of another Nature and so he is at a loss in that And if it be of another Nature yet it appears by the Apostle's practice that for all that it can give a Rule in this For that which can give the Apostle a Rule can give a Rule to us And so he is at a loss in the whole Proposition For whether that which was before be or be not of another Nature yet it can give a Rule I have been long upon this Passage because I conceive the main Controversie hangs and turns upon this hinge And if any Reader think it long or tedious or be of this Lord's Mind that he need not go so high for Proof yet let him pardon me who in this am quite of another Judgment And for the pardon I shall gratifie him by being as brief as possibly I can in all that follows Thus then this Lord proceeds The Question which will lye before your Honours in passing this Bill is not Whether Episcopacy I mean this Hierarchical Episcopacy which the World now holds forth to us shall be taken away Root and Branch but Whether those exuberant and superfluous Branches which draw away the Sapp from the Tree and divert it from the right and proper use whereby it becomes unfruitful shall be cut off as they use to pluck up Suckers from the Root After this Lord had told us we need not go so high for the business he comes now to state the present Question Where he tells us what himself means by Episcopacy Namely Hierarchical Episcopacy such as is properly and now commonly so called in the World And this his Lordship adds because of that distinction made by Beza in his Tract de Triplici Episcopatu Divino scilicet Humano Satanico In which what part Beza plays I will forbear to speak but leave him and his Gall of bitterness to the Censure of the Learned Sir Edw. Deering in his printed Speeches tells us that others in milder Language keep the same sense and say there is Episcopus Pastor Praeses and Princeps So in his account Episcopus Princeps Satanicus is all one in milder terms But the Truth is that in the most learned and flourishing Ages of the Church the Bishops were and were called Principes Chief and Prime and Prince if you will in Church Affairs For so Optatus calls them the Chief and Princes And so likewise did divers others of the Fathers even the best learned and most devout And this Title is given to Diocesan or Hierarchical Bishops which doubtless these Fathers would neither have given nor taken had Episcopus Princeps and Satanicus been all one Nor would Calvin have taught us that the Primitive Church had in every Province among their Bishops one Arch-Bishop and that in the Council of Nice Patriarchs were appointed which should be in order and dignity above Bishops had he thought either such Bishops or Arch-Bishops to have been Satanical And had Beza lived in those times he would have been taught another Lesson And the Truth is Beza when he wrote that Tract had in that Argument either little Learning or no Honesty But for this Lord whether he means by Hierarchical Episcopacy the same which Beza I will not determine He uses a Proper word and a Civil and I will not purpose to force him into a worse meaning than he hath or make him a worse Enemy to the Church if worse he may be than he is already Though I cannot but doubt he is bathed in the same Tub. Having told us what he means by Episcopacy he states the business thus That the Question is not whether this Hierarchical Episcopacy shall be taken away Root and Branch So then I hope this Lord will leave a Hierarchy such as it shall be in the Church We shall not have it all laid level We shall not have that Curse of Root and Branch for less it is not laid upon us Or at least not yet But what shall follow in time when this Bill hath us'd its edge I know not Well if not Root and Branch taken away what then What why 't is but whether those exuberant and superfluous Branches which draw away the Sapp from the Tree and divert it from the right and proper use whereby it becomes unfruitful shall be cut off as they use to pluck up Suckers from the Root This Lord seems to be a good Husbandman but what he will prove in the Orchard or Garden of the Lord I know not For most true it is that Suckers are to be plucked from the Root and as true that in the prime and great Vine there are some Branches which bear no fruit and our Saviour himself tells us that they which are such are to be taken away St. Joh. 15. 2. And therefore I can easily believe it that in Episcopacy which is a far lower Vine under and in the Service of Christ and especially in the husbanding of it there may be some such Branches as this Lord speaks of which draw away Sapp and divert it and make the Vine less fruitful and no doubt but such Branches are to be cut off So far I agree and God forbid but I should But then there are divers other Questions to be made and answered before this sharp Lord fall to cutting As first What Branches they be which are Exuberant and Superfluous as this Lord is pleased to call them What time is fittest to cut them off Whether they be not such as with Pruning may be made fruitful If not then how near to the Body they are to be cut off Whether this Lord may not be mistaken in the Branches which he thinks divert the Sapp Whether a Company of Lay-Men without any Order or Ordinance from Christ without any Example from the days of Christ may without the Church take upon them to prune and order this Vine For whatever this Lord thinks in the over abundance of his own Sense the Lord hath appointed Husbandmen to order and prune this Vine and all the Branches of it in his Church without his Usurpation of their Office And while he uses a Bill which is too boisterous a Weapon for a Vine instead of a Pruning-hook the Church it self which is the Vine which bears Episcopacy may bleed to death in this Kingdom before Men be aware of it And I am in great fear if things go on as they are projected that Religion is upon taking its leave of this Kingdom But this Lord hath not quite done stating the Question for he tells us next That The Question will be no more but this Whether Bishops shall be reduced to what they were in their first advancement over the Presbyters which although it were but a Humane device for the Remedy of Schism yet were they in those times least offensive or continue still with the addition of such things as their own Ambition and the Ignorance and Superstition of succeeding times did add thereunto and which are now
should to the next Point And truly I find nothing new in the folding up this Conclusion but that he says he may add that Ministers are prohibited from meddling with Wordly Affairs by the Canons of Antient Councils grounded upon the Apostles Doctrine The Church is much beholding to this Lord that he will vouchsafe to name her Antient Councils He doth not use to commit this Fault often and yet lest he should sin too much in this kind he doth but tell you that he may add these but he adds them not It may be he doubts that if he should name those Canons some sufficient Answer might be given them and yet the Truth remain firm that it is not only lawful but fit and expedient in some times and cases for Bishops to intermeddle with and give Counsel in Temporal Affairs and though this Lord names none yet I will produce and examine such Canons and Antient Councils as I find and see what they say in this business The first I meet withal is But here I find my self met with and prevented too by a Book entituled Episcopacy asserted made by a Chaplain of mine Mr. Jer. Taylor who hath learnedly looked into and answered such Canons of Councils as are most quick upon Bishops or other Clergy-Men for meddling much in Temporal Affairs And therefore thither I refer the Reader being not willing to trouble him with saying over another Man's Lesson only I shall examine such Councils if any I find which my Chaplain hath not met with or omitted And the last that I meet with is the Council of Sardis which though the last is as high up in the Church as about the Year 347. And there was a Canon to restrain Prelats from their frequent resorts to the Court Yet there are many Cases left at large in which they are permitted to use their own Judgment and Freedom So that Canon seems to bring along with it rather Counsel than Command And howsoever they are well left to their Liberty as I conceive it because to frequent the Court as over-loving the place is one thing and to go thither though often when good Cause calls for them be that Cause Spiritual or Temporal is far from an Offence For if it be Spiritual they must go that 's their Office and Duty directly And I see no Reason why the Physitians should be forbid to visit the places of greatest Sickness This I am sure of Constantine the Great commanded the personal attendance of Bishops and other Clergy-Men in his Court. And if it be Temporal they may go that 's their Duty by Consequence especially if they be called For as their exemplary Piety may move much so do I not yet know any designs of State which are made the worse by Religion or any Counsels of Princes hurt by being communicated with Bishops in whom doth or should reside the Care of Religion and Religious Conversation But perchance I have known some Counsels miscarry for want of this The next is the first Council at Carthage and there the Prohibition runs thus They which are of the Clergy non accedant ad Actus seu Administrationem vel Procurationem domorum which forbids as I conceive it this only that they should not be Stewards of the Houses or Bailiffs of the Lands of great Persons And this may be both in regard of the great trouble belonging to such Places and the hazard of Scandal which might arise in case there should happen any failure in such great Accounts And in the Code of the African Councils it is thus read non sint Conductores Procuratores nec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inhonesto negotio victum quaerant which I think is the truer Reading And then this Council doth not fordid all meddling in in Secular Affairs but such as by their dishonest gain draw Scandal upon the Church And there is great Reason such should be forbidden them A third I meet withal and that is the Council of Eliberis about the Year of our Lord 306. where the Canon seems to be very strict against Clergy-Men's going to Markets and Fairs negotiandi causa to make profit by negotiation but require them to send their Son their Friend or their Servant to do such business for them And yet this Prohibition as strict as it seems is not absolute nor binding farther than that they shall not pursue those matters of Gain out of their own Provinces but if they will and think fit they might for all this Canon negotiate either for their necessary maintenance or improvement of their Fortunes so that they wandred not abroad out of their own Province where they serve In the mean time when all these or any other Councils are duly weighed and their meaning right taken this will be the result of all that neither Bishop nor other Clergy-Man might or may by the Canons of Holy Church ambitiously seek or voluntarily of himself assume any Secular Engagement And as they might not ambitiously seek great Temporal Employments so might they not undertake any low or base ones for sordid and covetous ends Nor might they relinquish their own Charge to spend their Strength in the assistance of a foreign one But though they might not seek or voluntarily assume Secular Employment yet they might do any lawful thing impos'd on them by their Superiours And so might the Bishop who had no Superiour in his Province if the Prince required his Service or that he thought it necessary for the present State of the Church in which he liv'd For if he might transmit his Power to those of the inferiour Clergy no doubt but he might deal himself in such Civil Affairs as are agreeable to the dignity of his Place and Calling and generally the Bishop or any other Clergy-Man may and might by the ancient Canons of the Church be employed in any Action of Piety though that Action be attended with Secular care and trouble And this is without any strain at all collected out of that great and famous Council of Chalcedon one of the four first General Councils approved of highly throughout all Christendom and with great reverence acknowledged in the Laws of this Kingdom And therefore after the Canon of that Council had laid it down in general terms that neither Bishop Clerk nor Monk should farm Grounds or immescere se mix himself as it were with such Temporal Affairs it adds some exceptions of like Nature to those by me expressed especially the last of them And some of these will expound the Canon of any Council which I have yet seen that speaks most against Clergy-Mens embarking themselves in Secular Business And therefore though this Lord would not yet I have laid before you whatsoever is come to my Knowledge out of the Antient Councils where by this last cited and great Council his Lordship may see that Bishops should meddle with and order some Temporal Affairs as Persons in that kind fitter to be trusted
than other Men of what Rank or Condition soever and therefore excepts from its own general Canon the Cases of Orphans and Widows and the Estates of such Persons as most need Ecclesiastical help or where any Cause in the fear of God requires it In which Cases the Widows and the Fatherless have had much cause to bless God when they have been referred to the Conscience Trust and Care of Bishops But this were in a manner to make them Masters of the Wards or Guardians to them which I know this Lord will not like by any means It would come too near his Office and then he would cry out indeed that this was a greater Distraction of them from their Function to which God had called them than that of the attending poor Widows Tables was to the Apostles And yet he sees what some Canons of Antient Councils have decreed in this Case Besides we cannot have a better or a clearer Evidence of the true meaning of the Antient Canons than from the Practice of the Antient Fathers of the Church who were strict and consciencious Observers of the Canons and yet as is before proved meddled in many and some the greatest Givil Affairs being employed as Ambassadors from great Emperors and Kings And Balsamon observes that whensoever it shall please the Prince to call any Bishops to such Employments they neither are to be restrained by the aforesaid Canons nor censured by them I conclude this Point then that Bishops are not prohibited to meddle with Civil publick Affairs either by Christ's command or by the Apostle's either Doctrine or Practice though all their Practice doth not give an absolute Rule for all future Obedience as their Doctrine doth and I may add not by Canons of Antient Councils rightly understood nor are all of them such Distractions as will bring a Woe upon Bishops or other Clergy-Men though they meddle with them I rather believe some things will be in a woful Case if they meddle not And in some Cases there 's all the Reason in the World they should be not only permitted but some of them commanded to meddle to the end that in all Consultations especially the greatest in Parliament and at Council Table it might be their care to see that Religion were kept upright in all and that nothing by Practice or otherwise pass cum detrimento Religionis Ecclesiae with detriment to Religion or the Church always provided that they do not so entangle themselves in any of these Affairs as shall much prejudice their Function and this done I know no Guilt that this meddling can bring upon their Souls or hurt their Consciences But this Lord having as he thinks concluded the contrary proceeds now to the next Point and says that In the next place this meddling in Temporal Affairs doth 〈◊〉 them and strike them in their Credits so far from Truth is that Position which they desire to possess the World withal that unless they may have those outward Trappings or worldly Pomp added to the Ministery that Calling will grow into Contempt and be despised Good God! How Pious this Lord is and what a careful Friend over the Church First he takes care the Bishops Consciences may not be hurt and now he is as jealous over their Credits But I doubt he is jealous over them amiss For he is of Opinion that meddling in Civil Affairs strikes them in their Credit and he thinks farther that the Position with which they would possess the World in this case is far from Truth Let 's examine this Position then what it is and what it works The Position is as this Lord reports it That unless they may have these outward Trappings or worldly Pomp added to the Ministery their Calling will grow into Contempt First there was never any Age in any Kingdom Christian in which the Bishops were ridden with so much Scorn and Contempt as they are at this day in England and this makes this Lord though he be a very ordinary Horseman for any good Service please himself with Trappings Secondly for the worldly Pomp which he means and expresses the Train of that hath been long since cut short enough in England and he that will not look upon the Bishops with an evil Eye must needs acknowledge it Well but what then doth this Position work Why they may not have these Trappings there will follow Contempt upon their Calling so he makes the Bishops say Is this Lord of that Opinion too No sure for he says The Truth is these things cast Contempt upon them in the Eyes of Men. They gain them Cap and Courtesie but they have cast them out of the Consciences of Men and the Reason is this every thing is esteemed as it is eminent in its own proper Excellency the Eye in seeing not in hearing the Ear in hearing not in speaking The one would be rather monstrous than comely the other is ever acceptable being proper So is it with them their proper Excellency is Spiritual the denial of the World with the Pomps and Preferments and Employments thereof This they should teach and practice Well then the question is Whether the Honour of Bishops and their Employments in Temporal Affairs as they are at this day moderated in the Church and State of England bring Contempt upon them and their Calling as this Lord says or help to keep off Contempt as he says the Bishops would possess the World First I am clear of Opinion that Solomon was almost as wife as this Lord thinks himself and yet he says plainly Eccles. 9. 16. That though Wisdom in its self be far better than Folly yet the poor Man's Wisdom is despised and his Words not heard And we see in daily Experience that a poor Minister's Words are as much slighted in the Pulpit as a poor Man 's in the Gate And therefore these things which this Lord calls Trappings are many times very necessary to keep off that Contempt and Despight which the boisterous Multitude when their Sins are reproved are apt to cast upon them And whatsoever this Lord thinks t is a great Credit and Support to the rest of the Clergy and being well used a great advantage to their Calling that the Bishops and other Eminent Men of the Clergy should have moderate Plenty for Means and enjoy Honour and external Reputation and though it be well known that the Church consider'd in Abstract in and by its self only is not promoted nor advanced by such Employments yet as she is considered in her Peregrination and Warfare she gains by them great both Strength and Encouragement Secondly That which this Lord adds that those things gain the Bishops Cap and Courtesie but have cast them out of the Consciences of Men. 'T is well that these things gain them that For the Age is grown so churlish to that Calling that I believe they would have very little of either were it not for these things as will too soon appear now
Doctori Bancroft Dom. Doctori Zouch de aliis negotiis ut videbatur brevi Londinum profecturis commendare ut hujusmodi Commissionis copiam impetrarent quâ obtentâ meliùs consulere cum Honoratissimo Cancellario nostro valeamus ne quid gravius patiatur Vniversitas nostra Oxon. per Commissionem praedictam contra Consuetudines Privilegia antiquitùs indulta Vniversitati praedictae Acta habita gesta fuerunt suprascripta die anno praedictis in praesentiâ mei JOHANNIS FRENCH Registrarii Universitatis OXON EA est Beneficiorum tuorum amplitudo Honoratissime Cancellarie quibus Academiam nostram indies cumulare satagis ut conturbare nobis necesse sit ac ne verbis quidem quorum interim apud nos vilem parabilem esse oportet annonam paria cum meritis Tuis facere liceat Te tamen quae est Benificentiae tuae indolet ne ingrati quidem debitores nedum tarda vel cassa nomina deterrent quo minus beneficia tua beneficiis ne perpluant porro pertegere eaque ultrò auctum ire pertendas Veluti quod nuper Academiae nec huic tantùm sed saeculo imputasti cum Tuâ unius operâ habitus est Musis is honos ut honoratissimus Senatus Regius legem quam aliis dare consueverat à nobis acciperet Hancque 〈◊〉 sibi legem in posterum dixerit ut si quid in suis Edictis scriptum fuerit quod per Privilegia Academica jus non sit juberi ejus iis Edictis nihilum jubeatur Circumcisum scilicet abrasum est hac Cautione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quodcunque cujus obtentu antehà c Villani jura ac privilegia Vniversitatis invadere involare solebant Honoratissimi Senatùs jussa capessere simulantes reverà juris sui pomaeria ultrà quà m jus fas est proferentes Et hujus quidem Benesicii gratiam Tibi Honoratissime 〈◊〉 in solidum 〈◊〉 agnoscimus Quo adnitente factum est ut Honorissimus Senatus Jussa sua in antecessum simul ac semel interpretari consultiùs duxerit quam Villanis dubiam ancipitem eorum Syntaxin permittere qui ea interpretari quam exequi malunt Plus tamen est quod Honoratissimis Viris hoc nomine debetur quà m cui solvendo unquam pares esse possumus Quamvis igitur in tali obligationum genere nulla praestatio functionem recipiat aut in solutum imputetur nisi ab ipso reo siat numeratio Quia tamen Veneratio Honotarissimo Senatui debita majorem à nobis exigit reverentiam quam ut Scholasticis inanibus Literularum formulis ipsorum tempora morari audeamus de quibus nihil deliberari potest sine publico dispendio Nostri officii partes optimo quidem nomini sed tamen vicario Tibi Honoratissime Cancellarie delegamus Tu Illis pro nobis nos Tibi pro Te pro Illis gratias agemus Deus O. M. Te quam diutissime Ecclesiae Academiae huic nostrae sospitem incolumem praestet Sic vovent To the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bp. of London Chancellour of the University of OXFORD Honori Tuo addictissimi Clientes Magistri Scholares Universit Oxon. Mr. BRUCH è Coll. AEn Nas. Procurat Mr. DOUGHTY è Coll. Merton Procurat S. in Christo. Sir THese are to Pray and Require you in his Majesties name that a Book lately Printed at Oxford and made by Mr. Page of All Souls-College be presently put to sale and published It is as I am inform'd in defence of the Canon of the Church about Bowing at the name of JESUS and modestly and well written And his Majesty likes not that a Book boldly and ignorantly written by Mr. Prinne against the Church should take place as the Churches Opinion against her self or as unable to be answered by the Church If Mr. Page stick at your Commands shew this Letter for your Warrant and his So I leave you to the Grace of God and shall ever rest Fulham June 22. Your Loving Friend GVIL London The occasion of this Letter was that Mr. Baker Secretary to my Predecessour who no doubt was privy to the business had written to Mr. Page touching the contrary whose Letter here follows Good Mr. Page MY Lord of Canterbury is inform'd that you are publishing a Treatise touching the Question of Bowing at the Name of JESUS an Argument wherein Mr. Widdowes foolishly and Mr. Prinne scurrilously have already to the scandal and disquiet of the Church exercised their Pens His Grace hath formerly shew'd his dislike of them both and hearing that you take up the Bucklers in a Theme of so small necessity and of so great heat and distemper which will draw on new Replies for Prinne will not sit down as an idle Spectatour and beget bitterness and intestine contestations at home amongst our selves he is much offended that you do stickle and keep on foot such questions which may better be spoiled and silenced than maintain'd and draw into sideings and partakings And therefore I am wish'd to advise you to withdraw your self from these or the like domestick broils and if your Treatise be at the Press to give it a stop and check and by no means to suffer the same to be divulged For if you do notwithstanding this Admonition proceed in the same intention of publishing it you will repent you and perhaps draw more on your self of trouble and discontent than you will reap Credit or Advantage by the pursuance of so useless an Argument If you were out of your Cell and saw the World abroad you would not meddle with things of this nature wherein the Governours and chief Pilots of the Church discern more harm and tempest to the Church than you that are unacquainted with Ecclesiastical Estate and the well ordering of it can any way by Speculation attain unto no more than a Scholar that can read a Lecture of Theorical Musick is able to play on a Lute or a Viol by his Bookish Rules and proportions of Sounds which are there taught I pray you to look hereunto and say that a Friend advised you And put not your self on a Business whereof you see but the Beginning So with my Love remembred unto you I rest Lambeth May. 31. 1631. Your very loving Friend Will. Baker S. in Christo. AFter my hearty Commendations c. The year is now at an end of my Vice-Chancellour's Government And when I look back upon it I must needs acknowledge he hath taken a great deal of pains and shew'd himself a very discreet able and worthy Governour And in all the passages of this year I do not find but that he hath given you all great satisfaction especially in his Care for Order and Formalities which I hope you will so far like as that you will make it away to recover the Ancient Honour of that famous University in things of greater Consequence And though the University be full
utmost of his weak power defend the same with his Pen or Blood And therefore he humbly beseecheth your Grace that if above and besides what is established any thing be thought fit to be practis'd your Grace would vouchsafe either to order and command him to do it or else be pleased to leave him to that Liberty which our Religious King and Orthodox Church have allowed him so should he pray for your long Life and happy Government in the Church And to all this I gave the Vice-chancellor this Answer following I Thank you for your discreet handling of Proctor Corbet And first for the thing it self I have received his Petition and will not give him any Command either to do or desist or to appoint any Substitute but leave him and let him do as it shall please God and himself And secondly for the manner of this his Refusal I must tell you that it is all one in substance with the Petition which Mr. Channell himself delivered me about a Twelve Month since and that since your late being with me I have received an Answer not much in effect differing from this Petition from two or three Refractories in different Parts and now your Predecessor tells me that he being lately in his Visitation of his Peculiars belonging to his Deanery had the same Answer given him That they looked for a Command By all which put together I see the Faction have informed themselves and are agreed to make this Answer To call for a Command which from me they shall never have till I may be warranted my self by publick Authority But we find that besides Articles and Canons and Rubricks c. the Church of Christ had ever certain Customs which prevailed in her Practice and had no Canon for them and if all such may be kickt out you may bid farewel to all Decency and Order In the mean time I will acquaint His Majesty with this Distemper growing that the Blame may not be cast upon me THere is an Abuse hath continued long and is I think very fit to be Remedied It is that when divers publick Lectures are at the same Hour in the University One Bell if I mistake not hath been used to toll to all of them by which means the Auditors to all Lectures take occasion to repair to the Schools and when they come there perhaps but one Lecturer reads and then they cannot find their way back to their several Colleges but spend their time as they should not To prevent this I pray communicate with the Heads and make an Order That a distinct Bell be tolled to every Lecture that so the Auditors may know for what Lecture it is and apply themselves accordingly And I think 't is very fit that the Professor intending to Read that Day should give warning to the Clark for the tolling of his Bell. Lambeth October 5. 1638. W. Cant. ON Wednesday the 10th of October the Vice-chancellor and the Vniversity entred upon the use of their New Convocation-House without any other Solemnity than a solemn Speech of Benefrom the Vice-chancellor On the same Day the Examinations of 〈◊〉 for Degrees began to be put in Execution according to the Statutes WHen the Proctor saw that your Grace would not command 〈◊〉 Conformity in Gesture at the beginning of Term he requested me to require it pretending that my Predecessor had done so before me I refusing he then proffered to conform of his own accord but he either did it not at all or did it so poorly that it was scarce observable by them that were present The Vice-chancellor could not observe it by reason of his Officiating at the Communion Howsoever this is gained upon him That either he did conform and cannot deny it to the Faction Or else that he is a gross Dissembler to the Vice-chancellor and the Authority born there SIR I AM informed by the Dean of Christ-Church of a shameful Non-Residence practised by two Christ-Church Men under the pretence of University Privilege whereas such a foul Abuse is no way to be endured one of them is Mr. Vereir he had a Living given him by the University in Worceslershire 12 Years since And he hath ever since as I am informed lived in the University and spent that sacred Revenue most prophanely The other is one Mr. Little and he hath had two Vicarages in Yorkshire these 7 Years and hath performed no Church-Duty upon either of them but only that he makes a merry Journey once a Year into those Parts and then returns again and wastes the rest of his time in Oxford under pretence of Suits But it is no way probable that both these Vicarages should be litigious 7 Years together And howsoever it will be a great Scandal and Dishonour to the University to have such shameful things as these countenanced under the Name of Privilege I have written to the Dean to lead the way to you and expel them out of Christ-Church if they have any Footing there and therefore I do hereby Pray and Require You to proceed to Bannition against them in the University if they do not presently repair to their Livings and reside there of which I shall expect an Account from you And hereupon I writ to my Lords of York and Worcester to call these two Men to reside upon their several Benefices The like Course shall you take with one Woodruff I shall speak first with Dr. Baylie about him for the Monition was given him in his time Lambeth Octob. 18. 1638. W. Cant. SIR I Have written to my Lords the Arch-bishop of York and Bishop of Worcester to call Vereir and Little to Residence and if the one have prevented that Call and the other mean to do it 't is well For I am resolved and so you may signifie to the Heads at your next Meeting 〈◊〉 purge the University of all Non-Residents which have not express Letter of Statute to relieve them and bind my hands And as for the Statute of the Realm which had a great deal of Reason upon which to ground it self when 't was made but God be thanked by the Learnedness of the Age hath little now as I may not violate it so neither will I suffer unworthy pretences to abuse both the Church and it if it lye in my Power to apply a Remedy to so gross an Abuse And I pray let the Heads know that I would not have endured so gross Non-Residence as I find Mr. Vereir and Mr. Little guilty of to shelter it self in that University had I sooner known of it than now I came to do by a mere Accident Lambeth Octob. 31. 1638. W. Cant. SIR IN this Case of Non-Residence I pray require all the Heads of Colleges and Halls to bring you in a Note of all Beneficed Men which live under their Government At what distance their Benefice is from the University the value in the King's Books and otherwise
December an Order was made by the Heads That the number of Doctors designed to attend His Majesty at Woodstock should not exceed Fifteen That they should all go in wide sleeved Scarlet Gowns not in Habit and Hood save only the Preacher who during his Sermon should wear his Hood also And further That both the Proctors should go in their wide-sleeved Gowns too And that it might the better appear what Doctors should go It was likewise Ordered That this Number should always a little before every His Majestie 's resort to that Place be chosen out of the Company of the Doctors there for the performance of that Service Trusty and Well-beloved c. WE are informed that you have for some Years suffered a very ill Custom to continue in that our Collegiate Church for whereas there are divers Scholars chosen to be Students of that House and divers others that live there as Commoners but the greatest part of the Scholars are chosen from our School at Westminster there is a Supper maintained Yearly commonly called a Westminster Supper at which all and only Westminster Scholars do meet This Supper we hold to be a very ill Custom and no way fit to be continued For first it is a thing not allowable in Government that any party of Men should have a several Meeting which is a direct way to Faction and Combination and it teacheth the rest of the Students in such a Society to bandy themselves together against the other that they may not be thought to be neglected Secondly such a Meeting must needs cause more Expences than many Students are able to bear especially in such chargeable times as these are Thirdly it gives an occasion of much Drinking and Riot and consequently of all the bad effects which follow such excesses besides no small disorder in leaving or keeping open the Gates of the College for ingress and egress for resort to that disorderly Meeting at later Hours than are fit And most usually to add to all this Disorder this Supper must be kept upon a Friday-Night against both the Canons of the Church and Laws of the Realm and to the great Scandal of all sober Men that hear of it These are therefore to Will and Require You the Dean and Chapter to suppress that Supper or Meeting by what Name soever it be called and to call the Students together and to command them in Our Name that they presume not at any time hereafter to resort together to any such Meeting either in the College or out of it and to Register these our Letters among the Orders and Decrees for the Government of that Church as You and every of You will answer it at your utmost Perils and these our Letters We Will shall be binding not only upon your Selves but upon your Successors that this ill and dangerous Custom may never rise up into Practice again Given c. I Thank you heartily for calling for Arms of your Privileged Men and I pray be careful that they be ordered to the full as high as any Towns-Men of their Rank and Condition and so they that love neither you nor your Liberties may not be able to take any Advantage against you either in regard of the Number or the sufficiency of the Arms. And I pray see that this be done with all Care and without any Partiality Lambeth Jan. 17. 1638 9. W. Cant. HEreupon the Vice-chancellor with other of the Heads charged 20 of their Privileged Men with Corslets and 30 with Musquets which did almost equal the Train-Band of the City though the Priviledged Men were but an handful in respect of the other From Oxford January 28th SIR YOU had need be very careful of the University for while none of you think of it the Jesuits and their Instruments are busie thereabouts and at this present they have seduced a young Youth of Exeter-College I have forgotten his Name but it begins with a W. and the young Organist of St. John's who slipt away now whilst the President was at Sarum I have granted an Attachment against them if they can light upon them before they take Shipping as also against Cherriton for that I hear is his Name who seduced them You had need be very careful in these Businesses for else we shall very deservedly hear ill of it Lambeth Feb. 7. 1638 9. W. Cant. SIR I Am informed that the Masters many of them sit bare at St. Maries having their Hats there and not their Caps rather chosing to sit bare than to keep Form and then so soon as they come out of the Church they are quite out of Form all along the Streets I am likewise told that divers of the younger sort and some Masters begin again to leave the wide-sleeved Gown apace and take up that which they call the Lawyer 's Gown If both or either of these be you had need look to it in time before it gather Head And if it be true for the Gowns you must chide the Taylors that make them very severely besides what you do to the Scholars Lambeth Feb. 20. 〈◊〉 W. Cant. SIR I Pray take care of Lent and the Disputations in their Beginnings and speak to the Heads of Houses at your next Meeting that they warn their several Companies that they keep Disputations at the Schools diligently but very orderly and peaceably And since I have now by many Years Experience observed That coursing between one College and another is the great Mother of all Disorder and that 't is almost impossible to have decent and orderly Disputations if that be permitted These are to require You That You suffer no such Coursing at all under any Pretence And farther I would have you speak with the Principal of Brazen-Nose that he would command their Cellar to be better looked to that no strong and unruly Argument be drawn from that Topick-place And I pray desire the Heads to be very careful that the Disputations may be Scholike and peaceable Lambeth Feb. ult 〈◊〉 W. Cant. AT our Meeting on Monday last 't was ordered that from henceforth all Circuiting for Degrees shall begin from the Schools We have now lest only the Friday Court in St. Marie's Church and I hope that will not dwell there long March 4. 1638 9. AN Order for the Lent Disputations That no Batchelors be suffered to answer two in a School or in the Divinity School which was commonly call'd the Horse-Fair c. Lambeth March 29. 1639. W. Cant. LAst Week there arose a little Difference 'twixt the City and University but 't is already composed They required of all Privileged Inhabitants a Contribution towards the fitting out of their 15 Soldiers I denyed it Yet in the Close That they might have no Colour to complain of our Coldness in a Business of such Importance I gave way for the taxing of such priviledged Persons and such only as exercise any kind of Merchandize amongst them This
to receive any Scholar into his House to drink and tipple there Secondly So soon as he had his full Proof that there were 300 he commanded the Constables of every Parish to bring in the Names of all such as sell Ale there This Note he communicated with the Proctors and turned out all such as in their several Night-Walks they had found to keep disorderly Houses Thirdly After this he sent the same Note to some of the most substantial and orderly Men in every Parish and by their Advice struck out all those which had any Trade or other means to live by that being a far fitter Course for them than Ale-House-keeping Fourthly To the end no cunning of the Town might be able to elude this he deliver'd to the Ale-Brewers the Names of all such as are now Licensed with a charge not to serve Ale to any other upon Penalty of paying the Mulct which both the Statutes of the Realm and of the University inflict upon Offenders in that particular And as for the Allegation which they made to my Lord the Earl of Berkshire in their excuse that proves utterly void For 1st The number of 300 at the least is fully proved 2dly Were it true that the most of these were Privileged Persons that would not help them neither For the greatest part even of the Privileged Men have been Licensed by themselves for their own Profit 3dly On the University part no Justice hath given allowance to any but the Vice-Chancellor only Neither can any License continue longer than for one Year 4thly The Vice-Chancellor that now is hath been in that Office a Year and an half and in all this time hath not Licensed any one till now that His Majesty's Letters came down to settle that Power in me and the University according to our antient Privileges in that behalf 'T is true that some produced antient Licenses subscribed by some of the Vice-Chancellor's Predecessors as namely by Dr. Pinck and Dr. Baylie in their several Years respectively But these as they were out of Date so were they very few not exceeding 20 in the whole number By all which it appears manifestly that almost all this Scandalous number of 300 were Licensed by the Mayor and the Town-Justices and not by the University as hath been suggested to my Lord their Steward The Vice-Chancellor took for his Assistant in this Business Dr. Pinck Warden of New-College who had been Vice-Chancellor and best understood the State of the Town tho' Dr. Fell had means to be best acquainted with the number of the Ale-Houses And for a beginning supprest 200 of the 300 and then found it impossible for the present to sink them lower there being so many poor and indigent People amongst them who have no other possible means of Subsistance Among these appear'd a lamentable Spectacle For the only Son of Mr. Braddell who had for many Years together in my Memory been Principal of St. Mary's Hall and lived well but in too free a fashion was now found to be one of this number yet for some reasons the Vice-Chancellor refused to License him among the rest unless the Principal of Brazen-Nose and the Provost of Oriel which were of his Father's antient Acquaintance and now pleaded for him would become his Sureties and so the Business stands at present December 7. 1639. W. Cant. ARticles of Agreement 'twixt the University and City being made by Justice Jones 't was on all hands thought fit that they should have a time of Probation before they were signed by Your Grace and their Steward In this interim we found a Composition made Eliz. 23. wherein it was accorded that the Amercements of our Leet which the Judge had awarded wholly to the Town should equally be divided 'twixt both Bodies This when the Judge saw he altered his Opinion in that particular and order'd that the Composition should still stand in force The Mayor Recorder and Town-Clerk there present assented but next day fell off upon pretence that the Commonalty would not yield And here we stick They press to have the Judge's first Order confirm'd which gives all the Amercements to them We plead an antient Composition seen since and allow'd by the same Judge which gives us half Their own Recorder is ashamed of them and hath sundry times complain'd to me of their peevishness and breach of Promise in this particular If they be now in earnest whereof I much doubt we will give them a Meeting when they please and once more try whether by a friendly Parly these Differences may be composed Oxford Decem. 9. 1639. A. Frewen THE Earl of Danby sent last Week Outlandish Workmen to enter upon the Physick-Garden They were directed to the Dean of Christ-Church Dr. Clayton and my self We have perused divers Models which they brought and amongst them pitch'd upon one which we think will be most proper for that place December 9. 1639. A. Frewen I Would have you at your next meeting acquaint the Heads that the Oxford Men who came to preach at St. Paul's do not so frequently use the Prayer which the Canon of the Church requires before their Sermons either in matter or form as the Cambridge Men do And there is more notice taken of it than I could wish there were Therefore the Heads shall do very well to warn their several Companies concerning it And I pray be you careful to see it observed there and that will teach them to do it abroad Lambeth Decemb. 13. 1639. W. Cant. THere came a Letter this Week from Cambridge to my Chaplain Dr. Bray in which I find that one Mr. Samuel Wilkinson a Master of Art sometimes of Magdalen-Hall and now Parson or Vicar of Chelsey came thither to be Doctor and would accumulate And this was certainly to elude our Statutes Dr. Sterne one of the Heads there called for his Certificate from you according to the Letters which you lately sent to that University by my Direction But he being able to shew none save only a Ticket from Mr. French the Register was refused I pray call French unto you and examine what Tickets he uses to send in this kind and by what Authority and I pray put him to it close For if he may do this we may have Proceeders slip away from us I know not how As now it might have been if Dr. Sterne had not been a very respectful Man to me December 20. 1639. W. Cant. UPON this the Vice-Chancellor called Mr. French to an account who confessed that Wilkinson writ to him the last Vacation to know what Year it was he proceeded Master and little suspecting what use would be made of it and the less because it was about the middle of the great Vacation he sent him a Note out of the Register which was it he presented at Cambridge but protests that since the Vice-Chancellor's coming in Office he never gave more than that one Ticket December 23.
Hominum by the Businesses which Men brought to him and he desires that he may ease himself in part upon him that was at his desire designed his Successor to which the People expressed their great liking by their Acclamation And these Businesses he dispatch'd with that great Dexterity to most Mens content that Men did not only bring their Secular Causes before him but were very desirous to have him determine them And S. Ambrose was in greater Employment for Secular Affairs than S. Augustin was for he was Bishop and Governour of Milan both at once and was so full of this Employment that S. Augustin being then upon the Point of his Conversion complains he could not find him at so much leisure as he would And this besides many Bishops and Clergy-Men of great Note who have been employ'd in great Embassics and great Offices under Emperors and Kings and discharged them with great Fidelity and Advantage to the Publick and without detriment to the Church And surely they would never have taken this Burthen upon them had their Conscience been hurt by it or had it been inconsistent with their Function or absolutely against the ancient Canons of the Church of which they were so conscientious and strict Observers My Lord goes on to another Argument and tells us They are separated unto a special Work and Men must take heed how they mis-employ things dedicated and set apart to the Service of God They are called to Preach the Gospel and set apart to the Work of the Ministery and the Apostle saith Who is sufficient for these things Shewing that this requireth the Whole Man and all is too little Therefore for them to seek or take other Offices which shall require and tie them to employ their Time and Studies in the Affairs of this World will draw a Guilt upon them as being inconsistent with that which God doth call them and set them apart unto This is my Lord's next Argument And truly I like the beginning of it very well and I pray God this Lord may be mindful of it when time may serve For surely Men ought to take heed how they mis-employ Things dedicated and set apart to the Service of God And therefore as Ministers must not mis-employ their Persons or their Times which are dedicated to God and his Service no more must Lay-Men take away and mis-employ the Church Revenues devoutly given dedicated and set apart to maintain and hold up the Service of God and to refresh Christ in his poor Members upon Earth And if ever a Scambling time come for the Church-Lands as these Times hereafter must I hope his Lordship will remember this Argument of his and help to hold back the Violence from committing more Sacrilege whereas too much lies heavy on the Kingdom already The rest of the Argument will abide some Examination First then most true it is that Bishops are called to Preach the Gospel and set apart to that Work but whether they be so set apart as that what Necessity soever requires it they may do nothing else but Study and Preach is no great Question For certainly they may in Times of Persecution labour many ways for their Perservation and in Times of Want for their Sustenance and at all Times if they be called to it give their best Counsel and Advice for the publick Safety of the State as well as their own Nor doth that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 2. 16. Who is sufficient for these things hinder this at all For though this great Calling and Charge requires the whole Man though all that the ablest Man can do in it be too little all things simply and exactly consider'd yet he that saith here None are sufficient for these things for so much the Question implieth saith also in the very next Chapter that God hath made him and others able Ministers of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3. 6. and if able then doubtless sufficient And the Greek word is the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sufficient in the one place and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made us sufficient in the other Besides it may be the sense of the Places will bear it that no Man is sufficient for the Dignity of the Office which brings with it the savour of Life or Death to all Men and yet that many Men are made sufficient by God's Grace to perform this Office that is to bring both the one and the other But howsoever be the Office as high as it is and be the Men never so sufficient yet the Function is such as cannot be daily performed by the Priest for the Preaching part nor attended by the People for their other necessary Employments of Life which made the Wisdom of God himself command a Sabbath under the Law and the Church to settle the Lord's-Day and other Holy-days under the Gospel for the Publick Service and Worship of God and the Instruction of the People I say in regard of this a Bishop or a Priest who shall be judged fit for that Publick Service may give Counsel in any Civil Affairs and take upon him if not seek any Office temporal that may help and assist him in his Calling and give him Credit and Countenance to do the more good among his People but not to the desertion of his Spiritual Work And this Lord is much deceived if he thinks all Offices do require and tie them to employ their Time and Studies in the Affairs of this World If they be such Offices as do I grant with him that to take them unless it be upon some urgent Necessity may draw a Guilt upon them But if they be such as Clergy-Men may easily execute in their empty Hours without any great hindrance to their Calling and perhaps with great Advantage to it then out of doubt it can draw no Guilt upon them which take them And this Lord in this Passage is very cunning For instead of speaking of Bishops having any thing to do in Civil Affairs he speaks of nothing but taking of Offices Now a Clergy-Man may many ways have to do in Temporal Affairs without taking any set Office upon him which shall not tie up his Time or his Studies to the Affairs of this World as it seems this Lord would persuade the the World all do Now that a Bishop or other Clergy-Man may lawfully meddle with some Temporal Affairs always provided that he entangle not himself with them for that indeed no Man doth that Wars for Christ as he ought 2 Tim. 2. 4. is I think very evident not only by that which the Priests did and might do under the Law but also by that which was done after Christ in the Apostle's time and by some of them To Study and Practise Physick is as much inconsistent with the Function of a Minister of the Gospel as to Sit Consult and give Counsel in Civil Affairs But St. Luke though an Evangelist continued his Profession as appears Colos. 4. 14. where St.
Popery to set a Rail to keep Prophanation from that Holy Table nor is it any Innovation to place it at the upper end of the Chancel as the Altar stood And this appears both by the Practice and by the Command and Canon of the Church of England First By the Practice of the Church of England For in the King 's Royal Chapels and divers Cathedrals the Holy Table hath ever since the Reformation stood at the upper end of the Quire with the large or full side towards the People And though it stood in most Parish Churches the other way yet whether there be not more reason the Parish Churches should be made conformable to the Cathedral and Mother Churches than the Cathedrals to them 〈◊〉 leave to any reasonable Man to judge And yet here is nothing done either by violence or command to take off the Indifferency of the standing of the Holy Table either way but only by laying it fairly before Men how fit it is there should be Order and Vniformity I say still reserving the Indifferency of the standing But howsoever I would fain know how any discreet moderate Man dares say that the placing of the Holy Table Altar-wise since they will 〈◊〉 call it so is done either to advance to usher in Popery For did Queen Elizabeth banish Popery and yet did she all along her Reign from first to last leave the Communion Table so standing in her own Chapel Royal in St. Paul's and Westmidster and other places and all this of 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 on usher in that Popery which she had driven out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 since her Death have two Gracious Kings kept out Popery all their 〈◊〉 and yet 〈◊〉 the Holy Table standing as it did in the Queen's time and all of purpose to advance or usher in Popery which they kept out 〈◊〉 what 's the matter May the Holy Table stand this way in the 〈◊〉 Chapel or Cathedrals or Bishops Chapels and not elsewhere 〈◊〉 if it be decent and fit for God's Service it may stand so if 〈◊〉 please in any Church But if it advance or usher in any 〈◊〉 and Popery it ought to stand so in none Not hath any King's Chapel any Prerogative if that may be call'd one above any ordinary Church to dis-serve God in by any Superstitious 〈◊〉 Where give me leave to tell you that the King and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 and with Scorn abused in the last Leaf of Mr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Appeal for such it is 〈◊〉 This appears by the Canon or Rule of the Church of 〈◊〉 too for 't is plain in the last Injunction of the Queen That the Holy Table ought to stand at the upper end of the Quire North and South or Altar-wise For the words of the Queen's Injunctions are these The Holy Table in every Church mark it I pray not in the Royal 〈◊〉 or Cathedrals only but in every Church shall be decently made and set in the place where the Altar stood Now the Altar stood at the upper end of the Quire North and South as appears before by the 〈◊〉 of the Church And there to set it otherwise is to set it cross the place not In the place where the Altar stood and so Stulti dum vit ant vitia weak Men as these Libellers are run into one Superstition while they would avoid another For they run upon the Superstition of the Cross. while they seek to avoid the Superstition of the Altar So you see here 's neither Popery nor Innovation in all the Practice of Queen Elizabeth or since These words of the Injunction are so plain as that they can admit of no shift And give me leave to tell you That a very learned Prelate of this Church and one whom I think these Men will not accuse as a Man like to advance or usher in Popery is of the same Opinion 'T is my Lord the Bishop of Salisbury Some difference was lately rising about placing the Communion-Table in a Parish Church of his Diocese The Bishop careful to prevent all Disorder sends his Injunction under his Hand and Seal to the Curate and Church-Wardens to settle that business In which he hath these two Passages remarkable I have seen and read the Order The first Passage is this By the Injunction of Queen Elizabeth saith he and by Can. 82. under King James the Communion Tables should ordinarily be set and stand with the side to the East Wall of the Chancel Therefore this is 〈◊〉 since there is Injunction and Canon for it The other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this 'T is Ignorance saith that learned Bishop to think that the 〈◊〉 of the Holy Table there relishes of Popery Therefore if it do not to much as relish of Popery it can neither advance it nor usher it in 〈◊〉 therefore this is a most odious Slander and Scandal cast upon 〈◊〉 So here 's enough 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Rule of the Church of England since the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that time both in this and other Churches of 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 and West ordinarily the Holy Table or Altar stood so 〈◊〉 this Mr. Burton says little But the Lincolnshire Minister comes in to play the Puritan for that Concerning which Book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in my way and the Nameless Author of it I shall only 〈◊〉 these two things The one is that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the first word to the 〈◊〉 in the Book for he 〈◊〉 on him both for the Name and for the placing of the Holy Table and the like to prove that Generally and Vniversally and Ordinarily in the whole Catholick Church both East and West the Holy Table did not stand at the upper end of the Quire or Chancel And this he must prove or he doth nothing Now when he comes to make his Proofs they are almost all of them particular few or none general and concludent for he neither brings Testimonies out of the General and received Rituals of the Easteru and Western Churches nor of Fathers and Histories of the Church which speak in General terms of all but where they speak of particular Churches only So that suppose the most that can be that is suppose his Quotations be all truly alledged and true too in the sense that the Minister takes them though in very truth the 〈◊〉 most of them are neither truly alledged nor sensed yet they 〈◊〉 but exceptions of and exemptions from the general Practice And you know both in Law and Reason Exceptio firmat Regulam in non 〈◊〉 So that upon the sudden I am not able to resolve whether this Minister hath done more wrong to himself or his Readers for he hath abused both The other is that in the Judgment of very many learned Men which have perused this Book the Author is clearly conceived to want a great deal of that learning to which he pretends or 〈◊〉 to have written this Book wholly and resolvedly against both his Science and his Conscience And for my own part I am 〈◊〉 of