prove his preparation, his election, vocation, and general Apostleship from God's word (which he shall never do); or let him be accursed: yet a because he arrogateth to himself the divine nature, and most heretically and blasphemously avoucheth, that whatsoever the Prophets have foretold are fulfilled in him and the like; and all this to the end that his idle revelations, cloaked under his Love-service, may the more slily enter into the minds of well willing and good meaning people: hold him, and all that hold with, and applaud him, and his fanatical speculations, evermore accursed.   

The Family of love.  
O Out of which Service, or writings we be taught all dutiful obedience 
* Untrue.  towards God, and Magistrates; 
The service of love.  and to live a godly, and honest life; and to love God above all things, and our neighbours as ourselves, agreeing therein with all the holy Scriptures as we understand them.   

The Examination.  
ALL this tendeth to the raising up of credit to H. N. & his writings: which showeth of what spirit these men are.  
In their Courtly devise (inscribed unto the last Earl of Leicester) they let not to say, that were all the books of H. N. rightly considered of with indifferency, so should they be found Assistants in all to the Religion established in the Church of England, and no hinderers.  
Here I take which they grant, that the holy Scriptures teach all these things: next that the religion established in the Church of England, is sound, and every way good and true.  
But that the Service of Love & the writings of H. N. truly & indeed so teach as they would bear his Majesty in hand, I cannot think for divers reasons.  
1. They hold: That neither before, nor without their most holy Service of Love, etc. the true light hath not been set forth, ministered, nor taught: & that there shall likewise no other light nor clearness, that can be true, appear nor yet come hereafter, but the light of love 
(a) H. N. 1. ●r. doct. c. 16. §. 10 : which is the new doctrine devised by H. N. & that we so condemn.  
2. They teach, that, it is assuredly all false, & lies, seducing & deceitful, that the ungodly or unilluminatded Men, out of the imagination, or riches of their own knowledge, & out of their learnedness of the Scriptures, bring forth, institute, and teach 
(b) Ibid. §. 17. . Then is not H. N. his doctrine & Service of Love, grounded upon the written word of God, but upon I know not what visions, & anabaptistical revelations: and therefore to be held most execrable.  
Thirdly, they say There is nothing more needful to the man at the first, whereto enter into life; then that he humble himself under the obedience of love (meaning the instructions of H. N.) & so become taught in the Service of Love, for to unlearn again all what he hath taken on and learned to himself 
(c) Spir. land. c. 56 §. 7. : which counsel of unlearning is rife, and every where, & as it were the first thing delivered to the Novices in the loves service 
(d) H. N. exhort. c. 13. §. 9 Cri. voice c. 1. §. 7. : which manifesteth their religion to be new and singular; when the doctrine in our Churches taught and embraced must all be unlearned, and abominable and corrupt, for the entertaining of theirs, which they vaunt to be celestial.  
Fourthly, because they may not talk of their secrets either yet utter their mysteries, openly, or nakedly in the hearing of their young children & disciples 
(e) H. N. Proverbs. c. 22. §. 15. ; that is (as H. N. saith) till they have attained the age of 30 years, and are come to their manly age, and have beards 
(f) Ibid. c. 21. §. 1. . They might and would talk of their secrets, might their exercises, and mysteries abide the hearing of godly & modest persons, as Gods holy word, and our doctrine, derived from the sacred Scriptures, will.  
Last of all, because the Service of Love, and books of H. N. so and none otherwise make to the advancement of godliness and furtherance of virtue, than they understand the Scriptures. And indeed the make odd interpretations of God's word, turning light into darkness; truth into falsehood; histories into allegories; and sound religion into fancies of men.  
But as others understand them, they tend to the supplanting of true religion, and overthrow of God's house, which is the Church of God, for the erecting of a new Family, whereof they take their name.   

The Family of love.  
AGainst which auctor, and his books, we never yet heard, nor knew any law established in this realm by our late gracious Sovereign, but that we mought read them without offence: whose writings we suppose under your highness correction, your Majesty hath yet never seen, or perused heard of by any indifferent, nor true information.   

The Examination.  
IT Is well known there be laws, canons, and injunctions against erroneous and infectious books: and that Proclamations hove come out expressly against H. N. and his scandalous inventions.  
When there be laws against Sect-masters and Heretics, be there no laws, shall we think, against H. N. and his books?  
Scarce had I proceeded thus far in this examination, but upon search I found a paper, which many years hath lain by me in my private study, containing a form of abjuration offered by the Lords of the late Queen ELIZABETH'S most honourable privy Counsel, unto certain persons suspected to favour the vile Heresies of H. N. which form was this.  
Whosoever teacheth that the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord, 
An abjuration tendered unto the Familistes, the tenth of October. An. 1580 by ten of the Lords of Q. Elizabeth's privy Counsel.  rise up in this day of his judgement, and appear unto us in godly glory, which shall henceforth live in us everlastingly with Christ, and reign upon the earth, is a detestable Heretic.  
But H. N. teacheth so: evang. c. 37. Sect. 9  
Therefore H. N. is a detestable Heretic.  
Whosoever teacheth that to be born of the Virgin Marie out of the seed of David after the flesh, is to be expounded of the pure doctrine out of the seed of Love, is a detestable Heretic.  
But H. N. teacheth so: Document: scent: c. 3. Sect. 5.  
Therefore H. N. is a detestable Heretic.  
Whosoever teacheth that jesus Christ is come again unto us according to his promise, to the end that they all which love God, and his righteousness, and Christ, and his perfect Being, might presently enter into the true Rest, which God hath prepared from the beginning for his his elect, and inherit the everlasting life, is a detestable Heretic.  
But H. N teacheth so: evang. c. 1. Sect. 1.  
Therefore H. N. is a detestable Heretic.  
Naving examined these reasons with the books of H. N. we do find that in truth he holdeth these heresies, and we think in our hearts, and of our own knowledge affirm that H. N. is in these heresies a detestable Heretic: Promising faithfully before God and your Honours never hereafter to have any dealing with his books, and doctrine nor to go-about to bring any to the love, liking, or reading of them. And that we now speak is the true meaning of our hearts, as we look for mercy at his hands which searcheth the heart.  
Would her majesties Council minister this Abjuration unto these Familistes, even of her owen Family, had they no law, nor authority so to do? Or would the said Courtiers (as before their Honours they did) abjure these Heresies, if both the said heresies had not been contained in the books of H. N. and themselves by Law compellable either to abjure, or abide the punishment due for obstinate Heretics? And was there Law then, viz. Anno. 1580. (for in that year, and so long ago was this done) and is there no Law now? Have they not heard, nor known of these things by lawful authority performed, which were both heard andmade known both in Court and Country; the parties some of them, and the chiefest yet living and in Court, which so abjured; & their Children in right ancient place about his Majesty, before whom they abjured?  
But have they not heard, nor known (as they pretend) of any Law established in this Realm against H. N. and his books, by our late gracious Sovereign? Then pray we unto God, that they may both hear, and know some law to be established against them by our now reigning, and gracious Sovereign the King.  
The rest of this section, that his Highness (as they fear not to say) never yet hath seen, or perused the writings of H. N. nor somuch as heard of them by any indifferent, or true information, are words derogatory in an high degree to his majesties honour; because both his Highness hath affirmed upon his knowledge the Familistes to be a vile sect of anabaptists (yielding invincible reasons of his certain knowledge, which are above specified), and they say his Majesty never yet saw nor perused, nor so much as heard of H. N. his writings, by any indifferent and true information; in the which the points wherewith he chargeth them, are most truly contained.   

The Family of love.  
FOr the said H. N. in all his doctrine and writings (being as we are credibly informed, as much matter in volume, if they were all compiled together, as the whole Bible containeth) doth 
* Untrue.  neither take part with, nor write against any particular party, or company whatsoever, as naming them by their names, nor yet praise or dispraise any of themy by name 
* Untrue: He magnifieth the Church of Rome. .   

The Examination.  
THis vain boasting of the bulk of H. N. his writings is very usual among the Familistes. About thirty years ago, mine ears heard his disciples much brag of the multitude of H. N. his books: as if his great pains in writing were argument strong enough to induce men to the liking of his opinions.  
Which if it beeso, then have the Papists a strong reason that the truth is with them on their side: the monks and Friars of whose Religion having bestowed infinite pains in writing, and composing of books.  
Then have we (whose doctrine and religion, derived and drawn from God's word, as Scripture learning the Familistes (labour to supplant) the truth; and not the Familistes, to whom for multitude of writings, they are not comparable: some one of us (as Caluin) having written so much as no one man either in these, or our Father's days hath done the like 
(a) Beza. in vit. Cal. ; Musculus, and Luther, and Erasmus, and every of these, hath written more than any man can read in many score of years 
(b) Bodin. in method. hist. c. 5. : which Erasmus composed so many Epistles and Letters, as gathered together would near load two Cartes or Wagons 
(c) Eras. cattle. Luc●b. . And therefore equal many Bibles in bulk and bigness.  
And could not the heretics in all ages say as much for their founders, as the Familistes here do of H.N. viz. that their books were many, and themselves, as studious and painful in writing of discourses, for the propagating of their inventions, as ever the true and faithful servants of God were, or be, for the implanting of the truth?  
Manes, that Archhereticke and great grand Father to H. N. his errors, was the Father of sundry and divers books 
(d) Epiphan. .  
Photius, that pestilent Apostata, wrote very many dscourses both in the Greek & Latin tongue 
(e) Vnicent. Lir. adverse. haeres. , for the propagation of his damnable doctrine.  
Basilides, that hellhound compiled more than 24. volumes 
(f) Eale mist. of iniquity. .  
Appollinaris, filled the whole world with his blasphemous pamphlets 
(g) Basil. magn. .  
And Tatianus (not inferior to any of the rest, not to any else, except perhaps to H. N. for impiety) his books were infinite and innumerable 
(h) Euseb. eccles. hist. l. 4. c. 29. .  
Which writings notwithstanding were not so applauded by some, as they were abhorred of others: nor so famous in times passed among a few, as they are odious now among all men; neither were so read, and used erst, as they are at this time both out of sight, and out of request, yea and out of mind, and gone, as if they never had been either devised, or used in former days. And so we doubt not shall happen to the writings of H. N. though together they world seem never so great a volume, & in several be very many.  
Again, they here commend not their H. N. only for his pains, and bringing forth such a volume of theological speculations: but also for the manner of his writings. For he neither took part with (say they) nor writ against any particular party, or company whatsoever, as naming them by their names: nor yet praised or dispraised any of them by name: as if to take part, or write against any particular party, or ocmpanie of Heretics, Schismatics, or other ungodly persons, and especially in confuting, to name them, were an heinous fault.  
Little think these Familiars by thus, and this commending their H. N. whom they touch as faulty, that have both taken part in a world of dissensions, set themselves against Sectaries; and in their writings, as to all posterities eternally horrible, named the authors, and spreaders abroad of hellish errors, by their proper names. Our Saviour Christ opposed himself professedly against the pharisees and Sadduces; so did the Apostle Peter against the high Priests and Rulers of jerusalem; so Paul against Alexander, Demas, Hymeneus, Philetus and such like; so the Evangelist john against the Nicolaitans; and so the true against the false Apostles, Ministers and wicked persons from time to time in all ages, whose both errors they have oppugned, and registered their names for an everlasting remembrance.  
And though this H. H. neither took part with, nor writ against any particular party or company whatsoever (which ye is untrue, as afterward shall be shown) as naming them by their names (a thing which lawfully, and after the example even of the best, he might have done): yet (which he cannot justify, nor answer before God) he opposeth himself generally against all men, which be not of his feet 
(a) H.N. 1. Exhor. c. 16, §. 2. etc. : whence it is that all men, especially the true Church and servants of God, are against him, and his Family.  
Again, these Familists (still over familiar with his Majesty) would bear his Highness in hand, that the said H.N. in his writings doth neither praise nor dispraise any party or company by name: which is most untrue. For he commendeth the Church of Rome, with all the orders and officers thereof; terming it: The Communion of all Christians; the Pope, the chief anointed; the most holy Father; the Cardinals, most holy, and famous, and next the most ancientest, and holy Father, the Pope in most holy Religion, and understanding 
(b) evang. cap. 31. §. 1.2. etc. : and prophesieth of an entire, and perfect restoration of the papal Hierarchy 
(c) Ibid. §. 23. .  
And on the other side, he condemneth as many as out of the knowledge which they took out of the Scriptures (as all the protestant and reformed Churches throughout the world have done) brought in certain services, and ceremonies in any other wise, or order than the Church of Rome Appointed 
(c) Ibid. c. 32. § 4 .  
He raileth on God's Preachers; and calleth them unilluminatded, unregenerated, unrenewed, ungodded, unsent, and I wots not what besides 
(d) Ibid. c. 4. §. 4 , to bring their persons, ministery, and profession into utter hatred and contempt 
(e) Ibid. c. 28. §. 4. Document. sent. c. 2. §. 2. .  
And though in his writings, he had neither so praised, as he hath done, the Pope and his partakers on the one side; nor dispraised, and to the pit of hell condemned all Ministers and Preachers (whom in scorn every where he termeth Scripture-learned): 
1. Exhort. c. 15. §. 17.19. ): yet that maketh him not a commendable writer and regardable. For he is aprayser, and magnifier of himself every where in his writings which is the greatest fault that can be in a man, whether he writ, or speak; and be his praises either true, or false; but elspecially if they be proudly arrogated, and not deservedly.  
Would you hear a vaunting Bragadine? Listen then unto H. N.  
The Lord, the God of Heaven moved Me in his Mind or Spirit (saith H. N.) his power encompassed Me, with a Rushing noise: and the glory of the same God of Heaven became great in my spirit of his Love, in such wise, that the great clearness of God wholly innironed Me, and shoane round about Me, wherethrough the sight of mine Eyes became clearer than Crystal, and mine understanding brighter than the Sun 
(f) H. N. Prophet: of the Spir. c. 1. §. 2. ; the Lord his Being and Essence spoke unto Me: for the Being of God gave-forth his sound and voice; and spoke unto Me, H. N. through his spirit of Love, all these words, and said &c. 
(g) Ibid. §. 5. . Here the Essence and Being of God spoke unto him.  
Again, I lament (saith H. N.) and bewail very much your unfaithfulness, and all your feignedness, wherewith ye think to cover you, before Me, yet are nevertheless all the Counsels and falsehoods of your Hearts manifested before Me, & so much the more naked & bare before the Eyes of my heart, and Spirit 
(h) Ibid. c. 3. §. 1.2.3. . Here he braggeth that the Counsels, & secrets of man's heart (known only unto God) are not hidden from him.  
Many (saith H. N.) could much rather judge Moses, the Prophets of God, together with the Apostles of Christ, and God his elected Minister H. N. to err or miss the right, than that they would by any means confess and acknowledge, that they in the Imagination of their knowledge, concerning the godly matters, are ignorant, and lying 
(i) Ibid. c. 13. §. 8. .  
He vaunteth here that he could no more err, than could the Prophets and Apostles; yea he preferreth himself, if his words be well observed, before the Apostles and Prophets.  
In his proverbs: The God of Heaven (saith, H.N.) 
(k) Chap. 8. §. 3  as the Father himself, is come down, and He bringeth, in the Service of his Love, Himself, with his Christ, and Holy Ghost, and with all that which with Him is Gods, unto his obedient Man: H. N. And Godding the same with Him, He hath manned him with the same: and his will is, that now in the last time, through the service of Love, all people or generations of Men, which are good-Willing to his Righteousness, should assemble them unto Him, and his godded Man; and even so likewise with them, all that is manly; To the end that they all should become of one Being with him, and his Godded man: and so be all named Gods and Children of the most-highest. Here is he deified, and made a God. Is this fellow, and his writings to be commended, and that unto a most religious King: or not rather to be abhorred, and all that praise him, both of Prince and people?   

The Family of love.  
But doth 
* The contents H. N. his writings.  only show in particular in his said writings (as saith he, the unpartial Service of Love requireth) what is good or evil for every one, and wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point, whether it be in the state of his soul towards God, 
Most false. Vide responsum.  or in the state of his body towards the Magistrates of the world, and towards one another.   

The Examination.  
AS erst for the manner: so here have we H. N. extolled for the doctrine, and matter by him delivered.  
But as afore, 
Against the doctrine of H. N.  speaking to the purpose which here they do, they say the service & writings of H. N. taught them all dutiful obedience towards God, & Magistrates etc. agreeing therein with the holy Scriptures as they understand them, that is in that sense, and meaning, & none otherwise, which they give of the Scriptures: so in this place they say of H. N. that he doth only show in general in his writings, what is good or evil for every one, and wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point etc. but it is not as the holy Scripture (in the native sense thereof, without the Families partial interpretations and glosses) but as the unpartial (than which nothing is more partial) service of Love, requireth.  
We cannot therefore well understand, what is the godliness and justice, which H. N. in his writings doth promote, unless we first know, what this their Service of Love, here mentioned, is.  
The unpartial Service of Love in this place mentioned is the religion, principles, and spiritual exercises of H. N. or his illuminate Elders, in the Family of Love. For the right conceiving whereof we are to observe how according to H. N. his doctrine, there be eight thorough-breaking (which is H. N. his word) or Revelations of Goods true light unto mankind's; 
H.N. Proverbs Ch. §. 3.12.  the first was to Adam, & held till Noah; the second from Noah till Abraham, the third from Abraham till Moses; the fourth from Moses till Samuel, David, and Solomon; the first form them till Zorobabel; the sixth from Zorobabel till CHRIST; the seventh from CHRIST till H. N. in whose days the Lord, out of his merciful love, raised up the gracious word, according to his promises, and elected H. N. thereto (if you will believe him) for to minister the same under the obedience of his love, to the erecting or restoring of his true sanctuary, and of the true offering, and God service in the same.  
Through which gracious word & H. N. God revealed (saith H. N.) the appearing of the coming of his Christ, and the new day of his righteous judgement, 
☞  as also the Flowing forth of his holy Spirit of love, to the awaking & Rising up of all his Holy-ones, out of the sleep to the glorious lordliness with jesus Christ, & to an everlasting fast-standing kingdom of the godly Majesty, upon the ea●●, according to his promises.  
Even thus hath God declared (saith H. N.) with H. N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light, upon the earth, wheein the Lord, the God of Heaven, restored the former kingdom with his garnishing, together with all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets, 
☜  and of the Evangelists of his Christ: and the same eight thorough-breaking of the true light of God upon the earth, is the new day; to therenewing of the life, which God hath tofore appointed to reveal the same in the last time, for to judge in the same the universal Earth with righteousness, to the condemnation of all the enemies of God and Christ, together with all the enemies of the godly life, and blasphemers of his holy Spirit, and service of Love; and to the erecting of his upright Sanctuary, the seat of his Majesty, and the upright government of his holy ones, under the obedience of his love, upon the earth, and also for to declare even so upon the earth, in the same true light of the new or eight day, the mysteries of God and Christ, even from the beginning of the world, till unto the end. All these be the very words of H. N. touching his mysteries 
(b) Ibid. §. 16.17.18. : the revelation whereof by him unto the elders, and by them unto the young ones in the Family, is by him called The service or ministration of the love.  
Of which light and service, wonderful things are believed by the Family: I will only cite a place, showing their conceit of the service here mentioned.  
I foretell you assuredly (saith Fidelitas) that the abominations of the wicked world (have therefore a circumspect consideration hereon, O ye children of men) shall break in among you, and ye shall likewise be vehemently assaulted therewith. Nevertheless if you hold you firmly to the requiring of the gracious word, and his Service of Love: ye shall then be delivered from the wicked assaultings which come against you, out of the Abominations of the wicked world, and out of the falsehood of our Resisters, and inherit the Crown of the eternal life, and the true anointing of the joyful oil of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ: and even so find by experience that our God of Love is the true God; and that we his obedient Commonalty of the Love, are his acceptable people, and that they also which bide estranged from the same God, as also remain without us and our Commonalty, and without the requiring of the gracious word and his Serurce of Love, or withdraw themselves therefrom, have no living God, nor yet true God service: but are without God, and without God service in this world. For our God of Love 〈◊〉 the true living God, and besides him there is no God more, and his God service of Love, which we minister, under the obedience of his Love; is the true safemaking God service, and besides the same there is not any God service more, neither in heaven nor yet in earth, Hitherto Fidelitas 
(c) Distinct. declare §. 1 c. 11. .  
From which place of H. N. and Fidelitas, note, Christian Reader, that their words unto his Marestie viz. that the writings of H. N. or service of Love, further true religion and godliness, are most false, and uttered either by some ignorants which know not what the Service of Love meaneth; or of policy to blear his highness eyes, that he should not perceive the danger of this pretended Love Service.  
Observe, next, their opinion of this their Service of Love, as that it is the true safemaking God's service, besides which there is not any God service more, neither in heaven, nor yet in earth; and that whoso have not this service, or withdraw themselves therefrom, have no living God: and hence conjecture what their thoughts be, not only of the Service of the Church of England, and all other Christian Churches, but of the doctrine also in them professed, with all professors of Christianity, ignorant, and Adversaries to H. N. and his new Service.  
Besides, it is not to be neglected, that the doctrine in the Service of Love delivered, by H. N. in these places is called, The new day: The day of the general Resurrection: The day of judgement, of the second coming of Christ; of the restoring of all things: of the fulfilling of all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets, and the Evangelists of his Christ. All which plainly demonstrate H. N. his doctrine touching the general resurrection; the day of judgement: the second coming of Christ: everlasting life; and finally the accomplishing of GOD'S promises, made unto the patriarchs, Prophets, and Church from everlasting (included in the writings of H.N. and so in the Service of Love) to be most heretical and damnable.  
This considered, impudent, and shameless are these Familistes, that would bear the most religious Prince in hand, that the writings of H. N. and Service of Love, make for the advancement of godliness, and honesty: when rightly examined, it overthroweth the very grounds and principles of true Religion, without which there can be no sound practise of honesty and justice among men.   

The Family of love.  
TO the end that all people (when they hear, or read his writings, and do thereby perceive their sins, 
The end of his writings.  and estranging from GOD, and Christ, mought endeavour them to bring forth the due fruits of Repentance, which is reformation, and newness of life, according as all the holy Scriptures do likewise require the same of every one; and that they mought in that sort, become saved through jesus CHRIST, the only Saviour of all the world.   

The Examination.  
Here read we the end indeed of H. N. his writings, 
Against the end of H. N. his writings.  viz. to invite all men unto repentance, and newness of life: and yet deserveth he no praise at all (as the Familistes would make his Highness believe he doth) for this exhortation of his. For what meaneth he by Repentance, but that all men, not yet of his Family, should forsake or abjure the Religion, which they have been brought up in, and unlearn again whatsoever they have taken on, and learned to themselves, out of the Scriptures, in the Christian assemblies, where GOD'S word is read, preached, and heard? What by newness of life? But that we become young ones in the Family, or house of Love? What by salvation? but the state of a Familist; which is all pure; or of an Elder in the lovely being?  
All people (saith H. N.) are called, and friendly bidden, through H. N. to the repentance for their sins, and to the house of the love of jesus Christ; the Rest of all the Saints or children of God; 
(a) H.N. Crispinus voice c. 1. §. 1.   
Let every one leave now his own word, doctrine, and taken on knowledge, and also the word, the doctrine, and knowledge of all unsent Preachers, and good-thinking wise, wherethrough ye are seduced etc. and come now all to this same Sanctuary of GOD 
(b) Ibid. c. 2. §. 5.  meaning the house of Love, called before, the Rest of all the Saints or children of God.  
Come also now all, which, through your ignorant knowledge, or misunderstanding, have withdrawn yourselves (saith H. N.) from this same stool of grace, and lovely house of the Love of jesus Christ; and, from our Communality, taken occasion of offence at our littleness or simpleness, & at the godly Testimonies of our sayings; and even so made up yourselves, as Resisters, against us, and our good doctrine, and exercises, or orders, separated yourselves from us, and grown to be bitter minded or displeased toward us, together with all ye that have mistrusted us, also not believed the holy word of the eternal truth, which, we through God's grace, administer under the obedience of the Love, but doubted thereof etc. and repent you of your sins, to your sanctification, and to the health of your souls 
(c) Ibid. §. 7. .  
On the other side (saith H. N.), All those which love rather the darkness, that the Light; cleave more unto the world, and the worldly things, than unto the gracious word in the Service of Love; hear, believe, and follow rather their good thinking, than the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love, which are set forth and offered unto them, by the Elders in the holy Commonalty of Love, out of the heavenly truth; and even so wax offended thereat, or hold them back therefrom, and resist the Service of Love, Those shall all, if they turn them not to the Service of the Love, nor repent them of their sins, become broken in pieces, and justly bear their blame, or be punished, with the everlasting destruction, and bide captived, for ever and ever, with the death and mortality 
(d) H. N. Exhort. c. 14. §. 10. .  
Unto this Repentance doth H. N. exhort.  
This is the opinion, which H. N. had, and his disciples and scholars have of themselves, and their favourers; they are all forsooth in the state of salvation, and cannot perish: but they who neither be Familistes', nor well-willers to their doctrine, exercises and orders, are all under the curse of God, like eternally to be damned, unless they altar their minds, and renounce their faith and religion (though grounded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles), because with H. N. the Devil is their Father 
(e) Spirit. Land pres. §. 9 , and they are the children of wrath, a cursed people coheirs of the everlasting fire 
(f) Ibid. §. 10. , and shall be cast into the bottomless pit, into the fire of Hell 
(g) H. N. Proverbs. c. 5. §. 15. : Then which conclusions nothing is more Heretical, and accursed: and this was it, among other things, why his Majesty termed these Familistes, Puritans, and a most vile Sect, viz. even because they deem all the world besides themselves, to be but abomination in the sight of God.  
Their H. N. speaketh much of jesus Christ in his books: but in no one place that I could yet meet withal, doth he acknowledge Christ to be either true GOD, or very man, at least not GOD and man in one person; but commonly with him he is an allegorical CHRIST, meant either by the Sabbaoth day, which the Lord commanded to be always had in remembrance 
(h) H. N. Enang. cap. 13. §. 2. 2 Document-sent. c. 3. §. 4. ; or by the Service or doctrine of H. N. which also is CHRIST after the flesh 
(i) Exhort. c. 14. §. 1. , as he understandeth the Scriptures; or by the virtuous qualities, and Being in godly men 
(k) Enang. c. 13. §. 16. 1. Exhort. c. 1 §. 24.25. ca 20. §. 5. ; or by the oldest Elder in the Family, which sometimes was H. N. and is now one man, now another. 
(l) evang. c. 31. §. 12.14.16.   
An obedient, and godly life, is Christ jesus, saith the Exile 
(m) pattern of pres. Temps. .  
And so are men saved, by the doctrine of this Family, either by their own works or virtues; or by their Oldest Elders; or by the doctrine of H: N: or Service of Love, or by the holy Rest; but never by our Christ, acknowledged in the Church of England.  
Thus have ye the end of H. N. his writings; suitable certes unto his method and doctrine, for which he is so renowned (but to their small comfort, and credit) among the Familistes.   

The Family of love.  
NOtwithstanding, dear Sovereign, yet hath the said Author, and his doctrine alone time, and stillis, 
The Family's complaint.  most shamefully, and falsely slandered, by our foresaid adversaries both in this Land, and in divers others, as to be replenished with all manner of damnable errors, and filthy liberty of the flesh.   

The Examination.  
AFter a long, and loathsome narration, they come now to a new complaint, and that still on the behalf of their H. N. and his disciples.  
It is not yet an hundred years, since the said author was borne; nor 60. years since his doctrine came first to light, and was broached; nor 50. years yet, since it arrived in this realm (a blessed thing had it been for many a Christian soul, had either H. N. never breathed, or his doctrine never been hatched).  
But how many years soever have passed since his opinions and mysteries came to light (if hitherto they be all known); through the goodness of God yet, there is not one, of all the Church's Protestant, and reform, that favoureth, but all bid open and utter defiance to H. N. his books, and errors.  
H. N. himself in his life time much complained, that all degrees in all Lands abhorred his writings 
(a) H.N. 1. refrain. §. 4. .  
In this Land both H.N. and his loathsome (which he calleth Lovely) Family of Love, have been displayed once, confuted often, resisted always: but shamefully, and falsely slandered, either by foreign, or home-writers, it was never that hitherto I could hear; and so must I think, till I see the extant writings against them, convicted of untruths, and disproved as slanderous.  
That H.N. his books are replenished with damnable errors, it will be justified; and hath already in this examination, and else where been manifested.   

The Family of love.  
AND we his well-willers, and favourers, in the upright drift of his doctrine (as aforesaid) have also been by them complained on, and accused unto our late gracious Sovereign, & the Magistrates of this Land, both long time past, and now lately again, as to be a people so infected, and stained with all manner of detestable wickedness, and errors, that are not worthy to live upon the earth (but yet would never present any of his books unto his Majesty to peruse, nor yet set them forth in any indifferent, or true manner to the view of the world; lest their malicious and slanderous reports and accusations against the same, and us, should thereby have been revealed, and disproved to their great shame.   

The Examniation.  
NOw complain they of injuries offered to themselves.  
The very drift of H.N. is to thwart, or discredit rather whatsoever is taught in the Church of England, and elsewhere, from the letter of the holy Scriptures; and to bring in another Gospel, viz. after H. N.  
Such as are the wil-willers and favourers of H.N. in the said his drift (as the Familists here confess themselves to be) not only deserve to be complained upon, and accused unto authority, but to be accursed of God and man (if they persist in their wicked course) as a people infected with most detestable wickedness, and errors; and the very plague, and bane of sound religion. And those men which have acquainted authority with their errors, and impieties, have done good service therein, and their bounden duties, both unto God, his Church, and the State.  
Whether any of H. H. his books have been presented unto our late most gracious Sovereign (of aye blessed memory) I cannot say; but I surely conjecture, that she could not be ignorant of the contents of his writings: when the Lords of her Counsel (as afore hath been declared) censured some of her household servants for abetting H. N. and his detestable heresies.  
They which again do say that their adversaries would never present any of H. N. his books unto her Majesty to peruse, say more than they can affirm, yea which is palpably untrue. For, who abhorreth H. N. & his books or H.N. rather for his heretical blasphemies, but ever were desirous that his said errors, contained in his books, might in his said books be read of her Majesty; that by her authority the better they, and all such as favour those books, containing such errors, might condignly be censured?  
When these Familistes dare tell his Majesty, that their adversaries would never present H. N. his books, nor any of them unto her Highness, it appeareth (they herein saying true) that she had always about her some Familistes, or favourers of that Sect, who always related, or bare tidings what was done, or intended against them.  
It is wished, that his now majesties Court were purged from such well willers and favourers of H. N. in the main drift of his hellish, & heretical doctrine, wherewith her Majesties was but too-much replenished.  
How H. N. his books by their adversaries, have been setforth, the world may judge. 26. years have they been extant: a sufficient time for the Family both to justify their H. N. and to discover the malice & slanderous reports of their accusers, if there were just cause. Hitherto have the Familistes been silent, and yet are both confident in their wicked courses; & not ashamed to express so much before his most-Christian, and royal Majesty.   

The Family of love.  
THrough which their most-odious & false complaints against us, the Magistrates did then, 
A new and odious narration.  and also have now lately cast divers of us into prison, to our great hindrance, and discredit: but yet have never proved against us, by sufficient and true testimony, any one of their many foul accusations (as the records in such cases and the magistrates that have dealt therein can testific) but are so utterly void of due, and lawful proof thereof, that they have framed divers subtle Articles for us (being plain, and unlearned men) to answer upon our oath, whereby to urge, and gather some things from ourselves, so to approve their false, and unchristian accusations to be true, or else will force us to renounce, recant, and condemn that which we do not wilfully maintain, nor justify (much like as it was practised in the Primitive Church, against the Christians): yea they are not ashamed to lay their own, and all other men's disobedient, and wicked acts (of what profession soever they be) upon our backs, to the end cunningly to purchase favour, and credit to themselves, and to make us seem monstrous & detestable before the Magistrates, and the common people every where; for that we, and the doctrine of H. N. mought (without any indifferent trial, and lawful, or orderly proceeding, as heretofore hath been used in the Christian Church in such cases, for confuting and condemning of heresies) be utterly rooted out of the Land: with divers other most cruel practices, proceeding out of they bitter and envious hearts toward us, tending to the same unchristian, and merciless purpose, the which we will here omit to speak of, because we have already been over-tedious unto your Highness; most humbly craving your most gracious pardon, and patience therein, in respect that we speak to clear ourselves of such matter as may touch our lives and liberties (which are two of the chiefest jewels that GOD hath given to mankind in this world) and also for that we have few friends, or any other means then this to acquaint your Highness with the truth, and state of our cause (whereof we think your Majesty is altogether ignorant) but have very many enemies whom we do greatly suspect will not be slack to prosecute their false, and malicious purpose against us unto your Highness, even like as they have accustomed to do in times passed unto our late Sovereign Queen: through which prevailing in their slanderous defacing of us, & our cause, divers of us (for want of friends to make it rightly known unto her Majesty) have sundry times been constrained to endure their injurious dealings toward us, to our great vexation, and hindrance.   

The Examination.  
HEre have we an intricate, and long perplexed period devoid of charity, discretion, and truth; but full of gall, odious comparisons, and unjust complain; and that not only of private persons, their accusers whosoever, but even of public Magistrates, & their proceed, first and last, against this Family, and all for their favouring and well-wishing to H. N. and his doctrine: which because it is fit for the said Magistrates, her odiously traduced, to censure, and answer (whose doings against the Familists I am ignorant of, and yet am persuaded have always been both mild towards them and just) I omit, and commend the further consideration of this their heinous complaint unto the supreme authority, and his Assistants, and delegates.   

The Family of love.  
WHerefore, most gracious Sovereign this is now, 
Their 1. Petition.  our humble suit unto your Highness, that when your Kingly affairs of importance, which your Majesty hath now in hand shall be well overpast, and finished (for the prosperous performance whereof, we will, as duty bindeth us, daily pray unto Almighty God) that than your Highness will be pleased (because we have always taken the same authors work aforesaid to proceed out of the great grace, and love of God, and Christ's, extended towards all Kings, Princes, Rulers, and people upon the universal earth (as he himself in many of his works doth witness no less) to their salvation, unity, peace, and concord in the same godly Love) to grant us that favour, at your majesties fit, and convenient time, to peruse the books yourself, with an unpartial eye, conferring them with the holy Scriptures, wherein it seemeth by the books that are setfoorth under your highness name that you have had great travail, and are therefore the better able to judge betwixt truth and falsehood: and we will whensoever it shall please your Highness to appoint the time, and to command, and licence us thereto) do our best endeavour to procure so many of the books as we can out of Germany (where they be printed) to be delivered unto your Majesty, or such godly learned, and indifferent men, as it shall please your Majesty to appoint.  
And we will also (under your highness lawful licence, and commandment in that behalf) do our like endeavour to procure some of the learned men of that Country (if there be any yet remaining alive, that were well acquainted with the author and his works in his life time, and which likewise have exercised his works ever since) to come over, and attend upon your Majesty, at your appointed time convenient, who can much more sufficiently instruct, and resolve your Highness in any unusual words, phrase, or matter that may happily seem dark, and doubtful unto your Majesty, than any of us in this your land are able to do.   

The Examination.  
Now are we come, at the length, unto their Petition. The ground whereof is a deep, and heavenly conceit which they have of their H. N. and the work by him undertaken, for the salvation of mankind.  
Many are H.N. his prophecies of his good success and future prevailing through out the world.  
This same kingdom of peace, and of Love (saith the said H. N. speaking of this Family) shall, through the administration of the gracious word of the Lord, spread abroad and bid all people, to their preservation, thereunto; to the intent that all Kingdoms of the world should assemble them to this one Kingdom of peace and of Love, and that etc. to the joy and salvation of all the children of men 
(a) H. N. 1. exhort. c. 12. §. 40. .  
Again: This same God service, this love and lovely being, and the sound or fame of the same shall break in among all nations of people, and let itself to be heard over all lands 
(b) Ibid. c. 14. § 9   
Of all Provinces, the first that received the Christian faith by public allowance, was Britain 
(c) Sabel. Aeneiad. 7. lib. 5. . The first king christened, that we read of was Lucius K. of Brittany. And among Kings christened, if not the first, yet with the first, he that expelled the Pope, and his courts, was Henry the viii; and that rooted out all his detestable enormities out of his dominions, was Edward the vi. Kings of England. Oh what a cordial joy, and comfort would it be unto this Family, that of all Provinces, which shall favour their Love Service, Brittany would be the first, and to the glory of his noble ancestors, that it might be added, how our most illustrious King JAMES was the first that supplanted the Scripture learning (brought in by King Lucius, and re-established by great Henry and Edward last mentioned) for the implanting of the Service of Love, and H. N. his illusions, I should say illuminations! which that all Kings one day will implant, they have no doubt; & that our King JAMES may of all be the first, is their hearty desire, & end of their instant perition.  
Hence they humbly beseech his Majesty to peruse the books of their H. N, himself, with an unpartial eye, as the principal means to make him a Familist, and a Master of that household of Love, especially within his own Realms, and Dominions: which he vouchsafing to do, they promise by their best endeavour to procure his Majesty so many of H. N. his books, as they can; and of such their illuminats, as they can hear of, ever inward with H. N. & his doctrine, & well exercised in his works, and perfect in his tongue, words & phrases, and all out of Germany. Which is a bold offer of theirs; and the more audacious and graceless, because they confess here his Ma. to be Scripture-learned, & we know him among Christian Princes, the chiefest Patron of all men studious, and conversant in the Scriptures of God (which kind of men, of all others, these Familistes (cannot brook): which Scriptures, and Scripture-learned men, are most opposite, & ever have been, to H. N. his doctrine; and his doctrine, Service of Love or secrets contrary, nothing more, unto the said Scriptures, and such learned men. For saith H. N. (as hath afore been alleged, and is never by me mentioned, but in detestation of the speech:) It is assuredly all false and lies, seducing, and deceitful, that the ungodded, or unilluminatded Men, out of the imagination or riches of their own knowledge, and of their learnedness of the Scriptures, bring forth, institute, preach, and teach.  
Besides, what a mockery is it, to bear his Highness in hand, that H. N. his works and writings, rightly, and with an unpartial eye considered, are nothing dissonant from the Scriptures of God? knowing (unless they credit him not herein) their oldest Elder, and chiefest Illuminate, H. N. utterly, as false, and lies, seducing and deceitful, to condemn whatsoever is grounded upon the same Scriptures of God.   

The Family of love.  
ANd so upon such your highness godly, advised consultation, and censure thereupon (finding the same works heretical, or seditious, and not agreeable to God's holy word, and testimonies of all the Scriptures) to leave them to take them, as your majesties laws shall therein appoint us; having no intent, nor meaning to contend, or resist there-against, howsoever it be, but dutifully to obey thereunto, according to the counsel of the Scriptures, and also of the said Authors works.   

The Examination.  
Upon his majesties censuring of H. N. his doctrine, and writings, they promise obedience unto his laws, and proceedings: which is conscionably they do perform, then shall they show themselves to be honest and good men. But the doctrine of dissimulation and temporising is so often dispersed, and rise in H. N. his writings; and the said works of H. N. in all this their supplication, so magnified; and even in this their very petition, so expressly acknowledged to proceed even out of the great grace, and love of God, and Christ, extended towards all Kings, Princes, Rulers, and people upon the universal earth to their salvation, etc. as it is to be feared, that what obedience soever they pretend outwardly to his majesties laws, injunctions, & constitutions, their heart yet dissenteth from his, and all Religions else in the world differing from theirs; to which notwithstanding for quietness sake, they will not stick perhaps outwardly to conform themselves, wheresoever they reside, in Great Brittany, and Ireland to the King's profession; in Spain, at Rome, or elsewhere to the Roman superstition and idolatry 
(a) Pattern of the pres. Temps.  in external matters always following the stronger part, reserving their hearts unto their H. N. and his Service of Love: as many Papists do unto the Pope, according to the injunction in like cases, where they are too weak, Da mihi cor Fili, & sufficit. For our Familistes are Free men, and can walk in all freedom among all people 
(b) H. N. Spir. Land. c. 41. § 6. .  
What the religion is which his Majesty doth profess, and will resolutely, as Gods holy and only truth, protect, is well known to his highness Subjects, yea to the whole World 
(c) Proclam. at Wilt. 27. Octob. At Westm. 22. Feb. 5. March. At the parliam. 19 March. 163. . A Religion grounded upon the Scriptures; adversant to all human inventions, and spiritual, or diabolical revelations, and visions whatsoever. Now putcase his Majesty will not vouchsafe (as good hope is he will not) from his most serious & weighty affairs of his kingdom, to steal opportunity to survey the writings of H. N. yea, will neither read them himself, nor yet, like Constantine the great 
(d) Tripart. hist. lib. 2. c. 15. , suffer his well meaning Subjects, of weak capacities, to read, yea nor to detain such writings by them, as are opposite, contrary, or differing from the religion by himself professed, by Law established, and which truly embraced will bring men to salvation: will not our Family give over their Love Service, to serve God, as the King and his lawful subjects do, according to God's word?  
Their words before, that they never heard, nor knew any law established in this Realm against H. N. and his books: and their secret, and parlour meetings, and administration of their H. N. his Services, even from the beginning almost of that blessed Queen's reign (ELIZABETH of fresh, and honourable remembrance) doth plainly intimate, how it is neither the Kings own writings, Proclamations, Acts, Statutes, Ecclesiastical Canons, and Constitutions, nor whatsoever else he decreeth for the ratification of one, and the same Religion (and condemnation of all others, contrary, or crossing the same) in his Realms, and Dominions, that they regard, or will yield unto, until his Highness, with good discretion hath read, and upon sound advise, disallowed and censured, as heretical, seditious, or dissonant from God's holy word, the works, and writings of their H. N.  
For upon such his highness godly, advised, & grave consultation and Censures, they promise to yield, and leave the works, books, and writings of their doctor, H.N. but not afore.   

The Family of love.  
ANd our further humble suit unto your Highness is, 
Their second Petition.  that of your gracious favour and clemency, you will grant, and give order unto your majesties Officers in that behalf, that all of us, your faithful loving Subjects, which are now in prison in any part of this your Realm for the same cause, may be released upon such bail, or bond, as we are able to give; and that neither we, nor any of that company (behaving ourselves orderly (and obediently under your highness Laws) may be any further persecuted, or troubled therein, until such time as your Majesty, and such godly, learned, and indifferent men of your clergy, as your Highness shall appoint thereto) shall have advisedly consuited, and determined of the matter, whereby that we may not be utterly wasted by the great charge of imprisonment & persecution, and by the hard dealing of our adversaries. For we are a people but few in number, and yet most of us very poor in worldly wealth.   

The Examination.  
HIs Majesty by good advise, and counsel, hath ratified the Religion of his immediate Predecessor, comprised in 39 Articles, agreed upon by the whole Clergy of this Realm in a lawful assembly or Convocation, holden Anno. 1562. He hath also published his directions 
(a) Eccles. constitut. & can. an. 1604.  how all, and every his Subjects of England, publicly shall carry themselves, according to their religion in all places: If these Familistes therefore will profess the same religion with him, and his truly good Subjects; if they also will frequent orderly the sacred Assemblies and Sacraments; if they will demean themselves as it becometh sober Christians, and lay aside all H. N. his erroneous and detestable writings; if they will approve the Service of the Church of England; and finally forsake their conventicling, chair preachings, and Services, administered among them by their illuminated, and codeified Elders, they need fear no persecution, or trouble: otherwise why should they not fear the sword, when they will not be ordered by the word of God?  
They say they are in number but few. But herein they abuse his majesties royal ears and eyes.  
It is well known how twenty five years ago the number of them was great, and they dispersed in divers parts; as Surrey; Sussex; Middlesex, Bark-shire; Hamshire; Essex; I'll of Eley; Cambridge-shire; Suffolk, Norfolk; in the North parts; and finally in most shires of this Realm. In those days they did abound, & were grown to such a number, as the displayer of the Sect delivered how his heart did rue to speak that which one of the same society did avouch to him for truth 
(b) Display pref. , Not a few Ministers of the simple sort were with H. N. his fancies entangled: nor the chiefest place of the Realm free from these men 
(c) Ibid. E. 4. a. . Since, that they are diminished, I hear not; but them to be hugely increased, through rueful connivence, I have arguments to think: but that their increase may be hindered, I hope authority will take order.  
They say they are also poor, or the most of them: but if the book of their names, called of them The book of Life, could be seen, it would then appear, I doubt not, that both the number of them is great, and most of them very rich.  
It is further observed, that those poor ones which suffer imprisonment any where for H. N. and his Service, are well maintained while they are in durance: which argueth that good contributions among them are made for the supportation of their Sect, which cannot be performed without good store of wealth.   

The Family of love.  
OSacred Prince, we humbly pray, 
Their Conclusion.  that the Almighty will move your Princely heart with true judgement to discern betwixt the right & wrong of our cause, according to that most certain, and Christian rule set down by our Saviour Christ unto his disciples (Math. 7.12) Ye shall know the tree by his fruits; and in our obedience, peaceable, and honest lives, and conversation to protect us, and in our disobedience, and misdemeanour to punish us as resisters of God's ordinance, or the kingly authority, & most high office of justice committed unto your Majesty to that purpose towards your subjects. Rom. 13.   

The Examination.  
THey would insinuate into his majesties heart how they are The good trees.  
In their Courtly device, they say, that the only difference betwixt them, and the learned Preachers (whom they take of all others to be their most capital enemies) is, That what the said Preachers do say, The Familists desire to do: as if they only and none beside, had a desire to do the will of God.  
But what speak I of desiring to do Gods will? They do it indeed, and really perform it. For they cannot bring-foorth any thing else, but all good, and Love 
(a) Docum. sent. c. 2. §. 1. ; nothing is able to pluck them from the Word, nor to make them consent to any evil, or vanity 
(b) Ibid. c. 13. §. 5. .  
That which they know not in the death, is now appeared unto them in everlasting Life. The death is now among them swallowed up in the death; the everlasting Life is come unto them in the Renewing of their Life. The Hell is judged or condemned to the pit of Hell: The Heaven is showed unto them in the heavenly Being or form 
(c) Spir. Land. c. 44. §. 10.12. .  
They are come to the Rest of all the Holy ones and children of God; and even so they eat of the wood of life which standeth in the midst of the pleasant garden, and live eternally 
(d) Ibid. c. 55. §. 9 .  
They are subject to no Gods, nor laws, or Ceremonies, but only to the Lord their God, and to his holy Service of love. They are not likewise subject in bondage unto the Creatures, neither yet to any created thing, but only to the Creator etc. All their Life, Mind, and delight only is in God, and God himself likewise, with his mind, Life, or Spirit, is in them: and they are even so of one Conformity or substance with each other (namely God, and his people of peace 
(e) Ibid. c. 40. §. 1.2.18. .  
There is no wickedness, nor malicious Imaginations among them, neither yet vision of evil 
(f) Ibid. c. 33. §. 9 . Holy, & good, are pure are all their works and thoughts 
(g) Ibid. c. 34. §. 11. .  
They are God's habitation 
(h) 1. Exhort. c. 12. §. 38. c. 20. §. 7. , the seal of God's Majesty 
(i) Proph. of the Spir. c. 7. §. 15. ; God his Saints 
(k) Ibid. c. 19 §. 14. ; his acceptable people 
(l) Fidel. decls. c. 4. §. 11. ; the children of the kingdom 
(m) Spir. land. pres. §. 7. ; the holy City of peace, the new jerusalem descended from Heaven 
(n) Ibid. §. 17. ; the rest of all the Saints or children of GOD 
(o) Cri. voice. cap. 1. §. 1.3. ; the body of Christ 
(p) Ibid. c. 3. §. 2. ; one with GOD, and GOD one with them 
(q) Spir land c. 36. §. 1. ; they are risen from the death, with the Resurrection of the Righteous, in the everlasting Life, and live eternally 
(r) Ibid. c. 37. §. 2. .  
Infinite such words, and places from themselves, and their H. N. might be alleged, or show the heavenly condition of these, above all other men: justifying his majesties words altogether, that they are a vile Sect, thinking themselves only pure, and in a manner (yea altogether many of them) without sin, the only true Church, and only worthy to be participant of the Sacraments; and all the rest of the world, to be but abomination in the sight of God: and so rightly, properly, and principally the most odious Puritans under the cope of Heaven.  
The Almighty, and all-provident God, which hath inspired his Majesty with the blessed gift of discerning spirits, enable his Majesty with spirit and virtue from above, that he may remove these stumbling blocks, and causes of division if they will not repent, and both in heart and hand join with his Church and people. For, he beareth not the sword in vain. Rom. 13.   

The Family of love.  
AND gracious Sovereign, we humbly beseech your Highness, with Princely regard in equity & favour to powder and grant the humble suit contained in this most lowly supplication of your loyal, true hearted, faithful, & afflicted subjects; & to remember that your Majesty, in your book of Princely, grave, & fatherly advise to the happy Prince, your Royal Son, doth conclude, that Principis est parcere subiectis, & debellare superbos; and then to doubt, God will bless your Highness, and all your noble offspring with peace, long life, and all honours and happiness, long to continue, and reign over us. For the which we will ever pray with incessant prayers to the Almighty.   

The Examination.  
HITHERTO in their Supplication, the Familistes have quarreled with his Majesty for calling them Puritans; they have callenged his Highness of untruth, as uttering that in a public writing against them, which neither himself is able to justify, nor any indifferent man, dare avouch; they confess further they have by them, and have read certain books which the royal and supreme authority of this Realm hath prohibited them either to read, or have; they have commended to the Stars that monster among men H.N. both for his heavenly vocation, calling, Office, books, and writings, which not only all the learned and godly Prelates and Preachers, but the whole Church of England, yea all Churches Christian (as most impious and Antichristian) utterly condemn; they have intimated that neither his Majesty, nor his people, unless they submit themselves unto the Service of Love, devised by H. N. shall be saved; they have enticed his Highness to read and peruse books both poisonful and dangerous, they have condemned all other men in this Realm, not siding with them, as cursed, and unfruitful trees; and all this willingly & studiously, professedly, and apparently they have done, the least of these crimes deserving royal indignation in an high degree. Now what doth our Family? Crave they pardon meekly, at his majesties hands for these their offences, audaciously committed? No such thing; yea they proceed in their disloyal course, boldly craving, though with humble words, yet with proud hearts, what they have sued for, may readily be granted them.  
Yea as erst, so here they both set out themselves, as submiss, and dutiful subjects, condemning all others, especially their adversaries as proud, and wishing punishment unto them, and advancement with favour unto themselves; yea they let not to say how his Majesty may fear great plagues to light upon him, if he punish them; but shall be sure both he and his posterity, of long life, much prosperity, and eternal happiness, if he show favour to the Family of Love, and their cause.  
A graceless, and audacious company.   

The Family of love.  
MOst-gratious Sovereign, 
Their Postscript.  here followeth the brief rehearsal, and Confession of the Christian Belief and religion of the company that are named the Family of love. Which (for the causes therein specified) was by them set out in print about that time when they were first persecuted & imprisoned in this Realm for the same profession, by their aforesaid adversaries, and by means of their false accusations and complaints unto the Magistrates against them: the which we have thought necessary to present here with unto your Majesty, for that you may thereby the better understand of our innocent intent and profession whatsoever you shall hear reported to the contrary by our enemies, or by any that be ignorant thereof: humbly beseeching your Highness to vouchsafe to read the same, and with your unpartial and godly wisdom to consider, and judge of us and our cause in equity, and favour accordingly, till your Majesty shall have further true intelligence thereof.   

The Examination.  
THe confession here mentioned, and tendered, (as they say) I never saw: yet have I heard well thereof. It was published in the year of our Lord. 1575.  
That so long ago, or since, the Family of Love, were persecuted, and imprisoned for the same Confession, or professing the same, is both an egregious untruth, a slander of the State, and a false information.  
It is observed concerning H. N. that, for the propagating of his Love Service, he hath books of sundry natures, and sorts; some for Novices, & welwilling ones, and some for the elder sort, grown into the manly understanding of the Family mysteries.  
Of the former be N. N. his Instructions of the upright Faith, and christian Baptism; his Crying voice; his First exhortation, and such like, which may be confessed among the adulterous, and sinful generation, and the false hearts of the Scripture learned 
(a) H. N. 1. Exhort. c. 6. §. 5.7.8.9. .  
The latter sort contain the Love secrets or privy mysteries communicable only with such as are come unto the manly age, and have Beards 
(b) H. N. Prou. c. 21. § 1. , and sit upon the seats of the Elders, or wise, and daily hear the secret mysteries of all matters 
(c) Ibid. §. 2. .  
Ye shall not talk of your Secrets (either yet utter your mysteries) openly, or nakedly (saith H. N. unto these Familists) in the hearing of your young children, and disciples; but spare them not (saith he) in the Ears, or hearing of the Elders, which can understand the same, and are able to bear, or away with the sound thereof. For it is given to the Elders to understand the privy mysteries of the wise, and to expound their parables 
(d) Ibid. c. 22. §. 15. .  
So these Companions, this Family of Love, they have among them good books after the Scripture learning, common with us, and agreeable to the religion professed by his Majesty, and ratified by the laws of this Realm; and they have also the works, and books of H. N. Elidad, Fidelitas, and other Family Elders, undermining the found and Christian doctrine comprised in the Confession mentioned. This Confession of theirs, or ours rather, they waus about (which word H. N. useth, in scorn of our Confessions and religion) 
(e) Spirit. land. cap. 5. §. 5. , as Children do their Banners, when they are at play; but H. N. and their Family Elders books are they which they only study, read at their meetings, delight in, and practice.  
Besides which both Confession of ours, and books of H. N. and such Illuminates: they have their Conventicles, verbal traditions, unwritten or unprinted verities, and private exercices, through which they grow up in the Love, according to the Requiring of her Service 
(f) Elidads' exhort. § 5. , where all things needful to be known, or declared, are always, according to the capacity of their understanding, brought and declared unto them 
(g) Ibid. §. 17. ; viz. unto the young or newborn Children, according to their yongnesse; unto the weak, according to their weakness; unto the strong up-growing Men, according to their ability or strength; and unto the Elders, according to their Dayednes, or old age 
(h) Ibid. §. 18.  where neither some heart All, nor all hear some secrets or privy mysteries of their Sect.  
It is not for the confession here spoken of: it is for H. N. and other Family books which they detain by them, and study, and for their unlawful Love exercises and meetings, that they are troubled: let them leave, burn, or deface these books of H. N. and cleave unto this Confession, and then without farther molestation, imprisonment, or persecution, they may enjoy the benefits, and liberties of his majesties good subjects: which that they may do, is mine hearty desire and prayer unto Almighty God.  
FINIS.