the Burial of S t. Teliau second Bishop of Landaffe three Places did strive to have the Interring of his Body Pen-allum where his Ancestours were buried Lanfolio-vaur where he died and Landaffe his Episcopall See Now after Prayer to God to appease this Contention in the place where they had left him there appeared suddenly three g Godwin in the Bishops of Landaffe Hearses with three Bodies so like as no man could discern the right and so every one taking one they were all well pleased If by the like Miracle as there three Corpses of Teliau encoffined so here three Child-Constantines encradled might be represented the Controversie betwixt these three Cityes were easily arbitrated and all Parties fully satisfied But seriously to the matter That which gave Occasion to the Varieties of their Claims to Constantine's Birth may probably be this that he was Born in one place Nursed in another and perchance being young Bred in a third Thus we see our Saviour though born in Bethlehem yet was accounted a Nazarite of the City of Nazareth where he was brought up and this general Errour took so deep impression in the People it could not be removed out of the Minds and Mouths of the Vulgar 19. Constantine being now peaceably setled in the Imperial Throne 312 there followed a sudden and general Alteration in the World Peace and prosperity restored to the Church by Constantine Persecutors turning Patrons of Religion O the Efficacy of a Godly Emperours Example which did draw many to a conscientious love of Christianity and did drive more to a civil conformity thereunto The Gospel formerly a Forester now became a Citizen and leaving the Woods wherein it wandered Hils and Holes where it hid it self before dwelt quietly in Populous Places The stumps of ruined Churches lately destroyed by Diocletian grew up into beautifull Buildings Oratories were furnished with pious Ministers and they provided of plentifull Maintenance through the Liberality of Constantine And if it be true what one relates that about this time Anno Dom. 312 when the Church began to be inriched with Meanes there came a voice from Heaven I dare boldly say he that first wrote it never heard it being a modern a John Nauclerus president of Tubing University Anno 1500. Authour saying Now is Poison poured down into the Church yet is there no danger of Death thereby seeing lately so strong an Antidote hath been given against it Nor do we meet with any particular Bounty conferred by Constantine or Hellen his Mother on Britain their native Country otherwise then as it shared now in the general Happinesse of all Christendom The Reason might be this That her Devotion most moved Eastward towards Hierusalem and he was principally employed farre off at Constantinople whither he had removed the Seat of the Empire for the more Conveniency in the middest of his Dominions An Empire herein unhappy that as it was too vast for one to manage it intirely so it was too little for two to govern it jointly as in after-Ages did appear 20. And now just ten years after the Death of S t. Alban a Stately Church was erected there and dedicated to his Memory As also the History of Winchester reporteth that then their Church first founded by King Lucius and since destroyed was built anew and Monks as they say placed in it But the most avouchable Evidence of Christianity flourishing in this Island in this Age The Appearance of the British in forreign Councills is produced from the Bishops representing Britain in the Councill of 1 ARLES in France 314 called to take Cognizance of the Cause of the Donatists where appeared for the British 1 b See the severall subscriptions at the end of this Councill in Binnius Eborius Bishop of York 2 Restitutus Bishop of London 3 Adelfius Bishop of the City called the Colony of London which some count Colchester and others Maldon in Essex 4 Sacerdos a Priest both by his proper Name and Office 5 Arminius a Deacon both of the last place 2 NICE in Bithynia 325 summoned to suppresse Arrianisme and establishing an Uniformity of the Observation of Easter to which agreed those of the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Eusebius lib. 3. de vita Constant c. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 SARDIS in Thracia 347 called by Constantius and Constans Sonnes to Constantine the Great where the Bishops of d Athanasius in the beginning of his second Apologie against the Arrians Britain concurred with the rest to condemn the Arrians and acquit Athanasius 4 ARIMINUM on the Adriatick Sea in Italy 359 a Synod convocated by Constantius the Emperour In this last Council it is remarkable that whereas the Emperour ordered that Provisions and those very plentifull of Diet should be bestowed on the Bishops there assembled yet those of Aquitain France and e Sulpitius Severus lib. 2. Historiae Sacrae Britain preferred rather to live on their Proper Cost then to be a Burden to the Publick Treasury Onely three British Bishops necessitated for want of Maintenance received the Emperours Allowance the Refusal of the former having enough of their own being an Act full of Praise as the laters accepting a Salary to relieve their Want a deed free from Censure Collect we hence 1. that there were many British Bishops in this Council though their Names and Number are not particularly recorded 2. That the generality of British Bishops had in this Age Plentifull Maintenance who could subsist of themselves so farre off in a fortain Country whereas lately in the Council of Trent many Italian Bishops though in a manner still at home could not live without Publick Contribution But there was good reason why the British were loath to accept the Emperours Allowance though otherwise it had been neither Manners nor Discretion for Prelats to refuse a Princes Profer because as f Dan. 1. 8. Daniel and the Children of the Captivity preferred their Pulse before the Fare of King Nebuchadnezzar Anno Dom. 359 for feare they should be defiled with his though Princely yet Pagan Diet so these Bishops did justly suspect that Constantius the Emperour being an Arrian had a Design to bribe their Iudgements by their Palats and by his Bounty to buy their Suffrages to favour his Opinions In very deed this a Episco◠Arrianus Dogma sirunt suba oppriment Constantio cundus cap. 30. Britain beginneth to be tainted with Arrianisme Synod is justly taxed not that it did bend but was bowed to Arrianisme and being over-born by the Emperour did countenance his Poisonous Positions 21. Hitherto the Church in Britain continued Sound and Orthodox in no degree tainted with Arrianisme 360 which gave the Occasion to S t. Hilary in his b Dedicating unto them his Book de Synodis Epistle to his Brethren and fellow Bishops of Germany and Britain c. though he himself was in Phrygia in Banishment to
Counties setled for the maintenance of this his Hospitall 1. Balsham Manour in Cambridge-shire 2. Bastinghorpe Manour in Lincoln-shire 3. Blacke-grove Manour in Wilt-shire 4. Broad-Hinton Land in Wilt-shire 5. Castle-Camps Manour in Cambridge-shire 6. Chilton Manour in Wilt-shire 7. Dunby Manour in Lincoln-shire 8. Elcombe Manour and Parke in Wilt-shire 9. Hackney Land Middlesex 10. Hallingbury-Bouchers Manour in Essex 11. Missanden Manour in Wiltshire 12. Much-Stanbridge Manour in Essex 13. Norton Manour in Essex 14. Salthrope Manour in Wilt-shire 15. South-Minster Manour in Essex 16. Totenham Land in Middlesex 17. Ufford Manour in Wilt-shire 18. Watelescote Manour in Wilt-shire 19. Westcot Manour in Wilt-shire 20. Wronghton Manour in Wilt-shire See here the most liberall Endowment made by one man May it most truly be said of our London Merchants as of those of Tyre n Isa 23. 8. whose Merchants are Princes 17. But no work so vertuous The Iesuits carping at his good work which some malicious spirits will not endevour to disgrace One who writeth himselfe J. H. but generally conceived to be Mr. Knott the Jesuit in his Answer to Doctor Potter's Book of o 2 part 1. ch 2. parag Charity mistaken le ts flie as followeth Doe your Hospitals deserve so much as to be named Have you any thing of that kinde in effect of particular Note saving the few mean Nurseries of idle Beggars and debauched People Except perhaps Sutton's Hospitall which as I have been informed was to take no profit till he was dead He who as I have also understood died so without any Children or Brothers or Sisters or known Kindred as that peradventure it might have escheated to the King He who lived a wretched and peâ—â—nious life and drew that Masse of Wealth together by Usury in which case according to good conscience his Estate without asking him leave was by the Law of God obnoxious to Restitution and ought to have been applied to Pious Uses Where as antiently in this Countrey and at all times and specially in this last Age 〈◊〉 see abundance of Heroicall Actions of this kinde performed in forreigne parts And if it were not for fear of noting many other great Cities as if there were any want of most munificent Hospitals in them wherein they abound I could tell you of One called the Annunciata in the City of Naples which spends three hundred thousand Crowns per Annum which comes to above fourscore thousand pounds sterling by the year Which ever feeds and câ—res a thousand sick persons and paies for the nursing and entertaining of three thousand sucking Children of poor people and hath fourteen other distinct Hospitals under it where the persons of those Poor creatures are kept and where they are defrayed of all their necessary charges every week I could also tell you of an Hospitall in Rome called S. Spirito of hâ—ge Revenues but it is not my meaning to enter into particulars which would prove endlesse 18. Before we come to the particular Examination of this his Accusation His politick modesty in his corrective it is observable how many Qualificatives Correctives and Restrictives Perhaps as I have been informed As I have also understood peradventure he inserteth in this his Relation Indeed such Qualifications are better than Equivocations yet what some may impute to Modesty is his Policy if well considered For if any Protestant confute what he hath written this Accuser will take Sanctuary under the protection of those Restrictions defending himself that he delivered nothing positively whilst ignorant Papists of his own profession not heeding his doubting limitations swallow all down for dogmaticall truth 19. More particularly the reformed Religion in England hath been the Mother of many brave Foundations Answers to Jesuits Cavils Many famous Hospitals as that at Warwick built by the Earl of Leicester Croydon by Archbishop Whitgift Guildford by Archbishop Abbot not to speak of Christ-Church and St. Thomas Hospitall built by King EDWARD the VI. though none of them have thrived and battled so fast and so fairly as this of Sutton's foundation Whereas he chargeth him to have had no Children it is confessed seeing he died a Batchelour Whose life had he been of their Opinion had been cried up for a precious piece of Virginity That he had no known Kindred is false Some of them afterwards but in vain endevouring to overthrow his Will though he made the Poor to be his Mother and Sister and Brother As for his getting wealth by unlawfull wales I am not to justifie the particular circumstances of any mans actions Should a secret Scrutiny be made how all Founders of Monasteries first came by their wealth many would be found justly obnoxious to censure 20. Indeed our Sutton began with a good Stock M. Suttoâ—s constant prayer had no Charge to burden him lived to be very aged 79 years and by Gods blessing on his Providence Industry and Thrist advanced the maine of his Estate This I can confidently report from the mouth of a credible Witnesse who heard it himself and told it to me that Master Sutton used often to repair into a private Garden where he poured forth his prayers to God and amongst other passages was frequently over-heard to use this Expression Lord thou hast given me a large and liberal Estate give me also a heart to make use thereof which at last was granted to him accordingly 21. As for the over-grown Hospitall of the Annuntiata at Naples Sutton's Hospitall how exceeding the Annuntiata we envy not the wealth thereof though reports at such distance lose nothing in the relation Nor doe we wonder that it cureth yearly a thousand sick persons considering what disease first came from Naples and was thence denominated As for the three thousand Children nursed therein it is to be feared many wanted Fathers to own them and this not so much the fruit of charity as of wantoness However that Hospitall hath at severall times been advanced by a Colledge of Benefactors Whereas Sutton's may stand peerlesse in this respect that it was founded finished p Stow's Survey of London p. 43. and endowed by himself alone Disbursing 13000 li. payed down before the ensealing of the Conveyance for the ground whereon it stood with some other â—ppurtenances befides 6000 li. expended in the building thereof and that vast yearly Endowment whereof heretofore We mention not the large Summes bequeathed by him to Poor to Prisons to Colledges to mending High-waies to the Chamber of London Ann. Reg. Jac. 10. Ann. Dom. 1612. besides Twenty thousand pounds left to the discretion of his Executors What remaineth but that we pray that according to his pious intentions the same may be continued to the Glory of God Credit of the Protestant Religion Comfort to the Poor good Example to the Rich and perpetual Memory of King JAMES the Honorary and Mr. Sutton the effectual Founder thereof That this Sun amongst the lesser Lights of Protestant-Charities may
altered and the self-same were converted into Christian Churches Particularly that dedicated to Diana in London and another near it formerly consecrated to Apollo in the City now called Westminster This was done not out of Covetousness to save Charges in founding new Fabricks but out of Christian Thrift conceiving this Imitation an Invitation to make Heathens come over more chearfully to the Christian Faith when beholding their Temples whereof they had an high and holy opinion not sacrilegiously demolished but solemnly continued to a pious end and rectified to the Service of the true God But humane Policy seldome proves prosperous when tampering with Divine Worship especially when without or against direction from Gods Word This new VVine put into old Vessels did in after-Ages taste of the Caske and in process of time Christianity keeping a a Thus the Pantheon or Shrine of all Gods in Rome was turned into the Church of All-Saints correspondency and some proportion with Paganisme got a smack of heathen Ceremonies Surely they had better have built new Nests for the Holy Dove and not have lodged it where Screech-owles and unclean Birds had formerly been harboured If the High-Priest amongst the Iews was forbidden to marry a VVidow or divorced woman but that he should take a Virgin of his owne b Lev. 21. 14. people to wife How unseemly was it that God himself should have the reversion of Profaneness assign'd to his Service and his Worship wedded to the Relict yea what was worse VVorish Shrines formerly abused with Idolatry 12. Some report 178 that at this time three thousand Philosopers of the University of Cambridge were converted The bounty of K. Lucius to Cambridge and baptized that K. Lucius came thither and bestowed many c Cajusde Antiq Cantab. p. 51. Hist Cantab. p. 22. Priviledges and Immunities on the place with much other improbable matter For surely they do a real Wrong under a pretended Courtesy to that famous Academy to force a Peruke of false gray haire upon it whose reverend Wrincles already command respect of themselves Yet Cambridge makes this use of these over-grown Charters of Pope Eleutherius K. Lucius K. Arthur and the like to send them out in the Front as the Forlorn-hope when she is to encounter with Oxford in point of Antiquity and if the credit of such old Monuments be cut off as what else can be expected yet she still keeps her maine Battel firme and entire consisting of stronger Authorities which follow after Nor doth Cambridge care much to cast away such doubtfull Charters provided her Sister likewise quit all Title to fabulous Antiquity setting Drosse against Drosse and waving Tales trie both the truth of their Age by the Register of unquestioned Authours if this Difference betwixt them be conceived to deserve the deciding 13. Besides the Churches afore-mentioned many others there were whose building is ascribed to King Lucius as namely 1. S t. Peter's in Cornhill in London 179 to which Ciran Severall Churches founded by King Lucius a great Courtier lent his helping hand It is said for many years after to have been the Seat of an d Tabula pensilis quae adhuc in illa ecclesia cernitur Arch-Bishoprick one Thean first enjoyed that Dignity 2. Ecclesia primae sedis or the chief Cathedral Church in Glocester 3. A Church at VVinchester 180 consecrated by Faganus and Duvianus whereof one Devotus was made Abbot 4. A e Piâ—zeus de Britan. Scriptor num 21. Church and Colledge of Christian Philosophers at Bangor 5. The Church dedicated to S t. Mary in Glassenbury 187 repaired and raised out of the Ruines by Faganus and Duvianus where they lived with twelve Associates 6. A f Iohn Leland assert Arthuri fol. 7. Chappel in honour of Christ in Dover Castle 7. The Church of S t. Martin in Canterbury understand it thus that Church which in after-after-Ages was new named and converted to the honour of that Saint Of all these that at VVinchester was K. Lucius his Darling which he endowed with large Revenues Anno Dom. 187 giving it all the land twelve miles on every side of the City fencing the Church about with a Church-yard on which he bestowed Priviledges of a Sanctuary and building a Dormitory and Refectory for the Monks there if the little History of a Manuscript in Bibliothecâ Cottonianâ Winchester be to be believed whose credit is very suspicious because of the modern Language used therein For as Country-Painters when they are to draw some of the ancient Scripture-Patriarchs use to make them with Bands Cuffs Hats Caps al a mode to the Times wherein they themselves doe live so it seemeth the Authour of this History last cited lacking learning to acquaint him with the Garbe and Character of the Age of K. Lucius doth pourtraict and describe the Bounty and Church-buildings of that King according to the Phrase and Fashion of that model of Monkery in his own Age. 14. Some Dutch Writers report Two Lucius's confounded into one that K. Lucius in his Old Age left his Kingdome and went over into France thence into Germany as far as the Alpes where he converted all b Velser Rerum August Vindelic lib. 6. ad annum 179. Rhetia and the City of Auspurg in Suevia by his Preaching with the assistance of Emerita his Sister it being no news in Gods Harvest to see Women with their Sickles a reaping It is confessed that Converting of Souls is a work worthy a King David's and Solomon's preaching hath silenced all Objections to the contrary It is also acknowledged that Kings used to renounce the World and betake themselves to such pious Emploiment though this Custome frequent in after-Ages was not so early a riser as to be up so near the Primitive Times It is therefore well observed by a Learned c Achilles Gassarus in Augustanae urbis descriptione man that Lucius the German Preacher was a different person from the British King who never departed our Island but died therein I have read how a woman in the Lower Palatinate being bigg with Twinns had the fruit of her Wombe so strangely alter'd by a violent d Munster de Germania in the Description of the Lower Palatinate Contusion casually befalling her that she was delivered of one Monster with two Heads which Nature had intended for two perfect Children Thus the History of this Age being pregnant with a double Lucius at the same time is by the carelesness of unadvised Authours so jumbled and confounded together that those which ought to have been parted as distinct Persons make up one monstrous one without due proportion to Truth yea with the manifest prejudice thereof THE THIRD CENTURY Anno Dom. To M r. Simeon Bonnell Merchant IT is proportionable to present a Century short in Story to One low in Stature though deservedly high in the esteem of your Friend T. F. 1. OF all Centuryes this begins
Credit hereunto multiplying Objections against it Obj. There were say they many places besides Cambridge in the Kingdome of the East-Angles conteining Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire which with equall Probability may pretend to this School of Sigebert's Foundation seeing Bede doth not nominatim affirm Cambridge for the particular Place where this University was erected 50. Ans Answer Though Bede be Dumb in this particular notnaming Cambridge yet he makes such Signes that most intelligent Antiquaries by us alledged understand him to intend the same especially seeing Cambridge is acknowledged by all Authours time out of mind to have been a place for the Education of Students in Literature 51. Obj. Second Objection If any such University was founded by Sigebert it was at Grantchester differing as in Appellation so in Situation from Cambridge as being a good mile South West thereof Cambridge therefore cannot entitle it self but by apparent Usurpation to the ancient Priviledges of Grantchester 52. Ans Answer Most usuall it is for ancient places to alter their Names Babylon to Bagdet Byzantium to Constantinople our old Verulam to S t. Albans still retaining the numerical Nature they had before Oxford they tell us was once called a Bryan Twine Antiq. Acad. Ox. pag. 114. Bellositum and yet not altered from it's same self by another Name Nor is it any news for great Cities in processe of time as weary of long standing to ease themselves a little by hitching into another place Thus some part of modern Rome is removed more then a mile from the ancient Area thereof Thus Ierusalem at this day is come down from Mount Sion and more South-West climbed up Mount Calvary Yet either of these Places would account themselves highly injured if not reputed for the main the same with the former Sufficeth it that some part of Cambridge stands at this day where b Mr. Camden an Oxford-man in his description of Cambridgeshire alloweth Grantchester and Cambridge for the same place Third Objection Grantchester did which anciently c Cajus de Antiq. Cantab ex libro Barnwellensi pag. 11. Answer extended North-West as far as the Village called Howse and that 's enough to keep possession of the Priviledges of Grantchester as properly belonging thereunto Especially seeing Oxford at this day layes claim to the Antiquityes of Crekelade and Lechlade Towns distant sixteen miles off the one in VVilts the other in Glocestershire two ancient Schools of Greek and Latine as some will have it removed afterwards to Oxford from whence some of her Assertours do date her Beginning 53. Obj. Sigebert founded but Scholam which makes little to the Honour of Cambridge For thereby her Professours are degraded to Pedants and by a retrograde Motion Cambridge is sent back to Eaton I mean is made no better then a great Grammar-School 54. Ans If the best of Latine Oratours may be believed Schola properly signifies the Place where all Arts are publickly professed d Tully De natura Deorum Ex Platonis schola Ponticus Heraclides Ponticus Heraclides came out of the school of Plato Which is notoriously known to have been an Academie yea all his Scholars known by the name of Academicks to this day Those of Salerno in Italy dedicating a book of Physick to our Henry the second I take it begin thus Anglorum Regi scribit Schola tota Salerni School-boys deserve to be whipped indeed if presuming to prescribe Receipts to a King But that Schola there is sufficiently known to have been a famous University And under the favour of the University the word Vniversitas is but a base and barbarous Latine whiles Schola is pure Greek originally to design either the Place where generall Learning is publickly professed or the Persons studying therein And though I dare not totally concurre with that e Mr. Camden in his Britannia pag. 381. in Oxfordshire Fourth Objection Learned Critick that Vniversit as was first used in the foresaid sense about the reign of King Henry the third yet I believe it will not be found in any Classicall Authour in that modern acception 55. Obj. In good Authours Sigebert is said to have founded not only Scholam a School but Scholas Schools in the plurall If Schola therefore be an University either he made moe Universities then one in Cambridge which is absurd to affirm or else he erected moe Universities in other places of his Kingdome which Cantabrigians will not willingly confesse 56. Ans Answer The variation of the Number is of no Concernment For if respect be had to the severall Arts there professed Sigebert founded Schools in the plurall but if regard be taken of the Cyclopaedy of the Learning resulting from those severall Sciences he erected but one Grand School Every Fresh-man knows that the single Quadrant wherein the publick Lectures are read and Acts kept is called plurally the Schools in each University 57. Obj. Fifth Objection But Bede terms them Pueros Boyes properly under the Rod and Ferula whom Sigebert placed in his School and the word Paedagogi Vshers placed over them imports the same that they were no University-Students but a company of little Lads that lived there under Correction 58. Ans Answer Criticks will satisfie you that the word Pueri signifies even those of more Maturity especially if living sub regimine under the Discipline of Superiours Secondly Bede being a great Divine and conversant in Scripture-phrase borroweth an expression thence Christ calling his Disciples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Iohn 21. 5. Children He useth also Paedagogos in the same notion with b 1 Cor. 4. 15. S t. Paul's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which our last Translatours reade Instructours in Christ even to the Corinthians who still needed such Paedagogues or Teachers though already c 1 Cor. i. 5. enriched in all utterance and knowledge Thirdly the Saxon ancient Copy of Bede which doubtlesse doth emphatically render the Latine translates pueri â—eonâ—e menn Fourthly Asserius Menevensis speaking of Alfred's founding of Oxford faith that he endowed the same Suae propriae Gentis nobilibus Pueris etiam ignobilibus and it is but equal that the Pueri at Cambridge should be allowed as much man in them as those at Oxford Lastly the young Frie of Scholars when first admitted is such to whom * All the Scholars of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge not being Fellows are termed pueri in their Statutes Pueri in the proper sense thereof may well be applyed And here it may seasonably be remembred how an d Bryan Twine Antiq. Oxon. p. 322. Oxford Antiquary affirmeth that Edward the fifth Prince of VVales and Richard his brother Duke of York Oxoniae studuerunt studied at Oxford in the life-time of their Father Stout Students no doubt whereof the Elder could not then be ten the Younger not nine yeares old But I forget what Lawyers hold that the Kings eldest Son is at full Age for
the Prior in the Vestiary Leth win the Sub-Prior in the Refectory Pauline in the Quire Herbert in the Quire VVolride the Torch-Bearer in the same place Grimketule and Agamund each of them an hundred yeares old in the Cloisters These faith my c Iugulphus pag. 866. Author were first examinati tortured to betrary their Treasure and then exanimati put to death for their Refusall The same VVriter seems to wonder that being killed in one place their Bodies were afterwards found in another Surely the Corse removed not themselves but no doubt the Danes dragged them from place to place when dead There was one ChildMonk therein but ten yeares old Turgar by name of most lovely Looks and Person Count Sidroke the younger pittying his tender yeares all Devills are not cruell alike cast a Danish d In Latine Collobium Peterbarough Monks killed Monastery burned Coat upon him and so saved him who onely survived to make the sad Relation of the Massacre 20. Hence the Danes marched to Medeshamsted since called Peterborough where finding the Abbey-gates locked against them Anno Regis Etheltedi 4 they resolved to force their Entrance Anno Dom. 870 in effecting whereof Tulba Brother to Count Hubba was dangerously wounded almost to Death with a Stone cast at him Hubba enraged hereat like another Doeg killed Abbot Hedda and all the Monks being fourscore and four with his own hand Count Sidroke gave an Item to young Monk Turgar who hitherto attended him in no wise to meet Count Hubba for fear that his Danish Livery should not be found of proof against his Fury Then was the Abbey set on Fire which burned fifteen dayes together wherein an excellent Library was consumed Having pillaged the Abbey and broke open the Tombes and Coffins of many Saints there interred these Pagans marched forwards into Cambridgeshire and passing the River Nine two of their VVagons fell into the Water wherein the Cattell which drew them were drowned much of their rich Plunder lost and more impaired 21. Some dayes after A heap of Martyrs the Monks of Medeshamsted were buried altogether in a great Grave and their Abbot in the middest of them a Crosse being erected over the same where one may have four yards square of Martyrs Dust which no place else in England doth afford Godric Successour to Theodore Abbot of Crowland used annually to repair hither and to say Masses two dayes together for the Souls of such as were entombed One would think that by Popish Principles these were rather to be prayed to then prayed for many maintaining that Martyrs go the nearest way to Heaven sine ambage Purgatorii so that surely Godric did it not to better their Condition but to expresse his own Affection out of the Redundancy of his Devotion which others will call the Superfluity of his Superstition 22. The Danes spared no Age The cruel Martyrdome of King Edmond Sex Condition of people such was the Cruelty of this Pagan unpartial Sword With a violent Inundation they brake into the Kingdome of the East-Angles wasted Cambridge and the Countrey thereabouts burnt the then City of Thetford forced Edmond King of that Countrey into his Castle of Framling ham who perceiving himself unable to resist their Power came forth and at the Village of Hoxon in Suffolk tendered his Person unto them hoping thereby to save the Effusion of his Subjects Blouds Where after many Indignities offered unto him they bound him to a Tree and because he would not renounce his Christianity shot him with Arrow after Arrow their Cruelty taking Deliberation that he might the better digest one Pain before another succeeded so distinctly to protract his Torture though Confusion be better then Method in matters of Cruelty till not Mercie but want of a Mark made them desist according to the a Camden's Britan in the description of Suffolk Poets Expression Iam loca Vulneribus desunt nec dum furiosis Tela sed hyberna grandine plura volant Room wants for Wounds but Arrows do not fail From Foes which thicker fly then winter Hail After-Ages desiring to make amends to his Memory so over-acted their part in shrining sainting and adoring his Relicks at Bury S t. Edmonds that if those in Heaven be sensible of the Transctions on Earth this good Kings Body did not feel more Pain from the Fury of the Pagan Danes then his Soul is filled with holy Indignation at the Superstition of the Christian Saxons 23. However the VVest-Saxon King Ethelbert behaved himself bravely fighting King Ethelbert his prayer-victory with various Successe nine b William Malmesbury De Gestis Regum Anglorum lib. 2. pag. 42. Battels against the Danes though ninety nine had not been sufficient against so numerous an Enemy But we leave these things to the Historians of the State to relate We read of an c Gen. 31. 52. Heap of Stones made between Iacob and Laban with a mutuall Contract that neither should passe the same for Harm Thus would I have Ecclesiasticall and civil Historians indent about the Bounds and Limits of their Subjects that neither injuriously incroach on the Right of the other And if I chance to make an Excursion into the matters of the Common-wealth it is not out of Curiosity or Busybodinesse to be medling in other mens Lines but onely in an amicable way to give a kind Visit and to clear the mutuall Dependence of the Church on the Common-wealth Yet let me say that this War against the Danes was of Church-concernment for it was as much pro aris as pro focis as much for Religion as civil Interest But one War must not be forgotten Importunate Messengers brought the Tidings that the English were dangerously ingaged with the Danes at Essendune haply Essenden now in surrey and likely to be worsted King Ethelhert was at his Devotions which he would not omit nor abbreviate for all their Clamour No suit would he hear on Earth till first he had finished his Requests to Heaven Then having performed the part of pious Moses in the a Exod. 17. 11 Mount he began to act valiant Ioshua in the Valley The Danes are vanquished leaving Posterity to learn that time spent in Prayer is laid out to the best Advantage 24. But alas King Ethelbert heart-broken with grief this Danish Invasion was a mortal VVound 871 Dedecus Saxonica fortitudinis 5 the Cure whereof was rather to be desired then hoped for Ease for the present was all Art could perform King Ethelbert saw that of these Pagans the more he slew the more they grew which went to his valiant Heart Grief is an heavy Burthen and generally the strongest Shoulders are able to bear the least proportion thereof The good king therefore withered away in the Flower of his Age willingly preferred to encounter rather Death then the Danes for he knew how to make a joyfull End with the one but endless was his Contest with the other according
to the Observation of the English b Malemesburiensis ut prims King Alfred's exemplary Character Historian that the Saxon-Kings in this Age magis optabant honestum Exitum quam acerbum Imperium 25. In this sad condition God sent England a Deliverer namely King Alfred or Alured born in England bred in Rome where by a Prolepsis he was anointed King by Pope Leo though then but a private Prince and his three elder Brothers alive in auspicium futuriregnt in hope that hereafter he should come to the Crown Nor did this Vnction make Alfred ante-date his kingdome who quietly waited till his foresaid Brothers successvely reigned and died before him and then took his Turn in the Kingdome of the VVest-Saxons The worst was his Condition was like a Bride-groom who though lawfully wedded yet might not bed his Bride till first he had conquered his Rival and must redeem England before he could reign over it The Danes had London many of the in-land moe-of the maritime Towns and Alfred onely three effectuall Shires Somerset Dorset and VVilts yet by Gods Blessing on his Valour he got to be Monarch of all England Yea consider him as a King in his Court as a Generall in his Camp as a Christian in his Closer as a Patron in the Church as a Founder in his Colledge as a Father in his Family his Actions will every way appear no lesse excellent in themselves 872 AIfredâ— sen Aâ—luredi 1 then exemplary to others 26. His most daring Design was Alfred as a fidler discovereth the Danish designes when lying hid about Athelney in Somerset-shire 876 and disguised under the habit of a Fidler being an excellent Musician he adventured into the Danish Camp Had not his spirit been undaunted 5 the sight of his armed Foes had been enough to have put his Instrument out of Tune Here going unsuspected through their Army he discovered their Condition and some of their Intentions Some would say that the Danes deserved to be beaten indeed if they would communicate their Counsels to a Fidler But let such know Alfred made this generall Discovery of them that they were remisse in their Discipline lay idle and carelesse and Security disarmes the best-appointed Army Themistocles said of himself that he could not fiddle but he knew how to make a little city great But our Alfred could fiddle and make a little City great too yea enlarge a petty and contracted Kingdome The Danish ships left water-bound into a vast and absolute Monarchy 27. But as the Poets feign of Anteus the Son of the Earth who fighting with Hercules Anno Regis Alfredi seu Aluredi 5 and often worsted by him recovered his Strength again every time he touched the Earth Anno Dom. 876 revived with an addition of new Spirits so the Danes which may seem the sons of Neptune though often beaten by the English in land-Battels no sooner recovered their Ships at Sea but presently recruiting themselves they returned from Denmark more numerous and formidable then before But at last to follow the Poeticall Fancy as Hercules to prevent Antaeus his farther reviving hoised him aloft and held him strangled in his Armes till he was stark dead and utterly expired so to secure the Danes from returning to the Sea who out of the Thames had with their Fleet sailed up the River Ley betwixt Hartfordshire and Essex Alfred with Pioneers divided the grand Stream of Ley into severall Rivulets so that their Ships lay Water-bound leaving their Mariners to shift for themselves over land most of which fell into the hands of their English Enemies so that this proved a mortal Defeat to the Danish Insolence 28. Alfred having thus reduced England to some tolerable terms of Quiet The general ignorance in England made most of the Danes his Subjects by Conquest the rest his Friends by Composition encountred a fiercer Foe namely Ignorance and Barbarisme which had generally invaded the whole Nation Inso much that the writeth that South of Thames he found not any that could read English Indeed in these dayes all men turned Students but what did they study onely to live secretly and safely from the Fury of the Danes And now that the next Age might be wiser then this Alfred intended the founding of an University at Oxford 29. Indeed Ancient Schools at Crekelade and Lechlade there were anciently standing on the Banks of Isis which in due time commenceth Thamisis two Towns one Crekelade or Greeklade in Wiltshire the other Lechlade or Latinlade in Gloucestershire In the former of these many yeares since things time out of mind must not be condemned as time out of truth the Greek Tongue as in the later the Latine Tongue are said to be publickly professed by Philosophers But where was Hebrew-lade the Hebrew Tongue being more necessarie then both the former for the understanding of the Old Testament Alas in this Age it was banished not onely out of England but out of Christendome As in the ordinary method of Nature the more aged usually die first so no wonder if Hebrew generally presumed the oldest Language in the world expired first in this Age of Ignorance utterly abolished out of the Western Countries Yea it is well the other two learned Tongues were preserved in these places Grekelade and Lechlade being then Cities of eminent Note shrunk now to mean Towns and content with plain English where Latine and Greek were formerly professed 30. But now the Muses swam down the Stream of the River Isis 11 to be twenty miles nearer to the rising Sun 882 and were by King Alfred removed from Crekelade and Lechlade The University first founded by Alfred at Oxford to Oxford where he founded an University Yet some say Alfred did find and not found Letters therein seeing there was a sprinkling of Students therein before though Learning was very low and little therein till this considerable Accession when Alfred founded therein three Colledges one for Grammarians a second for Philosophers a third for Divines Take a List of their primitive Professours In Divinity S t. Grimbal S t. Neoth In Grammar Asserius a Monk In Logick Iohn of S t. Davids In Mathematicks Ioannes Monachus It is credibly reported that what is now called Vniversity-Colledge was then one of King Alfred's Foundations as the Verses written in their Hall under his Armes do attest Nobilis Alfredi sunt haec Insignia cujus Primum constructa est haec pietate domus And from this time Learning flourished here in great Plenty and Abundance though oft-times abated Anno Dom. 882 the Universities feeling the Impressions of the Common-wealth Anno Regis Alfredi seu Aluredi 11 31. At the same time wherein King Alfred built Vniversity Colledge in Oxford Kings-Hall founded by King Alfred he also founded Another House called Kings-great-Hall intimating a lesser hard by now included within the compasse a Rex Platonicus pag. 211. of
the Bishop of Ely Longcampe Wolsey parallel'd English as the English as the English were not willing to speak one good word of him 25. Such as draw up a parallel betwixt this William Longcampe and Thomas Wolsey afterward Arch-Bishop of York finde them to meet in many conformities First in the lowness of their birth the one the son of an Husband-man the other of a Butcher Anno Dom. 1192. Secondly Anno Regis Rich. prim 3. in the greatness of their power both being the Popes Legates and their Kings principal Officers Thirdly height of their pride Longcampe having fifteen hundred daylie attendants Wolsey though but a thousand equalizing that number with the nobility of his train Fourthly suddenness of their fall and it is hard to say which of the two lived more hated or died less pittied 26. Yet to give Wolsey his due Wolsey the better of the two he far exceeded the other Longcampe is accused of covetousness promoting his base kindred to the damage and detriment of others no such thing charged on Wolsey Longcampes activity moved in the narrow sphear of Englands Dominions whilest Wolsey might be said in some sort to have held in his hand the scales of Christendome Up Emperor down France and so alternately as he was pleased to cast in his graines Wolsey sate at the sterne more then twenty years whilest Longcampe's impolitick pride outed him of his place in less then a quarter of the time Lastly nothing remains of Longcampe but the memory of his pride and pomp whilest Christ-Church in Oxford and other stately edifices are the lasting monuments of Wolseys magnificence to all posterity 27. But seeing it is just to settle mens memories Yet a word in excuse of Longcamp on their true bottom Be it known that one putteth in a good word in due season in the excuse of Bishop a Godwin ut prius Longcampe haply not altogether so bad as the pens of Monks would perswade us It inraged them against him because Hugh Nonant Bishop of Coventry and Liechfield drave out Monks out of Coventry and brought in Secular Priests in the room which alteration he being not able of himself to effect used the assistance of Longcampe Bishop of Elie ordering the same in a Synod called at London And seeing Monks have no medium betwixt not loving and bitter hating no wonder if for this cause they paid him their Invectives But we have done with him and are glad of so fair a riddance of him on this account that most of his misdemeanors were by him committed not quà Bishop but quà Vice-roy and so more properly belon̄ging to the civil Historian 28. King Richard in his return from Palestine King Richard dearly Ransomed was taken prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria 1193. and detained by him in durance 3. with hard and un-Prince-like usage Whilest the English Clergy endeavoured the utmost for his Enlargement And at last when a fine certain was set upon him to be paid for his Ransome they with much ado in two years time disbursed the same 29. The summe was an hundred and fifty thousand and marks Why a small sum great in that age to be paid part to the Duke of Austria part to Henry the sixth Sir-named the sharpe Sure such our Richard found him Emperor of Germany Some will wonder that the weight of such a summe should then sway the back of the whole Kingdome putting many Churches to the sale of their silver Chalices having seen in our age one City in few dayes advance a larger proportion But let such consider 1. The money was never to return not made over by Bils of Exchange but sent over in specie which made it arise the more heavily For such summes may be said in some sort to be but lent not lost as to the Common-wealth which are not exported but spent therein in the circulation of Trading 2. A third of silver went then more to make a marke then now adayes witness their groats worth our six pence in the intrinsick value 3. Before trading to the East and West Indies some hundred and fifty years since very little the silver of England in comparison to the Banks of Modern Merchants However Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with much diligence perfected the work and on his ransom paid King Richard returned into England 30. Now lest his Majesty should suffer any diminution by his long late imprisonment Anno Regis Rich. prim 4. King Richard was Crowned again by Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Anno Dom. 1194. at Winchester King Richard better for affliction with great solemnity and one may say that his durance was well bestowed on him seeing after the same he was improved in all his relations Son For though he could not revive his dead Father yet on all occasions he expressed sorrow for his undutifulness Husband Hereafter prising the company of Beringaria his Queen Daughter to Sanctius King of Navarre whom formerly he slighted and neglected Brother Freely and fully pardoning the practises of his Brother John aspiring to the Crown in his absence and being better to his base Brother Geffery Arch-Bishop of York then his tumultuous nature did deserve Man Being more strict in ordering his own conversation King In endeavouring the amendment of many things in the Land 6. in whose dayes a Councel was kept at York for Reformation 1196. but little effected 31. Hubert Walter 8. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1198 had almost finished a fair Covent for Monks at Lambeth Lambeth Covent why demolished begun by Baldwin his Predecessor But instantly the Monks of Canterbury are all up in anger against him they feared that in process of time Lambeth would prove Canterbury viz. the Principal place of the Arch-Bishops residence to the great impairing of their Priviledges the vicinity of Lambeth to the Court encreased their jealousie And now they ply the Pope with Petitions and with what makes Petitions to take effect in the Court of Rome never content till they had obtained contrary to the Kings and Arch-Bishops desire that the Covent at Lambeth was utterly demolished many bemoaning the untimely end thereof before it was ended murdered as one may say by malitious emulation 32. The death of King Richard is variously reported 9. but this relation generally received 1199. that he lost his life on this sad occasion King Richard his death A Viscount in France subject to King Richard having found a vast Treasure hid probably by some Prince the Kings Predecessor sent part thereof to King Richard reserving the rest to himself who could he have concealed all had made no discovery and had he sent all had got no displeasure whilest hoping by this middle-way to pleasure the King and profit himself he did neither King Richard disdaines to take part for a gift where all was due and blame him not if having lately bled so much money he desired to
Duke her Husband and the Cardinall * I see not how this is much materiall in her defence of Winchester about the year 1440. 5. It is not probable if the Dutchess intended such Treason against the Kings life as to consume him by burning a wax candle that she would impart a plot of such privacy to four persons viz. Sir Roger Margaret Jourdman Mr. Thomas Southwell and Iohn Hume seeing five may keep counsell if four be away 6. So hainous a treason against the Kings person if plainly proved would have been more severely punished with death no doubt of all privy thereunto Whereas this Lady escaped with Exile and Iohn Hume had his life pardoned which being so foule a fact would not have been forgiven if clearly testified against Him 7. She is accused in our Chronicles Harding Polycronicon c. for working Sorcery and Inchantments AGAINST the Church and the King Now how can Inchantments be made AGAINST the Church which is a Collective Body consisting of a Multitude of Christians and reader in my weak opinion this Conjecture carrieth some weight with it Anno Dom. 1433. Balaam himself can tell us Anno Regis Hen. 11 6. There is no Sorcery against Jacob not Southsaying against Israel If any interpret Against the Church that is the Laws and Canons of the Church Num. 23. 23. the Sence is harsh and unusual This rendreth it suspicious that her Inchantments against the Church was only her disliking and distasting the errours and Superstitions thereof 8. This Witch of Eye saith Fabian lived neer Winchester a Presumption as Mr. Fox conjectureth that the Cardinall of Winchester had a hand in packing this accusation 9. Polydore Virgil maketh no mention thereof otherwise sufficiently quicksighted in matters of this nature 10. Why may not this be false as well as that King Richard the third his accusing of Iane Shore for bewitching of his withered arm These conjectures are not Substantial enough severally to subsist of themselves yet may they be able to stand in complication in the whole Sheaf though not as single Arrows and conduce not a little towards the clearing of her innocence For my own part 23. A moderate way it is past my Skill to seour out stains inlayed in the memory of one diseased more then two hundred years agoe I see her credit stands condemned by the generality of Writers and as it is above the power of the present Age to pardon it so it is against all pitty crueltie to execute the same some after-evidences appearing with glimmering light in her vindication Let her Memory therefore be reprieved till the day of Judgement when it is possible Micah 7. 9. that this Lady bearing here the indignation of God for her sins may in due time have her cause pleaded and judgement executed for her and her righteousnesse be brought into light Sure I am she fared no whit the better for her sirname of Cobbam odious to the Clergy of that Age on the account of Sir Iohn Oldcasile Lord Cobham though these two were nothing of kin The best is she left no issue to be ashamed of her faults if she were guilty the best evidences of whose innocence are in the Manuscript Books of J. Leyland which as yet I have not had the happinesse to behold At this time William Heiworth sat Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield The meanest Bishop above the mightiest Abbot being translated thither from being Abbot of St. Albans Wonder not that he should leave the richest Abbey of England where he took place of all of his Order and exchange it for a middle-sized Bishoprick For first even those who most admire the holinesse and perfection of Monasticallife do grant the Episcopal Function above it in all Spirituall respects Secondly in Temporal Considerations the poorest Bishop was better and might be more beneficial to his Kindred than the richest Abbot seeing he by will might bequeath his estate to his Heirs which no Abbot incapable in his own person of any Propriety could legally do whose goods belonged to his Convent in common This Bishop Heiworth deserved not ill of his Cathedral Church of Litchfield Litchfield's Cathedral Indeed the body of the Church was built by Roger de Clinton Bishop thereof 1433 in the reign of King Henry the first 11. who increased the number of the Prebends and surrounded Litchfield with a ditch bestowing much cost on the invisible Castle which now is vanished out of sight Afterwards Walter de Langton his successour in the reign of King Edward the first was a most munificent Benefactor thereunto laying the foundation of the Chappel of the Virgin Mary and though dying before it was finished bequeathing a sufficient summe of money for the finishing thereof He also fenced the Close of the Church about with a high wall and deep ditch adorning it with two beautifull gates the fairer on the west the lesser on the South side thereof He expended no lesse then two thousand and pound in beautifying the shrine of Saint Chad his predecessor 65. But now in the time of the aforesaid VVilliam Heyworth Anno Regis Hen. 6 11. the Cathedral of Litchfield was in the verticall height thereof Anno Dom. 1433. being though not augmented in the essentials beautified in the Ornamentals thereof The nearest Pile in England Indeed the West front thereof is a stately Fabrick adorned with exquisite imagerie which I suspect our age is so far from being able to imitate the workmanship that it understandeth not the Historie thereof 66. Surely what Charles the fifth is said to have said of the Citie of Florence Charles the fifth of Florence that it is pittie it should be seen save only on Holy-dayes as also that it was fitt that so fair a Citie should have a Case and Cover for it to keep it from wind and weather so in some sort this Fabrick may seem to deserve a shelter to secure it 67. But alas it is now in a pittifull case indeed An ingenious design almost beaten down to the ground in our civil dissensions Now lest the Church should follow the Castle I mean quite vanish out of view I have at the cost of my worthy friend here exemplified the Portraiture thereof and am glad to hear it to be the design of ingenious persons to preserve ancient Churches in the like nature whereof many are done in this and more expected in the next part of Monasticon seeing when their substance is gone their verie shadows will be acceptable to posteritie 68. The Commons in Parliament complained to the King A grievance complained on that whereas they had sold great wood of twenty years growth and upwards to their own great profit and in aid to the King in his wars and shipping the Parsons and Vicars impleaded such Merchants as bought this Timber for the Tithes thereof whereby their estates were much damnified the King and the Kingdome disserved 69.
soever under the degree of a Bishop or Dean at the least doe from henceforth presume to preach in any popular Auditory deep points of Predestination Election Reprobation or of the Universality Efficacy Resistibility or Irresistibility of GODS grace but leave those themes rather to be handled by the Learned men and that moderately and modestly by way of Use and Application rather than by way of Positive Doctrines being fitter for the Schools than for simple Auditories 4. That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever from henceforth shall presume in any Auditory within this Kingdome to declare limit or bound out by way of Positive Doctrine in any Lecture or Sermon the Power Prerogative and Jurisdiction Authority or Duty of Sovereign Princes or otherwise meddle with matters of State and the differences between Princes and the People than as they are instructed and precedented in the Homilies of Obedience and the rest of the Homilies and Articles of Religion set forth as before is mentioned by publique Authority but rather confine themselves wholly to those two heads of faith and good life which are all the subjects of the antient Sermons and Homilies 5 That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever shall presume caussesly or without invitation from the Text to fall into bitter investives and undecent railing speeches against the persons of either Papists or Puri tans but modestly and gravely when they are occasioned thereunto by the Text of Scripture free both the Doctrine and the Discipline of the Church of England from the aspersions of either Adversaries especially where the Auditory is suspected to be tainted with the one or the other infection 6. Lastly that the Archbishops and Bishops of the Kingdome whom His Majestie hath good cause to blame for their former remisness be more wary and choice in their licensing of Preachers and revoke all Grants made to any Chancellour Official or Commissary to passe Licences in this kinde and that all the Lecturers throughout the Kingdome of England a new body severed from the antient Clergy as being neither Parsons Vicars nor Curates be licensed henceforward in the Court of Faculties but onely from a Recommendation of the party from the Bishop of the Diocese under his hand and seale with a Fiat from the L. Archbishop of Canterbury a Confirmation under the Great Seal of England And that such as doe transgresse any one of these Directions be suspended by the Bishop of the Diocesse or in his default by the Archbishop of the Province ab Officio Beneficio for a year and a day untill his Majestie by the advice of the next Convocation shall prescribe some farther punishment 5. No sooner were these the Kings Declarations dispersed into every Diocesse Various censures on the Kings Letters but various were mens opinions thereof Some counted it a cruell act which cut off half the preaching in England all afternoon-ermons at one blow Others thought the King did but Uti jure suo doing not onely what in justice He might but what in prudence He ought in this juncture of time But hear what I have heard and read in this case Objections Answers 1. Christ grants Ministers their Commission Go teach all Nations S. Paul corroborates the same Preach the word be instant in season out of season Man therefore ought not to forbid what God enjoyns 2. This is the way to starve soules by confining them to one meale a day or at the best by giving them onely a messe of milk for their supper and so to bed 3. Such as are licensed to make Sermons may be intrusted to choose their own Texts and not in the Afternoons to be restrained to the Lords Prayer Creed and ten Commandements 4. In prohibiting the preaching of Predestination man makes that the forbidden fruit which God appointed for the tree of life so cordial the comforts contained therein to a distressed conscience 5. Bishops and Deans forsooth and none under their dignity may preach of Predestination What is this but to have the word of God in respect of persons As if all discretion were confined to Cathedral men and they best able to preach who use it the least 6. Papists and Puritans in the Kings Letters are put into the same ballance and Papists in the prime scale first named as preferred in the Kings care chiefly to secure them from Invectives in Sermons 7. Lecturers are made such riddles in the Kings Letters reduceable to no Ministerial function in England Whereas indeed the flower of piety and power of godlinesse flourished most in those places where such Preachers are most countenanced 1. Ministers if commanded not at all to speak or teach in the name of Jesus are with the Apostles to obey God rather than man But vast the difference betwixt a total prohibition and as in this case a prudential regulation of preaching 2. Milk catechetical Doctrine is best for babes which generally make up more than a moyety of every Congregation 3. Such restraint hath liberty enough seeing all things are clearly contained in or justly reducible to these three which are to be desired believed and performed 4. Indeed Predestination solidly and soberly handled is an antidote against despair But as many ignorant Preachers ordered it the cordial was turned into a poyson and therefore such mysteries might well be forborn by mean Ministers in popular Congregations 5. It must be presumed that such of necessity must be of age and experience and may in civility be believed of more than ordinary learning before they attained such preferment Besides Cathedrall Auditories being of a middle nature for understanding as beneath the University so above common City and Country Congregations are fitter for such high points to be preached therein 6. The Kings Letter looks on both under the notion of guilty persons Had Puritans been placed first such as now take exception at their post-posing would have collected that the King esteemed them the greatest offenders 7. Lectures are no creatures of the Church of England by their original like those mixed kinds little better than monsters in nature to which God as here the State never said multiply and encrease and therefore the King had just cause to behold them with jealous eyes who generally supplanted the Incumbents of Livings in the affections of their Parishioners and gave the greatest growth to Non-conformity These Instructions from His Majestie were not pressed with equall rigour in all places seeing some over-active Officials more busie than their Bishops tied up Preachers in the Afternoon to the very letter of the Catechisme questioning them if exceeding the questions and answers therein as allowing them no liberty to dilate and enlarge themselves thereupon 6. Expect not of me a particular account of the politick intricacies touching the Spanish Match A needlesse subject waved or no Match rather First because Spanish and so alien from my subject Secondly because the passages thereof are so largely and publickly in print