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
worse did he finde it witness Leland thus praising him Praedicat Algerum meritò Florentia Dantem Italia numeros tota Petrarche tuos Anglia Chaucerum veneratur nostra Poëtam Cui veneres debet patria lingua suas Of Alger Dants Florence doth justly boast Of Petrarch brags all the Italian coast England doth Poet Chaucer reverence To whom our language ows its eloquence Indeed Verslegan a learned a In his restitution of de caied intelligence p. 203. Antiquary condemns him for spoiling the purity of the English tongue by the mixture of so many French and Latin words But he who mingles wine with water though he destroies the nature of water improves the quality thereof 49. I finde this Chaucer fined in the Temple two shillings A great enemy to Friers for striking a Franciscan Frier in Fleet-street and it seems his hands ever after itched to be revenged and have his penniworths out of them so tickling Religious-Orders with his tales and yet so pinching them with his truths that Friers in reading his books know not how to dispose their faces betwixt crying and laughing He lies buried in the South-Isle of S t Peters Westminster and since hath got the company of Spencer and Drayton a pair-royal of Poets enough almost to make passengers feet to move metrically who go over the place where so much Poetical dust is interred 50. Since the Abjuration last exemplified A short quiet in the Church we meet in this Kings Reign no more persecution from the Bishops We impute this not to their pity but other imployment now busie in making their applications to the new King on the change of government King Richard being now deposed 51. He was one of a goodly person The character of King Rich the second of a nature neither good nor bad but according to his company which commonly were of the more vicious His infancy was educated under several Lord Protectours successively under whom his intellectuals thrived as babes battle with many nurses commonly the worse for the change At last he grew up to full age and empty minde judicious onely in pleasure giving himself over to all licentiousness 52. As King Richard was too weak to govern Conspired against by Hen. the fourth so Henry Duke of Lancaster his Cousin-germane was too wilful to be governed Taking advantage therefore of the Kings absence in Ireland he combined with other of the discontented Nobility and draws up Articles against him some true some false some both as wherein truth brought the matter and malice made the measure Many misdemeanors mo misfortunes are laid to his charge Murdering the Nobility advancing of worthless Minions sale of justice oppression of all people with unconscionable taxations For such Princes as carry a forke in one hand Anno Regis Hen. 4 1. must bear a rake in the other and must covetously scrape to maintain what they causlesly scatter 53. Loosness brings men into streights at last And resigneth the Crown as King Richard may be an instance thereof Returning into England he is reduced to this doleful Dilemma either voluntarily by resigning to depose himself or violently by detrusion to be deposed by others His misery and his enemies ambition admit of no expedient Yea in all this Act his little judgment stood onely a looker-on whilest his fear did what was to be done directed by the force of others In hopes of life he solemnly resigneth the Crown but all in vain For cruel thieves seldom rob but they also kill and King Henry his Successour could not meet with a soft pillow so long as the other wore a warm head Whereupon not long after King Richard was barbarously murdered at Pomfret-Castle But of these transactions the Reader may satisfie himself at large out of our civil Historians 54. Onely we will add The baseness of the disloyal Clergy that the Clergy were the first that led this dance of disloyaltie Thomas Arundel now Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the room of William Courtney deceased made a Sermon on Samuels words Vir dominabitur populo He shewed himself a Satyrist in the former a Parasite in the later part of his Sermon a Traitor in both He aggravated the childish weakness of King Richard his inability to govern magnifying the parts and perfections of Henry Duke of Lancaster But by the Arch-Bishops leave grant Richard either deservedly deposed or naturally dead without issue the right to the Crown lay not in this Henry but in Edmond Mortimer Earl of March descended by his mother Philippa from Lionel Duke of Clarence elder son to Edward the third This the Arch-Bishop did willingly conceal Thus in all State-alterations be they never so bad the Pulpit will be of the same wood with the Councel-board And thus ambitious Clergy-men abuse the silver trumpets of the Sanctuary who reversing them and putting the wrong end into their mouthes make what was appointed to sound Religon to signifie Rebellion 55. But whilest all other Churches in England rung congratulatory peales to King Henry his Happiness The couragious conscience of the Bishop of Carlile one jarring bell almost marr'd the melody of all the rest even Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlile For when the Lords in Parliament not content to Depose King Richard were devising more mischief against him up steps the aforesaid Bishop formerly Chaplain to the King and expresseth himself as followeth There is no man present worthy to pass his sentence on so a Bishop Gedwin in the Bishops of Carlile great a King as to whom they have obeyed as their lawful Prince full two and twenty years This is the part of Traitors Cut-throats and Thieves None is so wicked none so vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime we should think to condemn before we heard him And you do ye account it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and Crowned giving him no leave to defend himself How unjust is this But let us consider the matter it self I say nay openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom you are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Soveraign as ours of his Kingdom More would he have spoken when the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence for speaking too much Truth in so dangerous a time Since it seems some Historians have made up what more he would have said spinning these his Heads into a very large Oration though tedious to none save those of the Lancastrian faction 56. Here Innocency the lest Armour if ever did the Proverb take effect Truth may be blam'd but cannot be sham'd for although the rest of the Bishops being guilty themselves condemned him as discovering more Covent-devotion who originally was a Monk of Westminster then Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren Yet generally he was beheld as Loyalties a Confessor Anno Dom. 1400. speaking what became his calling Anno Regis Ric. 2 2. in discharge of his
Oxonford I mean Wickliff by Name afterwards chewed the Cud and was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman faith as appears by his Recantation Living and Dying conformable to the holy Catholick Church 58. It is strange that this Popish Priest alone should light on his Recantation which I believe no other eyes before or since did behold Besides if as he saith Wickliff was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman Faith why was not Rome sufficiently reconciled to him using such crueltie unto him so many years after his death Cold incouragement for any to become Romist's Converts if notwithstanding their reconciliation the bodies must be burnt so many years after their death 59. But though Wickliff had no Tombe A Monk's charity to Wickliffe he had an Epitaph such as it was which a Monk afforded him and that it was no worse thank his want not of malice but invention not finding out worse expressions The k Walsing Ypodig Neust p. 3â—2 Divels Instrument Churches Enemie Peoples confusion Hereticks Idol Hypocrites Mirror Schisms Broacher hatreds sower Anno Dom. 1430. lyes forger flatteries sinke who at his death despaired like Cain Anno Regis Hen. 6. 8. and stricken by the horrible Judgements of God breathed forth his wicked Soul to the dark mansion of the black Divell Surely He with whose Name this Epitaph beginneth and endeth was with the maker clean thorow the contrivance thereof 59. Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester A conditional privy Council Cardinal Sancti Eusebij but commonly called Cardinal of England was by consent of Parliament made one of the Kings Council with this condition that he should make a * Ex Archivis tur London Protestation to absent himself from the Council when any matters were to be treated betwixt the King and Pope being jealous belike that his Papal would prevaile over his Royall interest The Cardinal took the Protestation and promised to perform it 60. The Clergy complained in Parliament to the King Priviledge of Convocation that their Servants which came with them to Convocations were often arrested to their great damage and they prayed that they might have the same Priviledge which the Peeres and Commons of the Kingdom have which are called to Parliament which was granted accordingly 61. Great at this time was the want of Grammar Schools and the abuse of them that were even in London it self Want of Grammar Schools complained of for they were no better then Monopolize it being penall for any to prevent the growth of Wicklivism to put their Children to private Teachers hence was it that some hundreds were compelled to go to the same School where to use the words of the Records the Masters waxen rich in money and learners poor in cunning Whereupon this grievance was complained on in Parliament by four eminent Ministers in London viz. M r. William Lichfield Parson of All-Hallow's the More Gilbert Parson of St. Andrews Holbern John Cote Parson of St. Peter's Cornhill John Neele Master of the House of St. Thomas Acre 's and Parson of Colchrich To these it was granted by the Advice of the Ordinary or Archbishop of Canterbury to erect five Schools Neele the last named having a double licence for two places in their respective Parishes which are fitly called the five vowels of London which Mute in a manner before began now to speak and pronounce the Latine Tongue Know that the house St. Thomas Acres was where Mercers Chappel standeth at this day About this time the Lady Eleanor Cobham Elianour Dutchess of Glocester commended by M r. Fox for a Confessor so called from the Lord Cobham her Father 1433 otherwise Elianour Plantagenet by her Husband was married unto Humphrey the Kings Uncle Duke of Glocester 11. She was it seems a great Savourer and Favourer of VVickliffe his Opinions and for such Mr. Fox hath ever a Good word in store Insomuch that he maketh this Lady a Confessor Sr. Roger Only alias Bolignbroke her Chaplain a Martyr assigning in his Kalender the eleventh and twelfth of February for the dayes of their commemoration But Alanus Copus namely Harpsfield under his name falls foul on Mr. Fox for making Sr. Roger a Martyr Made Traitor by A. C. who was a Traitor and Elianour this Dutchess a Confessor who by the consent of our Croniclers Robert Fabian Edward Hall c. was condemned after solemn penance and carrying a Taper barefoot at Pauls Crosse to perpetuall banishment for plotting with Only his Chaplain an abominable Necromancer and three others by witchcraft to destroy the King Anno Regis Hen. sixt 11. so to derive the Crown to her Husband Anno Dom. 1433. as the next heir in the Line of Lancaster But Cope-Harpsfield pincheth the Fox the hardest for making Margaret Jourdman the witch of Eye a Martyr who was justly burnt for her witchcraft Other small errors we omit where of he accuseth him In answer hereunto Mr. Fox makes a threefold return ingeniously confessing part of the charge Mr. Fox His ingenious confession flatly denying part and fairly excusing the rest He confesseth and take it in his own words that the former Edition of his Acts and Monuments was a First Volum pag. 920. HASTILY RASHED up at the present in such shortnesse of time fourteen moneths as I remember too small a term for so great a Task that it betraied him to many mistakes as when he calleth Sir Roger Only a Knight who was a Priest by his profession Adding moreover that had he thought no b Pag. 921. imperfections had passed his former Edition he would have taken in hand a second recognition thereof He flatly denyeth that his Martyr-making of Margaret Jourdman the Witch of Eye His flat deniall I here saith professe confesse and ascertain both you Cope-Harpsfield He meaneth and all English men both present and all posterity hereafter to come that Margaret Jourdman I never spake of never thought of never dreamed of nor did ever hear of before you named her in your Book your self So farre it is off that I either with my will or against my will made any Martyr of Her He excuseth the aforesaid Dutchess Elianour His ten Coniectures in behalf of the Dutchess alledging ten Conjectures as he calleth them in her vindication 1. Sir Roger Only took it upon his death that He and the Lady were innocent of those things for which they were condemned 2. It was usuall for the Clergie in that Age to load those who were of Wickliffe his perswasion such this Dutchess with no lesse false then feule aspersions 3. Sir Roger Only wrote two Books mentioned by c As in his 8th Cent. cap. 4. Bale the one of his own innocency the other Contra Vulgi Superstitiones It is not therefore probable he should be so silly a Necromancer who had professedly confuted Popular Superstitions 4. The Accusation of this Dutches beganne not untill after the Grudges betwixt the
improved by her Officers in the Exchequer who sometimes have none of the softest palms to those that fall into their hands that many Ministers were much vexed thereby Yea one u M. Parker Ant. Brit. in vitâ Reginalldi Peli observeth that the courtesie intended to the Clergie by Q. Mary in remitting their tenths proved in event an injury to many so vexed about their arrears 8. In vain have some of late beaved at this Office which is fastned to the State The state profit and policy of this Office with so considerable a revenue as it advanced thereunto by tenths and first-fruits The former certain the latter casuall as depending on the uncertain deaths of Iucumbents and such as succeed them Many indeed accuse such payments as Popish in their original But could that be superstitious which was pluckt down by Queen Mary and set up again by Queen Elizabeth Besides suppose them so in their first foul fountain since being shifted yea strained through the hands of Protestant Kings Tenths have their old property altered and acquire no doubt a new purity to themselves And the Advocates for this Office doe pertinently plead that there ought to be a badge of subjection * Some say such a vectigal from the Clergie is mentioned in Bede of the Clergie to the Secular power by publick acknowledgement of their dependence thereon which by such payments is best performed 9. John Lambert John Lambert condemned and why aliàs Nicolson bred in Cambridge had lately been much persecuted by Archbishop Warham about some opinions he held against the corproal presence in the Sacrament And now being fallen into fresh troubles on the same account 1538. to make the quicker work following the precedent of S. Paul appealing to Caesar he appeals to the King Who having lately taken upon him the title of the Supreme head of the Church of England He. 8. 20. Nov. 10. would shew that head had a tongue could speak in matters of Divinity In White-hall the place and day is appointed where an ACT-ROYAL was kept the King himselfe being the Opponent and Lambert the Answerer and where His Highnesse was worsted or wearied Arch-bishop Crammer w Fox Acts Mon. supplied His place arguing though civilly shrodely against the truth and his own private judgment 10. Was not this worse than keeping the clothes of those who killed S. Stephen Cranmer's unexcusable cowardly dissimulation seeing this Archbishop did actually cast stones at this Martyr in the Arguments he urged against him Nor will it excuse Cranmer's cowardise and dissimulation to accuse Gardiner's craft and cruely who privily put the Archbishop on this odious act such Christian courage being justly expected from a person of his parts and place as not to be acted by another contrary to his own conscience I see not therefore what can be said in Cranmer's behalf save onely that I verily hope and stedfastly believe that he craved God's pardon for this particular offence and obtained the same on his unfained repentance And because the face of mens faults is commonly seen in the glasse of their punishment it is observable that as Lambert now was burnt for denying the corporal presence so Cranmer now his Opponent was afterwards condemned and died at Oxford for maintaining the same opinion which valour if sooner shewn his conscience had probably been more cleared within him and his credit without him to all posterity 11. A match being now made up by the Lord Cromwel's contrivance Dutch-men broach strange opinions betwixt King Henry and the Lady Anne of Cleve Dutch-men flockt faster than formerly into England Many of these had active souls so that whilest their hands were busied about their manufactures their heads were also beating about points of Divinity Hereof they had many rude notions too ignorant to manage them themselves and too proud to crave the direction of others Their mindes had a bystream of activity more than what sufficed to drive on their Vocation and this waste of their souls they imployed in needlesse speculations and soon after began to broach their strange opinions being branded with the general name of Anabaptists 24. These Anabaptists for the main are but Donatists now dips and this year their name first appears in our English Chronicles for I * Stoe in his Chron p. 576. read that four Anabaptists three men and one woman all Dutch bare faggots at Paul's Crosse and three daies after a man and woman of their sect was burnt in Smithfield 12. It quickly came to the turn of Queen Anne of Cleve to fall Queen Anne of Cleve why divorced if not into the displeasure out of the dear affection of King Henry the eighth 27. Hē 8. 31. She had much of Katharine Dowager's austerity 1539. little of Anna Bollen's pleasant wit lesse of the beauty of Jane Seamour Some feminine impotency that She answered not Her creation was objected against Her though onely Her precontract with the Son of the Duke of Lorraine was publickly insisted on for which by Act of Parliament now sitting She was solemnly divorced 13. King Henry durst not but deal better with Anne of Cleve than with such His Wives The reparations the King made her which were His native Subjects not so much for love of Her Ann. Dom. 1539. as for fear of Her Brother the Duke of Cleve Ann. Regis Hē 8. 31. considerable if not much in Himself in His union with the Protestant Princes of Germany Wherefore He restored Her all Her Jewels assigned Her precedencie above all English save His own that should be Queen and Children graced Her with a new-devised stile of His adopted Sister by which from henceforward He saluted Her in His Letters and She in Answer subscribed Her self allotted Her Richmond-House for Her retirement with an augmentation of means for Her maintenance And now let Her be glad that She escaped so well seeing all which had reference to King Henry's bed came off gainers if savers of their own lives and reputations She returned no more into Her own Countrey but living and dying Anno a Stow's Funerall Monuments p. 513. 1557. in England was buried in Westminster Church at the head of King Sebert in a Tomb not yet finished none other of King Henry's Wives having any and this Anne but half a Monument 14. In the last Parliament Reformation goes backwards Reformation running a race with Superstition hardly carried it by the heads-length but it was hoped that in this new Parliament now sitting true Religion would run her Rivall quite out of distance Whereas alas it not onely stood still but went backwards the SIX ARTICLES being therein enacted that whip with six knots each one as heavily laid on fetching blood from the backs of poor Protestants 15. K. Henry was much blamed for passing this Act. King Henry justly blamed Indeed Power and Profit being the things politick Princes chiefly desire King
well as the single Arrows seeing perchance other Societies led lives not more religious but lesse examined 4. But the first terrible blow in England given generally to all Orders The first stroke at the root of Abbeys was in the Lay Parliament as it is called which did wholly Wicclifize kept in the twelfth year of King Henry the fourth wherein the c Thomas Walsingbam Nobles and Commons assembled signified to the King that the temporal possessions of Abbots Priors c. lewdly spent within the Realm would suffice to finde and sustain 150 Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires 100 Hospitals more than there were But this motion was maul'd with the King 's own hand who dashed it personally interposing Himself contrary to that character which the jealous Clergie had conceived of Him that coming to the Crown He would be a great d Being heard to say That Princes had too little and Religious men too much Holinshed pag. 514. enemy to the Church But though Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster was no friend to the Clergie perchance to ingratiate himself with the people yet the same Henry King of England His interest being altered to strengthen Him with the considerable power of the Clergy proved a Patron yea a Champion to defend them However we may say that now the Axe is laid to the root of the tree of Abbeys and this stroke for the present though it was so farre from hurting the body that it scarce pierced the bark thereof yet bare attempts in such matters are important as putting into peoples heads a feasibility of the project formerly conceived altogether impossible 5. Few yeares after The objection of covetousness against Abbeys though not answered â—vaded by Archb. Chichesly namely in the second year of King Henry the fift another shreud thrust was made at English Abbeys but it was finely and cleverly put aside by that skilfull State-Fencer Henry Chichesly Archbishop of Canterbury For the former Bill against Abbeys in full Parliament was revived when the Archbishop minded King Henry of His undoubted Title to the fair and flourishing Kingdome of France Hereat that King who was a spark in Himself was enflamed to that designe by this Prelates perswasion and His native courage ran fiercely on the project especially when clapt on with conscience and encouragement from a Church-man in the lawfulnesse thereof An undertaking of those vast dimensions that the greatest covetousnesse might spread and highest ambition reach it self within the bounds thereof If to promote this project the Abbeys advanced not onely large and liberall but vast and incredible summes of money it is no wonder if they were contented to have their nails pared close to the quick thereby to save their fingers Over goes K. Henry into France with many martiall spirits attending him so that putting the King upon the seeking of a new Crown kept the Abbots old Mitres upon their heads and Monasteries tottering at this time were thank a politick Archbishop refixed on the firm foundations though this proved rather a reprieve than a pardon unto them as will afterwards appear Of the suppression of alien Priories NExt followed the dissolving of alien Priories The originall of Pâ—ioâ—â—es aliens of whose first founding and severall sorts something must be observed When the Kings of England by Conquest or Inheritance were possessed of many and great Territories in France Normandy Aquitaine Picardy c. many French Monasteries were endowed with lands in England For an English kitchen or larder doth excellently well with a French hall And whilst forreigners tongues slighted our Island as barren in comparison of their own Countrey at the same time they would lick their lips after the full-fare which our Kingdome afforded 2. Very numerous were these Cells in England relating to forreign Abbeys scattered all over the Kingdome One John Norbury erected two for his part the one at Greenwich the other at Lewesham in Kent Yea e Cambd. Brit. in Lancashire Roger de Poictiers founded on in the remotest corner of the Land in the Town of Lancaster the richest of them all for annuall income was that which f Idem in Lincoln-shire Tuo Talbois built at Spalding in Lincoln shire giving it to the Monks of Angiers in France g Harpsfield in Catal. religiosarum â— Edium fol. 761. valued at no lesse than 878 lib. 18s 3d. of yearly revenue And it is remarkable that as one of these Priories was granted before the Kings of England were invested with any Dominion in France namely Deorhirst in Glocester shire h Camb Brit. in Glocester-shire assigned by the Testament of Edward the Confessour to the Monastery of S. Denis neer Paris so some were bestowed on those places in forreign parts where our English Kings never had finger of power or foot of possession Thus we read how Henry the third annexed a Cell in Thredneedle-street in i Harpsfield ut priùs pag 763. London to S. Anthony in Vienna and neer Charing-Crosse there was another annext to the Lady Runciavall in Navarre Belike men's devotion in that Age look'd on the world as it lay in common taking no notice how it was sub-divided into private Principalities but proceeded on that rule k 1 Cor. 10. 28. The earth is the Lord's and the fulnesse thereof and Charity though wandring in forreign parts counted it self still at home because dwelling on its proper pious uses 3. These alien Priories were of two natures some had Monks with a Prior resident in them Alien Priories of two natures yet not Conventuall but dative and removable ad nutum of the forreign Abbey to which they were subservient Others were absolute in themselves who though having an honorary dependence on and bearing a subordination of respect unto French Abbeys yet had a Prior of their own being an intire body of themselves to all purposes and intents The former not unlike Stewards managing profits for the behoof of their Master to whom they were re sponsible The later resembling retainers at large acknowledging a generall reference but not accomptable unto them for the revenues they received Now both these kindes of Priories peaceably enjoyed their possessions here even after the revolt of those Principalities from the Crown of England yet so that during open hostility and actuall warre betwixt England and France their revenues were seised and taken by the King and restored again when amity was setled 4. But King Richard the second and King Henry the fourth not so fair as their predecessours herein not onely detained those revenues in time of peace but also diverted them from their proper use and bestowed them on some of their Lay-servants So that the Crown was little enriched therewith especially if it be true what Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury averred in the house of Commons to the face of the Speaker That these Kings l Antiq. Brit. pag. 274. were not half a mark the wealthier for those rents thus
Queens officers as they had just cause more strick in searching as her Judges more severe in punishing the Papists Hereupon the Seculars complained that such proceedings against them tearmed persecution by them and justice by our State was caused by the Jesuits and that Parsons especially though he had kindled the fire left others to bear the heat thereof Yea which was more he was not himself contented to sleep in a whole skinn at Rome but lashed others of his own Religion and having got his neck out of the collar accused others for not drawing weight enough taxing the Seculars as dull and remiss in the cause of Religion and to speak plainly they differed as hot and cold poison the Jesuits more active and pragmatical the Seculars more slow and heavie but both maintaining treacherous principles destructive to the common-Wealth 31. If we look now on the Non-Conformists A general calm we shall finde them all still and quiet After a storm comes a calm wearied with a former blustering they began now to repose themselves in a sad silence especially since the executions of Vdal and Penry had so terrified them that though they might have secret designes we meet not their open and publick motions so that this Century affordeth little more then the mortalities of some eminent men 32. We begin with Richard Fletcher Bishop of London The death of Bp Fletcher and Bishop Coldwell bred in Bennet Colledge in Cambridg one of a comly person and goodly presence qualities not to be cast away in a Bishop though a Bishop not to be chosen for them he lov'd to ride the great horse and had much skill in managing thereof condemned for very proud such his natural stately garb by such as knew him not and commended for humility by those acquainted with him he lost the Queens favour because of his second unhappy match and died suddainly more of grief then any other disease with him let me couple another heart-broken Bishop John Coldwell of Salisbury D r of Physick S t Luke we know was both an Evangelist and Physician who never enjoyed himself after he had consented though little better then surprised thereunto to the alienation of Sherborn Manor from the Bishoprick 33. Here I am at a loss for the date of the death of Laurence Humphry The death of Laurence Humfry but confident I hit the but though miss the mark as about this time He was a consciencious and moderate Non-conformist condemned for luke-warm by such as were scalding-hot Dean of Winchester and Master of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford to which he bequeathed a considerable Summ of Gold left in a chest not to be opened except some great necessity urged thereunto But lately whilst D r John Wilkinson was President of the Colledge this Gold was shar'd between him and the fellows And though one must charitably beleeve the matter not so bad as it is reported yet the most favourable relation thereof gave a general distast 34. Sure I am A great Antiquaries good intention discouraged a great Antiquarie lately deceased rich as well in his state as learning at the hearing hereof quitted all his intentions of benefaction to Oxford or any place else on suspition it would be diverted to other uses On the same token that he merrily said I think the bestway for a man to perpetuate his memory is to procure the Pope to Canâ—nize him for a Saint for then he shall be sure to be remembred in their Calender Whereas otherwise I see all Protestant charity subject to the covetousness of posterity to devour it and bury the donor thereof in oblivion 35. M r Baltazer Zanches a Spaniard The charity of a Spanish Protestant born in Sherez in Estremadura founded an alms-house at Totnam high-cross in Middlesex for eight single people allowing them competent maintenance Now seeing Protestant Founders are rare Spanish Protestants rarer Spanish Protestant Founders in England rarest I could not pass this over with silence nor must we forget that he was the first confectioner or comfit-maker in England bringing that mystery to London and as I am informed the exactness thereof continues still in his family in which respect they have successively been the Queens and Kings confectioners 36. A Parliament held at Westminster The acts in the Parliament 1597. 40. wherein the deprivation of Popish Bishops in the first of this Queens Reign was declared legall Some will wonder what need is of this Statute at so many years distance but the Preface intimates the necessity thereof The Legality also of our Bishops and their Officers were again by act of Parliament confirmed And whereas there was a pretended concealment of some lands of the Bishoprick of Norwich the same by act of Parliament were setled on that See and the Exchange of Lands ratified made in the Reign of King Henry the Eight The contemporary convocation did nothing of moment 37. Thomas Stapleton this year ended his life The death of Tho. Stapleton 1598. 41. and was buried at S t Peters Church in Lovain it is written in his Epitaph qui Cicestriae in Anglià nobili loco natus where Cicestriae is taken not for the City but Diocess of Chicester having otherwise good assurance that he was born at Hemfield in Sussex the same year and moneth wherein * See Pitzaeus in his life S r Thomas Moore was beheaded observed by the Catholicks as a grand providence he was a most learned assertor of the Romish Religion wanting nothing but a true cause to defend On one account I am beholding unto him viz. for disswading * Idemibidem Pitzaeus from being a Souldier to be a Scholler whose History of our English writers hath so often been usefull unto me 38. Richard Cosine D r of the Law and Dean of Archeys this year ended his life The death of Dr Cosine One of the greatest Civilians which our Age or Nation hath produced a most moderate man in his own nature but most earnest assertor of the Ecclesiastical discipline as by his printed works doth appear 39. Robert Turner his death was now much bemoaned by the Papists The death of Rob. Turner 1599. 42. he was born at Barstable in Devon bred for a while in Oxford whence flying beyond the Seas he became Canon of Breslaw in Silesia and at the same time Privie Councellor to the Duke of Bavaria falling afterward into his displeasure probably because more pragmatical then became a forrainer however Ferdinand of Gratz afterwards Emperor took him from the Duke to be his own Secretary for the Latine tongue wherein he excelled as by his printed Orations doth appear he lieth buried at Gratz under a handsom Monument 40. Great was the grief of Protestants for the decease of Richard Hooker Anno Regin Eliza. 42. Anno Dom. 1599. The death of Rich. Hooker Turners Country-man as born also in Devon-shire and bred in Corpus-Christi
Thirdly because in fine it proved nothing though kept on foot so long till K. James by endeavouring to gain a Daughter-in Law had in effect lost His own Daughter Her Husband and Children being reduced to great extremities 7. Truly K. James never affected his Son in Law 's acceptance of the Bobemian Crown A Crown not joyed in nor promised Himself any good successe thence though great the hope of the German Protestants therein Indeed some of them were too credulous of a blinde Prophesie commonly currant amongst them POST TER VIGINTI CESSABIT GLORIA QUINTI Expecting the ending of the Austrian Family sixty years being now expired since the death of Charles the fift but discreet persons slighted such vanities and the Quinti had like to have proved the extirpation of Frederick fift of that name Palatine of Rhyne had not God almost miraculously lately countermanded it 8. Yea K. Iames accused by some K. James privately foretold to some principal persons that this matter would prove the ruine of his Daughter There want not some who say That he went about to virefie his own Prediction by not sending seasonable succours for their assistance who had He turned His Embassies into Armies might probably have prevented much Protestant misery 9. Others excuse K. James Defended by others partly from the just hopes He had to accommodate all interests in a peaceable way partly from the difficulty of conveying effectual forces into so farre distant a Countrey 10. Mean time both the Palatinates were lost Both the Palatinates lost the Upper seized on by the Emperour the Neather but higher in value by the King of Spaine the City of Heidelberg taken and plunder'd and the inestimable Library of Books therein carried over the Alpes on Mules backs to Rome Each Mule laded with that learned burthen had a silver-plate on his forehead wherein was engraven FERO BIBLIOTHECAM PRINCIPIS PALATINI Now those Books are placed in the Popes Vatican entituling Protestants to visit the place who one day may have as good successe as now they have just right to recover them 11. As for the Palatinate Land of Promise Now Land of Performance Satyricall tongues commonly called it the Land of Promise so frequently and so solemnly was the restitution thereof promised to King James fed only with delayes which amounted to mannerly denials Since it hath pleased God to turn this Land of Promise into a * The nether Palatinate Land of Performance the present Palatine being peaceably possessed thereof 12. Prince Charles Prince Charles goes to Spain with the Duke of Buckingham lately went privately through France where He saw the Lady whom afterwards He married into Spain It is questionable whether then more blamed K. James for sending him or afterwards blessed God for his safe return Sumptuous his entertainment in the Spanish Court where it was not the Kings fault but Kingdomes defect that any thing was wanting He quickly discovered the coursness of fine-pretending wares at distance are easily confuted neer hand that the Spanish State had no minde or meaning of a Match as who demanded such unreasonable Liberty in education of the Royall Off-spring in case any were born betwixt them and other Priviledges for English Papists that the King neither could nor would in honour or conscience consent thereunto However Prince Charles whose person was in their power took his fair farewell with courteous compliance 12. Though He entred Spain like a private person His return * Sept. 12. He departed it like Himself and the Son of his Father * The Reader is requested to pardon our short setting back of time a stately Fleet attending Him home Foul weather forced them to put in at the Isse of Syllie the parings of England South-west of Cornwall where in two daies they fed on more and better flesh than they found in Spain for many moneths Octob. 5. 6. Soon after He arrived at Portesmouth and the next day came to London to the great rejoicing of all sorts of people signified by their bonefires ringing of bells with other externall expressions of joy 13. King James now despaired of any restitution The Palatinate beheld desperate especially since the Duke of Bavaria was invested in the upper Palatinate and so His Son-in-Laws Land cantoned betwixt a Duke a King and an Emperour Whose joynt consent being requisite to the restoring thereof One would be sure to dissent from the seeming-consenting of other two Whereupon King James not onely broke off all treaty with Spaine but also called the great Councill of his Kingdome together 14. Indeed An happy Parliament the Malecontents in England used to say That the King took Physick and called Parliaments both alike using both for meer need and not caring for either how little time they lasted But now there hapned as sweet a compliance betwixt the King and his Subjects as ever happen'd in mans memory the King not asking more than what was granted Both Houses in the Name of the whole Kingdome promising their assistance with their lives and fortunes for the recovery of the Palatinate A smart Petition was presented against the Papists and order promised for the education of their Children in true Religion 15. As for the Convocation contemporary with this Parliament The Convocation large Subsidies were granted by the Clergie otherwise no great matter of moment passed therein I am informed Doctor Joseph Hall preached the Latine Sermon and Doctor Donne was the Prolocutor 16. This is that Doctor Donne Doctor Donne Prolocutor born in London but extracted from Wales by his Mother-side great-great Grandchilde to Sir Thomas More whom he much resembled in his endowments a great Traveller first Secretary to the Lord Egerton and after by the perswasion of K. James and encouragement of Bishop Morton entred into Orders made Doctor of Divinity of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and Dean of S. Pauls whose Life is no lesse truly than elegantly written by my worthily respected friend Mr. Isaac Walton whence the Reader may store himself with further information 17. A Book was translated out of the French Copie A Book falsly fathered on I. Casaubon by Abraham Darcye intituled The Originall of Idolatry pretended made by Dr. Isaac Casaubon dead ten years before dedicated to Prince Charles but presented to King James and all the Lords of the Councill A Book printed in French before the said Isaac Casaubon was born whose name was fraudulently inserted in the Title-page of the foregoing Copie 18. Merick Casaubon his Son then Student of Christs-Church The falshood detected by Letter informed King James of the wrong done to his Father by making him the Authour of such a Book contrary to his Genius and constant profession being full of impertinent allegations out of obscure and late Authors whom his Father never thought worthy the reading much lesse the using their Authority His Majestie was much incensed hereaâ— and Doctor
Peter Coll. Wil. Chaderton D. D. Fellow of Christs Col. Will. Whitacre D. D. Master of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Iohn Overhall D. D. Master of S t. Katharin ' s Hall Iohn Richardson D. D. Fellow of Emanuel Master of Trinity Samuel Collins D. D. Provost of Kings Col. Iohn Arrowsmith D. D. Master of S t. Iohn ' s and after of Trinity a Sir Thomas Smith Alkam lib. 2. Ep. ad Bran disbaeam Walter Haddon D. L. Fellow of Kings Master of Trinity Hall Thomas Bing D. L. Fellow of S t. Peters Coll. Master of Clare Hall Thomas Legg D. L. Fellow of Iesus Trinity Coll. Master of Gonvil Cajus Col. Iohn Cowell D. L. Fellow of Kings Col. Master of Trinity Hall Thomas Morysonne D. L. Fellow of Kings Coll. George Porter D. L. Fellow of Queens Col. Thomas Goad D. L. Fellow of Kings Coll. Kings Physick Professours Kings Hebrew Professours Kings Greek Professours Iohn Blyth Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. Iohn Hatcher Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Thomas Larkin Doctor of Physick of S t. Peters Coll. William Ward Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. William Burton Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. Iohn Gostlin Doctor of Physick Master of Gonvil and Cajus Coll. Iohn Collins Doctor of Physick Fellow of S t. John ' s Coll. Ralph Winterton Doct. of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. Francis Glisson Doctor of Physick Fellow of Gonvil and Cajus Coll. Mr. Robert Wakefield Fellow Antony Rodolphus Cevallerius Mr. Bignon a Frenchman of Corpus Christi Coll. Edward Liveley Fellow of Trinity Coll. Robert Spalding D. D. Fellow of S t. John ' s Coll. Jeffery King D. D. Fellow of Kings Coll. Andrew Bing D. D. Fellow of S t. Peter Coll. Robert Metcalfe D. D. Fellow of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Ralph Cudworth Felof Emanuel Col. Erasmus Roterodamus Richard Crooke Fellow of Kings Coll. Sir Thomas Smith Knight Fellow of Queens Coll. S r. Iohn Cheek Knight Tutour to King Edward the sixth of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Nicolas Carr Fellow of Pembroke Hall after of Trinity Coll. Bartholomew Doddington Fellow of Trinity Coll. Francis Wilkinson Fellow of Trinity Coll. Andrew Downes Fellow of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Robert Creiton Fellow of Trinity Coll. Iames Duport Fellow of Trinity Coll. Ralph Widdrington Fellow of Christ ' s Col. 23. These Catalogues though the best not to say onely extant are very imperfect One instance I will give William Zoone here omitted was Regius a Pitieus de Scripto Angl. pag. 766. Professour of Law in the Reign of Queen Mary But I dare not altar what so long hath been received Iohn Madew 1 Vice-Chanc 154 6 7 Tho. Burman Tho. Carlyle Proctours Iohn Fann Major Doct. Bac. Theol. 1 Medic. 1 Theol. 7 Mag. Art 15 Bac. Art 29 24. Great was the alteration which followed in Cambridge The Lord Protectour made Chancellour upon King Edward his coming to the Crown Steven Gardiner Chancellour of the University was put out of his office and into the Tower Edward Seymor Lord Protectour and Duke of Somerset was chosen in his room 25. The Townsmen of Cambridge began now to hope their time come The Insolencies of the Townsmen to cast off the yoke as they counted it of the University as if on the alteration of Religion the ancient priviledges of Scholars should be abolished under the notion of superstition Ungratefully therefore they began their pranks I say ungratfully Anno Dom. 154 6 7 For Anno Regis Edvardi 6 38 although particular Scholars might owe money to particular Townsmen yet the whole Town owes it 's well being to the University Amongst their many insolencies two were most remarkable First One a Compare Mr. Askams letter to the Bishop of Winchester with his to the Lord Wriothesly Maxwell by profession once a Iayle-keeper then a Beare-ward promoted at last Purveyor to provide cariages for the Kings fish which commonly came from Cambridge seised on an ambling Nag of the Master of Peter-House which the old and infirme Doctour kept for his health meerly that his man might thereon ride after the Kings cariages This Horse I may say had a long-reach The injury seeming small and personall concerned the whole University both in present and posterity Secondly when the Proctours at Sturbridge-Faire had according to their Office and ancient custome fetched out many dissolute persons out of vicious places at unseasonable hours the Major refused to give them the keys of the Toll-booth or Town-prison to secure such offenders therein yea when they had carried such malefactours to the Castle within an hour or two comes the Majors Son sets open the Iayle and le ts loose those lewd persons to the great injurie of the University and encouragement of all viciousnesse 26. It was now high time for Doctor Madew Askham his letters procure friends to the University the Vice-Chancellour and Master Roger Askham the University Oratour to bestir themselves The later belettered all the Lords of the Privy Councill and amongst the rest Sir Thomas VVriothesly the Lord Chancellour of England whom saith he the Vniversity partly commandeth us once a member partly requesteth as now a Patrone thereof with some Gentlemen of the Kings Bed-Camber and by then procured the confirmation of the University priviledges in the following Parliament However these oppidane animosities in some degree continued all this Kings Reign Matthew Parker 154 7 8 Vice-Chan 2 Edmond Grindall Edward Gascoyne Proct. Iohn Rust Major Doct. Theol. 2 lu Civ 1 Bac. Theol. 14 Mag. Art 26. Bac. Leg. 1 Art 30 The Lord Protectour by letters which I have seen sollicited Stephen Gardiner who still kept his Mastership of Trinity Hall to resigne his place and the whole Hall into the Kings disposall 27. That so of that A profer of the Protectours to Unite Clare and Trinity Hall and it's Neigbour Clare Hall whose Master Doctor Madew may be presumed compliable with the Protectours pleasure one Eminent and Entire Colledge might be advanced on the Kings cost in Imitation of Trinity Colledge 〈…〉 the late Royall Result of three smaller Foundations 1 Wherein the Civil and Canon-Law the skill whereof his Grace found necessary for the present welbeing of the Kingdome should be countenanced and encouraged 28. Most politick Gardiner not without cause suspecting some design Blasted by Bishop Gardiner or Casaulty might surprize the Intervall betwixt the dissolution of the old and erection of this new Foundation civilly declined his consent to the Motion He informed his grace that the way to advance the Study of the Laws was by promoting the present Professours of that Faculty now so generally discouraged and not by founding a new Colledge for the future students thereof seeing Trinity Hall could alone breed moe Civillians then all England did prefer according to their deserts 29. Thus was the design blasted and never more mentioned But Gardiner for
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
Brit. pag. 658. Hichins was martyred at Fylford in Flanders born about Wales bred first in Oxford then in Cambridge after School-master to the children of Mr. Welch a bountifull house-keeper in Glocester-shire To his house repaired many Abbots of that County as indeed no one Shire in England had half so many mitred ones which voted in Parliament and Clergy-men whom Tyndal so welcomed with his discourse against their superstitions that afterwards they preferred to forbear Master Welch his good cheer rather than to have the sower sauce therewith Master Tyndal's company But this set their stomachs so sharp against him that he was forced to quit Glocester-shire and tender his service to Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of London a great Scholar himself and therefore probable to prove a Patron to learned man Him Tyndal presented in vain with an Oration out of Isocrates which he had translated into English But though he sued for himself in two tongues Greek and English both proved ineffectual the Bishop returning That he had moe already than he could well maintain On this denial over hasts Tyndal beyond the seas and after much travelling sixeth at last at Antwerp where he became Clerk to the Company of English Merchant-Adventurers 38. Here he began with the New Testament as of most concernment to mans salvation and with the help of John Frith the Baruch to this Jeremie translating it out of the Greek Original He translateth the New and most part of the Old Testament finished printed and published it Then he proceeded to the old and accomplished it from Genesis to Nehemiah inclusively but translated none of the Prophets save e Bal. ut pritùs Jonah being prevented by death I presume he rendred the Old Testament out of the Latine his best friends not intituling him to any skill at all in the Hebrew And remarkable it was that sailing to Hamborough to print the Pentateuch he lost all his Books and Copies by f Fox Martyrol vol. 2. pag. 364. shipwrack which doubled his pains in re-translating it But here he lighted on the help of Miles Coverdale afterward Bishop of Exeter to assist him and safely they went thorough their work even when the Sweating-sicknesse swept away thousands in the City with a generall mortality As if the usefull sweating of their brains were a preservative against the hurtfull sweating of their bodies And indeed painfulnesse in a lawfull calling is the best antidote against a publick infection 39. Yet none will deny Faults in his Translation confessed and excused but that many faults needing amendment are found in his Translation which is no wonder to those who consider First such an undertaking was not the task for a man but men Secondly no great design is invented and perfected at once Thirdly Tyndal being an exile wanted many necessary accommodations Fourthly his skill in Hebrew was not considerable yea generally Learning in Languages was then but in the insancie thereof Fiftly out English tongue was not improved to that expressivenesse whereat at this day it is arrived However what the undertook was to be admired as glorious what he performed to be commended as profitable wherein he failed is to be excused as pardonable and to scored on the account rather of that Age than or the Authour himself Yea Tyndal's pains were usefull had his Translation done no other good than to help towards the making of a better our last Translators having in expresse charge from King JAMES to consult the Translation of Tyndall 40. But when the Testament of Tyndal's Translation came over into England Tyndal and his Translation both martyred with fine oh how were the Popish Clergie cut to the heart How did their blear-eyes smart at the shining of the Gospel in a vulgar Tongue Downe must their Dagon if this Arke be set up down their Diana if Paul be permitted to preach to the people Some said that the Bible ought not to be translated some that it could not be that it was g Fox u◠piùs impossible Others that the translating thereof would make men rebell against the King and why I pray seeing they shall read therein h Rem 13. 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers c. and many other places pressing obedience Some were not so much angry with the Text as with Tyndal's Comment his Preface before and Notes upon the same In fine they did not onely procure his Book to be publickly burnt in Paul's Church-yard but also their malice which hath long arms to reach at such distance contrived and effected the strangling and burning of Tyndal in Flanders 41. Bale calleth him the Apostle of the English And indeed A parallel betwixt S. Paul and Tyndal some generall parallel farre be it from me to enforce it to an absolute conformity may be observed betwixt Saint Paul and out Tyndal S. Paul withstood and defeated the power of j Acts 13. 8. Elymas the Sorcerer Tyndal with the grace and gravity of his company put a k Fox p. 367. Magician out of countenance being brought thither to shew a cast of his skill by inchanting S. Paul in Thyatira converted his l Acts 16. 33. Jaylour and all his houshold Tyndal during his year and half durance converted his keeper his daughter m Fox ut priùs and other of family Saint Paul was in perils by waters in perils by robbers in perils amongst n 2 Cor. 11. 26. false brethren so was Tyndal whom one Philips pretending much friendship by cunning insinuation betrayed to his destruction We take our leaves of Tyndal with that testimony which the Emperour's Procurator or Attorney-General though his adversary gave of him Homo fuit doctus pius bonus He was a learned a godly and a good-natur'd man SECTION IV. TO CLIFFORD CLIFTON Esquire I Know not of what place properly to name and inscribe you whether of Middlesex Ann. Dom. where you have your present Dwelling or of Nottingham-shire Ann Reg. whence first you fetched your Name or from Derby-shire and other neighbouring Counties wherein you are Heire apparent to a fair Inheritance I envie not your deserved Happinesse but onely observe it is almost as difficult to fix a rich man as a begger the one for his variety the other for his want of habitation But be you styled from what Place you please be pleased also to accept this expression of my service unto you All that I will adde is that seeing two Antient and Honourable Families the one of Norman the other of Saxon extraction have met in your name may their joynt Virtues de united in your nature CReat the Kings profit at this time from the Office for the ' Receipt of Tenths and First fruits The beginning of the First-fruits Office which was now first set up in London 1537. and somthing must be observed of the original thereof Hē 8. 29. Such moneys formerly were paid to the
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
they were summoned the way long the weather especially in winter tedious travelling on the way costly living at London chargeable Some Priors were so poor they could not more so covetous they would not put themselves to needlesse expences All so lazie and loving their ease that they were loath to take long journeys which made them afterwards desire to be eased of their Honourable but Trouble some attendance in Parliament 3. At last Their number contracted to twenty six King Edward the third resolved to fix on a set number of Abbots and Priors not so many as with their numerousnesse might be burdensome to His Councell yet not so few but that they should be a sufficient representation of all Orders therein concerned which being twenty six in number are generally thus reckoned up 1. St. Albans 2. Glassenbury 3. St. Austins Cant. 4. Westminster 5. Edmunds-bury 6. Peterborough 7. Colchester 8. Evesham 9. Winchelcombe 10. Crowland 11. Battaile 12. Reading 13. Abington 14. Waltham 15. Shrewsbury 16. Glocester 17. Bardney 18. Bennet in the Holme 19. Thorney 20. Ramsey 21. Hide 22. Malmsbury 23. Cirencester 24. St. Mary Yorke 25. Selbye 26. VVith the Prior of St. Johns of Jerusalem first chief Baâ—on of England None of these held of mean Lords by franke almonage but all of the King in capite per Baroniam having an intire Baronie to which thirteen Knights sees at least did belong 4. Yet even after this fixation of Parliamentary Abbots in a set number the same was estsoons subject to variety Doubtfull Barons amongst the Abbots The Prior of Coventry played at in and out and declined his appearance there So did the Abbot of Lester who may seem to have worn but half a Mitre on his head So also the Abbot of St. James by Northhampton may be said to sit but on one hip in Parliament he appears so in the twilight betwixt a Baron and no Baron in the summons thereunto But afterwards the first of these three was confirmed in his place the two last on their earnest request obtained a discharge Partly because they were summoned onely interpolatis vicibus and nor constantly Partly because they made it to appear that they held not of the king a whole Barony in chief 5. To these twenty six regular Barons A short-lived Baroney made by K. Henry the eighth King Henry the eighth added one more for a casting voice viz the Abbot of Tavistocke in Devon-shire on this token that being created in the eighth of His Reigne he enjoyed not his Baronie full twenty years and acted so short a part on the stage of Parliament that with Cato he might seem onely ingredi ut exiret to come in that he might go out And because some may be curious to know the manner of his creation take here the form thereof HENRICUS c. b Pat. 5. Hen 8. part 2. in 22. Sciatis quod certis considerationibus nos specialitèr moventibus ob specialem devotionem quam ad beatam Virginem Mariam matrem Christi Sanctumque Rumonum in quorum Honore Abbatia de Tavistoke quae de fundatione nobillium progenitorum nostroum quondam Regum Angliae nostro patro natu dedicata existit gerimus habemus hinc est quod de gratia nostra speciall ac ex certa scientia mero motu nostris volumus eandem Abbatiam sive Monasterium nostrum gaudere honore privilegio ac libertatibus spirtualium Dominorum Parliamenti nostri Haredem successorum nostrorum ideo concessimus per prasentes concedimus pro nobis Haeredibus sucessoribus nostris quantum in nobis est dilecto nobis in Christi Richardo Banham Abbati de Tavistocke pradicto successoribus suis ut corum quilibet qui pro tempore ibidem fuerit Abbas sit erit unus de spiritualibus religiosis Dominis Parliamenti nostri Haeredem successorum nostrorum gandendo honore privilegio ac libertatibus ejusdem Et insuper de uberiori gratia nostra affectando utilitatem dicti nostri Monasterii considerando ejus distantiam ita quod si contingat aliquam Abbatem qui pro tempore fuerit sore velesse absentem propter praedicti Monasterii utilitatem in non veniendo ad Parliamentum praedictum Haeredem vel successorum nostrorum quam quidem absentiam eidem Abbati perdonamus per praesentes Ita tamen quod tunc solvet pro hujusmodi absentia cujuslibet Parliamenti integri in nostro Saccario suum per attornatum quinque Marcas nobis haeredibus sive successoribus nostris toties quoties hoc in futurum contigerit In cujus c. Teste c. Vicesimo tertio die Januarii c. Whereas this Charter affirmeth Tavistocke founded by King Henry's noble Progenitors Some will wonder thereat and the rather because c Combdens Br. in Devon-shire Ordulph the son of Ordgare Earl of Devon-shire is notoriously known for the Founder of this Monastery before the Conquest and no English King appeareth eminently a Benefactour thereunto Yet because the English Kings successively confirmed the Charters thereof they were in a loyall complement acknowledge as the interpretative Founders of that Abbey And as little children whose parents decease in their infancie innocently own their Fathers and Mothers-in-laws for their naturall parents So many Monasteries whose first Founders were in a manner forgotten as time out of minde applied themselves to the present Kings though but the Favourers as to the Founders of their Corporations 6. Know that besides these Abbots Abbesses no Baronesses though holding Baronies there were four Abbesses viz of Shaftsbury Barking in Essex St. Marys in Winchester and Wilton who held from the King an intire Baronry yet never were summoned as Baronesses to Parliament because that honour frequent in Lay-persons was never conferred on any Ecclestastical Female Yet were they and almost all other Abbesses of any quality saluted Ladies as Earls Daughters are by the courtesie of England which custome hath made such a right that they are beheld not onely as unmannerly but unjust who in common discourse deny the same However the aforesaid four Abbessos though not called to Parliament were solemnly d Pat. 5. Ed. 1. Dors in 11. Rot. Scutagii ejusd an in 7. summoned by special Writs ad habendum servitium suum that is to have their full number of Knights in time of warre where the Ladies personal presence was not expected but their effectual appearance by the proxies or their purses to supply the King's occasions 7. Of all these Prior of Ierusalem chief Baton the Prior of S. Johns in Jerusalem took the precedencie being generally of Noble extraction and a Military person Yea not content to take place of all regular Barons Primus Angliae Baro haberi voluit saith my e Cambd. Brit. pag. 123. Authour He would be counted simply and absolutely the first and chief Baron in England though the expression speaks rather his affectation than
The Queen made Sir Tho Tresham Lord Prior of this Order who the thirtieth of November 1557 received the Order of the Crosse at Westminster and was solemnly inducted into his place He was of an antient family and large estate and had done the Queen Knights service proclaiming Her in the highest contest with Queen Jane If the dimension of his Body may be guessed by his finger and his finger by his Ring which have seen in the possession of his Kinsman William Tresham Esq of Newton in Northampton-shire he was a little Gyant and farre greater than his pourtraicture on his Monument almost demolisht in Rushton-Church in the same County But Alexander's souldiers were not in proportion so big as their shields left in India and possible that Ring of State serving for a Seale was rather borne about him than worn on his finger 7. Re-edified by devout persons It is out of doubt that Papists contributed many pretious Utensils unto these Orders as also that they were bountifull in repairing their decayed Houses to fit them for their habitation but by Sanders his leave No visible refunding of land doth appear Which if he had known of no doubt he would have told posterity as tending according to his principles so much to the credit of those persons I say again though Queens Examples carry a kinde of Mandamus in them yet herein Her best Subjects and Servants were so unmannerly as to suffer Her Grace to go alone by Her self in this Act without any attendants as to the restitution of any entire Religious house to its former Order No not Anthony Browne Viscount Montacute though formerly solemnly employed in an Ambassy to the Pope to reconcile the Church of England to Rome would part with his rich Abbey of Battaile in Sussex or poor Priory of Barnewell nigh Cambridge c. but kept all his pluralities in that nature though otherwise we believe him most bountifull to those of his own Religion 8. The Catholick Princes Meaning Philip and Mary and surely though we cannot insist on the particulars that Kings inclinations are sufficiently known zealous for the promoting of His own Religion However it is almost incredible what a qualme on this occasion came over the hearts of the stoutest Abbey-land Mongers in England fearing in processe of time a reverting of them to their former use the rather because Cardinall Poole in that Act in this Queens Reign to secure Abbey-lands to their Owners without the passing whereof to pacifie so many persons concerned Papistry could not have been restored in that Parliament did not as some think absolve their consciences from restitution But onely made a palliate cure the Church but suspending that power which in due time she might put in execution 3. This made many suspect that such edifices of Abbeys A generall jealousie of Abbey-holders which still were extant entire looked lovingly on their antient Owners in hope to be restord unto them In prevention whereof such as possest them for the present plucked out their eyes by levelling them to the ground and shaving from them as much as they could all Abbey-Characters disguising them as much as might be in a Lay-habit matching and mingling them with lands in another Tenure because on this very motion Abbey lands sunk two years purchase in the common valuation 4. Nor must I forget one passage in Derby-shire Nimianon cautela Non nocet a certain information whereof I have received from that skilful Antiquary and my respected Kinsman Samuel Roper of Lincolnes-Inne how one Thacker being possessed of Repingdon Abbey in Derby-shire alarumed with this news that Q. Mary had set up these Abbeys again and fearing how large a reach such a precedent might have upon a Sunday belike the better day the better deed called together the Carpenters and Masons of that County and plucked down in one day Church-work is a cripple in going up but rides post in coming down a most beautifull Church belonging thereunto adding He would destroy the Nest for fear the Birds should build therein again 5. And now when a Papist have done commending Q. Mary The best work of Q. Mary a Protestant may begin I say Her setting up the Hospitall of the Savoy was a better work than any instanced in by Sanders for the relief of poor people First because poor qua poor may be said to be Jure Divino * Prov. 22. 2. The rich and poor meet together and the Lord maketh them both Not onely as Creatour of their persons but Assigner of their conditions Besides the Poor is a continuall Order in the Church by the words of our Saviour * John 12. 8. The poor ye have alwaies with you but more properly hereof in the Reign of Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth demolisheth the new-erected Convents Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown Violent alterations dangerous was not over-busie at the first but for some moneths permitted all things to remain in statu quo priùs Insomuch that in the first Parliament of Her summoning She sent Her Writs to the aforesaid Lord Prior Tresbam and Abbot Feckenham to make their appearance with the rest of Her Barons in Her Great Councell Whither they repaired and wherein they took their places accordingly 2. Sir Thomas as Lord Prior above but the Abbot beneath all the a See a List of them sitting in Sir Tho Cottons Library Temporal Lords being the lag of the House and placed under Oliver Lord S. John of Blet netsho lately made the second Baron of Queen Eliz Her creation But they had hardly set down on their seats before they were raised up and dissolved with all the rest of the late-restored Orders 3. I have not met to my best remembrance with any Statute A Quaere to the learned in Law enacted in the Reign of Queen Mary whereby She was legally empowred for the re-erection of these Convents done it seems by Her Prerogative by connivance not concurrence of the Parliament Nor can I finde in the first year of Queen Elizabeth any particular Statute wherein as in the Regin of King Henry the eighth these Orders are nominatim suppressed this probably being supposed needlesse as I conceive with submission to the Learned in that Profession their Houses having no Legal settlement Or else when the general Statutes against Superstition were layed like the Ax to the root of the Tree these Orders are under-branches fell of themselves by virtue of the Queens Commission for the same 4. I intended by way of a farewell-Corollary to present the Reader with a List of the Lord Priors of S. Iohn's An imperfect List better than none from Iordanus Briset their first Founder But their Records being all burnt in that fire which was kindled by Straw in his commotion it is impossible to compleat the Catalogue At and since which difaster such as we can recover are not contiguous in times and distanced with many years betwixt them though perhaps
captive by their cruelty except also they carry them about in publike triumph as here Bonner a Fox ibidem got S r. John Cheek unawares to sit in the place where godly Martyrs were condemned And although He then did nothing but sit still sigh and be silent yet shame for what He had done Sense of what others suffered and sorrow that his presence should be abused to countenance cruelty brought him quickly to a comfortable end of a miserable life Sept. 13. as carrying Gods pardon and all good mens pitty along with him 32. Since his Death History rectified in his parentage parts and posterity his Memory hath done some pennance I say not to satisfy the failings in his life being wronged in his Parnetage abused in his Parts and mistaken in his Posterity For the first a learned Pen Sr. John Hayward in the life of Edward the 6. pag. 8. but too free in dealing disgracefull characters on the subjects thereof stileth him a Man of mean Birth and generally he is made only the Son of his own Deserts Whereas M r. Peter Cheek S r. Johns Father living in Cambridge where S r. John was borne over against the Cross in the market-place and where by the advantage of his Nativity He fell from the wombe of his Mother into the lap of the Muses was descended of the family of the Cheeks of Moston in the Isle of Wight where their estate was about 300 li a yeer never increased nor diminished till sold outright some 20. yeers since out of which Richard Cheek in the raigne of King Richard the Second married a Daughter of the Lord Mountagu As for Duffield his Mother she was a discreet and grave Matrone as appeared by the good d The Mother of my aged and worthy friend Mr. Jackson of Histons was with many others present thereat counsel and christian charge She gave this her Son when comming to take his farewell of her and betake himself to Prince Edward his Tuition For his Parts the foresaid Author with the same breath termeth Him So far as appears by the books He wrote Pedantick enough that is too much to such as understand his Miosis But had He perused all his works and particularly His True Subject to the Rebel He would have bestowed a better character upon him Another Writer e One that set forth his life in Oxford Anno 1641. can finde no issue left of his body saving one Son bearing his Fathers name whereas he had three Sons by his wife as appears on her Monument in S t. Martins in the Fields 1. Henry the Eldest Secretary to the Councel in the North who one Francis Ratliffe Sister to the last Earle of Sussex of that family begat S r. Thomas Cheek of Pyrgo in Essex blessed with an happy issue John a valiant Gentle man and Edward both dying without any posterity But these things belong to Heraulds not Historians 33. The sufferings of Katherine Dutchess of Suffolk The Pilgrimage of the Dutchess of Suffolk Baroness Willowgby of Eresby late widow of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke since wife to Richard Berty Esq must not be forgotten A Lady of a sharpe wit and sure hand to drive her wit home and make it pierce where She Pleased This made Bp. Gardiner to hate her much for her Jests on Him but more for her earnest towards God the Sincerity of Her Religion and thereupon she was forced with her Husband and infant-Daughter to fly beyond the Seas 34. It would tire our Pen to trace their Removals True and sad Errantry from their House the Barbican in London to Lions-Key thence to Leigh thence over Seas beeing twise driven back again into Brabant thence to Santon a City of Cleveland thence to Wesel one of the Hanse-Towns thence to Windhein in the Palatinate thence to Frankford thence by many intermediate Stages into Poland Every removall ministred them matter of new Difficulties to improve their Patience new Dangers to imploy their Prayers and new Deliverances to admire Gods providence Especially in their a See it at large in Fox tome 3. pag. 928. Passage from Santon to Wesel in a cold February and a great thaw after a long frost on foot in a dark night and rainy weather thorow wayes unknown without guide to direct or company to defend them leaving certain Foes behinde and having but suspected friends before them The end of their journy was worse then their journy it self finding first at Wesel no Inn to entertain them able to speak little high-Dutch for themselves and other willing to speak in comfort to them In a word it would trouble ones Head to invent more Troubles then they had all at once and it would break ones Heart to undergo but halfe so many seeing their real sufferings out Romanced the fictions of many Errant Adventures 35. No English Subject had like fâ—rrain relations with this Lady The vanity of Relations and yet they rather afflicted then befriended Her She had been wife to Him who had been Husband to a Queen of France yet durst not go into that country By the confession of Bp. Gardiner himself She and Queen Mary were the only English Ladies of Spanish extraction and alliance yet was it unsafe for Her to stay in any part of the Spanish Dominions The Emperour owed her as Executrix to her Husband Duke Charles great sums of mony yet durst she not demand payment lest the credetrix should be made away and so the debt satisfied 36. Yet an higher Emperour God the best detter even God himself seemed in some sort indebted unto Her He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord for her bounty at Home in the height of her Honour forrainers Protestants especially in distress 37. And now that good debtour Makes just payment God his providence made full payment thereof by inciting the King of Poland at the mediation of the Palatine of Vilna as He at the instance of John Baron Alasco who formerly in England had tasted of this Ladyes liberality to call this Dutchess with her Husband and family to a place in Poland of Safety Profit Credit and Command where they comfortably continued till the death of Queen Mary During these their Travels Peregrine Berty carrying his forrain nativity in his name was born unto them afterwards the valiant Lord Willowgby of Eresby To conclude let this virtuous Lady her example incourage all to be good to all Godly in distress seeing Hospes hodie crasâ— Hospes the Entertainers to day may want Entertainment to morrow 38. My Pen hath been a long Time an Exile from England Why the Parliament so silent in Church-matters and now is willing to return to its native soile Janu. 21. though finding little comfort to invite it thither and less to welcome it there Only I finde a Parliament called solely commendable on this account that it did no more mischief in Church matters Indeed
all due and wonted Ecclesiasticall monition declared so requiring it conceived it to belong unto us to provide for the eternall Salvation both of our selves and such as are committed to our charge by all means possible for us to obtain Wherefore stirred up by the examples of our Predecessours who have lived in the like times that faith which in the Articles under-written we believe to be true and from our souls profess to the praise and honour of God and the discharge of our duty and such souls as are commited unto us we thought in these presents publiquely to insert affirming and avowing as God shall helpe us in the last day of judgement First that in the Sacrament of the Altar by the vertue of Christs assisting after the word is duly pronounced by the Priest the naturall Body of Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary is really present under the species of bread and wine also his naturall bloud Item that after the Consecration there remains not the substance of Bread and Wine nor any other substance save the substance of God and man Item that the true body of Christ and his true bloud is offered a propitiatory sacrifice for the Quick and Dead Item that the supreme power of feeding and governing the militant Church of Christ and of confirming their Brethren is given to Peter the Apostle and to his lawfull Successours in the See Apostolike as unto the Vicars of Christ Item that the Authority to handle and define such things which belong to faith the Sacraments and Discipline Ecclesiasticall hath hitherto ever belonged and only ought to belong unto the Pastors of the Church whom the holy spirit hath placed in the Church of God and not unto lay-men Which our Assertion Affirmation and faith We the lower Clergy aforesaid so represent the aforesaid considerations unto your Fatherhoods by the Tenor of these Presents humbly requesting that because we have not liberty otherwise to notifie this our Judgement and intention to those which in this behalf are concerned you who are Fathers would be pleased to signifie the same to the Lords in Parliament wherein as we conceive you shall performe an office of Charity and Piety and you shall provide as it is meet for the safety of the flock committed to your charge and shall discharge your duty towards your own soul This remonstrance exhibited by the lower house of Convocation to the Bishops was according to their Requests presented by Edmond Bonner B p. of London to the Lord Keeper of the broad Seal of England in the Parliament Marc. 3. and as the said Bishop in the eighth Session reported he generously and gratefully received it But we finde no further news thereof save that in the 10. Session an account was given in by both Universities in an Instrument under the hand of a Publique Notary 10. wherein they both did concur to the Truth of the aforesaid Articles the last only excepted 10. But we may probably conceive that this Declaration of the Popish Clergy hastened the Disputation appointed on the last of March in the Church of Westminster The Disputations betwixt the Papists and Protestants at Westminster wherein these questions were debated 1. Whether Service and Sacraments ought to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue 2. Whether the Church hath not power to alter Ceremonies so all be done to edification 3. Whether the Mass be a propitiatory sacrifice for the Living and the Dead Popish Disputants Moderators Protestant Disputants * There is some difference in the Number and Names of Both Parties Mr. Fox neither agreeth with Mr. Camden nor with himself White Watson Baynes Scot. Bps. of Winchester Lincolne Covent and Lichfield Chester D r. Cole Deane of Pauls D r. Langdale D r. Harpsfield D r. Cheadsey Arch-Deac of Lewes Canterbury Middlesex Nicholas Heath B p. of York S r. Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal John Scory late B p. of Chichester David Whitehead Robert Horne Edmond Gwest Edwine Sands John Aelmer Edmond Grindall John Jewell The passages of this Disputation whereof more Noise then fruit and wherein more Passion then Reason Anno Dom. 1458. Cavils then Arguments are largely reported by M r. Fox It was ordered that each side should tender their Judgements in writing to avoid verball extravagancies as also in English for the better information of the Nobility and Gentry of the house of Parliament their Auditors and that the Papists should begin first and the Protestants answer them But in the second dayes disputation this order was broken by the Popish Bishops who quitting their Primacy to the Protestants stood peremptorily upon it that they themselves would deliver their Judgements last Alledging in their behalf the fashion of the Schools that because they had the negative on their side the others ought first to oppose Citing also the Custome of the Courts at Westminster where the plaintiffe pleadeth before the defendant conceiving themselves in the nature and notion of the Later because maintaining those opinions whose Truth time out of minde were established Chester more open then the Rest plainly confessed that if the protestants had the last word they would come off cum Applausu Populi with applause of the People which themselves it seems most desired Whereby it appears what Wind they wished for not what was fittest to fanne the truth but what would blow them most reputation In this Refusal to begin Winchester and Lincolne behaved themselves faucily and scornfully the rest stiffly and resolutely only Feckenham Abbot of Westminster who it seems the second day was added to the Popish Disputants carried it with more meeknesse and moderation Hereupon the Lord Keeper cut off this conference with this sharp Conclusion Seeing my Lords we cannot now hear you you may perchance shortly hear more of us 11. Yet need we not behold the frustration of this meeting The Papists complain of partial usage as a private Doome peculiarly to this conference alone but as the generall Destiny of such publike Colloquies which like Sicamore-trees prove barren and which the larger the Leaves of the Expectation the less the fruits of Successe The Assembly dissolved it were hard to say which were lowder the Papists in Complaining or the Protestants in Triumphing The former found themselves agrieved that they were surprised of a sudden having but two dayes warning to provide themselves That Bacon the Moderator though well skil'd in matters of Equity ignorant in matters of Divinity was their Zealous Enemy to whom the Arch-Bishop was added only for a stale That to call such fundamentall points of Doctrine into question would cause an unsetlednesse in Religion of dangerous consequence both to single souls and to the Church in generall That it was unlawfull for them owing obedience to the Sea Apostolike without leave of his Holinesse first obtained to discusse these truthes long since decided in the Church 13. The Protestants on the other side slighted the Papists Plea of want
they kept communion with the Church of England In which sense one may say Anno Regin Eliza. 13. that the whole land was of one language and one specch But now began the tower of Babel to be built and Popery to encrease which brought with it the division of tongues and the common distinction of Papist and Protestant the former now separating themselves from our publick Congregations They went out from us because they were not of us for had they been of us they would have continued with us Indeed the Pope set his mark of favour on such reputed sheep as absented themselves from our Churches henceforward accounting them goats that repaired thither And now began the word Recusant to be first born and bred in mens mouths Which though formerly in being to signify such as refused to obey the edicts of lawfull authority was now confined in common discourse to express those of the Church of Rome 30. Indeed hitherto the English Papists slept in a whole skin Papists their own persecutors and so might have continued had they not wilfully torn it themselves For the late rebellion in the North and the Pope thundring out his excommunication against the Queen with many scandalous and pernicious pamphlets daily dispersed made Her Majesty about this time first to frown on Papists then to chide then to strike them with penalties and last to draw life-blood from them by the severity of Her laws For now the Parliament sate at Westminstâ—r cutting as one may say with a three-edg'd-sword as making sharp edicts against Papists non-Conformists and covetous-Conformists of the Church of England 31. A Parliament cutâ—â—g with three edges Against Papists it was a See the statutes 13 Eliz. enacted that to write print preach express publish or affirme that the Queen was an Heretick Schismatick c. should be adjudged treason Also that it should be so accounted and punished to bring and put in execution any Bulls writings instruments or other superstitious things from the See of Rome from the first of July following A severe Act also was made against Fugitives who being the natural borne subjects of this Realm departed the same without license and fled into forraign parts Against non-Conformists it was provided that every Priest or Minister should before the Nativity of Christ next following in the presence of his Diocesan or his deputy declare his assent and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion agreed on in the Convocation One thousand six hundred sixty and two upon pain of Deprivation on his refusal thereof Against covetous-conformists it was provided that no spirituall person Colledge or Hospitall shall let lease other than for the terme of twenty one years or three lives the rent accustomed or more reserved payable yearly during the said terme 32. Indeed this law came very seasonably Covetous Clergie men bridled to retrench the unconscionable covetousness of some Clergy men who by long and unreasonable leases as the Statute tearmed them dilapidated the lands of their Churches Here it came to pass what the Spouse b Cant. 5. 7. complains that the keepers of the walls tooke her vail away from her It being true what one said that those who should have righted her of her wrongs did wrong her of her rights Many a Bishoprick so bruised it self when it fell vacant that it lost some land before a new Bishop was setled therein where the Elects contracted with their Promoters on unworthy conditions 33. But no armour can be made of proof against the darts of covetousness Covetousness creeps in at a small cranie especially when they come from an high and heavy hand of great men in authority This law was not so cautiously drawn up but that some Courtiers found a way to evade it seeing the Crown was not expressed therein and left capable of such leases as God-willing c Vide 1604. Secundo Reg. Jacobi hereafter shall be largely related by which single shift they frustrated the effect of this law Thus a ship may though not as suddenly as certainly be sunk with one as with a thousand leaks 34. We return to the Queen of Scots Anno Regin Eliza. 14. Anno Dom. 1571 of whom we have heard nothing this three years of Ecclesiasticall cognizance The second letter of Maâ—y Q of Scots to the Pope nor now meet with any thing of that nature save this letter which though somewhat long yet because never as yet printed and acquainting us with some passages in her restraint is not unworthy the perusall Most Blessed Father AFter the kissing of your most holy feet Octob 31. about the beginning of October I received your Holiness Letter written the thirteenth of July by which I understood not only the Benediction which your Holiness sent me and which was and shall be alwayes to me most acceptable but also the great demonstration of your good will to comfort me I rested therewith singularly comforted indeed partly because it was pleased earnestly to recommend both me and the affairs of my estate to the most Potent Princes and especially to the most renouned Kings of France and Spain But withall there is yet remaining on the other part to work so with Christian Princes that making a strict league among themselves they should spare no vigilance nor Travels nor expences once to abate the most Cruell * * This is meant of the Turke and not as some may suspect of Q. Elizabeth Tyrant who continually thinketh of no other thing then to move warr against us all And might it please God that all other things might correspond with my will besides that I were to do the same also your Blessednesse should see it with effect which should be that not only I but also my subjects with a will conform to their body and together with other Christians would put our selves forward to do our utmost force But what thing is there to be seen more worthy of compassion then to see my self fallen into so great infelicity from that happinesse wherein I found my self lately What thing is more lamentable then from a Free-woman as I was to become a Servant To these miseries is added that my Country is at this day * * This letter to the Pope was written in Latine then translated into Italian then retranslated into English Wonder not therefore if it lose some native lustre thereof wrapped in such and so many calamities and beaten down with so many inroads of the English that many and many Towns have been set on fire and flames many Castles and most fair Churches ruinated to the very Foundations But that which is worse my Inhabitants and Subjects without scarce doing the least offence unto them have been more cruelly slain But What shall I say nothing of my self Is it not clear unto all men how I have been continually in divers and sundry perils I call God to witnesse who knows with what greatness of
searched by the officers who routed an armie of crucifixes medalls Agnus Dei's and other Papish trinkets therein To these a fourth may be added more d Vide Sheld of Mirac pag. 25. Gee his One soot out of the snare 71. miraculous than all the rest When Persons was apprehended by a Pursevant at Northwich in Cheshire and put into a chamber fast bolted and licked upon him the doore did three times together miraculously and of its own accord flie open 45. By the Readers favour Our observation on his fourth escape as I dare not deny belief to this passage attested by a Catholick Father so I cannot but wonder thereat Peter and Paul each of them had e Acts 12. 7. Acts 16. 26. once their prison doors open Persons exceeds them both three severall solemne times his prison was set open Did he not tempt Divine providence which once and again offered unto him a way to escape to expect a third call to come forth Had Providence angry that the courtesie twice tendred was not accepted left him alone none would have pitied him if caught and sent to keep company with his dear friend Father Campian in the Tower 46. But Persons knew full well Persons politickly returneth to Rome that miracles though cordials in extremity are no bill of fare for mens daily diet and therefore he must not constantly expect such wonderfull deliverances Besides no doubt he remembred what pass'd in the fable though this his good Genius had help'd him at a dead lift yet the same intended not to wear out all his shooes and to goe barefoot himself in making a trade constantly to preserve him Wherefore Juniores ad labores Let younger men take the task and trouble upon them This wary bird would not be catcht to whistle in the cage to the tune of Walsingham Wherefore over he went to Rome and there slept in a whole skin as good reason it was so great a Generall should secure his person from danger SECTION IIII. To M r. James Bovey of London Merchant ONe if not the only good which our civill warr hath produced is That on the ransacking of Studies many manuscripts which otherwise would have remained concealed and usefull only for private persons have been printed for the publick benefit Amongst which some may suspect the following letter of Arch-Bishop Grindall to be one But to clear that scruple I must avow that a * * A. B. of Armagh Reverend person was proprietary of an authentick Copy thereof before the thing plunder was owned in England and may I shall well hope notwithstanding his gray hairs remain so after it is disclaimed 1. KNow that a Parliament and Convocation A petition in the name of the whole convocation for the restitution of Arch-Bishop Grindal beeing this year called the latter appeared rather a trunke than a body because Edmond Grindal Arch-Bishop of Canterbury groning under the Queens displeasure was forbidden access to the Convocation Whereupon it began sadly not to say sullenly without the solemnity of a Sermon abruptly entering on the small businesse they had to doe Some hotspurs therein motioned that they should refuse to meet together till their company were compleated and the Arch-Bishop restored unto them But the gravity of the rest soon retrenched this distemper and at last all agreed that Tobie Watthew Dean of Christ-Church commanding a pure and fluent pen should in the name of the Convocation draw an humble supplication to Her Majesty for the restitution of the Arch-Bishop to his place which was done according to the tenour following Serenissimae ac Potentissimae Reginae Elizabethae Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Reginae Fidei Defensatrici c. ETsi Majestatem Regiam sive verbo five scripto interpellare Serenissima Princeps Elizabetha non decere nisi rariùs non licere nisi gravioribus de causis arbitramur tamen cum praecipiat Apostolus ut dum tempus habeamus benefacimus omnibus maximè verò domesticis fidei committere nullo modo possumus quin illud hoc tempore à Tua Celsitate humiliter contendamus quod nobis ad petendum utile necessarium toti Ecclesiae Reipublicae ad obtinendum salutare fructuosum Tuae denique Majestati ad concedendum perfacile honorificum sit futurum Quanquam igitur acerbissimè dolemus contristamur Reverendissimum Patrem Cantuariensem Archiepiscopum post tot annos in tantam tamque diuturnam Majestatis Truae offensionem incidisse tamen valde vehementer speramus nos veniam adepturos si pro uno multi pro Archiepiscopo Episcopi pro tanto Praesule tot Ministri seriò suppliciter intercedamus Quod si deprecantium authorit as in petitione valeret haec causa jamdudum à nobilibus viris si voluntas ab amicissimis si experientia à prudentissimis si religio a reverendissimis si multitudo à plurimis sicut nostrae partes nullae nunc altae videantur quà m ut orationem cum illorum rationibus nostras preces cum illorum petitionibus supplicissimè ac demississimè conjungamus Vt enim Caesar Octavius jucundissimus propterea fuisse scribitur quòd apud cum quoties quisque voluit dixit quod voluit dum humiliter sic ex infinitis illis virtutibus quibus Regium Tuum pectus abundè cumulatur vix ulla vel Majestati Tuae honorificentior vel in populum Tuum gratiosior existit quà m in admittendis hominibus facilitas in causis audiendis lenitas prudentia in secernendis in satisfaciendis pietas clementia Nihil est enim tam populare quà m bonit as atque Principes ad praepotentem Deum nulla re propiùs accedunt quà m offensionibus deponendis obliviscendis injurijs non dicimus septies sedseptuagies septies Nam si decem millia talentorum dimittantur nobis nonne nos fratribus conservis subditis centum denarios condonabimus Liceat enim nobis illud Christi praeceptum adistud institutum bona Tua cum pace accommodare Praesertim cum hortetur Apostolus ut mansuetudo nostra nota sit omnibus Christusque jubeat ut misericordes simus sicut Pater noster coelestis misericors est Vinum in vulnus infundere salutare est salutarius oleum Christus utrumque adhibuit Judicium cantare Domino jucundum est ac jucundius misericordiam David utrumque perfecit Gratiosa est in omnibus hominibus clementia in Proceribus gratiosior in Principe verò gratiosissima Gloriosae est Regi mansuetudo Reginae gloriosior Virgini verò gloriosissima si non semper at saepius sinon in omnes at in pios sinon in vulgus at in Magistratus at in Ministros at in eum qui in tam sublimi loco constitutus magnâ apud nos authoritate magnà apud alios existimatione summâ in Sacratissimam Tuam Majestatem fide observantia praeditus ut non saepe in vitâ deliquisse sed semel tantum in vitâ
make out to the Kingdome of England However much mischief was done hereby many Papists paying their good wishes where they were not due and defrauding the Queen their true creditòr of the allegiance belonging unto her 43. Now did the Queen summon a Parliament Anno Regin Eliza. 30. Anno Dom. 1587. wherein her Majesty appeared not in person An Act without precedent But passed over the presidentship of that her great Councel unto John Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury William Cecill Lord treasurer and to the Earle of Darby A thing done without precedent when the King at home and in health But the pleasure of so powerful a Princess might create a leading case in things of this nature 44. Wonder not if the Nonconformists were very quiet in this Parliament Good reason why the Nonconformists were quiet Beholding the Arch-Bishop their great adversary in so great power and place However their activity in the next will make their party amends for their stilness in this Session 45. This year ended the doleful life of a distressed Lady The death of Mary Queen of Scotland Mary Queen of Scots whose Triall and Death belongeth to the State Historian She was aged fourty six years passing the last twenty in Imprisonment One of a sharp Wit undaunted Spirit comely person beautiful Face Majestick presence one Reason why Queen Elizabeth declined what the other so much desired a personal conference with Her as unwilling to be either out-shone or even-shone in her own Hemispheare For her morals the belief of moderate men embraceth as middle Courts betwixt Buchanan aspersing and Causinus his Hyperbolical Commending her because zealous in his own Religion 46. She was an excellent Poet Her Poetry both Latine and English of the former I have read a distick made and written by her own hand on a Pane of Glass at Buxton well Buxtona quae calidae celebraris nomine Lymphae * So it is in the Glass I had in my hand though it be celebrabere in Cand. Brit. in Derby-shire Forte mihi posthac non adeunda Vale. Buxton who dost with waters warme excell By me perchance never more seen Farewell And at Fotheringhay-Castle I have read written by Her in a window with a pointed Diamond From the Top of all my Trust Mishap hath lai'd me in the dust But her Adversaries conceive had she not been laid there the happiness of England had been prostrated in the same place She was buried in the Quire of Peterborough and Doctor Wickham Bishop of Lincolne preached her funeral sermon causelessly carped at by the Martin Mar-Prelate as too favourable concerning her final condition though he uttered nothing inconsistent with Charity and Christian discretion 47. Some twenty years after Her Body removed to Westminster King James caused her Corps to be solemnly removed from Peterborough to Westminster where in the south-side of the Chappel of King Henry the seventh he erected a stately monument to her memory and thereon this Epitaph wherein such cannot but commend the Piety of her Son who will not believe all the praises of his Mother D. O. M. MAriae Stuartae Scotorum Reginae Franciae Dotariae Jacobi V. Scotorum Regis Filiae Haeredis unicae Henrici VII Ang. Regis ex Margareta majori Natu Filia Jacobi IIII Regi Scotorum matrimonio copulata proneptis Edwardi IIII. Angliae Regis ex Elizabetha Filiarum natu maxima abneptis Francisci II. Gallorum Regis conjugis Coronae Angliae dum vixit certae indubitatae haeredis Jacobi magnae Brittanniae monarchae potentissimi matris Stirpe verè Regiâ antiquissima prognata erat Anno Dom. 1587. maximis Totius Europae Principibus Agnatione Cognatione conjuncta Anno Regin Eliza. 30. exquisitissimis Animi corporis dotibus ornamentis cumulatissima Verum ut sunt variae rerum humanarum vices postquam annos plus minus viginti in custodia detenta fortiter strenuè sed frustrà cum malevolorum obtreclationibus timidorum suspitionibus inimicorum capitalium insidijs conflictata esset tandem inaudito infesto Regibus exemplo securi percutitur Et contempto mundo devicta morte lassato Carnifice Christo Servatori animae salutem Jacobi Filio spem Regni posteritatis universis caedis infaustae spectatoribus exemplum patientiae commendans piè intrepidè Câ—rvicem Regiam securi maledictae subjecit vitae caducae sortem cum coelestis Regni perennitate commutavit Besides this there is a long inscription in verses one distich whereof I remember because it is the same in effect with what was made of Maud the Empress On Maud Magna Ortu majorque Viro sed maxima Partu Hic jacet Henrici Filia sponsa Parens On Queen Mary Magna Viro major Natu sed maxima Partu Conditor hic Regis Filia sponsa Parens So that it is no disgrace for a Queen to weare part of an Epitaph at the second hand with some little alteration 48. About this time it was A designe propounded that some Privie Councellors endeavoured to perswade Queen Elizabeth to raise and foment a difference betwixt the Pope and King of Spain and to assist the former not as Pope but temporal Prince by her shipping to regain Naples detained from him by the Spanish King They alledged the designe advantagious to work a diversion of Spanish forces and prevent an invasion of her own Land 49. But her Majesty would not listen to the motion to entertain Compliance in any capacity And blasted by the Queen on any Conditions with the Pope as dishonourable in her self distastful to the Protestant Princes nor would she touch Pitch in jest for fear of being defiled in earnest but crushed the designe in the birth thereof 50. A first onset was now made by the Nonconformists against the Hierarchie Conformity to the height though the more they opposed it the more the Queen did Countenance their persons and preserve their power In so much that she would not in Lent feed on any fish as forbidden by the Canons of the Church until she had first attained a solemn * Camdens Eliz. Manuscript shortly likely to be Printed Licence from the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and every year of her life renew'd the same 51. The power of the high Commission began now to extend far and penalties to fall heavie on offenders Whereupon the favourers of the Nonconformists much opposed it in their printed books some questioning the Court as not warranted by Law others taxing their proceedings as exceeding their Commission but hear their Arguments on both sides Against the High Commission It is pretended founded on the Statute primo Elizabethae wherein the Parliament impowered the Queen by her Letters patents to appoint Commissioners to punish Offendors in Ecclesiastical Causes But no mention therein of Temporall penalties and therefore the Commissioners are to confine themselves to Church Censures by Excommunicating
Church than themselves and haply might acquire priviledges prejudicial to their Episcopall Jurisdiction 6. The jealousie of the Universities beholding this designe with suspitious eyes as which in processe of time might prove detrimentall unto them Two breasts Cambridge and Oxford being counted sufficient for England to suckle all her children with 7. The suspition of some Patriots and Commoners in Parliament such as carried the keyes of Countrey-mens coffers under their girdles may I safely report what I have heard from no mean mouthes that this Colledge would be too much Courtier and that the Divinity but especially the History thereof would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propend too much in favour of King JAMES and report all things to the disadvantage of the Subject Wherefore though the said Patriots in Parliament countenanced the act as counting it no policy publickly to crosse the project of King JAMES especially as it was made popular with so pious a plausibility yet when returned home by their suspitious Items and private instructions they beat off and retarded peoples charities thereunto The same conceived this foundation superfluous to keep men to confute Popish opinions by writings whilest the maintainers of them were every where connived at and countenanced and the penall Laws not put in any effectuall execution against them 8. It s being begun in a bad time when the world swarmed with proleing Projectours and necessitous Courtiers contriving all waies to get moneys We know that even honest persons if strangers and casually coming along with the company of those who are bad contract a suspition of guilt in the opinions of those to whom they are unknown And it was the unhappinesse of this innocent yea usefull good designe that it appeared in a time when so many Monopolies were on foot 9. Some great Church men who were the more backward because Doctor Sutcliffe was so forward therein Such as had not freeness enough to go before him had frowardness too much to come after him in so good a designe The rather because they distasted his person and opinions Doctor Sutcliffe being a known rigid Anti-Remonstrant and when old very morose and teastie in his writings against them An infirmity which all ingenuous people will pardon in him that hope and desire to attain to old age themselves Thus have I opened my wares with sundry sorts of commodities therein assigning those Reasons which I have either read or heard from prime men of severall interests and am confident that in the variety yea contrariety of judgments now adaies even those very Reasons which are cast away by some as weak and frivolous will be taken up yea preferred by others as most satisfactory and substantiall 27. At this present it hath but little of the case The presen◠sad condition of it and nothing of the jewell for which it was intended Almost rotten before ripe and ruinous before it was finished It stands bleak like a Lodge in a garden of cucumbers having plenty of pleasant water the Thames neer it and store of wholesome aire about it but very little of the necessary element of earth belonging unto it Yea since I am informed that seeing the Colledge taketh not effect according to the desire and intent of the first Founders it hath been decreed in Chancerie by the joynt consent of Doctor Daniel Featly the third Provost of this Colledge and Doctor John Prideaux the surviving Feoffee intrusted in Dr. Sutcliffe's Will that the foresaid Farms of Kingstone Hazzard and Appleton should return again to the possession of Mr. Halce as the Heir-generall to the said Dr. Sutcliffe On what consideration let others enquire it is enough to perswade me it was done in equity because done by the Lord Coventrie in the high Court of Chancerie So that now onely the Farm of Kramerland in Devonshire of Sutcliffe's donation remains to this Colledge All I will adde is this As this Colledge was intended for Controversies so now there is a controversie about the Colledge costly suits being lately commenced betwixt William Lord Mounston who married the Widow of the aforesaid Earl of Nottingham and the present Provost thereof about the title of the very ground whereon it is situated 28. Three Bishops The death of Bishop Overton Heton Ravis all Oxford-men ended their lives this year First William Overton about the beginning of April bred in Magdalene Colledge one sufficiently severe to suppresse such whom he suspected of Non-conformity The second Martin Heton first Dean of Winchester and then Bishop of Elie. I say of Elie which See had stood empty almost twenty years in the Reigne of Queen ELIZABETH after the death of Bishop Cox So long the lantern of that Church so g Camdeus Brit Cambridge-shire artificial for the workmanship thereof wanted a light to shine therein Some suspected this place so long empty would never be filled again seeing no Bishoprick so large in revenues was so little in jurisdiction not having the small County of Cambridge b Part is of the Diocesse of Norwich wholly belonging unto it Some cunning Courtiers observing this breach in Elie-Minster as fiercely assaulted it with hope to get gain to themselves During the vacancie it was offered to many Church-men or chapmen shall I say but either their consciences or coffers would not come up to the conditions thereof Amongst others Mr. Parker brought up in Peter-House in Cambridge and Arch-Deacon of Elie saith my i A Manuscript of the Bishops of Elie lent me by Mr. Wright Authour iniquis conditionibus Episcopatum oblatum respuit tantam opum usuram nisi salvâ Ecclesiâ negligens At last but with the revenues much altered and empaired it was conferred on Doctor Heton who after ten years possession thereof died July 14. and seems the more obscure because of the lustre and learning of Doctor Lancelot Andrewes who immediately succeeded him The third Bishop deceasing this year December 14 was Thomas Ravis sometime Dean of Christ-Church and successively Bishop of Glocester and London born at Malden in Surrey of worthy parentage Claris parentibus saith the Epitaph on his tomb in St. Pauls who left the memory of a grave and good man behinde him Nor must it be forgotten that as he first had his learning in Westminster-School so he alwaies continued both by his counsell and countenance a most especiall incourager of the studies of all deserving Scholars belonging to that Foundation 29. As Archb◠Nich Fuller ingages for his Clients Bancroft was driving on conformity very fiercely throughout all his Province He met with an unexpected rub which notwithstanding he quickly removed for about this time Nich Fuller a Bencher of Greyes-Inne eminent in his profession Ann. Dom. 1610. Ann. Reg. Jac. 8 pleaded so boldly for the enlargement of his Clients that he procured his own confinement the Case thus Tho Lad a Merchant of Yarmouth in Norfolke was imprisoned a long time by the High Commission and could not be
others grumbling at it as too much for what by them was performed And now what place more proper for the building of Sion as they propounded it then the Chamber of Jerusalem the fairest in the Deans Lodgings where King Henry the fourth died and where these Divines did daily meet together 7. Be it here remembred The superadded Divines that some besides those Episcopally affected chosen to be at this Assembly notwithstanding absented themselves pretending age indisposition c. as it is easie for able unwillingness to finde out excuses and make them probable Fit it was therefore so many evacuities should be filled up to mount the Meeting to a competent number and Assemblies as well as Armies when grown thin must be recruited Hence it was that at severall times the Lords and Commons added more Members unto them by the name of the Super-added Divines Some of these though equall to the former in power were conceived to fall short in parts as chosen rather by the affections of others then for their own abilities the Original members of the Assembly not overpleased thereat such addition making the former rather more then more considerable 8. One of the first publick Acts The Assemblies first petition for a fast which I finde by them performed was the humble presenting of a Petition to both Houses for the appointing of a solemn fast to be generally observed And no wonder if their request met with fair acceptance and full performance seeing the Assemblies Petition was the Parliaments intention and this solemn suite of the Divines did not create new but quicken the old resolutions in both Houses presently a Fast is appointed July 21. Frid. and accordingly kept on the following Friday M r Boules and M r Newcomen whose sermons are since printed preaching on the same and all the rest of the particulars promised to be taken into speedy consideration 9. It was now projected to finde out some Band or Tie The Covenent entreth England for the streighter Vnion of the English and Scotish amongst themselves and both to the Parliament In order whereunto the Covenant was now presented This Covenant was of Scottish extraction born beyond Tweed but now brought to be bred on the South-side thereof 10. The House of Commons in Parliament The Covenant first taken and the Assembly of Divines solemnly took the Covenant at S t. Margarets in Westminster 11. It was ordered by the Commons in Parliament that this Covenant be forthwith printed and published Commanded to be printed 12. Divers Lords Taken by Gentlemen Knights Gentlemen Collonels Officers Souldiers and others Sept. 27. Wed. 29. Frid. then residing in the City of London met at S t Margarets in Westminster and there took the said Covenant M r Coleman preaching a Sermon before them concerning the piety and legality thereof 13. It was commanded by the authority of both Houses Enjoyned all in London that the said Covenant on the Sabbath day ensuing Frid. Octo. 1. Sund. should be taken in all Churches and Chappels of London within the lines of Communication and thoroughout the Kingdom in convenient time appointed thereunto according to the Tenour following A Solemn league and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happiness of the King and the peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of the Kings Majesty and his posterity and the true publick liberty safety and peace of the Kingdom wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to minde the Treacherous and Bloody Plots Conspiracies attempts and Practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and the professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time encreased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplications Remonstrances Protestations and sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practises of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods people in other nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual solemn League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most High God do swear That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith form of Church-Government directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacie that is Church-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godliness lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and priviledges of the Parliaments and the due liberties of the kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesty his person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and greatness We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill instruments
language of one of their Grandees c c Responsio Jo. Norton pag. 114. Actus regiminis à Synodis debent porrigi non peragi the latter belonging to the liberty of several Congregations Their Adversaries object that none can give in an exact account of all their opinions daily capable of alteration and increase Whilst such Countries whose unmoveable Mountains and stable Valleys keep a fixed position may be easily surveyed no Geographer can accurately describe some part of Arabia where the flitting sands driven with the winds have their frequent removals so that the Traveller findeth a hole at his return where he left a hill at his departure Such the uncertainty of these Congregationalists in their judgements only they plead for themselves it is not the winde of every d d Mr Cotton his preface to Mr Nortons Book are always for new lights Doctrine but the Sun of the Truth which with its New lights makes them renounce their old and embrace new resolutions 42. Soon after a heavie Schism happened in the Church of Roterdam d Eph. 4. 15. A Schism in Roterdam Church betwixt M r Bridge and M r Simson the two Pastors thereof Insomuch that the latter rent himself saith one e e Mr Edwards ut prius p. 35. from M r Bridge his Church to the great offence thereof though more probable as another f f Mr John Goodwin in answer to Mr Edwards pag. 238. reporteth M r Simson dismissed with the consent of the Church However many bitter letters passed betwixt them and more sent over to their Friends in England full of invectives blackness of the tongue alwayes accompanying the paroxismes of such distempers g pag. 245. Their Presbyterian Adversaries make great use hereof to their disgrace If such Infant-Churches whilst their hands could scarce hold any thing fell a scratching and their feet spurning and kicking one another before they could well goe alone how stubborn and vexatious would they be when arrived at riper years 43. This Schism was seconded with another in the same Church A second Schism in the same Church wherein they deposed one of their Ministers M r Ward I conceive his name which was beheld as a bold and daring deed especially because herein they consulted not their Sister-Church at Arnhein which publickly was professed mutually to be done in cases of concernment Here the Presbyterians triumph in their conceived discovery of the nakedness and weakness of the Congregational way which for want of Ecclesiastical Subordination is too short to reach out a redress to such grievances For seeing par in parem non habet potestatem Equalls have no power over their Equalls the agrieved party could not right himself by any appeal unto a Superior But such consider not the end as well as the beginning of this difference wherein the Church of a a Apol. Nar. pag 21. Arnhein interposing not as a Judge to punish Offenders but as a Brother to check the failings of a Brother matters were so ordered that M r Ward was restored to his place when both he and the Church had mutually confessed their sinful carriage in the matter but enough if not too much hereof seeing every thing put in a Pamphlet is not fit to be recorded in a Chronicle 44. More concord crowned the Congregation at Arnheim The practice of Arnhein Church where M r Goodwin and M r Nye were Pastors wherein besides those Church-Ordinances formerly mentioned actually admitted and exercised some others stood Candidates and fair Probationers on their good behaviour namely if under Tryal they were found convenient Such were 1. The b b 1 Cor. 16. 20. Holy Kiss 2. Prophesyings c c 1 Cor. 14. when Private Christians at fit times made publick use of their parts and gifts in the Congregation 3. Hymns d d Eph. 5. 19. Col 3. 16. and which if no better Divinity then Musick might much be scrupled at 4. Widdows e e 1 Tim. 5. 9. as Essential She-Ministers in the Church which if it be so our late Civil-Wars in England have afforded us plenty for the place 5. Anointing of dying people as a standing Apostolical f f James 5. 14. Ordinance 45. Other things were in agitation The five Exiles return home when now the news ariveth that the Parliament sitting at Westminster had broken the yoak of Ceremonies and proclaimed a year of Jubilee to all tender consciences Home then they hasted with all convenient speed For only England is England indeed though some parts of Holland may be like unto it Over they came in a very good plight and Equipage which the Presbyterians and those I assure you are quick-sighted when pleased to prie took notice of Not a hair of their head singed nor any smell of the fire of persecution upon their Clothes However they were not to be blamed if setting their best foot forward in their return and appearing in the handsomest and chearfullest fashion for the credit of their cause and to show that they were not dejected with their sufferings 46. Presently they fall upon gathering of Congregations Gather Churches in England but chiefly in or about the City of London Trent may be good and Severn better but oh the Thames is the best for the plentifull taking of fish therein They did pick I will not say steal hence a Master thence a Mistress of a Family a Son out of a Third a Servant out of a Fourth Parish all which met together in their Congregation Some prevented calling by their coming of OLD Parishioners to become NEW Church-Members and so forward were they of themselves that they needed no force to compell nor art to perswade them Thus a new Inne never wanteth Guests at the first setting up especially if hanging out a fair Signe and promising more cleanness and neatness then is in any of their Neighbours 47. The Presbyterians found themselves much agrieved hereat The Presbyterians offended They accounted this practise of the Dissenting Brethren but Ecclesiastical felonie for at the best that they were but Spiritual Interlopers for the same They justly feared if this fashion continued the falling of the Roof or foundring of the Foundations of their own Parishes whence so many Corner Stones Pillars Rafters and Beams were taken by the other to build their Congregations They complained that these new Pastors though slighting Tithes and set maintenance yet so ordered the matter by gathering their Churches that these gleanings of Ephraim became better then the Vintage of Abi-ezer 48. Not long after when the Assembly of Divines was called these five Congregationalists were chosen members thereof Dissenting Brethren crave a Toleration but came not up with a full consent to all things acted therein As accounting that the pressing of an exact occurrence to the Presbyterian Government was but a kinde of a Conseience-Prison whilst accurate conformity to the Scotch Church was the very Dungeon thereof
but therewith the others were unsatisfied jealousie is quick of grouth as not the same which His Majesty delivered unto him When presently the souldier whose rudeness the bad cause of a good effect had formerly over-inspected it in the Kings hand attested this the very same paper and prevented farther suspicions which might have terminated to the Bishops trouble 42. On the Wednesday sennight after Feb. 7. wednesday His Corpse embalmed His Corpse carried to Windsor and coffined in lead was delivered to the care of two of His servants to be buried at Windsor The one Anthony Mildmay who formerly had been His Sewer as I take it the other John Joyner bred first in His Majesties Kitchin afterwards a Parliament-Captain since by them deputed when the Scots surrendred His person Cook to His Majesty This night they brought the Corpse to Windsor and digged a grave for it in S. George his Chappel on the South side of the Communion-Table 43. But next day the Duke of Richmond 8. Thursday the Marquess of Hertford The Lords follow after it the Earles of South-Hampton and Lindsey others though sent to declining the service so far was their feare above their gratitude to their dead Master came to Windsor and brought with them two Votes passed that morning in Parliament Wherein the ordering of the Kings buriall for the form and manner thereof was wholy committed to the Duke of Richmond provided that the expence thereof exceeded not five hundred pounds Coming into the Castle they shewed their Commission to the Governor Colonel Wichcot desiring to interr the Corpse according to the Common-Prayer-Book of the Church of England The rather because the Parliaments total remitting the manner of the Buriall to the Dukes discretion implied a permission thereof This the governor refused alledging it was improbable that the Parliament would permit the use of what so solemnly they had abolished and therein destroy their own Act. 44. The Lords returned The Governors resolution that there was a difference betwixt destroying their own act and dispensing with it or suspending the exercise thereof That no power so bindeth up its own hands as to disable it self in some cases to recede from the rigour of their own acts if they should see just occasion All would not prevaile the Governour persisting in the negative and the Lords betook themselves to their sad employment 45. They resolved not to interre the Corpse in the grave which was provided for it The Lords with much searching finde a vault but in a Vault if the Chappel afforded any Then fall they a searching and in vain seek for one in King Henry the eighth His Chappel where the tombe intended for Him by Cardinal Wolsey lately stood because all there was solid earth Besides this place at the present used for a Magazine was unsuiting with a solemn sepulture Then with their feet they tried the Quire to see if a sound would confess any hollowness therein and at last directed by one of the aged poore Knights did light on a Vault in the middle thereof 46. It was altogether darke as made in the middest of the Quire and an ordinary man could not stand therein without stooping The description thereof as not past five foot high In the midst thereof lay a large leaden coffin with the feet towards the East and a far less on the left side thereof On the other side was room neither to spare nor to want for any other coffin of a moderate proportion 47. That one of the Order was buried there One of the Order buried therein plainly appeared by perfect pieces of purple-velvet their proper habit remaining therein Though some pieces of the same velvet were fox-tawnie and some cole-black all eye of purple being put out therein though all originally of the same cloath varying the colour as it met with more or less moisture as it lay in the ground 48. Now a concurrence of presumptions concluded this great Coffin to contain the Corpse of King Henry the eighth Presumed to be K. Henry the eight though there was neither Armes not any inscription to evidence the same 1. The place exactly corresponds to the designation of His burial See it in the end of K. Henry His Reign mentioned in His last Will and Testament 2. The small Coffin in all probability was His Queens Jane Semaurs by whom in His Will He desired to be buried and the room on the other side seems reserved for His surviving Wife Queen Katherine Parr 3. It was never remembred nor recorded that any Subject of that Order was interred in the body of that Quire but in by-Chappels 4. An herse stood over this vault in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth which because cumbering the passage was removed in the reign of King James I know a tradition is whispered from mouth to mouth that King Henry His body was taken up and burned in the reign of Queen Mary and could name the Knight Her Privie-Councellor and then dwelling not far off muttered to be employed in this inhumane action This prevailed so far on the Lord Herberts belief that he closeth his History of King Henry the eighth with these suspicious words To conclude I wish I could leave Him in His grave But there is no certainty hereof and more probable that here He quietly was reposed The lead-coffin being very thin was at this time casually broken and some yellow stuff altogether sentless like powder of gold taken out of it conceived some exsicative gumms wherewith He was embalmed which the Duke caused to be put in again and the Coffin closed up 49. The Vault thus prepared The leaden inscription on His Coffin a scarse of lead was provided some two foot long and five inches broad therein to make an inscription The Letters the Duke himself did delineate and then a workman call'd to cut them out with a Chesil It bare some debate whether the letters should be made in those concavities to be cut out or in the solid lead betwixt them The latter was concluded on because such vacuities are subject to be soon filled up with dust and render the inscription less legible which was KING CHARLES 1648. The Plummer souldred it to the Coffin about the brest of the Corpse within the same 50. All things thus in readiness The Corpse deposited the Corpse was brought to the vault Febr. 9. Friday being borne by the souldiers of the Garrison Over it a black velvet herse-cloth the foure labels whereof the foure Lords did support The Bishop of London stood weeping by to tender that his service which might not be accepted Then was It deposited in silence and sorrow in the vacant place in the vault the herse-cloth being cast in after it about three of the clock in the afternoone and the Lords that night though late returned to London FINIS THE HISTORY OF THE University of Cambridge SINCE THE CONQUEST Printed in the year of