Frankfurt Congregation to Zürich Exiles
DATE: 1554 November 15
LOCATION OF ORIGIN: Frankfurt
DESTINATION: Zürich
SOURCE: Denbighshire Record Office, Plas Power MSS, DD/PP/839 pp. 39-40
A copie of the Congregations letter (att Franckford) to Zurick.1
Carried by Richard Chambers, Troubles xx.
We have receyvyd yo(u)r towe severall l(ett)res thone dated the 13o of Octob(er) sent to us from Strusburghe, & thother the 27o of the same by thandes of yo(u)r dere frend Mr Chambers, & have confered with him at large towching the contentes theroff. And when as after dyvers assembleis & long debating2Troubles has 'debatings'. the said Mr Chambers perceivyd that we could not in all pointes warrant the full use of the boke of sevyce (which semythe to be yo(u)r cheife scope3Troubles has 'full scope'. The full use of the 1552 Book of Common Prayer was regarded by the Frankfurt congregation as the central demand of those at Strasbourg and Zürich. & marke) & also waying in consciens the great benefitt that god hath in this citie offered to owr hole nation, not only4Troubles has 'he not only'. reioysed at the same, but also promesed to travail in perswading you to the furtherance therof.
As towching theffect of the booke we desier thexecution therof as muche as you, as far as Godes worde dothe com(m)emnde it, & as tyme & place will serve,5Troubles has only '(so farr as Gods worde dothe commende it)'. The Frankfurt congregation offered the 'effect' of the Book of Common Prayer with the important qualifications that it accord with the Scriptures and with local conditions. but as for the rest of thunprofitable ceremoneys6Troubles has only 'as for the vnprofitable cermonies'. This was the first time that the language and argument about 'ceremonies' in the Book of Common Prayer was introduced, especially when practised within a foreign country. as well by his consente as ours are not to be used. And althoghe they were tolerable (as some are not) yeat being in a straunge com(m)on wealthe we could not be suffered to put them in use. And better it were they shuld never be practysed then they shuld be the subvertion of our churche, which shuld fawle in great hazarde by observing of them.7Troubles has 'by usinge them'. The matter is not ours more then yours (except any excell others in godly zeale) but both wishe godes honour.
If a larger gate [p. 40] be opened there to the same then with us, upon your persuasing8Troubles has 'perswations'. ye shall not finde us to draw backe. For this bretherne we wishe, the comforthe & gathering together of owr dispersed bretherne.9Troubles has a different sentence, 'for this is that necessitie, brethern, that maie not be neglected, yff we wishe the comforte and gatheringe together off oure dispersed brethern.' The Frankfurt congregation reiterated their main aim of gathering all the English exiles in a single church and offered to change locations if a better place could be found. If any thinke y(a)t the not using of the book in all poyntes shuld encrease our godly fathers & bretherns bandes, or ells any thinge deface the worthy ordynances & lawes of our Soveraigne Lorde of noble memory10Troubles has 'of moste famous memory'. The Frankfurt congregation countered two of the arguments Chambers had probably presented that deviating from the Book of Common Prayer would increase the suffering of those in England and show a lack of respect for King Edward VI. King Edward the sixt, he semithe either lytle to waye the matter, or els letted throgh ignorance knowithe not that they11Troubles has 'even they'. themselves have upon consideration12DTroubles has 'considerations'. of cyrcumestances, altered here to fore many thinges as towching the same; & if god had not in theise wicked tymes13Troubles has 'wicked dais'. otherwyse determined, wold herafter have chaunged more.14The assertion that there would have been further revision of the Book of Common Prayer if King Edward VI had lived. Yea & in our case we doubt not but they15Troubles has 'but that they'. wold have done thelyke.
Theise few lines concernyng both our com(m)unications we have accordingly wryten unto you, referring the rest to the discretion of our good frend Mr Chambers, who knowithe that we have shewed our selfs most conformeable in all thinges that standithe in our powers, & most desyerous of yo(u)r companyes according to our former l(ett)res. The spirite of god move yo(u)r hartes to do that shall be most to his glorye, & the comforte of your bretherne.
At Frankford this 15o of November 1554.16No salutation and signatures. Troubles has 'Your louinge frinds etc'.
1 Carried by Richard Chambers, Troubles xx.
2 Troubles has 'debatings'.
3 Troubles has 'full scope'. The full use of the 1552 Book of Common Prayer was regarded by the Frankfurt congregation as the central demand of those at Strasbourg and Zürich.
4 Troubles has 'he not only'.
5 Troubles has only '(so farr as Gods worde dothe commende it)'. The Frankfurt congregation offered the 'effect' of the Book of Common Prayer with the important qualifications that it accord with the Scriptures and with local conditions.
6 Troubles has only 'as for the vnprofitable cermonies'. This was the first time that the language and argument about 'ceremonies' in the Book of Common Prayer was introduced, especially when practised within a foreign country.
7 Troubles has 'by usinge them'.
8 Troubles has 'perswations'.
9 Troubles has a different sentence, 'for this is that necessitie, brethern, that maie not be neglected, yff we wishe the comforte and gatheringe together off oure dispersed brethern.' The Frankfurt congregation reiterated their main aim of gathering all the English exiles in a single church and offered to change locations if a better place could be found.
10 Troubles has 'of moste famous memory'. The Frankfurt congregation countered two of the arguments Chambers had probably presented that deviating from the Book of Common Prayer would increase the suffering of those in England and show a lack of respect for King Edward VI.
11 Troubles has 'even they'.
12 Troubles has 'considerations'.
13 Troubles has 'wicked dais'.
14 The assertion that there would have been further revision of the Book of Common Prayer if King Edward VI had lived.
15 Troubles has 'but that they'.
16 No salutation and signatures. Troubles has 'Your louinge frinds etc'.