the Levites also was to help the Priests in gathering of tiths and to carry water and wood for the Tabernacle Q. Wherein did the high Priest differ from other Priests A. The high Priest only had power to enter into the Sanctuary he only wore a blew robe with bells a golden Ephod a breast-plate a linnen Myter a plate of Gold on his head by the Crown or plate was signified Christs Kingly office by the breast-plate his Priestly and by the bells his Prophetical office the high Priest also was only anointed after the order of Priesthood was setled but before this every Priest was anointed he also wore about his paps a broydred girdle to signifie that his heart should be girt and restrained from the love of earthly things They that took Sanctuary were not to be set at liberty till the death of the high Priest to signifie that by the death of our High Priest Jesus Christ we are made free The high Priesthood was tied to the line of Aarons first born the other Priests were of Aarons other children the Levites were of Levies other posterity the high Priest might marry none but a Maide other Priests migh marry a Widow Levit. 21. The high Priest might not miourn for the death of his kindred other Priests might mourn for their Father Mother Son Daughter Brother and husbandlesse Sister in other things they agreed For all Priests must be without blemish all must be presented to the Lord at the door of the Tabernacle all must be washed all must be consecrated by offering certaine Sacrifices all must have the blood of the Ram put on the tip of the right eare the thumb of the right hand and great toe of the right foot Exod. 29 Q. What Church government was there after Moses A. In the Desart Eleazer succeeded his Father Aaron and substituted under him Phinees to be chief of the Levites After the Israelites entred the Land the Tabernacle staied some years at Silo then did Ioshuah divide the Land and designed certain Cities of refuge which with some other Cities he assigned to the Priests and Levites The Priesthood did not continue long in the house of Aaron but after the death of Eleazer and three Priests his Successors this office devolved to Eli of the family of Ithamar who being carelesse suffered divers abuses to creep into the Ecclesiastical Government till God raised Samuel who reformed both the State and Church by appointing Schools of Prophets and Consistories of Levites From Silo the Tabernacle was translated to Nob from thence to Gibeon when Nob was destroyed by Ioab and at last it rested in Ierusalem So that all this time there could be no setled Church discipline among the Jewes The Ark also was oftentimes removed to wit from Canaan to the Philistines from thence to the Bethshemites afterward it stayed twenty years at Kiriathjeharim after this it remained three moneths with Obed-Edom and at last it was brought by David into Ierusalem All this time neither Tabernacle nor Ark nor Priesthood were setled till David assembled the Levites and out of them chose Abiathar for High Priest and Tsadoc for chief of the inferiour Priests who were to deliver the Ark to the Levites to be carried on their shoulders and withal appointed Singers and other Musitians in all 68. of the Levites He appointed also for the service of the Tabeâ—â—acle in Gibeon Tsadoc and his Brethren At last David being assured by Nathan that his Son Solomon should build the Temple he ordered that 24000. Levites should be set apart for the service of the Temple to wit 4000. door-keepers and as many Singers and 6000. Judges and Governors and the rest for other Offices Abiathar is made high Priest to wait on the Ark at Ierusalem Tsadoc is chief of the inferior Priests to serve in the Tabernacle at Silo. Tsadoc was Sauls high Priest descended from Eleazer Aarons first born Abiathar of the stock of Ithamar and Eli fled to David who entertained him for his high Priest after the death of Saul David retained them both thinking it did not stand with his honour and piety to reject Sauls high Priest This Tsadoc under Soloman was anointed the second time Priest as Solomon was the second time anointed King 1 Chron. 29. 22. and Abiathar is deposed for the sins of Eli and his Sons and so in Tsadoc the Priesthood is translated from the house of Ithamar to Aarons family again There were also Treasurers ordained some for the first fruits and tenths and others for the moneys that were given to the Temple towards the redemption of vows first born and sins The Priests and Levites were maintained out of the first fruits and tithes the other treasure was for maintaining the daily sacrifices and other charges of the Temple the Gibeonites with others appointed by David and Solomon did help the Levites in their Ministration the Priests and in their absence the Levites did administer justice both in Ierusalem and in the Cities of Refuge and ordered Ecclesiastick affairs There were also sometimes Extraordinary Prophets besides the Ordinary It s probable that the ordinary Prophets were of the Tribe of Levi because the administration and care of holy things belonged to them but extraordinary Prophets were of other Tribes these medled not with sacraments and sacrifices which was the Priests office nor had they their calling by succession as the Priests nor was the gift of Prophecy only tied to the man as the Priesthood was for we read of Miriam Hulda and divers other women Prophets and in the Primitive Church though women must not speak in the Church by preaching praying or exhorting in an ordinary way as the Ministers use yet they were not debarred to utter their extraordinary prophesies if so be their heads were covered in sign of modesty but otherwise the Apostle will not have women to speak in the Church because they must be in subjection to their Husbands and this punishment is laid on them for being deceived in Eve and harkning to the counsel of Satan For if women did preach they might be suspected to speak by that Spirit that deluded Eve Q. What was the Ecclesiastick Government after Solomon A. The renting of the ten Tribes from the other two under Roboam did much impair the beauty and magnificence of the Ecclesiastick state Besides that it was much defaced by idolatry but reformed by Hezekias Iosias and Iehosaphat who took away the high places Under Athaliah it was almost extinguished had not Iehojada the high Priest anointed Ioash who again reformed Religion He being denied all aid from the Levites out of their treasure towards the repairing of the Temple caused a Chest to be made into which mony given in that kinde should be put and imployed by the high Priest or by the chief of the inferior Priests and the Kings Scribe or Secretary towards the reparations of the Temple whereas before it was collected by the Levites King Vzziah
more acceptable then wine In other points they were Pepuzians and differed from them onely in cheese offering therefore they were called Artotyritae from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bread and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cheese Q. 18. What was the Religion of the Tessarescae Decatitae or Quarradecimani and of the Alogiani A. The former of these were so called from observing Easter on the fourteenth day of the Moon in March after the manner of the Iewes and they made Saint Iohn the author of that custome which was observed by the Oriental Churches till Pope Victor excommunicated them as Schismaticks in dissenting from the custome of the Western Church This controversie fell out about the 165 year of Christ Severus then being Emperour and from the first Original thereof continued 200. years This Heresie was condemned by the council of Nice and ordered that Easter should be kept after the manner of the Western Church which derived their custom from Saint Peter These Hereticks also denied repentance to those that fell after baptisme which was the Novatian Heresie Alogiani so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the privative and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word because they denied Christ to be the word and consequently they denied his divinity as Ebion and Cerinthus had done before Samosâ—tenus Aâ—â—ius and the Mahumetans afterward These Alogiani rejected Saint Iohns Gospel and his Apocalypse as not written by him but by Cerinthus which is ridiculous for Cerinthus denied Christs Divinity which Saint John asserteth in writing that the Word was God These Hereticks were named also Berilliani from Berillus a Bishop in Arabia who taught that Christ was a man and then became the word of God The first broacher of this Heresie is thought to be Artemon a profane man who lived about the time of Severus Emperour 167. years after Christ from him they were called Artemonitâ— Q 19. What was the Religion of the Adamians Elcesians and Theodotians A. The Adamians or Adamites so called either from one Adam their author or from Adam the first man whose nakednesse they imitate sprung up shortly after the Gnosticks and were called Prodiciani from one Prodicus whom they followed Of this Sect there be many extant at this day They held it unlawful for men or women to wear cloathes in their congregation and assemblies seeing their meetings were the only Paradise on earth where they were to have life Eternal and not in Heavenâ— as Adam then in his Paradise so Christians in theirs should be naken and nor cloathed with the badges of their sin and shame They rejected marriages as diabolical therefore they used promiscuous copulation in the dark they rejected also all prayers to God as needlesse seeing he knew without us what we wanted The Elcesei so called from Elcesae an impostor and Sampsei from a spotted kind of Serpent which they represented in their changable dispositions were much addicted to judicial Astrology and Soothsaying They held two Priests one below made of the Virgin a meer man and one above they confound Christ with the Holy Ghost and sometimes they call him Christs Sister but in a masculine name to both which persons they give longitude latitude and locality To water they ascribe a divinity and so they did to two Whoores Marthus and Marthana the dust of whose feet and spittle they worshipped as holy reliques They had a certaine Apocrypha book the reading whereof procured remission of â—in and they held it no sin to deny Christ in time of persecution This Heresie began to spread about 210. years after Christ under Gordian the Emperor See Origen who writ against it The Theodocians so called from one Theodoâ—us or Theodotion who lived under Severus Emperour 170. years after Christ. He was a Byzantian by birth and a Tanner by profession who taught that in times of persecution we may deny Christ and in so doing we deny not God because Christ was meerly man and that he was begotten of the seed of man He also added to and took from the writings of the Evangelists what he pleased Q 20. What was the Religion of the Melchisedecians Bardesanists and Noetians A. The former were called Melchisedecians for believing that Melchisedeck was not a man but a Divine power superiour to Christ whom they held to be a meer man One Theodotus Scholar to the former Theodotus the Tanner was author of this Sect who lived under Severus about 174. years after Christ. The Bardesanists were so called from one Bardesanes a Syrian who lived under Verus the Emperour 144. years after Christ. He taught that all things even God himself were subject to Fate or a Stoical necessity so that he took away all liberty both from God and man and that vertue and vice depended on the Stars He renewed also the whimsies of the Aeones by which he overthrew Christs divinity and denied the Resurrection of the flesh The Noetians so called from Noetus born in Smyrna taught that there was but one Person in the Trinity which was both mortal and immortal in heaven God and impatible on earth Man and patible So they made a Trinity not of Persons but of Names and Functions Noetus also taught that he was Moses and that his brother was Aaron This Heretick was buried with the burial of an Asse and his city Smyrna was overthrown eight years after he broached his Heresie He lived about 140. years after Christ under M. Antoninus and L. Verus Emperours Q. 21. Of what Religion were the Valesians the Cathari Angelici and Apostolici A. The Valesians so called from one Valens an Arabian who out of the doctrine of the Gnosticks or Tatians condemned marriage and procreation Therefore his Scholars after the example of Origen gelded themselves thinking none can enter into heaven but Eunuchs Whereas the Eunuchs Christ speaks of be such as by continence subdue the lusts of the flesh This Heresie springing under Iulianus Philippus Emperour about the year of Christ 216. The Cathari 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called by themselves as if they were purer then other men derived most of their Tenets from Novatâ—s hence they were named Novatians This Novatus lived under Decius the Emperour after Christ 220. years He was an African born This Heresie lasted till the time of Arcadius to wit 148. years they denyed repentance to those who fell after Baptism they bragged much of their Sanctity and good works They condemned second Marriages as adulterous They used rebaptization as the Donatists did afterward They rejected also Oyl or Chrism in Baptisme The Angelici were so called from worshipping of Angels it seems this Heresie was begun in the Apostles time who condemneth it but had its growth shortly after the Melchisedecians about the year of Christ 180. The Apostolici were so called from imitating the holinesse of the Apostles these were the spawn of the Encratites about the year
would have burnt incense on the Altar but was prohibited by Azariah the high Priest and eighty other Priests This Vzziah named also Azariah though a King yet was justly resisted by the Priests for his pride sacriledge and ambition in medling with their function whereby he violated the Laws of Politick government which a King should maintain for confusion must arise where offices are not distinct but where men are suffered to incroach upon each others function 2. He had no calling to the Priesthood and no man taketh upon him this office but he that is called of God as was Aaron 3. He violated the Law of God who confined the Priesthood to the house of Aaron and Tribe of Levi excluding from that all other Tribes 4. He was injurious to Christ whose type the high Priest was in offering sacrifices and incense representing thereby our high Priest Christ Jesus who offered up himself a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God So Iohojada the high Priest did well to depose Athaliah who was a stranger an idolater and usurper this was lawful for him so to doe being high Priest whose authority was great both in civil and ecclesiastick affaires but this is no warrant for any private man to attempt the like Besides Iehojada was bound to see the young King righted both as he was high Priest and as he was his kinsman Hezechias restored all according to King Davids institution he raised great Taxes towards the maintenance of Gods worship and permitted the Levites to flea the burnt offrings which before belonged only to the Priests office and caused the people to keep the Passover in the second moneth whereas by Moses his institution it should be kept the first moneth He permitted also many that were not sanctified or cleansed to eat the Passover against Moses his Law which were innovations in Religion Iosias reformes all abuses abolisheth idolatry repaireth the Temple readeth publickly the Law of Moses which was found by Hilkiah the high Priest and makes a covenant with God to keep the Law Under King Eliakim or Ioachim Religion was so corrupted that the Priests Levites Prophets or Scribes with the Elders of the people condemned the Prophet Ieremy to death Under Zedechiah both the Church government and state fell together in Iudea Q. In the mean while what Church government was there among the Ten Tribes A. The Kings of Israel our of policy least the people should return again to Ierusalem and the two Tribes defaced their Religion with much Idolatrous worship for executing of which they had their Priests and inferior Ministers answering to the Levites but they suffered no Priests or Levites of the order of Aaron to live amongst them Yet they had their Prophets also and Prophets Children or Scholars Their two chief Prophets extraordinary were Eliah and Elisha They had also their Elders who had power of Ecclesiastical censures but both Elders and people were ruled by the Prophets who recided in the chief Cities at last the ten Tribes lost both themselves and Church discipline when they were carried away by the Assyrians When Salmanasser carried away the Israelites into Assyria some remainders of them stayed behinde in their own country but being overpressed with multitudes of strangers sent thither to new plant the country the small number of the Ephramites left behind were forced to comply with the new inhabitants in their idolatrous religions now that the Israelites were not quite driven out of their native country may be seen in the History of Iosiah 2 Chron. 34. 6 7 33 2 Chron 35. 18. 2 Kings 23. 19 20. Q. Wherein did the outward splendor of the Iews Religion consist A. In the wealth and magnificence of their Temple which for the beauty riches and greatnesse thereof was one of the wonders of the world for besides the abundance of Iron work there was in it an incredible quantity of brasse silver and golden materials The great Altar the Sea or Caldron the Basis the two Pillars before the Temple the twelve Oxen the ten Lavers the Pots the Shovels the Basins and other Utinsels of the Temple were all of brasse 1 Kings 7. as for silver Iosephus tells us lib. 8. 9. that there were in the Temple ten thousand Candlesticks whereof most were silver wine Tankards eighty thousand silver Phials ten thousand two hundred thousand silver Trumpets forty thousand Snuffers or pot-hooks which he calls musical instruments besides incredible numbers of silver Plates and Dishes silver Tables and the Doors of silver This we know that David left seven thousand talents of refined silver for the Temple besides what Solomon added 1 Chron. 29. as for gold we read that the Oracle and Altar were overlayed with gold so were the Cherubins and the whole house overlaid with gold and the very floore also 1 Kings 6. besides the golden Altar Solomon made the Table whereon the shewbread was of gold the Candlesticks also with the flowers and lamps and tongs with the bowls snuffers basons spoons censers and hinges all of pure gold 1 Kings 7. I need not speak of the rich woods and pretious stones in the Temple The Contriver of this Fabrick was God himselfe the form of it was four square the Courts four one for the Gentiles another for the Israelites the third for women and the fourth for the Priests the Gentiles might not enter into the Israelites court for that was counted a prophanation of the Temple yet our Saviour who was frequently conversant in the court of the Gentiles accounted that a part of his Fathers house and the house of prayer and it was out of this Court that he whipped the buyers and sellers this was called Solomons porch Iohn 10. Acts 3. because in that place Solomon stood when he dedicated the Temple and used there to pray or because it stood undemolished by the Chaldeans when the rest of the Temple was destroyed In the Priests Court stood the Altar of burnt offerings and the brasen Sea In the Sanctuary called the Oracle because there God delivered his Oracles stood the Ark the Censer Propitiatory and Cherubines it had no light nor window in it hither the high Priest only had access and that but once a year where he burned incense so that he neither could see not be seen In the holy place which was also without windows there burned lights perpetually to represent the celestial lights but in the most holy there was no light at all to shew that all outward light is but darknesse being compared with that light which God inhabiteth and which no man can approach unto Within the Ark were the two Tables of the Law the pot with Manna and Aarons rod. The Tables and the rod represented Christs active and passive obedience the golden pot with Manna his two natures The Temple was built after the manner of the Tabernacle but that did far exceed this in stability magnitude glory and continuance In the Tabernacle were but
one Nature and one Will some affirming him to be onely God some onely man some made up of both some altogether deny him some will have his body come from Heaven some from the Virgin some from the Elements some wil have our Souls Mortal some Immortal some bring it into the body by infusion some by traduction some wil have the soul created before the world some after some will have them created altogether others severally some will have them corporeal some incorporeal some of the substance of God some of the substance of the body So infinitly are mens conceits distracted with variety of opinions whereas there is but one truth which every man dims at but few attain it every man thinks he hath it and yet few enjoy it The main causes of these distractions are pride self-love ambition contempt of Church and Scripture the Humour of Contradiction the Spirit of Faction the desire of Innovation the want of preserment in high Spirits Anger Envy the benefit that ariseth to some by fishing in troubled waters the malignant eye that some have on the Churches prospeâ—ity the greedy appetite others have to Quailes and the Flesh-Pots of Egypt rather then to Manna though sent from Heaven the want or contempt of Authority Discipline and order in the Church which like Bulwarks Walls or Hedges keep out the wild Boars of the Forfest from rooting up the Lords Vineyard and the little Foxes from eating up the Grapes thereof Therefore wise Governours were forced to authorize Bishops Moderatours or Superintendents call them what you will for regulating curbing and punishing such luxurious wits as disturbed the peace of the Church and consequently of the State by their fantastical inventions knowing that too much liberty was no lesse dangerous then Tyranny too much mercy as pernitious as cruelty and a general permission in a Kingdom or State no lesse hazzardous to the publick tranquillity then a general restriction The Contents of the Ninth Section The first original of the Monastical Life 2. The first Eremites or Anchorites 3. The manner of their living 4. Their Excesses in Religion 5. The preheminence of the Sociable Life to the Solitary 6. The first Monks after Anthonie 7. The rules of Saint Basil. 8. Saint Hieroms order 9. Saint Austins order 10. If Saint Austin instituted his Eremites to beg 11. Of Saint Austins Leathern Girdle used at this day 12. The institutions and exercises of the first Monks 13. Why Religious persons cut their Haire and Beards 14. Whence came that custom of Shaving 15. Of the Primitive Nuns 16. Of What account Monks are at this day in the Roman Church 17. How the Monks and Nuns of old were consecrated 18. The Benedictine order 19. Of the orders proceeding from them 20. Of Saint Bennets rules to his Monks 21. The Benedictines Habit and Dyet 22. Rules prescribed by the Councel of Aix to the Monks 23. The Rites and Institutions of the Monks of Cassinum 24. The manner of electing their Abbots 25. The Benedictine Nuns and their rule 26. Of the Laws and Priviledges of Monasteries SECT IX Quest. 1. HAving taken a view of the Opinions in Christian Religion for 1600 years it remains that we now take notice of the strictest observers thereof therefore tell us who they were that separated themselves from other Christians not so much in opinion as in place and strictnesse of living and what was the first original of this separation A. When the Christian Religion in the beginning was opposed by persecutors many holy men and women to avoid the fury of their persecutors retired into desart places where they gave themselves to fasting prayer and meditation in the Scriptures These were called Eremites from the Desart where they lived and Monachi from their single or solitary life And Anchorites from living a part by themselves Such were Paul the Eremite Anthony Hilarion Basil Hierom and others Afterward the Eremites growing weary of the Desarts and Persecution at an end betook themselves into Towns and Cities where they lived together and had all things in common within one building which they called Monastery Covent or Cloyster These Monks were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Worshippers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exercisers or Wrestlers in Christianity Clerici also as being the Lords inheritance and Philosophers from their study and contemplation of Divine and Humane things Their houses were called Caenobia because they held all things among them in common and Claustra or Cloysters because there they were inclosed from the rest of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schools of cares and discipline and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 places of exercise As the men had their peculiar Houses or Cloysters so had the women who were willing to separate themselves from the world these were called Nâ—nnâ— or Nuns from the Egyptian word Nennus for there were the first Monasteries from their solitary life they are named Moniales and from their holinesse Sanctimoniales and from the Roman phrase Virgines Vestoles now because these holy men and women lived at first in caves and subterraneal holes they were named Mandritae for Mandrae signifies caves or holes and Troglodyta from those Ethiopians in Arabia neer the Red Sea who lived on Serpents flesh and Roots whose skins were hardned with the nights cold and tanned with the Suns heat They were so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from their caves where they dwelt Q. 2. Who were the first Eremites or Anchorites A. If we take Eremites for such as have lived in desarts for a while to avoid persecution then we may say that Eliah Iohn Baptist and Christ himself were Eremites For they were forced sometimes to live an Eremitical or solitary life in desarts But if by Eremites we understands such as wholly addicted themselves to an Eremitical or solitary life from the world and worldly affairs that they might the more freely give themselves to fasting prayer and contemplation then the first Eremite we read of since Christ was Poul the Theban who having lost in the persecution under Decius both his Parents and fearing to be betrayed by his Sisters Husband betook himself to a cave at the foot of a Rocky Hill â—bout the year of Christ 260. and there continued all his life to wit from fifteen years of age till he died which was the one hundred and thirteenth year of his life All which time he saw no body but Antonius who being Ninety years old by divine instinct came to Paul on the day he died This Antonius instituted this Eremitical life in Egypt Being twenty years old he sold his Estate and bestowed it on the poor then in remote places he lived alone but that sometimes he would visit his disciples At 35. years he betook himself to the desart till he was 55. Then he returned to the Cities and preached Christ there Afterward he returned again to the desart where he spent the remainder of his life and dyed the 105. year of
who were of the Cistentian Order They wear a black Garment with a red Crosse the revenue of their Master is forty thousand Crowns yearly they are enjoyned by their rule to sleep in their cloathes girded to be silent in the Chappel Hall Kitchen and Dormitory to eat flesh but on Sundays Tuesdays and Thursdays and but of one kinde and but once a day and must fast Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays from the exaltation of the Crosse till Easter if they be at home If any lay violent hands on them they shall be excommunicated In the Lands that they shall acquire from the Saracens it shall not be lawful for any to build Churches or Chappels without leave from the Knights who also may chuse their own Clergy other immunities and priviledges they have as may be seen in the Confirmation or Bull of Pope Innocent the third which is extant in the Second Book of his Decretal Epistles The Knights of Saint Iames in Spain were instituted under Pope Alexander the third who confirmed this order and were to follow Saint Aâ—tins rule The first Master was Peter Ferdinand whose yearly revenue is one hundred and fifty thousand Crownes They were instituted Anno 1170. the great Master iâ— next to the King in power and state they weaâ— both in Peace and Wars a Purple Crosse before theiâ— Breast resembling the Hilts of a two-handed Sword called Spatha therefore these Knights are called Milites S. Iacobi de Spatho and the order from Compostella is named Compostellanus Many other orders of Knight-hood there are in Chrisstendom as of Saint George in England of Saint Andrew in Scotland of Saint Michael in France of the Lilly in Navaâ— of Saint Mark in Venice of the Dove in Castile of the Golden Fleece in Burgundy of Saint Maurice in Savoy of Saint Stephen in Tuscany and many more which are rather Secular then Religious Knights Thâ—â—â—st of which may be seen in our continuation of Sir Walter Raleighs History to be sold at the Grey-hound in Little Britain London the edition which I owne Q. 11. What were the Orders of Mendicant Friers A. Of these were four sorts namely Augustinians Carmelites Praedicants and Minorits The Augustinians were erected by William Duke of Aâ—nitania â—bout the year 1150. from whom they were named â—uilehelmits but afterwards Pope Innocent the fourth understanding that their were many sorts of Eremiles in divers parts of the world living under different titleâ— and rules he invited them to live under one â—â—â—d and to professe one rule to wit that of Saint Austin But this Pope dying in the interim Alexander the fourth succeeded to whom Saint Austin appeareth in a vision having a great head but small links by this he is warned to perfect the Union which 〈◊〉 began which he did accordingly and so he 〈…〉 all in own order and calls them by one 〈◊〉 to wit the Eremites of Saint Austin whose rule he commanded they should follow and be subject to one General Prior and so dispensed with their former rules and obseâ—vances Withall he enjoynes them to forsake the Desares and to live in Cities that they might â—each the people To this end he gave them divers priviledges and so did Heâ—erius the fourth about the year of Christ 1290. They wear a black coat with a hood of the same colour and under a white short coat a lâ—â—thren girdle with â—orn buckles They came into England Anno 1252. before Alexanders vision and by their sermons in deavoured to advance King Richard the third his title against the heirs of King Edward These Eremites did spread so fast through the world that there were reckoned of this order about 200â— Covents These Monks have three rules to which they are bound given them by Saint Austin as they say The first is that they possesse nothing in property but have all things in common that they be not sollicitous what they shall eat or drink or wherewith they shall be cloathed That none be admitted without triall That none depart of carrie any thing out of the Monastery without the Superiors leave That no man maintain any point of Doctrine without acâ—â—ainting the Sâ—perior with it That secret faults be first reproved and if not repented of punished In Persecution let them repair to their Praepositus Their Second rule contains the times and manner of their praying and singing their times of working reading and refreshing of their obedience silence and behavior both at home and a broad and how contumacy must be punished The third rule contains their duties more largely as that they must love God above all things that they maintain unity that â—â—eat drink and cloth be distributed as need is that all things be common that there be not pride contempt or rain glory amongst them here they are enjoyned to prayer reverence devotion abstinence 〈…〉 to hear the word read at table to be 〈◊〉 of the sick and infirm to be modest in apparre worth and gesture in their looks when they 〈◊〉 to see a woman to reprove immodesty in their Brothers to receive no letters nor guifts without the Superiors knowledge to have their cloathes well kept from moths to beware of murmuring and repining that to conceal any thing shall be countedâ— theft that they be not too nice an washing them cloathes That in sicknesse the Physitian be advised with That they may bathe sometimes That theâ— sick want not any thing needfull for him That there be not strife envy nor evil words among them That the Superior use not harsh words in reproving That he shew good example to his Brothers in holy conversation That he be wise humble and careful of his charge and that the duties here enjoyned may be the better performed these rules must be read once every week which rules are followed and observed not onely by all the Canon Regulaâ—s and the Eremites of Saint Austins order but also by the Mendicants except the Minors and likewise by the Dominicans the Servants of our Lady the Bridgidians Iesuati Canonsâ— Regular of Saint George Montolihetenses Eremites of Saint Hierom Hieronymites simply Cruciferi Scopetini Hospitaâ—arii St Aâ—â—onii Trinitatis Servitae Feruerii Ferieâ—â— or of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem Cruciferii with the Star the Friers of Saint Peter the confessor de Magella Sepulchritae or Brothers of the Lords Sepulchre The Friers of the Vâ—lliseholarii Victoriani Gilbertini The Eremites of Saint Paul whom some think to be all one with the Augustinians Fratres de â—oeiâ—iteâ—tia Coronatiâ— The Knights of Saint Iames de Spatha and divers 〈◊〉 who notwithstanding differ in their habits exercises and manner of living Qâ— 12. What were the Câ—â—meliâ—es A. These were Eremites whose habitation was in Caves and Rocks within the hill Carmel famous for the Prophetes Elias and Elisha About the year of Christ 1160. or as others say 11â—1 Almericus Patriarch of Antioch and the Popes Legaâ— came thither and gathered these
have our Lamps ready to meet the Bridgroome The Completory is a fit time for prayer because then Christ prayed and swear Blood in the Garden The song of 〈…〉 then sung for as he immediatly before his death uttered these words so should we before our sleepâ— which is a resemblance of death Four Psalmes 〈◊〉 are then said to expiate the sins of our child-hood youth manhood and old age The Creed is said the first hour and 〈◊〉 to shew that all 〈◊〉 workes must begin and end iâ— saith About mid-night are said the Nocturnals because about that 〈◊〉 the Egyptian first borne were 〈◊〉 then Christ was borne then was he apprehended by the Iewes 〈◊〉 are we in greatest danger then is the prince of darknesse most busie in his workes of darknesse Q. 25. What mâ—y we observe concerning their Processions A. They ground their Processions on the practise of David and Salomon when the oâ—e accompained the Ark in Triumph to the Tabernacle the other to the Temple They have four solemn Processions Namely on the Purification of the Virgin on Palm-Sunday on Easter day and on Holy thursday being the fortieth day after Easter and the day of Christs Asension kept in memory of that Procession which Christ made with his Disciples when they walked to the Noâ—ne of Olives from whence he ascended to Heaven as there is a Procession every Sunday in memory of Christs Resurrection so there was wount to be another every Thursday in remembrance of his Ascension but because of the multitude of Festivals this is kept but once yearly solemnly yet every Sunday it is remembred in that days Procession They hold also that these Processions were typified by the Israelits comming out of Egypt For as Moses delivered them from the Tyranny of Pharâ—â—h so hath Christ freed us from the oppression of Satan The Tables of the Law were received on Sinai and carried before the people so the Gospel is taken down from the Altar and carried in their Procession A fiery pillar went before the Israelites and burning Tapers are carried before the people in these solemnities as every Tribe had their armes and colours carried before them so here are carried Crosses and Banners Their Levites hore the Tabernacle and our Deacons carry the Coffer or Pix Their Priests carried the Ark and our Priests carry the holy Reliques In their Procession Aaron followed in his Ornaments and in ours the Bishop in his Pontificals There was the sounding of Trumpets here the noyse of Bells there was sprinkling of Blood here of holy water c. They carry Banners and Crosses in memory of that Crosse seen in the aire by Constantin and which after he always wore in his Banners Besides these triumphant Processions they have also in times of publick calamity mâ—urnfull Processions which they call Rogatioâ—s and the Greeks Litaniae that is prayers of supplications of which there is the great Letanie kept on Saint Marks Feast and invented by Gregory the first in a great Plague at Rome The lesser Letanie is kept three days before the ascension and was invented at Vienna by Mamertus Bishop there in a time when there were great Earth-quakes and Irruptions of Wolves which in France did great hurt this is called the lesser Rogation because it was found out in a lesser City then Rome and by a lesser Bishop then Gregory Yet the lesser is more ancient by 80. years for it was devised in the time of Zeno the Emperor of Constantinople whereas the other was found out in the time of Mauritius who was contemporary with Gregory the great Pope Liberius appointed there should be Letanies when Wars Plague or Famine do threaten which commonly fall out about that time of the year wherein the memory of Christs Ascension is observed Q. 26. Wherein consisteth the Eighth part of their Worship A. In the Worship of the Saints whom they honour with Temples Chappels Altars Images Holy-days mentioning of their names in the Masse reserving and worshiping of their Reliques praying to them c. They divide them into four ranks namely Apostles Martyrs Confessors and Virgins The Festival days of the Saints kept in memory of their martyrdom are called Natales that is birth-days for then they began truly to live when they died for Christ. In the Kalendar these following Saints have their Holy-days Fabian and Sebastian Agnes the Conversion of S. Paul Iulian Agatha the Purification of Mary this day is a Procession in memory of that Procession which Ioseph and Mary made to the Temple this Feast was instituted in the time of Iustinâ—an upon a great mortality which then hapned and candles this day are carried with great solemnity to shew that our light should shine before men that Christ who was this day presented in the Temple is the true light of the world and that like wise Virgins whereof Mary was the chief we should have our Lamps ready the Feast of S. Peters chair is kept in memory of his advancement first to the Bishoprick of Antioch then of Rome the Feast of the Annunciation is kept in memory of the tidings which the Angel brought to Mary of her conception on the first of May is the Feast of Philip and Iames the lesser the son of Alpheus and Brother of our Lord who was the first Bishop of Ierusalem had seen Christs Transfiguration and for preaching Christ was thrown down from the pinacle of the Temple by the Jewes the other Iames called the greater and of Compostella was the son of Zebedaeus and brother to S. Iohn the Evangelist on the third of May is the invention of finding of the Crosse by Helena Constantines mother the Feast of S. Iohn Baptist is kept the 24. of Iune in which are fires made and Torches carried to shew that he was a shining and a burning Lamp the Feast of Peter and Paul is kept the 29 of Iune in memory that they both suffered in one day under Nero on the 25 of Iuly is the Feast of S. Iames S. Iohns brother who preached the Gospel in Spain and returning to Ierusalem was beheaded by Herod the Feast of the seven Sleepers is on the 27 of Iuly these flying from the persecution of Decius hid themselves in a Cave where they slept about 300 years and being awaked thought they had slept but one night the Feast of S. Peters Chaines is kept August the first in memory of Peters miraculous delivery from Herods prison when the Chaines fell from him of their own accord the Feast of S. Laurence is kept August the tenth in memory of his martyrdom under Valerian he was Arch-Decon of Rome after whom none there have had that title the Assumption of Mary is on the fifteenth of August this is her greatest Feast for it is ushered in with a fast and hath its Octave on this day herbes and flowers are gathered and blessed because she is compared to the Rose and Lilly S. Bartholomews Feast is on the 24 of
lesser but now the one sits in Persia the other to wiâ— the lesser in Ciliciâ— They are in some sort 〈◊〉 holding a coalition of Christs two natures into one compounded nature but by their late confession ìt seems they have renounced this opinion Their Patriarch they call Catholikes they administer the Sacrament with unleavened bread and will not have Christs body to be really in the Sacrament under the species of bread and wine nor do they mingle water with wine With the Greeks they deny the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Son They give the Eucharist to Infants presently after Baptism they pray for the dead yet deny Purgatory they re-baptise converts from the Latine Church They fast the 25. of December and keep Christmasse day on the Epiphany or rather Christs baptisme They keep the feast of Annunciation the sixt day of April the Purification the fourteenth of February They eat flesh on Fridays betwen Easter and Ascention day In Lent they feed onely on Herbs Rootes Fruits and Pulse they abstain from such beasts they account unclean they hold that the souls of good men obtain not felicity till the Resurrection They admit none to be secular Priests till they are married but must not marry the second time They will not have the Sacraments to confer grace They administer the cup to all and celebrate no Masse without distributing the Sacrament They invocate Saints and insert divers words into the Creed which are neither Greek nor Latine Q. 10. What other Sects are there of the Greek Religion A. The Melchites so called from Melech a King because they have always followed the faith of the Emperors of Constantinople according as it was established by the Councel of Chalcedon against Eutyches and Dioscorus They are also called Syrians from the country where they inhabit These are altogether of the Greek Religion and Communion but not of the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople but of the Arch-Bishop of Damascus under the title of Patriarch of Antiochia for this City where Christianity had its first residence and name and where Peter sat seven years Bishop being wasted and forsaken the Patriarchs seat was translated to Damascus where it remaineth 2. The Georgians are also of the Greek Religion but are not subâ—ect to the Patriarch of Constantinople having a Metropolitan of their own whose residence is in the Monastery of Saint Katharine in Mount Sinâ—i a great way from Iberia lying between the Euxin and Caspian Seas where the 〈◊〉 inhabit who are so called from Saint George as some think who converted them to Christianity and whose picture they carry yet in 〈…〉 but doubtlesse they were called 〈◊〉 before Saint George was born for Mela speake of them in the first Book of his Geography who lived in the time of Claudius the Emperor and Vadianus on that place thinks they were called Georgians from their Husbandry to which they were much addicted 3. The Georgians next Neighbours to wit the Mengrelians called of old Colchi and the ancient Zychi now called Circassians whence the Sultan had his 〈◊〉 are also of the Greek Communion and subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople but they baptise not their Children till they be eight years old In other points they are of the Greek Religion being converted to Christianity by Cyrillus and Methedius the Apostles or Ministers of the Patriarch of Constantinople Q. 11. What is the Religion of the Nestorians Christians of Saint Thomas and Jacobites A. 1. The Nestorians so called from Nestorius the Heretick whose opinion concerning two Persons in Christ they held a long time and spread themselves through a great part of Asia by reason of Cosroes the Persian King who in hatred to Heraâ—â—ius the Emperor caused all Christians within his Dominions to become Nestorians these were subject to the Patriarch of Musal which some think to be Bagded or Babyloâ— others Seleucia and others a part of old 〈◊〉 but at this day most of them are subject to the Pope both in jurisdiction and partly in Religion and have renounced their old errors concerning the two 〈◊〉 in Christ that Mary should not be called the 〈◊〉 of God that the Councel of Ephesus and all other Councels after it are to be rejected these errors I say they have renounced but they administer the 〈◊〉 with leavened bread and in both kindes 〈◊〉 permit their Priests to marry the third or fourth 〈◊〉 they have Crosses but not 〈◊〉 nor Crucifixes nor 〈◊〉 confession 2. The Christians 〈…〉 or of Saint 〈◊〉 so called because converted by him They were heretofore Nestorians and subject to the 〈◊〉 of Masal but now are subordinate to the Pope both in profession and jurisdiction They did use to give the Eucharist in both kindes to season the bread with salt instead of Wine to drink the â—oyce of Raisons to baptise their children when fourty days old to reject all Images except the cross the Popes supremacy extream â—uction and second marriages of their Priests but now they are of the Roman Religion 3. The Iacobites so called from Iacobus the Syrian a great Eucychian are spread through many Kingdomes in the East They are named also Dioscorians from Dioscorus Patriarch of Alexandria a great Patron of Eutyches They belonged anciently before the Councel of Chalcedon to the jurisdiction of Antiochia but since they yeild obedience to a Patriarch of their own whose residence is in Caramit the Old Metropolis of Mesopotamia but yet retains the name of Patriarch of Antiochia They held there was in Christ but one nature will and operation and therefore in signing with the Crosse they used but one singer whereas the other Eastern Christians used two Before baptisme they imprinted on their children the sign of the Crosse with a hot Iron They deny Purgatory and prayers for the dead and say that the Angels are made of fire and light They hold that just mens souls remain in the earth till the Resurrection their Priests are married they deny 〈◊〉 confession give the Eucharist in both kindes and the bread 〈◊〉 They circumcise both Sexes they condemn Eutyches as an Heretick and yet honour Dioscorus and Iacob the Syrâ—an as Saints but now they have utterly rejected the Heresie of one nature in Christ and with the Latine Church acknowledge two distinct natures with their distinct properties as may be seen by the Iacobites confessions Q. 12. What is the Religion of the Maronites A. The Maronites are so called from Maron a holy man their chiefe residence is in Mount Libanus though some inhabit Aleppo Damascus Tripoli of Syria and Cyprus Their Patriarch is a Monk of Saint Anthony having nine Bishops under him he is alwayes called Peter and will be stiled Patriarch of Antiochia which title is claimed by the Iacobite Patriarch who is alwayes named Ignatius The Maronites were Monothelites and with the Greeks denyed the Procession of the holy Ghost
other places These emissary messengers of Christ or rather of Satan boyled over with their various opinions held marriages of no account and dreamed divers other things Some taught by parables and their own illusive dreams others acknowledged not him a Brother who defiled his Baptisme with sinnes others preferred the Baptisme of Iohn before that of Christ others taught that all Magistrates and whoever were unsatisfied with their Religion ought to be destroyed root and branch some would acknowledge nothing but their own visions and prophecies others that all the Prophets and Teachers that were departed this life should shortly rise again and should reign with Christ upon earth a thousand years and should receive a hundred fold for what ever they had left behind them Some of these men affirmed that they had communication with God some with Angels but the more discreet and wiser sort of men conceived that their conferences had been with the devill Hereupon the great Prophet Iohn Mathias upon whose account his most vain Apostles already proclaimed a Peace perceiving an occasion by this means of domineering in this world consecrated in his stead his disciple Iames Campensis a Sawyer Bishop at Amsterdam committing unto his charge the people to be seduced with the same zeal as he had begun These things being thus fairly carried he repaired to Munster to his Apostle and Ambassadour Iohn Buckhold whom he made Governour of the City who presently published these severe edicts That every man should bring his gold and silver and whatever were of greater importance into the common heap and that no man should detain any thing at his house for the receiving of which things so collected a place was appointed Though the people were not a little astonished at the rigour and severity of the edict yet did they submit thereto Moreover he forbad the reading of all books but the Bible all which that they ought to be burnt the divine authority had by him its witnesse commanded At this very time a certain Tradesman whose name was Hubert Trutiling had scattered some contuâ—â—elious expressions concerning this great Prophet whereat he being immeasurâ—bly incenled even to the losse of all compassion caused the foresaid Trutiling to be brought into the Market place where he is accused and sentenced Whereupon he himself laying his violent hands upon this innocent man layes him along upon the ground in that posture he runs him through with a spear but finding by the palpitation that there was some remainder of life he made him be conveighed thence and taking a musket from one that stood by which was charged killed him intimating that he was commanded by God that is to say his own who was a murtherer from the beginning to do what he had done This noble exploit performed he took a long lance in his hand and hastily ran about the City crying out that he was commanded by God the Father to put to flight the enemy which at that time had closely besieged Munster Having taken the said weapon and running like a mad man upon the enemy he himself was run through by a souldier of Misna JOHN BuCKHOLD or JOHN of LEYDEN Agressusque nefas magnum et memorabile Regem Somniat abjecta forfice sceptra gerens THE CONTENTS IOHN BUCKHOLD his character his disputing and contention with the Ecclesiasticks concerning Paedobaptisme he succeeds John Mathias he comforts the people with a pretended revelation he makes Bernard Knipperdoling of a Consul to become common executioner Buckhold feigneth himself â—umb he assâ—â—â—es the Magistracy he allowes Polygamy he takes to himself three wiues he is made King and appoints Officers under him his sumptuous apparel his Titles were King of Iustice King of the new Jerusalem his throne his Coiâ— and motto therein The King Queen and Courtiers waâ—e on the people at a Feast with other ligressions The King endeaâ—ours to raise â—â—â—â—â—tions abroad is happily prevented He suspects his own safety his large promises to his Captaines himself 〈…〉 one of his wives he feignes himself sick and deludes the people with an expectation of deliverance in the time of famine forgets community he is betrayed by his confident it brought prisoner before the Bishop who checks him his jesting answer and proposall â—e is put to a 〈◊〉 place is convinced of his offences his deserved and severe execution IOHN BUCKHOLD was a â—â—â—cher of Leyden a 〈◊〉 fellow eloquent very perfect in the 〈…〉 confident more â—â—â—geable then proteus a serious student of 〈◊〉 briefly a most ferrent Anabaptist This man being sent by Iohn Mathiaâ— to Munster was a perpetual thorn in the sides of the Ecclesiasticks craftily â—iâ—ting them about the bâ—sinesse of Pâ—â—â—â—baptisme in which employment he spent nine whole moneths and most 〈◊〉 making his party good with them both as disputationand litigious contention while in the mean time he secretly spawn'd and scatter'd the doctrine of Anabaptisme as much as lay in his power About that time a certain unknown Preacher of the word of God 〈…〉 Stapreda of Meurs came to Munster who supplying the place of Roâ—manâ—â—s in preaching seduced him and teaâ—ened him with Anabaptisme and he also publickly anatâ—â—matized Pâ—dobaptisme This gave occasion of raising 〈◊〉 among the people they who before were only secretly instructed by Iohn Buckhold discover themselves openly to the world and lay aside all disguises of their intentions City they have their in most parts of the frequentmeetings indivers 〈◊〉 but all in the night time whereat the Magistrates being 〈◊〉 and offended prohibited their Conventicles and some they banished But they weigh not this any thing and being sent out at one gate they came in at another and lay concealed among those that were the favourers of their Sect. Hereupon the Senate caused all the Ecclesiasticks to assemble at the Palace to dispute the businesse of Paedobaptisme In this Assembly Rotmannus stood tooth and naile for the Anabaptists but those of the Reformation fully refuted their errors as the publick acts concerning that businesse do abundantly testifie At this very time the Ministers of the Church of Argentoratum signed and set out an account of their Faith in a printed Book Hereupon the Senate of Munster by a publick edict banished the Anabaptists out of the City which edict they persisting in contention opposed being now arrived to that rashnesse and impudence that they thrust a reformed Preacher one Peter Werthemius out of the Church Yea some of them rioting about the City whereof the Ringleader was Henry Rollius cryed out as they went Repent and be rebaptized otherwise will the heavy wrath of God fall upon you These things hapned about the end of the year M.D.XXXIII and the beginning of M.D.XXXIV Some honest-hearted and harmlesse men partly out of an apprehension of divine wrath as they made them beleive partly for fear of men suffered themselves to be washed in the lâ—ver of Anabaptisme For the Anabaptists
or priviledge they had thrust out of the City so many godly people together with their wives and children not granting them any toleration for their Religion and had disinherited them of all they had To which they replyed That the time was now drawing nigh wherein the meek and the humble should inherit the earth and that they followed the example of the Israelites who with Gods approbation took away from the Egyptians their jewels and earâ—rings Moreover they boasted that Munster was well furnished with provisions ammunition and all things requisite to warre and that the King did daily expect great recruits out of Holland Zealand and other places by the means and assistance whereof he should bring the whole world under subjection all wicked refractory Princes being subdued should establish the peaceful reign of Justice About the same time another Prophet fell down from heaven one Henry Hilverse a notable â—nave This man acquainted the King that it was revealed to him from heaven that God was pleased to bestow on him three most rich Cities Amsterdam Daventry Wesell near Lippa Upon this Divine message he advises with his Counsellours whom he were best to send thither to baptise them with his baptisme In the first place he sends Iohn Campensis to Amsterdam to be the chiefest man in that City to whom he assigned for companion and co-Apostle Iohn Mathias of Metellburg These being sent into Holland issuing out of their holes kept themselves among those of their own tribe and infected most Cities with the mortal infection of their doctrines For at Leyden about Ianuary in the year following viz. one thousand five hundred thirty and five very many by the perswasion of Anabaptisme and by the means of its contagious Conventicles were baptized into the baptisme of death About the end of the year one thousand five hundred thirty and five this Kingly Botcher sent into Frisland a most subtle fellow and one very well experienced in warlike affaires whom he furnished with very great summes of money which had been raised out of the sacriledges wherewith he should raise souldiers in Zeland and should raise the close siege which was then before the City He being departed managed his affaires very secretly with the assistance of those of his way and at length upon the last of March one thousand five hundred thirty and five having gotten together some hundreds of souldiers he set upon the Monastery which also was called old Munster drove away the Monks and having plundered all he there pitched his tents out of hopes thereby to strengthen his party by the accession of any that should come in But Gâ—orge Sckenck the then Governour of Friesland having with as much expedition as could be got together certain expeditionary forces besieges these tumulâ—uary Rioters and gave an assault to the place which though they avoyded as much as might be by a gallant defence yet had they their belly-full of murther blood and dry blowes so that they were all destroyed save threescore and two who being brought to Leoward were paid for their audacious folly with the wages of death The Ringleader of this businesse who was also the Camp-master Iohn Geel escaping at this sight flies to Amsterdam to prove the occasion of a greater slaughter For many Anabaptists being found in that place whom Iohn Campensis had strangely fascinated to engage them the more they made promises to them of golden mountains and talk'd highly of the Magnificence and Liberty of the Anabaptists of Munster and cryed up the new kingdom of Iustice upon earth for the report of the siege and defence of Munster had smitten and raised up the mindes of a many in regard the City being closely besieged by a potent Army yet performed religious duties without any disturbance Hence câ—me it to passe that the Liberty and Liberality of the City was celebrated beyond all truth and beliefe and there wanted not a many who desired to be embarqu'd in the same Fortune There was therefore at Amsterdam a Burgher called Henry Gotbelit a strong man and warlikely given who being bathed in the waters of Anabaptisme joyned his endeavours with those of Iohn Goel For by divers pretences and crafty shifts which it is not worth our labour to repeat in this place they drew together six hundred Anabaptists with whose assistance their intention was to have possessed themselves of Amsterdam to enrich themselves and to introduce the Religion of those of Munster Whereupon upon the tenth day of May the chiefest that were engaged in this conspiracy having their Rendezvous at the house of Peter Gael broke out in the night time to the Market place wherein being more and more seconded by some of their own they killed some of the Watch and some they kept prisoners But the Burghers making head discharged some Musquets at the Anabaptists who most unworthily when their Consuls were cruelly killed entrusted their safety to their heels so that the others courages being heightened by this they violently ran upon the Deuterobaptists and after a most bloody engagement put them to the worst wherein Iohn Geel and Gotbelit were slain Iames Campensis was taken and put to death Now other Tumults had already forced others from those places the prevention whereof could not be possibly without the infinite inconveniences which fell upon the honester sort There wanted not also some clandestine vipers who disguisedly waited for the restauration of the kingdome of Israel as they called it whereof one being apprehended at Leyden and upon examination put to the question confessed That the King of the Anabaptists who was a Hollander sojourned then at Vtricht and had not yet began his reign but that according to the good hope they had conceived of him and the confidence placed in him they doubted not but he would undertake it Having with what 's above gotten out of this fellow that some gold and silver vessels and other ornaments had by a most wicked surprise been taken out of their Churches by the means of their King and who with his followers had attempted some most detestable villanies it was discover'd that there could no other be meant ther David George I crave thy pardon courteous Reader if I acquaint thee that it is not any thing the lesse for thy advantage if in the description of these rotten anâ— contemptible rags and menstruous clouts of humanity I have woven a longer web of discourse then thou didst expect Although Iohn Buckhold and the other Prophets had entertained the ignorant greedy vulgar with hopes of more then Arabian wealth yet the citizens being daily more and more streightned by the siege were accordingly brought into greater perplexities and being brought low by the famine which is the consummation of all misery began as it for the most part happens upon the barking of the stomack to snatle at one another to grumble and complain and to hold private consultations about
Anabaptists upon the taking of their King being quite cast down and discouraged went and hid themselves in Larders Kitchins and other lurking holes The City was most unmercifully plundered and to make a full search of of it there were ten dayes allotted There was found by those of the Kings Guard at the Royal Palace as much provision as would maintain two hundred for two months O Goodman King where is now the community of goods and provisions which your Religion holds forth This sad fate did that City suffer in the year one thousand five hundred thirty and five The third day after this sacking of the City the King was carried to the Castle of Dulmen three miles off The Bishop having caused the King to be brought with all speed before him said to him O thou cast-away of Mankind by what deplorable means hast thou corrupted destroyed my people To which the King with an undisturbed and proud deportment made answer thus O thou Pope have we done thee any injury by delivering into thy hands a most well-fortified and invincible City But if thou thinkest thy self any way injur'd or endammag'd by us if thou wilâ— but hearken to our advice thou shalt be easily enriched The Bishop hardly abstaining from laughing desired him to discover that secret to which he replyed Cause an Iron Cage or Basket to be made and cover it with leather and carry me into all parts of thy Country to be seen for a shew and if thou take but a peny of every one for the fight assure thy self it will amount to more then all the charges of the warrâ— The more eminent Anabaptists wore about their necks a certain medall wherein was the effigies of their King to which were added these letters D. W. F. whereby was signified that the word was made flesh But the King being carried up and down as a captive with his two associates was shewn to divers Captains and Ecclesâ—asticks of the Landgrave which gave occasion of disputation between them about some things as of the Kingdom of Christ and of Magistracy of Iustification and of Baptisme of the Lords Supper and of the 〈◊〉 of Christ as also of Matrimony in which disputation they prevailed so farre by the divine testimonies of holâ— writ that they brought the King of the Anabaptist though not acknowledging the least satisfaction to a Non-plus who to obtain another disputation out of hopes of life as was said promised that he would reduce the Aâ—abaptists which swarmed in Holland Braband England and Frizland and that he would do all honour to the Magistrate Upon the twentieth of Ianuary one thousand five hundred thirty and six he is brought with 〈◊〉 companions to Munster where they were secured inseveral prisons two dayes were 〈◊〉 in weeding and rooting up their 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 confessed his offences and casâ— himself wâ—â—â—â—upon Christ but his companions discover'd a vain 〈…〉 in the defence of their cause The next 〈…〉 King is brought to the place of execution fasten'd to a 〈◊〉 and is pulled peece meal by two execution 〈…〉 pincers red hot out of the fire The first 〈…〉 he suppressed at the second he implor'd Gods mercy For a whole hour was he pull'd and with those instruments and at length to hasten somewhat his death run through with a sword His companions were dipped with the baptisme of the same punishment which they suffered couragiously all whose carkasses put into Iron baskets as anathema's of eternal example hang out of the tower of S. Lambert And this was the reâ—iring room of the Tragedy of Munster HERMANNuS SuTOR Hic qui se Christum et qui se Jactârat IESUM SERVASSE haud potuit seque suisque fidem THE CONTENTS HERMAN the Cobler professeth himself a Prophet c. he is noted for drunkennesse The ceremonies he used in Anabaptisme Eppo his Host discovers 〈◊〉 and his followers to be cheats Hermans wicked blasphemies and his inconstancy in his opinions his mothers temerity his Sect convinced and fall off from him by one Drewis of his Sect he is handled roughly Herman is taken by Charles Lord of Gelderland c. and is brought prisoner to Groeninghen when questioned in his torments he 〈◊〉 himself and died miserably THat there were divers Emissaries and Ambassadours sent by the King of the 〈◊〉 into Holland Frizland and other places to raise souldiers you have understood out of the History of Munster which souldiers having raised a Tumult caused the Bishop to 〈◊〉 from before Munster and of this Heard was there 〈◊〉 Nicholas 〈◊〉 a worthy disciple of Iohn Mâ—thias who being dispatched into Frizland for the foresaid negotiation got together a promiscuoâ—â—s crue of Anabaptists for the relief of Munster but that it might appear how real and effectual he was in the businesse they sent two of their fellow souldiers Antony Cistarius 〈…〉 trades-man whose name was Iames to Munster These two with some others having compassed 〈…〉 at a Town called Opt'â—ant having stuffled together from all parts into a kind of a Troop made their 〈…〉 at the house of one Eppâ— about the twilight out of a pretence that they there should meet with some 〈◊〉 intelligence which they receiving from their Ambassadors out of very joy for those good tidings also lâ—tely broke forth into Tumults The Bell-weather of these was one Herman an excellent vamper of all â—â—â—mination a Cobler of Opt'zanâ— who professed himself a true Prophet and that he was the true Messias the Redeemer and Saviour of the world nay which causes horror to me in the relation that he was God the Father This fellow lay naked in his bed from the privy parts downward and caused to be laid near him a hogs-head of strong beer which he desired to drink in Healths which required no small draughts for he had gotten an excessive thirst greater than that of any dog or that which the Serpent Dipsas causeth in those that are stung by it all through his extraordinary bellowing and bawling For having for some dayes led a life like one of Epicuruâ—'s heard that is to say being drunk even to extravagance he with a Stentors voice and a horrid howling among other things often repeated this Kill cut the throats without any quarter of all these Monkes all these Popes and all especially our own Magistrate Repent Repent for your deliverance is at hand c. In the mean time he with the assistance of his fellow-souldiers denounced to certain Proselytes of another Religion that Peace was not to be rejected without incurring the dreadful effects of the last judgement which was noâ— at handâ— and these were such as both by sollicitationâ— and promises his main design was to invâ—â—gle into his deceit Moreover he sent to redeem some of his followers out of a prison belonging to a certain Nobleman called Iohn of Holten with this charge that they should kill with swords or pistols
dispersed Anchorites into one body and built them a Monastery on the top of the Hill near the Well of Elias by which stood an ancient Chappel of our Lady Perhaps from this Chappel the Carmelites were called the Virgins Brothers The same Almericus translated into Latine the Book concerning the institution of the first Monks written in Greek by Iohn Bishop of Ierusalem for the benefit of these Carmelites and placed over them a Latine Governour in the time of Pope Alexander the third who began this Popedom Aâ— 1170. The Governours name V as â—ertholdus Aquitanus some think this Order was instituted 40. years after to wit in the Papacy of Innocent the third Their second Governour was Brochard of Ierusalem who made them a rule much after the rule of Saint Basil which in the year 1199. was abridged and confirmed by Albert Patriarch of Ierusalem who tied them to fasting silence and canonical hours and the Lay-Brothers to Peter the Eremites Beads or Prayer and to our Ladies Psalter They were as yet tied to no Vow but that of obedience to their Superiour They came into England about the year 1240. Ralph Fresburn was their first Governour here and Hunfrid Nektâ—n the first Carmelite that read School Divinity in Cambridge and was of that order the first Doctor of Divinity This order came into Lituania Anno 1427. Whilst they were in Syria their Garment was a striped cloak of party colours which they say was used by the Prophet Eliah but Pope Honorius the third or as some say the fourth took from them this habit as not beseeming or agreeable to Religion and instead thereof gave them a white cloak and a white hood and under a coat with a scapulary of hair-colour The use of the white cloak was confirmed by Pope Nicholaus the fourth Whilst they used the former habit they were highly esteemed by the Egyptians and maintained by the Sultan but when they began to wear the Popes new Livery he expelled them out of Egypt and burned down their Monastery and Chappel Honorius the fourth exempted them from the jurisdiction of Princes and Bishops Gregory the ninth forbade them to injoy possessions or revenues but to beg from door to door Honorius the fourth will have them called instead of Carmelites Brothers of the Virgin Mary Alexander the fourth allowed them prisons to punish their apostates and Iohn 23. took them into his immediate protection and by a vision was warned to keep them 〈◊〉 of purgatory Many of the Carmelites fell off from their first strictnesse of life and gave themselves to all 〈◊〉 and voluptuousnesse whereupon they were divided into two Sects the one were called Observantes the other Non Observantes to undertake this order is hâ—ld meritorious and three years indulgence is promised to him that shall at any time call them brothers of Saint Mary In many of their Cloysters they have the picture of Iohn Baptist in their habit because he is named Eliah and they say that Eliah did wear this habit they have changed now I mean the Non Observantes their hair-coloured coat into black Q. 13. What were the Dominicans A. These were so called from Dominicus a Spaniard their first Author they sprung out of the Humiliali and were instituted by Innocent the third Anno 1205. the chief end of their institution was to write expound and preach the word of God whence they are named Praedicantes or Praedicatores Dominicus was by Pope Innocent the third Anno. 1207. imployed with twelve Abbots of the Order of Cisterâ—iaeâ—s to preach down the Doctrines of the Aâ—â—igenses He by his preaching so incensed the Princes against them that they took arms and killed above One hundred thousâ—nd of them Dominicus with twelve more accompanied by Fulce Bishop of â—oledâ— went to Rome where he petitioneth Innocent the third to confirm his order who was somewhat averse till he dreamed that he saw Dâ—minicus supporting with his shoulders the Church of Lateran that was ready to fall down hereupon he adviseth Dominick to pitch upon some rule and he would ratifie it Dominick returns presently to his Disciples being sixteen together acquaints them with the Popes intention they all resolve to professe the rule of Saint Austin the preacher In the interim Innocent dieth Honorius the third succeeded 〈◊〉 confirmed their rule and institution Dâ—â—inick added some things to Saint Austins rule He divided his Monastery into three parts one for himself and contemplative Brothers the other for contemplative Sisters the third was for both sexes that were given to the active life these were called Brothers and Sisters of Saint Dominick or the Souldiers of Jesus Christ for as Dominick with the spirituall so these with the corporal sword were to subdue Hereticks The Dominicans are tied to reject all kinde of wealth money and possessions that their work of preaching may not be hindred To hold every year a general Chapter To fast seven moneths together namely from holy 〈◊〉 day in September till Easter and at all other times on Friday to abstain from flesh except in times of sicknesse To lye in Blankets not in Sheets nor on Feather-beds To be silent To wear a white coat under a black cloak which they say was prescribed by the Virgin Mary to one Rheginaldus in his sicknesse To have low-built Monasteries answering to their poverty and humility To be content with the title of Friers Praedicants whereas before they were stiled Friers of the blessed Virgin Mary To celebrate on every Saturday the Office of the Virgin Mary except in Lent and on Festival days To disperse themselves through all parts of the world for preaching the Gospel To choose them a Generall Master whose subordinate Prelates should be called Priors but not Abbots The first that was elected Master Generall was Dominious himself Anno 1220. who died the next year after The 〈◊〉 do not promise to live according to their rule or to keep it because not to performe such a promise is a mortall sin but onely to obey according to the rule because in this case omission or transgression obligeth not to the sin but to the punishment as they think For Dominick's good service against the 〈◊〉 he is made by Hâ—â—â—rius the third Master of thâ— sacred Palace And so the Dominicans are ordinaâ—â—â—â— mâ—sters of this place And because a Dominican poysoned Henry the seventh Emperor in the Eucharist therefore the Pope inflicted this punishment on thâ—â—â—der that their priests should ever after in the Eucharist use their left hand Antoninus writes that Dominick received a Staff from Peter and a Book from 〈◊〉 with â— command to preach the Gospel every where hereupon his disciples dispersed themselves into all parts Dominick himself went to Rome where by the concession of the Pope and Cardinals he gathered together in one Covent all the Nuns dispersed through divers places of the City where they had the Church of Saint Sabina assigned them 44 of them met together
and took upon them the profession and habit of Saint Dominick The order of Praedicants increased so fast that in the time of Sabellicus about the year of Christ. 1494. were reckoned 4143. Monasteries of Dominicans in which were 1500 Masters of Divinity besides divers Cloysters of them in Armenia and Aethiopia and 150â— Covents of Dominican Nuns in divers parts of Europe The cause of this great increase of Praedicants was partly the mortified life humility abstinence of Dominick for they write of him that he preferred Bread and water to the best cheer a Hair Shirt to the finest Linnen a hard Boord to the softest Bed and a hard Stone to the easiest Pillow He did use to wear an Iron Chaine with which he beat himself every night both for his own sins and the sins of the world for which also he did frequently weep and pray whole nights together in Churches He offered himself twise as a ransome to redeem others And partly the cause was his frequent visions and miracles which whether true or false I leave for others to judge partly also by receiving Children and Infants into their society before the years of probation besides the great respect which the Popes carried towards this order for Gregory the ninth canonised Dominick Anno 1233. They were subject to no ordinary but to the Pope they had many priviledges granted them as to preach in any mans Pulpit without asking leave of the Bishop to make Noble men and their Ladies confess to them and nor to their Curates to administer the Sacraments when they pleased to be exempt from all Ecclesiastical censures and this priviledge they had from Pope Innocent the fourth that no Dominician could change his order or enter into any other Q. 14. What were the Franciscans A. They are so named from Francis an Italian Merchant who before his conversion was called Iohn He living a wicked and debauched life in his younger years was at last reclaimed by a vision as the Story goeth of a Castle full of armes and Crosses with a voice telling him that he was to be a spiritual souldier Afterward as he was praying he was warned by a voice to repair the decayed houses of Christ which he did by stealing money from his Father and bestowing it on the reparation of Churches whereupon his Father beats him puts him in prison and disinherits him he rejoycing at this stript himselfe naked of all his Garments which he delivers to his Father shewing how willing he was to relinquish all for Christ. Within a short while he gathered many Disciples to whom he prescribeth this rule Anno 1198. That they shall be chast poor and obedient to Christ to the Pope and to their Superiors That none be admitted into their order till they be duely examined and proved That the Clergy in their divine service follow the order of the Roman Church and the Lay-Brothers say 24. Pater-Nosters for their Matteâ—s c. That they fast from All-Saints till Christmasse c. That they enter not into any house till they say peace be to this house and then they may eat of what is set before them That they meddle not with money nor appropriate any thing to themselves that they help one another that pennance be imposed on those who sin that they have their publick meetings or chapters and that they chuse their provincial Ministers and these must chuse a General Minister over the whole Fraternity that their preachâ—â—â— be men of approved gifts and that they preach not abroad without leave from the Bishop That they use Brotherly admonition and correction that they give themselves to prayer modesty temperance and other vertues and that they enter not into Nunâ—erâ—es except such as are authorized that none go to convert Saraceâ—s or other Infidels but such as are sent by the Provincial Ministers that they all remain constant in the Catholike faith and that none break this rule except he will incurr the curse of God and of the two blessed Apostles Peter and Paul This rule Francis strengthened by his Will and Testament which he enjoyneth to be read as often as they shall read the rule This rule and order was confirmed by Pope Innocent the third but not till he was warned by visions of a Palme tree growing and spreading under him and of a poor man supporting the decaying Lateran and until he had tried Francis his obedience which he shewed by wallowing in the mire with swine as the Pope advised him This order was also confirmed again by Pope Honorius the third and by Pope Nicholaus the third in his Decretal Epistles which he enjoyned should be read in Schools Francis would not have his Disciples to be called Francisâ—ans from his name but Minâ—res and so he would have the Superiors or Governors of his order to be called not Masters but Ministers to put them in minde of their humble condition and to follow Christs advice to his Disciples Whosoever will be great among you let him be your servant Q. 15. What things else are observable in the Franciscan order A. 1. Francis divided his Disciples into three Classes or Ranks the first was of the Friers Minorites whereof himself was one and whose life was most rigid For they were neither to have Granaries nor two Coats The Second was of Ladies and poor Virgins who from Saint Clara were named Clarissae this Order was not so strict as the former The third was of Poenitents instituted for married people who desired to do pennance these might enjoy propriety in their goods The first sort was for contemplation and action too namely in preaching the second for contemplation onely the third for action onely This third order is not properly called Religious because they may continue in their maried estate enjoy propriety These are called Friers Fenites of Iesus Christ and Saccii from their sack-cloath which they wore and Continentes not that they vowed continency but because certain days every week they abstained from carnal Copulation The Women are called Sisters Penitents The first order were not to permit any of the third order to enter their Churches in time of interdict This order was condemned in England An. 1307. but is again advanced by Peter Teuxbury a Franciscan Minister and allowed in the Chapter at London 2. Many Families sprung out of this Minorit order namely Observantes Conventuales Minimi Caputiani Collectanei who gathered or collected the moneys Amadeani Reformati de Evangelio Chiacini cum barba de Portiâ—â—cula Paulini Bofiaini Gaudentes de Augustinis with their open shooes and Servientes 3. Francis himself wore a short coat without any artificiall tincture instead of a girdle he used a cord and went bare-footed hence after long altercation among his Disciples about their habit and shooes it was ordered that they should wear soles onely having no more upper leather then to tie the shooes That they should travel either on foot