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
of much Uncleannesse it being appliable to them what the Apostle speaketh of others d Ephes 5. 12. It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret And one may justly admire how these Canonists being pretended Virgins could arrive at the knowledge of the Criticismes of all Obscenity so that chast Love may lye seven and seven yeares in the undefiled Marriage bed and be utterly ignorant what the Language of Lust meaneth in such filthy Canons Yea when such Love by the help of an Interpreter shall understand the same it would blush for Shame were it not that that Red would be turned into Palenesse as amazed at so horrid Uncleanness 25. Some five yeares after 755 Kenulphus The Charter of Kenulphus to the Abbot of Abbington King of West-Saxons conferred large Priviledges on the Monastery of Abbington We will recite so much of his e Cited by Stanford l. 3. fol. 111. and this Charter was pleaded primo Hen. 7. fol. 23. 25. Charter as concerns us because usefull to shew the Power which Kings in that Age had in Ecclesiasticall Matters Kenulphus Rex c per liter as suas patentes consilio consensu Episcoporum Senatorum gentis suae largitus fuit Monasterio de Abbindon in Comitatu Barke ac cuidam Richino tunc Abbati Monasterii c. quandam ruris sui portionem id est quindecim Mansias in loco qui à ruricolis tunc nuncupabatur Culnam cum omnibus utilitatibus ad eandem pertinentibus tam in magnis quam in modicis rebus in aeternam haereditatem Et quod praedictus Richinus c. ab omni Episcopali jure in sempiternum esset quietus ut inhabitatores ejus nullius Episcopi aut suorum Officialium jugo inde deprimantur sed in cunctis rerum eventibus discussionibus causarum Abbatis Monasterii praedicti decreto subjiciantur Ita quod c. Kenulphus King c. by his Letters Patents with the advice and consent of the Bishops and Counsellours of His Country hath given to the Monastery of Abbindon in the County of Barks and to one Richine then Abbot of the Monastery c. a certain portion of his land that is to say fifteen Mansions in a place which then of the Inhabitants was called Culnam with all Profits to the same belonging as well in great as mean matters Anno Dom. 755 as an inheritance forever And that the aforesaid Richine c. should be for ever acquit from all Episcopal jurisdiction that the Inhabitants thereof be thenceforth oppressed with the yoke of no Bishop or his Officials but in all events of matters and discussions of causes they be subject to the decree of the Abbot of the aforesaid Monastery So that c. From this Charter S t. Edward a His Reports part 5. fol. 9. Cook the Kings Attorney inferreth that King Kenulphus had Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction in himself in that he had power to discharge and exempt this Abbot from the Iurisdiction of the Bishop Which Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction was alwayes invested in the Imperiall Crown of England and therefore the Statute made under Henry the eighth concerning the Kings Spirituall Authority was not introductory of a new Law but declaratory onely of an old 26. But Father Parsons for he it is who stands under the Vizard of the Catholick Divine The Cavills of Parsons against S t. Edw. Cook confuted in a Book wrote of set purpose against Master Attorney in this point will by no means allow King Kenulphus any Ecclesiasticall Power but by many Fetches seeks to evade so pregnant a Proof Arg. 1. First he b Catholick Divine alias Parsons in his answer to the Kings Attorney p. 95 96 c. pleadeth that in this Charter Kenulphus did not exempt the Abbot from all Iurisdiction Spirituall of the Bishop but from some Temporall Interest or Pretense which perhaps the Bishop of the Diocese claimed over the Lordship of Culnam Answ Perhaps commend not his Modesty but thank his Guiltinesse for his timorous Assertion saith he but how doth this appeare for he bringeth no proof and if he affirmeth it on free cost we can confute it as cheap by denying it Arg. 2. Secondly saith he the King exempted the Abbot ab omni Episcopali jure that is from all Right of the Bishop and not Iurisdiction Answ Sharp Wit to cut so small a Mote in two parts for no purpose seeing jus and Iurisdiction are often known to import the same sense Arg. 3. Thirdly he objecteth the words no way seem fitly to agree to be spoken of the Bishops Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction which run thus That the Abbot should be quiet from the Bishops Right and that the Inhabitants from thenceforward should not be oppressed by the Yoke of the Bishops officers Answ Why what Incongruity but that these words may be spoken as they are of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction Is the word Yoke too course a Phrase to be applied to the Bishops Spirituall Power as they sometimes did manage it I appeale to those who felt it for no Yoke is heavy to him that puts it on but to those who bear it Mark by the way the word he rendereth Officers is in the Charter not Officiarii Lay-Latine but Officiales which is Church-language and the very dialect of the Court-Christian and should be translated Officials to whom Bishops committed their Spirituall Power But Parsons knew well how to lay his Thumb on what he would not have seen Arg. 4. Fourthly Howsoever it were it is manifestly false saith he that this Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction of King Kenulphus was derived from his Crown it might be he had it from the Pope which is most likely Answ Which is most unlikely for no Clause in the Charter relates to any delegate power and yet such a Passage might easily have been inserted yea could not justly have been omitted if he had claimed his Iurisdiction by Deputation from the Pope Arg. 5. Lastly which he saith seemeth to convince the whole matter and decide the very Case one a Harpsfield Hist Aug. seculo primo c. 9. ex Mariano Scoto Rethurus Abbot of Abbington went afterwards to Rome to obtain confirmation of the Priviledges of his Monastery from the See Apostolick Answ What of this This post-fact of Rethurus argues no Invalidity in Kenulphus his former Grant but rather shews the over-Officiousnesse of a pragmaticall Abbot who to ingratiate himself with the Pope craved of him what he had before Yea such cunning Compliance of the Clergy with his Holinesse by degrees fixed in him a supposed Ecclesiasticall Power paramount which really he never had nor rightly ever ought to have See here the King's Power in Church-matters in conferring Ecclesiasticall Priviledges and this single Threed we will twist with another Instance so strong that the Iesuites Art shall be unable to break it in sunder 27. By the Constitution of Augustine 758 first Arch-bishop of Canterbury
living at Walgrave in Northamptonshire and possessed of that Mannour before the Conquest The other a Walloon of that name coming over with the Conquerour and employed by him in many Services The later of these on the former his consent that he should marry his onely Daughter procured from the Conquerour a Pardon for his Father in Law that he might quietly enjoy his Lands and Livings descending on this Walloon VValgrave after the other his Death Which Pardon legible in French was Anno 1612. in the possession of the a Attested by Iohn Raven Richmond Herald See Weavers Funerall Monuments pag. 7. 5. 8. After the Conquest severall recruits of French in England Walgraves still flourishing in Suffolk Fifth Coroll Let none wonder if some names of VVorshipfull and Honourable Families undoubtedly of French Originall but since the Conquest have not appeared in the aforesaid Catalogues For know that after the Conquest sundry French-men of signall Worth entred England at severall times chiefly At the Marriage First of King Henry the second to Queen Eleanor who brought the Dukedome of Aquitain Earledome of Poictiers for her Dowrie Secondly of Edward the second to Isabella Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France when three thousand French came over with her complained of as a great Grievance and many settled here Not to speak of the Conquests of King Edward the third and Henry the fifth in France causing such an Intercourse of the Nations that then England and France may be said to have born counterchangeably each others Natives Sixth Coroll Tradesmen not mentioned in this Roll came over with them Many will admire no mention of Tradesmen in all these Catalogues being of absolute necessity both in War and Peace For soon would the Head of the best Monsieur ake without a Capper Hands be tanned without a Glover Feet be foundred without a Tanner Currier Shoemaker whole Body be straved cold without VVeaver Fuller Tailour hungry without Baker Brewer Cook harbourless without Mason Smith and Carpenter Say not it was beneath the French Gallantry to stoup to such mean Employments who found all these Trades here amongst the English their Vassallâ— For besides that nothing is base which is honest and necessary for humane Society such as are acquainted with the French both ancient modern finicall humour know they account our Tailours Botchers Shoemakers Coblers Cooks Slovens compared to the exactnesse of their Fancy and Palate so that certainly such Trades came over with them Seventh Coroll As appears by Dooms-day Book But hear what our great b Camden his remaines pag. 234. Antiquary faith herein In that most authenticall Register Doomesday Book in the Exchequer ye shall have Cocus Aurifaber Pictor Pistor Accipitrarius Camerarius Venator Piscator Medicus Cook Goldsmith Painter Baker Falconer Chamberlain Huntsman Fisher Leach Marshall Porter and others which then held land in capite and without doubt left these Names to their Posterity albeit haply they are not mentioned in those Tables of Battel Abbey of such as came in at the Conquest Eighth Coroll The sad case of the English Now let me bespeak the Readers Pity though possibly his ingenuous Sympathie hath given it before it was requested for those poor English-men who were to find Free-quarter for all these French Where could their Land-lords lodge them or rather how could they long continue Landlords when such potent Guests came to their Houses O the severall wayes which their Necessities dictated unto them Some fought as the Kentish who capitulated for their Liberty some fled as those in the North into Scotland some hid themselves as many in middle England in the Isle of Ely some as those of Norfolk traversed their Title by Law and that with good Successe in the Old age of King William the Conquerour Most betook themselves to Patience which taught many a Noble Hand to work Foot to travel Tongue to intreat even thanking them for their Courtesie who were pleased to restore a Shiver of their own Loaf which they violently took from them FINIS THE Church-History OF BRITAINE The Third Book FROM THE COMING IN OF THE NORMANS Untill the appearing of IOHN WICLIFFE SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO LONDON Printed in the Year M.DC.LV. To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord Beauchampe c. GRAND-CHILDE AND HEIR APPARENT To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Marquiss of Hertford SOme there are who exact of every Christain as a Touchstone of their sincerity to render an account of the exact time of their Conversion with the Circumstances thereof how when and where performed I must crave leave to enter my self a Dissenter herein conceiving such a Demand unreasonable as generally required esential to all true Believers I confess some may return a satisfactory Answer thereunto namely such whose Souls suddenly snatch'd out of Errour and Vitiousness were immediately wrought upon almost in an instant by the Spirit of God Thus of those * Acts 22. 41. three thousand gained on Many-Saints-day by Saint Peter at Jerusalem with the preaching of one Sermon each one might punctually and precisely tell the very Moment of their true Conversion and generally the WORSE men have been the BETTER they can point at the accurate date thereof And thus as Kings count their actions by the years of their Reign Bishops formerly of their Consecration so these may use the stile In the year of our Conversion first or second c. And as * Mar. 14. 6. Herod kept a Festivall of his Natural Birth-day such if so pleased may duly and truly observe an Anniversary Solemnity of their Regeneration A Priviledge not granted to all true Believers God to shew his Power that he Can and Pleasure that he VVill vary the manner of Mens Conversion though going the same path by his VVord and Spirit useth a â—lower pace in the hearts of others in whom Grace is wrought sensim sine sensu modeled by degrees In such no mortal man can assign the minutary juncture of Time when preparing grace which cleared the ground ended and saving grace which finish'd the fabrick of Conversion did first begin Observable to this purpose are the words of our Saviour * Mark 4. 26. So is the Kingdom of God as if a man should cast feed into the ground and should sleep and rise night and day and the â—eed should spring and grow up HE KNOWETH NOT HOW That grace is sown and is grown Men know but when and how in the persons aforesaid GOD KNOWS Besides these adult Converts there are a second sort of Christians unable to discover the Date of grace dawning in them namely such who with * 2 Tim 1. 5. and 3. 15. Timothy may be said to be good time out of minde sucking in grace with their milk extracted from and educated under a pious Parentage I hope and trust that your Honour may truly be ranked in this latter Form that as many ancient deeds written before the Reign of King Henry
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
that in so short a time his memory was in the peaceable possession of so general a veneration as to be joyned in company with S t Augustine and Boethius two such eminent persons in their several capacities 24. The School-men principally imployed themselves in knotty and thorny Questions of Controversial Divinity School-men busied in needless difficulties Indeed as such who live in London and like populous places having but little ground for their foundations to build houses on may be said to enlarge the bredth of their houses in height I mean increasing their room in many stories one above another so the School-men in this age lacking the latitude of general learning and languages thought to enlarge their active mindes by mounting up So improving their small bottom with towring Speculations though some of things mystical that might not more of things difficult that could not most of things curious that need not be known unto us 25. Their Latin is generally barbarous Excuses for their bad latin counting any thing Eloquent that is Expressive going the nearest way to speak their own Notions though sometimes trespassing on Grammer abusing if not breaking * Opus operatum Priscians head therein Some impute this their bald and thred-bare language to a design that no vermin of Equivocation should be hid under the â—ap of their words whilest others ascribe it to their want of change and their poverty in learning to procure better Expressions 26. Yet these School-men agreed not amongst themselves in their judgments Their several divisions in judgment For Burley being Scholar to Scotus served him as Aristotle did Plato his Master maintaining a contrary faction against him Ocham his Scholar father of the Nominals opposed Scotus the founder of the Reals which two sactions divided the School-men betwixt them Holcot being a Dominican stifly resisted the Franciscans about the conception of the Virgin Mary which they would have without any original sin However the Papists when pressed that their Divisions Mar their Viritie a mark of the Church whereof they boast so much evade it by pleading that these poines are not de side onely in the out skirts of Religion and never concluded in any Councel to be the Articles of faith 27. All of these School-men were Oxford All Oxford most Merton Colledg most Merton Colledg men As the setting up of an eminent Artist in any place of a City draws Chapmen unto him to buy his wares and Apprentices to learn his Occupation So after Roger Bacon had begun School-Divinity in Merton Colledg the whole Gang and Genius of that house successively applied their studies thereunto and many repaired thither from all parts of the Land for instruction in that nature Mean-time Cambridg men were not Idle but otherwise imployed more addicting themselves to preaching whereof though the world took not so much notice possitive Divinity not making so much noise as controversial where men ingage more earnestness yet might be more to Gods glory and the saving of the souls of men 28. Some will wonder Why School-Divinity not so used in Oxford after this Age. seeing School-Divinity was so rise in Oxford in this Age for some hundred years together viz. from towards the end of Henries to the end of Edwards Reign both the third of their names how the study thereof should sink so sodainly in that Vniversity which afterwards produced not such eminent men in that kinde But hereof several reasons may be assigned 1. The Wars betwixt York and Lancaster soon after began a Controversie indeed which silenced School-velitations Students being much disheartened with those martial discords 2. Once in an Age the appetite of an university alters as to its diet in learning which formerly filled not to say surfeited with such hard questions for variety sake sought out other imployments 3. The sparks of Scholars wits in School-Divinity went out for want of fuel in that subject grown so trite and thred-bare nothing could be but what had been said of the same before Wherefore fine wits found out other wayes to busie themselves 4. Onely information of the brain no benefit to the purse accrued by such speculations which made others in after ages to divert their studies à Quaestionibus ad Quaestum from Metaphysical Quaeries to Case-divinity as more gainful and profitable best inabling them for hearing Confessions and proportioning Pennance accordingly Since the Reformation School-Divinity in both the Universities is not used as anciently for a sole-profession by it self to ingross all a mans life therein but onely taken as a preparative quality to Divinity Discreet men not drowning but dipping their mindes in the study thereof 28. Return we now to the Common-wealth which we left bad The sad distemper of England at this time and finde amended as an old fore without a plaister in cold weather King Edward rather wilsul then weak if wilsulness be not weakness and sure the same effects are produced by both ruin and destruction slighted his Queens company and such a Bed if left where Beauty without Grace seldom standeth long empty Queen Isabel blinded with fury mistook the party who had wronged her and revengeth her husbands faults on her own conscience living incontinently with R. Mortimer a man martial enough and of much merit otherwise save that an Harlot is a deep pit therein invisibly to bury the best deserts The two Spencers ruled all at pleasure and the King was not more forward to bestow favours on them as they free to deal affronts to others their superiours in birth and estate Thus men of yesterday have Pride too much to remember what they were the day before and providence too little to fore-see what they may be to morrow The Nobility then petty Kings in their own Countreys disdained such Mushrooms should insult over them and all the Spencers insolencies being scored on the Kings account no wonder if he unable to discharge his own engagements was broken by suretiship for others 29. I finde it charged on this King King Edward accused for betraying his priviledges to the Pope that he suffered the Pope to encroach on the dignity of the Crown to the great damage and more dishonour of the Nation Indeed his father left him a fair stake and a winning hand had a good Gamester had the playing thereof having recovered some of his priviledges from the Papal usurpation which since it seems his Son had lost back again though the particulars thereof in History do not so plainly appear Onely it is plain that to support himself and supply his necessities he complyed with the Clergy a potent party in that age favourably measuring out the causes of their cognizances for although in the Reign of his Father an hedg was made by an Act in that nature betwixt the Spiritual and Temporal Courts yet now a Ditch an new act was added to the former scene So that hereafter except wilfully they could not mutually trespass on each others
The miserable ends of the Cardinals instruments herein that these houses were still continued to the generall end of pious uses however it was not fair to alienate them from the primitive intention of the Founders yea God himself seemed not well-pleased therewith I know that g Eccles 9. 1 2. no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked c. However Gods exemplary hand ought to be heeded in the signall fatality of such as by the Cardinall were employed in this service Five they were in number two whereof challenging the field of each other one was h Godwin his Annals of Hen. the eighâ—h Anno 1525. Yet Mr. Fox maketh the Lord Cromwell the principall person employed by the Cardinall therein slain and the other hanged for it A third throwing himself headlong into a well perished wilfully A fourth formerly wealthy grew so poor that he begged his bread The fifth Dr. Allen one of especiall note afterward Archbishop of Dublin was slain in Ireland What became of the Cardinal himself is notoriously known and as for his two Colledges that in Ipswich the embleme of its Builder soon up soon down presently vanished into private houses whilst the other Christ-Church in Oxford was fain to disclaim its Founder and being adopted the issue of the bounty of the King Henry the eighth at this day owns not him for Father who first gave it life but who afterwards kept it from dying In a word this dissolution of fourty small Houses caused by the Cardinall made all the Forest of religious Foundations in England to shake justly fearing the King would finish to fell the oaks seeing the Cardinal began to cut the underwood Of the first Priory which was solemnly suppressed by King Henry the eighth SOme six years after Christ-Church Priorie neer Allgate first and solely dissolved whilst as yet all other Abbeys flourished in their height and happinesse as safe and secure as ever before King Henry the eighth for reasons best known to Himself singled out the Priory of Christ-Church nigh Allgate in London and dissolved the same This He bestowed as a boon on Thomas a Hall's Chronicle An. 1525. Audley Speaker in the Parliament and indeed it was an excellent receit to clear his voice to make him speak shrill and loud for his Master This shrewdly shook the freehold of all Abbeys seeing now two such great men Wolsey and Audley both in their times Lord-Chancellours of England and therefore presumed well versed in cases of conscience the one a Divine first took the other a Common-Lawyer first received such lands into their possession 2. A word of the antiquity The antiquity wealth and dignity thereof wealth and dignity of this Covent because in each respect it was remarkable It was founded Anno 1108. by Queen b Harpâ—field in his Catalogue of Abbeys Matilda Wife to King Henry the first dedicated to the holy Trinity for Black Canons or Canons-Regular and one Norman by name and nation was first Prior thereof In processe of time it became rich in land and ornaments and passed all the Priories in London or Middlesex especially in this particular that the Prior thereof was alwaies an c Stow's Survey of London p. 145. Alderman of London namely of Portsoken Ward though otherwise their Covent standeth in Ealgate Ward and used to ride amongst the Aldermen in a livery like the rest save that his habit was in the shape of a spiritual person In the year 1264 d Idem ibidem Eustathius the eighth Prior of this Covent because he himself was loth to deale in temporall matters instituted Theobald Fitz-Ivo Alderman in his place They were most bountifull house-keepers relieving all comers and goers and got themselves much reputation for their hospitality 3. Some conjecture this was King Henry's designe in dissolving this Priorie A guesse at King Henry's design thereby to make a discovery in peoples affections how they resented the same He dispatched this Covent first as the forelorn hope is sent out before the body of the Army which if meeting with unsuspected dangers may give timely notice to the rest to advance no farther And if He had found the people much startled thereat He could quickly knock off retrench His resolutions and dexterous to decline envy for Himselfe handsomely cast the same on His instruments employed therein Others think the King as yet had no such project in intention but did it meerly to gratifie Sir Thomas Audley whom He loved the better for hating Cardinal Wolsey now beginning to fall against whom he had bitterly inveighed in the Parliament 4. As for the manner of the dissolving thereof The Priory taken by composition whereas all other Abbeys afterwards were stormed by violence whatsoever is plausibly pretended to the contrary this onely was fairly taken by composition For the Prior thereof was sent for by the King commended for his hospitality promised preferment as a man worthy greater dignity which promise surely He performed though the particulars of the agreement are not to be known Whereupon Anno 1531 the twenty third year of the King's reign in the moneth of July he surrendred the same to the King's use As for the Canons they were sent to other houses of the same Order who now being severally disposed in other Covents they might serve them as Monitours to warn all the rest seasonably to prepare for the time of their dissolution 5. The rooting out of this Priory wrought a middle effect in people The effect thereof upon the people for they were neither dumb nor clamorous thereat but grumbled out their discontentment for a time and then returned to their former temper However at first they were so abstemious that whereas the Priory Church and Steeple was e Idem ut priùs profered to whomsoever would take it down no man would undertake the offer Whereupon Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than he could make of the materials the workmen with great labour beginning at the top loosed stone from stone and throwing them down most part of them were broken in the fall and remained uuelesse 6. What might move the King to single this Priory out of all the rest This the antientest of all Priories to lead this sad dance is variously conjectured Indeed this was the antientest of all England of that Order since the Conquest I mean of Canon-Regulars as our f Stow ut priùs Authour telleth us And therefore it was but reasonable the oldest should go first the first-born should be first buried But surely no such consideration moved King Henry to this choice who was not so methodical in His deeds of undoing 7. As for the Lord Audley At this day called the Dukes-Place on whom this Priory was bestowed Margaret his sole Daughter Heir was
of four thousand men marching with a large train of Artillery so that the Queen had notice thereof by the Kentish Fugitives sooner then by her own Scouts 34. But time soon gained by Wyat was as soon lost Wyat his march how retarded on the accident of a piece of Ordnance breaking its carriage Now whilst the Army waited the leasure of bringing up this broken piece an houre to Wyat being of greater consequence then the greatest Gun he came short of the time prefixed to such Citizens as were Fautours of his cause Otherwise he had been at London in the night taking his enemies napping before they dreamt of him and all terrour is most active in the darke when the lesse men see the more they suspect whereas now it was break of day before they had gotten to Knights-Bridge 35. Wyat had a double designe His double designe and performed them both alike One violently to take White-Hall the other peaceably to be taken into London Captain Vaughan with five hundred Welsh-men and one would wonder how they should straggle into Kent embraced the right-hand way towards Westminster and then wheeled away to White-Hall his men shooting their arrows regardlesse where they lighted into the windows of the Court but could not force their passage into it Wyat went directly to Charing-Crosse where he met with some opposition but continued his resolution for London 36. Here one might have observed Three tunes of London in three hours that within three hours the tongue of the multitude in London thrice altered their tunes First they cryed 1. A Wyat a Wyat every mouth giving the alarme to the next man he met The next note was 2. Treason Treason all suspecting that the Earle of Pembroke the Queens Generall had revolted because hovering aloofe in the fields he suffered Wyat his Van and main Battell cutting off some of the Reare to march undisturbed save with one shot Anno Dom. 1554 from Knights-Bridge to Charing Chrosse Anno Regin Mar. 3. Their next tune was 3. Downe with the Draggle tails Downe with the Draggle-tails And indeed no wonder if these Kentish-men marching in the darke to avoid discovery in the depth of winter through durty wayes were richly landed in their cloaths and well fringed with mire and mud about them 37. Wyat himself marched directly up the Strand and Fleetstreet with the losse of lesse then twenty men Wyat stopped at Ludgate and comming to Ludgate promised himself entrance into the City But there he found nothing forbid his admission save a strong gate close shut and well fortified against him with men and Amunition From that minuite he went backward both in motion and successe Returning to Fleetstreet He sate down on a Bench over against the Bell Savage an Inne so called because given by one Isabell * Stows survey of London Savage to the Company of Cutlers and there too late began to bemoan and accuse his own rashnesse Retreating to Temple-Barre he was faced with some horse and after a fight being moved by a Herauld to submit himself Then will I yeeld saith he to a Gentleman and so submitted himselfe say a Hallinshed Stow Speed most to Sr. Maurice Berkley say b Fox pag. 1419. others to Sr. Clement Parton being in neither of them mistaken for their Gentle extraction 38. Hence was he carried to White-Hall to be examined Penitent at his execution thence to the the Tower to be committed Entring therein Sr. John Bridges Livetenant thereof taking him by the collar with his Dagger in his hand c Holinshed Ah Traitour saith he I would stab thee my self but that I know thou wilt be executed to whom the other calmly replied Sr now it is no mastery Some dayes after he suffered penitently and patiently on the Scaffold condemning his own act and therefore we have spoken the lesse against him for speaking so much against himself Fiftly of his Complices were hanged four hundred led with ropes about their necks April 11. Q. Mary 2. pardoned by the Queen and all things stilled and quieted 39. Long since had Queen Mary sent for Cardinall Poole in Italie The Emperour why jealous of Cardinall Poole to come over into England But Charles the Emperour by the Popes power secretly retarded his return fearing it might obstruct the propounded marriage betwixt King Philip his Son and Queen Mary Indeed the Queen bare Poole an unfeighned affection and no wonder to him that considereth 1. Their age He being about tenn yeers older the proportion allowed by the Philosopher betwixt Husband and Wife 2. Parentage She being Daughter to King Henry the eighth He by his Mother Margaret Daughter to George Duke of Clarence Grandchild to Edward the Fourth 3. Education Both when young brought up together the aforesaid Lady Margaret being Governesse of Queen Mary in her infancy 4. Religion Both zealous Catholicks and suffering the Queen confinement the Cardinall exile for the same His person also and nature was such as might deserve love and though a Cardinall Deacon yet that shallow character might easily be shaved off by the Popes dispensation so that there was some probability of their marriage and Oh how Royally Religious would their Ofspring have been extracted from a Crown and a Cardinalls Cap. 40. But now when the marriage with Prince Philip was made up Poole at last gets leave for England Poole at last got leave for England and to wipe away all superstition of Lutheranisme wherewith he was formerly taxed he became a Cruell that he might be beleeved a Cordiall Papist For meeting in Brabant with Emanuel tremellius requesting some favour from him he not onely denyed him relief but also returned him railing termes though formerly he had been his familiar Friend Yea his Godfather d Antiq Brit. in Polo pag. 351. giving him his name at the Font when Tremellius from a Jew first turned Christian 41. Arrived in England Anno Regin Mar. 2. Marc. 22. 1555 he was first ordained Priest being but Deacon before and then consecrated Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by Heath Anno. Dom. 4. 1554-1555 Arch-Bishop of Yorke Is ordained Priest and consecrated Arch Bishop and sixe other Bishops the Queen her selfe being present thereat in the Franciscan Church at Greenwich one of those Bankrupt Covents which her grace had set up again Three dayes after he was dedicated in Bow Church in Cheapside where rich in costly-robes and sitting on a gulded Throne his Pall was presented unto him Adorned herewith Poole presently mounts the Pulpit and makes a Ant. Brit. in Polo pag. 353. a drie Sermon of the use and honour of the Pall without good language or matter therein may they all make such who take for their Text what is not in Scripture many much admiring the jejunenesse of his discourse as if putting off his parts when putting the Pall upon him 42. Now sate the second Parliament in this Queens Reigne
contrivances of their neighbours houses as intending therein some designe for themselves Colledge Founder Benefactors Means I. Doway Colledge in Flanders founded 1569. Thence for fear of the wars removed to Rhems in France about 1508. where Henry the third King of France did patronize and protect them And some twenty years after brought back hither again Philip the Second King of Spaine All the Recusants in England A pension out of the King of Spains Treasury which being sometimes but badly paid the Scholars are fain to feed on patience 2. A yearly collection from the Catholicks of England 3. Sale of Masses Rich mens mortuaries which also are the staple maintenance of all other Colledges Number Rectour Eminent Schollars Uncertain but numerous For here they do not pick and choose for wit or wealth as in other Colledges but they receive all that come unto them 1. William Allen afterwards Cardinal a principal procurer and advancer of this foundation He died 1594. 2. Tho. Worthing'on of an ancient family in Lancashire Rectour 1609. 3. Matthew Kelison a North-Hamptonshire man Rectour 1624. Note That whereas the government of all other English Colledges belongs to Jesuits this only is ruled by Secular Priests D r. Web whom they brag to be the best Casuist in the world He lived to sing his Miss of Jubile having been a Priest full fifty years Colledge Founder Benefactour Means 2. Colledge of Rome founded 1579. Gregory the 13. Pope exhibited maintenance first to six then to fourteen at last to threescore Scholars therein to the yearly value of foure thousand Crowns Owen Lewes Referendary Apostolical was a principal promoter thereof The Welsh Hospital in Rome founded and endowed many hundred yeers since by Cadwallader King of Wales for Welsh pilgrims with the rich lands thereof conferred by Pope Gregorie the 13. on this Colledge They have at Frescata which is the Popes Sommer house lying some ten miles East of Rome three or four farmes where corne for the Colledge and other provision groweth Number Rectour Eminent Scholars One hundred at the least But Italian aire not well agreeing with English bodies they bury yearly ten or twelve of their fresh-men Note that whereas Anno 1576 there were but thirty old Priests remaining in this Realm these two Colledges alone within few years sent above three hundred Priests into England 1. D. Maurice He was removed out of his place for being too favourable to his Countritrimen the Welsh 2. Ferdinando a Neapolitan Jesuite succeeded him 3. Robert Persons Rectour for twenty three years from 1587. to 1610. where he died 4. Thomas Fitzherbert one of great age and parentage Rectour 1623. Francis Monfort who Anno 1591. being to depart the Colledge for England took his farewell of Pope Clement the eighth with so passionate a latin a Extant the continuation of Sanders de Schis Angl. pag 119. Image of â—oth Churches pag. 330. Sanders de Schism Angl. pag. 365. Oration that it fetch'd tears from the tender heart of his Holiness This Monfort some moneths after was executed in England Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 3. Colledge of Valladolit in Old Castile founded 1589. Anno Regin Eliza. 8. Philip the second Anno Dom. 1566. King of Spain Dona Luysa de Caravaial a rich widow Ladie in Spain gave all her estate being very great to this Colledge and came over into England where she died Lands they have not purchased much in Spain being loth the Spaniard should take notice of their wealth but great sums of mony they have at use in Brabant As also with English Factours in Spain perverted to their perswasion they have a great stock in trading Number Rector Eminent Scholars They are fewer now than formerly ever since the Spanish Court was removed by Philip the Third from Valladolit to Madrid Father Walpoole if not Rectour was principall actour herein about the year 1605. When by pretending to have gained Mr. Pickering Wotton son and heir to Lord Wotton to the Romish Church he got above a See this forgery at large in Lewes Owen his Running Register p. 59 to whom I am much beholding for my instructions in this subject five hundred pound to his Colledge  Know that S r. Francis Inglefield Privie Councellour to Queen Mary forsaking his fair Estate in Bark-shire in the first of Queen Elizabeth fled beyond the Sea He afterwards was a bountifull benefactor to the Colledge at Vaâ—â—â—dolit Yea he is beheld by the English Papists as a Beuefactor Generall to their Nation for the priviledges he procured them from Pope Gregory the thirteenth whereof hereafter He lieth buried in this Colledge and his Grave is shewen with great respect to Travellers of our Country coming thither Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 4. Colledge of Sivil founded 1593. Philip the second King of Spain Our English Merchants and Factours there residing even often against their own wills to secure themselves from the searchers in the Inquisition So that it is a Nemo scit what here is gotten for a Ne noceant They have a Box in every ship sailing to the West-Indies Upon it is the picture of S nt Thomas Becket on the Octaves of whose day this Colledge forsooth was first founded and into it through an hole in the lid thereof Merchants put in their devotion The key of this not Christmas but all-the-year-ong box is kept by the Rectour of the Colledge who only knoweth to how much this money amounteth Number Rectour Eminent Scholars * Cunning conveyances to pass over the seas Here expect not of me a discovery being no Spie by my profession of the cunning contrivances whereby these Jesuits pass and repass the seas without any detection yea suspicion of them Sometimes under the protection of a Pass procured from some Lords of the Privie Councell for a young Gentleman to go over into France with two or three of his Serving-men to learn the language Sometimes they shuffle themselves into the company of an Embassadour or his meniall servants and so cover their private falsehood under his publick Faith Many English Gentlewomen intended for Nunns are first vailed before their going beyond seas under pretence of travelling to the Spaw for their healths In their return for England these Jesuits have found the farthest way about for them the nearest way home For out of France or Spain first they will sail into the Low-Countries and thence into England and so coming immediately out of Protestant parts escape without any or with easie examination And yet these curious Engineers who flie so high and carry their conveyances so farr above all common discovery have sometimes one of their wheels or strings broken and then down they fall into Newgate or some other prison notwithstanding all their verbal and real equivocations Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 5. Saint Omers in Artois founded about the year 1596. Philip the second who gave them a good annuity for whose soul they say every day a Mass and every
the Rolls when your Family was not brought but brought back into England where it had flourished Barons many yeares before Plants are much meliorated by transplanting especially when after many years they are restored to their Native soile as Cordiall unto them And thus the continuance and increase of all happinesse to your Selfe and Noble Consort is the unfeigned Prayer of Your Honours most obliged servant THOMAS FVLLER THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAINE Ann. Reg. Bliz. 43. CENT XVII Ann. Dom. 1601 1. THe difference betwixt the Seculars and the Jesuites still continued and increased Wherefore Bishop Bancroft The Seculars fomented by the Bishop of Lond. against the Jesuits counting the Seculars the better but weaker side afforded them countenance and maintenance in London-house accommodating them with necessaries to write against their adversaries hoping the Protestants might assault the Romish cause with the greater advantage when they found a breach made to their hand by the others own dissentions But such who bore no good will to the Bishop beholding the frequent repairing and familiar conversing of such Priests in his house made a contrary construction of his actions and reported him Popishly affected Thus those who publiquely doe things in themselves liable to offence and privately reserve the reasons of their actions in their owne bosomes may sufficiently satisfie their consciences towards God but will hardly avoid the censures of men to which too unwarily they expose themselves With more generall applause was the bounty of Arch Bishop Whitgift bestowed who now finished his Hospitall founded and endowed by him at Croydon in Surrey for a Warden and eight and twenty Brethren As also a Free-Schoole with liberall maintenance for the education of Youth God the best of Creditors no doubt long since hath plentifully re-pay'd what was lent to him in his Members 2. The last Parl. Oct. 17. Nov. 19. in this Queens raigne was now begun at Westm Acts in the last Parliament of Q. Eliz. and dissolved the moneth next following Of such things which at distance may seeme to relate to Church affaires in this Parl. it was Enacted That Overseers of the Poor should be nominated yeerly in Easter week under the Hand and Seale of two a Statute 43. of Q. Eliz. c 2. Justices of Peace and that these with the Church wardens should take care for the reliefe of the Poore binding out of Apprentices c. As also That the Lord Chancellor should award Commissions under the Great Seale into any part of the Realme as cause should require to the b Ibid. cap. 4. Bishop of every Diocese and his Chancellour and any four or more persons of honest behaviour to enquire by oathes of twelve men into the mis-imployment of any Lands or Goods given to pious uses and by their Orders to appoint them to be duly and faithfully paid or employed to their true uses and intents In pursuance of this Statute much good was and is done to this day in severall parts of the Kingdome the Law being very tender that the true intentions of the Donour should take effect as by this eminent instance may appeare By the rule of the Law Copyhold Land cannot be aliened but by Surrender but yet if a man Devise such Land to a Charitable use though it had not been surrendred this is c 15 Jac. in Rivets Cale in Chancery adjudged good and shall be construed an appointment to a Charitable use within this Statute 3. Now if we look into the Convocation Acts of this yeares Convocation parallel to this Parliament therein we shall find that it began with a Latine Sermon of William Barlow Doctor of Divinity and one of Her Majesties Chaplaines afterwards Bishop of Rochester then of Lincolne Preaching on this Text LUKE 19. 13. Negotiamini dum venio In this Convocation Mathew Sutcliffe Doctor of the Law and Deane of Exeter was chosen Prolocutor but nothing save matters of course passed therein Nor finde I any eminent Divine deceased this yeare 4. Francis Godwin doctor of Divinity Francis Godw made Bishop of Landaff Sub-Deane of Exeter Sonne of Thomas Godwin Bishop of Wells like another d In vitâ— Greg. Nazianzen Gregorie Nazianzen a Bishop Son to a Bishop was promoted to the Church of Landaff he was borne in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth who was not a little sensible of and thankfull for Gods favour unto her in suffering her so long to hold the Helme of the English Church till one borne within her reigne was found fit to be a Bishop He was stored with all polite Learning both judicious and industrious in the study of Antiquity to whom not onely the Church of Landaff whereof he well deserved but all England is indebted as for his other learned Writings so especially for his Catalogue of Bishops He was translated Anno 1617. to Hereford and died many yeares after a very old man in the reign of King CHARLES 5. Now came forth a notable Book against the Jesuites Watson's Quodlibers against the Jesuits written in a Scholastick way by one Watson a Secular Priest consisting of ten quodlibets each whereof is sub-divided into as many Articles It discovereth the Jesuites in their colours ferreting them out of all their burrowes of Equivocation and mentall reservation holding Proteus so hard to it that in despight of his changing into many shapes he is forced to appeare in his own proper forme No intire Answer for ought I can learn was ever returned to this Book The Jesuits according to their old Trick slighting what they cannot confute and counting that unworthy to be done which they found themselves unable to doe Indeed for matters of fact therein they are so punctually reported with the severall circumstances of time and place that the guilty consciences of such as are concerned therein though snapping and snarling at pieces and passages thereof for the main may well give it over for unanswerable 6. Yet the whole Book is written with an imbittered style The black character of Iesuis painted with the Pensil of a Secular Priest so that Protestant Charity hath a better conceit of Jesuits than to account them altogether so bad Take one passage of many e Second Quodliber third Article pag. 62. No no their course of life doth shew what their study is and that howsoever they beast of their perfections holinesse Meditations and exercises yet their platforme is heathenish tyrannicall sathanicall and able to set ARETINE LUCIâ—N MACHIAVEL yea and DON LUCIFER in a sort to schoole as impossible for him by all the art he hath to be-sot men as they doe This is the same Watson who though boasting of the obedience of the Secular Priests to their Soveraigns and taxing the Iesuits for want thereof was notwithstanding himself afterwards executed for a Traitor in the reigne of King Iames. It seemes as well Seculars as Iesuits are so loaden with Loyalty that both need the Gallowes to ease them
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
to the Observation of the English b Malemesburiensis ut prims King Alfred's exemplary Character Historian that the Saxon-Kings in this Age magis optabant honestum Exitum quam acerbum Imperium 25. In this sad condition God sent England a Deliverer namely King Alfred or Alured born in England bred in Rome where by a Prolepsis he was anointed King by Pope Leo though then but a private Prince and his three elder Brothers alive in auspicium futuriregnt in hope that hereafter he should come to the Crown Nor did this Vnction make Alfred ante-date his kingdome who quietly waited till his foresaid Brothers successvely reigned and died before him and then took his Turn in the Kingdome of the VVest-Saxons The worst was his Condition was like a Bride-groom who though lawfully wedded yet might not bed his Bride till first he had conquered his Rival and must redeem England before he could reign over it The Danes had London many of the in-land moe-of the maritime Towns and Alfred onely three effectuall Shires Somerset Dorset and VVilts yet by Gods Blessing on his Valour he got to be Monarch of all England Yea consider him as a King in his Court as a Generall in his Camp as a Christian in his Closer as a Patron in the Church as a Founder in his Colledge as a Father in his Family his Actions will every way appear no lesse excellent in themselves 872 AIfredâ— sen Aâ—luredi 1 then exemplary to others 26. His most daring Design was Alfred as a fidler discovereth the Danish designes when lying hid about Athelney in Somerset-shire 876 and disguised under the habit of a Fidler being an excellent Musician he adventured into the Danish Camp Had not his spirit been undaunted 5 the sight of his armed Foes had been enough to have put his Instrument out of Tune Here going unsuspected through their Army he discovered their Condition and some of their Intentions Some would say that the Danes deserved to be beaten indeed if they would communicate their Counsels to a Fidler But let such know Alfred made this generall Discovery of them that they were remisse in their Discipline lay idle and carelesse and Security disarmes the best-appointed Army Themistocles said of himself that he could not fiddle but he knew how to make a little city great But our Alfred could fiddle and make a little City great too yea enlarge a petty and contracted Kingdome The Danish ships left water-bound into a vast and absolute Monarchy 27. But as the Poets feign of Anteus the Son of the Earth who fighting with Hercules Anno Regis Alfredi seu Aluredi 5 and often worsted by him recovered his Strength again every time he touched the Earth Anno Dom. 876 revived with an addition of new Spirits so the Danes which may seem the sons of Neptune though often beaten by the English in land-Battels no sooner recovered their Ships at Sea but presently recruiting themselves they returned from Denmark more numerous and formidable then before But at last to follow the Poeticall Fancy as Hercules to prevent Antaeus his farther reviving hoised him aloft and held him strangled in his Armes till he was stark dead and utterly expired so to secure the Danes from returning to the Sea who out of the Thames had with their Fleet sailed up the River Ley betwixt Hartfordshire and Essex Alfred with Pioneers divided the grand Stream of Ley into severall Rivulets so that their Ships lay Water-bound leaving their Mariners to shift for themselves over land most of which fell into the hands of their English Enemies so that this proved a mortal Defeat to the Danish Insolence 28. Alfred having thus reduced England to some tolerable terms of Quiet The general ignorance in England made most of the Danes his Subjects by Conquest the rest his Friends by Composition encountred a fiercer Foe namely Ignorance and Barbarisme which had generally invaded the whole Nation Inso much that the writeth that South of Thames he found not any that could read English Indeed in these dayes all men turned Students but what did they study onely to live secretly and safely from the Fury of the Danes And now that the next Age might be wiser then this Alfred intended the founding of an University at Oxford 29. Indeed Ancient Schools at Crekelade and Lechlade there were anciently standing on the Banks of Isis which in due time commenceth Thamisis two Towns one Crekelade or Greeklade in Wiltshire the other Lechlade or Latinlade in Gloucestershire In the former of these many yeares since things time out of mind must not be condemned as time out of truth the Greek Tongue as in the later the Latine Tongue are said to be publickly professed by Philosophers But where was Hebrew-lade the Hebrew Tongue being more necessarie then both the former for the understanding of the Old Testament Alas in this Age it was banished not onely out of England but out of Christendome As in the ordinary method of Nature the more aged usually die first so no wonder if Hebrew generally presumed the oldest Language in the world expired first in this Age of Ignorance utterly abolished out of the Western Countries Yea it is well the other two learned Tongues were preserved in these places Grekelade and Lechlade being then Cities of eminent Note shrunk now to mean Towns and content with plain English where Latine and Greek were formerly professed 30. But now the Muses swam down the Stream of the River Isis 11 to be twenty miles nearer to the rising Sun 882 and were by King Alfred removed from Crekelade and Lechlade The University first founded by Alfred at Oxford to Oxford where he founded an University Yet some say Alfred did find and not found Letters therein seeing there was a sprinkling of Students therein before though Learning was very low and little therein till this considerable Accession when Alfred founded therein three Colledges one for Grammarians a second for Philosophers a third for Divines Take a List of their primitive Professours In Divinity S t. Grimbal S t. Neoth In Grammar Asserius a Monk In Logick Iohn of S t. Davids In Mathematicks Ioannes Monachus It is credibly reported that what is now called Vniversity-Colledge was then one of King Alfred's Foundations as the Verses written in their Hall under his Armes do attest Nobilis Alfredi sunt haec Insignia cujus Primum constructa est haec pietate domus And from this time Learning flourished here in great Plenty and Abundance though oft-times abated Anno Dom. 882 the Universities feeling the Impressions of the Common-wealth Anno Regis Alfredi seu Aluredi 11 31. At the same time wherein King Alfred built Vniversity Colledge in Oxford Kings-Hall founded by King Alfred he also founded Another House called Kings-great-Hall intimating a lesser hard by now included within the compasse a Rex Platonicus pag. 211. of
he pleased Lastly on pious Princes whose blind Zeal and misled Devotion thought nothing too precious for him in which from we rank this Edward the Elder then King of England And it is worth our observing that in point of Power and Profit what the Popes once get they ever hold being as good at keeping as catching so that what one got by Encroching his Successour prescribed that Encrochment for a Title which whether it will hold good in matter of Right it is not for an Historian to dispute 3. But to return to our Story The Pope pleased and England absolved again We are glad to see Malmesbury so merry who calleth this Passage of the Popes interdicting England Iocundum memor atu pleasant to be reported because it ended so well For Pleigmund Arch-bishop of Canterbury posted to Rome bringing with him honorifica munera such Ushers will make one way through the thickest Croud to the Popes Presence informing his Holinesse that Edward King of England in a late-summoned Synod had founded some new and supplied all old vacant Bishopricks Pacified herewith the Pope turned his Curse into a Blessing and ratified their Elections The worst is a learned b Sir Henry Spelman in Conciliis pag. 389. Pen tells me that in this Story there is an inextricable Errour in point of Chronology which will not suffer Pope Formosus and this King Edward the Elder to meet together And Baronius makes the Mistake worse by endeavouring to mend it I have so much Warinesse as not to enter into that Labyrinth out of which I cannot return but leave the Doubt to the Popes Datarie to clear proper to him as versed in such matters The same c Idem ibidem Pen informs me that the sole way to reconcile the Difference is to read Pope Leo the fifth instead of Pope Formosus which for Quietnesse I am content to do the rather because such a Roaring Curse best beseems the mouth of a Lion 4. Hear now the names of the seven Bishops which Pleigmund consecrated in one day Vacant Bishopricks supplied and new erected a great dayes-work and a good one if all were fit for the Function Fridstan Bishop of Winchester a Learned and Holy man Werstan of Shireburn Kenulfe of Dorchester Beornege of Selsey Athelme of VVells Eadulfe of Crediton in Devon and Athelstan in Cornwall of S t. Petrocks These three last VVestern Bishopricks were in this Council newly erected But S t. Petrocks had never long any settled Seat being much in motion translated from Bodman in Cornwall upon the wasting of it by the Danes to S t. Germans in the same County and afterward united to Crediton in Devonshire This Bishoprick was founded principally for the reduction of the rebellious Cornish to the Romish Rites who as they used the Language so they imitated the Lives and Doctrine of the ancient Britans neither hitherto King Edward in a new Synod confirms his fathers constitutions nor long after submitting themselves to the See Apostolick 5. A Synod was called at Intingford where Edward the Elder and Guthurn King of the Danes in that part of England which formerly belonged to the East-Angles onely confirmed the same d Lambert in his Saxon Laws and Sir Henry Spelman in his Councils pag. 390. ecclesiasticall Constitutions which Alured Edwards Father with the said Guthurn had made before Here the curious Palats of our Age will complain of Crambe that two Kings with their Clergy should meet together onely actum agere to do what was done to their hands But whilest some count all Councils idle which do not add or alter others will commend their Discretion Anno Regis Edvardi Sen. 5 who can discern what is well ordered already Anno Dom. 906 approve their Policie in enjoyning such things unto others and principally praise their Piety for practising them in themselves And whosoever looks abroad into the world with a judicious Eye will soon see that there is not so much need of New Laws the Multitude whereof rather cumbers mens Memories then quickens their Practise as an absolute necessity to enforce Old Laws with a new and vigorous Execution of them 6. And now King Edward 14 remembring the pious Example of his Father Alfred in founding of Oxford 915 began to repair and restore the University of Cambridge Cambridge University repaired by King Edward For the Danes who made all the Sea-coasts of England their Haunt and kept the Kingdome of the East-Angles for their Home had banished all Learning from that place Apollo's Harp being silenced by Mars his Drum till this Kings Bounty brought Learning back again thither as by his following Charter may appear In a a Charta extat in MS. codice qui Cantabrigiae est in Aula Clarensi ejusdem meminit Tho. Rudburn nec non Ioh. Rossus nomine D. Iesu Christi Ego Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum divino compulsus amore praecepto Joannis Apostolicae Sedis Episcopi ac Pleigmundi Cantuar. Archiepisc consilio omnium Sacerdotum Principum meae Dominationis universa singula Privilegia Doctoribus Scholaribus Cantabrigiae nec non servientibus eorundem uti ab olim viguit indesinenter Mater Philosophiae reperitur in praesenti Fons Clerimoniae à me data seu ab Antecessoribus meis quomodo libet concessa stabili jure grata rata decerno durare quamdiu vertigo Poli circa Terras atque Aequora Aethera Syderum justo moderamine volvet Datum in Grantecestria anno ab Incarnatione D. 915. venerabili Fratri Frithstano Civitatis Scholarium Cantabrig Cancellario Doctori per suum c. The Credit of this Charter is questioned by some because of the barbarous Stile thereof as if an University were disgraced with honourable Priviledges granted unto it in base Latine But know that Age was so poor in Learning it could not go to the Cost of good Language Who can look to find a fair Face in the hotest parts of Aethiopia Those Times were ignorant and as it is observed of the Country-people born at the Village of b Camden's Brit. in Leicestershire pag. 517. Carlton in Leicestershire that they have all proceeding from some secret cause in their Soil or Water a strange uncouth VVharling in their Speech so it was proper to the persons writing in this Age to have a harsh unpleasant grating Stile and so much the sowrer to Criticall Eares the more it is sweetned with an affected Rhythm though a Blemish yet a Badge of their genuine Deeds which were passed in those times 7. Hear also what Iohn Rouse an excellent Antiquary The Testimony of Iohn Rouse concerning K. Edward's repairing of Cambridge furnished by King Edward the fourth with Privacy and Pension to collect the Monuments of this Land alleageth to this purpose Who being bred in Oxford and having written a Book in confutation of those which deduce the Foundation of this Vniversity from
pay and reward some of his poorest servants giving them money on this condition that hereafter they should serve no subject but onely the b Rex Platonicus pag. 43. King himself as if this had been suscipere gradum Simeonts for those who so long had attended on a Lord-Cardinal But this happened many years after we return to this proud Prelate while he flourished in the height of his Prosperity 36. Their heads will catch cold Wolsey turns his waiting into revenge which wait bare for a dead Popes Tiple-Crown Wolsey may be an instance hereof who on every avoidance of S t Peters Chaire was sitting down therein when suddenly some one or other clapt in before him Weary with waiting he now resolved to revenge himself on Charles the Emperour for not doing him right and not improving his power in preferring him to the Papacy according to his promioses and pretences He intends to smite Charles through the sides of his Aunt Katharine Queen of England endeavouring to alienate the Kings affections from her And this is affirmend by the generality of our Historians though some of late have endeavoured to acquit Wolsey as not the first perswader of the King divorce 37. Indeed he was beholding The scruple of the Kings marriage for the first hint thereof to the Spaniards themselves For when the Lady Mary was tendered in marriage to Philip Prince of Spain the Spanish Embassadours seemed to make some difficulty thereof and to doubt her extraction as begotten on a mother formerly married to her husbands elder brother Wolsey now put this scruple into the head of Bishop Longlands the Kings Confessour and he insinuated the same into the Kings conscience advising him hereafter to abstain from the company of his Queen to whom he was unlawfully married Adding moreover that after a divorce procured which the Pope in justice could not deny the King might dispose his affections where he pleased And here Wolsey had provided him a second Wife viz Margarite Countess of Alenzon sister to Francis King of France though heavens reserved that place not for the Mistress but her Maid I mean Anna Bollen who after the return of Mary the French Queen for England attended in France for some time on this Lady Margarite 38. Tunder needs no torch to light it The King willingly embraceth the motion the least spark will presently set it on flame No wonder if King Henry greedily resented the motion Male issue he much wanted and a young Female more on whom to beget it As for Queen Katharine he rather respected then affected rather honoured then loved her She had got an habit of miscarrying scarce curable in one of her age intimated in one of the Kings private papers as morbus incurabilis Yet publickly he never laid either fault or defect to her charge that not dislike of her person or conditions but onely principles of pure conseience might seem to put him upon endeavours of a Divorce 39. The business is brought into the Court of Rome The Pope a Captive there to be decided by Pope Clement the seventh Bnt the Pope at this time was not sui juris being a prisoner to the Emperour who constantly kept a guard about him 44. As for the Queens Councel Fishers short plea. which Anno Dom. 1529 though assigned to her Anno Regis Hen. 8 25. appear not dearly accepted by her as chosen rather by others for her then by her for her self I finde at this present little of moment pleaded or performed by them Onely Bishop Fisher affirmed that no more needed to be said for the validity of the marriage then Whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder A most true position in it self if he could have cleared the application thereof to his Royal Client but Hoc restat probandum the contrary that God never joyned them together being vehemently urged by her adversaries 45. Notwithstanding the Queens absence The pleas of the Kings Councel the Court proceeded And first the Kings Proctors put in their exceptions against both Bull and Breve of Pope Julius the second dispensing with the Kings marriage with his brothers wife viz. 1. That they were not to be found amongst the Original Records in Rome 2. That they were not extant in Chartaphylacio amongst the King of Englands papers most concerned therein but found onely in Spain amongst the writings of a State-Officer there 3. That in them it was falsely suggested as if the same were procured at the instance of Henry Prince of Wales who then not being above thirteen years old was not capable of such intentions 4. That the Date thereof was somewhat discrepant from the form used in the Court of Rome 46. After this Secrets sub sigillo thalami many witnesses on the Kings side were deposed July 12. and though this favour is by custome indulged to the English Nobility to speak on their Honours yet the Canon-Law taking no notice of this their municipal priviledg and for the more legal validity of their restimonies required the same on oath though two Dukes one Dutchess one Marquess many Lords and Ladies gave in their depositions These attested 1. That both were of sufficient age Prince Arthur of fifteen years the Lady Katharine somewhat elder 2. That constant their cohabitation at board and in bed 3. That competent the time of the same as full five moneths 4. That entire their mutual affection no difference being ever observ'd betwixt them 5. That Henry after his Brothers death by an instrument produced in Court and attested by many witnesses refused to marry her though afterwards altered by the importunity of others 6. That by several expressions of Prince Arthur's it appeared he had carnal knowledg of the Lady Katharine The beds of private persons are compassed with curtaines of Princes vailed also with canopies to conceal the passages therein to which modesty admitteth no witnesses Pitty it is that any with Pharaoh should discover what is exchanged betwixt Isaac and Rebekah all which are best stifled in secrecy and silence However such the nature of the present cause that many privacies were therein discovered 47. Observe by the way A shrewd retortion that whereas it was generally alledged in favour of the Queen that Prince Arthur had not carnal Knowledg of her because soon after his marriage his consumptionish body seemed unfit for such performances this was retorted by testimonies on the Kings side his witnesses deposing that generally it was reported and believed the Prince impaired his health by his over liberal paiment of due benevolence 48. It was expected that the Cardinals should now proceed to a definitive sentence An end in vain expected according as matters were alledged and proved unto them The rather because it was generally reported that Campegius brought over with him a Bull Decretal to pronounce a nulsity of the match if he saw just cause for the same Which rumor like
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
Deductions Divisions and Sub-divisions of these Orders which have no foundation in the Scripture Yea hear what c Matth. Park An. Dom. 1257. pag. 949. Matthew Paris being a Monk of S. Albans saith Tot jam apparuerunt Ordines in Angliâ ut ordinum confusio videretur inordinata It is possible then for my best diligence to commit an Errour and impropriety in Reckoning them up For what wonder is it if one be lost in a wood to which their numerous Orders may well be resembled though in all this wood there appears not one plant of God's planting as one of their own f Rob. Witgift Abbot of Wellow Abbots most remarkably did observe In a word when the g Exod. 8. 13 14. Frogs of Aegypt died out of the houses out of the villages and out of the fields They gathered them together upon heaps c. And give us leave in like manner confusedly to shovel up these Vermin now dead in England 2. First Benedictines the primitive Monks in England come forth the Benedictines or Black Monks so called from S. BENEDICT or BENET an Italian first Father and Founder of that Order Augustine the Monk first brought them over into England and these black Birds first nested in Canterbury whence they have flowen into all the parts of the Kingdome For as h Clem. Reyner De antiq Ordin is S. Benedict one rightly observeth all the Abbeys in England before the time of King William the Conquerour and some whiles after were filled with this Order Yea all the Abbeys in England of the first magnitude which had Parliamentary Barons abate onely the Prior of the Hospitallers of S. John's in London were of this Order and though the Augustinians were their Seniors in Europe they were their Juniors in England Now as Mercers when their old Stuffes begin to tire in Sale refresh them with new Names to make them more vendible So when the Benedictines waxed stale in the world the same Order was set forth in a New Edition corrected and amended under the names first of CLUNIACKS these were Benedictines sifted through a finer search with some additionals invented and imposed upon them by Odo Abbot of Cluni in Burgundy who lived Anna Domini 913. But these Cluniacks appeared not in England till after the Norman Conquest and had their richest Covents at Barnestable in Devon-shire Pontefract and Meaux in Yorkshire c. 2. CISTERCIANS so called from one Robert living in Cistercium in Burgundy aforesaid he the second time refined the drossie Benedictines and Walter Especk first established their Brotherhood in England at Rivall in York-shire besides which they had many other pleasant and plentifull habitations at Warden and Woburne in Bedford shire Buckland and Ford in Devon shire Bindon in Dorset-shire c. The Bernardine Monks were of a younger House or under-Branch of the Cistercians 3. Of GRAND-MONT which observed S. Benet's Rule were brought into England Anno 1233 and were principally fixed at Abberbury in Shropshire The Family of these Benedictines taken at large with their Children and Grand-Children of under-Orders springing from them were so numerous and so richly endowed that in their Revenues they did match all the other Orders in England especially if the Foundations of Benedictine Nuns be joyned in the same reckoning I doubt not but since these Benedictines have had their crudities deconcocted and have been drawn out into more slender threds of sub-divisions For commonly once in a hundred years starts up some pragmaticall person in an Order who out of novelty alters their old Rules there is as much variety and vanity in Monks Cowles as in Courtiers Cloaks and out of his fancie adds some observances thereunto To crie quits with whom after the same distance of time ariseth another and under some new Name reformeth his Reformation and then his late new now old Order is looked on as an Almanack out of Date wanting the Perfection of new and necessary Alterations 3. A scandal hath lately been raised Scandalum Benedictinorum much in dishonour of these Benedictines viz That all the antient English Monks before the Conquest were onely of the Order of S. Equitius Some highly concerned to confute this Report wrote over to our Antiquaries in England for their Judgments herein from whom they received this following Answer a Extant in Clem Reynere de Apostolatu Benedictinorum in Angliâ— pag. 202. QUoniam hâc nostra aetate exorta est controversia de Monachatu Gregorii magni Augustini Cantuariensis Sociorúmque ejus quos Gregorius in Angliam de sâ—o Monasterio praedicandi Evangelii causa destinâsse legitur quibusdam ipsos ordini Benedictino addicentibus quibusdam vero id acriter pernegantibus ipsos Ordini S. Equitii sive alicui alii ascribentibus Nos qui multum temporis in rebus vetustis tam civilibus quà m sacris atque iis imprimis quae ad Britanniam nostram potissimum spectant impendimus rogati ut testimonium perhiberemus veritati cum neutrius partis prejudiciis simus obnoxii Dicimus affirmamus nos duo solùm Monachorum genera in primis Saxonicae apud majores nostros Ecclesiae temporibus unum eorum qui Aegyptiensium mores secuti in hac Insulâ florebant ante adventum Augustini alterum eorum qui Benedictini Augustino itineris erant comites Hanc traditionem à patribus ad filios derivatam esse testamur atque ita derivatam ut non levibus innitatur fabulis aut ambitiosis partium conjecturis quin eam ipsam vetusta signatae fidei exhibent apud nos monumenta Ab Augustino insupper ad Henricum octavum per petuo in hac Insulâ viguit Benedictina Institutio nec Augustino recentiorem ejusve originem originisve recentioris vestigium ullibi comperimus Tantum abest Equitianum aliquem in hâc Insula fuisse Ordinem ut nulla omnino hujusmodi neque ordinis neque nominis mentio in vetustis quibus versamur tabulariis habeatur Sanè aliorum fere omnium in hâc Insulâ origines ita observavimus ut unius cujusque etiam minimi ingressum suo anno consignatum habeamus solius Benedictini ordinis originem ante Augustini saeculum non invenimus ipsius saeculo floruisse apertè re reperi mus Unde exploratissimum nobis esse profitemur non alterius ordinis fuisse ipsum sociósque ejus quam Benedictini qui ideo proculdubiâ— tam altas radices in Anglia egerit quoniam primi illi Monachi à Gregorio in Insulam destinati Regulae Benedictinae professores extiterunt Robertus Cotton Johannes Seldenus Henricus Spelman Gulielmus Cambdenus England may see 400 years yet not behold 4 such Antiquaries her Natives at once the four wheels of the Triumphant chariot of truth for our British History This Quaternion of Subscribers have stick'n the point dead with me that all antient English Monks were Benedictines Which Order lasting above one thousand years in this Land hath produced about
two hundred and fifty Writers of Name and note as Pitzeus * Catalogue p. 966. accounteth them 4. What this S. Equitius was Hâ—e and Crie after S. Equitius pretended Founder of our first English Monks is worth our enquirie Sure he could not be that Equitius of whom the African Bishops complained in the Councell of Carthage That by indirect courses he had invaded the Priesthood desiâ—ing by their b Acta Concil sect 32. 60. Legats whom they sent to the Emperour That he might be expelled that Office Yet he in defiance of their endevours went about to disturb the peace of the Church More probable it is he was either Equitius a Deacon in the Apamean Church flourishing in the fourth Century and famous for his faith and fervency in Religion in c Theodoret. lib. 3. cap. 27. assisting Marcellus Bishop thereof to demolish the Temple of Jupiter or else his contemporary Equitius Consul of Rome with Gratian An. 378 or some other unknown unto us But be he who he himself or any other pleaseth brother if they will to S. George on Horse back he was never father of any Monks in England 5. I intended to present the Reader Why habits of Monks not here presented with the habits of Benedictines and all other Orders for the fashion matter and colour thereof But understanding the industrious work called Monasticon is comming sorth which hath the speed of this my Book for a Term or two wherein that Subject is handled at large I thought better to forbear Partly because I presume Master Dadsworth an eminent instrument in that usefull work better acquainted than I am with their Taylors partly because my wardrobe of their clothes coming so long after his will be beheld but as from the second hand fetched from Long lane and his new bought out of the Draper's shop 6. The Augustinian Monks succeed Augustinian Monks younger than the Benedictines in England though older in Europe For S. Augustine of Hippo on whom these Monks would willingly recover themselves was S. Benet's Senior by sixty years I cannot believe that they came over into England what some affirm precise Anno 636 others 640. when Birinus was Bishop of Dorchester or that d Josephâ—â— Pamphilâ—â— in his Cronicon Augustin 1059 they were seated in London being rather inclined to believe that Eudo the Dapifer Sewer if you please to King Henry the first first brought them into England Anno 1105 and that S. John's at Colchester was the prime place of their residence However I finde that Waltham Abbey for Benedictines at the first had its Copie altered by King Henry the second and bestowed on Augustinians 7. These Augustinians were also called Canons Regular Whether H be a letter where by the way I meet with such a nice distinction which dishearrens me from pretending to exactnesse in reckoning up these Orders For this I finde in our English e Cbaucer in the Plow-mans Tale. Ennius And all such other Counterfaitours Chanons Canons and such disguised Boen Goddes enemies and Traytours His true religion hau soule despised It seems the H here amounteth to a letter so effectuall as to discriminate Chanons from Canons though both Canonici in Latine but what should be the difference betwixt them I dare not interpose my conjecture I have done with these Augustinians when I have observed that this Order in England afforded * Reckoned up by Piâ—zeus in Iudicâ— p. 974. threescore and ten eminent Writers and one in Germany worth them all in effect I mean Martin Luther who by his writings gave a mortall wound to all these Orders yea and to the root of the Romish Religion 8. Gilbertine Monks Gilbertine Monks may be the third a mongrel Order observing some select Rules partly of S. Bennet partly of S. Augustine So named from Gilbert son to Joceline a Knight Lord of Sempringham in Lincoln-shire where 1148 first they were planted Whereupon this Order may boast that it alone is a native and Indegena whereas Benedictines are by original Italians Augustinians Affrican Carthusians French Dominicans Spanish c. pure English by the extraction thereof This Gilbert unhandsome but not unlearned erected this Order contrary to Justinians constitution who forbad double Monasteries wherein men and women lived together though secluded under one roof He survived to see thirteen Houses of this his own Order and in them seventeen hundred Gilbertine Brothers and Sisters Yet I finde no Writer of this Orâ—er conceiving them so well busied with their Company in their Convent they had little leisure for the writing of Books 9. Carthusian Monks make up a Messe Carthusian Monks much famed for their mortified lives and abstinence from all flesh one Bruno first founded them in the Dolphinate in France Anno 1080 and some 60 years after they were brought over into England I wonder men fasting so much should have so high spirits no Order standing more stoutly on their priviledges insomuch when the means of all Covents were valued in the Reign of * Some years before the dissolution of Abbeys King Henry the eighth a peculiar clause was added to the Patent of the Commissioners impowering them particularly to rate Charter-house in London However their Books there being eleven * Pitzeus in Indice p. 973. learned Authors of English Carthusians contain much tending to mortification and out of them Parsons the Jesuite hath collected a good part of his Resolutions 10. So much of Monks Monks and Fryers how they differ come we now to Fryers and it is necessary to premise what was the distinction betwixt them For though some will say the matter is not much if Monks and Friers were confounded together yet the distinguishing of them condueeth much to the clearing of History Some make Monks the Genus and Friers but the Species so that all Fryers were Monks but è contra all Monks were not Fryers Others that Monks were confined to their Cloisters whilst more liberty was allowed to Fryers to goe about and preach in neighbouring Parishes Others that Monks were in those Convents who had a Bishop over them as Canterbury Norwich Durham c. but never any Fryers in such places where the Bishop was the supreme and they in some sort had the power of his Election I see it is very hard just to hit the joynt so as to cleave them asunder at an hairs bredth Authors being so divided in their opinions But the most essentiall difference whereon we most confide is this Monks had nothing in propriety but all in common Fryers had nothing in propriety nor in common but being Mendicants begg'd all their subsistance from the charity of others True it is they had Cells or Houses to dwell or rather hide themselves in so the Foxes have holes and the Birds of the aire have nests but all this went for nothing seeing they had no means belonging thereunto Yea it hath borne a tough debate
assumed into their hands And a Synod of the Clergie in the last of Henry the fourth petitioned the King That Lay-men might not invade the possessions of alien Priories * Harpsfield Hist Ang. saet decimo quinto â—ep octavo but those Foundations might be furnished Native English substituted in their rooms whose request by reason of the King's death ensuing took no effect But this doth intimate though I had rather learn than teach in so dark a point that those alien Priories still stood undissolved by Act of State with a possibility to revert to their former use and though the King had fastned upon their profits by his absolute power yet as yet they were not setled and established in the Crown by Act of Parliament 5. But in the fourth year of King Henry the fift Their dissolution in the heat and height of His Warres with France all such Priories alien as were not Conventuall were by Act of m Parliament Rolls Rastall titul Monasteries Parliament dissolved and bestowed on the King It being conceived unsafe that men moving according to a forreign interest having their affections leading them beyond the seas and their actions following when befriended with secresie should be maintained in this Kingdome Besides it tended to the manifest detriment of the State that such should transport our coyn and commodities into an enemies Countrey without returning a proportionable profit to the Common-wealth Other alien Priories which were Conventuall survived untill the general mortality of English Monasteries These alien Priories were not conceived to have such a temptation to disloyalty as the others having their absolute subsistence here and though the Monks therein were strangers in respect of their birth they were counted Naturalized in a manner in regard of their education and livelyhood 6. The dissolving of these Priories The dangerous influence of this predent made a dangerous impression on all the rest Say not that English Abbeys were unconcerned because these strangers being rather suckers than branches of their tree their growing was a burthen and their pruning off a benefit thereunto for though Aliens in their Countrey they were Allies in their Cause there being an affinity betwixt all religious Foundations And now here was an Act of State for precedent That without sin of Sacriledge such Donations might be dissolved Use was made hereof beyond the Kings intention who in this act not covetous but politick aiming rather to secure than enrich Himself whereas now some Courtiers by His bounty tasting on the sweet of Abbey-lands made their break-fasts thereon in the time of Henry the fift which increased their appetites to dine on the same in the daies of King Henry the eighth not so glutted but they could sup on the reversions left in the Reign of K. Edward the sixt SECTION III. To the Honourable the Lady MARY FOUNTAINE MADAM THough none can expect Courtship many will require Congruity from me Such will charge me with a great Impropriety for dedicating a discourse of Monks and Friers to your Ladiship where some passages of their wantonnesse may occasion your blushing for them who never blushed for themselves But know it done by design that you may plainly perceive how far Marriage-chastity transcended forced and pretended virginity or if you please how much a springing Fountain is better than a standing-Pool soon subject to putrefaction Your Family though not a Nunnery may be a Religious house seeing God hath multiplied you into a whole Convent I mean the fourteen Children which you have at this present I say have for this reason is rendred why the Children of Job after his restitution were not doubled unto him as his Cattle were because they were utterly foregone his Children onely gone before on which account those six removed from you into a better world still remain yours God in due time translate you and your worthy Husband in a good old age into the same Place of Happiness Of Cardinal Wolsey's ominous suppressing of forty lesser Monasteries therewith to build two Colledges VAst were the revenues of Cardinal Wolsey Wolsey's wealth and want if we account both his Wives and Concubines I mean the place whereon he resided and Churches he held in Commendam being at the same time the Pope's Legate à latere Archbishop of Yorke Chancellor of England Bishop of Winchester Abbot of S. Albans besides other meaner preferments Yet he found a Eccles 5. 11. Solomon's observation true When goods encrease they are encreased that eat them Insomuch that his magnificent mind was poor in his plenty in the midst of his wealth wanted means to compass his vast designs Wherefore intending to erect two fair Colledges one where he was born in Ipswich the other where he was bred in Oxford and finding himself unable to endow them at his own charges he obtained license of Pope Clement 7 â—h An. 1525 to suppress forty smaller Monasteries in England and to lay their old land to his new foundations w ch was done accordingly For the Cardinal thought that these petty Houses like little sparks of diamonds were inconsiderable in themselves whereas they would make a fair show if all put together into two jewels only his two Colledges and he carry away all the credit thereof 2. An action condemned by the conscientious in that Age Wolsey his act justly censured accounting it essentiall to charity that the thing given be the proper goods of the Donour Cast thy bread saith b Eccles 11. 1. Solomon upon the water It must be thy bread otherwise though c Prov. 9. 17. stollen bread may be pleasant to men it is nauseous and distastfull to the God of heaven who in such cases will not be the receiver though man be the thief solemnly disavowing the acceptance of such donations witnesse his own words d Isa 61. 8. I hate robbery for burnt offering 3. Plead not in the Cardinal's excuse Fig leaves to coveâ— it in vain that the houses by him suppressed were of small value it being as great yea greater sacriledge to invade the widows mite than the large gifts which the rich Priests cast into Corban because their bounties were but superfluous wenns whilst hers was an essentiall limb yea as our Saviour e Luke 21. 4. observes the whole body of her estate As probably some of those poor Foundations were erected by Founders like those of f 2 Cor. 8. 3. Macedonia to their power and beyond their power willing of themselves As for the poor people formerly living in these then-dissolved houses they may be presumed more religious than others that were richer poverty being a protection for their piety and they unable to go to the cost of luxurious extravagancies I finde not what provision was afterward made for these helplesse souls thrust out of house and home so that it is suspitious that the Cardinal notwithstanding his prodigious hospitality made moe beggars than ever he relieved 4. Others alledge
not unusefull to be inserted 1. Sir Robert Hales Lord Treasurer of England slain in the tumult of Tyler Anno 1380 in the fourth of K. Richard the second At which time 2. Next him Sir John Long-strother I say next proximus at longo qui proximus intervallo siding with the House of Lancaster he was taken prisoner in Teuxbury Battail Anno 1471 and by King Edward the fourth put to death in cold blood contrary to the promise of a Prince who had assured his life unto him 3. Sir Thomas Dockwray is the next not of all but in our discovery A person of much desert expending himself wholly for the credit and profit of his Priory as who re-edified the Church out of its ruine finishing it Anno 1504 as appeareth by the Inscription over the Gate-house yet remaining 4. Sir William Weston succeeds of whom before dissolved this List on the very day of the dissolution of this Priory 5. Sir Thomas Tresham was the first and last of Q. Mary's re-erection There goeth a tradition that Q. Elizabeth in consideration of his good service done to Her self in Her Sister Q. Mary whom he proclaimed and Their Titles being shut out of doors together both were let in again at once though to take place successively allowed him to be called Lord Prior during his life which was not long and the matter not much deriving no power or profit unto him Here I purposely omit Sir Richard Shelley which family I finde of remark for worship and antiquity at Michel-Grove in Sussex He bare a great enmity to Q. Elizabeth especially after She had flatly denied Philip King of Spain whither Shelley was fled to consent to his abiding there and to his quier receiving his rents out of England However the Spanish King imployed him in an Honorable Ambassy unto Maximilian King b Cambd. Eliz. Anno 1563. of the Romans weating the high title of Prior of the Order of St. c Idem in Anno 1560. p. 46. John ' s in England A Prior without a Posterior having none un-under him to obey his power nor after him to succeed in his place We behold him only as the wry-stroak given in by us out of courtesie when the game was up before 5. The Site of the Priory of S. Iohn's was lately the possession of William Earl of Exeter Cecil the present owner of this Priory whose Countess Eliz Druery was very forward to repair the ruin'd Quire thereof Doct. Ios Hall preached at the solemn Reconciling thereof on S. Stephen's day 1623 taking for his Text Hag. 2. 9. The glory of the latter house shall be greater than of the former saith the Lord of Hosts At this day though coarctated having the side-Iles excluded yet so that their upper part is admitted affording conveniencies for attention it is one of the best private Chappels in England discreetly embracing the mean of decency betwixt the extreams of slovenly profaneness and gaudy superstition and belongeth at this present to the truly noble Thomas as Earle of Elgin SECTION VII TO THOMAS DOCKWRAY of Bedford-shire Esquire I Finde Sir THOMAS DOCKWRAY one of the last Lord Priors of our English Hospitallers To say you are descended from him would fix a stain on your Extraction seeing none might marry who were of his Order But this I will say and justifie that you Both are descended from the same Ancestour as by authentick Records doth most plainly appear Besides some conformity may be seen in your commendable inclinations He was all for * * Stow Survey of London pag. 483. building of a fair Church according to the devotion of those dayes Your bountifull hand hath been a great sharer in advancing of this Church-History Now although his stately Structure of the strongest stone had the hard hap to be blown up almost as * * Stows Surv. of Lond. ut priùs soon as it was ended this of yours a frailer Fabrick as but of Paper-walls may be Gods blessing have the happinesse of a longer continuance Of English Nunneries beyond the Seas THus were all Monks Fryers Why no Pensions paid to outed Votaries by Qu. Eliz. and Nunnes totally routed by the coming in of Qu. Elizabeth I finde not that any Pensions were allowed to those Votaries who at this time were outed their Covents though large Annuities were assigned to such who were ejected their Monasteries Colledges or free Chanteries in the Reigns of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixt whereof this may seem the reason because now caveat ingressor He or She might beware who entred an Abbey be it at their own perill seeing they formerly had so fair a warning though indeed some of them who had no friends to help them were left in no very good condition and died in much want and distresse 2. But now in the beginning of this Queens Reign Detained pensions paid to old Fryers and Nunnes a complaint did arise That Pensions were detained from many ejected out of Abbeys in her Father and Brother his Reigne who being poor old and impotent and repairing to the Queens Officers for their Pensions were instead of money paid with ill language and affronts Her Majesty possessed with the truth hereof took strict order both that their Arrears for the time past should be satisfied and their Aunuities for the time to come effectually discharged which much advanced her honour in pecuniary matters 3. Hence grew the Proverb crossed in the daies of her successours As sure as Exchequer pay Chequer pay the best of payments For all who in this Queens Reign had summes due unto them from the Treasurie had no other trouble than to tell them there and take them thence Thus it came to passe that by Her maintaining of the Exchequer the Exchequer maintained Her having money at most credit at all times on the reputation of so good a Pay-Mistresse insomuch that She was not onely able to lay down Her stake but also to vye ready silver with the King of Spaine when He notwithstanding both His Indies was fain to go on Bare board 4. As for Popish Religious persons flying out of England at the coming in of this Queen The onely stump of an old tree our pen shall follow them as fast as it can with convenient speed We begin with the Nunnes partly because the courtesie of England alloweth the first place to the feeblest Sex but chiefly because they seem still to continue an entire body and successively an immortall corporation being with the Carthusians the onely stump that remaineth of the huge tree which once overspread and shadowed our whole Nation 5. May the Reader be pleased to remember The progresse of Nunnes from Sion to Lisbone that King Henry the fifth founded one Abbey of Nunnes at Sion in Middlesex peopling it with Brigetine Nunnes and Fryers and another at Sheine in Surrey overagainst it so ordering it that all the day long alternately when the Devotions of the one
England reconciled to Rome wherein she parted with her Supremacy to the Pope and Poole by his power Legatine solemnly reconciled England to the Church of Rome that is set it at open oddes and enmity with God and his Truth Then did he dispense with much irregularity in severall persons confirming the Institution of Clergie-men in their Benefices legitimating the Children of forbidden marriages ratifying the Processes and Sentences in matters Ecclestasticall and his Dispensations were confirmed by Acts of Parliament as in the Statutes at large appear Then was Anthonie Brown Vicount Mountacute Thirleby Bishop of Eli and Sr. Edward Carne sent on a gratulatorie Embassie to Pope Paul the fourth to tender Englands thanks for his great favours conferred thereon A sad and certain presage of heavie persecution which immediately did ensue SECTION II. Anno. Dom. 1555 To Mr. THOMAS BOWYER of the Old Jury Merchant Anno Regin Mar. 3. YOu may with much joy peruse this sad story of Persecution presented unto you whose Grandfather Francis * * Afterward Sheriffe of London Anno. 1577. Bowyer brought no fewel to these flames but endeavoured to quench them The Church is indebted to him for saving reverend Dr. Alexander Nowel then School master of Westminster designed to Death by Bonner and sending him safe beyond the Seas Thus he laid a good foundation to which I impute the firm-standing of your family it being rare to see as in yours the third Generation in London living in the same Habitation May many more of the stock succeed in the same the desire of your obliged friend T F. 1. WE come now to set down those particular Martyrs that suffered in this Queens Reigne The disposing of the future matter But this point hath been handled already so curiously and copiously by Mr. Fox that his industry herein hath starved the endeavours of such as shall succeed him leaving nothing for their penns and pains to feed upon a Eccles 2. 12. For what can the man doe that cometh after the King even that which hath been already done saith Solomon And Mr. Fox appearing sole Emperour in this subject all posterity may despair to adde any remarkable discoveries which have escaped his observation Wherefore to handle this subject after him what is it but to light a candle to the Sunn or rather to borrow a metaphor from his book to kindle one single stick to the burning of so many faggots However that our pains may not wholy be wanting to the Reader herein we will methodize these Martyrs according to the several Diocesses and make on them some brief observations 2. In the Diocesse of Exeter containing Cornwall and Persecution in the Diocess of Exeter Devonshire I finde but one Martyr namely Agnes b Fox 2052. Priest condemned by William Stanford then Judge of the Assise of Lanceston but burned at Exeter The tranquility of these parts is truly imputed c Holinshed pag. 1309. to the good temper of James Turbervile the Bishop one as gentilely qualified as extracted and not so cruel to take away the lives from others as carefull to regain the lost livings to his Church and indeed he recovered to him and his successours the Fee-farme of the Manour of Crediton Yet to shew his sincerity in Religion that he might not seem to do nothing he dipp'd his fingers in this poor womans blood but did not afterwards wash his hands in the persecution of any other Protestant for ought we can finde in any history 3. The like quiet disposition of Gilbert Bourn In the Diocess of Bath and Wells Bishop of Bath and Wells secured Somerset shire Indeed he owed his life under God to the protection of a Protestant for Mr. Bradford at Pauls-crosse saved him from a dagger thrown at him in a tumult and this perchance made him the more tender to Protestants lives Yet in the Register of his Church we meet with one a Fox pag. 2004. Richard Lash condemned by him though his execution doth not appear and yet it is probable that this poor Isaac thus bound to the Altar was afterward sacrificed except some intervening Angel staied the stroak of the sword 4. So also the Diocess of Bristol In the Diocess of Bristol made up of Dorset-shire and part of Glocester-shire enjoyed much quietnesse John Holyman the Bishop did not for ought I can finde prophane himself with any barbarous cruelty But Mr. Dalby b Fox pag. 2052. his Chancellour as an active Lieutenant to a dull Captain sent three namely Richard Sharpe Thomas Benton and Thomas Hale to the stake at Bristol for the testimony of the truth This Dalby knowing himself to be low in parts and learning and despairing otherwise to appear in the world thought the onely way to recommend himself to mens notice was to do it by his cruelty 5. More sparks of persecution flew into the Diocess of Sarisbury In the Diocess of Sarisburie in Wiltshire and Barkshire under John Capon the Bishop and Dr. Geffray his Chancellour for this Dâ—eg was worse then Saul himself At Nubery he sent three Martyrs to heaven in the same charriot of fire c Fox pag. 1940. Jalius Palmer John Gâ—in and Thomas Askin Yea this was but a light flourish in respect of that great blow he intended had not heaven prevented him and many others of his bloody crew by the death of Queen Mary whereby to use Davids phrase God smote them d Psal 3. 7. on the cheek-bone and brake the teeth of the ungodly 6. In the Diocess of Winchester In the Diocess of Winchester consisting of Hantshire and Surrey I finde no great impression from Stephen Garainer the Bishop and much marvell thereat It may be this politician who managed his malice with cunning spared his own Diocess fox-like preying farthest from his own den Indeed he would often stay behind the traverse and send Bonner upon the stage free enough of himself without spurring to do mischief to act what he had contrived Yea I may say of Gardiner that he had an head if not an hand in the death of every eminent Protestant plotting though not acting their destruction And being Lord Chancellour of England he counted it his honour to flie at stout game indeed contriving the death of the Ladie Elizabeth and using to say that it was vain to strike at the branches whilest the roote of all Hereticks doth remain And this good Lady was appointed for the slaughter and brought to the shambles when the seasonable death of this butcher saved the sheep alive 7. However as bloody as he was for mine own part The Authours gratitude to Stephen Gardiner I have particular gratitude to pay to the memory of this Stephen Gardiner and here I solemnly tender the same It is on the account of Mrs. Clarke my great Grandmother by my mothers side whose husband rented Farnham-Castle a place whither Bishop Gardiner retired in Surrey as belonging
in her Religion And yet some not more knowing of Councells but more daring in Conjectures than others who love to feiga what they cannot finde that they may never appear to be at a loss avouch that the Pope promised to revoke the Sentence against her mother Anne Bollens marriage to confirme our English Lithurgie by his authority to permit the English the Communion under both kinds provided she would own the Popes Primacy and cordially unite her self to the Catholike Church Yea some thousands of Crowns but all in vain were promised to the effectors thereof wherein his holinesse seemingly liberal was really thrifty as knowing such his Sums if accepted would within one year return with an hundred fold increase 41. Scipio a Gentleman of Venice The contents of Scipio his Letter to Mr. Iewell formerly familiar with M r. Jewel whilst he was a student in Padua wrot now an expostulating letter unto Him being lately made Bishop of Sarisbury Wherein he much admired that England should send no Embassadour nor message or letter to excuse their Nations absence from the general appearance of Christianity in the Sacred Councell of Trent He highly extolled the antiquity and use of General Councels as the only means to decide controversies in Religion and compose the distractions in the Church concluding it a Superlative Sin for any to decline the authority thereof 42. To this M r. Jewel returned a large and solemn answer Anno Dom. 1563. Now although he wrote it as a private person Anno Regin Eliza. 5. yet because the subject thereof was of publick concernment The sum of Mr. Jewels answer take the principall Heads thereof a See it at large at the end of the History of the Councell of Trent First That a great part of the world professing the name of Christ as Greeks Armenians Abessines c. with all the Eastern Church were neither sent to nor summoned to this Councell Secondly That Englands absence was not so great a wonder seeing many other kingdoms and free-states as Denmarke Sweden Scotland Princes of Germany and Hanse-Towns were not represented in this Councel by any of their Embassadors Thirdly That this pretended Councell was not called according to the ancient custome of the Church by the Imperiall Authority but by Papall usurpation Fourthly That Trent was a petty place not of sufficient receit for such multitudes as necessarily should repair to a generall Councell Fifthly That Pope Pius the fourth by whose command the Councel was re-assembled purchased his place by the unjust practises of Simony and bribery and managed it with murder and Cruelty Sixthly That repairing to Councells was a free-act and none ought to be condemned of Contumacy if it stood more with their conveniency to stay at home Seventhly That anciently it was accepted as a reasonable excuse of holy Bishops absenting or withdrawing themselves from any Councell if they vehemently suspected ought would be acted therein prejudiciall to the Truth lest their though not active included concurrence might be interpreted a countenancing thereof Eightly Our English Bishops were imployed in feeding their flocks and governing their Churches and could not be spared from their charge without prejudice to their consciences Ninthly The members of the Councell of Trent both Bishops and Abbots were by oath pregaged to the Pope to defend and maintain his authority against all the world Lastly in what capacity should the English Clergy appear in this Councell They could not as free-persons to debate matters therein beeing pre-condemned for Hereticks by Pope Julius They would not come as Offendors to hear the Sentence pronounced against themselves which they had heard of before What effect this Letter produced I finde not sure I am no Papists as yet have made an effectuall refutation of the reasons rendered therein 43. The Bells of S t. Peters in Westminster had strangely rung the changes these last thirty yeers Westminster Col. Church re-sounded by Q Eliz. Within which time first it was a stately and rich Covent of Benedictine Monks Secondly it was made a Collegiate Church of Dean and Prebendaries by King Henry the eighth Thirdly by the same King is was made an Episcopall See and Thomas Thirby who having roasted the Churches Patrimony surrendred it to the spoile of Courtiers the first and last Bishop thereof Fourthly Queen Mary re-seated the Abbot and Monks in the possession thereof who were outed after her Death Lastly this yeer Queen Elizabeth converted it again into a Collegiate Church founding therein maintenance for one Dean twelve Prebendaries as many old souldiers past service for Almsmen and fourty Scholars who in due time are preferred to the Universities so that it hath proved one of the most renowned Seminaries of Religion and learning in the whole nation 44. Pope Pius though unsuccessfull in his addresses last yeer to the Queen 1561 yet was not so disheartened The Pope trieth again in â—am to reduce the Queen but that once more he would try what might be effected therein To which purpose he imployed the Abbot of Martinegi with most loving letters unto her desiring leave to come over into England But the Queen knowing it less difficulty and danger to keep him Anno Dom. 1562. then to cast him out of her Dominions forbad his entrance into the Realme as against the Laws of the Land So that he was fain to deliver his Errand and receive his answer and that a deniall at distance in the Low-Countries As little successe had the Bishop of Viterbo the Popes Nuncio to the King of France secretly dealing with S r. N. Throgmorton the Queens Agent there to perswade her to send Embassadors to the Councell of Trent which for the reasons afore mentioned was justly refused 45. S r. Edward Carne the Queens Leger at Rome The death of Sr. Edward Carne Doctor of Civill Law Knighted by the Emperour Charles the fifth pretended that as the Queen would not suffer the Popes Nuncio to come into England so the Pope would not permit him to depart Rome Whereas indeed the cunning old man was not detained but detained himself so well pleased was he with the place and his office therein Where soon after he died the last Leger of the English Nation to Rome publickly avowed in that imployment 46. This yeer the Spire of Pauls-Steeple covered with lead strangely fell on fire Pauls Steeple burnt down attributed by severall Persons to sundry Causes Some that it was casually blasted with lightning others that it was mischevously done by Art Magick And others and they the truest done by the negligence of a Plummer carelessly leaving his coals therein The fire burnt for five full hours in which time it melted all the lead of the Church only the stone Arches escaping the fury thereof but by the Queens bounty and a Collection from the Clergy it was afterwards repaired only the blunt Tower had not the top thereof sharpned into a Spire as before 47.
year an Obitum English Catholicks especially the parents or friends of such youths as here have their education Watton-Cloister being a most pleasant place with good land and a fair wood some two leagues off It anciently belonged to the Benedctines of whom the Jesuits here bought it Pope Paulus Quintus and the King of Spain confirming their bargain It is said to be worth five hundred pounds a year Number Rectour Eminent Scholars Welnigh an hundred of Gentlemens sons not as yet professed Jesuits though like them in habit but young Scholars Besides above twenty Jesuits Priests and Lay-brethren having an inspection over them Though this Colledge be of English only yet their Rectour generally is a Fleming and that out of a double designe First that he may solicite their suits in that country the better by the advantage of his language and acquaintance Secondly that they may the more colourably deny such English passengers as begg of them pleading that their Rectour being a stranger will part with no money and they have none of their own Father Fleck Floid Wilson Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 6. Colledge of Madrid in New Castile in Spain founded 1606. Joseph Creswel Jesuite with money of the two Colledges of Valladolit and Sivil bought an house here and built a Colledge thereon  What they gain by soliciting of suits for Merchants and others in the Spanish Court The rest is supplied unto this Colledg from the Parents thereof I mean the two Colledges of Valladolit and Sivil Number Rectour Eminent Scholars Colledge Founder Benefactour Means 7. Colledge of Lovain in Brabant founded about the year 1606. Philip the Third King of Spain gave a Castle then much decayed never much defensive for this City with a pension to the English Jesuits to build them a Colledge therewith   Number Rectour Eminent Scholars Uncertain as much in motion and never all resident here together   Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 8. Colledge of Liege in Lukeland founded 1616. The Arch-Bishop of Collen being at this time also Bishop of Liege gave them a pension to live on and leave to build a fair Colledge here Many of the English Nobility and Gentry under pretence of passing to the Spaw for recovery of their healths here drop much of their gold by the way It is doubtfull how soveraign the Spaw-water will prove to these passengers but certain that their gold is cordial to these Jesuits  Number Rectour Eminent Scholars   M r. Brown brother to the last Vicount Mountacute in Sussex became here a Jesuite Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 9. Colledge of Gant in Flanders founded 1624. Philip the Fourth who gave them a pension   Number Rectour Eminent Scholars One may observe a kinde of gradation in these Colledges S t. Omers generally is for boyes to be taught in Grammar Rome for youths studying the arts all the rest for men Novices or professed Jesuits save that Doway is for any of what age or parts soever Compare these Colledges amongst themselves Rome will appear the richest in visible Valladolit the cunningest in concealed wealth Doway the largest in men and straightest in means Liege getting the most from passengers on land Sivil gaining the best by Travellers at sea Madrid wearing the bravest cloaths where all the Jesuits are constant Courtiers and S t. Omers eating the best meat as neerest to England whence many a dainty bit is daily sent unto them 22. It is incredible what a mass of mony much in specie The bounty of English Catholicks more in exchange was yearly made over out of England for the maintenance of these Colledges having here their Provincials Sub-Provincials Assistants Agents Coadjutours Familiars c. who collected vast sums for them especially from Catholicks possessed of considerable estates out of Abby-lands his Holinesse dispensing with them to hold the same with a clear conscience if bountifull on all such occasions 23. We will conclude all with the solemn Oath The oath taken by English Fugitives at their admission which each Student arrived at mans estate ceremoniously sweareth when admitted into one of these Colledges I. A. B. a In the continuation of Sanders de schismate Anglicano p. 116. one bred in this English Colledge considering how great benefits God hath bestowed upon me but then especially when he brought me out of mine own Country so much infected with Herche and made me a member of the Catholick Church as also desiring with a thankfull heart to improve so great a mercy of God have resolved to offer my self wholy up to Divine Service as much as I may to fulfill the end for which this our Colledge was founded I promise therefore and swear in the presence of Almighty God that I am prepared from mine heart with the assistance of Divine Grace in due time to receive Holy Orders and to return into England to convert the souls of my Countrimen and kindred when and as often as it shall seem good to the Superiour of this Colledge c. Be it remembred that our long Vacation is their chiefest Termâ— for in the moneths of August or September these Colledges receive their annual supplies of green Students and then dispatch their ripe Nâ—viciats for England or if you will then take in young spawn and send their old frogs over hither a croaking All that I will adde is this If covetousness should prevail so far as to pluck down Protestant-Colledges in England whilest superstition preserves and increaseth Popish Seminaries beyond the seas sad would the sight be to behold the truth on our side encumbred with ignorance to encounter falsehood on theirs advantaged with learning and languages 24. Pope Pius the fifth had now long patiently expected the amendment of Queen Elizabeth The Pope excommunicateth the Queen and weary with his waiting in vain resolved at last if not wisely valiantly that seeing desperate diseases must have desperate cures he would thunder his Excommunication against Her according to the tenour following A Sentence Declaratory of our Holy Lord Pope PIUS QUINTUS against ELIZABETH Queen of England and the Hereticks adhering unto Her Wherein also Her Subjects are declared absolved from the Oath of Allegiance and every other thing due unto Her whatsoever And those which from henceforth obey Her are innodated with the Anathema Pius Bishop servant to Gods servants for a future memorial of the matter HE that reigneth on high to whom is given all power in heaven and in earth committed One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church out of which there is no salvation to one alone upon earth namely to Peter the chief of the Apostles and to Peters Successour the Bishop of Rome to be governed in fulness of power Him alone he made Prince over all people and all Kingdoms to pluck up destroy scatter consume plant and build that he may contain the faithfull that are knit together with the band of charity in the unity of the
in London or neer it 33. The Papists raised an aspersion A loud Lâ—e as false as foule upon him That at his death he was reconciled to the Church of Rome sufficiently confuted by those eyeâ— and ear-witnesses present at his pious departure These slanders are no news to such as have read how Luther is traduced by Popish pennes to have died blaspheming Caralostadius to have been carried quick by a Devil And Beza to have apostated before his death In all which truth hath triumphed over their malicious forgeries Something Bp. King endevoured in the repairing of S. Paul's but alas a private mans estate may be invisibly buried under the rubbish of the least Chappel therein Born at Thame in Oxford-shire By order in his Will he provided that nothing should be written on his plain Grave-stone save only RESURGAM and still he is alive both in his memory and happy posterity George Mountaine Bishop of Lincoln succeeded him in his See who when his great House-keeping and magnificent entertaining of King JAMES shall be forgotten will longer survive for his bountiful benefaction to Queens-Coll in Cambridge whereof he was Fellow and Proctor 34. Secondly Will. Cotton Bp. of Exeter dies whom Valentine Carew succeeds William Cotton Bishop of Exeter born in Cheshire formerly Archdeacon of Lewes one of a stout spirit and a great maintainer of Conformity against the opposers thereof in his Diocesse Valentine Carew Dean of S. Paul's and Master of Christ-Colledge in Cambridge of a courtlike carriage and stout spirit succeeded him in Exeter which place can give the best account of his behaviour therein 35. Thirdly Robert Townson Bishop of Salisbury dies whom John Davenant succeeds Robert Townson born in Cambridge Fellow of Queens-Colledge Dean of Westminster of a comely carriage courteous nature an excellent Preacher He left his Wife and many Children neither plentifully provided for nor destitute of maintenance which rather hastened than caused the advancement of John Davenant his Brother-in-law to succeed him in the Bishoprick of Sarisbury 36. Therein also expired Andrew Willet The death of Dr. And. Wâ—â—â—eâ— Doctor of Divinity God-son to Andrew Pearne Dean of Elie where he was born brought up in Christ-Colledge in Cambridge who ended his pious life being much bruised with a fall from his horse A man of no little judgment and greater industry not unhappy in Controversies but more happy in Comments and one that had a large soul in a narrow estate For his charge being great may his Children remember and practice their Father's precepts and means small as more proportioned to his desires than deserts he was bountifull above his ability and doubled what he gave by cheerful giving it He was buried in his Parish at Barlie in Hertford shire Happy Village which lost such a Light and yet was not left in darknesse onely exchanging blessings Reverend Doctor Brouâ—rigge succeeding him 37. Nor must we forget Richard Parry And of Dr. Richard Parry Doctor of Divinity Bishop of Asaph who this year exchanged this life for a better He was first bred in Christ-Church in Oxford where he made plentiful proceeding in Learning and Religion and thence was advanced to the Deanrie of Bangor on whom Bishop Godwin bestows this call it complement or character * Godwin in Episcopis Asâ—phenfibus Cui eruditione caeterisque Episcopalibus virtutibus utinam egomet tam illi essem aequalis quà m ille mihi aetate studiorúmque Academicorum tempore locóque 38. We conclude this year with the death of Master Francis Mason The death of Mr. Fr. Mason to whose worthy Book De Ministerio Anglicano we have been so much beholding Nor will it be amisse to insert his Epitaph Prima Deo cui cura fuit sacrare labores Cui studium Sacris invigilare Libris Ecce sub hôc tandem requievit marmore MASON Expectans Dominum spéque fidéque suum He was born in the Bishoprick of Duresme brought up in the University of Oxford Bachelour of Divinity Fellow of Merton-Colledge Chaplain to King JAMES Rectour of Orforde in Suffolke where he lies buried and where he built the Parsonage-House He had three Children by his loving Wife Elizabeth who erected a fair Monument to his Memory SECTION VI. Ann. Reg. Ann. Dom. TO SAMVEL MICO OF LONDON Alderman YOu have not spent but laid out much time in ITALY to the great improvement of your judgment and estate How cunning Chapmen those Countrey-men are in buying and selling is not to you unknown but this Section presents you with an Italian Cardinal a most crafty broker in matters of Religion till at last he deceived himself Peruse it I pray and if the reading thereof can add nothing to your knowledge the writing of it may serve as my acknowledgment of your favours received LAtely * â—ide supra pag. 71. sect 45. we made mention of the coming over of Marcus Antonius de Dominis the Archbishop of Spalato into England Ja. 20 1622. and now shall prosecute that subject at large The causes of Spalato's coming over For this year began happily because with the end of that arrant Apostata in this Land and his fair riddance out of the limits thereof He had 14 years been Archbishop of Spalato in Dalmatia under the State of Venice and some five years since to wit 1616 came over into England Conscience in shew and Covetousness in deed caused his coming hither He pretended to have discovered innumerable a In his Book called Confilium Proscotionis pag. 15 16 17. Novelties and pernicious Errors in the Court of Rome injuriously engrossing the right and honour of the Universal Church He complained many Points were obtruded on mens Consciences as Articles of Faith which CHRIST in the Scripture never instituted He accounted the Romish Church mystical b Ibid. pag. 34. Babylon and Sodome and the Pope Nimrod a Tyrant Schismatick Heretick yea even c Ibid. pag. 76. Antichrist himself But that which sharpned his pen against the Pope was a particular grudge against Pope Paul who had ordered him to pay a yearly Pension of Five hundred crownes out of his Bishoprick to one Andreutius a Suffragan Bishop which this Archbp. refused to doe complaining it was unjust and imposed without his knowledge and consent The matter is brought to the Rota or Court of Rome where the wheel went on the wrong side for our Spalato who angry that he was cast in his Cause posts out of Italy through Germany into the Low-Countreys Here he stayed a while and tampered for preferment till finding the roof of their Church too low for his lofty thoughts and their Presbyterian Government uncomplying with his Archiepiscopal spirit he left the Netherlands and came over into England 2. It is almost incredible His bâ—untifull entertainment what flocking of people there was to behold this old Archbishop now a new Convert Prelates and Peers presented him with Gifts of high
of the Town of Cambridge two offices which never before or since met in the same person Thus as Cambridge was his verticall place wherein he was in height of honour it was also his verticall where he met with a suddaine turn and sad catastrophe And it is remarkable that though this Duke who by all means endeavoured to engrand his posterity had six Sons all men all married none of them left any issue behind them Thus far better it is to found our hopes of even earthly happinesse on goodnesse then greatnesse 43. Doctor Sandys The hard usage of Dr. Sandys hearing the Bell ring went according to his custome and office attended with the Beadles into the Regent-House and sate down in the Chaire according to his place In cometh one Master Mitch with a rabble of some twenty Papists some endeavouring to pluck him from the Chaire others the Chaire from him all using railing words and violent actions The Doctor being a man of metall gâ—oped for his dagger and probably had dispatched some of them Anno Dom. 1552 3 had not Doctor Bill Anno Regin Mariae 20 and Doctor Blythe by their prayers and intreaties perswaded him to patience How afterwards this Doctor was spoyled of his goods sent up prisoner to London how with great difficulty he was enlarged and great danger escaped beyond the seas is largely related by Master Fox 44. Some two yeares since Cambridge had her Sweating-Sicknesse Masters placed and displaced but now began her hotfit or fiery-tryall indeed For on the execution of the Duke of Northumberland Stephen Gardiner Bishop of VVinchester was restored Chancellour of Cambridge then followed an alteration of Masters in most Houses However let us give unto Doctor Pern his deserved praise that he quenched the fire of persecution or rather suffered it not to be kindled in Cambridge saving many from the stake by his moderation and let us give in a list of the great alteration In the Masters of Houses which the first year of this Queen did produce Masters put out Colledges Masters put in 1 Ralph Ainsworth because he was married 2 Doctor Iohn Madeu who had been three times Vice-Chancellour 3 Nic. Ridley still holding his Mastership with the Bishoprick of London 4 Matthew Parker Deane of Lincoln 5 William Mouse Doct. of Law and a Benefactour 6 S r. Iohn Cheek Knight Tutour to King Edward the sixth 7. William May D r. of Law Chancellour to Nic. West B p. of Ely 8 Edwin Sands Vice-Chancel in this year 9 Edward Pierpoint D r. of Divinity 10 Rich VVilkes M r. of the Hospital of S. Iohns Mary Magdel in Ely 11 Tho. Leaver B. D. a Confessour in the Reign of Q. Mary at Arrough in Switzerland 1 Peter House 2 Clare Hall 3 Pembrook Hall 4 Bennet Colledge 5 Trinity Hall 6 Kings Colledge 7 Queens Colledge 8 Catharine Hall 9 Iesus Colledge 10 Christs Colledge 11 S t. Iohns Colledge 1 Andrew Pern Dean of Ely 2 D r. Rowland Swinburn Rector of little Shelford in Cambridgeshire 3 Iohn Young Fellow of S t. Iohns a zealous Papist and opposite to Bucer 4 Laurence Maptyde Fellow of Trinity Hall 5 Steven Gardner then Bp. of VVinch and L. Chancel of England 6 Richard Adkinson Doctor of Divinity 7 VVilliam Glyn D r. of Divinity afterward Bishop of Bangor 8 Edmund Cosins born in Bedfordshire 9 Iohn Fuller Prebend of Ely Vicor generall to Th. Thurlby Bp thereof 10 Cuthbert Scot afterwards Bishop of Chester 11 Thomas VVatson afterward Bishop of Lincoln I find but two continuing in their places namely Thomas Bacon Master of Gonvil Hall and Robert Evans Master of Magdelen Colledge then so poore a place that it was scarce worth acceptance thereof Iohn Young Anno Regin Marlae 2 Vice-Chanc Anno Dom. 1553 4 Tho. Gardner Hen. Barely Proctours Tho. Woolf Major Doct. Theol. 4 Bac. Theol. 16 Mag. Art 19 Bac. Art 48 VVilliam Glynne 3 Cuthb Scot. 1554 5 Vice-Chan Tho. Baylie Greg. Garth Proct. Iohn Richardson Major Doct. Theol. 1 Leg. 1 Medic. 2 Bac. Theol. 3 Mag. Art 33 Bac. Leg. 4 Art 43 Cuthbert Scot 4 Vice-Chanc 1555 6 George Boyse Iohn Gwyn Proct. Richard Brassay Major Doct. a That was the last Dr. that ever commensed in Cambridge of Canon-Law alone which as a destinct faculty was banished by King Henry the eight and it seems for a short time was restored by Queen Mary Can Leg. 1 Bac. Theol. 6 Mag. Art 27 Bac. Art 37 Andrew Pern 5 Vice-Chanc 1556 7 Nic. Robinson Hugo Glyn Proct. Thomas Smith Major Doct. Theol. 4 Leg. 2 Bac. Theol. 4 Mag. Art 27 Bac. Leg. 5 Medic. 1 Art 27 Robert Brassey 6 Vice-Chanc 1557 8 VVilliam Golden VVilliam Day Proct. VVilliam Hasell Maj. Doct. Medic. 2 Bac. Theol. 1 Bac. Mag. Art 22 Leg. 1 Art 41 45. Iohn Cajus Doctor of Phisick improved the ancient Hall of Gonvil into a new Colledge Dr. Cajus foundeth Cajus Colledge of his own name He was born in Norwich but Son of Robert Cajus a Yorkshire-man spent much of his time in the Italian Vniversities there making many translating moe learned books and after his return was Phisitian to Queen Mary He bestowed a fivefold favour on this his foundation 46. First Giveth it good Land Land to a great proportion So untrue is his Cavill Nescio quid b Rex platonicus p. 216. in margine panxillum as if it was some small inconsiderable matter whereas indeed he conferred thereon the Demesnes of Crokesly in â—ixmonsworth in Hartfordshire Bincomb Manor in Dorcetshire with the Advowsance of the parsonage Rungton and Burnhams-Thorp in Norfolk the Manor of Swansly at Caxton in Cambridgeshire 47. Secondly building And good building Adding a new Court of his own charge and therein three Gates of Remark the Gate of Humility low and little opening into the Street over against S t. Michaels-Church The Gate of Vertue one of the bestpieces of Architesture in England in the midst of the Colledge Thirdly the Gate of Honour leading to the Schools Thus the Gates may read a good Lecture of Morality to such who goe in and out thereat He ordered also that no new windowes be made in their Colledge new lights causing the decay of old Structures 48. Thirdly Good statutes he bestowed on them Cordiall statutes as I may call them for the preserving of the Colledge in good health being so prudent and frugal It must needs thrive in it's own defence if but observing the same thence it is this Society hath alwayes been on the purchasing hand having a fair proportion annually deposited in stock and indeed oweth it's Plenty under God unto it's own Providence Anno Dom. 155 7 8 rather then the bounty of any eminent Benefactour Anno Regin Mariae 6 the Masters onely excepted Who for so many successions have been bountifull unto it that the Colledge in a manner may now prescribe for their
¶ 10. their names ibid. they send a letter to those at Frankford about accommodation which cometh too late b. 9. p. 52. ¶ 3. the State thereof oppressed by the Savoiard sues to England for relief p. 136. their suite coldly resented and why p. 137. ¶ 20. yet some years after the necessity thereof bountifully relieved by the English Clergy b. 10. p. 4. ¶ 11. GENEVA Translation of the Bible made by the English Exiles there b. 8. p. 36. ¶ 27. the marginal notes thereof disliked by King James b. 10. p. 14. our Translatours enjoyned by him to peruse it p. 47. ¶ 1. the Brethren complain for the lack of their notes p. 58. ¶ 51. which Doctor H causelessely inveyed against 52. GERMANUS invited hither by the British Bishops Cent. 5. ¶ 4. assisted with Lupus ibid. His disputation with the Pelagians ¶ 6. in a most remarkable Conference at S. Albans ¶ 7 8. miraculously conquereth the Pagan Picts and Saxons ¶ 10. is said to exchange some Relicts for S. Albans ¶ 11. his return into Britain to suppresse resprouting Pelagianisme in a Synod ¶ 12 13. GILBERTINE Monks b. 6. p. 268. ¶ 8. Ant. GILBY a fierce Non-conformist b. 9. p. 76. ¶ 70. GILDAS a British writer calleth his Country-men the Inke of the Age C. 5. ¶ 14. why he omitteth the worthies of his Nation C. 6. ¶ 2. GILDAS surnamed Albanius struck dumb at the sight of a Nun with Child the reported Mother of St. David C. 5. ¶ 236. Barnard GILPIN refuseth the Bishoprick of Carlile and why b. 9. p. 63. ¶ 32. his Apostolicall life and death ibid. GLASSE the making thereof first brought into England C. 7. ¶ 87. GLASSENBURY the most ancient Church in Christendome said to be erected therein C. 1. ¶ 13. The plain platforme thereof ibidem The story of the Hawthorn thereby budding on Christmas day examined ¶ 15 16 17. out down â—â—tely by the Souldiers ibidem The twelve British Monks with their hard names dwelling there â— 5. ¶ 18. though St. Patrick never lived in that Monastery ¶ 20. the high praise of the place ibidem with profane slattery C. 10. p. 136. ¶ 46. Roger GOAD the worthy Provost of Kings Colledge Hist of Camb. p. 143. ¶ 5. Thomas GOAD his Son sent to the Synod of Dort b. 10. p. 80. ¶ 71. GODFATHERS used to men of mature age C. 7. ¶ 103. Christopher GOODMAN a violent Non-conformist b. 9. p. 77. ¶ 72. Godfry GOODMAN Bishop of Glocester suspended for his refusing to subscribe to the New Canotis 〈◊〉 p. 170. ¶ 22 23. John GOODMAN a seminarie Priest bandied betwixt life and death b. 11. p. 173. ¶ 39 c. Earle GODWIN by cheating gâ—ts the Nunnery of Berkley C. 11. ¶ 19. and the rich Mannour of Boseham ¶ 20. Francis GODWIN Son of a Bishop and himself made Bishop of Landaff by Q. Elizabeth in whose Reign he was born b. 9. ¶ 4. Count GONDOMAR jeared by Spalato returns it to purpose b. 10. p. 95. ¶ 7â— and 8. procureth the Enlargement of many Iesuites p. 100. ¶ 22. a bitter complement passed on him by the Earle of Oxford p. 101. ¶ 21. King James by him willingly deceived p. 114. ¶ 30. his smart return unto him ¶ 31. GRAVELIN Nunnery founded by the Gages for the English of the poore Order of St. Clare b. 6. p. 363. The GREEK-tongue difference about the pronunciation thereof Hist. of Camb. p. 119. ¶ 7 c. Rich. GREENHAM dieth of the Plague b. 9. p. 219. ¶ 64. humbled in his life-time with an obstinate Parish which he left at last ¶ 66. but with his own disliking p. 223. ¶ 68. a great observer of the Sabbath ¶ 69. GREGORY the Great his discourse with the Merchants at Rome about the English Slaves b. 2. C. 6. ¶ 1. would in person but doth by proxy-endeavour Englands Conversion ¶ 2. his exhortatory letter to Augustine ¶ 3. St. GRIMBALD a prime Professour in Oxford C. 9. ¶ 30. his contest with the old Students therein and departure in discontent ¶ 39. Edmund GRINDAL made Bishop of London b. 9. p. 63. ¶ 31. his discourse with the Non-conformist then Arch-bishop of Cant. p. 108. ¶ 18. why he fell into the Queens displeasure p. 119. ¶ 1. the Latine Petition of the Convocation pen'd by Toby Matthews to the Queen in his behalf prevaileth not p. 120 121. his large letter to the Queen in defending prophecies from p. 123. to p. 130. offendeth the Earle of Leicester by denying Lambeth House p. 130 ¶ 4. our English Eli p. 163. ¶ 10. dyes poore in estate but rich in good works ¶ 11. Robert Grout-head Bishop of Lincoln b. 3. p. 65. ¶ 28. offendeth the Pope ¶ 29. Sainted though not by the Pope by the people ¶ 31. GUN-POWDER TREASON the story at large b. 10. p. 34 35 36 c. St. GUTHLAKE the first Saxon Eremite C. 8. ¶ 7. H. William HACKET a blasphemous Heretick his story b. 9. p. 204. ¶ 32 c. Dr. John HACKET his excellent speech in the behalf of Deans and Chaptâ—rs b. 11. p. 177 178 179. Alexander HALES the first of all School-men C. 14. p. 96. ¶ 16. Sr. Robert HALES Prior of St. Joanes slain in Jack Straws rebellion b. 4. p. 140. ¶ 20. Sr. James Hales a Judge refuseth to underwrite the disinheriting of Queen Mary and Q. Elizabeth b. 8. ¶ 4. Joseph HALL since Bishop of Norwich sent by K. James to the Synod of Doxt b. 10. p. 77. ¶ 63. his speech at his departure thence for want of health p. 79. ¶ 70. his letter to the Author in just vindication of that Synod against Master Goodwin p. 85. ¶ 7. King HAROLD usurpeth the Crown C. 11. ¶ 39. killed and buried with much a do in Waltham Hist of Walth p. 7. ¶ 2. Samuel HARSNET Arch-bishop of York his charging of Bishop Davenant b. 11. p. 138. ¶ 15. his death ¶ 31. HEAFENFIELD near Hexham in Northumberland why so called C. 7. ¶ 63. HEILE a Saxon Idoll their Aesculapius b. 2. C. 6. ¶ 6. destroyed by Augustine the Monk C. 7. ¶ 21. King HENRY the first surnamed Beauclark his Coronation b. 3. p. 13. ¶ 41. married Maud a professed Votary p. 15. ¶ 1 2 c. clasheth with Anselm p. 19. ¶ 4 5 c. his death on a surfeit p. 24. ¶ 27. bred in Camb Hist of Camb. p. 2. ¶ 3. King HENRY the second cometh to the Crown b. 3. p. 30. ¶ 52. his character 53. refineth the Common Law divideth England into Circuits p. 31. ¶ 54. politickly demolisheth many Castles ¶ 56. coutesteth with Thomas Becket p. 32 33 c. heavy penance for consenting to his death p. 35. ¶ 68. afflicted with his undutifull Son Henry p. 37. ¶ 1. the farre extent of the English Monarchy p. 39. ¶ 6. dies unfortunate in his Family p. 40. ¶ 7. King HENRY the third under Tutours and Governers b. 3. p. 54. ¶ 24. by what he so quickly recovered his
despaire of perfect notice of particulars at so great a distance of place and greater of Parties concerned therein Thirdly if exact intelligence were obtained as ages long agoe are written with more saefety then truth so the story hereof might be writen with more truth then safety Lastly being a civill busines it is aliened from my subject and may justly be declined If any object that it is reduceable to Ecclesiasticall story because one as they said termed this Bellum episcopale The Warr for Bishops I conceive it presumption for so mean a Minister as my self and indeed for any under that great order to undertake the writing thereof TO HENRY PUCKERINGNEVVTON SONNE and HEIRE to S r. HENRY PVCKERINGNEWTON BARONET NO Gentleman in this Nation is more advantaged to be a Scholar born then your self You may be free of the City of the Muses by the Copy of your Grandfathers By your Fathers side Sir Adam Newton Tutour to Prince Henry By your Mothers side Mr. Murray Tutour to K. Charles If you be not more then an ordinary Scholar it will not be lesse then an extraordinary disgrace Good is not good where better is expected But I am confident if your pains be added to your parts your prayers to your pains Gods blessing will be added to your prayers to crown all with successe 1. NOw Bishop Williams was sentenced the second time in the Star-Chamber on this occâ—sion Bishop Williams his second censure Mr. Lambert Osbaston School-master of Westminster wrote a Letter unto him wherein this passage The little vermin the Urchin and Hocus pocus is this stoâ—my Christmas at true and reall variance with the Leviathan Now the Bishop was accused for d vulging scandalous Libells on Privy-Counsellors and that the Archbishop of Canterbury was meant by the former names The Lord Treasurer Weston by the Leviathan because he should have presented the libellous Letter at the receit thereof to some Justice of Peace Anno Dom. and not dispersed the same Anno Regis Carol. 2. The Bishop pleaded that he remembred not the receiving of any such letter that he conceived no law directs the subject to bring to a Justice of Peace Enigmaes or Riddles but plain literall and grammaticall Libells against a known and clearly deciphered Person Mr. Osbaston denyed the words so meant by him and deposed that he intended one Doctor Spicer a Civilian by Hocus Pocus and the Lord Richardson alive when the letter was written but then dead for the Leviathan 3. Here a paper was produced by Mr. Walker the Bishops Secretary and found in a band-box at Bugden wherein the Bishop had thus written unto him Here is a strange thing Mr. Osbaston importunes me to contribute to my Lord Treasurers use some charges upon the little great man and assures me they are mortally out I have utterly refused to meddle in this business and I pray you learn from Mr. S. and Mr. H. if any such falling out be or whether some body hath not guld the Schoolmaster in these three last letters and keep it to your self what I write unto you If my Lord Treasurer would be served by me be must use a more neere solid and trusty Messenger and free me from the bonds of the Star-chamber else let them fight it out for me Now Mr. Walker being pressed by a friend why he would discover this letter to his Masters prejudice averred he brought it forth as a man witness of his innocency and as able to clear him of all in the informaton however it was strongly misunderstood for by comparing both letters together the Court collected the Bishop guilty 4. Sir John Finch fined him a just ten thousand pounds Rotundi numeri causa whom Secretary Windebank did follow The rest brought it down to eight thousand pounds only one Lord thought fitting to impose no fine upon him rendring this reason Qui jacet in terra non habet unde cadet 5. The Bishop already being sequestred from all his Temporall Lands spirituall preferment and his Person imprisoned Mr. Osbaston was sentenced five Thousand pounds loss of his good living at Whethamstede and to have his earâ—s tackt to the Pillory in the presence of his Scholars whom his industry had improved to as great eminency of learning as any of his Predecessors insomuch that he had at the present above fouresore Doctors in the two Universities and three learned faculties all gratefully acknowledging their education under him But this last personall penalty he escaped by going beyond Canterbury conceived seasonably gone beyond the Seas whilst he secretly concealed himself in London 6. All this put not a period to the Bishops troubles 1638 his unsequestred Spirit so supported him 14 that some of his Adversaries frowned because he could smile under so great vexations A design is set a foot either to make him voluntarily surrender his Bishoprick Deanary and dignities permitted perchance a poor Bishoprick in Ireland or else to press his degradation in order whereunto a new information with ten Articles is drawn up against him though for the main but the consequence and deductions of the fault for tampering with Witnesses for which in the 13. of King Charles he had been so severely censured 7. To this the Bishop put in a Plea and Demurrer that Deus non judicat bis in id ipsum God punisheth not the same fault twice that this is the way to make causes immense and punishments infinite that whereas there was two things that Philosophers denied infinitenesse and vacuity Kilvert had found them both in this prosecution infinitenesse in the Bishops cause and vacuity in his purse that the profane wits of this age should begin to doubt of the necessity of beleeving a Hell hereafter Anno Regis Caroli 14 when such eternall punishments are found here in such kind of prosecution Anno Dom. 1638 he added also that he could prove it that it was a conspiracy of Kilverts with other persons if he might have freedome to bring his witnesses against them which because it cast scandal on those who were Pro domino Rege was now denied him 8. Then put he in a Rejoynder and an Appeal unto the next Parliament whensoever it should be assembled pleading his priviledge of Peerage as his freehold and that he could not be degraded of his Orders and Dignities This was filed in the Sâ—ar-Chamber under the Clarks Book and Copies thereof signed with the usuall Officers Now although this was but a poor help no light of a Parliament dawning at that time yet it so far quashed the proceedings that it never came to farther hearing and the matter superseded from any finall Censure 9. And now began Scotland to be an Actor 15 and England 1639 as yet a sad Spectator thereof Scots broileâ— begin as suspecting ere long to feel what â—e beheld There is an Hye Hill in Cumberland called Skiddaw another answering thereto Scrussell by name in Anandale in
Scotland and the people dwelling by have an old Rythme If * Camdens Brit. in Cumber p. 7â—7 Skiddaw hath a Cap Scrussle wotâ—s full well of that Meaning that such the vicinity and as I may say sympathy betwixt these two Hills that if one be sick with a mist of clouds the other soon after is sad on the like occasion Thus none seeing it now foul weather in Scotland could expect it fair sunshine in England but that she must share in the same miseries as soon after it came to passe 10. Let those who desire perfect information hereof March 27. satisfy themselves The Reader referred to other Authors from such as have or may hereafter write the History of the State In whom they shall find how King Charles took his journey Northward June 17. against the Scottish Covenanters How some weeks after on certain conditions a Peace was concluded betwixt them How his Majesty returned to Londons and how this palliated cure soon after brake out again more dangerous than ever before 11. In these distracted times a Parliament was called with the wishes of all April 13 Monday and hopes of most that were honest A Parliament and Convocation called yet not without the feares of some who were wise what would be the successe thereof With this Parliament began a Convocation all the mediate transactions for ought I can finde out are embezled and therein it was ordered that none present should take any private notes in the House whereby the particular passages thereof are left at great uncertainty However so far as I can remember I will faithfully relate being comforted with this consideration that generally he is accounted an unpartial Arbitratour who displeaseth both sides 12. On the first day thereof Dr. Turner Doctor Turneâ— his text and Sermon Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury 14. Tuesd made a Latine Sermon in the Quire of St. Pauls His text Matth. 10. 16. Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the mid'st of Wolves In the close of his Sermon he complained that all Bâ—shops held not the reins of Church-discipline with an even hand but that some of them were too easie and remiss in the ordering thereof Whereby whiles they sought to gain to themselves the popular praise of meeknesse and mildnesse they occasionally cast on other Bishops more severe then themselves the unjust imputation of rigour and tyranny and therefore he advised them all with equall strictness to urge an universal conformitie The effect of the Archbishopâ— Latâ—n speech Sermon ended we chose Dr. Stewart Dean of Chichester Prolocutor 13. 17. Friday Next day of sitting we met at Westminster in the Chappell of King Henry the seventh both the Houses of Convocation being joyned together Anno Dom 1640 when the Archbishop of Canterbury entertained them with a Latin Speech Anno Regis Caroli 16 welnigh three quarreâ—s of an hour gravely uttered his eies oft-times being but one remove from weeping It consisted most of generals bemoaning the distempers of the Church but concluded it with a speciall passage acquaining us how highly we were indebted to his Majesties favour so far intrusting the integrity and ability of that Convocation as to empower them with his Commission the like whereof was not granted for may yeers before to alter old or make new Canons for the better government of the Church 14. Some wise men in the Convocation began now to be jealous of the event of new Canons The just suspicions of wise men yea became fearfull of their own selves for having too great power lest it should tempt them to be over tampering in innovations They thought it better that this Convocation with its predecessors should be censured for lazinesse and the solemn doing of just nothing rather than to runne the hazard by over activity to doe any thing unjust For as waters long dammed up oft-times flownce and flâ—e out too violently when their sluces are pulled up and they let loose on a sudden so the judicious feared lest the Convocation whose power of meddling with Church-matters had been bridled up for many yeers before should now enabled with such power over-act their parts especially in such dangerous and discontented times Yea they suspected lest those who formerly had outâ—runne the Canons with their additionall conformitie ceremonizing more then was enjoyned now would make the Canons come up to them making it necessary for others what voluntarily they had prepractised themselves 15. Matters began to be in agitation The Parliament suddenly dissolved May 5 when on a sudden the Parliament wherein many things were started nothing hunted down or brought to perfection was dissolved Whilest the immediate cause hereof is commonly cast on the King and Court demanding so many Subsidies at once England being as yet unacquainted with such prodigious payments the more conscientious look higher and remoter on the crying sinnes of our Kingdome And from this very time did God begin to gather the twiggs of that rod a civill warr wherewith soon after he intended to whip a wanton nation 16. Next day the Convocation came together Yet the Convocation still continues 6 as most supposed meerly meeting to part and finally to dissolve themselves When contrary to generall expectation it was motioned to improve the present opportunity in perfecting the new Canons which they had begun And soon after a new Commission was brought from his Majesty by virtue whereof we were warranted still to sit not in the capacity of a Convocation but of a Synod to prepare our Canons for the Royall Assent thereunto But Doctor Brownrigg Doctor Hacket Doctor Holesworth Master Warmistre with others to the number of thirty six the whole House consisting of about six score earnestly protested against the continuance of the Convocation 17. These importunately pressed that it might sink with the Parliament A party dissents and protests against the continuance thereof it being ominous without precedent that the one should survive when the other was expired To satisfy these an Instrument was brought into Synod signed with the hands of the Lord Privy-Seal the two chief Justices and other Judgâ—s justifying our so sitting in the nature of a Synod to be legal according to the Lawes of the Realm It ill becometh Clergy-men to pretend to more skill in the Lawes then so learned Sages in that profession and therefore unpartiall judgements may take off from the fault of the followers and lay it on the leaders that this Synod sate when the Parliament was dissolved This made the aforesaid thirty six dissenters though solemnly making their orall protests to the contrary yet not to dissever themselves or enter any act in Scriptis against the legality of this Assembly the rather because they hoped to moderate proceedings with their presence Surely some of their own coat which since have censured these dissenters for cowardly compliance and doing no more in this cause would have