and the Scotch in the minority of King James exacted it of Noblemen Gentlemen and Courtiers which here was extended onely to men of Ecclesiastical function Not that the Queen and State was careless of the spiritual good of others leaving them to live and believe as they list but because charitably presuming that where Parishes were provided of Pastors Orthodox in their judgments they would by Gods blessing on their preaching work their people to conformity to the same opinions * Querie about the 20 Article whether shufled in or no. Some question there is about a clause in the twentieth Article whether originally there or since interpolated Take the whole a Pag. 98. Article according to the common Edition therof Twentieth Article of the Authority of the Church The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and authority in controversies of faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods word neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a Witness and keeper of holy writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Take along with this the bitter invective of a modern b Mr Burton in his Apologie Minister who thus laieth it on with might and main on the backs of Bishops for some unfair practice herein in an epistle of his written to the Temporal Lords of His Majesties Privy Councel reckoning up therein Fourteen Innovations in the Church The Prelates to justifie their proceedings have forged a new Article of Religion brought from Rome which gives them full power to alter the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church at a blow and have foisted it into the twentieth Article of our Church And this is in the last edition of the Articles Anno 1628. in affront of his Majesties Declaration before them The clause forged is this The Church that is the Bishops as they expound it hath power to decree rites and ceremonies and authoritie in matters of faith This clause is a forgery fit to be examined and deeply censured in the Star-chamber For it is not to bee found in the Latin or English Articles of Edward 6 or Queen Elizabeth ratified by Parliament And if to forge a Will or writing be censurable in the Star-chamber which is but a wrong to a private man How much more the forgery of an Article of Religion to wrong the whole Church and overturn Religion which concerns all our souls 57. Such as deal in niceties discover some faltering from the truth in the very words of this grand Delator The accuser his first mistake For the Article saith that The Church hath authority in controversies of faith He chargeth them with challenging authority in matters of Faith Here some difference betwixt the terms For matters of faith which all ought to know and believe for their souls health are so plainly setled by the Scriptures that they are subject to no alteration by the Church which notwithstanding may justly challenge a casting voice in some controversies of faith as of less importance to salvation 58. But to come to the main matter The dubious appearing of this clause this clause in question lieth at a dubious posture at in and out sometimes inserted sometimes omitted both in our written and printed copies Inserted in The originall of the Articles 1562 as appeareth under the hand of a Publick Notary whose inspection and attestation is only decisive in this case So also Anno 1593. and Anno 1605. and Anno 1612. all which were publick and authentick Editions Omitted in The English and Latine Articles set forth 1571. Anno Dom. 1563. Anno Regin Eliza. 5. when they were first ratified by Act and whose being as obligatory to punishment beares not date nine yeers before from their composition in Convocation but hence forward from their confirmation in Parliament And now to match the credit of private Authours in some equality we will weigh M r. Rogers Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Whitgift inserting this clause in his Edition 1595. against D r. Mocket Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Abbot omitting it in his Latine translation of our Articles set forth 1617. 59. Arch-bishop Laud Arch-Bishop Land his opinion in the point in a speech which he made in the Star-Chamber inquiring into the cause why this clause is omitted in the printed Articles 1571. thus expresseth himself * * In his speech made Iune 14. 1637. pag. 65. Certainly this could not be done but by the malicious cunning of that opposite Faction And though I shall spare dead mens names where I have not certainty Yet if you be pleased to look back and consider who they were that governed businesses in 1571. and rid the Church allmost at their pleasure and how potent the Ancestors of these Libellers began then to grow you will think it no hard matter to have the Articles printed and this clause left out I must confess my self not so well skilled in Historicall Horsemanship as to know whom his Grace designed for the Rider of the Church at that time It could not be Arch-Bishop Parker who though discreet and moderate was sound and sincere in pressing conformity Much less was it Grindall as yet but Bishop of London who then had but little and never much influence on Church-Matters The Earle of Leicester could not in this phrase be intended who alike minded the insertion or omission of this or any other Article As for the non-Conformists they were so far at this time from riding the Church that then they first began to put foot in stirrup though since they have dismounted those whom they found in the saddle In a word concerning this clause whether the Bishops were faulty in their addition or their opposites in their Substraction I leave to more cunning State-Arithmeticians to decide 60. One Article more we will request the Reader to peruse An Article to confirme the Homilies made in King Edward his reign as the subject of some historicall debates which thereon doth depend 35. Article of Homilies The second Booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former Booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understood of the People See we here the Homilies ranked into two formes Anno Regin Eliza. 4. The first such as were made in the Raign of Edward the sixth being twelve in number Of which the tenth of obedience to Magistrates was drawn up at or about Kets Rebellion in a dangerous juncture of time For as it is observed of the Gingles or S t.
posterity except they shut their coffers on purpose because there was nothing in them Sure I am there is no dashing on the credit of the Lady nor any the least insinuations of inchastity in that Instrument Praeclara Domina Serenissima Regina being the worst titles that are given her therein 25. Men may justly marvell what King Henry meant by this solemn and ceremonious Divorce What might be the King's designs in this divorce which the edge of the Ax Ann. Dom. 1536. or Sword was more effectually to perform the day after Ann. Regis Hē 8. 28. Her death being then designed Was it because He stood on this punctilio or criticisme of credit that He might not hereafter be charged with cruelty for executing His Wife that first He would be divorced from Her and so cannot be said to put His Queen but Anna Bollen to death Or did He first but barely intend Her divorce and afterwards suspecting this would not make sufficient avoidance in His bed to clear all claims took up new resolutions to take away Her life Or was it because He conceived the execution would only reach the root the Queen Her self and not blast the branch the Lady Elizabeth whom by this divorce He desired to render illegitimate Whatever His aimes were He got Her divorce confirmed both by Convocation and Parliament interesting all equally therein that hereafter none should accuse Him of this act but first they must condemn themselves However after-ages take the boldnesse to conceive that the greatest guilt of Anna Bollen was King Henry's better fancying of another which made Him the next day after Her death to mourn so passionately for Her in the embraces of a new and beautifull Bride the Lady Jane Seymour 26. But The Convocation bucksome to please the King in all things to return to the Convocation That Instrument of Divorce was no sooner tendred therein but all subscribed it The Papists willingly the Protestants faintly but all publickly Yea in this Convocation nothing was propounded in the King's name but it passed presently Oh the operation of the purge of a Praemunire so lately taken by the Clergie and an hundred thousand pounds paid thereupon How did the remembrance thereof still work on their spirits and made them meek and mortified They knew the temper of the King and had read the Text k Amos 3. 8. The lyon hath roared who will not fear Gardiner the fox durst not so much as bark to oppose the King nor the proudest in the place As for Edmond Bonner Arch-deacon of Leicester present and active in this Convocation I may say Bonner was no Bonney yet but a perfect Cromwellist and as forward as any to promote his designes 27. On the Friday following A Catalogue of erroneous opinions complained of in the Convocation Mr. Gwent the Prolocutour July 23. brought to the Upper House of Convocation a Book containing the Mala dogmata those erroneous doctrines then as he complained publickly preached printed and professed requesting reformation thereof that order might be taken against the future propagation of such dangerous positions Behold them here transcribed out of the Record partly for novelty-sake because to my knowledge never printed before and partly because though many wilde and distempered expressions be found therein yet they contain the Protestant Religion in oare which since by God's blessing is happily refined 28. The Protestation of the Clergie of the Lower House Erroneons opinions as then accounted complained of in the Convocation within the Province of Canterbury with declaration of the faults and abuses which heretofore have and now be within the same worthy special reformation IN very humble and reverent manner with protestation That we the Clergie of the Lower House within the Province of Canterbury nother in word deed or otherwise directly or indirectly intend any thing to speak attempt or doe which in any manner of wise may be displeasant unto the King's Highnesse our most dread Sovereign Lord and supreme Head of the Church of England but in all things according to the command of God to be most obedient to His Grace to Whom accordingly we submit our selves minding in no wise by any colourable fashion to recognize privily or apertly the Bishop of Rome or his usurped authority or in any wise to bring in defend or maintain the same into this noble Realm or Dominions of the same but that the same Bishop of Rome with his usurped authority utterly for ever with his inventions rites abuses ordinances and fashions to be renounced forsaken extinguished and abolished And that we sincerely addict our selves to Almighty God his laws and unto our said Severeign Lord the King our supreme Head in earth and His Laws Statutes Provisions and Ordinances made herewithin His Graces Realm We think in our consciences and opinions these errors and abuses following to have been and now to be within this Realm causes of dissention worthy speciall reformation It is to were 1. That it is commonly preached taught and spoken to the slander of this noble Realm disquietness of the people dammage of Christian souls not without fear of many other inconveniences and perils That the Sacrament of the Altar is not to be esteemed For divers light and lewd persons be not ashamed or aferde to say Why should I see the sacring of the high Masse Is it any thing else but a piece of bread or a little predie round Robin 2. Item That they deny Extreme Unction to be any Sacrament 3. Item That Priests have no more authority to minister Sacraments than the Lay-men have 4. Item That Children ought not in any wise to be confirmed of the Bishops afore they come to the age of discretion 5. Item That all Ceremonies accustomed in the Church which are not clearly expressed in Scripture must be taken away because they are mens inventions 6. Item That all those are Antichrists that doe deny the Lay-men the Sacrament of the Altar sub utrâque specie 7. Item That all that be present at Masse and doe not receive the Sacrament with the Priest are not partakers of the said Masse 8. Item That it is preached and taught That the Church that is commonly taken for the Church is the old Synagogue and that the Church is the congregation of good men onely 9. Item It is preached against the Letany and also said That it was never merry in England sithence the Letany was ordained and Sancta Maria Sancta Catharina c. sungen and said 10. Item That a man hath no Free-will 11. Item That God never gave grace nor knowledge of holy Scripture to any great estate or rich man and that they in no wise follow the same 12. Item That all Religions and Professions whatsoever they be are clean contrary to Christs religion 13. Item That it be preached and taught That all things ought to be commune and that Priests should have Wives 14. Item That Preachers will in no
Script Britan. centur prima put out her Eyes out of Anger for interrupting him in his constant course of Chastity But surely some blind Monk having one of his Eyes put out with Ignorance and the other with Superstition was the first founder of this Fable Thus godly Saints in that Age were made Martyrs after their Death persecuted though in their Commendation with impudent and improbable Lies It is reported also of the same Iltutus that he turned e Idem ut prius Men into Stones Had it been Stones into Men converting stupid Souls into Christians by his Preaching it had been capable of an Allegoricall Construction whereas as now told it is a Lie in the literall and Non-sense in the mysticall meaning thereof 9. Sampson succeeds 521 Scholar to Iltutus Sampson Archbishop of Dole made by Dubritius Bishop at large f Armach de Brit. Ec. prim pag. 1130. sine titulo It seems in that Age all Bishops were not fixed to the Chair of a peculiar Church but some might sit down in any Vacant place for their Cathedrall and there exercise their Episcopall Authority provided it were without Prejudice to other Bishops Afterwards this Sampson was made Arch-Bishop of Dole in French Britain and in those dayes such was the Correspondency betwixt this Greater and that Lesser Britain that they seemed to possesse Learned men in common betwixt them Scarce am I reconciled to this Sampson Anno Dom. 521 for a Balaeus de Script Britan. in Sampson carrying away with him the Monuments of British Antiquity Had he put them out to the Bank by procuring severall Copies to be transcribed Learning thereby had been a Gainer and a Saver had he onely secured the Originals whereas now her Losse is irrecoverable Principall and Interest Authenticks and Transcripts are all imbezzelled Nor is the matter much whether they had miscarryed at home by Foes Violence or abroad by such Friends Negligence 10. It were a Sin to omit S t. Patern Paternus a Patern for all Bishops for three and twenty yeares a constant Preacher at Llan-Patern in Cardiganshire 540 His fatherlike Care over his Flock passeth with peculiar Commendation that he b Camden's Brit. in Cardiganshire govern'd his people by feeding them and fed his people by governing them Some yeares after the Place continued an Episcopall See and was extinguished upon Occasion of the Peoples barbarously murdering of their Bishop 11. St. Petrock comes in for his share Petrock the Captain of Cornish Saints from whom Petrock-stow 548 contracted Padstow in Cornwall is denominated One of great Piety and Painfulness in that Age. Afterward he is said to have gone to the East Indies all far Countreys are East Indies to ignorant people and at his return to be burried at Bodman in Cornwall That County is the Cornu-copia of Saints most of Irish extraction and the names of their Towns and Villages the best Nomenclator of the Devoutmen of this Age. If the people of that Province have as much Holinesse in their Hearts as the Parishes therein carry Sanctity in their Names Cornwall may passe for another Holy Land in publick reputation 12. Next S t. Petrock comes S t. Teliau The piety of S. Telian for it is pity to part two such intimate Friends 550 He was called by allusion to his Name c Harpâ—field his Ecc. Ang. pag. 41. c. 27. Helios which in Greek signifieth the Sun because of the Lustre of his Life and Learning But the Vulgar sort who count it no fault to miscall their Betters if they have hard Names called him Eliud one of that d Math. 1. 14 name was one of our Saviours Ancestors turning the Greek into an Hebrew word and understanding both alike He was Scholar to Dubritius and succeeded him in the Bishoprick of Landaffe A pious man constant Preacher and e Balaeus centuria prim num 58. zealous reprover of the reigning Sins of that time This is all the certain truth extant of him which some Monks counting too little have with their fabulous breath f In the book of his life extant in the Church of Landaffe blown up the Story of his Life to such a Bigness that the Credit thereof breaks with it's own Improbability Witnesse his Journey to Ierusalem full of strange Miracles where he had a Cymball given him excelling the sound of an Organ and ringing every hour of it's own accord No doubt a Loud one Loaden with Merits saith the g Flowers of the Saints pag. 151. Author I had thought nothing but Sin could burthen a Saint he departed this Life having his Memory continued in many Churches of South-VVales dedicated to him and is remembred in the Roman Kalender on the ninth of February 13. I had almost forgotten Congel Several other Worthies of the same Age. Abbot of Bangor who much altered the Discipline of that Monastery 580 Kentigern the famous Bishop of Ellwye in North VVales S t. Asaph his Successour in the same place In whose mouth this Sentence was frequent h Godwin in his Catal. of Bishops of S t. Asaph Such who are against the preaching of God's VVord envy the Salvation of Mankind As for Gildas surnamed the VVise their Contemporary wereserve his i Vide our Librar of British Histor num 1. Character for our Library of British Historians Many other worthy men flourished at the same time and a Nationall Church being a large Room it is hard to count all the Candles God lighted therein 14. Most of these men seem born under a Travelling Planet Pastours in this Age why in constant motion seldome having their Education in the place of their Nativity oft-times composed of Irish Infancy British Breeding and French Preferment taking a Coule in one Countrey a Crosier in another and a Grave in a third neither bred where born nor beneficed where bred nor buried where beneficed but wandring in severall Kingdomes Nor is this to be imputed to any humour of Inconstancy the running Gout of the Soul or any affected Unsetlednesse in them Anno Dom. 580 but proceeding from other weighty Considerations First to procure their Safety For in time of Persecution the surest place to shift in is constant shifting of Places not staying any where so long as to give mens Malice a steady aime to level at them Secondly to gain Experience in those things which grew not all in the same Soile Lastly that the Gospell thereby might be further and faster propagated When there be many Guests and little Meat the same Dish must go clean through the Board and divine Providence ordered it that in the Scarcity of Preachers one Eminent man travelling far should successively feed many Countries 15. To most of these Authours many written Volumes are assigned Books falsly fathered on British writers the Titles and Beginnings whereof you may find in our Country-men Bale and Pits who will perswade you
in the Darkness of Paganisme which others afterward enlightned with the Beams of the Gospel But as he is esteemed the Architect or Master-workman not who builds up most of the Wall but who first designeth the Fabrick and layeth the Foundation thereof in the same respect Augustine carrieth away the Credit of all that came after him because the primitive Planter of the Gospel amongst the Saxons And it is observeable that this Conversion was done without any Persecution yea considerable Opposition costing some Pain no Torture some Sweat no Bloud not one Martyr being made in the whole managing thereof Mean time the poor Christian Britans living peaceably at home there enjoyed God the Gospell and their Mountains little skilfull in and lesse caring for the Ceremonies al a mode brought over by Augustine and indeed their Poverty could not go to the Cost of Augustine's Silver Crosse Anno Dom. 600 which made them worship the God of their Fathers after their own homely but hearty Fashion not willing to disturb Augustine and his Followers in their new Rites but that he had a mind to disquiet them in their old Service as in the sequele of the History will appeare THE SEVENTH CENTURY Anno. Dom. AMICO SVO GR. B. SOcrates interrogatus quo Philtro Natura Sympathias conciliaret quidve esset in causa ut alii hominum primo occursu ament medullitus alii sibi mutuò sint infensi hanc rationem reddidit Deus inquit ab aeterno quicquid futurum esset animarum creavit creatas per immensum temporis spatium in uno cumulo collocavit collocatas corporibus prout indies generantur infundit Hinc est si contingat vel fortuitum consortium inter eos homines quorum animae in hoc acervo propinquiores quòd primo visu quasi veteris vicinitatis memores se invicem diligant dum isti primo intuitu antipathiae stimulis urgeantur quorum animae adversantes diametricè opponebantur Fateor commentum hoc Socraticum à Theologia abhorrere in Philosophia plurimis asystatis laborare Quod si ei subesset tantum veritatis quantum ingenii sanct ssimè voverem in hoc animarum cumulo Tuam Meam contiguas olim jacuisse cum Te primum conspectum animitus amarem à Te redamarer 1. MUch about this time Pope Gregory sent two Arch-Bishops Palls into England 601 the one for a Rog. Wendover Matth. Florileg and Roff. Histor London Why the Arch-bishops See was removed from London to Canterbury the other for York The former of these Cities had been honoured with an Arch-bishop's See some hundred yeares since King Lucius But at the instance of Augustine and by a new Order of the foresaid Gregory this Pall sent to London was removed thence to Canterbury whereof Augustine was made Arch-Bishop and there for the future fixed and confirmed for severall Reasons First London already had Lustre enough being the biggest City in Britain and it was needlesse to adde new Spirituall to her old Temporall Greatnesse which conjoyned might cause Pride in any one place whilest divided they might give Honour to two Cities Secondly London by reason of the Receit thereof was likely to prove the residing place for the English Monarch and it was probable that the Archiepiscopall Dignity would there be eclipst and out-shined by the Regall Diadem Thirdly had Augustine been Arch-Bishop of London he might have seemed to succed the British Arch-Bishops and to have derived some Right from them contrary to his Humour Anno. Dom. 601 who would Lead All but Follow None and therefore would not wear an Old Title but have a span-New Arch-Bishops Chaire carved out for himself Lastly Canterbury was the place wherein Christianity was first received by the Saxons and therefore deserved to be honoured to perpetuate the Memory thereof Thus London hereafter must be contented with the plain Seat of a Bishop the Mother being made a Daughter and must come behind Canterbury which did much wrong and perchance something trouble her But Churches have more Discretion and Humility then to break their Hearts about earthly Precedency and the matter is not much which See went first when living seeing our Age hath laid them both alike levell in their Graves 2. Augustine thus armed with Archiepiscopall Authority Augustine summons a Synod of Saxon and British Bishops to shew a Cast of his Office by the Aid of Ethelbert King of Kent called a Councill for the Saxon and British Bishops to come together in the Confines of the Wiccians and West-Saxons An indifferent Place for mutuall Ease in mid-way betwixt both haply presaging that as their distant Persons met on equall termes so their opposite Opinions might agree in some Moderation The particular Place was called AUGUSTINES AKE that is his Oak in our modern Dialect which a In his Translation of Bede 2 Book 2 Ch. Stapleton mistaken by the affinity of Wiccii or Veccii with Vectis the Latine name for the Isle of Wight seeketh near Southampton where indeed he may find many Oaks in the New Forest and yet misse the right one For this Oak stood in the Confines of b Camden's Britannian in Worcestershire VVorcester and Herefordshire though at this day Time hath confounded it Root and Branch and therefore this Meeting is in Latine called Synodus c Spelman in Concilus Anno 601. pag. 107. Vigorniensis Many solemn Entertainments we know were anciently made under d Gen. 18. 4. Trees and a Palm-tree served Deborah for her VVestminster-Hall wherein she judged e Iudges 4. 5. Israel But severall reasons are assigned why Augustine kept this Council under an Oak First so publick a place was free from Exceptions whereunto none were debarred Accesse Secondly being congregated under the view of Heaven and not pent within the Walles of a private House they were minded of clear fair and open Proceedings without secret Ends or sinister Intents Thirdly perchance some Pagan Saxons allured with Novelty would repair to the Council whose Icalousy was such as in no case they would come under a Roof for fear of f This reason is given by Sir Henry Spelman ut prius Fascination as hath been formerly observed Lastly Augustine knowing that the Pagan Britans performed their Superstitions under an g See first Century 3. Parag. Oak celebrated his Synod under the same in some Imitation and yet a Correction of their Idolatry As in a religious Parallel Pagan Temples had formerly by him been converted into Churches of Saints But when all is done the matter is not so clear but that the place called Augustine's Oak may as well be a Town as a Tree so called from some eminent Oak in at or near it as the Vine in Hampshire so named from Vines anciently growing there is a beautifull House and principall Seat where the Barons Sandes have their Habitation And what is most apposite for our purpose Sozomen calleth the Place where
Bodies first brought to be buried in Churches confirmed by the authority of Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome it was decreed that no Corpse either of Prince or Prelate should be buried within the Walls of a City but onely in the Suburbs thereof and that alone in the Porch of the Church and not in the Body Now Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury having built Christ-Church therein was desirous to adorn it with the Corpses of great Persons therein afterwards to be interred In pursuance of this his Design he durst not adventure on this Innovation by his own Power nor did he make his applications to the Pope of Rome as most proper to repeal that Act which the See Apostolick had decreed but onely addresseth himself to Eadbert King of Kent and from him partim precario partim etiam pretio partly praying partly paying for it saith my b Tho. Spot in his Hist of Canterbury Also Archiv Caniuariens cited by Antiq. Brit. in Cuthbert Authour obtained his Request Behold here an ancient Church-Canon recalled at the Suit of an Arch-bishop by the Authority of a King This Cuthbert afterwards handselled Christ-Church with his own Corpse whose Predecessours were all buried in S t. Augustines without the Walls of Canterbury Thus began Corpses to be buried in the Churches which by degrees brought in much Superstition especially after degrees of inherent Sanctity were erroneously fixed in the severall parts thereof the Porch saying to the Church-yard the Church to the Porch the Chancel to the Church the East-end to all Stand farther off for I am holier then you And as if the Steps to the High Altar were the Stairs to Heaven their Souls were conceived in a nearer degree to Happinesse whose Bodies were mounted there to be interred 28. About this time the Bill of fare of Monks was bettered generally in England The occasion of Monks their first drinking of wine in England and more liberty indulged in their Diet. It was first occasioned some twenty yeares since when Ceolwolphus formerly King of Northumberland but then a Monk in the Convent of Lindisfern or Holy Island c Roger. Hoved. in parte priori gave leave to that Convent to drink Ale and Wine anciently confined by Aidan their first Founder to Milk and Water Let others dispute whether Ceolwolphus thus dispensed with them by his new Abbatical or old Regal Power which he so resigned that in some cases he might resume it especially to be King in his own Convent And indeed the cold raw and bleak Situation of that place with many bitter Blasts from the Sea and no Shelter on the Land speaks it self to each Inhabitant there d 1 Tim. 5. 23 Drink no longer VVater but use a little VVine for thy Stomacks sake and thine often Infirmities However this locall Priviledge first justly indulged to the Monks of Lindisfern 760 was about this time extended to all the Monasteries of England whose primitive over-Austerity in Abstinence was turned now into a Self-sufficiency that soon improved into Plenty that quickly depraved into Riot and that at last occasioned their Ruine 29. This Year the English have cause to write with Sable letters in their Almanack 789 on this sad Occasion Danes their first arrivall in England that therein the Danes first invaded England with a considerable Army Anno Dom. 789 Severall Reasons are assigned for their coming hither to revenge themselves for some pretended Injuries though the true Reason was because England was richer and roomthyer then their own Countrey 30. It is admirable to consider what Sholes of people were formerly vented out of Cimbrica Chersonesus Denmark formerly fruitfull is now become barren of men take it in the largest a Otherwise strictly it containeth onely part of Denmark Continent to Germany extent for Denmark Norway and Swedeland who by the terrible Names of Gothes Ostro-Gothes Viâ—i-Gothes Huns Vandals Danes Nortmans overranne the fairest and fruitfullest parts of Christendome whereas now though for these last three hundred yeares the Swedish Warres in Germany excepted that Countrey hath sent forth no visible Numbers of People and yet is very thinly inhabited so that one may travell some hundreds of Miles therein through mere Desarts every man whom he meeteth having a Phoenix in his right hand Yea so few the Natives that some of their Garrisons are manned with Forreigners and their Kings sain to entertain mercenary Dutch and Scotch to manage their Warres 31. Strange Two reasons thereof that this Countrey formerly all on the giving should now be onely on the taking hand Some b Barklay in Icon animaâ—um impute their modern comparative Barrennesse to their excessive Drinking a Vice belike which lately hath infected that Nation drinking themselves past Goats into Stocks out of Wantonnesse into Stupidity which by a contracted Habit debilitateth their former Fruitfulnesse Others more c G. Tayl. in his Chronicle of Normandy truely ascribe their former Fruitfulnesse to their promiscuous Copulations with Women during their Paganisme which are not so numerous since Christianity hath confined them to the Marriage of one VVife 32. If I might speak according to my own Profession of a Divine soaring over Second Causes in Nature I should ascribe their ancient Populousnesse to Divine Operation The reason of reasons As the Widow her Oyle multiplyed till her Debts were satisfied and that effected for which the Miracle was intended which done the Increase thereof instantly ceased So these Northern Parts flowed with Crouds of People till their Inundations had payed the Scores of sinfull Christians and then the Birch growing no more when the wanton Children were sufficiently whipped the Procreativenesse of those Nations presently stinted and abated 33. The Landing of these Danes in England was ushered with many sad Prognosticks Bad presages of the Danes approach d Sim. Dunel Ranulphus Cestrensis alii Starres were seen strangely falling from Heaven and sundry terrible Flames appeared in the Skies From the firing of such extraordinary Beacons all concluded some new Enemie was approaching the Nation Serpents were seen in Sussex and Bloud reigned in some parts of the Land Lindesfern or Holy Island was the first that felt the Fury of these Pagans but soon after no place was safe and secure from their Cruelty whereof more hereafter 34. At this time the Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury was in part removed to Lichfield The Archepiscopal Pall removed to Lichfield five essentiall things concurring to that great Alteration 790 1. The Puissance and Ambition of Offa King of Mercia commanding in Chief over England He would have the brightest Mitre to attend the biggest Crown 2. The complying nature of Pope Adrian except any will call it his Thankfulnesse to gratifie King Offa for the large Gifts received from him 3. The easy and unactive Disposition of Iambert or Lambert Arch-bishop of Canterbury unlesse any will term it his Policy that finding himself unable to resist
he maketh those who were to keep it in some sort Judges of the justness thereof endeavouring to convince their consciences and make their souls sensible of the natural uncleanness of such an act It is thy Brothers nakedness Such marriages are again forbidden in another Text. Anno Dom. 1530 Nor can I render other resson of this Duplicate Anno Regis Hen. 8. 22. whereas others are but once that this should be twice prohibited save that God foreseeing in his providence mens corrupt inclinations prone here to climb over did therefore think fit to make a double fence LEVIT 20. 21. And if a man shall take his Brothers Wife it is an unclean thing he hath uncovered his Brothers Nakedness they shall be Childless Here we have the Prohibition backt with a Commination of being Childless which is variously interpreted either that they shall never have children or if having them they shall not survive their Parents or if surviving they shall not be counted Children but Bastards illegitimate in the Court of Heaven This Commination of being childless as applied ad hominem fell heavy on King Henry the eighth who sensible that his Queen though happy often to conceive was unhappy almost as often to miscarry Henry his onely Christian son by her died before a full year old a second was nameless as never living to the honour of Baptism and of many blasted in the bud Mary onely survived to womans estate 11. Such as inquire into the nature of this Law finde it founded in Nature it self This proved to be a Law of Nature being onely declaratory of what true reason doth dictate to man God in making this Law did not imprint a new writing in mens hearts but onely rub off some old rust from the same wherefore it is added Levit. 18. 27 28. For all these abominations have the men of the Land done which were before you and the Land is defiled that the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the Nations that were before you Surely the Land would never have vomited out the Heathen for not observing a positive precept never immediately delivered unto them which plainly shews it was imprinted in nature though partly obliterated by their corrupt customes to the contrary and their consciences in their Lucid Intervals were apprehensive thereof This would make one the more to admire that any should maintain that this Law the breach whereof made the Country to avoid her Pagan Inhabitants should be onely a Senders de schism Angli pag. 3. lex imposititia Ecclesiastica an imposed and Church-Law To hear of a Church-Law amongst the Canaanites is a strange Paradox 12. It is objected this could not be a Law of Nature The Objection to the contrary because almost at the beginning of nature men brake them by the consent and permission of the God of heaven For Cain and Seth with the elder sons of Adam must be allowed to have married their own sisters far nearer in nature then their Brothers Wife 13. It is answered Answered when God first created man-kinde it was his pleasure all men should derive their original from Eve as she from Adam For had he made as one may say two distinct houses of Man-kinde what falling out and fighting what bickering and battleing would have been betwixt them If men now adayes descended from the loyns of one general Father and womb of one mother are full of so fierce hatred how many and keen may their differences be presumed had they sprung from several Fountains and then all their hatred would have been charged not on their corruption but on their Creation God therefore as the Apostle saith Acts 17. 26. hath made of one bloud all nations Now in the beginning of Mankinde absolute necessity gave Brethren liberty to marry their own sisters Yea God himself interpretatively signed and sealed the same with his own consent because his wisdom had appointed no other means without miracle for the propagation of man-kinde Anno Regis Hen. 8. 82. But when men began to be multiplied on the earth Anno Dom. 1530 that necessity being removed the light of Nature dictated unto them the unlawfulness of such marriages and of some others more remote as coming within the compss of Incest though the corrupt practises of Pagans sometimes trespassed in that kinde God therefore being to give his Law to the Jews cleared and declared that light of Nature by his positive Law unto his people to whom his Goodness gave a Garden and sorbad a Tree so inconsiderable were those few prohibited to the many persons permitted them in marriage For whereas there came out of a Exâ—d 12. 37. Egypt and six hundred thousand men besides children fifty persons at the most counting those forbidden as well by consequence as expresly were interdicted unto them amongst whom one was the Marriage with a Brothers Wife For although God Permitted this by a judicial Law ro his own people in case of b Deut. â—5 5. raising up seed to a Brother deceased childless the Will of God being the Law of Laws yet otherwise it was utterly unlawful as whereon God had stamped as is aforesaid a double Note of natural uncleanness 14. The Law then of forbidding marriage with a Brothers Wife Gods Laws indispensable with by the Pope being founded in nature it was pride and presumption in the Pope to pretend to dispense therewith Indeed we read that the dispensation of the Gospel to see it dealt and distributed to several persons was committed to c 1 Cor. 9. â—â— S t Paul whose joynt successour with S t Peter the Pope pretends to be but a Dispensation from the Law of God to free men from the same neither Paul nor Peter ever pretended unto Let the Pope make relaxations of such Church Canons which meerly Ecclesiastical Authority hath made there he may have the specious power to remit the rigour thereof at some times places and persons as he apprehendeth just occasion But let him not meddle to grant liberty for the breach of Gods Law The first Dispensation in this kinde is what Satan in the Serpent gave our first Parents in Paradice d Gen. 3. 4. you shall not surely dye and whether the Granter had less power therein or the receivers less profit therby we their woful posterity have little comfort to decide 15. Nor doth it any thing alter the case Carnal knowled not material in this controversie what was so much controverted in the Court of Rome whether or no Prince Arthur had carnal knowledge of his Wife seeing we may observe that in the Court of Heaven Marriages bear date not from their Copulation but solemn Contact And they thenceforward are esteemed Man and Wife before God For it is e Deut. 22. 24. provided that if a Damsel be betrothed to Husband still remaining a Virgin and shall be layen with by another man both of
pains seriously to peruse it Partly for the authenticalness thereof being by me transcribed out of the Acts of the Convocation partly for its usefulness shewing by what degrees the Gospel insinuated it self into the souls of men What said Zeresh Haman's c Esther 6. 13. wife to her husband If thou hast begun to fall before Mordecai thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before-him Seeing Popery began even now to reel and stagger within few years we shall have it tumble down and lay prostrate with the face thereof at the foot-stool of truth 35. HENRY the Eight by the grace of God KING of England and of France Defensour of the Faith Lord of Ireland and in earth Supreme Head of the Church of England to all singular our most loving faithfull and obedient Subjects greeting AMongst other cures appertaining unto this Our Princely Office whereunto it hath pleased Almighty God of his infinite mercy and goodnesse to call Vs We have alwaies esteemed and thought like as We also yet esteem and think that it most chiefly belongeth unto Our said charge diligently to foresee and cause Ann. Regis Hē 8. 28. That not onely the most holy Word and Commandements of God should most sincerely be believed and most reverently be observed and kept of Our Subjects but also that unity and concord in opinions namely in such things as doe concern Our Religion may encrease goe forthward and all occasion of dissent and discord touching the same be repressed and utterly extinguished For the which cause We being of late to Our great regrete credibly advertised of such diversity in opinions as have grown and sprongen in this Our Realm as well concerning certain Articles necessary to Our salvation as also touching certain other honest and commendable ceremonies rites and usages now a long time used and accustomed in Our Churches for conservation of an honest politie and decent and seemly order to be had therein minding to have that unity and agreement established through Our said Church concerning the premisses And being very desirous to eschew not onely the dangers of souls but also the outward unquietness which by occasion of the said diversity in opinions if remedy were not provided might perchance have ensued have not onely in Our own Person at many times taken great pain study labours and travails but also have caused Our Bishops and other the most discreet and best learned men of Our Clergie of this Our whole Realm to be assembled in Our Convocation for the full debatement and quiet determination of the same Where after long and mature deliberation had of and upon the premisses finally they have concluded and agreed upon the most special points and Articles as well such as be commanded of God and are necessary to our salvation as also divers other matters touching the honest ceremonies and good and politick orders as is aforesaid Which their determination debatement and agreement for so much as We think to have proceeded of a good right and true judgment and to be agreeable to the laws and ordinances of God and much profitable for the stablishment of that charitable concord and unity in Our Church of England which We most desire We have caused the same to be published willing requiring and commanding you to accept repute and take them accordingly And farther We most heartily desire pray Almighty God that it may please him so to illuminate your hearts that you and every of you may have no lesse desire zeal and love to the said unity and concord in reading divulging and following the same than We have had and have in causing them to be thus devised set forth and published And for because We would the said Articles and every of them should be taken and understanden of you after such sort order degree as appertaineth accordingly We have caused by the like assent agreement of our said Bishops other learned men the said Articles to be divided into two sorts where of the one part containeth such as be commanded expresly by God and be necessary to our salvation and the other containneth such things as have been of a long continuance for a decent order honest polity prudently instituted used in the Church of Our Realm be for that same purpose end to be observed kept accordingly although they be not expresly cōmanded of God nor necessary to our salvation Wherefore We will require you to accept the same after such sort as We have here prescribed them unto you to conform your selves obediently unto the same whereby you shall not only attain that most charitable unity loving concord whereof shall ensue your incomparable cōmodity profit lucre as well spiritual as other but also you shall not a little encourage Vs to take farther travails pains labours for your commodities in all such other matters as in time to come may happen to occur and as it shall be most to the honour of God the profit tranquility quietness of all you Our most living Subjects The principal Articles concerning our Faith First As touching the chief and principal Articles of our Faith it is thus agreed as hereafter followeth by the whole Clergie of this Our Realm We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people by Us cōmitted to their spiritual charge that they ought and must most constantly believe and defend all those things to be true which be comprehended in the whole body and Canon of the Bible and also in the three Creeds or Symbols whereof one was made by the Apostles and is the common Creed which every man useth The second was made by the Councel of Nice and is said daily in the Masse and the third was made by Athanasius and is comprehended in the Psalm Quicunque vult And that they ought and must take and interpret all the same things according to the self-same sentence and interpretation which the words of the self-same Creeds or Symbols doe purport and the holy approved doctrines of the Church doe intreat and defend the same Item That they ought and must repute hold and take all the same things for the most holy most sure and most certain and infallible words of God and such as neither ought he can altered or convelled by any contrary opinion or authority Item That they ought and must believe repute and take all the Articles of our Faith contained in the said Creeds to be so necessary to be believed for mans salvation That whosoever being taught will not believe them as is aforesaid or will obstinately affirm the contrary of them he or they cannot be the very members of Christ and his Spouse the Church but be very Infidels or Hereticks and members of the Devil with whom they shall perpetually be damned Item That they ought and must most reverently and religiously observe and keep the self-same words according to the very same form and
not in obedient humylyte have undre the shadowe or color of the saide rule and habite vaynely detestably and also ungodly employed yea rather devowred the yerely revenues yssuing and comyng of the saide possessions in continuall in gurgitations and farcyngs of owr carayne bodyes and of others the supportares of owr voluptuose and carnal appetyte with other vayne and ungodly expensys to the manyfest subvertion of devocion and clennes of lyvyng and to the moost notable slaunder of Christs holy Evangely which in the forme of owr professyon we did ostentate and openly devaunt to kepe moost exactly withdrawyng thereby from the symple and pure myndys of yowr graces subjectes the onely truth and comfort which they oughte to have by the true faith of Christe And also the devyne honor and glory onely due to the glorious Majesty of God Almyghty steryng them with all perswasions ingynes and polyce to dedd Images and counterfett reliques for owr dampnable lucre Which our moost horryble abominacions and execrable persuacions of yowr graces people to detestable errours and our long coveryd Ipocrysie cloked with fayned sanctite We revolving dayly and continually ponderyng in owr sorrowfull harts and thereby perseyving the botomlas gulf of everlasting fyre redy to devowre us if persysting in this state of lyving we shulde depart from this uncertayn and transytory lâ—ffe constrayned by the intollerable anguysh of owr conscience callyd as we trust by the grace of God who wold have no man to perysh in synne with harts moost contrite and repentante prostrate at the noble feet of yowr moost royall Majestye most lamentably doo crave of yowr highnes of yowr abundant mercy to grant unto us moost greevous against God and yowr Highnes your most gracious perdon for owr saide sondry offences omyssyons and negligences comytted as before by us is confessed agaynst yowr Highnes and yowr most noble Progenitors And where yowr Hyghnes being Supreme hedd immediately aftre Christ of his Church in this yowr Roialme of England so consequently generall and onely Reformator of all religious persons there have full authority to correct or dyssolve at yowr Graces pleasure and libertye all Covents and religious companyes abusing the Rewles of their profession And moreover to yowr Highnes being owr soveraygn Lord and undoubted fownder of yowr said Monastery by dissolucion whereof apperteyneth onely the Oryginall title and propre inherytance as well of all other goods moveable and unmoveable to the said Monastery in any wyse apperteyning or belonging to be disposed and imployed as to yowr graces most excellent wysdeme shall seme expedyent and necessary Per me Franciscum Priorem Per me Johannem Sub-Priorem Per me Tho Smyth Per me Tho Golston Per me Rob Martin Per me Jacob Hopkins Per me Ric Bunbery Per me Johannem Pette Per me Jo Harrold Per me Tho Barly Per me Will Ward Per me Tho Atterbury Per me Will Fowler Other Resignations varying in their words met for the maine in the matter and were with all speed presented to the Kings Visitors As School-boyes hope to escape with the fewer stripes for being the first in untying their points those Convents promised to themselves the kindest usage which were forwardest in their Resignations though all on the matter fared alike 4. Yea Betwixt first and last no great difference John de Warboise so called from the place of his nativity in Huntingdon shire where my worthy friend Mr. William Johnson is well beneficed though the a Speed in his description of Huntingdon-shire first with his sixty Benedicti Monks who with solemn subscription renounced the Popes Supremacy and now as officious as any in surrendring his Convent to the Kings Visitors met with no peculiar and extraordinary civility above others of his Ordâ—r 5. Such Resignations seal'd and deliver'd the Visitors called for the Seales themselves which now had survived their own use having passed the last effectual Act and these generally made of silver were by the Kings Officers presently broken in pieces Such material Stamps being now abolished it will be charity to preserve their Impressions and exhibit them to posterity which here we shall endeavour rendring some probable reason how most of them referre to the Founders or scituation or some remarkable action therein The Seale of Armes of the Mitred Abbeys in England IN presenting of them The designe of the work I will not be confined to the strict termes of Blazoury the rather because some of their Armes may be presumed so antient as sitter to give Rules to than take them from our moderne Heraldry And what my pen cannot sufficiently describe therein the Reader may satisfie himselfe by his own eye To which these Cotes are presented in the last sheet of this Volume after the History of Waltham Abbey 1. I will make a method of my own beginning where the Sun ends in the West The Armes of Tavestocke Tavestock in Devon shire gave Varrey Or and Azure on a Chiefe Or two Mulletts Gules 2. Glassenbury gave Vert as I conjecture the Colour a Crosse Bottone Argent Of Glossenbury In the first Quarter the Woman with a Glory holding a Babe radiated about his head in her Armes because forsooth by the direction of the Angel * See the first Cent. Paragr 11. Gabriel their Church was first dedicated to the Virgin Mary 3. Middleton in Gloucester-shire gave Sable Of Middleton three Baskets Argent replenished with Loaves of Bread Gules Had the number of the Baskets been either Seven or Twelve some would interpret therein a reference to the Reversions preserved by Christ his command of the Loaves miraculously multiplied whereas now they denote the Bounty of that Abbey in relieving the poor 4. What Malmesbury in Wiltshire gave I cannot yet attain Of Malmsbury 5. Abingdon gave a Crosse flurt betwixt Martelletts Sable Of Abingdon much alluding to the Armes of our English Kings before the Conquest who it seems were great Benefactors thereunto 6. The Abbey of S. James in Reading Of Reading gave AZure three Scallop Shells Or. Here I know not what secret sympathy there is between S. James and Shells but sure I am that all Pilgrims that visit St. James of Compos-Stella in Spaine the Paramount Shrine of that Saint returned thence obsiti * Erasmâ—â— in his Dialogue called Peregrinatio Religionis eâ—go conchis all beshell'd about on their clothes as a religious Donative there bestowed upon them 7. The Abbey of Hide Of Hide juxta Winton gave Argent a Lyon rampant Sable on a cheiff of the second four Keyes Argent 8. Bataile Abbey in Sussex gave Gules a Crosse betwixt a Crown Or Of Battaile in the first and third Quarter A Sword bladed Argent hilted Or in the second and fourth Quarter thereof Hete the Armes relate to the Name and both Armes and Name to the fierce Fight hard by whereby Duke William gained the English-Crown by Conquest and founded this
The Lady Mary 28. after long Communication was content to come to Lees Ann. Dom. 1549 to the Lord Chancellours and then to Hunsdon but She utterly denied to come to the q q She loved to deale with the King her Brother eminus by Letters but in no wise comminus by discourse Besides she hated coming to the Court suspecting some harsh usage to her Person and jealous of being put into Restraint Court or Oking at that time The Lord Chancellor fell sore sick Aug. 13. with 40 more of his r r Lees in Essex a County generally not very healthfull where Agues sit as close and sometimes last as long as a new suit house that the Lady Mary came not thither at this time There were Letters sent to every Bishop to pull downe the Altars Nov. 19. There were Letters sent for the taking of certain Å¿ Å¿ Of these Francis Mallet last * * Sceletos Cant. MS. Master of Michael House in Cambridge was the chief He having leave from the Councell to officiate Masse onely in the presence of the Lady Mary presumed on the same liberty in her absence Whereupon he was notwithstanding his Ladies refusall to surrender him fetcht from her by force and committed to prison Chaplains of the Lady Mary Dec. 15. Edw. sexâ—i 4. for saying Masse which She denied Whaley was examined for perswading divers Nobles of the Realm to make the Duke of Somerset t t Now where the seeds sown and the foundation laid of the Protectours overthrow which ensued not long after Proâ—ector at the next Parliament Febr. 6. stood to the Denial the Earle of Rutland affirmed it manifestly The Bishop of Winchester after a long triall was deposed his Bishoprick 17. It seems some legall formalities were pretended wanting in Gardiner his deprivation For in my memory a Suit was commenced to overthrow a long Lease made by Bishop Poinet Gardiner's successour in Winchester on this point that Gardiner still remained lawfull Bishop but nothing therein was effected 23. Come we now to the saddest difference that ever happened in the Church of England The conception of non-conformity if we consider either the time how long it continued the eminent persons therein ingaged or the dolefull effects thereby produced It was about matters of conformity Alas that men should have lesse wisdome than locusts which when sent on God's errand Did not * * Joel 2. 8. thrust one another whereas here such shoving and shouldring and hoising and heavings and justleing and thronging betwixt Clergie-men of the highest parts and places For now non-conformity in the daies of King Edward was conceived which afterward in the Reign of Queen Mary but beyond Sea at Frankford was born which in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth was nursed and weaned which under King James grew up a young youth or tall stripling but towards the end of King Charles His Reign shot up to the full strength and stature of a man able not onely to coap with but conquer the Herarchie its adversary 24. Two opposite parties now plainly discovered themselves The favourers and opposers thereof driving on different interests Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 4. under their respective Patrones Ann. Dom. 1550. Founders of Conformity 1. Such as remained here all the Reign of King Henry the eighth and weathered out the tempest of His tyrannie at open Sea partly by a politick compliance and partly by a cautious concealment of themselves 2. These in the daies of King Edward the sixt were possessed of the best preferments in the land 3. And retained many ceremonies practiced in the Romish Church conceiving them to be antient and decent in themselves 4. The authority of Cranmer and activity of Ridley headed this party the former being the highest the latter the hottest in defence of conformity Founders of Non-conformity 1. Such as fled hence beyond the Seas chiefly into Germany where living in States and Cities of popular Reformation they suck'd in both the aire and discipline of the place they lived in 2. These returning late into England were at a losse for meanes and maintenance onely supported with the reputation of being Confessors rendring their patience to the praise and their persons to the pity of all conscientious people 3. And renounced all ceremonies practiced by the Papists conceiving that such ought not onely to be clipt with the sheers but to be shaved with a raizor yea all the stumps thereof to be pluckt out 4. John Rogers Lecturer in S. Pauls and Vicar of S. Sepulchres with John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Glocester were Ring-leaders of this party This Iohn Hooper was bred in Oxford well skill'd in Latine Greek and Hebrew a little of the last would go farre in this Age and afterwards travelled over into Switzerland Yea he seemed to some to have brought Switzerland back with him in his harsh rough and unpleasant behaviour being grave into rigour and severe into surliness Yet to speak truth all Hoopers ill nature consisted in other mens little acquaintance with him Such as visited him once condemned him of over-austerity who repaired to him twice onely suspected him of the same who conversed with him constantly not onely acquitted him of all morosity but commended him for sweetness of manners which saith my Author Godwin in the Bishops of Glocester endeared him to the acquaintance of Bullinger This Hooper was preferred to be Bishop of Glocester by the special favour of his Patrone Iohn Earl of Warwick afterward Duke of Northumberland 25. The worst was Hooper refuseth to wear the Episcopal habit when Hooper came to be consecrated Bishop of Glocester he scrupled the wearing of certain Episcopall ornaments Rochet Chimere Square-cap c. producing a Letter from the Earl of Warwick omniprevalent then at Court in the declining of his Corrival the Duke of Somerset that he might be favourably dispensed with therein according to the tenour ensuing to Archbishop Cranmer AFter my most hearty commendations to your Grace these may be to desire the same that in such reasonable things wherein this beâ—rer my Lord Elect of Glocester craveth to be born withall at your hands you would vouch safe to shew him your Graces favour the rather at this my instance Which thing partly I have taken in hand by the Kings Majesties own motion The matter is weighed by His Highnesse none other but that your Grace may facilely condescend thereunto The principall cause is that you would not charge this said Bearer with an Oath burdenous to his conscience And so for lack of time I commit your Grace to the tuition of Almighty God Your Graces most assured loving friend July 23. John Warwick What this Oath was because not expressed is variously conjectured Parsons to render Hooper more odious will have it the Oath of Supremacy which in my opinion is improbable it being utterly unlikely that the King would dispense with any from taking Oath
wherein His owne Dignity was so neerly concern'd I conceive it the Oath of Canonical obedience to the Archbishop which consequentially commanded such ceremonies which Hooper was willing to decline For in the Kings next Letter wrote thirteen daies after to the same purpose there is mention onely of offensive Rites and Ceremonies and of no Oath at all as coincident with the former and obligatory to such Canonical observances But see the Letter RIght Reverend Father and right trusty and well-beloved We greet you well Whereas We by the advice of Our Councel have called chosen Our right well-beloved and well-worthy Mr. John Hooper Professor of Divinity to be Our Bishop of Glocester as well for his great learning deep judgment and long study both in the Scriptures and other profound learning as also for his good discretion ready utterance and honest life for that kinde of vocation c. From consecrating of whom We understand you doe stay because he would have you omit and let passe certain Rites and Ceremonies offensive to his conscience whereby ye thinke you should fall in Praemunire of Laws We have thought good by advise aforesaid to dispense and discharge you of all manner of dangers penalties and forfeitures you should run into and be in any manner of way by omitting any of the same And these Our Letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge therefore ¶ Given under Our Signet at our Castle of Windsor Aug. 5. the fourth year of Our Reign All would not doe Resolute Ridley stood stifly to his tackling and here was old bandying of the businesse betwixt them and Arguments urged on both sides Pro. 1. The Ornaments were indifferent of themselves and of antient use in the Church 2. Being enjoyned by lawfull authority they became necessary not to salvation but to Church-unity and it was scandalous to decline them 3. It would bring the Papist over to our Church beholding all things by them used not totally abolished by a spirit of contradiction but some decent correspondencies still moderately continued 4. It would cast a slurre on the credit of such Bishops who formerly had used those Ornaments as more remisse in Religion than such as refused them 5. Those that have stubborn wills pretend too often to tender consciences nor ought a private person to be indulged with the disturbance of the publick uniformity of the Church Con. 1. The best thing that could be said of them was that they were uselesse being otherwise ridiculous and superstitious 2. Cursed be he that removes the bound-marks Grant them indifferent in themselves and left so by Divine Wisdome it was presumption in man to stamp necessity upon them 3. Too much of the Serpent nothing of the Dove herein to offend those within to invite those without to the Church driving Protestants thence to draw Papists thither 4. The credits of some good men were not to be preserved by destroying the consciences of others 5. Hooper put himself upon the triall of the Searcher of hearts that no obstinacie but meer conscience made him refuse those Ornaments In a word all those Arguments which later Ages have more amply enlarged more clearly explained more cunningly improved more violently enforced were then and there first solidly propounded and solemnly set down on both sides Posterity in this matter having discovered no new Mine but onely refined what formerly was found out in this Controversie 26. At last the great Earl of Warwick deserted his Chaplain in open field But is forced at last to shift for himself Indeed he had higher things in his head than to attend such trifles not so much to procure a Mitre for his Chaplain as a Crown for himself even then secretly laying a design to derive the Scepter into his own family Yea Hooper was sent to prison and kept some daies in * His imprisonment not mention'd in Mâ— Fox but in the Tâ—oubles of Frankford pag. 35. durance till at last he condescended to conform himselfe in his habit to the rest of his brethren and so was consecrated Bishop of Glocester 27. But that which most opens the mouthes of Papists Defended for keepiâ—g Worcester in Commendam and other adversaries against Hooper is because he who scrupled the poor Bishoprick of Glocester afterward held the wealthy Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam with it We read of a b Jos 7. 21. wedge of gold and little wedges say they widen mens consciences for the receiving of greater yea thus the haters of marriage first become guilty of bigamie But let such know First that the Dioceses of Glocester and Worcester lie both contiguous together Secondly many single Bishopricks in England are larger than both for extent in Land and number of Parishes Thirdly no worse a man than S. Dunstan himself had the Bishoprick of Worcester and London with it at the same time being farre more distant and remote Fourthly it is not the having of two Bishopricks together but the neglecting of one is the sin whereas Hooper in preaching and visiting afforded double diligence in his double Diocess 28. The mention of Hooper his holding of the Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam Why Caâ—imer was not restored to the Bishoprick of Worsester mindes me of a difficulty which though I cannot answer I must not omit It is this Seeing that Latimer was outed of that Bishoprick in the daies of King Henry the eighth on the account of the Six Articles why was he not restored to the same under King Edward the sixt especailly seeing Nicholas Heath his successour was legally deprived and the place actually void Whereas on the contrary Hugh Latimer continued Hugh Latimer without any addition of preferment Here first we must largely trade in negatives It was not for any want of favour from the King seeing he stood rectus in Curia in relation to His Majesty Nor was it because his down-right Sermons disobliged the Courtiers who generally delight in soft preaching as in c Mat 11. â— soft cloathing Nor was it out of sullennesse because he would not be bedded again with that wife which though unwillingly had in his absence embraced another Nor have we any cause to suspect Latimer of Hoopers opinion as distasting Ceremonies and so obstructing his advancement But we impute it either to his conscience oft-times sharpest in the bluntest men because he would not be built on the ruines of another especially knowing Heath one of a meek and moderate nature Or to his age who Barzillai d 2 Sam. 19. 35. like was superannuated for earthly honour Alas what needed a square cap over the many night-caps which age had multiplied on his Reverend head Or because he found himself not so fit for government better for preaching than ordering Ecclesiastical affairs Or lastly because he propherically foresaw that the ingratitude of the English Nation would shorten their happinesse and King Edwards life and he was loth to come into a place onely to
volley of ill words discharged at them amongst which none so mortal to their reputation as the word Schismatick wherewith the Coxians branded them at their departure Much fending and proving there was betwixt them whether Schismatick was properly applyable to such who agreeing in doctrine dissented onely in superfluous ceremonies In conclusion nothing was concluded amongst them as to agreement And now no pitty shewed at their departure no sending of sighes or shedding of tears on either side the one being as glad of the room they left as the other were desirous of their own removall 10. If any be curious to know the names of such The names of such as went to Geneva who separated themselves from this Congregation of Frankford this ensuing catalogue a Taken out of their subscription to a letter in the Troubles of Frankford pag. 47. will acquaint him therewith William William Anthonie Christopher Thomas Iohn Williams Whittingham Gilby Goodman Cole Fox Thomas William Iohn Iohn Christopher Nicolas Wood. Keth◠Kelke Hilton Soothous Purfote Iohn Thomas William Laurence Iohn Anthonie Escot Grafton Walton Kent Hellingham Carier Of these M r. Fox with a few moe went to Basil the rest settled themselves at Geneva where they were all most courteously entertained And now who can expect less but that those still remaining at Frankford as the same in opinion should be the same in affection and live in brotherly love together But alas man while he is man will be man and Sathan the sower of tares 6. 155. 7. did set a sad dissention betwixt them which we come now to relate 11. There was an eminent member of the Congregation in Frankford The sad difference betwixt Mr. Ashley and Mr. Horne M r. Ashley by name one of a worshipfull b Troubles of Frankford pag. 55. degree and as it seems of a Spirit not to say Stomack no whit beneath his extraction Jan. 14. 16. Now there happened some high words at Supper betwixt Him and M r. Horn then Pastor of the Congregation yet so that all the difference by the seasonable mediation of the Guests was then seemingly composed But two dayes after M r. Ashley was convented before the Elders where it was laid to his charge that at time and place aforesaid he had spoken words slanderous to them and their Ministry Ashley appealed from them as an adversary Part against Him and therefore no competent Judges unto the whole Congregation as men of estimation with both Parties to hear and determine the difference betwixt them 12. Hereat M r. Horn and the Elders were highly offended Horne and the Elders in discountent quit their places pleading that they had received authority from the whole Church to hear and decide such Cases Ann. Dom. 6. 155-7 and were resolved not to depart with the power so legally delegated unto them And whereas many meetings were made of M r. Ashleys friends to debate his businesse M r. Horne and the Elders condemned them as tending to schism accounting their own presence so of the Quorum to any lawful assembly that without it all conventions were conventicles Yea M r. Horne and the Elders perceiving that M r. Ashleys friends being most numerous in the Congregation would bring his Cause to be determined by the diffusive Church Feb. 2. fully and freely forsook their Ministry and Service therein Preferring rather willingly to un-Pastor and dis-Elder themselves than to retain the place without the power Title without the Authority due thereunto 13. This deserting of their Duty Where at the Church is highly offended was by others interpreted an high contempt of the Congregation Especially when two dayes after a full Church met with an empty Pulpit 4. wherein none to teach the people The Ashleyans being far the major part took exception that Horne and the Elders should so slightly and suddenly quit what before they had so seriously and solemnly accepted as if their Pastoral charges were like their cloaths or upper garments to be put off at pleasure to coole themselves in every heat of Passion Besides these men being married in a manner to their Ministeriall Functions could not legally divorce themselves without mutual consent and the Churches approbation thereof 14. Soon after the State of the controversie was altered Inquiry how to proceed against the Pastor and Elders if accused M r. Ashleys businesse being laid aside and another of an higher concernment taken up in the room thereof namely how the Congregation should proceed against the Pastor and Elders in case they were accused for misdemeanour For hitherto no provisions were made in the constitutions of this Church to regulate this case if chancing to occur Whether because the compilers of those constitutions charitably presumed on the integrity of all such Officers or omitted the making any law against them in favour to themselves as most probable to obtain such places or because no canons can at once be compleated 14. but a reserve must be left for the additions of others to perfect the same But now eight were appointed to regulate the manner of the proceeding of the Congregation against Pastor and Elders if peccant who were without or rather above censure according to the old Discipline which still inflamed the anger of M r. Horne and his Party 15. A Party much advantaged by M r. Chambers siding therewith Mr. Chambers accused of injustice because He was keeper of the charity conferred on and contributions collected for the Congregation Now where goeth the Purse there goeth the Poor most in want were of Hornes side in hope of the larger relief This made others complain of Chambers as an unjust Steward of the Churches treasure too free to such as He affected and bountifull only of Taunts and ill Terms to those of a different Judgement making neither Mens Need or Deserts but only his own fancy the direction of his Distributions 16. Now began their brawls to grow so loud The scandal of this dissention that their next neighbours over-heard them I mean the State of Frankford took notice thereof to the shame of all and grief of all good in the English Nation For how scandalous was it that exiles of the same Country for the same Cause could not agree together But man in misery as well as man in honour hath no understanding Yea they began to fear lest many Dutch-men hitherto their bountifull Benefactours should for the future withdraw their benevolences conceiving these exiles wanted no mony who had such store of animosities and probably poverty would make them more peaceable amongst themselves Their discords were the worse because the Vernali mart at Frankford did approach and it would be welcome ware and an usefull commodity for Popish Merchants meeting there to carry over into England and all the world over the news of their distractions 17. Hereupon the Magistrate of Frankford interposed to arbitrate their differences 〈…〉 short friends but whether
assuredly expect from him If before and above all things seeking for that one thing which is needfull the rather because God hath done great things for you already for which you have cause to rejoyce A great and good * 1 Sa. 18. 23 man said to his fellow-servants Seemeth it a small thing to you to be Son in-law to a King A greater honour was done to your first Ancestor who was SON TO A KING namely to Hardinge King of Denmark whence Fitz-Harding your most ancient sir-name But labour SIR for a higher honor then both Even to be led by GODS SPIRIT and then you shall be even in the language of the Apostle himself * Rom. 8. 14. FITZ-DIEU A SON OF GOD. Now as your Eminent bounty unto me may justly challenge the choicest of my best endeavours So the particular motive inducing me to dedicate this Booke to your honor is because it containeth the reign of Queen Elizabeth to whom you are so nearly related Whose * The heir generall of George Carâ—e L. Hunsdon whose Grandmother Mary was second Sister to Anne Bollen Grandmother proved her heir by ANNE BOLLEN her mother In which capacity some of that Queens or rather the Lady Elizabeths moveables and Jewels which were her Mothers descended unto her You may therefore challenge an interest most properly in this part of my History And now what remaineth but my humble and hearty prayers to the Divine Majesty for his blessing on your selfe and on your hopefull Issue That God would plentifully powre all his fauours of this and a better life upon them Suspect me not Sir for omitting because not expressing your noble Consort We finde in the fourth commandement Thou and thy Son and thy Daughter c. Where Divines render this reason why the wife is not mentioned because the same person with the Husband On which account your second self is effectually included within the daily devotions of Your bounden Orator Thomas Fuller THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITAINE Anno. Regin Eliza. 1. SECTION I. CENT XVI Anno. Dom. 1559 1. FOr the first six weeks the Queen Her slow but sure pace of Reformation and her wife councell suffered matters to stand in their former state without the least change as yet not altering but consulting what should be altered Thus our Saviour himself coming into the Temple and finding it profaned with sacriledge when he had looked round about upon all things a Mar. 11. 11. departed for the evening contenting himself with the survey of what was amisse and deferring the reformation thereof till the next morning but on the first b Holinshed 1. year of Q. Elizabeth pag. 1172. of January following being Sunday the best new-yeers-gift that ever was bestowed on England by vertue of the Queens Proclamation the Letanie was read in English with Epistles and Gospels in all Churches of London as it was formerly in her Graces own Chappel 2. But some violent Spirits The forwardness of private men in publique reformation variously censured impatient to attend the leisure by them counted the lazinesse of authority fell before hand to the beating down of superstitious Pictures and images and their forward zeal met with many to applaud it For Idolatry is not to be permitted a moment the first minuite is the fittest to abolish it All that have power have right to destroy it by that Grand charter of Religion whereby every one is bound to advance Gods glory And if Soveraâ—gns forget no reason but Subjects should remember their duty But others condemned their indiscretion herein for though they might reforme their private persons and families and refraine to communicate in any outward act contrary to Gods word yet publique reformation belonged to the Magistrate and a good deed was by them ill done for want of a calling to do it However the Papists have no cause to tax them with over-forwardness in this kinde the like being done by them in the beginning of Queen Maries raigne whilst the laws of King Edward the Sixth stood as yet in full force when they prevented authority as hath been c See â—6 Cent. 2 part â— paragraph formerly observed thus those who are hungry and have meat afore them will hardly be kept from eating though Grace be not said and leave given them by their superiours 3. Now the tidings of Queen Elizabeths peaceable coming to the crown Anno. Dom. 1558. was no sooner brought beyond the Seas but it fitted the English Exiles with unspeakable glandness 〈…〉 being instantly at home in their hearts and not long after with their bodies I knew one right well whose father amongst them being desperately diseased was presently and perfectly cured with the cordiall of this good news and no wonder if this Queen recovered sick men which revived religion it self Now the English Church at Geneva being the greatest opposer of ceremonies sent their letter by William Ceth to all other English Congregations in Germany and especially to those of Frankford congratulating their present deliverance condoling their former discords counselling and requesting that all offences heretofore given or taken might be forgiven and forgotten and that for the future they might no more fall out about sâ—perfluous ceremonies a It was dated Decem. 15. but not received till about Ianuâ—r the second see 〈◊〉 at Frankford pag. 162. But this letter came too late because the principall persons concerned in that controversie with whom they sought a charitable reconciliation were departed from Frankford I think towards England before the messenger arrived and so the motion missed to take effect Some suppose had it come in season it might have prevailed much that both parties in gratitude to God would in a bonefire of their generall joy have burnt this unhappy bone of dissention cast betwixt them Others considering the distance of their principles and difference of their spirits conceive such an agreement neither could be wrought nor would be kept betwixt them For it is the property of cold to congregate together things of different kinds and if the winter of want pinching them all with poverty could not freeze their affections together less likely was it that the warmth of wealth in their native Soâ—le would conjoyne them in amity but rather widen them further asunder as indeed it came to passe For as the rivers of Danubius and Savus in Huagarie though running in the same channell yet for many miles keep different streames visible in their party-coloured waters which do rather touch then unite yea the fishes peculiar to one stream are not found in another So these opposite parties returning home though concurring in doctrine under the generall notion of Protestants were so reserved in severall disciplines to themselves with their private favourites and followers that they wanted that comfortable communion which some hop'd and all wished would be amongst them Till at last they brake out into dolefull and dangerous opposition whereat all Papists clap
all due and wonted Ecclesiasticall monition declared so requiring it conceived it to belong unto us to provide for the eternall Salvation both of our selves and such as are committed to our charge by all means possible for us to obtain Wherefore stirred up by the examples of our Predecessours who have lived in the like times that faith which in the Articles under-written we believe to be true and from our souls profess to the praise and honour of God and the discharge of our duty and such souls as are commited unto us we thought in these presents publiquely to insert affirming and avowing as God shall helpe us in the last day of judgement First that in the Sacrament of the Altar by the vertue of Christs assisting after the word is duly pronounced by the Priest the naturall Body of Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary is really present under the species of bread and wine also his naturall bloud Item that after the Consecration there remains not the substance of Bread and Wine nor any other substance save the substance of God and man Item that the true body of Christ and his true bloud is offered a propitiatory sacrifice for the Quick and Dead Item that the supreme power of feeding and governing the militant Church of Christ and of confirming their Brethren is given to Peter the Apostle and to his lawfull Successours in the See Apostolike as unto the Vicars of Christ Item that the Authority to handle and define such things which belong to faith the Sacraments and Discipline Ecclesiasticall hath hitherto ever belonged and only ought to belong unto the Pastors of the Church whom the holy spirit hath placed in the Church of God and not unto lay-men Which our Assertion Affirmation and faith We the lower Clergy aforesaid so represent the aforesaid considerations unto your Fatherhoods by the Tenor of these Presents humbly requesting that because we have not liberty otherwise to notifie this our Judgement and intention to those which in this behalf are concerned you who are Fathers would be pleased to signifie the same to the Lords in Parliament wherein as we conceive you shall performe an office of Charity and Piety and you shall provide as it is meet for the safety of the flock committed to your charge and shall discharge your duty towards your own soul This remonstrance exhibited by the lower house of Convocation to the Bishops was according to their Requests presented by Edmond Bonner B p. of London to the Lord Keeper of the broad Seal of England in the Parliament Marc. 3. and as the said Bishop in the eighth Session reported he generously and gratefully received it But we finde no further news thereof save that in the 10. Session an account was given in by both Universities in an Instrument under the hand of a Publique Notary 10. wherein they both did concur to the Truth of the aforesaid Articles the last only excepted 10. But we may probably conceive that this Declaration of the Popish Clergy hastened the Disputation appointed on the last of March in the Church of Westminster The Disputations betwixt the Papists and Protestants at Westminster wherein these questions were debated 1. Whether Service and Sacraments ought to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue 2. Whether the Church hath not power to alter Ceremonies so all be done to edification 3. Whether the Mass be a propitiatory sacrifice for the Living and the Dead Popish Disputants Moderators Protestant Disputants * There is some difference in the Number and Names of Both Parties Mr. Fox neither agreeth with Mr. Camden nor with himself White Watson Baynes Scot. Bps. of Winchester Lincolne Covent and Lichfield Chester D r. Cole Deane of Pauls D r. Langdale D r. Harpsfield D r. Cheadsey Arch-Deac of Lewes Canterbury Middlesex Nicholas Heath B p. of York S r. Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal John Scory late B p. of Chichester David Whitehead Robert Horne Edmond Gwest Edwine Sands John Aelmer Edmond Grindall John Jewell The passages of this Disputation whereof more Noise then fruit and wherein more Passion then Reason Anno Dom. 1458. Cavils then Arguments are largely reported by M r. Fox It was ordered that each side should tender their Judgements in writing to avoid verball extravagancies as also in English for the better information of the Nobility and Gentry of the house of Parliament their Auditors and that the Papists should begin first and the Protestants answer them But in the second dayes disputation this order was broken by the Popish Bishops who quitting their Primacy to the Protestants stood peremptorily upon it that they themselves would deliver their Judgements last Alledging in their behalf the fashion of the Schools that because they had the negative on their side the others ought first to oppose Citing also the Custome of the Courts at Westminster where the plaintiffe pleadeth before the defendant conceiving themselves in the nature and notion of the Later because maintaining those opinions whose Truth time out of minde were established Chester more open then the Rest plainly confessed that if the protestants had the last word they would come off cum Applausu Populi with applause of the People which themselves it seems most desired Whereby it appears what Wind they wished for not what was fittest to fanne the truth but what would blow them most reputation In this Refusal to begin Winchester and Lincolne behaved themselves faucily and scornfully the rest stiffly and resolutely only Feckenham Abbot of Westminster who it seems the second day was added to the Popish Disputants carried it with more meeknesse and moderation Hereupon the Lord Keeper cut off this conference with this sharp Conclusion Seeing my Lords we cannot now hear you you may perchance shortly hear more of us 11. Yet need we not behold the frustration of this meeting The Papists complain of partial usage as a private Doome peculiarly to this conference alone but as the generall Destiny of such publike Colloquies which like Sicamore-trees prove barren and which the larger the Leaves of the Expectation the less the fruits of Successe The Assembly dissolved it were hard to say which were lowder the Papists in Complaining or the Protestants in Triumphing The former found themselves agrieved that they were surprised of a sudden having but two dayes warning to provide themselves That Bacon the Moderator though well skil'd in matters of Equity ignorant in matters of Divinity was their Zealous Enemy to whom the Arch-Bishop was added only for a stale That to call such fundamentall points of Doctrine into question would cause an unsetlednesse in Religion of dangerous consequence both to single souls and to the Church in generall That it was unlawfull for them owing obedience to the Sea Apostolike without leave of his Holinesse first obtained to discusse these truthes long since decided in the Church 13. The Protestants on the other side slighted the Papists Plea of want
the peoples pews than was then generally in the Readers deske yea Preachers Pulpit let God be more glorified in it men more edified by it seeing of late the Universities have afforded moe vine-dressers than the Country could yeeld them vineyards Yea let us be jealous over our selves with a godly jealousie lest our ingratitude make us to relapse into the like ignorance and barbarisme For want of bread was not so much the suffering of those dayes as fulness thereof hath lately been the sin of ours 36. Great abuses being offered to the monuments of the dead A Proclamation against defaeers of Monuments in Churches the Queen thought fitting seasonably to retrench the increase of such impieties And although her Proclamation being printed the printing of Her name thereunto had been of as much validity in it self and of far more ease to Her Majesty yet to manifest Her Princely zeal therein She severally signed each copie and those numerous to be dispers'd thoroughout all Her Dominions with Her own hand And seeing Shee begrutched not Her pains to superscribe Her name I shall not think much of mine to transcribe the whole Proclamation Elizabeth THe Queens Majesty understanding Anno Dom. 1559. that by the means of sundry people Anno Regin Eliza. 2. partly ignorant This Proclamation was printed at London in Pauls Church-yard by Rich. Jagg and John Cawood 〈◊〉 to the Queen partly malitious or covetous there hath been of â—â—te yeers spoiled and broken certain ancient Monuments some of metall some of stone which were erected up as well in Churches as in other publike places within this Realme only to shew a memory to the posterity of the persons there buried or that had been benefactours to the building or dotations of the same Churches or publique places and not tonourish any kinde of superstition By which means not only the Churches and places remain at this present day spoiled broken and ruinated to the offence of all noble and gentle hearts and the extinguishing of the honourable and good memory of sundry vertuous and noble persons deceased but also the true understanding of divers families in this Realm who have descended of the blood of the same persons deceased is thereby so darkened as the true course of their inheritance may be hereafter interrupted contrary to justice besides many other offences that do hereof ensue to the slander of such as either gave or had charge in times past only to deface monuments of idolatry and false fained images in Churches and Abbeys And therefore although it be very hard to recover things broken and spoiled yet both to provide that no such barbarous disorder be hereafter used and to repaire as much of the said monuments as conveniently maybe Her Majesty chargeth and commandeth all maner of persons hereafter to forbear the breaking or defacing of any parcell of any monument or tombe or grave or other inscription and memory of any person deceased being in any manner of place or to break any image of Kings Princes or Nobles Estates of this Realme or of any other that have been in times past erected and set up for the only memory of them to their posterity in common Churches and not for any religious honour or to break down and deface any image in glass-windows in any Churches without consent of the Ordinarie upon pain that whosoever shall be herein found to offend to be committed to the next Goale and there to remain without baile or mainprise unto the next coming of the Justices for the delivery of the said Goale and then to be farther punished by fine or imprisonment besides the restitution or reedification of the thing broken as to the said Justices shall seem meet using therein the advice of the Ordinary and if need shall be the advice of Her Majesties Councell in Her Starr-Chamber And for such as be already spoiled in any Church or Chappell now standing Her Majesty chargeth and commandeth all Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Ordinaries or Ecclesiastical persons which have authority to visit the Churches or Chappels to enquire by presentments of the Curates Church-wardens and certain of the parishioners what manner of spoâ—les have been made sithence the beginning of Her Majesties raigne of such monuments and by whom and if the persons be living how able they be to repair and readifie the same and thereupon to convent the same persons and to enjoyn them under pain of Excommunication to repair the same by a convenient day or otherwise as the cause shall farther require to notifie the same to Her Majesties Councell in the Sarr-chamber at Westminster And if any such be found and convicted thereof not able to repair the same that then they be enjoyned to do open pennance two or three times in the Church as to the quality of the crime and party belongeth under the like pain of excommunication And if the party that offended be dead and the Executours of the Will left having sufficient in their hands unadministred and the offence notorious the Ordinarie of the place shall also enjoyn them to repair or reedifie the same upon like or any other convenient pain to be devised by thesaid Ordinarie And when the offender cannot be presented if it be in any Cathedral or Collegiate Church which hath any revenue belonging to it that is not particularly allotted to the sustentation of any person certain or otherwise but that it may remain in the discretion of the governour thereof to bestow the same upon any other charitable deed as mending of high-wayes or such like Her Majesty enjoyneth and straitly chargeth the governours and companies of every such Church to employ such parcels of the said sums of mony as any wise may be spared upon the speedy repaire or reedification of any such monuments so defaced or spoiled as agreeable to the original as the same conveniently may be And where the covetousness of certain persons is such that as Patrons of Churches or owners of the personages impropriated or by some other colour or pretence they do perswade with the Parson and Parishioners to take or throw down the bells of Churches and Chappels and the lead of the same converting the same to their private gain and to the spoils of the said places and make such like alterations as thereby they seek a slanderous desolation of the places of prayer Her Majesty to whom in the right of the Crown by the ordinance of Almighty God and by the laws of this Realme the defence and protection of the Church of this Realme belongeth doth expressly forbid any manner of person to take away any bells or lead of any Church or Chappel under pain of imprisonment during Her Majesties pleasure and such farther fine for the contempt as shall be thought meet And Her Majesty chargeth all Bishops and Ordinaries to enquire of all such contempts done from the beginning of Her Majesties raigne and to enjoyn the persons offending to repair the same within a
in her Religion And yet some not more knowing of Councells but more daring in Conjectures than others who love to feiga what they cannot finde that they may never appear to be at a loss avouch that the Pope promised to revoke the Sentence against her mother Anne Bollens marriage to confirme our English Lithurgie by his authority to permit the English the Communion under both kinds provided she would own the Popes Primacy and cordially unite her self to the Catholike Church Yea some thousands of Crowns but all in vain were promised to the effectors thereof wherein his holinesse seemingly liberal was really thrifty as knowing such his Sums if accepted would within one year return with an hundred fold increase 41. Scipio a Gentleman of Venice The contents of Scipio his Letter to Mr. Iewell formerly familiar with M r. Jewel whilst he was a student in Padua wrot now an expostulating letter unto Him being lately made Bishop of Sarisbury Wherein he much admired that England should send no Embassadour nor message or letter to excuse their Nations absence from the general appearance of Christianity in the Sacred Councell of Trent He highly extolled the antiquity and use of General Councels as the only means to decide controversies in Religion and compose the distractions in the Church concluding it a Superlative Sin for any to decline the authority thereof 42. To this M r. Jewel returned a large and solemn answer Anno Dom. 1563. Now although he wrote it as a private person Anno Regin Eliza. 5. yet because the subject thereof was of publick concernment The sum of Mr. Jewels answer take the principall Heads thereof a See it at large at the end of the History of the Councell of Trent First That a great part of the world professing the name of Christ as Greeks Armenians Abessines c. with all the Eastern Church were neither sent to nor summoned to this Councell Secondly That Englands absence was not so great a wonder seeing many other kingdoms and free-states as Denmarke Sweden Scotland Princes of Germany and Hanse-Towns were not represented in this Councel by any of their Embassadors Thirdly That this pretended Councell was not called according to the ancient custome of the Church by the Imperiall Authority but by Papall usurpation Fourthly That Trent was a petty place not of sufficient receit for such multitudes as necessarily should repair to a generall Councell Fifthly That Pope Pius the fourth by whose command the Councel was re-assembled purchased his place by the unjust practises of Simony and bribery and managed it with murder and Cruelty Sixthly That repairing to Councells was a free-act and none ought to be condemned of Contumacy if it stood more with their conveniency to stay at home Seventhly That anciently it was accepted as a reasonable excuse of holy Bishops absenting or withdrawing themselves from any Councell if they vehemently suspected ought would be acted therein prejudiciall to the Truth lest their though not active included concurrence might be interpreted a countenancing thereof Eightly Our English Bishops were imployed in feeding their flocks and governing their Churches and could not be spared from their charge without prejudice to their consciences Ninthly The members of the Councell of Trent both Bishops and Abbots were by oath pregaged to the Pope to defend and maintain his authority against all the world Lastly in what capacity should the English Clergy appear in this Councell They could not as free-persons to debate matters therein beeing pre-condemned for Hereticks by Pope Julius They would not come as Offendors to hear the Sentence pronounced against themselves which they had heard of before What effect this Letter produced I finde not sure I am no Papists as yet have made an effectuall refutation of the reasons rendered therein 43. The Bells of S t. Peters in Westminster had strangely rung the changes these last thirty yeers Westminster Col. Church re-sounded by Q Eliz. Within which time first it was a stately and rich Covent of Benedictine Monks Secondly it was made a Collegiate Church of Dean and Prebendaries by King Henry the eighth Thirdly by the same King is was made an Episcopall See and Thomas Thirby who having roasted the Churches Patrimony surrendred it to the spoile of Courtiers the first and last Bishop thereof Fourthly Queen Mary re-seated the Abbot and Monks in the possession thereof who were outed after her Death Lastly this yeer Queen Elizabeth converted it again into a Collegiate Church founding therein maintenance for one Dean twelve Prebendaries as many old souldiers past service for Almsmen and fourty Scholars who in due time are preferred to the Universities so that it hath proved one of the most renowned Seminaries of Religion and learning in the whole nation 44. Pope Pius though unsuccessfull in his addresses last yeer to the Queen 1561 yet was not so disheartened The Pope trieth again in â—am to reduce the Queen but that once more he would try what might be effected therein To which purpose he imployed the Abbot of Martinegi with most loving letters unto her desiring leave to come over into England But the Queen knowing it less difficulty and danger to keep him Anno Dom. 1562. then to cast him out of her Dominions forbad his entrance into the Realme as against the Laws of the Land So that he was fain to deliver his Errand and receive his answer and that a deniall at distance in the Low-Countries As little successe had the Bishop of Viterbo the Popes Nuncio to the King of France secretly dealing with S r. N. Throgmorton the Queens Agent there to perswade her to send Embassadors to the Councell of Trent which for the reasons afore mentioned was justly refused 45. S r. Edward Carne the Queens Leger at Rome The death of Sr. Edward Carne Doctor of Civill Law Knighted by the Emperour Charles the fifth pretended that as the Queen would not suffer the Popes Nuncio to come into England so the Pope would not permit him to depart Rome Whereas indeed the cunning old man was not detained but detained himself so well pleased was he with the place and his office therein Where soon after he died the last Leger of the English Nation to Rome publickly avowed in that imployment 46. This yeer the Spire of Pauls-Steeple covered with lead strangely fell on fire Pauls Steeple burnt down attributed by severall Persons to sundry Causes Some that it was casually blasted with lightning others that it was mischevously done by Art Magick And others and they the truest done by the negligence of a Plummer carelessly leaving his coals therein The fire burnt for five full hours in which time it melted all the lead of the Church only the stone Arches escaping the fury thereof but by the Queens bounty and a Collection from the Clergy it was afterwards repaired only the blunt Tower had not the top thereof sharpned into a Spire as before 47.
Spirit and present them spotlesse and unblameable to their Saviour In discharge of which function We which are by Gods goodnesse called to the government of the aforesaid Church do spare no pains labouring with all earnestness that Unity and the Catholick Religion which the Author thereof hath for the triall of his childrens faith and for our amendment suffered with so great afflictions might be preserved uncorrupt But the number of the ungodly hath gotten such power that there is now no place left in the whole world which they have not assayed to corrupt with their most wicked Doctrines Amongst others Elizabeth the pretended Queen of England the servant of wickedness lending thereunto her helping hand with whom as in a Sanctuary the most pernicious of all have found a refuge This very woman having seised on the Kingdom and monstrously usurping the place of Supreme Head of the Church in all England and the chief authority and jurisdiction thereof hath again brought back the said Kingdom into miserable destruction which was then newly reduced to the Catholick Faith and good fruits For having by strong hand inhibited the exercise of the true Religion which Mary the lawfull Queen of famous memory had by the help of this See restored Anno Dom. 1570. Anno Regin Eliza. 13. after it had been formerly overthrown by Henry the eighth a revolter therefrom and following and embracing the errours of Hereticks She hath removed the Royall Councell consisting of the English Nobility and filled it with obscure men being Hereticks suppressed the embracers of the Catholick Faith placed dishonest Preachers and Ministers of impieties abolished the sacrifice of the Mass Prayers Fastings Choice of meats Unmarried life and the Catholick Rites and Ceremonies commanded Books to be read in the whole Realm containing manifest Heresie and impious mysteries and institutions by Her self entertained and observed according to the prescript of Calvin to be likewise observed by Her Subjects presumed to throw Bishops Parsons of Churches and other Catholick Priests out of their Churches and Benefices and to bestow them and other Church-livings upon Hereticks and to determine of Church-causes prohibited the Prelates Clergy and People to acknowledge the Church of Rome or obey the Precepts and Canonicall Sanctions thereof compelled most of them to condescend to Her wicked Laws and to abjure the authority and obedience of the Bishop of Rome and to acknowledge Her to be sole Ladie in temporall and spirituall matters and this by oath imposed penalties and punishments upon those which obeyed not and exacted them of those which perserved in the unity of the faith and their obedience aforesaid cast the Catholick Prelates and Rectors of Churches in prison where many of them being spent with long languishing and sorrow miserably ended their lives All which things seeing they are manifest and notorious to all Nations and by the gravest testimony of very many so substantially proved that there is no place at all left for excuse defence or evasion We seeing that impieties and wicked actions are multiplied one upon another and moreover that the persecution of the faithfull and affliction for Religion groweth every day heavier and heavier through the instigation and means of the said Elizabeth because We understand Her minde to be so hardened and indurate that She hath not only contemned the godly requests and admonitions of Catholick Princes concerning Her healing and conversion but alas hath not so much as permitted the Nuncioes of this See to cross the seas into England are constrained of necessity to betake our selves to the weapons of justice against Her not being able to mitigate our sorrow that We are drawn to take punishment upon one to whose Ancestors the whole state of all Christendome hath been so much bounden Being therefore supported with His authority whose pleasure it was to place Us though unable for so great a burden in this supreme throne of justice We do out of the fulnesse of Our Apostolick Power declare the aforesaid Elizabeth being an Heretick and a favourer of Heresies and Her adherents in the matters aforesaid to have incurred sentence of Anathemaâ— and to be cut off from the unity of the body of Christ And moreover We do declare Her to be deprived of Her pretended title to the Kingdom aforesaid and of all Dominion Dignity and Priviledge whatsoever and also the Nobility Subjects and People of the said Kingdom and all other which have in any sort sworn unto Her to be for ever absolved from any such oath and all manner of duty of Dominion Allegiance and Obedience As We do also by authority of these presents absolve them and do deprive the same Elizabeth of Her pretended title to the Kingdom and all other things above-said And We do command and interdict all and every the Noble-men Subjects People Anno Regin Eliza. 12. Anno Dom. 1569. and others aforesaid that they presume not to obey Her or Her monitions mandates and laws and those which shall do the contrary We do innodate with the like Sentence of Anathem And because it were a matter of too much difficulty to convey these presents to all places wheresoever it shall be needfull Our will is that the copies thereof under a publick Notaries hand and sealed with the seal of an Ecclesiastical Prelate or of his court shall carry together the same credit with all people judicially and extrajudicially as these presents should do if they were exhibited or shewed Given at Rome at S t. Peters in the year of the incarnation of our Lord one thousand five hundred sixty nine the fifth of the Kalends of March and of Our Popedom the fifth year Cae Glorierius H. Cumyn 25. The principall persons The different opinions of English Catholicks concerning this excommunication whose importunity solicited the Pope to thunder out this excommunication were D r. Harding D r. Stapleton D r. Morton and D r. Web. And now the news thereof flying over into England variously affected the Catholicks according to their several dispositions 1. Some admired and applauded the resolution of His holinesse expecting all persons should instantly start from the infectious presence of the Queen and that that virgin-rose so blasted should immediately wither 2. Others would not believe that there was any such excommunication at all but that it was a mere slander devised by the common enemy to make all Catholicks odious 3. Others accounted such Excommunication though denounced of no validity a Watsons Qâ—â—dlibets pag. 262. because the reasons which moved the Pope thereunto were falsely and surreptitiously suggested to His Holiness 4. Others did question the lawfulnesse of all excommunications of Princes according to the rule of S t. Thomas Princeps multitudo non est excommunicanda where the uncertain profit which might follow could not countervail the certain mischief which would ensue 5. Others did condemne the present excommunication pro hic nunc as unexpedient probable to incense and exasperate the
they kept communion with the Church of England In which sense one may say Anno Regin Eliza. 13. that the whole land was of one language and one specch But now began the tower of Babel to be built and Popery to encrease which brought with it the division of tongues and the common distinction of Papist and Protestant the former now separating themselves from our publick Congregations They went out from us because they were not of us for had they been of us they would have continued with us Indeed the Pope set his mark of favour on such reputed sheep as absented themselves from our Churches henceforward accounting them goats that repaired thither And now began the word Recusant to be first born and bred in mens mouths Which though formerly in being to signify such as refused to obey the edicts of lawfull authority was now confined in common discourse to express those of the Church of Rome 30. Indeed hitherto the English Papists slept in a whole skin Papists their own persecutors and so might have continued had they not wilfully torn it themselves For the late rebellion in the North and the Pope thundring out his excommunication against the Queen with many scandalous and pernicious pamphlets daily dispersed made Her Majesty about this time first to frown on Papists then to chide then to strike them with penalties and last to draw life-blood from them by the severity of Her laws For now the Parliament sate at Westminstâ—r cutting as one may say with a three-edg'd-sword as making sharp edicts against Papists non-Conformists and covetous-Conformists of the Church of England 31. A Parliament cutâ—â—g with three edges Against Papists it was a See the statutes 13 Eliz. enacted that to write print preach express publish or affirme that the Queen was an Heretick Schismatick c. should be adjudged treason Also that it should be so accounted and punished to bring and put in execution any Bulls writings instruments or other superstitious things from the See of Rome from the first of July following A severe Act also was made against Fugitives who being the natural borne subjects of this Realm departed the same without license and fled into forraign parts Against non-Conformists it was provided that every Priest or Minister should before the Nativity of Christ next following in the presence of his Diocesan or his deputy declare his assent and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion agreed on in the Convocation One thousand six hundred sixty and two upon pain of Deprivation on his refusal thereof Against covetous-conformists it was provided that no spirituall person Colledge or Hospitall shall let lease other than for the terme of twenty one years or three lives the rent accustomed or more reserved payable yearly during the said terme 32. Indeed this law came very seasonably Covetous Clergie men bridled to retrench the unconscionable covetousness of some Clergy men who by long and unreasonable leases as the Statute tearmed them dilapidated the lands of their Churches Here it came to pass what the Spouse b Cant. 5. 7. complains that the keepers of the walls tooke her vail away from her It being true what one said that those who should have righted her of her wrongs did wrong her of her rights Many a Bishoprick so bruised it self when it fell vacant that it lost some land before a new Bishop was setled therein where the Elects contracted with their Promoters on unworthy conditions 33. But no armour can be made of proof against the darts of covetousness Covetousness creeps in at a small cranie especially when they come from an high and heavy hand of great men in authority This law was not so cautiously drawn up but that some Courtiers found a way to evade it seeing the Crown was not expressed therein and left capable of such leases as God-willing c Vide 1604. Secundo Reg. Jacobi hereafter shall be largely related by which single shift they frustrated the effect of this law Thus a ship may though not as suddenly as certainly be sunk with one as with a thousand leaks 34. We return to the Queen of Scots Anno Regin Eliza. 14. Anno Dom. 1571 of whom we have heard nothing this three years of Ecclesiasticall cognizance The second letter of Maâ—y Q of Scots to the Pope nor now meet with any thing of that nature save this letter which though somewhat long yet because never as yet printed and acquainting us with some passages in her restraint is not unworthy the perusall Most Blessed Father AFter the kissing of your most holy feet Octob 31. about the beginning of October I received your Holiness Letter written the thirteenth of July by which I understood not only the Benediction which your Holiness sent me and which was and shall be alwayes to me most acceptable but also the great demonstration of your good will to comfort me I rested therewith singularly comforted indeed partly because it was pleased earnestly to recommend both me and the affairs of my estate to the most Potent Princes and especially to the most renouned Kings of France and Spain But withall there is yet remaining on the other part to work so with Christian Princes that making a strict league among themselves they should spare no vigilance nor Travels nor expences once to abate the most Cruell * * This is meant of the Turke and not as some may suspect of Q. Elizabeth Tyrant who continually thinketh of no other thing then to move warr against us all And might it please God that all other things might correspond with my will besides that I were to do the same also your Blessednesse should see it with effect which should be that not only I but also my subjects with a will conform to their body and together with other Christians would put our selves forward to do our utmost force But what thing is there to be seen more worthy of compassion then to see my self fallen into so great infelicity from that happinesse wherein I found my self lately What thing is more lamentable then from a Free-woman as I was to become a Servant To these miseries is added that my Country is at this day * * This letter to the Pope was written in Latine then translated into Italian then retranslated into English Wonder not therefore if it lose some native lustre thereof wrapped in such and so many calamities and beaten down with so many inroads of the English that many and many Towns have been set on fire and flames many Castles and most fair Churches ruinated to the very Foundations But that which is worse my Inhabitants and Subjects without scarce doing the least offence unto them have been more cruelly slain But What shall I say nothing of my self Is it not clear unto all men how I have been continually in divers and sundry perils I call God to witnesse who knows with what greatness of
displicuisse videatur idque non tam praesract â voluntate quam tenera conscientiâ cujus tantam esse vim magni authores optimi quique viri scripserunt ut quicquid eâ vel reclamante vel errante vel haesitante fiat non leve peccatum esse statuerint Acut quod verum est ingenuè humiliter attendamus illud omnium qued unum agitur vel necessario silentio vel voluntariâ oblectatione obruamus Si laudabile est vitam non modo abomni crimine sed suspicione criminis liberam traduxisse traduxit si bonestum Religionem ab omni non modo Papistica corruptela sed à schismatica pravitate integram conservare conservavit si Christianum non modo propter justitiam persecutionem passum esse sed per caeter as nationes propter Evangelium oberrasse passus est oberravit Quae cum ita sint Regina Clementissima omnes hae nostrae voces ad Celsitudinem Tuam profectae hoc unum demississimè quà m fieri potest subjectissimè comprecantur idque per singularem naturae Tuae bonitatem per anteactae Tuae vitae consuetudinem per pietatem Regiam in subditos per charitatem Christianam in inimicos perque eam qua reliquos omnes privatos Principes excellis lenitatem ut velis Majestatem Tuam mansuetudine justitiam misericordiâ iramplacabilitate offensionem indulgentiâ mitigare Archiepiscopum maerore sractum debilitatum non modo extollere jacentem sed Ecclesiam ipsi ipsum Ecclesiae Tuis civibus suis fratribus exteris nationibus denique pijs omnibus tandem aliquando restituere Quod si fecerit Majestas Tua vel potiùs cùm fecerit quod enim summè cupimus summè etiam sperare jucundum est non dubitamus quin illum Reverendissimum Patrem supplicem abjectum non tam à pedes quà m ad nutûs Tuos perpetuò sis habitura Ita Celsitati Tuae persanctè pollicemur nobis neque in Ecclesia constituenda curam neque in Religione propagandâ studium neque in Schismatibus tollendis diligentiam neque in hoc beneficio praecipuè recolendo memoriam neque in ferendo quas debemus gratias gratam animi benevolentiam ullo unquam tempore defuturam Dominus Jesus Majestatem Tuam ad Reipublicae tranquillitatem ad Ecclesiae conservationem ad suae veritatis amplificationem omni foelicitatis genere diutissimè prosequatur This petition though presented with all advantage found no other entertainment than delays which ended in a final deniall it being daily suggested to the Queen that Grindal was a great patrone of prophesyings now set up in severall parts of the land which if permitted to take place would in fine prove the bane of the Church and Commonwealth 2. These prophesyings were founded on the Apostles a 1 Cor. 14. 13. precept The model and method of prophesyings For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all be comforted but so as to make it out they were fain to make use of humane prudential additions modelling their prophesyings as followeth 1. The Ministers of the same precinct by their own appointment not strictly standing on the old division of Deanries met at the principal place therein 2. The junior Divine went first into the pulpit and for halfe an hour more or less as he could with clearness contract his meditations treated upon a portion of Scripture formerly by a joynt-agreement assigned unto him After him foure or five moe observing their seniority successively dilated on the same text 3. At last a grave Divine Anno Dom. 1580. Anno Regin Eliza. 23. appointed on purpose as Father of the Act made the closing sermon somewhat larger then the rest praising the pains and performance of such who best deserved it meekly and mildly reproving the mistakes and failings of such of those if any were found in their Sermons Then all was ended as it was begun with a solemn prayer and at a publick refection of those Ministers together with many of the Gentry repairing unto them the next time of their meeting was appointed text assigned Preachers deputed a new Moderator elected or the old one continued and so all were dissolved This exercise proved though often long seldome tedious and peoples attentions though travelling farr were little tired because entertained with much variety 3. However The inconveâ—â—â—â—s of 〈◊〉 â—e yings 〈◊〉 or suspected some inconveniences were seen and more foreseen by wise or at least suspected by fearfull men if these prophesies might generally take place in the land 1. Many modest Ministers and those profitable Preachers in their private Parishes 〈◊〉 were loath to appear in this publick way which made them underservedly sleighted and neglected by others 2. Many young men of more boldness than learning readiness than solidity carried away the credit to the great disheartning of those of more age and ability 3. This consort of Preachers kept not always time and tune amongst themselves much jarring of personal reflections often disturbing their harmony 4. Many would make impertinent excursions from their text to inveigh against the present discipline and government of the Church Such-Preachers being more plausible to the people generally best pleased with them who manifest their displeasure against the present authority 5. A wise person was often wanting to moderate the Moderator partially passing his censures rather according to affection than judgement 6. People factiously cried up some one Minister some another to the disgrace of Gods Ordinance 7. These prophesyings being accounted the faires for spiritual merchandizes made the weekly markets for the same holy commodities on the Lords day to be less respected and Ministers to be neglected in their respective Parishes 8. In a word the Queen was so perfectly prepossessed with prejudice against these prophesyings as if they foretold the rise of schisme and faction that she was implacably incensed against Arch-Bishop Grindal as the principal Patrone and promoter thereof However the good Arch-Bishop to vindicate himself and state the usefulness of these prophesyings wrote a large letter to the Queen and allthough we cannot exactly tell the just * To the day and moneth being confident this was the year time thereof yet knowing it will be welcome to the pious reader at any time here we present the true copie thereof WIth most humble remembrance of bounden duty to your Majesty The most remarkable letter of Arch-Bishop Grindall in defence of Prophesies and Church jurisdiction It may please the same to be advertized that the speeches which it pleased you to deliver unto me when I last attended on your Highness concerning the abridging the number of Preachers and the utter subversion of all learned exercises and conferences amongst the Ministers of the Church allowed by the Bishops and Ordinaries have exceedingly dismayed and discomforted me not so much for that the said speeches founded very hardly against my own person
stipend if every flock might have a preaching pastor which is rather to be wished then hoped for then were reading of Homilies altogether unnecessary but to supply that want of preaching Gods word which is the food of the soul growing upon the necessities before mentioned both in your brothers time and in your time also certain Homilies have been devised that the people should not altogether be destitute of instruction for it is an old proverb better a loaf then no bread Now for the second point which is concerning the learned exercises and conferences amongst the ministers of the Church I have consulted with divers of my brethren the Bishops who think of the same as I do a thing profitable to the Church and therefore expedient to be continued and I trust your Majesty will think the like when your Majesty shall have been informed of the matter and order thereof what authority it hath of the scriptures what commodity it bringeth with it and what discommodities will follow if it be clean taken away The authors of this exercise are the Bishops of the Diocess where this same is used who by the law of God and by the Canons and Constitutions of the Church now in force have authority to appoint exercise to their inferiour Ministers for encrease of learning and knowledge in the Scriptures as to them seemeth most expedient for that pertaineth ad disciplinam clericalem the time appointed for this exercise is once in a moneth or once in twenty or fifteen dayes at the discretion of the Ordinary The time of this exercise is two hours the place the Church of the 〈◊〉 appointed for the Assembly the matter entreated of is as followeth some text of Scripture before appointed to be spoken is interpreted in this order First the occasion of the place is shewed Secondly the end Thirdly the proper sence of the place Fourthly the property of the words and those that be learned in the tongues shewing the diversity of interpretations Fiftly where the like phrases are used in scriptures Sixtly places of scripture that seem to repugne are reconciled Seventhly the arguments of the text are opened Eightly it is declared what vertues and vices are therein couched and to which of the commandements they do appertain Ninâ—hly how the like hath been wrested by the adversary if occasion so require Tenthly and lastly what doctrine of faith and manners the said text doth contain the conclusion is with a prayer for your Majesty and all estates as is appointed by the book of Common-Prayer and a psalm These orders â—ollowing are also observed by the said exercise First two or three of the gravest and best learned pastors are appointed of the Bishops to be Moderators in every Assembly no man may speak unless he be first allowed by the Bishop with this proviso that no lay man be suffered to speak at any time no controversy of this present time and state shall be moved and dealt withall if any attempt the contrary he is put to silence by the Moderator none is suffered to glance openly or covertly at persons publick or private neither yet any one to confute one another if any man utter a wrong sence of scripture he is privately admonished thereof and better instructed by the Moderators and other his fellow Ministers if any man use immoderate speeches or unreverend gesture or behaviour or otherwise be suspected in life he is likewise admonished as aforesaid if any man do vilify or break these orders he is presented to the Bishop to be corrected The ground of this or like exercises is of great and ancient authority for Samuel did practise such like exercises in his time at Naioth in Ramath and Bethel 1 Sam. 10. 2 19. So did Elizeus the prophet at Jerico which studious persons in those dayes were called filij Prophetarum the disciples of the Prophets that being exercised in the knowledg and study of the scriptures they might be able men to serve in Gods Church as that time required St. Paul also doth make express mention 1 Cor. 14. that the like in effect was used in the primitive Church and giveth order for the same that 2 or 3 should speak by course he meaneth and the rest shall keep silence That exercise in the Church in those dayes St. Paul calleth Prophetia and the speaker Prophetas terms very odious in our dayes to some because they are not rightly understood for indeed propheta in that and like places of the same Paul doth not as it doth sometimes signifie prediction of things to come which thing or which gift is not now ordinary in the Church of God but signifieth thereby the assent and consent of the scriptures And therefore doth St. Paul attribute unto these that be called Prophetae in that chapter doctrinam ad aedificationem exortationem consolationem This gift of expounding and interpreting the scriptures was in St. Pauls time given unto many by a speciall miracle without study so was also by miracle the gift to speak strange tongues which they had never learned But now miracles ceasing men must attain to the Hebrew Greek and Latine tongues c. by travell and study God giveth the encrease so must men also attaine by the like means to the gifts of expounding and interpreting the scriptures and amongst other helps nothing is so necessary as these above named exercises and conferences amongst the ministers of the Church which in effect are all one with the exercises of students in Divinity in the Vniversities saving that the first is done in a tongue understanded to the more edifying of the learned hearers Howsoever report hath been made to your Majesty concerning these exercises yet I and others of York whose names are noted as followeth 1. Cantuariensis 2. London 3. Winc. 4. Bathon 5. Litchfield 6. Glocester 7. Lincolne 8. Chester 9. Exon. 10. Meneven al 's Davids Hereof as they have testified unto me by their letters have found by experience that these profits and commodities following have ensued of them 1. The ministers of the Church are more skillfull and more ready in the scriptures and more apt to teach their flocks 2. It withdraweth them from idleness wandring gaming c. 3. Some afore suspected in doctrine are brought to the knowledge of the truth 4. Ignorant ministers are driven to study if not for conscience yet for shame and fear of discipline 5. The opinion of lay men touching the ableness of the Clergy is hereby removed 6. Nothing by experience beateth down popery more then that 7. Ministers as some of my brethren do confess grow to such knowledge by means of those exercises that where afore were not able Ministers not 3 now are 30 able and meet to preach at Pauls cross and 40 or 50 besides able to instruct their own Cures so as it is found by experience the best means to encrease knowledge in the simple and to continue it in the learned only backward men in religion and
to return into his native Land and died quietly neere the City of London 6. The second The death of Nicholas Harpsfield Nicholas Harpsfield bred first in Winchester School then New Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law and afterward became Arch-Deacon of Canterbury Under King Edward the 6 th he banished himself under Queen Mary he returned and was advanced And under Queen Elizabeth imprisoned for denying Her Supremacy Yet such was his milde usage in restraint that he had the opportunity to write much therein and amongst the rest his Ecclesiastical History no less learnedly then painfully peformed and abating his Partiality to his own Interest well deserving of all posterity He wrote also six dialogues in favour of his Religion but because in durance he durst not set it forth in his own but under the Name of Alan Cope Yet lest truth should be conceal'd and friend defraud friend of his due praise he caused these Capitall Letters to be ingraved at the end of his Book A. H. L. N. H. E. V. E. A. C. Hereby mystically meaning Auctor Hujus Libri Nicholaus Harpesfeldus Edidit Verò Eum Aalnus Copus He died this year at London in prison after 20. years restraint leaving behind him the general reputation of a Religious man 7. The third The death of Gregory Martin Gregory Martin born at Macfield in Sussex bred with Campian in St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford Tutor to Philip Earl of Arundel eldest son to Thomas Duke of Norfolke Afterwards he went over beyond Sea and became Divinity Professor in the Colledge of Rhemes died there October 28. and is buried with a large Epitaph under a plain monument 8. I shall now withdraw my self Letter History best History or at leastwise stand by a silent spectator whilst I make room for far my betters to come forth and speak in the present controversie of Church Government Call it not Cowardize but count it Caution in me if desirous in this difference to lie at a close-guard and offer as little as may be on either side Whilst the Reader shall behold the Masters of Defence on both sides engaged therein in these following letters of State Baronius the great Roman Annalist was wont to say Epistolaris Historia est optima Historia that is the best History which is collected out of Letters How much of the Acts of the Apostles especially for the regulation of time is contained in the Epistles of S t. Paul Of the Primitive History the most Authenticall part is what is gathered out of the letters of the Fathers and in like manner the true estate of Ecclesiasticall affairs in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth may be extracted out of the following despatches and their returns exhibiting the inclinations of their Authors in pure Naturalls without any adulterated addition and therefore the surest for others instruction and safest for my own protection 9. But one thing I must clear in our entrance thereon Objection against Letter want of Date answered in excuse that these Letters are Dateless as to the day and moneth a great omission which I have seen in many Originalls whose Authors so minded the matter that they neglected the time the present dispatching of them being date enough to their purpose though now the want thereof leaves Posterity at a loss A Blew Coat without a Badge is but a white Coat in effect as nothing informing the Beholder to what Lord the Bearer thereof doth relate And as little instructive will some say are these Letters as to the point of Chronologie But be it known that no Readers stomack can be so sharp set on Criticalness of Chronologie Anno. Dom. 1583. but that being fed with the certainty of the year He will not be famisht with the uncertainty of the moneth or day Anno Regin Eliza. 26. Indeed as such whose names are casually omitted in the Register may recover the truth of their age by a Comparative Computation of their years who were born about the same time so by the mixture and comparing of these dateless Letters with those having date of secular affairs I could Competently have collected and inserted the time save that I loath to obtrude any thing conjecturall on the readers belief But we must begin with the ensuing Petition as the ground-work of all the rest The Ministers of Kent to the Privie Councel MAy it please your Honours of your great and wonted favour towards the distressed The petition of the Kentish Ministers to consider these following Whereas we have been called to subscribe in the County of Kent to certain Articles propounded by my Lords Grace of Canterbury unto the Ministers and Preachers The first concerning Her Majesties authority The second concerning no contrariety to the word of God in the Book of Common-Prayer and administration of the Sacraments the book of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons And the third that we beleeve all things in the book of the Articles of Religion to be agreeable to the word of God Whereupon all have most willingly offered to subscribe unto the other two And being pronounced in the open Court Contumaces reservata poenâ and so refer'd to answer at Law the 11 and 13 of February Which we feared would be prosecuted with much trouble and no resolution to our consciences we amongst the rest repaired with that carefull avoiding that we could of offence to his Lordships Grace to whom when we had the first day made known some of our doubts concerning the first book only many moe in number and as great in weight concerning the first and second and some concerning the third remaining beside we have upon our refusall and record taken by publick notary of one point only from every particular refuser which moved him thereunto and one place of Scripture adjoyned without collection or the reason of the same been suspended from our Ministery by which occasion as we fear that that account which hath been made of the consequence of our cause both in publick sermons and pronouncing of sentence against us namely that in denying to subscribe to the two aforesaid Articles we separated our selves from the Church and condemned the right service of God in prayer and administration of the Sacraments in the Church of England and the Ministry of the same and disobeyed Her Majesties Authority hath been intimated to your Honours So we think it our bound duties most humbly on our knees to beseech your Honours to know and make manifest in our behalf to Her Majesty that which we before the Lord in simplicity protest we in all reverence judge of the authority which is established and the persons which were Authors of those books that they did not only speak but also did highly to the glory of God promote the true Religion of God and the Glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ and that we so esteem of those books and there is nothing in them to cause us to separate our selves
from the unity of the Church which in the execution of our ministry in participation of the publick prayers and Sacraments we have in our own example testified and by publick doctrine maintained And that the ministery of the word preached and publick administration of the Sacraments exercised in this land according to Authority is as touching the substance of it Lawfull and greatly blessed of God And lastly that we have and always will shew our selves obedient to Her Majesties authority in all causes Ecclesiasticall and civil to whomsoever it be committed and therefore that as poor but most faithfull subjects to Her Majesty and Ministers of Jesus Christ the great cause we have in hand and which consequently as we under your Honours correction judge the necessary reformation of many things in the Church according unto Gods word may have that sufficient hearing as all causes of our refusall to subscribe may be known and equally out of Gods word judged of and the lamentable estate of the Churches to which we appertain with the hard condition of us may in that manner that your Honours most excellent wisdom shall finde expedient in the pitty of Jesus Christ for the mean time be relieved the Lord Almighty vouchsafe for Jesus Christ his sake long to continue and bless your Honours wisdom and Councell to the great glory of God and the happy government of Her Majestie and flourishing estate of this Church of England Your Honours daily and faithfull Orators the Ministers of Kent which are suspended from the execution of their Ministery The Lords of the Councell sent this Petition with another Bill of complaint exhibited unto them against Edmond Freak Bishop of Norwich unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury What his answer was thereunto the reader may informe himself out of the following letter To the Lords of the Councell Most Honorable UPon Sunday last in the afternoon The Arch-Bishops letter in answer thereof M r. real brought unto me in your Lordships names two supplications or Bills of complaint exhibited unto your Lordships The one by certain Ministers of Suff. against their Diocesan there The other by some of Kent against my self with this further message that it was your desires I should come to the Court on Sunday next It may please your good Lordships to be advertised that it seemeth something strange to me that the Ministers of Suffolk finding themselves aggrieved with the doings of their Diocesan should leave the ordinary course of proceeding by Law which is to appeal unto me and extraordinarily trouble your Lordships in a matter not so incident as I think to that most honourable Board seeing it hath pleased Her Majesty Her own self in express words to commit these causes Ecclesiasticall to me as to one who is to make answer to God to her Majesty in this behalf my office also and place requiring the same In answer of the complaint of the Suffolk men of their Ordinaries proceeding against them I have herewith sent to your Lordships a Copie of a letter which I lately received from his Lordship wherein I think that part of their Bill to be fully answered and his doings to have been orderly and charitable Touching the rest of their Bill I know not what to judge of it neither yet of what spirit it cometh but in some points it talketh as I think modestly and charitably They say they are no Jesuits sent from Rome to reconcile c. True it is neither are they charged to be so but notwithstanding they are contentious in the Church of England and by their contentions minister occasion of offence to those which are seduced by Jesuits and give the arguments against the forme of publick prayer used in this Church and by law established and thereby encrease the number of them and confirm them in their wilfullnesse They also make a Schism in the Church and draw many other of her Majesties subjects to a misliking of her Laws and Government in causes Ecclesiasticall so far are they from perswading them to obedience or at least if they perswade them to it in the one part of her authority it is in causes civill they desswade them from it as much in the other that is in causes Ecclesiasticall so that indeed they pluck down with the one hand that which they seem to build with the other they say that they have faithfully traveled in perswading to obedience c. and have therein prevailed c. It is but their own testimony I think it were hard for them to shew whom they converted from Papistry to the Gospell But what stirrs and discentions they have made amongst those which professed the Gospel before they were taught by them I think it to be apparent It is notorious that in King Edwards time and in the beginning of her Majesties Reign for the space of divers years When this self same book of publick prayers was uniformally used c. by all learned Preachers maintained and impugned by none the Gospell mightily prevailed took great increase and very few were known to refuse to communicate with us in prayer and participation of the Sacraments But since this Schism and division the contrary effect hath fallen out and how can it otherwise be seeing we our selves condemn that publick form and order of prayer and administration of the Sacraments as in divers points contrary to the word of God from which as in like manner condemning the same the Papists do absent themselves In the later part of their Bill conteining the reasons why they cannot submit themselves to observe the form prescribed by the book in all points I wonder either at their ignorance or audacity They say that the Learned writers of our time have shewed their mislikings of some of our Ceremonies The most learned writers in our times have not so done but rather reproved the mislikers those few that have given contrary judgement therein have done more rashly then learnedly presuming to give their Censures of such a Church as this is not understanding the fruits of the cause Nor alledging any reason worth the hearing especially one little Colledge in either of our Universities containing in it more learned men then in their Cities But if the authority of men so greatly move them why make they so small account of those most excellent and learned Fathers who were the penners of the Book whereof divers have sealed their Religion with their Blood which none yet have done of the impugners of the Book The Pope say they hath changed his Officium B. Mariae c. And so it is neither is there any man that doubteth but the Book of Common-Prayer may also be altered if there appear good cause why to those in Authority But the Pope will not suffer that Officium B. Marie c. to be preached against or any part thereof till it was by publick order reformed neither will he confess that he hath reformed it in respect of any errours but such only
The Privie Councellers Letter to the Arch Bishop in favour of the noncomformists some Parsons of Churches some Vicars some Curates but all Preachers whereby some were deprived of their livings some suspended from their Ministry and preaching yet we have forborn to enter into any particular examination of such complaints thinking that howsoever inferior officers as Chancellours Commissaries Arch-Deacons and such like whose offices are of more value and profit by such like kinde of proceedings might in such sort proceed against the Ministers of the Church Yet your Lordship the Arch-Bishop of that province of Canterbury have besides your generall Authority some particular interest in the present Jurisdiction of sundry Bishopricks vacant And you also the Bishop of London both for your own authority in your Diocess and as head Commissioner Ecclesiastical would have a pastorall over the particular officers to stay and temper them in their hasty proceedings against the Ministers and especially against such as doe earnestly profess and instruct the people against the dangerous sects of Papistry But yet of late hearing of the lamentable estate of the Church in the Country of Essex that is of a great number of zealous and learned Preachers there suspended from their Cures the Vacancy of the place for the most part without any Ministry of Preaching Prayers and Sacraments And in some places of certain appointed to those void Rooms being persons neither of learning nor of good name and in other places of that County a great number of Parsons occupying the Cures being notoriously unfit most for lack of learning many charged or chargable with great and erroneous faults and drunkenness filthiness of life gamsters at Cards haunting of Ale-houses and such like against whom we hear not of any proceedings but that they are quietly suffered to the slander of the Church to the offence of good people yea to the famishing of them for lack of good teaching and thereby dangerous to the subverting of many weaklings from their duties to God and the Queens Majesty by secret Jesuits and counterfet Papists And having thus in a generall sort heard out of many parts of the like of this lamentable estate of the Church yet to the intent we should not be deceived with the Generality of reports we sought to be informed of some particulars namely of some parts of Essex and having received the same credibly in writing we have thought it our duties to her Majesty and the Realm for the Remedy hereof without intermedling our selves with your Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall to make report unto your Lordships as persons that ought most specially to have regard thereto as we hope you will and therefore have sent you herewith in writing a Catalogue of the names of persons of sundry natures and conditions that is one sort being reported to be learned zealous and good preachers deprived and suspended and so the Cures not served with meet Persons The othersort a number of Persons having Cures being in sundry sorts far unmeet for any offices in the Church for their many defects and imperfections and so as it seems by the reports have been and are suffered to continue without reprehension or any other proceedings against them and thereby a great number of Christian people untaught A matter very lamentable in this time In a third sort a number having double livings with Cure and so not resident upon their Cures But yet enjoying the benefit of their Benefices without any personall attendance upon their Cures Against all these sorts of lewd and evill and unprofitable corrupt members we hear of no inquisition nor of any kinde of proceeding to the Reformation of those horrible offences in the Church but yet of great diligence yea and extremity used against those that are known diligent Preachers Now therefore we for the discharge of our duties being by our vocation under her Majesty bound to be carefull that the universall Realm may be well governed to the honour and glory of God and to the discharge of her Majesty being the principal governor over all her subjects under Almighty God do most earnestly desire your Lordships to take some charitable consideration of these causes that the people of the Realm may not be deprived of their Pastors being diligent learned and zealous though in some points Ceremoniall they may seem doubtfull only in Conscience and not of wilfulness Nor that their Cures be suffered to be vacant without good Pastors nor that such as be placed in the Rooms of Cures be insufficient for learning or unmeet for their conversation And though the notes which we send you be only of Parsons belonging to Essex yet we pray you to look into the rest of the Country in many other Diocesses for we have and do heare daily of the like in generality in many other places but we have not sought to have their particulars to manifestly delivered of other places of Essex or rather to say the truth of one corner of the Country And we shall be most glad to hear of your cares to be taken for remedy of these Enormities so as we be not troubled hereafter or hear of the like complaints to continue and so we bid your Lordships right heartily farewell Your Lordships Loving friends Will. Burleps George Shrewsbury A. Warwick R. Leicester C. Howard I. Croft Chr. Hatton Fra. Walsingham Amongst these Privy Councellors I miss one who was mainly materiall namel S r. Francis Knowls treasurer of the Queens Household and K nt of the Garter Father in law to the Earl of Leicester and no less considerable in himself then in his relations this Knight being bred a banished man in Germany during the Reign of Queen Mary and conversing with M r. Calvin at Geneva was never after fond of Episcopacy and though now casually absent from the Councell Board was a great Patron of the Nonconformists But see the Arch-Bishops answer to their letter IT may please your good Lordships to be advertized The Arch-Bishops answer to the Privy Councellours Letter that I have received your letters of the twentieth of this moneth with a Schedule inclosed therein concerning certain Ministers in Essex whereunto as yet I cannot make any full answer by reason of the absence of my Lord of London to whom the letter is also directed and the parties therein named best known as being in his Diocess Nevertheless in the mean time I thought it my part to signifie unto your Lordships that I hope the information to be in most parts unjust Certain men being in and about Mauldon because they cannot have such among them as by disorderliness do best content their humours did not long since in like manner in a generality make an information to the same effect which coming to mine and others hands of the Ecclesiastical commission we did direct our letters to some of the principal of them by name requiring them to exhibite unto us at the beginning of this next tearm now next ensuring the names of
that they are more carefull to wash their own faces then busie to throw durt on others Any man may be witty in a bitting way and those that have the dullest brains have commonly the sharpest teeth to that purpose But such carnall mirth whilst it tickles the flesh doth wound the sâ—ul And which was the main these base books would give a great advantage to the generall foe and Papists would make too much use thereof against Protestant religion especially seeing an a Jude 9. Arch-Angell thought himself too good to bring and Sathan not bad enough to have railing speeches brought against him 20. Buâ— leaving private men to abound in their own sense how highly the state as it then stood distasted these books The instruments embyed in making thâ—se Books heavily punished will plainly appeâ— by the heavie censures inflicted on such as were but accessatie thereunto To pass by John Henry and John Vdall ministers accused for making some of them of whom in due place together with the Printers and Humphry Newman a Cohler chief disperser of them The Starâ—-Chamber deeply sined S r. Richard Knightly and S r. 〈◊〉 Wigstow for entertaining and receiving the Press Gentlemen whom their b Sr. G Paâ— in the liâ—e of Arch Bishop Whitgist pag. 40. adversâ—rtâ—s allow qualified with piety gravity and wisdome which made many admire how their discretion could be deluded and more bemoan that their goodness should be abusedâ—y others who had designes upon them Here â—rch-Bishop Whitgist bestirr'd himself to improve his interest with the Queen c Camdens Elizabeths in Anno 1588. till his importunity had angred her till his importunity had pleased her again that they might be delivered out of prison and eased of their fines which upon their submission was performed Whose mildness to mediate for his adversaries as it was highly commended by some so there wanted not those who imputed his moderation therein to declining of envie gaining of applause and remorse of his own conscience for over rigorous proceedings it being no charity to cure the wound he hath caused and solicit the remitting of those fines which he had procured to be imposed Thus impossible it is to please froward spirits and to make them like the best deed who dislike the doer thereof and if any desire to know the motions and stages of the Press which printed these books know it was first set up at d Sr. G. Paul pag. 39. Moulâ—y near Kingston in Surrey thence conveyed 〈◊〉 Fausly in Northamotonshire thence to Norton and afterwards to Coventry Hence it was removed to Welstone in Warwick-shire whence the Letters were sent to another Prâ—ss in or near Manchester and there discovered by Henry Earle of Daâ—by in the printing of more work for the Câ—oper No wonder then if many 〈◊〉 were committed by this call it as you please Pâ—lgrâ—me or Vagabond Press when it self was ever in a wandring and stragling condition 21. A 〈◊〉 of the Prâ—shyterians of the Warwick-shire Classes Acts of the Synod of Coventry was call'd at Coventry aiâ— oectmo quartâ— that is on the 10 th of April wherein the questions brought the last year from the Brethren of Cambridge Synâ—d were resolved in manner as followeth 1. That e e Transcribed out of Bp. Bancrofts book called Englands Scotizing for Discipline by practise p 86. and 87 who may seem have had the orignall in latin private Baptisme was unlawfull 2. That it is not lawfull to read Homilies in the Church 3. That the signe of the Cross is not to be used in Baptisme 4. That thâ— faithfull ought not to communicate with unlearned Ministers although they may be present at theiâ— service if they come of purpose to hear the sermon the reason is because Laymen as well as Ministers may read publick service 5. Thaâ— the calling of Bishops c. is unlawfull 6. That as they deal in causes Ecclesiasticall there is no duty belonging unto nor any publickly to be given them 7. That it is not lawfull to be ordained Ministers by them or to denounce either â—uspensions or excommunications sâ—nt from them 8. That it is not lawfull to rest in the Bishops deprivat on of any from the Ministry except upon consultation with the neighbour Ministers adjoyning and his flock it seems so good unto them but that he continue in the same untill he be compell'd to the contrary by civill force 9. That it is not lawfull to appear in a Bishops Court but with protestation of their unlawfulness 10. That Bishops are not to be acknowledged either for Doctors Elders or Deacons as having 〈◊〉 ordinary calling 11. That touching the restauration of their Ecclesiasticall Discipline it ought to be taught to the people as occasion shall serve 12. That as yet the people are not to be solicited publickly to the practise of the Discipline till they be better instructed in the knowledge of it 13. That men of better understanding are to be allured privately to the present embracing of the Discipline and practise of it as far as they shall be well able with the peace of the Church Likewise in the same assembly the aforesaid Book of discipline was approved to be a draught essentiall and necessary for all times and certain articles devised in approbation and for the manner of the use thereof were brought forth treated of and subscribed unto by M r. Cartwright and others and afterwards tendered far and near to the severall Classes for a generall ratification of all the Brethren 22. Now if Rebeccah found her self strangely affected when a Gen. 25 22. The English Church distracted bâ—twiâ—â— contrary disciplines twinns strugled in her wombe the condition of the English Church must be conceived sad which at the same time had two disciplines both of them pleading Scripture and Primitive practise each striving to support it self and suppress it's rivall The Hierarchy commanded by authority established by law confirmed by generall practise and continued so long by custome in this land that had one at this time lived the age of Methuselah he could not remember the beginning thereof in Britain The Presbytery though wanting the stamp of authority claiming to be the purer metall founded by some Clergie men favoured by many of the Gentry and followed by more of the Common sort who being prompted with that naturall principle that the weakest side must be most watchfull what they wanted in strength they supplied in activity But what won them most repute was their Ministers painfull preaching in populous places It being observed in England that those who hold the Helme of the pulpit alwayes steere peoples hearts as they please The worst is that in matters of fact all relations in these times are relations I mean much resent of party and interest to the prejudice of truth Let me minde the Reader to reflect his eye on our Quotations the Margin in such cases being as materiall as the Text as conteining the authors
this promoted to be Bishop of Worcester then succeeded Grindal in London and Yorke an excellent and painfull preacher and of a pious and Godly life which increased in his old age so that by a great and good stride whilst he had one foot in the Grave he had the other in Heaven He was buried in Southwell and it is hard to say whether he was more eminent in his own Vertues or more happy in his Flourishing Posterity 26. The next year produced not any great Church matters in its self 32. but was only preparatory to the ripening of business 1589. and raising the charges against the principall Patrons of Nonconformity Arch-Bishop Whitgift his discretion Indeed Arch-Bishop Whitgift according to his constant custome and manner repaired daily to the Councell-Table early in the morning and after an usuall apprecation of a Good-morrow to the Lords he requested to know if there were any Church business to be debated and if the answer were returned in the Affirmative He stayed and attended the issue of the matter But if no such matter appeared he craved leave to be dispensed withall saying Then my Lords here is no need of me and departed A commendable practise clearing himself from all aspersions of civill-pragmaticallness and tending much to the just support of his reputation 27. On the first of September M r. Cartwright 33. Batchelor in Divinity 1590. Sept. 1. was brought before Her Majesties Commissioners Articles objected against Mr. Thomas Cartwright there to take his oath and give in his positive answer to the following Articles 1. IMprimis a a The copy of these Articles â—ere 〈…〉 after his death who as kindly communicated as 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 â—nscribed them We do object and articulate against him Anno Dom. 1590. that he Anno Regin Eliza. 33. being a Minister at least a Deacon lawfully called according to the godly laws and orders of this Church of England hath forsaken abandoned and renounced the same orders Ecclesiastical as an antichristian and unlawfull manner of calling unto the Ministry or Deaconship 2. Item that he departing this Realm into forraign parts without license as a man discontented with the form of Government Ecclesiasticall here by law established the more to testifie his dislike and contempt thereof and of the manner of his former Vocation and Ordination was contented in forraign parts as at Antwerpe Middeburgh or elsewhere to have a new Vocation Election or Ordination by imposition of hands unto the Ministry or unto some other order or degree Ecclesiasticall and in other manner and form than the laws Ecclesiasticall of this Realm do prescribe Let him declare upon his oath the particular circumstances thereof 3. Item that by vertue or colour of such his later Vocation Election or Ordination becoming a pretended Bishop or Pastor of such Congregation as made choice of him he established or procured to be established at Antwerp and at Middleburgh among Merchants and others Her Majesties Subjects a certain Consistory Seminary Presbytery or Eldership Ecclesiastical consisting of himself being Bishop or Pastor and so President thereof of a Doctor of certain Ancients Sentours or Elders for government Ecclesiastical and of Deacons for distributing to the poor 4. Item that the said Eldership and the authority thereof certain English-born Subjects were called elected or ordained by imposition of hands to be Ministers or Ecclesiastical Doctors being not of that degree before as Hart Travers Grise or some of them and some that were also Ministers afore according to the orders of the Church of England as Fenner Acton were so called and other English Subjects were also called and likewise ordained Elders and some others were ordained Deacons in other manner and form than the laws Ecclesiasticall of the Realm do prescribe or allow of 5. Item that such Eldership so established under the Presidentship of him the said Thomas Cartwright had used besides this authority of this Vocation and Ordination of Officers ecclesiasticall the Censures and keyes of the Church as publick admonition suspension from the Supper and from execution of offices ecclesiastical and the censures of excommunication likewise authority of making laws degrees and orders ecclesiastical and of dealing with the doctrine and manners of all persons in that Congregation in all matters whatsoever so far as might appertain to conscience 6. Item that he the said Thomas Cartwright in the publick administration of his Ministry there among Her Majesties Subjects used not the forme of liturgie or Book of Common-Prayer by the laws of this land established nor in his government ecclesiasticall the laws and orders of this land but rather conformed himself in both to the use and form of some other forraign Churches 7. Item that since his last return from beyond the Seas being to be placed at Warwick he faithfully promised if he might be but tolerated to preach not to impugne the laws orders policy government nor governours in this Church of England but to perswade and procure so much as he could both publickly and privately the estimation and peace of this Church 8. Item That he having no Ministry in this Church other then such as before he had forsaken and still condemneth as unlawful and without any license as Law requireth he hath since taken upon him to preach at Warwick and at sundry other places of this Realm 9. Item That since his said return in sundry private conferences with such Ministers and others as at sundry times by word and letter have asked his advice or opinion he hath shewed mislike of the Laws and Government Ecclesiastical and of divers parts of the Liturgie of this Church and thereby perswaded and prevailed also with many in sundry points to break the orders and form of the Book of Common-Prayer who observed them before and also to oppose themselves to the Government of this Church as himself well knoweth or verily believeth 10. Item That in all or most of such his Sermons and Exercises he hath taken occasion to traduce and enveigh against the Bishops and other governours under them in this Church 11. Item That he hath grown so far in hatred and dislike towards them as that at sundry times in his prayer at Sermons and namely Preaching at Banbury about a year since in such place as others well disposed pray for Bishops he prayed to this or like effect Because that they which ought to be pillars in the Church do bend themselves against Christ and his truth therefore O Lord give us grace and power all as one man to set our selves against them And this in effect by way of emphasis he then also repeated 12. Item that preaching at sundry times and places he usually reacheth at all occasions to deprave condemn and impugn the manner of Ordination of Bishops Ministers and Deacons sundry points of the Politie Government Laws Orders and rights Ecclesiastical and of the publick Liturgie of the Church of England contained in
the Book of Common-Prayer as namely the use of the Surplis the Interrogatories to God-Fathers c. in the name of the Infants the Cross in Baptism the Ring in Marriage the Thanksgiving after Child-birth Burials by Ministers the Kneeling at Communion some points of the Letany certain Collects and Prayers the reading of portions of Scripture for the Epistle and Gospel and the manner of Singing in Cathedral Churches and others 13. Item That preaching at the Baptizing of one of Job Throgmortons children he spoke much of the unlawfulness and in derogation of the Government Politie Laws and Liturgy Ecclesiastical of this Realm and to the justification of a Government by Elderships in every Congregation and by Conference and Synods c. abroad as Divine Institutions commanded by Christ and the onely lawful Church-government seeking to prove and establish such Elderships out of that word in one of the Psalms where Thrones are mentioned 14. Item That by toleration and impunity he did grow so confident and withal implacable against the Laws Government and Orders of this Church of England that he could not endure M r Bourdman and others preaching sundry times at Warwick to speak in defence thereof but took upon him to confute in sundry Sermons there these things which the said Bourdman had truly and dutifully in that behalf spoken and delivered 15. Item That in his Sermons at Warwick and elsewhere within the said time he often delivered many frivolous strange and undiscreet positions as namely that to kneel down and pray when a man comes into the Church to pray there privately was but to offer the sacrifice of fools That it was requisite all the hearers that were able should stand upon their feet during Sermons and discoursing about women and their child-birth c. did speak thereof so indiscreetly and offensively that sundry of them in great grief had conspired to have mischieved him with stones in the open streets 16. Item That by his perswasions privately and publickly delivered sundry persons in and about Warwick were appointed to impugn both in words and deeds the Laws Orders and rights prescribed by the Book of Common-Prayer insomuch as both his own wife by his procurement and consent refused after child-birth to come and give thanks in such place of the Church and in that solemn manner as thereby is prescribed and some other women also of that Town by such perswasion and example did use the like contempt 17. Item That sundry times or at least once when he communicated at the Lords Supper there he sate or stood upon his feet and divers others induced by his perswasions and example both then and at other times did the like And that at other times there or in other places where he hath communicated both himself and others as he had appointed or perswaded afore did walk along and receive the Sacrament of the Ministers as they passed by him 18. Item That for these and such like disorders he was presented to the Bishop of Wigorne his Ordinary Before whom being convented in the Consistory there he spake to the justification and upholding of such doing of his and of others and there very publickly and offensively affirmed and disputed That the Book of Common-Prayer c. is not established by Law 19. Item That when by authority from the said Bishop for his contempt he was suspended from preaching ab omni functione Ministerii he appealed from the said suspension yet did not prosecute within a year after whereby the cause being according to Law remitted again to the Bishop he the said Thomas Cartwright according to the former proceedings falling again into the sentence of suspension which was also intimated and made known unto him nevertheless in contempt of the Authority Ecclesiastical he hath preached at Warwick Coventry and elsewhere since the said time 20. Item When one of his men-servants had committed Fornication and gotten a bastard in his house he taking upon him the authority of the Ordinary did appoint unto the delinquent a publick form of penance or satisfaction in Saint maries-Maries-Church at Warwick and caused him to perform the same 21. Item Since his placing at Warwick he with others at such times as they thought fit have agreed to have and so have had divers publick Fasts without the Queen her Authority and have invited and perswaded both sundry persons to be there present and also certain to preach to the number of three four or five successively one after another being all noted to be such as mislike and impugn sundry points of the Laws Government and Liturgy Ecclesiastical of this Church of England In which Sermons both he the said Cartwright and such others also as then preached did impugn and enveigh against the present Laws Government Politie and Liturgy Ecclesiastical of this Church of England 22. Item That from time to time since his aboad in Warwick by his practice and dealing he hath nourished a faction and heart-burning of one inhabitant there against another severing them in his own and his followers speeches by the names of The Godly or Brethren favoâ—ring sincerity and The Profane 23. Item That he doth know or credibly heard who were the penners printers or some of the dispersers of the several Libels going under the name of Martin Mar-Prelate of the Demonstration of Discipline of Diotrephes and such like books before it was known to Authority and yet in favour of such and contempt of good laws did not manifest the same to any who had authority to punish it 24. Item that being asked his opinion of such books he answered thus in effect or somthing tending this way viz. meaning the Bishops and others there touched would not amend by grave books and advertisements and therefore it was meet they should thus be dealt with to their further reproach and shame 25. Item that for and in the behalf of the Church of England he penned or procured to be penned all or some part of a little book intituled in one part Disciplina Ecclesiae sacra Verbo Dei descripta and in the other part Disciplina Synodicaex Ecclesiarumusu c. And after it was perused by others whom he first acquainted therewith he recommended the same to the censures and judgements of moe brethren being learned Preachers and some others assembled together by his means for that and other like purposes Which after deliberation and some alterations was by them or most of them allowed as the only lawfull Church government and fit to be put in practice and the wayes and means for the practising thereof in this Realm were also then or not long after agreed or concluded upon by them 26. Item that for the better and more due practise of it within the space of these seven six five foure three two or one year last past the said Thomas Cartwright and sundry others as aforesaid according to former appointment and determinations by them made have met in Assemblies termed Synods more general
on the first day were called in Chappel Christ-Church Worcester Westminster Andrewes S. Pauls Overall Chester Barlow Sarisbury Bridges Winsor D. Field King KING JAMES Spectators All the Lords of the Privy Council whereas some at times interposed a few words Place A withdrawing Room within the Privy chamber Dr. Reynolds Sparks Mr. Knewstubs Chaderton These remaining in a Room without were not called in the first day To omit all gratulatory Preambles as necessary when spoken as needlesse if now repeated we will present onely the Substance of this Dayes Conference his Majesty thus beginning it It is no novel device but according to the example of all Christian Princes for Kings to take the first course for the establishing of the Church both in Doctrine and Policy To this the very Heathen related in their Proverb A Jove principium particularly in this Land King Henry the 8. towards the end of his Reign altered much King Edward the 6. more Queen Mary reversed all and lastly Queen Elizabeth of b Note his Majesty never remembred her but with some honourable Addition famous memory setled Religion as now it standeth Herein I am happier than they because they were faine to alter all things they found established Ann. Dom. 160 3 4 whereas I see yet no suchcause to change Ann. Reg. Jac. 1 as confirm what I finde well setled already For blessed be Gods gracious Goodnesse who hath brought me into the Promised Land where Religion is purely professed where I sit amongst Grave Learned and Reverend Men not as before elsewhere a King without State without Honour without Order where Beardlesse Boyes would brave us to the Face And I assure you we have not called this Assembly for any Innovation for we acknowledge the Government Ecclesiasticall as now it is to have been approved by manifold blessings from God himself both for the increase of the Gospel and with a most happy and glorious Peace Yet because nothing can be to absolutely ordered but that something may be added thereunto and corruption in any State as in the Body of Man will insensibly grow either thorough Time or Persons and because we have received many complaints since our first entrance into this Kingdome of many disorders and much disobedience to the Lawes with a great falling away to Popery Our purpose therefore is like a good Physitian to examine and try the Complaints and fully to remove the occasions thereof if scandalous cure them if dangerous and take knowledge of them if but frivolous thereby to cast a Sop into Cerberus his Mouth that he bark no more For this cause we have called you Bishops and Deans in severally by your selves not to be confronted by the contrary Opponents that if any thing should be found meet to be redressed it might be done without any visible Alteration Particularly there be some speciall Points wherein I desire to be satisfied and which may be renduced to three Heads 1. Concerning the Book of Common Prayer and Divine Service used in the Church 2. Excommunication in Ecclesiasticall Courts 3. The providing of fit and able Ministers for Ireland In the Common Prayer-book I require satisfaction about three things First about Coâ—firmation For the very name thereof if arguing a Confirming of Baptâ—sme as if this Sacrament without it were of no validity is plainly blasphemous For though at the first use thereof in the Church it was thought necessary that baptised Infants who formerly had answered by their Patrins should when come to yeares of discretion after their Profession made by themselves be confirmed with the blessing of the Bishop I abhorre the Abuâ—e wherein it is made a Sacrament or Corroboration to Baptisme As for Absolution I know not how it is used in our Church but have heard it likened to the Popes Pardons There be indeed two kindes thereof from God One generall all Prayers and Preaching importing an Absolution The other particular to speciall Parties having committed a Scandall and repenting Otherwise where Excommunication precedes not in my judgement there needs no Absolution Private Baptisme is the third thing wherein I would be satisfied in the Common Prayer If called Private from the Place I think it agreeable with the use of the Primitive Church but if termed private that any besides a lawfull Minister may baptise I utterly dislike it And here his Majesty grew somewhat earnest in his Expressions against the baptising by Women and Laicks In the second Head of Excommunication I offer two things to be considered of First the Matter Secondly the Persons For the first I would be satisfied whether it be executed as it is complainmed of to me in light Causes and that too commonly which causeth the undervaluing thereof For the Persons I would be resolved why Chancellours and Commissaries being Lay-men should do it and not rather the Bishops themselves or some Minister of Gravity and account deputed by them for the more dignity to so high and weighty a Censure As for providing Ministers for Ireland I shall refer it in the last daies Conference to a Consultation c He addressed himselfe to the King on his knee Ar-Bp of CaÌ„t. Confirmation hath been used in the Catholick Church ever since the Apostles and it is a very untrue suggestion if any have informed your Highnesse that the Church of England holds Baptisme imperfect without it as adding to the vertue and strength thereof BP of Lon. The Authority of Confirmation depends not onely on d Citing Cypr. Ep. 73. and Jer. Adversus Luciferiam Antiquity and the Practise of the Primitive Church but is an Apostolical Institution named in expresse words Heb. 6. 2. and so did Mr. Calvin expound the very place earnestly wishing the restitution thereof in the reformed Churches The Bishop of Carlile is said gravely and learnedly to have urged the same and the Bishop of Durham noted something out of S. Matthew for the Imposition of hands on Children The Conclusion was this For the fuller Explanation that we make Confirmation neither a Sacrament nor a Corroboration thereof their Lordships should consider whether it might not without Alteration whereof his Majesty was still very wary be intitled an Examination with a Confirmation Ar-B of CaÌ„t. As for the point of Absolution wherein your Majesty desires satisfaction it is clear from all abuse or superstition as it is used in our Church of England as will appear on the reading both of the Confession and Absolution following it in the beginning of the Communion Book Here the King perused both and returned His Majesty I like and approve them finding it to be very true what you say BP of Lond. It becometh us to deal plainly with your Majesty There is also in the Book a more particular and personall absolution in t he Visitation of the Sick Here the Dean of the Chappel turned unto it and read it These be severally cited BP of Lond. Not onely the Confessions of Augusts Boheme and Saxon
supreme head of the Church and charged her as she would answer it at Gods Tribunall to take care of Christ his Evangil in suppressing the Popish Prelates who withstood the same But how long trow did you this continue Even till by her authority the Popish Bishops were repressed and Knox with his adherents being brought in made strong enough Then began they to make small account of her supremacy when according to that more light wherewith they were illuminated they made a farther reformation of themselves How they used the poore Lady my Mother is not unknowne and how they dealt with me in my minority I thus apply it My Lords the Bishops I may * This be said putting his hand to his bat thank you that these men plead thus for my Supremacy They think they cannot make their Party good against you but by appealing unto it but if once you were out and they in I know what would become of my Supremacy for NO BISHOP NO KING I have learned of what cut they have been who preaching before me since my coming into England passed over with silence my being Supreme Governour in causes Ecclesiasticall Well Doctour have you any thing else to say Dr. Reyn. No more if it please your Majesty His Majesty If this be all your Party hath to say I will make them conforme themselves or else I will harrie them out of the Land or else doe worse Thus ended the second dayes Conference Jan. 18 and the third began on the Wednesday following many Knights Civilians and Doctours of the Law being admitted thereunto because the High Commission was the principall matter in debate His Majesty I understand that the parties named in the High Commission are too many and too mean and the matters they deale with base such as Ordinaries at home in their Courts might censure Arch-b of Cant. It is requisite their number should be many otherwise I should be forced often-times to sit alone if in the absence of the Lords of the Council Bishops and Judges at Law some Deanes and Doctours were not put into that Commission whose Attendance I might command with the more Authority I have often complained of the meannesse of matters handled therein but cannot remedy it For though the Offence be small that the Ordinary may the Offender oft-times is so great and contumacious that the Ordinary dâ—re not punish him and so is forced to crave help at the High Commission A nameless L d. The Proceedings in that Court I dare not guess him for fear of failing are like the Spanish Inquisition whereiu men are urged to subscribe more than Law requireth and by the Oath ex officio forced to accuse themselves being examined upon twenty or twenty four Articles on a sudden without deliberation and for the most part against themselves In proof hereof he produced a Letter of an antient honourable Counsellour An. 1584. verifying this usage to two Minsters in Cambridge shire Arch-b of Cant. Your Lordship is deceived in the manner of proceeding For if the Article touch the Party for Life Liberty or Scandall he may refuse to answer I can say nothing to the particulars of the Letter because twenty yeares since yet doubted not but at leisure to give your Lordship satisfaction L d. Chancel There is necessity Here we omit a discourse about Subscription because not methodiz'd into the Speech of severall persons and use of the Oath Ex officio in divers Courts and Causes His Majesty Indeed civil Proceedings onely punish Facts but it is requisite that Fame and Scandals be looked unto in Courts Ecclesiasticall and yet great moderation is to be used therein 1. In gravioribus criminibus 2. In such whereof there is a publique Fame caused by the inordinate demeanour of the Offender And here he soundly described the Oath ex officio for the ground thereof the Wisdome of the Law therein the manner of proceeding thereby and profitable effect from the same Arch-b of Cant. Undoubtedly your Majesty speaks by the speciall assistance of Gods Spirit BP of Lond. I protest my heart melteth with joy that Almighty God of his singular mercy * This he spake on his knee hath given us such a King as since Christs time the like hath not beene Then passed there much discourse between the King the Bishops and the Lords about the quality of the Persons and Causes in the High Commission rectifying Excommunications in matters of lesse moment punishing Recusants providing Divines for Ireland Wales and the Northern Borders Afterwards the four Preachers were called in and such alterations in the Lyturgie were read unto them which the Bishops by the Kings advice had made and to which by their silence they seemed to consent His Majesty I see the exceptions against the Communion-book are matters of weakness therefore if the persons reluctant be discreet they will be won betimes and by good perswasions If indiscreet better they were removed for by their factions many are driven to be Papists From you Dr. Reynolds and your Associates I expect obedience and humility the marks of honest and good men and that you would perswade others abroad by your example Dr. Reyn. We here do promise to performe all duties to Bishops as Reverend Fathers and to joyne with them against the common Adversary for the quiet of the Church Mr. Chader I request * This he spake kneeling the wearing of the Surplice and the Cross in Baptism may not be urged on some godly Ministers in Lancashire fearing if forced unto them many won by their preaching of the Gospel will revolt to Popery and I particularly instance in the Vicar of Ratsdale Ar-b of Cant. You could not have light upon a worse for not many yeares agoe as my Lord * Who being there present averred the same Chancellor knowes it was proved before me that by his unreverent usage of the Eucharist dealing the Bread out of a Basket every man putting in his hand and taking out a piece he made many loath the Communion and refuse to come to Church His Majestie It is not my purpose and I dare say it is not the Bishops intent presently and out of hand to enforce these things without Fatherly Admonitions Conferences and Perswasions premised but I wish it were examined whether such Lancashire Ministers by their paines and preaching have converted any from Popery and withall be men of honest Life and quiet Conversation If so let Letters be written to the Bishop of * This was Râ—ch Vaughan afterwards Bishop of Lond. Chester who is grave and good man to that purpose that some favour may be afforded unto them and let the Lord Arch-bishop write the Letters BP of Lond. If this be granted the copie of these Letters will flie all over England and then all non conformists will make the like request and so no fruit follow of this Conference but things will be worse than they were before I desire therefore a
quickly be perused and yet then no such effigiation was therein discovered which some nineteen weeks after became visible about the nineteenth of September following Surely had this pregnant straw gone out its full time of fourty weeks it would have been delivered of a perfect picture indeed whereas now miscarrying before that time wonder not if all things were not so complete therein 54. For the face therein was not so exact Not perfectly done as which might justly intitle heaven to the workmanship thereof Say not it was done in too small a scantling to be accurate for Deus est maximus in minimis Gods exquisitenesse appears the most in q Exod. 8. 18. modells Whereas when Witnesses were examined about this mock-miracle before the Archbishop of Canterbury Francis Bowen deposed that he believed that a good Artisan might have drawn one more curiously and Hugh Griffith himself attested that it was no more like Garnet than to any other man who had a beard and that it was so small none could affirm it to resemble him adding moreover that there was no glory or streaming raies about it which some did impudently report 55. However Garnet's beâ—tification occasioned by this mock-miracle this inspirited straw was afterward copied out and at Rome printed in pomp with many superstitious copartments about it as a coronet a crosse and nails more than ever were in the originall Yea this miracle how silly and simple soever gave the ground-work to Garnet's beatification by the Pope some moneths after Indeed Garnet complained before his death That he could not expect that the Church should own him for a Martyr and signified the same in his Letter to his dear Mistresse Anne but for her sirname call her Garnet or Vaux as you please because nothing of religion and onely practices against the State were laid to his charge It seemed good therefore to his Holinesse not to canonize Garnet for a solemn Saint much lesse for a Martyr but onely to beatificate him which if I mistake not in their heavenly heraldrie is by Papists accounted the least and lowest degree of celestiall dignity and yet a step above the Commonaltie or ordinary sort of such good men as are saved This he did to qualifie the infamie of Garnet's death and that the perfume of this new title might out-sent the stench of his treason But we leave this Garnet loth longer to disturb his blessednesse in his own place and proceed to such Church-matters as were transacted in this present Parliament 56. Evil manners prove often though against their will the parents of good laws Acts against Papists in Parliament but principally the Oath of Obedience as here it came to passe The Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the fifth of November and there continued till the 27 of May following enacted many things for the discovering and repressing of Popish Recusants extant at large in the printed Statutes Whereof none was more effectuall than that Oath of Obedience which every Catholick was commanded to take the form whereof is here inserted The rather because this Oath may be termed like two of Isaac's r Gen. 26. 20. 21. wells Esek and Sitnah Contention and Hatred the subject of a tough controversie versie betwixt us and Rome about the legall urging and taking thereof Protestants no lesse learnedly asserting than Papists did zealously oppose the same The form of which Oath is as followeth I A. B. doe truly and sincerely acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world That our Soveraigne Lord King James is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realm and of all other His Majesties Dominions and Countreys and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any power or authority to depose the King or to dispose any of His Majesties Kingdomes or Dominions or to authorize any forraign Prince to invade or annoy Him or His Countâ—â— or to discharge any of His subjects of their allegiance and obedience to His Majestie or to give licence or leave to any of them to bear armes raise tumult or to offer any violence or hurt to His Majesties Royall Person State or Government or to any of His Majesties subjects within His Majesties Dominions Also I doe swear from my heart that notwithstanding any declaration or sentence of Excommunication or deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successours or by any authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his See against the said King His Heires or Successours or any absolution of the said subjects from their obedience I will bear faith and true allegiance to His Majestie His Heires and Successours and Him and Them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against His or Their Persons Their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise and will doe my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto His Majestie His Heires and Successours all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against Him or any of Them And I doe farther swear That I doe from my heart abhorre detest and abjure as impious and hereticall this damnable doctrine and position That Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by Their subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full authority to be lawfully ministred unto me and doe renounce all Pardons and Dâ—spensations to the contrary And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I doe make this recognition and acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian So help me God This Oath was devised to discriminate the pernicious from the peaceable Papists Sure binde sure finde And the makers of this were necessitated to be larger therein because it is hard to strangle equivocation which if unable by might to break will endeavour by slight to slip the halter 57. No sooner did the newes thereof arrive at the ears of his Holiness The Pope his two Breve's against this Oath but presently he dispatcheth his Å¿ See K. James his Works pag. 250. Breve into England prohibiting all Catholicks to take this Oath so destructive to their own souls and the See of Rome exhorting them patiently to suffer persecution and manfully to endure martyrdome And because report was raised that the Pope wrote this