others to come unto him at his Palace of Westminster at whose first entrance into his presence he shines upon them such a gracious look as if all the raâ—â—s of Majesty had beene bestowed upon them by that aspect and courts them with the sofâ—â—st mild and gentlest words as that pâ—ssibly he could use protesting unto them upon the word of a Kâ—ng that if they would acknowledge and 〈◊〉 him for supâ—â—me head of the Chuâ—ch of England he would never by vertue of that Gâ—ant â—ssume unto himself any more powâ—r juâ—isdict on or â—uthority over them than all other thâ—Kings of England his 〈◊〉 had formeâ—â—y assumed neiâ—her wouâ—d he tâ—ke upon him to pâ—omulgâ— or 〈◊〉 any new spiritual Law or exâ—rcise any 〈◊〉 Jurisdiction or intermâ—ddle himself among them in altering changing ordâ—ring or judging in any spâ—ritual businesse whatsoever wherefore said he I having made you thâ—s frank promise I expâ—ct that you should deale with mâ— accordingâ—y and so he dismissed them to consiâ—er of this businesse amongst themsâ—lvâ— and to gâ—ve his Orators an accouâ—t thereof in the house the next morning CHAP. XVI 1. The Bishops consult what course to take 2. The Bishop of Rochâ—ster proposeth untâ— them a Parable Whereupon they all break off in confusion 3. The Kings Oâ—ators repaire unto the Coâ—â—ocation to know the Clergies finâ— determâ—nation in the businâ—sse 4. The Bishop of Râ—chester's Spâ—ech unto the Kings Orators 5. The Orators Reply unto the Bishops Speech 6. The Headship of the Church graâ—teâ— unto the King upoâ— conditions the conditions rejected at last accepted of THe Bishops c. as soon as they were departed the Kings presence retired themselves to a place of privacy to consider with themselves what were best to be done and what account and advice they should give unto the rest of the Clergie Some of them were apt enough to think the businesse now pretty faire seeing that the King had promised fairly but because my Lord of Rochester was the onely man that most stickled in this businesse they all asked his opinion herein in the first place who soon answered them with this parable Thus stands the case my Maâ—ters the Heart upon a timâ— sâ—id unto the Members of the Body lâ—t me also be your Head and I will promise you that I will neither see nor heare nor smell nor speak but I will close and shuâ— mine eyes and eares and mouth and nostrills and will excecute no other offices than a meere heart should do whereupon all hopes of reconciliation upon that trust and wâ—yes of satisâ—action was soon nipp'd in the bud and they all broke off in confusion with â—â—d hearts The next day the Orators came to the house of Convocation to know the Clergies resoâ—ution in the businesse repeating unto the whole hous the words which the day before his Maj. had spoken unto some of them and that over over and moreover saying unto them that if they should now oppose themselves against his Maj. this businesse it must needs declare a grâ—at mistrâ—stâ—ulnesse which they had in the Kings words sâ—eing he had made unto them so solemne and high an oath which words of theirs pressed so home and followed so close with all the specious arguments and fairest promises that could be imagined stâ—ggered indeed some but silâ—nced all excepting him who is the subject of this History who after that he had earnestly required of the Lords to take good heed what they did and to consider the manifold michiefs and inconveniencies that would â—nâ—ue unto the whole Church of Christ if they should condescend to any such request applying himself unto the Kings Orators he spake thus unto them It is true the King was graciously pleased to protest thus and thus What if the King should alter his minde where is our remedy What if the King will execute the Supremacy must we sue unto the Head to forbeare being Head Againe this dignity is invested in him his Successors will expect the same and the Parliament will questionlesse anneâ— that dignity to the Crowne What if a Woman should succeed to the Crowne must she be Head of the Church What if an Infant should succeed can he be Head This were not only said he to make the Church no Church but the Scripture no Scripture and at last Iesus to be no Christ. To the which sayings the Orators replyed that the King had no such meaning as he doubted repeating againe his royall Protestation and further said that though the Supremacy were granted unto his Mâ—jâ—sty simply and absolutely according to his demand yet it must needs be understood or so takâ—n that he can hâ—ve no farther power or authority thereby than quantum per legem Dei licet and then if a temporall Prince can have no such authority by Gods Lawes as his Lorâ—ship hath declared what needeth the forecasting of so many doubts The Bâ—shop of Rochester perceiving the whole house to be much affâ—cted with their manner of pleading and fearing that they might desert him in the end through â—ear and dread of the Kings displeasure takes hold upon their last words and thus speakes unto his Majestiâ—s Orators Gâ—ntlemen you think that herein we stand too stâ—ff upon our owne legs but it is not so but onâ—ly in the defence of our owne and your Mother the holy Catholique Church in whose bosome you are as well as we and the milk of whose Breasts it is your pâ—rts to suck as well as ours and within whose blâ—ssâ—d Commuâ—ion there is but one Salvation which is common uâ—to all wherefore Gentlemen let it be your care that our tendernesse in this point be not misconstrued to the King and now as to this demand that his Mâ—jesty and you all may plainly see that we shall to please his Majâ—sty do the uâ—termost of whaâ— lieâ— within ouâ— pâ—wer in that 〈◊〉 let all that which his Majesty hath protested and so solemnly taken his oâ—th upon be â—â—cordâ—d and the words quantum per lâ—gâ—m 〈◊〉 be inâ—erted in the Grant which is no otherwâ—â—â— than what the King and you your selves have faithfully promised and protested and for my part it shall be granted Whereupon the Orâ—tors went away as well 〈◊〉 and made a report of all that had happened in the Convocation house unto the King whereat the King was highly offended and said unto them Mother of God you have 〈◊〉 pâ—etty prank I thought to have made fooles of theâ—â— and now you have so ordered the businesse that they are likely to make a foole of me as they have done of you already got unto them again and let me have the businesse pâ—ssed without any quâ—ntum's or tantum'â— I will have no quantum's nor no tantum ' s in the businesse but lâ—t it be done Whereupon immeâ—iâ—tâ—ly they returned to the Convocation house calling and crying ouâ— upon them with open and coâ—tinuall clamour to have the Grant pass absolutely and to credit the Kings honour who had made unto
it awhile requested that he might have some timâ— to considâ—r upon it the Commissioners consulting with themselves awhile granted him five daies to coâ—sider upon it and so dismissing him for the present whence he departed to his owne house in Lambeth Marsh. During which small time of his abode there there came divers of hâ—s friends rather to take their leaves of thâ—n to vâ—sit him among which one Mr. Seton and Mr. Bransby Substitutes of the Masters and Fellows of the two Câ—lâ—edges to which he had shewed himself so much their friend partly to salute him in the name of the two Societies and partly to dâ—sire his confirmation of their Statutes under his Seale which he had drawn long before but the Bishop desired to have some further time to consider of them as he intended alas said the two Gâ—â—tlemen we fear your time is now too short to read them before you go to prison It is no matter said the Bâ—shop then I will read them in prison that will hardly be permitted said the Trustees if you come once there then Gods will be done said the Bishop for I shall hardly be drawn to put my seale to that which I have not well considered of howsoever said he if the worst should happen there is Mr. Cowper a worthy reverend man and a Bachelour in Divinity that hath the copy of the same Statutes which I have if I do not or cannot according to my desire peruse them I will give it you under my Seale that if you like them that shall be unto you a confirmation for I am pâ—rswaded that one time or other those Statutes will take place and accordingly it hapned for when this Master Cowper long after the imprisonment and death of the Bâ—shop of Rochester and the change and alteration of the times which had made Relâ—gion Lords and Lawes all new commiâ—ted this Book of Statutes to the custody of one M. T Watson a man that afterwards came to great honor estimation for his profound learning was afterwards elected to the Mastership oâ— S. Iohn's Colledge and afterwards to the Bishoprick of London who as the Bâ—shop of Rochester foretold restored them to the house who admitted them as their onely Lawes whereby they were wholy governed during the reign of Queen Mary The time being come when the good Bishop was to give an account of the Premises he presenâ—ed himself before the Commâ—ssioners â—cquâ—inting them how that he had perused the Oath with as good deliberation as he could but as they had framed it he could not with any safety to his owne conscience subscribe thereto except they would give him leave to alter it in some particulars whereby his owne conscience might be the better satisfied The King pleased and his actions rather justified and Warranted by Law To this they all made answer that the King would not in any wise permit that the Oath should admit any exceptions or alterations whatsoever and sâ—â—d the Bishop of Canterbury you must answer directly whether you will or you will not subscribe then said the Bishop of Rochester if you will needs have me answer directly my answer is that foasmuch as my own conscience cannot be satisfied I absolutely refuse the Oath Whereupon he was immediately sent to the Tower of London which was upon Tuesday the 26. of April in the year of our Lord God 1534. and upon the 25. year of the Kings reign being the last of his reign for that year Thus the Remora to the Kings proceedings in this kind being removed the Ship went merrily along for all things being fitted for a Parliament there was a Parliament which was â—itted for all things immediately called upon the 26. year of the Kings reign and upon the 23. day of Novemb. which wrought above nine wonders lasting but fifteen daies wherein the Bishop of Rochester's imprisonment was voted lawfull and all other men their imprisonments good and lawfull that should refuse to take the foresaid Oath which authority before was wanting also another Statute was â—nacted whereby the Supremacy of the Church of England was given unto the King his Heires and Successors to have and enjoy the same as a title and stile to his imperiall Crown with all Honours Jurisdictions Authorities and Priviledges thereunto belonging with full power and authority as himselfe listeth to visit represse redresse reforme order correct restraine and amend all Heresies Abuses Errors and Offences whatsoever they were as fully and as amply as the same might or ought to be done or corrected by any spirituall authority or jurisdiction whatsoever and that without the clause or condition of quantum per legem Dei lieet which was as contrary to the Kings promise to the Convocation-house as it was answerable to what the good Bishop forewarned the Clâ—rgie of whiles he 〈◊〉 amongst them And thus whiles the Kâ—ng acted the Pope the Bishop became a Prophet This Act being once passed the King required them to passe another Act viz. That if any manner of Person whatsoever should by word or deed presume to deny the title of Supremacy that then every such person so offending should be reputed and adjudged as an high Traitour and suffer and abide such losses and paines as in â—ases of high Treason is provided CHAP. XX. 1. The King sends divers learned Bishops to perswade with the Bishop of Rochester to take the Oath 2. The Bishop of Rochester answers unto the Bishops 3. Sir Thomas Moore committed to the same prison 4. The comfort which they received in each other 5. Their lettters intercepted and the Bishops man committed to close prison therefore 6. The simple yet mâ—rry question which he â—ade thereupon 7. The Lord Chancelour with divers other great Lords sent by the King to perswade the Bishop BUt when that businesse came to be discussed in the Parliament-house the Commons themselves began to think it a very hard Law anâ— full of rigour for said they a man may chance to say such a thing by way of discourse or such a word may fall from a man negligently or unawares all of them as yet not otherwise able but to think it a strange thing that a man should die for saying the King was not the head of the Church which debate held them many daies at last the King sent them word that except it could be proved that the party spake it malitiously the Statute should not be of any force to condemn So the word MALICIOVSLY was put in and it passed currently which afterwards served to as much purpose as the words Quantum per legem Dei licet And During the Bishops hard and close imprisonment the King as he had at several other times so done sent divers of the Priviâ—-councel as well Bishops as others to perswade the Bâ—shop of Rochester to take the oath of Succâ—ssion after that the Bâ—shop had suffered a great deale of Rhetorique to come from them he thus spake unto them My very good friends and
mans ruine and for a most vilâ— and abominable Incest committed with her owne brother condemn'd and accused to be worthy of death by her owne fathâ—r together with divers others of her own kindred and the Nobility then sitting in judgement who not long before were her Idolaters and she their Idoll whereupon she was executed at Tower hill her head being stricken off of whose losse the King himself took such sorrow that the very next day after she was dead he mourned for her in a Wedding garment Next to the Queen we will call to minde M. Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who of his own power without any other warrant or authority pronounced the sentence of Divorce between the King and Queene being calculated to the height of that Meridian and afterwards called this holy man before him and cast him into prison for refusing the two new Oaths the one of the Kings new Marriage the other of the new Supremacy from whence he was never delivered till death rid him of all worldly 〈◊〉 This Archbishop lived till he was condemned for a traitour because he spred certain seditious Libels amongst the people and assisted the Duke of Nortâ—umberland in his Rebellion in the behalf of the Lady Iane against his lawfull Soveraigne But forasmuch as this was done in Quâ—en Mary her daies and the Clergie had somewhat else to say to him they burned him as a Heretique As for Mr. Rich the Kings Soliciter and the Dequoy to this good man who gave such strange and injurious testimony against him at his arrâ—ignment he lived to be deposed from all his high places and preferments and fell into deep disgrace not onely with the King his Master but with those who afterwards sate at the stern in the young Kings time insomuch that affiction brought him to understand and the knowledge of himself to true repentance so that it is to be believed that he escaped without any further punishment than the clipping of his wings whilest he was alive and the singing of his qody when he was dead for his dead body being laid into a coffiâ— seared imbalmed câ—rtain candles that were set upon the hearse through the watchers negligence or absence fell downe and took hold first on the cloaths and then upon the coffin till at length came unto the seâ—rcloaths that before any man could come unto the rescue the fire was preâ—â—y onward in his way to have deceived the worms Lastly we shall conclude with Mr. Cromwell a shrewd enemy to this good man and a great Agent in this businesse a man in whose behalf the Archbâ—shop of Canterbury thus writ in his behalf in his Letter to the King after his troubles had beginning viz. A man that was so advanced by your Majesty whose surety was onely by your Majesty who loved your Majesty no lesse than God who studied alwaies to set forward whatsoever was your Majâ—sties will and pleasure who cared for no mans displeasure to serve your Maiesties who was such a servant in my judgement in wisdome diligencâ— faithfulnesse and experience as no Prince in this Realm ever had the like who was so vigilant to preserve your Maiesty from all treasons that few could be so secretly conceived but he detected the same in the beginning such a man that if the noble Princes of memory King John Henry the second Richard the second had had such a Councellour about them I suppose they should never have been so treacherously abandoned and overthrowne as those good Princes were Who shall your Grace trust hereafter if you mistrust him Alas I bewaile and lameâ—t your Grace's chance herein I wot not whom your Grace may trust c. And for this fidelity ability and good service advanced successively to the dâ—gnities of the Master of the Rolls Biron Lord Privy Seale Knight of the Gâ—rter Earle of Essex Lord high Chamberlaine of England and higher than all this Vâ—car generall of the Church of ENGLAND by vertue of which Office he took place above them who were Metropolitanes of all England and yet notwâ—thstanding he was arrested at the Councell â—â—ble of high Treason by the Duke of Norfolke when he least suspected any such desigâ—e committed to the Tower brought â—hence unto the Hill and without being permitted to plead for himselfe there beheaded without any more adoe But the strangest thing of all is that he that was the Kingâ— Vicegerent in spirituall causes should be accused for an Heretique and that made one of the causes of his death and that that was such a great enemy to the Catholiquâ—s kicking downe all the Religious houses of the Lâ—nd and grinded the Religious together with the rubbâ—sh under his feet should at his death openly professâ— that he would die in the Catholick faith Thus we see Gods justice in the dâ—struction of the Churches enemies who knowes but that he may help her to such friends though not such as may restore her her own Jewells yet such as may heale her of her Wounds And who knowes but that it may be affâ—cted by the same name sithencâ— the Almighty hath communicated so great a secret unto mortalls as that there should be such a salve made known to them whereby the same weapon that made the Wound shouâ—d work the Cure Oliva Vera is not so hard to be construed Olivâ—rus as that it may not be believed that a Prophet rather than a Herâ—uld gave the Common Fâ—ther of Christendomâ— the now Pope of Rome Innocent the tenth such Ensignes of his Nobility viz. â— dove holding an Olive branch in her mouth since it falls short in nothing of being both a Prophesie and fulfilled but onely his Highnesse running into her armes whose Emblem of innocence beares him already in her mouth FINIS Stat. King Rich. 2. â— Bils in his true difference between Christian Antichriâ—â—ian Rebellion part 3. pag. 243. 244. Hol. in his second volume of the last edition pâ— 309. b. line 66. Holins ib. pag. 310. line 2. Ibid. p. 30. a. line 11. Ibid. pag. 310. a. l. 11. Ibid. pag. 310. a. l. 14. Ibid. pag. 311. a. l. 2. Ibid. pag. 311. a. l. 9. Annotations upon the Râ—â—m 〈◊〉 cap. 13. 2. An. in 1 Pet. cap. 2. 13. Bell. li. de â—aicâ—s c. 10. 11. of Dr. Keilison in his Survey printed 1603. p. 480. Tract 3. sect 5. written by I. Brerâ—ly An. 1608. Exo. 22 28 Act. 23. 5. Eccl. 10. 20 Rom. 13. 2. Rom. 13. 5. Hol. vol 3. An. Eliz. 26. p. 1358 Ib. p. 1360. b. line 26. Ib l. 26. Ib. l. 35. Ib. l. 40. Ib. l. 53. 54. c. Holiâ—s ubi supra p. 1170. 2. l. 35. 36. Goodwin in his Catalogue of Bishops Hol. ubi supra p. 1170. l. 15 As the Suffolk people Sâ—ow in his Annals p. â— 1046. Sâ—ow An printed 1592. p. 1039. and 1045. Stow. An. p. 1046. Stow. An. p. 1047. Stow. ubi supra pag. 1039. p. 1058.
Cardinall Wolsey either ignorant or forgetfull of this priviledge or perhaps thinking he might doe any thing without the Kings consent or procuâ—ement procured of and for himselfe the Power legantine from the Pope that then was but though the Cardinall had exercised that authority for the space of divers yeares without the Kings consent or privity yet at the length perceiving his own errour and the danger he was in if the Kings favour which was no inheritance should chance to slâ—ck its sailes and perhaps how merrily the wheâ—le of fortune began to turn about he so wrought formerly with the King that he procured a confiâ—mation thereof under the great Seal of England as well for that which was past as that which was to come which the King full well remembring thought the Cardinall too hard for him howsoever he was resolved he would be too hard for the Cardinâ—ll and knowing that nothing stood between him and the mark he aimed aâ— but the reduction of this Cardinall to the statuquo wherein he had him once safe enough he so deales with a servant then belonging to the Cardinall and in great truth about him that by his meanes he regained the foresaid ratification under the great Seal into his own hands and then to work he went And Accordingly he summoned another Parliament to begâ—n upon the 16. day of February in the year of our Lord God 1530. in which Paâ—liament divers heinous matters were propounded against the â—lergy as a praeludiuÌ„ of the winds to the ensuing tempest then an account was given up in Parliament of 100000 l. charges which the King had been at to obtain so many instâ—uments from forraign Universities concerning the businesse of the Divorce All which expences they said the King had been at through the falshood and dissimulation of the Cardinall and certain others of the chief of the Clergie all which was demanded of the Clergie that they should make all good unto the King but when this business began to be propounded to the Convocation of Divinâ—s it was there opposed especially by the Lord B. of Rocheâ—ster who said uâ—to the Kings Orators that it was not their faults as they were there the body representative of the Clergie that the King had been at any charges at all concerning that businesse for to his knowledge the Clergie were generally against it that any such matter should at all be brought in question and that if any such faulty persons were amongst them it is fit they should be questioned and compelled to give his Majesty satisfaction Whereupon they all slâ—tly denied upon any such score to make any restitution at all Then the King more â—urioâ—sly than ever called the whole Clergie into the Kings Bench and sued the Cardinall together with the whole Clergie in a praemunire for receiving and acknowledging the power Lâ—ganâ—ine of the Cardinal which objection whiles thâ— Card thought with as easie a grace to wâ—sh off of him as the proud Swan to slâ—de so much water off of his back like the bastard Eagle called Haliâ—tâ—â—s he was drowned under the waves because like the true Eagle he poized not his prey before he offered to carry it by catching after a Fish which was heavier than he could carry and so they were all condemned upon the Statute of King Richard the second in a praemunire Thuâ— the K. was put into a capacity of imprisoning whom or as many of them as he pleased or to enter into or upon what goods or possessions of theirs he had a minde unto whereupon the Clergie first fallen under the Kings heavie displeasure and now not being willing to abide the further danger of his displeasure under his justice sued unto him for mercy declaring unto him their willingnesâ— to pay the 100000 l. upon his indemnity which the King promised unto them excepting the Cardinall and some others But The businesse of the Divorce sâ—uck so indigâ—stedly in the Kings stomach that before he woâ—ld either divorce them from their feares or marry them to their former securities he wished them all to repair unto their house of Convocation and there he would propound unto them a businesse which if they would condescend unto then they should finde that he would be unto them a gracious Prince which when they were assembled in the place â—ppointed such a business was propounded to them as never was propounded by men since there was a congregation of mankinde viz. that they should acknowlâ—dge the King to be the Supreme Head of the Church which was propounded chiâ—fly by Mr. Thomas Audelâ—y who after Sir Thomas Moore had given over his place was created Lord Chancâ—lour of England and that with such mixâ—ure of faire promises and threatniâ—gâ— together that many of the Convocation thought themselves in a capacity neither of refusing any thing that shouâ—d be demanded of them by the King nor of consulâ—ing of what was or was not to be granted whereupon divers of the Convocation upon â—canning of the businesse were in a readinesse to promote the Kings designe and few there were that durst open their mouthes to speak their mindâ— freely Wherâ—upon the Athanasius of the Clergie this â—â—out Prelate of whom we treat thus took the busiâ—esse into consideration My Lords it is true we are all under the Kings lash and stanâ— in need of the Kings good favour and clemency yet this argues not that we should therefore doe that which will render us both riâ—iculous and contemptiâ—le to all the Christian world and â—issed out from the society of Gods holy Cathâ—lique Church for what good will that be to us to kâ—â—p the pâ—ssâ—ssion of our Houses Cloysters and Covents to lose the Society of the Christian world to preserve our Goods and lose our Consciences Wherefore my Lords I pray let us consider what we doe and what it is we are to grant the dangers and inconvenienâ—â—s that will ensue thereupon or whether it lies in our powers to grant what the King requireth at our hands or whether the King be an apt person to receive this power that so we may go groundedly to work and not like men that had lost all honesty and wit together with their worldly foâ—tune As conâ—erning the first point vâ—z what the Supremacy of the Church is which we are to give unto the King it is to exercise the spirituall Government of the Church in chief which according to all that ever I have learned both in the Gospel and thâ—ough the whole couâ—se of Divinity mainly consists in these two points 1. In loosing and binding sinners according to that which our Saviour saiâ— unto St. Peter when he ordained him head of his Church viz. to thee will I give the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven Now my Lords can we say unto the King tibi to thee will I give the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven If you say I where is your waâ—rant if you say no then you have answered your selves that you cannot put
stair-case whereby we climb unto preâ—erment But so small a Bâ—shoprick a competent height whereby he might so overâ— look the plaines that were under him that in the end with too large a prospect he did not lose his owne eyes Thus being mounted in the Kings favour there will not be wanting those who will be ready to say concerning such a one thus shall it be done to the Man â—â—om the King honnour 's and accordingly the University of Caâ—bridge considering with themselves what beneâ—it they had received already at his hand and what future benefit they might receive with a greatefull and prudent minde and forecast unanimously chose and ordained him their high Chancellour a Magistracy that hath no lesâ—e authority and jurisdiction thereunto belonging than of an Arch Bishop in causes Spirituall and of a high Judge in causes that are Temporall Hitherto we have traced him to his Bishoprick and high dignity of Chancellorship of the most renowned University of Cambridge how he behaved himselfe in both these places we shall leave the mentioning of those particulars to the post fuâ—era of this History as most proper for them onely it shall suffice for the present that his whole life seemed to the world to be no otherwise than as if he had used the Church as if it had been his Cloister and his Study as his Cell Governing his Family with such Temperance Chastity and Devotion as if his Palace for continency had been a Moâ—nastery and for Learning an University In the yeare of our Redemption 1509. it happened that the most wise and fortunate King Hen. 7. departed this life upon the twentieth day of May being upon a Sunday whereupon he had the opportunity to performe two acceptable and good Offices and both of them deeds of Charity whereby he gained unto himselfe great applause and commendation the one in comforting the sorrowfull Mother of the King his Mistresse who seemed to be overwhelmed with griefe who received great contentment in his consolations The other in edifying the people by his Sermon which he preached at the Funerall solemnity of the Kings buriall exhorting them to the imitation of those noble and virtuous actions which they saw to have raigned more over his Passions than himselfe had exercised authority over his Subjects powring into every â—are an antidote against the feare of Death and a preservative unto eternall Life About the yeare 15â—7 at the time when this worthy Bishop of Rochester had governed his See 12 yeares Luther began in Germany to set up his new found Doctrine then as himselfe reports unknown to the world But the Divine Providence who never suffered an Athanasius a Lyberius or an Hillary to be wanting where there was an Aris risen up to rend and teare the undesiled spouse of Christ his Church in pieces nor a Damasus Gregorius Basilius or a Nazianzen where there was a Macedonius Nor a Câ—lestin or a Cyrill where there was a Nestorius nor a Leo where there was an Enâ—yches Nor an Irenaus where there was a Valentine nor a Tertullian where there was a Martian nor an Origen where there was a Celsus nor a Cyprian where there was a Novatus nor a Ierome where there were Helvidians Iovinians Vigilantians and Luciferians nor an Austin where there was a Donatus or a Pellagius did not suffer such a Leviathan to roule about and beat the sides of that Ship into which Christ entred out of which he taught and of which S. Peter was the onely Master but that there should be still a Fisher to oppose and wound the Monster with such harping irons as that this Kingdome never was much troubled with his Doctrines whiles this good Bishop lived nor ever could have had its entrance till the others Exit brought it in For Hearing how that severall of Luther's Bookes and Writings were brought over by Merchants whose profession though it deserves to be ranked among the best of Educations yet like Solomons Merchants they sometimes bring home together with their Gold from Ophir Apes and Peacocks Feathers and dispersed among the people too apt to entertaine any new fashion of their Soules as well as of their Bodies and how the people swallowed downe the novelty that was so taudred with pretences like unto some Generall who hearing of the approach and march of an enemy hasts to his army with no lesse a cause of vigilancy did so great a Champion of the Chuâ—ch hasten to so great a charge the University of which he was their Chancelour that he might take an account in what condition the main body of all Learning stood whereby ability might be drawn up in the safâ—st posture to defend the Faith But No sooner was he come amongst them but he might perceive tâ—res to be already sprung in so faire a Seminary where so much good seed was sown For About the same time it fell out that Pope Leo the I0 had granted forth a generall and free pardon commonly called indulgences according to the ancient custome and tradition of the Catholique Church to all Christian people that were contrite through 〈◊〉 the Provinces of Christendome which is no otherwise than an application by that Ministry of the superabundant merits of our blessed Saviour who shed so many when the least one drop of his most precious blood was able to have redeemed a thousand worlds to the soulâ—s of true Believers This Luther formerly having written against and the Bishop and Chancelour of the University being carefull the Students there as well as others standing in need of such a remedy might be partakers of the heavenly bounty and causing certain copies of those Pardons to be set up in sundry places of the University one where of was fixed upon the Schoolâ— gate A man without a name came secretly in the night time and wrote over the Pardon which was there fixed these word Beatus vir cuâ—us est nomen Domiâ—i spes â—jus non respâ—xit vaâ—itates insantas falsâ—s istas thinking the word istas which he had added would have brought the Pope and all his Clergy within the premunire of the Statute of Gods Word for setting up that Pardon whilest he forgot the severall punâ—shments which are threatned by the same Word to all those who shall adde or diminish to the book of Life In the morning the schoole doores being opened and the Schollers resorting thither according to their wonted manner and beholding this strange spectacle there needed no Shiboleth to distinguish Câ—tholiques were much offended at so great an abuse of holy Scripture others approved the fact and thought it a fine thing as they were severally addicted The Chancellour having notice hereof was struck with horrour at the no lesse boldnesse than wickednesse of the fact whereupon he endeavoured to finde out the party by the knowledge of his hand but that in vaine then he call'd a Convocation where he declared unto them for what cause they were conven'd layes before them the foulenesse of
them so solemne an oath and protestation falling into disputation with the Bishops how farre a temporall Princes power was over the Clergie but the Bishops soon disputed them into having nothing else to say but whosoever would refuse to condescend to the Kings demands herein was not worthy to be accounted a true and loving subject nor to have the benefit of such a one After which nothing could prevaile for then the Clergie answered with unanimous consent and full resolution that they neither could nor would grant unto the King the Supremâ—cy of the Church without those conditionall words quantem per legem Dei licet and so the Orators departed relating unto the King all that had passed who seeing no other remedy accepted it with that condition granting unto the Clergie a pardon for their bodies and goods paying him â—00000 l. which was paid every penny CHAP. XVII 1. How Campeius related the whole businesse of the Divorce unto the Pope and was blamed for the same 2. The King sendâ— two Doctors of the Civil law with private Câ—mmissions to treat with the Pope about the Divorce 3 The Pope solemnly ratifies the Marriage 4. The Sentence it self BUt we cannot well go on with our History except we fiâ—st arive our discourse within the gates of Rome to observe what account Cardinall Campeius had given unto the Pope of all these proceedings which was no otherwise than what had passed directly here in England which being related to his Holinesse by the Cardinall the Pope blamed him exceedingly for that he had not over-ruled Queen Katharine to have waved her Appeale whereby the businesse might have been determined within the Kings own Dominious for which cause-â—ake he sent him thither So slâ—ppery is the gâ—ound whereon Mâ—nisters of state do set their feet in any businâ—ssâ— that his businesse would doe right well to make a separation between them by his definitive sentence the Pope demanded to see their Commission and Authority which they had to treat with him they answered that the Kiâ—g was by this time grown somewhat unruly and that therefore what they did they did it upon their own score and for the love-sake which they bare unto the common good of the 〈◊〉 Church and for the peace and unity-â—ake thereof Then the Pope demanded of them to see the Certificate under the Bâ—shâ—ps 〈◊〉 whereby it might appeare that they had so consented to which they answered that they had no such certificate for the present but that they expected such a certificâ—te daily to come unto them together with a Commission to treat with his Holinesse Whereupon his Holinesse bad them expeâ—t All this while the King was framing a new Model of a Church and sent these men over on purpose if it were pâ—ssible to retard all proceeding at Rome untill such time as by a new court of Judicature under a new Supremacy the Marriage should have been adjudged 〈◊〉 bâ—fore the Popes 〈◊〉 of Ratification which was feared should have made it good All which policies and workings here in England you must not imagine them of Rome to be ignorant of Wherefore the Pope takes the best and most substantiall advise that could be given him and calls unto him not onely his Cardinalls c. but the most able Canonists and Divines that could be heard of and consults with the most famous Universities procuring the censures of the most famous men that had written of this case among the rest the two books of the before-mentioned Dâ— Tunstall Bishop of London and this out Dr. Fisher Bishop of Rochester of which â—ast book if you will believe that reverend and famous Clerk Alphonso de castro it is said of him to be the most excellent and learned of all other works and at last after diligent examination of the businesse 〈◊〉 himself in his Tribunall seat and open consistory by assent and counsel of his 〈◊〉 the Cardâ—â—alâ— pronounced this definitive 〈◊〉 in the cause The words begin as followeth Clemens papa septimus Christi nomine invocato in throno justitiae pro tribunali sedentes c. which in English is thus Pope Clement the seventh We invocating the name of Christ and having for our Tribunall the Throne of Iustice and the glory of the Almighty God onely before our eyes by this our definitive Sentence which by the counsell and assent of our venerable Brethren the Cardinalls of the holy Church of Rome assembled before us in consistory we doe in these Writings pronounce decree and declare in the cause and causes lawfully devolved upon us and the See Apostolique by an Appeal brought before us of our welbeloved Daughter in Christ Catharine Queen of England from the judgements of the Legates deputed by and sent from us and the see Apostolique between the foresaid Queen Catharine and our welbeloved Sonne in Christ Henry the eight the most illustrious King of England upon the validity and invalidity of the Matrimony between them contracted and consummated and upon other matters more largely deduced in the acts of such like cause or causes and committed to our Son Paulus Capissuchus then Dean of the Causes of our hâ—ly Palace and in his absence to our reverend Father Symoneta Bâ—shop of Pausaâ—ia supplying the place of one of our Audâ—tors of 〈◊〉 said Palace to be heard intrustâ—d and in our Consistory to be reporâ—ed and by them to us and the said 〈…〉 and maturely discussâ—d duâ—â—ng the time of the matter 〈…〉 that the Matrimony coâ—tractâ—◠〈◊〉 the saâ—d Queen Catharinâ— and K. Henry of England with all 〈…〉 of the same was and is Canoâ—â—call and of good force and that they may and ought to enjoy to them their due effects and that the â—ssâ—e between them heretofore born or hereafter to be born was and shall be lâ—gitimate and that the â—oresaâ—d King Henry ought is and shall be â—ound and obliged to cohabit and dwell with the said Queen Catharine his lawfull wife and to entreat her with all Husbandly affâ—ction and Kingly honour and that the said King Henry is condemned and by all remedies of Law is to be restrained and câ—mpelled as we do condemn constraine and compell him to accomplâ—sh and â—ulfill all and singular the premises â—ffâ—ctually and that the molestatâ—oâ—s and râ—fusalls by the foresaid King Henry by any manner of wayes made to the said Queene Catharine touching the inâ—alidâ—ty of the sâ—id Matrimony and alwaies from the beginning were unlawfull and 〈◊〉 and that perpetuall silence 〈◊〉 all the foresaid matters and 〈…〉 of the said Matrimony 〈…〉 unto the said Henry and 〈…〉 it and that the said King Henry of England be condemned and we doe condemn him in the expences lawfully made before us and our said Brethren in such case on the behalf of the said Queen Catharine the Taxation of which Expences we reserve to our selve till another time So we have pronounced This was published in the Palace of Rome in open consistory the 23. of March in
taken as undoubtedly true siâ—cere and perfect which Marriage carrying with it the soveraign imfortunity of all second Marriages being compleated the same Parliament enacted a Statuâ—e which declared the establishment of the Kings succession in the imperiall Crowne to be upon the issue which he was to have by the present Queene Anne ratifying whatsoever the foresaid Archbishop of Canterbury had decreed and disinheriting the issue which the King had by the foresaid Lady Katharine from all title to the foresaid Crowne and Government or that if any person of what state and condition soever shall by writing printing or any exteriour Act or Deed procure or doe any thing to the prejudice slander disturbance or deâ—ogation of the said Matrimony or the issue growing of the same every such person shall be deemed and adjudged as an high Traitour and suffer such punishment as in case of high Treason is provided and for the better keeping of this Act the Kings Majesty together with his Counsellours of their owne authority framed an Oâ—th upon the breaking up of this Parliament which was upon the 30. day of Maâ—ch and tendred it the same day to all the Lords both spirituall and temporall as likewise to all the Commons and was to be tendred to whom the Commissioners for the same purpose should call before them the words of which Oath were these viz. Ye shall swear to beare Faith Truth and all Obedience onely to the Kings Majesty and to his heires of his body and of his most dear and entirely beloved wife Queen Anne begotten and to be begotten and further to the heires of our Soveraigne Lord according to the limitation made in the Statute for surety of his succession in the Crown of this Realm mentioned and contained and not to any other within this Realme nor to any other forraign Authority or Potentate whatsoever and in case any Oath be made or hath been made by you to any person or persons that then ye doe repute the same as vaine and annihilate and that to your cunning wit and utmost endeavours ye shall observe keep maintain and defend the said Act of Succession all the whole effects and intents thereof and all other Acts and Statutes made in confirmation and for exâ—cution of the same or any thing therein contained and this ye shall do against all manner of persons of what estate dignity degree or condition soever they be and in no wise do or attempt nor to your power suffer to be done or attempted directly any thing or things privily or openly to the let hindrance danger or derogation thereof or if any part of the same by any manner of meanes or any manner of pretences So help you God and all his Saints and the holy Evangelist Which Oath all the Lords both spirituall and temporall took except the Bishop of Rochester who absolutely refused it So the Parliament was ended But The said Bishop had not been 4 daies quiet within his Palace of Rochester but a Letter came to him from the Archbishop of Canterbury together with other of the Commissioners willing him personally to appear before them in the said Archbishops house by a certain day expressed within the Letter all excuses set a part And CHAP. XIX 1. The Bishop of Rochester summoned to appear before the Archbishop of Canterbury 2. Sir Thomas Mâ—or and Dr. Wilson committed for refusing the Oath 3. The Bishop of Rochester sent to the Tower for the same cause 4. A Parliament is called wherein the Bishops imprisonment was voted lawfull 5. The Supremacy of the Church conferred upon the King c. by Act of Pâ—â—liament absolutely and wâ—â—â—out the foâ—mer clause 6. An Act 〈◊〉 Parliament making iâ— treason to deny the King to be supreme head of the Church NOw was the thing come to passe which was noâ—hing terrible to him because it was foreseen wherefore he first makes his Will and leaves severall Lâ—gacies to divers persons and uses as to Michael house in Cambridge where he received his Education to St. Iohns Colledge to the Poore to some of his 〈…〉 to all his Servants whom he leaves weeping behinde him whiles the rest followed him lamâ—nting his condition in his journey towards Lambeth Passing thorough the City of Rochester there were a multâ—tude of pâ—ople gathered together both citizens and countreymen to whom he gave his benediction riding by them all the while bâ—â—eheaded some crying that they should never see him again others denouncing woes unto them that were the ocâ—asions of his troubles others crying out against the wickednesse of the times and all of them lamenting and bewailing that whâ—ch was their miserie and his glory Thus he passed on his way till he came to Sutors hill twenty miles from Rochester on the top whereof he rested himself descending from his horse and causing to be brought before him such victuals as he had caused to be brought thither for that purpose he said he would now make use of his time and dine in the open aire while as he might after which dinner he chearfully took his horse and came to London the same night The day of his appearance being come he presented himselfe before the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth the Lord Audely Chancelour of England Thomas Cromwell the Kings Secretary and the rest of the Commissioners authorised under the great Seale of England to call before them whom they pleased and to tender unto them the foresaid Oath then sitting at Lambeth where at the same tune the Bishop met with Sir Thomas Moore who welcomed and saluted the Bishop in these termes Well met my Lord I hope we shall meet in Heaven to which the Bishop replyed This should be the way Sir Thomas for it is a very strait gate we are in There had been Doctor Wilson sometime the Kings Confessor who together with Sir Thomas Moore had both of them refused the Oath a little before the Bâ—shops coming for which the Knight was committed for the present to the custody of the Abbot of Westminster as the Doctor had been formerly committed to the Tower of London at which time also the Clergie of London were warned to appeare about the same businesse who all of them took the Oath at the same time Then was it that the Bâ—shop of Râ—chester was called before the Archbâ—shop c. who putting the Bâ—shâ—p in remembrance of the Act which was made by the late Parliament whâ—ch had provided an Oâ—th to be administred to all persons within this Râ—alm concerning the establâ—shment of the Succession c. how all the Lords both spirituall and temporall had taken the said Oath onely himself excepted how grievoâ—sly his Majesty was offended with him therefore how he had gâ—ven strict charge to himself and the rest of the Commissioners to call him before them and to tender unto him the Oath once more presented unto him the Oath laying it before him and demanded of him what he would say thereto the good man pâ—rusing
hoping by a voluntary condescention in these particulars to save the râ—st were of a minde to satisfie the Kiâ—g therâ—in which the Bishop of Rochester perceiviâ—g spake as followeth My Lords and the rest of our Brethren here assembled I pray you to take good heed to what you doe lâ—st you do you know not what and what you cannot do for indeed the things that are demanded at our hands are none of ours to grant nor theirs to whom we should bestow them if we should grant them their desires but they are the Legacies of those testators who have given them unto the Church for ever under the penalty of a heavy â—urse imposed on all those who shall any way go abouâ— to alienaâ— their property from the Church and besides if we should grant these smaller Abbeys c. to the King what should we do otherwise than shew him the way how in time it may be lawfull for him to demand the greater wherefore the manner of these proceedings puts me in minde of a â—able how the Ax which wanted a handle came upon a time unto the Wood making his mâ—an to the great Trees how he wanted a handle to work withall and â—or that cause he was constrained to sit idle wherefore he made it his request unto them that they would be pleased to grant him one of their small saplings within the Wood to make him a Handle who mistrusting no guile granted him one of the smaller trees wherewith he madâ— himself a handle so becoming a compleat Ax â—e so fell to work within the same wood that in processe of time there was neither great nor small tree to be found in the place where the wood stood And so my Lord if you grant the King these smaller Monasteries you do but make him a handle whereby at his owne pleasure he may â—ut downe all the Cedars within your 〈◊〉 and then you may thank your selves after ye have incurred the heavy displeasure of Almighty God This Spâ—â—ch quâ—te changed the mindes of all those which were formerly bent to gratifie the Kâ—ngs dâ—mands herein so that all was rejected for that time After this the Bishop escaped a very great danger for one R. Rose came into the Bâ—shops kitchin being acquainted with the Cook at his house in Lamb. Mâ—rsh having proviâ—ed a quantity of deâ—dly poyson whiles the Câ—ok went into the buterie to fetch him some drink he took his opportunity to throw that poyson into a mâ—ss of Grueâ—â— which was prepared for the Bâ—shops dinner and after he had stayed there awhile went his way but so it happened that when the Bishop was called unto his dinner he had no appâ—tite to any meat but wished his servants to fall to and be of good chear and that he would not eat till towards nâ—ght the Servants being set to dinner they that did eat of that poysoned dish were miserably infected whereof one Gentleman namâ—d Mr. Bennet Carwin and an old Widow died sodainly and the rest never recovered their healths till their dying day The person that did this wicked deed was afterwards for the same offence boyled alive in Smithfield in the 22. yeare of K. Henry's reign Shortly after this there happened another great danger to him in this same house by reason of a Cannon bullet that was shâ—t thorough his house close by his study window where he was used to spend much time in Prâ—yâ—r and holy Meditations which made such a horrible noyse and clutter as it went thorough that all the house were suddenly amazed upon enquâ—ry made from whence this mischief shouâ—d proceed it was fâ—und out how that it came from the other siâ—e of the River â—nd out of the Eâ—â—le of 〈◊〉 house Father to the Laâ—dy Anne Bullein which being told unto the Bâ—shop he calâ—ed all his Seâ—vants before him and said uâ—to thâ—m Let a trusse up ouâ— baggage and be gone this is no place for us to abide in any longer so he set forwards in his jâ—urnâ—y towards 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Coâ—spiracies wâ—re contrived by the Kâ—ngâ— consent or pâ—ivity it is not handsome to determine being 〈…〉 words against him at his table elsâ—where which words â—xperience telâ— us how too great 〈◊〉 may often take so large commission from them as to attempâ— such things as are beyond the nature of their warrant The Bishop now come to Rochester fâ—ll to his old accustomed manner of frequent preaching visiting the Sick converting the Seduced and for his recreation he would sometimes go and see his workmen whiles they wâ—re employed in the reparation of Rochester 〈◊〉 upon which he had bestowed great cost â—ut 〈◊〉 had not long remained in those paâ—ts but he was robbed almost of all his Plate by Thieves in the night-time who brake into his Manour house of Halling nâ—are Rochester which being perceived in the morning by his Servants they were all in great perplexity and pursued the thieves as well as they could and following them thorough the wood the thieves leâ— fall severall pieces of Plate through the great hast which they had made in flying so that they brought some of the Plate back â—gain before the Bishop had heard of the losse of any but the Bp. coming downe to his dinner perceived an unwonted kinde of heavinesse and sadnesse in their countenances insomuch that he asked them what was the matter they seeming unwilling to relate the story and looking upon one another who should begin he commanded them to inform him of the cause of such dâ—straction assuring them that he was armd for all adventures deeming it to be some great matter but when they had given a full relation of the whole businesse and how they had recovered some of the Plate back again the Bish. replyed if this be all we have more cause to rejoice that God hath restored to us some than to be discontented that wicked men have taken away any for the least favour of God Almighty is more to be esteemed than all the evill which the Devil and all his wicked instruments can doe unto us is to be valued wherefore let us sit down and be merry thank God it is no worse and look ye better to the rest CHAP. XV. 1. The Kings Agents are returned from Rome with sufficient matter of vexation to the Clergie 2. The King calls another Parliament 3. The whole Clergie are condemned in a praemunire 4. The King laies hold on that advantage to make himself head of the Church 5. The Bishop of Rochester his most admirable Speech upon that occasion whereupon the Proposition was rejected 6. The King persists in his demand BY this time the Kings Agents which were sent to Rome were returned with sufficient matter wherewith to veâ— the whole Clergie for they had learned our how that there had been a priviledge formerly granted from the See of Rome no Legate de latere should enter the Realme of England except he were first sent for by the King now it happened that