Erambrook Richard Tovey John Hasting Thomas Bayll John Austine In Canterbury Richard Gomershan Nicholas Clement Thomas Farley Sodomites William Liechfield William Cawston Thomas Morton John Goldingston John Ambrose Christoph James Kept 3 married Whores In St. Augustine Thomas Barham a Whoremonger and a Sodomite In Chichester John Champion and Roger Barham both of them natural Sodomites In Cathedrall Church John Hill had no lesse than thirteen Whores In Windsor-Castle Nicholas Whyden had 4 George Whitethorn kept 5 Nicholas Spoter Kept 5 Robert Hunne had 5 Robert Danyson kept 6 Whores In Shulbred Monastery George Walden Prior of shulbred had 7 John Standney had at this command 7 Nich Duke to supply his Venery had 5 Whores In Bristow William Abbot of Bristow kept 4 Whores In Mayden Bradley Richard Prior of Mayden-Bradley kept 5 Whores In Bath Monastery Richard Lincombe had 7 Whores and was also a Sodomite In Abingdon Monastery Thomas Abbot of Abingdon kept 3 whores and had 2 children by his own Sister In Bermondsey Abbey John White Prior or rather Bull of Bermondsey had 20 Whores I finde this Catalogue only in the third Edition of Speed proving it a posthumeaddition after the Authors death attested in the margine with the authority of n Cap. 21. sol 183. Henry Steven his Apologie for Herodotus who took the same out of an English Book containing the Vilenesse discovered at the Visitation of Monasteries Thus this being but the report of a forrainer and the Original at home not appearing many justly abate in their belief of the full latitude of this report Indeed tradition is the onely Author of many stories in this nature amongst which the insuing story intituleth it felt to as much probability as any other 3. One Sir Henry Colt of Neither-Hall in Essex A coltish trick served much in favour with K Henry the eighth for his merry conceits suddenly took his leave of Him late at night promising to wait on His Grace early the next morning Hence he hastned to Waltham-Abbey being informed by his setter's that the Monks thereof would return in the night from Cheshunt-Nunnery where they had secretly quartered themselves Sir Henry pitcht a Buckstall wherewith he used to take Deer in the Forest in the narrowest place of the Marsh where they were to passe over leaving some of his Confederates to manage the same 4. The Monks upon the Monks of Waltham coming out of the Nunnery hearing a great noise made behind them and suspecting to be discovered put out the light they had with them whose feet without eyes could finde the way home in so used a pathe Making more hast than good speed they ran themselves all into the Net The next morning Sir H. Colt brought and presented them to King Henry who had often seen sweeter but never fatter Venison 5. Here I cannot believe what is commonly told of under-ground Vaults leading from Fryeries to Nunneries More talk than truth of under-ground Vaults confuted by the scituation of the place through Rocks improbably and under Rivers impossible to be conveyed Surely had Wal tham Monks had any such subterranean contrivances they would never have made use of so open a passage and such Vaults extant at this day in many Abbeys extend but a few paces generally used for the conveyance of water or sewers to carry away the filth of the Covent 6. More improbable it is Provision made for their lust what is generally reported that Abbots made provision for their lusts on their Leases enjoyning their Tenents to furnish them as with wood and coles so with fewel for their wantonness A o Mr. Steven Marshall Reverend Divine hath informed me that he hath seen such a passage on a Lease of the Abbey of Essex where the Lessee was enjoyned yearly to provide Unam claram lepidam puellam ad purgandos renes Domini Abbatis 7. It was never my hap to behold any Instrument with such a lustfull clause Charity best in doubtfull evidence or wanton reservation therein and shall hardly be induced to believe it First because such turpis conditio was null in the very making thereof Secondly because it was contrary to the Charta magna as I may call it of Monasticall practise Sinon cassè tamen cautè wherefore what private compact soever was by word of mouâ—h made betwixt them upon their Leases parole sure all Abbots were if not so honest so discreet that no act in scriptis should remain which on occasion might publickly be produced against them 8. As for the instances of their private incontinence A Solome in Sion Nunnery they are innumerable I will insist but in one hapning just at this juncture of time and which may be presumed very operative to the ruine of such Religious Houses A Lettore certefying the incontynensye of the Nuns of Syon with the Friores and astore the acte done the Friores reconsile them to God Endoised To the Right Honourable Master Thomas Cromwell chief Secretary to the Kings Highnesse IT maye please your goodnesse to understand that p He was one of Fryers who according to the constitution of your Order lived here with the Brigitian Nuns Bushope this day preched and declared the Kynges tytelle very well and hade a grete Audyense the Chorche full of people one of the * I conceive this two proper names Focaces in his said declaration only called him false knave with other foolish words it was the foolish fellow with the corled head that kneeled in your waye when you came forth of the Confessores Chamber I can no lesse doe but set him in prisone ut poena ejus sit metus aliorum yesterday I learned many enormous thinges against Bushope in the examination of the lay Brederen first that Bushope perswaded towe of the Brederene to have gone theire wayes by night and he himselfe with them and to the accomplishment of that they lacked but money to buy them seculere apparell Further that Bushope would have perswaded one of his lay-Brederen a Smithe to have made a keay for the doare to have in the night time received in Wenches for him and his fellows and especially a Wiffe of Uxebridge now dwelling not farre from the old Lady Derby nigh Uxebridge which Wiffe his old customer hath byne many times here at the grates communing with the said and he was desirous to have her convoyed into him The said Bushope also perswaded a Nunne to whom he was Cenfessour ad libidinem corporis perimplendam And thus he perswaded her in Confession making her believe that whensover and as ofte as they shold medle together if she were immediately after confessed by him and tooke of him absolution she shold be cleere forgeven of God and it shold be none offence unto her before God And she writte diveres and sundrye Lettores unto him of such their foolishnesse and unthriftynesse and wold have had his Broden the Smithe to have polled out
cruell to cast off were sent by their Masters to such Abbeys where they had plentifull food during their lives Now though some of those Corrodies where the property was altered into a set summe of money was solvable out of the Exchequer after the dissolution of Abbeys yet such which continued in kinde was totally extinct and no such Diet hereafter given where both Table and House were overturned The Premisses proved by instance in the Family of the Berkeleys THe Noble Family of the Berkeleys may well give an Abbots Mitre for the Crest of their Armes because so loving their Nation and building them so many Synagogues Hence it was that partly in right of their Auncestors partly by their Matches with the Co-heirs of the Lord Mowbray and Seagrave in the Vacancies they had a right of Nomination of an Abbot in following Foundations Place Founder Order Value 1. St. Augustines in Bristoll 2. Burton Laus in Leicester shire 3. Byland or Bella-Launda in York sh 4. Chancomb in Northhampton shire 5. Combe in Warwick shire 6. Croxton in Leicester shire 7. Edworth in the Isle of Axholme in Lincoln-shire 8. Fountains 9. Kirkby in Leicestershire 10. Newburge in Yorkshire 1. Robert Fitz-Harding whose posterity assumed the name of Berkeley 2. The Lord Mowbray in the Reign of K. Henry the first 3. Robert de Mowbray Gonnora his Mother 4. Hugh de Anaf Kn t in the time of the Conq. whose Son Robert took the name of Chaâ—comb Annabisia his daughter was married to Gilbert Lord Seagrave 7. Tho Mowbray Earl of Notingham in the Reign of K. Rich. the 2. to which the Mowbrays were grand Benefactors 9. Roger de Beller who held this Manour of the Lord Mowbray 1. Black Canons of the Order of S. Victor 2. Leprous people professing the Order of S. Augustine 6. Premonstratentian Monks 7. Carthusians 9. Canons Regular of S. Augustine l. s. d. ob q. 767.15.3.0.0 458.19.11.1.1 7.290.14 178.7.10 0 1 What shall I speak of the small Houses of Longbridge and Tintern in Gloucestershire not mentioned in Speed the Hospitals of S. Katharine and Mary Maudlins neer Bristol the well endowed Schoole of Wotton Underhedge in Glocester shire besides forty Chanteries founded by the Berkeleys yea I have read in a Manuscript belonging unto them no lesse judiciously than industriously composed by Mr. John Smith who did and received many good offices to and from that Family as is mutually confessed that the forenamed Abbeys and others held of the Lord Berkeley at the dissolution no fewer than eighty Knights fees and payed services unto them accordingly all which are now lost to the value of ten thousand pounds within the compasse of few years 2. Nor will it be amisse to insert Rob. Derby last Abbot of Croxton that Robert Derby the last Abbot of Croxton was presented thereunto April 22. the 26 of King Henry the eighth by Thomas the sixt of that name Lord Berkeley the place being void by the death of one Atter cliffe belonging to his presentation by inheritance And in the Record he commandeth the Prior and Convent to receive and obey him as Abbot Ingratitude to their Founders a grand fault in many Abbeys INgratitude is the abridgement of all basenesse If unthankfull all bad a fault never found unattended with other vitiousness This is justly charged on the account of many Abbeys whose stately structures grew so proud as to forget the Rock whence they were Hewen and the Hole of the Pit whence they were digged unthankfull to such Founders who under God had bestowed their maintenance upon them 2. One instance of many Great bounty Vast was the liberality of the Lord Berkeleys to S. Austins in Bristoll leaving themselves in that their large Estate not one Rectory to which they might present a Chaplaine all the Benefices in their numerous Manours being appropriated to this and other Monasteries Now see the Requitall 3. Maurice Ill required the first of that name Lord Berkeley having occasion to make the ditch about his Castle the broader for the better fortifying thereof took in some few feet of ground out of Berkeley Church-yard which Church with the Tithes thereof his Ancestors had conferred on the aforesaid Monastery The Abbot beholding this as a great trespasse or rather as a little sacriledge so prosecuted the aforesaid Lord with Church-censures that he made him in a manner cast the dirt of the ditch in his own face inforcing him to a publick confession of his fault and to give Five shillings rent for ever with some Tithes and Pasture for as many Oxen as would till a Plow-land by the words of his Will Pro emendatione culpa meae de fossato quod feci de Coemiterio de Berkeley circa castellum meum 4. I know it will be pleaded for the Abbot that there is as much right in an inch as in an ell Summum jâ—â— that he was a Fiduciary intrusted to defend the rights of his Covent that Founders Heirs are not priviledged to doe injuries yea they of all persons most improper to take back what their Ancestors have given However the Lords incroachment on the Church-yard being in a manner done in his own defence the thing in it self so small and the merit of his Ancestors so great to that Abbey might have met with that meeknesse which should be in the brests of all Spirituall persons to abate his rigorous prosecution against him 5. Thomas the first Lord Berkeley of that name Another instance of ingratitude found little better usage from the Abbot of S. Austines though he had formerly besides confirmation of many Lands conferred on that Convent pasture for Twenty four Oxen discharging also their Lands lying within certain of his Manours from all Services and Earthly demands onely to remember him and his in their prayers yet did that Abbot and Convent implead him before the Popes Delegates for Tythes of Paunage of his Woods for Tythes of his Fishing and of his Mills The Lord removed the Suit to Common Law as challenging the sole power to regulate Modum Dicimandi And now when all was ready for a Tryall before the Judge irinerant at Gloucester it was compounded by Friends on such Terms as the Abbot in effect gained his desire 6. Indeed A cause of their â—uine so odious and obvious was the unthankfulnesse of some Convents that it is reputed by some the most meritorious Cause of their Dissolution and their doing things without and against the Will of their Founders is instanced in the * For the dissolution of Chanteries Colledges 37 of Hen. 8. cap. 4. An overwise conceit Statute as a main Motive to take them away 7. Some who pretend to a Prometheus wit fondly conceive that the Founders of Abbeys might politickly have prevented their dissolution had they inserted a provision in their Foundations That in case Abbey Lands should be alienated to other uses against or besides the Owners intents then such
Cruelty to himself if unwillingly was it Dunstan's Fire or his Faith that fail'd him that he could hold out against him no longer But away with all Suspicions and Queries none need to doubt of the truth thereof finding it in a Sign painted in Fleet-street near Temple-barre 16. During Dunstan's abode in his Cell Aelsgine Dunstan's bountifull friend he had to his great Comfort and Contentment the company of a good Lady Aelfgine by name living fast by No Preacher but Dunstan would please her being so ravisht with his Society that she would needs build a little Cell for her self hard by him In processe of time this Lady died and by her last Will left Christ to be the Heir and Dunstan the Executor of her Estate Enabled with the accession thereof joyned to his paternall Possessions which were very great and now fallen into his hands Dunstan erected the Abbey of Glassenbury and became himself first Abbot thereof a Title till his time unknown in England he built also and endowed many other Monasteries filling them with Benedictine Monks who began now to swarm in England more then Magots in a hot May so incredible was their Increase 17. After the death of King Athelstane 16 Dunstan was recalled to Court in the reign of King Edmund 939 Athelstan's Brother Recalled to Court and re-banished thence and flourished for a time in great Favour But who would build on the brittle Bottome of Princes Love Soon after he falls into the Kings Disfavour Edmundi 1 the old Crime 940 of being a Magician and a Wanton with Women to boot being laid to his charge Surely Dunstan by looking on his own Furnace might learn thence there was no Smoak but some Fire either he was dishonest or undiscreet which gave the Ground-work to their generall Suspicion Hereupon he is re-banisht the Court and returned to his desired Cell at Glassenbury but within three dayes was solemnly brought back again to Court if the ensuing Story may be believed 18. King Edmund was in an eager pursuit of a Buck King Edmund his miraculous deliverance on the top of a steep Rock whence no Descent but Destruction Down falls the Deer and Dogs after him and are dashed to pieces The King follows in full speed on an unruly Horse whom he could not rein is on the Brink of the Brink of the Precipice yet his Prayers prove swifter then his Horse he but ran whilst they did fly to Heaven He is sensible of his Sin in banishing Dunstan confesseth it with Sorrow vowes Amendment promiseth to restore preferre him Instantly the Horse stops in his full Career and his Rider is wonderfully preserved 19. Thus farre a strong Faith may believe of the Story Fy for shame lying Monk but it must be a wild one which gives credit to the remainder a Ross Histor Matt. West Iob. Capgr Osbernus Cervus Canes reviviscunt saith the impudent Monk The Deer Dogs revive again I remember not in Scripture that God ever revived a brute Beast partly because such mean subjects are beneath the Majesty of a Miracle and partly because as the Apostle faith brute Beasts b 2 Pet. â— 12. are made to be taken destroyed Well then might the Monk have knockt off when he had done well in saving the Man and Horse and might have left the Dogs Deer to have remained dead on the place the Deer especially were it but to make Venison Pasties to feast the Courtiers at the solemnizing of their Lord and Masters so miraculous Deliverance 20. Dunstan returning to Court was in higher Favour then ever before 6 Edredi 1 Nor was his Interest any whit abated by the untimely Death of King Edmund slain by one Leoff a Thief seeing his Brother Edred 946 succeeding to the Crown King Edred a high Patron of Dunstan continued and increased his Kindness to him Under him Dunstan was the Doe-all at Court Anno Dom. 946 being the Kings Treasurer Anno Regis Edredi 1 Chancellour Counsellour all things Bishopricks were bountifully profered him pick and chuse where he please but none were honoured with his Acceptance Whether because he accounted himself too high for the place and would not stoop to the Employment or because he esteemed the place too high for him unable conscientiously to discharge it in the midst of so many Avocations Mean time Monasteries were every where erected King Edred devoutly resigning all his Treasure to Dunstan's Disposall Secular Priests being thrust out of their Convents and Monks substituted in their rooms 21. But after Edred's Death But King Edwine his profest Enemy the Case was altered with Dunstan falling into Disgrace with King Edwin his Successour 954 This King on his Coronation-day was said to be incestuously imbracing both Mother Daughter 9 Edwini 1 when Dunstan boldly coming into his Bed-chamber after bitter Reproofs stoutly fetcht him thence and brought him forth into the company of his Noblemen An heroick act if true done with a Iohn Baptist spirit and no wonder if Herod and Herodias I mean this incestuous King and his Concubines were highly offended with Dunstan for the same 22. But good men Who though wronged by the Monks was a worthy Prince and grave Authours give no belief herein conceiving King Edwin how bad soever charactered by the Monks his malicious Enemies to have been a worthy Prince In witnesse whereof they produce the words of a Hist lib. 5. pag. 357. Henry Huntington a learned man but no Monk thus describing him Edwin non illaudabiliter regni insulam tenuit Et rursus Ed win rex anno regni sui quito cum in principio regnum ejus decentissime flor eret prospera laetabunda exordia mors immatura perrupit Edwin was not undeserving of praise in managing the Sceptre of this Land And again King Edwin in the fifth year of his Reign when his Kingdome began at first most decently to flourish had his prosperous and pleasant Beginnings broken off with untimely Death This Testimony considered makes many men think better of King Edwin and worse of Dunstan as guilty of some uncivil Intrusion into the Kings Chamber for which he justly incurred his royall Displeasure 23. Hereupon Dunstan is banished by King Edwin He banisheth Dunstan and dieth heart-broken with grief not as before from England to England from the Court to his Cell at Glassenbury but is utterly expelled the Kingdome and flieth into Flanders Where his Friends say that his Fame prepared his Welcome the Governour of Gaunt most solemnly entertained him 956 Mean time 3 all the Monks in England of Dunstan's Plantation were rooted up and Secular Priests set in their places But soon after happened many Commotions in England especially in Mercia and Northumberland The Monks which write the Story of these Rebellions conceive it unfit to impart to Posterity the Cause thereof which makes wise men to
thirty years since Mistris Mary Ward Jesuitesses and Mistris Twitty being the first beginners of them They are not confined as other Nunns to a Clâ—yster but have liberty to go abroad where they please to convert people to the Catholick Faith They weare a Huke like other women and differ but little in their habit from common persons The aforesaid two Virgins or rather Viragins travelled to Rome with * Mistris Vaux Fortescus three the most beautifull of their society endevouring to procure from his Holiness an establishment of their order but no Confirmation onely a Toleration would be granted thereof Since I have * English-Spanish pilgrim P. 31. read that Anno 1629 Mistris Mary Ward went to Vienna where she prevailed so farre with the Emperesse that she procured a Monastery to be erected for those of her Order as formerly they had two Houses at Liege Since I have heard nothing of them which rendreth it suspitious that their Order is suppressed because otherwise such turbulent spirits would be known by their own violence it being all one with a storm not to be and not to bluster For although this may seem the speediest way to make their Order to propagate when Iesuita shall become hic haec of the common gender yet conscientious Catholicks conceived these Lady Errants so much to deviate from feminine not to say Virgin modesty what is but going in Men being accounted gadding in Maids that they zealously decried their practice probably to the present blasting thereof The forraign Covents of English Monks and Fryers WE will not so farre distrust the Readers memory as to repeat our premised distinction betwixt Monks and Fryers Jesuits gapeing for the Benedictines lands in England Onely know that the Papists themselves report that towards the end of Queen Elizabeth there was but one English Monk Mauro by name living in the whole world A thing not incredible to such who consider Monks generally grown men before admitted into their Order and that more than sixty years were passed from the dissolution of Abbeys to the end of Queen Elizabeth Hereupon several Catholicks of the Anti-Jesuiticall faction as Doctor Gifford Bagshaw Stevens Smith fearing the Jesuits on Father Mauro's death would for want of lawfull successours to the old English Benedictine Monks enter upon all the Abbey lands they had here solicited many English Students then living in their Colledges and Seminaries to become Monks of the Order of S. Bennet perswading them that hereby they should intitle themselves to a large Patrimony of land now likely to fall unto them 2. Here am I put to a double wonder First Defeated by Father Roberts and others whereon this Papisticall confidence was grounded of the speedy restitution of Abbey land at Queen Elizabeth her death finding no visible probability for the same Secondly I admire how Iesuits could pretend in default of Benedictine issue themselves Heires to these lapsed or vacant lands seeing other Orders farre more antient might lay a better claim thereto Except they conceive such English Abbey-lands held in Burrough English wherein the youngest according to the custome of some Manours is to inherit and so by the same advantage this last and newest of all Orders possessed themselves thereof 3. However to prevent them at the instance of the aforesaid secular Priests many English students got into forraign Covents of Benedictines and took on them the habit of S. Bennet John Roberts first a Lawyers Clerk in London then a student in the English Colledge at Vallydolid first led the dance running away to a neighbouring Covent of Spanish Benedictines More of the flock followed this Bell-weather thick and threefold leaving the Colledge of the Iesuits in despight of all the care and caution of their Father-Prefects Father Angustine if that his true and not assumed name was the second Monke of note at this time a name very active I am sure in propagating superstition in England and Roberts and Augustine the two revivers of the new Benedictines These obtained leave of Pope Pius quintus and the King of Spaine to build them a Covent at Doway And though Roberts coming over into England to procure the Catholicks contribution thereunto had the hard hap to meet with Tyburne in his way yet the designe proceeded and was perfected Doway Covent in Artois FOr the Lord Abbot of S. Vedastus anglieè S. Forsters in Arras Doway Covent a wealthy man and great favourer of the English yea generally good to all poor people built them a Cloyster and fine Church adjoyning on his own proper cost To whom and his successours the English Monks are bound to pay yearly on the first of February a wax-Candle weighing threescore pound by way of homage and acknowledgement of their Founder S. Mallowes Covent in Bretaigne DOctor Gifford Dean of the Collegiate Church of S. Peter's in Ritsell alià s Insula in Flanders erected a small Congregation of English Monks at S. Mallowes in France whereof he himself became Prior. Here he remained some years S. Mallowes Covent till at last resigning it to another Monke he removed unto Paris Covent Paris Covent WHich the aforesaid Doctor but now advanced and augmented with the honour and profit of the Archbishoprick of Rheams built and endowed on his own expences Paris Covent conferring thereon whatsoever he can get from his Archbishoprick on the profits whereof the Duke of Guise was suspected too heavily to quarter 2. Passe we now from our English Monks to the Fryers The Carthusians Covent at Macblin and begin with the Carthusiaus These being outed of Shoine in Surrey at the coming in of Queen Elizabeth wafted themselves over the Seas with so much wealth as bought them a Cloyster with lands to maintain it at Machlin These take themselves to be the most visible Church of English Fryers as continuing an uninterrupted succession and so puffed up with hopes of regaining their old lands that when Prince Charles went to Spaine they sent two of their Fryers into England to take possession both of Charter-House and Sheine Say not one of those places had been fair at first seeing to save double pains and charges they did well to claim them both together as likely to possess them both together as no doubt they had done long ago had not the rightfull Owners then and ever since detained the same Doway SOme report this erected by Count Gundamor others Doway more probably by the charity of English Catholicks for recollect Fryers of the Order of S. Francis They have a strong fancy that Christ-Church in London shall one day be theirs at the next return of times The best is being to goe bare foot by the rules of their Order they are well provided to wait for dead-mens shooes Here I omit the little Cloyster of Benedictine Monks in the Dukedome of Loraine near Ponto-Mouson as also some other Nunneries and Fryeries since erected at Paris and elsewhere for surely these
choak a man but that Stone can never stop his Throat which cannot enter into his Mouth 31. In very deed The maâ—lacre of the Monks at Winchester very little at this time was ever reported of Church-matters 495 For a Drought of Christian Writers in the Heat of Persecution caused a Dearth of all History Now it was that Cerdicus first King of the West-Saxons having overcome the Britans at Winchester kill'd all the Monks belonging to the Church of e VVintoniâ—â—sis Ecc. Hist cap. 9. S t. Amphibalus turned the same into a Temple of Idolatry Also Theon Archbishop of London seeing the Pagan Saxons to prevail left his See and f But Matth. Florilegus designeth the yeare 586. about this time may be presumed to have fled into Wales I say about this time For what Liberty is allowed to Prognosticatours of Weather to use all favourable Correctives and Qualifications like to be rain inclined to rain somewhat rainy c. the same Latitude we must request in relating actions past in point of Chronologie his fere temporibus per haec tempora circa circiter plus minus c. And what we take upon Trust in this kind let the Reader be pleased to charge not on the Score of our Ignorance but on the Uncertainty of that Ages Computation As for S t. Petrock Son to the King of Cumberland we remit him to the next Age because though Budding in this full Blown in the next Century 32. This Age is assigned by Authors for that Famous Ambrose Merlin differing from Sylvester Merlin the Scot though it be doubtfull whether ever such a man in rerum natura Merlin left in a twilight whether that Magician was an Impostor or his whole Story an Imposture put upon credulous posterity it being suspicious First Because he is reported born at Caer-merthen that City so denominated from him Whereas it is called Maridunum by Ptolemie many yeares before Thus it is ominous to begin with a Lie Secondly Because it was said his Mother was a Nun got with Child by a Devil in the form of an Incubus perchance such a one as Chaucer describes It seems that as Vestall Virgins when they had stollen a Great Belly used to entitle some Deity to the getting of their Child so did the Mother of Romulus and Remus whereby they both saved themselves from Shame gained Reputation so Nuns in this Age when with child unable to perswade people as the Poets feign of the Spanish Mares that they were impregnated by the Wind alone made the World believe that some Spirit had consorted with them This makes the whole Story of Merlin very doubtfull and as for all his Miracles Prophesyes they sink with the Subject For sure the same Hand which made the Puppet gave it all it's Motions and suited his Person with Properties accordingly May the Reader be pleased to take notice of three ancient British Writers 1. Aquila Septonius or the Eagle of Shaftsbury whether He or She. 2. Perdix Praesagus or Partridge the prophesier 3. Merlin Ambrose All three Birds of a Feather and perchance hatch'd in the same Nest of ignorant Credulity nor can I meet with a fourth to make up the Messe except it be the Arabian Phaenix But because it is a Task too great for a Giant to encounter a received Tradition let Merlin be left in a Twi-light as we found him And surely no judicious man will censure the Mention of Merlin whose Magicall Pranks and Conjurations are so frequent in our Sories to be a Deviation from the History of the Church who hath read both of Simon Magus and Elymas the Sorcerer in the Acts of the Apostles THE SIXTH CENTURY Anno Dom. To Douse Fuller of Hampshire Esquire I Cannot say certainly of you as Naomi did of Boaz * * 2 Ruth 20. He is near of kin unto us having no Assurance though great Probability of Alliance unto you Hovvever Sir if you shall be pleased in Courtesy to account me your Kinsman I vvill endeavour that as it vvill be an Honour to me it may be to you no Disgrace 1. QUestionlesse we shall not be accounted Trespassers 501 though onely Ecclesiasticall Businesse be our right Road to go a little in the By-way of State-matters because leading the shortest Passage for the present to our Church-story The most miserable estate of the British Common-wealth Most miserable at this time was the British Common-wealth crouded up into barren Corners whil'st their Enemies the Pagan Saxons possest the East and South if not the greatest the best part of the Island Much ado had Vter Pen-dragon the British King with all the sinews of his Care and Courage to keep his disjoynted Kingdome together whose onely desire was to prolong the Life it being above his hopes to procure the Health of that languishing State And though sometimes the Britans got the better yet one may say their Victories were spent before they were gain'd being so farre behind-hand before that their Conquest made no Shew swallowed up in the discharging of old Arrearages Needs then must Religion now in Britain be in a dolefull condition For he who expects a flourishing Church in a fading Common-wealth let him try whether one side of his Face can smile when the other is pinched 2. Pen-dragon dying 508 left the British Kingdome to Arthur his Son King Arthur's actions much discredited by Monkish fictions so famous in History that he is counted one of the Nine VVorthies and it is more then comes to the Proportion of Britain that amongst but Nine in the whole World Two should prove Natives of this Island Constantine and Arthur This later was the British Hector who could not defend that Troy which was designed to destruction and it soundeth much to his Honour that perceiving his Countrey condemned by Gods Justice to Ruine he could procure a Reprieve though not prevail for the Pardon thereof More unhappy was he after his Death Hyperbolicall Monks so advancing his Victories above all reach of Belief that the twelve pitch't Battels of Arthur wherein he conquered the Pagan Saxons find no more credit then the twelve Labours of Hercules Belike the Monks hoped to passe their Lies for current because countenanced with the mixture of some Truths whereas the contrary came to passe and the very Truths which they have written of him are discredited because found in company with so many Lies Insomuch that learned Leland is put to it to make a Book for the asserting of Arthur Many are unsetled about him Anno Dom. 508 because Gildas his Country-man living much about his Age makes no mention of him though such may be something satisfied if considering the principall Intent of that Querulous Authour is not to praise but to reprove not greatly to grace but justly to shame his Country his Book being a bare Black Bill of the Sins and Sufferings Monsters and Tyrants of Britain keeping no
is wanting The date of the year how wanting therein and that mainly materiall namely the Year when he died Strangely is that Watch contrived and is generally useless which shews the Minute of the Hour not the Hour of the Day As this Epitaph points at the Day of smaller consequence leaving out the Year of greater concernment This hath put mens Fanisies on various Conjectures Some make it a mere Omission of Bede which notwithstanding is very strange because otherwise he is most Criticall and Punctuall in the Notation of Time Others conceive it a fault of Commission in some of after-Ages who purposely expunged the Year beshrew their Fingers that thrust out the Eyes the Date of this Epitaph lest the same should make too clear Discoveries of Augustine's surviving after the Massacre of the Monks of Bangor which would increase the Suspicion of his having a Finger therein Others place the Neglect in the Monument maker and not in Bede seeing he was but the bare Relater of the Epitaph and therefore loath to add or alter any thing thereof Perchance the Tombe-maker registred the Day as a Nicity most likely to be forgotten omitting the Year as a thing generally universally and notoriously known all men keeping a Record thereof which in processe of time became wholly forgotten Thus those things are not long effectually kept by any which are equally to be kept by All Anno Dom. 610 and not charged on any One mans particular Account Sure I am the setting up of this Land-mark the nothing of the Year of his Death had given excellent Direction to such as travel in the Saxon Chronologie who now wander at Randome for the want of it 26. And now we take our Farewell of Augustine Farewell to S. Augustine of whom we give this Character He found here a plain Religion Simplicity is the Badge of Antiquity practised by the Britans living some of them in the Contempt and many moe in the Ignorance of Worldy Vanities in a barren Country And surely Piety is most healthful in those places where it can least surfeit of Earthly Pleasures He brought in a Religion spun with a Courser Threed though garded with a Finer Trimming made luscious to the Senses with pleasing Ceremonies so that many who could not judge of the Goodnesse were courted with the Gaudinesse thereof Indeed the Papists brag that he was the Apostle of the English but not one in the Stile of S t. Paul a Gal. 1. 1. neither from men nor by man but by Iesus Christ being onely a derivative Apostle sent by the second hand in which sense also he was not our sole Apostle though he first put in his Sickle others reaped down more of the English Harvest propagating the Gospel farther as shall appear hereafter But because the Beginnings of things are of greatest consequence we commend his Paines condemn his Pride allow his Life approve his Learning admire his Miracles admit the Foundation of his Doctrine Iesus Christ but refuse the Hay and Stubble he built thereupon We are indebted to God his Goodnesse in moving Gregory Gregorie's Carefulnesse in sending Augustine Augustine's Forwardnesse in preaching here but above all let us blesse God's exceeding great Favour that that Doctrine which Augustine planted here but impure and his Successours made worse with watering is since by the happy Reformation cleared and refined to the Purity of the Scriptures 27. After the death of Augustine Laurentius succeedeth Augustine Laurentius a Roman succeeded him whom Augustine in his Life-time not onely designed for but ordained b Bede Eccles Hist lib. 2. c. 4. in that Place out of his abundant Caution that the Infant-Church might not be Orphan an Hour lest Satan should assault the Breach of such a Vacancy to the Disadvantage of Religion Such a super-Ordination in such cases was Canonicall it being * Idem Ibidem a Tradition that S t. Peter in like manner consecrated Clement his Successour in the Church of Rome And sure it is the Prophet Elijah no doubt to his great Comfort whilest living c 1 Kings 19. 16. anointed Elishe to minister in his Room in his Propheticall Function In one respect Laurentius exceeded Augustine that he reduced the Recusant Britans and Scots probably demeaning himself more humbly then his Predecessour to some tolerable Conformity to the Romish Ceremonies especially in the Celebration of Easter Now seeing frequent Mention hath formerly been made of the Difference between the Romish and British Churches in Observation of that Festivall we will endeavour as truly as briefly to state the Controversie betwixt them with Arguments each side produceth in their own behalf 28. But The controversie about Easter betwixt Rome and the Britans stated because the Point in hand is so nice rather then necessary that a little Variation therein may be materiall I will carefully follow the truest Copy I can get in stating the Question taking it from a Learned d Iames Usher in the Religion of the ancient Irish cap. 9. pag. 63. Pen exactly skilled therein The Romans kept Easter upon that Sunday which fell betwixt the 15. 21. day of the * Hence is it that Beza tartly termeth the controversie Lunatica quaestio Moon both terms included next after the 21. day of March which they accounted to be the seat of the Vernall Equinoctiall And in reckoning the Age of the Moon they followed the Alexandrian Cycle of 19 yeares as it was explained unto them by Dionysius Exiguus The Britans kept Easter upon the Sunday that fell betwixt the 14. and 20. day of the Moon following in their Account thereof not the 19 yeares Computation of Anatolius but Sulpitius Severus his Circle of 84 yeares It is enough to prove the Practice of Rome was the right that it was the Practice of Rome yea did it not deserve the Stab of Excommunication for any dissenting from her practice tantamountingly to give her the Lie However it seems the Reputation of Rome's Infallibility was yet in the Nonage thereof that the British durst so boldly differ from them without danger of Damnation 29. Yea The Britans their plea. they pretended ancient Tradition on their side from the Primitive Times derived from S t. Iohn himself as by the ensuing Verses which we thought fit to translate may appear Nos seriem a Fridgodus in the life of Wilfrid patriam non frivola scriptatenemus Discipulo * i. e. Sancti â—el Beati eusebii Polycarpo dante Iohannis Ille etenim bis septene sub tempore Phaebae Sanctum praefixit nobis fore Pascha colendum Atque nefas dixit si quis contraria sentit No writings fond we follow but do hold Our Country Course which Polycarp of old Scholar to Blessed Iohn to us hath given For he when th' Moon had finish'd Dayes twice seven Bad us to keep the holy Paschal Time And count Dissenting for an hainous Crime Time was when once the
another man's sent from Guichelm King of the VVest-Saxons with an envenomed Dagger sought to kill King Edwine when Lilla one of his Guard foreseeing the Blow and interposing himself shielded his Sovereign with his own Body yea deaded the Stroak with his own Death Loyalty's Martyr in a Case which is likely to find moe to commend then imitate it on the like occasion Edwine notwithstanding slightly hurt was very sensible of the Deliverance and promised that if he might conquer the treacherous VVest-Saxon King with his Adherents he would become a Christian And though there be no indenting and conditional capitulating with God who is to be taken on any terms yet this in a Pagan was a good step to Heaven and Paulinus was glad he had got him thus far especially when in Earnest of the Sincerity of his Resolution he consigned over his infant-Daughter f Idem ibidem Eansled to be baptized whom Paulinus christened with twelve moe of the Queen's Family Well the VVest-Saxon King was quickly overcome and all his Complices either killed or conquered and yet King Edwine demurred to embrace Christianity But he communicated with the sagest of his Counsell with whom he had daily Debates being loth rashly to rush on a matter of such Moment And truly that Religion which is rather suddenly parched up then seasonably ripened doth commonly ungive afterwards Yea he would sit long alone making company to himself and silently arguing the Case in his own Heart being partly convinced in his Iudgement of the Goodnesse of the Christian Religion and yet he durst not entertain Truth a lawfull King for fear to displease Custome a cruell Tyrant 41. Amongst the many Debates he had with his Counsell about altering his Religion The speech of Coify the Priest two Passages must not be forgotten whereof one was the Speech of Coify the prime Pagan-Priest Surely said g Bede Eccles Hist lib. 2. cap. 13. he these Gods whom we worship are not of any Power or Efficacy in themselves for none hath served them more conscientiously then my self yet other men lesse meriting of them have received moe and greater Favours from their hand and prosper better in all things they undertake Now if these were Gods of any Activity they would have been more beneficiall to me Anno. Dom. 626 who have been so observant of them Here the Reader will smile at Coify his Solecisme wherein the Premisses are guilty of Pride as the Inference thereon of Errour and Mistake If he turn Christian on these termes he will be taught a new Lesson how not onely all outward things happen alike to good and bad to a Eccles 9. 2. him that sacrificeth as to him that sacrificeth not but also that b 1 Pet. 4. 17. Iudgement beginneth at the house of God and the best men meet with the worst Successe in Temporal matters However God was pleased to sanctifie this mans Errour as introductory to his Conversion and let none wonder if the first Glimmering of Grace in Pagans be scarce a degree above Blindnesse 42. Better The Courtier 's Comparison in my opinion was the plain Comparison which another namelesse Courtier made at the same time Mans life said c Idem ibid. he O King is like unto a little Sparrow which whilest your Majesty is feasting by the Fire in your Parlour with your royall Retinue flies in at one VVindow and out at another Indeed we see it that short time it remaineth in the House and then is it well sheltred from VVind and VVeather but presently it passeth from Cold to Cold and whence it came and whither it goes we are altogether ignorant Thus we can give some account of our Soul during it's abode in the Body whilest housed and harboured therein but where it was before and how it fareth after is to us altogether unknown If therefore Paulinus his Preaching will certainly inform us herein he deserveth in my opinion to be entertained 43. Long looked for comes at last 627 King Edwine almost three yeares a Candidate at large of Christianity Edwine converted and baptized cordially embraceth the same and with many of his Nobles and Multitudes of his Subjects is solemnly baptized by Paulinus in the little Church * Bede Eccles Hist lib. 2. cap. 14. of S t Peters in York hastily set up by the King for that purpose and afterward by him changed into a firmer and fairer Fabrick Thus as those Children which are backward of their Tongues when attaining to Speech pronounce their words the more plainly and distinctly so Edwine long yea tedious before his turning to Christianity more effectually at last embraced the same And when it was put to the Question what Person most proper to destroy the Heathen Altars Coify the chief Priest tendered his Service as fittest for the purpose solemnly to demolish what he had before so superstitiously adored Down go all the Pagan Altars and Images at God-mundingham now Godmanham a small d Camden's Britannia Village in the East-Riding of Yorkshire and those Idols with their Hands were so far from defending themselves that their mock-Mouths could not afford one word to bemoan their finall Destruction 44. VVhen thou art converted The East-Angles converted to Christianity strengthen thy Brethren was the personall Precept given to e Luk. 22. 32. Peter but ought generally to be the Practice of all good men as here it was of King Edwine restlesse untill he had also perswaded Earpwald King of the East-Angles to embrace the Christian Faith Indeed Redwald Earpwald's Father had formerly at Canterbury to ingratiate himself with King Ethelbert professed Christianity but returning home he revolted to Paganisme at the instance of His f Bede Hist Ecc. l. 2. c. 15. Wife So great is the Power of the Weaker Sex even in matters of Religion For as Bertha and Edelburge the Queens of Ethelbert and Edwine occasioned and expedited the Conversion of their Husbands Kingdomes so here a Female-instrument obstructed that holy Design Yea Redwald afterwards in the same Church set up a g 2 Kings 17. 41. Samaritane-mongrel-Religion having Altare h Bede ut prius Arulam a Communion-Table and an idolatrous Altar in the same Temple You cannot be partakers saith the i 1 Cor. 10. 21. Apostle of the Lords Table and of the table of Devils that is You cannot lawfully conscionably comfortably but de facto it may be done was done by Bedwald in this his miscellaneous Religion 45. But three yeares after 630 the Conversion of the East-Angles was more effectually advanced by King Sigebert The Religion and learning of King Sigebert Brother and after the death of Earpwald his Successour in the Kingdome This Sigebert had lived an Exile in France Anno. Dom. 630 and got the benefit of Learning by his Banishment For wanting accommodations to appear in Princely Equipage he applyed himself the more close to his Studies seeing that
Chad into the Bishoprick of York The writer of VVilfride's Life complains lowdly hereof Audacter sponsam vivo rapuere marito Boldly in the Husban's life Away from him they took his Wife But by the Poets leave York was but espoused not married to VVilfride whilest he was in England and after his going over beyond-Sea he stayed so long that his Church presumed him dead and herself a Maid-Widow which lawfully might receive another Husband At last VVilfride returning home had York restored unto him and S t. Chad was removed to the new-founded Bishoprick of Lichfield 93. The Abbess Hilda Abbess Hilda whom we mentioned before was like another Huldah which lived in the a 2 Chro. 34. 22. Colledge superiour to most of her Sex in Learning inferiour to none in Religion Monks ascribe it to her Sanctity that she turned many Serpents in that Country into Stones Plenty of which Stones are found at this day about VVhitby the place of her Aboad having the Shape of Serpents but most headlesse as the Tale is truthlesse relating it to her Miraculous Operation Who knows not but that at Alderly in Glocestershire there are found Stones resembling Cockles or Periwincles in a place far from the Sea which are esteemed by the Learned the Gamesome Work of Nature sometimes pleased to disport it self and pose us by propounding such Riddles unto us 94. Some impute it also to Hilda her Holinesse A miracle imputed to her holiness that Wilde-geese when flying over the Grounds near her Convent fell down to the ground as doing Homage to the Sanctity thereof As the Credit of the Reporters hath converted wise men to believe the Thing so they justly remain incredulous that it proceedeth from any Miracle but secret Antipathy But as Philosophers when posed in Nature and prosecuted to render Reasons of her Mysteries took Sanctuary at Occulta Qualitas Monks in the same kind make their Refuge to the Shrine of some Saint attributing all they cannot answer to His or Her miraculous Operation Yea sometimes such is Monkish Impudence falsely to assign that to a Saint though all Chronologies protest against the Possibility thereof which is the plain and pregnant effect of Nature Witnesse when they b As Camden saith in Worcestershire write that Richard de la VVich Bishop of Chicester with his fervent Prayers obtained that the VViches or salt Springs should boil out of the earth in Durtwich in VVorcestershire which are mentioned and described by ancient Authours dead before the Cradle of the said Richard de la VVich was made 95. Look we now on the See of Canterbury Theodorus Arch-bishop of Canterbury and there after the Death of the last Arch-Bishop and four yeares Vacancy we find that Church hath changed her Latine into Greek 668 I mean dead Deus-dedit into Theodorus his Successour put in by the Pope This Theodorus was a Grecian by Name and Nation fellow-Citizen with Sâ— Paul born in c Acts 22. 3. Tarsus in Cilicia and herein like him that he d 1 Cor. 14. 18 spake with Tongues more then they all had more skill in learned Languages then all his Brethren Bishops of England in that Age. Yea as Children when young are permitted to Play but when of some yeares are sent to learn their Book so hitherto the Infant-Church of England may be said to have lost time for matter of Learning and now Theodorus set it first to School brought Books to it and it to Books erecting a well-furnished Library and teaching his Clergie how to make use thereof 96. I could wish this Theodorus had had one Quality more of S t. Paul 67 â…” that in matters Indifferent he would have been e 1 Cor. 9. 22. His fierceness to keep Easter after the Romish rite made all things to all men that by all means he might save some Anno Dom. 67 â…” Whereas he most rigourously pressed Conformity to Rome in the Observation of Easter and to that purpose a Councill was called at Herad-ford now Hartford and not Hereford as judicious and industrious Bishop Godwine partiall to the place where of he himself was Bishop doth mistake it Here Easter was settled after the Romish Rite and we are not sorry for the same willing rather it should be any way ordered then that the Reader with whom I sympathize more then grutch my own Pains should be troubled any longer with such a small-great Controversie low in it's own Merit but heightned with the Spleen and Passion of such as prosecuted it In this Synod nine other Articles were concluded of as they follow here in order out of Bede a Lib. 4. cap. 5. as Stapleton himself hath translated them 1. That no Bishop should have ought to do in another Diocese but be contented with the Charge of the people committed unto him 2. That no Bishop should molest or any wise trouble such Monasteries as were consecreated and given to God nor violently take from them ought that was theirs 3. That Monks should not go from place to place that is to say from one Monastery to another unlesse by the leave of their own Abbot but should continue in the Obedience which they promised at the time of their Conversion and entring into Religion 4. That none of the Clergie forsaking his own Bishop should run up and down where he list nor when he came any whither should be received without Letters of Commendation from his Diocesan And if that he be once received will not return being warned and called both the Receiver and he that is Received shall incurre the Sentence of Excommunication 5. That such Bishops and Clerks as are Strangers be content with such Hospitality as is given them and that it be lawfull for none of them to execute any Office of a Priest without the permission of the Bishop in whose Diocese they are known to be 6. That whereas by the ancient Decrees a Synod and Convocation ought to be assembled twice a year yet because diverse Inconveniences do happen among us it hath seemed good to us all that it should be assembled once a year the first day of August at the place called Clofeshooh 7. That no Bishop should ambitiously preferre himself before another but should all acknowledge the time and order of their Consecration 8. That the Number of Bishops should be encreased the number of Christian folk waxing daily greater but hereof at this time we said no further 9. That no man commit Advoutry nor Fornication that no man forsake his own Wife but for onely Fornication as the Holy Gospel teacheth And if any man put away his Wife being lawfully married unto him if he will be a right Christian man let him be joyned to none other but let him so continue still sole or else be reconciled again to his own Wife I wonder no mention herein of settling the Tonsure of Priests a Controversie running parallel with that of Easter according to
the Roman Rite To conclude let not the Reader expect the like exemplification of all Articles in following Synods so largely as here we have presented them For this Synod Stapleton b In his translation of Bede fol. 118. calls the first of the English Nation understand him whose Canons are completely extant and therefore more Patrimony is due to the Heir and Eldest Son then to the younger Brethren who shall be content to be confined to their Pensions I mean to have their Articles not exemplified but epitomized hereafter 97. Theodorus He envieth Wilfride Bishop of York Arch-Bishop of Canterbury beheld VVilfride Bishop of York one of great Parts and greater Passions with envious eyes and therefore to abate his Power he endeavoured that the Diocese of York might be divided VVilfride offended hereat goes over to Rome to impede the Project and by the way is tossed with a grievous Tempest It is an ill wind whicch bloweth no man Profit He is cast on the Shoar of Freezland in Belgia where the Inhabitants as yet Pagans were by his Preaching converted to Christianity This may be observed in this Wilfride his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were better then his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his casuall and occasionall were better then his intentionall Performances which shews plainly that Providence acted more vigourously in him then his own Prudence I mean when at Ease in Wealth at home he busied himself in Toyes and Trifles of Ceremonious Controversies but when as now and afterwards a Stranger and little better then an Exile he effectually promoted the Honour and Glory of God 98. And as it is observed of Nightingales The South-Saxons as formerly the Freezlanders converted by Wilfride that they sing the sweetest 679 when farthest from their Nests so this VVilfride was most diligent in God's Service when at the greatest distance from his own Home For though returning into England he returned not unto York but stayed in the Pagan Kingdome of the South-Saxons who also by God's Blessing on his Endeavours were perswaded to embrace the Christian Faith 99. These South-Saxons The first the last of all the seven Kingdomes were the last which submitted themselves to the perfect Freedome of God's Service and yet their Country was in Situation next to Kent where the Gospel was first planted Herein it was verified Many that are first shall be last and the last first Yea the Spirit which bloweth where it listeth observeth no visible Rules of Motion but sometimes taking no notice of those in the middle reacheth to them which are farthest off Indeed Edilwalch their King was a little before Christened by the perswasion of VVolphere King of Mercia who was his Godfather and at his baptizing gave him for a Gift the Isle of VVight provinciam a Bede lib. 4. cap. 13. Meanuarorum in gente Occidentalium Saxonum but his Country still remained in Paganisme And although Dicul a Scot with some six of his Brethren had a small Monastery at Bosenham in Sussex yet they rather enjoying themselves then medling with others were more carefull of their own Safety then their Neighbours Conversion And indeed the Pagans neither heeded their Life nor minded their Doctrine 100. However Pagan obstinacy punished with famine these South-Saxons paid for their Stubbornnesse in standing out so long against the Gospel for they alwayes were a miserable people and at this present afflicted with a great Famine caused by three years Drought so that fourty men in arow holding hand in hand used to throw themselves into the Sea to avoid the misery of a Lingering Death In this wofull Condition did VVilfride Bishop of York find them when he first preached the Gospel unto them and on that very day wherein he baptized them as if God from Heaven had powred water into the Font he obtained store of Rain which procured great Plenty Observe though I am not so ill-natured as to wrangle with all Miracles an Apish Imitation of Elijah who carried the Key of Heaven at his Girdle to lock or unlock it by his Prayer onely Elijah gave Rain after three yeares and six moneths VVilfride after bare three yeares it being good manners to come a little short of his Betters 101. South-Saxons first taught to fish Also saith my b Bede ibidem Authour he taught the people who till then knew not how to catch any Fishes but Eeles how to take all kind of Fish in the Sea and Rivers Strange that thus long they should live in Ignorance of so usefull a Trade being though Infidels no Idiots especially seeing mens Capacities come very soon to be of age to understand their own Profit and the Examples of their Neighbours might have been Tutours unto them But Wilfride afterward wanted no Hearers Anno Dom. 680 People flocking unto him as when Christ made his Auditours his Guests they followed after him because they ate of the Loaves and were filled The Priests Eappa Padda Bruchelin and Oidda assisted in baptizing the common people and King Edilwalch gave VVilfride a piece of Land containing eighty nine Families at Selsey where he erected a Bishops See since translated to Chichester 102. Amongst other good deeds A double good deed VVilfride freed two hundred and fifty men and maid-Servants both out of Soul-Slavery and Bodily Bondage For having baptized them he procured their Liberty of their Masters which they no doubt chearfully embraced according to S t. Paul's a 1 Cor. 7. 21. counsel Art thou called a Servant care not for it but if thou maist be made free use it rather And thus by God's Blessing in the space of eighty and two yeares from five hundred ninety seven to six hundred seventy nine was the whole Saxon Heptarchie converted to Christianity and did never again relapse to Paganisme 103. Godfathers used to men of nature Age. Mention being b Parag. 99. lately made of VVolphere the Mercian King his being Godfather unto Edilwalch King of the South-Saxons some will much admire that one arrived at yeares of Maturity able to render an Account of his Faith should have a Godfather which with Swadling-clouts they conceive belong to Infants alone Yet this was very fashionable in that Age not onely for the greater state in Kings Princes and Publick Persons but in majorem cautelam even amongst Private people For such Susceptors were thought to put an Obligation on the Credits and by reflection on the Consciences of new Christians whereof too many in those dayes were baptized out of civile Designes to walk worthy of their Profession were it but to save their Friends Reputation who had undertaken for their Sincerity therein 104. Cadwallader Cadwallader founds a VVelsh Hospital at Rome the last King of VVales wearied out with Warre Famine and Pestilence left his own Land and with some small Treasure fled to Alan King of Little Britain But Princes are welcome in forrain parts when Pleasure not Need brings them
born in the Kingdome of Northumberland at a Camden's Brit. pag. 743. Girwy now Yarrow in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by S t. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar in his Age for Latine Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his Life-time in the Christian Churches a Dignity afforded to him alone We are much beholding to his Ecclesiasticall History written by him and dedicated to Ceolwoolfus King of Northumberland A worthy Work indeed though in some respect we could heartily wish that his Faith had been lesse and his Charity more Faith lesse in believing and reporting so many prodigious Miracles of the Saxons except any will say that this in him was not so much Vitium Hominis as Seculi Charity more I mean to the Britans being no Friend to them and over-partial to his own Country-men slightly and slenderly touching British matters onely thereof to make a Pedestall the more fairly to reare and advance his Saxon History thereupon 16. Some report that Bede never went out of his Cell Bede probably went out of his Cell but lived and died therein If so the Scholars of Cambridge will be very sory because thereby deprived of their Honour by Bede's living once in their University whose House they still shew betwixt S t. Iohn's Colledge and Round-Church or S t. Sepulchres Surely Bede was not fixed to his Cell as the Cockle to his Shel seeing no Observance of his Benedictine Order imposed such a Penance upon him Indeed his own words in the end of his Book give some Countenance to their Conjecture of his voluntary Confinement speaking of himself Cunctum tempus vitae in ejusdem Monasterii habitatione peragens But his Expression imports onely his generall Residence therein that he was no Gadder abroad or Discontinuer from his Convent for a long time though he might for some short space make his Abode elsewhere Thus when of the Prophetesse it is said b Luke 2. 37. that she departed not from the Temple we understand it not so as if she never went out thereof but that for the main she spent the most of her time therein 17. He is generally surnamed Venerable Bede why surnamed Venerabilis but why Authours differ therein Some say a Dunce-Monk being to make his Epitaph was non-pluss'd to make that Dactyle which is onely of the Quorum in the Hexameter and therefore at Night left the Verse thus gaping Hic sunt in fossa Bedae ossa till he had consulted with his Pillow to fill up the Hiatus But returning in the morning an Angel we have often heard of their Singing see now of their Poetry Anno Dom. 730 had filled up the Chasma with Venerabilis Others disclaiming this Conceit assign this Reason Because Bede's Homilies were as aforesaid read in all a Flores Sanctorum in the life of Bede pag. 528. Churches in his Life-time plain Bede was conceived too little and S t. Bede too much because according to Popish but not S t. Paul's Principles Saint is too much Flattery to be given to any whilest alive Solon allowing none happy and this mine Authour none in this degree holy before their Death Wherefore Venerable was found out as an Expedient to accommodate the Difference luckily hitting the Mark as a Title neither too high nor too low just even to so good a man and great a Scholar whilest alive This is observable in all those who have written the Life of Bede that whereas such Saxon-Saints as had not the tenth of his Sanctity nor hundredth part of his Learning are said to have wrought Miracles ad Lectoris nauseam not one single Miracle is reported to have been done by Bede Whereof under favour I conceive this the Reason Monks who wrote the Lives of many of their Saints knew little more of many of them then their bare Names and Times wherein they lived which made them Historiae vacua miraculis supplere to plump up the Hollownesse of their History with improbable Miracles swelling the Bowells of their Books with empty Wind in default of sufficient solid Food to fill them Whereas Bede's Life affording plenty and variety of reall and effectuall Matter the Writer thereof why should a Rich man be a Thief or Lyar had no Temptation I am sure no Need to farse his book with fond Miracles who might rather leave then lack of materiall Passages therein 18. One of the last things he did 734 was the translating of the Gospel of S t. Iohn into English Bede's last blaze and the going out of the candle of his life When Death seised on him one of his devout Scholars whom he used for his Secretary or Amanuensis complained My beloved Master there remains yet one Sentence unwritten Write it then quickly replied Bede and summoning all his spirits together like the last Blaze of a Candle going out he indited it and expired Thus Gods Children are immortall whiles their Father hath any thing for them to do on Earth and Death that Beast cannot overcome and kill them till first they have b Revel 11. 7. finished their Testimony which done like Silk-worms they willingly die when their Web is ended and are comfortably entombed in their own Endeavours Nor have I ought else to observe of Bede save onely this A forreign Embassadour some two hundred yeares since coming to Durham addressed himself first to the high and sumptuous Shrine of S t. Cuthbert If thou beest a Saint pray for me then coming to the plain low and little Tombe of Bede Because said he thou art a Saint good Bede pray for me 19. Now began the Saxons to be infected with an universall Vitiousnesse 735 The cause whereof was The general viciousnesse of the Saxons how occasioned Ethelbald King of Mercia contemned Marriage and though Abstinence from it in some cases may be commendable the Contempt thereof alwayes is dangerous yea damnable as it proved in him For his unlawfull Lust made no difference of Places or Persons Castles or Cloisters common-Kerchief or Nuns-vaile all came alike to him But oh the legislative power which is in a great Prince his Example His Subjects presumed they might not onely impune but legitime follow his Precedent which made the Land swarm with Wickednesse 20. This caused the Letter of Boniface Arch-bishop of Ments an English-man born The effect of Boniface his letter to the King of Mercia and lately very eminent for converting the Germans to Christianity to King Ethelbald wherein he observed the prudent method of S t. Paul to the c 1 Cor. 11. 2. and 22. Corinthians As the Apostle first commended them I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things c. so he began with a large Encomium of King Ethelbald his Charity and bountifull Almes-giving Hence seasonably he descended to his Faults shall I praise you in this I praise you not and soundly and
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
that which renders the Conquest to Consideration in our Church-Story is the manifest Change of Religion from what formerly was publickly professed in England To make this Mutation in it's due time more conspicuous we will here conclude this Book with a brief Character of the principall Doctrines generally taught and believed by the English in these four last Centuries before tainted with any Norman Infection For though we must confesse and bemoan that Corruptions crept into the Church by Degrees and Divine Worship began to be clogg'd with superstitious Ceremonies yet that the Doctrine remained still sound and intire in most materiall Points will appeare by an Induction of the dominative Controversies wherein we differ from the Church of Rome 1. Scripture generally read For such as were with the Holy Bishop Aidan sive Attonsi sive b Bedae Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 5. Laici either Clergy or Laity were tied to exercise themselves in reading the Holy Word and learning of Psalms The Originall preferred For Ricemarch a c Caradoc in Chron. of Cambridge Britan a right Learned and Godly Clerk Son to Sulgen Bishop of Saint Davids flourishing in this Age made this Epigram on those who translated the Psalter out of the Greek so taking it at the Second hand and not drawing it immediatly out of the first Vessel Ebreis d MS. in the Library of the Learned Bishop William Bedel and cited by the Arch-bishop of Armagh in the Religion of the ancient Irish pag. 9. Nablam custodit liter a signis Pro captu quam quisque suo sermone Latino Edidit innumeros lingua variante libellos Ebreum que jubar suffuscat nube Latina Nam tepefacta ferum dant tertia Labra Saporem Sed sacer Hieronymus Ebreo fonte repletus Lucidius nudat verum breviusque ministrat This Harp the holy Hebrew Text doth tender Which to their Power whil'st every one doth render In Latine Tongue with many Variations He clouds the Hebrew Rayes with his Translations Thus Liquors when twice shifted out and powr'd In a third Vessel are both cool'd and sowr'd But Holy Ierome Truth to light doth bring Briefer and fuller fetcht from th' Hebrew Spring No Prayers for the Dead in the modern notion of Papists For though we find Prayers for the Dead yet they were not in the nature of Propitiation for their Sins or to procure Relaxation from their Sufferings but were onely an honourable Commemoration of their Memories and a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving for their Salvation Thus S t. Cuthbert after he had seen the Soul of one Hadwaldus e Bede in vita Cuthberti cap. 34. carried by Angels into Heaven did celebrate Obsequies of Prayers in his behalf Purgatory though nevvly hatched not yet fledged For although there are frequent Visions and Revelations in this Age pretended thereon to build Purgatory which had no Foundation in Scripture yet the Architects of that fancy-full Fabrick had not so handsomely contrived it as it stands at this day in the Romish Belief For a Lib. 3. c. 19. Bede out of the Vision of Furseus relateth certain great Fires above the Aire appointed to examine every one according to the merits of his VVork differing from the Papists Purgatory which Bellarmine by the common Consent of the School-men determineth to be within the Bowels of the Earth Thus nothing can be invented and perfected at once Communion under both kinds For b De vita Cuthberti prosa cap. 15. Bede relateth that one Hildmer an Officer of Egfride King of Northumberland intreated our Cuthbert to send a Priest that might minister the Sacrament of the Lords Body and Bloud unto his Wife that then lay a dying And Cuthbert himself immediately before his own Departure out of this Life received the Communion of the Lords Body and Bloud And lest any should fondly hope to decline so pregnant an Instance by the novel conceit of Concomitancy a Distinction that could not speak because it was not born in that Age it is punctually noted that he distinctly received the Cup. Pocula c Idem in vita Cuthberti carmine cap. 36. degustat vitae Christique supinum Sanguine munit iter His Voyage steep the easier to climbe up Christs Bloud he drank out of Lifes healthfull Cup. So that the Eucharist was then administred entire and not maimed as it is by Papists at this day serving it as d 2 Sam. 10. 4 Hanun the Ammonite did the Cloaths and Beards of David's Ambassadours cutting it off at the Middle And though the word Mass was frequent in that Age generally expressing all Divine Service yet was it not known to be offered as a propitiatory-Sacrifice for the quick and dead 43. But if any desire farther Information herein The Authors engagement to the Archb. of Armagh and conclusion of this second book let him repair to the worthy Work which Iames the right learned and pious Arch-bishop of Armagh hath written of the Religion professed by the ancient Irish and British From whom I have borrowed many a Note though not alwayes thanking him in the Margin by citing his Name and therefore now must make one generall Acknowledgement of my Engagement In Cities we see that such as sell by Retaile though of lesse Credit are of great Use especially to poor people in parcelling out Peny-worths of Commodities to them whose Purses cannot extend to buy by Whole-sale from the Merchant Conceive I in like manner my Pains will not be altogether unprofitable who in this History have fetch'd my Wares from the Store-house of that Reverend Prelate the Cape-Merchant of all Learning and here in little Remnants deliver them out to petty-country-Chapmen who hitherto have not had the Hap or Happinesse to understand the original Treasuries whence they are taken And clean through this Work in point of Chronologie I have with implicite Faith followed his e In his book de Brit. Eccl. primord Computation setting my Watch by his Dial knowing his Dial to be set by the Sun and Account most exactly calculated according to the critical truth of Time Long may he live for the Glory of God and Good of his Church For whereas many learned men though they be deep Abysses of Knowledge yet like the Caspian Sea receiving all and having no Out-let are loth to impart ought to others this bright Sun is as bountifull to deal abroad his Beams as such dark Dales as my self are glad and delighted to receive them SEVERALL COPIES OF battel-BATTEL-ABBEY ROLL To the right worshipfull S r. Simon Archer of Tanvvorth in Warvvickshire SOme report that the Toad before her death sucks up if not prevented vvith suddain surprisall the precious Stone as yet but a Jelly in her Head grudging Mankind the Good thereof Such generally the Envy of Antiquaries preferring that their Rarities should die vvith them and be buried in their Graves rather then others receive any Benefit thereby You cross the current of common Corruption it being
instantly were catch'd up in the ears of some Courtiers attending him He complained that never Soveraign kept such lazy Subjects and Servants neither concern'd in their Kings credit nor sensible of his favours conferred on them to suffer a proud Prelate so saucily to affront him Now a low hollow and a less clap with the hand will set fierce doggs on worrying their prey A quaternion of Courtiers being present namely 1. S r Richard Breton of which name as I take it a good family at this day is extant in Northampton-shire 2. S r Hugh Morvil of Kirk-Oswald in Cumberland where his b Cand. Brit. in Cumberland pag. 777. sword wherewith he slew Becket was kept a long time in memorial of his fact His family at this day extinct 3. S r William Tracey whose heirs at this day flourish in a worthy and worshipful equipage at Todington in Glocester-shire 4. S r Reginald Fitz-Urse c Others call him Walter or Beares-Sonne His posterity was afterwards men of great lands and Command in the County of Monaghan in Ireland being there called d Camd. Brit. in Ireland pag. 10. Mac-Mahon which in Irish signifieth the son of a bear These four Knights applying the Kings general reproof to themselves in their preproperous passions mis-interpreted his complaint not onely for Becket's legal condemnation but also for their warrant for his execution Presently they post to Canterbury where they finde Becket in a part of his Church since called the Martyrdom who though warned of their coming and advised to avoid them would not decline them so that he may seem to have more minde to be kill'd then they had to kill him Here happ'ned high expostulation they requiring restitution of the Excommunicated Bishops whose peremptory demands met with his pertinacious denials as then not willing to take notice of Solomon his counsel e Prov. 15. 1. A soft answer pacifieth wrath Brauls breed blows and all four falling upon him with the help of the fifth an officer of the Church called Hugh the ill-Clerk each gave him a wound though that with the sword dispatch'd him which cut off his crown from the rest of his head 67. A barbarous murder Various censures on his death and which none will go about to excuse Dece 28. but much heightned both by the Prose and Poetry good and bad of Popish Writers in that age Of the last and worst sort I account that Distick not worthy the translating one verse whereof Anno Regis Hen. 2 16. on each leaf of the door of Canterbury Quire Anno Dom. 1170 is yet legible in part Est sacer intra locus venerabilis atque beatus Praesul ubi sanctus Thomas est * William Somner in his Antiquities of Canterbury pag. 166. martyrizatus But if he were no truer a martyr then martyrizatus is true position his memory might be much suspected More did the Muses smile on the Author of the following verses Pro Christi Sponsa Christi sub tempore Christi In Templo Christi verus amator obit Quis moritur Praesul Cur Pro grege Qualiter Ense Quando Natali Quis locus Ara Dei. For Christ his Spouse in Christ's Church at the tide Of Christ his birth Christ his true lover dy'd Who dies A Priest Why For 's flock How By th' sword When At Christ's birth Where Altar of the Lord. Here I understand not how properly it can be said that Becket died Pro grege For his flock Hee did not die for feeding his flock for any fundamental point of Religion or for defending his flock against the wolfe of any dangerous doctrine but meerly he died for his flock namely that the sheep thereof though ever so scabb'd might not be dress'd with tarr and other proper but sharpe and smarting medicines I mean that the Clergie might not be punished by the secular power for their criminal enormities Sure I am a learned and moderate a Gulielmus Nubrigiensis writer of that age passeth this character upon him Quae ab ipso acta sunt laudanda nequaquam censuerim licet ex laudabili zelo processerint Such things as were done by him I conceive not at all to be praised though they proceeded from a laudable zeal But b In tribus Thomis Stapleton calls this his judgment Audacis Monachi censura non tam politica quà m planè ethnica The censure of a bold Monk not so much politick as heathenish Should another add of Stapleton that this his verdict is the unchristian censure of a proud and partial Jesuite railing would but beget railing and so it is better to remit all to the day c Rom. 2. 5. of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God 68. Now King Henry The heavy penance performed by King Henry though unable to revive Beacket shewed as much sorrow himself for his death as a living man could express and did the other as much honour as a dead man could receive First searching after all his kinred as most capable of his kindeness he found out his two sisters One Mary a virgin not inclinable to marry whom he preferred Abbess of the rich Nunnery of Berking His other nameless sister being married to one of the Le Botelers or Butlers He transplanted with her husband and children into d Camdens Brit. in Ireland pag. 83. Ireland conferring upon them high honours and rich revenues from whom the Earls of Ormond are at this day descended He founded also the magnificent Abbey called e Idem pag. 93. Thomas-Court in Dublia in memory of the said Thomas Becket 20. and expiation of his murther beautifying the same with fair buildings 1174. and enriching it with large possessions Nor did onely the purse but the person of King Henry do penance Who walking some miles bare-foot suffered himself to be whipped on the naked back by the Monks of Cantrbury As for the four Knights who murthered him the Pope pardoned them but conditionally to spend the rest of their lives in the Holy war where the King as part of his penance enjoyned by the Pope maintained two hundred men for one year on his proper charges to try whether they could be as couragious in killing of Turks as they had been cruel in murdering a Christian 69. And now Becket after fifty years inshrined being on this subject Anno Dom 1174. once to dispatch Becket out of out way Anno Regis Hen. ◠20. just a Jubilee of years after his death Stephen Langton his mediate successor removed his body from the Vnder-croft in Christ-Church where first he was buried and laid him at his own charge in a most sumptuous shrine at the East end of the Church Here the a Erasmus his Dialog in Religionis ergo rust of the sword that killed him was afterwards tendred to Pilgrims to kiss Here many miracles were pretended to be wrought by this saint in number b Fox
Acts and Monum pag. 493. two hundred and seventy They might well have been brought up to four hundred and made as many as Baals lying Prophets though even then one Propher of the Lord one Micaiah one true miracle were worth them all 70. It is almost incredible The blinde superstition of people what multitudes of people flock'd yearly to Canterbury which City lived by Beckets death especially on his Jubilee or each fifty years after his enshrining No fewer then an hundred c Wil. Somner ut priùs pag. 249. thousand we finde it in words at length and therefore a cipher is not mistaken of English and forrainers repaired hither And though great the odds in hardness between stones and flesh there remains at this day in the marble the prints of their superstition who crept and kneeled to his shrine The revenues whereof by peoples offerings amounted to more then six hundred pounds a year And the same accomptant when coming to set down what then and there was offered to Christ's or the High-Altar dispatcheth all with a blanke Summo Altari nil Yea whereas before Beckets death the Cathedral in Canterbury was called Christ's Church it passed afterwards for the Church of S t Thomas verifying therein the complaint of d John 12. 13. Mary Magdalen Sustuleruat Dominum They have taken away the Lord. Though since by the demolishing of Beckets shrine the Church and that justly hath recovered his true and ancient name SECT II. DOMINO JOANNI WYRLEY DE WYRLEY-HALL In Com. Stafford Equiti Aurato LEx Mahometica jubet ut Turcarum quisque mechanicae arti incumbat Hinc est quòd vel inter Ot tomanicos Imperatores hic faber ille Sartor hic totus est in baltheorum * * Edw. Sandys in suis peregrinationibus bullis ille in Sagittarum pennis concinnandis prout quisque suà indole trahatur Lex mihi partim placet partim displicet Placet industria nè animi otii rubigine obducti sensim torpescerent Displicet ingenuas mentes servili operi damnari cùm humile nimis sit abjectum At utinam vel lex vel legis aemula consuetudo inter Anglos obtineret nt nostrates nobiles ad unum omnes meliori literaturae litarent Hoc si fiat uberrimos fructus Respublica perceptura esset ab illis qui nunc absque Musarum cultu penitus sterilescunt Tu verò Doctissime Miles es perpaucorum hominum qui ingenium Tuum nobilitate premi non sinis sed artes ingenuas quas Oxonii didicisti juvenis vir assiduè colis Gestit itaque Liber noster Te Patrono quo non alter aut in not andis mendis oculatior aut in condonandis clementior 1. EVen amongst all the stripes given him since the death of Becket 20. none made deeper impression in King Henry's soul 1174. then the undutisulness of Henry The undutisulness of young King Henry his eldest Son whom he made the foolish act of a wise King joynt-King with himself in his life time And as the Father was indiscreet to put off so much of his apparel before he went to bed so the Son was more unnatural in endeavouring to rend the rest from his back and utterly to difrobe him of all Regal power The Clergie were not wahting in their plentiful censures to impute this mischance to the King as a Divine punishment on Beckets death that his natural Son should prove so undutiful to him who himself had been so unmerciful to his spiritual father Anno Dom. 1174. But this rebellious childe pass'd not unpunished Anno Regis Hen. 2. 20. For as he honoured not his Father so his dayes were sew in the land which the Lord gave him And as he made little account of his own father so English Authors make no reckoning of him in the Catalogue of Kings This Henry the third being wholly omitted because dying during the life of his Father 2. But Richard made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury before this Henries death Richard Prior of Dover who divided Kent into three Arch-Deaconries was made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Indeed the place was first profered to Robert Abbot of Becco in Normandy Sequents of three if he had accepted it Anselme Theobald and this Robert who in the compass of seventy years out of the same Abby were made Arch-Bishops of Canterbury but he refused it as ominous to succeed Becket in his Chair lest he should succeed him in his Coffin and preferr'd a whole skin before an holy Pall. But Richard accepting the place is commended for a milde and moderate man being all for accommodation and his temper the best expedient betwixt the Pope and King pleasing the former with presents the latter with compliance This made him connive at Jeffery Plantaginet his holding the Bishoprick of Lincoln though uncanonicalâ—ess on uncanonicalness met in his person For first he was a bastard Secondly he was never in orders Thirdly he was under age all which irregularities were answered in three words The Kings Son This was that Jeffery who used to protest by the royaltie of the King his Father when a stander by minded him to remember the honesty of his Mother 3. A Synod was call'd at Westminster The controversy betwixt Canterbury York for precedency the Popes Legat being present thereat 1176. on whose right hand sat Richard 22. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as in his proper place When in springs Roger of York and finding Canterbury so seated fairly sits him down on Canterburie's lap a baby too big to be danced thereon yea Canterbury his servants dandled this lap-childe with a witness who pluck'd him thence and buffeted him to purpose Hence began the brawl which often happened betwixt the two Sees for precedency though hitherto we have pass'd them over in silence not conceiving our selves bound to trouble the Reader every time those Arch-Bishops troubled themselves And though it matters as little to the Reader as to the Writer whether Roger beat Richard or Richard beat Roger yet once for all we will reckon up the arguments which each See alledged for its precedencie Canterburies Title 1. No Catholick person will deny but that the Pope is the fountain of spiritual honor to place and displace at pleasure He first gave the Primary to Canterbury Yea whereas the proper place of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in a general Councel was next the Bishop of S t Ruffinus Anselme and his successors were advanced by Pope Vrban to sit at the Popes right foot as alterius orbis Papa 2. The English Kings have ever allowed the Priority to Canterbury For a Duarchie in the Church viz. two Arch-Bishops equal in power being inconsistent with a Monarchy in the State Anno Regis Hen. 2. 22. they have ever countenanced the superiority of Canterbury Anno Dom. 1176. that the Church-government might be uniform with the Commonwealths 3. Custome hath been accounted a King in all
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
cc. xlix o. in Crastino Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis The substance is this That the Dean and Chapter promise to depend wholy on the Kings pleasure in the choice of the next Elect so that now Cathedralls began to learn good manners Notwithstanding the Pope usually obtruded whom he pleased upon them Say not that S t. Asaph was an inconsiderable Cathedrall being at great Distance of small Revenue which might make them more officious to comply with the King seeing the poorest oft times prove the proudest and peevishest to their Superiours But although this qualm of Loyalty took this Church for the present we must confesse that generally Chapters ask the Kings leave as Widows do their Fathers to marry as a Complement not requisite thereunto as conceiving it Civility to ask but no Necessity to have his Approbation 56. Two eminent Arch-bishops of Canterbury successively filled that See Edmond Archbishop of Cant. during the most part of this Kings Reign First Edmond Treasurer of Salisbury born say some in London and Christened in the same Font with Thomas Becket My a Godwine in Catalogue of Bishops pag. 130. Authour makes him educated in Vniversity Colledge in Oxford a great Scholar and lover of learned men refusing to consecrate Richard VVendover Bishop of Rochester because of his want of Sufficiency for such a Function hereupon he incurred the displeasure of Otho the Popes Legate siding with VVendover requiring no other Qualification save Money to make a Bishop was inforced to undertake a dangerous and expensive journey to Rome to his great Damage and greater Disgrace being cast in his Cause after the spending of a thousand Marks therein 57. He took the boldnesse to tell the Pope of his Extortion Sainted after his death though little thereby was amended After his return he fell into the Kings displeasure so that overpowered with his Adversaries and circumvented with their malice weary of his Native Country the miseries whereof he much bemoaned he went into voluntary Banishment He died and was buried in France and six years after which I assure you was very soon and contrary to the modern Custome was Sainted by Pope Innocent the fourth Whose Body Lewes the fourth King of France solemnly removed and sumptuously inshrined 58. The other Boniface a worthlesse Arch-bishop Boniface by name was onely eminent on the account of his high Extraction as Uncle to the Queen and son of Peter Earle of Savoy a horrible scraper of money generally hated insomuch that he went his Visitation having a Corslet on under his Episcopall habit which it seems was no more then needs the Londoners being so exasperated against him that they threarned his Death had not he secured himself by Flight Only he is memorable to Posterity for paying two and twenty thousand Marks debt of his See which his Predecessours had contracted for building a fair Hall at Canterbury and a stately Hospitall at Maidstone which it seems was indited and found guilty of and executed for Superstition at the dissolution of Abbeys when it was valued at above a hundred and fifty pounds of yearly Revenue being aliened now to other uses SECT Anno. Regis III. Anno Dom. TO WILLIAM ROBINSON OF The Inward-Temple Esq SIR Edward Coke was wont to say that he never knew a Divine meddle with a matter of Law but that therein he committed some great errour and discovered gross ignorance I presume you Lawyers are better Divines then we Divines are Lawyers because indeed greater your concernment in your pretious soules then ours in our poor estates Having therefore just cause to suspect my own judgement in this Section wherein so much of Law I submit all to your Judgment to add alter expunge at pleasure that if my weak endeavours shall appear worthy of a second Impression they may come forth corrected with your Emendations 1. QUiet King Henry the third Hen. 3 57. our English Nestor not for depth of brains 1272. but lenghth of life as who Reigned fifty six years The vivacity of King Henry the third and the variety of his life in which terme he buried all his Contemporary Princes in Christendom twice over All the moneths in a year may in a manner be carved out of an April-day Hot cold dry moist fair soule weather being oft presented therein Such the character of this Kings life certain onely in uncertainty Sorrowful successful in plenty in penury in wealth in want Conquered Conquerour 2. Yet the Sun of his life did not set in a Cloud The serenity of his death and solemnity of his Burial but went down in full lustre a good token that the next day would be fair and his Successor prove fortunate He died at S t Edmunds-Bury and though a merciful Prince ended his dayes in a necessary act of justice Anno Dom. 1272. severely punishing some Citizens of Norwich Anno Regis Hen. 3. 57. for burning and pillaging the Priory therein His corps were buried at Westminster Church founded and almost finished by him with great solemnity though Prince Edward his Son as beyond the Seas was not present there at Ed. 1. 1. 3. There cannot be a greater Temptation to Ambition to usurpe a Crown The advantages of absent Prince Edward then when it findeth a vacancy on the Throne and the true heir thereof absent at a great distance Such an advantage at this instant had the Adversaries of Prince Edward not as yet returned from Palestine to put in if so minded for the Kingdom of England And strange it was that no Arrears of the former Rebellion were left but all the reckonings thereof so fully discharged that no Corrival did appear for the Crown But a general concurrence of many things befriended Prince Edward herein 1. His Father on his death-bed secured his Sons succession as much as might be by swearing the Principal Peers unto him in his absence 2. The most active and dangerous Military men the Prince had politickly carried away with him into Palestine 3. Prince Edward his same present here in the absence of his person preserved the Crown for him as due to him no less by desert then descent The premisses meeting with the love and Loyalty of many English hearts paved the way to Prince Edward his peaceable entrance without any opposition 4. King Edward was a most worthy Prince His atchievements against the Turks coming off with honour in all his atchievements against Turke and Pope and Jews and Scots and against whomsoever he encountred For the Turks he had lately made a voyage against them which being largely related in our Holy War we intend not here to repeat Onely I will add that this Forein expedition was politickly undertaken to rid the Land of many Martialists wherewith the late Barons Wars had made it to abound These Spirits thus raised though they could not presently be conjured down were safely removed into another room The fiercest Mastiff-Dogs never
indignities offered him was at last by them beheaded on Tower-Hill patiently ending his life and dying a State-Martyr But most fiercely fell their fury on the Dutch in London offended be-like with them for ingrossing of Trade and these words bread and cheese were their neck-verse or Shibboleth to distinguish them all pronouncing broad and cause being presently put to death Of all people onely some a See Godwins Catalogue of the Bishops of Norwich in Hen Spencer Franciscan Friers found favour in their sight whom they intended to preserve What quality to us occult commended them to their mercy Was it because they were the most ignorant of other Friers and so the likest to themselves But perchance these Rebells if demanded were as unable to render a reason why they spared these as why they spoiled others being equally irrational in their kindnesses as in in their cruelties 21. Judas Wat Tyler parallel'd When I read that passage of Judas in the Counsel of b Acts 5. 37. Gamaliel it seemeth to me plainly to describe the rising increase and ruine of these Rebels 1. Rising There rose up Judas of Galilee in the dayes of the taxing so Tiler appeared and this rebellion was caused by poll-money heavily imposed by the King and the arrears thereof more cruelly exacted by his Courtiers that farmed it And pitty it is so foul a rebellion could pretend so fair an occasion for the extenuating thereof 2. Encrease And drew away much people after him so the snow-ball encreased here John c In his book called Vox Clamantis lib. 1. cap. 14. Gower telleth us in his paralel of the martyring of Simon Sudbury Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with Thomas Becket his predecessour Quatuor in mortem spirarunt foedera Thomae Simonis centum mille dedere necem But four conspir'd Thomas his bloud to spill Whiles hundred thousands Simon help to kill Nor was this any poetical Hyperbole but an historical truth if the several numbers of their three armies were summ'd up together 3. Ruine He also perished and all even as many as obeyed him were dispersed so here no sooner was Wat Tiler their General as I may terme him kill'd by valiant Wallworth the Lord Mayor of London and his assistance for it was John a Weavers funeral Monuments p. 693. Cavendish Esquire that dispatch'd him with a mortal wound in Smithfield and Jack Straw their Lieutenant-General legally b Stow Survey of London pag. 55. beheaded too brave a death for so base a fellow but all the rest mouldered away and vanished In memory of S r William Wallworths valour the Armes of London formerly a plain Cross were augmented with the addition of a Dagger to make the coat in all points compleat Happy when the Cross as first there in place directeth the Dagger and when the Dagger defendeth the Cross when Religion sanctifieth power and power supporteth Religion 22. But Cope chargeth all this rebellion on Wicliffs doctrine Alanus Copus for he it is whose Ecclesiastical History of England goes under the name of Harpsfield heavily chargeth all this rebellion on the account of Wicliffe's doctrine Whose scholars saith c In his Histo Wicliffiana cap. 12. he to promote their Masters opinions stirred up this deadly and damnable sedition and sounded the first trumpet thereunto Adding moreover that Wicliffe's tenet that Dominion is founded in grace and that a King guilty of mortal sin is no longer Lord of any thing was Cos hujus seditionis The whet-stone of this sedition But to what lyer the whet-stone doth properly belong will presently appear 23. It is no news for the best of Gods children His malicious slander confused to be slandered in this kinde Jeremy was d Jer. 37. 13 traduced Thou fallest away to the Caldeans S t Paul was e Acts 24. 5. accused We have found this man a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition Yea our Saviour himself was f John 19. 12. charged that He made himself a King and was a traytor to Caesar But as these were soul and false aspersions so will this appear if we consider 1. When John Ball was executed at S t Albans and Jack g See his confession at large in Stows Survey of London p. 54. Straw at London not the least compliance with Wicliffe or his doctrine is either charged on them or confessed by them 2. No wilde beast will prey on his own kinde Now it is certainly known that John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was the principal Patron and supporter of Wicliffe whose life they sought to destroy and whose Palace in the Strand they pillaged 3. Wicliffe himself came within the compass of their destructive principles designing the death of all who wore a pen and ink And that Wicliffe had both pen and ink Cope himself doth know and the Court of Rome with shame and sorrow will confess 4. Wicliffe lived some years after and died peaceably possessed of the Living of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire Surely had he been reputed the inflamer of this rebellion the wisdom of the King and Councel would have taken another order with him 5. Amongst the articles laid to the charge of Wicliffe and his followers in this Kings Reign examined at Oxford and elsewhere not a tittle of this rebellion is pressed upon them Which their malicious adversaries would not have omitted if in any hope to make good that accusation against them 6. Whereas it is charged on Wicliffe that he held that Dominion was founded in grace which occasioned this rebellion we know this that Huss his scholar though he did hold that a King being in mortal sin was onely called a King aequivoca denominatione yet the same Huss confesseth to use his own h Huss Tract de Decimis pag. 128. See Bishop Davenants 30 Determination words Ipsum Deum approbare hujusmodi Regem quoad esse Principem exterius That God himself allows such a King to be a Prince in all outward matters So that leaving him to Divine Justice he never dreamt of any resistance or rebellion to be made against him 7. The modern Protestants heirs say the Papists to Wicliffe's doctrine so far abominate these Rebels their levelling and ignorant principles that they are known both to maintain distances of people and to have been the restorers of lost yea the revivers of dead learning and languages How had the Mathematicks measured their own grave Greek turn'd barbarisme Hebrew as it readeth gone backward never to return again had not Protestant Criticks with vast pains and expence preserved them 8. It is more suspicious that this rebellion came out of the Franciscan Covent because some of these belike were the rebels white-boyes and as is afore mentioned to be spared in a general destruction In a word I wonder how many ingenuous Papists can charge Wicliffe of rebellion in maintaining Dominion to be founded in grace when the Grandees of their own Religion Aquine Cajetane Bellarmine Suarez
Oxonford I mean Wickliff by Name afterwards chewed the Cud and was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman faith as appears by his Recantation Living and Dying conformable to the holy Catholick Church 58. It is strange that this Popish Priest alone should light on his Recantation which I believe no other eyes before or since did behold Besides if as he saith Wickliff was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman Faith why was not Rome sufficiently reconciled to him using such crueltie unto him so many years after his death Cold incouragement for any to become Romist's Converts if notwithstanding their reconciliation the bodies must be burnt so many years after their death 59. But though Wickliff had no Tombe A Monk's charity to Wickliffe he had an Epitaph such as it was which a Monk afforded him and that it was no worse thank his want not of malice but invention not finding out worse expressions The k Walsing Ypodig Neust p. 3â—2 Divels Instrument Churches Enemie Peoples confusion Hereticks Idol Hypocrites Mirror Schisms Broacher hatreds sower Anno Dom. 1430. lyes forger flatteries sinke who at his death despaired like Cain Anno Regis Hen. 6. 8. and stricken by the horrible Judgements of God breathed forth his wicked Soul to the dark mansion of the black Divell Surely He with whose Name this Epitaph beginneth and endeth was with the maker clean thorow the contrivance thereof 59. Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester A conditional privy Council Cardinal Sancti Eusebij but commonly called Cardinal of England was by consent of Parliament made one of the Kings Council with this condition that he should make a * Ex Archivis tur London Protestation to absent himself from the Council when any matters were to be treated betwixt the King and Pope being jealous belike that his Papal would prevaile over his Royall interest The Cardinal took the Protestation and promised to perform it 60. The Clergy complained in Parliament to the King Priviledge of Convocation that their Servants which came with them to Convocations were often arrested to their great damage and they prayed that they might have the same Priviledge which the Peeres and Commons of the Kingdom have which are called to Parliament which was granted accordingly 61. Great at this time was the want of Grammar Schools and the abuse of them that were even in London it self Want of Grammar Schools complained of for they were no better then Monopolize it being penall for any to prevent the growth of Wicklivism to put their Children to private Teachers hence was it that some hundreds were compelled to go to the same School where to use the words of the Records the Masters waxen rich in money and learners poor in cunning Whereupon this grievance was complained on in Parliament by four eminent Ministers in London viz. M r. William Lichfield Parson of All-Hallow's the More Gilbert Parson of St. Andrews Holbern John Cote Parson of St. Peter's Cornhill John Neele Master of the House of St. Thomas Acre 's and Parson of Colchrich To these it was granted by the Advice of the Ordinary or Archbishop of Canterbury to erect five Schools Neele the last named having a double licence for two places in their respective Parishes which are fitly called the five vowels of London which Mute in a manner before began now to speak and pronounce the Latine Tongue Know that the house St. Thomas Acres was where Mercers Chappel standeth at this day About this time the Lady Eleanor Cobham Elianour Dutchess of Glocester commended by M r. Fox for a Confessor so called from the Lord Cobham her Father 1433 otherwise Elianour Plantagenet by her Husband was married unto Humphrey the Kings Uncle Duke of Glocester 11. She was it seems a great Savourer and Favourer of VVickliffe his Opinions and for such Mr. Fox hath ever a Good word in store Insomuch that he maketh this Lady a Confessor Sr. Roger Only alias Bolignbroke her Chaplain a Martyr assigning in his Kalender the eleventh and twelfth of February for the dayes of their commemoration But Alanus Copus namely Harpsfield under his name falls foul on Mr. Fox for making Sr. Roger a Martyr Made Traitor by A. C. who was a Traitor and Elianour this Dutchess a Confessor who by the consent of our Croniclers Robert Fabian Edward Hall c. was condemned after solemn penance and carrying a Taper barefoot at Pauls Crosse to perpetuall banishment for plotting with Only his Chaplain an abominable Necromancer and three others by witchcraft to destroy the King Anno Regis Hen. sixt 11. so to derive the Crown to her Husband Anno Dom. 1433. as the next heir in the Line of Lancaster But Cope-Harpsfield pincheth the Fox the hardest for making Margaret Jourdman the witch of Eye a Martyr who was justly burnt for her witchcraft Other small errors we omit where of he accuseth him In answer hereunto Mr. Fox makes a threefold return ingeniously confessing part of the charge Mr. Fox His ingenious confession flatly denying part and fairly excusing the rest He confesseth and take it in his own words that the former Edition of his Acts and Monuments was a First Volum pag. 920. HASTILY RASHED up at the present in such shortnesse of time fourteen moneths as I remember too small a term for so great a Task that it betraied him to many mistakes as when he calleth Sir Roger Only a Knight who was a Priest by his profession Adding moreover that had he thought no b Pag. 921. imperfections had passed his former Edition he would have taken in hand a second recognition thereof He flatly denyeth that his Martyr-making of Margaret Jourdman the Witch of Eye His flat deniall I here saith professe confesse and ascertain both you Cope-Harpsfield He meaneth and all English men both present and all posterity hereafter to come that Margaret Jourdman I never spake of never thought of never dreamed of nor did ever hear of before you named her in your Book your self So farre it is off that I either with my will or against my will made any Martyr of Her He excuseth the aforesaid Dutchess Elianour His ten Coniectures in behalf of the Dutchess alledging ten Conjectures as he calleth them in her vindication 1. Sir Roger Only took it upon his death that He and the Lady were innocent of those things for which they were condemned 2. It was usuall for the Clergie in that Age to load those who were of Wickliffe his perswasion such this Dutchess with no lesse false then feule aspersions 3. Sir Roger Only wrote two Books mentioned by c As in his 8th Cent. cap. 4. Bale the one of his own innocency the other Contra Vulgi Superstitiones It is not therefore probable he should be so silly a Necromancer who had professedly confuted Popular Superstitions 4. The Accusation of this Dutches beganne not untill after the Grudges betwixt the
fall accordingly not by the death of those in Kings Colledg but their advancement to better preferment in the Church and Common-wealth 15. If we cast our eyes on the Civil estate All quickly lost in France we shall finde our Foraign Acquisitions in France 1447 which came to us on foot 25. running from us on horse-back Nulla dies sine Civitate fearce a day escaping wherein the French regained not some City or place of importance so that the English who under King Hen. 6. had almost a third of France besides the City of Paris another third in its self for Wealth and Populousness soon lost all on the Continent to the poor pittance of Calice and a little land or if you will some large suburbs round about it 16. Yet let not the French boast of their Valor Occasioned by the English discords but under Gods providence thank our sins and particularly our discords for their so speedy recoveries There were many Clefts and Chaps in our Councel-board factions betwixt the great Lords present thereat and these differences descended on their Attendants and Retainers who putting on their Coats wore the Badges as well of enmities as of the Armes of their Lords and Masters but behold them how coupled in their Antipathies Deadly feud betwixt Edmund Beaufort Anno Regis Hen 6 37. Duke of Somerset Anno Dom. 1459. Richard Plantagenet Duke of York Humbhrey Plantagenet Duke of Glocester Henry Beaufort Cardinal Bishop of Winchester Deadly feud betwixt William Delapole Duke of Suffolk John Holland Duke of Exeter Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick Humphrey Plantagenet Duke of Glocester William Delapole Duke of Suffolk Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick Betwixt the three last there was as it were a battel Royal in this Cockpit each of them hating and opposing another In all these contests their ambition was above their covetousness it being every ones endeavour not so much to raise and advance himself as ruine and depress his adversary 17. Two of the aforesaid principal persons left the world this year The death of Humphry Duke of Glocester and in the same moneth First Humphrey Duke of Glocester Son to King Henry the fifth Uncle and Gardian to King Henry the sixth A great House-keeper Hospitality being so common in that Age none were commended for the keeping but condemned for the neglecting thereof He was much opposed by Queen Margaret who would have none rule the King her husband save her self and accused of a treacherous design insomuch that at a packt Parliament at Bury he was condemned of high Treason and found dead in his bed not without rank suspicion of cruel practises upon his person 18. His death is suspended betwixt Legal execution and murder A fit work for a good pen. and his memory pendulous betwixt Malefactor and Martyr However the latter hath most prevailed in mens belief and the Good Duke of Glocester is commonly his character But it is proper for some Oxford man to write his just Vindication A Manuel in asserting his memory being but proportionable for him who gave to their Library so many and pretious voluminous Manuscripts As for those who chewing their meat with their feet whilest they walk in the body of S t Pauls are commonly said to Dine with Duke Humphrey the saying is as far from truth as they from dinner even twenty miles off seeing this Duke was buried in St Albans to which Church he was a great Benefactor 19. The same Moneth with the Duke of Glocester The death of the rich Cardinal died Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester and Cardinal One of high discent high spirit and high preferments hardly to be equalled by Cardinal Wolsey otherwise but a pigmy to him in birth for wealth and magnificence He lent King Henry the 5 th at once twenty thousand pounds who pawned his Crown unto him He built the fair Hospital of St Cross near Winchester and although Chancellor of the University of Oxford was no grand Banefactor thereunto in proportion to his own wealth commonly called the Rich Cardinal or the practises of his predecessours Wickham and Wainesleet 20. The Bishops * The Clergie move in vain against the Statute of Praemunite assembled in Parliament laboured the recalling of the Act of Praemunire and no wonder if gall'd horses would willingly cast off their saddles but belike they found that statute girt too close unto them The Lords and Commons stickling stoutly for the continuance thereof And because this is the last time we shall have occasion to mention this Statute and therefore must take our farewell thereof it will not be amiss to insert the ensuing passage as relating to the present subject though it happened many years after 21. One a Su Jo. Davies in his Caâ—â— of Praemunire fol. 83. Robert Lalor An eminent instance in Ireland of a priest indiâ—ted on the Statute of Praemunire Priest a Native of Ireland to whom the Pope had given the titulary Bishoprick of Kilmore Anno Dom. 1447 and made him Vicar-general of the See Apostolick Anno Regis Hen. 6 25. within the Arch-Bishoprick of Dublin c. boldly and securely executed his pretended jurisdiction for many years was indicted at Dublin in Hillary Terme Quarto Jacobi upon this Statute of Praemunire made two hundred years before being the sixteenth of Richard the second His Majesties learned Councel did wisely forbear to proceed against him upon any latter Law whereof plenty in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth because Recusants swarming in that Kingdome might have their judgments convinced That long before King Henry the eighth banished the Usurpation of the Pope The King Lords and Commons in England though for the most part of the Romish Religion made strict Laws for the maintenance of the Crown against any foraign Invasion Whereupon after the party indicted had pleaded at large for himself The Jury departed from the Bar and returning within half an hour found the prisoner guilty of the contempts whereof he was indicted whereupon the Sollicitor General moved the Court to proceed to judgement and b Idem fol 99. S r ' Dominick Sarsfield one of the Justices of his Majesties chief Pleas gave judgment according to the form of the Statute whereupon the Endictment was framed Hence it plainly appears that such Misdemeanours of Papists are punishable at this day by vertue of those Ancient Statutes without any relation to such as were enacted since the Reformation 22. About this time Jack Cade raised his Rebellion Cade Straw like and unlike like and unlike to the former commotion of Jack Straw 1450 Like 28. first because Jacks both I mean insolent impudent domineering Clowns Secondly Both of them were Kentish by their extractions Thirdly both of them pressed upon London and there principally plaied their pranks Fourthly both of them after they had troubled the Land for a short time were
the Pope to absolve people from Usury Symonie Theft Manslaughter Fornication Adultery and all crimes whatsoever saving Smiting of the Clergie and conspiring against the Pope and some few cases reserved alone to his Holiness This Gigies gat for himself the rich Bishoprick of Worcester yea we observe that in that See a Team of Four b Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Nor. p. 5â—0 Italians followed each other 1. John Giglis 2. Silvester Giglis 3. Julius Medices afterwards Clement the 7 th 4. Hieronymis de Negutiis Thus as weeds in a garden once got in hardly got out as sowing themselvess so these Italians having planted themselve in that rich place were never gotten out pleading as it were prescription of almost fourty years possession till the power of the Pope was partly banished England and then Hugh Latimer was placed in the Bishoprick 22. Arch-Bishop Morton 10. as one much meriting from the Pope 1494 was not noely honoured with a Cardinals Hat Rochester Bridg repaired by Pardons of the title of S t Anastatius but also privileged from his Holiness to visit all places formely exempt from Archiepiscopal jurisdiction Impowring him also to dispense his Pardons where he saw just cause Hereupon Rochester Bridge being broken down Morton to appear a Pontifex indeed bestowed remission from c Antiquit. Brit. p. 298. Purgatory for all sins whatsoever committed within the compass fourty dayes to such as should Bountifully contribute to the building thereof 23. The King had more then a moneths minde keeping seven years in that humour to procure the Pope to Canonize King Henry the sixth for a Saint The King desired King Henry then the sixth to be Sainted For English Saint-Kings so frequent before the Conquest were grown great dainties since that time France lately had her King Saint Lewis and why should not England receive the like favour being no less beneficial to the Church of Rome Nor could the unhappiness of our King Henry because Deposed from his Throne be any just bar to his Saintship seeing generally Gods best servants are most subject to the sharpest afflictions His Canonizing would add much Lustre of the Line of Lancaster which made his Kinsman and mediate successor King Henry the seventh so desirous thereof Besides well might he be made a Saint who had been a Prophet For when the Wars between Lancaster and York first began Henry the sixth beholding this Henry the seventh then but a Boy playing in the Court said to the standers by See this youth one day will quietly enjoy what we at this time so much fight about This made the king with much importunity to tender this his request unto the Pope A request the more reasonable because it was well nigh fourty years since the death of the Henry so that onely the skeletons of his virtues remained in mens memories the flesh and corruption as one may say of his faults being quite consumed and forgotten 24. Pope Alexander the sixth The requisiteâ— to a Canonization instead of granting his request acquainted him with the requisites belonging to the making of a Saint First that to confer that honour the greatest on earth was onely in the power of the Pope the proper judg of mens merits therein Secondly that Saints were not to be multiplied but on just motions Anno Dom. 1494 lest commonness should cause their contempt Anno Regis Hen. 7 10. Thirdly that his life must be exemplarily holy by the testimony of credible witnesses Fourthly that such must attest the truth of reall Miracles wrought by him after death Fifthly that very great was the cost thereof because all Chaunters Choristers * The Latin is Parafrenarii Bell-ringers not the least clapper in the steeple wagging except money was tied to the end of the rope with all the officers of the Church of Saint Peter together with the Commissaries and Notaries of the Court with all the officers of the Popes Bed-chamber to the very Lock-smiths ought to have their several fees of such cononization Adding that the total summe would amount to fifteen hundred Duckets a Antiq. Brit. pag. 229. of Gold Tantae Molis erat Romanum condere Sanctum Concluding with that which made the charges though not infinite indefinite that the costs were to be multiplied secundum Canonizati Potentiam according to the power or dignity of the person to be Canonized And certain it was the Court of Rome would not behold this Henry the sixth in the notion he died in as a poor prisoner but as he lived a King so long as he had this Henry his Kinsman to pay for the same 25. Most of these requisites met in King Henry sixth in a competent measure These applied to King Hen. 6. First the holiness of his life was confessed by all save that some sullen persons suggested that his simplicity was above his Sanctity and his life pious not so much out of hatred as ignorance of badness As for Miracles there was no want of them if credible persons might be believed two of whose Miracles it will not be amiss to recite 25. Thomas Fuller A brace of Miracles wrought by King Hen. 6. a very honest b Harpâ—field Hist Ecclesiastica saeculo decimo quinto pag. 646. man living at Hammersmith near London had a hard hap accidentally to light into the company of one who had stolen and driven away Cattle with whom though wholly innocent he was taken arraigned condemned and executed When on the Gallows blessed King Henry loving justice when alive and willing to preserve innocence after death appeared unto him so ordering the matter that the halter did not strangle him For having hung an whole hour and taken down to be buried he was found alive for which favour he repaired to the Tomb of King Henry at Chertsey as he was bound to do no less and there presented his humble and hearty thanks unto him for his deliverance The very same accident mutatis mutandis of place and persons with some addition about the apparition of the Virgin Mary hapned to Richard Boyes dwelling withing a mile of Bath the story so like all may believe them equally true 26. All the premisses required to a Saint appearing in some moderate proportion in Henry the sixth especially if charitably interpreted Saints themselves needs some favour to be afforded them it was the general expectation that he should be suddenly Canonized But Pope Alexander the sixth delayed and in effect denied King Henry's desire herein yea Julius his next successor of continuance not to mention the short liv'd Pius the third continued as sturdy in his denial 27. Men variously conjecture why the Pope in effect should deny to Canonize King Henry the sixth a witty Reasons why King Hen. 6. was not Sainted but tart reason is rendred by a Noble c The Lord Bacon pen because the Pope would put a difference betwixt a Saint and an
Innocent But others conceive King Henry not so simple himself his parts onely seeming the lower being over-topped with a high spirited queen more probable it is what another d See Mr Habington in the life of Ed. 4. saith that seeing King Henry held the Crown by a false title from the true heir thereof the Pope could not with so good credit fasten a Saintship on his memory But our great e Camd. Brit. ◠Surrey Antiquary resolveth all in the Popes covetousness In cause fuit Pontificis avaritia demanding more then thrifty King Henry the seventh would allow Who at last contented himself by the Popes leave hardly obtained to remove his Corps from Chertsey in Surrey where it was obscurely Interred Anno Regis Hen. 7 10. to Windsor Chappel Anno Dom. 1494. a place of greater reputation Thus is he whom Authors have observed twice Crowned twice Deposed twice Buried the best was though he was not Canonized yet there was plenty of Popish Saints beside him wherewith the Calender is so overstocked that for want of room they justle one another 28. But the Saintship of Anselme Arch-Bishop Morton procureth the Sainting of Ansilm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 13. was procured on cheaper terms 1497 though it cost Arch-Bishop Marton much money who procured the same Indeed Anselme being alterius orbis Papa the Pope of the English world as the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was termed no wonder if one Pope upon reasonable termes did this courtesie for another Besides great was the merit of Anselme to the Church of Rome little whereof goes far to obtain a Canonization seeing he was the Champion and confessor of the Popes cause about investing of Bishops against two Kings successively William Rufus and King Henry the first 29. Observable was the carriage of King Henry towards the Pope The Kings carriage to the Pope the Clergie and the poor Lollards To the Pope he was submissive not servile his devotion being seldom without design so using his Holiness that he seldom stooped down to him in any low reverence but with the same gesture he took up something in order to his own ends 30. To the Clergie of desert he was very respectful trusting and imploying them in State affairs more then his Nobility To the dissolute and vitious Clergie he was justly severe Severe to the vitious Clergie and pared their priviledges ordeining that Clerks a Lord Verulam in Hen. 7. pag. 66. convict should be burnt in the hand both that they might taste a corporal punishment and carry a brand of infamy But for this good act the King himself was afterwards branded by Mock-King-Perkins proclamation for an execrable breaker of the Rights of Holy Church He also made a b Statotes undecimo Hen. 7. cap. 2. Law that begging scholars though Clerks should be reputed Vagabonds without they shew the Letters of the Chancellor of the University from whence he saith he cometh 31. To the Lollards so were Gods people nick-named he was more cruel then his predecessors Sad to be the Kings Convert for he not onely in the beginning of his Reign connived at the cruel persecutions which Jo. Halse Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield raised against them 14. but towards the end of his Reign appeared in his person very bloudy unto them 1498 if the story be true which is very lamely delivered unto us There was in Canterbury an old Priest so resolute in Wicliffs opinions that none of the Clergie there could convince him of the contrary The King casually coming thither in the moneth of May undertook the Priest himself though we never read before of his Majesties disputing save when he disputed Bosworth field with King Richard the third The King by what arguments we know not converted this Priest and then presently gave order he should be burnt which was done c Fox Acts Mon. pag. 556. accordingly Surely there was more in the matter then what appeared in the Record or else one may boldly say that if the Kings Converts had no better incouragement this was the first he made and the last he was ever likely to make 32. Two most needless pieces of Cruelty were committed at this time the one an aged old man burnt in Smithfield the other one Joan Baughton widow Needless cruelty which seemeth a woman of some quality as Mother to the Lady Young who was afterwards Martyred she being fourscore d Fox Ibid. years of age was burnt for an Heretick posting her to the Stake which was going to the Grave 33. William Smith sometimes Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridg The Founding of Brasen-nose Colledg and Bishop of Lincoln this year began the Foundation of Brasen-nose Colledg in Oxford I meet not with any satisfactory reason why so called save the fancy of the Founder Except any will say it was so named because built c where anciently Brasen-nose hall stood though this does not so much resolve the Question as put it a degree further off Anno Dom. 1498 But when such who cavil at the name Anno Regis Hen. 7 14. build a Colledg it shall be left at their free liberty to call it according to their own pleasure This Bishop lived not to finish his intentions and the resore after his death Richard Sutton Esq took upon him to perfect the same and accomplished it accordingly Principals Bishops Benefactors Learned men Matthew Smith John Hawarden Tho. Blanchard Rich. Harris Alex. Noel Tho. Singleton D r Ratcliffe Tho. Yates Dr. Greenhil Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham William Clifton William Porter Jo. Elton aliàs Baker Hum. Ogle Edw. Darby Jo. Claymond Jo. Williamson Brian Higden Alexand. Noel Joyce Frankland Richard Harper S r Jo. port Jo. Lord Mordant D r Jo. Barneston Geo. Palin Richard Caldwell Doctor of Physick and a Camdent Eliz. in Anno 1585. Founder of a Chirurgery Lecture in London Ro. Bolton a famous Preacher So that at this present the Colledg is much beautified with buildings and ornaments for the perfecting whereof great summes have been expended within these few last years maintaining a Principal twenty Fellows besides Scholars Officers and Servants of the Foundation in all Anno 1634. amounting to one hundred eighty six Cheshire-men whose Country is called Nobilitatis Altrix and those of Lancashire most commendable ob bonitatem habitudinis decorem aspectus are in this Colledg most proper for preferment 34. John Morton Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased The Death of Arch-Bishop Morton many condemned him in his life for acting and putting the King forward to be burtheniome to his Subjects with his Taxes 1500 but his innocence appeared after his death 16. that he rather tempered the Kings covetousness then otherwise He was a Learned man and had a fair Library Rebuss'd with More in text and Tun under it partly remaining in the possession of the late Earl of Arundell I finde him in the
Pope must either abate of his Traine or finde his Officers other waies of subsistance 37. Secondly By his Annates for Annates so called because they were the intire Revenues of one Yeare in the nature of first Fruits which the Bishops and inferiour Clergie paid to the Pope We have no light concerning the latter but can present the Reader with an exact account what every Bishop in England new elected or translated to a See paid at his entrance to his Holinesse BISHOPRICK paid a This Catalogue was extracted our of Bishop Godwin Canterbury 10000. F. Besides for his Pall 5000. F. London 3000. F. Winchester 12000. D. Elie 7000. D. Lincolne Coventrey and Lichfield 1733. D. Salisbury 4500. * This standeth for Crown Cr. Bath and Wells 430. D. Exeter 6000. D. Norwich 5000. D. Worcester 2000. F. Hereford 18000. F. Chichester 333. F. Rochester St. Davids 1500. F. Landaffe 700. F. Bangor 126. F. St. Asaph 126. F. Yorke 10000. D. Besides for his Pall 5000. D. Durham 9000. F. Carlisle 1000. F. In this account F stands for Florenes being worth 4s 6d in our English money D for single Duckets sufficiently known for 8 shillings Lincolnes not being valued I behold as a meeâ— casual omission in this Catalogue but can render a reason why Rochester not rated who being accounted as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury and antiently in his Donation may be supposed valued in the high valuation of his Patron That Bath and Wells then so high in Wealth should be so low in first Fruits whereat my b Quod miror Godw in his Catalogue of Bishops p. 447 By appea's Authour wonders plainly shows that Favour was fashionable as in all other Courts so in the Court of Rome The rest of the English Bishopricks were not in being before the Reformation 39. Thirdly by Appeals The Pope having learn'd this policy from the Councill of Jethro to Moses * Exod. 18. 22. every Great thing they shall bring unto thee but every Small matter they viz the 70 Elders shall Judge reserved to himself the definitive sentence in all high Controversies which brought no small profit unto him 40. Fourthly By King Athelwolth's Pension by K. Athelph's Pension given by him to the Pope Anno 852. whereof largely before A distinct payment from Peter pence with which some confound it as stinted to three hundred c See Sir Henry Spelman's Councils p. 353. By his Dispensations Marks whereas the other were casual and increased according to the number of Houses 41. Fiftly for Dispensations Oh the charity of the Pope to lay heavy Burdens on mens consciences without command from God's Word too heavy for them to bear but then so mercifull he was for Money to take them off again thus Licences to marry within degrees forbidden for Priests base Sonnes to succeed their Fathers in a Benefice and a hundred other particulars brought yearly a Nemo scit into the Papal Treasury 42. Sixtly By Indulgencies Indulgencies are next though I know not how essentially distinguished from Dispensations nor dare warrant the distinction that the former was against the other above Canon Law As when Abbeys and other places were freed from Episcopal Jurisdiction and many other Priviledges and Exemptions both personal and conventual 43. Seventhly By Legatine Levies by Legatine Levies these though not Annuall yet came almost as often as the Pope's needs or covetousnesse would require them 44. Eighthly By Mortuaries Mortuaries due at the death of great Prelates though I finde not in what manner and proportion they were paid 45. Ninthly By Pardons Pardons He saveth his credit the best who makes no conjecture at the certainty of this Revenue And though the Pope as then too politick openly to confesse his profit by granting so since be too proud publickly to bemone his losse by stopping of these Pardons yet is he secretly and sadly sensible of a great emptinesse in his Treasure thereby 46. Tenthly By Peter-pence Peter-pence succeed granted by Ina King of the West Saxons to Pope Gregory the second Anno 626. It was a peny paid for every Chimney that smoaked in England which in that Hospitall Age had few smoaklesse ones the device of Cypher Tunnels or mock-Chimneys meerly for uniformity of building being unknown in those dayes Indeed before the Conquest such onely paid Peter-pence who were worth * See Spelman's Council p 625. thirty pence in yearly revenue or half a marke in goods but afterwards it was collected generally of all solvable Housekeepers and that on most heavy penalties 47. Now though none can tell what these amounted to To what they amounted yet conjecture may be made by descending to such proportions which no rational man will deny Allowing nine thousand Parishes abating the odde hundreds in England and Wales a hundred houses in every Parish two chimneys in every house one with another it ariseth unto a yearly summe of seven thousand five hundred pounds Here I say nothing of the intrinsecal value of their Peny worth two pence in our Age. 48. Eleventhly By Pilgrimages Pilgrimages follow many persons of quality going yearly to Rome somtimes perchance with bare feet but never with empty hands But the Pope's principal harvest was in the Jubile which of late recurred every five and twenty years when no fewer than two hundred thousand strangers have been counted at Rome at once Of these more than the tenth part may be justly allowed English it being alwaies observed that distance encreaseth devotion and the farthest off the forwardest in Will-worship of this nature 49. Twelfthly By Tenths we conclude with Tenths and on what Title they were paid to the Pope largely hereafter 50. Here we speak not of the accidentals All cannot be truly counted as Legacies bequeathed by the deaths of Princes and great Persons and other Casualties and Obventions Sixtus the fourth being wont to say that a Pope could never want Money while he could hold a Pen in his hand understand him to grant general Indulgencies though Luther's holding a pen in his hand hath since much marred his Mart herein Now certainly Demetrius could tell better what was gotten by making * Acts 19. 27. silver Shrines for Diana than S. Paul himself and while some Protestants compute the Papal profit to be a hundred and fifty thousand pounds per annum some more some lesse but all making it above the King's Revenues they doe but state his Income at randome 51. Onely Polidore Virgil Polidore Virgil Collector of the English Peter-pence if alive and willing were able to give a certain account of the Peter pence a good guesse at the rest of Papall Revenues knowing them as well as the Begger knows his dish as holding the Bason into which they were put being Collector general of Peter pence all over England But this Italian was too proud to accept them as gratuities in which nature they were first given
hand of your bounty hath had so long a reach let the legs of my gratitude take as large a stride When you shall be disposed to be Solitary and desirous to have Society at the same time peruse this Book whereby you shall attain your desired Condition FOR twelve Moneths had Bishop Fisher formerly condemned now lived in durance Hē 8. 27. June 22. and so was likely to continue 1535. untill in all probability his soul at the same time Fisher made Cardinal should be freed from two Prisons I mean that of his body and that of the Tower For his life could doe the King no hurt whose death might procure Him hatred as of one generally pitied for his age honoured for his learning admired for his holy conversation Besides it was not worth the while to take away his life who was not onely mortalis as all men and mortificatus as all good men but also moriturus as all old men being past seventy six years of age But now an unseasonable act of the Pope accelerated his execution in making him Cardinal of S. Vitalis a title which Fisher so little affected that he professed If the Hat lay at his feet he would not stoop to take it up 2. His Holinesse could not have studied a more destructive way against Fisher's life The King enraged thereat than to fasten this injurious favour upon him This heightned the King's anger into fury against him He expounded the Pope's act or rather the act expounded it self as capable of no other comment as done in his defiance and therefore a Warrant is sent to the Lieutenant for his execution Let not the Reader grudge his pains if we describe this Bishop from his cradle to I cannot say his coffin or winding-sheet being made to believe he had neither but his grave The rather because I collected the same out of his Manuscript-life compiled by Richard Hall of Christ Colledge in a Pitscus de Script Angliae pag. 803. Cambridge and communicated unto me by a worthy b Mr. Huls Esq Beadle of Cambridge friend Onely be it premised that the same Hall was a stiffe Roman Catholick and therefore accordingly must abatement be made in his relations 3. This John Fisher Bishop Fisher his birth and breeding born at Beverly in Yorke shire of Robert his Father a wealthy-man and a kinde of Merchant Anno 1459 was by his Parents sent to Cambridge to have his education in Michael House under Mr. William Melton his Tutor Admitted 1484. Commenced Bachelour Master of Arts 1488. 1491. made Proctour 1495. Doctour 1502. Master of the House thereabouts Bishop of Rochester 1504. Chancellour of Cambridge chosen 1505. confirmed 1514. He was Chaplain and Confessour to the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond at whose instance and by whose advise She founded and endowed Christs◠and S. John's Colledge in Cambridge Employed in building of the latter her posthume Colledge of S. John's and effectually advancing that work he wanted the accommodation of a convenient Lodging when Dr. Thomas Wilkinson President of Queens Colledge opportunely departed this life and that Society requested Bishop Fisher to succeed in his place which he gratefully accepted faithfully discharged and thereby had the advantage to finish his new Colledge in the lesse time to his greater contentment 4. Here I meet with two descriptions of Fisher Different characters of Fisher as contrary each to other as the Religions of the two Describers whereof the one was a rigid Papist the other a zealous Protestant HALL In his aforesaid Manuscript ASCHAM Commendatitiarum Ep. 1. Fisher is made by him a very wealthy man having much plate and furniture of a great value and as for his Library no Bishop in Europe had the like unto him insomuch as he intended as appeareth somewhere in his Letter to Erasmus to found a Colledge of his own but afterwards reversing his resolution in his life-time he bestowed all his rich plate furniture and Books on S. John's in Cambridge and borrowed the same of it again by Indenture under his hand and seal for his use during life But it hapned that at his attainture the King's Officers seised on all he had Joannes c In favour of Fisher I have left the words untranslated Fisherus Episcopus Rofensis dum falsam doctrinam nimis perversè defendit optimas literas in hoc Collegio suis ornamentis suis divitiis denudavit Hic vir nut◠suo rexit hoc Collegium propterea in manu ejus posita sunt clarissima ornamenta quae Domina Margareta buic Collegio elargita est Ejus perversa doctrina illum vitâ nos summis divitiis nostris privavit For mine own part I conceive no Covetousnesse much lesse such Sacrilege can be charged on Fisher's account it being notoriously known that King Henry the eighth Who formerly favoured him profered to remove him from Rochester to Lincolne or Elie treble the other in Revenue which Fisher refused both in word and print Habeant alii saith d In his Dedic Epist to the Bishop of Wint in his place against Occolampadius Variance betwixt Papists about Fisher's wealth he proventus pinguiores c. being used to say He would not change his little old wife to whom he had been so long wedded for a wealthier 5. It is no wonder if a Papist and a Protestant cannot agree about Fisher's character when we finde two stiffe Papists at a vast distance about his Estate Hall as is aforesaid makes him very wealthie which is not improbable considering he had a paternal bottome whereon competency of revenue wherewith long continuance of time wherein and commendable frugality whereby to build an estate Not to speak that he served a good Mistresse the Lady Margaret known to have rich coffers and her Confessour could command the keyes thereof But on the contrary Sanders e De Schism Ang lib. 1. pag. 123. makes him as poor as Job insomuch that Souldiers coming to seise on his supposed wealth found what was quickly told nothing at all belonging to him save a great barred-chest These from the facing of Iron concluded the lineing thereof Silver at least and having broken it open found nothing therein but Sackcloth and a Whip which put them all to penance and soundly lashed their covetous expectation But leaving his life come we now to the manner of his death 6. After the Lieutenant of the Tower had received the Writ for his execution He welcomes the newes of his death because it was then very late and the Prisoner asleep he was loth to disease him from his rest But in the morning before five of the clock he came to him in his chamber in the Bell-Tower finding him yet asleep in his bed and waking him told him He was come to him on a message from the King to signifie unto him that His pleasure was he should suffer death that forenoon Well! quoth the Bishop if
this be your errand you bring me no great newes for I have looked a long time for this message and I must humbly thank His Majesty that it pleaseth Him to rid me from all this worldly businesse Yet let me by your patience sleep an hour or two for I have slept very ill this night not for any fear of death I thank God but by reason of my great infirmity and weaknesse 7. The King's pleasure is farther said the Lieutenant that you shall use as little speech as may be Yet labours to preserve his life especially of any thing touching His Majesty whereby the people should have any cause to think of Him or His proceedings otherwise than well For that said he you shall see me order my self as by God's grace neither the King nor any man else shall have occasion to mislike of my words With which answer the Lieutenant departed from him and so the Prisoner falling again to rest slept soundly two hours and more And after he was awaked called to his man to help him up But first commanded him to take away his shirt-of-haire which customably he wore and to convey it privily out of the house and instead thereof to lay him forth a clean white shirt and all the best apparel he had as cleanly brushed as might be And as he was arraying himself his man seeing in him more curiosity and care for the fine and cleanly wearing of his apparel that day than was wont demanded of him What this sudden change meant saying That his Lordship knew well enough that he must put off all again within two hours and lose it What of that said he Doest not thou mark that this is our marriage-day and that it behoveth us therefore to use more cleanlinesse for solemnity thereof 8. About nine of the clock the Lieutenant came again Prepareth himsef for his death and finding him almost ready said He was now come for him Then said he to his man Reach me my furred-Tippet to put about my neck Oh my Lord said the Lieutenant what need ye be so careful for your health for this little time being as your self knows not much above an hour I think no otherwise said he but yet in the mean time I will keep myself as well as I can For I tell you truth though I have I thank our Lord a very good desire and willing minde to die at this present and so trust of his infinite mercy and goodnesse he will continue it yet will I not willingly hinder my health in the mean time one minute of an hour but still prolong the same as long as I can by such reasonable waies and means as Almighty God hath provided for me And with that taking a little book in his hand which was a New Testament lying by him he made a crosse on his forehead and went out of his prison-dore with the Lieutenant being so weak as that he was scant able to go down the stairs wherefore at the stairs-foot he was taken up in a chair between two of the Lieutenant's men and carried to the Tower-gate with a great number of weapons about him to be delivered to the Sheriffe of London for execution 9. And He advanceth to the place of his execution as they were come to the uttermost precinct of the liberties of the Tower they rested there with him a space till such time as one was sent before to know in what readinesse the Sheriffs were to receive him During which space he rose out of his chair and standing on his feet leaned his shoulder to the wall and lifting his eyes towards Heaven he opened a little Book in his hand and said O Lord this is the last time that ever I shall open this book let some comfortable place now chance unto me whereby I thy poor servant may glorifie thee in this my last houre And with that looking into the Book the first thing that came to his sight were these words Haec f Ioh. 17. 3 c. est autem vita aeterna ut cognoscant te solum verum Deum quem misisti Jesum Christum Ego te glorificavi super terram opus consummavi quod dedisti mihi c. and with that he shut the Book together and said Here is even learning enough for me to my lives end And so the Sheriffe being ready for him he was taken up again among certain of the Sheriffs men with a new and much greater company of weapons than was before and carried to the Scaffold on the Tower-hill otherwise called East-Smithfield himself praying all the way and recording upon the words which he before had read 10. When he was come to the foot of the Scaffold The manner of his mounting the scaffold they that carried him offered to help him up the stairs but said he Nay Masters seeing I am come so farre let me alone and ye shall see me shift for my self well enough And so went up the stairs without any help so lively that it was a marvell to them that before knew his debility and weaknesse But as he was mounting the stairs the South-east Sun shined very bright in his face whereupon he said to himself these words lifting up his hands Accedite ad eum illuminamini facies vestrae non confundentur By that time he was upon the Scaffold it was about ten a clock where the Executioner being ready to doe his office kneeled down to him as the fashion is and asked him forgivenesse I forgive thee said he with all my heart and I trust thou shalt see me overcome this storm lustily Then was his gown and tippet taken from him and he stood in his doubler and hose in sight of all the people whereof there was no small number assembled to see the execution 11. Being upon the Scaffold His Speech to the people he spake to the people in effect as followeth Christian people I am come hither to die for the faith of Christ's holy Catholick Church and I thank God hitherto my stomack hath served me very well thereunto so that yet I have not feared death wherefore I desire you all to help and assist with your prayers that at the very point and instant of deaths stroke I may in that very moment stand stedfast without fainting in any one point of the Catholick Faith free from any fear And I beseech Almighty God of his infinite goodnesse to save the King and this Realm and that it may please him to hold his holy hand over it and send the King a good Councell These words he spake with such a cheerfull countenance such a stout and constant courage and such a reverend gravity that he appeared to all men not only void of fear but also glad of death 12. After these few words by him uttered His execution he kneeled down on both his knees and said certain prayers Among which as some reported one was the hymn of
Te Deum laudamus to the end and the Psalm In te Domine speravi Then came the Executioner and bound an handkerchief about his eyes and so the Bishop lifting up his hands and heart to heaven said a few prayers which were not long but fervent and devout Which being ended he laid his head down over the midst of a little block where the Executioner being ready with a sharp and heavy Ax cut asunder his slender Neck at one blow which bled so abundantly that many saith my Authour wondred to see so much blood issue out of so lean and slender a body Though in my judgement that might rather have translated the wonder from his leanesse to his age it being otherwise a received tradition That lean folk have the most blood in them 13. Thus died John Fisher in the seventy seventh year of his age His age and statuâ—e on the two and twentieth of June being S. Alban's day the Protomartyr of England and therefore with my Authour most remarkable But surely no day in the Romish Kalendar is such a Skeleton or so bare of sanctity but had his death hapned thereon a Priest would pick a mysterie out of it He had a lank long body full six foot high toward the end of his life very infirm insomuch that he used to sit in a chair when he taught the people in his Diocesse 14. His corpse if our Authour speaketh truth was barbarously abused His mean not to say if true barbarous buriall no winding-sheet being allowed it which will hardly enter into my belief For suppose his friends durst his foes would not afford him a shroud yet some neuters betwixt both no doubt would have done it out of common civility Besides seeing the King vouchsafed him the Tower a noble prison and beheading an honourable death it is improbable He would deny him a necessary equipage for a plain and private buriall Wherefore when Hall tells us That the Souldiers attending his execution could not get spadâ—s to make his grave therewith but were fain with halbards in the North-side of the Church yard of All-Hallows Barking to dig a hole wherein they cast his naked corpse I listen to the relation as inflamed by the Reporters passion Be it here remembred that Fisher in his life-time made himself a Tomb on the North-side of the Chappel in S. John's Colledge intending there to be buried but therein disappointed This Fisher was he who had a Cardinals Hat sent him which stopp'd at Callis never came on his head and a Monument made for him wherein his body was never deposited 15. Our Authour reporteth also An impudent improbable Lie how Queen Anna Bolen gave order his head should be brought unto Her before it was set up on London bridge that She might please Her self at the sight thereof and like another Herodias insult over the head of this John Her professed enemy Nor was she content alone to revile his ghost with taunting terms but out of spight or sport or both struck Her hand against the mouth of this dead head brought unto her and it hapned that one of Fisher's teeth more prominent than the rest struck into her hand and not onely pained Her for the present but made so deep an impression therein that She carried the mark thereof to Her grave It seems this was contrary to the proverb Mortui non mordent But enough yea too much of such damnable falshoods Passe we from Fisher to More his fellow prisoner whom Fisher's execution had not mollified into conformity to the King his pleasure as was expected 16. Son he was to Sir John More Sir Tho. More 's extraction and education one of the Judges of the Kings Bench who lived to see his Son preferred above himself Bred a Common-Lawyer but withall a general Schollar as well in polite as solid learning a terse Poet neat Oratour pure Latinist able Grecian He was chosen Speaker in the House of Commons made Chancellour first of Lancaster-Dutchie then of all England performing the place with great integrity and discretion Some ground we have in England neither so light and loose as sand nor so stiffe and binding as olay but a mixture of both conceived the surest soil for profit and pleasure to grow together on such the soil of this Sir Thomas More in which facetiousnesse and judiciousnesse were excellently tempered together 17. Yet some have taxed him Charged for his over-much jesting that he wore a feather in his cap and wagg'd it too often meaning he was over-free in his fancies and conceits Insomuch that on the Scaffold a place not to break jests but to break off all jesting he could not hold but bestowed his scoffs on the Executioner and standers-by Now though innocency may smile at death surely it is unfit to flout thereat 18. But the greatest fault we finde justly charged on his memory A great Anti-Procestant is his cruelty in persecuting poor Protestants to whom he bare an implacable hatred Insomuch much that in his life-time be caused to be inscribed as parcell of his Epitaph on his Monument at Chelsey that he ever was Furibus Homicidis Haereticisque molestus a passing good praise save after the way which he there calleth Heresie pious people worship the God of their fathers He suffered the next moneth after Fisher's execution in the same place July 6. for the same cause July 6. and was buried at Chelsey under his Tomb aforesaid which being become ruinous and the Epitaph scarce legible hath few years since been decently repaired at the cost as I am informed of one of his near Kinsmen 19. At this time Katharine Dowager The death and character of Qu. Katharine Dowager whom we will be bold still in courtesie to call a Queen notwithstanding King Henry's Proclamation to the contrary ended her wofull life at Kimbolton Jan. 8. A pious woman toward God according to Her devotion frequent in prayer which She alwaies performed on Her bare knees nothing else between Her and the earth interposed little curious in Her clothes being wont to say She accounted no time a Sanders de Schismate Anglicano lost but what was laid out in dressing of Her though Art might be more excusable in Her to whom Nature had not been over-bountifull She was rather staid than stately reserv'd than proud grave from Her cradle insomuch that She was a matrone before She was a mother This Her naturall gravity encreased with Her apprehended injuries setled in Her reduced age into an habit of melancholie and that terminated into a consumption of the spirits She was buried in the Abby-Church of Peterborough under an Herse of black Say probably by Her own appointment that She might be plain when dead who neglected bravery of clothes when living A noble b Lord Herbert in his Henry the eighth pen tells us that in intuition to Her corpse here interred King Henry at the destruction of Abbies not
Henry had already attained both by his partial Reformation Power by abolishing the Pope's usurpation in His Dominions Profit by seizing on the lands and goods of suppressed Monasteries And thus having served His own turn His zeal wilfully tired to goe any farther and onely abolishing such Popery as was in order to his aforesaid designes He severely urged the rest on the practice of His Subjects 16. Herein he appeared like to Jehu King of Israel Compared with King Jehu who utterly rooted out the forraign Idolatry of BAAL fetcht from the Zidonians and almost appropriated to the family of Ahab but still worshipped the CALVES in DAN and BETHEL the state-Idolatry of the Kingdome So our Henry though banishing all out-landish superstition of Papall dependance still reserved and maintained home bred Popery persecuting the Refusers to submit thereunto 17. For The six bloody Articles by the perswasion of Bishop Gardiner in defiance of Archbishop Cranmer and the L. Cromwell with might and main opposing it it was enacted 1. That in the Sacrament of the Altar after consecration no substance of bread or wine remaineth but the naturall body and blood of Christ 2. That the Communion in both kindes is not necessary ad salutem by the law of God to all persons 3. That Priests after Orders received may not Marry by the Law of God 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed 5. That it is meet and necessary that private Masses be admitted and continued in Churches 6. That auricular Confession must be frequented by people as of necessity to salvation Laws bad as penned worse as prosecuted which by some Bishops extensive interpretations were made commensurate to the whole body of Popery 18. Indeed The L. Cromwel's designe miscarrieth the Lord Cromwell unable to right his own had a designe to revenge himself on the opposite party by procuring an Act That Popish Priests convict of Adultery should be subject to the same punishment with Protestant Ministers that were married But Gardiner by his greatnesse got that law so qualified that it soon became lex edentula Ann. Reg. Hē 8. 32. whilst the other remained mordax death being the penalty of such who were made guilty by the six Articles though Nicholas Shaxton of Salisbury Ann. Dom. 1540. and Hugh Latimer of Worcester found the especial favour to save themselves by losing of their Bishopricks 19. And now began Edmond Bonner 〈…〉 aliàs Savage most commonly called by the former but too truly known by the later name newly made Bishop of London to display the colours of his cruelty therein which here I forbear to repeat because cited at large by Mr. Fox For I desire my Church-History should behave it self to his Book of Martyrs as a Lieutenant to its Captain onely to supply his place in his absence to be supplemental thereunto in such matters of moment which have escaped his observation 20. Match-makers betwixt private persons seldome finde great love for their pains Cromwell fal's into the Kings displeasure and peoples hatred betwixt Princes often fall into danger as here it proved in the L. Cromwell the grand contriver of the King's marriage with Anne of Cleve On him the King had conferred Honours so many and so suddainly that one may say The crudities thereof lay unconcted in his soul so that he could not have time to digest one Dignity before another was poured upon him Not to speak of his Mastership of the Jewel-house he was made Baron Master of the Rolls the Kings Vicar-general in spiritual matters Lord Privie-Seale Knight of the Garter Earle of Essex Lord Great Chamberlaine of England And my b Camdens Brit. in Essex p. 454. Authour observeth that all these Honours were conferred upon him in the compasse of five years most of them possessed by him not five moneths I may adde and all taken from him in lesse than five minutes with his life on the scaffold 21. This was the cause why he was envied of the Nobility and Gentry Why Cromwel was deservedly envied being by birth so much beneath all by preserment so high above most of them Besides many of his advancements were interpreted not so much Honours to him as Injuries to others as being either in use improper or in equity unfit or in right unjust or in conscience unlawfull for him to accept His Mastership of the Rolls such who were bred Lawyers conceived it fitter for men of their profession As for the Earldome of Essex conferred upon him though the title lately became void by the death of Bourchier the last Earl without Issue-male and so in the strictnesse of right in the King 's free disposal yet because he left Anne a sole Daughter behinde him Cromwel's invading of that Honour bred no good blood towards him amongst the kinred of that Orphan who were honourable and numerous His Lord great Chamberlainship of England being an Office for many years Hereditary in the Antient and Honourable House of Oxford incensed all of all that Family when beholding him possessed thereof His Knighthood of the Garter which custome had appropriated to such who by three degrees at least could prove their Gentile descent being bestowed on him did but enrage his Competitours thereof more honourably extracted As for his being the King's Vicar-General in Spiritual matters all the Clergie did rage thereat grutching much that K. Henry the substance and more that Cromwell His shadow should assume so high a Title to himself Besides Cromwel's name was odious unto them on the account of Abbies dissolved and no wonder if this Sampson plucking down the pillars of the Popish-Church had the rest of the structure falling upon him July 9. These rejoiced when the Duke of Norfolke arrested him for Treason at the Councel-Table whence he was sent Prisoner to the Tower 22. And now to speak impartially of him Cromwell's admirable parts though in prison If we reflect on his parts and endowments it is wonderfull to see how one quality in him befriended another Great Scholar he was none the Latine Testament gotten by heart being the master-piece of his learning nor any studied Lawyer never long-living if admitted in the Inns of Court nor experienced Souldier though necessity cast him on that calling when the Duke of Burbone besieged Rome nor Courtier in his youth till bred in the Court as I may call it of Cardinal Wolsey's house and yet that of the Lawyer in him so helped the Scholar that of the Souldier the Lawyer that of the Courtier the Souldier and that of the Traveller so perfected all the rest being no stranger to Germany well acquainted with France most familiar with Italy that the result of all together made him for endowments eminent not to say admirable 23. It was laid to his charge Articles charged upon the Lord Cromwell First that he had exceeded his Commission in acting many things of high conseqsence without acquainting the King therwith dealing therein
Justitia Justificare Idiota Elementa Baptizare Martyr Adorare Dignus Sandalium Simplex Tetrarcha Sacramentum Simulachrum Gloria Conflictationes Ceremonia Mysterium Religio Spiritus sanctê° Spiritus Merces Confiteor tibi Pater Panis praepositionis Communio Perseverare Dilectus Sapientia Pietas * Take faults and all as in the Original Presbyter Lites Servus Opera Sacrificium Benedictio Humilis Humilitas Scientia Gentilis Synagoga Ejicere Misericordia Complacui Increpare Distribueretur orbis Inculpatus Senior Conflictationes Apocalypsis Satisfactio Contentio Conscientia Peccatum Peccator Idolum Prudentia Prudenter Parabola Magnifico Oriens Subditus Didragma Hospitalitas Episcopus Gratia Charitas Tyrannus Concupiscentia Cisera Apostolus Apostolatus Egenus Stater Societas Zizania * Though sensible of Tautologie otherwise spelled I durst not vary from the Original MysteriuÌ„ Christus Conversari Profiteor Impositio manuum Idololatria Dominus Sanctus Confessio Imitator Pascha Innumerabilis Inenarrabilis Infidelis Paganus Commilito Virtutes Dominationes Throni Potestates Hostia 35. The judicious Reader hath no sooner perused these words The Papists plot therein but presently he sorts them in two ranks First some few untranslatable without losse of life or lustre these are continued in our English Testament intire it being conceived better that Ministers should expound these words in their Sermons than alter them in their Texts But besides these most of the second sort are not so emphaticall in themselves but that they may be rendred in English without prejudice of truth Wherefore Gardiner's designe plainly appeared in stickling for the preserving of so many Latine words to obscure the Scripture who though wanting power to keep the light of the Word from shining sought out of policy to put it in to a dark Lanthorn contrary to the constant practice of God in Scripture levelling high hard expressions to the capacity of the meanest For forraign terms are alwaies brought in like Joseph with an w Gen. 42. 23. Interpreter x Mat. 1. 23. Emmanuel doth not passe without an Exposition God with us nor y Mat. 7. 34. Ephatha escape but Commented on be thou opened Besides the Popish Bishop multiplied the mixture of Latine names in the Testament to teach the Laity their distance who though admitted into the outward Court of common matter were yet debarred entrance into the Holy of Holies of these mysterious expressions reserved only for the understanding of the high Priest to pierce into them Moreover this made Gardiner not onely tender but fond to have these words continued in kinde without Translation because the profit of the Romish Church was deeply in some of them concerned Witnesse the word Penance which according to the vulgar sound contrary to the original sense thereof was a magazin of Will-worship and brought in much gain to the Priests who were desirous to keep that word because that word kept them I finde not what entertainment Gardiner's motion met with it seems so suspended in success as neither generally received nor rejected 36. In a following Session Mar. 10. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Cranmer stickleth for the Vniversities approbation informed the House That it was the King's will and pleasure that the Translation both of the Old and New Testament should be examined by BOTH UNIVERSITIES This met with much opposition in the House all the Bishops Ely and S. Davids excepted making their Protests to the contrary These affirmed the Universities were much decayed of late wherein all things were carried by Young Men whose judgments were not to be relied on so that the Learning of the Land was chiefly in this Convocation But the Archbishop said he would stick close to the will and pleasure of the King his Master and that the Universities should examine the Translation And here for ought I can finde to the contrary the matter ceased and the Convocation soon after was dissolved 37. The cruell prosecution of the Protestants still continued on the six Articles HeÌ„ 8. 36. And yet the Parliament now somewhat abated the illegall fury thereof 1544. for formerly any active Officer of the Bishops The six Articles somewhat mitigated at his pleasure molested all suspected persons and prosecured some to death But afterwards it was required That such Offenders should first be found guilty by a Jury of Twelve men a rub to the wheels of their cruelty that it saved the lives of some and prolonged the deaths of others 38. Now began the last Parliament in the Kings Reign HeÌ„ 8. 37. Nov. 24. wherein many things of consequence were enacted 1545. First The Acts of the last Parliament in this Kings Reign an Act against Usury a See the printed Statutes of this year Secondly for Tithes in London Thirdly for an exchange of Lands betwixt the King's Majestie and Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Holegate Archbishop of York and Edmond Bonner Bishop of London which the King annexed to the Dutchie of Lancaster Fourthly an Act for union of Churches not exceeding the value of six pounds Lastly that Doctors of the Civil Law being married might exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 39. At this time also The originall of Stewes by the King's command were the Stewes suppressed A line or two I hope will not defile our Church-History in the description and detestation of such filthy persons and practises There stood a place on the South bank over against London called the Stewes where live-Fishes were formerly kept there to be washed in Ponds from their slime and muddinesse to make the more wholsome and pleasant food which was the originall use of these Stewes and the proper b Camdens Brit in Middlâ—â—â— meaning of the word Ann. Dom. 1545. Afterwards the place was converted to a worse use Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.37 but still retaining its own name from the scouring of Fish to the defileing of Men Brothel-houses being built there and publickly permitted by the State These were sixteen in number known by the several signes whereof one was the Cardinals c Stower Survey of London pag. 449. Hat and it is to be feared that too many of the Clergie then forbidden marriage were too constant customers to it Such who lived in these Colledges of lust were called single Women and pity it was so good a name should be put upon so leud persons 40. Divers Constitutions were made in the eighth year of King Henry the second The regulation of the Stewes for the regulating of these Houses whereof some may inoffensively yea profitably be inserted 1. No Stew-holder should keep open his doors on the Holy daies or keep any in his house on those daies 2. No single woman to be kept against her will if out of remorse of conscience she would leave that leud life 3. No Stew-holder to receive any mans wife or any woman of religion 4. No man to be drawn or inticed into any of those houses
none should speak any thing of the King's death Which Act though onely intended to retrench the Predictions and mock-Prophesies of Southsayers yet now all the Courtiers glad of so legall a covert for their cowardise alledged it to excuse themselves to inform the King of Nis approaching end At last Sir Anthony Denny went boldly unto Him and plainly acquainted Him of His dying condition whereupon Archbishop Cranmer was by the King his desire sent for to give him some ghostly counsell and comfort 62. But before Cranmer then being at Croidon could come to Him His hope expressed by speechlesse gesture He was altogether speechlesse but not senslesse The Archbishop exhorted Him to place all His trust in Gods mercies thorough Christ and besought Him that if He could not in words He would by some signe or other testifie this His hope Who then wringed the Archbishops hand as hard as He could and shortly after expired having lived fifty five years and seven moneths Jan. 28. and thereof reigned thirty seven years nine moneths and six daies 63. As for the report of Sanders Lying Slanders that King Henry perceiving the pangs of approaching Death called for a great bowle of white wine and drinking it off should say to the company We have lost all it is enough to say it is a report of Sanders As loud a lie is it what he affirmeth that the last words heard from His mouth were The Monks the Monks and so gave up the ghost This may goe hand in hand with what another Gatholick * Rich. Hall in his Manuscript-Life of Bishop Fisher relates that a black Dog he might as truly have said a blew one lickt up His blood whilest the stench of His corps could be charmed with no embalming though indeed there was no other noysomnesse than what necessarily attendeth on any dead body of equall corpulency 64. Vices most commonly charged on His memory are His Vices and Virtues 1. Covetousness He was an eminent Instance to verifie the Observation Omnis prodigus est avarus vast His profusiveness coming a fork after a rake not only spending the great Treasure left Him by His Father but also vast wealth beside and yet ever in want and rapacious to supply the same Secondly Cruelty being scarce ever observed to pardon any Noble person whom He condemned to death I finde but two black swannes in all the currant of His Reign that tasted of His favour herein And therefore when Arthur * Godwin in Hen. 8. p. 181. Lord Lisle imprisoned and daily expecting death in the Tower was unexpectedly set free he instantly died of soddain joy so that it seems King Henry's pity proved as mortal as His cruelty Thirdly Wantonness which cannot be excused But these faults were if not over even poised with His virtues of Valour Bounty Wisdome Learning and love of Learned men scarce one Dunce wearing a Miter all His daies 65. The Monument mentioned in His Will Why K. Henry's Monument never perfected as almost made was never all made but left imperfect whereof many reasons are rendred Some impure it to the very want of workmen unable to finish it according to the exactnesse wherewith it was begun a conceit in my minde little better than scandalum seculi and very derogatory to the Art and Ingenuity of our Age. * Godwin in Hen. 8. p. 113. Others more truly ascribe it to the costlinesse thereof which deterred His Successours from finishing of it Indeed King Henry the seventh in erecting His own Monument in His Chappell at Westminster did therein set a Pattern of despair for all Posterity to imitate And yet Sanders * De schis Angl. pag. 216. tells us That Queen Mary had a great minde to make up His Tomb but durst not for fear a Catholick should seem to countenance the memory of one dying in open schism with the Church of Rome As for His imperfect Monument it was beheld like the barren Fig-tree bearing no fruit and cumbring the * Luke 13. 7. ground I mean the Chappell wherein it stood and therefore it was since these Civill Warres took down and sold by order of Parliament 66. In the Reign of Queen Mary Card. Poole his project it was reported that Cardinal Poole whose spleen generally vented it self against dead-mens bodies had a designe with the principall Clergie of England to take up and burn the body of King Henry the eighth This plot is said to be discovered by Doctor Weston * Fox Acts and Mon. p. 2102. Dean of Westminster But because Weston was justly obnoxious for his scandalous living for which at that time he stood committed to the Tower and bare a personal grudge to the Cardinal his report was the lesse credited as proceeding from revenge and desire to procure his own enlargement 67. Indeed when a Vault The bones of K. Hen. abused seven years since was pierced in the midst of the Quire at Windesor therein to interre the corps of King CHARLES they lighted on two Coffins therein Now though no memory alive could reach the same yet constant tradition seconded with a * See more hereof at the buriall of K. Charles coincidency of all signs and circumstances concluded these Coffins to contain the bones of King HENRY the eighth and His dear Queen JANE SEYMOUR And yet the bignesse of the Coffin though very great did not altogether answer that Giant-like proportion which posterity hath fancied of Him The end of the Fift Book THE Church-History OF BRITAIN THE SIXT BOOK BEING The History of Abbeys in ENGLAND Of their Originall Increase Greatnesse Decay and Dissolution To the Right Honourable WILLIAM COMPTON Sonne and Heire to the Right Honourable JAMES Baron COMPTON of COMPTON AND Earle of NORTHAMPTON HAving formerly proved at a In severall Dedicatory Epistles in my Pisgah Sight large That it is lawfull for any and expedient for me to have Infant-Patrons for my Books let me give an account why this parcell of my History was set apart for your Honour not being cast by chance but led by choice to this my Dedication First I resolved with my self to select such a Patron for this my History of Abbies whose Ancestour was not onely of credit and repute in the Reîgn but also of favour and esteem in the affection of King HENRY the Eighth Secondly he should be such if possible to be found who had no partage at all in Abbey-Lands at their dissolution that so his judgement might be unbiased in the reading hereof Both my Requisits have happily met in your Honour whose direct Ancestour Sir WILLIAM COMPTON was not onely chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to the aforesaid KING but also as a noble b The Lord Herbert in his History page 8. pen writing his Life informeth us the third man in His favour in the beginning of His Reign yet had he not a shooe-latchet of Abbey-Land though nothing surely debarred him save his
gathered together to live under one Roof because their Company would be Cheerfull in Health and Needfull in Sicknesse one to another Hence these two words though contrary to sound signifie the same Monasterium Coenobium A place containing men living Alone In common For though they were sequestred from the rest of the World yet they enjoyed mutuall Society amongst themselves And again though at solemn times they joyned in their Publick Devotions and Refections yet no doubt they observed howers by themselves in their Private Orisons Of these some were Gardeners like Adam Husbandmen like Noah caught Fish with Peter made Tents with Paul as every man was either advised by his Inclination or directed by his Dexterity and no Calling was counted Base that was found Beneficiall Much were they delighted with making of Hives as the Embleme of a Covent for Order and Industry wherein the Bees under a Master their Abbot have severall Cells and live and labour in a regular discipline In a word they had hard hands and tender hearts sustaining themselves by their labour and relieving others by their Charity as formerly hath been observed in the Monks of Bangor 3. Take a tast of their Austerity who lived at Vall Rosine The discipline of British 〈◊〉 under S. David since called Minevea in Pembroke-shire under the Method of S. David They were raised with the crowing of the a 〈◊〉 Hist Eccl. Angl. p. 40. Cock from their beds and then betook themselves to their prayers and spent the rest of the day in their severall calling when their task was done they again bestowed themselves in prayers meditations reading writing and at night when the heavens were full of starres they first began to feed having their temperate repast to satisfie hunger on bread water and herbs Then the third time they went to their prayers and so to bed till the circulation of their daily employment returned in the Morning A spectacle of virtue and continence who although they received nothing or any thing very unwillingly of others yet were so farre from wanting necessaries that by their pains they provided sustenance for many poor people Orphans Widows and Strangers 4. Here as we cannot but highly commend the integrity of their Hearts herein Superstition unawares occasioned by them so we must withall bemoan that what in them was intentionally good proved occasionally evill hatching Superstition under the warmth of their Devotion For though even these as yet were free from humane Ordinances and Vows yet Will-worship crept in insensible in the next Age Tares are easier seen grown than growing and error and vitlousnesse came in by degrees The Monks afterwards having sufficiency turned lazie then getting wealth waxed wanton and at last endowed with superfluity became notoriously wicked as hereafter shall appear Thus as Pliny reporteth of the GAGATE-stone that set a fire it burneth more fiercely if water be cast on but is extinguished if oyle be poured thereupon So the zeal of Monastick men was inflamed the more with the bitter water of affliction whilst in prosperity the oyle of plenty quenched their piety So ill a Steward is humane corruption of outward happinesse oftner using it to the Receivers hurt than the Givers glory Of Superstition which was the fundamentall fault in all Abbeys THis was one main fault in all English Abbeys Abbeys built on the sand of superstition that the Builders did not dig deep enough to lay the Foundation as grounded on the foundred and mouldring bottome of superstition For every Monastery was conceived a magazine of merit both for the Founder his Ancestors and Posterity And although all these Dotations did carry the title of pure Alms yet seriously considered they will be found rather forced than free as extorted from men with the fear of Purgatory one flash of which fire believed is able to melt a miser into charity yea which is worse many of their foundations had their morter tempered with innocent blood For which we may conceive afterwards they sped never a whit the better To give some instances of many 2. Wolpher Peterborough Abbey founded to expâ—ate murder King of the MERCIANS having murdered Wolphald and Rufine his own Sons with cruell and barbarons Immanity because they had devoted themselves unto Christ and embraced his Religion afterwards turning Christian himself b Cambd. Brit. in Northampton-shire MiddletoÌ„ being on the same occasion Idem in Dorceâ— to wash away the stain of his impiety built that famoâ—s Abbey since known by the name of Peterborough 3. King Athelstance drowned his brother Edwine having put him into a little Wherry or Cockboat without any tackling or furniture thereunto to the end he might impute his wickedness to the waves and afterwards as a satisfaction to appease his Ghost built the fair Abbey of Middleton in Dorset-shire 4. To joyn to these two houses of Monks So also the Nunnery of Ambresbury one of Nuns such society hath not been unacceptable Aelfrith second Wife to King Edgar having contrived the death of Edward her Son-in-law King of England murdered him by a company of Hacksters and Villains at her appointment at Corfe-Castle in Dorset-shire to pave the way for the Succession of her Son Etheldred to the Crown afterwards built the stately Nunnery of c Harpsfield Hist Eccl. Angl. saec 10. p. 188. Ambresbury with some other religious Houses 5. It is confest Suspitious therein might be a great fault herein that wilfull murder may be pardoned in Christ and they who deny it are guilty as much as lies in their power of a worse soul-murder in their uncharitable opinion Yet this we say that all the chantings of the Monks and Nuns in their Covents could not drown the noise of innocent blood And if these Founders of Abbeys thought that their murder could be expiated by raising such beautifull buildings their most polished marble and costly carved pieces were in the expression of the Prophet but d Ezck. 22. 28. dawbing over their damnable sins with untempered morter But though Abbeys long since have been demolished we leave their Founders to stand or fall to their own Maker when his all-seeing Eye hath discerned betwixt the Errours of their Judgment and Integrity of their Affections endevouring that which they conceived was to the glory of God and advance of true Religion Of the severall Orders of Monks and Nuns in England SO much of the Superstition of the Founders An heap of Monkish Orders in England come we now to their Superstition and other notorious sins who lived in these foundations But first we will premise their severall Orders Herein we pretend not to any criticall skill For though every Minister of God's Word whereof I am the meanest is a spirituall Herald to derive and deduce the Pedigrees and Genealogies of any Institution which hath its Originall in God's Word yet they are not bound not to say it is a learned Ignorance to be skilled in the
Royall license some were not some were licensed by the King For before the Statute of Mortmain made by King Edward the third to be able and willing was all the licence requisite in any to found a Chantery Since which time a Charter must be obtained from the King to passe lands of such nature and value to Persons so qualified Observe call it the religious complement or mannerly devotion of those daies that the Chantery-Priests whosoever their Founders were prayed first for the good estate of that King living and His soul after death who first granted leave and license for that foundation 9. See how the Church of Saint Paul was be-Altared in that Age The Altar in S. Paul's scarce to be seen for Altars wherein we finde no fewer than fourteen with their several dedications viz. The Altar of 1. The Trinitie 2. The Virgin Marie 3. Michael the Arch-angel 4. The Apostles 5. S. Andrew 6. S. John 7. S. Paul 8. S. Thomas 9. Mary Magdalene 10. Martha and Mary Magdalene 11. S. Erkenwald 12. S. Chad. 13. S. Radigund 14. S. Silvester And it is observable that almost every one of these forty and seven Chanteries founded in S. Paul's Church had their Priest officiating either in severall Chappels or at severall Altars probably not to distrub each other in their private celebrations But finde not any Chantery-Priests assigned to doe service at the high Altar indeed either because that place was reserved as proper to the Dignitaries of the Cathedral or because the solemnity and merit thereof was equally extensive to all souls in generall unfit to be confined to any particular parties deceased how great soever 10. Such Priests as have the addition of Sir before their Christian-name Moe Sirs than Knights were men not graduated in the University being in Orders but not in Degrees whilst others entituled Masters had commenced in the Arts. Note that generally Founders of Chanteries preferred Priests not beneficed to those places as best at leisure constantly to attend the same Nor did their dead Founders so ingroffe the devotion of those Priests but that by general and special Obits for other men Procession-pence and other perquisites they much bettered their maintenance Single Priests commonly had the greatest Salaries more in proportion than when others were joyned with them in the same Society because tied to daily duty having none by turns to relieve them and the greater worke deserved the greater wages 11. Many Deductions and Resolutions were made by the Dean and Chapter Deductions out of Chantery revenues out of the lands wherewith every Chantery was endowed besides the Salarie paid to the Chaplains as for quit-rents and tenths to the King pensions to Choristers c. But one generall expence was for an Anniversary Potation seldome exceeding ten shillings founded as it seems on Job's words Job 4. as Bellarmine * De Purgatorâ— lib. 1. cap. 3. pag 1375. edit Lugduai An. 1587. citeth the Chapter without Verse Panem tuum vinum tuum super sepulturam justi constitue Put thy bread and thy wine upon the sepulture of the just man But no such words appear in the place alledged though some such like are found in the fourth of * Ver. 17. Tobit Where notwithstanding no mention of wine which the Jesuite adds of his own that it might not be a drie as some since have added wax that it might not be a dark feast Bread wine and wax being the essentialls of every Potation The charges of an Anniversary Obit was also deducted whereof forty shillings the market-price though some were so free they gave more and some so favoured they had them for lesse 12. Some Deductions were made by the will of the Founders Charitable swailowed with superstitious uses to uses meerly charitable and no whit superstitious out of the surplusage of the Chantery-lands the Priest or Priests therein first paid as to the necessary relief of many poor people and breeding of Scholars in the Universities But as the Stork in the fable found amongst the Cranes in destroying the corn of the husband-man in vain pleaded his own piety to his parents being kill'd for company-sake with those birds amongst whom he was caught so it is more than suspitious that these pious uses were utterly extinguished at the suppression of Abbeys to teach mens charities hereafter if it be not a lesson now too late to be learn'd to beware of too familiar converse with superstition Nor doe I speak at guesse herein but from the complaints of credible and unpartiall Authors of which this one I will insert 13. There was a Maid born in Cornwall The righteous destroyed with the wicked called Tomasin Bonaventure and well did she brook the same which from a keeper of sheep came at last to be the Wife of Sir John Percivall Lord Major of London In her widowhood she laid out her estate which was very great in charitable Uses and amongst the rest founded a Chantery and a Free school at S. Mary * Carew his Survey of Cornwell fol. 119. Weike in Cornwall the place of her nativity with fair Lodgings for the School-Masters Schollars and Officers and twenty pound a year beside their Salaries to support incident charges And here the best Gentlemen's Sons in Devon and Cornwall were virtuously trained up under one Cholwell a religious Teacher untill the said School was supprest in the Reign of King Edward the sixt onely for a smack of Popery the Chantery being annexed thereunto And I suspect the like happened in other places But to return to S. Paul's all deductions discharged the cleer remainder belonged to the Dean and Chapter of S. Paul's 14. Note Gainfull contracting the number of the Priests that the Dean and Chapter aforesaid assumed this power to themselves That in case to use their own terms the exility of the Lands or Rents bestowed on any Chantery were insufficient to maintain so many Chaplains as were appointed in the foundation then they would reduce them to a smaller number For instance The Executors of Adam Burie sometimes Major of London founded a Chantery wherein seven Priests should pray continually This I may call a Colledge-Chantery equalling Katherine-Hall in Cambridge for the number therein but the means not holding out in full proportion these seven were shrunk to four at the time of their suppression 15. Another help the Dean and Chapter had Gainfull annexing of Chanteries When the maintenance of any Chantery fell short by uniting two or more mean Chanteries together Thus Margaret Bigod gave a Marish called Richernesse in Essex with a stock of eleven-score sheep thereon to found a Chanterie with two Chaplains which not sufficient for the same was annexed to a small Chantery of Richard Greene's and one Priest Sir Christopher Bricket by name effectually no doubt discharged both 16. And yet There is a generation rich and maketh themselves poor notwithstanding all these shifts the Dean and Chapter
shall be requisite In pursuance of these their Instructions the Kings Commissioners in their respective Counties recovered much and discovered more of Church-wealth and Ornaments For some were utterly imbeziled by persons not responsible and there the King must lose his right More were concealed by parties not detectable so cunningly they carried their stealths seeing every one who had nimmed a Church-Bell did not ring it out for all to hear the sound thereof Many potent persons well known to have such goods shufled it out with their greatnesse mutually connived at therein by their equalls fellow-offenders in the same kinde However the Commissioners regained more than they expected confidering the distance of time and the cold scent they followed so many years after the Dissolution This Plate and other Church-Utensils were sold and advanced much money to the Exchequer An * Sir John Hayward Authour telleth us That amongst many which they found they left but one silver Chalice to every Church too narrow a proportion to populous Parishes where they might have left two at the least seeing for expedition sake at great Sacraments the Minister at once delivereth the wine to two Communicants But they conceived one Cup enough for a small Parish and that greater and richer were easily able to purchase more to themselves 2. All this Income rather stayed the stomack Durham Bishoprick dissolved than satisfied the hunger of the Kings Exchequer For the allaying whereof the Parliament now sitting conferred on the Crown the Bishoprick of Durham This may be called the English Herbipolis or Wirtz-burge it being true of both Dunelmia sola judicat Ense Stola The Bishop whereof was a Palatine or Secular Prince and his Seal in form resembleth Royalty in the Roundnesse thereof and is not Oval the badge of plain Episcopacy Rich and entire the revenues of this See such as alone would make a considerable addition to the Crown remote the scituation thereof out of Southern sight and therefore if dissolved the sooner out of mens mindes Besides Cuthbert Tunstall the present Bishop of Durham was in durance and deprived for his obstinacy so that so stubborn a Bishop gave * yet the Duke of Northumberland either was or was to be possessour thereof the State the fairer quarrell with so rich a Bishoprick now annexed to the Kings revenue 3. Well it was for this See Afterwards restored by Qu. Mary though dissolved that the lands thereof were not dispersed by sale unto severall persons but preserved whole and entire as to the main in the Crown Had such a dissipation of the parts thereof been made no lesse than a State miracle had been requisite for the recollection thereof Whereas now within two years after Queen Mary restored Tunstall to this Bishoprick and this Bishoprick to it self re-setling all the lands on the same 4. By this time A wood rather a wildernesse of the Popes Canons such Learned men as were employed by the King to reform the Ecclesiastical Laws had brought their work to some competent perfection Let me enlarge my self on this subject of concernment for the Readers satisfaction When the Pope had ingrossed to his Courts the cognizance of all causes which either looked glanced or pointed in the least degree at what was reduceable to Religion he multiplied Laws to magnifie himself Whose principal designe therein was not to make others good but himself great not so much to direct and defend the good to restrain and punish the bad as to ensnare and entangle both For such the number of their Clementines 〈◊〉 Intrd. Extravagants Provincialls Synodalls Glosses Sentences Chapters Summaries Rescripts Breviaries long and short Cases c. that none could carry themselves so cautiously but would be rendred obnoxious and caught within the compasse of offending Though the best was for money they might buy the Popes pardon and thereby their own innocence 5. Hereupon Two and thirty Regulatours of the Canon-Law when the Popes power was banished out of England his Canon-Law with the numerous Books and branches thereof lost its authority in the Kings Dominions Yet because some gold must be presumed amongst so much drosse grain amongst so much chaffe it was thought fit that so much of the Canon Law should remain as was found conformable to the Word of God and Laws of the Land And therefore King Henry the eighth was impowred by Act of Parliament to elect two and thirty able persons to reform the Ecclesiastical Laws though in His Reign very little to good purpose was performed therein 6. But the designe was more effectually followed in the daies of King Edward the sixth Contracted to eight by King Edward the 6. reducing the number of two and thirty to eight thus mentioned in His Letters Patents dated at Westminster the last year Novemb 11. Bishops Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury Thomas Goodrich of Elie. Divines Peter Martyr Richard Cox Civilians and Canonists Dr. William May. Dr. Rowland Taylor of Hadley Common Lawyers John Lucas Rich Goodrick Esquires It was not onely convenient but necessary that Common Lawyers should share in making these Church Constitutions because the same were to be built not onely sure in themselves but also symmetricall to the Municipall Lawes of the Land These Eight had power by the Kings Patents to call in to their assistance what persons they pleased and are said to have used the pens of Sir John Cheeke and Walter Haddon Dr. in Law to turn their Lawes into Latine 7. However Laws no Laws not stamped with Royall Authority these had onely a preparing no concluding power so that when they had ended their work two things were wanting to make these Ecclesiastical Canons thus by them composed have the validity of Laws First an exact review of them by others to amend the mistakes therein As where * Titulo de Divinis Officiâ—s cap. 6. they call the Common Prayer Book then used in England proprium perfectum omnis divini cultus judicem magistrum a title truly belonging onely to the Scripture Secondly a Royall ratification thereunto which this King prevented by death nor any of His Successours ever stamped upon it Indeed I finde in an * Iohn 〈◊〉 at the end of his Preface to his Book intituled Reformation no enemy to Her Majesty Author whom I am half-ashamed to alledge that Doctor Haddon Anno 12 or 13 Elizabeth delivered in Parliament a Latine Book concerning Church-Discipline written in the daies of King Edward the sixt by Mr. Cranmer Sir John Cheek c. which could be no other than this lately mentioned Which Book was committed by the House unto the said Mr. Haddon Mr. George Bromley Mr. Norton c. to be translated I conceive into English again and never after can I recover any mention thereof save that some thirteen years since * Anno 1640. A silent Convocation it was printed in London 8. A Parliament was called in the last of this Kings
off my good Unkle Somerse ' s head And it is generally conceived that grief for his death caused K. Edwards Consumption who succeeded not to any Consumptive Inclination as hereditary from His Extraction from a Father but little past and a Mother just in the strength of Their Age. 16. However An uncertain report I finde in a * Image of both Churches page 423. Popish Writer that it was said That the Apothecary who poisoned him for the horrour of the offence and the disquietnesse of his conscience drowned himself And that the Landresse who washed His shirt lost the skin off her fingers But if his History be no better than his Divinity we that justly condemn the one can doe no lesse than suspect the other 17. We will conclude this Kings most Pious life with that His most devout Prayer on His Death-Bed The Prayer of K. Edward on his death-bed which God heard and graciously answered for the good of the Church of England d Fox Acts Mon. p. 13â—5 LOrd God deliver Me out of this miserable and wretched life and take Me among thy chosen Howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serve thee Oh my Lord God blesse thy people and save thine inheritance Oh Lord God save thy chosen People of England Oh my Lord God defend this Realm from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy holy Name for Jesus Christs sake 17. One of the last Sermons King Edward heard Opposers of the Liturgie grow a strong was preached before Him by Hugh Latimer at what time their party began to spread and increase who opposed the Liturgie witnesse this passage in his Sermon * Latimers Semons printed Anno 1607. pag. 83. I have heard say when that the good Queen that is gone had ordained in her House daily Prayer both before Noon and after Noon the Admirall getteth him out of the way like a Mole digging in the earth He shall be Lots Wife to me as long as I live He was I heard say a Covetous man a covetous man indeed I would there were no more in England He was I heard say an Ambitious man I would there were no more in England He was I heard say a Seditious man a Contemner of Common-Prayer I would there were no more in England Well! he is gone I would he had left none behinde him A passage so informative to the Church History of that Age must not passe without some observation thereon The good Queen is gone this was Queen Katharine Par the Relict of King Henry the eighth who some two years since died in Child-bed The Admirall This was Thomas Lord Seymour her Husband Getteth himself out of the way Here is the question on what terms he absented himself whether on Popish or Non Conformist In proof whereof he is compared to Lots Wife which importeth a looking back and reflexion on former practise  Being termed herein Seditious and not Superstitious it intimates that a factious Principle made him distast the Common-Prayer A Contemner of the Common Prayer I wish there were no more This probably relates unto a potent Party disaffected to the Liturgie which now began to be very considerable in England but if the premisses be rightly collected much too blame in the judgment of godly Master Latimer 18. The dislikers of the Liturgie bare themselves high upon the judgment of Master Calvin in his Letter four year since to the Duke of Somerset Lord Protectour now no longer a privacie because publickly printed in his Epistles And yet Master Calvin is therein very positive for a set Forme Mr. Calvin's 3 Reasons for a set Form of Prayer whose words deserve our Translation and observation * Libro Epist pag. 69. Formulam precums rituum Ecclesiasticorum valde probo ut certa illa extet A quâ ne Pastoribus discedere in functione sua liceat 1. Ut consulatur quorundam simplicitati imperitiae 2. Ut certius constet omnium inter se Ecclesiarum consensus 3. Ut obviam ineatur desultoriae quorundam levitati qui novationes quasdam affectant Sic igitur statum esse Catechismum oportet statam Sacramentorum administrationem publicam item precum formulam I doe highly approve that there should be a certain Form of Prayer and Ecclesiasticall Rites From which it should not be lawfull for the Pastors themselves to discede 1. That provision may be made for some peoples ignorance and unskilfulnesse 2. That the consent of all Churches amongst themselves may the more plainly appear 3. That order may be taken against the desultorie levity of such who delight in innovations Thus there ought to be an established Catechisme an established Administration of Sacraments as also a publick Form of Prayer So that it seems not a Form but this Form of Prayer did displease and exceptions were taken at certain passages still in the Liturgie though lately reviewed by the Bishops and corrected 19. Whilst mutuall animosities were heightned betwixt the Opposers and Assertors of the Liturgie Wanton fâ—owardnesse jâ—stly punished Providence put a period for a time to that Controversie in England Such who formerly would not soon after durst not use the Common Prayer Masse and Popery being set up by Queen Mary in the room thereof Thus when Children fall out and fight about the candle the Parents comming in and taking it away leave them to decide the differences in the dark The end of the Reign of King EDWARD the sixt THE Church-History OF BRITAINE The Eighth BOOK CONTAINING THE PERSECUTIONS Under the Reign of QUEEN MARY SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO LONDON Printed in the Year M.DC.LV. Punishment for their going naked that what sometimes they affect of Fancy should alwayes be enjoyned them by Authority till the Cold converted them into more Civility In vain do they plead for their Practise the Precedent of the Prophet * Isaiah 20. 3. Isaiah going naked for three years Whose act was extraordinary and mystical having an immediate command from God for the same As well may they in Imitation of Hos ea 1. 2. Hosea take a known harlot to their wives which I beleeve they would not willingly do though they have made Harlots of other mens wives if all be true reported of them Their other Opinion is that THOU and THEE is the Omer of Respect to be measur'd out to every single person allowing the hiest no more the lowest no less be he to speak in their own * Pamphlet called the Language of truth pag. 2. Phrase either King Lord Judge or Officer We will take their words asunder as the wheels of a watch only scowre them and then put them together again King though none at this present in the
England reconciled to Rome wherein she parted with her Supremacy to the Pope and Poole by his power Legatine solemnly reconciled England to the Church of Rome that is set it at open oddes and enmity with God and his Truth Then did he dispense with much irregularity in severall persons confirming the Institution of Clergie-men in their Benefices legitimating the Children of forbidden marriages ratifying the Processes and Sentences in matters Ecclestasticall and his Dispensations were confirmed by Acts of Parliament as in the Statutes at large appear Then was Anthonie Brown Vicount Mountacute Thirleby Bishop of Eli and Sr. Edward Carne sent on a gratulatorie Embassie to Pope Paul the fourth to tender Englands thanks for his great favours conferred thereon A sad and certain presage of heavie persecution which immediately did ensue SECTION II. Anno. Dom. 1555 To Mr. THOMAS BOWYER of the Old Jury Merchant Anno Regin Mar. 3. YOu may with much joy peruse this sad story of Persecution presented unto you whose Grandfather Francis * * Afterward Sheriffe of London Anno. 1577. Bowyer brought no fewel to these flames but endeavoured to quench them The Church is indebted to him for saving reverend Dr. Alexander Nowel then School master of Westminster designed to Death by Bonner and sending him safe beyond the Seas Thus he laid a good foundation to which I impute the firm-standing of your family it being rare to see as in yours the third Generation in London living in the same Habitation May many more of the stock succeed in the same the desire of your obliged friend T F. 1. WE come now to set down those particular Martyrs that suffered in this Queens Reigne The disposing of the future matter But this point hath been handled already so curiously and copiously by Mr. Fox that his industry herein hath starved the endeavours of such as shall succeed him leaving nothing for their penns and pains to feed upon a Eccles 2. 12. For what can the man doe that cometh after the King even that which hath been already done saith Solomon And Mr. Fox appearing sole Emperour in this subject all posterity may despair to adde any remarkable discoveries which have escaped his observation Wherefore to handle this subject after him what is it but to light a candle to the Sunn or rather to borrow a metaphor from his book to kindle one single stick to the burning of so many faggots However that our pains may not wholy be wanting to the Reader herein we will methodize these Martyrs according to the several Diocesses and make on them some brief observations 2. In the Diocesse of Exeter containing Cornwall and Persecution in the Diocess of Exeter Devonshire I finde but one Martyr namely Agnes b Fox 2052. Priest condemned by William Stanford then Judge of the Assise of Lanceston but burned at Exeter The tranquility of these parts is truly imputed c Holinshed pag. 1309. to the good temper of James Turbervile the Bishop one as gentilely qualified as extracted and not so cruel to take away the lives from others as carefull to regain the lost livings to his Church and indeed he recovered to him and his successours the Fee-farme of the Manour of Crediton Yet to shew his sincerity in Religion that he might not seem to do nothing he dipp'd his fingers in this poor womans blood but did not afterwards wash his hands in the persecution of any other Protestant for ought we can finde in any history 3. The like quiet disposition of Gilbert Bourn In the Diocess of Bath and Wells Bishop of Bath and Wells secured Somerset shire Indeed he owed his life under God to the protection of a Protestant for Mr. Bradford at Pauls-crosse saved him from a dagger thrown at him in a tumult and this perchance made him the more tender to Protestants lives Yet in the Register of his Church we meet with one a Fox pag. 2004. Richard Lash condemned by him though his execution doth not appear and yet it is probable that this poor Isaac thus bound to the Altar was afterward sacrificed except some intervening Angel staied the stroak of the sword 4. So also the Diocess of Bristol In the Diocess of Bristol made up of Dorset-shire and part of Glocester-shire enjoyed much quietnesse John Holyman the Bishop did not for ought I can finde prophane himself with any barbarous cruelty But Mr. Dalby b Fox pag. 2052. his Chancellour as an active Lieutenant to a dull Captain sent three namely Richard Sharpe Thomas Benton and Thomas Hale to the stake at Bristol for the testimony of the truth This Dalby knowing himself to be low in parts and learning and despairing otherwise to appear in the world thought the onely way to recommend himself to mens notice was to do it by his cruelty 5. More sparks of persecution flew into the Diocess of Sarisbury In the Diocess of Sarisburie in Wiltshire and Barkshire under John Capon the Bishop and Dr. Geffray his Chancellour for this Dâ—eg was worse then Saul himself At Nubery he sent three Martyrs to heaven in the same charriot of fire c Fox pag. 1940. Jalius Palmer John Gâ—in and Thomas Askin Yea this was but a light flourish in respect of that great blow he intended had not heaven prevented him and many others of his bloody crew by the death of Queen Mary whereby to use Davids phrase God smote them d Psal 3. 7. on the cheek-bone and brake the teeth of the ungodly 6. In the Diocess of Winchester In the Diocess of Winchester consisting of Hantshire and Surrey I finde no great impression from Stephen Garainer the Bishop and much marvell thereat It may be this politician who managed his malice with cunning spared his own Diocess fox-like preying farthest from his own den Indeed he would often stay behind the traverse and send Bonner upon the stage free enough of himself without spurring to do mischief to act what he had contrived Yea I may say of Gardiner that he had an head if not an hand in the death of every eminent Protestant plotting though not acting their destruction And being Lord Chancellour of England he counted it his honour to flie at stout game indeed contriving the death of the Ladie Elizabeth and using to say that it was vain to strike at the branches whilest the roote of all Hereticks doth remain And this good Lady was appointed for the slaughter and brought to the shambles when the seasonable death of this butcher saved the sheep alive 7. However as bloody as he was for mine own part The Authours gratitude to Stephen Gardiner I have particular gratitude to pay to the memory of this Stephen Gardiner and here I solemnly tender the same It is on the account of Mrs. Clarke my great Grandmother by my mothers side whose husband rented Farnham-Castle a place whither Bishop Gardiner retired in Surrey as belonging
credit is to be given to their conceit who ascribe the following tranquillity of this Diocess to Bishop Watson Whites successour therein because he was a man so buried in the speculations of School-Divinity that it unactiv'd him to be practical in persecution I say again both these reasons amount not to any partiall cause of the peace of this Diocess For we know full well that after the coming in of Queen Elizabeth this White and this Watson discovered keenness and fiercenesse of spirit against Her more then any other Bishops in so much that they threatned Her with an excommunication I conceive the true cause was this Lincolne Diocess in the Reign of Henry the eighth had borne the heat of the day when Buckingham-shire alone as we have formerly a Lib. 4. Cent. 16. Parag. 2. observed afforded more Martyrs then all England beside God therefore thought it fit that other Diocesses should now take their turnes that this of Lincolne harraged out before should now lie fallow whilest other Countries like rest-ground should suffer persecution whereon indeed the plowers plowed and made long furrows 17. The Diocesses of Oxford Quiet in foure Diocesses Glocester Hereford and Worcester under their respective Bishops Robert Kinge James Brook Robert Parfew and Richard Pates enjoyed much quiet It being true of them what is said of Judea Galilee and Samaria after the conversion of b Acts. 9. 31. Paul Then hid the Churches rest throughout all those places This principally flowed from Gods gracious goodnesse who would not have all places at once equally embroyled It is not fit that all the rooms in the house should onely be chimney furnace or oven but that it should also afford some other places for quiet repose And yet I wonder much that we finde no fire and very little smoke in Glocester-shire seeing Brook the Bishop thereof is c Isaaâ—sons Chronologie of Bishops pag 477. charactered to be A great Persecutor of Protestants Indeed his fury spent it self most abroad who either being or accounting himself a great Scholar stickled much at Oxford against Arch-Bishop Cranmer pretending himself to be a Commissioner immediately Delegate from the Pope and venting his malice against that good Prelate in two Orations onely remarkable for their length and bitterness 18. Ralph Baynes was Bishop of Coventrie In the Diocess of 〈…〉 and Lichfield late Professour of Hebrew in Paris who also a 〈…〉 pag 759. wrote a Comment on the Proverbs and dedicated it to Francis the first King of France Sure I am he forgat a passage of Solomons therein Prov. 14. 21. But he that hath mercy on the poor happy is â—e This Baines proving a blodie persecutour of Gods poor servants in his Jurisdiction The gentile birth and breeding of Mrs. Joyce Lewes was not too high for him to reach at and the poor condition of Joan Wast a blinde woman in Darbie was not too low for him to stoop to condemning them both to death In the Diocess of Yorke with many other faithfull witnesses of the truth 19. The Arch-Bishoprick of Yorke enjoyed much peace and tranquillity under D r. Nicolas Heath a meek and conscientious man It is enough to intimate his moderate temper equal and disingaged from violent extremities that Primo Elizabethae in the Disputation between the Papists and Protestants he was chosen by the Privie Councel one of the Moderatours And as he shewed mercy in prosperity he found it in adversity in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth though depos'd from his dignity repos'd in a peacable quietnesse So that his impotent age might rather seem seasonably eased of troublesome greatnesse than abridged of any requisites for his comfortable supportation 20. D r. Cotes was Bishop of Chester In the Diocess of Chester who washed his hands in the blood of M r. George March burnt at Chester At whose execution I understand not the addition of a pitch'd barrell placed above his head certainly to enflame the flame but whether out of kindnesse to hasten his death or cruelty to encrease his pain I dare not decide Sure I am Cotes died soon after and Cuthberi Scot succeeded in his Bishoprick one very busie about the burning of Buâ—â—rs body in Cambridge but otherwise I finde no persecution raised by him in his own Diocess 21. The Bishoprick of Durham had Halcyon dayes of ease Peace in the Bishoprick of Durham and quiet under God and good Cuthbert Tonstall the Bishop thereof A learned man of a sweet disposition rather devout to follow his own than cruel to persecute the conscience of others Indeed he being present in London at the examination of divers Martyrs would sometimes flie out in base and unbeseeming language as when he called Bishop Hooper beast for being married yet his passion herein may the rather be pardoned because politickly presumed to barke the more that he might bite the lesse as appeared by his courteous carriage in his own Diocess For I meet with the marginal note in b Volum 3. pag. 9581. M r. Fox which indeed justly deserved even in the fairest letters to be inserted in the body of his book Note that Bishop Tonstall in Queen Maries time was no great bloody persecutor For M r. Russel a Preacher was before him and D r. Himner his Chancellour would have had him examined more particularly The Bishop slayed him saying Hitherto we have had a good report among our neighbours I pray you bring not this mans blood upon my head But more of this Cuthbert Tonstall hereafter And of Carlile 22. The Diocess also of Carlile was not molested with any great troubles under Owen Oglethorp the Bishop thereof one qualified with a moderate temper It argueth no lesse because afterward he crowned Queen Elizabeth an office which all other Bishops then stiffly denied to performe But to speak plain English though the peaceableness of these northerne Bishopricks procceded partly from the mildeness of those that sate in the Episcopal chairs thereof yet it must be remembred that even want of matter for persecution to work on conduced much to the peace of those places The beams of the Gospel being neither so bright nor so hot in these parts where ignorance and superstition generally prevailed 23. The same may be said of all Wales The singulaâ—rity of the B. of Landaffe where casting over our eye we discover no considerable persecution under the Bishops of Asaph and Bangor But as for the Bishop of Landaffe his proceedings against good Raulins White whom he caused to be burnt at Cardiffe was remarkable as standing alone without precedent For He caused his Chaplain to say a mass the first I beleeve that found out and last that used that way for the conversion of the said Rawlins though the same proved ineffectuall 24. But D r. Morgan The cruelty of the B. of Bangor Bishop of S t. Davids is paramount for his cruelty passing the sentence of condemnation on Robert
credit and comfort of the English Church if the dispersed handfulls of their exiles were bound up in one sheaf united into one congregation where they might serve God in purity of faith and integrity of life having both Doctrine and Discipline free from any mixture of superstation 46. Notwithstanding this their importunity But refuse to communicate with them those of Zurich made no other addresses to Frankford than by dilatory letters excusing themselves from coming thither Some saw no absolute necessity that all the English should repair to one place conceiving it rather safer to adventure themselves in several bottoms and live in distinct Colonies Others were displeased with the imperative stile of the letter from Frankford requiring them to come thither exceeding the bounds of counsell for convenience into command for conscience yea charging recusancy herein as a sin on the soul of the refusers They pleaded they were already peacably seated and courteously used at Zurich and to goe away before they had the least injury offered them was to offer an injury to those who so long and lovingly had entertained them Some insisted on the material point how they should be maintained at Frankford there being more required to their living there than their bare coming thither But the main was those of Zurich were resolved no whit to recede from the liturgie used in England under the reign of King Edward the 6 th and except these of Frankford would give them assurance that comming thither they should have the full and free use thereof they utterly refused any communion with their Congregation SECTION Anno Dom. 1556. III. To the right worshipfull Sr. HENRY WROTH Knight SIr it is my desire fitly to suite my dedications to my respective Patrons that what is wanting in the worth of the present may be partly supplied in the propernes thereof which made me select this parcell of my History for your Patronage I finde Sr. Thomas Wroth your great-grandfather of the Bedchamber and a favourite to King Edward the 6 th who as I am informed at his death passed out of the armes of him his faithfull Servant into the embraces of Christ his dearest Saviour Soon after Sr. Thomas found a great change in the English Court but no alteration as too many did to their shame in his own conscience in preservation whereof he was fain to fly beyond the Seas To be a fugitive is a Sin and shame but an honour to be a voluntary Exile for a good cause Hence it is that I have seen in your ancient House at Durance the * * viz. a Lions Head erazed crest of your Armes with the extraordinary addition of Sable vvings somewhat alluding to those of Bats to denote your ancestours dark and secret flight for his safety However God brought him home again on the silver vvings of the Dove when peaceably restoring him in the dayes of Q. Elizabeth to his large Possessions In a word I may wish you and yours less mediate trouble then he had in the course of his Life but cannot desire you more final happines in the close thereof T F. ABout this time M r. John Knox came from Geneva Mr. Knox chosen constant Minister at Frankford and was chosen by the Congregation of Frankford for their constant Minister Let none account it incongruous that among so many able and eminent English Divines a Scotchman should be made Pastour of the English Church seeing M r. Knox his reputed merit did naturalize him though a forrainer for any Protestant Congregation At which time also M r. Chambers and M r. Edmond Grindal came thither as Agents with a letter from the Congregation of Strasburgh This Strasburgh as in the position thereof it is almost seated in the just midd-way betwixt Zurich and Frankford so the English there residing embraced a moderate and middle expedient betwixt the extremities of the two foresaid Congregations These made a motion that they might have the a Tr. of Fr. pag. 24. substance and effect of the Common prayer-book though such ceremonies and things which the Countrie could not bear might well be omitted Knox and Whitingam asked them what they meant by the substance of the Book and whilest the other wanted commission to dispute the point the motion for the present came to no perfection 2. However it gave occasion that Mr. Knox The Liturgie of England tendred to Mr. Calvin and his censure thereof and others in Frankford drew up in Latine a platforme or description of the Liturgie as used in England under King Edward and tendered the same to the judgement of M r. John Calvin in Geneva to pass his sentence thereon This is that M r. Calvin whose care of all the Churches is so highly commended by some and as much censured is he by others as boasting himself in another mans line and medling with forraine matters which did not belong unto him Take M r. Calvins judgment herein from his own letter bearing date the 20 th of January following In the Liturgie of England I see there are many tolerable foolish things by these words I mean that there is not that purity which were to be desired These vices though they could not at the first day be amended yet seeing there was no manifest impiety they were for a season to be tolerated Therefore it was lawfull to begin of such rudiments or abcedaries but so that it behooved the learned grave and godly Ministers of Christ to enterprize further and to set forth some thing more filed from rust and purer This struck such a stroke especially in the Congregation of Frankford that some therein who formerly partly approved did afterward wholy dislike and moe who formerly dislik'd did now detest the English Liturgie 3. In this case stood matters in Frankford Dr. Cox and others aâ—tive at Frankford when D r. Richard Cox with some of his friends out of England arrived there This Doctour was a man of an high spirit deep learning unblameable life and of great credit amongst his Countrie-men for he had been Tutour unto Edward the 6 th And well may the nurse herself be silent whilest the well battleing of the babe pleads aloud for her care and diligence as here the piety and pregnancie of his Prince-pupill added much to D r. Cox his deserved reputation He with others coming into the Congregation March 13. discomposed the model of their service first answering aloud after the Minister and on the Sunday following one of his company without the consent and knowledge of the Congregation got up into the pulpit and there read all the a Tr. of Fr. pag. 38. Letanie Knox highly offended hereat in the afternoon preaching in his course out of Genesis of Noahs nakednesse in his tent took occasion sharply to tax the authours of this disorder avowing many things in the English Book to be superstitious impure and imperfect and that he would never consent they should be received
convenient time And of their doings in this behalf to certifie Her Majesties privie-Councell or the Councell in the Sarr-Chamber at Westminster that order may be taken herein Given at Windsor the 19 th of September the second year of Her Majesties raign Her Princely care took this desired effect that it stopped the main stream of Sacriledge herein though some by-rivolets thereof ran still in private Churches in defiance of all orders provided to the contrary 37. May the Reader take notice The death and character of Bp. Bale that henceforward God willing we will set down at the end of every year the deaths of such eminent Divines who deceased therein though we finde no funeralls of any prime Protestant in the two first yeers of the Queens raigne Her coming to the Crown inspirited the weakest and oldest with vigorousnesse and vivacity for a time and Divine Providence preserved them from blasting who were but newly replanted in their places Only we conjecture that John Bale Bishop of Ossorie died about this time we finding no future mention of his activity which if alive could not conceal it self Pity it is we cannot give the exact date of his death who was so accurate in noting the deeeases of others For this John Bale was he who besides many other books enlarged Leland and continued the Lives of the English Writers Borne at Covy near Dunwich in Suffolke bred in Cambridge afterwards a Carmelite in Norwich and ignorantly zealous in their superstitions He was first converted to the knowledge of the Gospel as himself a De Scriptor Britan Centur 8. confesseth by the care of that worthy Lord Thomas Lord Wentworth of Nettlested in Suffolke Whereupon to use his own expression he was transported from his barren mount Carmel to the fair and fruitfull vale of the Gospel 38. Presently comes persecution The persecutions which in his life he suffered For his preaching of the Gospell he is drag'd from the Pulpit to the Consistory before Lee Arch-Bishop of Yorke and for the same cause was afterwards convented before Stokesley Bishop of London but the Lord Cromwell much affected with the facetiousness of such Comedies as he had presented unto him rescued him from their paws by his power After eight yeers exile in Germany he was recalled by King Edward and made Bishop of Ossâ—rie in Ireland where he remained but a short time For after the Kings death he hardly escaped with his own life some of his servants being slain cast by tempest into Cornewall taken by pirates dearly redeemed with much difficulty he recovered London with more danger got over into Germany Whence returning in the first of Queen Elizabeth about this time he ended his life leaving a Scholars Inventory moe books many of his own making than mony behinde him 39. His friends say Bales passion endeavoured to be excused that Bale his pen doth zealously confute such as are strangers to him conceive it doth bitterly enveigh and his foes say it doth damnably raile on Papists and their opinions though something may be pleaded for his passion Old age and ill usage will make any man angry When young he had seen their superstition when old he felt their oppression Give losers therefore leave to speak and speakers to be cholerick in such cases The best is Bale railes not more on Patists then Pits employed on the same subject on Protestant Writers and even set me against the other whilest the discreet reader of both paring off the extravagances of passion on each side The Pope tampereth to reconcile the Queen to the Church of Rome may benefit himself in quietness from their loud and clamorous invectives 40. Pius the fourth 1560. being newly setled in the Papal chaire 3. May. 5. thought to do something no less honourable than profitable to his See in reducing Queen Elizabeth a wandring sheep worth a whole flock to the Church of Rome In order whereunto he not only was deaf to the importunity of the Count of Feria pressing him for a private grudge to excommunicate Her but also addressed Vincent Parpalia Abbot of S t. Saviours with courteous letters unto her The tenour whereof ensueth To our most dear Daughter in Christ Elizabeth Queen of England DEar daughter in Christ health and Apostolical benediction How greatly we desire our Pastoral charge requiring it to procure the salvation of your soule and to provide likewise for your honour and the establishment of your Kingdom withall God the searcher of all hearts knoweth and you may understand by what we have given in charge to this our beloved son Vincentius Parpalia Abbot of S t. Saviours a man well known to you and well approved by us Wherefore we do again and again exhort and admonish your Highnesse most dear daughter that rejecting evil Councellours which love not you but themselves and serve their own lusts Anno Dom. 1562. you would take the fear of God into Counsel with you Anno Regin Eliza. 4. and acknowledging the time of your visitation shew your selves obeâ—ient to our fatherly perswasions and wholsome Counsells and promise to your self from us all things that may make not only to the salvation of your soul but also whatsoever you shall desire from us for the establishing confirming of your Princely dignity according to the authority place and office committed unto us by God And if so be as we desire and hope you shall return into the bosome of the Church we shall be ready to receive you with the same love honour and rejoycing that the Father in the Gospel did his Son returning to him although our joy is like to be the greater in that he was joyfull for the salvation of one Son but you drawing along with you all the people of England shall hear us and the whole company of our brethren who are shortly God willing to be assembled in a generall Councell for the taking away of heresies and so for the salvation of your self and your whold nation fill the Vniversal Church with rejoycing and gladnesse Yea you shall make glad heaven it self with such a memorable fact and atchieve admirable renown to your name much more glorious than the Crown you wear But concerning this matter the same Vincentius shall deal with you more largely and shall declare our fatherly affection toward you and we intreate your Majesty to receive him lovingly to hear him diligently and to give the same credit to his speeches which you would to our self Given at Rome at S. Peters c. the fifth day of May 1560. in our first yeer What private proposals Parpalia made to her Majesty on condition she would be reconciled to Rome is unknown Some conceive the Pope might promise more then He meant to perform but would He perform more than He did promise nothing herein had been effected A Bargain can never be driven where a Buyer can on no terms be procured Her Majesty was resolute and unmoveable
Fecknam whence he fetcht his name Bred a Benedictâ—ne Monke in the Abbey of Evesham where he subscribed with the rest of his Order to the resignation of that house into the hands of King Henry the eighth Afterwards he studied in Oxford then applied himself first to Bell Bishop of Worcester and after his death to Bonner of London where he crossed the Proverb like Master like Man the Patron being Cruel the Chaplain Kinde to such who in Judgement dissented from him he never dissembled his religion being a zealous Papist and under King Edward the sixth suffered much for his Conscience 35. In the Reign of Queen Mary His Courtesy to Protestants he was wholy imployed in doing good offices for the afflicted Protestants from the highest to the lowest The Earle of Bedford and who afterwards were of Warwick and Leicester tasted of his kindnesse so did S r John Cheek yea and the Lady Elizabeth her self So interposing his interest with Queen Mary for her enlargement that he incurred her Graces displeasure Hence it is that Papists complain that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth he reaped not a Cropp of Courtesie proportionable to his large seed thereof in the dayes of Queen Mary 36. Queen Mary afterwards preferred him from being Dean of Pauls Made Abbot of Westminster a Sanders de schismate Ang. in the Reign of Q. Mary to be Abbot of Westminster which Church she erected and endowed for Benedictine Monks of which order fourteen only could be found in England then extant since their dissolution which were unmarried unpreferred to Cures and unaltered in their opinions These also were brought in with some difficulty at first and opposition for the Prebendaries of Westminster legally setled in their places would not resigne them till Cardinall Poole partly by compulsion partly by compensation obteined their removall 37. Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown Q. Elizabeth send eth for him and prossers him preferment sent for Abbot Fecknam to come to her whom the messenger found setting of Elmes in the Orchard of Westminster Abbey But he would not follow the messenger till first he had finished his Plantation which his friends impute to his soul imployed b Reinerius in Apost Bened. pag. 235. in mysticall meditations that as the Trees he there set should spring and sprout many years after his decease So his new Plantation of Benedictine Monks in Westminster should take root and flourish in defiance of all opposition which is but a bold conjecture of others at his thoughts Sure I am those Monks long since are extirpated but how his Trees thrive at this day is to me unknown Coming afterwards to the Queen what discourse passed betwixt them they themselves knew alone some have confidently guessed she proffered him the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury on condition he would conform to her laws which he utterly refused 38. In the Treaty between the Protestants and Papists primo Elizabethae Kindly used in restraint he was present but in what capacity I cannot satisfie my self Surely more then a Disputant amongst whom he was not named Yet not so much as a Moderator And yet his judgement perchance because Abbot and so principall man in that place was c â—Fox Acts Mon. asked with respect and heard with reverence His Moderation being much commended Now although he was often confined sometimes to the Tower sometimes to friends houses and died it seems at last in restraint in Wisbeeich Castle Yet generally be found fair usage from the Protestants He built a Conduit in Holborn and a Crosse in Wisbeeich and relieved the poor wheresoever he came So that Flies flock not thicker about spilo honey then beggars constantly crouded about him 39. Abbot Fecknam thus being dead A recruit of English Benedictines made after Fecknams death the English Benedictines beyond the seas began to bestirr themselves as they were concerned about the continuation of their Order we know some maintain that if any one species or kinde of Creatures be utterly extinct the whole Univers by Sympathy therewith and consciousnesse of its own imperfection will be dissolved And the Catholicks suspected what a sad consequence there would be if this Ancient Order of English Black Monks should suffer a totall and finall defection The best was Vnus homo Nobis there was one and but one Monke left namely Father Sigebert Buckley and therefore before his death provision was made for others to succeed him and they for fear of failing disposed in severall Countries in manner following In Rome 〈…〉 In Valladolit in Spain 1. Father Gregory Sayer 2. Father Thomas Preston 3. Father Anselme of Manchester 4. Father Anthony Martin commonly called Athanasius 1. Father Austine S t. John 2. Father John Mervin 3. Father Marke Lambert 4. Father Maurice Scot. 5. Father George Gervis From these nine new Benedictines the whole Order which hung formerly on a single string was then replenished to a competent and since to a plentifull number 40. Hitherto our English Papists affectionately leaned not to say fondly doâ—â—d on the Queen of Scots 〈…〉 promising themselves great matters from her towards the advancing of their Religon But now they began to fall off in their 〈◊〉 partly because beholding her a confined person unable to free her self and more unlikely to help others partly because all Catholicks come off with losse of life which practized her enlargement As for her Son the King of Scots from whom they expected a settlement of Popery in that land their hopes were lately turned into despairs who had his education on contrary principles 41. Whereupon hereafter they diverted their eyes from the North to the West Unto the King of Spain expecting contrary to the course of nature that their Sun should rise therein in magnifying the might of the King of Spain and his zeal to propagate the Roman Catholick faith And this was the practise of all Jeâ—uites to possess their English proselytes with high opinions of the Spanish power as the Nation designed by Divine providence to work the restitution of their Religion in England 42. In order hereunto Pretending a 〈◊〉 the Crown of England and to hearten their Countrimen some for it appears the result of severall persons employed in the designing and effecting thereof drew up a Title of the King of Spains to the English Crown are much admired by their own party as slighted by the Queen and her Loyall Subjects for being full of falsehoods and forgeries Indeed it is easie for any indifferent Herauld so to derive a pedigree as in some seeming probability to intitle any Prince in Christendome to any Principality in Christendome but such will shrink on serious examination Yea I beleeve Queen Elizabeth might pretend a better Title to the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile in Spain as descended by the house of Yorke from Edmond Earl of Cambridge and his Lady Coheir to King Peter then any Claime that the King of Spain could
9. S r Francis Shane a mere Irish man but good Protestant was a principal Benefactor and kept this infant-foundation from being strangled in the birth thereof 10. Robert D'eureaux Earl of Essex Lord Lievetenant of Ireland and second Chancellour of this University bestowed at the intreaty of the Students of this Colledge a Cannoneers pay and the pay of certain dead places of Souldiers to the value wellnigh of foure hundred pounds a year for the Scholars maintenance which continued for some years 11. King James that great Patrone of learning to compleat all confirmed the revenues of this Colledge in perpetuum endowing it with a great proportion of good land in the Province of Vlster Thus thorough many hands this good work at last was finished the first stone whereof was laid May 13. 1591. and in the year 1593. Schollars were first admitted and the first of them James Vsher since Arch-Bishop of Armagh that mirrour of learning and religion never to be named by me without thanks to him and to God for him Nor must it be forgotten that what Josephus a Antiq. Jud. lib. 15. cap. 20. reports of the Temple built by Herod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 during the time of the building of the Temple it rained not in the day time but in the night that the showrs might not hinder the work I say what by him is reported hath been avouched to me by witnesses above exception that the same happ'ned here from the founding to the finishing of this Colledge the officious Heavens always smiling by day though often weeping by night till the work was completed 46. The whole Species of the University of Dublin The addition of two emissarie Hostells was for many years preserved in the Individuum of this one Colledge But since this instrument hath made better musick when what was but a monochord before hath got two other smaller strings unto it the addition of New-Colledge and Kildare-Hall What remaineth but that I wish that all those worthy Divines bred therein may have their a Deut. 32. 2. Doctrine drop as the rain and their speech distill as the dew as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grass 47. Let none censure this for a digression from our Church-History of England Dublin a Colonie of Cambridge His discourse that is resident on the Son doth not wholy wander from the Father seeing none will deny but that proles is pars parentis the childe is part of the parent Dublin University was a Colonia deducta from Cambridge and particularly from Trinity Colledg therein one motive perchance to the name of it as may appear by the ensuing Catalogue of the Provosts thereof 1. Adam Loftus Fellow of Trinity Colledge first Provost 2. Walter Travers Fellow of the same Colledge second Provost 3. Henry Alva Fellow of S t Johns Colledge in Cambridge third Provost 4. S r William Temple who wrote a learned Comment on Ramus Fellow of Kings Colledge fourth Provost 5. Joseph Mede Fellow of Christ-Colledge in Cambridge chosen Provost but refused to accept it 6. 7. William Chapel Fellow of the same Colledge seventh Provost Know also that this University did so Cantabrize that she imitated her in the successive choice of her Chancellours the daughter dutifully approving and following the judgement of her mother therein 48. This year was fatall to no eminent Protestant Divine The death of Arthur Faunt and I finde but one of the Romish perswasion dying therein Arthur shall I say or Laurence Faunt born of worshipfull parentage at Folston in Leicester-shire bred in Merton-Colledge in Oxford whence he fled with M r Pots his Tutor to Lovain and never more returned into England From Lovain he removed to Paris thence to Minchen an University in Bavaria where William the Duke exhibited unto him thence to Rome where he was admitted a Jesuite Hence Pope Gregory the thirteenth sent him to be governor of the Jesuits Colledge at Posna in Poland newly erected by Sigismund King thereof Yea so great was the fame of this Faunt that if his own letters may be beleeved three Princes courted him at once to come to them He altered his Christian name of Arthur because as his b Burton in Description of Leicester-shire pag. 10. kinsman tells us no Kalender-Saint was ever of that name and assumed the name of Laurence dying this year at Vilna in Lituania leaving books of his own making much prized by those of his own profession 49. Now began the heat The contest betwixt Hooker and Travers of the sad contest betwixt M r Richard Hooker Master and M r Walter Travers Lecturer of the Temple We will be the larger in the relating thereof because we behold their actions not as the deeds of private persons but the publick Champions of their Party Now as an Army is but a Champion diffused so a Champion may be said to be an Army contracted The Prelaticall Party wrought to the height in and for Hooker nor was the Presbyterian power less active in assisting M r Travers both sides being glad they had gotten two such eminent Leaders with whom they might engage with such credit to their cause 50. Hooker was born in Devon-shire Hooker his Character bred in Oxford Fellow of Corpus Christi Colledge one of a solid judgement and great reading Yea such the depth of his learning that his Pen was a better Bucket than his Tongue to draw it out A great defender both by preaching and writing of the Discipline of the Church of England yet never got nor cared to get any eminent dignity therein conscience not covetousness engaging him in the controversie Spotless was his conversation and though some dirt was cast none could stick on his reputation M r Travers was brought up in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and because much of Church matter depends upon him I give the Reader the larger account of his carriage 51. Travers meeting with some discontents in the Colledge after the death of D r Beomond in whose time he was elected fellow took occasion to travail beyond Seas Travers takes his â—â—ders beyond Seas and comming to Geneva contracted familiarity with M r Beza and other forraign divines with whom he by letters continued correspondency till the day of his death Then returned he and commenced Batchelor of Divinity in Cambridge and after that went beyond sea again and at Antwerp was ordained minister by the Presbytery there whose Testimoniall I have here faithfully transcribed out of the Originall QVam multis de causis sit aequum consultum unumquemque eorum qui ad verbi Dei ministerum asciscuntur vocationis suae testimonium habere Asserimus coacta Antuerpiae ad 8. Maij 1578. duodecim Ministrorum verbi cum totidem fere senioribus Synodo praest ntissimum pretate eruditione virum ac fratrem reverendum Doctorem Gualterum Traverseum omnium qui aderant suffragiis ardentissimisque votis
sued to him to shew favour for their sakes to Non-conformists his answer to them was rather respectfull to the requester then satisfactory to the request He would profess how glad he was to serve them and gratifie them in compliance with their desire assuring them for his part all possible kindness should be indulged unto them but in fine he would remit nothing of his rigour against them Thus he never denied any great mans desire and yet never granted it pleasing them for the present with generall promises and in them not dissembling but using discreet and right expressions still kept constant to his own resolution Hereupon afterwards the nobility surceased making more sutes unto him as ineffectuall and even left all things to his own disposall 62. Thus M r Travers 1592 notwithstanding the plenty of his potent friends 35. was overborn by the Arch-Bishop Travers goeth into Ireland and returneth and as he often complained could never obtain to be brought to a fair hearing But his grief hereat was something abated when Adam Loftus Arch-Bishop of Dublin and Chancellor of Ireland his ancient Collegue in Cambridge invited him over to be Provost of Trinity-Colledge in Dublin Embracing the motion over he went accepting the place and continued some years therein till discomposed with the fear of their civil wars he returned into England and lived here many years very obscurely though in himself a shining light as to the matter of outward maintenance 63. Yet had he Agurs wish His contented life and quiet death neither poverty nor riches though his enough seemed to be of shortest size It matters not whether mens means be mounted or their mindes descend so be it that both meet as here in him in a comfortable contentment Yea when the right Reverend and Religious James Vsher then Bishop of Meath since Arch-Bishop of Armagh brought up under him and with him agreeing in doctrine though discenting in Discipline profered mony unto him for his relief M r Travers returned a thankfull refusall thereof Sometimes he did preach rather when he durst than when he would debarred from all cure of souls by his non-conformity He lived and died unmarried and though leaving many nephews some eminent Schollars bequeathed all his books of Oriental languages wherein he was exquisite and plate worth fifty pounds to Ston-Colledge in London Oh! if this good man had had an hand to his heart or rather a purse to his hand what charitable works would he have left behinde him But in pursuance of his memory Anno Regis Eliza. 35. I have intrenched too much on the modern times Anno Dom. 1592. Only this I will adde perchance the Reader will be angry with me for saying thus much and I am almost angry with my self for saying no more of so worthy a Divine 64. Return we to the year 1592 The death of worthy Mr Greenham of the plague which we finde in London fill'd with funeralls so that within twelve moneths moe than ten thousand were swept away therein of the plague And amongst them reverend M r Richard Greenham the reason why we finde not the exact date of his death In contagious times the corpses of those who living were best beloved are rather hurried than carried to the grave and in such confusions those Parishes who have the best memories prove forgetfull their Registers being either carelessly kept or totally omitted Thus our Greenham was mortally visited with the plague whereof we finde Munster Franciscus Junius Chimidontius and other worthy Divines formerly deceased in Germany that patent of preservation against the pestilence a Psal 91. 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee running as all other temporall promises with this secret clause of revocation if God in his wisdome were not pleased otherwise to countermand it 65. It may be said of some persons in reference to their history Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge that they were born men namely such of whose birth and youth we finde no particular account Greenham is one of these for for want of better intelligence we finde him full grown at the first when Anno Domini he was admitted into Pembroke Hall in Cambridge In which House some years after the youth of M r Lancelot b Some say he had an hand in making some of Mr Greenhams works Andrews afterwards Bishop of Winchester was well acquainted with M r Greenham and I dare boldly say if Greenham gained any learning by Andrews Andrews lost no religion by Greenham He afterwards left the University and became Minister three miles off at Drie-Draiton 66. Drie-Draiton indeed which though often watered with M r Greenhams tears and oftner with his prayers and preaching moistened the rich with his counsel the poor with his charity neither produced proportionable fruitfulness The generality of his Parish remained ignorant and obstinate to their Pastours great grief and their own greater damage and disgrace Hence the Verses Greenham had pastures green But sheep full lean Thus God alone is the good shepheard who doth feed and can fat his sheep and can make them to thrive under his keeping 67. He used often His dexterity in healing afflicted consciences at the intreaty of some Doctors to preach at S t Maries in Cambridge where sometimes so great his zeal in pressing important points that he hath lost himself in the driving home of some application even to the forgetting of his text as himself would confess till he recovered the same on some short recollection He alwayes bitterly inveighed against Non-Residents professing that he wondered how such men could take any comfort in their wealth For me thinks saith he they should see written on every thing which they have Pretium sanguinis this is the price of blood But his master-piece was in comforting wounded consciences For although Heavens hand can only set a broken heart yet God used him herein as an instrument of good to many who came to him with weeping eyes and went from him with chearefull souls The breath of his gracious counsel blew up much smoking flax into a blazing flame 68. Hereupon the importunity of his friends if herein they proved so perswaded him to leave his Parish He leaving his Cure cometh to London and remove to London where his publick parts might be better advantaged for the general good They pleaded the little profit of his long pains to so poore and peevish a Parish Pitie it was so good a fisher-man should cast his nets elsewhere than in that ocean of people What was Drie-Draiton but a bushel to hide London an high candle-stick to hold up the brightness of his parts Over-intreated by others even almost against his own judgement he resigned his Cure to a worthy successour and repaired to London Where after some years preaching up and down in no constant place he was resident on no Cure
in the Church-yard of S t George's in Southwark not far from Bishop Bonners grave So near may their bodies when dead in positure be together whose mindes when living in opinion were farr asunder Nor have I ought else to observe of him save that I am informed that he was father of Ephraim Vdal a solid and pious Divine dying in our dayes but in point of discipline of a different opinion from his father 6. H. B. I. G. I. P. executed And now the Sword of Justice being once drawn it was not put up again into the Sheath before others were executed For Henry Barrow Gentleman Marc. 31. and John Greenwood Clerk who some dayes before were indicted of felony at the Sessions Hall without Newgate before the L rd Major and the two chief Justices Stew his Chronicle pag. 265. for writing certain Seditious Pamphlets were hanged at Tyburn And not long after John Penry a Welchman was apprehanged at Stebunhith by the Vicar thereof arraigned and condemned of felony at the Kings-Bench at Westminster for being a principal penner and publisher of a libellous Book called Martin-mar-prelates and executed at S t Thomas Waterings Daniel Studely Girdler Saxio Billot Gentleman and Robert Bowley Fishmonger were also condemned for publishing scandalous Books but not finding their execution I beleeve them reprieved and pardoned 7. The Queens last coming to Oxford About this time if not somewhat sooner for my enquiry cannot arrive at the certain date Queen Elizabeth took her last farewell of Oxford where a Divinity Act was kept before her on this question Whether it be lawfull to dissemble in matters of Religion One of the opponents endeavoured to prove the affirmative by his own example who then did what was lawfull and yet he dissembled in disputing against the Truth Sr I. Harrington in his additional supply to Bp. Godwin p. 134. the Queen being well pleased at the wittines of the Argument D r Westphaling who had divers years been BP of Hereford coming then to Oxford closed all with a learned determination wherein no fault except somewhat too copious not to so say tedious at that time her Highness intending that night to make a Speech and thereby disappointed 8. 37. 1594. Next day her Highness made a Latin oration to the Heads of Houses Her Latin Oration on the same token she therein gave a check to D r Reynolds for his non-conformity in the midst whereof perceiving the old Lord Burileigh stand by with his lame legs she would not proceed till she saw him provided of a stool a Idem p. 136. and then fell to her speech again as sensible of no interruption having the Command as well of her Latin tongue as of her loyal Subjects 9. John Pierce Arch-Bishop of York ended his life Dean of Christ-Church in Oxford Bishop of Rochester Sarisbury and Arch-Bishop of York When newly beneficed a young man in Oxford-shire he had drowned his good parts in drunkenness conversing with his country parishioners but on the confession of his fault to a grave Divine reformed his conversation so applying himself to his studies that he deservedly gained great preferment and was highly esteemed by Queen Elizabeth whose Almoner he continued for many years and he must be a wise and good man whom that thrifty Princess would intrust with distributing her mony He was one of the most grave and reverent prelates of his age and after his reduced life so abstemious that his Physitian in his old age could not perswade him to drink wine So habited he was in sobriety in detestation of his former excess 10. The death of Bp. Elmar The same year died John Elmar Bishop of London bred in Cambridge well learned as appeareth by his Book titled the Harborough of Princes One of a low stature but stout spirit very valiant in his youth and witty all his life Once when his Auditory began at sermon to grow dull in their attentions he presently read unto them many verses out of the Hebrew Text whereat they all started admiring what use he meant to make thereof Then shewed he them their folly that whereas they neglected English whereby they might be edified they listened to Hebrew whereof they understood not a word Anno Dom. 1594. Anno Regin Eliza. 37. He was a stiff and stern champion of Church Discipline on which account none more mocked by Martin Mar-Prelate or hated by Non-conformists To his eldest son he left a plentiful estate and his second a D r of Divâ—nity was a worthy man of his profession 11. The death of Wâ—ll Reginald But of the Romanists two principal Pillars ended their lives beyond the Seas First William Reginald alias Rose born at a Pâ—â—zaeus de illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus in Anno 1594. Pinho in Devon-shire bred in Winchester School then in New-Colledge in Oxford Forsaking his Country he went to Rome and there solemnly abjur'd the Protestant Religion and thereupon was permitted to read a favour seldome or never bestowed on such novices any Protestant Books without the least restriction presuming on his zeal in their cause From Rome he removed to Rhemes in France where he became professor of Divinity and Hebrew in the English Colledge where saith my b Idem ibidem Author with studying writing and preaching against the Protestants perchance he exhausted himself with too much labour and breaking a vein almost lost his life with vomiting of blood Recovering his strength he vow'd to spend the rest of his life in writing against Protestants and death at Antwerp ceased on him the 24 th of August the 50 th year of his age as he was a making of a book called Calvino-Turcismus which after by his dear friend William Gifford was finished set forth and dedicated to Albert Duke of Austria 12. The death of Cardinal Allen. William Allen commonly called the Cardinall of England followed him into another world born of honest Parents and allied to noble Kindred in Lancashire Brought up at Oxford in Oriall Colledge where he was Proctor of the University in the dayes of Queen Mary and afterwards Head of S t Mary-Hall and Canon of Yorke But on the change of Religion he departed the land and became Professor of Divinity at Doway in Flanders then Canon of Cambray Master of the English Colledge at Rhemes made Cardinall 1587. August the 7 th by Pope Sixtus Quintus the King of Spain bestowing on him an c Camd. Eliz. in hoc Anno. Abby in the Kingdom of Naples and nominating him to be Arch-Bishop of Machlin But death arrested him to pay the debt to Nature d Pitzaeus de illust Aâ—g Script pag. 793 October 16 th and he was buried in the Church of the English Colledge at Rome This is that Allen whom we have so often mentioned conceived so great a Châ—mpion for their Cause that Pope Gregory the 13 th said to his Cardinalls e
Watsons Quodâ—â—bets pag 97. Venitè â—ratres mei Ostendam vobis Alanum which the Author thus translates or rather Comments on Come my brethren and I will shew you a man in England born to whom all Europe may give place for his high prudence reverend Countenance and purport of Government His loss was much lamented by the Catholicks not without cause whose Gravity and Authority had done many good offices in composing the Grudgings which began to grow betwixt Secular Priests and Jesuits which private heart-burnings soon after his death blazed out in the prison of Wisbich into an open Scandal as now we come to Report 13. A sad subject to write of Christian discords Here I protest though uncertain how far to finde belief 1595. 38. that I take no delight in relating these discontents much less shall my pen widen the wound betwixt them for though I approve the opinions of neither yet am I so much friend to the persons of both parties as not to make much to my self of their Discords The rather because no Christian can heartily laugh at the factions of his fiercest enemies because that sight at the same time pincheth him with the sad remembrance that such divisions that have formerly do at the present or may hereafter be found amongst those of his own profession such is the frailty of humane Nature in what side soever However hereafter let not Papists without cause or measure vaunt of their unity seeing their pretended Ship of S t Peter is not so solidly compacted but that it may spring a Leake Nor let them boast so confidently of their sufferings and blame our severity unto them as if enduring such hard usage in their imprisonment Surely like f Psal 105. 18. Joseph their feet were not hurt in the Stocks the Iron did not enter into their Soul neither with g Ier. 38. 6. Jeremy were they cast into a dirty dungeon where they sunk in mire nor with h Acts â—2 6. Peter were they bound with two Chains nor with i Acts 16. 24. Paul and Silas were they thrust into the inner prison and made fast but had in their Durance Liberty List and Leasure to begin foment and prosecute this violent Schisme betwixt themselves 14. The beginning of the Schism betwixt the Seculars and the Iesuits Untill this time the prime Catholicks in Wisbich Castle had lived there in restraint with great Unity and Concord And the Papists do brag that then and there the English Church was most visible until one Father Weston alias Edmonds a Jesuite coming thither erected a government amongst them making certain Sanctions and Orders which all were bound to observe secretly procuring subjects to himself and claiming a Superiority over all the Catholicks there Yet so cunningly he contrived the matter that he seemed not ambitiously to affect but religiously to accept this Authority profered unto yea seemingly forced upon him For one of his friends writes to Father Henry Garnet Provincial then living in England to this effect Good Father Weston in the humility of his heart lies on his bed like the man sick of the Palsie in the Gospel Nor will he walk confidently before others in the way of the Righteous except first he be let down through the Tiles and it be said unto him from the Provinciall arise take up thy Bed and walke Yet if the Seculars may be beleeved he did not only arise but run before that word of Command given him by Garnet and put his Jurisdiction in execution Besides those of his own society many of the Secular Priests submitted themselves unto him seduced say k Declaratio moâ—uum ac turbationum c. ad Clem. octavum exhibita pag. 12. some by the seeming sanctity of the Jesuits and having their Judgements bribed to that side by unequal proportions of mony received besides promising themselves that in case the land was invaded by the activity of the Jesuits all power and preferment would be at their dispose and so they should be sooner and higher advanced 15. The Seculars refuse to obey Weston and why But the greatest number and learned sort of the Secular Priests stoutly resisted his superiority affirming how formerly it had been offered to Thomas Watson Bishop of Lincolne late prisoner amongst them and he refused it as inconsistent with their present Condition affliction making them equalls and a Prison putting a parity betwixt them if any order might pretend to this Priority it was most proper for the Benedictines extant in England above a thousand years agoe that the Jesuits were Punies and if all Orders should sit down as Jacobs children at the Table of Joseph l Gen. 34. 33. the eldest according to his Age and the yongest according to his Youth the last and least place of honour was due unto them That the Secular Priests had borne the heat of the day in preaching and persecution some of them having endured above twenty years imprisonment for conscience sake as M r Bluet for m Watsons Quodlibets pag. 4. one before some of the Jesuits knew what durance meant That Weston was not eminent for Learning Religion or any prime quality save only the affecting that place which his betters had declined That it was monstrous that he being a Jesuite and so a member of another society should be made a head of their body The Lay-Catholicks were much offended with the Schisme some withheld others threatning to withhold their charity from both parties conceiving it the ready means when maintenance was detained from both sides to starve them into agreement 16. Weston imployed but as a Scout to discover the temper of the secular priests One might admire why father Weston should so earnestly desire so silly a dominion having his power as well as his own person confin'd within the walls of Wisbich Castle a narrow Diocess only to dominere over a few Prisoners The Goaler yea the very Turnkey being his superior to controll him if offering to exceed that compass But Oh the sweetness of Superemacy though in never so small a Circuit It pleased his pride to be Prior of a Prison but n Declaratio motuum c. pag. 17. Agent was the Title wherewith he stiled himself Indeed the English Jesuits both abroad in England and beyond the Seas made use of Westons forwardness to trie the temper of the Secular Priests and to make this bold Jesuite to back and break a Skittish Colt for further designes If Weston were unhors'd his fall would be little lamented and he might thank his own boldness in adventuring and the ill managing of his place if he sat the beast and it proved tame then others would up and ride and Father Garnet Provincial of the Jesuits intended in like manner to procure from the Pope a Superiority over all the Secular Priests in England Wisbich Prison would be enlarged all over the kingdom and the Precedent would reach farr in the
Vircrum Illustrium Spectacles to read the smallest Print 3. William Perkins who was born in the first and died in the last of Q. Eliz. so that his Life as n In the Holy State where see hiâ— Life at large we have elsewhere observed to which we remit the Reader running parallel with this Queens Reign began continued and ended therewith 4. Gregory before his entrance into Religion Robert Sayer bred in Cambridge then leaving the University fled beyond sea where he became a Benedictine Monk of the Congregation of S. Justin in Padua He lived in severall parts of Europe as at Phemes Rome Montcasie Venice where he died and was buried o Puzeus de 〈◊〉 Anglick Aetate Detima septima p. 801. the 30. of Octob. having written many Volumes in great esteem with men of his Profession 5. William Harris as Obscure among Protestants as Eminent with the Popish Party A Master of Art of Lincoln Colledge in Oxford whence leaving the Land he fled beyond-sea living at Doway and afterwards he came over into p â—â—em ibidem England where it seemes he had the Hap to escape the Queenes Officers and to die in his Bed His Book called THE THEATRE OF THE MOST TRUE AND ANTIENT CHURCH OF ENGLAND is highly accounted of Roman Catholiques 11. About this time the low Estate of the City of Geneva the Nursery of the Reformed Religion was lively represented to the Prelates Relief sent to the City of Geneva Clergy and Well-disposed Persons of England being for the Present in a very Dolefull condition Long since it had been undone but because it had so many Enemies to undoe it So that by Gods providence q Judg. 14. 14. Out of the Devourer came Meat such Neighbouring Princes and States which were both Willing and Able to swallow up this Zoar did preserve it For rather than Savoy should suppresse it Venice Florence the Popish Cantons in Switzerland and France it self would support But for all this politick Geometry wherewith long it had hung safe betwixt severall Competitours it was lately shrewdly shaken by the Puissance of the Duke of Savoy who addicted to the Spanish Faction had banished all Protestants out of his Dominâ—ons Arch-bishop Whitgift whose hand was ever open to any Pious Design led with his liberall Example and the rest cheerefully followed so that large summes of money were seasonably made over for the Reliefe of Geneva 12. Queen Elizabeth The death of Q. Elizabeth the mirrour of her Sex and Age having above 40 years to the Admiration of Envy it selfe managed this Kingdome finding when she began few Friends that durst help and leaving no Foes that could hurt her exchanged her Earthly for a Heavenly Crowne who as she lived and died an unspotted Virgin so her Maiden memory is likely in this respect to remaine sole and single seeing History affords no Prince to be marched to her Fame in all considerable Particulars Her Corps were solemnly interred under a fair Tomb in Westminster Ann. Reg. 45. the lively Draught whereof Ann. Dom. 1602 is pictured in most London many Countrey Churches every Parish being proud of the shadow of her Tomb and no wonder when each Loyal Subject erected a mournfull Monument for her in his heart But soon after all English Soules were employed equally to divide themselves betwixt Exclamations of Sorrow for her Death and Acclamations of Joy for K. James his succeeding her 13. And now it is strange with what Assiduity and Diligence King Ja. 1. the two Potent Parties the Defenders of Episcopacy and Presbytery K James sends a Welcome message to the Episcopall Party with equall Hopes of Successe made besides Private and Particular Addresses Publique and Visible Applications to King James the first to continue the later to restore or rather set up their Government So that whilest each Side was Jealous his Rival should get the Start by early stirring and rise first in the Kings favour Such was their Vigilancy that neither may seem to go to Bed Incestantly diligent both before and since the Queens Death in dispatching Posts and Messages into Scotland to advance their severall Designes We take notice of two principall M. Lewis Pickering a Northampton shire Gentleman and zealous for the Presbyterian Party was the third Person of quality who riding incredibly swift good Newes makes good Horsemen brought King James the Tydings of Queen Elizabeths Death But how farre and with what Answer he moved the King in that Cause is uncertaine Doctour Thomas Nevill Deane of Canterburte came into Scotland some dayes after him except any will say that he comes first that comes really to effect what he was sent for being solemnly employed by s Sir G Pauls in the Archbishops Life Numb 126. Arch bishop Whitgift to his Majesty in the name of the Bishops and Clergy of England to tender their Bounden Duties and to understand his Highnesse Pleasure for the ordering and guiding of Ecclesiasticall Causes He brought back a welcome Answer to such as sent him of his Highnesse purpose which was to uphold and maintain the Government of the late Queen as she left it setled 14. Soone after followed the Treason of William Watson on this occasion Watson's â—lly Treason This Watson Secular Priest had written a bitter Book against the Jesuits as being one knowing though not so secret of their faults as their owne Confessours taxing them with truth so plaine they could not deny so foule they durst not confesse it Now such is the charity of Jesuits that They never owe any man any ill will making present payment thereof These Holy Fathers as Watson intimated on the d Stowes Chronicle p. 831. Scaffold at his Death and forgave them for the same cunningly and covertly drew him into this action promoting him who was ambitious though pretending to much Mortification treasonably to practise his own preferment 15. Watson with William Clark another of his own profession having fancied a notionall Treason imparted it to George Brooks one angry with Nature His moâ—tly Compliceâ— not so much for making him lame as a younger Brother These break it to Brook his Brother the L. Cobham to the Lord Gray of Whaddon and Sir Walter Rawleigh the one a known Protestant the other a reputed Puritan the third an able Statesman Besides some other Knights displeased with their present Fortunes how quickly is Discontent inflamed into Disloyalty because since the turning of the Wheele at the Queenes Death on the wrong Side of Preferment Watson devised an Oath of Secrecy for them all which was no more than needfull considering their different Interests rather pieced than united patched than pieced together 16. Had one lost his Religion he might have found it though I confess a Treason is but a bad place to seeke it in in this Conspiracy Their wild meanes whereby to attaine a mad end wherein men of all perswasions were engaged Their Parts were as
not legally be conveyed to any Petitioner Ann. Dom. 1604 Ann Reg. Jac. 2 Thus his Majesty manifested his good will and affection to Religion and although this Law could not finally preserve Church-lands to make them immortall yet it prolonged their lives for many yeares together 12. Passe we now into the Convocation The Acts of this Convocation why as 〈…〉 recovered to see what was done there But here the History thereof as I may say is shot betwixt the joynts of the Armor in the intervall after Whitgift's death and before Bancroft's removall to Canterbury so that I can finde the Originall thereof neither in the Office of the Vicar-generall nor in the Registry of London not can I recover it as yet from the Office of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury where most probably it is to be had the Jurisdiction belonging to them in the Vacancy 13. Take this as the result thereof Many Canon made therein Bishop Bancroft sitting President A Book of Canons was compiled not onely being the summe of the Queens Articles Orders of her Commissioners Advertisements Canons of 1571. and 1597. which were in use before but also many more were added the whole number amounting unto 141. Some wise and moderate men supposed so many Lawes were too heavy a burden to be long borne and that it had been enough for the Episcopall party to have triumphed not insulted over their adversaries in so numerous impositions However an Explanation was made in one of the Canons of the use of the Crosse in Baptisme to prevent Scandall and learned Thuanus in his History taketh an especiall notice thereof 14. Motion being made in this Convocation Bishop Rudd why opposing the oath against Simony about framing an Oath against Simony to be taken by all presented to Churchpreferment Bishop Rudde of St. Davids as conscientious as any of his order and free from that fault opposed it chiefly because he thought it unequall that the Patron should not be forced as well as the Clerk to take that Oath Whereupon it was demanded of him whether he would have the King to take that Oath when he presented a Bishop or Dean and hereat the Bishop sate downe in silence 15. About this time the Corporation of Rippon in York-shire The Petition of the Town of Rippon to Queen Anne presented their Petition to Queen Anne on this occasion They had a faire Collegiate Church stately for the structure thereof formerly erected by the Nobility and Gentry of the Vicenage the meanes whereof at the dissolution of Abbies were seized on by the King so that small maintenance was left to the Minister of that populous Parish Now although Edwin Sands Arch-bishop of York with the Earle of Huntinton Lord Burgley and Sheaffield successively Presidents of the North had recommended their Petition to Qu. Elizabeth they obtained nothing but faire unperformed Promises whereupon now the Ripponeers humbly addressed themselves to Queen Anne and hear her answer unto them ANNA R. ANNE by the grace of God Qu. of England Scotland France and Ireland c. To all to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas there hath been lately exhibited and recommended unto us a frame and plat-forme of a Colledge Generall to be planted and established at Rippon in the County of Yorke for the manifold benefit of both the Borders of England and Scotland Upon the due perusing of the plot aforesaid hereunto annexed and upon signification given of the good liking and approbation of the chief points contained therein by sundry grave learned and religious parties and some other of honourable Place and Estate We have thought good for the ample and perpetuall advancement of Learning and Religion in both the borders of our aforesaid Realmes to condescend to yeild our favour and best furtherance thereunto And for the better encouraging of other honourable and worthy Personages to joyn with us in yeilding their bounty and benevolence thereunto We have and do signifie and assure and by the word of a sacred Princesse and Queen do expresly promise to procure with all convenient speed to and for the yearely better maintenance of the said Colledge All and every of the Requests specified and craved to that end in a small Schedule hereunto annexed In confirmation whereof we have signed these Presents by our hand and name above mentioned and have caused our privy Signet to be set unto the same July 4. Dated at our Honour at Greenwich July 4. An. Dom. 1604. and of our Reigne c. After the sealing thus subscribed Gulielmus Toulerius Secretarius de mandate serenissimae Annae Reginae Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae 16. Such need never fear successe King James his bountifull grant who have so potent a person to solicite their suite King James being forward of himselfe to advance Learning and Religion and knowing Christs precept Let your Light shine before Men knew also that Rippon was an advantagious place for the fixing thereof As which by its commodious position in the North there would reflect lustre almost equally into England and Scotland Whereupon he founded a Dean and Chapter of seven Prebends allowing them two hundred forty seven pounds a yeare out of his own Crowne-land for their maintenance 17. I am informed These Lands since twice sold that lately the Lands of this Church are by mistake twice sold to severall Purchasers viz. Once under the notion of Dean and Chapters Lands and againe under the property of Kings Lands I hope the Chapâ—men when all is right stated betwixt them will agree amongst themselves on their bargaine Mean time Rippon Church may the better comport with poverty because onely remitted to its former condition 18. The Family of Love or Lust rather at this time The Petition of the Family of Love to King James presented a tedious Petition to King James so that it is questionable whether His Majesty ever graced it with his perusall wherein they endeavoured to cleare themselves from some misrepresentations and by fawning expression to insinuate themselves into his Majesty's good opinion Which here we present To the King 's most excellent MAJESTY JAMES the first by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOst gracious and Sveraigne Lord whereas there is published in a Book written by your Highnesse as an instruction to your most noble * * In his Basilicon Doron Sonne whom Almighty God blesse with much Honour Happinesse and Long life of a People that are of a vile Sect among the Anabaptists called the Family of Love who doe hold and maintaine many proud uncharitable unchristian and most absurd Opinions unto whom your Highnesse doth also give the name of Puritans assuming in the said Book that divers of them as Brown Penry and others doe accord with them in their foule Errours heady and phantasticall Opinions which are there set downe at large by Your Majesty
his preferment to New Colledge Over he fled to Rome where after some years he so improved himself that from a Prepositour over boyes he was made Provincial over men even the whole Order of English Jesuits 46. Hence he returned into England Canvased in the Tower by the Protestant Divines and was not onely privie to but a principall plotter of the Gunpowder-Treason Being attached and imprisoned in the Tower the Earl of Sarisbury and Doctour Overall Dean of S. Paul's with other Divines repaired unto him charging it on his conscience for not revealing so dangerous a conspiracie Garnet pleaded for himself that it was concredited unto him under the solemn seal of Confession the violation whereof he accounted the highest impiety This they disproved because he had disccursed thereof frequently and publickly with Catesbie Gerard and Greenwood circumstances inconsistent with the essentiall secrecie of Confession Garnet sought to salve himself with a fine distinction so fine that it brake to pieces in the spinning that it was told him in viâ ad confessionem in order to confession which though wanting some formalities thereof did equally oblige his conscience to conceal it 47. Dean Overall rejoyned Confession only of antefacts that Confession was of antefacts not postfacts and that it is not confession but â—enacing to impart to a Priest intended villanies He farther urged that their most conscientious Casuists allowed yea injoyned Priests discovery in such case when a greater good accrued by revealing than concealing such secrecies I was minded quoth Garnet to discover the plot but not the persons therein 48. Here the Earl of Sarisbury interposed Earl of Sarisbury's question answered and who said he hindred you from discovering the Plot Even you your self answered Garnet for I knew full well should I have revealed the Plot and not the Plotters you would have racked this poor body of mine to pieces to make we confesse And now we have mentioned the rack Know that never any rack was used on Garnet Ann. Dom. 1606. Ann. Reg. Jac. 5 except a wit-rack wherewith he was worsted and this cunning archer outshot in his own bow For being in prison with Father Oldcorne alias Hall his Confessour they were put into an o Abbot in Antilogia cap. 1. fol. 5. equivocating room as I may terme it which pretended nothing but privacie yet had a reservation of some invisible persons within it ear-witnesses to all the passages be twixt them whereby many secrecies of Garnet's were discovered 49. In Guild hall he was arraigned before the Lord Major Garnet his arraignment condemnation and the Lords of the Privie Councell Sir Baptist Hicks afterwards Viscount Camden being foreman of the Jury consisting of Knights Esquires and the most substantiall Citizens whose integrities and abilities were above exception I see therefore no cause why the defender of Garnet after his death accuseth those men as incompetent or improper for their place as if he would have had him tried per pares by a Jury of Jesuits and would he have them all Provincials too which I believe though summoned would unwillingly have appeared in that place Garnet May 3 pleading little against pregnant proofs was condemned and some daies after publickly executed in S. Paul's Church-yard 50. The Secretary of the Spanish Ambassadour for we charitably believe his Master honester Popish false relations disproved and wiser writing into Spain and Italy what here he took upon hear-say filled forain Countreys with many falshoods concerning Garnet's death as namely 1. That he manifested much alacrity of minde in the cheerfulnesse of his looks at his death 2. His zealous and fervant prayers much moved the people 3. The people hindered the hangman from cutting the rope and quartering him while alive 4. The people so clawed the Executioner that he hardly escaped with life 5. When he held up Garnet's head to the people there was a Panick silence none saying God save the King Whereas 1. He betrayed much servile fear and consternation of spirit much beneath the erected resolution of a Martyr 2. His prayers were saint cold and perplexed oft interrupted with his listening to and answering of others 3. That favour by speciall order from His Majestie was mercifully indulged unto him 4. No violence was done unto him able many years after to give a cast of his office if need required 5. Acclamations in that kinde were as loud and generall as heretofore on the same occasion Thus suffered Father Garnet after whose death some subtile persons have impudently broached and other silly people senslesly believed a certain miracle of his working which we here relate as we finde it reported 51. John Wilkinson The solemn tale of Garnet's Straw-miracle a thorough-paced Catholick living at S. Omers posted over into England as having a great desire to get and keep some of Garnet's reliques Great was his diligence in coming early before others to the place of his execution which advantaged him neer to Garnet's person and greater his patience in staying till all was ended and the rest of the people departed When behold a straw be sprinkled with some drops of his blood and having an ear of corn at the end thereof leaped p Abbot lib. ut priùs cap. 14. sol 198. out of whom for the main all this storv is taken with the confutation thereof up on this Wilkinson not taking the rise of its leap from the ground he was sure but whether from the scaffold or from the basket wherein Garnet's head was he was uncertain Was not this Wilkinson made of Jeat that he drew this straw so wonderfully unto him Well however it came to passe joyfully he departs with this treasure and deposits the same with the Wife of Hugh Griffith Ann. Dom. 1607. a Tailor a Zealot of his own Religion who provided a Chrystall Case for the more chairie keeping thereof 52. Some weeks after Garnet's picture appears in a straw upon serious inspection of this straw the face of a man and we must believe it was Garnet's was perceived therein appearing on the outside of a leaf which covered a grain within it and where the convexitie thereof represented the prominencie of the face with good advantage Wilkinson Hugh Griffith and his wife Thomas Laithwaith and others beheld the same though there be some difference in their depositions whose eyes had the first happinesse to discover this portraicture Soon after all England was belittered with the news of this straw and Catholicks cried it up for no lesse than a miracle 53. There are two infallible touch-stones of a true miracle Not presently done which alwaies is done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 presently and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfectly Neither of these on examination appeared here For when this straw salient leaped first up into Wilkinson's lap it is to be presumed that he having it so long in his possession critically surveyed the same the volume whereof might
words which cannot without some circumlocution so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text 7. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down as shall serve for the fit reference of one Scripture to another 8. Every particular man of each company to take the same Chapter or Chapters and having translated or amended them severally by himself where he thinks good all to meet together conferre what they have done and agree for their part what shall stand 9. As any one company hath dispatched any one Book in this manner they shall send it to the rest to be considered of seriously and juditiously for His Majestie is very carefull in this point 10. If any company upon the review of the Book so sent shall doubt or differ upon any places to send them word thereof note the places and therewithall send their reasons to which if they consent not the difference to be compounded at the General Meeting which is to be of the chief persons of each company at the end of the work 11. When any place of speciall obscurity is doubted of Letters to be directed by Authority to send to any learned in the Land for his judgment in such a place 12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the rest of his Clergie admonishing them of this Translation in hand and to move and charge as many as being skilfull in the Tongues have taken pains in that kinde to send his particular observations to the Company either at Westminster Cambridge or Oxford 13. The directours in each Company to be the Deans of Westminster and Chester for that place and the Kings Professours in the Hebrew and Greek in each Universitie 14. These Translations to be used when they agree better with the Text than the Bishops-Bible viz Tindals Matthews Coverdals Whitchurch Geneva Besides the said directions before mentioned three or four of the most antient and grave Divines in either of the Universities not employed in translating to be assigned by the Vice-Chancellour upon conference with the rest of the Heads to be Overseers of the Translations as well Hebrew as Greek for the better observation of the fourth Rule above-specified 2. The untimely death of Mr. Edward Lively Mr. Lively his death much weight of the work lying on his skill in the Oriental Tongues happening about this time happy that servant whom his Master when he cometh findeth so doing not a little retarded their proceedings However the rest vigorously though slowly proceeded in this hard heavie and holy task nothing offended with the censures of impatient people condemning their delaies though indeed but due deliberation for lazinesse Our pen for the present taketh its leave of them not doubting but within two years to give a good account of them or rather that they will give a good account of themselves In the translating of the Bible one of the eminent persons employed therein The death of Dr. Reynolds was translated into a better life viz 3. Doctor John Reynolds May 21 Kings Professour in Oxford born in Devon shire with Bishop Iewell and Mr. Hooker and all three bred in Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford No one County in England bare three such men * He was Bachâ—lor of Arts before Bishop Jewels death contemporarie at large in what Colledge soever they were bred no Colledge in England bred such three men in what County soever they were born 4. This Iohn Reynolds at the first was a zealous Papist A strange encounter whilst William his Brother was as earnest a Protestant and afterwards Providence so ordered it that by their mutuall disputation Iohn Reynolds turned an eminent Protestant and William an inverterate Papist in which perswasion he died This gave the occasion to an excellent Copie of Verses Ann. Dom. 1607 Ann. Reg. Jac. 5 concluding with this Distich Quod genus hoc pugnae est ubi victus gaudet uterque Et simul alteruter se superâsse dolet What war is this when conquered both are glad And either to have conquered other sad Daniel saith Chap. 12. ver 4. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased But here indeed was a strange transcursion and remarkable the effects thereof 5. His memory was little lesse than miraculous he himself being the truest Table to the multitude of voluminous Books he had read over His admirable parts and piety whereby he could readily turn to all materiall passages in every leaf page volume paragraph not to descend lower to lines and letters As his Memory was a faithfull Index so his Reason was a solid Judex of what he read his Humility set a lustre on all admirable that the whole should be so low whose severall parts were so high communicative of which he knew to any that desired information herein like a tree Joaden with fruit bowing down its branches to all that desired to ease it of the burden thereof deserving this Epitaph Incertum est utrum Doctior an Melior 6. His disaffection to the discipline established in England was not so great Most conformable in his practice to the Church of England as some Bishops did suspect or as more Non conformists did believe No doubt he desired the abolishing of some Ceremonies for the ease of the conscience of others to which in his own practice he did willingly submit constantly wearing Hood and Surplice and kneeling at the Sacrament On his death-bed he earnestly desired absolution Dr. Crackenthorp in his Defence of the English against Spalato according to the form of the Church of England and received it from Doctor Holland whose hand he * affectionately kissed in expression of the joy he received thereby Doctor Featly made his funerall Oration in the Colledge Sir Isaac Wake in the University 7. About this time Mr. John Molle Mr. Molle his birth and breeding Governour to the Lord Ross in his travails began his unhappy journey beyond the Seas This Mr. Molle was born in or neer South-Molton in Devon His youth was most spent in France where both by sea and land he gained much dangerous experience Once the ship he sailed in sprung a-leak wherein he and all his company had perished if an Hollander bound for Garnesay passing very neer had not speedily taken them in which done their ship sunk immediately Being Treasurer for Sir Thomas Shirley of the Englâ—sh Army in Britanie he was in the defeat of Cambray wounded taken prisoner and ransomed Providence designing him neither to be swallowed by the surges nor slain by the sword but in due time to remain a Land-mark of Christian patience to all posterity At last he was appointed by Thomas Earl of Exeter who formerly had made him Examiner in the Councell of the North to be Governour in Travail to his Grand-childe the Lord Ross undertaking the charge with much reluctancie as a presage of ill successe and with a profession and a resolution not to passe the Alpes 8.
to the rule of Faith and monstrous blasphemy 9. That Christ was not before the fulness of time except by promise 10. That Christ was not God otherwise than an anointed God 11. That Christ was not in the form of God equal with God that is in substance of God but in righteousness and giving salvation 12. That Christ by his Godhead wrought no miracle 13. That Christ is not to be prayed unto For maintaining these Opinions Legate had long been in prison in Newgate yet with liberty allowed him to go abroad not contented wherewith he openly boasted and often threatned to sue the Court which committed him for reparations for false imprisonment so that his own indiscretion in this kinde hastened his execution 10. For hereupon Bishop King finally convented him in the Consistory of S. Paul's Condemned for an obstinate Heretick And that worthy Prelate foreseeing that his proceedings herein would meet with many listening eares prying eyes and prating tongues chose many reverend Bishops able Divines and learned Lawyers to assist him So that the Consistory so replenished for the time being seemed not so much a large Court as a little Convocation Mar. 3. By the counsell and consent of these by his definitive sentence he pronounced decreed and declared the foresaid Bartholomew Legate an obdurate contumacious and incorrigible Heretick And by an Instrument called a SIGNIFICAVIT certified the same into the Chancery delivering him up unto the Secular power the Church-Keyes in such cases craving the help of the Civil Sword Mar. 11. Whereupon King JAMES with His Letters dated March 11 under the Privy-Seal gave order to the Broad-Seal to direct the Writ de Haeretico comburendo to the Sheriffs of London for the burning of the foresaid Legate 11. Now as the Bishop herein surrendred Legate to the Secular Power Quaeâ—es left to Lawyers to decide my Ecclesiasticall History in like manner resignes him to the Civil Historian together with all the doubts difficulties and legall scruples attending on or resulting from his Condemnation Let the Learned in the Law consider on what Statute the Writ for his Burning was grounded whether on those old Statutes enacted in the Reignes of RICHARD the II and HENRY the IV or on the branch of some other new Statute to that effect Let them satisfie us how farre those Lawes were repealed in 1 mo ELIZABETHAE and how farre they still stand in force as though not to pretended Lollardisme yet to Blasphemy Let them examine the Judgment of the Learned i De natura breâ—ium fol. 269. 2. Fitz-Herbert whether sound in his assertion That Hereticks before the Writ of their burning be issued out against them must first be convicted of Heresie before a Provinciall Convocation whilst others affirm That they being convicted before their Ordinary sufficeth provided it be for such Opinions which Convocations have formerly condemned for Hereticall 12. To Smithfield he was brought to be burned Legate burnt in Smithfield Mar. 18. See here it is neither the pain nor the place but only the cause makes a Martyr In this very Smithfield how many Saints in the Marian-daies suffered for the testimony of Jesus Christ Whereas now one therein dyeth in his own blood for denying him Vast was the Conflux of people about him Never did a scare-fire at midnight summon more hands to quench it than this at noon-day did eyes to behold it At last refusing all mercy he was burned to ashes And so we leave him the first that for a long time suffered death in that manner And oh that he might be the last to deserve it 13. In the next moneth Edward Wightman of Burton upon Trent Wightman worse than Legate April 11. convicted before Richard Neile Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield was burned at Litchfield for sarre worse Opinions if worse might be than Legate maintained Mary Magdalene indeed was once possessed with seven Devils but ten several Heresies were laid to Wightman's charge namely those of k So reckned up in the Warrant for his burning Ebion Cerinthus Valentinian Arrius Macedonius Simon Magus Manes Manichaeus Photinus and of the Anabaptists Lord What are we when God leaves us Did ever man maintain one Heresie and but one Heresie l Jude 6. Chains of darkness we see have their links and errors are complicated together 14. God may seem well-pleased with this seasonable Severity The successe of this severity For the fire thus kindled quickly went out for want of sewell I mean there was none ever after that openly avowed these Hereticall Doctrines Onely a Spanish Arrian who condemned to die was notwithstanding suffered to linger out his life in Newgate where he ended the same Indeed such burning of Hereticks much startled common people pitying all in pain and prone to asperse justice it self with cruelty because of the novelty and hideousnesse of the punishment And the purblinde eyes of vulgar judgments looked onely on what was next to them the suffering it self which they beheld with compassion not minding the demerit of the guilt which deserved the same Besides such being unable to distinguish betwixt constancy and obstinacy were ready to entertain good thoughts even of the Opinions of those Hereticks who sealed them so manfully with their blood Wherefore King JAMES politickly preferred that Hereticks hereafter though condemned should silently and privately waste themselves away in the Prison rather than to grace them and amuze others with the solemnity of a publick Execution The death of Master Sâ—tton Founder of that famous Hospitall which in popular judgments usurped the honour of a persecution 15. I finde no eminent Divine or Scholar deceased in this year Onely one whose bounty made many of both kindes ended his life namely Richard Sutton the Phoenix of our Age and sole Founder of Charter-Hospitall Esquire born of Gentile Parentage at Knaith in Lincolnshire In his youth bred a Souldier gaining both wealth and credit by his valour but afterwards embracing a more peaceable Profession of a Merchant This his Foundation he called The Hospitall of King JAMES all discreet Subjects having learned this lesson from politick Joab calling m 2 Sam. 12. 28. Rabbah after the name of King David to entitle their Soveraigne to the honour of their Atchievements which are of extraordinary proportion Children not yet come to and Old men already past helping of themselves have in this Hospitall their souls and bodies provided for The latter must be decayed Gentlemen the most proper Objects of Charity as whose ingenious spirits are most sensible of want and most unable to provide for themselves 16. It is utterly improbable that it will ever come within the compasse of my power to found any place for pious uses The severall Manours belonging thereunto All wherein my weak ability can expresse its forwardnesse is to honour the Charity of others and for the present Alphabetically to methodize the Manours which Master Sutton in several
in money and Ten pounds per annum to the Poor of the Parish in the Chancell whereof he lyeth buried under a fair Monument dying on S. Thomas his day in the Threescore and twelfth year of his age 28. Papists now appearing very daring A Conference with Iesuits Dec. 21. a Conference or Dispute if you please was entertained betwixt Doctor White and Doctor Featley Protestants Father Fisher and Father Sweete Jesuits on his occasion Edward Buggs Esq living in London aged seventy and a professed Protestant was in his sicknesse seduced to the Romish Religion But recovering this Dispute was held at his request in the house of Sir Humphrey Linde a learned and religious Gentleman about the Visibility of the Church and the Tenents now maintained by the Protestants to have been before Luther The printed Book hereof may satisfie the Reader as this Conference did so satisfie Master Buggs that renouncing his former wavering he was confirmed in the Protestant-Truth 29. Now hapned the sad Vespers The fatâ—l Vespers at Black-Fryers Octob. 26. or dolfull Evening-song at Black Fryers in London Father Drury a Jesuite of excellent Morals and ingratiating Converse wanting nothing saving the embracing of the truth to make him valuable in himself and acceptable to others Preached in a great upper-Room in Black-Fryers next to the house of the French-Ambassadour where some Three hundred persons were assembled His Text the 18 Chap. of S. Matthew ver 32. O thou ungracious servant I forgave thee all the debt because thou desiredst me shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant c. In application whereof he fell upon a bitter invective against the Protestants 30. His Sermon began to incline to the middle Death without giving any warning 1623. the Day to the end thereof when on the soddain the Flore fell down whereon they were assembled It gave no charitable warning-groan before-hand but crackt brake and fell all in an instant Many were killed more bruised all frighted sad sight to behold the flesh and blood of different persons mingled together and the brains of one on the head of another One lackt a leg another an arm a third whole and intire wanted nothing but breath stifled in the ruines Some Protestants coming meerly to see were made to suffer and bare the heavy burden of their own curiosity About Ninety five persons were slain out-right Ann. Reg. Ja. 21 Ann. Dom. 1623. amongst whom Mr. Drury and Mr. Rodiat Priests with the Lady Webbe were of the greatest quality Nor must we forget how when one comforted a Maid-childe about 10 years of age Exhorting her to patience for her Mother and Sister The Childe replied That however it fared with them this would be a great scandall to their Religion A speech commendable in any admirable in one of her age 31. Yet marvellous was God's mercy in the preservation of some there present â— will sing of mâ—rcy and justice One corner of the first Flore rather hung still than stood without any beams by the relative strength from the side walls and about Twenty persons upon it These beheld that Tragedy wherein instantly they expected to act and which was the worst their fall would not onely kill them but by their weight they should be the unwillingâ— slayers of others which as yet laboured for life beneath them It was put into their mindes with their knives fright adding force unto them to cut their passage out of a lome-wall into the next chamber whereby their lives were preserved Of those that fell one was kept alive though imbraced by death on either side a chair falling hollow upon her Thus any arms are of proof if Divine Providence be but pleased to put them on 32. Next day was Impannelled a Coroner's Inquest of substantial Citizens to inquire into the cause and manner of their death A fair and true verdict These found it done neither by miracle nor malice no plot or indirect practice appearing as some no lesse falsly than maliciously gave it out the Roof standing Side-wall sound Foundation firm onely the Flore broken by God's wisdome permitting it and their own folly occasioning it Nor could the Carpenter be justly accused for slight and unfaithfull building making it substantial enough for any private purpose and none could foresee that they would bring a Church into a Chamber Twenty of the poorer sort were buried hard by in one Grave and the rest bestowed by their friends in severall places of Sepulture 33. The sad death of these persons Beware wildewishes the Object of Pity to all good and wise men was the Subject of Envy to some so sillily superstitious as to repine at it That they had not a share in this slaughter On this accompt because the Priest or Clerk after every Masse in the City of London solemnly invited the people present with a loud voice to say Three Pater noster's and three Ave Maria's for the souls of such as died in Black-Friers Particularly one Parker * Jo. Gee in his Book called the Foot out of the snare who narrowly escaped the danger there professed That nothing grieved him more but that he had not been one of those that died by the aforesaid mischance But see what hapned this man going over to Doway to take Priestly Orders the week following was drowned in his passage Thus wild-wishes for death prove sometimes such Guests as come home to the Inviters before they be welcome unto them 34. This accident fell on Sunday the 26 of October which according to the new style observed beyond-sea having the speed of ours by ten daies fell upon their fifth of November a day notoriously known in the Popish Calendar Whereupon Master Edward Benlowes a Religious and Learned Gentleman no small Promoter of my former and present Labours thus expressed himself Quinta Novembris eat Graias orsura Calendas Sit quocunque Stilo quinta Novembris eat Illa Dies Letho BRITONUM devoverat Aulam Letho Devotam sospitat illa dies Ista dies duxit Sacra ad Miseranda Misellos Adductos Sacris sustulit ista dies Lapsa repentè domus vos irâ atroce peremit Quêis fuit irâ atrox lapsa repentè Domus Drurie cum Cerebro conspergis Pulpita vano Dum spargis Cerebri Phasmata vana tui Trabe peremptus obis qui Lignea vivus adoras Lignea vivus ades Trabe peremptus obis Ligna LapÃsque manus in foedera dantia mactant Hos quibus in sacra sunt foedera Ligna Lapis Quêis Crux coeca Deus tenebrosa Magistra colentes In tenebras Coecos coeca Magistra rapit Ah! erit Exemplum cui non hoc triste timori Tristis hic Exemplum triste timoris erit Haec Romista cave Domus unâ ut corruit horâ Vnâ sic horâ Roma caveto Ruet I have nothing else to adde of this sad disaster A Caveat to Rome save that the news
Mountaine Bishop of London had much adoe to make his Chaplains peace for licensing thereof the Printer and Translator being for some time kept in Prison 19. Yet after all this Yet still conâ—hued and after Merick Casaubon had written a Latine Vindication to give satisfaction to all Ann. Regis Ja. 22. Ann. Dom. 1624. the same Translation since is printed in Amsterdam with a Justificatory Preface of the former Edition So impudent are some falsly to father Books on worthy Authors to make them more vendible for their own profit though it discredit the memory of others 20. The businesse of the Palatinate being now debated by Martiallists None of the work counsel the Kings Councill of Warre disswading from regaining it in kinde advised Him rather to recover it in value where he could with the best conveniency out of the Spanish Dominions For the Palatinate was not worth the rewinning which grant recover'd by the English could not recover it self for many years such the havock and waste made therein Secondly it was hard to be gotten such the distance thereof and harder to be kept so ill-neighboured it was on all sides So that the King if so pleased might with as much honour and more ease carve out his own reparations nearer home 21. During these Agitations King Iames falleth sick K. James fell sick at Theobalds of a tertian Ague commonly called in Spring for a King rather Physicall than dangerous But soon after his Ague was heighten'd into a Fever four mischiefs meeting therein 22. First A confluence of four mischiefs the malignity of the Malady in it self hard to be cured Secondly an aged Person of sixty years current Thirdly a plethorick Body full of ill humours Fourthly the Kings aversness to Physick and impatience under it Yet the last was quickly removed above expectation The King contrary to His custome being very orderable in all His sicknesse Such sudden alterations some apprehend a certain prognostick of death as if when mens mindes acquire new qualities they begin to habit and cloath themselves for a new world 23. The Countesse of Buckingham contracted much suspition to her selfe A plaster applied to His wrists and her Son for applying a plaster to the Kings wrists without the consent of His Physicians And yet it plainly appeared that Dr. John Remington of Dunmoe in Essex made the same plaster one honest able and successful in his practice who had cured many Patients by the same a piece whereof applied to the King one eat down into His belly without the least hurt or disturbance of nature However after the applying thereof the King grew worse 24. The Physicians refused to administer physick unto Him till the plasters were taken off And Julip without the advice of His Physicians which being done accordingly His fift sixt and seventh fits were easier as Dr. Chambers said On the Monday after the plasters were laid on again without the advice of the Physicians and His Majestie grew worse and worse so that Mr. Hayes the Kings Chirurgeon was called out of his bed to take off the plasters Mr. Baker the Dukes servant made the King a Julip which the Duke brought to the King with his own hand of which the King drank twice but refused the third time After His death a Bill was brought to the Physicians to sign that the ingredients of the Julip and Plasters were safe but most refused it because they knew not whether the ingredients mentioned in the Bill were the same in the Julip and Plasters This is the naked truth delivered by oath from the Physicians to a select Committee two years after when the Parliament voted the Dukes act a transcendent presumption though most thought it done without any ill intention 25. Four daies before His death Catechized on His death-bed in His Faith and Charity He desired to receive the Sacrament and being demanded whether He was prepared in point of faith and charity for so great mysteries 〈◊〉 24. He said He was and gave humble thanks to God for the same Being desired to declare His faith and what He thought of those Books He had written in that kinde He repeated the Articles of the Creed one by one and said He believed them all as they were received and expounded by that part of the Catholick Church which was established here in England And said with a kinde of sprightfulnesse and vivacity that whatever He had written of this Faith in his life he was now ready to seal with his death Being questioned in point of charity He answered presently that He forgave all men that offended Him and desired to be forgiven by all Christians whom He in any wise had offended 26. Then after absolution read and pronounced His death He received the Sacrament and some hours after He professed to the standers by that they could not imagine what ease and comfort he found in himself since the receiving hereof And so quiedy resigned His soul to God having reigned twenty two years and three daies 27. He was of a peaceable disposition Of a peaceable nature Indeed when he first entred England at Barwick He himself gave fire to and shot off a * Stowes Chro. p. 819. piece of Ordnance and that with good judgment This was the onely military act personally performed by Him So that He may have seemed in that Cannon to have discharged Warre cut of England 28. Coming to Yorke Made Nobility lesse respected by the commonnesse thereof He was somewhat amazed with the equipage of the Northern Lords repairing unto Him especially with the Earl of Cumberland's admiring there should be in England so many Kings for less He could not conjecture them such the multitude and gallantry of their attendance But following the counsel of His English Secretary there present He soon found a way to abate the formidable greatness of the English Nobility by conferring Honour upon many persons whereby Nobility was spread so broad that it became very thin which much lessened the antient esteem thereof 29. He was very eloquent in speech His eloquence whose Latine had no fault but that it was too good for a King whom carelessness not curiosity becomes in that kinde His Scotch tone he rather affected than declin'd and though His speaking spoil'd His speech in some English ears yet the masculine worth of his set Orations commanded reverence if not admiration in all judicious hearers But in common speaking as in His hunting he stood not on the cleanest but nearest way He would never go about to make any expressions 30. His wit was passing-sharp and piercing And piercing wit equally pleased in making and taking a smart jest His Majestie so much stooping to His mirth that He never refused that coine which he paid to other folk This made Him please Himself so much in the company of Count Gondomer and some will say the King was contented for reasons best known
King got the smiles of those who were most in number but the frowns of such who were greatest in power 3. Many were offended that at the Kings Coronation some six yeares agoe and a Parliament following thereon an act of ratification was passed concerning the Church her liberties and priviledges which some complained of was done without Plurality of Suffrages 4. Some Persons of honor desiring higher Titles m 〈…〉 were offended that they were denyed unto them whilst his Majesty conferred them on others There want not those also who confidently suggest it to Posterity that Pensions constantly payed out of the English Exchequer in the Reign of King James to some principall pastors in the Scottish Church were since detained So also the bounty of boons was now restrained in the Reign of King Charles which could not fall so freely as in the dayes of his father the Cloud being almost drained adding moreover that the want of watering of Scotland with such showers made them to chap into such Clefts and Chinks of Parties and Faâ—ions disaffected to the Kings proceedings 101. To increase these distempers some complain how justly The Book bears the blame of all their own Countrey-men best know of the pride and pragmaticainess of the Scotch Bishops who being but Probationers on their good behaviour as but reintroduced by King James offended the ancient Nobility with their medleing in State matters And I finde two principally accused on this account Doctor Forbes Bishop of the new Bishoprick of Edenburg and Doctor Welderburne Bishop of Dumblane Thus was the Scotch Nation full of discontents when this Book being brought unto them bare the blame of their breaking forth into more dangerous designs as when the Cup is brim full before the last though least superadded drop is charged alone to be the cause of all the running over 102. Besides the Church of Scotland claimed not only to be Independent The Scotch Church standeth on the termes of its own independency free as any Church in Christendome a Sister not Daughter of England but also had so high an opinion of its own puritie that it participated more of Moses his platform in the Mount than other Protestant Churches being a reformed reformation So that the practice thereof might be directory to others and she fit to give not take write not receive copies from any Neighbouring Church destring that all others were like unto them save only in their afflictions 103. So much for the complained of burden of the book Arch-Bishop Land accused as principall Composer of the Book as also for the sore back of that Nation gauled with the aforesaid grievances when this Liturgy was sent unto them and now we must not forget the hatred they bare to the hand which they accused for laying it upon them Generally they excused the King in their writings as innocent therein but charged Archbishop Laud as the principall and Doctor n Bayly ut pri pag. 102. Cosins for the instrumentall compiler thereof which may appear by what we read in a Writer o Idem pag 95. 96. of that Nation afterwards imployed into England about the advancing of the Covenant betwixt both Nations and other Church affaires This unhappy Book was his Gracet invention if he should deny it his own deeds would convince him The manifold letters which in this Pestiferous affaire have passed betwixt him and our Prelates are yet extant Anno Dom. 1637 If we might be heard Anno Regis Caroli 13 we would spread out sundry of them before the Convocation-House of England making it clear as the light that in all this designe his hand had ever been the prime stickler so that upon his back mainly nill he will he would be laid the charge of all the fruits good or evill which from that Tree are like to fall on the Kings Countries Surely if any such evidence was extant we shall hear of it hereafter at his arraignment produced and urged by the Scotch-Commissioners 10. But leaving the Roots to lye under the Earth The tumult at Edenborough at the first reading the book let us look on the Branches spreading themselves above ground July 23. Sunday and passing from the secret Author of this Book behold the evident effects thereof No sooner had the Dean of Edenborough began to read the Book in the Church of St. Gyles in the presence of the Privy-Councell both the Archbishops divers Bishops and Magistrates of the City but presently such a Tumult was raised that through clapping of hands cursing and crying one could neither hear nor be heard The Bishop of Edenborough indeavoured in vain to appease the Tumult whom a Stool aimed to be thrown at him had killed p The Kings laâ—ge declaration pag. 23. if not diverted by one present so that the same Book had occasioned his Death and prescribed the form of his buriall and this Hubbub was hardly suppressed by the Lord Provost and Bayliffs of Edenborough 105. This first Tumult was caused by such More considerable persons engaged in the cause whom I finde called the Skum of the City considerable for nothing but their number But few dayes after the cream of the Nation some of the highest and best quality therein ingaged in the same cause crying out God defend all those who will defend Gods cause and God confound q The Kings large declaration pag. 37. the Service-Book and all the maintainers of it 106. The Lords of the Councell interposed their power Octob. 17. and to appease all parties issued out a Proclamation to remove the Session much like to our Term in London to Lithgou The occasion of the Scotch covenant This abated their anger as fire is quenched with Oile seeing the best part of the Edenburgers livelyhood depends on the Session kept in their City yea so highly were the People enraged against Bishops as the procurers of all these Troubles that the Bishop of Galloway passing peaceably along the street towards the Councellâ—House was way-layed r Kings large declaration pag. 35. in his coming thither if by divine Providence and by Frances Stewart Sonne to the late Earl of Bothwell he had not with much adoe been got within the dores of the Councell-House Indeed there is no fence but flight nor counsell but concealement to secure any single parâ—y against an offended multitude 107. These troublesome beginnings afterwards did occasion the solemn League and Covenant The Authors excuse why not proceeding in this subject whereby the greatest part of the Nation united themselves to defend their Priviledges and which laid the foundation of a long and wofull War in both Kingdomes And here I crave the Readers pardon to break off and leave the prosecution of this sad subject to Pens more able to undertake it For first I know none will pity me if I needlesly prick my fingers with meddling with a Thistle which belongs not unto me Secondly I
this Col. John Whitgift Arch. of Canterbury Fellow Walter Curle Bishop of Winchester Fellow Matth. Wren Master of this Coll. Bishop of Ely Roger Marshal well skild in Mathematicks whereof saith Pitz in his Appendix he wrote many Books and collected more which he gave to the Library d Bale Cent. nonae p. 721. George Joye who flourished annò 1547 translated part of the Bible Edw. Simmons who wrote many good Treatises 1547 1 Cherry-Hinton Vicaridge in Ely Diocess valued in the Kings Books at 9 l. 14 s. 6 d. 2 Ellington in the Diocess of Lincoln a Vicatidge valued at 6 l. 9 s. 3 Triplow Vic. in Ely Diocess valued 9 l. 4s 2d 4 St. Maries the less in Cambridge valued 0l 0s 0d 5 Statberne Rec. in Lincoln Dioc. valued 16l 3s The Reader wil pardon the shortness of this out catalogue of Masters not touching the top of the foundation by fifty yeers which looks like the blunt Tower of a Steeple whose spire or shaft hath been burnt down with lightning or broken with thunder as indeed some such casualty hath caused this imperfection For in the year 1420 a sad fire consumed the muniments of this Colledge which caused Caius to begin his list of Masters but at Thomas de castro Bernardi and the six Seniors before him are recovered by the care of Mr. R. e In his Scelatos Cantabrigiensis M S. Parker out of Ely-Records Yet this catalogue stil remaineth incomplete O that it were as easy to rectify as reprove faults guilty I am afraid not onely of transposition in the order but omission in the number thereof For I have * Maâ—â—script in 10. read that John Botsham was admitted Master 14 yet he appears not in Caius or any other printed Author 29. Amongst the Benefactors many who onely gave plate smal summs A generall rule about our catalogue of Benefactors and books are for Brevity sake omitted and not any slighting of their bounty for the smalness thereof For if our Saviour beheld the Widow as the best benefactor to the Corban who endowed it only with two mites and if a cup of cold water warm comfort to a thirsty Soul shall receive its reward surely such as give the cup also deserve their due commendation and shall have a requiral thereof Anno Dom. 1282 I have ordered some blank lines at the end of that Catalogue Anno Regis Edw 1. 11 as a reserve to register the bounty of posterity which shall not complain that they are paper bound in my book where room on purpose is left to enter their names who shall be charitably disposed I hope also that those void intervals and spaces in the List of Learned Writers which as so many open mouths invoke the industry of the Reader wil have their emptiness filled by several mens observations whose pens may at their leasure supply what the Press hath left unperfect 30. Know also I could have more particularly specified the value and place of Founders and Benefactors bounty what land they gave Cautela non nocet how much worth where lying but thought better to forbear as ignorant in these dangerous dayes what ill use might be made of my well intended endeavours 31. Condemn not our Tautology if the same Bishop often recur in several Colledges Repetition of Bishops why necessary perchance Scholar of one Fellow of another Master of a third because rather than I would wrong any House with the omission I would right them all with the repetition of the same person Such Bishops as passed through many Seas successively are for shortness entitled only from the last and highest dignity 32. To return to Peter-house A commendable custome of this Colledge I cannot but commend one peculiar practise of this Colledge which in their Parlour preserveth the Pictures of all their principall Benefactors For although the bounty of the Judicious is grounded on more solid motives than to be flattered thereinto by the fancy that their Effigies shall be kept yet such an ingenuous Memoriall may be an encouragement to a Patrons Liberality Besides under such Pictures a Distich commonly is written and I will instance in one of the latest date Haeredem voluit SLADUS conscribere PETRUM Clauderet extremum ne sine prole diem SLADE PETER chose and for his Heir assign'd him Lest he should die and leave no Child behinde him At this day the Colledge maintaineth one Master nineteen Fellowes twenty nine Bible-clerks eight poor Scholars besides other officers and Students amounting lately viz. anno 1634 to an hundred and six 33. We Cambridge men behold this Colledge as the first foundation endowed in England The eldest English endowed Colledge which our corrivals at Oxford wil not allow For I finde it inscribed in Rotchester Church on the monument of Walter de Merton that the Colledge by him founded and named is the example of all in that kinde t Britannia page 381. M r Gamden in his description of Oxford affirmeth that Ballol and Merton Colledges therein are the two first endowed for Students in Christendome And some alledge that Merton Colledge must needs be the Mother and Peter house but the Daughter because Spâ—on de Montagu Bishop of Ely did prescribe the Statutes of Merton to be observed by the Students of Peter-house 34. All this scarce moveth Exception to the contrary answered nothing removeth us from our former Opinion being almost as confident of the Seniority of Peter-house before all other Colledges as Romanists are of the Priority of St. Peter before the rest of the Apostles And first as for the inscription in Rotchester both it and Mertons Monument are modern as set up by S t Henery Savil anno 1598. That passage of the great Antiquary is only extant in the English translation not Latin Britannia and so may justly seem to have more of Philemon Holland than William Caâ—den therein It is confest that Simon Montagu the 17 Bishop of Ely more then sixty yeares after Balshaâ—s death Anno Regis Edw. 1. enjoyned our Petreans the observation of Merton Colledge Statutes Anno Dom. finding them more convenient than such which their Founder had left them But this makes nothing to the matter of most antiquity the point in controversy In requitall of this eurresie if Cambridge hath ought the imitation whereof may be acceptable to Oxford she is right glad for the welcome occasion as lately Oxford in choise of her Procters hath conformed herself to Cambridge custome by way of a Circular Combination of Colledges as a Course most quiet and freest from faction 35. The Crisis of the Controversie depends p The truth unpartially slated if I mistake not on the clearing of the different dates of Peter-house its foundation and comparing it with others Peter-house first founded 1257. the 41 of Hen. the third by Sub prior Hugh Balsham Peter house first endowed 1282 the 11 of Edw. the first by Hughâ—â— Balsham
subscribing the same Chaâ—â—er Afterward Harold usurpeth the Crown Will. Conq. 1. but enjoyed it not a â—ull year 1067 kill'd in Battle-fight Harold Crowned killed buried at 〈◊〉 thaâ— by King William the Conqueror Where either of their swords if victorious might have done the deed though otherwise both their titles twisted together could not make half a good claim to the Crown Githa Mother of Harold and two religious men of this Abby Osegod and Ailâ—iâ— with their prayers and tears hardly prevailed with the Conquerour at first denying him burial whose ambition had caused the death of so many to have Harolds Corps with his two Brethren Girth and Leofwin losing their lives in the same battle to be entombed in Waltham Church of his foundation He was buried where now the Earl of Carlile his leaden Fountain in his Garden then probably the end of the Quire or rather some Eastern Câ—appel beyond it His Tomb of plain but rich gray Marble with what seemeth a Cross-Floree but much descanted on with art upon the same supported with Pillarets one Pedestal whereof I have in my house As for his reported Epitaph I purposely omit it not so much because barbarous scarce any better in that Age but because not attested to my apprehension with sufficient Authority A Picture of King Harold in glass was lately to be seen in the North-window of the Church Deforming Reformers till ten years since some barbarous hand beat it down under the notion of Superstition Surely had such ignorant persons been imployed in the dayes of Hezekiah to purge the Temple from the former Idolatry under the pretence thereof they would have rended off the Lilie-work from the Pillars and the Lions Oxen and Cherubims from the Bases of Brass However there is still a place called Harolds-Park in our Parish by him so denominated Let not therefore the village of Harold on the North side of Oâ—se neer Bedford properly Harewood or Harelswood on vulgar groundless tradition contest with Waltham for this Kings interment The Re-foundation of WALTHAM-ABBY by HENRY the Second ONe will easily believe Waltham Canons in a sad condition that at the death of King Harold Waltham-Abby Founded by him was in a swoon and the Canons therein much disheartned However they had one help which was this that Edward the Confessour was the confirmer of their Foundation whose memory was not onely fresh and fair in all mens mindes bearing a veneration to his supposed sanctity but also King William the Conquerour had the best of his bad titles by bequest of the Crown from this Confessour So that in some sense Waltham-Abby might humbly crave kindred of King William both deriving their best being from one and the same person The industry of Rob. Fuller last Abbot of Waltham Know Reader that what ever hereafter I alledg touching the Lands and Liberties of Waltham if not otherwise attesed by some Author in the margin is by me faithfully transcribed out of Waltham Leidger-Book now in the possession of the Right Honourable JAMES Earl of Carlile This Book was collected by Robert Fuller the last Abbot of Waltham who though he could not keep his Abby from dissolution did preserve the Antiquities thereof from oblivion The Book as appears by many inscriptions in the initial Text-letters was made by himself having as happy an hand in fair and fast writing as some of his Sir-name since have been defective therein Not long after the Conquest Queen Maud gives Waltham Monks a Mill. Waltham-Abby found good Benefactors Anno Dom. 1102 and considerable additions to their maintenance Anno Regis Hen. 1 3. For Maud the first Queen to King Henry the first bestowed on them the Mill at Waltham which she had by exchange for Trinity-Church in London which I take to be part of the Trinity-Priory now called the Dukes-place Adelisia Queen Adelisia the Tythes second wife to King Henry the first 1130 being possessed of Waltham as part of her Revenue 31. gave all the Tythes thereof as well of her Demesnes as all Tenants therein to the Canons of Waltham Mean time how poorly was the Priest of the place provided for Yea a glutton Monastery in former ages makes an hungrie Ministrie in our dayes An Abby and a Parsonage unimpropriate in the same place are as inconsistent together as good woods and an Iron Mill. Had not Waltham Church lately met with a Noble Founder the Minister thereof must have kept moe fasting-dayes then ever were put in the Roman Calender King Stephen King Steven his bounty though he came a wrong way to the Crown 1135 yet did all right to the Monastery of Waltham as who generally sought the good will of the Clergie to strengthen himself and confirmed all their Lands Steph. 1 profits and priviledges unto them King Henry the second utterly dissolved the foundation of Dean and eleven Canons at Waltham King Henry dissolves the Dean and Canons at Waltham The debauchedness of their lives is rendred in his Charter as the occasion thereof 1156 Cum in ea Canonici Clericique minùs religiosè aequaliter vixissent Hen. 2 2. ita quòd inâ—amia conversationis illorum multos scandalisasset Whether these were really or onely reputed vitious God knows seeing all those must be guilty whom power is pleased to pronounce so Sure it is King Henry outed this Dean and Canons and placed an Abbot and Regular Augustinians in their room encreasing their number to twenty four And because to use the Kings own words it was fit that Christ his Spouse should have a new dowry he not onely confirmed to this Monastery the primitive patrimony mentioned in the Confessors Charter cum peciis terrae with many pieces of land and tenements which their Benefactors since bestowed upon them but also conferred the rich Manors of Sewardstone and Eppings on this Monastery The whole Charter of King Henry is too long to transcribe Augustinians substituted in their room but some passages therein must not be omitted First the King had the consent of Pope Alexander for the suppression of these Canons the rather moved thereunto quia praedictis Canonicis sufficienter provisum fuit because the aâ—oresaid expelled Canons had sufficient provision made for them For grant them never so scandalous this was to add scandal to scandal to thrust them out of house and home without any means or maintenance Secondly this Charter Presents us with the ancient liberties of Waltham-Church that Semper suit Regalis Capella ex primitiva sui sundatione nulli Archiepiscopo vel Episcopo sed taâ—â—ùm Ecclesiae Romanae Regiae dispositioni subjecta And though since Reformation the Church hath been subjected to the Arch-Bishops jurisdiction as succeeding to the Royal power and sometimes with grumbling and reluctancy to the Episcopal power yet it never as yet owned an Arch-Deacon or appeared at his Visitation The metioning of the consent of Pope
appears in the whole Lordship In this sute Plaintiff Judges Defendant Peter Duke of Savoy the Kings dear Uncle first founder I take it of the Savoy in London on whom the King conferred many Lordships and Chesthunt amongst the rest Solicitor Adam de Alverton Ralph Fitz-Nicolas John of Lexington Paulin Peyner Seneschal Henry of Bath Jeremy of Caxton Henry de Bretton The Case Simon the Abbot and the Covent of Waltham The Plaintiff endeavoured to prove that the stream of Ley called the Kings-Stream dividing Hertford-shire from Essex ran thorow the Town of Waltham all the land West thereof belonging to the Manor of Chesthunt This was denied by the Defendant maintaining that Small-Ley-stream running welnigh half a mile West of Waltham parted the Counties all the interjacent meadows pertained to Waltham Perusing the names of these the Kings Justices at Westminster A like not the same who would not suspect but that this Henry of Bath was Bishop of that See considering how many Clergy-men in that age were imployed in places of Judicature But the suspicion is causless finding none of that name in the Episcopal Catalogue Others in like manner may apprehend that Bretton here mentioned was that Learned Lawyer afterwards Bishop of Hereford who wrote the * See Godwin in his Bishops of Hereâ—ord Book De Juribus Anglicanis and who flourished in the latter end of the Reign of this King Henry the third But his name being John not Henry discovereth him a different person Not long after this sute was finally determined and Peter Duke of Savoy remised and quit-claimed from him and his Heirs to the said Abbot and his Successors Anno Regis the right and claim he had to ask in the same Meadows and Marshes of the said Abbot Anno Dom. This is called in the Instrument finalis concordia though it proved neither final nor a concord For soon after this palliaâ—â— cure broke out again and the matter was in variance and undetermined betwixt Robert the last Abbot and the Lord of Chesthunt when the Abby was dissolved Many accessions besides those common prolongers of all sutes namely the heat of mens anger and the bellows of instruments gaining by Law did concur to lengthen this cause 1. The considerableness and concernment of the thing controverted being a large and rich portion of ground 2. The difficulty of the cause about the chanels of that River which Proteus-like in several Ages hath appeared in sundry formes disguised by derivations on different occasions 3. The greatness of the Clients Chesthunt Lordship being alwayes in the hand of some potent person and the Corporation of Waltham Covent able to wage Law with him Hence hath this sute been as long-lov'd as any in England not excepting that in * Cambden in Glocester-shire Glocester-shire betwixt the posterity of Vice-Count Lisle and the Lord Barkley seeing very lately if not at this day there were some sutes about our bounds Waltham Meadows being very rich in grass and hay but too fruitful in contentions For mine own part that wound which I cannot heal I will not widen and seeing I may say with the Poet Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites No power of mine so far extends As for to make both parties friends I will not turn of an unpartial Historian an engaged person who as a neighbour wish well to Chesthunt as a Parishioner better to Waltham as a Christian best to both And therefore so much for matter of fact in our Records and Leiger-books leaving all matters of right for others to decide Mean time whilest the Abbot and Monks of Waltham were vexed with the men of Chesthunt they found more favour if publick same belies them not from some loving women in that Parish I mean the Holy Sisters in Chesthunt-Nunnery whose House when ever Founded I finde some ten years since thus confirmed by Royal Authority Henricus Rex Anglie Chesthunt Nunnery Founded Dominus Hybernie Dux Normanie Aquitanie Comes Andegavie c. Shestrehunt Moniales totam terram Dom. teneant cum pertinentiis suisque Canonicis de Cathele c. quos amoveri fecimus Datum apud West xj Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiij But this subject begins to swell beyond the bounds intended unto it lest therefore what we intended but a Tract should swell to a Tome we will here descend to matters of later date Onely be it premised Copt-Hall past to King Hen. 8. that some years before the Dissolution Robert the last Abbot of Waltham passed over the fair seat of Copt-Hall unto King Henry the eighth Thus as the Castor when pursued by the Hunter to make his escape is reported to bite off his own stones as the main treasure sought after and so saves his life by losing a limb So this Abbot politickly parted with that stately Mansion in hope thereby to preserve the rest of his revenues However all would not do so impossible it is to save what is design'd to ruine and few years after the Abby with the large Lands thereof were seized on by the King and for some Moneths He alone stood possessed thereof The Extraction Charter Death and Issue of Sir Anthony Dennie on whom King Henry the Eighth bestowed WALTHAM-ABBY AT the Dissolution A Lease of Waltham Abby given to Sir Anthony Denny King Henry bestowed the Site of this Abby with many large and rich Lands belonging thereunto on S r Anthony Dennie for the terme of Thirty one years Let us a little enquire into his extraction and discent I finde the name very Ancient at a Speed or ratherâ—â— Rob. Cotton in Huntingdon-shire Chesterton in Huntington-shire where the Heir-general was long since married John Denny the great souâ—der in France to the worshipful and Ancient Family of the Bevils It seems a branch of the Male-line afterwards fixed in Hertford-shire Whereof John Denny Esquire valiantly served Henry the fifth in France where he was slain and buried with Thomas his second Son in S t Dionys his Chappel their interment in so noble a place speaking their worthy performances In the Reign of Queen Mary a Frier shewed their Tombes to S r Matthew Carew together with their Coates and differences Henry eldest son of this John Denny begat William Denny of Chesthunt in Hertford-shire which William was High Sheriff of the County in the year 1480. leaving Edmond Denny to inherit his estate Edmond Denny was one of the Barons of the Exchequer Edm. Denny Baron of the Exchequer in credit and favour with King Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh He Married Mary the Daughter and Heir of Robert Troutbeck Esquire on whom he begat Thomas Denny from whom the Dennies in Norfolk are descended Anthony Denny Anthony Denny his high commendations second Son to Baron Denny was Knighted by King Henry the Eighth made Gentleman of his Bed-chamber Privy-Councellour and one of his Executors I cannot say he was bred any great Scholar
but finde him a Mecaenas and grand favourer of Learned men For when the School of b Ascham Câ—â—nend Epist fol. 210. Idem fol. 208. Sedbury in the North belonging to S t Johns in Cambridg was run to ruine the Lands thereof being sold and embezeled S r Anthony procured the reparation of the Schoole and restitution of their means firmly setling them to prevent future alienation Hear what character c M r Ascham gives of him Religio Doctrina Respublica omnes curas tuas sic occupant ut extra has tres res nullum tempus consumas Religion Learning Common-wealth so employ all thy cares that besides these three things you spend no other time Let then the enemies if any of his memory abate of this character to what proportion they please pretending it but the Orators Rhetorical Hyperbole the very remainder thereof which their malice must leave will be sufficient to speak S r Anthony a worthy and meriting Gentleman I finde an excellent Epitaph made on him by one the Learned'st of Noblemen His Epitaph made by the Lord Howard and Noblest of Learned men in his age viz. Henry Howard Earl of Surrey and eldest son to the Duke of Norfolk worthy the Reader his perusal Vpon the Death of Sir Anthony a Weavers Funeral Monuments p. 852. Denny Death and the King did as it were contend Which of them two bare Denny greatest love The King to shew his love 'gan far extend Did him advance his betters far above Neer place much wealth great honour eke him gave To make it known what power Princes have But when Death came with his triumphant gift From worldly cark he quit his wearied ghost Free from the corps and straight to Heaven it lift Now deem that can who did for Denny most The King gave wealth but fading and unsure Death brought him bliss that ever shall endure Know Reader that this Lord made this Epitaph by a Poetical Prolepsis otherwise at the reading thereof who would not conceive that the Author surviv'd the subject of his Poem Whereas indeed this Lord died beheaded 1546. in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth whom S r Anthony out-lived being one of the Executors of his Will Nor was it the worst piece of service he performed to his Master when all other Courtiers declining the employment he truly acquainted him with his dying-condition to dispose of his soul for another world S r Anthony died about the second of Edward the sixth His issue by Dame Joan his wife Dame Joan his Wife surviving him Daughter she was to S r Philip Champernoon of Modbury in Devon-shire a Lady of great beauty and parts a favourer of the Reformed Religion when the times were most dangerous She sent eight shillings by her man in a Violet coat to Anne b Fox Acts Monuments fol. 1239. Aschough when imprisoned in the Counter a small sum yet a great gift so hazardous it was to help any in her condition This Lady Joan bought the Reversion in Fee of Waltham from King Edward the Sixth paying three thousand and hundred pounds for the same purchasing therewith large priviledges in Waltham-Forest as by the Letters Patents doth appear She bare two Sons to S r Anthony Henry Denny Esquire of whom hereafter the second S r Edward who by Gods blessing Queen Elizabeths bounty and his own valour atchieved a fair estate in the County of Kerry in Ireland which at this day is if any thing in that woful war-wasted Countrey can be enjoyed by his great Grandchild Arthur Denny Esq of Tralleigh The condition of Waltham Church from the Dissolution of the Abby untill the Death of King HENRY the Eighth HAving the perusal of the Church-Wardens accounts wherein their Ancient expences and receits are exactly taken fairly written and carefully kept I shall select thence some memorable Items to acquaint us with the general devotion of those dayes Know then there were six Ordinary Obits which the Church-wardens did annually discharge viz. For Thomas Smith and Joan his wife on the sixteenth of January Thomas Friend Joan and Joan his wives on the sixteenth of February Robert Peest and Joan his wife on the tenth of April Thomas Towers and Katharine his wife the six and twentieth of April John Breges and Agnes his wife the one and thirtieth of May. Thomas Turner and Christian his wife the twentieth day of December The charge of an Obit was two shillings and two pence and if any be curious to have the particulars thereof it was thus expended To the Parish-Priest four pence to our Ladies-Priest three pence to the Charnel-Priest three pence to the two Clerks four pence to the Children these I conceive Choristers three pence to the Sexton two pence to the Bell-man two pence for two Tapers two pence for Oblation two pence Oh the reasonable rates at Waltham two shillings two pence for an Obit the price whereof in Saint Pauls in London was fourty shillings For forsooth the higher the Church the holier the service the dearer the price though he had given too much that had given but thanks for such vanities To defray the expences of these Obits the parties prayed for or their Executors left Lands Houses or Stock to the Church-Wardens Thomas Smith bequeathed a Tenement in the Corn-Market and others gave Lands in Vpshire called Pater-noster-Hills others ground elswhere besides a stock of eighteen Cows which the Wardens let out yearly to farm for eighteen shillings making up their yearly accounts at the Feast of Michael the Arch-Angel out of which we have excerpted the following remarkable particulars Anno 1542. the 34 th of HENRY the 8 th Imprimis For watching the Sepulchre a groat This constantly returnes in every yearly account though what meant thereby I know not I could suspect some Ceremony on Easter-eve in imitation of the Souldiers watching Christs grave but am loath to charge that Age with more superstition then it was clearly guilty of Item Paid to the Ringers at the coming of the Kings Grace six pence Yet Waltham Bells told no tales every time King Henry came hither having a small house in Rome-land to which he is said oft privately to retire for his pleasure Item Paid unto two men of Law for their counsel about the Church-leases six shillings eight pence Item Paid the Attorney for his Fee twenty pence Item Paid for Ringing at the Prince his coming a penny Anno 1543. the 35 th of HENRY the 8 th Imprimis Received of the Executors of S r Robert Fuller given by the said S r Robert to the Church ten pounds How is this man degraded from the Right Honourable the Lord Abbot of Waltham the last in that place to become a poor S r Robert the title of the meanest Priest in that age Yet such his charity in his poverty that besides this legacy he bequeathed to the Church a Chalice a The Church-wardens account Anno 1556. silver and gilt which they