Fie fie for shame let me heare no more such vnseemely speeches but rather suppliantly pray vnto my Almightie Maker that in this life and in the life to come I may seeme worthy to be his servant When hee sought by severe edicts to abolish all heathenish superstition and laboured by godly lawes to establish the true religion and service of Christ yea and vncessantly endevoured to draw men vnto the faith perswading reproving praying intreating in time out of time publikely and privately he one day said merrily yet truly vnto the Bishop that he had bidden to a banquet As ye be Bishops within the Church so may I also seeme to be a Bishop out of the Church He disswading one from covetousnes did with his lance draw out the length and bredth of a mans grave saying This is all that thou shalt have when thou art dead if thou canst happily get so much He made a law that no Christian should be bondman to a Iew and if that any Iew did buy any Christian for his slave hee should bee fined therefore and the Christian enfranchised adding this reason That it stoode not with equitie that a Christian should be slave vnto the murderers of Christ Ethelbert King of Kent was hardly induced to imbrace Christian Religion at the perswasion of Augustine sent to convert the English Nation but at length being perswaded and desirous to be baptized said Let vs come also to the King of Kings and giver of Kingdomes it may redound to our shame that we which are first in authoritie should come list to Christianitie But I doe beseech that true King that he would not respect the precedence in time but devotion of my mâ—nde Ioscelinus When Paulinus brought vnto Edwin king of Northumberland the glad tidings of the salvation of mankinde by Christ and preached the Gospel vnto the king and his Nobilitie zealously and eloquently opening vnto them the mysteries of our faith and precepts of Christian Religion one of the Lords thus spake vnto the King but some now happily will smile at this speach We may â—â—ely compare mans state vnto this little Robbin-redbrest that is now in this cold weather heere in the waâ—me chamber chirpeng and singing merrily and as long as she shall remaine heere wee shall see and vnderstand how she doeth but anone when she shall be flowne hence abroad into the wide world and shall be forced to feele the bitter stormes of hard winter we shall not know what shall become of her So likewise we see how men fare as long as they live among vs but after they be dead neither wee nor our Religion have any knowledge what becomes of them Wherefore I do thinke it wisedome to give care vnto this man who seemeth to shew vs not onely what shall become of vs but also how we may obtaine overlasting life heereafter Beda When Rodoald king of the East Angles being wonne with rewards was shamefully minded to have delivered vnto Edelfride the king of Northumberland the innocent Prince Edwin who had fled vnto him to be saved from the bloodie hands of Edelfride who had vnlawfully bereaft him of his kingdome His wife turned his intent by telling him that It stoode not with the high and sacred state of a King to buy and sell the bodies of men as it were a petiâ—chapman or that which is more dishonourable slave-like to sell away his faith a thing which hee ought to hold more precious then all the gold and gemmes of the whole world yea and his owne life Beda Ina King of West-Saxons had three daughters of whom vpon a time he demanded whether they did love him and so would do during their lives above all others the two elder sware deepely they would the yongest but the wisest told her father flatly without flattery That albest she did love honour and reverence him and so would whilst she lived as much as nature and daughterly dutie at the vttermost could expect Yet she did thinke that one day it would come to passe that she should affect another more servently meaning her husband when she were married Who being made one flesh with her as God by commaundement had told and nature had taught hâ—r she was to cleave fast to forsaking father and mother kisse and kinne Anonymus One referreth this to the daughters of king Leir Imperious was that speech of Theodore the Grecian Archbishop of Canterbury in depriving a poore English Bishop Although we can charge you with nothing yet that we wâ—â—l we wiâ—l like to that Sie volo sic â—ubeo stat pro ratione voluntas But humble was the English Bishops reply Paul appealed from the Iewes to Caesar and I from you to Christ Vita S. Wilfredi The reverend Bede whome wee may more easily admire than sufficiently praise for his profound learning in a most barbarous age when he was in the pangs of death saide to the standers by I have so lived among you that I am not ashamed of my life neither feare I to die because I have a most gratious Redeemer Hee yeelded vp his life with this praier for the Church O King of glory Lorde of Hostes which hast triumphantly ascended into heaven leave vs not fatherlesse but send the promised spirit of thy trueth amongest vs. Some write that hee went to Rome and interpreted there S P Q R in derision of the Gothes swarming to Reme Stultus Populus Quaerit Roman and that in his returne hee died at Genoa where they shew his toombe But certaine it is that he was sent for to Rome by Sergius the Pope and more certaine that hee died at Weremouth and from thence was translated to Durham And that I may incidently note that which I have heard Not manie yeeres since a French Bishop returning out of Scotland comming to the Church of Durham and brought to the shrine of Saint Cuâ—hbert kneeled downe and after his devotions offered a Baubie saying Sancte Cuthberte si sanctus siâ— ora pro me But afterward being brought vnto the Toombe of Bedâ— saying likewise his Orisons offered there a French crowne with this alteration Sancte Beda quia sanctus es ora pro me Iohannes Erigena surnamed Scotus a man renowned for learning sitting at the Table in respect of his learning with Charles the bawld Emperour and King of Fraunce behaved himselfe as a slovenly Scholler nothing Courtly whereupon the Emperour asked him merrily Quid interest inter Scotum Sotum What is betweene a Scot and a Sot Hee merrily but yet malapertly aunswered Mensa The Table as though the Emperour were the Sot and hee the Scot. Rog Hovedeâ—us On an other time the Emperour did serte downe vnto him a dish with two faire great fishes and one little one willing him to be carver vnto two other Schollers that fate beneath him Then Maister Iohn who was but a little man layed the two great fishes vppon his owne trencher and set downe the one little fish vnto the other two
at his eyes This his devise had no life because it had no Motte but his answer gave it life when he said to one demaunding his meaning That they were his sonnes which did so pecke him and that Iohn the yongest whome he loved best practised his death more busily than the rest Giraldus Cambrensis distinct King Henry the third as liking well of Remuneration commaunded to be written in his Chamber at Woodstocke as it appeareth in the Recordes in the Tower Qui non dat quod amat non accipit iâ—le quod optat Edmund Crâ—uch-backe his second sonne first Earle of Lancaster vsed a red Rose wherewith his Tombe at Westminster is adorned Edward the third bare for his devise the rayes of the Sunne dispersing themselves out of a cloude and in other places a golden truncke of a tree The victorious Blacke Prince his sonne vsed sometimes one feather sometime three in token of his speedy execution in all his services as the Postes in the Roman times were Pterophori and wore feathers to signifie their flying post-haste But the tradition is that hee wonne them at the battell of Poitiers whereunto hee adioyned this olde English word IC DEN that is I serve according to that of the Apostle The heire while he is a childe differeth nothing from a servant These feathers were an anâ—ent ornament of militarie men as is evident by that of Virgil Cuius olorina surgunt de vertice pennae And were vsed by this Prince before the time of Canoy Chan the Tartarian who because his life was saved by an Owle would have his people weare their feathers from whome Haithon fableth that the people of Iurope received first the vse of feathers Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster brother to this Prince tooke a red Rose to his devise as it were by right of his first wise the heire of Lancaster as Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke tooke the white Rose Before these two brethren tooke these two Roses which the fautors and followers of their heires after bare in that pittifull distraction of England betweene the families of Lancaster and York a white Rose-tree at Longleete bare vpon one branch a faire white rose on the one side and as faire a red rose on the other which might as well have beene a fore-token of that division as the white henne with the bay sprigge lighting in the lap of Livia Augusta betokened the Empire to her posteritie which ended in Nero when both the brood of that hen failed and the baies of that sprigge withered The said Edmund of Langley bare also for an Imprese a Faulcon in a fetter-locke implying that he was locked vp from all hope and possibility of the Kingdome when his brethren beganne to aspire therevnto Wherevpon he asked on a time his sonnes when he saw them beholding this devise set vp in a window what was Latine for a fetter-locke Whereat when the yong gentleman studied the father said well then you cannot tell me I will tell you Hic haec hoc taceaâ—s as advising them to be silent and quiet and therewithall said Yet God knoweth what may come to passe heereafter This his great Grandchilde King Edward the fourth reported when he commanded that his yonger sonne Richard Duke of Yorke should vse this devise with the fetter-locke opened as Roger Wall an Herald of that time reporteth King Richard the second whose vntrained youth and yeelding lenitie hastened his fall vsed commonly a white Hart couchant with a crowne and chaine about his â—â—cke For wearing the which soone after his deposition lost their lives He also vsed a pescod branch with the cods open but the pease out as it is vpon his Robe in his Monument at Westminster His wife Anne sister to Wenceslaus the Emperour bare an Ostrich with a naile in his beake King Henry the fourth as it is in Maister Garters booke vsâ—d onely a Fox tayled pendent following lysanders advise if the Lions skin were too short to peece it out with a Foxes case His halfe brethren surnamed Beausort of their natall place who after were dukes of Sâ—mmerset c. bare a port-cullis golde wherevnto not long afterward was added this word ALTERA SLCVRITAS And not long since by the Earles of Worcester issued from them MVTARE AVT TIMERE SPâ—RNO His yonger sonne Humfrey Duke of Glocester a noble fautor of good letters baâ—e in that respect a Laurell branch in a golden cup. That most martiall Prince King Henry the fift carried a burnâ—ng Cresset sometime a Beacon and for his word but not appropriate therevnto VNE SANS PLVS One and no more King Henry the sixt had two feathers in saltire King Edward the fourth bare his white Rose the fetter-locke before specified and the sunne after the battell of Mortimers crosse where three Sunnes were seene immâ—diately conioyning in one King Richard the third bare a white Boare which gave occâ—sion to the ryme that cost the maker his life The Cat the Rat and Lovell the Dog Rule all England vnder an Hog King Henry the seaventh in respect of his descent from the house of Summerset vsed the Portcullis before mentioned and in respect of the vnion of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke by his marriage the white Rose vnited with the red sometime placed in the Sunne And in respect he was crowned in the field with King Richards crowne found in an hawtherne bush hee bare the hawthorne bush with the crowne in it with this he filled the windowes at Richmond and his Chappell at Westminster His wife Queene Elizabeth had a white and red rose knit together His mother Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond had three white Dasies growing vpon a turfe When king Henry the eight beganne his raigne the English wits beganne to imitate the French and Italian in these devises adding the Mots First king Henry himselfe at the interview betweene him and king Francis the first whereat also Charles the fift was present vsed for his Impresse an English Archer in a greene coat drawing his arrow to the head with this inscription CVI ADHAEREO PRAEEST whenas at that time those mighty Princes banding one against the other wrought him for their owne particular His wife Queene Anne a happy mother of Englands happines by her most happy daughter bare a white crowned Faulcon holding a Scepter in her right talon standing vpon a golden truncke out of the which sprowted both white and red roses with MIHI ET MEAE To the honour of Queene Iane who died willingly to save her childe King Edwarde was devised after her death a Phaenix in his funerall fire with this Motte NASCATVR VT ALTER King Edward the sixt bare as the Blacke Prince three feathers in a crowne while his father survived as Prince of Wales with IC DEN. Queene Mary when she was Princesse of Wales vsed both a red and white Rose and a Pomegranate knitte together to shew her descent from Laâ—caster Yorke and Spaine When she
Schollers who were bigge men Which when the Emperour sawe hee smiling saide In good faith Maister Iohn you are no indifferent divider Yes if it like your Highnesse verie indifferent saide he for heere poynting to himselfe and the two great fishes be two great ones and a little one and so yonder reaching his hand towardes the Schollers are two great ones and a little one Idem Wenefridus borne at Kirton in Devonshire after furnamed Boniface who converted Freesel and to Christianitie was wont to say In olde time there were golden Prelats and woodden Chalices but in his time woodden Prelates and golden Chalices Beatus Rhenanus libr. 2. rerum Germenâ—arum Ethelwold the Bishop of Winchester in the time of king Edgar in a great famine solde away all the sacred golde and silver vessells of all his church to releeve the hunger-starved poore people saying That there was no reason that the senselesse temples of God should abound in riches and living temples of the holy-ghost starve for hunger Whenas Kinnad King of Scotâ— a vassall to King Eadgar of England had saide at his Table That it stoode not with the honour of the Princes of this Isle to be subiect to that Dandiprat Eadgar who was indeede but of small stature yet full of courage He vnderstanding thereof withdrew Kinnad privately into a wood as though hee had to conferre with him of some important secret where he offered him the choice of two swords prepared for that purpose with these wordes Now we are alone you may try your manhood now may it appeare who should be subiect to the other retire not one foote backe It standeth not with the honour of Princes to brave it at the Table and not to dare it in the field But Kinad heere-at dismaied desired pardon by excuse and obtained it Malmesburiensis pag. 33. The same king Eadgar having brought into his subiection the aforesaid Kinnad king of Scottes Malcolm king of Cumberland Mac cuis the arch pirate lord of the Isles with Dufnall Griffith Howell Iacob Iudethilâ— Princes of Wales was rowed by them in triumphant manner in his barge vpon the river of Dee at Chester at which time it is reported he saide Then may my successours the Kings of England glorie when they shall doe the like Marianus Scotus Anno 973. When Hinguar of Denmarke came so sodainely vppon Edmund the king of the East-Angles that hee was forced to seeke his safetie by flight hee happened vnhappily on a troupe of Danes who fell to examining of him whether hee knew where the king of the East-Angles was whome Edmund thus answered Even now when I was in the palace he was there and when I went from thence he departed thence and whether he shall escape your handes or no onely God knoweth But so soone as they once heard him name God the godlesse infidells pittifully martired him Vita Sancti Edmundi When Brithwold a noble Saxon marching against the Danes encamped neare Maldon was invited by the Abbot of Elie to take his dinner with him he refusing answered Hee would not dine from his companies because hee could not fight without his companies Liber Eliensis King Canutus commonly called Knute walking on the sea sands neare to Southampton was extolled by some of his flattering followers and tolde that hee was a king of kings the mightiest that raigned farre and neare that both sea and land were at his commaund But this speach did put the godly King in mind of the infinite power of God by whome Kings have and enioy their power and therevpon hee made this demonstration to refell their flatterie He tooke off his cloake and wrapping it round together sâ—te downe vpon it neare to the sea that then beganne to slowe saying Sea I commaund thee that thou touch not my feete 〈◊〉 he had not so soone spoken the worde but the surgâ—ng wave dashed him He then rising vp and going backe saide Ye see now my Lorde what good cause you have to call me a King that am not able by my commaundement to stay one wave no mortaâ—l man doubtlesse is woorthy of such an 〈◊〉 name no man hath such commaund but one King which ruleth all Let vs honour him let vs call him King of all kings and Lord of all nations Let vs not onely confesse bvt also prâ—fesse him to be ruler of the heavens sea anâ— land Polydorus and others When Edric the extorteâ— was deprived by King Câ—ute of the government of Mercia hee impatient of the disgrace tolde him he had deserved better for that to pleasure him hee had first revolted from his Soveraigne king Edmund and also dispatched him Whereat Câ—ute all appalled answered And thou shalt die for thy desert whenâ—â— thou arte a traitour to God and me in killing thy king and my confederate brother His bloud be vpon thy head which hast layed handes vpon the Lordes annoynted Some reporte that he saide For his deserts he should be advaunced above all the Nobilitie of England which hâ— câ—mmediately performed advauncing his head vpon the Tower of London Florilegus King Edward the Confessour one afternoone lying in his bedde with the curtaine drawne round about him a poore pilfering Courtier came into his chamber where finding the Kings Casket open which Hugoline his chamberlaine had forgotten to shut going foorth to pay money in haste hee tooke out so much money as hee couldâ— well carry and went away But insatiable desire brought him againe and so the third time when the King who lay still all this while and would not seeme to see beganne to speake to him and bade him speedily be packing For he was well if hee coulde see for if Hugoline came and tooke him there he were not onely like to loose all that he had gotten but also stretch an halter The fellow was no sooner gone but Hugoline came in and finding the Casket open and much money taken away was greatly mooved But the King willed him not to he grieved For saide he he that hath it had more neede of it then wee have This at that time was adiudged Christian lenitie but I thinke in our age it will be accounted simplicitie in the woorst sense Vita Sancti Edwardi This Edward hasted out of Normandie whither his expelled father king Ethelred had fled with him with a great power to recover the kingdome of England from the Danes neere vnto whose forces hee was encamped ready to give them battell But when his Captaines promised him assured victorie and that they would not leave one Dane alive God forbid quoth Edward that the kingdome should be recovered for me one man by the death of so many thousand men It is better that I do leade a private and vnbloody life then be a King by such but chery And therewithall brake vp Campe and retyred into Normandy where he staied vntill God sent oportunitie to obtaine the kingdome without blood Paulus Aemilius Harold as hee waited on the cup of the said king Edward chanced
to stumble with one foot that he almost kissed the ground but with the other legge he recovered himselfe and saved the wine whereat his father Godwyn Earle of Kent who then dined with the King smiling saâ—d Now one brother did helpe another At this word although spoken proverbially the Kings blood beganne to rise thinking how shamefully they had murdered his brother Alfrede and angerly answered And so might my brother have beene a helpe to me if it had pleased you VitaS Edwards The same king Edward passing out of this life commended his wise to the Nobilitie and said That she had carried her selfe as his wife abroad but as his sister or daughter at home Afterward seeing such as were present weeping and lamenting for him he said If you loved me you would for beare weeping and reioyce because I go to my father with whom I shall receive the ioyes promised to the faithfull not through my merits but by the free mercy of my Saviour which sheweth mercy on whom he pleaseth Eilredus Rivallensis Sywarde the martiall Earle of Northumberland feeling in his sicknes that he drew towards his end arose out of his bed and put on hiâ— Armour saying That it became not a valiant man to die lying like a beast and so he gave vp the Ghost standing As valiantly both spoken and performed as it was by Vespasian When the said Siward vnderstood that his sonne whom he had sent in service against the Scottishmen was staine he demaunded whether his wound were in fore part or hinder paâ—t of his body when it was answered in the fore part he replied I am right glad neither wish any other death to me or mine Hen. Huntâ—ngdon In this age when a Bishop living loosely was charged that his conversation was not according to the Apostles lives he made a mocke at it and excusâ—d himselfe with this verse which was after taken vp for a common excuse in that behalfe Nunc aliud tempus aâ—â—j pro tempere mâ—res Anonymus When the fatall period of the Saxon Empire was now complete and battells were marshalled betweene William Duke of Normandy and Harold King of England Girthe Haroldes yonger brother not holding it best to hazard the kingdome of England at one cast signified to the King that the succâ—sse of warre was doubtfull that victory was swayed rather by fortune than by valour that advised delay was most important in Martiall affaires and if so bee brother said he You have plighted your faith to the Duke retyre your selfe for no force can serve against a mans owne conscience God will revenge the violation of an â—the You may reserve your selfe to give them a new encounter which will be more to their terrour As for me if you will commit the charge to me I will performe both the part of a kinde brother and a couragious Leader For being cleare in conscience I shall sell my life or discomfit your enemy with more felicitie But the King not liking his speech answered I will never turne my backe with dishonour to the Norman neither can I in any sort disgest the reproach of a base minde Wel then be it so said some discontented of the company let him beare the brunt that hath given the occasion Anonymus VVIlliam Conquerour when he invaded this Iland chanced at his arrivall to be graveled and one of his feete stacke so fast in the sand that he fell to the ground Wherewithall one of his attendants caught him by the arme and helped him vp saying Stand vp my â—iege Lord and be of good cheare for now you have taken fast footing in England and then espying that he brought vp sand and earth in his hand added Yea and you have taken livery and seisin of the Country For you know that in delivering of livery and seisin a peece of the earth is taken Hist Normanica A Wizard or a Wise-man as they then called them had fore-told William that he should safely arrive an England with his whole Armie without any impeachment of Harold the which after it came it passe the King sent for the Wizard to conferre further with him But when it was told him that he was drowned in that ship which onely of all the whole fleete miscarried The Conquerour said He would never make account of that science that profited more the ignorant then the skilfull therein for he could fore-see my good fortune but not his owne mishap Idem That morning that he was to ioyne battell with Harold his atmorer put on his backe-peece before and his breast-plate behinde the which being espied by some that stood by was taken on them for an ill token and therefore advised him not to fight that day to whom the Duke answered I force not of such fooleries but if I have any skill 〈◊〉 South-saying as in sooth I have none it doth prognosticate that I shall change copie from a Duke to a King Idem Magike in the time of Nerâ— was discovered to be but a vanitie in the declining state of the Roman Empire accounted by the Gentiles a verity in the time of Hildebrand if we beleeve Authors so approoved that it was commonly practised For as in the time of Valeâ—s divers curious men as hath beene said by the falling of a ring Magically prepared vpon the letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iudged that one Theodorus should succeede in the Empire when indeede Theodosius did So when Hildebrand was Pope by like curiosities it was found that Odo should succcede Wherevppon Odo Earle of Kent and Bishop of Bayeux brother to king William the Conquerour devoured the Papacy in hope sent mony his perswading messengers to Rome perchased a pallace there and prepared thitherward when king William for his presumption and other his misdemenours staied him and committed him saying Offensive foole-hardines must be timely restrained Liber Cadomensis When the same Odâ— who was both Bishop of Baiâ—ux in Normandy and Earle of Kent in former time had so disloyally carried himselfe against king William the Conquerour that he complained of him to his Lords Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury advised the King to commit him But what say youâ— quoth the King whenas he is a Clergyman You may not saide he commit the Bishop of Baieux but you may well 〈◊〉 the Earle of Kent W Malmsbur Like vnto this was that distinction of Piramus Secretary to Charles the fift in late yeares when Pope Iulius the second did combine with the French king against the Emperour of the Popes honesty and Iulius dishonesty This King William by reason of sickenes kept his chamber a long time whereat the French King scoffing saide The King of England heth long in childe-bed Which when it was reported vnto King William hee aunswered When I am churched there shal be a thousand lights in France alluding to the lights that women vsed to beare when they were churched and that hee performed within few dayes after wasting the French frontires with fire and sword The
backe vnto his flocke Whereuppon the King sent vnto the Pope the armour that he was taken in and willed his Ambassadour to vse the words of Iacobs sonnes vnto their father when they had solde away their brother Ioseph Hanc invenimus vide vtrum tunica filij tui sit an 〈◊〉 This wee found see whether it be the coate of thy sonne or no. Nay quoth the Pope it is not the coate of my sonne nor of my brother but some impe of Mars and let him procure his deliverie of he will for I wil be no meane for him When the French king and king Richard the first beganne to parlee of peace his brother Iohn who had falsely and vnnaturally revolted vnto the French king fearing himselfe came in of his owne accord and suppliantly besought Richard brotherly to pardon his manifolde offences that he had vnbrotherly committed against him hee rehersed the straight league of brotherly piety he recounted the many merits of his brother he bewailed with teares that hitherto he had beene vnmindefull of them as an vnnaturall and vnthankefull person Finally that hee dooth live and shall live hee dooth acknowledge that hee hath received it at his handes The king being mollified with this humble submission saide God graunt that I may as easily forget your offences as you may remember wherein you have offended IN the wofull warres with the Barons when king Iohn was viewing of the Castle of Rochester held against him by the Earle of Arundel he was espied by a very good Arcubalister who tolde the Earle thereof and saide that hee would soone dispatch the cruell tyrant if he would but say the word God forbid vile varlet quoth the Earle that we should procure the death of the holy one of God What saide the souldier he would not spare you if hee had you at the like advantage No matter for that quoth the Earle Gods good wil be done and be wil dispose and not the King Math Paris When one about him shewed him where a noble man that had rebelliously borne armes against him lay verie honourably intoombed and advised the king to deface the monument he said No no but I would al the rest of mine enemies were as honourably buried Idem When diverse Greekes came hither and offered to proove that there were cettaine â—rrours in the Church of England at that time hee reiected them saying I will not suffer our faith established to be called in question with doubtful disputations Fragm antiquum aeditum à P. Pithaeo Yet when the saide king Iohn sawe a fatie Bucke haunched he saide to the standers by See how faire and fatte this Buâ—ke is and yet hee never heard Masse all his life long But this may be forged to his disgrace by the envious Math. Paris IN a solemne conference betweene king Henry the third of England and Saint Lewes king of France the onely devout kings of that age when the French king saide He had rather heare Sermons than heare Masses Our king replied which some will smile at now but according to the learning of that time That he had rather see his loving friend meaning the reall presence in the Sacrament than to heare never so much good of him by others in sermons This I note because it was then thought facetious which I doubt not but some wil now condemne as superstitious Gâ—â—l Rishanger Pecham that Opticall Archbishop of Canterbury who writte Perspectiva Communis when Pope Gregorie the tenth who had created him Archbishop commaunded him to pay foure thousand markes within foure moneths vnder paine of excommunication hee that came vnto the See then deepely indebted saide Beholde you have created me and as a creature doth desire to be perfected by his creator so I doe in my oppressions flie vnto your Holmesse to be recreated Archiep. Cantuar. Sewall Archbishop of Yorke much agrieved with some practises of the Popes collectors in England tooke all patiently and saide I will not with Chaâ— discover the nakednes of my father but cover and conceale it with Sem. As Constantine the Great saide that hee would cover the faults of Bishops and Fathers of the Church with his Imperiall robe Mat. Paris Pope Innocentius the fourth when he offered the kingdome of Sicil and Naples to Richard Earle of Cornewall with many impossible conditions You might as well say de the Earles Agent at Rome say to my Lord and Maister I sell or give you the Moone climbe vp catch is and take it Anonymus qui incipit Rex Pictorum Alexander successor to Innocentius sent vnto the saide Earle Richard to borrow a great masse of money but the Earle answered I wil not lend to my superior uppon whome I cannot distraine for the debts This Richard is reported by the saide Author to have had so great treasure that hee was able to dispend for tenne yeeres an hundred markes a day which according to the Standard of that time was no small summe Idem In the raigne of king Henry a Bishop of London stoâ—â—ly withstoode the Popes Nunciâ— that would have levied exactions of the Cleargie Whereupon the Nâ—â—ciâ— complained vnto the king who shortly menaced the Bishop and tolde him he would cause the Pope to plucke his peacockes toile but the Bishop boldely answered the King that the Pope and he being too strong for him might bereave him of his bishoprick by might but never by right and that although they tooke away his Mitre yet they would leave him his Helmet Lib. Cantuar. Wicked rather than wittie is that of a Deane high treasurer of England that had demeaned himselfe so well in his office that when he died he made this wicked will I bequeathe all my goodes and possessions vnto my liege Lords the King my body to the earth and my soule to the divell Idem VVHen Edward the first heard of the death of his onely sonne hee tooke it grievously as a father but patiently as a wise man But when hee vnderstoode shortely after of the departure of his father king Henry the third he was wholy deiected and comfortlesses whereat when Charles king of Sicile with whome he then soiourned in his returne from the holy land greatly marvelled He satisfied him with this God may send more sonnes but the death of a father is irrecoverable Waâ—singham This is that king Edward the first who as in lineaments of body he surpassed all his people being like Saul higher than any of them so in prudence conioyned with valour and industry he excelled all our Princes giving ther by sure ankerholde to the governement of this realme waving vp and downe before most vncertainely Which hee effected not so much by establishing good lawes as by giving life vnto his lawes by due execution And as my Author saith Iudices potissimùm iudicans quos constituit indices aliorum Who addeth also this of him Nemâ— in consilijs illo argutior in eloquâ—â— torrentiâ—r in periculis socurior in prosperis â—â—utiâ—r in adversis
Burgundian that it wholy alienated his minde from the English to their great losse in all the French warres following Paulus Aemilius Lib. 10. Iohn Lorde Talbot first Earle of Shrewsbury of that familie supprised vppon the sodaine by the French army at Chastilion farre from cowardly fâ—are of death and fatherly affected to his sonne the Lorde â—isle who woulde not forsake him in that danger advised him to fâ—le saying My death in respect of my former exploites can not be but honourable and in respect of thy youth neither can it be honourable for thee to die nor dishonourable to fâ—ie But this yong Lord in height of courage nothing degenerating from so worthy a father lost his life with his father in the field and with them a base sonne and a sonne in lawe of the sayde Earles Paulus Aemilius Lib. 10. Commentarij Pij PP 2. Lib. 6. After this battell when the flames of inward warre beganne to flash out in England the martiall men of England were called home out of Fraunce to maintaine the factions heere at which time a French Captaine scoffingly asked an English-man when they woulde returne againe into Fraunce He answered feelingly and vpon a true ground When your sinnes shal be greater and more grievous in the sight of God than ours are now ¶ Vntill this time from the beginning of King Edward the first which was about an hundred and sixtie yeeres whosoever will with a marking eie consider the comportment of the English Nation the concurrent of martiall men their Councells military discipline designs actions and exploites not onely out of our owne Writers but also forraine Historians cannot but acknowledge that they were men of especiall worth and their prowesse both great and glorious Why afterward it should decay as all other professions which even like plants have their times of beginning or in-rooting their growing vp their flourishing their maturitie and than these fading were a disquisition for the learned Whether it proceedeth from celestiall influence or those Angelles which Plato makes or the Secundei which Trithâ—â—â—ius imagined to have the regiment of the world successively or from the degenerating of numbers into summes which I confesse I vnderstand not being an ignorant in abstruse learning Onely I have read in Paterculus that when either envie or admiration hath given mâ—n an edge to ascend to the highest and when they can ascend no higher after a while they must naturally descend Yet I relie vpon that of Eccclesiastes as I vnderstand it Cuncta fecit bona in tempore suâ— Deus mundum tradidit disputationi eorum vt non inveniat home quod operatus est Deus ab initio vsque ad finem But pardon mee I cannot tell how I have beene by admiration of our Progenitours diverted from my purpose In the yeere of our Lord 1416. when a fifteene hundred English vnder the coÌ„duct of I Beaufort erle of Derset were encompassed betweene the sea and fifteen thousand French The Erle of Arminac generall of the French sent to the Earle advising him to yeelde himselfe but hee answered It is not the manner of the English to yeelde without blowes neither am I so heartlesse that I will deliver my selfe into their handes whom God â—ay deliver into mine And accordingly God gave him the honour of the day to the great confusion of the enemy Walsingham in Ypodigmate VVHen Elizabeth the widow of sir Iohn Gray was a suter vnto King Edward the fourth against whome her husband lost his life for her ioynture the kinde King became also a suter to her vnto her for a nights lodging But she wisely answered him when hee became importunate That as she did account her selfe too base to be his wife so shee did thinke her selfe too good to be his 〈◊〉 When love grew so hote in this K. Edward the fourth that hee would needes marry the saide Elizabeth widow of sir Iohn Grey to the great discontent of his Counsell but especially of his mother who alleaging many reasons to the contrary saide That onely widowhood might be sufficient to restraine him for that it was high disparagement to a King to be dishonoured with bigamy in his first marriage The King merrily aunswered In that shee is a widdow and hath already children by Gods blessed Lady I am a batcheller and have some too and so each of vs hath a proofe that neither of vs are like to be barren And therefore Madam I pray you be content I trust in God she shal bring you forth a yong Prince that shall please you And as for the bigamy let the Bishop hardly lay it in my way when I come to take Orders for I vnderstand it is forbidden to a Priest but I never wist it yet that it was forbidden to a Prince His note love neverthelesse was partable among three other of his Mistresses of whome hee was woont to say The one was the fairest the other the merriest and the third the holiest for she had wholy devoted her selfe to his bedde and her beades When Lewes the eleaventh French King entertained diverse Councellors of king Edward the fourth with large pensions to steede him in England hee sent Peter Cleret one of the maisters of his housholde vnto the Lorde Hastings the Kings Chamberlaine to present him with twoo thousand crownes Which when he had received Petre Cleret did pray him that for his discharge he would make him an acquittance The Lorde Chamberlaine made a great difficultie thereat Then Cleret dooth request him againe that hee would give vnto him onely a letter of three lines for his discharge to the King signifying that hee had received them The Lord Chamberlaine answered Sir that which you say is very reasonable but the gift comes from the goodwill of the King your Maister and not at my request at all If it please you that I shall have it you shall put it within the pocket of my sleeve and you shall have no other acquittance of me For I will never it shal be saide for mee that the Lorde Chamberlaine of the King of England had beene Pentioner to the King of Fraunce Nor that my acquittances shal be found in the Chamber of accompts in Fraunce The aforesâ—id Cleret went away male-content but left his money with him and came to tell his message to his King who was very angry with him But thenceforth the Lord Chamberlaine of England was more esteemed with the French and alwayes payde without acquittance Philippe de Commines KIng Richard the third whose monstrous birth foreshewed his monstrous proceedings for he was born with all his teeth and haire to his shoulders albeit hee lived wickedly yet made good Lawes and when diverse shires of England offered him a benevolence hee refused it saying I know not in what sence I haa rather have your hearts than your money Ioannes Rossus Warwiceusis Iohn Morton then Bishoppe of Elie but afterward of Canterbury being solicited by the Duke of Buckingham then
vnderstand the obscure places in Saint Paules Epistles he answered him he thought the best and shortest way was to reade first the latter parte of those Epistles which dooth intreate of Christian manners and vnderstand it and expresse it in life and good manners and then to go vnto the first part where the matters of faith are subtily and exactly handled saying That God wil give his spirite of vnderstanding soonest vnto those that with al their whole hearts seeke to serve him He was wont to say That he and all other Bishops ought to consider that they were ordained not onely Iudges over those of their Dioceses but father Iudges In communication when mention hapned to be made of a certaine Bishoppe who was woont to blame the Bishops that lived at Rome and neglected their charge and yet he himselfe was resident at Rome He quoth Poole doth like vnto those that cannot abide the smel of garlicke for if they have to do with them that have eaten garlike they eate some too themselves that they may not percerve their stinking breaths Speach was heard of a yoong man that was learned indeede but too bolde and ready to censure Learning quoth Poole doth worke almost that in yong men that wine doth in the fatte there it worketh there it boileth vppe and swelleth But as soone as it is purged and put in the vessel having gathered his forces together it is quiet and stil When one very skilfull in Astrologie tolde him that hee had very exactly calculated his-nativitie and found that great matters were portended of him Poole aunswered Perhaps it may be as you affirme but you must remember that I was borne againe by baptisme and that day of nativitie wherein I was borne againe doth eclipse the other before When one had saide that we must be so wholy busied in the studie of the Scriptures that no time should be left for other studies and another man had added that the studies of other learnings were to bee vsed as Wayting-maides and Bond-women What do you not know quoth Poole that Agar was cast out of the doores because shee was a bond-woman When Sadolet adhorted him vnto the studie of Philosophy giving to it the price above all other studies Poole answered him While al the worlde was overwhelmed with the darkenesse of Paganisme it did excel al other Artes but since that thicke mist was chased away by the bright beames of the preaching of Christ and his Apostles and their successours the study of the sacred Scriptures and divinitie had gotten the paâ—ne and chiefe praise adding that Philosophy was now as Tenedos of whome Virgil writeth notissima fama Insula divâ—s opum Priami dum regna manebant Nunc tantùm sinus statio malefida carinis A famous Isle of riches great while Priamus kingdome stoode Now nothing but a baggage bay and harbour nothing good He vsed friendly to admonish a certaine Bishop not to forsake his sheepe but rather leaving Rome to repayre home and execute his office This Bishop vpon a time came vnto him and tolde him that hee was minded to goe out of the cittie for one moneth and to visite his sheepe and therefore hee did desire that hee might departe with his good leave and liking Poole answered I shal take this comfort by your departure that you shal bee beaten the lesse When Letters were shewed vnto him very artificially penned which one had sent vnto a great man to comfort him for the death of his friendes and to thaâ— intent had vsed all the places of Rhethoricke hee read them and then saide That hee never in al his life had ever read Letters that could bring greater comfort for they were such that no man that shoulde reade them could be able to keepe himselfe from laughing Having heard a certaine Preacher of great name who arrogated much to himselfe and did passingly please himselfe hee was asked what hee thought of the man Poole aunswered Well but I would that hee would first preach vnto himselfe and then afterward to other When a Nobleman of Rome tolde him that hee did trust that he should come to his pleasaunt gardines which hee had sumptuously made yea thirtie yeeres after and wonder at the beauty of them Poole answered I hope I have not deserved so ill of you that you should wish me so long a banishment from my heavenly country While he was in the Low countries and one day would have gone vnto Charles the Emperour but hee could not be admitted to his speach but two dayes after the Bishop of Arras was sent vnto him by the Emperour to excuse his long stay and desire him to come vnto him Poole sayde that hee had strange happe That whereas be spake daily vnto God for the Emperour yet he was not admitted vnto the Emperour to talke with him about a matter belonging to God There was one that was very curious in keeping of his beard and it was reported that hee bestowed every moneth two duckats vpon the trimming of it If it be so said Poole his beard wil shortly be more woorth than his head After the death of Paulus Tertius when many Cardinals came vnto him and tolde him that if hee liked of it they would make him Pope He desired them to looke well to it that they were swayed by no passion of the minde or did ought for favour and good-will but referre all their cogitations whâ—lie vnto the honour of God and the profite of his Church the which only they all ought especially to have alwayes before their eyes When one of the Cardinalls of the adverse faction did one day charge him with ambition and saide that hee did vntimely and over-hastily seeke the Popedome He answered gravely That he thought not the burthen of that great office to be so light but that he was of the minde that it was rather to be feared than desired Aâ— for them which vnderstood not and thought more basely of so great a place hee lamented their case and was sory for them When the Cardinall Farnesi and diverse other of his friâ—nds came vnto him at midnight to make him Pope by adoration he repelled them saying He would not have so weighty a matter tumultuously and rashly done but vâ—â—aily and orderly that the night was no convenient time therefore that God loved the light more than darkenesse wherefore they should deferre it vntill the next day and that then of it pleaâ—ed God it might very well be done But this his pious modesty lost him the Papacie He vsed often to say Those which would betake them vnto the study of the holy Scriptures which was as though they would goe into the inner and secret parte of the Temple must passe thorow a lowe and a narrow doore For that no man can attaine to the vnderstanding of the Scriptures that is prowde and puffed vp with the sharpenesse of his wit or excellencie of humane learning but be that bringeth lowlinesse of minde and 〈◊〉 tempt
of Bergeuenny and of many other great Lordships whose body resteth here vnder this tombe in a full faire vaulte of stone set in the bare roche The which visited with long sicknesse in the castle of Rohan therein deceased full Christianly the last day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God 1439. he being at that time Lieutenant generall of France and of the Duchie of Normandie by sufficient authoritie of our Soueraigne Lord King Henry the sixt The which body by great deliberation and worshipfull conduct by sea and by land was brought to Warwicke the fourth of October the yeare abouâ—said and was laid with full solemne exequies in a faire Chest made of Stone in the West dore of this Chappell according to his last Will and Testament therein to rest till this Chappell by him deuised in his life were made the which Chappell founded on the Roche and all the members therof his executors did fully make apparail by the auctority of his said last Will Testament And therafter by the said auctoritie they did translate worshipfully the said body into the vaulte aforesaid Honoured be God therefore His sister the Countesse of Shrewsbury was buried in Saint Faithes vnder S. Paules at London with this Here before the image of Ihesu lyeth the Worshipfull and right noble Lady Margaret Countesse of Shrouseburie late wife of the true victorious Knight redoubted Warriour Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrousebury which worshipfully died in Gien for the right of this lond the first daughter and one of the heires of the right famous and renowned Knight Richard Beauchampe late Erle of Warwicke which died in Roane and of dame Elizabeth his wife the which Elizabeth was daughter and heire to Thomas late Lord Berkely on his syd and of 〈◊〉 moders side Lady Lisle and Ties which Countesse passed from this world the xiiii day of Iune the yeare of our Lord 1468. On whose soule the Lord haue mercy For that valerous Earle her husband the terror of France I found no Epitaph but insteed thereof I will giue you â—o vnderstand that not long since his sworde was found in the riuer of Dordon and solde by a pesant to an Armorour of Burdeaux with this inscription but pardon the Latin for it was not his but his Camping priests SVM TALBOTI M. IIII.C.XLIII PRO VINCERE INIMICO MEO This inscription following is in the Cathedrall Church at Roan in Normandie for Iohn Duke of Bedford and Gouernour of Normandie Sonne to King Henry the fourth buried in a faire plaine monument which when a French Gentleman aduised Charles the eight French King to deface as being a monument of the English victories he said Let him rest in peace now he is dead whom we feared while he liued Cy gist feu de noble memoire haut puissant prince Iean en son viuant regent du Royaume de France Duc de Bethfort pour lequel est fondè vne Messe estre par chacun iour perpetuellement celebrâ—e en cest autel par le college des Clementins incontineâ—â— apres prime trespassa le 13. Septembre 1435. Au quel 13. iour semblablement est fondè poâ—r luy vn obït en ceste eglise Dieu face pardon à soname Vpon an auncient Knight Sir Iernegan buried Crosse-legd in Somerly in Suffolke some hundred yeares since is written Iesus Christ both God and man Saue thy seruant Iernegan Happy prudent K. Henry the 7. who stopped the streames of ciuill bloud which so long ouer-flowed England left a most peaceable state to his posteritie hath his magnificall monument at Westminster inscribed thus Septimus hic situs est Henricus gloria regum Cunctorum illius qui tempestate fuerunt Ingenio atque opibus gestarum nomine rerum Accessere quibus naturae dona benignae Frontis honos facies augusta heroica forma Iunctaque ei suauis coniunx perpulchra pudica Et faecunda fuit foelices prole parentes Henricum quibus octauum terra Anglia debes Hic iacet Henricus huius nominis VII Angliae quondam rex Edmundi Richmundiae Comitis filius qui die 22. Aug. Rex creatus statim post apud Westmonasterium 30. Octob. coronatur anno Domini 1485. moritur deinde xxi April anno aetatis Liii Regnauit annos xxii mens viii minùs vno die This following I will note out of Hackney Church that you may see that the Clergie were not alwaies anticipating and griping many liuings by this worthy man which relinquished great dignities and refused greater Christopherus Vrswicus Regis Henrici Septimi Elemozinaerius vir sua aetate clarus summatibus atque infimatibus iuxtà charus Ad exteros reges vndecies pro patria legatus DecanatuÌ„ Eboracensem Archidiaconatum Richmundiae DecanatuÌ„ Windsoriae habitos viuens reliquit EpiscopatuÌ„ Norwicensem oblatum recusauit Magnos honores totâ vita spreuâ—t frugali vita contentus hic viuere hic mori voluit Plenus annoruÌ„ obiâ—â— ab omnibus desideratus Funeris pompam etiam testamento vetuit Hic sepultus carnis resurrectionem in aduentum Christi expectat Obijt anno Christi incarnati 1521. Die 23. Martij Anno aetatis suae 74. This testamentarie Epitaph I haue read in an ould Manuscript Terram terra tegit Daemon peccata resumat Res habeat Mundus spiritus alta petat The name of the defunct is as it were enigmatically expressed in this ould epitaph Bis fuit hic natus puer bis bis iuuenisque Bis vir bisque senex bis doctor bisque sacerdos In the Cathedrall church of S. Pauls in London a stone is inscribed thus without name Non hominem aspiciam vltra OBLIVIO This man yet would not willingly haue bene forgotten when he adioyned his Armes to continue his memorye not vnlike to Philosophers which prefixde their names before their Treatises of contemning glorie Another likewise suppressing his name for his Epitaph did set downe this goodly admonition Looke man before thee how thy death hasteth Looke man behind thee how thy life wasteth Looke on thy right side how death thee desireth Looke on thy left side how sinne thee beguileth Looke man aboue thee ioyes that euer shall last Looke man beneth thee the paines without rest The Abott of S. Albanes which lieth buried there in the high Quire suppressed his name as modestly as any other in this Hic quidam terra tegitur Peccato soluens debitum Cuius nomen non impositum In libro vitae sit inscriptum In the Cloister on the north side of S. Pauls now ruinated one had this inscription vpon his Graue without name VIXI PECCAVI PAENITVI NATVRAE CESSI Which is as Christian as that was prophane of the Romane AMICI DVM VIVIMVS Vâ—VAMVS Queene Iane who died in Child birth of King Edward the sixt and vsed for her deuice a Phaenix has this therevnto alluding for her Epitaph Phenix Iana iacet nato Phaenice doendum Secula Phaenices nulla tulisse duos The noble