Archbishoprick of York was founded Anno 180. by King Lucius also who placed Sampson there King Lucius also founded the Academy of Bangor in the favour of good Arâ—s and Learned Men. He built the chief Cathedral Church in Glocester The Church dedicated to St. Mary in Glastonbury A Chappel in honour of Christ in Dover Castle A Church in Canterbury afterwards dedicated to St. Martin King Lucius died and was buried at Gloucester CENT III. BUT Christianity in Britain was not buried in the grave of King Lucius Witness Gildas whose words are a clear evidence of the constant continuing of the Christian Faith in Britain from the first Preaching thereof Christs precepts saith he though they were received Gildas in Epist de â—xcid Britan. but lukewarmly of the Inhabitants yet they remained entirely with some less sincerely with others even untill the nine years of Persecution under Dioclesian To the Authority of Gildas we may add the Testimony of two Fathers both flourishing in this Century Tertullian and Origen Tertullian saith â—erâ—ul ad vers â—udaos â— 7. Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca Christo verò subdita There are places of the Britains which were unaccessible to the Romans but yet subdued to Christ Origen in like manner Virtus Domini Salvatoris cum Origen in 〈◊〉 1. Homil. 6. his est qui ab orbe nostro in Britannia dividuntur The power of God our Saviour is even with them which in Britain are divided from our World The Magdeburgenses compilers of the General Ecclesiastical Cent. 3. c. 2. col 6. History speaking of the Churches through Europe in this Age thus express themselves Then follow the Isles of the Ocean where we first meet with Britain Mansisse hac aetate ejus Insulae Ecâ—lesias affirmare non dubitamus We doubt not to affirm that the Churches of that Island did also remain in that Age. Gildas modestly renders the reason why so little is extant of the British History of this Age. Scriptapatriae Scriptorum monumenta siquae fuerint aut ignibus hostium exusta aut civium exulum classe longius deportata non comparent The Monuments saith he of our Countrey or Writers if there were any appear not as either burnt by the fire of enemies or transported far off by our banished Countreymen The Christians of Britain celebrated the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the Moon of March precisely contrary to the constitutions of the Roman Church which sheweth they were not brought to Christian Gâ—ld Epist f. 63. Religion by the Roman Church And Gildas saith That the Britains used great solemnity in their Ordination of Ministers and had other Prayers Lessons and Chapters than are used in the Roman Church Britain remained under the Domination of the Romans Pagans as their supream Lords till the year of Christ 286. in Dioclesian's time when the Roman Senate sent Caransius to repress the incursions of Barbarous Nations But Caransius made a League with the Britains expelled the Romans and made himself King And from that time sometimes the Romans prevailing sometimes the Natives Britain was but weakly possessed by the Roman Empire CENT IV. SO the Gospel flourished in this Land and they that professed it escaped the Persecutions raised by the Heathen Emperours of Rome all except the last under Dioclesian which extended to Britain and St. Alban is noted to be the Proto-Martyr of Britain who suffered death for Christ's sake with invincible Courage and Resolution about the year of Christ 305. He was a wealthy Inhabitant of Verolamcester Neccham in his Poem on Verulam and a Citizen of Rome for so Alexander Neccham reports him Hic est Martyrii râ—seo decoratus honore Albanus Cives Inclyta Roma tuus Here Alban Rome thy Citizen renown'd With rosie grace of Martyrdom was crown'd Alban was a Britain by Parentage a Roman by Priviledge naturally a Britain naturalized a Roman Immediately followed the Martyrdom of Amphibalus a Preacher of Caer-leon in Wales who not long before was fain to fly from Persecution into the Eastern parts of this Island and was entertained by Alban at his house in Verulam who was instructed by Amphibalus in the Christian Faith he was cruelly put to death by the Pagans in a Village called Redburn three miles from Verulam Besides Amphibalus suffered Aaron and Julius two substantial Citizens of Caer-leon and then Socrates and Stephen and Augulius Bishop of London then called Augusta with multitudes both of Men and Women in sundry places saith Beda as shortly after no less than a thousand Saints suffered death at Litchfield whereupon the place was called another Golgotha or field of blood In memory whereof the City beareth for Armes to this day a field surcharged with dead bodies Afterwards it pleased God to put a period to his Servants sufferings and to the rage of their Enemies for when Dioclesian and Maximian had layed down the Ensignes of Command Constantius Chlorus was chosen Emperour in these Western Provinces of France Spain and Britain whose cariage towards Christians Eusebius thus describeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he preserved such Religious people as were under his command without any hurt or harm So that under him the Church in these parts had a breathing-time from Persecution Constantius died and was buried at York who bequeathed the Empire to Coâ—stantine his eldest Son by Hellen his former Wife That Constantine was a Britain is shewn by Eumenius Rhetor who in his Oration Eâ—men Rheor 〈…〉 9. made to Constantine himself makes therein an Apostrophe to Britain O fortunata nunc omnibus beatior terris Britannia quae Constantinum Coesarem prima vidisti O happy Britain and blessed above all other Lands which didst first behold Constantine Cesar There is another Testimony of His of like nature Liberavit Pater Constantius Britannias servitute 〈…〉 5. Tu etiam Nobiles illic oriendo fecisti Your Father Constantius did free the British Provinces from slavery and you have Ennobled them by taking thence your original It is said of him that he was born made King and Emperor first in Britain Constantine being now peaceably setled in the Imperial Throne there followed a sudden and great alteration in the World Persecutors turning Patrons of Religion The Gospel formerly a Forrester now became a Citizen and leaving the Woods wherein it wandered Hills and holes where it hid it self before dwelt quietly in populous places The stumps of ruined Churches lately destroyed by Dioclesian grew up into beautiful buildings Oratories were furnished with pious Ministers and they provided of plentiful maintenance through the liberality of Constantine The most avouchable evidence of Christianity flourishing in this Island in this Age is produced from the Bishops representing Britain in the Councils 1. Of Arles in France called to take cognizance of the cause of the Donatists where appeared for the Britains Eborius Bishop of York Restitutus Bishop of London Adelfius Bishop of the City called the
hundred committed within the Realm by Church-men Thomas Bâ—cket Doâ—tor of Canon-law was by the King made Lord Chancellor of England Four years after upon the Death of Theobald Becket was made by the King Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 1160. Thirty Teachers come from Germany into England and taught the right use of Baptism and the Lord's Supper c. and were put to Death Then John of Sarum and others taught that the Roman Church was the Whore of Babylon Some were burnt with an hot Iron at Oxford that dissented from the Roman Church The King Commanded that Justice should be executed upon all Men alike in his Courts but Thomas Becket would have the Clergy so offending judged in the Ecclesiastical Court and by Men of their own Coat This Incensed the King against him To reâ—rench these enormities of the Clergy the King called a Parliament at Clarendon near Sarisbury to confirm the Antient Laws and Customs to which Becket with the rest of the Bishops consented and subscribed them but afterwards recanting his own Act renounced the same The same year the King required to have punishment of some misdoings among the Clergy The Archbishop would not permit and when he saw in his judgement the Liberties of the Church trodden under Foot he without the King's knowledge took Ship and intended toward Rome but by a contrary Wind he was brought back Then he was called to account for his Receipts that came to his hand while he was High-Chancellor He appealeth to the See of Rome and under pain of Excommunication forbad both Bishops and Nobles to give Sentence against him seeing he was both their Father and their Judge Nevertheless they without his consent gave Sentence against him Then he seeing himself forsaken of all the other Bishops lifted the Cross which he held in his Hand aloft and went away from the Court and the next day got him over into Flanders and so to the Pope Matthew Paris hath many Letters betwixt the Pope and this King and the King of France and sundry Bishops of France and England for reconciliation betwixt the King and the Archbishop who abode seven years in exile Thomas Becket quarrelled with Roger Archbishop of York for presuming to Crown Henry the King's Son made joint-King in the Life of his Father a priviledge which Becket claimed as proper to him alone He solemnly resigned his Archbishoprick to the Pope as troubled in Conscience that he had formerly took it as illegally from the King and the Pope again restored it to him whereby all scruples in his mind were fully satisfied But afterward by the Mediation of the French King Becket had leave given him to return into England howsoever the King still retained his Temporals in his Hand on weighty considerations namely to shew their distinct Nature from the Spirituals of the Archbishoprick to which alone they Pope could restore him Thomas returning into England Excommunicateth all the Bishops which had been at the Coronation of the young King The King sent and required him to absolve them seeing what was done to them was done for his Cause but Thomas refuseth The next year after he Excommunicated solemnly the Lord Sackvill appointed by the King Vicar of the Church at Canterbury because he did derogate from the rights of the Church to please the King He also Excommunicated one Robert Brook for cutting off an Horses tail that carried Victuals to the Archbishops House The King being then in Normandy grieved very sore before his Servants at the insolent cariage of Thomas Becket This moved Sir Richard Breton Sir Hugh Morvil Sir William Tracey Sir Reginald Fitz-Vrse to return into England and coming to Canterbury they found the Archbishop in Cathedral Church at three a Clock in the After-noon and calling him Traytor to the King they slew him and dashed his Brains upon the floor His last words when he died were I commend my self and God's Cause unto God and to the blessed Mary and to the Saints Patrons of this Church and to St. Denis Here see the lightness of the People for the same Men that detested the pride of that Thomas began to Worship him after his Death Thus they sang of Thomas Becket Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit By the Blood of Thomas which for Thee he did spend Make us O Christ to climb whither Thomas did ascend Multitudes of People flocked to Canterbury yearly especially on his Jubile or each fifty years after his enshrining an hundred thousand of English and Forreigners repaired thither The Revenues of peoples Offerings amounted to more than six hundred pounds a year Before Becket's Death the Cathedral in Canterbury was called Christ-Church it was afterward called the Church of St. Thomas though since by the demolishing of Becket's shrine the Church hath recovered it's Antient name King Henry protested himself innocent from the Death of Thomas Becket yet was he willing to undergo such a penance as the Pope would impose The Pope made him buy his Absolution at a dear rate He enjoyned him to suffer Appeals from England to Rome to quit his Rights and Claim to the Investitures to keep two hundred Men of Armes in pay for the Holy War of which pay the Popes Assignes were to be the Receivers and that in England they should celebrate the Feast of that glorious Martyr St. Thomas of Canterbury The words of the Bull are these We strictly charge you that you solemnly Celebrate every year the Birth-day of the glorious Martyr Thomas sometime Archbishop of Canterbury that is the day of his passion and that by devout Prayers to him you endeavour to merit the remission of your sins To make the satisfaction compleat King Henry passeth from Normandy into England stayeth at Canterbury strippeth himself naked and is whipped by diverse Monks of whom some gave him five lashes some three Concerning which penance Machiavel speaks thus in the first Book of Iâ— quali cose surono da Enrico accettare et sotto Mâ—sse si à quel gâ—â—dicio un tauto Reche boggi â—â— huomo privatâ— si vergognarebbe ottomâ—sâ— c. Tanto le cose che paiâ—no soâ—o piu daâ—icosto che â—â—â—â—presse tom de the Hostory of Florence These things were accepted by Henry and so great a King submitted himself to that judgement to which a private man in our dayes would be ashamed to submit himself Then he exclaimeth So much things that have some shew are more dreaded afar off than near hand Which he saith Because at the same time the Citizens of Rome expelled the Pope out of the City with disgrace scorning his Excommunication This was done in the year of our Lord 1170. as appeareth by these Verses Anno Milleno Centeno Septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas In the year 1179. Lewis King of France who had entertained Thomas at Sens passed over into England to Worship him and made his
and eleven they were banished never to return again into England There hapning many contests between the Bishop of Lincoln and the Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford concerning the Presentation and Confirmation of their Chancellor whether he ought to come out of the University in Person to the Bishop or to be admitted by his Proxies the King by his Prerogative to advance Learning and settle Peace between them made a friendly accord for the future Pope Nicholas preferring his own lucre and favour of King Edward and his Chaplains before God's Service or Peoples Souls against sundry Canons Licensed twenty of the King's Clerks imployed in his service which he should nominate to be Non-residents from their Ecclesiastical Benefices for ten years space This year the King confirmed the grant of several Tithes Churches and Advousons formerly made by Robert de Candos to the Monastery of Bâ—k and Goldclive Then Peter de Divion Abbot of Rewley an Alien born in France and most Abbots and Priors that were Aliens took an Oath and gave sufficient Pledges for their Fidelity and true Allegeance to the King in that Age especially in time of War and not to send the Goods of their Monasteries out of the Realm which they frequently did to the Kingdoms prejudice The King issuing a Dedimus potestatem to the Abbot of Thame to take this Oath of Peter de Divion the Abbot endorsed this return thereon Ego Frater Johannes Abbas de Thame virtute istius Mandati recepi Sacramentum Dom. Petri de Divione Abbatis de Regali loco juxta Oxon. apud Oxon. Dominica in festo Apostolorum Simonis Judae etiam recepi Manucaptores ipsius Domini Petri Abbatis de Regali loco viz. Johannem de Doclynton Majorem Villae Oxon. Johannem de Crokesford Juniorem Ricardum Cary Johannem de Fallee Johannem le Peyntour Burgensis dictae Villae Oxon. Qui conjunctim divisim manuceperunt dictum Dom. Petrum Abbatem de Regali loco quod idem Abbas bene fideliter erga dominum Regem se habebit omnia alia in Brevi isto contenta perficiet observabit The King granted two hundred pounds to the Pope's Chaplain in Scotland for his expences pains and labour therein taken in the service of Queen Margaret deceased The same year William de Luda was elected and confirmed Bishop of Ely This year the King gave several sums of Money to buy Books and Ornaments for Religious Houses that were burnt in Gascoign and England The King converted the Profits of the Archbishoprick of York then void to the repairing and building the Castle of Carnarvan in Wales after his Conquest thereof Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury storieth that John Parker de Antiqu Eccle. Anglic. f. 205. Anno 1290. Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury this year after the visitation and subjugation of his whole Province summoned a Council of his Clergy at Reding wherein he propounded the drawing of all causes concerning Advousons meerly belonging to the King 's Temporal to their Ecclesiastical Courts and to cut off all Prohibitions to them from the King's Courts in personal Causes Which the King hearing of expresly commanded them by special Messengers to desist from it whereupon this Council was dissolved In the nineteenth year of King Edward the First Queen Eleanor deceasing in December the King thereupon out of his devotion according to the practice of that blind Age on January the fourth issued a Writ to all the Religious Houses and Monks of Cluny in England to sing Masses and Prayers for her Soul to purge it from all the remaining spots of sin and to certifie him the number of the Masses they would say for her that proportionably he might thank them William Thorn saith that the Prior of Christ-church in Canterbury granted to the King in the Feast of the Translation of St. Edward fifty Hymns and two thousand three hundred and fifty Masses for the Souls of his Progenitors and Queens of England as a great extraordinary Liberality and Spiritual Alms. The Abbot of Condam also sent a Letter to the King to inform him what Prayers Masses and Anniversaries He and his Monastery had ordered for the Queens speedy translation to Heavenly Joyes Anno 1292. died John Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Nicholas also died who sate four years one month and eighteen dayes after whose death one delivered this Verse for an Epitaph Gloria laus speculum fratrum Nicolae Minorum Te vivente vigent te moriente cadunt The Frier Minors pride insolency and avarice was great while they lived who were both of their Order Archbishop Peckham's death this year put a period to the Contests between him and the Abbot of St. Augustines King Edward in the twentieth year of his Reign out of his blind devotion and love to his late deceased Consort Queen Eleanor instituted a solemn Anniversary to be kept for her every year issuing sums of Money and granting several Manors and Lands to the Abbot and Covent of Westminster for that end wherein he prescribed how many Tapers Claus 20. Edw. 1. and of what weight they should find how many and what Masses Dirges Pater-nosters Ave-Maries they should sing and what Alms they should distribute to the poor for her Soul obliging the Abbot Prior and Monks by a solemn Oath duly to perform the same under pain of forfeiting all their Goods Chattels and the Lands thus given to them for this end Anthony Bishop of Durham erecting the Parish-Churches of Chester and Langechester which were very rich and large into a Deanary and seven Prebendaries for the advancing of God's Service and the good of the peoples Souls and obliging the Dean and Prebends by Oath to personal Residence thereon and discharge of their duties and God's Service therein according as he had prescribed by his Ordinances and Charters The King to promote God's Service and the good of his Peoples Souls ratified the Bishop's Ordinances by two Charters which recite them warranting the division of great and rich Parishes and Bishopricks into many and obliging the Dean Prebends Ministers Chaplains thereof by Oath to personal Residence and discharge of their Duties and Divine offices therein John Lythgraines and Alice his Wife erecting a Chappel and Chauntry to the Virgin Mary in their Manor of Lasingby consisting of one Master and six Chaplains to sing Mass for their Souls and the Souls of their Ancestors and of King Edward and his Heirs of the present Bishop of Durham and his Successors and of all faithful Souls deceased prescribing an Oath to them of perpetual Residence and discharge of the particular Divine Services and trusts reposed in them procured the King to ratifie this his Charter by his Royal Charter enrolled in the 〈◊〉 20 Ed. â—â— 5. Tower King Edward the First in the twenty one year of his Reign as Superiour Lord of Scotland in that Age exercised a Soveraign Authority in and over the King Clergy
Pope at first grew afterwards into custom by degrees both in England and elsewhere As this Pope thus introduced these First-fruits into England so he likewise frequently sent abroad his Bulls of Provisions for Ecclesiastical Benefices and Promotions therein for his Favourites and Clerks which were then void or should afterwards fall void by death or otherwise Manifold were the Cautions inserted into Pope's Provisions for poor Clerks though Learned and Honest which must be confined to an Archbishop's Living in one Diocess of small value and those not formerly granted to any others and they bound to personal residence thereon when as others that were rich and more able to pay great sums for them were not clogged with so many Cautions Many Instruments under the hands of publick Notaries these poor Clerks must procure with vast sollicitation travel and expence before they get the least hopes of enjoying any small Prebend or Benefice by Popes Bulls and yet in fine not enjoy actual possession of them Many of the Pope's Provisions to every small as well as great Prebendary nor Benefice were granted to several persons in possession or expectacy by sundry Bulls at once contradicting repealing each other by Non obstantes engendring infinite Suits and Appeals in the Pope's Court to the great vexation of the Patrons Provisors and other Competitors and neglect of the Peoples souls during suâ—h Contests concerning them The King granted the Tithes and Appropriations of all his new Assarts within his Forrest of Deane which were extraparochial to the Bishop of Landâ—ff to augment his small Bishoprick and maintain a Chauntry in the Church of Newland The like Grant the King made this year of extraparochial Tithes within the Forrest of Sherwood to the Prior of Fellâ—y The King likewise ordered the Tithes of all his Mills in Holderness to be paid to the Parsons of all Parish-churches wherein they were as the Nobles and others there used to pay them Then the King according to the manner of that Age commanded Prayers and Masses to be made for the Soul of Joan late Queen of France and for Blanch late Dutchess of Austria deceased In Scotland there arose a great Rebellion through the treachery of the perjured Archbishop of St. Andrews the Bishop of Glasgo and Abbot of Schone who confederating with Robert Brus Earl of Carrick and others of the Scottish Nobility resolved to make and Crown Robert King of Scotland who being opposed therein by John Comyn his Cousin German a man of great power in Scotland he set upon and murdered the said John Comyn in the Church of Dunfrees and was soon after â—â—owned King by the premised Bishops and Abbot Pope Clement the Sixth being informed of this murder of John Comyn by King Robert ordered the Archbishop of York and Bishop of Carlisie to excommunicate him and his Complices with sound of Bells and Candles in all places of England Scotland Ireland Wales and elsewhere though without their Diocess and to Interdict all their Lands and Castles till they should submit themselves This Bull was executed accordingly King Edward sent a great and strong Army into Scotland against Robert Brus. And Aymery de Valence Earl of Pembrook put to flight King Robert took his Wife his Brother Nigellus and others but himself escaped into the utmost Isles of Scotland The Earl of Athol was put to death at London and Nigellus at Barwick The Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgo and the Abbot of Scone were put in Iron chains and kept close prisoners in Porchesâ—â—â—-castle King Robert was brought to such misery that he was sometime naked and hungry without meat or drink save only water and roots of Herbs and his life alwayes in danger Robert Brus came forth at length out of the Scottish Islands with such forces as he had gotten together taking the Castles of Carrick Innerness and many other To put an end to all which trouble King Edward appointed a great Daniel's Chron. in Edw. 1 Host to attend him at Carlisle three weeks after Midsummer-day There he held his last Parliament wherein the State got many Ordinances to pass for reformation of the abuses of the Pope's Ministers and his own former exactions wringing from the elect Archbishop of York in one year nine thousand five hundred Marks And Anthony Bishop of Durham to be made Patriarch of Jerusalem gave the Pope and his Cardinals mighty sums The Pope required the Fruits of one years revenue of every Benefice that should fall void in England Wales and Ireland and the like of Abbies Priories and Monasteries King Edward in July enters Scotland with a fresh Army and dyes at Burgh upon Sands having reigned thirty four years seven months aged sixty eight This King had founded the Abbey of Val-royal in Cheshire for the Cistercians and by Will bequeathed thirty two thousand pounds to the Holy Land He was obedient not servile to the See of Rome Edward the Second his Son called of Caeernarvan succeeded in the Kingdom in July 1307. He soon caused Walter de Langton Bishop of Chester Treasurer of England and principal Executor of the last Will of the deceased King to be arrested by Sir John Felton Constable of the Tower and imprisoned in Wallingford-castle seizing upon all his Temporalties till afterwards by means of the Papal authority he was restored and they were seemingly reconciled The Bishop's crime was a good freedom which he used in the late King's dayes in gravely reproving this Prince for his misdemeanours and shortening his wast of coin by a frugal moderation All the Bishop's Goods he gave to Piers Gaveston makes a new Treasurer of his own removes most of his Father's Officers and all without the advice and consent of his Council The King was married to Isabel Daughter of Philip the fair King of France which was performed magnificently at Boleign Piers Gaveston was the King's great Favourite who filled the Court with Buffoons Parasites Minstrels Stage-players and all kind of dissolute persons King Edward the Second by Letters to the Pope requested that Robert Winchelsey might be restored to his Archbishoprick which was done accordingly though he returned too late to Crown the King which solemnity was performed by Henry Woodlock Bishop of Winchester Shortly after his Coronation all the Knights Templers throughout The Order of the Knights Templars abolished throughout Christendom England were at once arrested and committed to prison In the General Council of Vienna this Order was utterly abolished through Christendom The French King caused fifty four of that Order together with their great Master to be burnt at Paris And the Pope and Council annexed their possessions to the Order of the Knights Hospitallers called commonly Knights of the Rhodes But in England the Heirs of the Donors and such as had endowed the Templars here with Lands entred upon those parts of the ancient Patrimonies after the dissolution of the Order and detained them until not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred unto
Margaret in the Town of Lyn but since of St. Osith in the City of London It seemeth he had formerly abjured those Arcticles for which he suffered death before the Bishop of Norwich Therefore he was first adjudged to be degraded and deposed which was in order as followeth From the Order of 1. Priest by taking from him 1. The Patin Chalice and plucking the Chasule from his Back 2. Deacon 2. The New Testament and the Stole 3. Subdeacon 3. The Alb and the Maniple 4. Acolyte 4. The Candlestick Taper Vrceolum 5. Exorcist 5. The Book of Constitutions 6. Reader 6. The Book of Church-Legends 7. Sexton 7. The Key of the Church-door and Surplice How many steps are required to climb up to the top of Popish Priesthood how many trinkets must be had to compleat a Priest and here we behold them solemnly taken asunder in Sautres degradation And now he no longer Priest but plain Lay-man with the Tonsure on his crown rased away was delivered to the Secular Power with this complement worth the noting Beseeching the Secular Court that they would receive favourably the said William unto them thus recommitted But see their hypocrisie The Popish Bishops at the same time for all their fair language called upon the King to bring him to speedy execution Hereupon the King in Parliament issued out his Warrant to the Mayor and Sheriff of London that the said William being in their custody should be brought forth into some publick place within the liberty of the City and there really to be burnt to the great horrour of his offence and manifest example of other Christians which was done accordingly After this Richard Scroop Archbishop of York with the Lord Moubray Marshall of England gathered together a great company against King Henry in the North Countrey to whom was adjoyned the ayd of the Lord Bardolf and Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland They drew up ten Articles against the said King and fastened them upon the doors of Churches and Monasteries to be read of all men in English The Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf were slain in the field fighting against the Kings part Anno 1408. But the Archbishop of York and the Lord Moubray were taken and beheaded Anno 1409. Thomas Badby a Tailor was by Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury condemned for the Testimony of the truth He was brought into Smithfield and there being put into an empty barrel was bound with Iron bars fast to a stake and dry wood put to him and so burned Some Professors of the Gospel at that time did shrink back as John Purvey who wrote many Books in defence of Wickliff's Doctrine and among others a Commentary upon the Apocalypse wherein he declareth the Pope of Rome to be that great Antichrist He recanted at Paul's Cross John Edwards Priest revoked at the Green-yard at Norwich Richard Herbert and Emmot Willy of London and John Beck also at London John Seynons of Lincoln-shire revoked at Canterbury Then was William Thorp examined before the Archbishop of Canterbury who rehearsed his belief before the Archbishop afterwards he was committed to close Prison where he was so straitly kept that either he was secretly made away or else there he died by sickness John Ashton also another follower of Wickliff who for the same Doctrine of the Sacrament held by Thorp was committed to close Prison after he was condemned where he continued till his death Philip Rippington was made Bishop of Lincoln who of a Professor became a cruel Persecutor of the Gospel Synods of the Clergy were very frequent in this King's Reign but most of these were but Ecclesiastical meetingâ— for secular Money Sir John Tiptoff made afterwards Earl of Worcester put up a Petition to the Parliament touching Lollards which so wrought on the Lords that they joyned in a Petition to the King that they and every of them be taken and put in Prison without being delivered in Bail or otherwise except by good and sufficient mainprise to be taken before the Chancellor of England c. The Popish Clergy had gained Prince Henry set as a Transcendent by himself in the Petition to their Side entring his youth against the poor Wickliffists and this earnest engaged him to the greater Antipathy against them when possessed of the Crown A Petition was put up in the Parliament That the King might enjoy half of the profits of any Parson's Benefice not resident thereon whereunto the King answered That Ordinaries should do their duties therein or else he would provide further remedy or stay their pluralities The ninth year of the King's Reign the Commons desired of the King That none presented be received by any Ordinary to have any Benefice of any Incumbent for any cause of privation or inhabitation whereof the Process is not founded upon Citation made within the Realm and also that such Incumbents may remain in all their Benefices untill it be proved by due Inquest in the Court of the King that the Citations whereupon such privations and inhabitations are granted were made within the Realm and if such Ordinaries do or have presented or others do present to the contrary that then they and their Procurators c. incur the pain contained in the Statute made against Provisoe's Anno 13. Ric. 2. Also that no Pope's Collector should from thence-forth levy any Money within the Realm for first Fruits of any Ecclesiastical dignity under pain of incurring the Statute of Provisoe's The Commons in the same Parliament put up a Bill to the King to take the Temporalties out of the Hands of the Spiritualty which amounted to three hundred and two and twenty thousand Marks by the year Then came the Cardinal of Burges into England being sent from the Colledge of Cardinals to inform the King and Clergy of the unconstant dealing of Pope Gregory After the Feast of the Epiphany the Archbishop of Canterbury Convocated Anno 1409. Stowâ—s Chro. in Henry 4. an Assembly of the Clergy at London to chuse meet persons to go to the General Council holden at Pisa whereunto were chosen Robert Holam Bishop of Salisbury Henry Chisely Bishop of St. Davids and Thomas Chillindon Prior of Christ-Church in Canterbury and the King had sent before Sir John Colvil Knight and Nicholas Rixton Clerk with letters to be given to them A letter also was sent unto the Pope wherein the King chargeth him with Perjury At Pisa there assembled a great number of Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and Mitred Prelates who elected a new Pope viz. Alexander the fifth a man trained up at Oxford rejecting the two other Schismatical Popes Gregory and Benedict Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury came with a Pompous train to Oxford His intent was Juridically to visit the University expecting to be solemnly met and sumptuously entertained according to his place and dignity But Richard Courtney the Chancellor of Oxford with Benedict Brent and John Birch the two Proctors denied the Archbishop entrance into the
again was made a Bishop in Ireland and went to Rhodes in Ambassage from whence being returned he went barefooted up and down in Norfolk teaching the ten Commandments and lived till near an hundred years old Now also lived Robert Fabian a Sheriff of London and Historiographer Edmond Dudley who wrote a book Entitled Arbor Reipublica John Bockingham an Excellent School-man And William Blackney D. D. a Carmelite Friar and a Necromancer Henry VIII succeeded his Father On June 3. He was Married to the Lady Katherine Dowager formerly wife to his brother Prince Arthur deceased Pope Julius by his dispensation removed all obstructions against the Laws of God or man hindering or opposing the said Match Cruelty still increased on the poor Lollards as they were called after abjuration forced to wear the fashion of a Faggot wrought in thread or painted on their sleeves as long as they lived it being death to put on their clothes without that cognizance Their case was sad if they put it off they must be burned if they put it on they must be starved for none generally would set them on work that wore that badge On this account were William Sweeting and James Brewster re-imprisoned In vain did Brewster plead that he was commanded to leave off his badge by the Controller of the Earl of Oxford's house And as little did Sweeting's plea prevail that the Parson of Mary Magdalen's in Colchester caused him to lay his faggot aside Soon after they were both burnt together in Smithfield Anno 1511. One John Brown who had born a faggot before in the days of King Henry the Seventh was burned at Ashford in Kent for the Profession of the Truth condemned by Archbishop Warham first having had his Feet burned to the Bones to compel him to deny the Truth Richard Hunn a wealthy Citizen of London imprisoned in Lollards Tower for adhering to Wickliff's Doctrine had his neck therein secretly broken To cover their cruelty they gave it out that he hanged himself on December 20. 1514. the dead Body of the said Richard Hunn was burnt in Smithfield Sixteen days after he was murdered But the matter having been fully examined by the Council and Judges and Justices of the Realm it was evidently proved that Dr. Horsey the Chancellor Charles Joseph the Sumner and John Spalding the Bel-ringer had committed the Murder Thomas-Man and John Stilâ—man were also burned in Smithfield Thomas Man confessed he had converted Seven hundred from Popery to the Truth Robert Cosin was also condemned and burned at Buckingham for holding against Pilgrimages Confession to Priâ—sts and Worshipping of Image Christopher Shoomaker was burned at Newbery upon the like account Cardinal Bainbrigg Archbishop of York being then at Rome was so highly offended with Rivaldus de Modena an Italian his Steward that he cudgelled him but being soon after poisoned his Body was buried in the English Hospital at Rome Richard Fox Bishop of Winchâ—ster Founded and Endowed Corpus â—uller Church Hist Christi-Colledge in Oxford bestowing thereon Lands to the yearly value of Four hundred and one pounds eight shillings and two pence There are maintained in it a President Twenty Fellows Twenty Scholars Two Chaplains Two Clerks and Two Choristers besides Officers and Servants of the Foundation with other Students Hugh Oldham Bishop of Exeter was a great Benefactor to this Colledge Anno 1519. died John Golet at Shene in Surrey he had learned humane 〈◊〉 Chur. Hist Sciences at home and travelled into France and Italy when he returned â—e studied the Scriptures and expounded St. Paul's Epistles publickly at Oxford Henry the Seventh promoted him to the Deanry of Pauls He professed to distast many things that he had heard in Sorbon He called the Scotists men without judgement and the Thomists arrogant He said He reaped more fruit by the Books which the Doctors of Sorbon called Heretical than by their Books that were full of divisions and definitions and were most approved of them He never married and yet regarded not Monks without Learning In his Sermons he said Images should not be Worshipped and Clerks should not be Covetous Two Friaâ—s viz. Bricot and Standish accused him for Heresie unto Richard Fitz-James Bishop of London and He unto the Archbishop first and then unto King Henry the Eighth But both the King and the Archbishop became his Patrons He was the eldest and sole surviving child of Sir Henry Collet Mercer twice Lord Mayor of London who with his ten Sons and as many Daughters were depicted in a Glass-window on the North-side Sâ—â—w's Survay p. 265. of St. Anthonie's corruptly St. Antlin's to which Church he was a great Benefactor His Son John Founded the Free-school of St. Pauls in it are One hundred fifty and three Scholars whereof every year some appearing most pregnant have salaries allowed them for Seven years or untill they get better preferment in the University or in the Church William Lily was the first School-master thereof by Colet's own appointment An excellent Scholar born at Odiam in Hamp-shire and afterward he went on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem In his return through Italy he applyed himself to his Studies His Teachers and Instructers were John Sulpitius and Pomponius Sabinus two eminent Criticks Returning home into his native Countrey well accomplished with Latin Greek and all Arts and Sciences he set forth a Grammar which still goes under his Name and is generally taught over all England Anno 1517. Luther wrote against Popish Indulgences shewing the abuses of them King Henry the Eighth set forth a Book against Luther endeavouring the Confutation of his Opinions as novel and unsound To requite his pains the Pope honoured him and his Successors with a specious Title Defender of the Faith Luther sharply answered that Book Cardinal Wolsey was now the Pope's Legat de latere by vertue whereof he visited all Churches and Religious houses even the Friars observants themselves notwithstanding their stoutness and stubbornness that first opposed him Papal and Royal power met in him being the Chancellor of the Land and keeping so many Bishopricks in Commendam his yearly income is said to equal if not exceed the Revenues of the Crown Being to found two Colledges he seized on forty small Monasteries turning their Inhabitants out of House and home and converting their means principally to a Colledge in Oxford This alienation was confirmed by Pope Clement the Seventh so that in some sort the Pope may thank himself for the demolishing of Religious houses in England His Colledge in Oxford did thrice change it's name in seven years first called Cardinals Colledge then King's Colledge and at last Christ-church which it retaineth at this day King Henry took just offence that the Cardinal set his own Arms above the King 's on thy Gate-house at the entrance into the Colledge There have been maintained in this Colledge one Dean eight Canons three publick Professors of Divinity Hebrew and Greek sixty Students eight Chaplains eight Singing-men an Organist
without a name joyned himself to the other five in the disputation The Prolocutor would admit of no more though desired by Philpot that some of the Divines which had the passing of the Book of Articles in King Edward's time might be assembled with them in the defence thereof The main point in debate concernded the manner of Christ's presence in the Sacrament It was not denied by Philpot and his Brethren That Christ was present in the Sacrament rightly administred according to his Institution but onely that He was not present in the gross and carnal manner which They of the Popish party had before subscribed unto Six dys the disputation lasted but to little effect At length Weston put an end to the dispute saying It is not the Queen's pleasure that we should spend any longer time in these debates and yet are well enough already For you saith He have the Word and we have the Sword After the end of the Evensong on St. Katherine's day Bonner caused the Quire of St. Paul's to go about the Steeple singing with lights after the old custom And on St. Andrew's day next following he began the Procession in Latin himself with many Parsons and Curates and the whole Quire together with the Lord Mayor and divers of the Aldermen the Prebendaries of the Church attired in their old gray Amises as they used to call them in which manner they continued it for three days after on January 14. he restored the solemn Sunday's procession about the Church with the Mayor and Aldermen the Preacher taking his Benediction in the midst of the Church according to the antient custom likewise he sent out his Mandates to all Parsons and Curates within his Diocese for taking the names of all such as would not come the Lent following to Auricular Confession and receive at Easter he likewise enjoyned the blotting out of all such paintings and sentences of holy Scripture as had been pensiled on the Church-walls in King Edward's days Mr. Jewel continued some weeks in Broad-gates Hall whither his Scholars repaired unto him whom he instructed in Learning and Religion He had not long lived there but being perswaded by the Popish Fuller Church History of Q. Mary Inquisitors to subscribe he took a pen in his Hand and smiling said Have you a mind to see how well I can write and thereupon under-writ their Opinions The Papists trusted him not any whit the more for this his subscription His life being way-laid for with great difficulty he escaped into Germany But on a Sunday after his Forenoon-sermon by the advice of Dr. Edwin Sandys afterwards Archbishop of York Mr. Chambers and Mr. Sampson his bosom Friends in the Congregation of Franckfort he bitterly bewailed his fall and heartily requested pardon from God and his people whom thereby he he had offended On November 20. the Mayor of Coventry sent up to the Lords of the Council one Baldwin Cleark John Careless Thomas Wilcocks and Richard Estlin Careless and Wilcocks were committed to the Gate-house and Cleark and Estlin to the Marshalsey In the moneth of December the Parliament broke up in which there was a Communication of Marriage betwixt the Emperor's Son Philip and the Queen In the mean-while Cardinal Pool hasteneth toward England The Emperor invites him to come into Germany by his way and entertains him with great shew of Honour untill by his Ambassador Petri. Church Hist Câ—nt 1â— he had finished a Contract of Marriage between his Son Philip and Queen Mary This match was generally distasted To hinder it Sir Thomas Wyat a Kentish Knight took Armes with a great party assisting him But albeit he wanted neither Wit Wealth Learning yet all were 〈◊〉 employed about him Wyat demandeth the Person of the Queen the Tower of London to be committed unto him with power to displace evil Counsellors his demands were refused with scornâ— Queen Mary came to Guildhall and there made a long Oration which secured the affections of the Citizens unto her Wyat came up to London He was taken at Temple-bar carried thence be examined and thence to the Tower to be committed Some days after he suffered penitently and patiently on the Scaffold condemning his own Act. Of his complices were hanged fifty persons and four hundred more led through the City with halters about their necks to Westminster where they were all pardoned in the Tilt-yard by the Queen Doctor Crome for his Preaching without License on Christmas day was committed to the Fleet Thomas Wotton Esquire was for matters of Religion committed also to the Fleet. The Duke of Suffolk Father to the Lady Jane but lately pardoned of life in the midst of the Kentish tumult secretly departeth into Leicester and Warwick-shires instigating the people to withstand the Queen's Marriage agreed upon with Philip. The Duke was betrayed Speeds Chron. in Q. Mary by one Vnderwood his Servant in Ashley-park with his Brother John Lord Gray unto the Earl of Huntington whence they were by him convayed prisoners to the Tower of London This seemed to hasten the death of the Lady Jane and the Lord Guilford her Husband who were both beheaded February 12. 1554. he was beheaded on a Scaffold on Tower-hill and she upon the Green within the Tower Two days before her death Mr. Fecknam was sent unto her by the Queen to reduce her to the Popish Religion whom she constantly and with great power of God's Spirit resisted Eleven days after her death her Father the Duke of Suffolk was beheaded on Tower-hill And on April 23. his Brother the Lord Thomas Gray suffered death in the same place Now for putting the Affairs of the Church into a posture Articles are sent into every Diocese and Letters writ unto their several and respective Bishops on the third of March to see them carefully put in execution the substance whereof were 1. That the Ecclesiastical Laws of King Henry the Eighth should be put in practice being not directly against the Laws and Statutes of the Realm 2. That no Bishop do use the Clause in any of their Ecclesiastical writings Regia authoritate fulcitus 3. That no Sacramentary be admitted to Benefice 4. That all Bishops do labour to suppress Heresies especially in the Clergy 5. That they should suppress all unlawfull Books and writings 6. The next Article was against Priests Marriages and that such as would depart from their Wives should be admitted to the same function 7. That for want of Priests one Priest should serve two places 8. That Processions be used 9. That Holy-days and Fasts be frequented 10. That the Ceremonies be used and Confirmation of Children be put in practice In the same moneth of March the Lord Courtney whom the Queen at her first entry delivered out of the Tower and the Lady Elizabeth also the Queen's Sister were both by the suggestion of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester suspected to have been of Wyat's Conspiracy and for the same were apprehended and sent to the Tower
in this time of War Then the Duke of Guise one of the best Souldiers of that Age now called back out of Italy being informed by the Governor of Bulloign that the Town was neither so well fortified nor so strongly garriloned but that it might easily be taken on New-years-day sate down before it and on Twelfth-day had it surrendred up unto him by the Lord Deputy Wentworth who had the chief government of it Guisnesse Hames and all the other Forts in the County of Oye were reduced under the power of the French within few dayes after The Pope is displeased with Cardinal Pool by whose perswasion it was thought that the Queen had broke her League with France to take part with her Husband therefore he deprives Pool of the Legantine power confers the same upon Friar Peitow an English-man by birth and of good descent whom he designs also to the See of Sarisbury then void by the death of Capon Karn the Queens Agent with the Pope advertiseth her of these secret practices Pool layes by the Cross of his Legation and abstains from the exercise of his Bulls and Faculties Peitow the new Cardinal-Legat puts himself on the way to England when the Queen commandeth him at his peril not to adventure to set foot on English ground Peitow died in April following the rupture was made up again and Pool was confirmed in the possession of his former powers And thereupon followed the burning divers persons in the Diocess of Canterbury whereof two suffered at Ashford and six in his own Metropolitan City These Godly Martyrs in their prayers which they made before their Martyrdom desired God that their blood might be the last that should be shed and so it came to pass The number of prohibited Books increasing every day more and more a Proclamation was set forth on June the sixth to hinder the continual spreading of so great a mischief Which Proclamation though it were very smart yet not so full of rigour as another which came out at the burning of seven persons in Smithfield published both at Newgate where they were imprisoned and at the Stake where they were to suffer whereby it was straitly charged and commanded That no man should either pray for or speak to them or once say God help them Which Proclamation notwithstanding Bentham the Minister of one of the London Congregations seeing the fire set to them turning his eyes unto the people and cried We know they are the People of God and therefore we cannot chuse but wish well to them and say God strengthen them And so he said Almighty God for Christ's sake strengthen them With that all the people with one consent cried Amen Amen It was very admirable that the Protestants should have a Congregation under Bonner's nose yet so it was and in one of those Congregations whereof Bentham was Minister there assembled feldom under forty many times an hundred and more the Ministers whereof successively were Mr. Edward Scambler after Bishop of Peterborough Mr. Thomas Foule Mr. John Rough convented and condemned by Bonner and burnt for the Truth After whom followed Mr. Augustine Bernher a moderate and learned man and finally Mr. Thomas Bentham forementioned who continued in that charge till the death of Queen Mary and was by Queen Elizabeth preferred to the Sea of Lichfield Anno 1589. And notwithstanding all the care of the Queens Inquisitors many good Books of true Christian Consolation and good Doctrine did either find some Press in London or were sent over to their Brethren by such learned men as had retired themselves to their several Sanctuaries Then raged a contagious Fever in most parts of the Land and no former Plague was thought to have destroyed a greater number so that divers places were left void of Justices and men of worth to govern the Kingdom At which time died also so many Priests that a great number of Parish-Churches in divers places were unserved and no Curates could be gotten for money Much corn was also lost in the field for want of Workmen to get it in Physitians died as well as the Patients two of the Queens Doctors dying of it a little before the death of the Queen It spared the Prelat no more than the Priest insomuch that within less than the space of twelve months almost one half of the English Bishops had made void their Sees Now God put an end to those calamities of his Children by the death of Queen Mary who died of a Dropsie November the seventeenth 1558. Within few hours after her death died Cardinal Pool Archbishop of Canterbury He procured of the Queen the Patronage of nineteen Benefices unto his See promised and intended to repair the Palace at Canterbury He was buried in his own Cathedral with this short and modest Epitaph upon his plain Monument DEPOSITVM CARDINALIS POLI. The Parliament sate at Queen Maries death after which they only continued so long as joyntly and publickly to proclaim Elizabeth Queen and then they were dissolved Queen Maries body was enterred in the Chappel of King Henry the Seventh in the Isle on the North side thereof ELIZABETH the only Child then living of King Henry the Eighth succeeded her Sister in the Throne on November the seventeenth Anno 1558. She was proclaimed by the King at Arms first before Westminster-hall door in the presence of the Lords and Commons and not long after at the Cross in Cheapside and other places in the City in the presence of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and principal Citizens to the great joy of all peaceable and well-affected people The news whereof being brought unto her by some of the Lords she removes from Hatfield on the nineteenth of that month and with a great and royal Train sets forward to London At Highgate four miles from the City she was met by all the Bishops then living who presented themselves before her upon their knees In which address as she expressed no small contentment so she gave to each of them particularly her hand to kiss except only unto Bonner of London At her first coming to the City she took her lodging in the Charter-house where she staid some dayes till all things in the Tower might be fitted for her reception Attended by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with a stately Train of Lords and Ladies she entreth by Cripple-gate into the City passeth along the Wall till she came to Bishops-gate where all the Companies of the City in their several Liveries waited her coming in their proper and distinct ranks reaching from thence until the further end of Mark-lane where she was entertained with a peal of great Ordinance from the Tower At her entrance into which place she rendred her most humble thanks to Almighty God for the great and wondrous change of her condition in bringing her from being a prisoner in that place to be the Ruler of her people and now to take possession of it as a Royal Palace Here she remained till December
midst thereof Which last remained there for some years The antient Ceremonies customably observed by the Knights of the Garrer in their Adoration toward the Altar were by this Queen retained aâ— formerly in her Father's time The solemn Sermons Preached upon each Wednesday Friday and Lords-day in the time of Lent Preached by the choycest of the Clergy she devoutly heard attired in black according to the custom of her Predecessors The Bishoprick of Carlile was first profered to Bernard Gilpin Rector â—uller Church History of Britain of Houghton in the North but Mr. Gilpin refused the offer not that he had any disaffection to the Office but because he had so much kinred about Carlile at whom He must either connive in many things not without hurt to himself or else deny them not without offence to them It was afterward given to Dr. John Best as was shewed before As for Miles Coverdale formerly Bishop of Exeter he hever returned to his See but remained a private Minister to the day of his death Such of the Scots as desired a Reformation of Religion taking advantage by the Queen's abscence and want of power in the Queen Regent to suppress their practices had put themselves into a Body Headed by some of the Nobility they take unto themselves the name of the Congregation managing their own Affairs apart from the rest of the Kingdom They petition the Queen Regent and the Lords of the Council that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper might be administred in both kinds That divine Offices might be celebrated in the vulgar Tongue and that they might have the choice of their own Ministers The chief of the party well backed by the common people put themselves into Perth the news whereof occasioneth Mr. Knox to leave Geneva and joyn himself to the Lords of the Congregation At Perth he Preacheth against Images Idolatry and other Superstitions of the Church of Rome so bitterly that the people in a popular fury deface all the Images in that Church and presently demolish all Religious Houses in that City Those of Couper hearing of it forthwith destroyed all Images and pulled down the Altars in that Church also The like was done after his Preaching at Craile and St. Andrews in those places They burnt down the rich Monastery of Scone and ruined that of Cambuskenneth demolished all the Altars Images and Covents of Religious persons in Sterling Lithgow Glascough Edenburgh which last they possess and put up their own Preachers into all the Pulpits of that City not suffering the Queen Regent to have the use of one Church onely for her own devotions They alse deprive the Queen Regent of all place and power in the publick Government But she gathering Forces recovereth Edenborough and the chief key of all that Kingdom garisoned by the French In their extremity Maitland and Melvin being dispatched to the Court of England imploring aid from Queen Elizabeth And an Army is sent into Scotland of six thousand Foot and three thousand Horse commanded by the Lord Gray Some Ships were also sent to block up the haven and hinder all Relief which might come by Sea to the Town of Leith At length after divers Articles signed and confirmed for both Kingdoms the French take their leave of Scotland and the English Army was disbanded at Berwick As the Congregation was by the Queen put upon a present confidence of going vigorously on in their Reformation so it concern'd them to proceed so carefully in pursuance of it as might comply with the dependance which they had upon her First Therefore they bound themselves by their subscription to embrace the Liturgy with all the Rites of the Church of England which for a time remained the onely form of Worship for the Kirk of Scotland In the next place They cause a Parliament to be called in the moneth of August for the Boroughs there appeared the accustomed number but of the Lords Spiritual no more than six Bishops of thirteen with thirteen Abbots and Priors and the Temporal Lords to the number of ten Earls and as many Barons Three Acts were passed to the advantage of the Reformation The first was for the abolishing the Pope's Jurisdiction and Authority within the Realm The second for annulling all Statutes made in former times for maintenance of Idolatry and Superstition The third for the punishing the Sayers and Hearers of the Mass To this Parliament also some of the Ministers presented a Confession of the Faith and Doctrine to be believed and professed by the Protestants of the Kirk of Scotland which being put to the Vote was opposed but by three of the Temporal Lords The Popish Prelates were silent in it which being observed by the Earl Marshal he broke out into these words Seeing saith He that my Lords the Bishops who by their Learning can and for the zeal they should have to the Truth ought as I suppose to gainsay any thing repugnant to it say nothing against the Confession we have heard I cannot think but that it is the very Truth of God and that the contrary of it is false Doctrine The Queen was now as active in advancing the Reformed Religion in Ireland as she had been in either of the other Kingdoms A Parliament is therefore held on January 12. where past an Act restoring to the Crown the antient Jurisdiction over all Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Persons By which Statute were established both the Oath of Supremacy and the High Commission as before in England There past also an Act for the Uniformity of Common-Prayer c. with a permission Heyliâ—'s Hist of Q. Elizab. for saying the same in Latin in those Churches where the Minister had not the knowledge of the English Tongue The people by that Statute are required under several penalties to frequent their Churches and to be frequent at the reading the English Liturgy which they understand as little as the Mass by which means the Irish were kept in ignorance as to the Doctrines and Devotions of the Church of England There also past another Statute for restoring to the Crown the first-fruits and twenty parts of all Ecclesiastical promotions within that Realm as also of all Impropriate Parsonages The like Act passed for restoring all such Lands belonging to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem An Act was also past for the recognition of the Queen 's just Title to the Crown as before in England The Queen left the prosecution of the work to her Bishops and Clergy But they so dissipated the Revenues of their several Bishopricks by long Leases Fee-farmes and plain Alienations that to some of their Sees they left no more than a Rent of five Marks per annum to others a bare yearly Rent of forty shillings to the great dishonour of God disservice of the Church and the perpetual Ignominy of themselves Now Return we again to England where we find Reverend Jewel newly consecrated Bishop of Salisbury to have Preached a Sermon at
Hypocrite unmasked Now died Toby Mathew Archbishop of York presently posts Spalato to Theobalds becomes an Earnest Petitioner to the King for the vacant Archbishoprick and is as flatly denied Spalato offended at this repulse requests his Majesty by his Letter to grant him his good leave to depart the Kingdom Five days after the Bishops of London and Durham with the Dean of Westminster by his Majestie 's direction repaired to Spalato propounding unto Him sixteen Queries all arising out of his own Letter and requiring him to give the explanation of five of the most material under his hand for his Majestie 's greater satisfaction which he did accordingly yet not so clearly but that it occasioned a second meeting wherein more interrogatories were propounded unto him to all which he gave his answers He pretended many reasons for his return In pursuance of which his desire he wrote a second Letter to King James At length Spalato appears before the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Lincoln London Durham Winchester at Lambeth where the Archbishop of Canterbury in a long Latin Speech recapitulated the many misdemeanors of Spalato principally insisting on his changing of Religion as appeared by his purpose of returning to Rome and that contrary to the Laws of this Realm he had held correspondency with the Pope without the privity of the King's Majesty To which charge wheâ— Spalato had made a shuffling excuse rather than a just defence the Arâ—hbishop in his Majestie 's name commanded him to depart the Kingdom within twenty days and never to return again To this he promised obedience protesting he would ever justifie the Church of England for Orthodox in Fundamentals even in the presence of the Pope or whomsoever though with the loss of his life However he was loth to depart and secretly deals with his Friends in the English Court that his Majesty would permit him to stay But in vain and therefore within the time appointed he went over in the same Ship with Count Swartenzburgh the Emperor's Ambassador returning hence into Flanders Being come to Bruxels he recants his Religion and rails bitterly on the English Church Here he stayed six moneths for the Pope's Breve which at last was utterly denied him Now he desperately adventures to Rome barely presuming on promises and the Friendship of Pope Gregory the Fifteenth then Pope formerly his Colleague and Chamber-fellow He lived at Rome not loved and died unlamented He was clapt into prison his study seized on wherein many papers were found speaking Heresie enough his Adversaries being admitted sole Interpreters thereof He died some moneths after and after his death his Excommunicated Corps were put to publick shame and solemnly proceeded against in the Inquisition for relapsing Fuller Church Hist Ad. Aâ— 1622. into Heresie since his return to Rome Several Articles of Heresie are charged upon him and he found convict thereof is condemned to have his body burnt by the publick Executioner in the Field of Flora which was performed accordingly The Spanish Match was now the Discourse general but at last it brake off Heaven forbidding the Banes saith Mr. Fuller even at the third and last asking thereof King James falls off and for a condition of the Marriage demands the Restitution of the Palatinate The Prince returns from Spain Then was there a conference entertained between Dr. White and Dr. Featly Protestants Father Fisher and Father White Jesuites Now hapned the fatal Vespers at Black-friers in London Father Drury a Jesuite of excellent Morals Preached there in a great upper-room next to the House of the French Ambassador where three hundred persons were assembled His Text Matth. 18. 32. O thou ungratious servant I forgave thee all the debt because thou desiredst me shouldst not Thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant In application whereof he bitterly inveighed against the Protestants About the middle of his Sermon and the day declining on a sudden the Floor fell down where they were assembled many were killed more bruised all frightted Ninety five persons were slain among whom Mr. Drury Mr. Rodiat Priests with the Lady Webb were of the chiefest note Twenty of the poorer sort were buried hard by in one Grave and the rest bestowed by their friends in several places of Sepulture Yet notwithstanding this sad Accident the Papists were very insolent The Letter may be read at large in Rushworth's Collect. and Fuller Church History towards all true English men the rather because it was generally reported That his Majesty intended a Toleration of Religion which made the Archbishop of Canterbury in a serious Letter to present the King with his apprehensions beseeching the King to consider Lest by this Toleration and discountenancing of the true profession of the Gospel wherewith God hath blessed us and this Kingdom hath so long fâ—ourished under it God's heavy wrâ—th be not drawn upon this Kingdom c. What effect this Letter took is unknown sure it is all mens mouths were filled with a discourse of a Toleration for or against it yea the Pulpits are loud against Toleration Now because the peoples mouths were open and some Preachers were two busie the King gave directions for the regulation of the Ministry in his Letters directed to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for many shallow Preachers handled the profound points of Predestination c. Sermons were turned into Satyrs against Papists and Non-conformists The King revived the primitive and profitable order of Catechizing in the after-noon Various censures were passed on the King's Letters But these Instructions from his Majesty were not pressed with equal rigour in all places Both the Palatinates were now lost the Vpper seized on by the Emperor the Nether by the King of Spain the City of Heidelberg taken and plundered and the inestimable Library of Books therein carried over the Alpes on Mules backs to Rome Now those Books are placed in the Pope's Vatican The Duke of Bavaria was invested in the upper Palatinate Anno 1624. The match with France was concluded and in November the Articles were sworn unto by King James Prince Charles and the French King The Articles for Religion were not much short of those for Spanish match Count Mansfield was at this time in England and the Forces raised in the several parts of the Kingdom for the recovery of the Palatinate were put under his command Dover was the place assigned for their Rendezvous where the Colonels and Captains were to receive their several Regiments and Companies from the Conductors employed by those several Counties where the men were raised These being long pent up in their Ships suffered the want of all necessaries by which means a Pestilence devoured many of them so that scarce a Third part of the men were lâ—nded the which also afterwards mouldred away and the design came to nothing At this time upon the death of William Titular Bishop of Calcedon most of the English Secular Priests did petition the Pope that another
following the direction of the Church of England whose Rubrick appointeth that Chapter the second Morning-lesson for the thirtieth of January At ten of the Clock in the forenoon he is brought on Foot from St. James's Palace over the Park to Whitehall guarded with a Regiment of Foot-souldiers part before and the rest behind him with Colours flying and Dâ—ums beating his private Guard of Partizans about him and Doctor Juxon Bishop of London next to him on one side and Colonel Tomlinson on the other He bid them go faster saying That heâ— now went before them to strive for an Heavenly Crown with less sollicitude than he had oftentimes bid his Souldiers to fight for an earthly Diadem Then passeth he to the Scaffold where he defendeth his Innocency howbeit he acknowledgeth God's justice pardons his enemies takes pity on the Kingdom He shews the Souldiers how much they are out of the way and tells them They would never go right till they give God his due the King his due and the people their due You must said he give God his due by restoring his worship and Church rightly regulated which is now out of order according to hâ—s Word And a National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King said he that is my Successor Indeed I will not the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that For the People I must tell you That their liberty and freedom consists in having Government under those Laws by which their Lives and Goods may be most their own It is not in having a share in the Government that pertains not to them A Sovereign and a Subject are two different things He prayed God they might take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and their own Salvation Then having declared That he died a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left him by his Father He said I have a good Cause and a gracious God and gave his George to the Bishop bidding him Remember to give it to the Prince Then said He I go from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no disturbaâ—ce can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven having prayed secretly stooping down to the block he reâ—â—ivâ—d the fatal stroak On the Wednesday sennight afâ—â—r his Corps â—mbalmed and Coffined in Lead was delivered to the care of some of his Servants to be buried at Windsor That night they brought the Corps to Windsor The Vault being prepared a scarff of Lead was provided some two foot long and five inches broad therein to make an Inscription which was KING CHARLES 1648. The Plummer souldred it to the Coffin about the Breast of the Corpse Then was the Corpse brought to the Vault being born by the Souldiers of the Garrison Over it a black Velvet Herse-cloth the four Labels whereof the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hertford the Earls of South-hampton and Lindsey did support The Bishop of London stood weeping by Then was it deposited in silence and sorrow in the vacant place in the Vault near to the Coffin as it was thought which contained the Corps of King Henry the Eighth the Herse-cloth being cast in after it about three of the Clock in the afternoon and the Lords that night though late returned to London Prince Charles eldest Son to King Charles the first by unquestionable right succeeded to the Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland in the eighteenth year of his age Proclamation and Coronation could not now have their due course The Ruling part of the House of Commons who usurped the Government with violence on the person of the late King immediately published an Act even against Kingly Government Yet this Inhibition did not deter many Loyal Subjects from doing their duty and on February 2. a Proclamation in the name of the Noblemen Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Merchants Citizens Yeomen Seamen and other Freemen of England did Proclaim Prince Charles King of England The Proclamation was Printed and scattered about the Streets of London The House of Peers continued yet sitting and in regard the Commissions of the Judges were determined by the death of the King they send to the Commons for a Conference about it and other matters relating to the setling of the Government But Monarchy and the House of Lords are declared useless by the Commons The Peers in general resent these indignities put upon them by a small part of the House of Commons they assert their own Priviledges and the Fundamental Laws of the Nation and disclaim and protest against all Acts Votes Orders or Ordinances of the said Members of the Commons House for erecting of new Courts of Justice to try or execute the King or any Peer or Subject of the Realm for altering the Government Laws Great Seal c. Hereupon the Army set a Guard upon the door of the House of Lords and in further prosecution of the late Votes of Commons against Monarchy An Act was passed by that House for the Exhaeredation of the Royal Line the Abolishment of Monarchy in this Kingdom and the setting up of a Common-wealth which they ordered to be published and Proclaimed in all partâ— of the Kingdom But Alderman Reinoldson then Lord Mayor of London refused to publish this Act in London and He with three of the Aldermen of his Judgment were sent prisoners to the Tower But on February 3. the King was Proclaimed at the Cross at Edinburgh In the beginning of March the Duke of Hamilton the Earls of Holland and Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir John Owen were tried and condemned by an High Court of Justice erected for that purpose of which the Duke of Hamilton the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel were executed March 9. but the Earl of Norwich and Sir John Owen were pardoned The Commons set forth a Declaration to justifie their proceedings They promise the establishment of a firm and sase Peace the advancement of the true Protestant Religion the liberal maintenance of a godly Ministry c. They pass an Act for propagating the Gospel in Ireland March 8. April 10. 1649. An Act was passed by the Commons for the sale of Deans and Chapters Lands and for the abolishing of Deans Deans and Chapters Canons Prebends c. and Tithes of or belonging to any Cathedral or Collegiate Church in England and Wales but it was provided That this should not extend to the Colledge of St. Mary in Winchester nor to the Colledge of Eaton nor to any of the Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments to them belonging June 2. 1649 An Act was passed for the better maintenance of Preaching Ministers and School-masters out of the Lands of Deans and Chapters throughout England and Wales in such places where maintenance is wanting and for other good uses to the advancement of true
the Dutch Chronicle is to begg to take of every man and to do nothing again for it They lye dissemble and beguile the people with flattering words under the pretence of long prayer William Duke of Aquitain and Count of Lectavia invented or rather renued the Order of the Augustine Friars which had been before long decayed This William first dwelt in the Wilderness with his Brethren chastised his flesh and subdued it with a coat of male on his bare Body Praying VVatching and Fasting night and day so that he was called a Father and Restorer of that Order Thus much for the four principal sorts of Fâ—iers The following Orders were but additional Descants upon the former with some variations of their Founders among whom were 1. THE Trinitarians for whom Robert Rooksley built first an house at Mottingden in Kent they were called also de Redemptione Captivorum whose work was to beg money of well-disposed people for the ransoming of Christians in captivity with the Pagans 2. The Crouched Friars who came over into England 1244. with the Pope's Authentick and this unusual priviledge that none should reprove their Order or upbraid them or command them under pain of excommunication Some say they carried a cross on their staves others on their backs called in French a Crouch the place of Crouched Friars in London still retaineth the Name 3. The Bonhomes or good men being also Eremites brought over into England by Richard Earl of Cornwal in the Reign of his Brother King Henry the Third so stiled because of their signal goodness These Bonhomes though begging Friars the poorest of Orders and Eremites the most sequestred of begging Friars had two and it is believed no more Covents in all England Monks onely excepted the one at Asheridge in Buckingham-shire now the mansion of the Right Honourable the Earl of Bridgewater it was valued at the dissolution yearly at four hundred forty seven pound eight shillings half-penny The other at Eddingdon in Wilt-shire the late habitation of the Lady Beauchamp valued when dissolved at five hundred twenty one pound twelve shillings half-penny In the year 1257. arose two new Orders both of them were fixed in Cambridge the first the brethren De paenitentia Jesu otherwise Fratres Saccati brethren of the Sack whose Cell is since turned into Peter-house Matthew Paris gives this account of them at their first coming into Englaâ—d Eodem tempore quidam novus ordo fratrum Londini apparuit incognitus Papale tanen autenticum palam ostendens ita ut tot ordinum confusio videretur qui quia saccis incedebant induti Fratres Saccati vocabantur It is most likely that this avaritious Pope Alexander instituted this new Order to help fill his bag and Sachel by these Fratres Saccati employed to promote his rapines and revenues as the Friars Minorites and Predicants were The other were the Bethlemites dwelling somewhere in Trompington-street and wearing a Star with five raies on their backs I will conclude with the Robertines who owe their original to one Robert Flower who had been twice Mayor of York who forsaking the fair Lands left him by his Father betook himself to a solitary life about the rocks in Nidsdale in York-shire and it seemeth at Knaresborough the first and last house was erected for his Order Of the Templars and Hospitallers THE Inner Temple and Middle Temple in London do now stand in the very place where in times past in the Reign of King Henry the Second Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem Consecrated a Church for Knights Templars which they had newly built according to the form of the Temple near unto the Sepulchre of our Lord at Jerusalem For at their first institution about the year of our Lord 1113. they dwelt in part of the Temple hard by the Sepulchre whereof they were so named they vowed Poverty Chastity and Obedience to defend Christian Religion the holy Land and Pilgrims going to visit the Lord's Sepulchre against all Mahâ—metans and Infidels whereupon all men most willingly and most cordially embraced them so that through the bounâ—eous liberality of Princes and devout people having gotten in all places very fair possessions and exceeding great wealth they flourished in great reputation for Piety and Devotion yea and in the opinion both of the holiness of the men and of the place King Henry 〈…〉 the Third and many Noble men desired much to be buried in their Church among them some of whose Images are there to be seen with their leggs across for so they were buried in that age That had taken upon them the Cross as they then termed it to serve in the holy Land or had vowed the same But in process of time when with unsatiable greediness they had hoorded up great wealth by withdrawing Tithes from Churches appropriating spiritual livings to themselves and other hard means from Almes-men they turned Lords and though very Valiant at the first for they were sworn rather to die than to fly afterward they grew lazy they laughed at the Rules of their first Institution as at the swadling-clothes of their Infancy neglecting the Patriarch at length partly their vitiousness and partly their wealth caused their final exâ—irpation Pope Clement having long so journed in France had received many Fullers Supplement of the Hist of the Holy War l. 5. c. 1. real Courtesies from King Philip the Fair At last Philip requested of the Pope all the Lands of the Knights Templars through France forfeited as was pretended by reason of their horrible Heresies and licentious living The Pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received and therefore being thus long the King's Guest he gave him the Templars Lands and Goods to pay for his entertainment On a sudden all the Templars in France are clapt in prison damnable sins are laid to their charge and they most cruelly burned to death at a stake with James the Grand Master of their Order All Europe followed the Copy that France had set them Here in England King Edward the Second of that name suppressed the Order and put them to death So by vertue of a Writ sent from him to Sir John Wogan Lord Chief Justice in Ireland were they served there and such was the secrecy of the contâ—iâ—ance of the business that the storm fell upon them ere they were aware of it In England their possessions were by Authority of Parliament assigned to the Hospitaller-Knights of St. John of Jerusalem least that such Lands given to good and pious uses against the Donour's will should be given to other uses At the North-side of the City of London John Briset a rich and devout man built an House for the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem which in time grew so great that it resembled a Palace and had in it a very fair Church and a Tower-steeple raised to so great height with so fine workmanship that while it stood it was a singular beauty and ornament to