to Scripâ—ure long difused and neglected now seasonably revived for the encrease of piety Others conceived them grounded on a wrong bottome but because they tended to the manifest advance of Religion it was pitty to oppose them seeing none have just reason to complain being deceived into their own good But a third sort flatly fell out with these positions as galling mens necks with a jewish yoak against the liberty of Christians That Christ as Lord of the Sabbath had removed the Rigour thereof and allowed men lawfull recreations That this Doctrine put an unequall Lustre on the Sunday on set purpose to eclipse all other Holy dayes to the derogation of the authority of the Church That this strickt observance was set up out of Faction to be a Character of Difference to brand all for libertines who did not entertain it 22. Tho Rogers first publickly opposeth Dr Bounds opinions However for some years together in this controversie D r Bound alone carried the Garland away none offering openly to oppose and not so much as a feather of a quill in print did wag against him Yea as he in his second edition observeth that many both in their Preachings Writeings and Disputations did concurr with him in that argument and three several profitable treatises one made by M r Greenham were within few years successively written by three godly learned a Dr Bound in his preface to the Reader 2 edition Ministers But the first that gave a check to the full speed of this doctrine was Thomas Rogers of Horningâ—r in Suffolk in his preface to the Book of Articles And now because our present age begins to dawn and we come within the view of that Truth whose footsteps heretofore we only followed at distance I will interpose nothing of my own but of an historian only turn a Notarie for the behoof of the Reader faithfully transcribing such passages as we meet with in order of time Notwithstanding what the b Rogers preface to the Articles Parag. 20. Brethren wanted in strength and learning they had in wiliness and though they lost much one way in the general and main point of their Discipline yet recovered they not a little advantage another way by an odde and new device of theirs in a special Article of their Classical instructions For while worthies of our Church were employing their engins and forces partly in defending the present Government Ecclesiastical partly in assaulting the Presbyterie and new discipline even at that very instant the Brethren knowing themselves too weak either to overthrow our holds and that which we hold or to maintain their own they abandoned quite the Bulwarks which they had raised and gave out were impregnable suffering us to beat them down without any or very small resistance and yet not careless of their affairs left not the Warrs for all that but from an odde corner and after a new fashion which we little thought of such was their cunning set upon us a fresh again by dispersing in Printed Books which for tenn years space before they had been in hammering among themselves to make them compleat their Sabbath speculations and Presbyterian that is more then either kingly or Popely Directions for the observation of the Lords day And in the next page he c Idem Parag. 23. proceedeth It is a comfort unto my soule and will be till my dying hour that I have been the man and the means that the Sabatarian errors and impieties are brought into light and knowledge of the state whereby whatsoever else sure I am this good hath ensued namely that the said Books of the Sabbath comprehending the above-mentioned and many moe such fearfull and heretical assertions hath been both called in and forbidden any more to be printed and made common Your Graces predecessor Arch-Bishop Whitgift by his letters and officers at Synods and Visitations Anno 1599. did the one and S r John Popham Lord chief Justice of England at Bury S t Edmonds in Suffolk Anno 1600. did the other But though both Minister and Magistrate joyntly endeavoured to suppress Bounds Book with the Doctrine therein contained yet all their care did but for the present make the Sunday set in a cloud to arise soon after in more brightness As for the Arch-Bishop his known opposition to the proceedings of the Brethren rendered his Actions more odious as if out of envie he had caused such a pearl to be concealed As for Judge Popham though some conceived it most proper for his place to punish fellonious Doctrines which robbed the Queens subjects of their lawfull liberty and to behold them branded with a mark of Infamie yet others accounted him no competent Judge in this controversie And though he had a dead hand against offenders yet these Sabbatarian Doctrines though condemned by him took the priviledge to pardon themselves and were published more generally then before The price of the Doctors Book began to be doubled as commonly Books are then most called on when called in and many who hear not of them when printed enquire after them when prohibited and though the Books wings were clipt from flying abroad in print it ran the faster from friend to friend in transcribed Copies and the Lords day in most Places was most stricktly observed The more liberty people were offered the less they used it refusing to take the freedom Authority tendered them For the vulgar sort have the Actions of their Superiors in constant jealousie suspecting each gate of their opening to be a Trap every Hole of their Diging to be a Mine wherein some secret train is covertly conveyed to the blowing up of the Subjects liberty which made them almost afraid of the recreations of the Lords day allowed them and seeing it is the greatest pleasure to the minde of man to do what he pleaseth it was sport for them to refrain from sports whilst the forbearance was in themselves voluntary arbitrary and elective not imposed upon them Yea six years after Bounds Book came forth with enlargements publickly sold and scarce any comment Catechism or controversie was set forth by the stricter Divines wherein this Doctrine the Diamond in this Ring was not largely pressed and proved so that as one saith the Sabbath it self had no rest For now all strange and unknown writers without further examination passed for friends and favourites of the Presbyterian party who could give the word and had any thing in their Treatise tending to the strict observation of the Lords day But more hereof God willing in the 15 th year of K. JAMES 23. Now also began some opinions about Predestination The Articles of Lambeth Freewill Perseverance c. much to trouble both the Schools and Pulpit Whereupon Arch-Bishop Whitgift out of his Christian care to propagate the truth and suppress the opposite errours caused a solemn meeting of many grave and learned Divines at Lambeth where besides the Arch-Bishop Richard Bancroft Bishop of London Richard Vaughan
is an ordinary working-day it being will-worship and superstition to make it a Sabbath by vertue of the fourth Commandement But whilest Mr. Bradborn was marching furiously and crying Victoriae to himself he fell into the ambush of the High Commission whose well tempered severity herein so prevailed upon him that submitting himself to a private conference and perceiving the unfoundnesse of his own principles he became a Convert conforming himself quietly to the Church of England 2. Francis White Bishop formerly of Norwich then of Ely Sabbatarian controversies revived was employed by his Majesty to confute Mr. Bradborn his erroneous opinion In the writing whereof some expressions fell from his pen whereat many strict people but far enough from Bradborn's conceipt took great distaste Hereupon Books begat Books and controversies on this subject were multiplied reducible to five principal heads 1. What is the fittest name to signifie the day set apart for Gods publique service 2. When that day is to begin and end 3. Upon what authority the keeping thereof is bottomed 4. Whether or no the day is alterable 5. Whether any recreations and what kindes of them be lawfull on that day And they are dinstinguishable into three severall opinions Sabbatarians Moderate men Anti-Sabbatarians I Are charged to affect the word Sabbath as a Shiboleth in their writing preaching and discoursing to distinguish the true Israelites from lisping Ephraimites as a badg of more pretended puritie As for Sunday some would not have it mentioned in Christian mouthes as resenting of Saxon Idolatry so called from and dedicated to the Sunne which they adored 2. Some make the Sabbath to begin on Saturday night The evening and the morning were the first day and others on the next day in the morning both agreeing on the extent thereof for four and twenty hours 3. They found it partly on the law and light of nature deriving some countenances for the septenary number out of heathen authours and partly on the fourth Commandement which they avouch equally moral with the rest I. Sabbath especially if Christian be premised may inoffensively be used as importing in the original only a Rest And it is strange that some who have a dearnesse yea fondness for some words of Jewish extraction Altar Temple c. should have such an antipathie against the Sabbath Sunday may not only safely be used without danger of Paganisme but with increase of piety if retaining the name we alter the notion and therewith the notion thereof because on that day The a Mal. 4. 2. Sunne of Righteousnesse did arise with healing in his wings But the most proper name is the Lords-day as ancient used in the Apostles b Revel 1. 10. time and most expressive being both an Historian and Preacher For the Lords day looking backward mindeth us what the Lord did for us thereon rising from the dead and looking forward it monisheth us what we ought to doe for him on the same spending it to his glory in the proper duties thereof 2. The question is not of so great concernment For in all circular motions it matters not so much where one beginneth so be it he continueth the same untill he return unto that point again Either of the aforesaid computations of the day may be embraced Diésque quiésque redibit in orbem 3. In the Lords-day three things are considerable 1. A day founded on the light of nature pure impure Pagans destining whole daies to their idolatrous service 2. One day in seven grounded on the moral equity of the fourth Commandement which is like the feet and toes of Nebuchad-nezzar's c Dan. 2. 41. Image part of potters clay and part of iron The clay part and ceremonial mottie of that Commandement viz. that seventh day or Jewish Sabbath is mouldred away and buried in Christ's grave The iron part thereof viz. a mixture of moralitie therein one day in seven is perpetuall and everlasting 3. This seventh day being indeed the eighth from the creation but one of the seven in the week is built Sabbatarians 1 The word Sabbath as now used containeth therein a secret Magazeen of Judaism as if the affecters thereof by spirituall Necromancy endeavoured the reviving of dead and rotten Mosaicall Ceremonies 2. They confine the observation of the day only to the few hours of publique service 3. These unhinge the day off from any Divine Right and hang it meerly on Ecclesiasticall authority first introducing it as custome and consent of the Church had since established it Sabbatarians Moderate-Men Anti-Sabbatarians Anno Dom. 1633 Anno Regis Carol. 9 4. The Church no not ex plenitudine suae potestatis may or can alter the same 5. No exercises at all walking excepted with which strictnesse it self cannot be offended are lawful on this day Insomuch as some of them have been accused of turning the day of rest into the day of torture and self-maâ—eration on Divine right in a larger sense having an analogy in the Old and insinuations in the New Testament with the continued practice of the Church 4. Would be right glad of the generall agreement of the Christian Church but withall right sorry that the same should be abused for the alteration of the Lords-day But as there is but little hope of the former so is there no fear of the latter it being utterly unexpedient to attempt the altering thereof 5. The Sabbath in some sort was Lord yea Tyrant over the Jews and they by their superstition contented vassalls under it Christ was e Matth. 12. 8. Lord of the Sabbath and struck out the teeth thereof Indeed such recreations as are unlawfull on any day are most unlawfull on that day yea recreations doubtfull on other daies are to be forborn on that day on the suspicion of unlawfulnesse So are all those which by their over violence put people past a praying capacity Add also those which though acted after Evening-Service must needs be preacted by the fancy such the volatility thereof all the day before distracting the minde though the body be at Church These recreations forbidden other innocent ones may be permitted 4. The Universall consent of the Christian Church may alter it Yea d Pocklington in his Sunday no Sabbath pag. 8. one saith that the Church of Geneva went about to translate it to Thursday but it seems it was carried in the negative 5. Mixt dancings Masques Interludes Revells c. are by them permitted in the intervalls betwixt but generally after Evening-Service ended A worthy f Dr. Paul Micklewaite Doctor who in his Sermons at the Temple no less piously than learnedly handled the point of the Lords-day worthily pressed that Gentle-folke were obliged to a stricter observation of the Lords-day than labouring people The whole have no need of the Physitian but those who are sick Such as are not annihilated with labour have no title to be recreated with liberty Let Servants whose hands are ever working whilest their
consequence thereof which encreased the Secular Opposition against this leading case of Jurisdiction 17. He will not stand to the determination of a grave priest chosen Umpire About this time came to Wisbich an aged Priest who had given great Testimony of the Ability of his judgement and ardency of his affections to the Catholick Cause being the Generall Collector of the charitable contributions unto the Prisoners In which place he had been so diligent in gathering secret in conveying faithfull in delivering unpartiall in dispensing such sums committed unto him that deservedly he had purchased reputation to himself Who as he had been a Benefactor to both Parties so now he was made an Arbitrator betwixt them with promise of both sides to rest satisfied with his decision He condemneth the Jesuits guilty of a scandalous separation and that Weston ought to desist from his Supriority But the Jesuits would not stand to his sentence confessing their separation Scandalous but only per accidens and therefore not to be left off And whereas the aforesaid Priest had determined that that separation could not be continued without sin the Jesuits in derision demanded of him whether he meant a venial sin or a mortall and so the whole business took no effect 18. At last is forced by letters from his provincial to leave off his Agency Some moneths after two reverend Priests often sent for by both sides were by joynt consent made Judges in this Cause who resolved that Westons Agency should be abolished as the original of evill and seminary of much discord and because Weston refused to obey their order these two Priests posted up to London where Garnet the Jesuits Provincial did lodge and from him with much adoe obtained peremptory letters to Weston presently to leave off his pretended superiority A message which went to the proud Jesuits heart who was formerly heard to say that he o Declaratio motuum ac c. pag. 20. had rather throw himself headlong from the Castle wall then desist from his office But now there was no remedy but he must obey desiring only he might make a speech to his society exhorting them to unity and concord and in the midst of his Oration as if he would have surrendred his soul and place both together he fell speechless into a p Ibidem swoond and hardly recovered again so mortall a wound it is to a proud heart to part with Authority Thus ended Westons Agency the short continuance whereof was the best commendation of his command 19. The Schism notwithstanding continues and increases But this was but a palliate cure to skin the sore over which festered within the enmity still continued Seculars complaining that the Jesuits traduced them to Lay-Catholicks as cold and remiss in the cause only dull to follow beaten paths not active to invent more compendious wayes for the advance of Religion Anno Regin Eliza. 38. Anno Dom. 1595. The Jesuits also boasted much of their own merit how their order though last starting had with its speed overtook and over-run all before them Indeed they are excellent at the art of self-praising not directly but by certain consequence for though no man blazed his own praise for one to be a herauld to commend himself the same on the same is false blazon as well against the rules of modesty as prudence yet every one did praise his partner laying an obligation on him to do the like who in justice must do as much and in bounty often did more gratefully repaying the commendations lent him with interest And thus mutually arching up one another they fill'd the ears of all Papists with loud relations of the transcendent Industry Piety Learning of the men of their society to the manifest derogation of all other orders But more of these discords in the year following 20. The strickt keeping of the Sabbath first revived About this time thorowout England began the more Solemne and strickt observation of the Lords day hereafter both in writing and preaching commonly called the Sabbath occasioned by a Book this year set forth by one P. Bound Doctor of Divinity and enlarged with Additions Anno 1606. wherein these following opinions are maintained 1. That the commandement of Sanctifying every seventh Day as in the Mosaicall Decalogue is morall and perpetual 2. That whereas all other things in the a Dr Bounds BOOK of the Sabbath p. 91. Jewish Church were taken away Priesthood Sacrifices and Sacraments this Sabbath was so changed that it still remaineth 3. b pag. 247. That there is a great reason why we Christians should take our selves as streightly bound to rest upon the Lords day as the Jews were upon their Sabbath it being one of the morall Commandements where all are of equall Authority 4. c pag. 124. The rest upon upon this day must be a notable and singular rest a most carefull exact and precise rest after another manner then men are accustomed 5. d pag. 163. Schollers on that day not to study the liberall Arts nor Lawyers to consult the case nor peruse mens evidences 6. e pag. 164. Sergeants Apparitours and Sumners to be restrained from executing their offices 7. f pag. 166. Lustices not to examine Causes for the conservation of the peace 8. g pag. 102. That ringing of more bell's then one that day is not to be justified 9. h pag. 206. 209. No Solimâ— feasts nor wedding dinners to be made on that Day with permission notwithstanding of the same to i pag. 211. Lords Knights and Gentlemen of Quality which some conceive not so fair dealing with him 10. k pag. 102. All honest recreations and pleasures lawfull on other dayes as shooting fencing bowling on this day to be forborn 11. l pag. 272. 275. No man to speak or talk of pleasures or any other worldly matter It is almost incredible how taking this Doctrine was partly because of it's own Purity and partly for the eminent piety of such persons as maintained it so that the Lords Day especially in Corporations began to be precisely kept people becoming a Law to themselves forbearing such sports as yet by statute permitted yea many rejoycing at their own restraint herein On this day the stoutest fencer laid down the buckler the most skillful Archer unbent his bow counting all shooting besides the Marke Mâ—y-games and Morish-dances grew out of request and good reason that Bells should be silenced from gingling about mens leggs if their very Ringing in Steeples were adjudged unlawful some of them were ashamed of their former pleasures like children which grown bigger blushing themselves out of their rattles and whistles Others forbear them for fear of their Superiors and many left them off out of a Politick Compliance least otherwise they should be accounted licentious 21 Yet learned men were much divided in their judgements about these sabatarian Doctrines some embraced them as ancient truths consonant
Sir Richard Poole and Margaret Countess of Sarisbury who was daughter to George Duke of Clarence Forsake me Quite casting him off because he would not be bred a Papist and goe to Rome THEN An emphatical Monosyllable just in that nick of time The Lord taketh me up Not immediately miracles being ceased but in and by the Hands of Henry Earl of Huntingdon his honorable kinsman providing plentifull maintenance for him 23. However Often silenced and restored after he was entred in the Ministery he met with many molestations as hereby doth appear 1 silenced by The High Commission 1590. in June 2 Bishop Chaderton 1605. April 24. 3 Bishop Neile 1611. in November 4 The Court at Lecest 1630. March 4. 1 restored by The High Commission 1591. in January 2 Bishop Barlow 1608. in January 3 Doctor * Vicar Gen. to Archbishop Abbots Ridley 1625. June 20. 4 The same Court 1631. August 2. And now me thinks I hear the Spirit speaking unto him as once to the Prophet * 24. 27. Ezechiel Thou shal speak and be no more dumb singing now with the Celestiall Quire of Saints and Angels Indeed though himself a Non-conformist he loved all honest men were they of a different judgment minded like Luther herein who gave for his Motto In quo aliquid CHRISTI video illum diligo 24. He was Minister of Ashby de la Zouch fourty and three yeers His long and assiduous preaching This putteth me in minde of Theodosiue and of Valentinian two worthy Christian Emperors their constitutions making those Readers of the Civil Law Counts of the first Order cùm * 〈…〉 lib. 6. tit aâ— adviginti annos observatione jugi Anno Regis Caroli Anno Dom. ac sedulo docendi labore pervenerint when with daâ—ly observation and diligent labor of teaching they shall arrive at twenty yeers Surely the Readers of Gods Law which double that time shal not lose their reward 25. The same yeer died Robert Bolton The death of Bolton born in Lancashire bred in Brasen-nose Colledge in Oxford beneficed at Broughton in Northamptonshire An authoritative Preacher who majestically became the Pulpiz and whose life is exactly * By my good friend Mr. Pagshaw written at large to which I refer such as desire farther satisfaction And here may the Reader be pleased to take notice that henceforward we shall on just grounds for bear the description of such Divines as yeerly deceased To say nothing of them save the dates of their deaths will add little to the readers information to say much in praise or dispraise of them wherein their relations are so nearly concerned may add too much to the Writers danger Except therefore they be persons so eminent for their learning or active for their lives as their omission may make a maâ—m in our History we shall passe them over in silence hereafter 26. Archbishop Laud began to look with a jealous eye on the Feoffees for Impropriations Impropriation Feoffees questioned as who in process of time would prove a thorne in the sides of Episcopacy and by their purchases become the prime Patrones for number and greatness of benefices This would multiply their dependents and give a secret growth to Non-conformity Whereupon by the Archbishops procurement a Bil was exhibited in the Eschequer Chamber by Mr. Noy the Atturny Generall against the Feoffees aforesaid and that great Lawyer endevoured to overthrow as one termed it their Apocrypha Incorporation 27. It was charged against them 8 1632 first Their first acculation that they diverted the charity wherewith they were intrusted to other uses * Being by their Feoffment to eâ—â—ct them where preaching was wanting when erecting a Lecture every morning at St. Antholines in London What was this but lighting candles to the Sun London being already the Land of Goshen and none of those dark and far distant corners where Soules were ready to famish for lack of the food of the word What was this but a bold breach of their trust even in the Eye of the Kingdome 28. They answered that London being the chief staple of charity and the place where the principall contributers to so pious a work did reside And answere thereunto it was but fit that it should share in the benefit of their bounty That they were not so confined to the uses in their Feoffment but that in their choice they might reflect as well on the Eminency as Necessity of the place that they expended much of their own as well as other mens money and good reason they should doe therewith as they pleased 29. It was pressed against them A second charge against them that they generally preferred Non conformists to the Lectures of their Erection To this it was answered that none were placed therein but such whose Sufficiency and Conformity were first examined and approved by the Ordinary to be to such a Degree as the Law required Yea it is said that Mr. White one of the Feoffees privately proffered Bishop Laud at his house in Fulham that if he disliked either the Persons who managed or Order which they took in this work they would willingly submit the alteration to his Lordships discretion 30. In conclusion the Court condemned their proceedings They are overthrown as dangerous to the Church and State pronouncing the Gifts Feoffments and Contrivances made to the Uses aforesaid to be illegall and so dissolved the same confiscating their money unto the Kings use Their criminall part was referred to but never prosecuted in the Star-chamber because the Design was generally approved and both discreet and devout men were as desirous of the Regulation so dolefull at the ruin of so pious a Project 31. Samuel Harsenet about this time ended his life The death of Archbishop Harsenâ—t born in Colchester bred Scholar Fellow Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge afterwards Bishop of Chtchester and Norwich Anno Dom. 1633 Anno Regis Caroli 9 Archbishop of York and privy Counsellor He was a zealous asserter of ceremonies using to complain of the first I believe who used the expression of CONFORMABLE PURITANS who practised it out of policy yet dissented from it in their judgments He lieth buried in Chigwell Church in Essex where he built a School with this Epitâ—ph Indignus Eptscopus Clcestrensis indignior Norvicensis indignissimus Archiepiscopus Eboracensis 32. Now the Sabbatarian controversie begun to be revived Bradborn his etroneous opinion which brake forth into a long and hot contention Theophilus Bradborn a Minister of Suffolk founded the first trumpet to this fight who some five yeers since namely anno 1628. set forth a Book dedicated to his Majesty intituled A defence of the most ancient and sacred ordinance of God The Sabbath Day maintaining therein 1. The fourth Commandement simply and entirely moral 2. Christians as well as Jews obliged to the everlasting observation of that day 3. That the Lords-day
living at Walgrave in Northamptonshire and possessed of that Mannour before the Conquest The other a Walloon of that name coming over with the Conquerour and employed by him in many Services The later of these on the former his consent that he should marry his onely Daughter procured from the Conquerour a Pardon for his Father in Law that he might quietly enjoy his Lands and Livings descending on this Walloon VValgrave after the other his Death Which Pardon legible in French was Anno 1612. in the possession of the a Attested by Iohn Raven Richmond Herald See Weavers Funerall Monuments pag. 7. 5. 8. After the Conquest severall recruits of French in England Walgraves still flourishing in Suffolk Fifth Coroll Let none wonder if some names of VVorshipfull and Honourable Families undoubtedly of French Originall but since the Conquest have not appeared in the aforesaid Catalogues For know that after the Conquest sundry French-men of signall Worth entred England at severall times chiefly At the Marriage First of King Henry the second to Queen Eleanor who brought the Dukedome of Aquitain Earledome of Poictiers for her Dowrie Secondly of Edward the second to Isabella Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France when three thousand French came over with her complained of as a great Grievance and many settled here Not to speak of the Conquests of King Edward the third and Henry the fifth in France causing such an Intercourse of the Nations that then England and France may be said to have born counterchangeably each others Natives Sixth Coroll Tradesmen not mentioned in this Roll came over with them Many will admire no mention of Tradesmen in all these Catalogues being of absolute necessity both in War and Peace For soon would the Head of the best Monsieur ake without a Capper Hands be tanned without a Glover Feet be foundred without a Tanner Currier Shoemaker whole Body be straved cold without VVeaver Fuller Tailour hungry without Baker Brewer Cook harbourless without Mason Smith and Carpenter Say not it was beneath the French Gallantry to stoup to such mean Employments who found all these Trades here amongst the English their Vassallâ— For besides that nothing is base which is honest and necessary for humane Society such as are acquainted with the French both ancient modern finicall humour know they account our Tailours Botchers Shoemakers Coblers Cooks Slovens compared to the exactnesse of their Fancy and Palate so that certainly such Trades came over with them Seventh Coroll As appears by Dooms-day Book But hear what our great b Camden his remaines pag. 234. Antiquary faith herein In that most authenticall Register Doomesday Book in the Exchequer ye shall have Cocus Aurifaber Pictor Pistor Accipitrarius Camerarius Venator Piscator Medicus Cook Goldsmith Painter Baker Falconer Chamberlain Huntsman Fisher Leach Marshall Porter and others which then held land in capite and without doubt left these Names to their Posterity albeit haply they are not mentioned in those Tables of Battel Abbey of such as came in at the Conquest Eighth Coroll The sad case of the English Now let me bespeak the Readers Pity though possibly his ingenuous Sympathie hath given it before it was requested for those poor English-men who were to find Free-quarter for all these French Where could their Land-lords lodge them or rather how could they long continue Landlords when such potent Guests came to their Houses O the severall wayes which their Necessities dictated unto them Some fought as the Kentish who capitulated for their Liberty some fled as those in the North into Scotland some hid themselves as many in middle England in the Isle of Ely some as those of Norfolk traversed their Title by Law and that with good Successe in the Old age of King William the Conquerour Most betook themselves to Patience which taught many a Noble Hand to work Foot to travel Tongue to intreat even thanking them for their Courtesie who were pleased to restore a Shiver of their own Loaf which they violently took from them FINIS THE Church-History OF BRITAINE The Third Book FROM THE COMING IN OF THE NORMANS Untill the appearing of IOHN WICLIFFE SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO LONDON Printed in the Year M.DC.LV. To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord Beauchampe c. GRAND-CHILDE AND HEIR APPARENT To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Marquiss of Hertford SOme there are who exact of every Christain as a Touchstone of their sincerity to render an account of the exact time of their Conversion with the Circumstances thereof how when and where performed I must crave leave to enter my self a Dissenter herein conceiving such a Demand unreasonable as generally required esential to all true Believers I confess some may return a satisfactory Answer thereunto namely such whose Souls suddenly snatch'd out of Errour and Vitiousness were immediately wrought upon almost in an instant by the Spirit of God Thus of those * Acts 22. 41. three thousand gained on Many-Saints-day by Saint Peter at Jerusalem with the preaching of one Sermon each one might punctually and precisely tell the very Moment of their true Conversion and generally the WORSE men have been the BETTER they can point at the accurate date thereof And thus as Kings count their actions by the years of their Reign Bishops formerly of their Consecration so these may use the stile In the year of our Conversion first or second c. And as * Mar. 14. 6. Herod kept a Festivall of his Natural Birth-day such if so pleased may duly and truly observe an Anniversary Solemnity of their Regeneration A Priviledge not granted to all true Believers God to shew his Power that he Can and Pleasure that he VVill vary the manner of Mens Conversion though going the same path by his VVord and Spirit useth a â—lower pace in the hearts of others in whom Grace is wrought sensim sine sensu modeled by degrees In such no mortal man can assign the minutary juncture of Time when preparing grace which cleared the ground ended and saving grace which finish'd the fabrick of Conversion did first begin Observable to this purpose are the words of our Saviour * Mark 4. 26. So is the Kingdom of God as if a man should cast feed into the ground and should sleep and rise night and day and the â—eed should spring and grow up HE KNOWETH NOT HOW That grace is sown and is grown Men know but when and how in the persons aforesaid GOD KNOWS Besides these adult Converts there are a second sort of Christians unable to discover the Date of grace dawning in them namely such who with * 2 Tim 1. 5. and 3. 15. Timothy may be said to be good time out of minde sucking in grace with their milk extracted from and educated under a pious Parentage I hope and trust that your Honour may truly be ranked in this latter Form that as many ancient deeds written before the Reign of King Henry
was a civil penalty equivalent to the Universities discominoning a Townsman in Cambridg whereby the Jews were derred all commerce with Christians worse to them then all the plagues of Egypt and so the mart of their profit marred dearer unto them then life it self 40. Endless it were to reckon up the indignities offered unto these Jews Jew unfortunate at feasts and frays on occasion sometime given but oftner taken Apprentices now adayes do not throw sticks at Cocks on Shrove-tuesday so commonly as then on that day they used clubs on the Jews if appearing out of their houses A people equally unhappy at feasts and at frays For whensoever the Christians at any revels made great entertaintments the Jews were made to pay the reckoning And wheresoever any braule began in London it ended alwayes in the Old-Jury with pillaging of the people therein What good heart can without grief recount the injuries offered to those who once were the only people of God These were they who preferred Barabbas before Christ their Saviour which Barabbas was a b John 18. 40. robber a raiser of c Mark 15. 7. insurrection and a murderer And ever since that time in all insurections against them when they desired and sought safety and deliverance it hath been their constant portion to be robbed and murdered 41. But the most terrible persecution fell upon them at the Coronation of King Richard the first A sad Jewish Jubilee which according to the Jewish computation was their Jubile and then busie in the observance thereof though alas they had not one merry day in the compass of the whole year They were forbidden for fear of their inchantments to approach the Kings Coronation upon heavy penalties denounced Now their curiosity was so far above their covetousness or rather their willfulness so far above their curiosity herein that out of their old spirit of contradiction some appeared there which caused the killing of many robbing of moe Jews in London On the same account within few dayes after how quickly can cruelty ride post seven score and ten miles five hundred Jews besieged in a Tower at York first beheaded their own wives and children and then burnt themselves to escape more cruel torments 42. In the seventeenth year of the Reign of King John London-wall built with Jewish stones the Barons brake into the Jews houses and rifled their coffers and with the stone of their houses repaired the gates and d Stows Survey of London pag. 288. walls of London Surely such stones must be presumed very hard like the Jews their owners from whom they were taken and yet they soon mouldred away with winde and weather Indeed plundered stone never make strong walls And I impute it as a partial cause of the weakness of London-walls which no enemy ever since assaulted but he entered them that a great part of them enough to infect all the rest was built with materials got by oppression 43. But of all our English Kings Henry the third cruel to the Jews none ground the Jews with exactions like King Henry the third Onely herein the Jews might and did comfort themselves that the English his Native Subjects also smarted soundly under his oppression He not onely flead the skin but raked the flesh and scarrified the bones of all the Jews estates in England ut vivere fastidirent that is was irksome for them to live e Mat. Paris pag. 605. Gold he would receive of every Jewish man or woman alwayes with his own hand but consigned other officers to receive the silver from them One offensive act he wilfully did to their conscience in giving them leave at their own cost and charges to build them a new Synagogue and when they had finish'd it He commanded them to dedicate it to the Virgin f Stows Survey p. 192. Mary whereby they utterly lost the use thereof and afterwards the King gave it to be a Cell of S t Anthony of Vienna A vexatious deed meerly to despight them who are since their smarting for Idolatry in the captivity of Babylon pertinacious worshippers of one God and nothing more retardeth their conversion to Christianity then the scandal given daylie unto them by the Popish Saint-ship to their images 44. It may justly seem admirable The wonder of the Jews speedy recruiting their estates whence these Jews so often pillaged to their bare skins so suddenly recruited themselves with wealth What I have heard affirmed of some ground in Glocester-shire that in a kindly spring bite it bare over night next morning the grass will be grown to hide a wande therein is most certainly true in application to the Jews so full and fast did wealth flow in upon them Let their eggs not onely be taken away but their nests be pluck'd down yet within few years we shall finde them hatching a new brood of wealth therein This made many suspect them for clipping and coyning of money But to lessen the wonder of these Jews their speedy recovery know that besides some of their invisible hoardes escaping their plunderers hands the Jews in other places where the persecution for the present furnished them to set up trading again Indeed commendable was the Jews charity to their own Country-men save that necessity commanded them to love one another being hated of all other nations 45. To avoid these miseries Crouds of counterfeit converts they had but one shift and as used by some of them it was but a shift indeed to pretend themselves Christian Converts * Mat. Paris pag. 982. and to tender themselves to be baptized To such persons in a temporal respect Baptism washed away all sin they being cleared and quitted from all ante-facts how hainous soever by their entrance into Christianity Thus Anno 1259. Elias Biscop a London-Jew charged with many horrible crimes and amongst others that with poisoned drinke he had caused the death of many English Gentlemen escaped all punishment by being baptized For the farther encouragement of their conversion King Henry the third erected a small house in Chancery-Lane where the office of the Rolls is now kept for Convert-Jews to dwell in allowing a daylie salary to them for their maintenance It is to be feared many lived therein who were Jews inwardly but not in the Apostles a Rom. 2. 29. acception thereof in the spirit but in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God but I mean such who still retained the dregs of Judaisme under the fained profession of Christianity Sure I am King Edward at this time was so incensed against the Jewish Nation that now he resolved the total and final extirpation of them and theirs out of his Dominions 46. Many misdemeanours were laid to their charge Misdemeanors charged on the Jews amongst which these following were the principal First Enchantments This was an old sin of the Jews whereof the Prophets alwayes complained b Isai 47. 9. the multitude of
to return to bed was accounted a petty apostacie 2. Let all at the sign given leave off their work and repair presently to prayers Sign This in England commonly called the ringing Island was done with tolling a bell but in other Countreys with loud stroaks as Noblemens Cooks knock to the dresser at which time none might continue their work Yea the Canon was so strict that it provided scriptores literam non integrent That writers a great trade in Monasteries having begun to frame and flourish a Text letter were not to finish it but to break off in the middle thereof 3. Let those who are absent in publick imployment be reputed present in prayers Absent Hence it was that antiently at the end of prayers there was a particular commemoration made of them and they by name recommended to Divine protection 4. Let no Monk go alone but alwaies two together Two That so they might mutually have both testem honestatis and monitorem pietatis And this was done in some imitation of Christs sending his Disciples to preach f Luke 10. 1. Two and two before his face that so they might alternately ease one another 5. From Easter to Whitsunday let them dine alwaies at twelve and sup at six of the clock Dine The Primitive Church forbade fasting for those fifty daies that Christians might be cheerfull for the memory g Tertullian Libro de corons militis of Christs resurrection Immunitate Jejunandi à die Paschae Pentecosten usque gaudemus and therefore more modern is the custome of fasting on Ascension Eve 6. Let them at other times fast on Wednesdaies and Fridaies till three a clock in the afternoon Three of the clock So making but one meal a day but know that the twelve daies in Christmas were in this Canon excepted 7. Let them fast every day in Lent till six of the clock at night Six a clock Stamping a character of more abstinence on that time For though all a Monk's life ought to be a LENT yet this most especially wherein they were to abate of their wonted sleep and diet and adde to their daily devotion Yet so that they might not lessen their daily fare without leave from the Abbot all things done without whose consent will be accounted presumption and not redound to reward so that in such cases obedience to their Superiours was better than the sacrifice of their own free abstinence 8. Let no Monk speak a word in the Refectory when they are at their meals Speak a word Whilst their mouthes are open to eat their lips must be lockt to speak For proof whereof they corruptly cite the Apostles words to h 2 Thes 3. 12. eat their own bread with silence whereas indeed it is work with quietness and therein a contented minde injoyned Such might also remember Solomon's rule Eat thy bread with joy 9. Let them listen to the Lecturer reading Scripture to them whilst they feed themselves Listen This was i In regula Capite quinto S. Austine ' s rule Ne solae fauces sumant cibum sed aures percipiant Dei verbum 10. Let the Septimarians dine by themselves after the rest Septimarians These were weekly Officers not as the Abbot Porter c. for term of life as the Lecturer Servitors at the table Cook who could not be present at the publick refection as the Bible-Clerks in Queens-Coll in Cambrige waiting on the Fellows at dinner have a Table by themselves their stomacks being set to go an hour after all the rest 11. Let such who are absent about businesse observe the same hours of prayer Absent Be it by sea or land on ship in house or field they were to fall down on their knees and though at distance and very briefly yet in some sort to keep time and tune with the Covent in their devotions 12. Let none being from home about businesse and hoping to return at night presume foris mandicare to eat abroad Eat abroad This Canon was afterwards so dispensed with by the Abbot on severall occasions that it was frustrate in effect when Monks became common guests at Lay-mens tables 13. Let the COMPLETORIE be solemnly sung about seven a clock at night COMPLETORIE Because it compleated the duties of the day This service was concluded with that Verticle of the Psalmist k Psal 141. 3. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my lips 14. Let none speak a word after the Completorie ended but hasten to their beds Speak a word For they might expresse themselves by signes and in some cases whisper but so softly that a third might not overhear it This silence was so obstinately observed by some that they would not speak though assaulted with thieves to make discovery in their own defence 15. Let the Monks sleep in beds singly by themselves but all if possible in one room Singly by themselves To prevent that sin of Sodomie whereof many were detected and more suspected in after-Ages One room For the comfort of their mutuall society 16. Let them sleep in their cloathes girt with their girdles but not having their knives by their sides for fear of hurting themselves in their sleeps In their clothes Is slovenness any advantage to sanctity This was the way not to make the Monks to lie alone but to carry much company about them 17. Let not the youth lie by themselves but mingled with their seniours Seniours That their gravity may awe them into good behaviour Thus husbandmen couple young colts with staid horses that both together may draw the better 18. Let not the candle in the Dormitory go out all the night Candle In case some should fall soddainly sick and that this standing candle might be a stock of light to recruit the rest on occasion 19. Let Infants incapable of excommunication be corrected with rods Infants Such all were accounted under the age of fifteen years of whom many in Monasteries whose minorities were beneath the censures of the Church 20. Let the offenders in small faults whereof the Abbot is sole Judge be onely sequestred from the table Small faults As coming after grace to dinner breaking though casually the earthen ewer wherein they wash their hands being out of tune in setting the Psalm taking any by the hand as a preface forsooth to wantonnesse receiving Letters from or talking with a friend without leave from the Abbot c. From the table Such were to eat by themselves and three hours after the rest until they had made satisfaction 21. Let the offenders in greater faults be suspended from table and prayers Greater faults viz Thest adultery c. And Prayers This in effect amounted to the greater Excommunication and had all the penalties thereof 22. Let none converse with any excommunicated under the pain of excommunication None Yet herein his Keeper deputed by the Abot was excepted Converse Either to car or speak with him He might not so much as blesse him
according to their intentions which here are interpretable according to other Mens inclinations The Archbishops adversaries imputed this not to his charity but policy Fox-like preying farthest from his own den and instigating other Bishops to doe more than he would appear in himself As for his own Visitation-Articles some complained they were but narrow as they were made and broad as they were measured his under-officers improving and enforcing the same by their enquiries beyond the letter thereof 42. Many complain that Mans badness took occasion to be worse Licentiousness increaseth under the protection of these sports permitted unto them For although liberty on the Lords-day may be so limited in the notions of learned men as to make it lawfull it is difficult if not impossible so to confine it in the actions of lewd people but that their liberty will degenerate into licentiousness 43 Many moderate Men are of opinion Conceived by some a concurring cause of our civil Warrs that this abuse of the Lords day was a principall procurer of Gods anger since poured out on this land in a long and bloody civil war Such observe that our fights of chief concernment were often fought on the Lords-day as pointing at the punishing of the profanation thereof Indeed amongst so many battells which in ten yeers time have rent the bowels of England some on necessity would fall on that day seeing we have be-rubrick'd each day in the week almost in the yeer with English blood and therefore to pick a solemne providence out of a common-casualty savours more of curiosity than conscience Yeâ— seeing Edge-hill-fight which first brake the peace and made an irreconcileable breach betwixt the two parties was fought on that day and some battells since of greatest consequence there may be more in the observation than what many are willing to acknowledge But whatsoever it is which hence may be collected sure I am those are the best Christians who least censure others and most reform themselves 44. But here it is much to be lamented A sad alteration that such who at the time of the Sabbatarian controversie were the strictest observers of the Lords-day are now reeled by their violence into another extreme to be the greatest neglecters yea contemners thereof These Transcendents accounting themselves mounted above the Predicament of common piety averr they need not keep any because they keep all days Lords-dayes in their elevated holinesse But alas Christian duties said to be ever done will prove never done if not sometimes solemnly done These are the most dangerous Levellers equalling all times places and persons making a generall confusion to be Gospell-perfection Whereas to speak plainly we in England are rebus sic stantibus concerned now more strictly to observe the Lords-day than ever before Holy-daies are not and Holy-eves are not and Wednesday and Friday-Letanies are not and Lords-day eves are not and now some out of errour and others out of profaneness goe about to take away the Lords-day also all these things make against Gods solemn and publique service Oh let not his publique worship now contracted to fewer chanells have also a shallower stream But enough of this subject wherein if I have exceeded the bounds of an Historian by being to large therein such will pardon me who know if pleasing to remember that Divinity is my proper profession 45. At this time miserable the maintenance of the Irish Clergy Irish impropriations restored where Scandalous means made Scandalous Ministers And yet a Popish Priest would grow fat in that Parish where a Protestant would be famished as have not their lively-hood on the oblations of those of their own Religion But now such Impropriations as were in the Crown by the King were restored to the Church to a great diminution of the Royall-Revenew though his Majesty never was sensible of any loss to himself if thereby gain might redound to God in his Ministers Bishop Laud was a worthy Instrument in moving the King to so pious a work and yet this his procuring the restoring of Irish did not satisfy such discontented at his obstructing the buying in of English Impropriations thus those conceived to have done hurt at home will hardly make reparations with other good deeds at distance 46. A Convocation concurrent with a Parliament was called and kept at Dublin in Ireland The 39 Articles received in Ireland wherein the 39. Articles of the Church of England were received in Ireland for all to subscribe unto It was adjudged fit seeing that Kingdome complies with England in the Civill government it should also conform thereto in matters of Religion Mean time the Irish Articles concluded formerly in a Synode 1616. wherein Arminianisne was condemned in terminis terminantibus and the observation of the Lords day resolved jure Divine were utterly excluded 47. A Cardinals-Cap once and again offered by the Pope Bishop Laud refuseth a Cardinalls-Cap to Bishop Laud was as often refused by him The fashion thereof could not fit his Head who had studied and written so much against the Romish Religion He who formerly had foiled the Fisher himself in a publick disputation would not now be taken with so filly a bait but accquainted the King therewith timuit Roman vel donaferentem refusing to receive anything from Rome till she was better reformed 48. Doctor William Juxon Bishop of London March 6 1635 Bishop Juxon made Lord Treasurer was by Bishop Lauds procurement made Lord Treasurer of England entring on that Office with many and great disadvantages Anno Dom. 1635 Anno Regis Caroli 10 First because no Clergy-man had executed the same since William Grey Bishop of Ely almost two hundred yeare agoe in the raign of King Edward the fourth Secondly because the Treasury was very poor and if in private houses bare walls make giddy Hous-wives in Princes Palaces empty Coffers make unsteady Statesmen Thirdly because a very Potent I cannot say Competitor the Bishop himself being never a Petitor for the Place but desirer of this Office was frustrated in his almost assured expectation of the same to himself 49. However so discreet his carriage in that place His comendable carriage it procured a generall love unto him and politick malice despairing to bite resolved not to bark at him He had a perfect command of his passion an happiness not granted to all Clergy-men in that age though privy-Counsellors slow not of speech as a defect but to speak out of discretion because when speaking he plentifully payed the principall and interest of his Auditors expectation No hands having so much money passing thorough them had their fingers less soiled there with It is probable his frugality would have cured the consumption of the Kings Exchequer had not the unexpected Scotch commotion put it into a desperate relapse In this particular he was happy above others of his order that whereas they may be said in some sort to have left their Bishopricks