Edward the Fourth procured of him the Priory of Sherbourn in Hampshire and Queen Mary by her intercession prevailed with King Charles for the perpetual Patronage of certain Benefices in the same County 23. Nor let not our Virgin Queen be forgotten Queen Elizabeths singular bounty as in effect Refoundresse of this from the third year of her reign being informed that the Title of the Foundation thereof with the lands thereunto belonging were in question and subject to eviction by Act of Parliament conferred a sure Estate of the same 24. I meet in the Records of the Tower Rouls This Colledg parted between two Arch-bishops with a passage concerning this Colledg and though I do not perfectly understand I will exemplifie it And * Ex Rot. Parl. Henrici quarti anno 13. a little after upon divers matters moved between the said Arch-bishop and the Arch-Bishop b Henry Bowet of York upon certain priviledges pretended by the said Arch-Bishop of York in the Colledge called QUEEN-HALL in the Vniversity of Oxford The said Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in presence of the King and of the Lords promised a Tho. Arundel that if the said Arch-Bishop of York could sufficiently show any Priviledge or specially of Record wherefore the said Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ought not to use his Visitation of the said Colledge he would then abstain Saving to himself alwaies the Visitation of the said Schollars abiding in the said Colledge according to the judgement and decrees made and given by K. Richard the second and by our Lord K. Henry that now is as in the * See this recorded at larg in the next Book p. 164. Record thereof made thereof more plainly is declared It seems hereby so far as I can apprehend this Colledge was so parted betwixt the two Metropolitans that the dead Moity viz. the Lands and Revenues thereof belonged to the inspection of the Arch-Bishop of York whilst the living half namely the Schollars especially in matters concerning their Religion pertained to the Visitation of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Provosts Anno Regis Ed. tertii 12. Richard de Retteford John de Hotham Henry Whitfield Thomas de Carlile Roger Whelndale Walter Bell. Rowland Byris William Spenser Thomas Langton Christ Bainbridge Edward Rigge John Pantry William Denyse Hugh Hodgeson Thomas Francis Lancelot Shaw Alane Scot. Barthol Bowse field Henry Robinson Henry Airy Barnabas Petter Christopher Potter Gerard Langbain Benefactors Anno Dom. 1346 Robert Langton Thomas Langton Edmund Grindal Christo Bainbridge William Fettiplace Henry Robinson Henry Ayrie Bishops Henry Baufort Bp. of Winchester and Cardinall of St. Eusebias Christopher Bainbridge Arch-Bishop of York and Cardinal of St. Praxes Henry Robinson Bp. of Carlile Barnabas Potter Bp. of Carlile Learned Writers 1 John Wickliffe Bailiol Merton and Queens colledges claim him and all perchance rightly at several times 2 John de Trevisa of whom hereafter anno 1397. This house hath lately been happy in learned Lawyers Sir John Banks Sir Ro. Berkley Sir Tho. Tempest Atturney General of Ireland Judg Atkins courteous to all men of my profession and my self especially Sr. Thomas Overbury Christopher Potter in his excellent work of Charity Mistaken * Eminent for his review of the Council of Trent GERARD LANGBAIN THOMAS BARLOVV So that at this present are maintained therein one Provost fourteen Fellows seven Schollars two Chaplains two Clerks and other Students about 160. 25. In the mean time the Pope was not idle The Pope makes use of the Kings absence but laid about him for his own profit Knowing King Edward could not attend two things at once And therefore whilest he was busied about his wars in France his Holinesse bestirred him in England cropping the flowers of the best Livings in their bud before they were blown Yea in a manner he may be said to seethe the Kid in the Mothers milk So that before Livings were actually void He provisionally pre-provided Incumbents for them and those generally Aliens and his own Countreymen 26. Though late 15 the King got leisure to look on his own Land 1343 where he found a strange alteration The Statute of provisions reasonably made for as France lately was made English by his Valour England was now turned Italian by the Popes Covetousnesse In prevention therefore of future mischief this Statute of Provision was made whereby such forestalling of Livings to Forrainers was forbidden 27. Our Authors assign another accidentall cause of the Kings displeasure with the Pope Mans anger worketh Gods pleasure namely That when his Holinesse created twelve Cardinals at the request of the King of France He denied to make one at the desire of this King of England Surely it was not reasonable in proportion that his Holinesse giving the whole dozen to the King of France might allow the advantage to the King of England However betwixt both this statute was made to the great enriching of the Kingdom and contentment of the Subjects therein 28. Yet this Law Statures of Provisions not presently obeyed of Provisions as all others did not at the first making meet with present and perfect obedience The Papal party did struggle for a time till at last they were patient per-force finding the Kings power predominant True it is this grievance did continue and was complained of all this and most of the next Kings Reign till the Statute of praemunire was made Anno Dom. 1345. which clinted the naile which now was driven in Anno Regis Ed. tertii 15. So that afterwards the Land was cleared from the incumbrance of such Provisions 29. A good Author tells us Papal power in England declines Habent Imperia suos Terminos huc cùm venerint sistunt retrocedunt ruunt Empyres have their bounds whither when they come they stand still they go back they fall down This is true in respect to the Papal power in England It went forward untill the Statute of Mort-maine was made in the reign of King Edward the first It went backward slowly when this Statute of provisions swiftly when this Statute of Praemunire was made It fell down when the Papacy was abolished in the reign of King Henry the eighth 30. Three years after the statute against the Popes Provisions was made The Pope takes wit in his anger the King presented unto him Thomas Hatlife to be Bishop of Durham 1346 one who was the Kings Secretary 21 and when this is all is said that can be in his commendation as utterly devoid of all other Episcopal qualifications However the Pope confirmed him without any dispute or delay and being demanded why he consented to the preferment of so worthlesse a person he answered that rebus sic stantibus if the King of England had presented an Ass unto him he would have confirmed him in the Bishoprick Indeed as yet his Holiness was in hope that either the K. would revoke the foresaid statute or else
is a great deal when it must be taken from a new-shorne sheep so pilled and polled were all people before with constant exactions Such whom his hard usage forced beyond the seas were recalled by his Proclamation So that his heavy leavies would not suffer them to live here and his hard Laws would not permit them to depart hence And when the Clergy complain'd unto him to be eased of their burdens I beseech you said he have ye not coffins of gold and silver for dead mens bones intimating that the same treasure might otherwise be better imployed 36. The streams of discord began now to swell high variance between the King and Anselme betwixt the King and Arch-Bishop Anselme flowing principally from this occasion At this time there were two Popes together so that the Eagle with two heads the Arms of the Empire might now as properly have fitted the Papacy for the present Of these the one Guibertus I may call the Lay-Pope because made by Henry the Emperor the other Vrban the Clergy-Pope chosen by the Conclave of Cardinals Now because like unto like King William sided with the former whilest Anselme as earnestly adhered to Vrban in his affections desiring to receive his Pall from him which the King resused to permit Hereupon Anselme appealed to his Pope whereat King William was highly offended 37. But Their several pleadings and present reconcilement because none are able so emphatically to tell their stories and plead their causes as themselves take them in them in their own words The King Objected The custome from my Father's time hath been in England that no person should appeal to the Pope without the Kings license He that breaketh the customs of my Realm violateth the power and Crown of my Kingdom He that violateth and taketh away my Crown is a Traytor and enemy against me Anselme Answered The Lord hath discussed this question Give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto God the things that are Gods In such things as belong to the terrene dignities of temporal Princes I will pay my obedience but Christ said Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church c. Whose Vicar he ought to obey in spiritual matters and the fetching of his Pall was of that nature At last an expedient was found out that Anselme should not want his Pall nor fetch it himself from Rome being by the King's consent brought to him by Gualter Pope Urban's Legate whom the King at last was fain to acknowledg and so all things for the present reconciled 38. But the wound betwixt them was rather skinned over They disagree again then perfectly healed and afterwards brake out again the King taking occasion of displeasure at Anselmes backwardness to assist him in his expedition into Wales Whereupon Anselme desired a second journey to Rome there to bemoan and probably to relieve himself by complaint to the Pope But the King stopt his voyage affirming that Anselme had led so pious a life he need crave no absolution at Rome and was so well stored with learning that he needed not to borrow any counsel there Yea said the King Vrban had rather give place to the wisdom of Anselme then Anselme have need of Urban In fine after much contesting Anselme secretly stole out of the Realm and the King seized all his goods and lands into his own coffers Three years was he in exile somtimes at Lions sometimes at Rome welcome wheresoever he came and very serviceable to the Church by his pious living painfull preaching learned writing and solid disputing especially in the general Councel of Bar where he was very useful in confuting and condemning the errours of the Greek-Church about the Procession of the Holy Spirit 39. King Rufus was a hunting in New-Forest 14. Aug. 2. which was made by King William 1100 his Father King Rufus his death not so much out of pleasure or love of the game as policy to clear and secure to himself a fair and large landing-place for his forces out of Normandy if occasion did require Here then was a great devastation of Towns and Temples the place being turned into a wilderness for Men to make a Paradise for Deer God seemed displeased hereat for amongst other Tragedies of the Conquerors family acted in this place Rufus was here slain by the glancing of an arrow shot by S r Walter Tirrel An unhappy name to the Kings of England this man casually and another wilfully S r James Tirrel employed in the murthering of King Edward the fifth having their hands in royal bloud Now it is seasonably remembred that some yeers since this King William had a desperate disease whereof he made but bad use after his recovery and therefore now Divine Justice would not the second time send him the summons of a solemn visitation by sickness but even surprized him by a sudden and unexpected death 40. Thus died King William Rufus His hurial and character leaving no issue and was buried faith my a John Bromton pag. 997. Author at Winchester multorum Procerum conventu paucorum verò planctu many Noble-men meeting but few mourning at his funerals Yet some who grieved not for his death grieved at the manner thereof and of all mourners Anselme though in exile in France expressed most cordial sorrow at the news of his death A valiant and prosperous Prince but condemn'd by Historians for covetousness cruelty and wantonness though no woman by name is mentioned for his Concubine probably because thrifty in his lust with mean and obscure persons But let it be taken into serious consideration that no pen hath originally written the life of this King but what was made by a Monkish pen-knife and no wonder if his picture seem bad which was drawn by his enemy And he may be supposed to fare the worse for his opposition to the Romish usurpation having this good quality to suffer none but himself to abuse his Subjects stoutly resisting all payments of the Popes imposing Yea as great an enemy as he was conceiv'd to the Church he gave to the Monks called De Charitate the great new Church of S t Saviours in Bermondsey with the Manor thereof as also of Charlton in Kent 41. Henry Beauclarke Henry the first succeedeth Rufus and is crowned his brother succeeded him in the Throne one that crossed the common Proverb The greatest Clerks are not the wisest men being one of the most profoundest Scholars and most politick Princes in his generation He was Crowned about four dayes after his brothers death Anno Dom. 1100. At that time Anno Regis Hen. 1. the present providing of good swords was accounted more essential to a Kings Coronation then the long preparing of gay clothes Such preparatory pomp as was used in after-ages at this Ceremony was now conceived not onely useless but dangerous speed being safest to supply the vacancy of the Throne To ingratiate himself to
to receive large summes of money for his leave after whose faculties obtained if such marriage were against the Law of God men did sin not with less guiltiness but more Expences 26. That the Bodies of the Dead be not carried to be buried out of their own Parishes so that the Parish Priest should lose his due unto him 27. That none out of a rash novelty which we know to have happened exhibit reverence of Holiness to any Bodies of the Dead fountains or other things without Authority from the Bishop 28. That none persume hereafter what hitherto men used in England to sell Men like bruite Beasts Anno Dom. 1102. This Constitution as all others which concerned the Subjects Civil right found not general obedience in the Kingdom For the proceedings of the Canon Law were never wholly received into practice in the Land but so as made subject in whatsoever touched temporals to secular Laws and national Customs And the Laytie at pleasure limited Canons in this behalf Nor were such sales of servants being mens proper goods so a See Mr Selden spicileg ad Eadmerum pag. 208. weakned with this prohibition but that long after they remained legal according to the Laws of the Land 29. That the sin of Sodometry both in Clergie and Laytie should be punished with heavy Censures Remarkable that the same Synod which forbad Priests Marriage found it needful to punish Sodometry an Italian Vice beginning now to be naturaliz'd in England For those who endeavour to make the way to heaven narrower then God hath made it by prohibiting what he permits do in event make the way to hell wider occasioning the committing of such sins which God hath forbidden We may further observe that the plaister now applied to the rotten sore of Sodometry was too gentle too narrow and too little time laid on Too gentle for whereas the sin is conceived to deserve death it was onely slubber'd over that the party convict of this Wickedness if in Orders was admitted to no higher honour and deposed from what he had till restored again on his repentance Too narrow if it be true what one observes that b Bale in the Acts of English Votaries second part chap. 74. MONKS as neither merely Lay nor Priests were not threatned with this Curse where all was hidden in Cloysters Lastly too little time laid on for whereas at first it was constituted that such Excommunication of Sodomites convicted should solemnly be renewed every Lords Day this short-liv'd Canon did die in the birth thereof and Anselme himself c Eadmerus ut prius postponi concessit suffered it to be omitted on pretence that it put beastly thoughts into many mens mindes whose corruption abused the punishment of sin in the provocation thereof whilest others conceive this relaxation indulged in favour to some great offenders who hardened in Conscience but tender in Credit could not endure to be so solemnly publickly and frequently grated with the shame of the sin they had committed So much for the Constitutions of that Synod wherein though Canons were provided for Priests Cap a Pe from the shavnig to the shooes yet not a syllable of their instructing the people and preaching Gods word unto them We must not forget that men guilty of Simony in the first Canon are not taken in the Vulgar acception for such as were promoted to their places by money but in a new coyned sence of that word for those who were advanced to their Dignities by investiture from the King which gave occasion to the long and hot Broil happening betwixt King Henry and Anselme which now we come to relate 4. The King commanded him to Consecrate such Bishops 4. as he lately had invested 1103 namely An selme refuseth to consecrate the Kings Bishops William of Winchester Roger of Hereford c. which Anselme refused because flatly against the Canon newly made in the Councel of Rome by Pope Vrban that any who had their entrance by the Authority of temporal Princes should be admitted to Bishopricks Hereupon the King enjoyned Gerard Arch-Bishop of York to Consecrate them who out of opposition to Anselme his Competitour was as officious to comply with the King King as the other was backward Anno Dom. 1105. hoping thereby to hitch his Church a degree the higher Anno Regis Hen. 16. by help of his Royal Favour Here hapned an unexpected accident For William Bishop of Winchester refused Consecration from the Arch-Bishop of York and resigned his staff and ring back again to the King as illegally from him This discomposed all the rest For whereas more then the moity of Ecclesiastical persons in England were all in the same condemnation as invested by the King the very multitude of offenders would have excused the offence if loyal to their own cause Whereas now this defection of the Bishop of Winchester so brake the ranks and maimed their entireness that their cause thereby was cast by their own confession and so a party raised among them against themselves 5. Soon after Anselme sent to Rome the King was contented that Anselme should go to Rome to know the Popes pleasure herein But one none of the Conclave without a prophetical spirit might easily have foretold the resolution of his Holiness herein never to part with power whereof how injuriously soever though but pretendedly possessed Anselme for his complyance with the Pope herein is forbidden to return into England while the King seiseth on his temporalities 6. However The king parts with his investing of Bishops not log after 1106. by mediation of friends 7. they are reconciled the King disclaiming his right of Investitures a weak and timerous act of so wise and valiant a Prince whose Predecessors before the Conquest held this power though some time loosely in their own hands and his Predecessors since the Conquest grasp'd it fast in their fist in defiance of such Popes as would finger it from them Whereas now he let it go out of his hand whilest his Successors in vain though with a long arme reach't after it to recover it And now Anselme who formerly refused consecrated all the Bishops of vacant Sees amongst whom Roger of Sarisbury was a prime person first preferred to the Kings notice because he began prayers quickly and caded them speedily for which quality he was commended as fittest for a Chaplain in the Camp and was not unwelcome to the Court on the same account 7. Anselme having devested the King of investing Bishops one of the fairest roles in his Ward-robe did soon after deprive the Clergie of one half of themselves Anselme forbids Priests marriage For in a solemn Synod he forbad Priests Marriage wherein 1107 as charitably we believe 8. his intentions pious and commendable and patiently behold his pretences specious and plausible so we can not but pronounce his performance for the present injurious and culpable and the effects thereof
cc. xlix o. in Crastino Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis The substance is this That the Dean and Chapter promise to depend wholy on the Kings pleasure in the choice of the next Elect so that now Cathedralls began to learn good manners Notwithstanding the Pope usually obtruded whom he pleased upon them Say not that S t. Asaph was an inconsiderable Cathedrall being at great Distance of small Revenue which might make them more officious to comply with the King seeing the poorest oft times prove the proudest and peevishest to their Superiours But although this qualm of Loyalty took this Church for the present we must confesse that generally Chapters ask the Kings leave as Widows do their Fathers to marry as a Complement not requisite thereunto as conceiving it Civility to ask but no Necessity to have his Approbation 56. Two eminent Arch-bishops of Canterbury successively filled that See Edmond Archbishop of Cant. during the most part of this Kings Reign First Edmond Treasurer of Salisbury born say some in London and Christened in the same Font with Thomas Becket My a Godwine in Catalogue of Bishops pag. 130. Authour makes him educated in Vniversity Colledge in Oxford a great Scholar and lover of learned men refusing to consecrate Richard VVendover Bishop of Rochester because of his want of Sufficiency for such a Function hereupon he incurred the displeasure of Otho the Popes Legate siding with VVendover requiring no other Qualification save Money to make a Bishop was inforced to undertake a dangerous and expensive journey to Rome to his great Damage and greater Disgrace being cast in his Cause after the spending of a thousand Marks therein 57. He took the boldnesse to tell the Pope of his Extortion Sainted after his death though little thereby was amended After his return he fell into the Kings displeasure so that overpowered with his Adversaries and circumvented with their malice weary of his Native Country the miseries whereof he much bemoaned he went into voluntary Banishment He died and was buried in France and six years after which I assure you was very soon and contrary to the modern Custome was Sainted by Pope Innocent the fourth Whose Body Lewes the fourth King of France solemnly removed and sumptuously inshrined 58. The other Boniface a worthlesse Arch-bishop Boniface by name was onely eminent on the account of his high Extraction as Uncle to the Queen and son of Peter Earle of Savoy a horrible scraper of money generally hated insomuch that he went his Visitation having a Corslet on under his Episcopall habit which it seems was no more then needs the Londoners being so exasperated against him that they threarned his Death had not he secured himself by Flight Only he is memorable to Posterity for paying two and twenty thousand Marks debt of his See which his Predecessours had contracted for building a fair Hall at Canterbury and a stately Hospitall at Maidstone which it seems was indited and found guilty of and executed for Superstition at the dissolution of Abbeys when it was valued at above a hundred and fifty pounds of yearly Revenue being aliened now to other uses SECT Anno. Regis III. Anno Dom. TO WILLIAM ROBINSON OF The Inward-Temple Esq SIR Edward Coke was wont to say that he never knew a Divine meddle with a matter of Law but that therein he committed some great errour and discovered gross ignorance I presume you Lawyers are better Divines then we Divines are Lawyers because indeed greater your concernment in your pretious soules then ours in our poor estates Having therefore just cause to suspect my own judgement in this Section wherein so much of Law I submit all to your Judgment to add alter expunge at pleasure that if my weak endeavours shall appear worthy of a second Impression they may come forth corrected with your Emendations 1. QUiet King Henry the third Hen. 3 57. our English Nestor not for depth of brains 1272. but lenghth of life as who Reigned fifty six years The vivacity of King Henry the third and the variety of his life in which terme he buried all his Contemporary Princes in Christendom twice over All the moneths in a year may in a manner be carved out of an April-day Hot cold dry moist fair soule weather being oft presented therein Such the character of this Kings life certain onely in uncertainty Sorrowful successful in plenty in penury in wealth in want Conquered Conquerour 2. Yet the Sun of his life did not set in a Cloud The serenity of his death and solemnity of his Burial but went down in full lustre a good token that the next day would be fair and his Successor prove fortunate He died at S t Edmunds-Bury and though a merciful Prince ended his dayes in a necessary act of justice Anno Dom. 1272. severely punishing some Citizens of Norwich Anno Regis Hen. 3. 57. for burning and pillaging the Priory therein His corps were buried at Westminster Church founded and almost finished by him with great solemnity though Prince Edward his Son as beyond the Seas was not present there at Ed. 1. 1. 3. There cannot be a greater Temptation to Ambition to usurpe a Crown The advantages of absent Prince Edward then when it findeth a vacancy on the Throne and the true heir thereof absent at a great distance Such an advantage at this instant had the Adversaries of Prince Edward not as yet returned from Palestine to put in if so minded for the Kingdom of England And strange it was that no Arrears of the former Rebellion were left but all the reckonings thereof so fully discharged that no Corrival did appear for the Crown But a general concurrence of many things befriended Prince Edward herein 1. His Father on his death-bed secured his Sons succession as much as might be by swearing the Principal Peers unto him in his absence 2. The most active and dangerous Military men the Prince had politickly carried away with him into Palestine 3. Prince Edward his same present here in the absence of his person preserved the Crown for him as due to him no less by desert then descent The premisses meeting with the love and Loyalty of many English hearts paved the way to Prince Edward his peaceable entrance without any opposition 4. King Edward was a most worthy Prince His atchievements against the Turks coming off with honour in all his atchievements against Turke and Pope and Jews and Scots and against whomsoever he encountred For the Turks he had lately made a voyage against them which being largely related in our Holy War we intend not here to repeat Onely I will add that this Forein expedition was politickly undertaken to rid the Land of many Martialists wherewith the late Barons Wars had made it to abound These Spirits thus raised though they could not presently be conjured down were safely removed into another room The fiercest Mastiff-Dogs never
should believe it if it be true that his Corps for some dayes were at London expos'd to open view understand it done at distance lest coming too near might discover some violence offered on his person It is probable that the obscurity of his burial huddled into his grave at Langley in Hertford-shire gave the lustre to the report that he was still alive believed of those who desired it 21. Whereas this Law against Lollards No Woman Lollard Martyr extended to Women though many of the weaker Sex were in trouble upon that account Yet on my best enquiry I never found any one put to death Anna Ascough being the first who in the reign of King Henry the Eight was burnt for her Religion 22. A g Nector Boetius lib. 16. Scotch Writer tells us Who meant by the fool in Scotland that King Richard fled disguised into Scotland discovered himself to and was honourably entertained by Robert the King thereof Adding that Richard who would no more of the world gave himself wholly to Contemplation livd dy'd and bury'd at Sterling possibly some Mimick might personate him there and is the Fool mentioned in this Petition 23. Hereupon it was that the poor Lollards were prosecuted Cruel persecution with such cruelty that the prisons were full of them many forced to abjure and such who refused used without mercy as in M r Fox is largely related 24. Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop Arundel going to Visit Oxford Arch-Bishop of Canterbury came to Oxford with a pompous train accompanied with many persons of Honour and particularly with his Nephew Thomas Fitz-Allen Earl of Arundell His intent was juridically to Visit the Vniversity expecting to be solemnly met and sumptuously entertained according to his place and dignity 25. But see the spite of it Is resisted by the Chancellour Richard Courtney the Chancellor of Oxford whom by his Sir-name and high Spirit I should guess descended from the Earls of Devonshire with Benedict Brent and John Birch the two Proctors denied the Arch-Bishop entrance into the Vniversity under the notion of a Visitor though as a Stranger great Prelate and Privy Councellor all welcome was provided for him and his Retinue Arundell was angry with the affront and finding force both useless the Scholars siding with the Chancellor and inconsistent with his gravity was fain fairly to retreat re infectâ to London the rather because the Chancellour had submitted the cause in controversie to the hearing and determining of his Majestie 26. King Henry at the joynt instance of both parties The King determines the cause for the Arch-Bishop summoned them to Lambeth to hear and determine the controversie the Chancellour of Oxford produceth an Army of large Bulls of the Pope Arch-Bishop Arundell brought forth one Champian viz. An Instrument in the Reign of King Richard the second wherein the King adjudged all their Papall Priviledges void as granted to the dammage of the Crown and much occasioning the increase of Lollards not that it was so done intentionally by his Holiness for who can suspect the Pope turn Lollard but accidentally it came to pass that thy Vniversity of Oxford freed from Archiepiscopal Visitation by vertue of those Bulls the Wicklivists therein escaped from Consistorian censure Hereupon King Henry pronounced sentence on the Arch-Bishops side Febr. 9. Friday as by the ensuing Instrument will plainly appear ET ulterius tam anctoritate sua regia quà m virtute submissionis praedictae sibi factae adtune ibidem arbitratus fuit ordinavit consideravit decrevit adjudicavit quod Praedictus Archiepiscopus Successores sui in perpetuum habeant Visitationem Jurisdictionem in Vniversitate praedictâ tam Cancellarii Commissariorum quà m Procuratorum ejusdem Vniversitatis qui pro tempore fuerint nec non omnium Doctorum Magistrorum regencium non-regencium ac Scholarium ejusdem Vniversitatis quorumeunque eorumque Servientium aliarnmque personarum cujuscunque status condicionis extiterint etiam ejusdem Vniversitatis ut Vniversitatis quod Cancellarius Commissarii Procuratores Vniversitatis praedictae qui pro tempore fuerunt eorumque Successores omnes alii in dicta Vniversitate pro tempore commorantes futuris temporibus eidem Archiepiscopo Successoribus suis in visitatione Jurisdictione Vniversitatis praedictae etiam ut Vniaersitatis in omnibus pareant obedient Et quod nec dictus Cancellarius Commissarii nec Procuratores Vniversitis praedictae nec eorum Successores nec aliquis alius in Vniversitate praedicta aliquod privilegium seu beneficium exemptionis ad excludendum praefatum Archiepiscopum seu Successores suos de Visitatione Jurisdictione praedictis in Vniversitate antedicta colore alicujus Bullae seu alterius tituli cujuscunque erg a praedictum Archiepiscopû seu Successores suos clament habeant seu vendicent ullo modo in futuruÌ„ Et quod quotiens Cancellarius Commissarii vel locum-tenens ipsorum vel alicujus ipsorum vel Procuratores dictae Vniversitatis qui pro tempore fuerint vel eorum Successores sive aliquis eorum impedierint vel impedierit praefatum Archiepiscopum vel Successores suos aut Ecclesiam suam praedictam aut ipsorum vel alicujus ipsorum Commissarium vel Commissarios de hujusmodi Visitatione sive jurisdictione dictae Vniversitatis vel in aliquo contravenerint vel aliquis eorum contravenerit dictis arbitrio ordinacioni sive judicio per praefatum Ricardum nuper Regem factis sive arbitrio judicio decreto considerationi vel ordinacioni ipsius Domini nostri Regis Henrici in hoc casu vel si aliquis dictae Vniversitatis in futurum impedierit dictum Archiepiscopum vel Successores suos aut Ecclesiam suam praedictam aut ipsorum vel alicujus ipsorum Commissarium vel Commissarios de Visitatione sua aut jurisdictione antedicta vel in aliâ—uo contravenerit dictis arbitrio ordinacioni sive judicio per praefatum Ricardum nuper Regem in forma praedictâ factis vel arbitrio judicio decreto considerationi vel ordinationi ipsius Domini nostri Regis Henrici Et quòd Cancellarius Commissarii vel Procuratores Vniversitatis praedictae tunc non fecerint diligentiam posse eorum ad adjuvandum dictum Archiepiscopum vel Successores sous aut Ecclesiam suam praedictam seu Commissarium vel Commissarios suos in hujusmodi casu ac etiam ad puniendum hujusmodi impediments resistenets Quòd totiens omnes Franehesiae libertates omnia privilegia ejusdem Vniversitatis in manus Domini Regis vel haeredum suorum seisiantur in eisdem manibus ipsorum Domini Regis vel haeredum suorum remansura quousque praedictus Archiepiscopus vel Successores sui pacificam Visitationem jurisdictionem in sorma praedicta in dicta Vniversitate habuerit vel habuerint etiam tociens Cancellarius Commissarii Procuratores ejusdem Vniversitatis qui pro tempore fuerint eorum Successores ac
desperately say his foes fell in the midst of his enemies and his corps were disgracefully carried to Leicester without a rag to cover his nakedness as if no modest usage was due to him when dead who had been so shameless in his cruelty when alive The Crown ornamental being found on his head was removed to the Earls and he Crowned in the field and Te Deum was solemnly sung by the whole Army 15. Soon after King Henry married the Lady Elizabeth Hen. 7 1. eldest Daughter unto King Edward the fourth Henry the seventh his sixfold title to the Crown whereby those Roses which formerly with their prickles had rent each other were united together Yea sixfold was King Henry his title to the Crown First Conquest Secondly Military election the Souldiers crying out in the field King Henry King Henry Thirdly Parliamentary Authority which setled the Crown on Him and His Heirs Fourthly Papal confirmation his Holiness forsooth concurring with his religious complement Fifthly Discent from the House of Lancaster But that all know was but the back-door to the Crown and this Henry came in but by a window to that back-door there being some bastardy in his pedigree but that was salved by post-legitimation Sixthly Marriage of King Edwards Daughter the first and last being worth all the rest Thus had he six strings to his bow but commonly he let five hang by and onely made use of that one which for the present he perceived was most for his own advantage Yet for all these his Titles this politick Prince thought fit to have his Person well secured and was the first King of England who had a standing Guard to attend him 16. Thomas Bourchier Cardinal 2. and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1586 had the honour first to marry The death of Arch-Bishop Bourchier then to Crown King Henry and the Lady Elizabeth And then having sitten in a short Synod at London wherein the Clergie presented their new King with a tenth quietly ended his life having sate in his See two and thirty years He gave an hundred and twenty pounds to the University of Cambridg which was joyed with another hundred pounds which M r Billingforth Master of Bennet Colledg had some years before given to the said University and this joint stock was put into a Chest called at this day the Chest of Billingforth and Bourchier and Treasurers are every year chosen for the safe keeping thereof 17. John Morton born say some at Beare John Morton succeeded him but more truly at S t Andrews Milbourne in Dorcet-shire where a worshipful family of his name and lineage remain at this day succeeded him in the See at Canterbury He was formerly Bishop of Elie and appointed by Edward the fourth one of the Executors of his Will and on that account hated of King Richard the third the Excutioner thereof He was as aforesaid imprisoned because he would not betray his trust fled into France returned and justly advanced by King Henry first to be Chancellor of England and then to be Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 18. Now began the Pope to be very busie by his Officers A gift not worth the taking to collect vast summes of money in England Anno Dom. 1486 presuming at the Kings connivance thereat Anno Regis Hen. 7 2. whom he had lately gratified with a needless Dispensation to Legitimate his Marriage with the Lady Elizabeth his Cousin so far off it would half pose a Herald to recover their Kindred For 1. Edward the third on Philippa his Queen begat 2. Lyonel Duke of Clarence who on Elizabeth his Lady begat 3. Philippa on whom Edward Mortimer Earl of March begat 4. Roger Earl of March who on begat 5. Anne on whom Richard Plantagenet Duke of York begat 6. Edward the fourth king of England who on Elizabeth woodvile begat 7. Elizabeth his Eldest Daughter who was married unto 2. John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who of Katharine Swinford begat 3. John de Beaufort Duke of Somerset who on begat 4. John Beausort Duke of Somerset who on Marg. Beauchamp begat 5. Margaret on whom Edmund Tuther Earl of Richmond begat 6. Henry Earl of Richmond afterwards 7 th of that name King of England Neither Law Divine or Civil forbad marriage at this distance but the Pope would be over-officious both to oblige the King and interest himself as if no Princes could well be married except the Pope had a finger in joining their hands together 19. Exorbitancies of Sanctuaries retreuched More material to the King was the help of his Holiness 1487 to regulate the exorbitancies of abused Sanctuaries 3. In this age could an offendor get such an house over his head he accounted himself instantly innocent though not is conscience yet as to outward punishment the Kings enemies once Sanctuaried daring him no less then the Jebusites in their strong fort of Sion defied David a 2 Sam. 5. 6. Though shalt not come in hither The Pope therefore in favour of the King and indeed of equity it self ordered 1. b Lord Verulam in Hen 7. pag. 39. That if any Sanctuary man did by might or otherwise get out of Sanctuary privily and commit mischief and trespass and then come in again he should lose the benefit of Sanctuary for ever after 2. That howsoever the person of the Sanctuary man was protected from his Creditors yet his goods out of Sanctuary should not 3. That if any took Sanctuary for cause of Treason the King might appoint him keepers to look to him in Sanctuary Surely had the King been pleased to interpose his own power he might have reformed these abuses but he thought fitter to make use of the Popes Spiritual artillery against these Spiritual Castles of Rebellion that he might not seem to intrench on their lawful priviledges having formerly at least in pretence appeared a great Patron of Sanctuaries and a severe punisher of the unjust infringers thereof On which account this King who was never uxorious husband nor over-dutiful son in law confined the Queen Dowager his wives Mother to a Religious House in Bermansey because three years since she had surrendred her two Daughters out of the Sanctuary at Westminster Anno Regis Hen. 7 4. to Richard Duke of York Anno Dom. 1488 20. A Synod was holden by Arch-Bishop Morton at London Two Synods at London wherein the Luxury of the London a Antiquit. Brit. Pag. 298. Clergie in cloaths that City alwayes the staple of bravery with their frequenting of Taverns was forbidden such Preachers also were punished who with popular applause enveighed against Bishops in their absence the next year also a Synod was called but little therein effected but vast summes of money granted by the Clergie to the King 21. John Giglis an Italian Italians good at getting and holding about this time imployed by the Pope 5. got an infinite mass of money 1489 having power from
Innocent But others conceive King Henry not so simple himself his parts onely seeming the lower being over-topped with a high spirited queen more probable it is what another d See Mr Habington in the life of Ed. 4. saith that seeing King Henry held the Crown by a false title from the true heir thereof the Pope could not with so good credit fasten a Saintship on his memory But our great e Camd. Brit. ◠Surrey Antiquary resolveth all in the Popes covetousness In cause fuit Pontificis avaritia demanding more then thrifty King Henry the seventh would allow Who at last contented himself by the Popes leave hardly obtained to remove his Corps from Chertsey in Surrey where it was obscurely Interred Anno Regis Hen. 7 10. to Windsor Chappel Anno Dom. 1494. a place of greater reputation Thus is he whom Authors have observed twice Crowned twice Deposed twice Buried the best was though he was not Canonized yet there was plenty of Popish Saints beside him wherewith the Calender is so overstocked that for want of room they justle one another 28. But the Saintship of Anselme Arch-Bishop Morton procureth the Sainting of Ansilm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 13. was procured on cheaper terms 1497 though it cost Arch-Bishop Marton much money who procured the same Indeed Anselme being alterius orbis Papa the Pope of the English world as the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was termed no wonder if one Pope upon reasonable termes did this courtesie for another Besides great was the merit of Anselme to the Church of Rome little whereof goes far to obtain a Canonization seeing he was the Champion and confessor of the Popes cause about investing of Bishops against two Kings successively William Rufus and King Henry the first 29. Observable was the carriage of King Henry towards the Pope The Kings carriage to the Pope the Clergie and the poor Lollards To the Pope he was submissive not servile his devotion being seldom without design so using his Holiness that he seldom stooped down to him in any low reverence but with the same gesture he took up something in order to his own ends 30. To the Clergie of desert he was very respectful trusting and imploying them in State affairs more then his Nobility To the dissolute and vitious Clergie he was justly severe Severe to the vitious Clergie and pared their priviledges ordeining that Clerks a Lord Verulam in Hen. 7. pag. 66. convict should be burnt in the hand both that they might taste a corporal punishment and carry a brand of infamy But for this good act the King himself was afterwards branded by Mock-King-Perkins proclamation for an execrable breaker of the Rights of Holy Church He also made a b Statotes undecimo Hen. 7. cap. 2. Law that begging scholars though Clerks should be reputed Vagabonds without they shew the Letters of the Chancellor of the University from whence he saith he cometh 31. To the Lollards so were Gods people nick-named he was more cruel then his predecessors Sad to be the Kings Convert for he not onely in the beginning of his Reign connived at the cruel persecutions which Jo. Halse Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield raised against them 14. but towards the end of his Reign appeared in his person very bloudy unto them 1498 if the story be true which is very lamely delivered unto us There was in Canterbury an old Priest so resolute in Wicliffs opinions that none of the Clergie there could convince him of the contrary The King casually coming thither in the moneth of May undertook the Priest himself though we never read before of his Majesties disputing save when he disputed Bosworth field with King Richard the third The King by what arguments we know not converted this Priest and then presently gave order he should be burnt which was done c Fox Acts Mon. pag. 556. accordingly Surely there was more in the matter then what appeared in the Record or else one may boldly say that if the Kings Converts had no better incouragement this was the first he made and the last he was ever likely to make 32. Two most needless pieces of Cruelty were committed at this time the one an aged old man burnt in Smithfield the other one Joan Baughton widow Needless cruelty which seemeth a woman of some quality as Mother to the Lady Young who was afterwards Martyred she being fourscore d Fox Ibid. years of age was burnt for an Heretick posting her to the Stake which was going to the Grave 33. William Smith sometimes Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridg The Founding of Brasen-nose Colledg and Bishop of Lincoln this year began the Foundation of Brasen-nose Colledg in Oxford I meet not with any satisfactory reason why so called save the fancy of the Founder Except any will say it was so named because built c where anciently Brasen-nose hall stood though this does not so much resolve the Question as put it a degree further off Anno Dom. 1498 But when such who cavil at the name Anno Regis Hen. 7 14. build a Colledg it shall be left at their free liberty to call it according to their own pleasure This Bishop lived not to finish his intentions and the resore after his death Richard Sutton Esq took upon him to perfect the same and accomplished it accordingly Principals Bishops Benefactors Learned men Matthew Smith John Hawarden Tho. Blanchard Rich. Harris Alex. Noel Tho. Singleton D r Ratcliffe Tho. Yates Dr. Greenhil Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham William Clifton William Porter Jo. Elton aliàs Baker Hum. Ogle Edw. Darby Jo. Claymond Jo. Williamson Brian Higden Alexand. Noel Joyce Frankland Richard Harper S r Jo. port Jo. Lord Mordant D r Jo. Barneston Geo. Palin Richard Caldwell Doctor of Physick and a Camdent Eliz. in Anno 1585. Founder of a Chirurgery Lecture in London Ro. Bolton a famous Preacher So that at this present the Colledg is much beautified with buildings and ornaments for the perfecting whereof great summes have been expended within these few last years maintaining a Principal twenty Fellows besides Scholars Officers and Servants of the Foundation in all Anno 1634. amounting to one hundred eighty six Cheshire-men whose Country is called Nobilitatis Altrix and those of Lancashire most commendable ob bonitatem habitudinis decorem aspectus are in this Colledg most proper for preferment 34. John Morton Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased The Death of Arch-Bishop Morton many condemned him in his life for acting and putting the King forward to be burtheniome to his Subjects with his Taxes 1500 but his innocence appeared after his death 16. that he rather tempered the Kings covetousness then otherwise He was a Learned man and had a fair Library Rebuss'd with More in text and Tun under it partly remaining in the possession of the late Earl of Arundell I finde him in the
distanced but the breadth of the Street from S t Pauls Church The Mercers made Overseers thereof should not be intrusted to the inspection of his successors the Dean and Chapter of Pauls but committed to the care of the Company of the Mercers for the managing thereof But f In his Epistle unto Jodocus Jonâ—s Erasmus rendreth a good reason from the mouth and minde of Collet himself who had found by experience many Lay-men as consciencious as Clergy-men in discharging this trust in this kinde conceiving also that whole Company was not so easie to be bowed to corruption as any single person how publick and eminent soever 16. For my own part Out of provident prescience I behold Collets act herein not onely prudential but something Prophetical as foreseeing the ruine of Church-lands and fearing that this his School if made an Ecclesiastical Appendent might in the fall of Church-Lands get a bruise if not lose a limb thereby 17. William Lily was the first School-master thereof by Collets own appointment An excellent Scholar born at Odiam in Hampshire and afterward he went on Pilgrimage as far as g Pitzaeus de Ang. Scriptor pag. 697. Jerusalem In his return through Italy he applied himself to his studies And because some perchance would be pleased to know the Lilies of Lily I mean his Teachers and Instructers know that John Sulpitius and Pomponius Sabinus two eminent Criticks were his principal informers Returning home into his native Country well accomplished with Latin Greek and all Arts and Sciences he set forth a Grammer which still goes under his name and is universally taught all over England 18. Many were the Editions of this Grammer â—is Grammer 〈◊〉 the first forth Anno 1513. Anno Dom. 1519 when Pauls School was Founded as appears by that instance Anno Ragis Hen. 8 11. Meruit sub Rege in Galliâ relating to Maximilian the German Emperour who then at the Siege of Therovenne in Flanders fought under the banner of Kings Henry the eighth taking an a Godwins Annals pag. 16. hundred crowns a day for his pay Another Edition Anno 1520. when audito Rege Doroberniam proficisci refers to the Kings speedy journey into Canterbury there to give entertainment to Charles the fifth Emperour lately landed at Dover 19. Formerly there were in England almost as many Grammers as Schoolmasters And privileged by authority children being confounded not onely with their variety but sometimes contrariety thereof rules being true in the one which were false in the other Yea which was the worst a boy when removed to a new School lost all he had learned before whereupon King Henery endeavoured an uniformity of Grammer all over his Dominions that so youths though changing their School-masters might keep their learning This was performed and William Lilies Grammer enjoyned universally to be used Astipend of four pounds a year was allowed the Kings Printer for Printing of it and it was penall for any publickly to teach any other I have been told how larely Bishop Buckeridge examining a Free-School in his Diocess of Rochester the Scholars were utterly ignorant of Lilies rules as used to others whereat the Bishop exclaimed what are there Puritans also in Grammer 20. I deny not but some since have discovered blasted leaves in out Lily observing defects and faults therein and commendable many persons pains in amending them however it were to be desired that no needless variations be made and as much left of Lily as may be The rather because he submitted his Syntaxis to the judgment of b Pitzaeus ut prius Erasmus himself so that it was afterward printed amongst his works Indeed Quae Genus was done by Thomas Robinson and the Accidens as some will have it by other Authors after Lily was dead and Prince Edward born of and for whom it was said Edvardus is my proper name And thus we take out leave both of Lily and Pauls-School flourishing at this day as much as ever under the care of M r John Langly the able and Religious School-master thereof 21. King Henry had lately set forth a Book against Luther King Henry writes against Luther endeavouring the confutation of his opinions as novel and unfound None suspect this Kings lack of learning though many his lack of leisure from his pleasures for such a design however it is probable some other Gardner gathered the flowers made the collections though King Henry had the honour to wear the posie carrying the credit in the title thereof 22. To require his pains Stiled by the Pope Desender of the Faith the Pope honoured him and his successors with a specious title A Defender of the c Jude 3. Faith Indeed it is the bounden Duty of every Christian earnestly to contend for the faith which once was given to the Saints but it is the Dignity of few men and fewer Princes to be able effectually to appear in Print in the Vindication thereof 23. There is tradition His Jesters reply that King Henry's Fool though more truly to be termed by another name coming into the Court and finding the King transported with an unusual joy boldly asked of him the cause thereof to whome the King answered it was because that the Pope had honoured him with a stile more eminent then any of his Ancestours O good Harry quoth the Fool let Theu and I defend one another and let the faith alone to defend it self Most true it is that some of his Successors more truly deserved the Title then he to whom it was given who both learnedly then solidly engaged their pens in the asserting of true Religion 24. At this time Wolsey his unlimited power and pride though King Henry wore the sword Cardinal Wolsey bare the stroke albo're the Land being Legate de Latere by vertue whereof he visited all Churches and Religious Houses even the Friers Observants themselves notwithstanding their stoutness and stubbornness that first d Fox Acts Monumnets opposed him Papal and Royal power met in him being the Chancellor of the Land Anno Regis Hen. 8 13. and keeping so many Bisshopricks in Commendam Anno Dom. 1521 his yearlie income is said to equal if not exceed the Revenues of the Crown 25. The more the pitty that having of his own such a flock of preferment nothing but the poor mans a 2 Sam. 12 3. Ewe-lamb would please him He was the first confoundder of abbies so that being to Found two Colledges he seised on no fewer then fourty small Monasteries turning their inhabitants out of house and home and converting their means principally to a Colledg in Oxford This alienation was confirmed by the present Pope Clement the seventh so that in some sort his Holiness may thank himself for the demolishing of Religious Houses in England 26. For the first breach is the greatest in effect 16. And Abbies having now lost their Virginity
the silken flie wherewith Anglers cheat the fishes was onely given out to tempt King Henry to a longer patience and quiet expectation of the event Octo. 22. But by this time Queen Katharine had privately prevailed with the Pope to advoke the cause to Rome as a place of more indifferency for a plea of so high concernment Whereupon Campegius took his leave of the King and returned into Italy 49. The Papists tell us Love-Letters of King Hen. kept in the Vatican that Cardinal Campegius sent over before him some amatorious Letters which passed written with the Kings own hand betwixt him and his dear Nan as he termed her These are said to import more familiarity then chastity betwixt them and are carefully kept and solemnly shewn in the Vatican to strangers especially of the English Nation though some suspect them to be but forged For though the King had wantonness enough to write such Letters yet Anna Bollen had wit and warmess too much to part with them It would more advance the Popish project could they shew any return from her to the King accepting his offers which they pretend not to produce Our Authors generally agree her deâ—â—alls more inflamed the Kings desires For though perchance nothing more then a woman was wish'd by his wilde sancy yet nothing less then an husband would content her conscience In a word so cunning she was in her chastity that the farther she put him from her the nearer she fastened his affections unto her 50. Still was the Kings cause more delaied in the Court of Rome No haste to end the Kings cause at Rome If a melancholick School-man can spin out a speculative controversie with his Pro's and Con's to some quires of paper where the profit is little to others and none to himself except satisfying his curiosity and some popular applause no wonder if the Casuists at Rome those cunning Masters of Defence could lengthen out a cause of so high concernment and so greatly beneficial unto them For English silver now was current and out gold volant in the Popes Courts whither such masses of money daily were transported England knew not certainly what was expended nor Rome what received herein Yea for seven years was this suit depending in the Popes Court after which Apprentiship the Indentures were not intended to be cancelled but the cause still to be kept on foot it being for the interest to have it alwayes in doing and never done For whilest it depended the Pope was sure of two great friends but when it was once decided he was sure of one great foe either the Emperour or our King of England 51. It was a Maxime true of all men King and Queen hoth offended with Wolsey but most of King Henry Omnis mora properanti nimia He who would have not onely what but when he would himself was vexed with so many delayings deferrings retardings prorogations prolongations procrastinations betwixt two Popes as one may say Clement that was and Wolsey that would be So that all this while after so much adoe there was nothing done in his business which now was no nearer to a final conclusion then at the first beginning thereof Yea now began Cardinal Wolsey to decline in the Kings favour suspecting him for not cordial in his cause and ascribing much of the delay to his backwardness herein More hot did the displeasure of Queen Katharine burn against him beholding him as the chief engine who set the matter of her Divorce first in motion 52. Be it here remembred that in perswading the Kings Divorce Wolsey looks two wayes in this design Wolsey drave on a double design by the recess of the Kings love from Queen Katharine to revenge himself of the Emperour by the access of his love to Margaret of Alenson to oblige the King of France Thus he hoped to gain with both hands and presumed that the sharpness of his two-edged policy should cut on both sides when God to prevent him did both blunt the edges and break the point thereof For instead of gaining the love of two Kings he got the implacable anger of two Queens of Katharine decaying and Anna Bollen increasing in the Kings affection Let him hereafter look but for few fair dayes when both the Sun-rising and setting frowned upon him SECT II. TO M r THOMAS JAMES OF BUNTINGFORD IN Hertford-shire COrner Stones two walls meeting in them are polished with the more curiosity and placed with more carefulness So also corner bones as I may say which do do double duty and attend the service of two joynts in the Elbow and Knee are rarely fixed by the providence of Nature This Section being in the turning of Religions the going out of the Old and coming in of the New ought to have been done with most industry difficultie meeting therein with dark instructions However I have endeavoured my utmost though falling short of the merits of the matter and doubt not but you will be as candid in the perusing as I have desired to be careful in the writing thereof KKnow now in the next year Anno Regis Hen. 8 22. the Lords in Parliament put in a Bill of fourty four particulars against Wolsey Anno Dom. 1530. The most material was his exercising of power-Legative Accused in Parliament and well defended by Mr Cromwel his servant without leave to the prejudice of the Kings Crown and Dignity The Bill is brought down into the House of Commons where M r Cromwel then Servant to the Cardinal chanced to be a Burgess Here he defended his Master with such wit and eloquence that even those who hated the Client yet praised the Advocate who pleaded in his behalf This was the first time that publick notice was taken of Cromwel his eminent parts and advantagious starting is more then half the way in the race to preferment as afterwards in him it came to pass As for Wolsey though at this time he escaped with life and liberty yet were all his goods of inestimable value confiscated to the King and he outed of most of his Ecclesiastical promotions 2. Court-favourites Prefeâ—red 〈…〉 to York when it is once past noon Anno Dom. 1530 it is presently night with them Anno Regis Hen. 8 22. as here it fared with wolsey His enemies of whom no want follow the 〈◊〉 given unto him For they beheld him rather in a Sown then as yet dead in the Kings favour and feared if his submission should meet with 〈◊〉 remembrance of his former services they might produce his full 〈◊〉 to power and dignity The rather because the Cardinal was cun 〈◊〉 to improve all to his own advantage and the King as yet not cruel 〈◊〉 too perfect in that lesson afterwards His enemies would not trust the Cardinal to live at London nor at Winchester within fifty miles thereof but got the King to command him away to York sending him thither whither his conscience
the Burial of S t. Teliau second Bishop of Landaffe three Places did strive to have the Interring of his Body Pen-allum where his Ancestours were buried Lanfolio-vaur where he died and Landaffe his Episcopall See Now after Prayer to God to appease this Contention in the place where they had left him there appeared suddenly three g Godwin in the Bishops of Landaffe Hearses with three Bodies so like as no man could discern the right and so every one taking one they were all well pleased If by the like Miracle as there three Corpses of Teliau encoffined so here three Child-Constantines encradled might be represented the Controversie betwixt these three Cityes were easily arbitrated and all Parties fully satisfied But seriously to the matter That which gave Occasion to the Varieties of their Claims to Constantine's Birth may probably be this that he was Born in one place Nursed in another and perchance being young Bred in a third Thus we see our Saviour though born in Bethlehem yet was accounted a Nazarite of the City of Nazareth where he was brought up and this general Errour took so deep impression in the People it could not be removed out of the Minds and Mouths of the Vulgar 19. Constantine being now peaceably setled in the Imperial Throne 312 there followed a sudden and general Alteration in the World Peace and prosperity restored to the Church by Constantine Persecutors turning Patrons of Religion O the Efficacy of a Godly Emperours Example which did draw many to a conscientious love of Christianity and did drive more to a civil conformity thereunto The Gospel formerly a Forester now became a Citizen and leaving the Woods wherein it wandered Hils and Holes where it hid it self before dwelt quietly in Populous Places The stumps of ruined Churches lately destroyed by Diocletian grew up into beautifull Buildings Oratories were furnished with pious Ministers and they provided of plentifull Maintenance through the Liberality of Constantine And if it be true what one relates that about this time Anno Dom. 312 when the Church began to be inriched with Meanes there came a voice from Heaven I dare boldly say he that first wrote it never heard it being a modern a John Nauclerus president of Tubing University Anno 1500. Authour saying Now is Poison poured down into the Church yet is there no danger of Death thereby seeing lately so strong an Antidote hath been given against it Nor do we meet with any particular Bounty conferred by Constantine or Hellen his Mother on Britain their native Country otherwise then as it shared now in the general Happinesse of all Christendom The Reason might be this That her Devotion most moved Eastward towards Hierusalem and he was principally employed farre off at Constantinople whither he had removed the Seat of the Empire for the more Conveniency in the middest of his Dominions An Empire herein unhappy that as it was too vast for one to manage it intirely so it was too little for two to govern it jointly as in after-Ages did appear 20. And now just ten years after the Death of S t. Alban a Stately Church was erected there and dedicated to his Memory As also the History of Winchester reporteth that then their Church first founded by King Lucius and since destroyed was built anew and Monks as they say placed in it But the most avouchable Evidence of Christianity flourishing in this Island in this Age The Appearance of the British in forreign Councills is produced from the Bishops representing Britain in the Councill of 1 ARLES in France 314 called to take Cognizance of the Cause of the Donatists where appeared for the British 1 b See the severall subscriptions at the end of this Councill in Binnius Eborius Bishop of York 2 Restitutus Bishop of London 3 Adelfius Bishop of the City called the Colony of London which some count Colchester and others Maldon in Essex 4 Sacerdos a Priest both by his proper Name and Office 5 Arminius a Deacon both of the last place 2 NICE in Bithynia 325 summoned to suppresse Arrianisme and establishing an Uniformity of the Observation of Easter to which agreed those of the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Eusebius lib. 3. de vita Constant c. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 SARDIS in Thracia 347 called by Constantius and Constans Sonnes to Constantine the Great where the Bishops of d Athanasius in the beginning of his second Apologie against the Arrians Britain concurred with the rest to condemn the Arrians and acquit Athanasius 4 ARIMINUM on the Adriatick Sea in Italy 359 a Synod convocated by Constantius the Emperour In this last Council it is remarkable that whereas the Emperour ordered that Provisions and those very plentifull of Diet should be bestowed on the Bishops there assembled yet those of Aquitain France and e Sulpitius Severus lib. 2. Historiae Sacrae Britain preferred rather to live on their Proper Cost then to be a Burden to the Publick Treasury Onely three British Bishops necessitated for want of Maintenance received the Emperours Allowance the Refusal of the former having enough of their own being an Act full of Praise as the laters accepting a Salary to relieve their Want a deed free from Censure Collect we hence 1. that there were many British Bishops in this Council though their Names and Number are not particularly recorded 2. That the generality of British Bishops had in this Age Plentifull Maintenance who could subsist of themselves so farre off in a fortain Country whereas lately in the Council of Trent many Italian Bishops though in a manner still at home could not live without Publick Contribution But there was good reason why the British were loath to accept the Emperours Allowance though otherwise it had been neither Manners nor Discretion for Prelats to refuse a Princes Profer because as f Dan. 1. 8. Daniel and the Children of the Captivity preferred their Pulse before the Fare of King Nebuchadnezzar Anno Dom. 359 for feare they should be defiled with his though Princely yet Pagan Diet so these Bishops did justly suspect that Constantius the Emperour being an Arrian had a Design to bribe their Iudgements by their Palats and by his Bounty to buy their Suffrages to favour his Opinions In very deed this a Episco◠Arrianus Dogma sirunt suba oppriment Constantio cundus cap. 30. Britain beginneth to be tainted with Arrianisme Synod is justly taxed not that it did bend but was bowed to Arrianisme and being over-born by the Emperour did countenance his Poisonous Positions 21. Hitherto the Church in Britain continued Sound and Orthodox in no degree tainted with Arrianisme 360 which gave the Occasion to S t. Hilary in his b Dedicating unto them his Book de Synodis Epistle to his Brethren and fellow Bishops of Germany and Britain c. though he himself was in Phrygia in Banishment to
busy themselves with controversial Divinity However herein their Discretion is to be commended that finding their own Forces too feeble to encounter so great a Foe they craved the Assistance of Foreiners out of France and sent for Germane Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes not being of their envious and proud Disposition who had rather suffer a Good Cause to fall then to borrow Supporters to hold it up lest thereby they disgrace themselves confessing their own Insufficiency and preferring the Abilitie of others The two Bishops chearfully embraced the Employment and undertook the Journey no whit discouraged with the length of the Way danger of the Sea and badnesse of the Winter seeing all Weathers is fair to a willing mind and Opportunity to doe good is the greatest Preferment which a humble heart doth desire This Lupus was Brother to Vincentius c Euchetius in libello de laude Eremi ad Hilarium Lirinensis d Usher de Brit. Eccl. Primord pag. 325. Husband to Pimeniola the Sister of Hilary Arch-Bishop of Arles one of such Learning and Sanctity that a grave Authour of those times stileth him a Father of e Sidonius lib. 6. Epist 1. Fathers and Bishop of Bishops yea another James of that Age. And yet in this Employment he was but a Second to GERMANE the Principal and both of them like PAUL and BARNABAS jointly advanced the Designe 5. Coming into Britain Anno Dom. 429 with their constant Labours they confirmed the Orthodox German and Lupus come over and preach in Britain and reclaimed the Erroneous preaching openly in Fields and a Per trivia per rura per devia High-wayes As the Kings Presence makes a Court so their's did a Church of any Place their Congregation being bounded with no other Walles then the Preacher's voice and extending as farre as he could intelligibly be heard As for their formall Disputation with the Pelagian Doctors take it from the Pen of Bede and Mouth of Stapleton translating him 6. The Authours and head Professours of hereticall Errour Their disputation with the Pelagian Doctors lay lurking all this while and like the wicked Spirites much spighted to see the People daily to fall from them At length after long advisement used they taketh upon them to try the matter by open Disputation which being agreed upon they come forth richly appointed gorgiously apparaled accompanied with a number of flattering favours having b Not presuming to alter any of Stapleton's words take it with all the Printers saults done probably by an out-landish Presse leifer to commit their Cause to open disputting then to seem to the people whom they had subverted to have nothing to say in the defence thereof Thether resorted a great Multitude of people with their Wives and Children The People was present both to see and judge the matter the Parties there were farre unleke of Condition In the one side was the Faith on the other was presumption on the one side Meeknesse on the other Pride on the one side Pelagius on the other Christ First of all the blessed Prist Germanus and Lupus gave their Adversaries leave to speak which vainly occupied both the time and eares of the People with naked words But after the Reverend Bishops poored out their flowing words confirmed with Scriptures out of the Gospels and Apostles they joyned with their own words the words of God and after they had said their own mind they read other men's mind's upon the same Thus the Vanite of Hereticks is convicted and Falssehed is confuted sso that at every objection they were forced in effect to confesse their Errour not being able to Answere them The People had much to do to keep their hands from them yet shewed their Iudgement by their Clamours 7. A Conference every way admirable Many remarkables in this Disputation First in the Opponents who came forth gallantly as ante-dating the Conquest and bringing the Spoils of their Victory with them But gay Cloaths are no Armour for a Combate Secondly In the Defendents of the Truth appealing to no unwritten Traditions but to the Scriptures of the Gospels and Apostles because the point of Grace controverted appeared most plainly in the New Testament Thirdly In the Auditors or as they are called the Iudges Men Women and Children Wonder not at this Foeminine Auditory seeing they were as capable of the Antidote as of the Poison and no doubt the Pelagians had formerly as other Hereticks crept into houses to seduce silly c 2 Tim. 3. 6. VVomen and therefore now the Plaister must be as broad as the Sore As for Children we know who it was that said In Latin not pueri but liberi d Mat. 19. 14. Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not c. But here though called Children in Relation to their Parents they might be in good Age and capacity of understanding or if they were little ones indeed flocking out of fashion in a generall Concourse to see ese men speek Divine Mysteries they could not hereafter when grown old date their Remembrance from a more remarkable Epoche See we here that in these times the Laity were so well acquainted with Gods VVord that they could competently judge what was or was not spoken in Proportion thereunto Lastly and chiefly In the Successe of this Conference For though generally such publick Disputations do make more Noise then take Effect because the obstinate maintainers of Errour come with their Tongues tipt with Clamorousnesse as their Proselyte Auditours do with Eares stopt with Prejudice yet this meeting by Gods Blessing was marvellously powerfull to establish and convert the People But here a main Difficulty is by Authours left wholy untouch't namely in what Language this Conference was entertained Anno Dom. 429 and managed that Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops and Foreiners could both speak with Fluentnesse and be understood with Facility Perchance the ancient Gaules in France whence these Bishops came spake still as they did anciently one and the self-same Tongue with the Britans distering rather in Dialect then Language or which is more probable both France and Britain remaining as yet Roman Provinces spake a course vulgar Latine though invaded with a Mixture of many Base words as Britain especially now or near this time was infested with forein Barbarous Nations 8. This Conference was held at S t. Albans S. Albans the Place of the Conference even where at this day a small Chappeli is extant to the honour of S t. Germane though a Scot. Hist lib. 8. Hector Boethius assignes London the Place adding moreover that such obstinate Pelagians as would not be reclaimed were for their Contumacy burnt by the Kings Officers But it will be hard to find any Spark of Fire in Britain or elsewhere employed on Hereticks in this Age. We may observe that the aforeaid Hector Boethius and Polydor Virgil writing the Chronicles the
of the chimney or fire-makers to these Canons If so surely they had their Holiday-clothes on when sent to the Tower Kitchin-stuff doth not use to be tried in that place and were considerable if not in themselves in the affections of others And now well fare the heart of b In Anna 1191. Roger Hoveden who plainly tels us that these Focariae were these Canons Concubines See here the fruit of forbidding marriage to the Clergy against the Law of God and nature What saith the Apostle c 1 Cor. 7. 9. It is better to marry then to burn or which is the same in effect it is better to have a wife then a fire-maker 42. Albericus Bishop of Hostia came post form Rome A Synod at Westminster sent by Pope Innocent the second into England 4. Dece 13. called a Synod at Westminster 1138 where eighteen Bishops and thirty Abbots met together Here was conluded That no Priest Deacon or sub-Deacon should hold a wife or woman within his house under pain of degrading from his Christendom and plain sending to hell That no Priests son should claim any spiritual living by heritage That none should take a Benefice of any Lay-man That none were admitted to Cure which had not the letters of his Orders That Priests should do no bodily labour And that their transubstantiated God should dwell but eight dayes in the box for fear of worm-eating moulding or stinking with such like Anno Dom. 1138 In this Synod Theobald Abbot of Becco Anno Regis Steph. 7. was chosen Arch-Bishop of Canterburie in the place of William lately deceased 43. The most considerable Clergy-man of England in this age Henry of Winchester Englands Arch-Prelate for birth wealth and learning was Henry of Bloys Bishop of Winchester and Brother to King Stephen He was by the Pope made his Legate for Britaine and out-shined Theobald the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury For although Theobald just at this time was augmented with the title of Legatus natus which from him was entailed on his successors in that See yet this Henry of Bloys being for the present Legatus factus out-lustred the other as far as an extraordinary Ambassador doth a Leger of the same Nation In this Henry two interests did meet and contend that of a Brother and that of a Bishop but the later clearly got the conquest 1139. as may appear by the Councel he called at Winchester 5. wherein the King himself was summoned to appear Yea some make Stephen personally appearing therein a dangerous precedent to plead the cause of the Crown before a conventicle of his own subjects so that to secure Rome of Supremacy in appeals he suffered a Recovery thereof against his own person in a Court of Record loosing of himself to save the Crown thereby unto himself But William of Malmesbury present at the Councel and therefore his testimony is to be preferred before others mentions onely three parties in the place present there with their attendance 1. 2. 3. Roger of Sarisbury with the rest of the Bishops grievously complaining of their Castles taken from them Henry Bishop of Winchester the Popes Legat President of the Councel With Theobald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury pretending to umpire matters in a moderate way Hugh Arch-Bishop of Roan and Aubery de Vere ancester to the Ear of Oxford as Advocate for King Stephen This Aubery de Vere seems learned in the Laws being charactered by my a William Malmsbury hist novel lib. 2. pag. 183. Author homo causarum varietatibus exercitatus a man well versed in the windings of causes 44. In this Synod first the commission of Pope Innocent the second was read The issuless issue of the Synod at Winchester impowring the said Henry Bishop of Winchester with a Legative authority Then the Legate made a Sermon Latiariter which is as I conceive in the Latin tongue We finde not his text But know this was the subject of his discourse to inveigh against King Stephen depriving those Bishops of their Castles Sermon ended the Kings advocates or true subjects rather many making them to speak only out of the dictates of their own Loyalty not to plead by deputation from the King made his defence that Bishops could not canonically hold Castles and that the King had dispoyled them of their treasure not as Episcopal persons but as they were his Lay-offices advised thereto by his own security The Bishops returned much for themselves and in fine the Synod brake up without any extraordinary matter effected For soon after came Queen Maud with her Navie and Armie out of Normandy 1140. which turned debates into deeds 6. and consultations into actions But we leave the readers to be satisfied about the alternation of success betwixt King Stephen and Maud to the Historians of our State There may they read of Maud her strange escapes when avoiding death by being believed dead otherwise she had proved in her grave if not pretended in a Coffin when getting out in white Lynen under the protection of Snow I say how afterwards both King Stephen and Robert Earl of Glocester were taken prisoners 1141. and given in Exchange 7. the one for the liberty of the other Anno Dom. 1141. with many such memorable passages the reader may stock himself from the pens of the civil Historians the proper relators thereof 45. It is strange to conceive how men could be at leasure in the troublesome Reign of King Stephen to build and endow so many Religious foundations Why plenty of Religious foundations in these Martiall dayes Except any will say that men being as mortal in peace most dying in War the devotions of those dayes maintaining such deeds meritorious for their souls made all in that Martial age most active in such employments Not to speak of the Monastery of S r Mary de pratis 10. founded by Robert Earl of Leicester 1144. and many others of this time the goodly Hospital of S t Katharines nigh London was founded by Maud wife to King Stephen though others assign the same to Ro. Bishop of Lincoln as founder thereof So stately was the Quire of this Hospital that it was not much a Stows Survey of London pag. 117. inferiour to that of S t Pauls in London when taken down in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth by Doctor Thomas Wilson the Master thereof and Secretary of State 46. Yea King Stephen himself was a very great founder Religious houses founded by King Stephen S t Stephen was his tutelary Saint though he never learned his usurpation from the patient example of that Martyr whose name he bore on whose day he was Crowned to whose honor he erected S t Stephens Chappel in Westminster near the place where lately the Court of Request was kept He built also the Cistertians Monastery in Feversham with an Hospital near the West-gate in York And whereas formerly there were paid out
from the Pope and why where having been so great a stickler for his Holiness insomuch that his present disfavour with the King was originally caused by his activity for the Pope he might rationally have expected some courtesie But though he had used both his hands to scrape treasure for the Church of Rome the Pope would not lend his least finger to his support but suspended him from office and benefit of his place till he should clear himself from the crime of Treason wherewith he was charged Whether done to procure reputation to the Justice of the Court of Rome where in publick causes men otherwise privately well deserving should finde no more favour there then they brought innocence thither Or because which is most probable the Pope loved the Arch-Bishoprick better then the Arch-Bishop and knew during his suspension both to increase his profit and improve his power in England by such cunning Factors as he imployed in the business namely William de Testa and Peter Amaline both strangers to whom the Pope committed the sequestration of Canterbury whilest the cause of Wincelsey did as yet depend undetermined 8. These by Papal Authority A signal piece of Justice don by forein Sequestrators summoned before them John Salmon Bishop of Norwich for exacting the first-fruits of vacant Benefices from the Clergie of his Diocess The case was this Some sixty years since Pandulph an Italian and Popes Legat a perfect Artist in progging for money being Bishop of Norwich c Harpsfield Hist Eccl. Aug. in Seculo 13. cap. 15. pretending his Church to be in debt obtained of his Holiness the first-firuits of vacant Benefices in Norfolk and Suffolk to discharge that engagement This Grant to him being but personal local and temporary was improved by his Successors to a constant revenue yea covetousness being an apt Scholar and profit an easie lesson this example was followed by other English Bishops in their respective Diocesses Behold here a piece of exemplary Justice Who could have look'd for less the illegality of these payments appearing but that the Clergie should be eased of them Whereas these forein Sequestrators did order that generally throughout England the first-fruits of all spiritual promotions falling void next for three years should be paid over to the Popes Chamber at Rome onely d Antiquitates Britan. p. 208. Cathedral and Conventual-Churches were excepted herein No reason is rendered why the burden fell on Parish-Churches except any will say that the Ass must bear more then the Horse and the load is best laid on that beast which hath least mettle to kick it off and throw it down Englands gald backâ—â— changes a full flie for an hungry one the poor Parochial Clergie being most unable to resist the usurpation of his Holiness 9. Afterwards this William Testa who according to his name came over an empty shell but departed with the kernel of the English wealth complained of for his extortion a Câ—ntra intemperantem Testa 〈◊〉 publiâ—e in Parliamentâ— querlae quod Clerum immoderatè emuâ—geret Harpssield p. 431. to the Parliament was called home and Peter a Spanish Cardinal sent in his room where he concluded and celebrated a marriage betwixt Prince Edward and Isabel the King of France his Daughter Towards the bearing of his charges this Cardinal required twelve mark of all Cathedrals and Convents and of Parish-Churches eight pence out of every mark of their yearlie revenue But the King made him content with the moity of his demand 10. Mean time intollerable were the taxes which the English Clergie paid to Rome The infinite wealth Rome yearly drained from England The Poets faigne Arethusa a River in Armenia to be swallowed up by the earth and running many miles under the Ocean in Sicilie they say it vents it self up again But without any fiction the wealthy streams flowing from a plentiful spring in England did suddenly disappear and being insensibly conveyed in invisible chanels not under but over the Sea were found far off to arise afresh at Rome in the Popes Treasury where the Italians though being themselves bred in a clear and subtile Climate they scorn'd the dulness of the wits and hated the gross ayre of this Island yet hugg'd the heaviness of the gold thereof this Kingdom being one of the best places for their profit Although proud b In Consut Apolog Harding saith that the Popes yearly gains out of England were but as a GNAT to an ELEPHANT Oh the over-grown Beast of Romes Revenues 11. The death of King Edward the first The death character of K. Edward the first gave a great advancement to the Popes incroaching A worthy Prince he was 1307 fixed in his generation betwixt a weak Father 35. and son as if made wise and valiant by their Antiperistasis Equally fortunate in drawing and sheathing the sword in war and peace having taught the English loyaltie by them almost forgotten and the Welsh subjection which they never learn'd before In himself religiously disposed founded the famous c Camd. Brit. in Cheshire Abbey of Val-royal for the Cistercians in Cheshire and by Will bequeathing thirty two thousand pounds to the Holy War Obedient not servile to the See of Rome A soe to the pride and friend to the profession of the Clergie whom he watered with his bounty but would not have to spread so broad as to justle or grow so high as to overtop the Regal Authority Dying in due time for himself almost seventy year old but too soon for his Subjects especially for his Son whose giddy youth lack'd a guide to direct him In a word As the Arm of King Edward the first was accounted the measure of a yard generally received in England so his actions are an excellent model and a praise-worthy platform for succeeding Princes to imitate 12. Edward his Son Wincelsey at the request of K. Edward the second restored to his Arch. Bishoprick by Letters to the Pope requested that Robert Wincelsey might be restored to his Arch-Bishoprick which was done accordingly though he returned too late to Crown the King which solemnity was performed by Henry Woodlock Bishop of Winchester Here let the peaceable Reader part two contrary reports from fighting together both avowed by Authors of credit d Harpsfield Hist Ecc. Aug pag. 440. Some say Wincelsey after his return receiv'd his profits maim'd and mangled scarce amounting to half and that poor pittance he was fain to bestow to repair his dilapidated Palace Others report his revenues not less'ned in quantity and increas'd in the intireness were paid him all in a lump insomuch that hereby having learn'd thrift in exile to live of a little he speedily became the richest of all his e Antiq. Brit pag. 209. ex Adame Mumâ—â—ten Predecessors so that he gained by losses and it was his common Proverb that There is no hurt in adversity where there hath been no iniquity and many make his
that the Clergy ingrossed all Secular Offices and thereupon presented the insuing Petition to the King according to this effect insisting only in the substance thereof 42. And because that in this present Parliament it was declared to our Lord the King 45 by all the Earls 1370 Barons Ex Rot. Parl. in Turr. Lond. in 45. Ed. tertii and Commons of England that the Government of the Kingdom hath been performed for a long time by the men of Holy Church which are not * Justifiables in the French Originals 〈◊〉 whether whether not able to do justice or not to be justified in their imployment as improper for it justifiable in all cases whereby great mischiefs and damages have happened in times past and more may happen in time to come in disheriting of the Crown and great prejudice of the Kingdom for divers causes that a man may declare that it will please our said Lord the King Anno Dom. 1370 that the Laymen of the said Kingdom which are sufficient and able of estate Anno Regis Ed. tertii 45. may be chosen for this and that no other person be hereafter made Chancelour Treasurer Clerk of the Privy Seale Barons of the Exchequer Chamberlains of the Exchequer Controler and all other great Officers and Governours of the said Kingdom and that this thing be now in such manner established in form aforesaid that by no way it may be defeated or any thing done to the contrary in any time to come Saving alwaies to our Lord the King the Election and removing of such Officers but that alwaies they be Lay-men such as is abovesaid 43. To this Petition the King returned The Answer in effect a denial that he would ordain upon this point as it shall best seem to him by the advice of his good Councel He therefore who considereth the present power of the Clergy at the Councel-Table will not wonder if all things remained in their former Condition till the Nobility began more openly to favour John Wickliff his Opinions which the next Book God willing shall relate 44. We will close this with a Catalogue of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury Simon Mepham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Contemporary with King Edward the third and begin with Simon Mepham made Arch-Bishop in the first year of his reign so that the Crown and the Mitre may seem in some sort to have started together only here was the odds the King was a young yea scarce a man whereas the Arch-Bishop was well stricken in years Hence their difference in holding out the King surviving to see him buried and six more whereof four Simons inclusively heart-broken as they say with grief For when John Grandison Bishop of Exeter making much noise with his Name but more with his Activity refused to be visited by him the Pope siding with the Bishop Mepham so resented it that it cost him his life 45. John Stratford was the second John Sratford his successor Consecrated first Bishop of Winchester on the Lords day whereon it was solemnly sung many are the afflictions of the Righteous whereof he was very apprehensive then and more afterwards when his own experience had proved a Comment thereon Yet this might comfort him whilst living and make others honour his memory that a good Conscience without any great crime generally caused his molestation For under King Edward the second he suffered for being too loyall a Subject siding with the King against the Queen and her Son and under King Edward the third he was molested for being too faithfull a Patriot namely in pittying his poor Countreymens taxations for which he was accused for correspondency with the French and complying with the Pope Pope and King of France then blowing in one Trumpet whereat King Edward was highly incensed 46. However Stratford did but say what thousands thought His last his best dayes viz. that a peace with France was for the profit of England especially as proffered upon such honourable conditions This the Arch-Bishop was zealous for upon a threefold accompt First of Pietie to save the effusion of more Christian blood Secondly of Policie suspecting successe that the tide might turn and what was suddenly gotten might be as suddenly lost Thirdly on Charity sympathizing with the sad condition of his fellow Subjects groaning under the burthen of Taxes to maintain an unnecessary war For England sent over her wealth into France to pay their victorious Souldiers and received back again honour in exchange whereby our Nation became exceeding proud and exceeding poor However the end as well as the beginning of the Psalm was verified of this Arch-Bishop the Lord delivereth them out of all dying in great honour and good esteem with the King a strong argument of his former innocence 47. The third was Tho. Bradwardine Tho. Bradwardine the third Arch-bishop whose election was little lesse then miraculous For Commonly the King refused whom the Monks chose the Pope rejected whom the Monks and King did elect whereas all interests met in the choise of Bradwardine Yea which was more the Pope as yet not knowing that the Monks and the King had pre-elected him of his own accord as by supernaturall instinct appointed Bradwardine for that place who little thought thereon Thus Omne tulit punctum and no wonder seeing he mingled his profitable Doctrines with a sweet and amiable conversation Camden in Eliz. indeed he was skilled in School Learning which one properly calleth Spinosa Theologia and though some will say can figgs grow on thorns yet his thorny Divinity produced much sweet devotion 48. He was Confessor to king Edward the third whose miraculous victories in France The best Arch-Bishop of that See some impute more to this mans devout prayers Then either to the Policy or Prowess of the English Nation He died before he was inthronized few moneths after his consecration though now advanced on a more Glorious and durable Throne in Heaven where he hath received the Crown from God who here defended the * He wrote de Causae Dei Cause of God I behold him as the most pious man who from Anselm not to say Augustine to Cranmer sat on that Seat And a better St. Thomas though not sainted by the Pope then one of his predecessors commonly so called 49. Simon Islip was the fourth Simon Islip next Arch-Bishop a parcimonious but no avaricious man thrifty whilst living therefore clandestinely Inthronized and when dead secretly interred without any solemnity Yet his frugality may be excused if not commended herein because he reserved his estate for good uses founding Canterbury Colledge in Oxford Excipe Merton Colledge Thus generally Bishops founders of many Colledges therein denominated them either from that Saint to whom they were dedicated or from their See as Exeter Canterbury Durham Lincoln putting thereby a civil obligation on their Successors to be as Visitors so Benefactors thereunto This Canterbury Colledge is now
Knight Henry Broomflete put before a Doctor of both Laws and yet John Colevil another Knight placed after the same Doctor I confess the contest very ancient about priority betwixt a Knight and a Doctor of Law ever since the comparison which a In orat pro. Murena Tully made betwixt Lucius Murena a Knight of Rome and Pub. Sulpitius a Lawyer either of them standing for the Consulship Though now in England the precedency of the Knight be indubitable since preferment is taken from Civil Law and the professors thereof shut up as it were in a narrow corner of their own faculty But we leave the Critical Decision thereof to his b Chassaneus la gloria mundi lib. 9. pen who hath wrot a just Tract of the Glory in truth of the Vanity of this world and exactly stated this particular with all the circumstances thereof 7. Whereas the King impowreth those his Commissioners to meddle in the point of his right of the Realm of France A charitable and no impolitick offer with King Charles his competitor submitting his Title to be discussed in the Councel it carrieth with it a confidence of his own right and charitable desire to save the effusion of Christian Bloud But this was not Councel but Camp-work and we meet not with the mention hereof once touched on in this great Assembly However so wary was King Henry or rather his Councel as not absolutely to tie up his title to the decision of this Councel but to give his Commissioners a negative voice in case they see cause to dissent 8. The general History of the Church reporteth the Acts of this Councel A contest betwixt the English and Castilaus about precedency how they deposed Pope Eugenius and substituted Felix in his room for which and other decisions therein Rome beholds this Councel but with bad eyes unto this day We will onely meddle with a difference therein which concerned our own Nation The Orators of several Kings began to take their places according to their birth-rights dating their age from their Nations first receiving of Christianity Here arose the controversie of course about precedency betwixt the English and Castile Ambassadours the former alledging Britaines conversion by Joseph of Arimathea which Alphonsus Garsias de Sancta Maria Dean of Compostella and Segovia Doctor of Law and Ambassadour for Castile with a Speech c Ex Schedis Coâ—â—onianâ—s more tedious then his name and titles much endeavoured to disprove and his arguments may be reduced to these four heads 1. First he denied Josephs arrival in Britaine and imposed the proof thereof on the English who affirmed it challenging them to produce any authentick Record for the same 2. Secondly he urged probability to the contrary out of the Golden Legend or Flores Sanctorum where it is reported how Titus taking Jerusalem caused a thick wall to be digged thorow and therein found an aged man who confessed himself to be Joseph Or Arimathea there imprisoned by the Jews for burying of Christ and that ever since he had been fed with-meat from heaven Hence he inferred that if Joseph were in durance all this while in the wall he could not as the English pretended come over into Britain to plant the Gospel 3. Thirdly grant that Joseph after his enlargement by Titus preached in Britain which must needs be after the year of our Lord seventy and two Spain long before had received the Gospel by the preaching of James the Apostle 4. Fourthly Be it granted that Joseph did preach in England it was but in a corner thereof the grand body of Britain remaining pagan many hundred years after These arguments he uttered with such an affected gravity as if he could have made the matter the more by pronouncing the words the longer 9. The English easily answered these exceptions The English their answer proving James to be slaughtered at Jerusalem by a Acts 12. 2. Herod before his pretended preaching in Spain seeing their own Country-man and an b Rodericus Ximenius in concer d. primatu cum praesule 〈◊〉 in Concil Lateran Anno. 1215. Arch-Bishop of Toledo confesseth as much They produced many ancient testimonies for the preaching of Joseph in Britain the fond fable of his being kept in a wall being beneath confutation as attested onely by a worthless Author Joannes de Voragine Their allegation that Britain was but partially converted by his preaching was but impertinent to the present purpose the point controverted not being of the universality but the antiquity of first receiving the Christian Faith Besides neither James nor any other Disciple ever converted a Kingdom totally and entirely to Christianity However nothing was concluded in this controversie alwayes agitated never decided 1. In the Councel of Pisa Anno 1409. 2. In the Councel of Constance 1417. betwixt the Ambassadours of England and France 3. In the Councel of Sienes before Martin the fifth Pope wherein Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln encountered France Spain and Scotland about precedency Lastly betwixt England and Spain in the Councel of Basil though therein nothing concluded those politick Prelates accounting it better to keep both Princes in hope by discussing then to put one into anger by deciding it Yea they loved to set up this controversie as that of the precedence of Cambridg and Oxford in English Parliaments out of design sometimes to delay time sometimes by starting it to stop and divert more dangerous disputes 10. Henry Chichely 15. Doctor of Law 1437 Arch-Bishop of Canterbury All-Souls College in Oxford founded Founded a Colledg in Oxford by the Name of All-Souls for a Warden and fourty Fellows which number by Statute was never to be augmented or impaired and all void places by death or otherwise once in a year to be supplied Wardens Anno Dom. 1437. 1. M r Rich. Andrews 2. M r Rog. Keys 3. Mr Gul. Kele 4. M r Gul. Poteman 5. M r Jo. Stokie 6. Tho. Hobbys 7. M r Gul. Brooke 8. M r Jo. Coale 9. M r Rob. Woodward 10. M r Rob. Stokelie 11. M r Jo. Warner 12. M r Seth Holland 13. M r Jo. Pope 14. M r Rich. Barâ—er 15. M r Rob. Hovenden 16. D r Mocket 17. D r Ashley D r Shelden D r Palmer Bishops Anno Regis Hen. 6. 15. James Gouldwel Bishop of Norwich 1472. Gilbert Bourn Bish of Bath and Wells 1554. Glyes Tomson Bish of Gloucester 1611. Brian Duppa Bish of Sarum Fellow of this House Benefactors King Henry the 6 th at the procurement of the Founder gave four Priories Alians viz. Alberbury Rumney Weeden-Pinkeney and Languenith Queen Elizabeth confirmed the Parsonage of Stanton Harcourt Reginald Poole Card. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury S r William Peter Fellow of this Colledg and Secretary to four Kings and Queens Learned Writers S r Clement Edmonds D r Gentilis an excellent Civilian D r Steward M r Diggs So that at this present this Colledg hath one Warden fourty
and Protestants wring their hands which our fathers found begun our selves see hightened and know not whether our children shall behold them pacified and appeased 4. But now a Parliament began at Westminster Alteration of Beligion enacted by the Parliament Wherein the Laws of King Henry the eighth against the See of Rome were renewed Jann 25. and those of King Edward the sixth in favour of the Protestants revived and the Laws by Queen Mary made against them repealed Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments was enacted with a Restitution of first fruits Tenths c. to the Crown For all which we remit the Reader to the Statutes at large It was also enacted that whatsoever Jurisdictions Priviledges anâ— Spiritualls preeminences had been heretofore in Vse by any Ecclesiasticall Authority whatsoever to visit Ecclesiasticall men and Correct all manner of Errors Hereâ—es Schisms Abuses and Enormities should be for ever annexed to the Imperiall Crown of England if the Queen and her Successours might by their Letters patents substitute certain men to exercise that Authority howbeit with proviso that they should define nothing to be heresie but those things which were long before defined to be Heresies out of the Sacred Canonicall Scriptures or of the four Oecumenicall Councills or other Councills by the true and proper sence of the Holy Scriptures or should thereafter be so defined by authority of the Parliament with assent of the Clergy of England assembled in a Synod That all and every Ecclesiasticall Persons Magistrates Receivers of pensions out of the Exchequer such as were to receive degrees in the Vniversities Wards that were to sue their Liveries and to be invested in their Livings and such as were to be admitted into the number of the Queens servants c. should be tyed by oath to acknowledge the Queens Majesty to be the onely and supreme Governour of her Kingdoms the Title of Supreme head of the Church of England liked them not in all matters and causes as well spiritual as temporal all forrain Princes and Protestants being quite excluded from taking Cognizance of Causes within her Dominions 5. But the Papists found themselves much agrieved at this Ecclesiasticall Power Papists exceptions against the Queens Supremacy declared and confirmed to be in the Queen they complained that the simplicity of poore people was abused the Queen declining the Title Head and assuming the name Governour of the Church which though less offensive was more expressive So whil'st their ears were favoured in her waving the word their souls were deceived with the same sence under another Expression They cavilled how King a Sanders de Schismate Anglicano lib. 3. pag. 316. Henry the eighth was qualified for that Place and Power being a Lay-man King Edward double debarr'd for the present being a Lay-childe Queen Elizabeth totally excluded for the future being a Lay-woman b Hart against Rainolds pag. 673. They object also that the very c In Praefat. centur 7. writers of the Centuries though Protestants condemne such Headship of the Church in PRINCES and d Upon the 7. of Amos 3. The same how defended by Protestant Divines Calvin more particularly sharply taxeth Bishop Gardiner for allowing the same Priviledge to KING Henry the eighth 6. Yet nothing was granted the Queen or taken by her but what in due belonged unto her according as the most learned and moderate Divines have defended it For e Rainolds against Hart pag. 38. first they acknowledged that Christ alone is the Supreme Soveraign of the Church performing the Duty of an head unto it by giving it power of life feeling and moving and f Ephes 1. 22. him hath God appointed to be head of the Church and Col. 2. 19. by him all the body furnished and knit together by joynts and bands encreaseth with the encreasing of God This Headship cannot stand on any mortall shoulders it being as incommunicable to a Creature as a Creature is incapable to receive it There is also a peculiar Supremacy of Priests in Ecclesiasticall matters to preach the Word minister the Sacraments celebrate Prayers and practise the discipline of the Church which no Prince can invade without usurpation and the sin of Sacriledge for Incense it self did stink in the Nostrils of the God of heaven and h 2 Chr. 26. 19 provoked his Anger when offered by King Vzziah who had no calling thereunto Besides these there is that power which Hezekiah exercised in his Dominions Commanding the Levites and Priests to do their Duty and the People to serve the Lord. And to this power of the Prince it belongeth to restore Religion decayed reforme the Church Corrupted protect the same reformed This was that supremacy in Causes and over Persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Civil which was derived from God to the Queen annexed to the Crown disused in the dayes of her Sister whose blinde zeal surrendred it to the Pope not now first fixed in the Crown by this act of State but by the same declared to the Ignorant that knew it not cleared to the scrupulous that doubted of it and asserted from the Obstinate that denied it 7. As for Calvin How Dr. Rainolds answereth the exceptions to the contrary he reproveth not Reader it is D r. Rainolds whom thou readest the title of head as the Peotestants granted it but that sense thereof i against Hart pag. 673. which Popish Prelates gave namely Stephen Gardiner who did urge it so as if they had meant thereby that the King might do things in Religion according to his own will and not see them done according to Gods will namely that he might forbid the Clergie Marriage the laytie the Cup in the Lords Supper And the truth is that Stephen Gardiner was shamelessly hyperbolicall in fixing that in the King which formerly with as little Right the Pope had assumed Whether he did it out of mere flattery as full of adulation as superstition equally free in sprinkling Court and Church holy-water and as very a fawning Spaniel under King Henry the eighth as afterwards he proved a cruel Blood-hound under Queen Mary his Daughter Or because this Bishop being in his heart disaffected to the Truth Anno Dom. 1557. of set purpose betrayed it in defending it Anno Regin Eliza. 1. suting King Henries vast Body and Minde with as mighty yea monstrous a power in those his odious instances straining the Kings Authority too high on set purpose to break and to render it openly obnoxious to just exception The Centuriatoâ—s also well understood do allow and a Idem ibidem Confess the Magistrates Jurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall matters though on good reason they be enemies to this Usurpation of unlawfull power therein But I digresse and therein Transgresse seeing the large profecution hereof belongs to Divines 9. But Sanders taketh a particular exception against the Regular passing of this Act Sunders 〈…〉 Elizabeth shewing much Queen-Craft in
ratio Videor enim suboriri quoddam hontinum genus qui si invalescant viresque in hoc Regno colligant piget hîc referre quid futurae perturbationis praesagit mihi animus Olim sub Monachorum fucata hypocrisi quanta sit nata lues Religioni Christianae minimè ignorat prudentia tua Nunc in istis nescio quod novum Monachorum genus reviviscere videtur tantò illis perniciosius quantò calidiore fallendi artificio sub praetextu perfectionis personati isti Histriones gravius occultant venenum qui dum omnia exigunt ad strictissimae suae disciplinae conscientiae gnomones haud videntur prius desituri donec omnia in Judaicam redigant servitutem Sed de ijs alius sortassis pleniore manu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Interim celeberimae tuae dignitati Vir honorande cum publico ecclesiae nomine animum istum sedem quam tenes meritò gratulor tum mea privatim causa ob singulare tuum in me studium gratias habeo permaximas Precorque Dominum omnium gratiarum fontem cumulatissimum ut ecclesiam suam periculosissimis ijs temporibus propugnet ac tueatur ut Pastores se dignos foveat provehatque tum intra istos Te inprimis sacris ipsius bonis donisque indies magis magisque locupletet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amplissime juxta ac ornatissime Praesul Tuus in Christo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joannes Foxus If this good man appeareth too passionate herein score it neither on his old age nor on his affection to his Son but on the unjust affront offered unto him who at last was restored Fellow by the Queen her Mandate and he privately cast out by a Faction to his great disgrace was publickly brought in again by authority to his greater reputation 16. We may plainly perceive by this letter The violence of rigid Nonconformists how powerfull the Party of Non-conformists was grown at this time and to what violences and extravagancies some went in their practices insomuch that D r. Humphred then President of Mandlins and M r. Fox himself both which scrupled subscription in some particulars were deserted by them as Luke-warme and remiss in the Cause Yea even of those who were Duriores Puritani all were not equally rigid but Coleman Burton Hallingham and Benson out-did all of their own opinions Thus those loaves which are ejusdem farinae of the same meale yea of one Batch out of the same Oven are not all hard and crustie alike 17. The death of Matthew Parker The death and praise of Matth. Parker Arch-Bishop of Canterbury May 17. added much to their increase He was a Parker indeed carefull to keep the fences and shut the gates of Discipline against all such Night-Stealers as would invade the same No wonder then if the tongues and pens of many were whetted against Him whose complaints are beheld by discreet men like the exclamations of Truantly-Schollers against their Masters severity correcting them for their faults This Arch-Bishop was an excellent Antiquarie without any Anticknesse a great Benefactour to Bennet Colledge in Cambridge on which he bestowed many Manuscripts so that that Librarie for a private one was the Sun of English Antiquity in those dayes though now no more then the Moon since that of S r. Robert Cottons is risen up 18. But a large Authour His memory causelesly aspersed though not daring to deny due praises to his memory causelessly taxed him for being too Ponteficall in his Buildings and Feastings Particularly he charged him that whereas the Pope thundred out an Excommunication against Queen Elizabeth a Mr. Prince in his book of the treason of Prelites pag. 149. yet saith he I read of no refutation made of it by this Arch-Prelate as if this were such a sin of omission in him and he bound by his place to answer every Romish railing Rabshhekah But let him know that in his learned Book of Antiquitates Britanicae he hath laid down those Historicall grounds which may be improved to the baiting of the whole Herd of Popish Bulls or if you will to make all those Bubbles sinke to nothing A worke out of which his Accuser hath taken so much that he cannot pretend to the commendation of Industrie the poorest praise of a Writer being no better then a lazie Translatour And as the Spleen is subservient to the Lever to take from it only the most putrid and feculent blood so hath he solely transcribed thence and from BP Godwins Catalogue the faults and failings of all the English Prelacie passing over in silence their due and just commendation Ed. Grindall succeeded him in his place a Prelate most PRIMITIVE in all his conversation 19. We must not forget Margaret the Wife of Arch-Bishop Parker His exemplarie wise a patern for all Presates Wives In the reign of King Henry the eighth though seven years contracted by mutuall consent forbearing marriage then unlawfull for Clergie-men such her fidelity that she was deaf to richer proffers b In D Parkers life extant in Trin Hall Library in Cambridge When married under Edward the sixth so modest that BP Ridley asked whether Ms. Parker had a sister intimating that such a Consort would make him recede from his resolution of a single life In Queen Maries dayes not only great her patience to partake of but industry to relieve her Husbands wants In Queen Elizabeths time so admirable her humility as no whit elated with prosperity 20. Priviledges obtained by Sr F. E. for English Catholicks S r. Francis Englefield 18. of whom formerly in the Colledge of Valladolt 1576 to leave a Monument to posterity of his industry and good will to the catholick-Catholick-Cause He with William Allen obtained of Pope Gregory the thirtieth thirteen Indulgencies for the English Nation and the will-wishers of their Conversion Whereof this the first That whosoever should carry about him such consecrated Beads fast on Wednesday forbear one meal on Saturday pray for the Holy Father the Pope the peace of the Church and chiefly for the reconciling of England Scotland and Ireland to the Church of Rome should have an hundred years pardon But if this fast be observed with bread and water a thousand years pardon It may seem in some sort an argument for the Antiquity of those Indulgences Anno Regin Eliza. 19. that the resent of the vivacity of the ancient Patriarks before the Flood in pardoning so many years above the possibility of our age Anno Dom. 1576. Now what becommeth of the Surplus-age of these Pardons after the Parties life let others dispute Namely whether Indulgentia moritur cum persona or whether they be bequeathable by will and in case the person dies Intestate fall like goods and Chattells to his next heir Sure I am S r. Francis is beheld by Catholicks as a Benefactour Generall to our Nation and these Grants were solemnly passed sub annulo Piscatoris June 6. and Glorierius
contemners of learning in the countries abroad do fret against it which in truth doth the more commend it the dissolution of it would breed triumph to the adversary and great sorrow and gries to the favourers of religion contrary to the counsell of Ezekiel 13. 18. who saith Cor justi non est contristandum and although some have abused this good and necessary exercise there is no reason that the malice of a few should preâ—udice all Abuses may be re formed and that which is good may remain neither is there any just cause of offences to be taken if diverse men make divers sences of one sentence of scripture so that all the senses be good and agreeable to the analogie and proportion of faith for otherwise we must needs condemne all the ancient Fathers and divers of the Church who most commonly expound one and the same text of scripture diversly and yet all to the good of the Church and therefore doth Basil compare the scriptures to a well out of which the more a man draweth the better and sweeter is the water I trust when your Majesty hath considered and weighed the premises you will rest satisfied and judge that no such inconveniences can grow oâ— such exercises as these as you have been informed but rather the clean contrary and for my own part because I am well assured by reasons and also by arguments taken out of the holy scriptures by experience the most certain seal of sure knowledge that the said exercises for the interpretation and exposition of the scriptures and for the exhortation and comfort drawn out of the same are both profitable to encrease knowledge amongst ministers and tendeth to the edifying of the hearers I am inforced with all humility and yet plainly to profess that I cannot with safe conscience and without the ofence of the Majesty of God give mine assent to the suppressing of the said exercises much less can I send out any injunction sor the utter and universall subversion of the same I say with S. Paul I have no power to destroy but only to edifie and with the same Apostle I can do nothing against the truth but with the truth If it be your Majesties pleasure for this or any other cause to remove me out of this place I will with all humility yield thereunto and render again unto your Majesty that which I have received of the same I consider with myself quod terrendum est incidere in manus Dei viventis I consider also quod qui facit contra conscientiam divinis in rebus aedificat ad gehennam And what shall I win if I gained I will not say a Bishoprick but the whole world and lose my own soul Beare with me I beseech you Madam if I chuse rather to offend your earthly Majesty then to offend the heavenly Majesty of God And now being sorry that I have been so long and tedious to your Majesty I will draw to an end most humbly praying the same that you would consider these short petitions following The first that you wound referr all these Ecclesiasticall matters which touch religion or the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church unto the Bishops and Divines of the Church of your Realm according to the example of all Christian Emperours and Princes of all Ages for indeed they are to be judged as an ancient Father writeth in Ecclesia seu Synodo non in Palatino When your Majesty hath questions of the laws of your Realm you do not decide the same in your Court or Palace but send them to your judges to be determined Likewise for the duties in matters in Doctrine or Discipline of the Church the ordinary way is to defer the decision to the Bishops and other head Ministers of the Church Ambrose to Theodosius useth these words Si de causis pecuniarijs comites tuos consulis quanto magis in causa religionis sacerdotes Domini aequum est consulas And likewise to the Emperour Valentinian Epist 32. Si de fide conferendum est Sacerdotum debet esse just collatio si enim factum est Constantino Augustae memoriae principi qui nullas leges ante praemisit sed liberum dedit judicium Sacerdotis And in the same place the same Father saith that Constantius the Emperour son to Constantine the great began well by reason he followed his Fathers steps at the first but ended ill because he took upon him difficile intra Palatinum judicare and thereby fell into Arianisme a terrible example The said Ambrose so much commended in all histories for a godly Bishop goeth further and writeth to the said Emperour in this forme Si docendus est episcopus à laico quid sequitur laicus ergo disputet Episcopus audiat à laico At certè si vel scripturarum seriem divinarum vel vetera tempora retractemus quis est qui abundat in causa fidei inquam fidei episcopos solere de Imperatoribus christianis non imperatores de episcopis judicaâ—e Would God your Majesty would follow this ordinary you should procure to your self much quietness of minde and better please God avoid many offences and the Church should be more peaceable and quietly governed much to the comfort and quietness of your Realm The second petition I have to make to your Majesty is this that when you deal in matters of faith and religion or matters that touch the Church of Christ which is the Spouse bought with so dear a price you would not use to pronounce so resolutely and pèremptorily quasi ex authoritate as you may do in civill and extern matters but always remember that in Gods cause the will of God and not the will of any earthly creature is to take place It is the antichristian voice of the Pope Sic volo Sic jubeo stet pro ratione voluntas In Gods matters all Princes ought to bow their Septers to the Son of God and to ask counsell at his mouth what they ought to doe David exhorteth all Kings and Rulers to serve God with fear and trembling Remember Madam that you are a mortall creature look not only as was said to Theodosius upon the people and princely array wherewith you are apparrelled but consider withall what it is that is covered therewith Is it not flesh and blood is it not dust and ashes is it not a corruptible body which must return to her earth again God knoweth how soon Must you not one day appear ante tremendum tribunal crucifixi ut recipias ibi prout gesseris in corpore sive bonum sive malum 2 Cor. 5. And although you are a mighty Prince yet remember that he that dwelleth in heaven is mightier as the Psalmist saith 76. Terribilis est is qui aufert spiritum principum terribilis super omnes reges Wherefore I beseech you Madam in visceribus Christi when you deal in these religious causes set the Majesty of God before your eyes laying all earthly
from the unity of the Church which in the execution of our ministry in participation of the publick prayers and Sacraments we have in our own example testified and by publick doctrine maintained And that the ministery of the word preached and publick administration of the Sacraments exercised in this land according to Authority is as touching the substance of it Lawfull and greatly blessed of God And lastly that we have and always will shew our selves obedient to Her Majesties authority in all causes Ecclesiasticall and civil to whomsoever it be committed and therefore that as poor but most faithfull subjects to Her Majesty and Ministers of Jesus Christ the great cause we have in hand and which consequently as we under your Honours correction judge the necessary reformation of many things in the Church according unto Gods word may have that sufficient hearing as all causes of our refusall to subscribe may be known and equally out of Gods word judged of and the lamentable estate of the Churches to which we appertain with the hard condition of us may in that manner that your Honours most excellent wisdom shall finde expedient in the pitty of Jesus Christ for the mean time be relieved the Lord Almighty vouchsafe for Jesus Christ his sake long to continue and bless your Honours wisdom and Councell to the great glory of God and the happy government of Her Majestie and flourishing estate of this Church of England Your Honours daily and faithfull Orators the Ministers of Kent which are suspended from the execution of their Ministery The Lords of the Councell sent this Petition with another Bill of complaint exhibited unto them against Edmond Freak Bishop of Norwich unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury What his answer was thereunto the reader may informe himself out of the following letter To the Lords of the Councell Most Honorable UPon Sunday last in the afternoon The Arch-Bishops letter in answer thereof M r. real brought unto me in your Lordships names two supplications or Bills of complaint exhibited unto your Lordships The one by certain Ministers of Suff. against their Diocesan there The other by some of Kent against my self with this further message that it was your desires I should come to the Court on Sunday next It may please your good Lordships to be advertised that it seemeth something strange to me that the Ministers of Suffolk finding themselves aggrieved with the doings of their Diocesan should leave the ordinary course of proceeding by Law which is to appeal unto me and extraordinarily trouble your Lordships in a matter not so incident as I think to that most honourable Board seeing it hath pleased Her Majesty Her own self in express words to commit these causes Ecclesiasticall to me as to one who is to make answer to God to her Majesty in this behalf my office also and place requiring the same In answer of the complaint of the Suffolk men of their Ordinaries proceeding against them I have herewith sent to your Lordships a Copie of a letter which I lately received from his Lordship wherein I think that part of their Bill to be fully answered and his doings to have been orderly and charitable Touching the rest of their Bill I know not what to judge of it neither yet of what spirit it cometh but in some points it talketh as I think modestly and charitably They say they are no Jesuits sent from Rome to reconcile c. True it is neither are they charged to be so but notwithstanding they are contentious in the Church of England and by their contentions minister occasion of offence to those which are seduced by Jesuits and give the arguments against the forme of publick prayer used in this Church and by law established and thereby encrease the number of them and confirm them in their wilfullnesse They also make a Schism in the Church and draw many other of her Majesties subjects to a misliking of her Laws and Government in causes Ecclesiasticall so far are they from perswading them to obedience or at least if they perswade them to it in the one part of her authority it is in causes civill they desswade them from it as much in the other that is in causes Ecclesiasticall so that indeed they pluck down with the one hand that which they seem to build with the other they say that they have faithfully traveled in perswading to obedience c. and have therein prevailed c. It is but their own testimony I think it were hard for them to shew whom they converted from Papistry to the Gospell But what stirrs and discentions they have made amongst those which professed the Gospel before they were taught by them I think it to be apparent It is notorious that in King Edwards time and in the beginning of her Majesties Reign for the space of divers years When this self same book of publick prayers was uniformally used c. by all learned Preachers maintained and impugned by none the Gospell mightily prevailed took great increase and very few were known to refuse to communicate with us in prayer and participation of the Sacraments But since this Schism and division the contrary effect hath fallen out and how can it otherwise be seeing we our selves condemn that publick form and order of prayer and administration of the Sacraments as in divers points contrary to the word of God from which as in like manner condemning the same the Papists do absent themselves In the later part of their Bill conteining the reasons why they cannot submit themselves to observe the form prescribed by the book in all points I wonder either at their ignorance or audacity They say that the Learned writers of our time have shewed their mislikings of some of our Ceremonies The most learned writers in our times have not so done but rather reproved the mislikers those few that have given contrary judgement therein have done more rashly then learnedly presuming to give their Censures of such a Church as this is not understanding the fruits of the cause Nor alledging any reason worth the hearing especially one little Colledge in either of our Universities containing in it more learned men then in their Cities But if the authority of men so greatly move them why make they so small account of those most excellent and learned Fathers who were the penners of the Book whereof divers have sealed their Religion with their Blood which none yet have done of the impugners of the Book The Pope say they hath changed his Officium B. Mariae c. And so it is neither is there any man that doubteth but the Book of Common-Prayer may also be altered if there appear good cause why to those in Authority But the Pope will not suffer that Officium B. Marie c. to be preached against or any part thereof till it was by publick order reformed neither will he confess that he hath reformed it in respect of any errours but such only
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
quick-sighted did the promised Bishoprick make him whereof formerly he took no notice and all which are learnedly answered in the posthume book of Doctor Crakenthorpe carefully set forth by Dr. Barkham after the Authors death and may all orphan-works have the happinesse of so faithfull a Guardian Lastly and chiefly as he confesseth himself allectus pretio octuplicis stipendii allured with the reward of a salarie eight times as great as his revenues in England In which computation as he ungratefully depresseth the value of what he had in hand so he undiscreetly advanced the worth of what in hope he promised himself not to speak of the difference of Italian Ducates when told out and when told off at so great a distance 11. In pursuance of which his desire Spalato's second Letter to King James he wrote a second Letter to K. JAMES the tenour whereof we thought fit here to insert for the better clearing of the matter Most excellent Prince and most gracious Lord AS I signified lately unto Your Majesty in my former Letter I neither ought nor could neglect the Popes fair and gracious invitation of me especially when I saw that he dealt with me concerning the service of Christ and his Church And being now at length better certified that all things are in a readiness for me I am tied to my former promises Yet I make it my humble request that I may take my journey with Your Majesties good will And for that purpose I doe now most humbly and earnestly crave your leave by these Letters which I would much more willingly have begg'd by word of mouth in Your presence that I might have parted with Your Majesty with all due thanks and submission but that my accesse to Your Majesty might have confirmed the vain and foolish * * viz. That the King had employed Spalato to the Pope to make a reconciliation betwixt us and Rome rumours of the people I beseech Your Majesty therefore to vouchsafe to give me some Letters whereby my departure may be made both safe and creditable As for the Ecclesiastical Titles and Revenues which I hold by Your Majesties gift I shall resigne them by publick Indentures So from the bottom of my heart I doe commit my self to Your Royall favour and vow my self your servant for ever London From the Savoy Feb. 3. Your MAJESTIES c. M. Ant. de Dom. Archbishop of Spalato This Letter produced new Interrogatories Feb. 3. 1622. and severall fruitfull Controversies one alwaies begetting another but the last was a sharp one at Lambeth March the 30 which cut off all future discourse For a Commission was issued out to the Archbishop of Canterbury Mar. 30. the Bishops of Lincolne Lord Keeper of the Great Scale of England London Duresme Winchester and severall other Privie Councellors before whom Spalato personally appeared When the Archbishop of Canterbury in the name of the rest by His MAJESTIES speciall command in a long Latine Speech recapitulated the many misdemeanors of Spalato principally insisting on his changing of Religion as appeared by his purpose of returning to Rome and that contrary to the Laws of the Realm he had held correspondency by Letters with the Pope without the privity of the King's Majesty To which Charge when Spalato had made rather a shuffling Excuse than a just Defence the Archbishop in His Majestie 's name commanded him to depart the Kingdome at his own peril within twenty daies and never to return again To this he promised obedience protesting he would ever justifie the Church of England for orthodox in fundamentals even in the presence of the Pope or whomsoever though with the losse of his life 12. However Desires in vain still to stay loth to depart was his last tune And no wonder if well considering whence and whither he went He left a Land where he lacked nothing but a thankfull heart to God and a contented soul in himself He went to a place of promise suspicious whether ever it should be performed He feared not without cause he might lose his gray Head to fetch a red Hat And an ominous instance was lately set before his eyes One Fulgentius a Minorite had inveighed at Venice against the Pope and was by his Nuncio trained to Rome on promise of safe conduct where being favoured and feasted at first soon after in the field of Flora he was burnt to ashes This made Spalato effectually but secretly to deal with his friends in the English Court that His Majesty would permit him to stay But in vain and therefore within the time appointed he went over in the same ship with Count Swartzenburgh the Emperours Ambassadour returning hence into Flanders 13. And now Spalato is shipped Departeth to Rome A good winde and faire weather goe after him His sails shall not be stuffed with a blast of my curses conceiving that his fault was sufficient punishment But b Dr. Barkham in his Dedicatory Epistle to King James others have compared him to the house i Mat. 12. 44. swept and garnished to which the Devil returned with seven spirits more wicked than himself Which they thus reckon up Avarice Ambition and Hypocrisie whilst he stayed here Apostasie and Perjury when going hence Ingratitude and Calumnie when returned to Rome Yea they finde as many punishments lighting on him God angry with him the Devil tormenting him his conscience corroding him the world cursing him the true Church disdaining him Protestant-pens confuting him and the Pope at last in revenge executing him And now the Master hath had the just shame for his Apostasie let the Man receive the due praise of his perseverance one Gio Pietro Paravicino a Grizon who waited on Spalato in his chamber whom neither frights nor flatteries could remove but he died in Holland a firm professour of the Protestant Religion 14. Being come to Bruxels Ann. Reg. Ja. 20 Ann. Dom. 1622. Retuâ—ns to his railing vomit he recants his Religion and rails bitterly on the English Church calling his coming hither an unhappy irrational pestiferous k In his Book call'd Cencilium Reditus pag. 9. devilish voyage to which he was moved with sickness of soule impatience and a kinde of phrensie l Ibid. pag. 5. of anger Here he stayed six moneths for the Pope's Breve which was long a coming and at last was utterly denied him Insomuch that Spalato was fain to run the hazard and desperately adventure to Rome having nothing in Scriptis for his security but barely presuming on promises and the friendship of Gregory the fifteenth now Pope formerly his Collegue and chamber-fellow 15. I finde not his promised Bishoprick conferred upon him Lives at Rome not loved and diâ—s unlamented who as well might have been made Primate and Metropolitane of Terra incognita Yea returning to Sodome though not turned into a pillar of salt he became unsavoury-salt cared for of no side Such a crooked-stick which had
pay and reward some of his poorest servants giving them money on this condition that hereafter they should serve no subject but onely the b Rex Platonicus pag. 43. King himself as if this had been suscipere gradum Simeonts for those who so long had attended on a Lord-Cardinal But this happened many years after we return to this proud Prelate while he flourished in the height of his Prosperity 36. Their heads will catch cold Wolsey turns his waiting into revenge which wait bare for a dead Popes Tiple-Crown Wolsey may be an instance hereof who on every avoidance of S t Peters Chaire was sitting down therein when suddenly some one or other clapt in before him Weary with waiting he now resolved to revenge himself on Charles the Emperour for not doing him right and not improving his power in preferring him to the Papacy according to his promioses and pretences He intends to smite Charles through the sides of his Aunt Katharine Queen of England endeavouring to alienate the Kings affections from her And this is affirmend by the generality of our Historians though some of late have endeavoured to acquit Wolsey as not the first perswader of the King divorce 37. Indeed he was beholding The scruple of the Kings marriage for the first hint thereof to the Spaniards themselves For when the Lady Mary was tendered in marriage to Philip Prince of Spain the Spanish Embassadours seemed to make some difficulty thereof and to doubt her extraction as begotten on a mother formerly married to her husbands elder brother Wolsey now put this scruple into the head of Bishop Longlands the Kings Confessour and he insinuated the same into the Kings conscience advising him hereafter to abstain from the company of his Queen to whom he was unlawfully married Adding moreover that after a divorce procured which the Pope in justice could not deny the King might dispose his affections where he pleased And here Wolsey had provided him a second Wife viz Margarite Countess of Alenzon sister to Francis King of France though heavens reserved that place not for the Mistress but her Maid I mean Anna Bollen who after the return of Mary the French Queen for England attended in France for some time on this Lady Margarite 38. Tunder needs no torch to light it The King willingly embraceth the motion the least spark will presently set it on flame No wonder if King Henry greedily resented the motion Male issue he much wanted and a young Female more on whom to beget it As for Queen Katharine he rather respected then affected rather honoured then loved her She had got an habit of miscarrying scarce curable in one of her age intimated in one of the Kings private papers as morbus incurabilis Yet publickly he never laid either fault or defect to her charge that not dislike of her person or conditions but onely principles of pure conseience might seem to put him upon endeavours of a Divorce 39. The business is brought into the Court of Rome The Pope a Captive there to be decided by Pope Clement the seventh Bnt the Pope at this time was not sui juris being a prisoner to the Emperour who constantly kept a guard about him 44. As for the Queens Councel Fishers short plea. which Anno Dom. 1529 though assigned to her Anno Regis Hen. 8 25. appear not dearly accepted by her as chosen rather by others for her then by her for her self I finde at this present little of moment pleaded or performed by them Onely Bishop Fisher affirmed that no more needed to be said for the validity of the marriage then Whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder A most true position in it self if he could have cleared the application thereof to his Royal Client but Hoc restat probandum the contrary that God never joyned them together being vehemently urged by her adversaries 45. Notwithstanding the Queens absence The pleas of the Kings Councel the Court proceeded And first the Kings Proctors put in their exceptions against both Bull and Breve of Pope Julius the second dispensing with the Kings marriage with his brothers wife viz. 1. That they were not to be found amongst the Original Records in Rome 2. That they were not extant in Chartaphylacio amongst the King of Englands papers most concerned therein but found onely in Spain amongst the writings of a State-Officer there 3. That in them it was falsely suggested as if the same were procured at the instance of Henry Prince of Wales who then not being above thirteen years old was not capable of such intentions 4. That the Date thereof was somewhat discrepant from the form used in the Court of Rome 46. After this Secrets sub sigillo thalami many witnesses on the Kings side were deposed July 12. and though this favour is by custome indulged to the English Nobility to speak on their Honours yet the Canon-Law taking no notice of this their municipal priviledg and for the more legal validity of their restimonies required the same on oath though two Dukes one Dutchess one Marquess many Lords and Ladies gave in their depositions These attested 1. That both were of sufficient age Prince Arthur of fifteen years the Lady Katharine somewhat elder 2. That constant their cohabitation at board and in bed 3. That competent the time of the same as full five moneths 4. That entire their mutual affection no difference being ever observ'd betwixt them 5. That Henry after his Brothers death by an instrument produced in Court and attested by many witnesses refused to marry her though afterwards altered by the importunity of others 6. That by several expressions of Prince Arthur's it appeared he had carnal knowledg of the Lady Katharine The beds of private persons are compassed with curtaines of Princes vailed also with canopies to conceal the passages therein to which modesty admitteth no witnesses Pitty it is that any with Pharaoh should discover what is exchanged betwixt Isaac and Rebekah all which are best stifled in secrecy and silence However such the nature of the present cause that many privacies were therein discovered 47. Observe by the way A shrewd retortion that whereas it was generally alledged in favour of the Queen that Prince Arthur had not carnal Knowledg of her because soon after his marriage his consumptionish body seemed unfit for such performances this was retorted by testimonies on the Kings side his witnesses deposing that generally it was reported and believed the Prince impaired his health by his over liberal paiment of due benevolence 48. It was expected that the Cardinals should now proceed to a definitive sentence An end in vain expected according as matters were alledged and proved unto them The rather because it was generally reported that Campegius brought over with him a Bull Decretal to pronounce a nulsity of the match if he saw just cause for the same Which rumor like