Pope who as Pastor Pastorum claimed Decimas Decimarum Entituling himself thereunto partly from Abraham a Priest paying o Gen 14. 20 Heb. 7. 4. Tithes to Melchizedeck the high Priest partly from the Levites in the Mosaical Law paying the Second Tithes that is the Tithes of their Tithes to the Priest Thus shall you offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your p Num. 18. 28. Tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel and ye shall give thereof the Lords heave-offering to Aaron the Priest Hereupon the Pope had his Collectors in every Diocesse who sometimes by Bills of Exchange but generally in specie to the great impoverishing of the Land yearly returned the Tenths and First-fruits of the English Clergie to Rome 2. But the Pope being now dead in England the King was found his Heir at Common Law Commissioners imployed to 〈◊〉 all Ecclesistical preferments as to most of the power and profit the other had usurped But now as the Clergie changed their Land lord so their Rents were new rated and I believe somewhat raised Commissioners being imployed in all Counties the Bishop of the Diocesse being alwaies one of them to valew their yearly revenue Ann. Dom. 1537. that so their Tenths and First-fruits may be proportioned accordingly These Raters were the chiefest persons in all Counties under the degree of Barons and I had a project to presence their names as of men of unquestionable extraction none as yet standing on the ruins of Abbies to heighten their mean birth into the repute of Gentility Surrey Nicholas Carew Knights Matthew Broun Thomas Stidolfe Esquire John Banister Gentleman Huntingdon-shire Richard Sapcot Knights Lawrence Taylard John Gostwick Esquires John Goodrick Devon-shire William Courtney Knights Thomas Dennis John Birnall Major of Exeter John Hull Auditors William Simonds John Ford Auditors John Southcote Somerset-shire William Stourton Kn t s John Horsey Andrew Lutterell Thomas Speke Esq s. Hugh Powlet Henry q In this method they are named Capel Knight William Portman Gent. Roger Kinsey Auditor Stafford-shire John Talbot Knights John Gifford Walter Wrotley Esquire John Wrotely Gentleman Cheshire John Holford Knight Peter Dutton Knight George Booth Esq s. Thomas Aston Richard Ligh William Brereton But my designe failed when I found the return of the Commissioners names into the Office so defective that in most Counties they are wholly omitted 3. These Commissioners were impowered by the King Instructions given to the Commissioners to send for the Scribes and Notaries of all Bishops and Arch-Bishops and Arch-deacons to swear the Receivers and Auditors of Incumbents to view their Register-books Easter-books and all other writings and to use all other waies to know the full value of Ecclesiastical preferments with the number and names of Persons enjoying the same They were to divide themselves by Three and Three allotting to every number so many Deaneries and to enquire the number and names of all Abbies Monasteries Priories Brotherships Sisterships Fellowships c. Houses religious and conventual as well r Transcribedwith my owne hand out of the original in the Office CHARTER-HOUSE as others these carthusians being specified by name because proudly pretending priviledges of Papal exemption and meeting together to certifie into Exchequer at the time limited in their Commission the true value of such Places or Preferments Herein Reparations Fees of in t ſ No Clerk in the Office cou'd read this word were not to be deducted but perpetual Rents Pensions Alms Synods Fees paid out yearly to Persons were to be allowed 4. This being a work of time exactly to perform Some yeares spent in the work took up some years in the effecting thereof Devon-shire and Somer set were done in the twenty-seventh Staffordshire and many other Countries in the thirty-fourth of King Henry the eighth and most of Wales not till the reign of King Edward the sixt Yea I am credibly informed that in Ireland to which Kingdome such Commissions were afterwards extended the Commissioners partly tired with their troblesome work partly afraid to pass the dangerous hill of Rushes in Irish Sleue Logher never came into the County of Kerry the South-west extremity of that Island So that the Clergie thereof though the poorest of the poorest in Ireland enjoy this priviledge that they are presently put into their Livings or Benefices rather without any payments 5. But no such favour was allowed to any place in England where all were unpartially rated Vicaridges why so high-rated and Vicaridges valued very high according to their present revenue by personal Perquisites In that Age he generally was the richest Shepherd who had the greatest flock where Oblations from the living and Obits for the dead as certainly paid as Predial Tithes much advanced their Income In consideration whereof Vicaridges mostly lying in Market-Towns and populous Parishes where set very high though soon after those Obventions sunk with superstition And the Vicars in vain desired a proportionable abatement in the King's book which once drawn up were no more to be altered 6. Now Queen Mary a Princesse Q Mary remits Tenths and First-fruits whose conscience was never purse-ridden as one who would go to the cost of Her own principles did by Act of Parliament exonerate acquit and discharge the Clergie from all First-fruits As for Tenths the same * 2 3 Phil Mary cap. 4. Statute ordereth them to be paid to Cardinal Poole who from the same was to pay the Pensions allowed by Her Father to Monks and Nuns at the dissolution of Abbies yet so that when such persons who were but few and aged all named in a Deed indented should decease all such paiments of the Clergie reserved nomine decimae should cease and be clearly extinct and determined for ever 7. But Her Sister Q. Elizabeth succeeding Her Q. Elizabeth resumeth them and finding so fair a flower as First fruits Tenths fallen out of Her Crown was careful quickly to gather it up again and get it re-sett therein A Princesse most to forgive injuries but inexorable to remit debts who knowing that necessitous Kings are subject to great inconveniences was a thrifty improver of Her treasure And no wonder if She were exact though not exacting to have Her dues from the Clergie who herein would not favour her grand favourite Sir Christopher Hatton who by the way was Master of this first-fruits Office and was much indebted unto Her for moneys received All which arrears Her Majesty required so severely and suddainly from him that the grief thereof cost his life I say this Queen in the first of Her t See the Stat. 1 Eliz. cap. 4. Reign resumed first-fruits and tenths onely with this case to Parsonages not exceeding ten marks and Vicaridges ten pounds that they should be freed from first-fruits A clause in this Statute impowering the Queen to take all that was due unto Her from the first day of this Parliament was so
daily trample 8. Besides these All these antiquated by Christianity they had other Lesser Gods of a Lower Form and Younger House as Helmsteed Prono Fridegast and Siwe all which at this day to use the a I saiah 2. 20. Prophets Expression are cast to the Moles and the Bats fit Company for them which have Eyes and see not Blind to the blind like all those which put Confidence in them And as the true and reall b Exod. 7. 12. Serpent of Aaron did swallow up and devour the seening Serpents which Iannes and Iambres the Aegyptian Inchanters did make so long since in England the Religion of the true God hath out-lived and out-lasted consuted and confounded all false and â—eigned Deities To conclude this Discourse I have heard of a man who being Drunk rode over a Narrow Bridge the first and last that ever passed that Way as which in likelyhood led him to imminent Death and next morning viewing how he had escaped he fell into a Swound with acting over again the Danger of his Adventure in his bare Apprehension So should England now thanks be to God grown sober and restored to her self seriously recollect her sad Condition when Posting in the Paths of Perdition being intoxicated with the Cup of Idolatrie she would fall into a Trance of Amazement at the consideration of her desperate state before Christianity recovered her to her right Senses the manner whereof we now come to relate 9. When Augustine the Monk as is afore said landed in Thanet The character of King Ethelbert Ethelbert was then King of Kent One who had very much of Good Nature in him of a Wild Olive well civilized and a Stock fit to be grafted upon Yea he was already with c Acts 26. 28. King Agrippa though not in the same sense almost a Christian because his other half d Bede Hist Eccles lib. 1. cap. 25. Queen Berhta daughter to the King of France was a Christian to whom he permitted the free use of her Religion allowing her both Luidhard a Bishop for her Chaplain and an old Church in Canterbury formerly dedicated by the Romans to S t. Martin to exercise her Devotion therein Besides at this time this Ethelbert was in effect Monarch of England whilest his Person had Residence chiefly in Kent his Power had Influence even to Humber all the rest of the Saxon Kings being Homagers unto him which afterward much expedited the passage of the Gospel in England Thus each officious Accident shall dutifully tender his Service to the advance of that Design which God will have effected 10. Then Augustine acquainted this Ethelbert with his Arrivall Augustine's addresses and Ethelbert's answer informing him by his Messengers that he brought the best Tidings unto him which would certainly procure eternall Happinesse in Heaven and endless Reigning in Bliss with the true God to such as should entertain them Soon after Ethelbert repaired into Thanet to whom Augustine made his addresse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a deal of spiritual carnall Pompe e Beda ut prists having a Silver Cross carried before him for a Banner the Image of our Saviour painted in a Table and singing the Letanie in the way as they went King Ethelbert desired all things betwixt them might be transacted in the open Aire refusing to come under a Roof for fear of Fascination And indeed a Stranger who had never seen the like before beholding Augustine with such abundance of Trinkets about him being formerly jealous might hereby have his Suspicion encreased that he went about some strange Machination However Ethelbert returned him a civil Answer That their Promises were fair and good but because new and uncertain he could not presently assent unto them and leave the ancient Customes of the English which had been for so long time observed But because they were Strangers coming from Far Countries to communicate to him and his such things as they conceived were good and true he would not forbid any Converts whom their Preaching could perswade to their Opinion and also would provide them Necessaries for their comfortable Accommodation 11. Hence Augustine 597 with his Followers Ethelbert and others converted to the Christian Faith advanced to Canterbury to the aforesaid old Church of S t. Martin's Here they lived so piously prayed so fervently fasted so frequently preached so constantly wrought Miracles so commonly that many people of Inferiour Rank and at last King Ethelbert himself was baptized and embraced the Christian Religion The same Ethelbert also ordered that none should be a Bede Hist Eccles lib. 1. cap. 26. forced into Religion having understood that Christs Service ought to be voluntary and not compelled And if his Courtiers had been as cautious not to embrace Religion for Fashion as the King was carefull they should not receive it for Fear there had not at that time been made so many Christians for Conveniency probably rather then for Conscience who soon after returned again to Paganisme However as it is rendered a reason in the dayes of Hezekiah why the Iews at so short warning so unanimously kept the Passeover God had prepared the People for the thing was done suddenly so on the same account it came to passe that in so little a time besides temporary Believers so many true and sincere Converts embraced the Christian Faith 12. Then Augustine by his Letters informed Gregory of the Progresse Gregorie's answer to Augustine's letters and Proficiency of his Paines in England Gregory returned him a discreet Answer rejoycing with him and advising of him not to be puffed up by Pride for the great Miracles wrought by him but timendo gaudere gaudendo pertimescere He minded him how when the Disciples triumphed at their b Luke 10. 17 casting out of Devils Christ more spirituallized their Joy rather to rejoyce that their Names were written in Heaven And indeed as some eminent in Piety never attained this Honour c Iohn 10. 41. Iohn Baptist did no miracle so many finally disavowed of God as unknown unto him shall plead for themselves and truly no doubt d Matt. 7. 22. in thy Name have we cast out Devils Yet this Admonition of Gregory is with me and ought to be with all unprejudiced persons an Argument beyond exception that though no discrect man will believe Augustine's Miracles in the latitude of Monkish Relations he is ignorantly and uncharitably peevish and morose who utterly denies some Miracles to have been really effected by him About the sametime S t. Gregory sent from Rome Mellitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffinianus to be Fellow-labourers with Augustine in the English Harvest 13. Thus was Kent converted to Christianity 600 For such as account this a Conversion of all England Conclusion of this Century to make their words good do make use of a long and strong Synecdoche a Part for the Whole farre more then Half of the Land lying some yeares after
Bishoprick Were not Bishop and Bishoprick so correlated in that Age that they must be together the trick of making Titular Bishops not as yet being used in Rome It is impossible that Bishops here should import no more then a plain Priest and that he onely took Orders before he came over into England Well commend me to the Memory of this man who first was made Bishop and then made himself a Bishoprick by earning it out of the Pagan English whom he intended to convert to Christianity Yea he passed his solemn Promise in the presence of the Pope that he would preach the Gospel in the heart of the c Idem ibid. uttermost coasts of England meaning the Northern parts thereof whither no Teacher had at any time gone before him Minded herein like d 2 Cor. 10. 16. S t. Paul not to boast in another mans line of things made ready to his hand 66. This his Promise Birinus 636 though he literally brake A broken promise well kept Virtually kept for he chanced to land amongst the West-Saxons then called Gevises in the South-VVest part of England where as yet the Inhabitants were pure-impure Pagans Having here found a fit subject for his Pains why should he go farther to seek the same Is not Providence the best Herauld to marshal us and ought we not to sit down where it disposeth us Besides according to Military Rules it was best to clear the Coasts as he went and not to leave a Pagan-Foe behind his back Moved herewith Birinus here sets up his Staffe Episcopal fixeth himself falls a preaching converts many and amongst the rest Kyngils the VVest-Saxon King whom he baptized Oswald King of Northumberland chanced to be e Bede Eccles Hist l. 3. cap. 7. present at that time and was first God-Father then Father in Law to King Kyngils to whom he gave his Daughter to Wife 67. Dorchester not the Town which denominates Dorsetshire Dorchester made a Bishops See but an old City in Oxfordshire not in Barkshire as Stapleton f In his translation of Bede Pol. 82. mistakes it was made the Seat of Birinus his Bishoprick Bede faith Donaverunt autem ambo Reges eidem Episcopo civitatem quae vocatur Dorinca c. Both the Kings Oswald and Kynglls gave to the said Bishop the City Dorinca or Dorchester Both of them Hence observe first that Oswald whose Concurrence in this Grant was required though particular King of Northumberland was also Monarch of all England To justifie our former Observation that amongst the seven Saxon Kings alwayes one was paramount above the rest Secondly that this Dorchester though it lay North of Thames in Oxfordshire which properly belonged to the Kingdomes of Mercia pertained now to the VVest-Saxons beyond the ordinary Limits assigned to that Kingdome 68. In this year Honorius Arch-Bishop of Canterbury divided England understand 637 so much thereof as was Christian into Parishes England divided into Parishes But that most exquisite g Mr. Selden in his Hist of Tithes cap. 9. pag. 256. Antiquary seems very unwilling to admit so early and ancient Parishes in the modern proper Acception of the word Who knoweth not that Parochia at large signifieth the Diocese of the Bishop and two new Dioceses Anno Dom. 637 Dunwich and Dorchester were erected under Honorius in the Province of Canterbury But whether Parishes as usually understood for places bounded in regard of the Profits from the people therein payable onely to a Pastour incumbent there I say whether such Parishes were extant in this Age may well be questioned as inconsistent with the Community of Ecclesiastick Profits which then seemed joyntly enjoyed by the Bishop and his Clergy 69. No sooner was Oswald whom we formerly mentioned settled in his Kingdome of Northumberland A morose Preacher little the edifieth but his first Princely Care was to provide Pastours to instruct his People in Christianity In order where unto he sends into Scotland where he had his own Education for some Eminent Preachers Unusuall the Sun should come out of the North to enlighten the South as here it came to passe One Preacher was sent him thence whose Name we find not but thus much of his Nature that being over-rigid and severe his Sermons made no Impression on his English Auditory Hard with hard saith the Proverb makes no VVall and no Wonder if the spirituall Building went on no better wherein the Austerity and Harshnesse of the Pastour met with the Ignorance and Sturdinesse of the People Home he returns complaining of his ill Successe and one Aidan of a Milder temper and more Discretion a Grace which none ever spake against but such as wanted it was sent back in his room 70. Aidan coming into England Aidan his due commendation settled himself at Lindisfern or Holy-Island in Northumberland a place which is an Island and no Island twice in twenty four hours as divided by the Tide from so conjoyned at Low-water to the Continent His exemplary Life was a Pattern for all pious Pastours First he left to the Clergy Saluberrimum abstinentiae vel continentiae exemplum though we read not he vowed Virginity himself or imposed in on others He lived as he taught and whatsoever the Bounty of Princes or great Persons bestowed on him he gave to the Poor He seldome travelled but on Foot and when invited to large Feasts at Court used to arise after a short Refection and betake himself to his Meditations He redeemed many Slaves from Captivity making them first Free-men then Christians 71. Bede his allay All these his excellent Practices Bede a Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 3. dasheth with this Allay that He had a Zeal of God although not fully according to Knowledge merely because he dissented from the Romish Church in the Celebration of Easter But whether those words of b Rom. 10. 2. S t. Paul spoken of his Country-men the Iews in reference to their Stumbling at Christ the Saviour of Mankind be fitly appliable to Aidan onely differing in an outward Ceremony let others decide True it is this Aidan was a prime Champion of the Quartadecimans as who had been brought up under or with S t. Colme in Ireland The writer of the Life of this S t. Colme let this be inserted by the way reports how the said Saint had a Revelation c Arch-Bishop Usher in the Religion of the Irish p. 99. of the Holy Ghost which prophesied unto him of this Discord which after many dayes should arise in the Church about the diversity of the Feast of Easter Yet he telleth us not that the Holy Ghost reproved this Colme whose Example animated others against the Roman Rite for his Errour as if God cared not which of both Sides carried the Controversie 72. But all which Bede speaketh in Diminution of Aidan Lay-mens diligence in reading Scripture may freely be forgiven him were it but for his faithfull recording
Miracles which the Papists confidently report to be done by him after his Death in curing Sick people of their severall Maladies For such Souls which they fancy in Purgatory are so farre from healing others that they cannot help themselves Yea f Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 12. Bede calleth this Oswald jam cum Domino regnantem now reigning with the Lord. Yet the same g Lib. 3. cap. 2 Authour attesteth that even in his time it was the anniversary Custome of the Monks of Hexam to repair to Heofen-feld a place hard by where Oswald as aforesaid obtained his miraculous Victory and there to observe Vigils for the Salvation of his Soul plurimaque Psalmorum laude celebrata victimam pro eo mane sacrae oblationis offerre A Mongrel Action betwixt Good-will and VVill-worship though the eyes of their Souls in those Prayers looked not forward to the future petitioning for Oswald's Happinesse but backward to what was past gratulatory to the Blisse he had received Purgatory therefore cannot properly be founded on such Suffrages for the dead However such over-Officiousnesse though at first it was like the Herb in the Pot which doth neither good nor ill in after-Ages became like that wild a 2 King 4. 40 Gourd Anno Dom. poysoning mens Souls with Superstition 644 when they fell to down-right Praying for the departed 79. This year Paulinus The death of Paulinus late Arch-Bishop of York since Bishop of Rochester ended his Life and one Ithamar succeeded him born in Kent and the first English-man Bishop all being Forrainers before him As he was the first of his Nation I believe him the second of his Name meeting with no moe save onely b Exod. 6. 23. Ithamar the youngest Son of Aaron High-Priest of Israel 80. After King Oswald his Death 645 four Christian contemporary Kings flourished in England Most Christian King Oswy First Oswy King of Northumberland more commendable for the Managing then the Gaining of his Kingdome except any will say that no good Keeping can make amends for the ill Getting of a Crown seeing he defeated Ethelwald Oswald's Son and the true Heire thereof Bede c Lib. 3. c. 21. termeth him Regem Christianissimum The most Christian King a Stile wherewith the present Majesty of France will not be offended as which many years after was settled on his Ancestours Long had this Oswy endeavoured in vain by Presents to purchase Peace from Penda the Pagan King of Mercia who miserably harassed his Country and refused any Gifts though never so rich and great which were tendered unto him At last saith my d Idem Authour Oswy resolved VVe will offer our Presents to such a King who is higher in Command and humbler in his Courtesie as who will not disdain to accept them Whereupon he devoted his Daughter to God in her perpetuall Virginity and soon after obtained a memorable Conquest over his Enemies and cleared the Country from his Cruelty 81. Secondly Sigebert the too good Sigebert King of Essex and the Restorer of Religion in his Kingdome which formerly had apostatized after the Departure of Mellitus valiant and pious though taxed for his contumacious Company-keeping contrary to his Confessours command with an Excommunicated Count in whose House he was afterward murdered by two Villains Who being demanded the Cause of their Cruelty why they killed so harmlesse and innocent a Prince had nothing to say for themselves but they did it because his e Beda lib. 3. cap. 22. Goodnesse had done the Kingdome hurt such his pronenesse to pardon Offenders on their though but seeming Submission that his Meeknesse made many Malefactours But I hope and believe that the Heirs of Sigebert though the Story be silent herein finding his Fault amended it in themselves and exercised just Severity in the Execution of these two damnable Traitours 82. Anna may be accounted the third Successour to Sigebert 654 and happy in a numerous and holy Off-spring Anna happy in an holy issue Yea all his Children save Firminus the eldest slain with his Father in a Fight against Pagan Penda were either Mitred or Vailed when Living Sainted and Shrined when Dead as Erkenwald Bishop of London Ethelred or Audrey and Sexburga successively Foundresses and Abbesses of Elie VVithgith a Nun therein and Ethilburg Abbesse of Beorking nigh London 83. Peada 656 Prince of Mercia The conversion of the Mercians to Christianity under Prince Peada may make up the Quaternion who married Alfrede Daughter of Oswy King of Northumberland and thereupon renouncing Paganisme embraced Christianity and propagated it in his Dominions Indeed Penda his Father that Persecuter of Piety was still alive and survived two yeares after persisting an Heathen till Death but mollified to permit a Toleration of Christianity in his Subjects Yea Penda in his Old-age used an expression which might have beseemed the Mouth of a better man namely That he hated not Christians but onely such who f Beda lib. 3. cap. 21. professed Christ's Faith without his VVorks accounting them contemptible who pretended to Believe in God without Obeying him 84. A brace of Brethren St. Cedde and St. Chad. both Bishops both eminent for Learning and Religion now appeared in the Church so like in Name they are oft mistaken in Authours one for another Now though it be pleasant for Brethren to live together in Vnity Anno Dom. 656 yet it is not fit by Errour they should be jumbled together in Confusion Observe their Difference therefore S t. Cedde in Latine Ceddus I believe the elder born at a Flores Sanctorum pag. 35. London where afterward he was Bishop bred in Holy Island an active promoter in making the East-Saxons Converts or rather Reverts to the Faith He is remembred in the Romish Kalendar Ianuary the seventh S t. Chad in Latine Cedda born in b Idem p. 224. Northumberland bred likewise in Holy Island and Scholar to Aidanus He was Bishop of Lichfield a milde and modest man of whom more hereafter His death is celebrated in the Kalender March the second and the Dust of his Tombe is by Papists reported to cure all Diseases alike in Man and Beast I believe it might make the dumb to see and the lame to speak The later of these was as the Longest Liver so the most eminent in his Life who made many Christians and amongst the rest VVulfade and Rufine Sons to Wulphere King of Mercia succeeding Peada therein who was suddenly slain and his untimely Death was a great Loss to Religion 85. Look we now on the See of Canterbury Fridona first English Arch-bishop where to our comfort we have gotten one of our own Country-men into the place Fridona a Saxon. Yet for the more State of the businesse he assumed the name of Deus-dedit We know Arch-Bishops of his See are termed Alterius orbis Papae and such changing of Names was fashionable with the Popes He was
it for the single life of one man except in some case of Extremity to help against Famine Invasion of Foes or for obtaining of Freedome 8. That things dedicated to God remain so for ever 9. That the Acts of all Synods be fairly written out with the Date thereof and name of the Arch-bishop President and Bishops present thereat 10. That Bishops at their death give the full Tithe of their Goods to the Poor and set free every English-man which in their life-time was a Slave unto them 11. That Bishops invade not the Diocese prists the Parish neither the Office of another save onely when desired to baptize or visit the Sick The Refusers whereof in any place are to be suspended their Ministery till reconciled to the Bishop 12. That they pour not water upon the Heads of Infants but immerge them in the Font in imitation of Christ who say they was thrice c See Sr. Hen. Spelman pag. 331. so washed in Iordan But where is this in Scripture Anno Dom. 816 The manifestation indeed of the Trinity plainly appears in the a Matth. 3. 16 17. Text Anno Regis Egberti 16 Father in the Voice Son personally present Holy Spirit in the Dove but as for thrice washing him altum silentium However see how our modern Sectaries meet Popery in shunning it requiring the person to be plunged though Criticks have cleared it that Baptize doth import as well Dipping as Drenching in water 5. And now we take our farewell of King Kenulph Egbert proclaimed Monarch of England who for all his great Bustling in Church-matters for the first twenty yeares in this Century was as genus subalternum amongst the Logitians a King over his Subjects yet but a Subject to King Egbert 820 who now at Winchester was solemnly crowned Monarch of the Southern and greater Moiety of this Island 20 enjoyning all the people therein to term it Engelond since England that so the petty Names of seven former distinct Kingdomes might be honourably buried in that general Appellation 6 Some will wonder Seven Kingdomes swallowed up in Engelond seeing this Narion was compounded of Saxons Iuites and Angles why it should not rather be denominated of the first as in Number greatest and highest in Reputation Such consider not that a Grand Continent in Germany was already named Saxony and it was not handsome for this Land to wear a Name at second hand belonging to another Besides England is a name of Credit importing in Dutch the same with the Land of b Verstegan of decayed intelligence Angels And now the Name stamped with the Kings Command soon became currant and extinguished all the rest For Kent Essex Sussex Northumberland though remaining in common Discourse shrunk from former Kingdomes into modern Counties VVestsex Mercia and East-Angles were in effect finally forgotten It will not be amisse to wish that seeing so great a Tract of Ground meets in one Name the People thereof may agree in Christian Vnity and Affections 7. King Egbert was now in the Exaltation of his Greatnesse Danes disturb King Egbert But never will humane Happinesse hold out full Measure to mans Desire Freed from home-bred Hostility he was ready to repose himself in the Bed of Ease and Honour when the Danes not onely jogged his Elbows but pinched his Sides to the disturbance of his future Quiet 831 They beat the English in a Navall Fight at Carmouth in Dorsetshire 31 which proved fatall to our Nation For an Island is never an Island indeed untill mastered at Sea cut off from Commerce with the Continent Henceforward these Pagans settled themselves in some part of the Land though claiming it by no other Title then their own Pride and Covetousnesse and keeping it in no other Tenure then that of Violence and Cruelty 8. Athelwolphus his Son succeeded King Egbert in the Throne Athelwolphus his universal grant of Tithes to the Church a Prince not lesse commended for his Valour 837 then Devotion Ethelwolphi 1 and generally fortunate in his Undertakings though much molested all his life-time by the Danes But nothing makes him so remarkable to Posterity as the granting of this Charter or rather the solemn passing of this Act ensuing c Ex Ingulph Malmesb. Gest Reg. lib. 2. cap. 2. Regnante Domino nostro Iesu Christo in perpetuum Dum in nostris temporibus bellorum incendia direptiones opum nostrarum nec non vast antium crudelissimas depraedationes hostium barbarorum Paganarumque gentium multiplices tribulationes ad affligendum usque ad internecionem cernimus tempora incumbere periculosa Quamobrem ego Ethelwolphus Rex Occidentalium Saxonum cum consilio Episcoporum ac Principum meorum consilium salubre atque uniforme remedium affirmavi Vt aliquam portionem terrarum haereditariam antea possidentibus omnibus gradibus sive famulis famulabus Dei Deo servientibus sive laicis semper decimam mansionem ubi minimum sit tamen partem decimam in libertatem perpetuam perdonari dijudicavi ut sit tuta at munita ab omnibus secularibus servitutibus nec non regalibus tributis majoribus minoribus sive taxationibus quod nos dicimus Witereden Sitque libera omnium rerum pro remissione animarum nostrarum ad serviendum Deo soli sine Expeditione pontis instructione arcis munitione ut eo diligentius pro nobis ad Deum preces sine cessatione fundant quo eorum servitutem in aliqua parte levigarius Placuit etiam Episcopis Alhstano Schireburnensis Ecclesiae Swithuno Wintoniensis Ecclesiae Anno Dom. 837 cum suis Abbatibus servis Dei consilium inire ut omnes fratres sorores nostrae ad unamquamque Ecclesiam omni hebdomada die Mercurii hoc est Weddensday cantent quinquaginta psalmos unusquisque Presbyter duas Missas unam pro rege Ethelwolpho aliam pro ducibus ejus huic dono consentibus pro mercede refrigerio delictorum suorum pro Rege vivente dicant Oremus Deus qui justificas pro ducibus etiam viventibus Praetende Domine postquam autem defuncti fuerint pro Rege defuncto singulariter pro principibus defunctis communiter Et hoc sit tam firmiter constitutum omnibus Christianitatis diebus sicut libertas illa constituta est quamdiu fides crescit in gente Anglorum This Athelwolphus was designed by his Father to be Bishop of Winchester 11 bred in a Monastery 848 alias 855 after taken out and absolved of his Vows by the Pope and having had Church-education in his Youth 18 retained to his Old-age the indeleble Character of his affections thereunto In expression whereof in a solemn Council kept at Winchester he subjected the whole Kingdome of England to the Payment of Tithes as by the foregoing Instrument doth appear He was the first born Monarch of England Indeed before his time there were
Monarchs of the Saxon Heptarchie but not successive and fixed in a Family but fluctuating from one Kingdome to another Egbert father to this Athelwolph was the first that atchieved this Monarchie and left it to this his Son not Monarcha factus but natus and so in unquestionable Power to make the foresaid Act obligatory over all the Land 9. Indeed Former Acts for Tithes infirme before his time many Acts for Tithes are produced which when pressed will prove of no great Validity Such are the Imperiall Edicts in Civil Law never possessed of full power in England as also the Canons of some Councils Popes never admitted into plenary Obedience by consent of Prince and People Adde to these first such Laws as were made by King Ina and Offa Monarchs indeed of England in their turns as I may say but not deriving the same to the Issue of their Bodies So that their Acts as personall may by some froward Spirits be cavilled at as determining with their own Lives Joyn to these if produceable any Provinciall Constitutions of an English Arch-bishop perchance Egbertus of York those might obey them who would obey being otherwise not subject to any civil Penalty But now this Act of Athelwolphus appears entire in all the Proportions of a Law made in his great Council equivalent to after Parliaments not only cum consilio Episcoporum with the Advice of his Bishops which easily may be presumed willingly to concurre in such a matter of Church-advancement but also Principum meorum of my Princes saith he the Consent of Inferiour persons not being required in that Age. 10. However Objections against this Act answered noting can be so strong but it may meet with Cavills though not to destroy to disturb the Validity thereof as this Act hath and we will severally examine the Defects charged upon it 1. Obj. Some object that Althelwolphus was but King of the West-Saxons as appears by his Stile Rex occidentalium Saxonum and not universall Monarch of England whose Act onely is obligatory to his own Subjects Let those of Cornwall Devon Somerset Dorset Hants VVilts and Berks pay Tithes by vertue of this Command other Parts of the Land are freed from the same because nihil dat quod non habet none can derive that to others which they enjoy not themselves being King but of a Part he could not lay this Law upon all the Land Ans He is tearmed eminently not exclusively King of the VVest-Saxons being fondest of that Title as his Fathers first Inheritance before he acquired the Monarchy of the whole Land There were indeed at this time two other Royalets as onely Kings by his leave viz Beorred King of Mercia and Edmond King of East-Angles who as it plainly appears by a Exemplified in S r. Henry Spelman's Councils pag. 348. Ingulphus were present at his Council and consented to the Acts thereof 2. Obj. The Consideration was superstitious Anno Dom. 855 to say so many Masses for the Souls of this King and his Captains when deceased Anno Rigis Ethelwolphi 18 Ans A double Consideration is mentioned in this Grant The first generall so pious in it's self no Exception can be taken thereat viz. to divert the imminents Iudgements of God from the Land hourly fearing the Invasion of fierce forraign Pagans so the better to secure the Nine parts thereof to himself and his Subjects by setting apart resigning and surrendring a Tenth to God the supreme Land-lord of all in such as attended his daily Service The second Consideration is more restrictive and particular and resents indeed of the Ignorance of that Age but yet is proportionable to the best Devotion those dayes produced and easily may an accidentall Abuse be purged by the pious Use intended and designed generally to Gods Glory 3. Obj. The King onely granted Tithes of his own Crown-land non in Dominio sed in Domintco suo not in all his Dominions but onely in his Demesnes Ans There needed no such solemn Consent of the Council of the Land for the passing away of his Private Bounty And that the Grant extended to the Kingdome in Generall appears by a Hen Hunting Hist l. 5. pag. 348. other Authours on the same Adelwolphus decimonono anno regni sui qui totam terram suam ad opus Ecclesiarum decimavit propter Amorem Dei c. More plainly another Authour In eodem anno decimavit Athulf rex de omni possessione sua in partem Domini in universo regimine sui Principatus sic constituit 11. Here we insist not on the many Arguments out of Old and New Testament Store no sore to prove Tithes to be Iure Divino which in due time may be produced when all Tempests of Tumultuous Spirits are allayed and when what the Town-Clerk of Ephesus promised to the Citizens thereof the Question may be determined b Acts 19. 39. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a lawfull and ordinary Assembly without fear of Force and suspicion of Violence For two Strings to a Bow do not amisse being no Hinderance to the Archer for the better hitting of the Mark who may wind up one and use that for the present which he sees most for his own Conveience Mean time most true it is that men are not so conscientious to obey the Laws of God as fearfull to resist the Edicts of Men and therefore though farre be it from the Clergy to quit their Title to Tithes by Divine Right they conceive it the surest way sometimes to make use of Humane Injunctions as having the most potent Influence on mens Affections especially in this Age when the love of many both to God and Goodnesse beginneth to wax cold 12. A Reverend Doctour in Cambridge A pleasant passage and afterwards Bishop of Sarisbury was troubled at his small living at Hogginton with a peremptory Anabaptist who plainly told him It goes against my Conscience to pay you Tithes except you can shew me a place of Scripture whereby they are due unto you The Doctour returned Why should it not go as much against my Conscience that you should enjoy your Nine parts for which you can shew no place of Scripture To whom the other rejoyned But I have for my Land Deeds and Evidences from my Fathers who purchased and were peaceably possessed thereof by the Laws of the Land The same is my Title saith the Doctour Tithes being confirmed unto me by many Statutes of the Land time out of mind Thus he drave that Nail not which was of the strongest Metall or sharpest Point but which would go best for the present It was Argumentum ad hominem fittest for the person he was to meddle with who afterwards peaceably payed his Tithes unto him Had the Doctour ingaged in Scripture-Argument though never so pregnant pertinent it had been endelesse to dispute with him who made Clamour the end of his Dispute whose Obstinacy and Ignorance made him uncapable
yet the King permitted him to appoint or prohibit nothing but what was according to His own will and pleasure and what the King had b Idem ibid. ordained before 9. Lastly Barons not to be excommunicated without the Kings command King William suffered no Bishop to excommunicate any of his Barons or Officers for adultery incest or any such hainous crime except by the Kings Command first made acquainted with the same Here the word Baron is not to be taken in that restrictive sense to which the modern acception hath confined it onely for such of the higher Nobility which have place and Votes in Parliament but c J. Selden Sptcilegium ed Eadmeium pag 168. generally for such who by Tenure en cheef or in Capite as they term it held land immediately of the King And an English d Robert of Glocester Poet counted the Virgil of his age and the Ennius in ours expresseth as much in his Rythmes which we here set down with all the rust thereof without rubbing it off remembring how one e Camdens Elizabeth Anno 1584. John Throkmorton a Justicer of Cheshire in Queen Elizabeth's dayes for not exhibiting a judicial Concord with all the defects of the same but supplying or filling up what was worn out of the Authentical Original was fined for being over officious and therefore take them with their faults and all as followeth The berthe was that noe man that of the King huld ought In Chief or in eni Servise to Manling were throught Bote the wardenis of holy Chirch that brought him thereto The King lede or his Bailifes wat he had misdoe And loked verst were thei to amendment it bring And bote by wolde by their lebe doe the Manling And a grave f Radulphus de diceto sub Anno 11â—3 Author gives a good reason why the King must be inform'd before any of his Barons be excommunicated lest otherwise saith he the King not being certified thereof should out of ignorance unawares communicate with persons excommunicated when such Officers of His should come to kiss His hand be called to his Councel or come to perform any personal attendance about Him Hitherto we have seen how careful the Conqueror was in preserving His own right in Church-matters We will conclude all with the Syllogisme which the g L. Cooks Reports fift part de Jure Regis Ecclesiastico fol. 10. Oracle of the Common-Law frameth in this manner It is agreed that no man onely can make any appropriation of any Church having cure of souls being a thing Eccelesiastical and to be made to some person Ecclesiastical but he that hath Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction But William the first of himself without any other as King of England made appropriation of Churches with cure to Ecclesiastical persons as by many instances may appear Therefore it followeth that He had Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction And so much concerning King William's policy in doing justice to His own power Proceed we now to His bounty confirming old and conferring new favors upon the Church and Clergie 10. First whereas before his time the Sheriff and Bishop joyntly kept their Courts together especially at the two solemn times Bishops jurisdictions first severed from the Sheriffs about Easter and Michaelmas King William in favour of the Clergie assigned the Bishops an a See this cleared by Mr Selden in his notes on Ead. merus pag. 167. entire jurisdiction by themselves wherein they should have cognizance of all causes relating to Religion I say relating to Religion a latitude of a cheverel extension adequate almost to the minde of him that will stretch it out and few Ecclesiastical Judges would lofe what might be got by measuring Now formerly whilest the power of Sheriff and Bishop went hand in hand together in the same Court neither could much outstrip other but but since they were severed the Spiritual power far outwent its old mate improving his own by impairing the Secular Courts and henceforward the Canon-law took the firmer footing in England Date we from hence the squint-eies of the Clergie whose sight single before was hereafter divided with double looks betwixt two objects at once the Pope and the King to put him first whom they eyed most acting hereafter more by forrain then domestick interest 11. A learned pen makes a just complaint The contest betwixt Commen and Canon Law how onely to be reconciled that b Lord Bacen in his advancement of Learning pag. 463. Aphorisme 96. Courts which should distribute peace do themselves practice duels whilest it is counted the part of a resolute Judge to enlarge the priviledge of his Court A grievance most visible in contest betwixt the Common and the Canon Law which as if they were stars of so different an Horizon that the elevation of the one necessitated the depression of the other lie at catch and wait advantages one against another So that whilest both might continue in a convenient and healthful habitude if such envious corrivalitie were deposed now alternately those Courts swell to a tympany or waste to a consumption as their Judges finde themselves more or less strength'ned with power or befriended with favour A mischief not to be remedied till either that mutual consent or a predominant power to both impartially state their jurisdictions rightly seting down the land-marks thereof and binding their proceedings not to exceed their bounds which would both advance learning and expedite the execution of Justice 12. To return to King William King William his Charter to the Clergie As He conferred power on so he confirmed profit to the Clergie Witness his c See it at large in Mr. Selden of tythes cap. 8. pag. 225. Charter granting them thorowout England tythes of calves colts lambs milk butter cheese woods meadows mills c. Which Charter is concluded 't is the strong hem keeps all the cloth from reveling out Qui decimam detinuerit per justitiam Episcopi Regis si necesse fuerit ad redditionem d Others read it adigatur Let him be compelled â—rguatar Who shall detain his tythes by the power of the Bishop and King if need be let him be argued into the payment thereof And Kings arguments we know are unanswerable as aâ— authoritate carrying power and pehalties with them This Charter might seem to give the tenth loaf of all the bread in the land into the hands of the English Clergie But the municipal laws which were afterwards made did so chip and pare this loaf with their Modus decimandi that in many places Vicaridges especially a small shiver of bread fals to the share of the Minister not enough for his necessary maintenance 13. And here Two contrary characters of King William to make a short but needful digression I finde in eminent Writers two contrary characters of King William Some make him an arrand Tyrant ruling onely by the Magna Charta of his own will oppressing all English without cause
though dying some dayes after Bishop Andrews and indeed great was the conformity betwixt them Both being Sons of Seafaring * Bishop Andrews in London and Felton in Yarmouth Men who by Gods blessing on their industry attained comfortable estates both Scholars Fellows and Masters of Pembrook Hall both great Scholars painfull Preachers in London for many years with no less profit to others than credit to themselves both successively Bishops of Ely This Bishop Felton had a sound Head and a sanctified Heart beloved of God and all good men very Hospitable to all and charitable to the poor He died the 5. of October 1626 and lieth buried under the Communion Table in St. Antholins in London whereof he had been Minister for twenty * Attested unto me by John Norgate his Son in Law eight years One whilst a private man happy in his Curates whereof two Dr. Bowlles and Dr. Westfield afterwards became Bishops and when a Bishop no lesse happy in his learned and religious Chaplains TO JOHN CARY OF STANSTED in HARTFORD-SHIRE Esq RAre is your hapiness in leaving the Court before it left you Not in deserting your attendance on your Master of whom none more constantly observant but in quitting such vanities which the Court then in Power did tender and You then in Prime might have accepted Whilest you seasonably retrenched your Self and reduced your Soul to an Holy Seriousnes declining such expensive Recreations on Principles of Piety as wel as Providence wherewith your Youth was so much affected And now Sir seeing you are so judicious in RACING give me leave to prosecute the Apostles Metaphore in applying my best wishes to you and to your worthy Lady which hath repaired the Losses caused by Loyalty so that you have found in a virtuous Mate what you have lost for a gracious Master Heaven is your Mark Christ your way thither the Word the way to Christ Gods Spirit the Guide to both When in this Race Impatience shall make you to tire or Ignorance to stray or Idleness or Weakness to stumble or Wilfulnes to fall may Repentance raise you Faith quicken you Patience strengthen you til Perseverance bring you both to the Mark. 1. QUeen Mary surprised with some fright Anno Regis Carol. 5 Anno Dom. 1629 The birth and death of Pr. Charles as is generally beleeved antedated the time of her travel by some weeks and was delivered of a Son Wednesday May 13. But a greater acceleration was endeavoured in his Baptisme than what happened at his Birth such the forwardnes of the Popish Priests to snatch him from the hands of those as dressed him had not the care of K. Charles prevented tâ—em assigning Dr. Web then waiting his Moneth to Christen him He died about an houre after the King very patiently bearing the loss as receiving the first fruits of some of his Subjects estates Anno Dom. 1629 Anno Regis Carolis and as willingly paying those of his own Body to the King of Heaven 2. The University of Oxford Oxford Muses Cambridge being then heavily infected with the Plague at once in their verses congratulated the safe Birth and condoled the short life of this Prince and a Tetrastich made by one of Christi-Church thus in making his addresse to the Queen I must not omit Quòd Lucina tuos semel est frustrata Labores Nec fortunantes praebuit illa manus Ignoscas Regina uno molimine Ventris Non potuit Princeps ad triae Regna dari This Prince the next day after was buried by Bishop Laud in the Chappel at Westminster 3. During the sitting of the last Parliament Dr. Leighton his raâ—ling Book May 14 one Leighton a Scotish-man presented a Book unto them had he been an English man we durst call him a Furious and now will terme him a fiery whence kindled let other ghess Writer His Book consisted of a continued railing from the beginaing to the end exciting the Parliament and People to kil all the Bishops and to smite them under the fifth Rib. He bitterly enveyed against the Queen calling her a Daughter of Heth a Canaanite and Idolatress and ZIONSPLEA was the specious Title of his Pamplhet for which he was sentenced in the Star-chamber to be whipt and stigmatized to have his eares cropt and nose slit But betwixt the pronouncing and inflicting this Censure he makes his escape into Bedford-shire 4. The Warden of the Fleet was in a Bushel of Troubles about his escape Recovered after his escape and severely punished though alledging that some helped him over the wal and that he himself knew nothing thereof til the noon after But no plea seemed available for one in his place but either the keeping or recovering of his Prisoner unfortunate in the former he was happy in the latter brought him back into his custody so that the aforesaid censure was inflicted on him It is remarkable that amongst the many accusations charged on Archbishop Laud at his trial the severity on Leighton is not at all mentioned chiefly because though he might be suspected active therein his faults were of so high a nature none then or since dare appear in his defence The Papists boast that they have beyond the Seas with them his Son of an other perswasion 5. Some three yeers since Feoffees to buy in impropriations certain feoffees were though not incorporated by the Kings Letters Patent or any Act of Parliament legally setled in trust to purchase in impropriations with their own and other well disposed Persons money and with their profit to set up and maintain a constant preaching Ministry in places of greatest need where the word was most wanting These consisted of a number neither too few as the work should burden them nor so many as might be a burden to the work twelve in all diversly qualified 1 William Gouge 2 Richard Sibbs Drs. in Divinity 3 C. Ofspring 4 J. Davenport 5 Ralph Eyre 6 S. Brown of Lincolns Inn. 7 C. Sherland 8 John White of Grayes Inn. Middle Temple 9 John Geering 10 Richard Davis 11 George Harwood 12 Francis Bridges Citizens Here were four Divines Anno Regis Caroli 6 Anno Dom. 1950. to perswade mens consciences four Lawyers to draw all conveiances and four Citizens who commanded rich Coffers wanting nothing save what since doth all things some Swordmen to defend all the rest Besides these the Capemerchants as I may term them there were other inferiour Factors Mr. Foxley c. who were imployed by appointment or of officiousnes imployed themselves in this designe 6. It is incredible Begin and precceed hopefully what large sums were advanced in a short time towards so laudable an imployment There are indeed in England of Parish Churches nine thousand two hundred eighty four endowed with Glebe and Tithes But of these when these Feoffees entered on their work three thousand eight hundred fourty five were either or Appropriated to Bishops