wâ— taken all ways were tryed and some very mean ones 〈◊〉 was forc'd to be for so I cannot but in compaâ—â—â— word it Ungrateful to his best Friends to turn all the Honest Nobility and Gentry of the Nation out of all Commissions of Trust or Profit to discard his two Brothers who had been so faithful to his Interest in the worst of times and serviceable to him at all times to snatch away Charters to regulate and model them by thrusting out honest substantial Men and filling their Places with the Vilest and Off-scouring of all places for so I must look upon all those Protestants to be though they have wiped their Mouth since that would engage to chuse such Parliament men as would take off the Penal Laws and Test to undertake the mean Office himself of closetting Nobility and Gentry and yet all would not do he and our Jesuit were equally mistaken he could not get a Parliament to his Mind CHAP. III. How this Reformation may best be procured and what Disposition of Minds is needful for it in all Parties FOR that the grace and good Motion to take in hand and to go through with so great a work as is this desired Reformation must come from Heaven therefore the first sure step unto it must be by 3 the true reconciliation of the Realm unto God and to his Church and as the first of these two proceedeth so will the second and for that the first was hudled up in Queen Mary's Days I mean the Reconciliation by a certain general Absolution only without due search and consideration of what had been committed or what satisfaction was to be made to God and Man so was the other shuffled up with like negligence and only the external part was plastered without remedying the Root the renewing the Spirit which should have been the ground of all many Priests that had fallen and married in King Edward's Days were admitted presently to the Altar without other satisfaction than only to send their Concubines out of Men's sight and of some it is thought they did not so much as confess themselves before they said Mass again Others that had preached against Catholicks were admitted presently to preach for them and others that had been Visitors and Commissioners against us were made Commissioners against the Protestants and in this Queen's time were Commissioners again of the other side against ours so as the matter went as a Stage-Play where Men do change their Persons and Parts without changing their Minds or Affection many or rather all that had Abby-Lands the good Queen Mary herself and some very few others excepted remained with the same as with a prey well gotten and he that was most scrupulous would but send for a Bull of Toleration to Rome upon false Information to the end that he might not be troubled and with this he thought himself safe in Conscience and bound to no more yea he was taken for a great Catholick that would so much as ask for a Bull. And matters passing in this manner who will wonder that the Benefit of Religion remained so little a while or that the second scourge of Heresie hath been so sharp and heavy since as we have proved To amend the error the way must be that our Reconciliation and turning to Almighty God be True Sincere Hearty and as it ought to be with Sorrow and Contrition for what is past and with full purpose of amendment for the time to come and to do that satisfaction both to God and Man that shall be thought necessary and lyeth in us conveniently to perform for without this disposition the matter goeth not well This is necessary to be performed both by Clergy and Laity and the more sincerely this business is wrought the more permanent will it be It will import also greatly and is to be procured by all good means possible That these two principal Members of our Commonwealth I mean the Clergy and Temporalty do joyn and unite themselves well in this greatest Action of all others for the good and re-establishing of Religion and Piety in the Realm and so much the more carefully is this to be sought for at this time for that it is very probably presumed that one principal cause of their ruine hath been the Emulation and Disunion of these two Estates in England which ordinarily is wont to follow where Spirit and Charity waxeth cold But now both Parties having tasted the smart of this error and seen the deceit of the Devil therein they may the easier be brought to detest it and to note for wicked Men and devilish Instruments all such as any ways shall be known to favour enkindle or nourish that Division And the best means to settle this Union substantially and form the heart will be for each Party with all Indifferency to consider not only the harms that have and will ensue by this disunion to both sides but also and principally how necessary and profitable the one of these two Members is to the other as namely the Clergy to the Laity for Direction of their Souls which without them must needs perish and the Temporalty to the Ecclesiastical for their defence and maintenance so as the one without the other cannot stand and God his Holy Ordination is that both should joyn together in his Church and one part help the other to his service and to the attaining of Heaven and Eternal Salvation And for that the Frailty of Man is great and prone to fall into Emulation and Contention as brittle Vessels to use the Comparison of St. Austin that knock out one the others sides great heed is to be taken as much as may be at the very beginning of this our Reformation to remove all occasions that are wont to breed strife and breach between the Clergy and Laity as namely about Jurisdiction Possessions Revenues Duties Prerogatives Exemptions and the like all which are to be settled with consent and good liking of all Parties as near as may be and that which is said of this may be understood also of taking away all occasions of jarrs and disagreeing between Bishops and their Chapters Religious Men and Priests one Order of Religion with another and such like Persons or Communities of divers States Condition or Habit in whom the Law of Charity and True Zeal of God's Service and help of our Country ought to prevail more especially at this time than any Passion humane infirmity or particular respect whatsoever This mutual Concord and hearty good will being once well settled between the Clergy and Temporalty it will be a great Foundation for all good effects to follow especially if both parties do rectifie also their Intentions in this great Action as they ought to do to desire nothing but God's Glory and this without any evil affection towards any of Envy Malice Revenge or the like and without respect of particular interest And for that there will be two sorts of People to be dealt
been perverted by dissolution of Life and Heresie they have brought her into more misery infamy and confusion within the compass of few years than all other Christian Kingdoms round about us together Wherefore the principal help and hope next under God which our poor afflicted Country hath or may have of her redress is by means of her good Catholick Prince that God of his Mercy shall vouchsafe to give us who also considering the great work whereunto he is called shall in no wise be able better to satisfie his Obligation and Duty to God and the Expectation of all good Men and to assure his own Possession and Estate than to make account that the security of himself his Crown and Successor dependeth principally of the assurance and good establishment of the Catholick Roman Religion within his Kingdom and whatsoever is done or permitted against this Religion is not only against Jesus Christ our Saviour and his Spouse his Catholick Church but also against every Catholick Prince as his supream Minister and much more against the King of England as things do now stand both for Religion and Estate First of all then is to be recommended with all humility and earnest suit unto his Majesty that shall be established the singular care and holy zeal of restoring perfectly the Catholick Religion in our Realm and to employ his whole endeavour and authority therein and to concur and assist with his Princely favour and special Protection all such Men as principally shall labour therein and above other the Council of Reformation the Prelates Preachers and Clergy of his Realm and by example of his own Royal Person in frequenting the Holy Sacraments and other pious Actions of Religion and Devotion to animate all other his Subjects and foreign Princes also and Countries about him to whom he will in these our times be a remarkable mirrour to imitate the same and this for his own Person But concerning his Majesty's Council both in Spiritual and Temporal affairs it will import also exceeding much that he make choice of fit and worthy persons And for the first which is in matters concerning conscience the pious custom of some Catholick Kings and namely those of Portugal in times past is greatly to be commended who besides their Temporal Council had also another of learned Spiritual Men named the Table of Conscience in taking any thing in hand and execution of the same And for this Council they were wont to make choice as I have said of some number of eminent and learned Men and also notorious for their Piety and good Consciences whether they were of Religious Orders or no and the head or chief of these commonly the King 's own Confessor who might with more security by council and assistance of these able Men direct the King's mind with safety of Conscience And whatsoever Prince shall take this course no doubt but he shall find great help light comfort security and quietness of Mind thereby And as for the World abroad it must needs be a singular great justification of all his acts intention and attempts in the eyes and tongues of all Men seeing he doth them by the direction of so irreprehensible a Consultation His Temporal Council shall be needful to be made with great choice and deliberation especially at the beginning in England for that if any one person thereof should be either infected with Heresie or justly suspected or not fervent nor forward in the Catholick Religion and in the Reformation necessary to be made for good establishment of the same it would be to the great prejudice of the cause and of his Majesty and Realm And seeing Heresie and Hereticks could be so vigilant for overthrowing of true Religion at the beginning of this Queen's Reign as they admitted no one Man to govern whom they might suspect to favour true-Religion how much more zealous and jealous ought our new Catholick Prince to be in excluding from his Privy Council and other places of chief charge and government not only Men known or justly feared to be favourers of Heresie and Hereticks that will never be secure to God or his Majesty but also â—old and doubtful professors of Catholick Religion until they be proved by long tract of time And seeing that his Majesty shall have so great choice at that day of approved constant Catholicks within the Realm as never was seen the like since our first Conversion who have suffered so constantly at the hands of Hereticks in these Persecutions it is to be hoped and expected that his Majesty will serve himself first and chiefly of these men above all others according to their merits and after these of such other known Catholicks as albeit God gave them not fortitude and constancy to suffer so much as the others did for Religion yet were they ever secret favourers and never Persecutors or open Enemies to the truth It is to be commended with like submission and instance to his Majesty that after he shall have taken the Crown upon him and embraced this Realm as his loving Spouse he will confirm first of all the Laws Customs Priviledges Dignities and Liberties of the same and to take away all such burdens servitudes and unjust oppressions as have been any way laid upon us in former times but since the entrance of Heresie And as this is to be done to all the Realm as to the Nobility and to the Commonalty so principally and above others it is reason that it should be performed to the Church and Clergy-men who beyond all others have been injured in these latter times so that at the least it will be just that the Church of England be restored to the same state of Priviledges Possessions Dignities and Exemptions wherein it was when King Henry the Eighth began to Reign And for that the external face and material part of our Churches hath been so much defaced spoiled and broken down by King Henry the Eighth and his Children as all the World seeth it will be one principal part of our new King's Piety and Religion to concur effectually to the rebuilding and restoring of the same again by the means touched by me before of that moderate and temperate manner of restitution whereof I have spoken largely in the First Part of this Memorial And it is to be hoped that his Majesty will be the first and most fervent fartherer of the same according to the Holy Obligation Vow and Offer that he will make to Almighty God for that Heroical enterprise to his eternal honour and infinite benefit and beautifying of our Commonwealth Which sound Foundation of Religion and Piety being once laid it may be suggested to his Majesty with like sollicitude touching the execution of Justice to all Men with indifferency which is the principal point of a true Catholick Prince's Office next after God and Religion and is so much the more necessarily to be looked to now in England after so long
a storm of injustice and iniquity by how much the more all parts and joints of equity both towards God and Man have been wrested and wronged therein by Hereticks and Atheists And first of all are to be redressed the open wrongs which have been done to our Catholicks for their Faith and Religion whether it were by shew or colour of Laws or by manifest Tyranny And secondly are to be remedied the known publick oppression of the common People by some that have been in authority as namely incroachments upon their Lands Tenements or the like as also the corrupt manner of proceeding of certain Quests and Juries both in matters of Life and Lands that in later days by the infection of Heresie have been accustomed to apply themselves to the favour of Magistrates in authority without regard of Right or Conscience One thing also in particular for very honour of our Realm and saving the Lives and Souls of infinite Men is greatly wished might be recommended to his Majesty and effectually redressed which is the multitude of Thieves that rob and steal upon the High-ways in England more than likely in any other Country of the World they being also oftentimes of no base Condition or Quality that do it but rather Gentlemen or wealthy Men's Sons moved thereunto not so much of poverty and necessity as of light estimation of the fault and hope of Pardon from the Prince whereby it cometh to pass that albeit the English Nation as by experience is found he not so much inclined to steal in secret as some other Nations are and that more are put to Death in England for punishment of that Fact than in many other Nations together yet is this enormity of robbing upon the High-ways much more frequent and notorious in England than any where else in Christendom which is a great infamy to our Government and hurt to the Common-wealth For remedy though divers means may be suggested whereof I shall have occasion to speak in the two Chapters following yet one principle is thought to be if it were once known that the Prince would hardly or never dispense or give pardon in that offence but upon great rare and extraordinary occasion For albeit many obtain not this pardon yet the very hope thereof encourageth others to attempt the Fact And we see that in some Countries and especially in Spain above all other that I have seen though the Realm be much bigger and have many more fit places to commit such offences than ours yet very rarely it is heard that publick robberies are committed upon the High-ways though in private and secretly is no Country perhaps more which principally is attributed unto the certain and constant publick Justice that is done upon them without remission that commit the Fact if they be found and to the great diligence used for finding them out by the particular pursuit of a certain Company and Confraternity of Men appointed for the purpose and peculiarly dedicated to this work named the Holy Brotherhood which is endued with many priviledges and sufficient authority for the same The which thing is wished also might be brought into England and made subordinate to the new Religious Order of Knights to be instituted both for the defence of Sea and Land which I have spoken of in the First Part of this Memorial And albeit the strictness of the Prince be necessary in giving Pardons for cutting off all hopes to the Malefactors yet were it to be wished that the rigour of our Temporal Laws for putting Men to death for theft of so small quantity or value as is accustomed in England were much moderated and some lesser bodily punishments invented for that purpose as also that some means of moderation wherein the manner of quick dispatch of Men's lives by Juries impanelled in haste and forced to give Verdict of Life and Death upon the suddain without allowing space either for them to inform themselves or for the accused to think duly upon his defence or to help himself by any Proctor Attorney contrary witness or other such aides as both reason and other Country Laws and equity it self seemeth to allow whereof I shall speak more when I shall come to speak of our Common-Laws of England in the Fourth Chapter of this Part. And for that it will not be enough to plant only Religion Justice and other such parts of a true Christian Commonwealth but also it will be needful to uphold maintain and defend the same It must appertain also unto a Catholick Prince whom God shall bless with the Crown of England to shew himself a continual Watch-man over the same and with his vigilance provide for the perpetuation thereof and first of all to assure the Succession of the Crown by good provision of Laws which Hereticks of later years have so much confounded and made so uncertain and in such manner must be link the state of Catholick Religion and Succession together as the one may depend and be the assurance of the other Moreover his Majesty must see due execution from time to time done of such good Laws and Ordinances as to these and like purposes by himself and the Realm shall be at the beginning determined and set down for which effect it seemeth that the custom of some other wise Catholick Princes of foreign Countries is much to be commended who do use both ordinarily and at other times unexpected to send Visitors to divers parts of their Realms as namely to Universities and to all Courts of Law and Justice and other places where any great abuse and excess may be committed touching the Prince's Service or other State of the Commonwealth which Visitors being Men of great integrity skill and wisdom and furnished with sufficient Authority and Commission to fear no Man do return back true Information of that which is well or amiss to the Prince and his Council who after diligent view and deliberation do cause the same to be published and all Parties to be punished or rewarded according to their merits which is a great Bridle to hold things in order Furthermore for that it is of great moment for the Prince to know and be truly informed of the quality and merit of such of his Subjects as he is to prefer to Offices and charge in the Common-wealth either Spiritual or Temporal it were necessary his Majesty from time to time as for Example from three years to three years or the like according as some other godly Princes also use should cause certain Lists and Catalogues to be given him of Men's names by divers secret ways and by Persons of credit discretion and good Consciences touching all such Subjects in every Country Province Universities Cathedral Churches Houses of Law and particular Colleges as for their learning wisdom and other good qualities were fittest to be imployed and preferred by his Majesty and that these Lists and Memoires should be often viewed by the Prince himself and by his Council
prudent manner of dealing and proceeding as well with Catholicks as Schismaticks Protestants and Persecutors And as for known Catholicks which have been constant and born the brunt in time of Persecution though for their own parts they ought to follow the most holy and secure Council of our Saviour Cum omnia feceritis dicite quia servi inutiles sumus quod debuimus fecimus nothing presuming of themselves or vaunting over others but expecting their reward with humility at God's Hands yet it is evident that in all Reason and Justice and Law of gratitude they are to be used and employed by the Commonwealth in all Principal Charges Rooms and Offices with special confidence every Man according to his known Zeal Ability and Talent for the same and according to the measure of his suffering for God's Cause by which means both they and others shall be animated and comforted and the state of Religion much more assured than if for particular Favours Kindred Bribes Interest any be preferred or such as are not known to have any Zeal in God's Affairs as in the late Queen Mary's time in many places was seen to the grief and discouragement of many and to the infinite danger of the Realm as after well appear'd As for Schismaticks or close or weak Catholicks that have fallen denied or dissembled their Religion if they have done it of frailty and have not been Persecutors the more Compassion is to be had of their Estate and the more sweetness to be used in restoring them to the Unity of God's Church again But yet how far they are to be used in matters of the Commonwealth especially at the beginning and in rooms where their weakness and inconstance may be in danger the Law of Godly Wisdom must determine and the manner of their Reconciliation will give also great light to this Deliberation which Reconciliation as well in these Men as in all others that shall return to Catholick Union again whether they have been Hereticks or no ought to be made with great attention and deliberation as in a matter of most high moment for all their future Life and Condition For that most commonly according to this first step of reentrance with Almighty God again is the Sequel of all that ensueth good or bad so as he that maketh a good and perfect and sound Reconciliation proveth for the most part a sure and constant Christian afterwards and he that huddleth the matter up in haste without due measure of Consideration is where he was before within a few days after and perhaps far worse for contempt of so great Accommodation Wherefore to the end that this so mighty a Foundation may be laid as it ought to be the Commonwealth should take care and especially the Bishops that Men of Ability and Capacity only should be employed in receiving of these Reconciliations at the beginning and some particular form were to be prescribed how it should be done especially in great Persons and Subjects of great importance and these perhaps not to be reconciled without special faculty or knowledge of the Bishop or Prelate of the place and by some able Person by him assigned and this with giving to them space and due time of Deliberation Recollection Meditation Instruction and of any other means to help them in so great an affair And this for them that will return But as for Enemies or obstinate Hereticks whether they be of Malice or of Ignorance another course seemeth to be taken for their Reduction and Satisfaction which is to endeavour by all ways to convince them if it be possible of their Errors and this by reason and sweet means as far as may be whereof I shall touch some Particulars in this place And first of all f Perchance it would be good considering the present State of the Realm and how generally and deeply it is and has been plunged in all kind of Heresies not to press any Man's Conscience at the beginning for matters of Religion for some few Years to the end that every Man may more boldly and confidently utter his Wounds and so be cured thereof which otherwise he would cover deny or dissemble to his greater hurt and more dangerous Corruption of the whole Body but yet it may be provided joyntly that this Toleration be only with such as live quietly and are desirous to be informed of the Truth and do not teach and preach or seek to infect others and by experience it hath been seen that this kind of suffering and bearing for a time hath done great good and eased many difficulties in divers Towns rendred up in the Low Countries which being mitigated at the beginning with this entrance of Clemency never greatly cared for Heresies afterwards yet do I give notice that my meaning is not any way to perswade hereby that Liberty of Religion to live how a Man will should be permitted to any Person in any Christian Commonwealth for any cause or respect whatsoever from which I am so far off in my Judgement and Affection as I think no one thing to be so dangerous dishonourable or more offensive to Almighty God in the World than that any Prince should permit the Ark of Israel and Dagon God and the Devil to stand and be honoured together within his Realm or Country But that which I talk of is a certain Connivence or Toleration of Magistrates only for a certain time to be limited and with particular Conditions and Exceptions that no meetings assemblies preaching or perverting of others be used but that such as be quiet and modest People and have never heard perhaps the grounds of Catholick Religion may use the freedom of their Consciences to ask learn and to be instructed for the space prescribed without danger of the Law or of any inquiry to be made upon them to inform themselves of the truth And I would hope verily that by the grace of Almighty God and by charitable diligence and industry of good Men and especially of diligent Pastors and Preachers that many good effects would follow of this Toleration For first there would be taken away that slander wherewith the Enemies are wont ordinarily to charge the Catholick Church though perversly and falsly that she persecuteth before she instructeth And secondly the Wounds would be opened and cured as before hath been said that otherwise would be dissembled and more infested And thirdly there would be more liberty for Men to deal for the true Conversion of Hereticks and they with more confidence comfort and alacrity would alter their Minds and be more capable of the Truth and I think it would be the gaining of thousands of Souls that otherwise would be lost and finally by this means the Prince would come to know at the end of the time prescribed what Disposition of People he had within his Realm which otherwise would be hard to do And these are my reasons for my desires in this behalf which I do remit as all the rest that here
to furnish all places with particular Curates and Pastors which may be by God's grace and good diligence of this Council in erecting and furnishing Seminaries within the space of some five or six years that is before this Council shall resign over their authority And in the mean space the best means of supplying the common Spiritual needs of England would be perhaps that no Priests besides Bishops Deans Archdeacons and the like that are needful for the Government of the rest should have any particular assignation or interest in any Benefice but only a sufficient Pension allowed him by the Council of Reformation or Bishop of the Diocess for his convenient maintenance and his Commission to Preach Teach hear Confessions and all other Exercises of Priestly Function And when the Council of Reformation were to leave their charge then might they take a view of all the Priests in their times or before and according to each Man's talent and good account given of himself in this time of tryal to place them in Benefices But yet with this express Proviso and Condition That they may be removed again from the same Benefices to a worse or to none at all if they give not Satisfaction in their Function which only Bridle may chance to do more good than all the Laws and Exhortations in the World and it would be good sometimes to put it in Execution to promote some in higher Benefices and thrust down others to lower by way of Visitation when cause is offered And one thing before all others will be of very great moment for this Council to put in practice which is That presently at the beginning they do publish an Edict or Proclamation with all severity commanding under pain of great Punishment That no Religious or Ecclesiastical Person whatsoever do enter into the Realm without presenting himself before the Council within so many days after his entrance and there to shew the cause why he cometh and the Licence and Authority by which he cometh and to stand to the Determination of the Council for his aboad or departure again for if this be not done and observed with all rigour many scandalous light and inconstant People partly upon novelty and partly upon hope to gain will repair presently to England and do great hurt by their Example And when this Door is once stopped it will be easie for this Council to write to all the Heads of Religious Orders that are in other Countries to send them such a number of exemplar and reformed Men or Women to begin to plant the said Religious in England as shall be thought expedient and be demanded And for that Religious Orders have been more defac'd dishonoured and persecuted in our Realm than in any Christian Country in the World perhaps it would be convenient to make such an amends and recompence as is not besides in any other Kingdom to wit that all the approved Religious Orders that are in the Church of God should be called into England and placed joyntly in the City of London for that at least it is to be presumed that this City would be capable of all and from thence they might be derived afterwards by little and little into other places of the Realm as Commodities were offered and as Men's Devotions should require and as they should be proved to be most agreeable and profitable to the State of our Country but altogether to be in London and that in the perfection of their first Institution would be a most excellent thing and a priviledge above all other Kingdoms in the World where all Religious Orders are not seen together and much less in the perfection of their first institute and observance which ought to be the Condition of admitting any Order into England now at our next Reformation be they Men or Women to the end that the greater Glory of God be procured in all things And for more easie effectuating of this there may be taken order that Religious Men and Women be called and admitted only from the Parts and Countries for beginning this great work of England where it is known that their Order is reformed and hath some that observe the first perfection of their Rule and in our days divers Countries have And with this one Observation only about Religious Orders and People England would be the most eminent Country of Christendom as hath been said In the beginning of Religious Houses in England care may be had that such be builded and most multiplied as be most needful and profitable for the time present and do apply their labours to action and to the help also of others and that before all the rest Seminaries and Colleges be built and put in order for the more ease of our Clergy And as for old and ancient Religious that appertain most to Contemplation though also they be not to be omitted yet when in every Shire there were one of a sort planted for a beginning and indowed with sufficient Rent for a competent number that would observe their first institution it were no evil entrance for that quickly the Devotion of Good People would increase the same and so would England come in small time to be furnished with more variety of Monasteries and Religious Monuments and of much more edification than when it flourished most Nunneries also for refuge of Virgins and of the devoutest sort of Womenkind were to be set up and the most of Observant Orders and of most edification were first to be planted for example and encouragement of others It were also to be considered whether some new Military Order of Knights were to be erected in our Realm for exercise and help of our young Gentlemen and Nobility as in other Countries we see it And as for England in times past it had only the Order of St. John of Malta wherein now perhaps there may be some difficulties at first for that we have no Knights left of our Nation in that Order to train the rest and to begin it only with strangers may seem hard And secondly For that albeit their institute be good and holy to fight against the Turk and other Infidels yet is Malta far off and these Ages have brought forth many more Infidels and Enemies near home to wit Hereticks and thereby the binding of young Gentlemen which live abroad in the World in Wealth Liberty Ease and Conversation also with Women to perpetual Chastity by Vow as Knights of Malta be without giving them the means and helps that other Religious Men have to keep the same which are Disciplines and restraint from Company and the like has also his difficulties as both reason and experience doth teach us and the examples of some other Countries do prove as namely of Spain where for avoiding of difficulties they have procured Dispensation from the Pope that the Knights of the Military Order of St. James Alcantara Calatrava and the like may Marry Wherefore some are of Opinion That it were good
Times Men Matters and Occasions may chance to fall out very like or the same in England whensoever it shall be reduced to the Catholick Faith again great and special care is to be had lest semblable effect should also follow to the universal prejudice of the common cause wherefore this ought to serve as a preparative both for our Prince and People to put on the same pious and generous mind that Constantine the Great did to bear patiently with the infirmities of Men and remedy all matters the best he may and the People but especially Priests to beware of like deceit of the Devil and amongst other things if perchance in time of Persecution cause has been given or taken of offence or disgust between any person whatsoever that have laboured in God's Service and do tend all to one end to procure effectually now that it be altogether cut off and put in oblivion and this especially amongst the Clergy and by their means amongst others and if there should be any unquiet or troublesome Spirit found that under any pretence would sow or reap or maintain divisions that the Holy Apostles Counsel be followed with him which is to note and eschew him to the end that all may join chearfully and zealously to the setting up of this great and important work of Reformation And so much for Concord But as concerning example of good Life and to be Lanterns of the World I hope in Jesus there will be no great need at that day nor for that day now to call much upon our Clergy or at leastwise for some years after our Reduction they having received so abundant grace of Almighty God in this time of Persecution and so excellent a kind of Holy Education in our Seminaries as never perhaps any Clergy had in the World which Benefit of God ever ought to be a Spur unto them to be answerable to the same in their lives and works and to fear the most terrible sentence of St. Paul to the Hebrews about the hard and miserable case of such as after much and special grace received slide back again to their everlasting and most intolerable Damnation A blessed Servant of God in these our days cried out in a certain Memorial of his to the Council of Trent about matters of Reformation saying Take from us once if it be possible the shame and reproach of Israel which is the Evil and Idle Life of Clergy-men which cry ought ever to found in the Ears of our Clergy also for a watch-word and jointly to remember the Admonition of St. Paul no less necessary than this for them that are to labour in God's Vineyard which was That having meat and competent maintenance they should seek no farther but be content to labour willingly and liberally for so worthy a Master as is to pay them above all expectation or desire in the next Life Which Admonition is most important for moderating our appetites and avoiding of ambition greediness and contention when the day shall come though in England there will not want to give contentment also with abundance in temporal matters to all godly Men that shall labour there if his Divine Majesty vouchsafe to restore the same from his Enemies hands so as my hope is that our Clergy in every degree from the highest to the lowest will endeavour at that day to conform themselves to all rules of Reason Piety and Religion and to hearken gladly to any good Counsel or remembrance of Order and Discipline that shall be offered for theirs and the common good and with that I may presume to set down the Notes that hereafter do ensue CHAP. II. Of Bishops and Bishopricks in England BIshops and Prelates be Heads of the Clergy and if all ought to be Light and Salt how much more they that must lighten and season not only the Temporalty and Laity but all the rest of their own Order also who according to the example given them by their Prelate are wont to proceed And on the other side the best means for a Bishop to do much good in his Diocess is to have good Priests about him for that a Prelate without good Priests to help him is a Bird without Feathers to fly and to have good Priests he must make good Priests both by his Life Doctrine and other good means and especially by Seminaries for that Figs grow not on Thorns as our Saviour says and to have so great a Treasure it must cost both Labour Industry and Mony The Authority and Jurisdiction of Bishops in England is commonly more than in divers other Countries and more respected and their ordinary inquiry upon dishonesty of Life or suspicion thereof is peculiar to England alone and of very great importance for holding Men in fear of carnal sins and for this cause to be continued and increased And albeit in some other Counties simple Fornication be not so much punished or pursued and inquired upon and that the Stews also be permitted for avoiding of greater inconveniences in respect of the different natures and complexions of the People yet by experience we do find that the same necessity of liberty is not in England and consequently in no wife to be brought in again for that it is an occasion of fall and of grievous temptations to many that otherwise would not have them That English Custom also of often Visitations by the Bishop and by his Councellors Officials and other Ministers and Probats of Testament to be made before them and the use of often administring the Sacrament of Confirmation to Children is very laudable and to be honoured and any other thing that may belong to the authority credit or good estimation of the Bishop or of his Function and Office and if for a time after the next change some hand were given to Bishops also in Temporal affairs as to be principal in all publick Commissions within the Shire it would greatly authorise Religion and assure the Country much more to the Prince It will appertain to the Council of Reformation to consider of the Revenues of each Bishoprick and where there wanteth sufficient to bear out decently that State then to add so much as shall be necessary yet are Bishops to be admonished saith Mr. John Avila that Christ willeth them to be Lights of the World and Salt of the Earth by their fervour of Religion Prudence and Vertues and not by abundance of great Riches and Pomp and he alledgeth a Canon of the first Council of Carthage which saith thus Episcopus habeat vilem supellectilem mensam victum pauperem dignitatis suae authoritatem fidei vitae meritis quaerat And upon this he addeth That much more hurt hath come to the Church of God by overmuch Wealth of Bishops than by their Poverty albeit he wisheth notwithstanding that they have sufficient with Moderation And he beseecheth the Council of Trent that as well of Bishops Livings as of Deanries Archdeaconries Rich
Benefices and all other Ecclesiastical Livings which can bear it that there be a certain Portion allotted for the Poor whereof he would not have the Incumbents to have Possession or Interest but only that they with some other assigned for that purpose to be joyned with them to have the Distribution and be accountable yearly for it as if it were not theirs And his reason for this is for that each Ecclesiastical Person being bound in Conscience to give part to the Poor it were good their Consciences were eased herein by help of some others also and that the Poor were assured of their Portion which Holy suggestion might easily be put in Execution at the beginning in England and it would be a goodly Treasure for the Poor in every Diocess and a singular Example to all other Nations in Christendom and those that are good Prelates and Priests would be contented therewith and give besides also of their own and such as are otherwise at least would be forced to give this to their own benefit and others For the Bishop's own Person as also his Houshold it shall not be needful to say how far off it ought to be not only from vanity pomp and lightness which is crept into many to the ruine and scandal of the World to wit of gorgeous Apparel great troops of Servants rich Furniture of Houshold-stuff and other Ostentation of this quality but also and much more from the prophanity and secularity of others as Hawking Hunting Dicing Carding Banqueting inriching of Kindred and the like which Corruptions do easily insinuate themselves partly by corrupt Nature and partly by inticements of others as by experience we have seen in former times if our Bishops and Priests do not stand watchfully upon their own Actions and resolutely cut off the Serpents Head and all Serpentish allurements to these things at the beginning The Bishop's Person ought to be as an Angel of Peace Joy Comfort Ayd Compassion and Encouragement amongst the People and his House to be a School of all Vertues and a Shop or Store-house of all vertuous Men to take out as need shall be for the furnishing of other Places Silks Velvets Chains of Gold Feathers Hawks Hounds and the like in his House or Houshold is great vanity Idleness Swearing Gluttony loose Life Unlawful gains in his Servants is Impiety Well it were that Prelates Servants should be the better provided for than any other to the end that many might desire their Service and bear the Discipline of their Houses more willingly to wit that they should be both better paid and have more ways for their present Services and more hope of certain recompence for the time to come but with this also it were reason that they should be known from all other Mens Servants by their Vertuous Behaviour Modesty in Apparel Temperance in Dyet Sweetness and Humility of Speech Courteous Conversations No less care ought to have the Bishop of the Souls of his Servants but rather more than any other of his Flock which the Holy Apostle St. Paul did so far exaggerate to his Scholar Timothy that was also a Bishop as he said If any man have not care of his own and especially of those that be his Domesticals he is without Faith and worse than an infidel The principal Point that good Prelates do use and may use about Reformation of their Families are first to keep no more than they have need and are well able to maintain of themselves without permitting them Shifts Bribes or other unlawful or suspicious means to help themselves under colour and countenance of their Master's Coats which all redoundeth to their Masters hurt and discredit And Secondly if more do offer themselves to service than the Bishop can thus maintain or hath need of more merit and edification will it be to help to place them otherwhere and to assist them also with Alms abroad if his ability be for it than to hold great Troops of Servants under pretence of Piety and Alms which oftentimes is Oftentation and Vanity or at leastwise great occasion thereof Thirdly such as be admitted to the Bishop's Family and dwell in his House ought to be governed with all kind of care and good Discipline fit for such a place and not disagreeing to the State and Concition of the Men and namely That they confess themselves every Month at the least with known and approved Confessors and that the Bishop himself upon high Feasts or some other may by his appointment administer unto them the blessed Sacrament that whilest they dine or sup in the Hall they have some Spiritual good Lecture read unto them that a certain competent space be appointed them to rise and go to Bed and some Exercise of Prayers in the Mornings and that in the day time such as have no particular charge or offices to occupy themselves in but to attend and wait have some thing devised for their Exercise if it may be to keep them from idleness and among these may enter some honest kind of Disports also at certain times and store of good Books to be laid in publick places for them to read and entertain themselves at other seasons All kind of access and ordinary residence or traffick of Women within a Prelate's House for any occasion whatsoever whether they be kindred or not is indecent suspicious and full of disedification except it were only upon some known cause suit or particular business without stay which yet ought to be avoided the most that may be The occupations of a good Bishop which lie upon him by obligation of his office are so many and weighty as it cannot be imagined how he can have spare time and leisure for idleness or vain and secular entertainments if he have a good Conscience but rather it is needful that he devise the time very well and exactly for to be able to fulfil his duty in preparing saying Mass preaching teaching visiting his Diocess hearing and determining of causes attend to his particular Houshold conferring with his Officers and a thousand other Occupations Cares and Obligations that will fall upon him and take from him both his time by Day and sleep by Night if he be such a Father as he ought to be and have a tender heart towards God's Service and his own Salvation and towards the good of his People and Country which being so there needeth no other Advertisement in this behalf but that he be a good Man and look well to his Conscience and divide well the hours of the day that every thing may be done in its time and Men find space and facility to negotiate with him Let him visit his Diocess often by himself if he can to know his own Sheep nominatim as Christ commandeth and if he cannot let him do it by his Officers and see that it be done with diligence and gratis without Bribes and let the Visitations be examined well afterwards and some Declaration ever made of
none at all if he deserveth it And that the Condition also be put by the Prince and Pope in providing of Bishopricks to wit that when ever the Prince or Archbishops shall require Visitors of His Holiness to visit any Bishop or Archbishop and shall find just cause to deprive him or put him down to a lower Bishoprick that it shall be lawful and that each Prelate may enter with this express Condition as also Deans Archdeacons Canons and the rest And that sometimes it be put in Execution for that this will be a continual Bridle and Spur to them when they know they have no certainty or perpetuity and as to the good it will be an occasion of perpetual promotion so to the other it will be a motive to look about them Order must be given by the Bishops for often meeting of the Clergy in Provincial Synods or otherwise to confer their doubts and to take light and incouragement the one of the other And for the better keeping of Unity both in Mind and Spirit and Actions and the old Canons Customs and old Ecclesiastical Ordinances of our English Church are to be brought in ure again as much as may be and as they serve profitably to our Times Whether it be convenient to have a Third Archbishop in England and some Bishopricks increased enlarged diminished or divided I have put it in Consideration before the Council of Reformation and so have no more to note in particular about this Chapter of Bishops but only to refer my self to that which in general the Holy Council of Trent has ordained about Reformation of Bishops which I do suppose ever as a Foundation to all that here or elsewhere is added for England alone at its next change to Catholick Religion CHAP. III. Of Deans Canons Pastors Curates and the rest of the Clergy AFter Bishops do follow the other inferiour Order of the Clergy to which may be apply'd so much of that which I have spoken before in the Chapter of Bishops as doth concern them And furthermore you may add the Advertisement and Ordinations of the Holy late Council of Trent about Reformation of Priests which were convenient should be put in Execution in England above all other Catholick Countries with Zeal and Devotion and what else I can remember that is particular to our Country or not touched by the said Council I shall endeavour to suggest in this place All Men will confess that Deans and Canons and other Ministers of Cathedral Churches at their first Institution and many years after did live in common and did eat together in one Hall or Refectory and that their Life and manner of Discipline was a community of one good and well ordered College as we read of those that lived under St. Augustin as their Bishop in the City of Hippo in Africa and of those that long after lived under St. Dominick as their Prior in the City of Osma in Spain and for this effect were the Closes or Cloisters built in every Cathedral Church for Canons to live together under one Lock and Discipline as hath been said and for this cause were they called Regular and the very name of Canon signifieth a Rule and in divers places yet of other Countries the same is observed though not with so great Exaction as from the beginning it was But now in England it might be restored to the first perfection again so as our Canons might live in common and be Exemplar Men of Life And if there should be any difficulty to obtain this of all yet at leastwise that no Man live abroad or alone but by particular leave and Dispensation And that such as will live in Community may have some priviledges above the rest and that ordinarily of these Men may be chosen Deans Archdeacons Heads of Colleges Bishops and other Dignities so as to live Exemplarly may have some priviledge and enlargement above the rest for which cause also it would be good that some ordinary degrees and steps were known in the Commonwealth for Ecclesiastical Men to ascend and to go up by And first Seminaries and ordinary Colleges in the Universities and from thence to be Heads of Houses and Fellows of the exempted and priviledged Colleges of which I shall speak more in the Chapter following concerning Universities and from those to be Canons in the Cathedral Churches and after to pass to other Dignities Prelacies and Bishopricks Among which Degrees of Promotion no one is more fit to try Men and to make them sufficient for higher places than Canonneries if they were used to this effect and Men ordinarily taken from thence to other preferments and this according to their Merits only and behaviour in the same and not for favour kindred and other respects And still the most virtuous wise and orderly is to be preferred and especially those that are pious and Men of Alms though they were somewhat inferiour to the rest and that no troublesome unquiet idle vain heady proud or dissolute Men should be preferred though he were never so qualified otherwise but rather know certainly he should be put back from that place and with that express Condition to take his Canonry or other Dignity when he entereth as before hath been noted I have suggested before in the Chapter belonging to the Council of Reformation how that the scarcity of good and able English Priests being so great as it is like to be at the next change when so many places will be to fill as the greatness of such a Kingdom requireth the first care must be in all reason and good Law of prudence to furnish Bishopricks Deanries Archdeaconries and some such other principal charges of Jurisdiction and Government where only the English Men will be able to discharge the Office by reason of the Language and not Strangers But yet where no convenient provision can be made of the English Nation there to help our selves rather with some discreet and vertuous Men of other Countries for a time and those to be chosen and sent us only upon our Petition by zealous and good Bishops abroad than to leave the People wholly unfurnished namely for saying of Mass singing in the Quire of Cathedral Churches and Collegial and other such like Priestly Functions as by Men of other Languages may be performed with Condition that this shall be used only for a space until our Clergy shall be increased and no propriety of Benefices to be given to them but only competent Pensions and Allowance during their aboad in England which may be so long as they behave themselves well and give Edification to the People I have spoken also of English Preachers to be sent over the Realm alloting to every Bishop so many as may be had for that purpose and that he divide them as he shall think most needful and that for some few years at least it would be more commodious for the Publick and more liberty for the Preachers and Priests
and be registred in some Book by some Men of Confidence about his Majesty free from all suspicion of Interest or Corruption and appointed only to attend unto this affair and to take the Memoires that shall be sent from all places which Memoires Lists and Catalogues might be renewed from time to time as before hath been mentioned and hereby would come to pass that the Prince by tract of time should come to be perfectly informed of the merits and abilities of all his principal Subjects and therefore again would ensue that worthy Men without seeking and labouring for it as commonly they are more modest than others should be sought out and preferred and that ambitious and unworthy which ordinarily are the most importunate suiters should be restrained and put back to the comfort of all good Men and to the inestimable benefit of the Commonwealth and singular help of God and the Prince's Service And as this would be one great means to advance worthy Men so is there another of no less importance or piety for the amending of such as run awry which easily might be performed by a careful Catholick Prince to the great benefit of many and to his own singular commodity both with God and Man And this is that some special good Man about his Majesty which is discreet pious and learned as for example his Confessor or the like should be appointed to take the Relations and Informations which do come and would come in such a case of principal Men's behaviour through his Realm both Ecclesiastical and Temporal especially of such as are in Government and Authority and that when any evil fame or report should come of any Man 's bad proceeding or notorious negligence in his duty or manner of life and were confirmed by many ways for light of credit he ought not to be considering the natural inclination of Men to speak rather evil than good of such especially as are in authority then should this person confer the same with his Majesty and by his Licence though as of himself by the way of Friendship admonish the said Party of the opinion and report that is of him to the end he might look about him and amend that which were amiss before the Prince should be forced to take knowledge thereof or put his hand in the matter And I am of opinion That this only Art of Brotherly Correction which is commanded straitly by God to all Men but especially to Governors and such as have care over others though little used now in the World if this one means I say were brought into England among other good Orders now at the beginning and put some times in Execution by our Catholick Prince's commandment it would remedy more evils and procure him more hearty good-will with the People and merit with Almighty God than any thing else that could be devised for this purpose Many other such-like things might be here suggested for the happy day that we expect when God shall please to send us this Catholick Prince but that both these and all other points besides that are treated in this Memorial if any shall be judged worthy of Observation will appertain principally unto him as the head of all to see them set forward established and preserved I shall descend to no more particulars in this place but remit me to that which in other Chapters also is recorded recommending the whole to his Majesty's Protection and zealous furtherance so far forth as they shall be found to tend to the greater glory of God and advancement of the Weal publick And for that divers good Books and notable Discourses are abroad also in Print about this Subject and do lay before good Princes Eyes many excellent points for their better help light and direction in Government I do remit my self also in many points and among other to a notable Treatise come forth this very year in the Spanish Tongue written by a grave and learned Man of the Society of Jesus named Father Ribadeneira the Title whereof is Of the Religion and Vertues that a Christian Prince ought to have for the well governing and preservation of his Estates which in my Opinion is a right excellent piece of work and worthy to be read by all good Princes for that it will put them in mind of many rare and necessary points fit to be remembred embraced and put in execution and whatsoever Prince would read it diligently or appoint every day at his best leasure but some little part thereof to be read unto him with attention and he would continue this Exercise with desire to please God to discharge his Conscience and to govern well his Commonwealth he would hardly do amiss in my Opinion and should have need of little other Counsel for taking the right way in all his occasions purposes and affairs CHAP. III. Of the Nobility and Gentry of England and matters appertaining to their Estate BY the Nobility of England we do understand according to the fashion of other Countries not only Noblemen of Title but Gentlemen Esquires Knights and other degrees that be above Yeomen Husbandmen and the Commonalty In which inferiour sort of Nobility beneath Barons I mean of Knights Esquires and Gentlemen there is not that distinction observed betwixt their degrees in foreign Countries as is in ours and I take ours to be far better and the more laudable Order This Nobility then and Gentry being the chief Members of our Realm are carefully to be preserved by our Catholick Prince in their ancient honours dignities priviledges and whatsoever injury or disestimation hath been laid upon them these later years by some base Heretical Persons in authority it is to be removed and particular inquiry made by Commissioners appointed by the Parliament for this purpose wherein and in what points the Nobility of England have been injured dishonoured or oppressed in these later years of Heresie to the end that supplication may be made to the Catholick Prince for remedy thereof And as the ancient Nobility of England in times past came to that dignity in the Commonwealth and to their credit and estimation both with Prince and People first for their Piety and Zeal in Christian Religion and secondly for their Fidelity and Valour in Service of their Prince and Country so their Heirs and Posterity must conserve the same by the self-same means And first of all it will behove them greatly to take it for a point of chief honour greatness and Nobility at this next Conversion of our Realm to shew their eminent zeal in furthering Religion and the Reformation before-mentioned in all they can both by their authority credit power and zeal and edifying also other Men by their Example of Life as by frequenting the Holy Sacraments in their own Persons publickly and often and by joyning chearfully and piously as their fore-Fathers were wont to do with the Clergy and other good Men to further the advancement of God's cause in all points and
declared in themselves to have been of no force nor yet the Laws therein made and consequently to be frustrate and to be put out of the Book of Statutes except such as this Parliament shall think necessary to confirm and ratifie or make anew The Decree and Law for the faithful restitution of Abby-Lands and Ecclesiastical Revenues with the Moderation before specified is to be determined of among the very first points of importance and it were to be performed with a great alacrity and promptness of minds in all Men thereby to bind Almighty God to deal the more liberally also with us in all the rest that were to be done as no doubt but he would and after this many other particular Commissions and Subdelegations are to be given forth by the Prince and Parliament to particular Troops and Companies of Men for setting good order in divers matters as namely one very ample to the Council of Reformation before-mentioned for the reestablishing of Religion and for gathering up and disposing of the Ecclesiastical Rents and Revenues aforesaid And other were to be given out to certain principal Lawyers and others to reform the points that shall seem needful about our Common Laws Inns of Courts and the like as hath been mentioned another for the Universities another for the planting of Seminaries as well of our Nation as of our Neighbours Strangers for their Conversion and divers other such like weighty affairs are to be committed by different Commissions to able and fit Persons for putting our Commonwealth in joynt again except it shall seem best to commit the most of these matters by a general Commission to the Council of Reformation in form as hath been declared all which being confirmed by our Catholick Prince and See Apostolick may be executed sweetly and securely by the grace of God to his most high glory and everlasting good of our Realm And this is so much as I have to note for the present about this First Part concerning the whole Body of the Realm in general Now shall I speak somewhat of the two principal Members which are the Clergy and Temporalty in particular Animadversions on Chap. X. n THat every Man be sworn to defend the Catholick Roman Faith and moreover that it be made Treason for ever for any Man to propose any thing for change thereof In the late Popish Reign every one does remember what abundance of pains was taken to ridicule the Penal Laws and Test but especially the Test for the decrying of which all Mouths were opened all Pens employed even one of our own if we can with truth call our own that Scandal of Protestant Episcopacy Dr. Parker of Oxford and yet we see that how abominable soever a Test was in favour of the Church of England the Jesuit is for having one and that no body be admitted to suffrage in Parliament till he hath taken a swearing Test for Popery And just so it is with Penal Laws though those made against Papists which by the bye were made not against their perswasion in Religion but against the Treasons and Plots which as Papists they were ever and anon running into be abominable yet against Hereticks they are absolutely necessary When I first read this Chapter I could not but wonder at the Impudence of the Romish Priests in the late Reign that made such tragical Exclamations against Penal Laws but especially of the Jesuits who having this Memorial in their hands and admired by them should exclaim against sanguinary Laws when yet they were resolved as soon as they could get a Popish Parliament to have all the Laws that were ever made against Hereticks those for burning them at Stakes restored and put in full Authority God hath delivered us out of the hands of such abominable and bloody Hypocrites and may He ever preserve us from them who gave good words to the Protestant Dissenters that would be cajoled by them with their Mouths while they had destruction and ruine in their hearts against all Protestants whatsoever And at the same rate were too many Dissenters gull'd about the promised Liberty of Conscience that was to be established in Parliament to be made as firm as Magna Charta and it should have been made Felony or Treason and I know not what for any one in Parliament ever to have motioned a Repeal of it but now we see in the Memorial found in the late King's Closet what it was that was to be so firmly established we find that immediately it was to have been made Treason for ever for any Man to propose any change of Popery in England The SECOND PART of this MEMORIAL Touching the CLERGY I noted in the beginning the Clergy might be divided into Three principal Branches which are Bishops Priests and Religious Orders both of Men and Women and so according to this Division shall I prosecute this Memorial CHAP. I. Of the Clergy in general what they are and ought to do at the next change HAving to speak of the Clergy in general which God from the beginning of his Church vouchsafed to name his own Portion for that they were dedicated more particularly than other Men to his Divine Service and our Saviour to call them by the most honourable name of the light of the World and Salt of the Earth The first point of all to be remembred unto them seemeth to be that if ever there were a time wherein the effect of these names were needful to be shewed and put in execution it will be now at the beginning of our Countries next Conversion whose Fall and Affliction may perhaps in great part be ascribed to the wants of these effects in former times past And furthermore it may be considered that the State of the Clergy in England after a long desired Reduction and happy entrance of some Catholick Prince over us and after so long and bitter a Storm of cruel Persecution will be much like unto that which was of the general Church of Christendom in time of the first good Christian Emperor Constantine the Great after the bloody Persecutions of so many Infidel Tyrants that went before him for three hundred years together at what time as God on the one side provided so many notable zealous and learned Men for the establishing of his Church as appeareth by the three hundred and eighteen most worthy Bishops gathered together in the general Council of Nice so on the other side the Devil ceased not to stir up amongst the Clergy of that time divers and sundry Divisions Emulations and Contentions some of indiscreet zeal against such as had fallen and offended in time of Persecution and some other grounded upon worse causes of Malice Emulation and Ambition tending to particular interest whereby both that good Emperour in particular and all the Church of God in general were much troubled and afflicted and many good Men scandalized and God Almighty's Service greatly hindered and the common Enemy comforted And considering that the