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
Virginity another of the Celebration of Easter And about this time the Libraries of Monasteries began to be replenished with Books many being written in that Age. 5. By the way Multitude of books created by a mistake one Mistake I could not have discerned it my self had not a learned b Spelman in Conciliis pag. 210. Writer discovered it unto me makes Books of this Age more numerous and the Kings therein more Learned then indeed they were Namely because every Latine Charter granted by any King to a Monastery is termed by the Saxon Writers Liber or Libellus a Book Wherefore when they tell us of such and such Books made by the Saxon Kings understand we most of them of their Charters of Donation In which sense King Edgar who some two hundred yeares after this time founded as many Monasteries as Weeks in the year and consequently made as many Charters was a voluminous Writer of no lesse then fifty two Books And yet this large acception of Books will not make up the Number which Bale and Pitz pretend they have seen in this Age. A Vanity in them to affect a Title-learning though a Stationers Apprentice after some weeks Experience might excell them therein and the greater because many imaginary Authours which they make as if they had seen either were never extant or long since extinguished 6. But the multitude of Books encreaseth not our Marvel so much The numerosity of noble Saints in this Age. as the Numerosity of Saints such as they were in this Age whereof four parts of five according to the Herauldry of such who wrote their Lives were of Royall or Noble Extraction It addeth to the wonder because S t. Paul c 1 Cor. 1. 26. saith Not many Noble are called except any confine that Observation of the Apostle to times of Persecution whereas Christianity now in England flourished in all Peace and Prosperity But to render their noble Parentage at this time the more probable know that under the Saxon Heptarchy Royalty was encreased seven-fold in England which must beget a proportionable multiplication of Nobility attending them Yet when all is done as the Iewish Rabbins on their bare Tradition without ground from Scripture make Ruth the Daughter to Eglon King of Moab merely to make the Descent of their King David from her the more illustrious so it is suspicious that to advance the Temporall Reputation of these Saints such Monks as wrote their Lives causelesly â—â—arified and refined many of their Blouds into Noble Extraction However if truely pious indeed such Saints have the best Nobility in the Scripture-sense d Acts 17. 11. These were more noble because they received the word with all readinesse of mind 7. Of these noble Saints 708 S t. Guthlake a Benedictine Monk S t Guthlake the first Saxon Heremite was the first Saxon that professed an Heremitical life in England to which purpose he chose a Fenny place in Lincolnshire called Crowland that is the raw or crudeland so raw indeed that before him no man could digest to live therein Yea the Devils are said to claim this place as their peculiar and to call it e Flores Sanctorum written by Hierome Porter in the life of St. Guthlake pag. 348. their own land Is any place but the Prison of Hell properly theirs Yet wonder not at their Presumption pretending this Spot of ground to be theirs whose Impudence durst affirm that God had given them f Matth. 4. 8. all the World and the Glory thereof Could those infernal Fiends tortured with immateriall Fire take any Pleasure or make any Ease to themselves by padling here in Puddles and dabling in the moist dirty Marishes However Guthlake took the Boldnesse to enter common with them and erect his Cell in Crowland But if his prodigious Life may be believed Ducks and Mallards do not now flock thither faster in September then Heards of Devils came about him all whom he is said victoriously to have vanquished Anno Dom. 708 But whom Satan's Power could not foil his Policy had almost destroyed by perswading Guthlake to fast fourty dayes and nights together after the Example of Moses a Idem P. 347. and Elias till finding this Project destructive to Nature he was forced in his own Defence to take some necessary but very sparing Refection He died in his own Cell and Pega his sister an Anchoritesse led a solitary life not far from him 8. Doves also Aswinish conceit of a Monk a poor plain man was eminent in this Age a Shepheard say some a Neatheard others Swineheard say the third sort and that most probable For whilest he lived in Worcestershire not far from the River Avon the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared unto him even where fare well all good Tokens he found a lost Sow b Godwin in Catalogo Episcoporum pag. 301. with seven Piggs sucking upon her and to have given order that in that very place a Monastery should be erected to her Honour The beastly Monk who made this Vision had e'ne learned as far as Virgil's Aeneids whence he fetched the Platform of this pretty Conceit a place so marked being foretold fortunate to Aeneas to found Alba since Rome therein c Aeneidosl 3. Litories ingens inventa sub ilicibus Sus Triginta capitum faetus enixa jacebit Alba solo recubans albi circum ubera nati Hic locus Vrbis erit requies ubi certa laborum Where under Oakes on Shore there shall be found A mighty Sow all white cast on the ground With thirty sucking Piggs that place is ' sign'd To build your Town and ease your wearied Mind Here the Monk mutatis mutandis but principally shrinking the Number of the Pigs from thirty to seven as more mystical he applies the Apparition to his Purpose A pretty Parallel that Pagan-Rome and Popish Superstition if Hue-and-cry should be made after them might be discovered by the same Marks This gave the first motion to the Foundation of Eovesham Abbey so called from Eoves aforesaid first built in that Sow-place 9. But the Building thereof was hastened by a second The first Synod for Image-worship in England more neat and cleanly Apparition of the Virgin Mary in the same place who is pretended to have shewed her self with two Maiden-attendants to Egwin Bishop of Worcester prompting him to expedite a Structure therein d See Sir Henry Spelman's Councils pag. 210. Egwin posts presently to Rome and makes faith of this Vision to Constantine the Pope who convinced in his judgement of the truth thereof dispatcheth his Commands to Brightwall Arch-bishop of Canterbury 709 to assemble a Synod at Alncester in VVorcestershire to promote the building of an Abbey in that place which was done accordingly and the same was bountifully endowed by Offa and other Mercian Kings with very large Revenues And not long after another Synod saith my c Magdeburgenses Cent. sed ex
were some earnest determination against them and at length they were brought before the King Himself there being present all the whole Council And the King demanded of them why they had not made His Book according to His commandment and refused that to doe with sharp words and angry countenance and the said Sr. Edward opened unto His Highnesse the cause why they did it not and he and other had before declared and opened to the Councill that if the writings were made they were of no effect nor force but utterly void when the King should decease and the Statute of Succession not impaired nor hurted for these will not be taken away but by the same authority they were made and that was by Parliament To that said the King we minde to have a Parliament shortly not telling when which was the first time that the said Sr. Edward heard of any Parliament to be 〈◊〉 Whereunto he said if His pleasure were so all might be deferred to the Parliament and all dangers and perils saved Whereunto the King said he would have this done and after ratifie it by Parliament And after commanded them very sharply upon their allegiance to make it and there were divers of the Lords that stood behind the said Sr. Edward said and if they refused to do that they were traitours And the said Sr. Edward was in great fear as ever he was in all his life before seeing the King so earnest and sharpe and the said Duke so angry the day before who ruled the whole Councill as it pleased him and were all affraid of him the more is the pitty so that such cowardnesse and feare was there never seen amongst honourable men as it hath appeared The said Sr. Edward being an old weak man and without comfort began to consider with himself what was best to be done for the safeguard of his life which was like to chance in that fury and great anger presently And remembring that the making of the said writing was not presently treason by the Statute of Anno primo because this word Successour would take no place while the King was living and determined with himself not to meddle nor execute any thing concerning the same after the death of the King which he hath truly kept hereunto And also remembring that the Queens Highnesse that now is should come by Act of Succession as a purchaser by the law might not lawfully punish treason or contempt committed in the Kings life he said unto the King that he had served His most noble Father many yeers and also His Highnesse during His time Anno Dom. 1553 and loth he would be to disobey His commandment Anno Regin Mar. 1. for his own part he would obey it so that His Highnesse would grant to them His commandment license and commission under His great Seal for the doing making and executing of all things concerning the same and when the things were done that they might have a general pardon All which Commission and pardon was as much as the said Sr. Edward could invent to help this danger over and besides the things above remembred which Commission and pardon the King granted them saying it was but reason that they should have them both and the Commission is passed the Great Seal and the Pardon was signed and as far as he knew sealed All the said matters considered the said Sr. Edward said for his part he would obey the Kings commandment and so did M. Bromley say the same and the King said to Sr. John Baker what say you you said never a word today who as I take it agreed to the same Mr. Gosnold required a respite for he was not yet perswaded to do the thing required How the said Duke and the Earl of Shrewsburie handled him he can tell best himself And after upon the said Sr. Edwards motion the King gave him licence to be advised untill upon the morrow who of himself being in great fear was content to obey the Kings commandment and so the doers and makers of the said Book with sorrowfull hearts and with weeping eyes in great fear and dread devised the said Book according to such Articles as were signed with the Kings proper hand above and beneath and on every side And their said Commission with Articles so signed with the Kings hand and the Book drawn in paper were conveyed from the Court to the Lord Chancelors to be ingrossed in parchment and to passe the great Seal which was done accordingly And on the morrow next after the last Terme ended the said Sr. Edward and all the Judges were sent for he puts his hand to the Book in parchment sealed with the Great Seal and so did many others The said Book of Articles so signed remaineth with the Lord Chancellour Bishop of Eely but who conveyed the said Paper Book into the Chancery or who wrot them or who set their hands to the same Book the said Sr. Edward till he see them he cannot tell but he will not denie but he was privie to the making of them as he hath before said and that he came to the knowledge of the matter by the Articles unsigned and by the Articles signed with the Kings hand and both delivered unto him by the Kings own hands Who put the King in minde to make the said Articles or whowrote them or any of them or by whose procurement or counsell they were made or by what means he and others were called unto this matter he knoweth not but he thinks in his conscience the King never invented this matter of Himself out by some wonderfull false compasse he prayeth God the truth may be known as he doubts not it will be And further he and all his company as well before the King as before the Lords at all times said that their writings before they were made and after they were made were of no value force nor effect to any intent constitution or purpose after the Kings death and there is no remedy to help this but by Parliament And that after the said Thursday being the morrow after the Terme last past that he by any writing printing overt deed or act never did any thing sithence the same day in the Kings life ne sithence the death of the King for he determined with himself to be no executour of the said devise whatsoever should chance of it nor ever medled with the Councill in any thing nor came amongst them untill the Queens Grace that now is was proclaimed Queen in London nor never executed Commission Proclamation or other commandment from the Ladie Jane nor Her Councill but commanded my son to serve the Queens Grace that now is and to go to Sr. Thomas Tresham and Buckingham-shire-men that went to her Grace to defend Her which he so did to my no little cost The case thus stated these notes follow written with the same hand Now that it is to be considered the great fear the said Sr. Edward was
second Temple such must needs be sad which consider the disproportion betwixt what was performed and what was projected in this Colledge Save that I confesse that the destruction of beautifull buildings once really extant leave greater impressions in mens mindes than the miscarriages of onely intentional structures and the faint Ideas of such future things as are probably propounded but never effected 24. And here we will insert the number The first Provost and Fellows and names of the Provost and first Fellows and some of them probable to be last Fellows as still surviving as they were appointed by the King Himself Anno 1610. May 8. Matthew Sutcliffe Dean of Exeter Provost 1. John Overal Dean of S. Pauls 2. Thomas Morton Dean of Winchester 3. Richard Field Dean of Glocester 4. Robert Abbot Doctors of Divinity 5. John Spenser 6. Miles Smith 7. William Covitt 8. John Howson 9. John Layfield 10. Ben Charrier 11. Martin Foâ—herbie 12. John Boys 13. Richard Bret 14. Peter Lilie 15. Francis Burley 16. William Hellier Arch-Deacon of Barstable 17. John White Fellow of Manchester-Colledge William Cambden Clarenceaux Historians John Haywood Doctor of Law See here none who were actuall Bishops were capable of places in this Colledge And when some of these were afterwards advanced to Bishopricks others translated to heaven King JAMES by His now Letters Patents 1622. Novemb 14. substituted others in their room Amongst whom the Archbishop of Spalato but no more than Dean of Windsor in England was most remarkable 25. To advance this work The King his Letters to â—he Archbishop and his to the Bishops His Majestie Anno 1616. sent His Letters to the Archbishop of Canterbury to stirre up all the Clergie in his Province to contribute to so pious a work according to the tenour thereof here inserted WHereas the enemies of the Gospel have ever been forward to write and publish Books for confirming of erroneous doctrine and impugning the truth and now of late seem more carefull than before to send daily into Our Realms such their writings whereby Our loving Subjects though otherwise well-disposed might be seduced unless some remedy thereof should be provided We by the advice of Our Councel have lately granted a Corporation and given Our allowance for erecting a Colledge at Chelsey for learned Divines to be imployed to write as occasion shall require for maintaining the Religion professed in Our Kingdomes and confuting the Impugners thereof Whereupon Doctour Sutcliffe designed Provost of the said Colledge hath now humbly signified unto Us that upon divers promises of help and assistance towards the erecting and endowing the said Colledge he hath at his own charge begun and well proceeded in building as doth sufficiently appear by a good part thereof already set up in the place appointed for the same We therefore being willing to favour and farther so religious a work will and require you to write your Letters to the Bishops of your Province signifying unto them in Our name that Our pleasure is they deal with the Clergie and others of their Diocesse to give their charitable be nevolence for the perfecting of this good work so well begun And for the better performance of Our desire We have given order to the said Provost and his Associates to attend you and others whom it may appertain and to certifie Us from time to time of their proceeding A copie of this His Majesties Letter was sent to all the Bishops of England with the Archbishops additionall Letter in order as followeth NOw because it is so pious and religious a work conducing both to Gods glory and the saving of many a soul within this Kingdome I cannot but wish that all devout and well affected persons should by your self and the Preachers in your Diocesse as well publickly as otherwise be excited to contribute in some measure to so holy an intendment now well begun And although these and the like motions have been frequent in these later times yet let not those whom God hath blessed with any wealth be weary of well-doing that it may not be said That the idolatrous and superstitious Papists be more forward to advance their falshoods than we are to maintain Gods truth Whatsoever is collected I pray your Lordship may be carefully brought unto me partly that it passe not through any defrauding hand and partly that His Majestie may be acquainted what is done in this behalf Yet for all these hopefull endevours and collections in all the Parishes of England slow and small were the summes of money brought in to this work Many of them were scattered out in the gathering them up the charges of the Collectours consuming the profit thereof If as it is vehemently suspected any of these collections be but detained by private persons I conceive it no trespasse against Christian charity to wish that the pockets which keep such money may rot all their suites that wear them till they make true restitution thereof 26. Various are mens conjectures as directed by their own interest what obstructed so hopefull proceedings Divers opininions touching the non-proceeding of the Colledge and it is safer for me to recite all than resolve on any of them Some ascribe it to 1. The common fatality which usually attends noble undertakings As partus octimestres children born in the eighth moneth are alwaies not long liv'd so good projects quickly expire 2. The untimely death of Prince HENRY Our principal hope f Continuation of Stow's Survey of London pag. 533. and the chief authour of this designe If so Erubuit Domino firmius esse suo The modest Colledge blushed to be stronger Than was its Lord He dead it liv'd no longer But upon my serious perusall of the Records of this Colledge I finde not so much as mention of the name of Prince HENRY as in any degree visibly contributive thereunto 3. The large loose and lax nature thereof no one prime person Sutcliffe excepted whose shoulders sunk under the weight thereof zealously engaging therein King JAMES His maintenance amounting to little more than countenance of the work Those children will have thin chaps and lean cheeks who have every body and yet no body nurses unto them 4. The originall means of the Colledge principally founded on the fluid and unconstant element unstable as water the Rent of a New River when made which at the best thus imployed was beheld but as a religious Monopoly And seeing that designe then took no effect though afterwards in another notion and nature it was perfected no wonder if the Colledge sunk with the means thereof 5. Some of the * This fift and sixt obstruction signifie nothing to discreet men however they must passe for company-sake and are alledged by some as very materiall greatest Prelates how much self is there in all men though seemingly forward really remisse in the matter Suspecting these Controversiall Divines would be lookt on as the principall Champions of Religion more serviceable in the
c pag. 6â— better so also longer than King Solomon 8. Left the world most resolved most prepared embracing his Grave for his Bed 9. Reigning gloriously with God in Heaven 10. Whilest his body was interred with all possible solemnitie in King Henry the seventh his Chappell Be it here remembred that in this Parallel the Bishop premised to set forth Solomon not in his full proportion faults and all but half-faced imagine lusca as Apelles painted Antigonus to conceal the want of his eye adding that Solomons vices could be no blemish to King James who resembled him onely in his choicest vertues He concluded all with that verse Ecclesiasticus 30. 4. Though his Father die yet he is as though he were not dead for he hath left one behinde him that is like himself in application to his present Majestie 4. Some Auditors Exceptions taken at his Sermon who came thither rather to observe than edifie cavill than observe found or made faults in the Sermon censuring him for touching too often and staying too long on an harsh string three times straining the same making eloquence too essentiall and so absolutely necessary in a King that the want thereof made Moses in a manner f pag. 16. refuse all Government though offered by God that no g pag. 5. man ever got great power without eloquence Nere being the first of the Caesars qui alienae facundiae eguit who usurp'd another mans language to speake for him Expressions which might be forborn in the presence of his Sonne and Successor whose impediment in speech was known to be great and mistook to be greater Some conceived him too long in praising the passed too short in promising for the present King though saying much of him in a little and the Bishops Adversaries whereof then no want at Court some took distaste others made advantage thereof Thus is it easier and better for us to please one God than many men with our Sermons However the Sermon was publiquely set forth by the Printer but not the express command of his Majestie which gave but the steddier Mark to his enemies noting the marginall notes thereof and making all his Sermon the text of their captious interpretations 5. Now began animosities to discover themselves in the Court Discontents begin in the Court. whose sad influences operated many years after many being discontented that on this change they received not proportionable advancement to their expectations Anno Regis Car. 1. 1 Anno Dom. 1625 It is the prerogative of the King of Heaven alone that he maketh all his Sonnes Heires all his Subjects Favourites the gain of one being no losse to the other Whereas the happiest Kings on Earth are unhappy herein that unable to gratifie all their Servants having many Suitors for the same place by conferring a favour on one they disoblige all other competitors conceiving themselves as they make the estimate of their own deserts as much if not more meriting the same preferment 6. As for Doctor Preston he still continued Dr Preston a great favourite and increased in the favor of the King and Duke it being much observed that on the day of King James his death he h Sâ—e his Life pag. 503. rode with Prince and Duke in a Coach shut down from Theobalds to London applying comfort now to one now to the other on so sad an occasion His partie would perswade us that he might have chose his own mitre much commending the moderation of his mortified minde denying all preferment which courted his acceptance verifying the Anagram which a i Mr Ayâ—â— of Lincolns Inn. friend of his made on his name Johannes Prestonius Enstas pius in honore Indeed he was conceived to hold the Helme of his own partie able to steere it to what point he pleased which made the Duke as yet much to desire his favor 7. A booke came forth called Appello Caesarem made by M. Mountague He formerly had been Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge Mr. Mountague his character at the present a Parson of Essex and Fellow of Eaton One much skilled in the Fathers and Ecclesiasticall Antiquity and in the Latin and Greek Tongues Our great k Mr. Selden in his book De Diâ—s Syris pag. 361. Antiquarie confesseth as much Graecè simul Latinè doctus though pens were brandished betwixt them and vertues allowed by ones adversarie may passe for undeniable truths These his great parts were attended with tartnesse of writing very sharp the neb of his pen and much gall in his inke against such as opposed him However such the equability of the sharpnesse of his style he was unpartiall therein be he antient or modern writer Papist or Protestant that stood in his way they should all equally taste thereof 8. Passe we from the Author to his Book Settâ—th forth his Appellâ— Caesaâ—em whereof this was the occasion He had lately writen satyrically enough against the Papists in consutation of The Gagger of Protestants Now two Divines of Norwich Dioces M r. Yates and M r. Ward informed against him for dangerous errours of Arminianisme and Poperie deserting our cause in stead of defending it M. Mountague in his own vindication writes a second Book licensed by Francis White Dean of Carlile finished and partly printed in the reign of James to whom the Author intended the dedication But on King James his death it seems it descended by succession on King Charles his Sonne to whom M r. Mountague applyed the words which Ockam once used to Lewes of Bavier Emperour of Germanie Domine Imperator defende me gladio ego te defendam calamo Lord Emperour defend me with thy Sword and I will defend thee with my Pen. Many bitter passages in this his Book gave great exception whereof largely hereafter 9. On Sunday being the twelfth of June Queen Mary her first arrival at Dover about seven of the clock at night June 12. Queen Marie landed at Dover at what time a piece of Ordinance being discharged from the Castle flew in fitters yet did no bodie any harm Moe were fearfull at the presage than thankfull for the providence Next day the King coming from Canterburie met her at Dover whence with all solemnitie she was conducted to Sommerset-House in London where a Chappell was new prepared for her devotion with a Covent adjoyning of Capuchin-Friers according to the Articles of her Marriage 10. A Parliament began at London The King rescueth Mr. Mountague from the House of Commons wherein the first Statute agreed upon was for the more strict observation of the Lords-day Which day as it first honoured the King His Reign beginning thereon so the King first honoured it by passing an Act for the greater solemnitie thereof Anno Regin Caroli 1 The House of Commons fell very heavie on M r. Mountague for many bitter passages in his Book who in all probability had now been severely censured but that
King got the smiles of those who were most in number but the frowns of such who were greatest in power 3. Many were offended that at the Kings Coronation some six yeares agoe and a Parliament following thereon an act of ratification was passed concerning the Church her liberties and priviledges which some complained of was done without Plurality of Suffrages 4. Some Persons of honor desiring higher Titles m 〈…〉 were offended that they were denyed unto them whilst his Majesty conferred them on others There want not those also who confidently suggest it to Posterity that Pensions constantly payed out of the English Exchequer in the Reign of King James to some principall pastors in the Scottish Church were since detained So also the bounty of boons was now restrained in the Reign of King Charles which could not fall so freely as in the dayes of his father the Cloud being almost drained adding moreover that the want of watering of Scotland with such showers made them to chap into such Clefts and Chinks of Parties and Faâ—ions disaffected to the Kings proceedings 101. To increase these distempers some complain how justly The Book bears the blame of all their own Countrey-men best know of the pride and pragmaticainess of the Scotch Bishops who being but Probationers on their good behaviour as but reintroduced by King James offended the ancient Nobility with their medleing in State matters And I finde two principally accused on this account Doctor Forbes Bishop of the new Bishoprick of Edenburg and Doctor Welderburne Bishop of Dumblane Thus was the Scotch Nation full of discontents when this Book being brought unto them bare the blame of their breaking forth into more dangerous designs as when the Cup is brim full before the last though least superadded drop is charged alone to be the cause of all the running over 102. Besides the Church of Scotland claimed not only to be Independent The Scotch Church standeth on the termes of its own independency free as any Church in Christendome a Sister not Daughter of England but also had so high an opinion of its own puritie that it participated more of Moses his platform in the Mount than other Protestant Churches being a reformed reformation So that the practice thereof might be directory to others and she fit to give not take write not receive copies from any Neighbouring Church destring that all others were like unto them save only in their afflictions 103. So much for the complained of burden of the book Arch-Bishop Land accused as principall Composer of the Book as also for the sore back of that Nation gauled with the aforesaid grievances when this Liturgy was sent unto them and now we must not forget the hatred they bare to the hand which they accused for laying it upon them Generally they excused the King in their writings as innocent therein but charged Archbishop Laud as the principall and Doctor n Bayly ut pri pag. 102. Cosins for the instrumentall compiler thereof which may appear by what we read in a Writer o Idem pag 95. 96. of that Nation afterwards imployed into England about the advancing of the Covenant betwixt both Nations and other Church affaires This unhappy Book was his Gracet invention if he should deny it his own deeds would convince him The manifold letters which in this Pestiferous affaire have passed betwixt him and our Prelates are yet extant Anno Dom. 1637 If we might be heard Anno Regis Caroli 13 we would spread out sundry of them before the Convocation-House of England making it clear as the light that in all this designe his hand had ever been the prime stickler so that upon his back mainly nill he will he would be laid the charge of all the fruits good or evill which from that Tree are like to fall on the Kings Countries Surely if any such evidence was extant we shall hear of it hereafter at his arraignment produced and urged by the Scotch-Commissioners 10. But leaving the Roots to lye under the Earth The tumult at Edenborough at the first reading the book let us look on the Branches spreading themselves above ground July 23. Sunday and passing from the secret Author of this Book behold the evident effects thereof No sooner had the Dean of Edenborough began to read the Book in the Church of St. Gyles in the presence of the Privy-Councell both the Archbishops divers Bishops and Magistrates of the City but presently such a Tumult was raised that through clapping of hands cursing and crying one could neither hear nor be heard The Bishop of Edenborough indeavoured in vain to appease the Tumult whom a Stool aimed to be thrown at him had killed p The Kings laâ—ge declaration pag. 23. if not diverted by one present so that the same Book had occasioned his Death and prescribed the form of his buriall and this Hubbub was hardly suppressed by the Lord Provost and Bayliffs of Edenborough 105. This first Tumult was caused by such More considerable persons engaged in the cause whom I finde called the Skum of the City considerable for nothing but their number But few dayes after the cream of the Nation some of the highest and best quality therein ingaged in the same cause crying out God defend all those who will defend Gods cause and God confound q The Kings large declaration pag. 37. the Service-Book and all the maintainers of it 106. The Lords of the Councell interposed their power Octob. 17. and to appease all parties issued out a Proclamation to remove the Session much like to our Term in London to Lithgou The occasion of the Scotch covenant This abated their anger as fire is quenched with Oile seeing the best part of the Edenburgers livelyhood depends on the Session kept in their City yea so highly were the People enraged against Bishops as the procurers of all these Troubles that the Bishop of Galloway passing peaceably along the street towards the Councellâ—House was way-layed r Kings large declaration pag. 35. in his coming thither if by divine Providence and by Frances Stewart Sonne to the late Earl of Bothwell he had not with much adoe been got within the dores of the Councell-House Indeed there is no fence but flight nor counsell but concealement to secure any single parâ—y against an offended multitude 107. These troublesome beginnings afterwards did occasion the solemn League and Covenant The Authors excuse why not proceeding in this subject whereby the greatest part of the Nation united themselves to defend their Priviledges and which laid the foundation of a long and wofull War in both Kingdomes And here I crave the Readers pardon to break off and leave the prosecution of this sad subject to Pens more able to undertake it For first I know none will pity me if I needlesly prick my fingers with meddling with a Thistle which belongs not unto me Secondly I
the glass that these Lattices did fence them on the outside Item Paid for a Bay Nagge given to M r Henry Denny for the Abby wall three pound seventeen shillings This Nagge was rather a thankful acknowledgment of M r Denny his propriety then a just valuation of what the Parish received from him for it followeth Item To Labourers which did undermine the said wall fourty five shillings nine pence What then may the materials of that wall be presumed worth in themselves I conceive this was a building which ranged East beyond the old Steeple the demolishing whereof brought much profit to the Parish whole Wardens for some years drave a great trade in the sale Lead Stone and Timber all devoured in the roofing flooring and finishing of their Steeple Anno 1563. Eliz. 6â—â— Imprimis For an old house in the old Market-place thirteen pound six shillings eight pence This Tenement low-rented yielded annually nine shillings Now the Parish sold it and another house in West-street outright letting Leases also of their other Church-lands for twenty one years such bargains made a Feast for the present age and a Famine for posterity Item For the old timber in the little Vestiary of S t Georges Chappel fifteen shillings In vain have I enquired for the scituation hereof long since demolished c Philippâ—l Melan 〈◊〉 Apologia Articule 21. confessions Augustane and no wonder if S t George his Chapple cannot be found when S t George himself is affirmed by a some as one never existent in rerum natura Item Received M r Denny for one Cope of Cloth of gold three pound six shillings eight pence Item For two Altar-Cloaths of Velvet and silk two pound It seemeth the Parish did not part with all their gallantry at once but made several stakes thereof and parcelled them out as their necessities did require Item Received of M r Tamworth twenty loads of timber ready hewed which he gave to the Parish This Gentleman by his bounty to the Publick seems better known to God then to me having neither heard nor read of any of his name living in or near to Waltham Item For taking down the stairs in the Abby seven shilling eight pence This was part of the Nag-purchase whereby we collect that a large structure Was by this bargain conveyed to the Parish Item For taking down the Lead from the Charnel-house and covering the Steeple eighteen shillings The Steeple was conceived above the Charnel-house as in height so in honour Wherefore now the Lead taken from it was translated to the covering of the Steeple Which is now but tiled Call this removing of this metal from on part of the Church to another onely the borrowing of S t Peter to lend to S t Paul Item For the Arch-Deacons man coming for a Record of all the Inhabitants of the Parish four pence I know not on what Canon this was founded It may be her Majestie in those dangerous times desired not out of Pride but necessary Policy to know the number of her Subjects and might enjoyn the Arch-Deacons in their respective Visitations to make this inquiry But Day begins to dawn and the light of our Age to appear matters coming within the memory of many alive We will therefore break off Waltham since affording no peculiar observables Onely will add that S t Edward Grand-childe to S t Anthony Denny was created by King James a Candens Brit. in Eslex Baron of Waltham and since made by King Charles Earl of Norwich A Noble person High time to knock off who setled on the Curate of Waltham to whom before a bare Stipend of Eight pound did belong one hundred pound per annum with some other considerable accommodations tying good Land for the true performance thereof The Abby is now the Inheritance of this Earls Grand-childe by Honorw his daughter James Hay Earl of Carlile who Married Margaret Daughter to Francis Earl of Bedford by whom as yet he hath no Issue James Earle of Carlile present owner of Waltham Nicholas the most civinent Abbot of Waltham for the continuance of whole happiness my prayers shall never be wanting The Reader may justly expect from me a Catalogue of all the Abbots of this Monastery But to do it falsly I dare not lamely I would not perfectly I cannot and therefore must crave to be excused Onely let me observe That Nicholas Abbot of Waltham was most triumphant in power of any in his place he flourished in the Reign of King Richard the second and was b Hen de Knigbton de eventibus Angl. lib. v. pag 2687. one of the fourteen Commissioners chosen by Parliament to examine the miscariages in that Kings Reign since the death of his Grand-father Amongst the Natives of Waltham for Stutes-men John de Waltham bears away the bell He was keeper of the Privy Seal in the Reign of King Richard the second being the third in number chosen amongst the fourteen Commissioners aforesaid John de Waltham impowred to examine all misdemeanours of State And now was not Waltham highly honoured with more then a single share when amongst those fourteen two were her Gremials c Hen Knigh. ton ut prius Pag. 2685. Roger Waltham a learned writer the forenamed Nicholas living in Waltham and this John having his name thence because birth therein But amongst Scholars in our Town Roger Waltham must not be forgotten Canon of S t Patils in London and a great favourite to Fulk Busset Bishop thereof He wrote many learned books whereof two especially one called d Bale de seript Brit. cent 4 pag. 302. Compendium Morale the other Imagines Oratorum commond his parts and pains to posterity Pase we from those who were Born to eminent persons Buried therein Here we first meet with Hugh Nevile a Minton of King Richard the first he Was Interred in Waltham Church saith my Mat. Paris in Anno 1222. page 315. and also Robert Passe lew Author in Nobili Sarcophago Marmoreo insculpto in a Noble Coffin of Marble engrav'd If a Coffin be call'd Sarcophagus from consuming the Corps surely Sacriledg may be named Sarcophago-phagus which at this day hath devoured that Coffin and all belonging thereunto We spoil all if we forget Robert Passellew who was Dominus fac totum in the midle and fac nihil towards the end of the Reign of Henry the third Some Parasites extolled him by allusion to his name Pass-le-eau that is passing the pure water the Wits of those dayes thus descanting upon him f Collect. of Mr. Camb. M. S. in Sr. Tho. Cottons Librdry Est aqua lenis est aqua dulcis est aqua clara Tu praecellis aquam nam leni lenior es tu Dulci dulcior es tu clara clarior es tu Mente quidem lenis re dulcis sanguine clarus But such who flattered him the fastest whilest in favour mocked him the most in misery and at last he
THE KNIGHTS â—oined with y e MONKES of Eâ—Y by WILIIAÌ„ y e CONQVEROVR SIMONI ARCHER Equiti Aurato Antiquitatis cultori et in DIGMATOGRAPHIA exercitatissimo nec non lectissima D nae Annae T. F. The Brother to William Erle of Warren with Monke Leofricke William the Conquerer S t Ethelburge S t Ethelwarde Bishope Robert Oâ—fford the xiiij th Bishope of Elye Opsal Captaine of the Câ—osbowe-men w th Henke Godfryde Belase geâ—erall of the soldiours against Eley with Nonâ—â—e vtwalde Picot Bridge Moister with Monke Huskettle Arg entine Surgeon generall with Monke Elfritcke Gerard de longo Campo with Monke William Talbote sent ostentynes Embassadour with Monke Duffe Adam cheife Marshall of the Armie with Monke Seda Guido de S t Leodigara with the holy Monke Adelmere Hastings a souldior skilfull in Nauigasion with Monke Nigell Walter Lacy sheild bearer to y e Conquerour with Monke Occam Pamell Captaine of 300 foolemen with Monke Ednode Ahmude sonne of Alan with Monke Burthrede Abraham Pechy with monke Etholbert y e Elder Bardolphe maister of the workemen with Monke Recke Sewarde on englishman Vitualer of y e Campe with Monke Reoffine Fides de furnivall a lumbard with Monke OSulp Blounte Captayne generall of y e foote men w th Monkewillnete Brian Clare an old Souldior with Monke Cliton Hugh Mounteforti Captayne of y e Horsemen with Monke Odon Pagan Standerd bearer of the Horsemen w th monke Athelâ—ale Bigotte Captaine of 300 horsemen with Monke Condulphe Dunstan le Grosmaneus with Munke Egberte Richard deponteful Conis with Monke leo fricke the younger Eucas de Novo Burgo with Olane the holye Monke of the Monastery Tuchet Captayne of the Bowmen with Monke Osburn e Nigellus Hamtaindote with Monke Donalde Eustalias the Blacke with Monke Edwin Eustalias the white Maister of the Scoutmen with monke Swan Bigotte third sonne of Bigotte with Monke Edmund Robert Marshall with Monke Renulphe Beamunde master of the Conâ—uerors horse with Monke Gurthe Kenulphus a German Soldiour with monke â—skettle John of yorke an Englishman with monke Felix John Malmaine Standerd bearer of the footemen w th monke Otho Anthoni longe sword with Monke Alfrede Lucy a Norman Admirall to y e Conqueror with Monke Constantine Alexander demonte Vignite with Monke Dauid Lucaâ—nalsus Captayne of y e Billmen with Monke oswalde Nasâ— Captayne of 200 footemen with Monke Orme LICHFIELDENSIS ECCLESIA CATHEDRALIS IN AGRO STAFFORDIENSI IN ANGLIA FACIES OCCIDENTALIS RESVRGAM LEX VNO OMNIA Eliae Ashmole Arm Mercurio phylo Angla 〈…〉 Accepta refundit T. F. Sam Purk pinxit W. Holl 〈…〉 sculp THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN From the Birth of JESUS CHRIST Untill the YEAR M.DC.XLVIII ENDEAVOURED By THOMAS FVLLER LONDON Printed for IOHN WILLIAMS at the signe of the Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard Anno 1655. TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS ESME STUART DVKE OF RICHMOND I Have sometimes solitarily pleased my self with the perusing and comparing of two places of Scripture Acts 22. 22. The wicked Iews said of S t. Paul Avvay vvith such a Fellovv from the Earth for it is not fit that he should live Hebrews 11. 38. S t. Paul said of the Godly Iews Of vvhom the vvorld vvas not vvorthy Here I perceive Heaven and Hell Mercy and Malice Gods Spirit and mans Spite resolved on the Question that it is not fit that good men should live long on Earth However though the Building be the same yet the Bottome is different the same Conclusion being inferred from opposite yea contrary Premisses Wicked men think this world too good God knows it too bad for his Servants to live in Henceforward I shall not wonder that Good men die so soon but that they live so long seeing wicked men desire their Room here on Earth and God their Company in Heaven No wonder then if your Good Father was so soon translated to Happinesse and his GRACE advanced into GLORY He was pleased to give me a Text some weeks before his Death of the words of our Saviour to the Probationer Convert Thou a Mark 12. 34. art not far from the Kingdome of Heaven that is as the words there import from the state of Salvation But before my Sermon could be his life was finished and he in the reall acception thereof possessed of Heaven and Happinesse Thus was I disappointed O that this were the greatest Losse by the Death of so worthy Person of a Patron to whom I intended the Dedication of this first part of my History I after was entred on a Resolution to dedicate it to his Memory presuming to defend the Innocency and Harmlesnesse of such a Dedication by Precedents of unquestioned Antiquity But I intended also to surround the Pages of the Dedication with black not improper as to his relation so expressive of the present sad Condition of our distracted Church But scasonably remembring how the Altar ED a Ioshua 22. 11. onely erected for Commemoration was misinterpreted by the other Tribes for Superstition I conceived it best to cut off all occasions of Cavill from captious persons and dedicate it to You his Son and Heir Let not your Grace be offended that I make you a Patron at the second hand for though I confesse you are my Refuge in relation to your deceased Father you are my Choise in reference to the surviving Nobility God sanctifie your tender yeares with true Grace that in time you may be a Comfort to your Mother Credit to your Kindred and Honour to your Nation Your Graces most bounden ORATOVR THOMAS FULLER TO THE READER AN Ingenious Gentleman some Moneths since in Iest-earnest advised me to make hast with my History of the Church of England for fear said he lest the Church of England be ended before the History thereof This History is now though late all Church-work is slow brought with much difficulty to an end And blessed be God the Church of England is still and long may it be in being though disturb'd distempered distracted God help and heal her most sad condition The three first Books of this Volumn were for the main written in the Reign of the late King as appeareth by the passages then proper for the Government The other nine Books were made since Monarchy was turned into a State May God alone have the Glory and the ingenuous Reader the Benefit of my endeavours which is the hearty desire of Thy Servant in Iesus Christ THOMAS FULLER From my chamber in Sion Colledge THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN Anno Dom. I. CENTURIE THat we may the more freely and fully pay the tribute of our thanks to Gods goodnesse The dolefull case of the Pagan Britans for the Gospel which we now enjoy let us recount the sad Condition of the Britans our Predecessours before the Christian Faith was preached unto them At that time they were without Christ being Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the World They were foul
best Martyrologies and their Names are Written in the Book of Life who on Earth are wholly forgotten 11. One may justly wonder The Cause of the great Silence of the primitive times that the first four hundred yeares of the Primitive Church in Britain being so much observable should be so little observed the Pens of Historians writing thereof seeming starved for matter in an Age so fruitfull of memorable Actions But this was the main Reason thereof that living in Persecution that Age affording no Christians Idle Spectators which were not Actors on that Sad Theatre they were not at leisure to Doe for Suffering And as commonly those can give the least account of a Battel who were most ingaged in it their Eyes the while being turned into Armes their Seeing into Fighting So the Primitive Confessours were so taken up with what they endured they had no vacation largely to relate their own or others Sufferings Of such Monuments as were transmitted to Posterity it is probable most were martyred by the Tyranny of the Pagans nor was it to be expected that those who were cruel to kill the Authours would be kind to preserve their Books 12. Afterwards it pleased God to put a Period to his Servants Sufferings Constant Chlorus gives the Christians Peace and the Fury of their Enemies 304 For when Diocletian and Maximian had layed down the Ensigns of Command Constantius c Eusebius de vita Constantini lib. 1. c. 12. Orosius lib. 7. cap. 25. Chlorus was chosen Emperour in these VVestern Provinces of France Spain and Britain whose Carriage towards Christians Eusebius thus describeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he preserved such Religious people as were under his Command without any Hurt or Harm So that under him the Church in these Parts had a Breathing-time from Persecution But Iam affraid that that Learned d Camden Brit. in description of York Pen goes a little too farre 305 who makes him Founder of a Bishoprick at York and stileth him an Emperour surpassing in all Vertue and Christian Piety seeing the later will hardly be proved that Constantius was a through-paced Christian except by our Saviours Argument e Mark 5. 40. He that is not against us is on our part And Constantius did this Good to Christianity that he did it no Harm and not only so a Privative Benefactor to Piety but positive thus far that he permitted and preserved those who would rebuild the decayed Christian Churches But the greatest Benefaction which he bestowed on Christians was that he was Father to Constantine Thus as Physitians count all Sudden and Violent Alterations in mens Bodies dangerous especially when changing from Extremes to Extremes So God in like manner adjudged it unsafe for his Servants presently to be posted out of Persecution into Prosperity and therefore he prepared them by Degrees that they might be better able to manage their future Happinesse by sending this Constantius a Prince of a middle disposition betwixt Pagan and Christian to rule some few yeares over them 13. At York this Constantius Chlorus did die He dieth at York as is witnessed by Hieronymus ◠in Chronico and Eutropius Hist lib. 18. and was buried And therefore Florilegus Anno Dom. 305 or the Flower-gatherer as he calleth himself understand Matth. of Westminst did crop a Weed instead of a Flower when he reports that in the year 1283 the Body of this Constantius was found at a Compare M r. Camden's Brit. in Caernarvonshire with him in the description of York Caer-Custenith in VVales and honourably bestowed in the Church of Caer-narvon by the command of King Edward the first Constantius dying bequeathed the Empire to Constantine his eldest Sonne by Hellen his former Wife and the Souldiers at York cast the Purple Robe upon him whilest he wept and put Spurs to Horse to avoid the importunity of the Army attempting and requiring so instantly to make him Emperour 307 Febr. 27 But the Happinesse of the State overcame his Modesty And whereas formerly Christians for the Peace they possessed were onely Tenants at will to the present Emperours Goodnesse this Constantine passed this peaceable Estate to the Christians and their Heires or rather to the immortal Corporation of Gods Church making their Happinesse Hereditary by those good Lawes which he enacted Now because this Assertion that Constantine was a Britan by Birth meets with Opposition we will take some pains in clearing the Truth thereof 14. Let none say Worth the Scrutiny to cleare Constantine a Britan by Birth the Kernel will not be worth the Cracking and so that Constantine were born it matters not where he was born For we may observe Gods Spirit to be very punctual in registring the Birth-places of Famous men b Psal 87. 6. The Lord shall count when he writeth up the People that this man was born there And as c 2 Sam. 1. David cursed Mount Gilboa where Godly Ionathan got his Death so by the same proportion though inverted it follows those Places are blest and happy where Saints take their first good Handsel of Breath in this World Besides Constantine was not onely one of a Thousand but of Myriads yea of Millions who first turned the Tide in the whole world and not only quenched the Fire but even over-turned the Furnace of Persecution and enfranchised Christianity through the Roman Empire and therefore no wonder if Britain be ambitious in having and zealous in holding such a Worthy to be born in her 15. An unanswerable Evidence to prove the point in Controversy The main Argument to prove the point that Constantine the Great was a Britan is fetch 't from the d Panegyric 9. Panegyrist otherwise called Eumenius Rhetor in his Oration made to Constantine himself but making therein an Apostrophe to Britain O fortunata nunc omnibus beatior terris Britannia quae Constantinum Caesarem prima vidisti O happy Britain and blessed above all other Lands which didst first behold Constantine Caesar Twist this Testimony with another Thread spun of the same e Panegyr 5. Hand Liberavit pater Constantius Britannias Servitute tu etiam nobiles illic oriendo fecisti Your Father Constantius did free the British Provinces from Slavery and you have ennobled them by taking thence your Originall The same is affirmed by the Writer of the Life of S t. Hellen Mother to Constantine written about the year of our Lord 940 in the English-Saxon Tongue as also by VVilliam of Malmesbury Henry Huntingdon Iohn of Salisbury and all other English Writers And least any should object that these writing the History of their own Country are too light-fingered to catch any thing right or wrong sounding to the Honour thereof many most learned forreign Historians Pomponius Laetus Polydor Virgil Beatus Rhenanus Franciscus Balduinus Onuphrius Panvinius Caesar Baronius Anthony Possevine and others concurre with them acknowledging Hellen Constantine's Mother a Britan and
him born in Britain 16. But whilest the aforesaid Authors in Prose softly rock the Infancy of yet little Constantine the Great in Britain and whilest others in Verse especially f In Antiocheide sua Ioseph of EXETER and g See his Tetrastichon in Bishop Usher de Brit. Eccles primord pag. 76. Answers to the objections of the contrary Party Alexander Necham sweetly sing Lullabies unto him some Learned men are so rough and uncivil as to over-turn his Cradle yea wholly deprive Britain of the Honour of his Nativity Whose Arguments follow with our Answers unto them 1. Object The Panegyrist speaking how Britain first saw Constantine Caesar h Joannes Livineius not in Panegyr 5. refers not to his ordinary Life but Imperial Lustre Britain beheld him not first a Child but first saw him Caesar not fetching thence his natural being Anno Dom. 307 but honourable Birth first saluted Caesar in Britain Ans Even a Not. in Admiranda lib. 4. cap. 11. Lipsius Britain's greatest Enemy in this point confesseth that though Constantine was first elected Emperour in Britain yet he was first pronounced Caesar in France in the life and health of his Father Caesar was a Title given to the Heir-apparent to the Empire ◠and therefore the words in the Panegyrist in their native Construction relate to his natural Birth 2. Object Constantine Porphyrogenetes the Grecian Emperour about 700 yeares since in his Book of Government which he wrote to his Son confesseth Constantine the Great to have been a FRANK by his Birth whence learned Meursius collecteth him a French-man by his extraction Ans It is notoriously known to all Learned men that the Greeks in that midle-Age as the Turks at this very day called all VVestern Europeaans FRANKS Wherefore as he that calleth such a Fruit of the Earth Grain a general name denyeth not but it may be VVheat a proper kind thereof so the terming Constantine a Frank doth not exclude him from being a Britan yea strongly implieth the same seeing no VVestern Country in Europe ever pretended unto his Birth 3. Object Bede a grave and faithfull Authour makes no mention of Constantine born in Britain who as b In his Epistle to M r. Camden Non Beda ille antiquus fidns an gloriae gentis suae non savet Lipsius marketh would not have omitted a matter so much to the honour of his own Nation Ans By the leave of Lipsius Constantine and Bede though of the same Country were of severall Nations Bede being a Saxon was little zealous to advance the British Honour The History of which Church he rather toucheth then handleth using it onely as a Porch to passe through it to the Saxon History And Saxons in general had little Skill to seek and lesse Will to find out any Worthy thing in British Antiquities because of the known Antipathy betwixt them 4. Object c In lib. ◠de aedisiciis Iustiniani Procopius maketh Drepanum a haven in Bithynia so called because there the Sea runnes crooked in forme of a Sicle to be the place where Constantine had his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or first Nursing very near to his Birth Nicephorus Gregoras makes him born in the same Country Ans The former speaks not positively but faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men say so reporting a Popular Errour The latter is a late VVriter living under Andronicus junior Anno 1340 therefore not to be believed before others more ancient 5. Object But Iulius Firmicus contemporary with Constantine himself an Authour above Exception maketh this Constantine to be born at Naisus in printed Books Tharsus a City of Dacia Ans An excellent d Camden in his letter to Lipsius printed in Usher de Prim. Eccl. Brit. p. 188. Critick hath proved the Printed Copies of Firmicus to be corrupted and justifieth it out of approved Manuscripts that not Constantine the Great the Father but Constantine the younger his Sonne was intended by Firmicus born in that Place Thus we hope we have cleared the Point with ingenuous Readers in such measure as is consistent with the Brevity of our History So that of this Constantine a kind of outward Saviour in the World to deliver People from Persecution we may say with some allusion to the words of the e Mica 5. 2. Prophet but with a humble Reservation of the infinite Distance betwixt the Persons AND THOU BRITAIN ART NOT THE MEANEST AMONGST THE KINGDOMS OF EUROPE FOR OUT OF THEE DID COME A GOVERNOUR WHICH DID RULE THE ISRAEL OF GOD GIVING DELIVERANCE AND PEACE TO THE SAINTS 17. Now see what a Pinch a In his Epistle to this Nation Verstegan whose teeth are sharpned by the difference of Religion gives M r. Fox M r. Fox defended against the Cavils of Verstegan What is it other then an Absurdity for an English Authour to begin his Epistle to an huge b He meaneth his Books of Acts and Monuments Volume with Constantine the great and mighty Emperour the Sonne of Hellen an ENGLISH Woman c. VVhereas saith he in truth S t. Hellen the Mother of Constantine was no English but a British VVoman And yet Fox his words are capable of a candid Construction if by English VVoman we understand by a favourable Prolepsis one born in that Part of Britain which since hath been inhabited by the English Sure in the same Dialect S t. Alban hath often been called the first Martyr of the English by many Writers of good esteem Yea the Breviary of c In officio Sancti Albani Sarum allowed and confirmed no doubt by the Infallible Church of Rome greets S t. Alban with this Salute Ave Proto-martyr Anglorum Miles Regis Angelorum O Albane flos Martyrum Sure Hellen was as properly an English VVoman as Alban an English Man being both British in the Rigid Letter of History and yet may be interpreted English in the Equity thereof Thus it is vain for any to write Books if their words be not taken in a courteous Latitude and if the Reader meets not his Authour with a Pardon of course for venial Mistakes especially when his Pen slides in so slippery a Passage 18. And now having asserted Constantine a Britan Three Cities contend for Constantine born in them we are ingaged afresh in a new Controversy betwixt three Cities with equall Zeal and Probability challenging Constantine to be theirs by Birth d William Fitzstephens in the description of London London e Oratores Regis Angliae in Concil Constant York and f Camden's Brit. in Essex Colchester We dare define nothing not so much out offear to displease though he that shall gain one of these Cities his Friend shall make the other two his Foes by his Verdict but chiefly because little Certainty can be pronounced in a matter so long since and little evident Let me refresh my self and the Reader with relating and applying a pleasant Story Once at
choak a man but that Stone can never stop his Throat which cannot enter into his Mouth 31. In very deed The maâ—lacre of the Monks at Winchester very little at this time was ever reported of Church-matters 495 For a Drought of Christian Writers in the Heat of Persecution caused a Dearth of all History Now it was that Cerdicus first King of the West-Saxons having overcome the Britans at Winchester kill'd all the Monks belonging to the Church of e VVintoniâ—â—sis Ecc. Hist cap. 9. S t. Amphibalus turned the same into a Temple of Idolatry Also Theon Archbishop of London seeing the Pagan Saxons to prevail left his See and f But Matth. Florilegus designeth the yeare 586. about this time may be presumed to have fled into Wales I say about this time For what Liberty is allowed to Prognosticatours of Weather to use all favourable Correctives and Qualifications like to be rain inclined to rain somewhat rainy c. the same Latitude we must request in relating actions past in point of Chronologie his fere temporibus per haec tempora circa circiter plus minus c. And what we take upon Trust in this kind let the Reader be pleased to charge not on the Score of our Ignorance but on the Uncertainty of that Ages Computation As for S t. Petrock Son to the King of Cumberland we remit him to the next Age because though Budding in this full Blown in the next Century 32. This Age is assigned by Authors for that Famous Ambrose Merlin differing from Sylvester Merlin the Scot though it be doubtfull whether ever such a man in rerum natura Merlin left in a twilight whether that Magician was an Impostor or his whole Story an Imposture put upon credulous posterity it being suspicious First Because he is reported born at Caer-merthen that City so denominated from him Whereas it is called Maridunum by Ptolemie many yeares before Thus it is ominous to begin with a Lie Secondly Because it was said his Mother was a Nun got with Child by a Devil in the form of an Incubus perchance such a one as Chaucer describes It seems that as Vestall Virgins when they had stollen a Great Belly used to entitle some Deity to the getting of their Child so did the Mother of Romulus and Remus whereby they both saved themselves from Shame gained Reputation so Nuns in this Age when with child unable to perswade people as the Poets feign of the Spanish Mares that they were impregnated by the Wind alone made the World believe that some Spirit had consorted with them This makes the whole Story of Merlin very doubtfull and as for all his Miracles Prophesyes they sink with the Subject For sure the same Hand which made the Puppet gave it all it's Motions and suited his Person with Properties accordingly May the Reader be pleased to take notice of three ancient British Writers 1. Aquila Septonius or the Eagle of Shaftsbury whether He or She. 2. Perdix Praesagus or Partridge the prophesier 3. Merlin Ambrose All three Birds of a Feather and perchance hatch'd in the same Nest of ignorant Credulity nor can I meet with a fourth to make up the Messe except it be the Arabian Phaenix But because it is a Task too great for a Giant to encounter a received Tradition let Merlin be left in a Twi-light as we found him And surely no judicious man will censure the Mention of Merlin whose Magicall Pranks and Conjurations are so frequent in our Sories to be a Deviation from the History of the Church who hath read both of Simon Magus and Elymas the Sorcerer in the Acts of the Apostles THE SIXTH CENTURY Anno Dom. To Douse Fuller of Hampshire Esquire I Cannot say certainly of you as Naomi did of Boaz * * 2 Ruth 20. He is near of kin unto us having no Assurance though great Probability of Alliance unto you Hovvever Sir if you shall be pleased in Courtesy to account me your Kinsman I vvill endeavour that as it vvill be an Honour to me it may be to you no Disgrace 1. QUestionlesse we shall not be accounted Trespassers 501 though onely Ecclesiasticall Businesse be our right Road to go a little in the By-way of State-matters because leading the shortest Passage for the present to our Church-story The most miserable estate of the British Common-wealth Most miserable at this time was the British Common-wealth crouded up into barren Corners whil'st their Enemies the Pagan Saxons possest the East and South if not the greatest the best part of the Island Much ado had Vter Pen-dragon the British King with all the sinews of his Care and Courage to keep his disjoynted Kingdome together whose onely desire was to prolong the Life it being above his hopes to procure the Health of that languishing State And though sometimes the Britans got the better yet one may say their Victories were spent before they were gain'd being so farre behind-hand before that their Conquest made no Shew swallowed up in the discharging of old Arrearages Needs then must Religion now in Britain be in a dolefull condition For he who expects a flourishing Church in a fading Common-wealth let him try whether one side of his Face can smile when the other is pinched 2. Pen-dragon dying 508 left the British Kingdome to Arthur his Son King Arthur's actions much discredited by Monkish fictions so famous in History that he is counted one of the Nine VVorthies and it is more then comes to the Proportion of Britain that amongst but Nine in the whole World Two should prove Natives of this Island Constantine and Arthur This later was the British Hector who could not defend that Troy which was designed to destruction and it soundeth much to his Honour that perceiving his Countrey condemned by Gods Justice to Ruine he could procure a Reprieve though not prevail for the Pardon thereof More unhappy was he after his Death Hyperbolicall Monks so advancing his Victories above all reach of Belief that the twelve pitch't Battels of Arthur wherein he conquered the Pagan Saxons find no more credit then the twelve Labours of Hercules Belike the Monks hoped to passe their Lies for current because countenanced with the mixture of some Truths whereas the contrary came to passe and the very Truths which they have written of him are discredited because found in company with so many Lies Insomuch that learned Leland is put to it to make a Book for the asserting of Arthur Many are unsetled about him Anno Dom. 508 because Gildas his Country-man living much about his Age makes no mention of him though such may be something satisfied if considering the principall Intent of that Querulous Authour is not to praise but to reprove not greatly to grace but justly to shame his Country his Book being a bare Black Bill of the Sins and Sufferings Monsters and Tyrants of Britain keeping no
that they have seen and perused some of them This they do partly to enhaunce the merit of their Industry in finding out so many Rarities and partly to commend to the world the latitude of their own Reading I shall as soon believe that they have seen all Solomon's Volumes which he wrote from the Cedar of Libanus to the Hyssope that groweth on the VVall. But this Humour possesseth many men that brag of many Books coming under their Discovery as if not onely with the Mice they had crept through the Crannies of all Libraries but also with the Mothes had got betwixt the Leaves of all Treatises therein In plain truth as it is probable that those British Prelates wrote many Books of consequence so it is certain that long since by Time they have been abolished As for those spurious Tracts which Monks in after-Ages set out under these Worthy mens names they are no more to be accounted the true Off-spring of these learned Saints then that common Manna ordinarily sold in Apothecaries Shops is the self-same with that Angels Food which fell down from Heaven and feasted the Israelites THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN THE SECOND BOOK From the Conversion of the Saxons to Christianity until the commonly called Conquest of the Normans To the right Honourable HENRY LORD MARQUES OF DORCHESTER EARLE OF KINGSTON Viscount Newark Lord Peirrepont c. HOw low Learning ran in our Land amongst the Native Nobility some two hundred yeares since in the Reign of King Henry the sixth too plainly appeareth by the Motto in the Sword of the Martiall Earle of Shrewsbury where at the same time one may Smile at the Simplicity and Sigh at the Barbarisme thereof SUM TALBOTI PRO OCCIDERE INIMICOS MEOS The best Latin that Lord and perchance his Chaplains too in that Age could afford But in the next Generation we may observe the Rise of Learning in Noble Families I behold John Tiptoft Earle of Worcester bred in Bailioll Colledge as the first English Person of Honour that graced Learning with the Study thereof in the dayes of King Edward the fourth both at Home and in Forreign Vniversities He made so * 1. Bale de Scripâ— Angl. Eloquent an Oration in the Vatican in the presence of Pope Pius the second one of the least Bad and most Learned of any of his Order that his Holiness was divided betwixt Weeping and VVondering thereat This Earle may be said to have left John Bourchier Baron of Berners and Governour of Callis the Heir to his Learning as who wrote * Idem Pitz de Scrip. Anglic. many Treatises and made Excursions into Variety of Studies in the dayes of King Henry the seventh This Learned Baron had severall Successours under King Henry the eighth at the same time to his Parts and Liberall Studies 1. Henry Lord Stafford Son to the last Duke of Buckingham of that Name 2. William Lord Montjoy a great Patron to Erasmus and well skilled in Chymistry and Mathematicks 3. Henry Howard Earle of Surrey though last in Time not least in Merit the first reviver of English Poetry so that he may seem in some sort to wave his Coronet to wear the Laurell Since whose time to our dayes Learning hath ever had a visible succession in our Nobility Amongst whom your Honour as Captain of the Highest Form is most illustrious Indeed your Lordship is a reall Refutation of that Scandalous Position which some maintain That such who are generally seen in all Arts cannot be eminently skilfull in any one A Position no better then a Libell on Learning invented and vented either by the Idle who would not themselves Study or by the Envious who desire to discourage the Endeavours of others VVhereas there is such a Sympathy betwixt several Sciences as also betwixt the learned Languages that as in a Regular Fortification one Piece strengtheneth another a resultive Firmeness ariseth from their Complication reflecting Life and Lustre one on another Arts may be said to be Arched together and all Learned Faculties have such a Mutual Reciprocation Thus one is the better Canonist for being a good Civilian and a better Common-Lawyer for being both of them And hereof your Honour is an Experimentall Proof whose Knowledge is spread so broad yet lieth so thick in all Liberall Sciences VVhat remaineth but that I crave leave humbly to mind your Lordship of that allusive Motto to your Name PIE REPONE TE that your Honour reposing yourself piously in this life may in a good Old Age be gloriously translated into another The desire of Your Lordships Most Bounden Oratour THOMAS FULLER THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN Anno. Dom. VI. CENTURIE 1. IT is wonderfull to see how the Fruits of great Events are vertually comprised in the small Seed of their Causes 585 and how a Contemptible Accident may give the Occasion of most Considerable Effects The first occasion of the Saxons conversion to Christianity as may appeare by the Conversion of the Saxons to Christianity For it happened that certain Saxon Children were to be sold for Slaves at the Market-place at Rome when Divine Providence the great Clock-keeper of Time ordering not onely Houres but even a Luke 2. 38. Instants to his own Honour so disposed it that Gregory afterwards first Bishop of Rome of that Name was present to behold them It grieved the Good man to see the Disproportion betwixt the Faces and Fortunes the Complexions and Conditions of those Children condemned to a Servile Estate though carrying Liberall Looks so legible was Ingenuity in their Faces It added more to his Sorrow when he conceived that those Youths were twice Vassalls bought by their Masters and b Rom. 7. 14. sold under Sin Servants in their Bodies and Slaves in their Souls to Satan which occasioned the c Bede Hist ecclesiast l. 2. cap. 1. Good man to enter into further enquiry with the Merchants which set them to Sale what they were and whence they came according to this ensuing Dialogue Greg. Whence come these Captives Mer. From the Isle of Britain Greg. Are those Islanders Christians Mer. O no they are Pagans Greg. It is sad that the Authour of Darknesse should possesse men with so bright Faces But what is the name of their particular Nation Mer. They are called Angli Greg. And well may for their Angel-like Faces it becometh such to be Coheires with the Angels in Heaven In what Province of England did they live Mer. In d VVhich at this day is the Bishoprick of Deirham or Durham Deira Greg. They are to be freed de Dei ira Anno. Dom. 585 from the Anger of God How call ye the King of that Country Mer. ELLA Greg. Surely Hallelujah ought to be sung in his Kingdome to the Praise of that God who created all things Thus Gregorie's gracious Heart set the Sound of every word to the Tune of spirituall Goodnesse Nor can his words be justly censured for Levity if we
born in the Kingdome of Northumberland at a Camden's Brit. pag. 743. Girwy now Yarrow in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by S t. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar in his Age for Latine Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his Life-time in the Christian Churches a Dignity afforded to him alone We are much beholding to his Ecclesiasticall History written by him and dedicated to Ceolwoolfus King of Northumberland A worthy Work indeed though in some respect we could heartily wish that his Faith had been lesse and his Charity more Faith lesse in believing and reporting so many prodigious Miracles of the Saxons except any will say that this in him was not so much Vitium Hominis as Seculi Charity more I mean to the Britans being no Friend to them and over-partial to his own Country-men slightly and slenderly touching British matters onely thereof to make a Pedestall the more fairly to reare and advance his Saxon History thereupon 16. Some report that Bede never went out of his Cell Bede probably went out of his Cell but lived and died therein If so the Scholars of Cambridge will be very sory because thereby deprived of their Honour by Bede's living once in their University whose House they still shew betwixt S t. Iohn's Colledge and Round-Church or S t. Sepulchres Surely Bede was not fixed to his Cell as the Cockle to his Shel seeing no Observance of his Benedictine Order imposed such a Penance upon him Indeed his own words in the end of his Book give some Countenance to their Conjecture of his voluntary Confinement speaking of himself Cunctum tempus vitae in ejusdem Monasterii habitatione peragens But his Expression imports onely his generall Residence therein that he was no Gadder abroad or Discontinuer from his Convent for a long time though he might for some short space make his Abode elsewhere Thus when of the Prophetesse it is said b Luke 2. 37. that she departed not from the Temple we understand it not so as if she never went out thereof but that for the main she spent the most of her time therein 17. He is generally surnamed Venerable Bede why surnamed Venerabilis but why Authours differ therein Some say a Dunce-Monk being to make his Epitaph was non-pluss'd to make that Dactyle which is onely of the Quorum in the Hexameter and therefore at Night left the Verse thus gaping Hic sunt in fossa Bedae ossa till he had consulted with his Pillow to fill up the Hiatus But returning in the morning an Angel we have often heard of their Singing see now of their Poetry Anno Dom. 730 had filled up the Chasma with Venerabilis Others disclaiming this Conceit assign this Reason Because Bede's Homilies were as aforesaid read in all a Flores Sanctorum in the life of Bede pag. 528. Churches in his Life-time plain Bede was conceived too little and S t. Bede too much because according to Popish but not S t. Paul's Principles Saint is too much Flattery to be given to any whilest alive Solon allowing none happy and this mine Authour none in this degree holy before their Death Wherefore Venerable was found out as an Expedient to accommodate the Difference luckily hitting the Mark as a Title neither too high nor too low just even to so good a man and great a Scholar whilest alive This is observable in all those who have written the Life of Bede that whereas such Saxon-Saints as had not the tenth of his Sanctity nor hundredth part of his Learning are said to have wrought Miracles ad Lectoris nauseam not one single Miracle is reported to have been done by Bede Whereof under favour I conceive this the Reason Monks who wrote the Lives of many of their Saints knew little more of many of them then their bare Names and Times wherein they lived which made them Historiae vacua miraculis supplere to plump up the Hollownesse of their History with improbable Miracles swelling the Bowells of their Books with empty Wind in default of sufficient solid Food to fill them Whereas Bede's Life affording plenty and variety of reall and effectuall Matter the Writer thereof why should a Rich man be a Thief or Lyar had no Temptation I am sure no Need to farse his book with fond Miracles who might rather leave then lack of materiall Passages therein 18. One of the last things he did 734 was the translating of the Gospel of S t. Iohn into English Bede's last blaze and the going out of the candle of his life When Death seised on him one of his devout Scholars whom he used for his Secretary or Amanuensis complained My beloved Master there remains yet one Sentence unwritten Write it then quickly replied Bede and summoning all his spirits together like the last Blaze of a Candle going out he indited it and expired Thus Gods Children are immortall whiles their Father hath any thing for them to do on Earth and Death that Beast cannot overcome and kill them till first they have b Revel 11. 7. finished their Testimony which done like Silk-worms they willingly die when their Web is ended and are comfortably entombed in their own Endeavours Nor have I ought else to observe of Bede save onely this A forreign Embassadour some two hundred yeares since coming to Durham addressed himself first to the high and sumptuous Shrine of S t. Cuthbert If thou beest a Saint pray for me then coming to the plain low and little Tombe of Bede Because said he thou art a Saint good Bede pray for me 19. Now began the Saxons to be infected with an universall Vitiousnesse 735 The cause whereof was The general viciousnesse of the Saxons how occasioned Ethelbald King of Mercia contemned Marriage and though Abstinence from it in some cases may be commendable the Contempt thereof alwayes is dangerous yea damnable as it proved in him For his unlawfull Lust made no difference of Places or Persons Castles or Cloisters common-Kerchief or Nuns-vaile all came alike to him But oh the legislative power which is in a great Prince his Example His Subjects presumed they might not onely impune but legitime follow his Precedent which made the Land swarm with Wickednesse 20. This caused the Letter of Boniface Arch-bishop of Ments an English-man born The effect of Boniface his letter to the King of Mercia and lately very eminent for converting the Germans to Christianity to King Ethelbald wherein he observed the prudent method of S t. Paul to the c 1 Cor. 11. 2. and 22. Corinthians As the Apostle first commended them I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things c. so he began with a large Encomium of King Ethelbald his Charity and bountifull Almes-giving Hence seasonably he descended to his Faults shall I praise you in this I praise you not and soundly and
he pleased Lastly on pious Princes whose blind Zeal and misled Devotion thought nothing too precious for him in which from we rank this Edward the Elder then King of England And it is worth our observing that in point of Power and Profit what the Popes once get they ever hold being as good at keeping as catching so that what one got by Encroching his Successour prescribed that Encrochment for a Title which whether it will hold good in matter of Right it is not for an Historian to dispute 3. But to return to our Story The Pope pleased and England absolved again We are glad to see Malmesbury so merry who calleth this Passage of the Popes interdicting England Iocundum memor atu pleasant to be reported because it ended so well For Pleigmund Arch-bishop of Canterbury posted to Rome bringing with him honorifica munera such Ushers will make one way through the thickest Croud to the Popes Presence informing his Holinesse that Edward King of England in a late-summoned Synod had founded some new and supplied all old vacant Bishopricks Pacified herewith the Pope turned his Curse into a Blessing and ratified their Elections The worst is a learned b Sir Henry Spelman in Conciliis pag. 389. Pen tells me that in this Story there is an inextricable Errour in point of Chronology which will not suffer Pope Formosus and this King Edward the Elder to meet together And Baronius makes the Mistake worse by endeavouring to mend it I have so much Warinesse as not to enter into that Labyrinth out of which I cannot return but leave the Doubt to the Popes Datarie to clear proper to him as versed in such matters The same c Idem ibidem Pen informs me that the sole way to reconcile the Difference is to read Pope Leo the fifth instead of Pope Formosus which for Quietnesse I am content to do the rather because such a Roaring Curse best beseems the mouth of a Lion 4. Hear now the names of the seven Bishops which Pleigmund consecrated in one day Vacant Bishopricks supplied and new erected a great dayes-work and a good one if all were fit for the Function Fridstan Bishop of Winchester a Learned and Holy man Werstan of Shireburn Kenulfe of Dorchester Beornege of Selsey Athelme of VVells Eadulfe of Crediton in Devon and Athelstan in Cornwall of S t. Petrocks These three last VVestern Bishopricks were in this Council newly erected But S t. Petrocks had never long any settled Seat being much in motion translated from Bodman in Cornwall upon the wasting of it by the Danes to S t. Germans in the same County and afterward united to Crediton in Devonshire This Bishoprick was founded principally for the reduction of the rebellious Cornish to the Romish Rites who as they used the Language so they imitated the Lives and Doctrine of the ancient Britans neither hitherto King Edward in a new Synod confirms his fathers constitutions nor long after submitting themselves to the See Apostolick 5. A Synod was called at Intingford where Edward the Elder and Guthurn King of the Danes in that part of England which formerly belonged to the East-Angles onely confirmed the same d Lambert in his Saxon Laws and Sir Henry Spelman in his Councils pag. 390. ecclesiasticall Constitutions which Alured Edwards Father with the said Guthurn had made before Here the curious Palats of our Age will complain of Crambe that two Kings with their Clergy should meet together onely actum agere to do what was done to their hands But whilest some count all Councils idle which do not add or alter others will commend their Discretion Anno Regis Edvardi Sen. 5 who can discern what is well ordered already Anno Dom. 906 approve their Policie in enjoyning such things unto others and principally praise their Piety for practising them in themselves And whosoever looks abroad into the world with a judicious Eye will soon see that there is not so much need of New Laws the Multitude whereof rather cumbers mens Memories then quickens their Practise as an absolute necessity to enforce Old Laws with a new and vigorous Execution of them 6. And now King Edward 14 remembring the pious Example of his Father Alfred in founding of Oxford 915 began to repair and restore the University of Cambridge Cambridge University repaired by King Edward For the Danes who made all the Sea-coasts of England their Haunt and kept the Kingdome of the East-Angles for their Home had banished all Learning from that place Apollo's Harp being silenced by Mars his Drum till this Kings Bounty brought Learning back again thither as by his following Charter may appear In a a Charta extat in MS. codice qui Cantabrigiae est in Aula Clarensi ejusdem meminit Tho. Rudburn nec non Ioh. Rossus nomine D. Iesu Christi Ego Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum divino compulsus amore praecepto Joannis Apostolicae Sedis Episcopi ac Pleigmundi Cantuar. Archiepisc consilio omnium Sacerdotum Principum meae Dominationis universa singula Privilegia Doctoribus Scholaribus Cantabrigiae nec non servientibus eorundem uti ab olim viguit indesinenter Mater Philosophiae reperitur in praesenti Fons Clerimoniae à me data seu ab Antecessoribus meis quomodo libet concessa stabili jure grata rata decerno durare quamdiu vertigo Poli circa Terras atque Aequora Aethera Syderum justo moderamine volvet Datum in Grantecestria anno ab Incarnatione D. 915. venerabili Fratri Frithstano Civitatis Scholarium Cantabrig Cancellario Doctori per suum c. The Credit of this Charter is questioned by some because of the barbarous Stile thereof as if an University were disgraced with honourable Priviledges granted unto it in base Latine But know that Age was so poor in Learning it could not go to the Cost of good Language Who can look to find a fair Face in the hotest parts of Aethiopia Those Times were ignorant and as it is observed of the Country-people born at the Village of b Camden's Brit. in Leicestershire pag. 517. Carlton in Leicestershire that they have all proceeding from some secret cause in their Soil or Water a strange uncouth VVharling in their Speech so it was proper to the persons writing in this Age to have a harsh unpleasant grating Stile and so much the sowrer to Criticall Eares the more it is sweetned with an affected Rhythm though a Blemish yet a Badge of their genuine Deeds which were passed in those times 7. Hear also what Iohn Rouse an excellent Antiquary The Testimony of Iohn Rouse concerning K. Edward's repairing of Cambridge furnished by King Edward the fourth with Privacy and Pension to collect the Monuments of this Land alleageth to this purpose Who being bred in Oxford and having written a Book in confutation of those which deduce the Foundation of this Vniversity from
and the City of Jerusalem from the Turks in Palestine 9. Having formerly written an whole Book of the Holy War An account of our design and particularly of King Richards atchievements therein 1190 I intend here no repetition 1. Onely our design is to give a Catalogue of some of our English Nobility who adventured their persons in the Holy War and whose Male-Posterity is eminently extant at this day I have known an excellent Musician whom no Arguments could perswade to play until hearing a Bungler scrape in the company he snatch'd the Instrument out of his hand in indignation that Musick should be so much abused then turned and played upon it himself My project herein is that giving in an imperfect list of some few noble Families who ingaged themselves in this service It will so offend some eminent Artist hitherto silent in this kinde that out of disdain he will put himself upon so honourable a work deserving a Gentleman who hath Lands Learning and leisure to undertake so costly intricate and large a subject for the honor of our Nation And be it premised that to prevent all cavils about precedency first come first serv'd I shall Marshal them in no other method but as in my studies I have met with the mention of them 10. To begin with the place of my present habitation Anno Regis Rich. prim 1. one Hugh Nevil attended King Richard into the Holy War Anno Dom. 1190 and anciently lieth buried in a Marble Monument Nevil Kill Lion his performance in Palestine in the Church of Waltham Abbey in Essex whereof no remainders at this day This Hugh Nevil being one of the Kings special samiliars slew a Lion in the Holy Land first driving an arrow into his Breast and then running him through with his sword on whom this Verse was made a Mat. Paris Anno Dom 1222. Viribus Hugonis vires periêre Leonis The strength of Hugh A Lion slew If Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah was recounted the fifth amongst Davids worthies for b 2 Sam. 23. 20. killing a Lion in the middest of a pit in the time of snow surely on the same reason this bold and brave Baron Hugh ought to be entred into the Catalogue of the Heroes of his Soveraign But I cannot give credit to c Weavers Fun. Mon. pag. 644. his report who conceiveth that the Atchievement of the man was translated to his Master And that on this occasion King Richard the first got the name of Cordelion or Lions Heart 11. This Hugh Nevil gave the Manor of d Registrum Cart Abbat de Waltham Thorndon to Waltham Abby Ancesters to the Noble numerous Nevils and was Ancester of the Noble and numerous Family of the Nevils to which none in England equal for Honor Wealth and number in the later end of King Henry the sixth though at this day the Lord Abergavenny be the only Baron thereof He gave for his Armes a Cross Saltire or the Cross of S t Andrew probably assuming it in the Holy War For though I confess this is not the proper Cross of Hierusalem yet was it highly esteemed of all those who adventured thither as may appear in that all Knights-Templers make such Saltire Cross with their Thwarted Leggs upon their Monuments 12. Giralde de Talbote succeeds in the second place Giralde de Talbote whence the house of Shrewsbury When Articles were drawn up between our King Richard in his passage to Palestine and Tancred King of Sicily for the mutual observation of many Conditions betwixt them He put in upon their Oaths for his Sureties a Grand-Jury of his principal Subjects then present viz. two Arch-Bishops two Bishops and twenty other of his Prime Nobility expressed in his Letters e R. Hoveden pars poster 〈◊〉 in Rich. primo Patents Besides many other whose names were concealed Of these twenty the aforesaid Girald de Talbote is the first whose Male Issue and Name is extant at this day flourishing in the Right Honourable Family of the Earls of Shrewsbury 13. Next amongst the Royal Jurors as I may term them was Guarrin Fitz-Girald Guarrin Fitz Girald from whom the Earls of Kildare and Barons of Windsor from whom are descended the Fitz Giralds in Ireland where their name is in some places Provincial of whom the Earl of Kildare is chief A memorial of their service in Palestine is preserved in their Armes giving Argent a Cross Saltire Gules Here it must be remembred that the valiant sprightly Gentleman Hickman Lord Windsor is descended from the same f See Camd. Brit. in Berkshire Male Ancestors with the Fitz Giralds as Robert Glover a most exquisite Herald doth demonstrate though according to the fashion of that age altering his old and assuming a new name from Windsor the place of his office and Command This Lord Windsor carrieth the Badg of his Service in his Arms being essentially the same with the Earl of Kildares save that the colours are varied the field Gules and cross Saltire Argent betwixt twelve Crosses crossed OR Which Coat seemingly sursited was conceived in that age the more healthful for the same the more Crossed the more Blessed being the Devotion of those dayes 14. Four other Gentlemen of quality remain mentioned in that Parent A Quaternion more of adventures William de Curcy Father to John the valiant Champion and Conqueror of Ireland Robert de Novo Burgo Hugh le Brain and Amaury de Mountford of all whom formerly in our Alphabetical Comment on Abby Roll. Anno Dom. 1191. Anno Regis Rich. Prim. 2. 15. At the siege of Acres or Ptolemais the Grave General of the Christian Army amongst many Worthies dying there within the compass of one year Ingleram 〈◊〉 his posterity I finde a 〈…〉 pag. 655. Ingelram de Fiennes to be slain from whom the Lord Viscount Say and Seal and the Lord Dacres of the South derive their discent But most visible are the remains of the Holy War in the atchievement of Theophilus Finnes alias Clinton Earl of Lincoln giving in the lower parts of his shield in a field Argent six Crosses crossed Fitchee Sable denoting the stability and firmness of his Ancestors in that service 16. Also at the aforesaid Siege of Acres Radulphus De Alta ripa Radulphus de Alta ripa Arch-Deacon of Colchester ended his life Now although because a Clergy-man he could not then leave any lawful Issue behinde him Yet we may be confident that the Ancient Family De Alta ripa or Dautry still continuing in b Camd. Brit. ibid. Sussex were of his Alliance 17. Before we leave the Siege of Acres let me refresh the Reader with my innocent and give me leave to say provable mistake A mistake freely confest I conceived the Noble Family of the Lord Dacres took their Sir-name from some service there performed confirmed in my conjecture 1. Because the
maintain that Dominion is so sounded in grace in the Pope that a King by him excommunicate may lawfully be deposed and murdered 24. William Courtney Arch-Bishop Courtney persecutes the Wicliffians Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1382 in the place of Simon Sudbury lately slain made cruel Canons in a Synod at London 6. against the maintainers of Wicliffe his opinions And I wonder that in Linwoods Constitutions no mention at all of any Canons made by this Arch-Bishop who sate above ten years in the See As for the heavy persecution which soon after he raised against Robert Rug Thomas Britwell Nicholas Herford Philip Ripiagton c. nothing can be added to what M r Fox hath related 25. In my minde it amounteth to little less then a Miracle Wicliff his miraculous deliverance that during this storme on his Disciples Wicliffe their Master should live in quiet Strange that he was not drowned in so strong a stream as ran against him whose safety under Gods providence is not so much to be ascribed to his own strength in swimming as to such as held him up by the Chin the greatness of his Noble supporters About this time he ended his Translation of the Bible into English a fair Copy whereof in Queens Colledg in Oxford and two more in the University Library done no doubt in the most Expressive language of those dayes though sounding uncouth to our ears The Knabe of Jesus Christ for Servant Acts 8. And Philip Baptized the Gelding for Eunuch so much our tongue is improved in our age As for the report of Polydor Virgil making him to flye out of England in the time of Edward the third Et in magno pretio apud Bohemos fuisse and to have been of high esteem amongst the Bahemians It is true of Wicliffe's Writings but not of his Person who never departed his Native Countrey 26. Not long after His quiet death therein he ended his life 1384 at his cure at Lutterworth in Leicester-shire 8. of the Palsey a Leland excrenico tenerisis Monisteria Admirable that a Hare so often hunted with so many Packs of Doggs should die at last quietly sitting in his form Parsons the Jesuite snarles at M r Fox for counting Wicliffe a Martyr in his Calender as so far from suffering violent death that he was never so much as imprisoned for the opinion he maintained But the phrase may be justified in the large acception of the word for a witness of the truth Besides the body of Wicliffe was Martyred as to shame though not to pain as far as his adversaries cruelty could extend being taken up and burnt many years after his death as God willing we shall shew hereafter 27. William Wickam New Colledg built by Bish Wickam about this time b It was begun Anno 1375. finished his beautiful Colledg in Oxford 1386 some have raised a Scandal of him 10. that he was no scholar at all from which the very meanest scholar in his foundation can acquit him by that rule in Logick Quod efficit tale magis est tale what maketh the same is more the same Anno Regis Ric. 2 10. By which his learning must be inferred whose bounty caused so many learned men Anno Dom. 1386 Now because the maxim runneth with a limitation Si sit tale if it be the same the truth hereof also appears from the learned a Doct. Martin who wrote a book in vindication of his learning pen who writing Wickams life have proved him to have been a sufficient Scholar skilled in other Arts as well as in practical Mathematicks and Architecture 28. Now as Solomon Industry and judgment in Architecture the cause of his advancement when about to build his house at Millo b 1 Kings seeing Jeroboam to be an industrious man made him Master of his Fabrick So Edward the third discovering the like sufficiency in this great Clerk imployed him in all his stately structures witness this in Motto at Windsor Castle This made Wicham meaning that the building of that Castle gave occasion to his wealth and honour whereas on this Colledg he might write This wickam made The building and endowing thereof being the effect of his bounty alone hence it is that this Colledg giveth the Armes of Wickam viz. two Cheverons betwixt three Roses each Cheveron alluding c Rex Platonicus p. 144. to two beams fastned together called couples in building to speak his skill in Architecture 29. This Colledg he built very strong A Castle Colledg designed for defence out of a design d So say the Statutes of this Colledg that it should be able to hold out a Siege of it self if need so required it though may it never have a temptation in that kinde to trie the strength of the walls thereof Indeed this Colledg with Bourges in France may lay claim to the name of Bituris Turribus abinis inde vocor Bituris So called from two Towers therein as this hath the like one over the Gate the other over the Porch in the entrance into the Hall so that it may seem a Castle-Colledg and made as well for defence as habitation So that at this present is maintained therein a Warden Seventy Fellows and Scholars Ten Chaplains Three Clerks One Organist Sixteen Choristers besides Officers and servants of the Foundation with other Students being in all One Hundred Thirty Five 30. Pass we now from his Orchard of grown Trees 1392. to his Nursery of Grafts 16. the Colledge at Winchester A Colledg at Winchester built also by Bish Wickam which few years after the same Bishop finished not much inferiour to the former for building and endowments as wherein he established One Warden Ten Fellows Two School-masters and Seventy Scholars with Officers and Servants which are all maintained at his charge out of which School he ordained should be chosen the best Scholars alwayes to supply the vacant places of the Fellows of this Colledg 31. As his Charity His care for his kinred so his Faith he that provideth not for his house is worse then an Infidel appeared in this his Foundation ordering that his own Kinsmen should be preferred before others Let their parents therefore but provide for their Nursing when Infants their breeding when Children and he hath took order for their careful teaching at Winchester when youth liberal living at Oxford when men and comfortable subsistance in their reduced age in those many and good patronages he hath conferred on the Colledg And truly as these his Kindred have been happy in him so Wickam hath been happy in his Kindred many of them meriting the best preferment without any advantage of his relation And as this Wickam was the first in that kinde so provident for his Kindred his practice hath since been precedential to some other Colledges as the Statutes of this house are generally a direction to other later foundations To take
Oxonford I mean Wickliff by Name afterwards chewed the Cud and was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman faith as appears by his Recantation Living and Dying conformable to the holy Catholick Church 58. It is strange that this Popish Priest alone should light on his Recantation which I believe no other eyes before or since did behold Besides if as he saith Wickliff was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman Faith why was not Rome sufficiently reconciled to him using such crueltie unto him so many years after his death Cold incouragement for any to become Romist's Converts if notwithstanding their reconciliation the bodies must be burnt so many years after their death 59. But though Wickliff had no Tombe A Monk's charity to Wickliffe he had an Epitaph such as it was which a Monk afforded him and that it was no worse thank his want not of malice but invention not finding out worse expressions The k Walsing Ypodig Neust p. 3â—2 Divels Instrument Churches Enemie Peoples confusion Hereticks Idol Hypocrites Mirror Schisms Broacher hatreds sower Anno Dom. 1430. lyes forger flatteries sinke who at his death despaired like Cain Anno Regis Hen. 6. 8. and stricken by the horrible Judgements of God breathed forth his wicked Soul to the dark mansion of the black Divell Surely He with whose Name this Epitaph beginneth and endeth was with the maker clean thorow the contrivance thereof 59. Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester A conditional privy Council Cardinal Sancti Eusebij but commonly called Cardinal of England was by consent of Parliament made one of the Kings Council with this condition that he should make a * Ex Archivis tur London Protestation to absent himself from the Council when any matters were to be treated betwixt the King and Pope being jealous belike that his Papal would prevaile over his Royall interest The Cardinal took the Protestation and promised to perform it 60. The Clergy complained in Parliament to the King Priviledge of Convocation that their Servants which came with them to Convocations were often arrested to their great damage and they prayed that they might have the same Priviledge which the Peeres and Commons of the Kingdom have which are called to Parliament which was granted accordingly 61. Great at this time was the want of Grammar Schools and the abuse of them that were even in London it self Want of Grammar Schools complained of for they were no better then Monopolize it being penall for any to prevent the growth of Wicklivism to put their Children to private Teachers hence was it that some hundreds were compelled to go to the same School where to use the words of the Records the Masters waxen rich in money and learners poor in cunning Whereupon this grievance was complained on in Parliament by four eminent Ministers in London viz. M r. William Lichfield Parson of All-Hallow's the More Gilbert Parson of St. Andrews Holbern John Cote Parson of St. Peter's Cornhill John Neele Master of the House of St. Thomas Acre 's and Parson of Colchrich To these it was granted by the Advice of the Ordinary or Archbishop of Canterbury to erect five Schools Neele the last named having a double licence for two places in their respective Parishes which are fitly called the five vowels of London which Mute in a manner before began now to speak and pronounce the Latine Tongue Know that the house St. Thomas Acres was where Mercers Chappel standeth at this day About this time the Lady Eleanor Cobham Elianour Dutchess of Glocester commended by M r. Fox for a Confessor so called from the Lord Cobham her Father 1433 otherwise Elianour Plantagenet by her Husband was married unto Humphrey the Kings Uncle Duke of Glocester 11. She was it seems a great Savourer and Favourer of VVickliffe his Opinions and for such Mr. Fox hath ever a Good word in store Insomuch that he maketh this Lady a Confessor Sr. Roger Only alias Bolignbroke her Chaplain a Martyr assigning in his Kalender the eleventh and twelfth of February for the dayes of their commemoration But Alanus Copus namely Harpsfield under his name falls foul on Mr. Fox for making Sr. Roger a Martyr Made Traitor by A. C. who was a Traitor and Elianour this Dutchess a Confessor who by the consent of our Croniclers Robert Fabian Edward Hall c. was condemned after solemn penance and carrying a Taper barefoot at Pauls Crosse to perpetuall banishment for plotting with Only his Chaplain an abominable Necromancer and three others by witchcraft to destroy the King Anno Regis Hen. sixt 11. so to derive the Crown to her Husband Anno Dom. 1433. as the next heir in the Line of Lancaster But Cope-Harpsfield pincheth the Fox the hardest for making Margaret Jourdman the witch of Eye a Martyr who was justly burnt for her witchcraft Other small errors we omit where of he accuseth him In answer hereunto Mr. Fox makes a threefold return ingeniously confessing part of the charge Mr. Fox His ingenious confession flatly denying part and fairly excusing the rest He confesseth and take it in his own words that the former Edition of his Acts and Monuments was a First Volum pag. 920. HASTILY RASHED up at the present in such shortnesse of time fourteen moneths as I remember too small a term for so great a Task that it betraied him to many mistakes as when he calleth Sir Roger Only a Knight who was a Priest by his profession Adding moreover that had he thought no b Pag. 921. imperfections had passed his former Edition he would have taken in hand a second recognition thereof He flatly denyeth that his Martyr-making of Margaret Jourdman the Witch of Eye His flat deniall I here saith professe confesse and ascertain both you Cope-Harpsfield He meaneth and all English men both present and all posterity hereafter to come that Margaret Jourdman I never spake of never thought of never dreamed of nor did ever hear of before you named her in your Book your self So farre it is off that I either with my will or against my will made any Martyr of Her He excuseth the aforesaid Dutchess Elianour His ten Coniectures in behalf of the Dutchess alledging ten Conjectures as he calleth them in her vindication 1. Sir Roger Only took it upon his death that He and the Lady were innocent of those things for which they were condemned 2. It was usuall for the Clergie in that Age to load those who were of Wickliffe his perswasion such this Dutchess with no lesse false then feule aspersions 3. Sir Roger Only wrote two Books mentioned by c As in his 8th Cent. cap. 4. Bale the one of his own innocency the other Contra Vulgi Superstitiones It is not therefore probable he should be so silly a Necromancer who had professedly confuted Popular Superstitions 4. The Accusation of this Dutches beganne not untill after the Grudges betwixt the
do much unto whom Christ gave the i Speeds Chro. in H. 8. p. 766. Keys of the Kingdom of heaven hath no power to give a dispensation to any man to contract such Marriage In witness whereof we confirm this our judgment both under the Seal of our University as also with the Seal of our Colledg of Doctors of Divinity and have subscribed it in the Cathedral Church of Bonony this tenth of June in the year of our Lord 1530. 21. k De schismate Anglic. p. 60 61. Sanders hath little to say against so many and clear decisions of the Universities The Recusancy of other Universities onely he tels us that all the Kings Agents had not equal success in their Negotiations and particularly that one Hutton the Kings instrument herein could not bow those of Hamborough and Lubeck to express themselves against the Marriage But surely these two places were onely Gymnasia for I finde them not mentioned amongst the Dutch Universities Also he saith that Richard Crook another of the Kings Emissaries prevailed nothing on many Germane Professors and particularly he praiseth the University of Colen for their recusancy therein As for such who subscribed on the Kings side he pretends that Bribes bought their judgments as if our King Henry had learnt from King l Eccles 10. 19 Solomon that Money recompenceth all things The best is the cleanly hands of the Court of Rome had never no doubt any bribes sticking to their fair fingers But though that Englsh Angels flew over to foraign Universities yet there lieth a real distinction betwixt a Bribe and a Boon freely bestowed not to bow and bias their opinions but to gratifie their pains and remunerate their industry in studying of the point 22. As for our English Ambassadours at Rome Cranmer travelleth into Germany finding themselves onely fed with delaies no wonder if they were sharp set to return home All came back again save D r. Cranmer who took a journey to the Emperours court in Vieâ—â—a Here he grew acquainted with Cornelius Agrippa who had written a Book of the Vanity of Sciences having much of the Sciences but more of the vanity in himself Here also he conversed with many great Divines and satisfied some of them out of Scripture and Reason which formerly were unresolved in the unlawfulness of the Kings Marriage 23. A Parliament was now called The Clergy 〈…〉 praemunire wherein the Clergie were found guilty of a Praemunire 1531 because they had too much promoted the Papal interest and acted by vertue of his power to the damage and detriment of the Crown of England whereupon being willing to redeem their whole estates forfeited by 〈◊〉 they were glad to commute it into a summe of money the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury alone bestowed on the King one hundred thousand pounds to be paid by equal portions in the same year say some in four years say others and that in my opinion with more probability 24. But the King would not be so satisfied with the payment of the money Acknowledg the 〈…〉 of the Church except also they would acknowledg him to be Supreme Head of the Church This was hard meat and would not easily down amongst them however being thoroughly debated in a Synodical way both in the upper and lower houses of Convocation they did in fine agree on this expression cujus Ecclesiae Anglicanae singularem Protectorem unicum supremum Dominum quantum per Christi leges licet supremum caput ipsius Majestatem recognoscimâ—s 25. This thus consented unto Confirmed by Act of Parliament and subscribed by the hands of the Clergie as appears at large in the Records and Acts of the Convocation and so presented to the King in the name of his Clergie was afterwards confirmed by Parliament and incorporated into a solemn Act for the ratification thereof 26. During these transactions The death of Arch Bishop Warham William Warham 1532 Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ended his life 23. Aug. 23. A politick person well learned in the Laws generally reputed a moderate man though specially towards his latter end a still and silent persecutor of poor Christians He was first Parson of Barly in Hertford-shire as appears by an a Weavers Funeral Mon. inscription in that Church thence rising by degrees to great preferment In his Will he requested his Successour not to sue his b Antiq. Brit. pag. Executors for Dilapidations as having expended some thousands of pounds in repairing his several Palaces We verily believe his request was granted seeing Cranmer was free from all exacting in that kinde Sede vacante John Stokesly Bishop of London was President in the Convocation 27. Messengers are sent into Germany for Thomas Cranmer Cranmer sent for and unwilling accepteth the Arch-Bishoprick to finde him out and fetch him home with all possible speed the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury waiting his acceptance thereof The Post easily doth the first but Cranmer prolonged his journey by c Fox Acts Mon. p. 1703. seven weeks at the least hoping that in the mean time the King might forget him and confer the place on another being really unwilling to imbrace the preferment having aliquid intus something within him which reluctated against those superstitions through which he must wade in the way thereunto But there lieth no Nolo Episcopare against King Henry his Volo te Episcopum esse It being as mortal to refuse favours from him as to offer injuries to him Cranmer therefore now come home must in his own defence be Arch-Bishop who to serve the King and salve his own conscience used the expedient of a Protestation whereof hereafter 28. The Philosoper gives us this note of direction A preparative to Cranmers just defence whereby to finde out a vertue viz. that it is accused by both Extremes Thus Liberality is charged by Prodigals to be Covetousness by Covetous men to be Prodigality By the same proportion Cranmer appears a worthy Prelate taxed by Papists to be an Heretick by others no Papists as guilty of Superstition We will endeavour his just defence conceiving the Protestants cause much concerned therein the Legality of his Consecration having an influence on all the Bishops made by him Anno Regis Hen. 8 23. that of the Bishops making an impression on the Priests and Deacons by them ordained Anno Dom 1532 and their rightful ordination deriving validity to the Sacraments by them administred to all the members of the Church of England 29. A Papist a Becan contro Angl. c. 4. q. 9. n. 6. objects Cranmer lawfully consecrated non fuit consecratus ab ullo Episcopo sed à solo Rege intrusus that he was consecrated by no Bishop but thrust in by the King alone The falseness whereof doth appear on publick Record still to be seen in the Register being solemnly consecrated by John b Regist Cramn fol. 5.
Pope who as Pastor Pastorum claimed Decimas Decimarum Entituling himself thereunto partly from Abraham a Priest paying o Gen 14. 20 Heb. 7. 4. Tithes to Melchizedeck the high Priest partly from the Levites in the Mosaical Law paying the Second Tithes that is the Tithes of their Tithes to the Priest Thus shall you offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your p Num. 18. 28. Tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel and ye shall give thereof the Lords heave-offering to Aaron the Priest Hereupon the Pope had his Collectors in every Diocesse who sometimes by Bills of Exchange but generally in specie to the great impoverishing of the Land yearly returned the Tenths and First-fruits of the English Clergie to Rome 2. But the Pope being now dead in England the King was found his Heir at Common Law Commissioners imployed to 〈◊〉 all Ecclesistical preferments as to most of the power and profit the other had usurped But now as the Clergie changed their Land lord so their Rents were new rated and I believe somewhat raised Commissioners being imployed in all Counties the Bishop of the Diocesse being alwaies one of them to valew their yearly revenue Ann. Dom. 1537. that so their Tenths and First-fruits may be proportioned accordingly These Raters were the chiefest persons in all Counties under the degree of Barons and I had a project to presence their names as of men of unquestionable extraction none as yet standing on the ruins of Abbies to heighten their mean birth into the repute of Gentility Surrey Nicholas Carew Knights Matthew Broun Thomas Stidolfe Esquire John Banister Gentleman Huntingdon-shire Richard Sapcot Knights Lawrence Taylard John Gostwick Esquires John Goodrick Devon-shire William Courtney Knights Thomas Dennis John Birnall Major of Exeter John Hull Auditors William Simonds John Ford Auditors John Southcote Somerset-shire William Stourton Kn t s John Horsey Andrew Lutterell Thomas Speke Esq s. Hugh Powlet Henry q In this method they are named Capel Knight William Portman Gent. Roger Kinsey Auditor Stafford-shire John Talbot Knights John Gifford Walter Wrotley Esquire John Wrotely Gentleman Cheshire John Holford Knight Peter Dutton Knight George Booth Esq s. Thomas Aston Richard Ligh William Brereton But my designe failed when I found the return of the Commissioners names into the Office so defective that in most Counties they are wholly omitted 3. These Commissioners were impowered by the King Instructions given to the Commissioners to send for the Scribes and Notaries of all Bishops and Arch-Bishops and Arch-deacons to swear the Receivers and Auditors of Incumbents to view their register-Register-books easter-Easter-books and all other writings and to use all other waies to know the full value of Ecclesiastical preferments with the number and names of Persons enjoying the same They were to divide themselves by Three and Three allotting to every number so many Deaneries and to enquire the number and names of all Abbies Monasteries Priories Brotherships Sisterships Fellowships c. Houses religious and conventual as well r Transcribedwith my owne hand out of the original in the Office CHARTER-HOUSE as others these carthusians being specified by name because proudly pretending priviledges of Papal exemption and meeting together to certifie into Exchequer at the time limited in their Commission the true value of such Places or Preferments Herein Reparations Fees of in t ſ No Clerk in the Office cou'd read this word were not to be deducted but perpetual Rents Pensions Alms Synods Fees paid out yearly to Persons were to be allowed 4. This being a work of time exactly to perform Some yeares spent in the work took up some years in the effecting thereof Devon-shire and Somer set were done in the twenty-seventh Staffordshire and many other Countries in the thirty-fourth of King Henry the eighth and most of Wales not till the reign of King Edward the sixt Yea I am credibly informed that in Ireland to which Kingdome such Commissions were afterwards extended the Commissioners partly tired with their troblesome work partly afraid to pass the dangerous hill of Rushes in Irish Sleue Logher never came into the County of Kerry the South-west extremity of that Island So that the Clergie thereof though the poorest of the poorest in Ireland enjoy this priviledge that they are presently put into their Livings or Benefices rather without any payments 5. But no such favour was allowed to any place in England where all were unpartially rated Vicaridges why so high-rated and Vicaridges valued very high according to their present revenue by personal Perquisites In that Age he generally was the richest Shepherd who had the greatest flock where Oblations from the living and Obits for the dead as certainly paid as Predial Tithes much advanced their Income In consideration whereof Vicaridges mostly lying in Market-Towns and populous Parishes where set very high though soon after those Obventions sunk with superstition And the Vicars in vain desired a proportionable abatement in the King's book which once drawn up were no more to be altered 6. Now Queen Mary a Princesse Q Mary remits Tenths and First-fruits whose conscience was never purse-ridden as one who would go to the cost of Her own principles did by Act of Parliament exonerate acquit and discharge the Clergie from all First-fruits As for Tenths the same * 2 3 Phil Mary cap. 4. Statute ordereth them to be paid to Cardinal Poole who from the same was to pay the Pensions allowed by Her Father to Monks and Nuns at the dissolution of Abbies yet so that when such persons who were but few and aged all named in a Deed indented should decease all such paiments of the Clergie reserved nomine decimae should cease and be clearly extinct and determined for ever 7. But Her Sister Q. Elizabeth succeeding Her Q. Elizabeth resumeth them and finding so fair a flower as First fruits Tenths fallen out of Her Crown was careful quickly to gather it up again and get it re-sett therein A Princesse most to forgive injuries but inexorable to remit debts who knowing that necessitous Kings are subject to great inconveniences was a thrifty improver of Her treasure And no wonder if She were exact though not exacting to have Her dues from the Clergie who herein would not favour her grand favourite Sir Christopher Hatton who by the way was Master of this first-fruits Office and was much indebted unto Her for moneys received All which arrears Her Majesty required so severely and suddainly from him that the grief thereof cost his life I say this Queen in the first of Her t See the Stat. 1 Eliz. cap. 4. Reign resumed first-fruits and tenths onely with this case to Parsonages not exceeding ten marks and Vicaridges ten pounds that they should be freed from first-fruits A clause in this Statute impowering the Queen to take all that was due unto Her from the first day of this Parliament was so
their lure accused them afterwards to the Kings Commissioners for their incontinence A damnable act if true and which mindeth me of the ensuing story here not impertinently inserted 2. Some sixty years since A memorable story an English Gentleman had the chastity of his Wife in suspition jealous of a particular person who kept her company To put it to triall this her Husband so contrived the matter a private place was appointed with all accommodations for such a deed of darkness whither the Woman with her suspected Paramore were by set designe but wearing to them the visage of a seeming casualty brought and left together Mean time her Husband made himself Master of a secret inspection out of the next room where with some of his friends he was the witnesse of his Wives dishonesty and his own disgrace Soon after he entred his action sues for a divorce and the Court seemed generally inclined to the granting thereof 3. But a Reverend Judge there present Sin plot sin pay for refused to consent thereunto alledging it the duty of every Husband by his prayers counsel and all other lawful means to save and secure the chastity of his Wife and not to tempt temptations to tempt her who otherwise might charitably be presumed honest if such a fore-plotted occasion had not debauched her and this not the detecting but first causing of her disloyalty Seeing therefore in some sort he had been a Pander to his Wife let him satisfie himself in the assurance of what was doubtfull before and bear the burthen of his own betraying her 4. How just this Judges sentence was all circumstances considered I will not interpose Application as far as concerns the matter in hand Onely in application to the present purpose though I confesse the relation betwixt Husband and Wife the nearest and therefore most obligâ—ng to their mutual preservation the general Principles of Religion and the Communion of Saints tieth all Christians as they tender the honour and glory of God to preserve the consciences of others undefiled It was therefore a meer Satanical trick who is commonly called the c Mat ' 4. 3. Thes 3. 5. Tempter in Scripture first to solliciâ—e souls to sin and after the committing thereof to be an d Rev. 12. 10. Accuser of the brethren And seeing the Tempter is deeper guilty than the tempted as more active and voluntary no reason that he should escape and the other be punished But all this discourse sinketh the foundation failing namely if the premsses cannot be which as yet are not proved that such indirect dealing was used in surprizing of any Votaries into uncleanness 5. But still the Papists go further A complaint of the Papists complaining of false returns that many of these Enveiglers of Nuns met with impregnable pieces of chastity neither to be battered by force nor undermined by fraud who despairing to lie with their bodies did lie on their reputations making their fames to suffer in those false reports which they returned to the Kings Commissioners And the following story is I assure you traditioned with very much credit amongst our English Catholicks 6. Two young Gentlemen whose names for just cause I forbear went to a Nunnery within twelve miles of Cambridge A sad â—â—ory if true in the nature of Travellers on the high way who being handsomly habited and late at night were admitted into some out Lodgings of that Nunnery next day their civil addresses to the Abbesse were returned with such entertainment as became the laws of hospitality Afterwards producing or pretending a Commission to visit their Covent they abode there certain daies and how bad soever they were met with no counterpart to embrace their wanton profers However at the return they gave it out that nothing but their wearinesse bounded their wantonnesse and that they enjoyed those Nuns at their own command 7. One of the aforesaid Gentlemen The Pedigree of this tradition with great grief and remorse of heart did in private confesse the same to Sir William Standly Knight afterwards imployed in the Low Countreys avowing that nothing in all his life lay more heavy on his conscience than this false accusation of those Innocents and the said Sir William told this passage to a noble Catholick still alive All I will say to this story is this that if this Sir Will Standly was he who contrary to his solemn Oath to the Earl of Leicester and the united States betrayd the strong City of e Camden Eliz. in anno 1587. page 507. Daventer to the Spaniards and lived many years after in a f Idem ibidem neglected forlorn condition one so faithlesse in his deeds may be presumed false in his words and the whole credit of the relation may justly at least be suspected Some Covents on examination appearing very virtuous IT is confessed by unpartial people Some Covents retaining their primitive piety that some Monasteries of both sexes being put to the test appeared very commendable in their behaviour so that the least aspersion could not justly be cast upon them I read in one g Lord Herbert in Henry 8. page 399. Author that some Societies behaved themselves so well that their lives were not only exempt from notorious faults but their spare times bestowed in writing books painting carvil engraving so that their Visiters became Intercessours for them Amongst these the Nunnery of Godstow neer Oxford must not be forgotten which as it hath a good name being a Bethel that is Gods house or habitation well answered thereunto in the conditions of the people living therein 2. But there were few such black swans But too feâ—â—O preseâ—ve â—e ref and these innocent Convents being inconsiderable in number could not preserve the rest from ruine Eight and one pious persons are insufficient to save Sodome from destruction b Gen. 18. if ten be the lowest number to which Divine Mercy will descend The generallity of Monasteries notoriously vitious I Say the generallity Charitable premisses otherwise take any numerous Society and where there be many people there will be many offenders there being a i Gen. 7. 7. Cham amongst the Eight in the Ark yea a k Gen. 4. 1 Cain amongst the four primitive persons in the beginning of the world I adde also notoriously vitious 1 Jam. 3. 2. for In many things we offend all Yea if the Visiters had been visited they were conscious to themselves of many failings which might make them more favourably to reflect on the infirmities of others 2. Here I shall present the Reader with a black Bill of some eminent Male-factors Read and blush and sigh as I finde them in my m Jeb Speeds Hist of Great Brit. p. 791. Col. 1. Author in the same nature In Battleâ— Abbey John Abbot Gregory Champion John Hamfield Sodomites Richard Salchurst Clement Westfield John Jherom Thomas Cuthbert John Crosse Clement Grigge William March Thomas
shall be requisite In pursuance of these their Instructions the Kings Commissioners in their respective Counties recovered much and discovered more of Church-wealth and Ornaments For some were utterly imbeziled by persons not responsible and there the King must lose his right More were concealed by parties not detectable so cunningly they carried their stealths seeing every one who had nimmed a Church-Bell did not ring it out for all to hear the sound thereof Many potent persons well known to have such goods shufled it out with their greatnesse mutually connived at therein by their equalls fellow-offenders in the same kinde However the Commissioners regained more than they expected confidering the distance of time and the cold scent they followed so many years after the Dissolution This Plate and other Church-Utensils were sold and advanced much money to the Exchequer An * Sir John Hayward Authour telleth us That amongst many which they found they left but one silver Chalice to every Church too narrow a proportion to populous Parishes where they might have left two at the least seeing for expedition sake at great Sacraments the Minister at once delivereth the wine to two Communicants But they conceived one Cup enough for a small Parish and that greater and richer were easily able to purchase more to themselves 2. All this Income rather stayed the stomack Durham Bishoprick dissolved than satisfied the hunger of the Kings Exchequer For the allaying whereof the Parliament now sitting conferred on the Crown the Bishoprick of Durham This may be called the English Herbipolis or Wirtz-burge it being true of both Dunelmia sola judicat Ense Stola The Bishop whereof was a Palatine or Secular Prince and his Seal in form resembleth Royalty in the Roundnesse thereof and is not Oval the badge of plain Episcopacy Rich and entire the revenues of this See such as alone would make a considerable addition to the Crown remote the scituation thereof out of Southern sight and therefore if dissolved the sooner out of mens mindes Besides Cuthbert Tunstall the present Bishop of Durham was in durance and deprived for his obstinacy so that so stubborn a Bishop gave * yet the Duke of Northumberland either was or was to be possessour thereof the State the fairer quarrell with so rich a Bishoprick now annexed to the Kings revenue 3. Well it was for this See Afterwards restored by Qu. Mary though dissolved that the lands thereof were not dispersed by sale unto severall persons but preserved whole and entire as to the main in the Crown Had such a dissipation of the parts thereof been made no lesse than a State miracle had been requisite for the recollection thereof Whereas now within two years after Queen Mary restored Tunstall to this Bishoprick and this Bishoprick to it self re-setling all the lands on the same 4. By this time A wood rather a wildernesse of the Popes Canons such Learned men as were employed by the King to reform the Ecclesiastical Laws had brought their work to some competent perfection Let me enlarge my self on this subject of concernment for the Readers satisfaction When the Pope had ingrossed to his Courts the cognizance of all causes which either looked glanced or pointed in the least degree at what was reduceable to Religion he multiplied Laws to magnifie himself Whose principal designe therein was not to make others good but himself great not so much to direct and defend the good to restrain and punish the bad as to ensnare and entangle both For such the number of their Clementines 〈◊〉 Intrd. Extravagants Provincialls Synodalls Glosses Sentences Chapters Summaries Rescripts Breviaries long and short Cases c. that none could carry themselves so cautiously but would be rendred obnoxious and caught within the compasse of offending Though the best was for money they might buy the Popes pardon and thereby their own innocence 5. Hereupon Two and thirty Regulatours of the Canon-Law when the Popes power was banished out of England his Canon-Law with the numerous Books and branches thereof lost its authority in the Kings Dominions Yet because some gold must be presumed amongst so much drosse grain amongst so much chaffe it was thought fit that so much of the Canon Law should remain as was found conformable to the Word of God and Laws of the Land And therefore King Henry the eighth was impowred by Act of Parliament to elect two and thirty able persons to reform the Ecclesiastical Laws though in His Reign very little to good purpose was performed therein 6. But the designe was more effectually followed in the daies of King Edward the sixth Contracted to eight by King Edward the 6. reducing the number of two and thirty to eight thus mentioned in His Letters Patents dated at Westminster the last year Novemb 11. Bishops Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury Thomas Goodrich of Elie. Divines Peter Martyr Richard Cox Civilians and Canonists Dr. William May. Dr. Rowland Taylor of Hadley Common Lawyers John Lucas Rich Goodrick Esquires It was not onely convenient but necessary that Common Lawyers should share in making these Church Constitutions because the same were to be built not onely sure in themselves but also symmetricall to the Municipall Lawes of the Land These Eight had power by the Kings Patents to call in to their assistance what persons they pleased and are said to have used the pens of Sir John Cheeke and Walter Haddon Dr. in Law to turn their Lawes into Latine 7. However Laws no Laws not stamped with Royall Authority these had onely a preparing no concluding power so that when they had ended their work two things were wanting to make these Ecclesiastical Canons thus by them composed have the validity of Laws First an exact review of them by others to amend the mistakes therein As where * Titulo de Divinis Officiâ—s cap. 6. they call the Common Prayer Book then used in England proprium perfectum omnis divini cultus judicem magistrum a title truly belonging onely to the Scripture Secondly a Royall ratification thereunto which this King prevented by death nor any of His Successours ever stamped upon it Indeed I finde in an * Iohn 〈◊〉 at the end of his Preface to his Book intituled Reformation no enemy to Her Majesty Author whom I am half-ashamed to alledge that Doctor Haddon Anno 12 or 13 Elizabeth delivered in Parliament a Latine Book concerning Church-Discipline written in the daies of King Edward the sixt by Mr. Cranmer Sir John Cheek c. which could be no other than this lately mentioned Which Book was committed by the House unto the said Mr. Haddon Mr. George Bromley Mr. Norton c. to be translated I conceive into English again and never after can I recover any mention thereof save that some thirteen years since * Anno 1640. A silent Convocation it was printed in London 8. A Parliament was called in the last of this Kings
forged leases are countenanced under the pretence of this passing the same 22. As for the number of Recusants which forsook the land at this time A list of persons deprived the prime of them were Henry Lord Morley S r. Francis Inglefield Thomas Shelly and John Gage Esqrs As for the Nuns of Sion and other Votaries wasted over we have formerly treated of them in our History of Abbies Nor were there moe then eighty Rectours of Churches fifty Prebendaries fifteen Masters of Colledges twelve Arch-Deacons twelve Deans with six Abbots and Abbesses deprived at this time of their places thoroughout all England 23. Now the Queen and Her Councell Matthew Parker designed Arch-Bishop his due commendation accounted it high time to supply the Church of Canterbury which hitherto had stood * Counted from Pooles death to Parkers consecration Vacant a yeer Anno Dom. 1559. and three weeks with an Arch-Bishop Anno Regin Eliza. 2. D r. Matthew Parker is appointed for the place borne in Norwich bred in Cambridge Master of Benefactour to Bennet-Colledge there Chaplain to Queen Anne Bollen a relation which next his own merits befriended him with Queen Elizabeth for such high and suddain advancement then to King Henry the eighth Deane of the Colledge of Stoke juxta Clare a learned and religious Divine He confuted that character which one gives of Antiquaries that generally they are either superstitious or supercilious his skill in antiquity being attended with soundnesse of doctrine and humility of manners His Book called Antiquitates Britanicae hath indebted all posterity to his pen. Which work our great a Mr Selden of Tithes cap. 9. pag. 256. Critick cites as written by M r. Joscelin one much employed in the making thereof But we will not set the memories of the Patrone and Chaplaine at variance who loved so well in their lives time nor needeth any Writ of partition to be sued out betwixt them about the authorship of this book though probably one brought the matter the other composure thereof 24. The Queen had formerly sent order to D r. Wotton The Queen Her letter for his consecration Dean of Canterbury an exquisite Civilian July 18. Aug. 1. and therefore one who may be presumed critical in such performances and to the Chapter there to choose Matthew Parker their Arch-Bishop which within fourteen dayes after was by them accordingly performed This done She directeth Her Letters-Patents in manner and forme following Elizabetha b Registrum Parker 1. Iom 1 fol. 3. Dei Gratia c. Reverendis in Christo Patribus Antonio Landavensi Episcopo Will Barlow quondam Bath Well Ep. nunc Cicestrensi electo Joh Scory quondam Cicestrensi Episcopo nunc electo Heâ—esor Miloni Coverdalio quondam Exoniensi Episcopo Johanni Surffaganeo Bedford Johanni Suffraganeo Thetford Johanni Bale Osserensi Episcopo Quatenus vos aut ad minus quatuor vestrûm eundem Matthaeum Parkerum in Archiepiscopum Pastorem Ecclesiae Cathedralis Metropoliticae Christi Cantuariensis praedictae sicut praefertur electum electionemque praedictum confirmare eundem Magistrum Matthaeum Parkerum in Archiepiscopum Pastorem Ecclesiae praedictae consecrare caeteraque omnia singula peragere quae vestro in hac parte editorum provisorum velitis cum effectu c. Dat sexto Decembris Anno secundo Elizabethae But the old Bishop of Landaffe appeared not at the Consecration Dece 6. terrified say the Papists by Bonners threats so as to absent himself which others do not believe For he that feared not the Lion out of the grate would he be frighted with the Lion within the grate If Bonner when at liberty could not deterr him from taking the oath of Supremacy improbable it is that when now detain'd prisoner in the Tower he could disswade him from his obedience to his Soveraigne More likely it is that his absence as also Bishop Bale's and the Suffragans of Thetford was occasioned by their indisposition of body and infirmity of old age 25. But the other four Bishops appeared The manner thereof William Barlow John Scory Miles Coverdal and John Hodgskins by whom Matthew Parker was solemnly consecrated in manner and forme following The East part of the Chappel of c Regist Parker Tom 1. fol. 9. Lambeth was hung with tapestry the floore spred with red cloth chairs and cushions are conveniently placed for the purpose morning prayer being solemnly read by Andrew Peerson the Arch-Bishops Chaplaine Bishop Scory went up into the d Ibid. fol. 10. pulpit and took for his text The e 1 Pet. 5. 1. Elders which are among you I exhort who also am an Elder and a witnesse of the sufferings of Christ c. Sermon ended and the Sacrament administred they proceed to the Consecration the Arch-Bishop had his Rochet on with Hereford and the Suffragan of Bedford Chichester wore a silke cope and Coverdal a plain cloth-gown down to his ancles All things are done conâ—ormable to the book of Ordination Letanie sung the Queens Patent for Parkers consecration audibly read by D r. Vale Dece 17. he is presented the oath of Supremacy tendred to him taken by him hands reverendly imposed on him and all with prayers begun continued concluded In a word though here was no Theatrical pompe to make it a Popish pageant though no sandals gloves ring staffe oyle pall c. were used upon him yet there was ceremony enough to cloth his consecration with decency though not to clog it with superstition 26. This his consecration is avowed most legal The legality of his consecration both according to Canon and Common Law In the latter it was ordered by King Henry a Anno Regin 25. the eighth that an Arch-Bishops should not be consecrated but by an Archbishop and two Bishops or by four Bishops in case an Arch-Bishop was wanting as here it was performed Object not that one of these foure was but a Suffragan seeing such by the b 26. of Henry 8 cap. 14. laws of the land though not able to vote as Barons in Parliament had Episcopal power to all purposes and intents Neither cavill that Coverdale henceforward led a private life being always a Bishop quoad characterem and for the present quoad jâ—es â—itulum Exeter his former Bishoprick being actually void by the deprivation of Turbervile though refusing to be so quoad possessionem As for the canonical part of his consecration six of the most eminent Doctours of that faculty England then afforded gave it under their hands that the same was exactly observed 27. Yet notwithstanding all circumstances so solemnly performed The impudent lie of the Naggs-head some impudent Papists have raised a lie that Matthew Parker was consecrated Ad caput manni At the Naggs-head a tavern in Cheapside Indeed they shew a place therein just against the barr so anciently arched that an active phansie which can make any thing of
With M r. Fox And Dr. Lawrence Humfrey I joyne his Dear Friend Laurence Humfrey whom I should never have suspected for inclinations to nonconformity such his intimacy with Doctor Jewell and other Bishops had I not read in my Author that * Cambden Elizabetha in Anno 1589. De Adiaphoris non juxta cum Ecclesia Anglicana senserit He was Regius Professor of Divinity in Oxford where his Answers and determinations were observed quick clear and solid but his Replies and objections weak and slender which his Auditors imputed to no lack of learning wherewith he was well stored but to his unwillingness to furnish his Popish Adversaries with strong arguments to maintain their Erroneous opinions But such his quiet carriage that notwithstanding his nonsubscribing he kept his Professors place and Deanry of Winchester as long as he lived 70. Pass we now to the fierce not to say furious sticklers against Church-Discipline Anthony Gilby a fierce Nonconformist and begin with Anthony Gilby born in Lincolne-shire bred in Christs Colledge in Cambridge How fierce he was against the Ceremonies take it from his own a pag. 150. pen. They are known liveries of AntiChrist accursed leaven of the Blasphemous Popish Priesthood cursedpatches of Popery and Idolatry they are worse then lousie for they are sibbe to the sarke of Hercules that made him tear his own bowels asunder 71. William Whittingham succeeds Anno Regin Eliza. 8. Anno Dom. 1566. And William Whittingham bred in Allsouls Colledge in Oxford afterwards Exile in Germany where he made a preface to M r. a Bale Cent. nona pag. 731. Goodman his Booke approving the Divinity therein and returning into England was made Deane of Durham 72. Christopher Goodman is the third And Christopher Goodman and well it were if it might be truly said of him what of Probus the Emperor that he was Vir sui nominis Sure it is that living beyond the seas in the dayes of Queen Mary he wrote a Booke stuffed with much dangerous Doctrine Wherein he maintained that S r. Thomas Wyat was no Traitor b pag 203 20â— 207. that his cause was Gods that none but Traitors could accuse him of Treason and that the Councellours and others who would be accounted Nobles and took not his part were in very deed Traitors to God Note that these three were active in the separation from Frankford vide supra 9. Book p. 9. his People and their Country These three for David Whitehead I have no minde to mention with them were certainly the Antesignani of the fierce Nonconformists Yet finde I none of them solemnly silenced either because perchance dead before this yeer wherein the vigorous urging of Subscription or because finding some favour in respect of their suffering of banishment for the â—rotestant Religion Only I meet with Thomas Samson Dean of Christs Church in Oxford qui propter Puritanismum c Godwin his catalogue in the Bishop of Oxford exauthoratus displaced this yeer out of his Deanry notwithstanding the said Samson stands very high in Bale his Catalogue of the English Exiles in the Reign of Queen Mary 73. Queen Elizabeth came to Oxford Aug. 31. The Queens entertainment at Oxford honourably attended with the Earle of Leicester Lord Chancelour of the Vniversity The Marquâ—sse of Northhampton The Lord Burleigh The Spanish Ambassadour c. Here she was entertained with the most stately welcom which the Muses could make Edmond Campian then Proctour Oratorie being his Master-piece well performed his part only over flattering Leicester enough to make a modest mans head ake with the too sweet flowers of his Rhetorick save that the Earle was as willing to hear his own praise as the other to utter it Her Highness was lodged in Christs-Church where many Comedies were acted before Her one whereof Palemon and Arce had a Tragicall end three men being slain d Sâ—ow his Chron. p. 660. by the fall of a wall and press of people Many Acts were kept before her in Philosophie and one most eminent in Divinity wherein Bishop Jewell this yeer in his absence created Honorarie Doctour was Moderatour It lasted in summer time till candles were lighted delight devouring all weariness in the Auditours when the Queen importuned by the Lords The Spanish Ambassadour to whom she profferred it modestly declining the imployment concluded all with this her Latine Oration Qui male agit Her Highness speech to the University This speech was taken by D. Laurence Humfrey and by him printed in the life of B. Jewell pag. 244. odit luâ—em ego quidem quia nihil aliud nisi male agere possum idcirco odilucem odi id est conspectum vestrum Atque sanè me magna tenet dubitatio dam singula considero quae hic aguntur laudemne an vituperem taceamne an eloquar Sieloquar patefaciam vobis quam sim literarum rudis taccre autem nolo ne defectus videatur esse contemptus Et quia tempus breve est quod habeo ad dicendum idciâ—co omnia in pauca conferam orationem meam in duas partes dividam in laudem vituperationem Laus autem ad vos pertinet Ex quo enim primum Oxoniam veni multa vidi multa audivi probavi omnia Erant enim prudenter facta eleganter dicta At ea quibus in prologis vos ipsi excusastis neque pro pare ut Regina possum neque ut Christiana debeo Caeterum quia in exordio semper adhibuistis cautionem mihi sane illa disputatio non displicuit Nunc venio ad alterampartem nempe vituperationem Atque haec pars mihi propria est Sane fateor Parentes meos diligentissimè curasse ut in bonis literis rectè instituerer quidem in multarum linguarum varietate diu versata sui quarum aliquam mihi cognitionem assumo Anno Regin Eliza. 7. quod etsi verè tamen verecundè dico Habui quidem multos Doctos Paedigogos qui ut me eruditum redderent diligenter elaborarunt Sed Paedagâ—gi mei posuerunt operam in agro sterili infaecundo ita fructus percipâ—re vix poterant aut dignitate mea aut illâ—rum laboribus aut vestra expectatione dignos Quamobrem etsi omnes vos me abundè laudastis ego tamen quae mihi conscia sum quam sim nulla laude digna facile agnosco sed finem imponam orationi meae Barbarismis plenae si prius optavero votum unum addidero Votum meum hoc erit ut me vivente sitis Florentissimi me mortua Beatissimi Thus having stayed seven dayes Sept. 6. she took her leave of the Vniversity M r. Williams the Maior riding in scarlet before her Majesty to Magdalen Bridge But the Doctours attending her in their formalities as far as Shot-over SECTION IIII. To WILLIAM HONYEWOOD Esq Some Conceive that to be pressed to death the punishment on Recusants to submit to
But what if Worcester were also the better Bishoprick and so the warmer seat for his old age 29. William Bradbridge bred in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford Bishop of Exeter was snatcht away with a sudden death And in the same year Edmond Guest BP of Salisbury bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge who wrote many books reckoned up by J. Bale bought and bestowed more on the library of Salisbury Anno Regin Eliza. 21. Anno Dom. 1578. the case whereof Bp. Cheyney a great Lu heran wrongfully accused to die a Papist was built by BP Jewell 30. Richard Cheyney Bishop of Bristol holding Glocester therewith in dispensation bred in Cambridge of whom M r. * Camd. in his Eliz. 1559. Camden giveth this character that he was Luthero addictissimus Most addicted to Luther Bishop * In his Catalogue of the Bishops of Glocester Godwin saith Jun. 27. Feb. 28. Luthero addictior fortasse quà m par erat Perchance more addicted to Luther then was meet Adding moreover that in the first convocation in the reign of Queen Mary he so earnestly opposed Popery that he wonde reth how he escaped with life But I wonder more how since his death the scandalous rumour is raised that he died a Papist suspended by Arch-Bishop Grindall from his Episcopall function and this one his successour in that See will perswade others to believe 31. However the words of Mrs. Goldsborrough widdow to BP Goldsborrough of Glocester a grave Matron prevail'd with me to the contrary His vindication Who at a publick entertainment in the presence of many and amongst * All my search cannot finde out such an Instrument in any office them of my judicious friend Mr. Langley the worthy Schoolmaster of St. Pauls gave a just check to this false report and avowed that to her knowledge he died a true and sincere Protestant Eliz. 22. June 1. 1579. 32. Robert Horne succeeded Borne in the Bishoprick of Durham bred in S t. Iohns in Cambridge * Camdens Eliz. in Anno 1559. one valido faecundo ingenio saith my Author Of a spritefull and fruit full wit One who would go thorough whatsoever he undertook be it against Papists or Nonconformists and his adversaries playing with his name as denoting his nature hard and inflexible nothing moved him to abate of his resolution 33. Thomas Bentham followed him Bishop of Coventry Followed by Bp. Bentham and Leichfield bred in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford Feb. 21. of whose christian valour in that Colledge against superstition in Queen Maries reign we have spoken before 34. Richard Cox Bishop of Ely The death of Bishop Cox concludes this Bill of Mortality Tutor to King Edw. the 6. of whom largely before in the troubles at Frankford I am sorry so much is charged on his memory and so little can be said in his vindication and would willingly impute it not to his want of innocence but ours of intelligence It moves me much his accusation of * Said to seed his servants with poudered venison shrewdly hurt to save other meat St. I. Harring. in his additions to B. G. covetousness dilapidating or rather delignating his Bishoprick cutting down the woods thereof for which he fell into the Queens displeasure But am more offended at his taking if true the many ancient manuscripts from Oxford under the pretence of a visitation He was an excellent poet though the verses written on his own tombe are none of the best and scarce worth our translating Vita caduca vale salveto vita perennis Corpus terra tegit spiritus alta petit In terra Christi Gallus Christum resonabam Da Christe in Coelis te sine fine sonem Frail life farewell welcome life without end Earth hides my corps my soule doth heaven ascend CHRISTS COCK on earth I chanted Christ his name Grant without end in Heaven I sound the same It seems some took exceptions at the Epitaph as parcell-Popish because though supposing his possession praying for the perpetuation of his happinesse and on that account twenty years after his death it was partly demolished 35. This year also S r. Thomas Gresham ended his life Gresham Col. founded by St. T. Gresham whose Royall-Exchange in London with all the Magnificence thereof could not properly intitle him to a mention in this our Church-History Anno Dom. 1580. had he not also by his will bequeathed maintenance Anno Regin Eliza. 23. for the erecting of a Colledge in Bishops-gate-street allowing an annuall Salary of fifty pound to severall Professors in Divinity Civill Law Physick Astronomie Geometry Musick and Rhetorick It is therefore no mistake in * In his Atlas pag 66. Mercator when counting three Universities in England Cambridge Oxford and London seeing the last may be so esteemed both in relation to the Inns-of-Court and this Colledge 36. The Family of love The obscure Original of the Familists began now to grow so numerous factious and dangerous that the Privy Councell thought fit to endeavour their suppression Being now to deduce the Originall of this Sect we desire that the Clock of Time on the margin of our Book may stand still intending not to discompose the method of years therein though we go backward for awhile in our History to fetch in the beginning of these Familists Most obscure was their Originall according to the Apostles a Jude 4. words There are certain men crept in unawaâ—es Crept in shewing the slownesse of their pace and the lownesse of their posture The later proceeding partly from their Guiltiness not daring to go upright to justifie avouch and maintain their doctrine partly out of Policy to worke themselves in the b Isa 30. 6. more invisibly But these Creepers at first turn'd Plyers afterwarde flying Serpents no contradiction so that the State accounted it necessary to cut down their arrogancy and increase whose beginning with the means thereof we come now to relate 37. One Henry Nicholas born in Amsterdam Hen. Nicholas their first founder first vented this doctrine about the year 1550. in his own country He was one who wanted learning in himself and hated it in others and yet was conceived which at first procured pitty unto him though of wilde and confused notions with absurd and improper expressions yet of honest and harmless intentions Men thought him unable both to manage his Apprehensions whole as to make sense of them and too weak by distinctions to parcel and divide them wanting Logick for that purpose and yet they charitably conceived his minde might be better then his mouth and that he did mean better then he could interpret his own meaning For meeting with many c John 17. 21 22 23. c. places in Scripture which speak the union and communion of Christians with Christ Christ with God how quickly are mysteries made blasphemies when unskilfull hands meddle with them he made of them a most carnall-spirituall
assemblies are to be monished to make Collections for relief of the poor and of scholars but especially for relief of such Ministers here as are put out for not subscribing to the Articles tendered by the Bishops also for relief of Scottish Ministers and others and for other profitable and necessary uses All the Provinciall Synods must continually aforehand foresee in due time to appoint the keeping of their next Provinciall Synods and for the sending of Chosen Persons with certain instructions unto the nationall Synod to be holden whensoever the Parliament for the Kingdome shall be called at some certain set time every year See we here the embryo of the Presbyterian Discipline lying as yet as it were in the wombe of Episcopacy though soon after it swell'd so great that the mother must violently be cut before the child could be delivered into the world as to the publick practice thereof 2. Many observables in these Decrees offer themselves to our consideration Several observations on these Decrees First that they were written in latine whereof they had two elegant penners Cartwright and Travers shewing themselves no enemies to that tongue which some ignorant Sectaries afterward condemn'd for superstitious counting every thing Romish which was Romane and very Cordials to be poison if lapp'd up in latine 2. Probably as Artists hang a curtain before their works whilst yet imperfect so these Synodists thought fit in latine as yet to vail their Decrees from vulgar eyes seeing nothing can be projected and perfected together Yea the repetition of those words doth seem and it seemeth carrying something of uncertainty in them sheweth these Decrees as yet admitted but as Probationers expecting confirmation on their good behaviour 3. The election of the people is here made the essence of a call to a Pastoral Charge to which the presentation of the most undoubted Patrone is call'd in but ad corroborandum As for Institution from the Bishop it was superadded not to compleat his Ministeriall function in point of conscience but legally to enable the Minister to recover his maintenance from the detainers thereof 4. Partiall subscription is permitted to the Articles of Religion viz. only to the Doctrinal part thereof but none to those wherein Discipline is mentioned especially to the clause at the end of the twentieth Article The Church both power to decree Rites and Ceremonies c. accounted by the Brethren the very sting in the tail of the locusts 5. Those words If subscription shall be urged again Plainly intimate that the reins of Episcopal government were but loosly held and the rigour thereof remitted for the reasons by us fore-alledged 6. That Church-wardens and Collectors for the poor are so quickly convertible even in their opinion into Elders and Deacons only with a more solemn and publick election shows the difference betwixt those officers to be rather nominal then real 7. By Women-Deacons here mentioned we understand such widows which the Apostle appointeth in the primitive Church to attend strangers and sick people and which M r. a In his Admonitions pag 163. Section 2. Cartwright affirmeth ought still to be continued although he confesseth there be learned men think otherwise 8. Their Comitial Assemblies kept in the Universities at the commencements wisely they had an eye on the two eyes of the land were conveniently chosen as safely shadowed under a confluence of people See we here though the matter of their Discipline might be Jure Divino humane prudence concurred much in the making thereof as in ordering a National Synod alwayes to run parallel with the Parliament 9. Mention being made of relieving Scottish Ministers if any ask what northern tempest blew them hither know they quitted their own country about this time upon refusal of conformity and found benevolence in England a better livelihood than a Benefice in Scotland 10. The grand designe driven on in these Decrees was to set up a Discipline in a Discipline Presbytery in Episcopacy which as appears in the Preface they thought might well stand with the peace of the Church but this peace prov'd but a truce this truce but a short one before both parties brake into irreconcileable hostility Thus it is impossible to make a subordination in their practises who have an opposition in their principles For though such spheres and orbs which agree in one center may proportionably move one within another yet such as are excentricall can never observe equall distance in their motion but will sagg aside to grind and grate one the other But enough hereof at this time having jetted out a little already into the next year no offence we hope seeing it makes our History more entire in this subject 3. This year A blasphemous Hererick reclaimed Robert Dickons a Leicester shire youth but it seems Apprentice at Mansell in Nottingham-shire having parts and pregnancy above his Age and profession arrived at such a height of Prophanenesse as not only to pretend to visions but account himself Eliah sent from God to perfect some defects in the Prophesie of Malachy But by Gods blessing on the endeavours of M r. Henry Smith whom his Unkle M r. Briant Cave this year Sheriff of Leicester-shire employed therein this Heretick was a See Mr. Smiths Sermon of the lost sheep found reclamed renouncing his Blasphemies by Subscription under his own hand and for ought I finde to the contrary lived peacably and painfully the remainder of his life 4. This is that Henry Smith The Character of Mr. Henry Smith born at Withcock in Leicester-shire of a worshipfull family and elder Brother to S r. Roger smith still surviving bred in Oxford and afterwards became that famous Preacher at S t. Clements Danes in London commonly called the silver-tongu'd smith being but one mettall in Price and Purity beneath S t. Chrysostome himself Yea whereas generally the sermons of those dayes are now grown out of fashion such is our Ages Curiosity and Affectation of Noveltie Smiths Sermons keep up their constant Credit as appears by their daily Impressions calculated for all times places and persons so solid the learned may partly admire so plain the unlearned may perfectly understand them The wonder of his worth is increased by the consideration of his tender Age dying very young b About the year 1500 as I am inform'd by his brother about 50. years agoe 5. I finde three of such who seemed Pillars in the Romish Church The death of Rich. Bristow deceased this year First Richard Bristow born in Worcester-shire bred in Oxford in Exeter Colledge whence he fled beyond the Seas and by Cardinall Allen was made overseer of the English Colledge first at Doway then at Rhemes He wrote most in English humili quidem stilo faith one of his own * â—itzaeus de illustribus Argl. scriptor Opinion but very solidly for proof whereof let his Books against D r. Fulke be perused For the recovery of his health he was advised
as did creep in to the said Book through private mens affections without authority Therefore that argument is against them and only used by them as it seemeth in contempt the rest is frivolous and argueth their presumption in writing this to so honourable a Board of so worthy and godly a Book which hath an hundred learned men to justifie it for one that will impugne it And thus much concerning them which I have written rather to satisfie your Lordships then that I thought the matter worthy my labour The complaint which those of Kent being of my own Diocess and by oath bound to me in Canonicall obedience have exhibited unto your Lordships doth make me more to wonder that they most of them being unlearned and young such as I would be loath to admit into the Ministry if they were not already admitted thereunto much less to allow as Preachers dare presume to bring my doings against them into question before your Lordships seeing I have done nothing but that which God the Law her Majesty and my duty forceth me unto dealing with them not as an Arch-Bishop with the Inferiour sort of the Clergy nor as a master of a Colledge with his fellows nor as a Magistrate with his inferiours but as a Friend and a Brother which as I think hath so puffed them up and caused them to be so presumptuous They came to me unsent for in a multitude which I reproved because it imported a conspiracy and had the shew of a Tumult or unlawfull Assembly Notwithstanding I was content to hear their complaint I spent with them the whole afternoon from two of the clock till seven and heard their Reasons whereof some were frivolous and childish some irreligious and all of them such as gave me occasion to think that they rather sought quarrel against the Book then to be satisfied which indeed is true as appeareth by some of their own confessions which I am able to shew when I shall be thereunto urged The two whole dayes following I spent likewise for the most part in dealing severally with them requiring them to give unto me the Chief and principal of their Reasons which moved them not to subscribe meaning to hear them in the rest if I could have satisfied them in it or else not to spend any further time which reasons if I may so term them they gave unto me and I have and mean to make known when occasion shall serve Whereas they say in their bill that the publick administration of the Sacraments in this Land is as touching the substance of it lawfull c. They say no more then the Papists themselves do confess and in truth they say nothing in effect to that wherewith they are charged And yet therein they are contrary to themselves for they have pretended matter of substance against the Book But of what spirit cometh it that they being no otherwise then they are dare to the greatest Authority in this land next to her Majesty so boldly offer themselves thus to reason and dispute as in their bill they vaunt against the State established in matters of Religion and against the book so learnedly and painfully penned and by so great Authority from time to time confirmed It is not for me to sit in this place if every Curate within my Diocess or Province may be permitted so to use me neither is it possible for me to performe forme the duty which her Majesty looketh for at my hands if I may not without interruption proceed in execution of that which her Highness hath especially committed unto me The Gospell can take no success neither the number of Papists be diminished if unity be not procured which I am not in doubt in short time to bring to pass without any great adoe or inconvenience at all if it be not hindred The number of those which refuse to subscribe is not great in most parts of my Province not one in some very few and in some none whereof many also and the greater part are unlearned and unwornthy the Ministry In mine own little Diocess in Canterbury threescore Preachers and above have subscribed whereas there are not ten worthy the name of Preachers which have as yet refused and most of them also not allowed Preachers by lawfull Authority and so I know it to be in all other Diocesses within my Province the Diocess of Norwich only excepted Wherein nevertheless the number of disordered is far less then the number of such as are obedient and quietly disposed Now if these few disordered which the Church may well spare having meeter men to place in their rooms shall be countenanced against the best the wisest in all respects the worthiest and in effect the whole state of the Clergy it will not only discourage the dutifull and obedient persons but so encrease the schism that there will never hereafter be hope of appeasing the same This disordered flocking together of them at this time from divers places and gadding from one to another argueth a Conspiracy amongst them and some hope of incouragement and of prevailing which I am perswaded is not meant nor shall ever be by me willingly consented unto Some of them have already as I am informed bruted abroad that your Lordships have sent for me to answer their complaints and that they hope to be delivered wherein I know they report untruly as the manner is for I cannot be perswaded that your Lordships have any such intent as to make me a party or to call my doings into question which from her Majesty are immediately committed unto me and wherein as I suppose I have no other Judge but her self And for as much as I am by God and her Majesty lawfully without any ordinary or extraordinary or unlawfull means called to this place and function and appointed to be your Pastor and to have the greatest charge over you in matters pertaining to the soul I am the more bold to move and desire you to aid and affist me in matters belonging to my office namely such as appertain to the quietness of the Church the credit of religion established and the maintenance of the laws made for the same And here I do protest and testifie unto your Lordships that the three Articles whereunto they are moved to subscribe are such as I am ready by learning to defend in manner and form as they are set down against all mislikers thereof in England or elsewhere And thus desiring your Lordships to take this my answer in good part and to forbear my comming thither in respect of this advantage that may be taken thereof by these wayward persons I beseech Almighty God long to prosper you Your good Lordships in Christ John Cantuar. Who this M r. Beal was who brought these letters is worthy our inquiry I finde his Christian name Robert his office Clark of the Councell his abilities very great The character of Mr. Beal who brought the Bills as may appear by the publick
so to mislike as written in a Romish stile smelling of a Romish inquisition c. I cannot but greatly marvell at your Lordships vehement speeches against them I hope without cause The men are Preachers peaceable your Lordship saith and that they are orderly and observe the Books as some of them say of themselves and you think it not meet that being such persons they should be deprived for not subscribing only wherein I have yielded unto you and therefore have caused these Articles to be drawn according to Law by the best learned in the Laws who I dare say hate the Romish doctrine and the Romish inquisition to the intent I may truly understand whether they are such manner of men or no as they pretend to be which I also take to be the ordinary course in other Courts as in the Sar-Chamber and other places Sure I am it is most usuall in the Court of the Marches Arches rather whereof I have the best experience And without offence be it spoken I think these Articles more tolerable and better agreeing with the rule of justice and charity and less captious then those in other Courts because there men are often examined at the relation of a private man concerning private crimes de propriâ turpitudinê whereas here men are only examined of their publick actions in the publick calling and Ministry and much more in the cause of Heresie because the one toucheth life and the other not And therefore I see no cause why our Judiciall and Canonicall proceedings in this point should be misliked Your Lordship writeth that the two for whom you write are peaceable persons that they deny the things wherewith they are charged and desire to be tried c. Now they are to be tried why do they refuse it Qui malè agit odit Lucem Indeed they shew themselves to be such as I have before shewed to your Lordship the most troublesome persons in all that Countrey and one of them M r Brown is presented for his disorders by the sworn men of the parish as I am informed by the Official there Wherefore I beseech your Lordship not to believe them against me either own words or testimony of any such as animate them in their disobedience and count disorder order and contention peace before they be duly and orderly tried according to that Law which is yet in force and will hardly in my opinion in these Judicial actions be bettered though some abuse may be in the Execution thereof as there I elsewhere also and that peradventure more abundantly Your Lordship saith these Articles are a device rather to seek for offenders then to reform any The like may be said of the like orders in other Courts also but that were the fault of the Judg not of the Law And I trust your Lordship hath no cause to think so evil of me I have not dealt with any as yet but such as have given evident tokens of contempt of Orders and Laws which my Acts remaining on Record will testifie and though the Register do examin them as I think other officers do in other Courts likewise and the Law doth allow of it yet are they repeated before a Judg where they may reform add or diminish as they think good neither hath there been any man thus examined or otherwise dealt with who hath not been conferred with or might not have been if he would these two especially And if they have otherwise reported to your Lordship they do but antiquum obtinere which is to utter untruths a quality wherewith these kinde of men are marvelously possessed as I on my own knowledge and experience can justifie against divers of them I know your Lordship desireth the peace of the Church and unity in Religion but how is it possible to be procured after so long liberty and lack of discipline if a few persons so meanly qualified as most of them are shall be countenanced against the whole estate of the Clergie of greatest account both for learning years stayedness wisdom Religion and honesty And open breakers and impugners of the Law yong in years proud in conceit contentious in disposition maintained against their Governours seeking to reduce them to order and obedience Haec sunt initia haereticorum ortus atque conatus Schismaticorum malè cogitantium ut sibi placeant ut praepositum superbo tumore contemnant sic ab Ecclesia receditur sic altare profanum collocatur foris sic contra pacem Christi ordinationem atque unitatem Dei rebellatur for my own part I neither have done nor do any thing in this matter which I do not think in my conscience and duty I am bound to do which her Majestie hath with earnest charge committed unto me and which I am not well able to justifie to be most requisite for this State and Church whereof next to her Majestie though most unworthy or at least most unhappy the chief is committed unto me which I will not by the grace of God neglect whatsoever come upon me Therefore I neither care for the honour of the place which is onus to me nor the largeness of the Revenues nor any other worldly thing I thank God in respect of doing my duty neither do I fear the displeasure of man nor the evil tongues of the uncharitable who call me Tyrant Pope Knave and lay to my charge things which I never thought Scio hoc enim opus esse diabolt ut servos Dei mendacio laceret opinionibus falsis gloriosum nomen infamet ut qui conscientiae suae luce clarescunt alienis rumoribus sordidentur So was Cyprian himself used and other ancient and Godly Bishops to whom I am not comparable The day will come when all mens hearts shall be opened in the mean time I will depend on him who never forsakes those that put their trust in him If your Lordship shall keep those two from answering according to the order set down it will be of it self a setting at liberty of all the rest and of undoing of all that which hitherto hath been done neither shall I be able to do my duty according to her Majesties expectation And therefore I beseech your Lordship to leave them unto me I will not proceed against them till I have made you privy to their answers and further conferred with you about them because I see your Lordship so earnest in their behalf whereof also they have made publick boasts as I am informed which argueth what manner of persons they are I beseech your Lordship to take not onely the length but also the matter of this Letter in good part and to continue to me as you have done whereof I doubt not for assuredly if you forsake me which I know you will not after so long triall and experience with continuance of so great friendship especially in so good a cause I shall think my coming to this place to have been for my punishment and my hap
any of its Ancestors which went before it Let me add also and no unhappier than its successors that shall come after it It being observed that meetings of this nature before or after this time never produced any great matter on persons present thereat who generally carry away the same judgement they brought with them And yet the Lords were pleased to say their judgements were satisfied in the point on the Bishops behalf not conceving their adversaries arguments so slight and triviall as now they appeared This was in some of them but a Court-Complement who afterwards secretly acted against the Arch-Bishop in favour of the other party 14. Whitgift finding this first way unsuccessfull Subscription severely pressed fell from other reasoning to a flat argument from Authority enjoyning all admitted to the Ecclesiasticall Orders and Benefices the subscription of the following Articles 1. That the Queen had supream authority over all persons born within Her Dominions of what condition so ever they were and that no other Prince Prelate or potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction Civil or Ecclesiasticall within Her Realms or Dominions 2. That the Book of Common-Prayer and the Ordination of Bishops Priests and Deacons containeth nothing contrary to the Word of God but may lawfully be used and that they will use that and none other 3. That the Articles of Religion agreed in the Synod holden at London in the year of our Lord 1562. and published by the Queens authority they did allow of and beleeve them to be consonant to the Word of God The severe inforcing of subscription hereunto what great disturbance it occasioned in the Church shall hereafter by Gods assistance be made to appear leaving others to judge whether the offence was given or taken thereby 15. Now came forth the Rhemish Translation of the New Testament The Rhemish Translation comes forth A Translation which needeth to be translated neither good Greek Latine or English as every where bespeckled with hard words pretended not renderable in English without abatement of some expressiveness which transcend common capacities Besides it is taxed by our Divines as guilty of abominable errours therein It was printed in large paper with a fair letter and margent all which I have charity enough to impute to their desire to do it for the more dignity of Gods word whilest others interpret it that thereby purposely they inhaunced the price to put it past the power of poore mens purses to purchase it Another accident raised the dearness thereof because so many books being seized on by the Queens Searchers the whole price of the Edition fell the more heavie on the remainder But suppose a poor Lay-Catholick so rich through his industry as secretly to purchase one of these Rhemish Testaments he durst not avouch the reading thereof without the permission of his Superiors licensing him thereunto 16. Secretary Walsingham Cartwright invited to answer it by his letters solicited M r. Thomas Cartwright to undertake the refuting of this Rhemish Translation and the better to enable him for the work sent him an-hundred a See â—he preface to Cartwrights book pounds out of his own purse A bountifull gift for one who was though a great Statesman a man of small estate contracting honourable b Camdens Elizabeth Anno 1590. poverty on himself by his expence on the publick as dying not so engaged to his private creditors as the whole Church and State was indebted to his endeavours Walsingham his letters to Cartwright were seconded by another from the Doctours and Heads of Houses and D r Fulke amongst the rest at Cambridge besides the importunity of the ministers of London and Suffolk solliciting him to the same purpose Hereupon Cartwright buckled himself to the employment and was very forward in the pursuance thereof 17. No sooner had Whitgift gotten notice Whitgift stoppeth his book what Cartwright was a writing but presently he prohibited his farther proceeding therein It seems Walsingham was Secretary of State not of Religion wherein the Arch-Bishop overpowred him Many commended his care not to intrust the defence of the Doctrine of England to a pen so disaffected to the Discipline thereof Others blamed his jealousie to deprive the Church of so learned pains of him whose judgement would so solidly and affections so zealously confute the publick adversary Distastfull passages shooting at Rome but glancing at Canterburie if any such were found in his book might be expunged whilest it was pity so good fruit should be blasted in the bud for some bad leaves about it Dishartened hereat Cartwright desisted but some years after encouraged by a Honourable Lord resumed the work but prevented by death perfected no further then the fifteenth chapter of the Revelation Many years lay this worthy work neglected and the copy thereof mouse-eaten in part whence the Printer excused some defects therein in his edition which though late yet at last came forth Anno 1618. A book which notwithstanding the foresaid defects is so compleat Anno Dom. 1584. Anno Regin Eliza. 27. that the Rhemists durst never return the least answer thereunto 18. Mean time whilest Cartwright his refutation of the Rhemish was thus retarded D r. William Fulke Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge entered the list against them judiciously and learnedly performing his undertaking therein His daughter and as I take it the only surviver of his children lately set forth the fourth and fairest edition of this his Confutation and dedicated it to King Charls 19. The Rhemists profess in their preface to the New Testament that the Old Testament also lieth by them for lack of good means to publish the whole in such sort Dr. Fulke first effected it as a work of so great charge and importance requireth which seemeth strange to a judicious consideration For had a voluminous legend of Saints-lives with pictures as costly as superstitious been to be set forth a mass a mint a mine of mony could easily be advanced to defray the expences thereof Thus Papists can be poor or rich as they please themselves Some behold this their promise to set forth the Old Testament as not really intended A promise never performed but given out to raise mens expectations which in process of time would fall of it self and the profer by degrees be forgotten Others interpret their resolutions real but purposely revoked seeing the ill success of their New testament so canvassed and confuted by the Protestant Divines Perceiving that their small pinace which they first set forth met at sea with such boisterous weather wisely they would not adventure a greater vessel after it but rather left it to rot on the dock than they would lanch it forth in such danger A third sort behold this their promise as a modest and manerly alià s a crafty and cunning begging of a contribution of the Catholick party for setting forth of the same which never as yet came into publick view Yea the Old
as at London at Terms and Parliament times in Oxford at the Act in Cambridg at the times of Commencement and Sturbridge-fair and also more particular and Provinciall Synods and at Classes or Conferences of certain selected Ministers in one or moe places of sundry severall shires as Warwick Northampton Râ—tland Oxford Leicester Cambridge Norfolke Suffolke Essex and others 27. Item that at such Synods and Conferences it hath been concluded that all the Ministers which should be received to be either of the said generall Synods or of any more particular and Provincial or of a Classis or Conference should subscribe to the said Discipline that they did allow it would promote it practise it and be governed by it And according to the form of a schedule hereunto annexed or such like both he the said Thomas Cartwright and many others at sundry or some generall Assemblies as at Provincial and at several conferences have within the said time subscribed the same or some part thereof 28. Item that at such Synods and all other Assemblies a moderator of that meeting was first by him and them chosen according to the prescription of the said book And at some of such meetings and Assemblies amongst other things it was resolved and concluded that such particular conferences in severall Shires should be erected how many persons and with what letters from every of them should be sent to the generall Assembly and that one of them at their coming home to their Conference should make known the determinations of the generall Assembly to be by every of them followed and put in practice which course in sundry places of this Realm hath within the time aforesaid been accordingly followed and performed 29. Item that he with others in some such Classis or Conference or in a Synod Anno Dom. 1590. Anno Regin Eliza. 33. or more generall Assembly holden did treat and dispute among other points these six Articles conteined in another schedule annexed and set down their resolution and determination of them 30. Item that he with others assembled in such a generall Assembly or Synod at Cambridge did conclude and decree as in another schedule annexed or in some part thereof is conteined which decrees were made known afterwards at Warwick to sundry Classes there by his means assembled and allowed also by them then met together in the same or like form 31. Item that all such severall meetings Synods and Conferences within the said time many other determinations as well what should be done and performed or omitted as also what should be holden consonant to Gods word or disagreeing from it have been set down by the said Thomas Cartwright and others As namely that all admitted to either Assembly should subscribe the said book of Discipline Holy and Synodicall that those who were sent from any Conference to a Synod should bring letters fiduciarie or credence that the last Moderator should write them that the superscription thereof should be to a known man of the Assembly then to be holden that no book made by any of them should be put in print but by consent of the Classis at least that some of them must be earnest and some more milde and temperate whereby there may be both of the spirit of Elias and Elizeus that all admitted amongst them should subscribe and promise to conform themselves in their proceedings administration of Sacraments and of Discipline to the form of that Book and that they would subject themselves to the censuring of the Brethren both for doctrine and life and lastly that upon occasion when any their brethren shall be sent by them upon affairs of the Church as to the great meetings Parliament c. they all would bear their charges in common that there might be no superiority amongst them and that the Moderatorship as it happ'ned is not a superiority or honour but a burden that no profane writer or any other than Canonical Scripture may be alledged in Sermons that they should all teach that the ministry of those who did not preach is no ministry but a meer nullity that it is not lawfull to take any oath whereby a man may be driven to discover any thing penal to himself or to his brother especially if he be perswaded the matter to be lawfull for which the punishment is like to be inflicted or having taken it in this case need not discover the very truth that to a Bishop or other Officer ecclesiasticall as is used now in the Church of England none obedience ought to be given neither in appearing before them in doing that which they command nor in abstaining from that which they inhibit that in such places as the most of the people favoured the cause of sincerity Eldership should warily and wisely be placed and established which Consistory in some places hath been either wholy or in part erected accordingly yea in some Colledges in the University as he knoweth hath heard or verily beleeveth These Articles were tendered to M r. Cartwright in the Consistory of Pauls before John Almare Bishop of London the two Lord Chief Justices Justice Gawdy Sergeant Puckering afterwards Lord keeper and Attorney-Generall Popham 28. Mr. Cartwright refuseth to answer an oath These Commissioners did move him to give in his answer the rather because the chief points in the Jnterrogatories were delivered in general terms unto him and they severally assured him on their credits that by the Laws of the Realm he was to take his oath and to answer as he was required But M r. Cartwright desired to be born withall pleading that he thought he was not bound by the laws of God so to do Hereupon he was sent to the rest of his brethren to the Fleet where he secretly and silently took up his lodging many admiring at the pannick peaceableness and so quiet a calm where so violent a tempest was feared to arise 29. Wigington his ridling words Some soon after expected the appearance of the Presbyterian party Nov. 6. accounting it more valour to free than to keep their friends from prison The rather because of a passage in a letter of M r. Wigingtons to one M r. Porter at Lancaster M r. Cartwright is in the Fleet for the refusall of the oath as I hear and M r. Knewstubs is sent for and sundry worthy Ministers are disquieted who have been spared long So that we look for some Bickering ere long and then a Battle which cannot long endure Words variously expounded as mens fancies directed them Some conceived that this Bickering and Battle did barely import a passive conflict wherein their patience was to encounter the power of their adversaries and to conquer by suffering Parallel to the Apostles a 2 Cor. 7. 5. words Without were fightings meaning combats to wrastle with in many difficulties opposing their proceedings Others expounded the words literally not of a tame but wilde Battle and of some intended violence as if shortly they would
but the curing of consciences I am credibly a By my own father Mr Thomas Fuller who was well acquainted with him A great instrument of the good keeping of the Lords-day informed he in some sort repented his removall from his Parish and disliked his own erratical and planetary life which made him fix himself Preacher at last at Christ-Church in London where he ended his dayes 69. He lived Sermons and was most precise in his conversation a strict observer of the Lords-day and a great advancer thereof thorough the whole Realm by that Treatise which he wrote of the Sabbath No book in that age made greater impression on peoples practice as b Mr Joseph Hall one then a great wit in the University now a grave wisdome in our Church hath ingeniously expressed On M r Greenhams book of the Sabbath While Greenham writeth on the Sabbaths rest His soule enjoyes not what his penn exprest His work enjoyes not what it self doth say For it shall never finde one resting day A thousand hands shall toss each page and line Which shall be scanned by a thousand eine That Sabbaths rest or this Sabbath's unrest Hard is to say whether's the happiest Thus godly Greenham is fallen asleep we softly draw the curtains about him and so proceed to other matter SECTION VIII To the Lady Anne Archer of Tanworth in Warwickshire Anno Regis Eliza. Anno Dom. Madam YOu beeing so good a Houswife know far better then I how much strength and handsomness good hemming addeth to the end of a cloath I therefore being now to put a period to this long and important Century as big as the whole Book besides but chiefly containing her Reign the Honour of your Sex and our nation have resolved to prevent the unraveling thereof to close and conclude it with this Dedication to your Ladiship On which account alone you are placed last in this Book though otherwise the first and freest in incouraging my weak endeavours 1. OF M r Vdals death come we now to treat The uncertain date of Mr. Vdals death thorough some defect in the a Records transposed o Searched by me and my friends in the office of the Clerk of Assise for Surrey or lost we cannot tell the certain day of M r Vdals condemnation 35. and death 1592. But this appears in the office that two years since viz. 32. of Eliz. July 23. he was indicted and arraigned at Craydon for defaming the Queen Her government in a book by him written and intituled A Demonstration of the Discipline which Christ hath prescribed in his Word for the government of his Church in all times and places untill the worlds end But the mortal words as I may terme them are found in tho preface of his book written to the supposed governors of the Church of England Arch-Bishops Bishops c. and are inserted in the body of his Indictment as followeth Who can without blushing deny you to be the cause of all ungodliness seeing your government is that which giveth leave to a man to be any thing saving a sound Christian For certainly it is more free in these dayes to be a Papist Anabaptist of the Family of love yea any most wicked whatsoever than that which we should be And I could live these twenty years any such in England yea in a Bishops house it may be and never be much molested for it so true is that which you are charged with in a Dialogue lately come forth against you and since burned by you that you care for nothing but the maintenance of your dignities be it to the damnation of your own soules and infinite millions moe To this indictment he pleaded not guilty denying himself to be the Author of the Book Next day he was cast by the Jurie and submitted himself to the mercy of the Court whereby he prevailed that judgement against him was respited till the next Assises and he remanded to the Marshalsey 2. M r. Vdal his supplication to the Lords of the Assises March following the 33 d of Queen Elizabeth he was brought again to the Bar before the Judges to whom he had privately presented a petition with all advantage but it found no entertainment Insomuch that in this moneth of March the day not appearing in the Records he at the Assises held in Southwark was there condemned to be executed for a felon 3. Vâ—rious censures on his condemnation Various were mens censures on these proceedings against him Some conceived it rigorous in the greatest which at the best is cruel in the least degree considering the worth of his person and weakness of the proof against him For he was a learned man blameless for his life powerfull in his praying and no less profitable than painfull in his preaching For as Musculus in Germany if I mistake not first brought in the plain but effectual manner of preaching by Vse and Doctrine so Vdal was the first who added reasons thereunto the strength and sinews of a Sermon His English-Hebrew-Grammar he made whilst in prison as appears by a subscription in the close thereof The proof was not pregnant and it is generally believed that he made only the preface out of which his indictment was chiefly framed and not the body of the book laid to his charge Besides it was harsh to inflict immediate and direct death for a consequential and deductory felonie it being pen-housed out beyond the foundation and intent of the Statute to build the indictment thereupon Others thought that some exemplary severity was necessary not only to pinion the wings of such pamphlets from flying abroad but even thereby to crush their eggs in the nest Surely the multitude of visits unto him during his durance no whit prolonged his life For flocking to popular prisoners in such cases is as ominous a presage of their death as the flying and fluttering of Ravens near and about the house and chamber of a sick body 4. He died peaceably in his bed But an higher Judge had formerly passed another sentence on Vdals death that his soul and body should not by shamefull violence be forced asunder but that they should take a faire farewell each of other How long he lived after his condemnation we know not there being a tradition that S r Walter Rawleigh procured a Reprieve in a fair way to his pardon this is certain that without any other sickness save heart-broken with sorrow he ended his dayes Right glad were his friends that his death prevented his death and the wisest of his foes were well contented therewith esteeming it better that his candle should goe than be put out lest the snuff should be unsavoury to the survivers and his death be charged as a cruel act on the account of the procurers thereof 5. Anno Regin Eliza. 36. Anno Dom. 1593. The Ministers of London flocked to his funeralls His solemn buriall and he was decently interred
in the Church-yard of S t George's in Southwark not far from Bishop Bonners grave So near may their bodies when dead in positure be together whose mindes when living in opinion were farr asunder Nor have I ought else to observe of him save that I am informed that he was father of Ephraim Vdal a solid and pious Divine dying in our dayes but in point of discipline of a different opinion from his father 6. H. B. I. G. I. P. executed And now the Sword of Justice being once drawn it was not put up again into the Sheath before others were executed For Henry Barrow Gentleman Marc. 31. and John Greenwood Clerk who some dayes before were indicted of felony at the Sessions Hall without Newgate before the L rd Major and the two chief Justices Stew his Chronicle pag. 265. for writing certain Seditious Pamphlets were hanged at Tyburn And not long after John Penry a Welchman was apprehanged at Stebunhith by the Vicar thereof arraigned and condemned of felony at the Kings-Bench at Westminster for being a principal penner and publisher of a libellous Book called Martin-mar-prelates and executed at S t Thomas Waterings Daniel Studely Girdler Saxio Billot Gentleman and Robert Bowley Fishmonger were also condemned for publishing scandalous Books but not finding their execution I beleeve them reprieved and pardoned 7. The Queens last coming to Oxford About this time if not somewhat sooner for my enquiry cannot arrive at the certain date Queen Elizabeth took her last farewell of Oxford where a Divinity Act was kept before her on this question Whether it be lawfull to dissemble in matters of Religion One of the opponents endeavoured to prove the affirmative by his own example who then did what was lawfull and yet he dissembled in disputing against the Truth Sr I. Harrington in his additional supply to Bp. Godwin p. 134. the Queen being well pleased at the wittines of the Argument D r Westphaling who had divers years been BP of Hereford coming then to Oxford closed all with a learned determination wherein no fault except somewhat too copious not to so say tedious at that time her Highness intending that night to make a Speech and thereby disappointed 8. 37. 1594. Next day her Highness made a Latin oration to the Heads of Houses Her Latin Oration on the same token she therein gave a check to D r Reynolds for his non-conformity in the midst whereof perceiving the old Lord Burileigh stand by with his lame legs she would not proceed till she saw him provided of a stool a Idem p. 136. and then fell to her speech again as sensible of no interruption having the Command as well of her Latin tongue as of her loyal Subjects 9. John Pierce Arch-Bishop of York ended his life Dean of Christ-Church in Oxford Bishop of Rochester Sarisbury and Arch-Bishop of York When newly beneficed a young man in Oxford-shire he had drowned his good parts in drunkenness conversing with his country parishioners but on the confession of his fault to a grave Divine reformed his conversation so applying himself to his studies that he deservedly gained great preferment and was highly esteemed by Queen Elizabeth whose Almoner he continued for many years and he must be a wise and good man whom that thrifty Princess would intrust with distributing her mony He was one of the most grave and reverent prelates of his age and after his reduced life so abstemious that his Physitian in his old age could not perswade him to drink wine So habited he was in sobriety in detestation of his former excess 10. The death of Bp. Elmar The same year died John Elmar Bishop of London bred in Cambridge well learned as appeareth by his Book titled the Harborough of Princes One of a low stature but stout spirit very valiant in his youth and witty all his life Once when his Auditory began at sermon to grow dull in their attentions he presently read unto them many verses out of the Hebrew Text whereat they all started admiring what use he meant to make thereof Then shewed he them their folly that whereas they neglected English whereby they might be edified they listened to Hebrew whereof they understood not a word Anno Dom. 1594. Anno Regin Eliza. 37. He was a stiff and stern champion of Church Discipline on which account none more mocked by Martin Mar-Prelate or hated by Non-conformists To his eldest son he left a plentiful estate and his second a D r of Divâ—nity was a worthy man of his profession 11. The death of Wâ—ll Reginald But of the Romanists two principal Pillars ended their lives beyond the Seas First William Reginald alias Rose born at a Pâ—â—zaeus de illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus in Anno 1594. Pinho in Devon-shire bred in Winchester School then in New-Colledge in Oxford Forsaking his Country he went to Rome and there solemnly abjur'd the Protestant Religion and thereupon was permitted to read a favour seldome or never bestowed on such novices any Protestant Books without the least restriction presuming on his zeal in their cause From Rome he removed to Rhemes in France where he became professor of Divinity and Hebrew in the English Colledge where saith my b Idem ibidem Author with studying writing and preaching against the Protestants perchance he exhausted himself with too much labour and breaking a vein almost lost his life with vomiting of blood Recovering his strength he vow'd to spend the rest of his life in writing against Protestants and death at Antwerp ceased on him the 24 th of August the 50 th year of his age as he was a making of a book called Calvino-Turcismus which after by his dear friend William Gifford was finished set forth and dedicated to Albert Duke of Austria 12. The death of Cardinal Allen. William Allen commonly called the Cardinall of England followed him into another world born of honest Parents and allied to noble Kindred in Lancashire Brought up at Oxford in Oriall Colledge where he was Proctor of the University in the dayes of Queen Mary and afterwards Head of S t Mary-Hall and Canon of Yorke But on the change of Religion he departed the land and became Professor of Divinity at Doway in Flanders then Canon of Cambray Master of the English Colledge at Rhemes made Cardinall 1587. August the 7 th by Pope Sixtus Quintus the King of Spain bestowing on him an c Camd. Eliz. in hoc Anno. Abby in the Kingdom of Naples and nominating him to be Arch-Bishop of Machlin But death arrested him to pay the debt to Nature d Pitzaeus de illust Aâ—g Script pag. 793 October 16 th and he was buried in the Church of the English Colledge at Rome This is that Allen whom we have so often mentioned conceived so great a Châ—mpion for their Cause that Pope Gregory the 13 th said to his Cardinalls e
to Scripâ—ure long difused and neglected now seasonably revived for the encrease of piety Others conceived them grounded on a wrong bottome but because they tended to the manifest advance of Religion it was pitty to oppose them seeing none have just reason to complain being deceived into their own good But a third sort flatly fell out with these positions as galling mens necks with a jewish yoak against the liberty of Christians That Christ as Lord of the Sabbath had removed the Rigour thereof and allowed men lawfull recreations That this Doctrine put an unequall Lustre on the Sunday on set purpose to eclipse all other Holy dayes to the derogation of the authority of the Church That this strickt observance was set up out of Faction to be a Character of Difference to brand all for libertines who did not entertain it 22. Tho Rogers first publickly opposeth Dr Bounds opinions However for some years together in this controversie D r Bound alone carried the Garland away none offering openly to oppose and not so much as a feather of a quill in print did wag against him Yea as he in his second edition observeth that many both in their Preachings Writeings and Disputations did concurr with him in that argument and three several profitable treatises one made by M r Greenham were within few years successively written by three godly learned a Dr Bound in his preface to the Reader 2 edition Ministers But the first that gave a check to the full speed of this doctrine was Thomas Rogers of Horningâ—r in Suffolk in his preface to the Book of Articles And now because our present age begins to dawn and we come within the view of that Truth whose footsteps heretofore we only followed at distance I will interpose nothing of my own but of an historian only turn a Notarie for the behoof of the Reader faithfully transcribing such passages as we meet with in order of time Notwithstanding what the b Rogers preface to the Articles Parag. 20. Brethren wanted in strength and learning they had in wiliness and though they lost much one way in the general and main point of their Discipline yet recovered they not a little advantage another way by an odde and new device of theirs in a special Article of their Classical instructions For while worthies of our Church were employing their engins and forces partly in defending the present Government Ecclesiastical partly in assaulting the Presbyterie and new discipline even at that very instant the Brethren knowing themselves too weak either to overthrow our holds and that which we hold or to maintain their own they abandoned quite the Bulwarks which they had raised and gave out were impregnable suffering us to beat them down without any or very small resistance and yet not careless of their affairs left not the Warrs for all that but from an odde corner and after a new fashion which we little thought of such was their cunning set upon us a fresh again by dispersing in Printed Books which for tenn years space before they had been in hammering among themselves to make them compleat their Sabbath speculations and Presbyterian that is more then either kingly or Popely Directions for the observation of the Lords day And in the next page he c Idem Parag. 23. proceedeth It is a comfort unto my soule and will be till my dying hour that I have been the man and the means that the Sabatarian errors and impieties are brought into light and knowledge of the state whereby whatsoever else sure I am this good hath ensued namely that the said Books of the Sabbath comprehending the above-mentioned and many moe such fearfull and heretical assertions hath been both called in and forbidden any more to be printed and made common Your Graces predecessor Arch-Bishop Whitgift by his letters and officers at Synods and Visitations Anno 1599. did the one and S r John Popham Lord chief Justice of England at Bury S t Edmonds in Suffolk Anno 1600. did the other But though both Minister and Magistrate joyntly endeavoured to suppress Bounds Book with the Doctrine therein contained yet all their care did but for the present make the Sunday set in a cloud to arise soon after in more brightness As for the Arch-Bishop his known opposition to the proceedings of the Brethren rendered his Actions more odious as if out of envie he had caused such a pearl to be concealed As for Judge Popham though some conceived it most proper for his place to punish fellonious Doctrines which robbed the Queens subjects of their lawfull liberty and to behold them branded with a mark of Infamie yet others accounted him no competent Judge in this controversie And though he had a dead hand against offenders yet these Sabbatarian Doctrines though condemned by him took the priviledge to pardon themselves and were published more generally then before The price of the Doctors Book began to be doubled as commonly Books are then most called on when called in and many who hear not of them when printed enquire after them when prohibited and though the Books wings were clipt from flying abroad in print it ran the faster from friend to friend in transcribed Copies and the Lords day in most Places was most stricktly observed The more liberty people were offered the less they used it refusing to take the freedom Authority tendered them For the vulgar sort have the Actions of their Superiors in constant jealousie suspecting each gate of their opening to be a Trap every Hole of their Diging to be a Mine wherein some secret train is covertly conveyed to the blowing up of the Subjects liberty which made them almost afraid of the recreations of the Lords day allowed them and seeing it is the greatest pleasure to the minde of man to do what he pleaseth it was sport for them to refrain from sports whilst the forbearance was in themselves voluntary arbitrary and elective not imposed upon them Yea six years after Bounds Book came forth with enlargements publickly sold and scarce any comment Catechism or controversie was set forth by the stricter Divines wherein this Doctrine the Diamond in this Ring was not largely pressed and proved so that as one saith the Sabbath it self had no rest For now all strange and unknown writers without further examination passed for friends and favourites of the Presbyterian party who could give the word and had any thing in their Treatise tending to the strict observation of the Lords day But more hereof God willing in the 15 th year of K. JAMES 23. Now also began some opinions about Predestination The Articles of Lambeth Freewill Perseverance c. much to trouble both the Schools and Pulpit Whereupon Arch-Bishop Whitgift out of his Christian care to propagate the truth and suppress the opposite errours caused a solemn meeting of many grave and learned Divines at Lambeth where besides the Arch-Bishop Richard Bancroft Bishop of London Richard Vaughan
to affirm that those Articles of Lambeth were afterwards forbidden by publick Authority but when where and by whom he is not pleased to impart unto us And strange it is that a publick prohibition should be whispered so softly that this Author alone should hear it and none other to my knowledge take notice thereof 27. How variously forraign Divines esteemed of them As for forrain Divines just as they were biased in judgement so on that side ran their Affections in raising or decrying the esteem of these Articles some a Thysias twice printed them at Hardâ—ovick Anno 1613. printed set forth and b Bogerman in his 107. 108. notes on the second part of Grotius cited them as the sence of the Church of England others as fast slighted them as the narrow positions of a few private and Partial persons As for Corvinus as we know not whence he had his intelligence so we finde no just ground for what he reporteth that Arch-Bishop Whitgift for his pains incurred the Queens displeasure and c In his answer to the notes of Bogerman 2 part pag. 566. and so forward to pag. 570. a Praemunire We presume this forrainer better acquainted with the Imperial Law and locall customes of Holland then with our municipal Statutes and the nature of a Praemunire Indeed there goes a tradition that the Queen should in merriment say jestingly to the Arch-BP My Lord I now shall want no mony for I am informed all your goods are forfeited unto me by your calling a Councel without my consent but how much of truth herein God knows And be it referred to our learned in the Law whether without danger of such a censure the two Arch-Bishops by vertue of their place had not any implicite leave from the Queen to assemble Divines for the clearing declaring and asserting of difficult Truths provided they innovate or alter nothing in matters of Religion 28. And now I perceive These Articles excellent witnesses of the general doctrine of England I must tread tenderly because I goe not as before on mens graves but am ready to touch the quick of some yet alive I know how dangerous it is to follow Truth too nere to the heels yet better it is that the teeth of an Historian be struck out of his head for writing the the Truth then that they remain still and rot in his Jaws by feeding too much on the sweet-meats of flattery All that I will say of the credit of these Articles is this That as Medalls of Gold and Silver though they will not pass in payment for currant coyne because not stamped with the Kings Inscription yet they will goe with Goldsmiths for as much as they are in weight So though these Articles want Authentick Reputation to pass for Provinciall Acts as lacking sufficient Authority yet will they be readily received of Orthodox Christians for as far as their own purity bears conformity to Gods word And though those learned Divines be not acknowledged as competent Judges to pass definitive Sentence in those Points yet they will be taken as witnesses beyond exception whose testimony is an infallible evidence what was the generall and received doctrine of England in that Age about the forenamed controversies 29. This year ended the life Bp. Wickham Dr Whitakers Dan. Halsworth and Râ—b Southwell end their lives First of Doctor William Wickam bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge first Bishop of Lincoln after of Winchester whose namesake William Wickham in the Reign of King Edward the third sat in the same See more years then this did weeks Indeed we know little of his life but so much of his death as we must not mention it without some pitty to him whil'st in pain and praise to God for our own health such was his torture with the stone before his death that for d Bp Goodwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Winchester 14 days together he made not water Secondly Worthy Doctor William Whittakers whose larger character we reserve God-willing for our History of Cambridge And amongst the Romanists Daniel Halseworth who as e De Angliae scriptoribus Aetate â—6 pag. 794. Pitzaeus describes him Papists give no scant measure in praising those of their own Party was well skill'd in Latin Greek and Hebrew and Elegant Poet Eloquent Orator acute Philosopher expert Mathematician deep-studied Lawyer and excellent Divine flying from England he lived successively in Savoy Rome and Millain having too many professions to gather wealth and with all his Arts and Parts both lived in Poverty and died in Obscurity More eminent but more infamous was the death of Robert Southwell a Jesuite born in f Idem ibidem Suffolk bred beyond the Seas where he wrote abundance of Books who returning into England was executed March the third for a Traitor at London and honoured for a Martyr amongst men of his own Religion 30. The Secular Priests continued their complaints Anno Regin Eliza. 39. Anno Dom. 1596. The complaint of the Seculars against the Jesuits and principally against Parsons as against Jesuits in general so particularly against Robert Parsons This Parsons about 18 years since was in England where by his statizing and dangerous activity he had so incensed the Queens Councell that the Secular Priests made him a main occasion why such sharp laws were so suddenly made against a DeclaratioÌ„ motuum ad Clementein ecitaâ—um pag. 24. Catholicks in England But no sooner did danger begin to appear but away went Parsons beyond the Seas wherein some condemned his cowarliness and others commended his policy seeing such a commander in chief as he was in the Romish cause ought to repose his person in safety and might be never the less vertually present in the fight by the issuing out of his orders to meaner officers Nor did Parsons like a wheeling Cock turn aside with intent to return but ran quite out of the Cockpit and then crowed in triumph when he was got on his own dunghil safely resident in the City of Rome Here he compiled and hence he dispatched many letters and libels into England and amongst the rest that Book of the succession to the English entit'ling the Spaniard thereunto setting it forth under the false name of b Camdens Eliz. in Anno 1594. p. 72. Dolman an honest harmless Secular Priest and his professed Adversary And surely Parsons was a fit fellow to derive the pedigree of the Kings of England who might first have studied to deduce his own descent from a lawfull Father being himself otherwise called Cowback c Watsons Quâ—â—libets p. 109 236. filius populi et filius peccati as Catholicks have observed Many letters also he sent over full of threats and assuring his party that the land would be invaded by forrainers writing therein not what he knew or thought was but what he desired and endeavoured should be true Some of these letters being intercepted made the
Vircrum Illustrium Spectacles to read the smallest Print 3. William Perkins who was born in the first and died in the last of Q. Eliz. so that his Life as n In the Holy State where see hiâ— Life at large we have elsewhere observed to which we remit the Reader running parallel with this Queens Reign began continued and ended therewith 4. Gregory before his entrance into Religion Robert Sayer bred in Cambridge then leaving the University fled beyond sea where he became a Benedictine Monk of the Congregation of S. Justin in Padua He lived in severall parts of Europe as at Phemes Rome Montcasie Venice where he died and was buried o Puzeus de 〈◊〉 Anglick Aetate Detima septima p. 801. the 30. of Octob. having written many Volumes in great esteem with men of his Profession 5. William Harris as Obscure among Protestants as Eminent with the Popish Party A Master of Art of Lincoln Colledge in Oxford whence leaving the Land he fled beyond-sea living at Doway and afterwards he came over into p â—â—em ibidem England where it seemes he had the Hap to escape the Queenes Officers and to die in his Bed His Book called THE THEATRE OF THE MOST TRUE AND ANTIENT CHURCH OF ENGLAND is highly accounted of Roman Catholiques 11. About this time the low Estate of the City of Geneva the Nursery of the Reformed Religion was lively represented to the Prelates Relief sent to the City of Geneva Clergy and Well-disposed Persons of England being for the Present in a very Dolefull condition Long since it had been undone but because it had so many Enemies to undoe it So that by Gods providence q Judg. 14. 14. Out of the Devourer came Meat such Neighbouring Princes and States which were both Willing and Able to swallow up this Zoar did preserve it For rather than Savoy should suppresse it Venice Florence the Popish Cantons in Switzerland and France it self would support But for all this politick Geometry wherewith long it had hung safe betwixt severall Competitours it was lately shrewdly shaken by the Puissance of the Duke of Savoy who addicted to the Spanish Faction had banished all Protestants out of his Dominâ—ons Arch-bishop Whitgift whose hand was ever open to any Pious Design led with his liberall Example and the rest cheerefully followed so that large summes of money were seasonably made over for the Reliefe of Geneva 12. Queen Elizabeth The death of Q. Elizabeth the mirrour of her Sex and Age having above 40 years to the Admiration of Envy it selfe managed this Kingdome finding when she began few Friends that durst help and leaving no Foes that could hurt her exchanged her Earthly for a Heavenly Crowne who as she lived and died an unspotted Virgin so her Maiden memory is likely in this respect to remaine sole and single seeing History affords no Prince to be marched to her Fame in all considerable Particulars Her Corps were solemnly interred under a fair Tomb in Westminster Ann. Reg. 45. the lively Draught whereof Ann. Dom. 1602 is pictured in most London many Countrey Churches every Parish being proud of the shadow of her Tomb and no wonder when each Loyal Subject erected a mournfull Monument for her in his heart But soon after all English Soules were employed equally to divide themselves betwixt Exclamations of Sorrow for her Death and Acclamations of Joy for K. James his succeeding her 13. And now it is strange with what Assiduity and Diligence King Ja. 1. the two Potent Parties the Defenders of Episcopacy and Presbytery K James sends a Welcome message to the Episcopall Party with equall Hopes of Successe made besides Private and Particular Addresses Publique and Visible Applications to King James the first to continue the later to restore or rather set up their Government So that whilest each Side was Jealous his Rival should get the Start by early stirring and rise first in the Kings favour Such was their Vigilancy that neither may seem to go to Bed Incestantly diligent both before and since the Queens Death in dispatching Posts and Messages into Scotland to advance their severall Designes We take notice of two principall M. Lewis Pickering a Northampton shire Gentleman and zealous for the Presbyterian Party was the third Person of quality who riding incredibly swift good Newes makes good Horsemen brought King James the Tydings of Queen Elizabeths Death But how farre and with what Answer he moved the King in that Cause is uncertaine Doctour Thomas Nevill Deane of Canterburte came into Scotland some dayes after him except any will say that he comes first that comes really to effect what he was sent for being solemnly employed by s Sir G Pauls in the Archbishops Life Numb 126. Arch bishop Whitgift to his Majesty in the name of the Bishops and Clergy of England to tender their Bounden Duties and to understand his Highnesse Pleasure for the ordering and guiding of Ecclesiasticall Causes He brought back a welcome Answer to such as sent him of his Highnesse purpose which was to uphold and maintain the Government of the late Queen as she left it setled 14. Soone after followed the Treason of William Watson on this occasion Watson's â—lly Treason This Watson Secular Priest had written a bitter Book against the Jesuits as being one knowing though not so secret of their faults as their owne Confessours taxing them with truth so plaine they could not deny so foule they durst not confesse it Now such is the charity of Jesuits that They never owe any man any ill will making present payment thereof These Holy Fathers as Watson intimated on the d Stowes Chronicle p. 831. Scaffold at his Death and forgave them for the same cunningly and covertly drew him into this action promoting him who was ambitious though pretending to much Mortification treasonably to practise his own preferment 15. Watson with William Clark another of his own profession having fancied a notionall Treason imparted it to George Brooks one angry with Nature His moâ—tly Compliceâ— not so much for making him lame as a younger Brother These break it to Brook his Brother the L. Cobham to the Lord Gray of Whaddon and Sir Walter Rawleigh the one a known Protestant the other a reputed Puritan the third an able Statesman Besides some other Knights displeased with their present Fortunes how quickly is Discontent inflamed into Disloyalty because since the turning of the Wheele at the Queenes Death on the wrong Side of Preferment Watson devised an Oath of Secrecy for them all which was no more than needfull considering their different Interests rather pieced than united patched than pieced together 16. Had one lost his Religion he might have found it though I confess a Treason is but a bad place to seeke it in in this Conspiracy Their wild meanes whereby to attaine a mad end wherein men of all perswasions were engaged Their Parts were as
time may be limited within the compasse whereof they shall conforme His Majesty I assent thereunto and let the Bishop of the Diocesse set downe the time Mr. Knewst I request * Here he fell down on his knees the like favour of forbearance to some honest Ministers in Suffolk For it will make much against their credits in the Countrey to be now forced to the Surplice and Crosse in Baptisime Arch-b of Cant. Nay Sir His Majesty Let me alone to answer him Sir you shew your self an uncharitable man We have here taken paines and in the end have concluded on Unity and Uniformity and you forsooth must prefer the credits of a few Private Men before the Peace of the Church This is just the Scotch Argument when any thing was concluded which disliked some humours Let them either conform themselves shortly or they shall hear of it L d. Cecil The indecencie of ambuling Communions is very offensive and hath driven many from the Church BP of Lond. And Mr. Chaderton I could tell you of sitting Communions in Emanuel Colledge Mr. Chad. It is so because of the seats so placed as they be and yet we have some kneeling also in our Chappell His Majesty No more hereof for the present seeing they have joyntly promised hereafter to be quiet and obedient Whereat He rose up to depart into an inner Chamber BP of Lond. Gods goodnesse be blessed for your Majesty and give health and prosperity to Your Highnesse your Gracious Queene the young Prince and all the Royall Issue Thus ended the three dayes Conference The generall censure of the Conferencers wherein how discreetly the King carried himself Posterity out of the reach of Flatterie is the most competent Judg such matters being most truly discerned at distance It is generally said that herein he went above himselfe that the Bishop of London appeared even with himselfe and Dr. Reinolds fell much beneath himselfe Others observed that Archbishop Whitgift spake most gravely Bancroft when out of passion most politickly Bilson most learnedly And of the Divines Mr. Reynolds most largely Knewstubs most affectionately Chaderton most sparingly In this Scene onely Dr. Sparks was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making use of his hearing not speech converted it seemes to the truth of what was spoken and soon after setting forth a Treatise of Unity and Uniformity But the Nonconformists complained The Non-conformists Complaint that the King sent for their Divines not to have their Scruples satisfied but his Pleasure propounded not that he might know what they could say but they what he would do in the matter Besides no wonder if Dr. Reynolds a little lost himself whose eyes were partly dazled with the light of the Kings Majesty partly daunted with the heat of his displeasure Others complaine that this Conference is partially set forth onely by Dr. Barlow Dean of Chester their professed Adversary to the great disadvantage of their Divines And when the Israelites go down to the Philistines to whet all their Iron Tooles no wonder if they set a sharp edge on their owne and a blunt one on their Enemies weapons This Conference produced some alterations in the Lyturgie The Product of this Conference Womens baptising of Infants formerly frequent hereafter forbidden in the Rubrick of Absolution Remission of Sinnes inserted Confirmation termed also an Examination of Children and some words altered in the Dominicall Gospels with a resolution for a new Translation of the Bible But whereas it was hitherto disputable whether the North where he long lived or the South whither he lately came should prevaile most on the Kings judgement in Church-government this doubt was now clearly decided Hence forward many cripples in conformitie were cured of their former halting therein and such who knew not their owne till they knew the Kings minde in this matter for the future quietly digested the Ceremonies of the Church We have formerly made mention of the Millemanus Petition for Reformation The Copy of the Milenary Petition which about this time was solemnly presented to His Majesty and which here we have truly exemplified The humble Petition of the Ministers of the Church of England desiring Reformation of certaine Ceremonies and abuses of the Church To the most Christian and excellent Prince our Gracious and dread Soveraigne James by the grace of God c. We the Ministers of the Church of England that desire Reformation wish a long prosperous and happy Raigne over us in this Life and in the next everlasting Salvation MOst gracious and dread Soveraigne Seeing it hath pleased the Divine Majesty to the great comfort of all good Christians to advance Your Highnesse according to Your just Title to the peaceable Government of this Church and Common-wealth of ENGLAND We the Ministers of the Gospel in this Land neither as factious men affecting a popular Parity in the Church nor as Schismatikes aiming at the dissolution of the State Ecclesiasticall but as the faithfull servants of Christ and Loyall Subjects to Your Majesty desiring and longing for the redresse of divers abuses of the Church could doe no lesse in our obedience to God service to Your Majesty love to his Church than acquaint Your Princely Majesty with our particular griefs For as Your Princely Pen writeth The King as a good Physitian must first know what peccant humours his Patient naturally is most subject unto before he can begin his cure And although divers of us that sue for Reformation have formerly in respect of the times subscribed to the Book some upon Protestation some upon Exposition given them some with Condition rather than the Church should have been deprived of their labour and ministerie Yet now we to the number of moe than a thousand of Your Majesties Subjects and Ministers all groaning as under a common burden of Humane Rites and Ceremonies doe with one joynt consent humble our selves at Your Majesties Feet to be eased and relieved in this behalf Our humble suit then unto Your Majesty is that these offences following some may be removed some amended some qualified I. In the Church-Service That the Crosse in Baptisme Interrogatories ministred to Infants Confirmation as superfluous may be taken away Baptisme not to be ministred by Women and so explained The Cap and Surplice not urged That Examination may goe before the Communion That it be ministred with a Sermon That divers termes of Priests and Absolution and some other used with the Ring in Marriage and other such like in the Book may be corrected The long-somenesse of Service abridged Church-songs and Musick moderated to better edification That the Lords day be not profaned The Rest upon Holy-dayes not so strictly urged That there may be an Uniformity of Doctrine prescribed No Popish Opinion to be any more taught or defended No Ministers charged to teach their people to bow at the name of JESUS That the Canonicall Scriptures onely be read in the Church II. Concerning Church-Ministers That none hereafter
advising Your Royall Son as is most meet to punish them if they refuse to obey the Law and will not cease to stir up Rebellion Now most gracious Soveraigne because it is meet that your Highnesse should understand by their supplication and declaration of the truth herein by themselves of whom Your Majesty hath been thus informed prostrate at Your Princely Feet at true faithfull loyall and obedient Subjects to all your Lawes and Ordinances Civill Politique Spirituall Temporall They with humble hearts doe beseech Your Princely Majesty to understand and that the people of the Family of Love or of God doe utterly disclaime and detest all the said absurd and selfe-conceited opinions and disobedient and erroneous sorts of the Anabaptists Brown Penty Puritans and all other proud-minded Sects and Heresies whatsoever protesting upon paine of our lives that we are not consenting nor agreeing with any such brain-sick Preachers nor their rebellious and disobedient sects whatsoever but have been and ever will be truly obedient to your Highnesse and your Lawes to the effusion of our Blood and expences of our Goods and Lands in Your Majesties service Highly laâ—ding Almighty God who hath so graciously and peaceably appointed unto us such a Vertuous Wise Religious and Noble King and so carefull and impartiall a Justiciar to governe over us beseeching him daily to blesse Your Highnesse with his godly wisdome and holy understanding to the furtherance of his truth and godlinesse and with all honour happinesse peace and long life and to judge rightly between Falshood and Truth And because Your Majesty shall have a perfect view or an assured perswasion of the truth of the same our Protestation if theâ—efore there be any indifferent man of the Kingdome that can justly touch us with any such disobedient and wicked handling of our selves as seemeth by Your Majesties Book it hath been informed unto Your Highnesse unlesse they be such mortall enemies the disobedient Puritans and those of their heady humours before named who are much more Zealous religious and precise in the tything of Mint Annis and Cummin and in the preferring of such like Pharisaicall and selfe-chosen outward traditions and grounds or hypocriticall righteousnesse than in the performing of Judgment Mercy and Faith and such like true and inward righteousness which God doth most chiefly require and regard Mat. 15. 15. c. and whose malice hath for twenty five yeeres past and upwards and ever since with very many untrue suggestions and most foule Errors and odious Crimes the which we could then if need were prove sought our utter overthrow destruction But that we have behaved our selves in all orderlinesse and peaceablenesse of life where we dwell and with whom we had to deale or if we doe vary or swerve from the established Religion in this land either in Service Ceremonies Sermons or Sacraments or have publiquely spoken or inveighed either by word or writing against our late Soveraign Princess government in cases spirituall or temporall then let us be rejected for Sectaries and never receive the benefit of Subjects Only * * Henry Nicholas Right Gracious Soveraigne we have read certaine Books brought forth by a German Author under the Characters of H. N. who affirmeth therein that he is prepared chosen and sent of God to minister and set forth the most holy service of the love of God and Christ or of the Holy Ghost unto the children of men upon the Universall earth out of which service or writings we be taught all Dutifull Obedience towards God and Magistrates and to live a Godly and honest life and to love God above all things and our neighbours as our selves agreeing therein with all the Holy scriptures as we understand them Against which Author and his bookes we never yet heard or knew any Law established in this Realme by our late Gracious Soveraigne but that we might read them without offence whose writings we suppose under your Highness correction your Majesty hath yet never seene or perufed heard of by any indifferent nor true information For the said H. N. in all his doctrine and writings being as we are credibly informed as much matter in volume if they were all Compiled together as the whole Bible contoineth doth neither take part with nor write against any particular party or company whatsoever as naming them by their names nor yet praise or dispraise any of them by name But doth only shew in particular in his said writings as saith he the unpartiall service of love requireth what is good or evill for every one wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point whether it be in the State of his Soul towards God or in the State of his body towards the Magistrates of the world and towards one another to the end that all people when they heare or read his writing and doe thereby perceive their sinne and estranging from God and Christ might endeavour them to bring forth the due fruits of Repentance which is reformation and newnesse of life according as all the Holy Scriptures doth likewise require the same of every one And that they might in that sort become saved through Jesus Christ the only Saviour of all the world Notwithstanding deare Soveraigne yet hath the said Author and his Doctrine a long time and still is most shamefully and falsely standered by our foresaid adversaries both in this land and in divers others as to be replenished with all manner of damnable Errors and filthy liberty of the flesh And we his well willers and favourers in the upright drift of his doctrine as aforesaid have also been of them complained of accused unto our Late Gracious Soveraign and the Magistrates of this land both long time past and now lately againe as to be a people so infected and stained with all manner of detestable wickednesse and errors that are not worthy to live upon the earth but yet would never present any of his Bookes unto his Majesty to peruse nor yet set them forth in any indifferent or true manner to the view of the world lest their malicious and standerous reports and accusations against the same and us should thereby be revealed and disproved to their great shame Through which their most odious and false complaints against us the Magistrates did then and also have now lately cast divers of us into Prison to our great hinderance discredit But yet have never proved against us by sufficient and true testimony any one of their foule accusations as the Records in such cases and the Magistrates that have dealt therein can testifie but are so utterly void of due and lawfull Proof thereof that they have framed divers subtile Articles for us being plain and unlearned men to answer upon our Oath whereby to urge and gather some things from our selves so to prove their false and unchristian accusations to be true or else will force us to renounce recant and condemne that which we doe not wilfully maintaine nor
willing hereafter in our particular History of Oxford We will proceed to Report a memorable Passage in the Low-Countreys not fearing to lose my way or to be censured for a wanderer from the English Church-story whilst I have so good a Guide as the Pen of King JAMES to lead me out and bring me back again Besides I am affraid that this Alien Accident is already brought home to England and though onely Belgick in the Occasion is too much British in the Influence thereof SECTION IV. To EDWARD LLOYD Esq RIvers are not bountiful in Giving but just in Restoring * * Eccles 1. 7. their Waters unto the Sea However they may seem gratefull also because openly returning thither what they Secretly received thence This my Dedication unto you cannot amount to a Present but a Restitution wherein onely I tender a Publick acknowledgment of your Private courtesies conferred upon me KING JAMES took into His Princely care the seasonable suppression of the dangerous Doctrines of Conradus Vorstius Dangerous Opinions broached by Conradus Vorstius This Doctor had lived about 15 years a Minister at Steinford within the Territories of the Counts of TECKLENBOURG BENTHEM c. the Counts whereof to observe by the way were the first in Germany not in dignity or Dominion but in casting off the Yoke of Papacie and ever since continuing Protestants This Vorstius had both written and received severall Letters from certain Samosetenian Hereticks in Poland or thereabouts and it hapned that he had handled Pitch so long that at last it stuck to his Fingers and became infected therewith Hereupon he set forth two Books the one entit'led TRACTATUS THEOLOGICUS DE DEO dedicated to the Land-Grave of Hessen the other EXEGESIS APOLOGETICA printed in this year and dedicated to the States both of them facred with many dangerous Positions concerning the Deity For whereas it hath been the labour of the Pious and Learned in all Ages to mount Man to God as much a smight be by a Sacred adoration which the more humble the more high of the Divine Incomprehensiblenesse this Wretch did Seek to Stoop GOD to Man by debasing his Purity assigning him a materiall Body confining his Immensity as not being every where shaking his Immutability as if his will were subject to change darkning his Omnisciency as uncertain in future Contingents with many more monstrous Opinions fitter to be remanded to Hell than committed to writing Notwithstanding all this the said Vorstius was chosen by the Curators of the University of Leyden to be their Publick Divinity-Professour in the Place of Arminius lately deceased and to that end his Excellency and the States Generall by their Letters sent and sued to the Count of TECKLENBOURG and obtained of him that Vorstius should come from Steinford and become Publick-Professour in Leyden 2. It hapned that His Majesty of Great Britain Reasons moving K. James to Oppose him being this Autumne in His hunting-Progresse did light upon and perused the aforesaid Books of Vorstius And whereas too many doe but Sport in their most serious Employment He was so serious amidst His Sports and Recreations that with Sorrow and Horrour He observed the Dangerous Positions therein determining speedily to oppose them moved thereunto with these Principall Considerations First the Glory of God seeing this e In His Declaration against Vorflius p. 365. ANTI-St JOHN as His Majesty terms him mounting up to the Heavens belched forth such Blasphemies against the Divine ineffable Essence and was not a King on Earth concerned when the King of Heaven was dethroned from his Infinitenesse so farre as it lay in the Power of the treacherous Positions of an Heretick Secondly charity to His next Neighbors and Allies And lastly a just fear of the like Infection within His own Dominions considering their Vicinity of Situation and Frequency of intercourse many of the English Youth travelling over to have their Education in Leyden And indeed as it hath been observed that the Sin of Drunkenness was first brought over f See Camden's Elizabeth anno 1581. into England out of the Low Countries about the midst of the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH before which time neither generall Practice nor legall punishment of that vice in this Kingdome so we must Sadly confesse that since that time in a Spiritual Sense many English Souls have taken a cup too much of Belgick wine Whereby their Heads have not onely grown dâ—zie in matters of lesse moment but their whole Bodies stagger in the Fundamentals of their Religion 3. Hereupon King JAMES presently dispatched a Letter to Sir Ralph Winwood The States entertain not the motion of K. James against Vorstius according to just expectation his Ambassadour resident with the States willing and requiring him to let them understand how Infinitely he should be displeased if such a Monster as Vorstius should receive any advancement in their Church This was seconded with a large Letter of His Majesties to the States dated October the 6 to the same effect But neither found that Successe which the KING did earnestly desire and might justly expect considering the many Obligations of the Crown of England on the States the Foundation of whose Common-wealth as the Ambassadour told them was first cemented with English blood Several Reasons are assigned of their non-concurrence with the KING's motion The Curators of Leyden-University conceived it a disparagement to their Judgments if so neer at hand they could not so well examine the Soundnesse of Vorstius his Doctrine as a forraign Prince at such a distance It would cast an aspersion of Levity and Inconstancy on the States solemnly to invite a Stranger unto them and then so soon recede from their Resolution An Indignity would redound to the Count of Tecklenbourg to slight that which so lately they had sued from him The Opposition of Vorstius was endevoured by a male-contented Party amongst themselves disaffected to the Actions of Authority who distrusting their own strength had secretly solicited His Majesty of Great Britain to appear on their Side That as King JAMES his motion herein proceeded rather from the Instance of others than His own Inclination so they gave out that He began to grow remisse in the matter carelesse of the Successe thereof That it would be injurious yea destructive to Vorstius and his Family to be fetcht from his own home where he lived with a sufficient Salarie promised better Provisions from the Landgrave of Hessen to be Divinity Professour in his Dominions now to thrust him out with his Wife and Children lately setled at Leyden That if Vorstius had formerly been faulty in unwarie and offensive Expressions he had since cleared himself in a new Declaration 4. For Vorstius gives no satisfaction in his new Declaration lately he set forth a Book entituled A Christian and modest Answer which notwithstanding by many was condemned as no Revocation but a Repetition of his former Opinions not lesse pernitious but more plausible
Counties setled for the maintenance of this his Hospitall 1. Balsham Manour in Cambridge-shire 2. Bastinghorpe Manour in Lincoln-shire 3. Blacke-grove Manour in Wilt-shire 4. Broad-Hinton Land in Wilt-shire 5. Castle-Camps Manour in Cambridge-shire 6. Chilton Manour in Wilt-shire 7. Dunby Manour in Lincoln-shire 8. Elcombe Manour and Parke in Wilt-shire 9. Hackney Land Middlesex 10. Hallingbury-Bouchers Manour in Essex 11. Missanden Manour in Wiltshire 12. Much-Stanbridge Manour in Essex 13. Norton Manour in Essex 14. Salthrope Manour in Wilt-shire 15. South-Minster Manour in Essex 16. Totenham Land in Middlesex 17. Ufford Manour in Wilt-shire 18. Watelescote Manour in Wilt-shire 19. Westcot Manour in Wilt-shire 20. Wronghton Manour in Wilt-shire See here the most liberall Endowment made by one man May it most truly be said of our London Merchants as of those of Tyre n Isa 23. 8. whose Merchants are Princes 17. But no work so vertuous The Iesuits carping at his good work which some malicious spirits will not endevour to disgrace One who writeth himselfe J. H. but generally conceived to be Mr. Knott the Jesuit in his Answer to Doctor Potter's Book of o 2 part 1. ch 2. parag Charity mistaken le ts flie as followeth Doe your Hospitals deserve so much as to be named Have you any thing of that kinde in effect of particular Note saving the few mean Nurseries of idle Beggars and debauched People Except perhaps Sutton's Hospitall which as I have been informed was to take no profit till he was dead He who as I have also understood died so without any Children or Brothers or Sisters or known Kindred as that peradventure it might have escheated to the King He who lived a wretched and peâ—â—nious life and drew that Masse of Wealth together by Usury in which case according to good conscience his Estate without asking him leave was by the Law of God obnoxious to Restitution and ought to have been applied to Pious Uses Where as antiently in this Countrey and at all times and specially in this last Age 〈◊〉 see abundance of Heroicall Actions of this kinde performed in forreigne parts And if it were not for fear of noting many other great Cities as if there were any want of most munificent Hospitals in them wherein they abound I could tell you of One called the Annunciata in the City of Naples which spends three hundred thousand Crowns per Annum which comes to above fourscore thousand pounds sterling by the year Which ever feeds and câ—res a thousand sick persons and paies for the nursing and entertaining of three thousand sucking Children of poor people and hath fourteen other distinct Hospitals under it where the persons of those Poor creatures are kept and where they are defrayed of all their necessary charges every week I could also tell you of an Hospitall in Rome called S. Spirito of hâ—ge Revenues but it is not my meaning to enter into particulars which would prove endlesse 18. Before we come to the particular Examination of this his Accusation His politick modesty in his corrective it is observable how many Qualificatives Correctives and Restrictives Perhaps as I have been informed As I have also understood peradventure he inserteth in this his Relation Indeed such Qualifications are better than Equivocations yet what some may impute to Modesty is his Policy if well considered For if any Protestant confute what he hath written this Accuser will take Sanctuary under the protection of those Restrictions defending himself that he delivered nothing positively whilst ignorant Papists of his own profession not heeding his doubting limitations swallow all down for dogmaticall truth 19. More particularly the reformed Religion in England hath been the Mother of many brave Foundations Answers to Jesuits Cavils Many famous Hospitals as that at Warwick built by the Earl of Leicester Croydon by Archbishop Whitgift Guildford by Archbishop Abbot not to speak of Christ-Church and St. Thomas Hospitall built by King EDWARD the VI. though none of them have thrived and battled so fast and so fairly as this of Sutton's foundation Whereas he chargeth him to have had no Children it is confessed seeing he died a Batchelour Whose life had he been of their Opinion had been cried up for a precious piece of Virginity That he had no known Kindred is false Some of them afterwards but in vain endevouring to overthrow his Will though he made the Poor to be his Mother and Sister and Brother As for his getting wealth by unlawfull wales I am not to justifie the particular circumstances of any mans actions Should a secret Scrutiny be made how all Founders of Monasteries first came by their wealth many would be found justly obnoxious to censure 20. Indeed our Sutton began with a good Stock M. Suttoâ—s constant prayer had no Charge to burden him lived to be very aged 79 years and by Gods blessing on his Providence Industry and Thrist advanced the maine of his Estate This I can confidently report from the mouth of a credible Witnesse who heard it himself and told it to me that Master Sutton used often to repair into a private Garden where he poured forth his prayers to God and amongst other passages was frequently over-heard to use this Expression Lord thou hast given me a large and liberal Estate give me also a heart to make use thereof which at last was granted to him accordingly 21. As for the over-grown Hospitall of the Annuntiata at Naples Sutton's Hospitall how exceeding the Annuntiata we envy not the wealth thereof though reports at such distance lose nothing in the relation Nor doe we wonder that it cureth yearly a thousand sick persons considering what disease first came from Naples and was thence denominated As for the three thousand Children nursed therein it is to be feared many wanted Fathers to own them and this not so much the fruit of charity as of wantoness However that Hospitall hath at severall times been advanced by a Colledge of Benefactors Whereas Sutton's may stand peerlesse in this respect that it was founded finished p Stow's Survey of London p. 43. and endowed by himself alone Disbursing 13000 li. payed down before the ensealing of the Conveyance for the ground whereon it stood with some other â—ppurtenances befides 6000 li. expended in the building thereof and that vast yearly Endowment whereof heretofore We mention not the large Summes bequeathed by him to Poor to Prisons to Colledges to mending High-waies to the Chamber of London Ann. Reg. Jac. 10. Ann. Dom. 1612. besides Twenty thousand pounds left to the discretion of his Executors What remaineth but that we pray that according to his pious intentions the same may be continued to the Glory of God Credit of the Protestant Religion Comfort to the Poor good Example to the Rich and perpetual Memory of King JAMES the Honorary and Mr. Sutton the effectual Founder thereof That this Sun amongst the lesser Lights of Protestant-Charities may
much that She commanded Archbishop Whitgift to signifie unto him Mar. 12. That â—e should be his Successour in case the Archbishoprick ever fell in the Queens disposall 34. Not long after the Archbishop meeting Bishop Rudde The Bishop by â—lain preaching gains the Queens â—avour Brother said he I bring good tydings to you though bad to my self for they cannot take full effect till after my death Her Grace is so pleased with your last Sermon She enjoyned me to signifie to you Her pleasure That you shall be my Successour in Canterbury if surviving me The Bishop modestly declined his words desiring the long life of his Grace and in case of his advancement to Heaven confessed many other in England farre fitter for the Place than his own unworthinesse adding after some other exchange of words Good my Lord might I be my â—wn-Judge I conceive I have preached better Sermons at Court surely such as cost me more time and pains in composing them I tell you replied the Archbishop the truth is this the Queen now is grown weary of the vanities of wit and eloquence wherewith Her youth was formerly affected and plain Sermons which come home to Her heart please Her the best Surely his Grace was too mortified a man though none naturally love their Successours whilst themselves are alive intentionally to lay a train to blow up this Archbishop designed though by the others unadvised practise of his words it proved so in the event 35. For And by too personal preaching loseth it again next time when it came to the Bishop's Course to preach at Court then lying at Richmond Anno â—596 he took for his Text Psalm 90. 12. O teach us to number our daies that we may incline our hearts unto wisdome and in the close of his Sermon touched on the Infirmities of Age Ecclesiastes 12. When the grinders shall be few in number and they wax dark that look out at the windows personally applying it to the QUEEN how Age had furrowed Her face and besprinkled her hair with its meal Whereat Her MAJESTY to whom ingratissimum acroama to hear of death was highly displeased Thus he not onely lost his Reversion of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury which indeed never fell in the QUEENS daies but also the present possession of Her MAJESTIES favour 36. Yet he justly retained the repute of a Reverend and godly Prelate Yet did generally beloved and lamented and carried the same to the grave He wrought much on the Welsh by his wisdome and won their affections and by moderate thrift and long staying in the same See left to his Son Sir Rise-Rudde Baroner a fair estate at Aberglaseny in Carmarthenshire 37. Some three years since Causabon invited into England on the death of King HENRY the fourth Isaac Causabon that learned Critick was fetcht out of France by King JAMES and preferred Prebendary of Canterbury Thus desert will never be a drug but be vented at a good rate in one Countrey or another as long as the world affordeth any truly to value it King HENRY is not dead to Causabon as long as King JAMES is alive He who formerly flourished under the Bayes now thriveth altogether as well under the Olive Nor is Causabon sensible that England is the colder Climate whilst he findes the beams of His Majesty so bright and warm unto him to whom also the lesser lights of Prelates and Peers contributed their assistance 38. Presently he falls a writing Where he dyâ—th and is buried as naturall and almost as necessary as breathing unto him First to Fronto-Duraeus his learned Friend Then to Cardinal Peron in the just Vindication of our English Church After these he began his Exercitations on Baronius his Ecclesiastical Annals which more truly may be termed the Annals of the Church of Rome But alas Death here stopped him in his full speed and he lieth entombed in the South-Ile of Westminster-Abbey Not on the East or Poetical Side thereof where Chaucer Spencer Draiton are interred but on the West or Historical Side of the I le next the Monument of M r Camden Both whose plain Tombs made of white Marble shew the simplicity of their intentions the candidnesse of their natures and perpetuity of their memories Mr. Causabon's was erected at the cost of Thomas Moreton Bishop of Durham that great lover of Learned men dead or alive 39. The KING comes to Cambridge in a sharp Winter The supposed occasion of Mr. Selden's writing against the Divine Right of Tithes Mar. 7. when all the world was nothing but Aire and Snow Yet the Scholers Wits did not Freez with the Weather witness the pleasant Play of IGNORAMUS which they presented to His Majesty Yet whilst many laughed aloud at the mirth thereof some of the graver sort were sad to see the Common Lawyers made ridiculous therein If Gowns begin once to abase Gowns Cloaks will carry away all Besides of all wood the Pleaders Bar is the worst to make a Stage of For once in an Age all Professions must be beholding to their patronage Some a Authour of Dr. Preston's Life conceive that in revenge Master John Selden soon after set forth his Books of Titbes wherein he historically proveth That they were payable jure humano and not otherwise 40. I cannot suspect so high a Soul Many write in Answer to his Book 1615. 13. guilty of so low reflections that his Book related at all to this occasion but only that the latitude of his minde tracing all pathes of learning did casually light on the rode of this Subject His Book is divided into two parts whereof the first is a meer Jew of the practise of Tithing amongst the Hebrews the second a Christian and chiefly an English-man of their customes in the same And although many Divines undertook the Answer of this Book as Mr. Stephen Nettles Fellow of Queens-Coll in Cambridge applying himself to the Judaical part Dr. Tillesly and Mr. Montague all writing sharply if strongly enough yet sure it is never a fiercer storm fell on all Parsonage Barns since the Reformation than what this Treatise raised up 41. By this time Mr. Andrew Melvin Melvin freed from the Tower a Scotchman got to be enlarged out of the Tower whither he had been committed for writing some satyrical Verses against the Ornaments on the Altar or Communion-Table in the Kings Chappell When first brought into the Tower he found Sir William Seymour now the Right Honorable most truly Noble and religious Marquis of Hertford there imprisoned for marrying the Lady ARABELLA so nearly allyed to the Crown without the KING's consent To whom Melvin being an excellent Poet but inferiour to Buchanan his Master sent this Distick Causa mihi tecum communis Carceris ARA Regia BELLA tibi Regia SACRA mihî As for his invective Verses against the Chappel-Ornaments I conceive the following Copie most authentick though there be various Lections of them but all
Though his death much affected his friends in Oxford The death of Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury Mar. 2. yet farre greater the grief of that University for the decease of Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury who died this year One of the honours not onely of that See but of the Church of England born at Guilford in Surrey of religious Parents as persevering in the Truth though g Abel Redivivus pag. 540. persecuted for the same in the Reign of Queen MARY Whose two younger Brothers George and Maurice the one came to be Archbishop of Canterbury the other was Lord Mayor of London and the first Knight of King CHARLES his dubbing This good Bishop his deserts without any other Friend or Spokesman preferred him to all his Promotions For Upon his Oration made on Queen ELIZABETH her Inauguration he was chosen Scholar and afterwards Fellow and Master of Baliol-Colledge Upon a Sermon preached At Worcester he was made Lecturer of that City At Paul's Crosse Master John Stanhoppe preferr'd him to the rich Benefice of Bingham in Nottingham-shire Before King JAMES he was nominated Successour to Doctor Holland in the Kings-Professour his place in Oxford Upon the same of his incomparable Lectures de potestate Regiâ and other labours he was made Bishop of Salisbury In conferring which Place the KING conquered all opposition which some envious persons raised against him witnesse His MAJESTIES pleasant speech Abbot I have had much to doe to makeâ— thee a Bishop but I know no reason for it unless it were because thou hast written a Booke against a Popish Preâ—â—â—e meaning William Bishop entituled by the Pope the Nominall Bishop of the Aâ—reall Diocesse of Calcedon which enraged the Courâ— Papists against him to obstruct his preferment The hour-glass of his life saith my h Dr. Fealty in the Life 〈◊〉 Bp. Abbor p. 549. Authour ran out the sooner for having the sand or gravel thereof stopt so great his grief of the stone though even whilst his body was on the rack his soule found ease in the assurance of salvation 54. About this time The Imp. stuâ—e of the Boy of Bilâ—on a Boy dwelling at Bilson in Stafford-shire William Perry by name not full fifteen years in age but above forty in cunning was practised on by some Jesuits repairing to the house of Mr. Gifford in that County to dissemble himself Possessed This was done on designe that the Priests might have the credit to cast out that Devil which never was in so to grace their Religion with the reputation of a Miracle 55. But now the best of the jest or rather the worst of the earnest Found ouâ— by Bishop Moâ—cton was the Boy having gotten a habit of counterfeiting leading a lazie life thereby to his own ease and Parents profit to whom he was more worth than the best Plough-land in the shire would not be undeviled by all their Exorcisms so that the Priests raised up a spirit which they could not allay At last by the industry of Dr. Moreton Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield the jugling was laid open to the world by the Boyes own confession and repentance who being bound an Apprentice at the Bishops cost verified the Proverb That an untoward Boy may make a good Man 56. Indeed all this KING's Reign was scattered over with Cheaters in this kinde Cheaters of several kindes Some Papists some Sectaries some neither as who dissembled such possession either out of malice to be revenged on those whom they accused of Witchcraft or covetousnesse to enrich themselves seeing such who out of charity or curiosity repaired unto them were bountifull in their relief But take a few of many Papists No Papists i See Bp. Harsnet his Book on this subject pag. 81. Sarah Williams lying past all sense in a Trance had a Devil say the Roma nists slipt up into her leg k John Gâ—â—'s Foot out of the snare pag. 53. Grace Sourebuts of Salmisbury in the County of Lancaster was perswaded by Southworth a Priest to dissemble possession to gain himself credit by Exorcising her l Idem pag. 54. Mary and Amie two Maids of Westminster pretended themselves in raptures from the Virgin Mary and Michael the Arch-Angel m Idem p. 55. Edward Hance a Popish Priest born at Lutterworth in Leicester-shire gave it out that he was possessed of the Blessed Trinity Rich Haydok Fellow of New-Colledge in Oxford preached in his dreams Latine Sermons against the Hierarchie He afterwards recanted lived in good esteem to a great age in Salisbury practising Physick being also an excellent Poet Limner and Ingraver Anne Gunter a Maid of Windsor gave it out she was possessed of a Devil was transported with strange Extaticall Phrensies A Maid at Standon in Hartfordshire which personated a Demoniack so lively that many judicious persons were deceived by her See we this Catalogue consists most of the weaker sex either because Satan would plant his Battery where easiest to make a Breach or because he found such most advantaged for dissembling and his Cloven-foot best concealed under Long coats Indeed some Feminine weaknesses made them more strong to delude the ruines of the Disease of the Mother being the best Foundation to build such Impostourie thereon 57. K. James remembring what Solomon n Prov. 25. 2. King James his dexterity in detecting them Ann. Dom. 1618. Ann. Regis Jac. 16 saith It is the honour of a King to search out a matter was no lesse dexterous than desirous to make discovery of these Deceits Various were His waies in detecting them awing some into confession with His presence perswading others by promise of pardon and fair usage He ordered it so that a Proper Courtier made love to one of these be witched Maids and quickly Cupid his Arrows drave out the pretended Darts of the Devil Another there was the Tides of whose Possession did so Ebbe and Flow that punctually they observed one hour till the KING came to visit her The Maid loath to be so unmannerly as to make His MAJESTY attend her time antedated her Fits many houres and instantly ran through the whole Zodiack of tricks which she used to play A third strangely-affected when the first verse of S. John's Gospel was read unto her in our Translation was tame and quiet whilst the same was pronounced in Greek her English Devil belike understanding no other language The frequency of such forged Possessions wrought such an alteration upon the judgement of King JAMES that he receding from what he had written in his Demonologie grew first diffident of and then flatly to deny the workings of Witches and Devils as but Falshoods and Delusions 58. K. James having last year in His progress passed through Lancashire The Kings Declaration for liberty on the Lords day May 24. took notice That by the preciseness of some Magistrates and Ministers in severall places of this Kingdome in hindring people from
Thirdly because in fine it proved nothing though kept on foot so long till K. James by endeavouring to gain a Daughter-in Law had in effect lost His own Daughter Her Husband and Children being reduced to great extremities 7. Truly K. James never affected his Son in Law 's acceptance of the Bobemian Crown A Crown not joyed in nor promised Himself any good successe thence though great the hope of the German Protestants therein Indeed some of them were too credulous of a blinde Prophesie commonly currant amongst them POST TER VIGINTI CESSABIT GLORIA QUINTI Expecting the ending of the Austrian Family sixty years being now expired since the death of Charles the fift but discreet persons slighted such vanities and the Quinti had like to have proved the extirpation of Frederick fift of that name Palatine of Rhyne had not God almost miraculously lately countermanded it 8. Yea K. Iames accused by some K. James privately foretold to some principal persons that this matter would prove the ruine of his Daughter There want not some who say That he went about to virefie his own Prediction by not sending seasonable succours for their assistance who had He turned His Embassies into Armies might probably have prevented much Protestant misery 9. Others excuse K. James Defended by others partly from the just hopes He had to accommodate all interests in a peaceable way partly from the difficulty of conveying effectual forces into so farre distant a Countrey 10. Mean time both the Palatinates were lost Both the Palatinates lost the Upper seized on by the Emperour the Neather but higher in value by the King of Spaine the City of Heidelberg taken and plunder'd and the inestimable Library of Books therein carried over the Alpes on Mules backs to Rome Each Mule laded with that learned burthen had a silver-plate on his forehead wherein was engraven FERO BIBLIOTHECAM PRINCIPIS PALATINI Now those Books are placed in the Popes Vatican entituling Protestants to visit the place who one day may have as good successe as now they have just right to recover them 11. As for the Palatinate Land of Promise Now Land of Performance Satyricall tongues commonly called it the Land of Promise so frequently and so solemnly was the restitution thereof promised to King James fed only with delayes which amounted to mannerly denials Since it hath pleased God to turn this Land of Promise into a * The nether Palatinate Land of Performance the present Palatine being peaceably possessed thereof 12. Prince Charles Prince Charles goes to Spain with the Duke of Buckingham lately went privately through France where He saw the Lady whom afterwards He married into Spain It is questionable whether then more blamed K. James for sending him or afterwards blessed God for his safe return Sumptuous his entertainment in the Spanish Court where it was not the Kings fault but Kingdomes defect that any thing was wanting He quickly discovered the coursness of fine-pretending wares at distance are easily confuted neer hand that the Spanish State had no minde or meaning of a Match as who demanded such unreasonable Liberty in education of the Royall Off-spring in case any were born betwixt them and other Priviledges for English Papists that the King neither could nor would in honour or conscience consent thereunto However Prince Charles whose person was in their power took his fair farewell with courteous compliance 12. Though He entred Spain like a private person His return * Sept. 12. He departed it like Himself and the Son of his Father * The Reader is requested to pardon our short setting back of time a stately Fleet attending Him home Foul weather forced them to put in at the Isse of Syllie the parings of England South-west of Cornwall where in two daies they fed on more and better flesh than they found in Spain for many moneths Octob. 5. 6. Soon after He arrived at Portesmouth and the next day came to London to the great rejoicing of all sorts of people signified by their bonefires ringing of bells with other externall expressions of joy 13. King James now despaired of any restitution The Palatinate beheld desperate especially since the Duke of Bavaria was invested in the upper Palatinate and so His Son-in-Laws Land cantoned betwixt a Duke a King and an Emperour Whose joynt consent being requisite to the restoring thereof One would be sure to dissent from the seeming-consenting of other two Whereupon King James not onely broke off all treaty with Spaine but also called the great Councill of his Kingdome together 14. Indeed An happy Parliament the Malecontents in England used to say That the King took Physick and called Parliaments both alike using both for meer need and not caring for either how little time they lasted But now there hapned as sweet a compliance betwixt the King and his Subjects as ever happen'd in mans memory the King not asking more than what was granted Both Houses in the Name of the whole Kingdome promising their assistance with their lives and fortunes for the recovery of the Palatinate A smart Petition was presented against the Papists and order promised for the education of their Children in true Religion 15. As for the Convocation contemporary with this Parliament The Convocation large Subsidies were granted by the Clergie otherwise no great matter of moment passed therein I am informed Doctor Joseph Hall preached the Latine Sermon and Doctor Donne was the Prolocutor 16. This is that Doctor Donne Doctor Donne Prolocutor born in London but extracted from Wales by his Mother-side great-great Grandchilde to Sir Thomas More whom he much resembled in his endowments a great Traveller first Secretary to the Lord Egerton and after by the perswasion of K. James and encouragement of Bishop Morton entred into Orders made Doctor of Divinity of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and Dean of S. Pauls whose Life is no lesse truly than elegantly written by my worthily respected friend Mr. Isaac Walton whence the Reader may store himself with further information 17. A Book was translated out of the French Copie A Book falsly fathered on I. Casaubon by Abraham Darcye intituled The Originall of Idolatry pretended made by Dr. Isaac Casaubon dead ten years before dedicated to Prince Charles but presented to King James and all the Lords of the Councill A Book printed in French before the said Isaac Casaubon was born whose name was fraudulently inserted in the Title-page of the foregoing Copie 18. Merick Casaubon his Son then Student of Christs-Church The falshood detected by Letter informed King James of the wrong done to his Father by making him the Authour of such a Book contrary to his Genius and constant profession being full of impertinent allegations out of obscure and late Authors whom his Father never thought worthy the reading much lesse the using their Authority His Majestie was much incensed hereaâ— and Doctor
Mountaine Bishop of London had much adoe to make his Chaplains peace for licensing thereof the Printer and Translator being for some time kept in Prison 19. Yet after all this Yet still conâ—hued and after Merick Casaubon had written a Latine Vindication to give satisfaction to all Ann. Regis Ja. 22. Ann. Dom. 1624. the same Translation since is printed in Amsterdam with a Justificatory Preface of the former Edition So impudent are some falsly to father Books on worthy Authors to make them more vendible for their own profit though it discredit the memory of others 20. The businesse of the Palatinate being now debated by Martiallists None of the work counsel the Kings Councill of Warre disswading from regaining it in kinde advised Him rather to recover it in value where he could with the best conveniency out of the Spanish Dominions For the Palatinate was not worth the rewinning which grant recover'd by the English could not recover it self for many years such the havock and waste made therein Secondly it was hard to be gotten such the distance thereof and harder to be kept so ill-neighboured it was on all sides So that the King if so pleased might with as much honour and more ease carve out his own reparations nearer home 21. During these Agitations King Iames falleth sick K. James fell sick at Theobalds of a tertian Ague commonly called in Spring for a King rather Physicall than dangerous But soon after his Ague was heighten'd into a Fever four mischiefs meeting therein 22. First A confluence of four mischiefs the malignity of the Malady in it self hard to be cured Secondly an aged Person of sixty years current Thirdly a plethorick Body full of ill humours Fourthly the Kings aversness to Physick and impatience under it Yet the last was quickly removed above expectation The King contrary to His custome being very orderable in all His sicknesse Such sudden alterations some apprehend a certain prognostick of death as if when mens mindes acquire new qualities they begin to habit and cloath themselves for a new world 23. The Countesse of Buckingham contracted much suspition to her selfe A plaster applied to His wrists and her Son for applying a plaster to the Kings wrists without the consent of His Physicians And yet it plainly appeared that Dr. John Remington of Dunmoe in Essex made the same plaster one honest able and successful in his practice who had cured many Patients by the same a piece whereof applied to the King one eat down into His belly without the least hurt or disturbance of nature However after the applying thereof the King grew worse 24. The Physicians refused to administer physick unto Him till the plasters were taken off And Julip without the advice of His Physicians which being done accordingly His fift sixt and seventh fits were easier as Dr. Chambers said On the Monday after the plasters were laid on again without the advice of the Physicians and His Majestie grew worse and worse so that Mr. Hayes the Kings Chirurgeon was called out of his bed to take off the plasters Mr. Baker the Dukes servant made the King a Julip which the Duke brought to the King with his own hand of which the King drank twice but refused the third time After His death a Bill was brought to the Physicians to sign that the ingredients of the Julip and Plasters were safe but most refused it because they knew not whether the ingredients mentioned in the Bill were the same in the Julip and Plasters This is the naked truth delivered by oath from the Physicians to a select Committee two years after when the Parliament voted the Dukes act a transcendent presumption though most thought it done without any ill intention 25. Four daies before His death Catechized on His death-bed in His Faith and Charity He desired to receive the Sacrament and being demanded whether He was prepared in point of faith and charity for so great mysteries 〈◊〉 24. He said He was and gave humble thanks to God for the same Being desired to declare His faith and what He thought of those Books He had written in that kinde He repeated the Articles of the Creed one by one and said He believed them all as they were received and expounded by that part of the Catholick Church which was established here in England And said with a kinde of sprightfulnesse and vivacity that whatever He had written of this Faith in his life he was now ready to seal with his death Being questioned in point of charity He answered presently that He forgave all men that offended Him and desired to be forgiven by all Christians whom He in any wise had offended 26. Then after absolution read and pronounced His death He received the Sacrament and some hours after He professed to the standers by that they could not imagine what ease and comfort he found in himself since the receiving hereof And so quiedy resigned His soul to God having reigned twenty two years and three daies 27. He was of a peaceable disposition Of a peaceable nature Indeed when he first entred England at Barwick He himself gave fire to and shot off a * Stowes Chro. p. 819. piece of Ordnance and that with good judgment This was the onely military act personally performed by Him So that He may have seemed in that Cannon to have discharged Warre cut of England 28. Coming to Yorke Made Nobility lesse respected by the commonnesse thereof He was somewhat amazed with the equipage of the Northern Lords repairing unto Him especially with the Earl of Cumberland's admiring there should be in England so many Kings for less He could not conjecture them such the multitude and gallantry of their attendance But following the counsel of His English Secretary there present He soon found a way to abate the formidable greatness of the English Nobility by conferring Honour upon many persons whereby Nobility was spread so broad that it became very thin which much lessened the antient esteem thereof 29. He was very eloquent in speech His eloquence whose Latine had no fault but that it was too good for a King whom carelessness not curiosity becomes in that kinde His Scotch tone he rather affected than declin'd and though His speaking spoil'd His speech in some English ears yet the masculine worth of his set Orations commanded reverence if not admiration in all judicious hearers But in common speaking as in His hunting he stood not on the cleanest but nearest way He would never go about to make any expressions 30. His wit was passing-sharp and piercing And piercing wit equally pleased in making and taking a smart jest His Majestie so much stooping to His mirth that He never refused that coine which he paid to other folk This made Him please Himself so much in the company of Count Gondomer and some will say the King was contented for reasons best known
to Himself to be deceived by him and humoured into a peace to His own disadvantage 31. Once King James in an Afternoon was praising the plentifull provision of England King Iames his return to Gondomer especially for flesh and fowle adding the like not to be had in all Spaine what one County here did afford Yea but my Master quoth Gondomer there present hath the gold and silver in the East and West Indies And I by my Saule saith the King have much adoe to keep my men from taking it away from Him To which the Don 's Spanish gravity returned silence 32. His judgment was most solid in matters of Divinity Judicious bountifull and mercifull not fathering Books of others as some of His Predecessours but His Works are allowed His own by His very adversaries Most bountiful to all especially to Scholars no King of England ever doing though His Successour suffered more to preserve the revenues of the English Hierarchy Most mercifull to Offendors no one person of Honour without parallel since the Conquest being put to death in His Reign In a word He left His own Coffers empty but His Subjects Chests full the Land being never more wealthy it being easier then to get than since to save an estate The end of the Reign of King JAMES THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN THE ELEVENTH BOOK Containing the Reign of KING CHARLES excepted who in due time may be happy in their Marriage hopefull in their Issue These five have all been of the same Christian Name Yet is there no fear of Confusion to the prejudice of your Pedigree which Heralds commonly in the like cases complain of seeing each of them being as eminent in their kinde so different in their eminency are sufficiently distinguished by their own character to Posterity Of these the first a Judge for his gravity and learning famous in his Generation The second a worthy Patriot and bountifull House-keeper blessed in a numerous Issue his four younger Sonnes affording a Bishop to the Church a Judge and Peer to the State a Commander to the Camp and an Officer to the Court. The third was the first Baron of the House of whose worth I will say nothing because I can never say enough The fourth your Honourable Father who because he doth still and may he long survive I cannot doe the right which I would to his merit without doing wrong which I dare not to his modesty You are the fift in a direct Line and let me acquaint you with what the world expected not to say requireth of you to dignifie your self with some select and peculiar desert so to be differenced from your Ancestours that your memory may not be mistaken in the Homonymie of your Christian Names which to me seemeth as improbable as that a burnning-Beacon at a reasonable distance should not be beheld such the brightnesse of your parts and advantage of your education You was bred in that Schoole which hath no superiour in England and successively in those two Vniversities which have no equall in Europe Such the stock of your native perfection before graffed with the forraigne accomplishments of your travells So that men confidently promise themselves to read the best last and largest Edition of MERCATOR's ATLAS in your experience and discourse That good God who went with you out of your Native Countrey and since watched over you in forraign parts return with you in safety in due time to his Glory and your own Good which is the daily desire of Your Honour 's most devoted Servant THOMAS FVLLER THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN XVII CENTURIE 1. THe sad newes of King James his death was soon brought to White-hall Anno Regis Caroli primi 1 Anno Dom. 1625 News of the Kings death brought to White Hall at that very instant when D r Land Bishop of S t Davids was preaching therein This caused him to a See his own Diatie on that day March 27 Sunday May 14 break off his Sermon in the middest thereof out of civil complyance with the sadness of the congregation and the same day was King Charles proclaimed at White-Hall 2. On the fourteenth of May following King James his funeralls were performed very solemnly His solemn funeralls in the Collegiate-Church at Westminster his lively statue being presented on a magificent Herse King Charles was present thereat For though modern state used of late to lock up the chief Mourner in his Chamber where his grief must be presumed too great for publique appearance yet the King caused this ceremonie of sorrow so to yeeld to the substance thereof and pomp herein to stoop to pietie that in his person he sorrowfully attended the funerals of his Father 3. D r. Williams Dr. Williams his text Sermon and parallel betwixt K. Solomon and K. James Lord Keeper and Bishop of Lincolne preached the Sermon taking for his Text 2 Chron. 9. 29 30. and part of the 31 verse containing the happy reign quiet death and stately buriall of King Solomon The effect of his Sermon was to advance a parallel betwixt two peaceable Princes King Solomon and King James A parallel which willingly went not to say ran of its own accord and when it chanced to stay was fairly led on by the art and ingenoitie of the Bishop not enforcing but improving the conformitie betwixt these two Kings in ten particulars all expressed in the Text as we read in the vulgar Latin somewhat different from the new Translation King Solomon King James 1. His eloquence the rest of the words of Solomon 2. His actions and all that he did 3. A well within to supply the same and his wisedome 4. The preservation thereof to eternitie Are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon made by Nathan the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite and Iddo the Seer 5. He reigned in Jerusalem a great Citie by him enlarged and repaired 6. Over all Israel the whole Empire 7. A great space of time full fourtie years 8. Then he slept importing no sudden and violent dying but a premeditate and affected kinde of sleeping 9. With his fathers David especially his Soul being disposed of in happiness 10. And was buried in the City of David 1. Had b Tacitus of Augustus profluentem quae Principem deceret eloquentiam 2. Was eminent in his actions of Religion Justice War and Peace 3. So wise that there was nothing that any c pag. 59. would learn which he was not able to teach 4. As Trajan was nicknamed herba parietaria a Wal-flower because his name was engraven on every wal so King James shall be called herba chartacea the paper-flower and his glory be read in d pag 61. in all writers 5. He reigned in the capital City of London by him much augmented 6. Over great Britain by him happily united and other Dominions 7. In all fiftie eight though over all Britain but two and twenty years reigning as
Bishop Mountague that he caused his addresses to the King to procure a pardon which was granted unto him in forme like those given at the Coronation save that some particulars were inserted therein for the pardoning of all errors heretofore committed either in speaking writing or printing whereby he might hereafter be questioned The like at the same time was granted to Dr. Manwaring on whom the rich Parsonage of Stanford Rivers in Essex was conferred as voyd by Bishop Mountagues preferment 70. An intention there was for the Bishop and all the companie employed at his Confirmation Caution seasonably used to dine at a Tavern but Dr. Thomas Rives utterly refused it rendring this reason that he had heard that the dining at a Tavern gave all the colour to that far-spreading and long-lasting lie of Matthew Parker his being consecrated at the Nags-Head in Cheapside and for ought he knew captious people would be ready to raise the like report on the same occasion It being therefore Christian caution not onely to quench the fire of sin but also if possible to put out the smoak of scandal they removed their dining to another place 71. On the twentieth of January the Parliament was reassembled The Parliament dissolved January 20 which dyed issueless as I may say the March following leaving no Acts abortions are no Children completed behind it Let the Reader who desireth farther instructions of the passages herein consult the Historians of the State Indeed if the way were good and weather fair a travailer to please his curiosity in seeing the Countrey might adventure to ride a little out of the rode but he is none of the wisest who in a tempest and mirie way will lose time and leave his own journey If pleasant and generally acceptable were the transactions in this Parliament it might have tempted me to touch a little thereon out of the track of my Church-Storie but finding nothing but stirs and storms therein I will onely goe on fair and softly in my beaten path of Ecclesiastical affairs Bishop Land had no great cause to be a Mourner at the Funerals of this Parliament having entred it in his Diarie that it endevored his destruction 72. At this time Richard Smith distinct from Henrie Smith Proclamation against the Bishop of Chalcedon alià s Lloyd a Jesuite whom some confound as the same person being in title Bishop of Chalcedon in Greece in truth a dangerous English Priest acted and exercised Episcopal Jurisdiction over the Catholiques here by Commission from the Pope appearing in his Pontisicalibus in Lancashire with his Miter and Crosier to the wonder of poor People and conferring Orders and the like This was much offensive to the Regulars March 24 as intrenching on their Priviledges who countermined him as much as they might His Majestie having notice of this Romish Agent renewed his Proclamation one of a former date taking no effect for his apprehension promising an hundred pounds to be presently paid to him that dâ—d it besides all the profits which accrewed to the Crown as legally due from the person who entertained him 72. However such as hid and harbored him He flyeth into France were neither frighted with the penalty nor flattered with the profit to discover him But Smith conceiving his longer stay here to be dangerous conveyed himself over into France where he became a Confident of Cardinal Richelieu's The conveniencie and validity of his Episcopal power was made the subject of several Books which were written thereon In favor of him 1. N. de Maistre a Sorbon Priest in his book entituled De persecutione Episcoporum De illustrissimo Antistite Chalcedonensi 2. The Faculty of Paris which censured all such as opposed him In opposition to him 1. Daniel a Jesuite 2. Horucan 3. Lumley 4. Nicolas Smith This Chalcedon Smith wrote a book called The Prudential Ballance much commended by men of his own perswasion and for ought I know is still alive 74. Within the compass of this year dyed the Reverend Tobie Matthew The death and Character of Tobie Matthew Archbishop of York He was born in the Somersetshire-side of Bristol and in his childhood had a marvellous preservation when with a fall he brake his foot ancle and small of his leg which were so soon recovered to eye d Sr. John Harington in his continuation of Bishop Godwin's Catalogue of Bishops use sight service that not the least mark remained thereof Coming to Oxford he fixed at last in Christ-Church and became Dean thereof He was one of a proper person such People cateris paribus and sometimes cateris imparibus were preferred by the Queen and an excellent Preacher Campian himself confessing that he did dominari in Concionibus He was of a cheerfull spirit yet without any trespass on Episcopal gravity there lying a real distinction between facetiousness and nugacitie None could condemn him for his pleasant wit though often he would condemn himself as so habited therein he could as well not be as not be merrie and not take up an innocent jeast as it lay in the way of his discourse 75. One passage must not be forgotten His gratitude unto God After he had arrived at his greatness he made one journey into the West to visit his two Mothers her that bare him at Bristol and her that bred him in learning the University of Oxford Coming neer to the latter attended with a train suitable to his present condition he was met almost with an equall number who came out of Oxford to give him entertainment Thus augmented with another troop and remembring he had passed over a small water a poor Scholar when first coming to the University he kneeled down and took up the expression of Jacob With my staff came I over this Jordan and now I am become two Bands I am credibly informed that mutatis mutandis the same was performed by his Predecessor Archbishop Hutton at Sophisters Hills nigh Cambridge and am so far from distrusting either that I beleeve both 76. He dyed yeerly in report Died yeerly and I doubt not but that in the Apostles sense he dyed dayly in his mortifying meditations He went over the graves of many who looked for his Archbishoprick I will not say they catched a cold in waiting barefoot for a living mans shoes His wife the Daughter of Bishop Barlow a Confessor in Queen Maries dayes was a prudent and a provident matrone Anno Dom. 1528 Of this extraction came Sir Tobie Matthew having all his Fathers name many of his natural parts few of his moral vertues fewer of his spiritual graces as being an inveterate enemy to the Protestant Religion George Mountaine succeeded him scarce warm in his Church before cold in his Coffin as not continuing many moneths therein 77. I humbly crave the Readers Pardon for omitting due time of the death of reverend Dr. Nicholas Felton Bishop of Ely The death of Bishop Felton as buried before
he confined not his character so to the Latian Bishops beyond the Alpes but that our English Praelates counted themselves touched therein Hereupon he was accused in the High-Commission committed to the Gate-house where he wrote a second Book taxing the injustice of the proceedings of the High-Commission for which he was indited in the Star-Chamber 59. Mr. Henry Burton Minister rather took a snap then made a meal in any University Mr. Burton his character was first Schoolmaster to the Sonnes of the Lord Cary afterwards Earl of Monmouth whose Lady was Governesse to King Charles when Prince And this opportunity say some more then his own deserts preferred him to the service of Pr. Ch. being designed as I have heard to wait on him in Spain but afterwards when part of his goods were shipped for the voyage excluded the attendance Whether because his parts and learning were conceived not such as to credit our English Church in Forain-Countries or because his Principles were accounted uncomplying with that imployment 60. The crudity of this affront lay long on his minde The cause of his discontent hot stomachs contrary to corporall concoction being in this kinde the slowest of digestion After the venting of many mediate discontents on the last fifth of November he took for his Text Pro. 24. 21. My Sonne fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change This Sermon was afterwards printed charging the Prelats for introducing of severall innovations into Divine worship for which as a Libell he was indited in the Star-Chamber 61. But the fault-generall Their fault-generall which at this day was charged on these three Prisoners at the Barr in the Star-Chamber was this That they had not put in their effectuall answer into that Court wherein they were accused though sufficient notice and competent time was allowed them for the performance thereof The Lord-Keeper Coventry minded them that for such neglect they had a Precedent wherein the Court after six daies had taken a cause pro confesso whereas the favour of six weeks was allowed unto them and now leave given them to render reason why the Court should not proceed to present censure 62. Hereat Mr. Prinne first moved that they would be pleased to accept a cross Bill which he there tendered against the Prelates Mr. Brinne his Plea rejected This the Lord-Keeper refused to accept of at the present as not being the business of the day Then he moved that the Prelates might be dismissed the Court It being agreeable neither to nature reason nor justice that those who were their Adversaries should be their Judges This also was rejected by the Lord-Keeper because by the same proportion had he libelled against the Temporall Lords Judges and Privy Counsellors in the place by this Plea none should passe censure upon them because all were made Parties 63. Mr. Prinne proceeded to shew he had done his endeavour to prepare his answer And his answer refused being hindred first by his close imprisonment denyed pen ink and paper and by the imprisonment also of his Servant who was to sollicit his business That the Councell assigned him came very late and though twice payed for their pains deferred the drawing up of his answer and durst not set their hands unto it Mr. Hole one of his Councell being present confessed that he found his answer would be very long and of such a nature as he durst not subscribe it fearing to give their Lordships distaste 64. Dr. Bastwick being spoken to So is Dr. Bastwicks to speak for himself why he brought not in his answer before laid the blame on the cowardise of his Councell that durst not sign it for fear of the Prelates He there tendred his answer on oath with his own hand which would not be accepted He spake much of his own Abilities that he had been a Souldier able to lead an Army of men into the Field and now was a Physitian able to cure Kings Princes and Emperors and therefore how unworthy it was to curtaâ—lize his EARES generally given out by the Bishops Servants as a punishment intended unto him He minded them of the mutability of all earthly things and chiefly of the changes in the Court where he * The Bishop of Lincoln lately the chief Judge therein was the next day to have his own cause censured wishing them seriously to consider that some who now sate there on the Bench might stand Prisoners at the Barre another day and need the favour which now they denyed 65. Mr. Burton being asked what he could alledge Mr. Purtons cast ouâ— for imperfect why the Court should not take his Fault pro confesso pleaded that he had put in his answer drawn up with great pains and cost signed by his Councell and received into the Court. The Lord-Keeper rejoyned that the Judges had cast his answers out as imperfect Judge Finch affirming that they did him a good turn in making it imperfect being otherwise as libelloâ—s as his Book and deserving a censure alone 66. Here the Prisoners desiring to speak were commanded silence The severe censure and the premises notwithstanding the Court proceeded to censure namely that they should lose their EARES in the Palace Yard at Westminster fining them also five thousand pound a man to his Majesty perpetuall imprisonment in three remote places The Lord Finch added to Mr. Prinnes censure that he should be branded in each Cheek with S. L. for Slanderous Libeller to which the whole Court agreed The Archbishop of Canterbury made a long speech since printed to excuse himself from the introducing of any Innovations in the Church concluding it that he left the Prisoners to Gods mercie and the Kings justice 67. It will be lawfull and safe to report the discourse of severall persons hereon Esteemed too low by some This censure fell out scarce adaquate to any judgement as conceiving it either too low or too high for their offence High Conformists counted it too low and that it had been better if the Pillorie had been changed into a Gallowes They esteemed it improvident but by their leaves more of Machiavill than of Christ in such Counsell to kindle revenge and not to quench life in such turbulent Spirits The only way with them had been to rid them out of the way 68. Most moderate men thought the censure too sharp Too high by most too base and ignominious for Gentlemen of their ingenuous vocation Besides though it be easie in the notion June 27 it is hard in the action to fix shame on the Professors and sever it from the Professions of Divinity Law and hysick As for the former though Burton was first * By Sir John Lamb in the high Commission in St. Pauls degraded yet such who maintain an indelible character of Priesthood hold that Degradation cannot delete what Ordination hath impressed and granâ— the censure pronounced ad
terrorem it might have become the Bishops t d mediate for a mitigation thereof Let Canvâ—s be rough and rugged Lawn ought to be soft and smooth Meekness Mildness and Mercy being more proper for men of the Episcopall Function 69. Two dayes after 30 Mr Burton his words on the Pillory three Pillories were set up in the Palace-yard or one double one and a single one at some distance for Mr. Prinne as the chief offender Mr. Burton first suffered making a long speech in the Pillorie not entire and continued but interrupted with occasionall expressions But the main intent thereof was to parallel his sufferings with our Saviours For at the first sight of the Pillory Me thinks said he I see Mount-Calvary whereon the three Crosses were erected If Christ was numbred amongst Theeves shall a Christian think much for his sake to be numbred amongst Rogues And whereas one told an Halberter standing by who had an old rusty Halbert the Iron whereof was tacked to the staffe with an old crooked nail What an old rusty weapon is this Mr. Burton over-hearing them answered It seems to be one of those Halberts which accompanied Judas when Christ was betrayed and apprehended 70. His Eares were cut off very close Severall censures on his behaviour so that the Temporall or Head Artery being cut the blood in abundance streamed down upon the Scaffold all which he manfully endured without manifesting the least shrinking thereat Indeed of such who measured his minde by his words some conceived his carriage farre above others though using the same scale suspected the same to be somewhat beside himself But let such who desire more of his character consult with his printed life written with his own hand though it be hard for the most Excellent Artist truely to draw his own Picture 71. Dr. Bastwick succeeded him Mr. Bastwick his Speech making a Speech to this effect Here are many spectatours of us who stand here as Delinquents yet am I not conscious to my self of the least trespasse wherein I have deserved this outward shame Indeed I wrote a Book against Antichrist the Pope and the Pope of Canterbury said it was written against him But were the Presse open unto us we would scatter his Kingdome and fight couragiously against Gog and Magog There be many here that have set many daies apart on our behalf let the Prelates take notice thereof and have sent up strong prayers to God for us the strength and fruit whereof we have felt all along in this cause In a word so farre am I from fear or care that had I as much blood as would swell the Thames then visible unto him his face respecting the South I would lose every drop thereof in this cause 72. His Friends much admired and highly commended the erection of his minde triumphing over pain and shame Many Men many mindes making the one easie the other honourable and imputed the same to an immediate Spirituall support Others conceived that anger in him acted the part of patience as to the stout undergoing of his sufferings and that in a Christian there lyeth a reall distinction betwixt Spirit and Stomach Valour and Stubbornnesse 73. Mr. Prinne concluded the sad sight of that day Mr. Prinne his Speech and spake to this purpose The cause of my standing here is for not bringing in my Answer God knoweth my conscience beareth witnesse and my Councell can tell for I paid them twice though to no purpose But their cowardise stands upon Record And that 's the reason why they did proceed and take the cause pro confesso against me But rather then I would have my cause a leading cause to the depriving of the Subjects liberties which I seek to maintain I choose to suffer my body to become an example of this punishment 74. The censure was with all rigour executed on him His behaviour at the censure and he who felt the most fretted the least commended for more kindly patience than either of his Predecessours in that place So various were mens fancies in reading the same letters imprinted in his face that some made them to spell the guiltiness of the Sufferer but others the cruelty of the Imposer Of the latter sort many for the cause more for the man most for humanity sake bestowed pity upon him and now all three were remanded 〈◊〉 their former Prisons and Mr. Prinne as he returned by water to the Tâ—â—er made this Distick upon his own stigmatizing S. L. Stigmara maxillis referens insignia Laudis Exultans remeo Victima grata Deo Not long after they were removed Mr. Prinne to Carnarvan-Castle in Wales Dr. Bastwicke and Mr. Burton the one to Lancaster-Castle the other to Lanceston in Cornewall 75. But it seems these places were conceived to have Their removall either too little of Privacy or too much of Pleasure The two latter therefore were removed again One to the Isle of Scilly the other to the Isle of â—ernezey and Mr. Prinne to Mount Orgueile-Castle in Jersey This in vulgar apprehensions added breadth to the former depth of their sufferings scattering the same over all the English Dominions making the Islands thereof as well as the Continent partake of their patience And here we leave them all in their Prisons and particularly Mr. Prinne improving the Rocks and the Seas good Spirituall Husbandrie with pious meditations But we shall heare more of them hereafter at the beginning of the Parliament 76. Next came the Bishop of Lincoln to be censured in the Star-chamber A preparative to the censure of the Bishop of Lincoln and something must be premised preparative thereunto After the great Seal some ten yeares since was taken from him he retired himself to Bugden in Huntingdonshire where he may be said to have lived in a publick privacie So many his Visitants hospitall his house-keeping it being hard to say whether his Table were more free and full in dyet or discourse indeed he had a plentifull estate to maintain it besides his purchased Land The revenues of his Bishoprick and Deanery of Westminster out of which long since he had been shaken if not fastned therein by the Letters Patents of King James His Adversaries beheld him with envious eyes and one great Prelate plainly said in the presence of the King that the Bishop of Lincoln lived in as much pompe and plenty as any Cardinall in Rome for Dyâ—t Musick and attendance They resolved therefore to humble his height the concurrence of many matters ministring occasion thereunto 77. Sir John Lambe Dean of the Arches formerly a Favourite of Lincoln feâ—cht off from being prosecuted in Parliament The Bishop his discourse at the table with Sir John Lamb. and knighted by his means with Dr. Sibthorp Allen and Burden two Proctors as I take them were entertained at the Bishops talk at Bugden where their table was the discourse generall of those dayes against Puritans The Bishop advised them
to take off their heavy hand from them informing them that his Majesty inâ—ended to use them hereafter with more mildnesse as a considerable party â—â—ing great influence on the Parliament without whose concurrence the 〈◊〉 could not comfortably supply his necessities adding moreover that 〈◊〉 Majesty had communicated this unto him by his own mouth with his â—â—â—tions hereafter of more gentlenesse to men of that opinion 〈◊〉 Some yeers after upon the deniall of an Officialls place in Leicester 〈◊〉 which notwithstanding Informed against him in the Star-chamber he carried in despight of the Bishop Sir John â—â—â—be fell foul with his old Friend and in revenge complained of him for â—evealing the Kings secrets concredited to his privacy Hereupon Atturney Noy was employ'd to put the same into an Information in the Star-chamber unto which Bishop Williams by good advise of counsell did plead and demurre as containing no matter fit for the cognizance of that Court as concerning words spoken of matters done in Parliament secrets pretended to be revealed by him a Privy Counsellor and Peere of Parliament and therefore not to be heard but in that High-Court This Demurrer being heard argued by Counsell Pro and Con in open Court for two or three hours the Lord Keeper and other Lords there present finding no cause nor colour to overrule it was referred to Judge Richison who lately having singded his Coat from blasts at the Court by him to be smothered who in a private Chamber presently after dinner over-ruled the same in a quarter of an houre 79. The Demurrer thus rendred useless in the Bishops defence Deserteth his intents of compounding with the King he used what means he could by the Lord Weston a proper person because Treasurer to meddle in money matters to compound with his Majesty but his Majesty resolved to have the Bishops answer and confession of his fault before he would compound with him Whereupon the Bishop quitting all thoughts of composition resolved to weather out the Tempest of his Majesties displeasure at open sea either out of confidence of the strength of his tackling his own innocence or skill of his Pilots who were to steere his suit having the learnedst Counsel of the Land by whose advise he put in a strong plea which likewise being argued and debated in open Court came at last to 70. His Eares were cut off very close Severall censures on his behaviour so that the Temporall or Head Artery being cut Anno Dom. 1637 the blood in abundance streamed down upon the Scaffold Anno Regis Caroli 13 all which he manfully endured without manifesting the least shrinking thereat Indeed of such who measured his minde by his words some conceived his carraige farre above others though using the same scale suspected the same to be somewhat beside himself But let such who desire more of his character consult with his printed lite written with his own hand though it be hard for the most Excellent Artist truely to draw his own Picture 71. Dr. Bastwick succeeded him Mr. Bastwick his Speech making a Speech to this effect Here are many spectatours of us who stand here as Delinquents yet am I not conscious to my self of the least trespasse wherein I have deserved this outward shame Indeed I wrote a Book against Antichrist the Pope and the Pope of Canterbury said it was written against him But were the Presse open unto us we would scatter his Kingdome and fight couragiously against Gog and Magog There be many here that have set many daies apart on our behalf let the Prelates take notice thereof and have sent up strong prayers to God for us the strength and fruit whereof we have felt all along in this cause In a word so farre am I from fear or care that had I as much blood as would swell the Thames then visible unto him his face respecting the South I would lose every drop thereof in this cause 72. His Friends much admired and highly commended the erection of his minde triumphing over pain and shame Many Men many mindes making the one easie the other honourable and imputed the same to an immediate Sprituall support Others conceived that anger in him acted the part of patience as to the stout undergoing of his sufferings and that in a Christian there lyeth a reall distinction betwixt Spirit and Stomach Valour and Stubbornnesse 73. Mr. Prince concluded the sad sight of that day Mr. Prince his Speech and spake to this purpose The cause of my standing here is for not bringing in my Answer God knoweth my conscience beareth witnesse and my Councell can tell for I paid them twice though to no purpose But their cowardise stands upon Record And that 's the reason why they did proceed and take the cause pro confesso against me But rather then I would have my cause a leading cause to the depriving of the Subjects liberties which I seek to maintain I choose to suffer my body to become an example of this punishment 74. The censure was with all rigour executed on him His behaviour at the censure and he who felt the most fretted the least commended for more kindly patience than either of his Predecessours in that place So various were mens fancies in reading the same letters imprinted in his face that some made them to spell the guiltiness of the Sufferer but others the cruelty of the Imposer Of the latter sort many for the cause more for the man most for huâ—anity sake bestowed pity upon him and now all three were remanded 〈◊〉 their former Prisons and Mr. Prinne as he returned by water to the Tâ—â—er made this Distick upon his own stigmatizing S. L. Stigmara maxillis referens insignala Laudis Exultans remeo Victima grata Deo Not long after they were removed Mr. Prinne to Carnarvan-Castle in Wales Dr. Bastwicke and Mr. Burton the one to Lancaster-Castle the other to Lanceston in Cornewall 75. But it seems these places were conceived to have Their removall either too little of Privacy or too much of Pleasure The two latter therefore were removed again One to the Isle of Scilly the other to the Isle of Gernezey and Mr. Prinne to Mount Orgueile-Castle in Jersey This in vulgar apprehensions added breadth to the former depth of their sufferings scattering the same over all the English Dominions making the Islands thereof as well as the Continent partake of their patience And here we leave them all in their Prisons and particularly Mr. Prinne improving the Rocks and the Seas good Spirituall Husbandrie with pious meditations But we shall heare more of them hereafter at the beginning of the Parliament 76. Next came the Bishop of Lincoln to be censured in the Star-chamber A preparative to the censure of the Bishop of Lincoln and something must be premised preparative thereunto After the great Seal some ten yeares since was taken from him he retired himself to Bugden in
to have their liberty untill after long close imprisonment they were forced to confess under their own hands Crimes against themselves and the Bishop which afterwards they denyed and revoked upon their Oathes Lastly and chiefly that the Judges privately overruled his Pleas so that what shame and the honour of the Court with the inspection of so many eyes would not permit to be done publickly in the Sun-shine of Justice was posted over by a Judge privately in a corner These and many more Kilvertismes as he calls them did the Bishop complain of in Parliament who so far tendered his innocency therein that they ordered all the Records of that Suit in the Star-chamber to be obliterated Yâ—a we may justly conceive that these Grievances of the Bishop did much hasten if not chiefly cause the suppression of that Court. 8. Thirteen dayes after he was suspended by the High-commission Is examined again in the Tower and imprisoned in the Tower for almost four years during whose durance therein two Bishops and three Doctors were sent thither unto him to take his answer to a Book of Articles of twenty foure Sheets of papes writen on both sides They proffered him the Bible to take the oath thereon which he utterly refused claiming the priviledge of a Peer adding moreover that being a Bishop it was against law and Precedent in Antiquity that young Priests his Graces and some who had been his own Chaplains and Lay Doctors should sit as Judges of a Bishop his Doctrine with power to deprive him of his Bishoprick if disliking the same This was overruled and he as one of the Kings Subjects required to make his answer 9. First the article that all Books licenced by his Graces Chaplaines as Chune his Whether some Books were orthodox and Sala his Book with Doctor Mannering his Sermons are presumed by all true Subjects to be orthodox and agreeable to sound Religion This the Bishop utterly denyed and wondered at their impudencie to propound such an Article unto him 10. Secondly they alleadged that no Bishop but his Grace Who had power to license them the Lord of London and their Chaplains had power to allow Bookes This the other denyed saying that all Bishops who were as learned as they had as much power as they citing for the same the Councell of Lateran under Leo the tenth Reformatio Cleri under Cardinall Poole Queen Elizabeth her injunctions and the Decree of the Star-chamber relating to all these He also stoutly averred the priviledge to belong onely to the Bishops and not to their Servants howbeit his Grace had shuffled in his Chaplaines to the last printed Star-chamber decree More frivolous were the ensuing Articles whereon he was examined That he called a Book intitled A cole from the Altar a Pamphlet That he said that all flesh in England had corrupted their wayes That he said scoffingly he had heard of a Mother-Church but not of a Mother-Chappell meaning the Kings to which all Churches in ceremonies were to conform That he wickedly jested upon St. Martins hood That he said that the people are not to be lashed by every mans whip That he said citing a nationall Councell for it that the people are Gods and the Kings and not the Priests people That he doth not allow Priests to jeere and make invectives against the People 11. To all which the Bishop made so warie an answer His cautious answer that no advantage could be gained tâ—ereby yea though some dayes after they returned to re-examine him upon the same Articles to try as he thought the steddiness of his memory or else to plunge him into some crime of perjury if in any materiall point he dissented from his former depositions but the Bishop like a good boy said his Lesson over again and again so that no advantage could be taken against him thereupon they gave him leave to play proceeding no further in this cause only they painted him out in an ugly shape to the King as disaffected to the present government and God willing we shall hear more of their proceedings against him hereafter 12. But now we are summoned to a sadder subject Transition to a sad Subject from the sufferings of a Private Person to the miseries and almost mutuall ruin of two Kingdomes England and Scotland I confesse my hands have alwaies been unwilling to write of that cold Countrey for fear my fingers should be frost bitten therewith but necessity to make our story intire puts me upon the imployment Miseries caused from the sending of the Book of Service or new Lituâ—gy thither which may sadly be termed a RUBRICK indeed died with the blood of so many of both Nations slain on that occasion 95. It seemes the designe began in the reign of King James The project of a publick Prayer-book began in the reign of King James who desired and endeavoured an uniformity of publique Praiers through the Kingdome of Scotland In order whereunto an Act was passed in the generall Assembly a The Kings large Declaration concerning the tumults in Scotland pag. 16 at Aberdeene 1616 to authorise some Bishops present to compile and frame a Publique form of Common Praier and let us observe the motions thereof 1. It was committed to the Bishops aforesaid and principally to the Archbishop of St. Andrews * See the life of Archbishop Spoâ—swood and William Cooper Bishop of Galloway to draw up the order thereof 2. It was transmitted into England to King James who punctually perused every particular passage therein 3. It was remitted with the Kings Observations Additions Expunctions Mutations Accommodations to Scotland again But here the designe sunk with the suddain death of King James and lay not only dormant but dead till some yeers after it was awakened or rather revived again 96. In the reign of King Charles Why a difference betwixt the Scotch and English Liturgy the project being resumed but whether the same book or no God knoweth it was concluded not to send into Scotland the same Liturgy of England Totidem verbis left this should be misconstrued a badge of dependence of that Church on ours It was resolved also That the two Liturgies should not differ in substance b Kings Declaration pag. 18 left the Romane party should upbraid us with weighty and materiall differences A Similitude therefore not Identity being resolved of it was drawn up with some as they termed them insensible alterations but such as were quickly found and felt by the Scotch to their great distaste These alterations are of two natures First ingratiating which may be presumed made to gain the affection of that Nation Secondly distasting which if not in the intent in the event proved the great grievance and generall cause that the book was hated and rejected We will insist on three of the first sort First Canonicall Scripture only used in the Scotch Liturgy Whereas there was an ancient complaint That so much of the
effectually Earle of Cambridge Anno Dom. by the ensuing evidence doth sufficiently appear It is a Å¿ Extant among the Records of the Earls of Oxford cited at large by Augustine Vincent in hâ— Correction of Bâ—â—â—ks errours pag. 393. Grant made by Mâ—uld the Emperesse Daughter of King Henrie the first unto Aubery de Vere afterward Earl of Oxford part whereof so much as concerns the present point we have here transcribed translated and commented on conceiving it to contain some criticisms in History and Heraldry worthy observation Concedo quòd sit Comes de Cantebruggescire 10 habeat inde tertium denâ—ium sicut Comes debet haberâ— 1144 Itâ— dico si Rex Scotiae non habet illum Comitatum Et si Rex habuerit perquiram illud ei ad posse meum per Escambium Et si non potero tunc do 〈◊〉 concede quòd sit Câ—mes de quolibet quatuor Comitatuum subserptorum viz. Oxenfordscire Berkscire Wiltscire Dorsetscire per consilium considerationem Comitis Glocestriae frairis mei Comitis Gaufridi Comitis Gilberti I grant that he be Earl of Cantbruggshire and that he have from thence the third penny as the Earl ought to have So I say if the King of Scotland hath not that Earldom And if the King hath it I shall to my power procure it him by exchange And if I cannot then I give and grant unto him that he be Earl of which he will of the four Earldoms subscribed namely Oxfordshire Berkshire Wiltshire and Dorsetshire by the counsel and advise of the Earl of Glocester my brother and of Earl Geofrey and of Earl Gilbert The date of this Grant is uncertain but from the hand of her brother the Earl of Glocester subscribed thereunto we collect that it must be before the yeer 1146 wherein the said Earl ended his life 21. Out of this Grant observe Observations collected from this Grant First That though Steven de facto was King of England yet the right was in this Mauld the Emperesse Betwixt these two for many yeers it was catch who catch may both in gaining of places and giving of Honours as successe befriended them Secondly That Earls in that age were Earls indeed not meerly titular but substantiall as receiving the third penny I humbly conceive it of the Crown-revenues therein of the County whence they had their honour Thirdly Kings of Scotland accounted it no abatement to their Crown-Royall to we are with it an English Coronet holding in Commendam as I may say with their own Crown one or moe of English Earldoms As here King David held Cambridge in his own and Huntingdon in right of his Wife Fourthly As the Counties of Cambridge and t See Câ—mdens Britan. in Hunting donshire Huntingdon soon after the Conquest were united under one Comes or Earl so they two onely of all Shires in England remain under one Vicecomes or Sheriff at this day Fifthly Queen Mauld earnestly endeavoured in compliance no doubt with the desires of her favorite Aubery de Vere to confer the County of Cambridge upon him as a place of principal honour above the four other Counties proffered unto him Sixthly The honour of the title of Cambridge arose from the famous University therein otherwise the foresaid Aubery if consulting his profit would cleerly have preferred either Oxfordshire Berkshire Wiltshire or Dorsetshire as greater in extent and therefore returning by the third penny therein larger revenues Lastly Seeing a good title of Cambridge could not be made to him as prepossessed by the Scotch King Aubery was contented with and thankfull for Oxford as the other famous University in England which title his noble and most ancient family enjoyeth at this day 22. Nigellus or Neale 11 second Bishop of Ely 1145 having first obtained a faculty from the Pope Nigellus his foundation in Cambridge â—ounded â—n Hospitall for u Godwin in Epist. â—â—ie pag. 3â—6 Canons regular in Cambridge in the place where now S t. John's Colledge is erected Hee is said to have endowed the same with an hundred and fourty pound by the yeer Anno Dom. yeerly rent Anno Regis Hen. 2 which it so in that age was a vast proportion 23. Roger of Hereford Roger of Hereford Student in Cambridge so named because born there 1170 studied at this time in Cambridge 16 became an admirable Astronomer Philosopher and Chymist diving much into the mysteries of metals He wrote many books of Astronomy and Astrologie which for a long time were kept in Cambridge Librarie but not extant I fear at this day Yet the Oxford w â—â—ri Twine Apolog. lib. 2. pag. 219. Antiquarie will by no means allow this Roger a Student in Crambridge as who flourished before the coming of the Crowland Professors thither but whether more credit may be hung on this single Twine than on the twisted testimonie of Leland Bale and Pitz all agreeing both in his education at Cambridge and flourishing in this Age be it reported to any ingenuous Reader 24. There happened a merciless fire in Cambridge A merciless fire onely so pitifull as to goe out when no more fewell was left to feed the furie thereof 1174 Most of the Churches in the town then built of wood 20 and therefore the more combustible were burnt in part and Trinity-Church wholly x Caius Hist Contab consumed Hence it was that for time to come the Steeple thereof was firmly built of free-stone to prevent by Gods goodnesse the return of the like casualty 25. A sad accident happened this yeer at y Matth. Paris in Anno 1209 pag. 228. Oxford Oxford deserted and partly removed to Cambridge A Clergie-man 1208 and Student in that University K John 9 casually kill'd a woman and fled upon it The Maior of the City with other officers search after him light on three of his Chamber-fellows both innocent and ignorant of the fact committed These they injuriously thrust into Prison and some dayes after King John a back friend to the Clergie as continually vexed with their constant opposition commanded them to be executed in contempt saith my Author of Ecclesiastical libertie Offended hereat three thousand Students at once left Oxford as well Masters as Scholars It a quòd nec unus ex omni Universitate remansit So that not one remain'd of all the Universitie Of these some removed to Cambridge some to Reading so that in this total eclipse of learning therein Oxford was left emptie for a season 26. John of S t. John of St. Omers a Poet bred in Cambridge Omers studied about this time at Cambridge 1209 By his surname I should have conjectured him a Forainer of Artois 10 had not my z Baleus Cent. 3 pag. 261. Author assured me that he was born in Norfolk Yea when a Monk of Peterburgh bred also in Cambridge had with his Iatyrical
this Col. John Whitgift Arch. of Canterbury Fellow Walter Curle Bishop of Winchester Fellow Matth. Wren Master of this Coll. Bishop of Ely Roger Marshal well skild in Mathematicks whereof saith Pitz in his Appendix he wrote many Books and collected more which he gave to the Library d Bale Cent. nonae p. 721. George Joye who flourished annò 1547 translated part of the Bible Edw. Simmons who wrote many good Treatises 1547 1 Cherry-Hinton Vicaridge in Ely Diocess valued in the Kings Books at 9 l. 14 s. 6 d. 2 Ellington in the Diocess of Lincoln a Vicatidge valued at 6 l. 9 s. 3 Triplow Vic. in Ely Diocess valued 9 l. 4s 2d 4 St. Maries the less in Cambridge valued 0l 0s 0d 5 Statberne Rec. in Lincoln Dioc. valued 16l 3s The Reader wil pardon the shortness of this out catalogue of Masters not touching the top of the foundation by fifty yeers which looks like the blunt Tower of a Steeple whose spire or shaft hath been burnt down with lightning or broken with thunder as indeed some such casualty hath caused this imperfection For in the year 1420 a sad fire consumed the muniments of this Colledge which caused Caius to begin his list of Masters but at Thomas de castro Bernardi and the six Seniors before him are recovered by the care of Mr. R. e In his Scelatos Cantabrigiensis M S. Parker out of Ely-Records Yet this catalogue stil remaineth incomplete O that it were as easy to rectify as reprove faults guilty I am afraid not onely of transposition in the order but omission in the number thereof For I have * Maâ—â—script in 10. read that John Botsham was admitted Master 14 yet he appears not in Caius or any other printed Author 29. Amongst the Benefactors many who onely gave plate smal summs A generall rule about our catalogue of Benefactors and books are for Brevity sake omitted and not any slighting of their bounty for the smalness thereof For if our Saviour beheld the Widow as the best benefactor to the Corban who endowed it only with two mites and if a cup of cold water warm comfort to a thirsty Soul shall receive its reward surely such as give the cup also deserve their due commendation and shall have a requiral thereof Anno Dom. 1282 I have ordered some blank lines at the end of that Catalogue Anno Regis Edw 1. 11 as a reserve to register the bounty of posterity which shall not complain that they are paper bound in my book where room on purpose is left to enter their names who shall be charitably disposed I hope also that those void intervals and spaces in the List of Learned Writers which as so many open mouths invoke the industry of the Reader wil have their emptiness filled by several mens observations whose pens may at their leasure supply what the Press hath left unperfect 30. Know also I could have more particularly specified the value and place of Founders and Benefactors bounty what land they gave Cautela non nocet how much worth where lying but thought better to forbear as ignorant in these dangerous dayes what ill use might be made of my well intended endeavours 31. Condemn not our Tautology if the same Bishop often recur in several Colledges Repetition of Bishops why necessary perchance Scholar of one Fellow of another Master of a third because rather than I would wrong any House with the omission I would right them all with the repetition of the same person Such Bishops as passed through many Seas successively are for shortness entitled only from the last and highest dignity 32. To return to Peter-house A commendable custome of this Colledge I cannot but commend one peculiar practise of this Colledge which in their Parlour preserveth the Pictures of all their principall Benefactors For although the bounty of the Judicious is grounded on more solid motives than to be flattered thereinto by the fancy that their Effigies shall be kept yet such an ingenuous Memoriall may be an encouragement to a Patrons Liberality Besides under such Pictures a Distich commonly is written and I will instance in one of the latest date Haeredem voluit SLADUS conscribere PETRUM Clauderet extremum ne sine prole diem SLADE PETER chose and for his Heir assign'd him Lest he should die and leave no Child behinde him At this day the Colledge maintaineth one Master nineteen Fellowes twenty nine Bible-clerks eight poor Scholars besides other officers and Students amounting lately viz. anno 1634 to an hundred and six 33. We Cambridge men behold this Colledge as the first foundation endowed in England The eldest English endowed Colledge which our corrivals at Oxford wil not allow For I finde it inscribed in Rotchester Church on the monument of Walter de Merton that the Colledge by him founded and named is the example of all in that kinde t Britannia page 381. M r Gamden in his description of Oxford affirmeth that Ballol and Merton Colledges therein are the two first endowed for Students in Christendome And some alledge that Merton Colledge must needs be the Mother and Peter house but the Daughter because Spâ—on de Montagu Bishop of Ely did prescribe the Statutes of Merton to be observed by the Students of Peter-house 34. All this scarce moveth Exception to the contrary answered nothing removeth us from our former Opinion being almost as confident of the Seniority of Peter-house before all other Colledges as Romanists are of the Priority of St. Peter before the rest of the Apostles And first as for the inscription in Rotchester both it and Mertons Monument are modern as set up by S t Henery Savil anno 1598. That passage of the great Antiquary is only extant in the English translation not Latin Britannia and so may justly seem to have more of Philemon Holland than William Caâ—den therein It is confest that Simon Montagu the 17 Bishop of Ely more then sixty yeares after Balshaâ—s death Anno Regis Edw. 1. enjoyned our Petreans the observation of Merton Colledge Statutes Anno Dom. finding them more convenient than such which their Founder had left them But this makes nothing to the matter of most antiquity the point in controversy In requitall of this eurresie if Cambridge hath ought the imitation whereof may be acceptable to Oxford she is right glad for the welcome occasion as lately Oxford in choise of her Procters hath conformed herself to Cambridge custome by way of a Circular Combination of Colledges as a Course most quiet and freest from faction 35. The Crisis of the Controversie depends p The truth unpartially slated if I mistake not on the clearing of the different dates of Peter-house its foundation and comparing it with others Peter-house first founded 1257. the 41 of Hen. the third by Sub prior Hugh Balsham Peter house first endowed 1282 the 11 of Edw. the first by Hughâ—â— Balsham
Wares and Weights at Sturbridge Fair. Thirdly That no Action be brought by any Townsman against Scholar or Scholars Servant save onely in the Court of the Chancellour Fourthly That the University have power to punish and amerce all Fore-stallers Regrators c. paying a Rent of ten pounds a year for that Priviledge into the Exchequer This their Power extending to the Town and Suburbs thereof from which Clause of Suburbs the Lord b Vide ut supra Coke collects and concludes Cambridge then to be a City in Reputation 45. We must not forget that at the same time Focalia Focalia prized by the Chancellour that is all kind of Fewell Wood Coales Turf c. was then subjected to the Chancellour as to set the Price thereof Seeing the Townsmen had so little Wit and Honesty as to make Fewell of Kings Charters hereafter they should meddle no more with Materialls for Fire Thus ill Manners occasion good Laws as the Handsome Children of Ugly Parents Iohn Nekton Chancellour 1384 46. The University now began to grow sensible of a great Grievance 8 caused by the Minors or Franciscan Friars An Order that no Scholar is to be admitted under 18 yeares of Age. For they surprized many when Children into their Order before they could well distinguish betwixt a Cap and a Coule whose time in the University ran on from their Admission therein and so they became Masters of Arts before they were Masters of themselves These Vniversity-Boyes for Men they were not wanting Wit to manage their Degrees insolently domineered over such who were their Iuniors yet their Elders To prevent future Inconveniences in this kind the Chancellour and University made an Order that hereafter none should be admitted Gremialls under eighteen years of Age. 47. The Minors or Franciscans were much netled hereat Anno Regis Rich. 2. 8 who traded much in such tender Youth Anno Dom. 1384 Minors and Children agree well together The Franciscans oppose this Order and a Pitz de Script Ang. in An. 1384. William Folvil a Franciscan wrote an Invective against the Act of the University as injurious to the Priviledges of this Order it being against Monasticall Liberty to be stinted to any Age for the Entrance therein 48. I find not what was the Issue of this Contest The Issue uncertain but believe that the University never retracted their Order though it stands not in Force this day wherein many of yonger Age are daily admitted And seeing mans Life is now shortened it is but reason that what we want of our Ancestours in long Running we should supply in soon Starting Let the Water-men of London whose violent Work requires robustious Bodies make an Order in their Hall that none under the Age of eighteen should be bound Apprentice in their Company Ability is more to be respected then Age in the Sonnes of the Muses in whom often Eruditio supplet Aetatem Nor is there to my knowledge any Prohibition in this kinde observed save that they fright Scholars of a low Stature with a jocularie Tradition That none are to commence which are not higher then the Bedles Staff 49. A great Schisme hapned this year in the Regent-house about the Choice of a new Chancellour I find not who carried the Place and therefore probably the old one still continued Thomas de Hetherset 10 Chancellour Richard Maycent 1386 Proctour 50. Pope Urbane the sixth gave licence to Beneficed men to be Non-residents for five years and follow their Studies in the University if allowed by the Chancellour for the same William Colvil 12 Chancellour 1388 Iohn Wace Rich. Baston Proctours 51. A Parliament was called at Cambridge A Parliament kept at Cambridge a Place at this time very convenient for that purpose For he that will hinder the Hide from rising up on either side must fix his Foot on the Middle thereof Cambridge was well nigh the Centre of those Eastern Counties lately mutinous with Popular Commotions The King for his Privacy was pleased to prefer Barnwell Priory for the place of his Repose though otherwise Kings-Hall founded by his Grandfather was prepared for his Entertainment where all things were so conveniently contrived that the Courtiers had all Lodgings and Offices by themselves without meeting with the Scholars save onely in the passage towards the Kitchin William Courtney Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Edmond Langly Earle of Cambridge lodged in the Convents of the Carmelites being of the largest Receit of any Religious House in Cambridge A sad Accident happened as the King rode in State to the House One S r. Thomas Trivet attended his Majestie which Knight being mounted on an unruly Horse was cast off brake his Entrails and died the next day 52. By the way Canterbury misprinted for Cambridge in the statute-Statute-book me thinks Cambridge might bring an Action of Trespasse against all our printed statute-Statute-books for depriving her of the Honour of this Parliament and rendering the place Canterbury in stead of Cambridge in the Preface to the Acts thereof This Inconvenience cometh from contracting long words in writing when there be two Names whose Faces as I may say I mean their Beginnings are the same and whose lower parts though much differing being cut off with a Dash causeth a Confusion betwixt them And although by the Tower Rolls and other excellent b Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton in their lives of Richard the second The excellent statutes of Cambridge Parliament Authours this Parliament appeareth kept at Cambridge not Canterbury yet as if Prescription turned Usurpation into lawfull Possession the Lawyers will not amend this Mistake The best is it matters not where good Statutes be made so they be made the Place being not essentiall unto them 53. Many and good were the Laws enacted in this Parliament besides the Confirmation of those made in the Reign of King Edward the third Anno Dom. 1388 viz. Anno Regis Richardi 2. 12 That the manly and Martiall Exercise of Archery should be generally used Secondly a Statute was made against the multitude of Servants great Lords keeping then little Armies in their Families which soon after occasioned the Wars betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster And whereas it was the generall Complaint that men were grown so vain and expensive in their Cloaths that Servants were not to be known from their Masters the Clergy from the Laiety something was ordered for the Regulating of Apparell the Wages of Labourers and removing the Staple 54. We must not forget that in this Parliament a Statute was made also against Wanderers Against wandring Scholars and particularly against Scholars of both the Universities that they should not go about without Licence from the Chancellour Indeed I have ever beheld begging Scholars as the most improper Object of Charity who must be vicious or else cannot be necessitous to a Mendicant condition But since I have revoked my
appears in the whole Lordship In this sute Plaintiff Judges Defendant Peter Duke of Savoy the Kings dear Uncle first founder I take it of the Savoy in London on whom the King conferred many Lordships and Chesthunt amongst the rest Solicitor Adam de Alverton Ralph Fitz-Nicolas John of Lexington Paulin Peyner Seneschal Henry of Bath Jeremy of Caxton Henry de Bretton The Case Simon the Abbot and the Covent of Waltham The Plaintiff endeavoured to prove that the stream of Ley called the Kings-Stream dividing Hertford-shire from Essex ran thorow the Town of Waltham all the land West thereof belonging to the Manor of Chesthunt This was denied by the Defendant maintaining that Small-Ley-stream running welnigh half a mile West of Waltham parted the Counties all the interjacent meadows pertained to Waltham Perusing the names of these the Kings Justices at Westminster A like not the same who would not suspect but that this Henry of Bath was Bishop of that See considering how many Clergy-men in that age were imployed in places of Judicature But the suspicion is causless finding none of that name in the Episcopal Catalogue Others in like manner may apprehend that Bretton here mentioned was that Learned Lawyer afterwards Bishop of Hereford who wrote the * See Godwin in his Bishops of Hereâ—ord Book De Juribus Anglicanis and who flourished in the latter end of the Reign of this King Henry the third But his name being John not Henry discovereth him a different person Not long after this sute was finally determined and Peter Duke of Savoy remised and quit-claimed from him and his Heirs to the said Abbot and his Successors Anno Regis the right and claim he had to ask in the same Meadows and Marshes of the said Abbot Anno Dom. This is called in the Instrument finalis concordia though it proved neither final nor a concord For soon after this palliaâ—â— cure broke out again and the matter was in variance and undetermined betwixt Robert the last Abbot and the Lord of Chesthunt when the Abby was dissolved Many accessions besides those common prolongers of all sutes namely the heat of mens anger and the bellows of instruments gaining by Law did concur to lengthen this cause 1. The considerableness and concernment of the thing controverted being a large and rich portion of ground 2. The difficulty of the cause about the chanels of that River which Proteus-like in several Ages hath appeared in sundry formes disguised by derivations on different occasions 3. The greatness of the Clients Chesthunt Lordship being alwayes in the hand of some potent person and the Corporation of Waltham Covent able to wage Law with him Hence hath this sute been as long-lov'd as any in England not excepting that in * Cambden in Glocester-shire Glocester-shire betwixt the posterity of Vice-Count Lisle and the Lord Barkley seeing very lately if not at this day there were some sutes about our bounds Waltham Meadows being very rich in grass and hay but too fruitful in contentions For mine own part that wound which I cannot heal I will not widen and seeing I may say with the Poet Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites No power of mine so far extends As for to make both parties friends I will not turn of an unpartial Historian an engaged person who as a neighbour wish well to Chesthunt as a Parishioner better to Waltham as a Christian best to both And therefore so much for matter of fact in our Records and Leiger-books leaving all matters of right for others to decide Mean time whilest the Abbot and Monks of Waltham were vexed with the men of Chesthunt they found more favour if publick same belies them not from some loving women in that Parish I mean the Holy Sisters in Chesthunt-Nunnery whose House when ever Founded I finde some ten years since thus confirmed by Royal Authority Henricus Rex Anglie Chesthunt Nunnery Founded Dominus Hybernie Dux Normanie Aquitanie Comes Andegavie c. Shestrehunt Moniales totam terram Dom. teneant cum pertinentiis suisque Canonicis de Cathele c. quos amoveri fecimus Datum apud West xj Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiij But this subject begins to swell beyond the bounds intended unto it lest therefore what we intended but a Tract should swell to a Tome we will here descend to matters of later date Onely be it premised Copt-Hall past to King Hen. 8. that some years before the Dissolution Robert the last Abbot of Waltham passed over the fair seat of Copt-Hall unto King Henry the eighth Thus as the Castor when pursued by the Hunter to make his escape is reported to bite off his own stones as the main treasure sought after and so saves his life by losing a limb So this Abbot politickly parted with that stately Mansion in hope thereby to preserve the rest of his revenues However all would not do so impossible it is to save what is design'd to ruine and few years after the Abby with the large Lands thereof were seized on by the King and for some Moneths He alone stood possessed thereof The Extraction Charter Death and Issue of Sir Anthony Dennie on whom King Henry the Eighth bestowed WALTHAM-ABBY AT the Dissolution A Lease of Waltham Abby given to Sir Anthony Denny King Henry bestowed the Site of this Abby with many large and rich Lands belonging thereunto on S r Anthony Dennie for the terme of Thirty one years Let us a little enquire into his extraction and discent I finde the name very Ancient at a Speed or ratherâ—â— Rob. Cotton in Huntingdon-shire Chesterton in Huntington-shire where the Heir-general was long since married John Denny the great souâ—der in France to the worshipful and Ancient Family of the Bevils It seems a branch of the Male-line afterwards fixed in Hertford-shire Whereof John Denny Esquire valiantly served Henry the fifth in France where he was slain and buried with Thomas his second Son in S t Dionys his Chappel their interment in so noble a place speaking their worthy performances In the Reign of Queen Mary a Frier shewed their Tombes to S r Matthew Carew together with their Coates and differences Henry eldest son of this John Denny begat William Denny of Chesthunt in Hertford-shire which William was High Sheriff of the County in the year 1480. leaving Edmond Denny to inherit his estate Edmond Denny was one of the Barons of the Exchequer Edm. Denny Baron of the Exchequer in credit and favour with King Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh He Married Mary the Daughter and Heir of Robert Troutbeck Esquire on whom he begat Thomas Denny from whom the Dennies in Norfolk are descended Anthony Denny Anthony Denny his high commendations second Son to Baron Denny was Knighted by King Henry the Eighth made Gentleman of his Bed-chamber Privy-Councellour and one of his Executors I cannot say he was bred any great Scholar
was afterwards to prevent wantonness to make the more expedition commuted into a new custome viz. A piece of wood or metall with Christ's picture thereon was made and solemnly tendred to all people to kiss This was called the Pax or Peace to shew the unity and amity of all there assembled who though not immediately by the Proxie of the Pax kissed one another Item For a pair of Censers copper and gilt nine shillings and eight pence These were pots in the which frankincense was burned perfuming the Church during Divine Service Item For a Stock of brass for the Holy-water seven shillings Which by the Canon must be of marble or metall and in no case of brick b Durantus de Ritibus Eccles num 6. pag. 173. lest the sacred liquor be suck'd up by the spunginess thereof Item For a Chrismatory of pewter three shillings four pence This was a vessel in which the consecrated oyl used in Baptisme Confirmation and Extreme Vnction was deposited Item For a yard silver Sarcenet for a cloth for the Sacrament seven shillings eight pence Here some Silkeman or Mercer must satisfie us what this was The price seems too low for Sarcenet inwoven with silver and too high for plain Sarcenet of a silver colour Item For a Pix of Pewter two shillings This was a Box wherein the Host or consecrated wafer was put arid preserved Item For Mary and John that stand in the Rood-left twenty six shillings eight pence Christ c John 19. 26. c. on the Cross saw his Mother and the Disciple whom he loved standing by In apish imitation whereof the Rood when perfectly made with all the appurtenances thereof was attended with these two images Item For washing eleven Aubes and as many Head-clothes six pence An Aube or Albe was a Priests garment of white linen down to their feet girded about his middle The thin matter denoted simplicity colour purity length deep d Durontus de Rititbus Eccles num 9. pag. 316. Divinitie perseverance and the cincture thereof signified the person wearing it prompt and prepared for Gods service Their head-clothes were like our Sergeants Coifes but close and not turned up Item For watching the Sepulchre eight pence Thus the price of that service but a groat in King Henries dayes was doubled However though Popery was restored to its kinde yet was it not re-estated in its former degree in the short Reign of Queen Mary for we finde no mention of the former six Obits anniversarily performed the lands-for whose maintenance were alienated in the Reign of King Edward and the Vicar of the Parish not so charitable as to celebrate these Obits gratis without any reward for the same Item For a Processioner and a Manual twenty pence Item For a Corporas-cloth twelve pence This was a linen cloth laid over or under the consecrated Host Item To the Apparitor for the Bishops Book of Articles at the Visitation six pence This Bishop was bloudy Bonner that corpulent Tyrant full as one said of guts and empty of bowels who visited his Diocese before it was sick and made it sick with his Visitation His Articles were in number thirty seven and John a Fox Acts Mon. pag. 1474. Bale wrote a book against them The Bishops chief care herein was the setting up of compleat Roods commonly called but when without his ear-reach Bonners Block-almightie If any refused to provide such blocks for him let them expect he would procure fagots for them Anno 1556. Mariae tertio Imprimis For coles to undermine a piece of the Steeple which stood after the first fall two shillings This Steeple formerly stood in the middle now East end of the Church and being ruined past possibilitie of repair fell down of it self onely a remaining part was blown up by underminers How quickly can a few destroy what required the age and industry of many in long time to raise and advance It soundeth not a little to the praise of this Parish that neither burthensome nor beholding to the Vicinage for a collection they re-built the Steeple at the West end of the Church on their own proper cost enabled thereunto partly by their stock in the Church-box arising from the sale as is aforesaid of the goods of the Brotherhood and partly by the voluntary contribution of the Parishioners This Tower-Steeple is eighty six foot high From the foundation to the battlements each b The thirty three foot on the top diffculty danger of climbing made it the dearer cost fourty shillings a foot as appeareth by the Church-wardens accounts Anno 1563. foot whereof besides the materials preprovided costing thirty three shillings four pence the building Three years passed from the founding to the finishing thereof every years work discernable by the discolouration of the stones and the Parish was forced for the perfecting of the building to fell their Bells hanging before in a wooden frame in the Church-yard so that Waltham which formerly had Steeple-less-Bells now had for some years a Bell-less-Steeple The condition of the Church from the beginning of Queen ELIZABETH to this day IN eleven full years viz. from the last of King Henry the Eighth Anno 1547. till the first of Queen Elizabeth 1558. this Church found four changes in Religion Papist and Protestant Papist and Protestant again The last turn will appear by the Wardens following accounts Anno 1558. Elizabethae primo Imprimis For the taking down of the Rood-lost three shillings two pence If then there living and able I hope I should have lent an helping hand to so good a work as now I bestow my prayers that the like may never in England be set up again Item Received for a suite of Vestments being of blew velvvet and another suite of Damask and an Altar-cloth four pound Item For three Corporasses whereof two white silk and one blew velvet two pound thirteen shillings four pence Item For two suits of Vestments and an Altar-cloth three pound Now was the superstitious Ward-robe dispersed and that no doubt sold for shillings which cost pounds They were beheld as the garments spotted with sin and therefore the less pity to part with them But see what followeth Anno 1562. Elizabethae quinto Item For a cloth of Buckeram for the Communion-Table and the making four shillings Having fold so much could they not afford a better Carpet Is there no mean betwixt painting a face and not washing it He must have a fixt aim and strong hand who hits decency and misseth gaudiness and sluttery But there is a generation of people who over-do in the spirit of opposition such conceive that a tressel is good enough for Gods Table and sucn a Table Covering enough for it self Item For Lattices for the Church-windows fifteen shillings Fain would I for the credit of our Church by Lattices understand Casements if the word would bear it Yet surely it was not for covetousness wholly to spare glazing but thrift to preserve
breeding b. 11. p. 219. ¶ 85. his peaceable disposition ¶ 86. improving of piety p. 220. ¶ 87 c. an innocent deceiver ¶ 90. excellent Hebrician ¶ 91. last of the old Puritans ¶ 92. DOGGES meat given to men b. 3. p. 29. ¶ 46 DOMINICAN Friers their first coming over into England b. 6. p. 270. ¶ 15. after their expulsion set up again by Q. Mary p. 357. the learned men of this order who were bred in Cambrid Hist. of Cam. p. 30. De DOMINIS Marcus Antonius see SPALATO John DONNE Dean of St. Pauls prolocutour in the Convocation b. 10. p. 112. ¶ 15. his life excellently written by Mr. Isaack Walton ¶ 16. DOOMES-DAY Book composed by the command of Will the Conquerour b. 3. ¶ 3. DORT Synod b. 10. p. 77. ¶ 63. four English Divines sent thither ibidem King James his Instructions unto them p. 77 78. Oath at their admission into it p. 78. ¶ 66. liberall allowance from the State p. 77. ¶ 77. various censures on the decisions thereof p. 84. ¶ 5 c. The DOVE on King Charles his Sceptre ominously broken off b. 11. ¶ 16. Thomas DOVE Bishop of Peterborough his death b. 11. p. 41. ¶ 17. DOWAY COLL. in Flanders for English fugitives b. 9. p. 85. A Convent there for Benedictine Monks b. 6. p. 365. And another for Franciscan Friers 366. DRUIDES their office and imployment amongst the Pagan Britans C. 1. ¶ 3. The DUTCH Congregation first set up in London b. 7. p. 407. ¶ 33. priviledges allowed them by King Edward the sixth ibidem under Queen Mary depart with much difficulty and danger into Denmark b. 8. p. 8. ¶ 13. DUBLIN University founded by Queen Elizabeth b. 9. p. 211. ¶ 44. the severall benefactours whereof Mr. Luke Chaloner a chief p. 212. no rain by day during the building of the Colledge ibidem The Provosts therof p. 213. ¶ 47. DUBRITIUS Arch-bishop of Caer-lion a great Champion of the truth against Pelagius C. 6. ¶ 3. ADUCATE worth about four shillings but imprinted eight b. 5. p. 196 ¶ 37. Andrew DUCKET in effect the founder of Queens Colledge in Cambridge Hist of Cambridge p. 80. ¶ 33. St. DUNSTAN his story at large Cent. 10. ¶ 11. c. his death and burial in Canterbury ¶ 44. as appeared notwithstanding the claim of Glassenbury by discovery ¶ 45 46. DUNWOLPHUS of a swine-heard made Bishop of VVinchester C. 9. ¶ 41. DURHAM the Bishoprick dissolved by King Edward the sixth b. 7. p. 419. ¶ 2. restored by Queen Mary ¶ 3. VVil. DYNET the solemn abiuration injoyned him wherein he promiseth to worship Images b. 4. p. 150. E. EASTER-DAY difference betwixt the British Romish Church in the observation thereof Cent. 7. ¶ 5. the Controversie stated betwixt them ¶ 28. reconciled by Laurentius ¶ 30. the antiquity of this difference ¶ 31. spreads into private families ¶ 89. A counsell called to compose it ¶ 90. setled by Theodorus according to the Romish Rite ¶ 96. EATON COLLEDGE founded by K. Henry the sixth b. 4. EDGAR King of England Cent. 10. ¶ 24. disciplined by Dunstan for viciating a Nun. ¶ 26. The many Canons made by him why in this book omitted ¶ 29. A most Triumphant King ¶ 30. his death ¶ 34. EDMUND King of the East Angles cruelly Martyred by the Danes Cent. 9. ¶ 22. EDWARD the Elder calls a Councell to confirm his Fathers acts Cent. 10. ¶ 5. gives great Priviledges to Cambridge ¶ 6. EDWARD the Martyr Cent. 8. ¶ 34. Barbarously murthered ¶ 42. EDWARD the Confessour his life at large Cent. 11. ¶ 11 c. King EDWARD the first his advantages to the Crown though absent at his Fathers death b. 3. p. 74. ¶ 3. his atchievements against the Turkes ¶ 4. Casteth the Iews out of England p. 87. ¶ 47. chosen arbitratour betwixt Baliol Bruce claiming the Kingdome of Scotland p. 88. ¶ 49. which Kingdome he conquereth for himself ¶ 50. stoutly maintaineth his right against the Pope p. 90. ¶ 2. humbled Rob. Winchelsey Arch-bishop of Cant. ¶ 4 5. the Dialogue betwixt them 6. his death and character p. 92. ¶ 11. his Arme the standard of the English yard ibid. King EDWARD the second his character b. 3. p. 93. ¶ 13. fatally defeated by the Scots ¶ 14. his vitiousnesse p. 100. ¶ 28. accused for betraying his Priviledges to the Pope ¶ 29. his deposing and death p. 103. King EDWARD the third a most valiant and fortunate King both by Sea and Land foundeth Kings Hall in Cambridge Hist of Camb. p. 39. ¶ 36. his death and Character b. 4. p. 136. ¶ 12. King EDWARD the fourth gaineth the Crown by Conquest b. 4. p. 190. ¶ 46. Beaten afterwards in Battel by the Earle of VVarwick p. 191. ¶ 31. escapeth out of prison flyeth beyond the Seas returneth and recovereth the Crown ¶ 32 33. A Benefactour to Merron Coll. in Oxford b. 3. p. 75. ¶ 7. but Malefactour to Kings Coll. in Cambridge Hist of Camb. p. 76. ¶ 19. his death b. 4. p. 199. ¶ 4◠King EDWARD the fifth barbarously murthered by his Vncle Richard Duke of York b. 4. p. 196. ¶ 5. King EDWARD the sixth his Injunctions b. 7. ¶ 3. observations thereon p. 374. his severall proclamations whereof one inhibiteth all Preachers in England for a time p. 388 389. his TEXT ROYAL and our observations thereon p. 397 398. c. Giveth an account by letter to B. Fitz-Patrick of his progresse p. 412 413. severall letters written by him p. 423 424. his diary p. 425. ¶ 14. quick wit and pious prayer ¶ 17. at his death ibid. EDWIN King of Northumberland and in effect Monarch of England after long preparatory promises Cent. 7. ¶ 39 c. at last converted and baptised ¶ 43. slain by the Pagans in Battel ¶ 60. EGBERT Arch-bishop of York famous in severall respects b. 2. p. 101. ¶ 23. his beastly Canons ¶ 24. EGBERT first fixed Monarch of England Cent. 8. ¶ 41. First giveth the name of England Cent. 9. ¶ 5 6. Is disturbed by the Danes ¶ 7. ELEUTHERIUS Bishop of Rome his Letter to King Lucius Cent. 2. ¶ 6. pretendeth to an ancienter date then what is due thereunto ¶ 7. sends two Divines into Britain ¶ 8. ELIE Abbey made the See of a Bishop b. 3. p. 23. ¶ 23. the feasts therein exceed all in England b. 6. p. 299. ¶ 11. Q. ELIZABETH proclaimed b. 8. p. 43. ¶ 56. assumeth the title of supream head of the Church b. 9. p. 152. ¶ 4. defended therein against Papists p. 53. ¶ 5 6. c. Excommunicated by Pope Pius quintus b. 9. p. 93 94. Her farewell to Oxford with a Latine Oration b. 9. p. 223. ¶ 7 8. Her well-come to Cambridge with a Latine Oration Hist of Cambridge p. 138. her death b. 10. p. 4. ¶ 12. Iohn ELMAR Bishop of London his death and Character b. 9. p. 223. ¶ 10. ELVANUS sent by King Lucius to Eleutherius Bishop of
Bonis Studiis tuis vacas Perlegas quaeso hanc Centuriam vel eo nomine quod Funera Tui Mei Bedae exhibeat Tuum dico quia haud ita pridem sub auspiciis Patronatus tui typis Saxonicis pulcherrimus prodiit Meum quo Authore vel potius Authoribus in hoc Opere toties usus sum Pluribus Viro occupatissimo molestus esse nolo Vale. PAinfull VVilfride was no sooner out of one Trouble 701 but he was engaged in another Wilfride persecuted afresh by Alfride King of Northumberland Hereupon a Hist Eccles Angl. pag. 95. Harpsfield calls him the Athanasius of that Age onely saith he that Father was persecuted by Hereticks and this VVilfride by Catholicks He might have added that Athanasius was troubled for Essentiall and Doctrinall Truths whilest VVilfride was vexed about Ceremonious and Circumstantiall matters And now Alfride who succeeded Egfride King of Northumberland powerfully opposed him being the paramount Prince and in effect Monarch of the Saxon Heptarchie For as we have noted before amongst these seven Kings as amongst the Planets there was ever one Sun that out-shined all the rest This Alfride joyning with Bertuald Arch-bishop of Canterbury called a b Malmeâ—b de Gestis Pont. lib. 3. See Sr. Henry Spelman in Conciliis Anno 701. Council and summoned Wilfride who appeared there accordingly But being demanded whether he would obey the Decrees of Theodore late Archbishop of Canterbury he warily returned That he was willing to obey them so farre as they were consonant to the Holy Canons This Answer was not satisfactory to his Adversaries as having in it too little of a Grant to please them and yet not enough of a Deniall to give them a just Offence Then they sought by fair means to perswade him because much Trouble had arose in the Church about him voluntarily to resign under hand and seal his Possessions and Arch-Bishoprick affirming it would be a glorious act to preferre the Publick Good before his Private Profit But Wilfride persisted loyall to his own Innocence affirming such a Cession might be interpreted a Consession of his Guiltinesse and appealed from that Councill to his Holinesse and this tough old man being 70. yeares of age took a Journey to Rome there to tugg it out with his Adversaries 2. They accused him of Contumacy Wilfride appâ—aleth to Rome and is acquitted that he had contemptuously denied Canonicall Obedience to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury 705 He cleared himself and complained that he had been unjustly deprived and that two Monasteries of his own Founding Rippon and Hexham were violently detained from him No fewer then seventy severall a Septuaginta concilâ—abula coacta Malmsbury ut prius Councils understand them so many severall Meetings of the Conclave were assembled in four moneths and employed onely or chiefly about deciding of this Difference belike there were Intricacies therein more then are specified in Authours Knots to employ so many cunning Fingers to unty them or else the Court of Rome was well at Leasure The Sentence of Pope Iohn the seventh passed on his side and his Opposers were sent home with Blame and Shame whilest Wilfride returned with Honour managing his Successe with much Moderation equally commendable that his Innocence kept him from Drooping in Affliction and his Humility from Insulting in Prosperity 3. Bertuald He is at last restored and dyeth in peace Arch-bishop of Canterbury humbly entertained the Popes Letters in behalf of Wilfride and welcomed his Person at his Return But Alfride King of Northumberland refused to re-seat him in his Bishoprick stoutly maintaining b Contra rationem homini jam bis à toto Anglorâ—m consilio damnato propter quaelibet Apostolica Scripta communicare Malmesbury de Gestis Pontificum lib. 3. that 't was against reason to communicate with a man twice condemned by the Council of England notwithstanding all Apostolick Commands in favour of him But soon after he fell dangerously sick a consequent of and therefore caused by his former Stubbornnesse as those that construe all Events to the advantage of the Roman See interpret this a Punishment on his Obstinacy Suppled with Sicknesse he confessed his Fault and so Wilfride was restored to his Place whose Life was like an April-day and a Day thereof is a Moneth for Variety often interchangeably fair and foul and after many Alterations he set fair in full Lustre at last Being fourty five yeares a Bishop in the seventie-sixth year of his age he died and was buried in his Monastery at Rippon And as he had been a great Traveller when living so his Bones took one Journey after his death being translated by c Godwin in his catalogue of the Archbishops of York pag. 11. viri illi quos sanctissimos celebrat antiquitas Theodorus Bertualdus Iohannes Bosa Hilda Abbatisâ—a digladiabili odio impetierunt Wilfridum deo acceptissimum Sherborn taken out of Winchester Bishoprick Odo Arch-bishop of Canterbury from Rippon to Canterbury in Reparation perchance for those many Wrongs which the Predecessours of Odo had done to this Wilfride Let not therefore the Papists vaunt immoderately of the Unity of their Church neither let them uncharitablie insult on our unhappy Differences seeing by the confession of their own Authours there was Digladiabile Odium Hatred as one may say even to Daggers-drawing betwixt Wilfride and certain Principall Persons conceived signall for Sanctity in that Age and sithence put into the Calender of their Saints And it is as sure as sad a Truth that as long as Corruption resides in the bosomes of the Best there will be Dissensions inflamed by malicious Instruments betwixt Pious people which otherwise agree in main matters of Religion 4. The Bishoprick of Sherborn was taken out of the Bishoprick of Winchester by King Ina and Adelme his Kinsman made first Bishop thereof I find no Compensation given to the See of Winchester for this great Canton cut out of it as in after-Ages when Ely was taken out of Lincoln Diocese the Manour of Spaldwick in Huntingtonshire was given by King Henry the first to Lincolne in Reparation of it's Loss for so much of the Jurisdiction taken from it But at this time when Sherborn was parted from Winchester the Damage to Winchester accruing thereby was not considerable Episcopall Jurisdiction in that Age not being beneficiall but rather burthensome So that Winchester might turn her Complaints into Thankfulnesse being thus eased of her cumbersome Greatnesse This Adelme Bishop of Sherborn was the d Camden's Britannia in Wiltshire first of our English Nation who wrote in Latine and the first that taught English-men to make Latine Verse according to his Promise Primus ego in Patriam mecum modò vita supersit Aonio rediens deducam vertice Musas If life me last that I do see that Native Soile of mine From Aon top I 'll first with me bring down the Muses nine He wrote many Works one a Bede of