haue to the seyd Iohn and to his heyres beryng therfor a certayn yerly rent specyfyd in yowr seyd indentures and afterwards the seyd Iohn and Bryan his son hadd of yowr graunt the same londes and tenements with othyr by yowr othyr indentures yervpon made betwex yow tham whych endentures wer seald by yow and the seyd Iohn in thabsens of his seyd son delyuered and left in yowr kepyng of trust and soon aftyr fortuned him to be sleyne at the lamentable conflyct of Wakfeld in the seruice of the ryghte noble and famous Prynce owr fader whom God rest And now as we hear ye labor and entend to put owr seyd servant hys son from the seyd londes and tenements contrary to yowr fyrst and latyr graunte a for expressyd and agenst ryght and good conscyens yf hit be as is surmysed We therfor exhort and desyr yow to suffre owr seyd servant to have and enioy the seyd londs and tenements according to yowr forseyd couenants and graunts and to delyuer vnto him the seyd later endentures concerning the same as his fader so left of trust in yowr kepyng And beside that to shew to owr seyd servant in any othyr matyrs lawfull and reasonable that he shall a have adoo with yow yowr beneuolences and herty fauors and the rathyr and mor especyally at owr instance and contemplacyon of theys owr letters wherin ye shall not only doo vs a singular plasur but caus vs for the sam to have yow and yowr plas in the mor herty fauor and recomendacyon of owr good grase Yeuen vndre owr Signet at owr palas of Westminstre the xix day of Iun. To ouerpasse the short time during the Protectorship and raigne of King Richard the third let vs come vnto Henry the seuenth in whose dayes religious persons did wallow in all kindes of voluptuousnesse to the Kings no little griefe who by his breeding vnder a deuout mother as also in his owne nature was euer a zealous obseruer of religious formes To bridle whose incontinent liues he caused an Act to be made bearing this title An Act to punish Priests for their incontinencie Of which so much as will serue for this purpose Item For the more sure and likely reformation of Priests Clerks and religious men culpable or by their demerits openly reported of incontinent liuing in their bodies contrary to their Order It is enacted ordained and stablished by the aduice and assent of the Lords spirituall and temporall and the Commons in the said Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That it be lawfull to all Archbishops and Bishops and other Ordinaries hauing Episcopall iurisdiction to punish and chastice Priests Clerks and religious men being within the bounds of their iurisdiction as shall be conuicted before them by examination and other lawfull profe requisite by the Law of the Church of Aduoutrie Fornication Incest or any other fleshly incontinencie by committing them to ward and prison there to abide for such time as shall be thought to their discretions conuenient for the qualitie and quantitie of their trespasse And that none of the said Archbishops Bishops or other Ordinaries aforesaid be thereof chargeable of to or vpon any Action of false or wrongfull imprisonment but that they be vtterly thereof discharged in any of the cases aforesaid by vertue of this Act. In his sonnes raigne the Pope being here in England at the point verticall of his all-commanding power and religious Orders growne to the height of their abominable sinnes both of them had a sudden downfall as will appeare in the subsequent Chapters But of the pietie and impuritie of Monkes and other religious Votaries of the first and latter times take for a conclusion of this as also of the precedent Chapter these riming Hexameters as I haue them out of the booke of Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie Inuectio Walonis Britonis in Monachos Sacrilegis Monachis emptoribus Ecclesiarum Composui Satyram Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus esse solebat Dura cibaria dum per agrestia rura colebat Nulla pecunia nulla negocia prepediebant Sobria copia parua colonia sufficiebant Pro venialibus capitalibus inuigilabant Tam venalia quam capitalia nostra placebant Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est violenter Ecclesiastica comparat omna dona potenter Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine fructu Intrat ouilia desuper ostia non sine luctu Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine causa Clamat ad ostia spiritualia iam sibi clausa Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus inde vocatur Quando rapacibus atque tenacibus assimulatur Terra pecunia magna Palatia templa parantur Vnde potencia siue superbia magnificantur Desunt caetera CHAP. XIII Of the abrogation abolition and extinguishment of the Popes supreme and exorbitant authoritie within the King of Englands Dominions KIng Henry the eighth vpon occasion of delay made by Pope Clement the seuenth in the controuersie of diuorcement betwixt him and Queene Katherine and through displeasure of such reports as hee heard had beene made of him to the Court of Rome or else pricked forward by some of his Counsellours to follow the example of the Germanes caused Proclamation to be made on the eighteenth day of September Anno reg 22. forbidding all his subiects to purchase or attempt to purchase any manner of thing from the Court of Rome containing matter preiudiciall to the high authoritie iurisdiction and prerogatiue Royall of this Realme or to the hinderance and impeachment of the Kings Maiesties noble and vertuous intended purposes Vpon paine of incurring his Highnesse indignation and imprisonment and further punishment of their bodies for their so doing at his Graces pleasure to the dreadfull example of all other Not long after it was enacted that appealeâ— such as had been vsed to be pursued to the See of Rome should not be from thenceforth had neither vsed but within this Realme and that euerie person offending against this Act should runne into the dangers paines and penalties of the Estatute of the Prouision and Premunire made in the fiue and twentieth yeare of the raigne of King Edward the third and in the sixteenth yeare of King Richard the second And shortly after this it being thought by the ignorant vulgar people that to speake against any of the lawes decrees ordinances and constitutions of the Popes made for the aduancement of their worldly glorie and ambition was damnable heresie it was enacted that no manner of speaking doing communication or holding against the Bishop of Rome called the Pope or his pretensed authoritie or power made or giuen by humane lawes or policies and not by holy Scripture nor any speaking doing communication or holding against any Lawes called Spirituall Lawes made by authoritie of the See of Rome by the policie of men which were repugnant and contrariant to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme or the Kings Prerogatiue royall
reedification of the thing broken as to the said Iustices shall seeme meete vsing therein the aduise of the Ordinary and if neede shall bee the aduise also of her Maiesties Councell in her Starre-chamber And for such as bee already spoiled in any Church or Chappell now standing Her Maiestie chargeth and commandeth all Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries or Ecclesiasticall persons which haue authoritie to visit the Churches or Chappels to inquire by presentments of the Curates Churchwardens and certaine of the Parishoners what manner of spoiles haue beene made sithens the beginning of her Maiesties raigne of such Monuments and by whom and if the persons be liuing how able they be to repaire and reedifie the same and thereupon to conuent the same persons and to enioyne them vnder paine of Excommunication to repaire the same by a conuenient day or otherwise as the cause shall further require to notifie the same to her Maiesties Councell in the Starre-chamber at Westminster And if any such shall be found and conuicted thereof noâ— able to repaire the same that then they bee enioyned to doe open peâ—ance two or three times in the Church as to the qualitie of the crime and partâ—â— belongeth vnder like paine of Excommunication And if the partie that offended bee dead and the executours of the Will left hauing sufficient in their hands vnadministred and the offence notorious The Ordinary of the place shall also enioyne them to repaire or reedifie the same vpon like or any other conuenient paine to bee deuised by the said Ordinary And when the offendour cannot be presented if it be in any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church which hath any reuenue belonging to it that is not particularly allotted to the sustentation of any person certaine or otherwise but that it may remaine in discretion of the gouernour thereof to bestow the same vpon any other charitable deed as mending of high-wayes or such like her Maiestie enioyneth and straightly chargeth the gouernours and companies of euery such Church to employ such parcels of the said sums of any as any wise may be spared vpon the speedy repaire or reedification of money such Monuments so defaced or spoiled as agreeable to the originall as the same conueniently may be And where the couetousnesse of certaine persons is such that as Patrons of Churches or owners of the personages impropriated or by some other colour or pretence they do perswade with the Parson and Parishioners to take or throw downe the Bels of Churches and Chappels and the lead of the same conuerting the same to their priuate gaine and to the spoiles of the said places and make such like alterations as thereby they seeke a slanderous desolation of the places of prayer Her Maiestie to whom in the right of the Crowne by the ordinance of Almighty God and by the Lawes of this Realme the defence and protection of the Church 〈◊〉 this Realme belongeth doth expresly forbid any manner of person to taâ—e away any Bels or lead of any Church or Chappell vnder paine of imprisonment during her Maiesties pleasure and such further fine for the contempt as shall be thought meete And her Maiestie chargeth all Bishops and Ordinaries to enquire of all such contempts done from the beginning of her Maiesties raigne and to enioyne the persons offending to repaire the same within a conuenient time And of their doings in this behalfe to certifie her Maiesties priuie Councell or the Councell in the Starre-chamber at Westminster that order may be taken herein Yeuen at Windsor the xix of September the second yeare of her Maiesties raigne God saue the Queene Imprinted at London in Pauls Churchyard by Richard Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Queenes Maiestie Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis This Proclamation was seconded by another to the same purpose in the fourteenth yeare of her Maiesties raigne charging the Iustices of her Assise to prouide seuere remedie both for the punishment and reformation thereof But these Proclamations tooke small effect for much what about this time there sprung vp a contagious broode of Scismatickes who if they might haue had their wills would not onely haue robbed our Churches of all their ornaments and riches but also haue laid them lâ—uell with the ground choosing rather to exercise their deuotions and publish their erronious doctrines in some emptie barne in the woods or common fields then in these Churches which they held to be polluted with the abhominations of the whore of Babylon Besides about that time these foresaid wilfull Sectaries did penne print and spread abroad certaine seditious Pamphlets as still they doe against our booke of Common Prayer against all Ecclesiasticall gouernment and against all the rites and ceremonies vsed in this our orthodoxall Church of England inuenting out of their owne corkie braines a new certaine noâ—orme of Liturgie to themselues thereby to bring into the Church all disorder and confusion These Renegadoes are at this day diuided and subdiuided into as many seuerall Sects as there be seuerall Trades in the greatest Market-towne As into Brownists Barowists Martinists Prophesiers Solifidians Famelists rigid Precisians Disciplinarians Iudaicall Thraskists c. and into a rable numberlesse In the three and thirtieth yeare of Queene Elizabeth the sixteenth day of Iuly in the morning Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington repaired to one Walkers house neare vnto Broken warfe of London where conferring with one of their Sect named William Hacket of Owndale in the County of Northampton Yeoman they offered to anoint him king But Hacket taking Coppinger by the hand said You shall not need for I haue beene already anointed in heauen by the holy Ghost himselfe Then Coppinger asked him what his pleasure was to be done Go your way both said he and tell them in the citie that Christ Iesus is come with his fanne in his hand to iudge the earth And if any man aske you where he is tell them he lies at Walkers house by Broken-wharfe and if they will not beleeue it let them come and kill me if they can for as truely as Christ Iesus is in heauen so truely is he come to iudge the world Then Coppinger said it should be done forthwith and thereupon went forward and Arthington followed but ere he could get downe the staires Coppinger â—ad begun below in the house to proclaime newes from heauen of exceeding great mercy that Christ Iesus was come c. with whom Arthiâ—â—â—on also cried the same words aloude following him along the streets from thence by Warling-street and Old Change toward Cheape they both adding beyond their commission Repent England repent After they had both thus come with a mightie concourse of common multituâ—e with an vniforme cry into Cheape neare vnto the Grosse and there finding the throng and prease of people to increase about them in such sort aâ— they could not well passe further nor be conueniently heard of them all as they desired they got them vp into an emptie pease cart
should be deemed reputed accepted or taken to be Heresie It was also enacted that no manner of appeales should be had prouoked or made out of this Realme or any the Kings dominions to the Bishop of Rome or to the See of Rome in any causes or matters happening to be in contention and hauing their commensement and beginning in any of the Courts within this Realme or within any the Kings dominions of what nature condition or qualitie soeuer they were Vpon this followed another Act restraining the payment of Annates or first-fruits to the Bishop of Rome and of the electing and consecrating of Bishops within this Realme Another Act was made concerning the exoneration of the Kings Subiects from exactions and impositions theretofore paied to the See of Rome and for hauing licences and dispensations within this Realme without suing further for the same in which the Commons assembled complaine to his Maiestie that the subiects of this Realme and other his dominions were greatly decaied and impouerished by intollerable exactions of great summes of money claimed and taken by the Bishop of Rome and the See of Rome as well in pensions censes Peter-pense procurations fruits sutes for prouisions and expeditions of Bulls for Archbishoprickes and Bishopricks and for delegacies of rescripts in causes of contentions and appeales iurisdictions legatiue and also for dispensations licences faculties grants relaxations Writs called Perinde valere rehabitations abolitions and other infinite sorts of Bulls breeues and instruments of sundrie natures names and kindes in great numbers ouer long and tedious here particularly to be inserted It was affirmed in this Parliament that there had been paied to the Pope of Rome onely for Bulls by our English Bishops and other of the kingdome since the fourth of Henry the seuenth to that time threescore thousand pound sterling The next yeare following in a Parliament begun at Westminster the third of Nouember the Pope with all his authoritie was cleane banished this Realme and order taken that he should no more bee called Pope but Bishop of Rome and the King to be taken and reputed as supreme head in earth of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia And that hee their Soueraigne Lord his heires and successours kings of this Realme should haue full power and authoritie from time to time to visit represse redresse reforme order correct restraine and amend all such eâ—rours heresies abuses offences contempts and enormities whatsoeuer they were which by any manner spirituall authoritie or iurisdiction ought or might lawfully bee reformed repressed ordered redressed corrected restrained or amended most to the pleasure of Almighty God the increase of vertue in Christs religion and for the conseruation of peace vnitie and tranquilitie of this Realme any vsage custome forraine lawes forraine authority prescription or any thing or things to the contrary thereof notwithstanding In this Parliament also were granted to the King and his heires the first-fruits and tenths of all spirituall dignities and promotions His stile of supremacie was further ratified and declared to bee set downe in this forme and manner following in the Latine tongue by these words Henricus octauus Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei defensor in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hibernicae supremum caput In the English tongue by these Henry the eight by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defendour of the faith and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head Which stile was enacted to bee vnited and annexed for euer to the imperiall Crowne of this his Highnesse Realme of England Vpon the first expulsion of the Popes authoritie and King Henries vndertaking of the Supremacie the Priests both religious and secular did openly in their Pulpits so farre extoll the Popes iurisdiction and authority that they preferred his lawes before the kings yea and before the holy precepts of God Almighty Whereupon the King sent his mandatory letters to certaine of his Nobilitie and others in especiall office thinking thereby to restraine their seditious false doctrine and exorbitancie And here let me tell you that amongst many letters of important affaires which I found in certaine Chandlers shops of our Parish allotted to light Tobacco pipes and wrap vp peniworths of their commodities all which I gaue to Sir Robert Cotton Knight and Baronet the onely repairer of ruined antiquirie whom I knew the contents therof shewing some passages of former times would preserue them for better vses I happened vpon certaine letters following tending to the same purpose of which I haue already spoken Henry R. By the King RIght trusty and right welbiloued Cousin we grete you well And wher it is commen to our knowlaige that sundry persons aswell religious as seculer Priests and curats in their peroches and dâ—ueâ—se places within this our Realme do dailly asmoche as in them is set foâ—the and extolle the iurisdiction and auctoritie of the Bishop of Rome ortherwyse called Pope sowing their sediciouse pestylent and false doctryne praying for him in the Pulpit and makyng hym a God to the greate deceyte illudyng and seducyng of our subgietts bryngyng them into errors sedicyon and euyll opynyons more preferryng the power lawes and Iurisdictyon of the said Bishop of Rome then the most holly lawes and precepts of almighty God We therfore myndyng not only to prouide for an vnitie and quietnes to be had and contynued among our said subgietts but also greatly couâ—tyng and desyryng them to be brought to a perfectyon and knawlege of the mere veritie and truth and no longer to be seduced nor blynded with any suche superstitiouse and false doctryne of any erthly vsurper of godds lawes will therfore and commaund you that wher and whensoeuer ye shall fynde apperceyve know or heretell of any such sedicious personnes that in suche wise do spreade teche and preache or otherwise set forth any suâ—he opynyons and perniciouse doctryne to the exaltatyon of the power of the bishop of Rome bryngyng therby our subgietts into error gruge and murmuracyon that ye indelaydly doo apprehend and take them or cause them to be apprehended and taken and so commytted to Ward ther to remayne without bayle or mayneprise vntill vpon your aduertisement therof vnto vs or our Councell ye shall know our further pleasure in that behalfe Ye uen vndre our Signet at our Manor of Grenwich the xvii day of Aprill This letter was thus endorsed To our right trusty and welbiloued cousin and Counsellor Th erle of Sussex In Iune or Iuly following these maiesticall commanding Epistles were seconded and made more strong by an Act of Parliament called An Act extinguishing the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome Of which I hold it not amisse to set downe so much as principally tends to the purpose To begin then at the beginning For as much as notwithstanding the good and wholesome lawes ordinances and statutes heretofore made enacted
which you may reade more at large in Camden his diuision of Britaine and know more by Speed in his Type of this flourishing kingdome The Ecclesiasticall state of England is diuided into two Prouinces or Archbishopricks viz. of Canterbury and of Yorke The Archbishop of Canterbury â—s stiled Metropolitanus et Primas totius Angliae and the Archbishop of Yorke Primas Angliae The Archbishop of Canterbury hath vnder him within his Prouince of ancient and late foundations Rochester his principall Chaplaine London his Deane Winchester his Chancellour and all the rest of the Bishopricks foure excepted viz. Chester Durham Carlile and the I le of Man which are annexed to the Archbishopricke of Yorke Euery Diocesse is diuided into Archdeaconries and the Archdeacon is called Oculus Episcopi The eye of the Bishop And euery Archdeaconrie is parted into Deanries and Deanries againe into Parishes Townes and Hamlets The Bishop is called the Ordinarie in the Ecclesiasticall Law Quia habet ordinariam iurisdictionem in iure proprio et non per deputationem for that he hath ordinarie iurisdiction in his owne proper right and not by deputation in causes Ecclesiasticall All the Archbishops and Bishops of England haue beene founded by the Kings of England and do hold of the King by Baronie and haue been all called by writ to the Court of Parliament and are Lords of Parliament And the Bishopricks in Wales were founded by the Princes of Wales and the Principalitie of Wales was holden of the King of England as of his Crowne And the Bishops of Wales are also called by Writ to Parliament and are Lords of Parliament as Bishops of England be There were within the Realme of England one hundred and eightâ—ene Monasteries founded by the Kings of England whereof such Abbots and Priors as were founded to hold of the King per Baroniam and were called to the Parliament by Writ were Lords of Parliament and had places and voices there And of them were twenty sixe Abbots and two Priors as by the Rolles of Parliament appeare yet if you reckon the Abbot of Feuersham in Kent founded by King Stephen there were twentie and seuen which some do saith my learned Author warranted by these words in the Cartularie Et dedit Abbati et Monachis et successoribusâ—s is Minerium de Feuersham Com. Kane simul cum Hundredo c. tenend per Baroniam But saith he albeit this Abbot held by a Baronie yet because he was neuer that I finde called by Writ he neuer sat in Parliament Bishopricks in England with that of the Isle of Man are 37. whose extents I set downe in the passage of this worke Deanries 26. whereof thirteene were ordained by Henrie the eighth in the greater Cathedral Churches after the Monkes were thrust out Archdeacouries threescoâ—â— Dignities and Prebends fiue hundred fourty foure Numbred also there are Parish churches vnder Bishops 9284 of which 3845. be Appropriat as I finde in a Catalogue saith he exhibited to King Iames. Now Appropriat Churches those are called which by the Popes authoritie comming betweene with consent of the King and the Bishop of the Diocesse were vpon certaine conditions tyed or Instruments vnited annexed and incorporate for euer vnto Monasteries Bishopricks Colledges and Hospitals endowed with small lands either for that the said Churches were built their Lordships and Lands or graunted by the Lords of the said Lands Which Churches afterwards when the Abbeyes and Monasteries were suppressed became Laye Fees to the great damage of the Church Henry the eighth presently vpon the suppression of Monasteries and his ordination of certaine Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches set dâ—wne by the aduice of his Counsell a number of Rules and Statutes to be obserued by the Officers and Ministers residing in the same As appeares by this Record following which I thought to transcribe Henricus Octauus Dei gracia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Rex Fidei Defensor ac in terra supremum Ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernie caput Vniuersis sancte matris Ecclesie silijs ad quorum noticiam presens Scriptum peruenerit Salutem Cumet nobis et Regni nostri Preceribus vniuer soque Senatui quâ—m Parliamentum vocamus visum sit Deo et confidimus nos huc mouente Monasteria que passim in regno nostro extabant tum propter graues et multiplices illorum enormitates tum ob alias iustas rationabilesque causas supprimere â—â—olere et in meliores vsus convertere Nos et diuine voluntati conformius â—â—mâ—ius â—re Christiana esseducentes vt vbi ignorantia et superstitio regnabant ibi sincerus Dei cultus vigeat et sanctum Christi Euangelium assidue et pure annuncietur Et preteria vt ad Christiane fidei ac pietatis incrementum iuuentus Regni nostri in bonis literis instituatur et pauperes perpetuo sustententur in ipsorum Monasteriorum loco Ecclesias ereximus et consâ—ituimus Quarum alias Cathedrales alias Collegiatas vocari volumus pro quarum Ecclesiarum ac Collegiorum gubernaecione et regimine leges et statuta que sequntur prescribend curauimus quibus tam Decani et vtriusque ordinis Canonici quam ceteri omnes ministri pueri et pauperes qui in ipsis Ecclesijs commoraturi sunt pareant et ebsequantur eisque vt à nobis conditis et perfect is regantur et gubernentur Id quod si fecerint ingens sine pictatis incrementum in hoc regno nostro peruenturum esse confidemus Et nos expectatione 〈◊〉 voto nostro qui ad Dei optumi maximi gloriam ac fidei Christiane augmentum has Ecclesias ereximus et varijs ministrorum ordinibus enornauimus haâ—d quaquam fraudabimus Dat. c. The Statutes rules and orders were annexed hereunto which were very many and more then can conueniently be included in this short Treatise and more I thinke then were well performed As may partly be proued by an Inâ—unction from the Queenes Maiestie to the Archbishop of Canterbury Mathew Parker in these words By the Queene The Queenes Maiesty considering how the pallaces and houses of Cathedrall Churches and Colledges of this Realme haue ben both of ancyent and late tyme buylded and inclosed in seuerall to susteyne and kepe Socyeties of learned men professing Study and prayer for the edification of the Church of God and so consequently to serue the Common-weale And vnderstanding of late that within the houses hereof as well the chiefe Gouernours as the Prebendaries Students and members thereof being married do keepe particular housholds with their wiues children and Nurses whereof no small offence groweth to th entent of the Founders and to the quiet and orderly profession of studie and learning within the same hath thought meete to prouide remedie herein lest by sufferance thereof the rest of the Colledges specially such as be replenished with young Students as the very roomes and buildings be not answerable for such families of women and young children should follow the like example And
iustly preuaile against the winde and easily cease these temporall flames and obtaine that they should neuer hurt him nor his See more of him before in Canterbury After the death of Mellitus the Church of London was long without a Pastor euen vntill that Segebert the sonne of Segebert surnamed the little obtaining the Kingdome of the East Saxons by the perswasion of Oswin King of Northumberland became a Christian and procured Ceada a vertuous and godly Priest to be consecrate Bishop of his country which was done in the holy Iland neere to Barwicke by Finan Bishop of Durham from whence he returned to this his Diocesse and began with more authoritie to perfect the worke hee had already begun erecting in diuers places Churches making Priests and Deacons who in preaching baptising might assist him especially in the Cities of Ithancester Tileburg the one standing vpon the Thames the other vpon a branch thereof called Pant in which two places diuers newly assembling together christened he instructed them after the rules of religious persons as farre as their tender capacity could then conceiue And hereby way of digression let me speake somewhat of this small hamlet of Tilbury in ancient time the seat of the Bishops of London and no question in those daies when as Bishop Cedda by baptisme ingraâ—ted the East Saxons in the Church of Christ a prettie faire citie howsoeuer it consisteth now onely of a few cottages much honoured by that famous religious and fortunate great Commander in the warres Sir Horace Vere Knight Lord Vere of Tilbury Of whom and of his elder brother Sir Francis Vere Knight deceased and honourably buried like as hee was an expert and valiant warriour in the Abbey of Westminster a late Poet hath thus written Then liu'd those valiant Veres both men of great command In our imployments long whose either Marshall hand Reacht at the highest wreath it from the top to get Which on the proudest head Fame yet had euer set But to returne this man of God Cedda hauing at first and last continued a long time in these countries preaching the word of life by which hee made a great haruest vnto Christ went downe into his owne countrie of Northumberland which he oftentimes vsed to visite where he builded a Monasterie at Lestinghen wherein he died and was buried of whom no more vntill I come to speake of that Foundation saue onely these verses following ....... Now London place doth take Which had those of whom time Saints worthily did make As Cedda Brother to that reuerend Bishop Chad At Lichfield in those times his famous seat that had Is Sainted for that See amongst our reuerend men From London though at length remoou'd to Lestingen A Monastery which then richly he had begun Erconwald the sonne of Offa King of the East Saxons and the fourth Bishop of this Diocesse was likewise as I haue already spoken canonized of whom venerable Bede thus writes At that time saith he when Sebba and Sigher ruled the East Saxons the Archbishop which was Theodore appointed ouer them Erconwald to be their Bishop in the Citie of London the life and conuersation of which man both before he was Bishop and after was reported and taken for most holy as also euen yet the signes and tokens of heauenly vertues and miracles doe well declare For vntill this day his Horse-licter being kept and reserued by his Schollers wherein he was wont to be carried when hee was sicke and weake doth daily cure such as haue agues or are diseased any otherwise And not onely the sicke persons that are put vnder or laid by the Horse-licter to be so healed but also the chippes and pieces that are cut off from it and brought to sicke folkes are wont to bring them speedie remedie This and many other the miracles wrought by him if wee may beleeue Capgraue was the cause of his canonization questionlesse he was a deuout and vertuous man and bestowed his patrimony in the building of two Monasteries one for Monkes at Chertsey in Surrey another for Nunnes at Barking in Essex of which before Thus much then here for a conclusion as followeth Him Erkenwald ensues th' East English Offa's sonne His Fathers Kingly Court who for a Crosiar fled Whose workes such fame him wonne for holinesse that dead Time him enshrin'd in Pauls the mother of that See Which with reuenues large and priuiledges he Had wondrously endow'd to goodnesse so affected That he those Abbeyes great from his owne power erected At Chertsey neere to Thames and Barking famous long Theodred Bishop of the Diocesse may challenge a place in this my Kalender for that he was sirnamed the Good pro praerogatiua virtutum for the preheminence of his vertues saith Malmesbury lib. 2. de Pontif. Anglor he flourished about the yeare 900. he was buried vnder a high tombe by the window of the vault going downe into S. Faiths Church Of Egwulfe and his Shrine I haue already written all that I know Richard Fitz-neale had his Shrine in S. Pauls Church but vpon what ground or for what reason he was thus much honoured I doe not learne He was the sonne of Nigellus or Neale Bishop of Ely and was made Treasurer of England by the purchase of his father the foresaid Nigellus Richardus filius Nigelli Episcopi Eliens pro quo Nigellus pater emit officium Thesaurij a Rege auaro pro Quadragint Marcis pro quibus pecunijs Nigellus pater spoliauit Ecclesiam Eliens Thesauro suo et ornamentis This purchase was made when as the King Henry the second went to the wars of Tolous It is further written in the booke of Ely that this Richard Fitz-neale after the buriall of Nigellus his father being also an enemy to the Church of Ely as his father had beene before made hast to passe ouer the Seas to King Henry the second fearing that some euill would be prepared against him if the Church should haue sent any thither before him At whose comming to the King he accused the Monkes of Ely of many things and did therewith so edge the King against them that the King sending into England charged by Wunnecus one of his Chaplaines that the Prior of Ely should be deposed and the Monkes with all their goods to be proscribed and banished This man being Treasurer to King Henry the second the treasure of the said Henry the second at his death came vnto one hundred thousand markes notwithstanding the excessiue charges of the King many waies This Richard being Bishop of London by the name of Richard the third and the Kings Treasurer was chosen for the gouernement of this See in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred eighty and nine being the first yeare of King Richard the first and was consecrated Bishop at Lambeth by Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury in the yeare of Christ one thousand one hundred ninety he died the
raigne of Hen. the seuenth Hen. the eight In the raigne of Ed. the sixt In the raigne of Q Mary In the raigne of Q Elizabeth In the raigne of King Iames. The Aetymologie Antiquity and Dignity of Heralds Heralds Priests Rosinus Ant. Rom. li. 3. c. 21. Heralds of France of noble descent Stow in the life of Brute The Armes of Brute Cold Harber the Heralds Colledge Eleanor Lady Wriothesley Ioan Wriothesley Io. Wriothesley Sir Hen. Grey Reginald Lord Grey Earle of Kent Sir Will. Cheyney and Margaret his wife The Heralds Office The body corporate of the Heralds Henry Spelman Gloss lit H. Iohn Leland the Antiquary Lelandi Strena â—â—lands New yeares gift The study of Antiquity in Hen. the eight The caâ—e King Hen had of Religion The workes of ancient Writers saued and conserued The Kings Libraries augmented The plaine â—â—le and forme of â—uncient Writers Britaine the Mother of worthy men and excellent wits This volume he called Antiphilachia written against the ambitious Empire or vsurped authoritie Reiall of the Bishop of Rome Albertus Pighius a Canon sometime in the Cathedrall Church of Vtrecht in the Low Countries Lelands affection toward his Country Four Bookes of illustrious men or of the British writers Learned Princes The wits of the British and English writers exercised in all kinds of good literature A wonderfull great number of Historiographers of British affaires Lelands laborious iourney throughout all England The description of all England in a quadrate table of siluer A Booke of the Topographie of England The names of seuerall nations Cities and great townes c. of Britaine in old time such as Cesar Tacitus Ptolimey other Authors haue made mention of restored together with the later and moderne names Of the Antiquitie of Britaine or of Ciuile History fiftie Bookes Sixe Bookes of the Islands adiacent to England Three bookes of the Nobility of Britaine His conclusion a delectabili vtili Commune voâ—â—â— Sir Rob. Cotton knight and Baronet Sir Tho. Bodley knights Pit Aetas 16. Io. Leland the Elder Elis. West Rog. Woodcocke and Ioane his wife Catherine Cauendish Alice Cavendish Marg Cavendish Lib. Esiens in bib Cott. Will. Burd Clarke of the Pipe Cowell lit C. Clarke of the Priuie Seale Io. Hartishorne Sergeant at Armes and Agnes his wife The office of Sergeant at Armes Cowell lit â— George Lord Maior Ioan and Marg. his wiues Iohn Kirkham and Elis. his wife Iohn Mynne The foundation of the Brotherhood in S. Botolpâ—s Edward Murell and Martha his wife William Campion and Anne his wife Henry Cantlow Sir William Cantlow knight Iohn Olney Lord Maior Tho. Muschampe Sir William Yerford Lord Maior and Elis. his wife Sir Roger Ree â—night and Rose his wife Tho. Bromflit Andrew Chyett Iohn Martin Lord Maior and â—atherine his wife * Eliae Reusneri Basil. Geneal Auctuarium edit Francosurt 1592 pag. 102. Historie generall of the Netherlands lib. 5 pag 227. impr an Dom. 1609. * Penes Simonds D' Ewes Equitem auratum abâ—epotem dicti Aâ—rini * In Registro Curiae Dum. Archidiaconi Lond. Libr. 4. sol 34. a b. * Escaety de a. 34. Eliz. parte 1. n. 11. Essex in Archiuis Tho. Pigot Richard Sutton W. Holland and Margaret his wife Rich Story and Ioan his wife Peter Fernefold Walter Turke Lord Maior Tho. Padington Marg. and Anne his wiues Will. Cogshall and Elis. his wife Nich. Wolbergh and Mar. his wife Rog. Hunning and Margaret his wife Tho. Paynard Vincent Catal. of Viscounts Ioan Coppinger Tho. Wandesford and Idonea his wife Will. â—oyliâ— Lord Maior and Catherine his wife Glanvile Agnes Cheyney Io. Rayning Will Porter and Elis. his wife Cowell lit C. Will. 〈◊〉 Io. Westcliffâ— Ioan his wife Will. Newport and Mossâ—s his wife Will Read and Maâ—g his wife M. Drayton Pol. 17. Song London lying like a halfe moone London Bridge the Crowne of Tames Camd. in Mid. Speed of Miâ— Gen 14.10 Hampton Court Camd in Mid. Câ—sar Commâ—nt lib. 5. Burials neere Stanes Spec. Brit. Lib. 1. cap. 2. Burials neere Brainford Burials of the dead slaine at Barnet field Camd. in Hert. The first battel of S. Albans Mss In bib Coâ— The second battell of S. Albans Camd. in Hert. Burials of the dead slaine in the battels at S. Albans Burials of the dead betwixt Stenenhaugh and Knebworth Camd. in Essex M. Drayton Song 19. Roman burials and the bones of Gyant-like found in Essex Burials neere Showbery Burials neere Barklow Ancient Tombes Danes-bloud Burials of the dead in and about Ashdown * â—â—â—inous * places * soules Battels and burialls of the dead â—â— and about â—he ancient Baâ—hg of Maldon 〈…〉 London Gâ—dwin Mss in lib. Sim. 〈…〉 aurat 〈◊〉 lib. 2 ca. 7. Mellituâ— quenched by his prayer the fire burning the Citie of Canterbury S. Ceada or Cedda 〈…〉 3. c. 2◠〈…〉 Tilbuâ—y Cities Sir Horace Vâ—â—e Baâ—on of Tilbury Sir Francis and siâ— Hoâ—ace Vere M. 〈…〉 Song 〈◊〉 S. Chad Bishop of Lichfield S. Erconwald Bed lib. 4 ca. 6. Cures by Saint Erconwald Horse-licter S. Theodred S. Egwulfe S. Richard Ex lib. Elien in bib Coâ— S. Roger. Mat. Paris an 1230. A strange Tempest M. D. Polyol Song 24. Felix the first Bishop of Dunwich or Dunmok Harding ca 91. Beda lib. 2. ca. 15 Hist. Eccl. Two and fifty religious stâ—â—ctures as many windmilâ— and as many toppe ships in Dunwich Recorda Dun. Camd. in Suss. The state of Dunwich since the foregoing time Six parish Churches Two houses of Friers One house of Templaâ—s Two Hospitals The couetouâ—nesse of the Masters and Officers The destruction of both Hospitals Three Chappelâ— The Cathedral Church vncertaine A strange and ancient buriall of a Bishop Bishops Seats anciently what they were A Mint in Dunwich Burials in the blacke Friers at Dunwich 〈◊〉 in the blacke Friers of Dunwich The foundation of the first Church in Bury The first foundation of the Abbey by the common people The second by K Canâ—â—e Ex Arch Turr. Lend * Bederics Court Farme or mansion house Camd. in Suss. Euersden Leland * Now but two The oath of the Alderman of Bury The broile betweene the Townesmen the Abbot and Couent of Bury Reliques in the Abbey Church out of a booke called Compend Com. pertorum in the treasurie of the Exchequer Aniles Fabulae S. Edmund King and Martyr Speed Hist ca. 11 * now Hoxon Ex lib. Abb. de Russ. in bib Col. S. Robert Martyr ex lib. Abb. de chateris in bib Cot. Alan Earle of Britaine and Kichmond Milles Catal. Rich. The building of Richmond Castle Tho. Plantaginet Earle of Norfolke Vincent Catal. Norf. Tho. Beauford Duke of Exceter Mary Queene of France Iohn Boon Abbot of Bury Out of a Lieger booke of the Abbey Cowell lit C. Conged'eslire Iohn Lidgate Monke * I know not * Promised * A dish made of marrow and grated bread * A Pancake * Couuremnet * Nappy Ale * Guâ—â—â— * Clocke * Verely * Nor Squire
errour in point of Diuinitie these sacred structures howsoeuer consecrated to the seruice of Almighty God could not stand fast nor continue in one and the same state for many ages therefore I thinke it meete and expedient to discouer and lay open to the world the manifold enormities of the professed votaries residing in such religious foundations that it may euidently appeare that it was not the sinnes of the Founders of whose pious intentions we ought to haue a more reuerend opinion that their donations were of no longer continuance but that the delinquencies of the religious Orders themselues were the sole cause of their owne vtter subuersion I may perhaps be sound fault withall because I doe not chorographically and according as Churches stand neare or further remote in one and the same Lath hundred or wapentack emprint and place the Funerall Monuments in this my booke but slip sometimes from one side of a County to another before I emprint and Epitaph To which giue me leaue to make this answer that hauing found one or two ancient Funerall inscriptions or obliterated Sepulchers in this or that Parish Church I haue ridden to ten Parish Churches distant from that and not found one Besides I haue beene taken vp in diuers Churches by the Churchwardens of the Parish and not suffered to write the Epitaphs or to take view of the Monuments as I much desired for that I wanted a Commission which would greatly haue encouraged me and still it would as that of Henry the eight did Iohn Leyland in the prosequution of this businesse I conclude the Epitaphs and Funerall inscriptions in this booke as I finde them engrauen with a cuius anime propitietur Deus or with God pardon his soule which some may say might haue beene as well left out of my booke as they are in many places scraped out of the brasse And I write the Latine in the same manner as I finde it either written or imprinted as capud for caput nichil for nihil and the like as also E vocall for E dipthong dipthongs being but lately come into vse And now I hope that neither the conclusion of the one nor termination of the other will seeme any way offensiue to my intelligent Reader I likewise write the Orthographie of the old English as it comes to my hands and if by the copying out of the same it be any manner of wayes mollified it is much against my will for I hold originalls the best whereby some may obiect the simplicitie of my vnlaboured stile and the rough hewen forme of my writing To which I reply that this my kinde of Argument is incapable of all eloquent speech When I cite Ouid or Lucan I vse those exquisite translations of George Saâ—dys and Thomas May Esquires Some will say that the Epitaphs of London are already printed and true it is that some are especially such as are of later times with which I do not meddle at all onely I set downe those of more antiquitie which haue either beene omitted in the collection or for which I haue some historicall elucidations for the better vnderstanding of the qualities of the parties defunct and interred Hauing had the helps and collections of many my Reader may finde errours in some which hereafter I shall studie to amend intreating in the meane time a fauorable construction Many are the errataes I am afraid which will be found in the printing the greatest I haue met withall I haue amended not doubting but some also of consequence haue escaped mee and for those of lesser note I haue passed them ouer desiring my Reader to correct and pardon Thus curteous Reader submitting my selfe and this worke to thy learned and friendly censure I take my leaue From my House in Clerkenwell Close this 28. of May 1631. Chytraeus Te moneant Lector tot in vno funera libro Tempore quod certo tu quoque funus eris So many burials Reader in one booke Warne thee that one day thou for death must looke A TABLE OF THE DISCOVRSE summed into certaine Chapters or Heads bearing these following Contents The first Chapter Fol. 1. DIscusses and treates of Monuments in generall Chap. 2. fol. 5. Of Funerall Monuments Graues Tombes or Sepulchers of the ancient custome of Burials of Epitaphs and other Funerall Honours Chap. 3. fol. 10. Of Sepulchers answerable to the degree of the person deceased The diuers manner of bearing man and woman to the graue When both sexes began to be borne alike Chap. 4. fol. 12. Of the excessiue expences bestowed vpon Funerals in former times Chap. 5. fol. 18. The reasons wherefore so many haue made their own Sepulchers or Tombes in their life time Of the care that all or most of all men haue of decent buriall The burying of the dead a worke acceptable vnto God A Funerall Hymne of Aurelius Prudentius to the like purpose Chap. 6. fol. 29. Of the care and cost anciently vsed in the preseruing whole and entire the bodies of the dead Strange waies customes and fashions of buriall Chap. 7. fol. 32. Of Cenotaphs Honorarie and Religious of the reuerence attributed to these emptie Monuments Chap. 8. fol. 37. Of the sanctitie ascribed sometimes to ancient Funerall Monuments and of the ardent desire most men haue and euer had to visite the Tombes and Sepulchres of eminent and worthy persons Chap. 9. fol. 42. Of the punishments both by humane lawes and Gods seuere iustice inflicted vpon such malefactors in foregoing ages who violated Sepulchers Of Church-Robbers Chap. 10. fol. 50. Of the rooting vp taking away erazing and defacing of Funerall Monuments in the seuerall raignes of K. Henry the eight and Edward the sixt Of the care Queene Elizabeth of famous memory had for the preseruation of the same Her proclamation in the second yeare of her raigne against breaking or defacing of Monuments of Antiquity being set vp in Churches or other publike places for memory and not for superstition Chap. 11. fol. 57. The conuersion of this our Nation from Paganisine to Christianitie including generally the Foundations of Religious Structures in the same The piety in the primitiue times both of Religious and Lay persons Chap. 12. fol. 66. Of the fall or backsliding as well of Religious Votaries as of Lay people from the foresaid zealous ardour of pietie Chap. 13. fol. 78 Of the abrogation abolition and extinguishment of the Popes supreame and exorbitant authoritie within the King of Englands dominions Chap. 14. fol. 89. The policie vsed by Henry the eight and his Councell in the expelling of the Popes foresaid authoritie out of his dominions Chap. 15. fol. 104. The policie vsed by the King and his Councell for the dissolution and extirpation of Religious foundations and religious orders within this Realme of England and Wales the reformation of religion of Inscriptions in Churches the Kings warrant for the surrender of Religious Houses an information to Queene Elizabeth of the seuerall abuses done vnto the state generall
in their Pontificals with Tapers burning denounced the senâ—tence of Excommunication in this forme By the authoritie of Almighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and of the glorious mother of God and perpetuall Virgin Mary of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of all Apostles and of all Martyrs of blessed Edward king of England and of all the Saints of heauen we excommunicate accurse and from the benefits of our holy mother the Church we sequester all those that hereafter willingly and maliciously depraue or spoile the Church of her right And all those that by any craâ—t or wilinesse do violate breake diminish or change the Church liberties and free customes contained in the Charters of the common liberties c. But I speake here of such sacrilegious persons as do rob and bereaue the Church of her treasure and sacred ornaments a sinne of such onely which do misprise and contemne Religion a sinne which hath beene by the very Pagans obserued neuer to escape vnpunished Cum oppidum Tolosanum in terra Gallia Quintus Cepio Consul diripuâ—sset multumque auri in eius oppidi templis furisset quisquis ex ea direptione aurum attigit misero cruciabilique exitu perijt Quintus Cepio with his company hauing taken and spoiled the Towne or Citie of Tholouse in France entred forcibly into the holy Temples out of which sacrilegiously hee tooke to the quantitie of one hundred and ten thousand markes in gold and fiue hundred millions of marks in siluer but euery man of them which were guilty of that robbery with all their kindred and families died within that yeare and not aboue one of them did carry so much as one piece thereof home to his owne house This treasure of Tholouse was a part of the Delphian riches For Brennus the brother of Belinus king of great Britaine Captaine of the Gaules brake open the Temple of Apollo at Delphos for the riches and the gold therein which had beene offered to the Gods which hee committed to publike spoile The most part whereof was conuaid by the Tectosages a people of the West part of Narbon to this city of Tholouse but presently vpon this sacriledge and contempt of the Gods the most of his armie which consisted of one hundred and fifty thousand footmen and fifteene thousand horsemen were discomfited and slaine and hee so furiously possessed that hee slue himselfe with his owne hands quis enim laesos impune putaret Esse deos For who could thinke the Gods thus wronged Their punishment would be prolonged Virgil makes these Church-robbers these contemners of Religion to bee more miserably then others tormented in hell Phlegyas miserrimus omnes Admonet magna testatur voce per vmbras Discite iustitiam moniti non temnere Diuos Phlegyas most of misers all Amongst those caytiues darke and loud with voice to them doth rore Learne Iustice now by this and Gods aboue despise no more This Phlegyas king of the Lapithes a people dwelling in a part of Thessalie hauing done infinite dammages in Greece surprizing many Townes and Cities became in the end so ouer weening and foolish bold that hee sacked the foresaid Temple of Apollo in Delphos and slue Philamon that cunning Harper the sonne of Apollo who brought an armed power to rescue his fathers oracle Vpon which sacriledge and contempt of the gods all the countrey of the Phlegyans was vtterly ruinated with an earthquake and flaming arrowes shot from heauen which killed most of the people and the few that remained died of the plague and for this high handed offence their foresaid king is still plagued in hell Which verses of Virgil to that purpose thus paraphrastically translated will it please you to reade ouer againe Phlegias king most wretched in that place Forewarneth all of his great misery And as sad witnesse of his pitious case In those dimme shades he cries out wofully Learne to doe Iustice and by my contempt Of the high Gods do you like fate preuent Histories affoard infinite examples of this kinde in all sorts of Religions yea Christian kings and other Potentates in all ages haue misprised the true onely all-sauing God by the sacrilegious taking away of the rights riches and ornaments of holy Church yet it hath beene obserued that they seldome or neuer escaped scotfree as the sequele of this worke will shew Seuere punishments haue formerly beene inflicted vpon Church robbers of the meaner ranke by the strictnesse of our Lawes here in England For an instance in the twentieth yeare of Edward the fourth on the 22. day of February fiue notable malefactors were put to death at London for robbing of Churches and other places especially the collegiate Church of Saint Martins le grand in London for the which three of them were drawne to the Tower-hill and there hanged and burnt the other two were pressed to death Wee haue not heard of the hanging of any such Church robbers in these our dayes for Sublata causa tollitur effectus the cause taken or if you will stolne away the effect will consequently cease For what man will venture a turne at the Gallows for a little small siluer chalice a beaten-out pulpit cushion an ore-worne Communion-cloth and a course Surplisse these are all the riches and ornaments of the most of our Churches and these are more by the Surplisse then by some of the Parishioners may bee thought perhaps fitting to be allowed such is now the sleight regard we haue of the decent setting forth of sacred Religion Of which a late writer Sacred Religion mother of forme and feare How gorgeously sometimes dost thou sit deckt What pompous vestments do we make thee weare What stately piles we prodigall erect How sweet perfum'd thou art how shining cleare How solemnly obseru'd with what respect Another time all plaine and quite threed-bare Thou must haue all within and nought without Sit poorely without light disrobd no care Of outward grace to amuze the poore deuout Powerlesse vnfollowed scarcely men can spare Three necessarie rites to set thee out Either truth goodnesse vertue are not still The selfe same which they are and alwayes one But alter to the proiect of our will Or we our actions make them wait vpon Putting them in the liuery of our skill And cast them off againe when we haue done CHAP. X. Of the rooting vp taking away erazing and defacing of Funerall Monuments in the reignes of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth Of the care Queene Elizabeth of famous memory had for the preseruation of the same Her Proclamation in the second of her raigne against defacing of Monuments TOward the latter end of the raigne of Henry the eight and throughout the whole raigne of Edward the sixth and in the beginning of Queene Elizabeth certaine persons of euery County were put in authority to pull downe and cast out of all Churches Roodes grauen Images Shrines with their
to speake that their Crowne is not large nor their rounding conuenient but wantonnesse in apparell insolencie in behauiour filthinesse in words doe bewray the madnesse of the inward man Furthermore how great negligence is there in the Diuines when in the holy Vigils they will scarce vouchsafe to be present when at the holy solemnities of the diuine-seruice they seeme to bee gathered together to play and to laugh rather then to sing I will speake that which good men lament and euill men laugh at I will speake with sorrow if so be it may be spoken how they flow in banquettings in chambering and wantonnesse that now Clerkes houses may bee thought to be brothell houses of harlots and an assembly of plaiers There is dice there is dancing and singing there is watching till midnight with crying and shouting Thus the patrimony of Kings the almes of Princes yea and that more is the price of that precious bloud is ouerthrowne Had our fathers therefore for this purpose emptied their treasures hath the Kings bountifulnesse giuen lands and possessions to Christian Churches for this end that Clerkes harlots should be pampered with delicious dainties that riotous guests may be prepared for that hounds and hawkes and such like toyes may be gotten Of this the Souldiers cry out the common people murmure the iâ—sters and scoffers sing and dance and you regard it not you spare it you dissemble it Where is the sword of Leuy and zeale of Simeon which killed the circumcised Sichimites being the figure of them that defile the Church of Christ with polluted acts abusing Iacobs daughter as an harlot Where is the spirit of Moses that spared not his houshold kinsfolke worshipping the head of the calfe Where is the dagger of Phinâ—es the Priest who killing him that played the harlot with the Madianite with this holy emulation pacified Gods wrath where is the spirit of Peter by whose power couetousnesse is destroyed and Simoniall heresie condemned Endeauour to imitate O ye Priests in God It is time to rise against them that haue broken the Law of God I haue Constantines you haue Peters sword in your hands let vs ioyne right hands let vs couple sword to sword that the Leapers may bee cast out of the Church that the hallowed place of our Lord may bee purged and the sonnes of Leui may minister in the Church Go to carefully I beseech you lest it repent vs to haue done that which we haue done and to haue giuen that which wee haue giuen if we shall see that not to be spent in Gods seruice but on the riotousnesse of most wicked men though vnpunished libertie Let the reliques of holy Saints which they scorne and the reuerend Altars before which they rage moue you Let the maruellous deuotion of our Ancestours moue you whose almes the Clerkes furie abuseth c. To you I commit this businesse that both by Bishoplie censure and kingly authority filthie liuers may be cast out of the Church and they that liue in order may be brought in Not long after to wit in the raigne of Etheldred commonly called The vnready it was foretold by an holy Anchorite that forsomuch as the people of this Nation were giuen ouer to all drunkennesse treason and carelesnesse of Gods house first by Danes then by Normans and last of all by the Scots they should be ouercome Of which hereafter Edward the Confessor whilest he lay sicke of that sicknesse whereof he died after he had remained for two dayes speechlesse on the third day lying for a time in a slumber or soft sleepe at the time of his waking he fetched a deepe sigh and thus said O Lord God Almightie if this be not a vaine fantasticall illusion but a true vision which I haue seene grant me space to vtter the same vnto these that stand here present or else not And herewith hauing his speech perfect he declared how he had seene two Monkes stand by him as he thought whom in his youth he knew in Normandie to haue liued godly and died Christianly These religious men said he protesting to me that they were the messengers of God spake these words Because the chiefe gouernours of England the Bishops and Abbots are not the ministers of God but the deuils the Almighty God hath deliuered this kingdome for one yeare and a day into the hands of the enemy and wicked spirits shall walke abroad through the whole land And when I made answer that I would declare these things to the people and promised on their behalfe that they should doe penance in following the example of the Niniuites they said againe that it would not be for neither should the people repent nor God take any pitie vpon them And when is there hope to haue an end of these miseries said I Then said they when a greene tree is cut in sunder in the middle and the part cut off is carried three acres breadth from the stocke and returning againe to the stoale shall ioyne therewith and begin to bud and beare fruit after the former manner by reason of the sap renewing the accustomed nourishment then wee say may there bee hope that such euils shall cease and diminish With these words of the dying king though many that stood by were strucke with feare yet Stig and the Church-chopper Archbishop of Canterbury made but a iest thereof saying that the old man doted and raued now in his sicknesse Neuerthelesse within the same yeare the truth of this propheticall dreame or vision did plainly appeare When the conquerour William seized into his hands to glue vnto the Normans the most part of euery mans possessions in England tooke from the Bishops Sees all their ancient priuiledges and freedomes bereaued all the Monasteries and Abbies of their gold and siluer sparing neither Shrine nor Challice appropriating the said religious houses with their reuenues to himselfe degrading and depriuing as well Bishops as Abbats of their seats and honours and detaining many of them in prison during their liues that others of his owne followers might bee placed in their roomes By which meanes there was scarce left any man in authoritie of the English nation to beare rule ouer the rest insomuch that it was counted a reproach to be called an Englishman William surnamed Rufus sonne to the Conquerour and king of England endeauouring to abate the tumorous greatnesse of the Clergie restrained his Subiects from going to Rome withheld the annuall payment of Peter pence and was oftentimes heard to giue forth these words They follow not the trace of Saint Peter they greedily gape after gifts and rewards they retaine not his power whose pietie they do not imitate Nothing was now more in vse then seasing farming and merchandizing of Church-liuings and the chiefe agent in this businesse was one Ranulf Flambard the Kings Chaplaine afterwards Bishop of Durham for which he gaue a thousand pounds Robert Bluet gaue for the Bishopricke of Lincolne
this she did frankly and freely moued thereunto by her owne conscience saying with a Christian and princely resolution I must confesse to certaine of her Counselâ—ourâ— that albeit they might obiect against her that the state of her kingdome the dignitie thereof and her Crowne imperiall could not bee honourably maintained and furnished without the possessions aforesaid yet she set more by the saluation of her soule then she did by ten kingdomes And whereas in the raigne of King Edward the sixth it was enacted that all the bookes called Antiphoners Missales Grailes Portuassis and Latine Primmers vsed for seruice in the Church in the time of Poperie should be clearely abolished All images grauen painted or carued taken out of any Church or Chappell with the foresaid bookes should bee defaced or openly burned She being now more forward then wise to obserue the rites and ceremonies of the Romanists caused the like bookes and images to be bought and brought againe into all the Churches within her dominions Holy water Pax and censers were commanded to be employed at the celebration of Masses and Mattens Oyle Creame and Spittle vsed in the Administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme Altars furnished with pictures costly couerings and the Crucifix thereon solemnly placed Vnto whom Lights Candles and Tapers were offered The restauration and dispose of these as also of all other matters concerning the Church shee committed to the Pope and Cardinall Poole his Legate by whose authoritie and meanes by all probabilitie all Statutes made in her father and brothers raigne against the See of Rome the Pope and his Supremacie were altogether repealed and the sixe bloudie Articles enacted by Henry the eighth tyrannically put in execution by force of which shee being ouerswayed by the authoritie of Church men for of her selfe she was of a more facile and better inclined disposition so many in lesse then foure yeares continuance were consumed with fire for the testimoniall of their consciences in that case In the heate of whose flames were burned to ashes fiue Bishops one and twentie Diuines eight Gentlemen eightie foure Artificers one hundred husbandmen seruants and labourers twentie sixe wiues twentie widowes nine Virgines two boyes and two Infants one of them whipped to death by Bonner alias Sauage Bishop of London and the other springing out of his mothers wombe from the stake as she burned was by the Sergeants throwne againe into the fire Sixtie foure more in those furious times were persecuted for their profession and faith whereof seuen were whipped sixteene perished in prison and twelue buried in dunghills many lay in captiuity condemned but were released and saued by the auspicious entrance of peaceable Elizabeth and many fled the Land in those dayes of distresse which by her vpon their returne home were honourably preferred and prouided for according to their worthes Queene Mary now dead and Elizabeth of famous memory proclaimed Queene possessed of her lawfull inheritance placed in her glorious Throne and crowned with the imperiall Diadem presently after followed a Parliament wherein the title of Supremacie and all ancient iurisdictions were againe restored all forraine power abolished and for the more augmentation and maintenance of her State royall it was ordained and established that the first-fruits and Tenths of all Ecclesiasticall liuings with the lands and Scites of Monasteries giuen away by Queene Mary should be vnited and annexed againe to the Crowne that all Statutes should bee repealed which were enacted by the said Queene Marie in fauour of the Romish Religion and that the booke of Common Prayer vsed in King Edwards time for an vniforme celebration of Gods diuine seruice in the English Churches should bee ratified and authorised againe by this present Parliament This Parliament ended vpon the eight of May vpon the fourteenth day of the same moneth next following being Whitsonday diuine Seruice was celebrated in the English tongue whereby Gods word might be heard in a perfect sound and the prayers of the Congregation vttered with an vnderstanding heart Soone after in the same yeare certaine Commissioners were appointed in seuerall places for the establishing of Religion throughout the whole Realme then all the religious houses which were reedified erected or restored by Queene Mary as the Priory of Saint Iohns Ierusalem the Nuns and Brethren of Sion and Sheene the blacke Friers in Smithfield the Friers of Greenwich with all other of the like foundation were vtterly suppressed All Roods and Images set vp in Churches whose sight had often captiuated the senses of the zealous beholder and heated the blinde zeale of many poore ignorant people were now themselues consumed in the fire and with them in some places the copes vestments altar-clothes Amises bookes banners and rood loâ—â—s were like wise burned in the open streets Vpon the walls pillars and other places of all Churches certaine Inscriptions were cut painted or engrauen which being holden to be superstitious were as then defaced erazed washt ouer or obliterated of which a few for example This Inscription was vsuall to the picture of the blessed Trinitie represented by the Effigies of an old man our Sauiour in his bosome and a Doue Ave Pater Rex Creator Ave fili lux Seruator Ave pax charitas Ave simplex Ave Trine Ave regnans siâ—e siâ—e Vna summa Triniâ—as Vnder the picture of the blessed Trinitie sometimes in the Abbey Church of Rufford in Nottinghamshire as it is in the booke of the said house Sede Pater summa disponit secula cuncta Patre Dâ—o genitus creat regit omnia natuâ— Omnia viâ—ificat procedens Spiritus almus Flamma calor pruna tria sunt hec res sed vnaâ— Sic ab igne calor non diuiditur neque fulgor Ast his vnitis vnus subsiâ—lit ignis Sic Pater natus Spiritus sed Deus vnus Huic laude munus qui regnat trinus vnus Huic laus et doxa nunc et per secula cuncta Vnder the picture of Christ crucified Nec Deus est nec Homo presens quam cerno figura Et Deus est et Homo que signat sacra figura Verus Homo verusque Deus tamen vnus vterque Probra crucis patitur mortem suâ—it et sepelitur Viuit item crucis hic per signa triumphat ab hoste Id notum nobis crucis huius litera reddit Scilicet ipsius nota sunt câ—ux et crucifixus Hec et ego veneror Iesum'quoque semper adore Againe vnder the Crucifix Quantum pro nobis Christus tulit ecce videmus Et tamen à lachrymis heu lumina sicca tenemus Vnder the picture of Christ vsually in all Abbey Churches Effigiem Christi dum transis semper honora Non tamen effigiem sed quem designat adora Nam Deus est quod imago docet sed non Deus ipsa Hanc videas et mente colas quod cernis in illa And this Sum Rex cunctorum caro factus
ad eâ—â—dem manusque ad conseruationemeius dein promptiâ—s porrigentes adiutrices quo ex inde dono celestis gratie conspexerint se ibidem vherius refertos de omni potentis Dei miserecordia B B. Petri Pauli Apostolorum eius autoritate conâ—isi omnibus vere penitentibus confesâ—is contritis quâ— diâ— Ascensionis Domini nostri Iesu Christi a vespera Vigilie ipsius vâ—que ad vesperam eiusdem diei dictam S. Ia. C. Ecclesiam deuote visitauerint annuatim et manus adeius conseruationem porâ—exerint adiutrices plenam omnium suorum peccatorum absolutionem concedimus Insâ—per per septem dies dictum festum sequentes et quolibet ipsorum dierum de iniunctis ipsorum penitenâ—ijs septimam partem miserecorditer in Domino relaxamus presentibus perpetuis temporibus duraturis Nulli ergo hominum liceat â—anc nostram concessionis et relaxationis paginam infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Sâ— quis antem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et B B. Petriet Pauli Apostolorum se incursurum nouerit atque in extremo indicio districti Iudicis ira crudeliter permulctari Dat. R. apud S. P. Id. M. Pontisicaâ—us nostri anno Testes A. Episcopus P. G. Episcopus S. E. S. Eâ—statij presbiter Cardinalis c. Against an Altar Si quis Missam ad hoc Altare fieri curabit plenariam peccatorum remissionem consequetur Si vero pro defuncti alicuius anima ad idem Altare legatur Missa statim in ipso actu et celebratione Misse anima defuncti ex purgatorio in celum ascendet et seruabitur Nihil certius Neare to the place where reliques were kept such a like Inscription was either painted insculpt or written vpon a table hanging vpon some pillar or other of the Church Hic sacra sanctarum si nomina reliquiarum Lector seâ—re velis docet hoc te charta fidelis De Christi cuna que virga refloruit vna Coelo manna datum paranymphi manna beatum Mensa gerens cenam turbamque cibans duodenam Claudâ—tur cista chlamys inconsutilis ista Sanguine Baptiste pariter locis omnibus iste Est sacer magni sudaria continet agni The reliques kept in the Church being all thus reckoned they were concluded much what after this manner Horum reliquijs constat locus iste celebris Hinc multorum possemus nomina quorum Dicere si in tabula locus illis esset in ista Nos meritis horum redeamus ad alta polorum Inscriptions neare and vpon Bells Bels in time of Poperie were baptised they were anointed oleo chrismatis they were exorcized they were blest by the Bishop these and other ceremonies ended it was verily beleeued that they had power to driue the deuill out of the aire to make him quake and tremble to make him at the sound thereof flie Tanquam ante crucis vexillum that they had power to calme stormes and tempests to make faire weather to extinguish sudden fires to recreate euen the dead and the like And as you may reade in the Romane Pontificals they had the name of some Saint or other giuen 〈◊〉 them in their Baptisme I will bring in for example the Bells of the Parish Church of Winington in Bedfordshire whose names are cast about the verge of euery one in particular with these riming Hexameters Nomina Campanis hec indita sunt quoque nostris 1. Hoc signum Petri pulsatur nomine Christi 2. Nomen Magdalene Campana sonat melodie 3. Sit nomen Domini benedictum semper in euum 4. Musa Raphaelis sonat auribus Immanuelis 5. Sum Rosa pulsata mundi que Maria vocata Vpon or within the steeple these verses following or others to the same effect were either engrauen in brasse cut in the stone or painted within on the wall En ego campana nunquam denuncio vana Laudo Deum verum plebem voco congrego clerum Defunctos plango viuos voco fulmina frango Vox mea vox vite voco vos ad sacra venite Sanctos collando tonitrus fugo funera claudo Or these Funera plango fulgura frango Sabbatha pango Excito lentos dissipo ventos paco cruentos For the power of holy water sprinkled vpon the people vpon their entrance into the Church these Inscriptions Huius aque tactus depellet Demonis actus Asperget vos Deus cum omnibus sanctis suis ad vitam eternam Sex operantur aqua benedicta Cor mundat Accidiam fugat venalia tollit Auget opeâ—â— remouetque hostem phantasmata pellit Organs Pulpits Portals Crosses Candlesticks Roods Crucifixes and what else of that kinde were likewise thus inscribed all which with the rest were erazed scraped cut out or taken away by the Commissioners and instead of them certaine sentences of the holy Scripture appointed to be painted or dispensild in euery Church Thus iudicious Reader thou maiest by this Chapter vnderstand how by Gods diuine prouidence and the depth of state pollicie first of all the authoritie of the Pope here in England was abrogated the Supremacie of the Church in our Kings inuested Abbeyes and all other such like religious houses subuerted Superstition and Idolatrie rooted out and suppressed and how this kingdome from all Papall infection cleared and with the Sunne shine of the Gospell enlightned the true worship of the euerliuing God was established Which onely true worship that it may continue in our Church without Schismes rents and diuisions vnto the end of the world let vs all with vnanimous consent both of heart and voice pray vnto him who is Truth it selfe and the Authour of all vnitie peace and concord Now gentle Reader giue me leaue to adde vnto this Chapter howsoeuer thou wilt say perhaps it is too long already the copie of the Kings Warrant to Commissioners to take the surrender of Religious houses as also a copie of an Information to Queene Elizabeth of the frauds and corruption of such so imployed by her Father being in my iudgement coincident with the Contents of the same Thus the Warrant speakes Henry c. To or trustie c. Forasmoche as we vnderstand that the Monastery of ...... is at this presente in soche state as the same is neither vsed to the honour of God nor to the benefyte of our comon welth we let you wit that therfore being mynded to take the same into our owne hand for a better purpose like as we doubt but the head of the same will be contented to make his surrender accordyngly we for the spesyall truste and confydence that we haue in your fidelytye wisdomes and discrecions haue and by these presents doo authorise name assygne and appoynt yow that ymmediatly reparyng to the sayd howse ye shall receyve of the sayd Head such a wryting vnder the Couent seale as to yowr discrecions shall seeme requisite meete and conuenient for the due surrender to our vse of the same and thervpon take
mores que sacta norma Quid dâ—ceat quid non instrue sancte pater Respunsio ipsius Bernardi Que â—eci primâ— vâ—bis facienda relinquo Nulium â—uâ—auâ— discordes pacificaui Lefus â—ustinui nec mihi complacui Within one hundred yeares after the first spreading abroad of these Cistercian and Bernardin Monkes the Benedictines wanted another reformation which was attempted by Peter one of the same Order surnamed â—â—â—oron of a Mountaine so called at the foote of which he liued in a caue for the space of three yeares doing daily penance Vpon this mountaine he built a little Church which he called of the holy Ghost be ware aâ—wayes a â—lâ—aine of Iron vpon his bare flesh vpon it a shirt of haire being in continuall prayer and reforming the rule of Saint Benet which was then much degenerated Hee obtained of the Pope a confirmation of his rule vpon which hee celebrated the first generall Chapter of his Order After which in the seuentie ninth yeare of his age he was chosen Pope about the yeare of our redemption 1â—94 by the name of Celestin the fifth where vpon this reformed order were called Celestins the number of which increased so fast that he himselfe consecraced for them fixe and â—hirtie clâ—â—sters in Italy wherein were sixe hundred Monkes amongst others this was one of Celestin the Popes caueats for his new reformadoes Tunc Celestinus cris si celestia mediteris If heau'nly things thou lt meditate Then shalt thou liue in heuenly state Their first comming into England was much what about the yeare 1414. The sanctitie of the Francischan Minorite Friers growne cold one Berâ—ard of Sienna a gentleman of a noble extraction moued with an holy and 〈◊〉 deuotion laboured much for the reformation of that Order which 〈◊〉 some assistants effected taking away the abuses which were crept 〈◊〉 causing the Friers to liue in common and to haue nothing proper to 〈◊〉 following simplie the institution of their father Saint Francis 〈◊〉 called Obseruant Minorite Friers because they were obseruan 〈…〉 S. Francisci propterea meliores more obseruant to keepe the 〈◊〉 and orders of Saint Francis and therefore the better This Order 〈…〉 the yeare of Iubile 1400. or thereabouts it was first confirmed by 〈◊〉 Couâ—â—ell of Câ—â—sâ—â—nce afterwards by Eugenins the fourth and other 〈…〉 the fourth brought them into England and Henry the seuenth auhmented their numbers in whose time they had six famouâ— Cloisters here in this kingdome Many other reformations haue been◠〈◊〉 time to time of the Franciscans as by the Minims Recoâ—lects Pen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ries Capuchins c. and by many others which happened sinced 〈◊〉 lution here in England or much what thereabouts One Norbert Archbishop of Magdebourgh leauing the world retired himselfe with certaine companions into a certaine place called 〈…〉 of which this order tooke denomination where hee squared 〈…〉 himselfe his fellowes and successours to obserue much what after the order of Saint Augustine which was approued and confirmed by Calixtus the second Honorius the second made them regular Charions Their Abbots were perpetuall and euer consecrated by Bishops They had power to conferre their lesser Orders to their Monkes and to blesse all thâ— ornaments of the Church and to do all other ceremonies but where as conseâ—ration is required in the blessing yet they might celebrate soâ—emne and 〈◊〉 Masse with the myter crosier staffe cappe and other ornaments which belong to the Episcopall order and dignitie The first institution of this order was about the yeare 1120. their first house here in England was at Newhouse in Lincolnshire These Votaries pretend to haue had their first institution at mount Carmel in Syria where Elias and other heretofore liued solitarily and that the place being inhabited by many Hermites Almericke Bishop of 〈◊〉 drew them together liuing dispersed about the mountaine and 〈…〉 them a Monasterie in that mount neare vnto a fountaine They say a fâ—thâ—â—r one Albert Patriarch of Ierusalem a very famous man set downea rule from the life of Elias out of a certaine Greeke booke of the institution of the first Monke and from the rule of Saint Basill the Great giuing it to keepe to one Brocard who was Prior of Mount Carmell and to his Hermits which rule of Albert they vowed to obserue which was afterwards confirmed by Pope Honorius the third They affirme that the Virgine Mary appeared vnto one of their order and presented vnto him a Scapularie saying Receiue my beloued this Scapularie which I giue vnto thy order in signe of my fellowship Whereupon they vsurpe the title of 〈◊〉 tres Ordinis beatae Mariae Virginis de monte Carmelo Friers of the Order of the blessed Virgine Mary of mount Carmell Their first apparition 〈◊〉 the world was about the yeare 1170. Their entrance into England and seating themselues at Newenden in Kent of which hereafter was about the midst of the raigne of King Henry the third These like as other Orders haue beene diuers times reformed euer as they did degenerate from their primitiue sincerity at this day they are called Carmes discalced or bare footed Friers by a certaine constitution confirmed by the Apostolique authoritie in a generall Chapter held at Alcara de Henares in the yeare of our redemption 1581. There were likewise Carmelin or Carnie 〈◊〉 Nunnes here in England Iohn Bale who writ of the writers and the best learned men of great Britaine writ also a large Treatise of this Order of Carmes or Carmelites whose antiquitie institution and progresse he sets downe in one of 〈…〉 sages as followeth De Antiquitate Fratrum Carmelitarum Tanta est Carmeli Fratrum de monte vetustas Quim mentâ—m superet cunctorum pene virorum Namque per Hâ—liam datur Ordo fuisse Prophetam Hie primo inceptus sacro quoque iure statutus Qui postquam curru raptus fuit in Paradisum Flammato successit et vates Heliseus Condita quinque virum ter claustra fuere per illum Quem post affirmant Ionam fuisse Prophetam Cui successerunt Abdias atque Micheas Et plerique alij quos non memorare necesse est Tempore non Christi Montem Baptista Iohannes Carmeli Andreas et Apâ—stolus incoluerunt Nathaniel Ioseph Vir Virginis atque Marie Sanctus Iheronimus et quidam nomine dictus Nilas Marcellus quorum Pauli fuit alter Petri Discipulus fuit alter deinde beati Tunc in honore pia fuit Ara sancta Marie Monte in Carmeli prenescentum que virorum Tunc in Hierusalem Claustrum fuit aurea porta Quondam nempe loco qui vulgo sertur ab omni Ac in monte Syon claustrum primo Muliâ—rum Multe denote quod percoluere Sorores Sincletica Euprepia Polycrasia item Melania Combustum primo verum fuit à Mahumeto Postque per Eraclum destructum post quoque Paulo Euersum rursus Danorum et ..... Regio .... Per .... Karoli reparatum tempore magni Ast vbi
were tearmed Basilicae for that the Basilicae of the Gentiles which were large and spacious Hauls wherein Magistrates sat in iudgement and ministred iustice were conuerted into Christian Churches Whence Ausonius wrote thus Basilica olim negotijs plena c. The Basilica or Haul of Iustice in times past full of businesses is now as full of prayers and vowes or else because they were built in forme somewhat long in manner of those Basilicae But to returne backe againe to my Parishes which are called Benefices for Ecclesiasticall persons like as the preferments in Cathedrall Churches are tearmed Church Dignities and of these some are called Rectories or Parsonages some Vicaradges as will appeare by the sequele Parochia is sometime called Plebania and thus defined Plebania est aliud genus beneficij et maius quam Rectoria habet sub se Capellas et dignitatem esse putant interpretes Plebania is another kinde of Benefice and of greater circuite then a Rectorie it hath vnder it certaine Chappels and this Plebania or dignitas plebeia is said to be a Church dignitie by Interpretours Questionlesse these Plebanians were like our side-wasted Parishes in Lanchishire whose extensure is so large that to my owne knowledge some one of those Parish Churches hath fourteene Chappels of ease as we call them within the circumference of her limits and as it were vnder her iurisdiction all which are honoured with Parochiall rites Cathedrall Abbey and Parish Churches had great priuiledges of sanctuarie granted vnto them in former times Now a Sanctuarie is a place of refuge for offenders to escape punishment And these Sanctuaries were so called of an old Mosaicall rite vsed amongst the Israelites among whom euery Tribe had certaine Cities and places of refuge to which malefactours might repaire and for a time bee protected from the rigour of the Law Of which you may reade in the sacred writ Exod. 21.13 Numb 35.1 Deuter. 4.41 and Iosh. 20.2 And so likewise here in great Britaine Churches Church-yards Cities ploughs and high-wayes had many priuiledges in this kinde anciently granted and confirmed vnto them I will speake first of the last out of a late Writer who makes old Watling-streete thus to sing his verse Since vs his kinglie waies Mulmutius first began From 〈◊〉 â—gaine â—o Sea that through the Hand ran Wh 〈…〉 at in mâ—nd to keepe Posteritie might haue Appoâ—nting â—ust his course this priuiledge he gaue That no man might arrest or debtors goods might seize In any of vs foure his militarie waies Neare fiue hundred yeares before this King Mulmutius take it vpon the credit oâ— the British Story constituted diuerse lawes especially that Churches Ploughs and high wayes should haue liberties of Sanctuary by no authoritie violable That Churches should be free and enioy liberty for refuge consenting allowance of most Nations haue tollerated and in this kingdome it being affirmed also by constitution of King Lucius a Christian euery Church yard was a Sanctuary vntill by Act of Parliament vnder Hen. 8. that licence for protection of offences being too much abused was taken away Of Mulmutius Dunwallo for so hee is sometime called and his priuiledges to sacred places my old Mss. thus further speakes A kynge ther was in Brutayne Donwâ—lle was his nam Stale worth and hardy a man of grete fam He ordeyned first yat theeues yat to Temple slown wer No man wer so hardy to do hem despit ther That hath be moche suth yhold as hit begonne tho Hely Chyrch hit holdyth yut and wole euer mo Hereupon he called the Temples which hee built the Temples of peace and concord one of which was in London where now Blackwell Hall is another in Fleete-street as yet called the Temple Church wherein or in some of them himselfe Gorbomannus and other of the British kings were interred as by supposition it is deliuered Lucius king of the Britaines hauing abundantly distributed and giuen ample possessions and reuenues to Churches and Clergie men ordained that Churches with their Coemiteries or Church-yards should haue this priuiledge that what malefactour soeuer should thither make flight for his safetie he might there remaine without indemnitie Ethelwolfe and Alfred Kings of the West-Saxons gaue the like important priuiledges to these holy Edifices Athelstane sole Monarch of the Englishmen held the memory of Iohn de Beuerley Archbishop of Yorke so sacred and reuerend for he honored him as his â—urelar Saint that he endowed Beuerley the place of the said Archbishops birth with many and those very great priuiledges and granted them liberties in these generall words As free make I thee As heart may think or eie may see Yea and there was granted vnto it the priuiledge of a Sanctuary so that Bankrupts and men suspected of any capitall crime worthy of death might be free and safe there from the danger of the law in which was erected a chaire of stone with this Inscription This seat of Stone is called Freed stool that is the chaire of peace vnto which what offender soeuer flieth and commeth hath all manner of Securitie Of the Sanctuary at Westminster first granted by Sebert King of the East-Saxons encreased by Edgar King of the West-Saxons and confirmed by the Charter of King Edward the Confessor I haue spoken before If any one guilty of offence flie from any place for refuge to the Church Church-doore to the Parson or Vicars house or into any part of his base or inner Court prouided that the said house and courts bee within consecrated ground it shall not be lawfull for any to take him from thence saue onely the Bishop or some of his Officers Now if this malefactour bee a filching knaue or an high-way robber and be taken with the bootie or if his theeuish purchase be altogether exhausted and spent yet if he haue any meanes otherwayes of his owne he shall make satisfaction to the partie or parties whom hee hath so wronged and if hee still continue to play the thiefe and make a custome of this manner of flight to Churches and Priests houses after restitution made he shall abiure the countrey and if he giue not satisfaction to the parties whose goods hee hath taken and purloyned no man shall dare to giue him lodging or entertainment without the kings speciall licence first obtained If a Clergie-man bee taken for felonie deliuered to the Ordinarie and breake prison and flie to the Church for sanctuarie or refuge he shall bee taken from thence and put into the same prison out of which he escaped for the Church ought not to defend him nor any publike malefactour Si ad pacem Regis venire noluerit But stay for if robbing from other mens works to embellish my owne writings be an offence it is high time for mee to take Sanctuarie yet giue me leaue to go a little further in my course and to speake somewhat out of other Authors of the Ecclesiasticall state of England of
he saw his cosin who before had serued him in the brauerie of a Souldier to bee now clothed in the habite of a Monke he was so dismayed in minde that gushing out with teares hee said I do grant you this Cosin of mine to be your Abbot and at your petition I do giue him the gouernment of the Abbey of Saint Augustine neither do I permit you to choose any other whom vnlesse you do presently receiue I will shortly burne your Abbey to ashes Then the Monkes seeing no remedie submitted themselues to the kings will in the premises But the foresaid Hugh refused the dignitie saying That he was a man in a manner vnlettered and one that had very little skill as well in religion as in Ecclesiasticall ordinances yet the king and the Monkes enforced him to accept of the honour offered neither would the king suffer him to depart from the Court before he was consecrated Abbot which was solemnized in the kings Chappell at Westminster by Mauricius Bishop of London I haue beene somewhat long in this narration yet I hope nothing at all troublesome or tediously impertinent This illustrious Abbot did many laudable acts to the great commoditie of his Church and distributed all his goods in workes of charitie He dyed full of yeares as of goodnesse the 26. of March ann 1120. and was buried on the North side of the Chapter-house built by himselfe from the foundation for whom this honourable remembrance was engrauen Abbas Eheu Floris specimen virtutis honoris Hic iacet in tumulo Presul peramabilis Hugo Floruit vt terris Pater hic pace quoque guerris Floret nunc celo Christi pugil iste sereno The next Abbot in succession was one Hugh de Trottescline Chaplaine to King Henry the first at the time of whose election great dissention for small trifles being betwixt the Monkes of Christ-Church and those of this Monastery William then Archbishop taking part with those angrie Votaries of his owne house denyed Abbot Hugh â—enedictâ—on which 〈◊〉 was glad to obtaine from Seffria the first Bishop of 〈◊〉 This man brought in againe the old number of his Monkes which were threescore profest beside the Abbot He founded an Hospitall neare to his owne Abbey which he dedicated to the honour of 〈◊〉 and Saint 〈◊〉 to the maintenance whereof he giue â—â—ne Acres of ground vpon which 〈◊〉 Hospitall was to be erected and all the â—â—the of the Lordship of 〈◊〉 in this County with other possessions 〈◊〉 at the 〈…〉 7. s. 10. d. of yearely reuenue This Hospâ—tall was ordained and appointed especially for this 〈…〉 if it should so happen that any protest Monke of this Monastery 〈…〉 infected with any contagious disease but aboue aâ—â— with the 〈…〉 reason of which sicknesse or infectious maladie he could not 〈…〉 the precincts of the Abbey without preiudâ—câ— and scandall to the 〈…〉 â—â—â—erâ—â—tie that then he should be prouided for in this Hospitall of a conueâ—nâ—ent châ—mber of meate drinke and apparell in as full a measure as any one of his Brâ—thrâ—n liuing in the Monastery Aâ—so if it should so happen that the father the mother the sister or brother of aâ—y Monke of this Monastery â—houâ—d come to such great want and â—ndâ—gencie as that to the reproach of any of these â—râ—thren he or she be forced to aske at the gates the almes of the Fraternitie that thâ—â— such of them so asking should be prouided for in this Hospitâ—ll of sufficient â—â—â—â—stentation according to the abilitie of the house by the aduise and consideration of the Abbot of Saint Austins and the Master of this Hospitall for the time being as further appeares by his Charter confirmed by many of his Successours This charitable Abbot dyed the yeare 1151. and was buried in the Chapter house by his Predecessour Siluester the Prior of this Monastery being elected Abbot vpon the decease of Hugh was denyed Benediction of Archbishop â—heobald obiâ—â—ting against him that he was a man defamed with many notorious offences but clearing himselfe before the Pope by what mâ—â—â—es or money I know nâ—t of all those enormous imputations laid to his charge vpon the sight of the Popes letters the Archbishop durst not but giue him admiâ—taâ—â—â— This Siluester instituted that euery yeare during the time of Lent so many poore people should be prouided for of meate and drinke sufficient at 〈◊〉 and the charges of the Abbey as there were Monkes in the Couent 〈◊〉 dyed annâ— 1161. and was buryed by his predecessour One Clarembaldus a lay man I thinke for he neuer wore other then a secular habite by the kings regall authoritie dâ—d now irregularly intrude vpon the possessions goods and gouernment of this Abbey which by maine violence he extorted and misapplyed for the space of 15. yeares vntill he was elected and one Roger a Monke of Saint Trinitie and keeper of an Altar in christ-Christ-Church was elected to his place This Roger within a short time came greatly into the kings fauour who restored vnto him all the lands and possessions which Clarembalde had wickedly wrested from his Monastery He was consecrated by Pope Alexander the third in his owne person at Tusculane neare to Rome to whom and to his Church the said Pope restored the vse of the Mytre Sandalls and crosier which had beene neglected euer since the flight of Abbot Egelfine who first obtained that honour into Denmarke This man indured many miseries the most part of his life-time which was very long especially in the troublesome raigne of king Iohn And so to conclude with the words of mine Authour Anno Domini 1212. obijt Senâ—x plenus dierum qui diebus suis pro viribus multa adversae sustinuit sed omnia Deo cooperante illesa custodiuit in capitulo sub lapide albo sepelitur Cum tali Inscriptione Antistes iacet hic Rogerus in ordine primus Pastor deuotus quondam nunc nil nisi simus Mortuâ—s in cista requiesciâ— nunc semel ista Qui viuus mundo parum requieuit eundo Roger being dead one Alexander a Monke of this Monastery and a most excellent Diuine was elected Abbot a man both in secular and Ecclesiasticall affaires well experienced and of king Iohn singularly beloued yet for all his good parts and great friends Archbishop Langton absoluteâ—ly denyed him Benediction for it was in that time when the king and the Bishop were at sore variance so that he was constrayned to trauell to Rome where he receiued consecration at the hands of Pope Innocent the third Obijt Abbas iste Deo dilectus nocte viz. Dominica 4. Non. Octob. An. 1220 This Abbot was Vir corpore elegantissimus facie venerabilis literarum plenitudine imbutus And for taking part with his Soueraigne à summo honore in summam confusionem viliter praecipitatus erat saith Mat. Westminst ad An. 1209. By the generall consent of the whole Couent one Hugh Chamberlaine of this house
erexit ... Transit sicut Fulmerston gloria mundi Propitietur Deus animabus Mortuorum Saint Peters Hic iacet Willelmus Knighton ... M. cccc.lxix .... Peter Larke and Elisabeth his wyff on whos souls sweet Iesu haue pite Saint Cuthberts ...... Iohannes Bernard et Elis ..... M. ccccc.xi Here in this towne was a Religious house of Friers Preachers dedicated to the holy Trinitie and Saint Mary which Arfast Bishop of the East-Angles made his Episcopall chaire Afterwards Henry Duke of Lancaster made it a societie of Friers Preachers it was valued at thirty nine pounds sixe shillings nine pence Arfast who died circa annum 1092. was herein buried with this Epitaph vpon his monument Hic Arfaste pie pater optime et Arca Sophie Viuis per merita virtutum laude perita Vos qui transitis hic omnes atque reditis Dicite quod Christi pietas sit promptior isti 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ers Augustines in this I owne was founded by Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blanch his wife others say by Henry Earle of Lancaster and Leicester It was valued at three hundred twelue pounds foureteene shillings foure pence Here lye buried Dame Margery Todenham Dame Elisabeth wife of Sir Thomas Hâ—ngraue daughter of Sir Iohn Harling with many other you may imagine whose names I haue not The blacke Friers here was founded by Sir Edmond Gonvile Lord of â—irâ—ingford in this County Parson of Terington and Steward with Iohn Eâ—â—e Warren and with Henry Duke of Lancaster It was dedicated to S. Sepulchre The value I haue not learned Buried in the Church of this monâ—sterâ— were Sir Iohn Bretâ— knight Dame Agnes Honell Dame Maud Talâ—â—e wife of Peter Lord of Rickinghill Dame Anastisia wife of Sir Richard Walsingham A Priory of blacke Canons dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Iohn was here founded by one of the Bigods or Bigots Earle of Norfolke Valued at fourty nine pounds eighteene shillings and a penny Surrendred the 16. of February 31. Hen. 8. Here was a religious structure for blacke Nunnes consecrated to the honour of God and Saint Gregory but by whom sounded I do not know It was valued in the Exchequer at fifty pound nine shillings eight pence Here sometimes stood a Colledge or gild dedicated to the blessed Virgine Mary valued at the suppression to be yearely worth one hundred nine pounds seuen shillings Hugh Bigod or Bigot Steward of the House to King Henry the first built and endowed a religious House here for blacke Monkes Benedictines or Cluniacks These words following are in the Instrument of his Foundation I Hugh Bigod Steward to King Henry by his grant and by the aduice of Heâ—bert Bishop of Norwich haue ordained Monkes of the Order of Cluny in the Church of S. Mary which was the Episcopall seate of Thetford which I gaue vnto them and afterwards founded another more meet for their vse without the Towne This Monastery was found at the suppression to be in the Kings bookes foure hundred eighteene pounds sixe shillings three pence halfe penny of yearely reuenues This Hugh the Founder was created Earle of Norfolke by King Stephen in the first yeare of his raigne He died very aged in the 24. yeare of King Henry the second and was buried in this Priory of his owne foundation to whose memory this Inscription was engrauen vpon his Funerall Monument Orate pro anima religiosissimi viri Hugonis Bigod Fundatoris huius Monasterij Seneschalli Hospitij prepotentissimo Principi Henrico Conquestoris filio Anglie Regi et Comitis Norfolcie qui quidem Hugo obiit pridie Kalend. Martii anno milesimo centesimo septuagesimo octauo Propter miserecordiam Iesu requiescat in pace Anno 1107. Optimates Angliae Richardus de Radvarijs Rogerius cognomento Bigotus mortui sunt in Monasteriis Monachorum sepulti sunt quae in propriis possessionibus ipsi condiderunt Rogerius autem apud Thetfordum in Anglia Richardus vero tumulatus apud Montisburgum in Normannia Super Rogerium Cluniacenses Alonax di tale scripserunt Epitaphium Clauderis exiguo Rogere Bigote sepulchro Et rerum cedit portio parva tibi Diuitiae sanguis facundia gratia Regum Intereunt mortem fallere nemo potest Diuitiae mentes subuertunt erigat ergo Te pietas virtus consiliumque Dei Soli moerebat virgo ter noctibus octo Cùm soluis morti debita morte tua It should seeme by the premisses that this Roger Bigot who was Sewer to King Henry the first and Father of the foresaid Hugh was the first founder of this religious Edifice or at least wise of some other in this Towne for Monkes of the order of Cluny And Stow in his Annalls agrees with my Author Ordericus This yeare saith he Maurice Bishop of London Robert Fitzhamon Roger Bigot founder of the Monastery of Monkes at Thetford Richard Redvers Councellours to the King Milo Crispen and many other Noblemen of England deceased Roger Bigot the second of that surname Earle of the East Angles or Norfolke He died about the yeare 1218. and was here interred Hugh Bigot sonne of the foresaid Roger Earle of Norfolke lay here buried who died the ninth of Henry the third 1225 Roger Bigot sonne and heire of Hugh aforesaid Earle of Norfolke and first Marshall of England of that Family was here entombed if his last will and Testament was performed Of which so much as tends to that purpose In Nomine Patris et Filij et Spiritus Sancti Amen Ego Rogerus Bigot Comes Norfolcie et Mareschallus Anglie in bona prosperitate constitutus condo Testamentum meum sub hac forma Inprimis commendo animam meam Christo c. et corpus meum in Ecclesia beate Marie Thetfordie sepeliendum Postea lego c. Huius Testamenti Executores constituo Dominum Symonem de Monteforti Com. Lecestren Dominum Richardum de Clara Com. Glouern Hertford Dominum Willelmum Malberbe Dominum Thomam Denebanke Dominum Hugonem de Tudeham c. Dat. apud Cestreford die Mercurij proximo ante festum Sancti Barnabe Apostoli anno Domini M.cclviii He died about eleuen yeares after the making of his will without issue of a bruise running at Tilt anno 1269. Roger Bigot the last of that Familie Earle of Norfolke and Marshall of England was here buried together with his first wife Alina Alyva or Adeliza daughter of Philip Lord Basset and widow of Hugh de Spenser Iustice of England she died in Aprill in the ninth yeare of Edward the first and he in the 35. of the said Kings raigne Iohn Lord Mowbray Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall of England Earle of Nottingham Lord and Baron of Segraue and of Gower sonne and successour of Iohn the first Duke of Norfolke in the dignities aforesaid was here entombed with his wife Elianor daughter of William Lord Bourchier and sister of Henry Bourchier Earle of