Cruelty to himself if unwillingly was it Dunstan's Fire or his Faith that fail'd him that he could hold out against him no longer But away with all Suspicions and Queries none need to doubt of the truth thereof finding it in a Sign painted in Fleet-street near Temple-barre 16. During Dunstan's abode in his Cell Aelsgine Dunstan's bountifull friend he had to his great Comfort and Contentment the company of a good Lady Aelfgine by name living fast by No Preacher but Dunstan would please her being so ravisht with his Society that she would needs build a little Cell for her self hard by him In processe of time this Lady died and by her last Will left Christ to be the Heir and Dunstan the Executor of her Estate Enabled with the accession thereof joyned to his paternall Possessions which were very great and now fallen into his hands Dunstan erected the Abbey of Glassenbury and became himself first Abbot thereof a Title till his time unknown in England he built also and endowed many other Monasteries filling them with Benedictine Monks who began now to swarm in England more then Magots in a hot May so incredible was their Increase 17. After the death of King Athelstane 16 Dunstan was recalled to Court in the reign of King Edmund 939 Athelstan's Brother Recalled to Court and re-banished thence and flourished for a time in great Favour But who would build on the brittle Bottome of Princes Love Soon after he falls into the Kings Disfavour Edmundi 1 the old Crime 940 of being a Magician and a Wanton with Women to boot being laid to his charge Surely Dunstan by looking on his own Furnace might learn thence there was no Smoak but some Fire either he was dishonest or undiscreet which gave the Ground-work to their generall Suspicion Hereupon he is re-banisht the Court and returned to his desired Cell at Glassenbury but within three dayes was solemnly brought back again to Court if the ensuing Story may be believed 18. King Edmund was in an eager pursuit of a Buck King Edmund his miraculous deliverance on the top of a steep Rock whence no Descent but Destruction Down falls the Deer and Dogs after him and are dashed to pieces The King follows in full speed on an unruly Horse whom he could not rein is on the Brink of the Brink of the Precipice yet his Prayers prove swifter then his Horse he but ran whilst they did fly to Heaven He is sensible of his Sin in banishing Dunstan confesseth it with Sorrow vowes Amendment promiseth to restore preferre him Instantly the Horse stops in his full Career and his Rider is wonderfully preserved 19. Thus farre a strong Faith may believe of the Story Fy for shame lying Monk but it must be a wild one which gives credit to the remainder a Ross Histor Matt. West Iob. Capgr Osbernus Cervus Canes reviviscunt saith the impudent Monk The Deer Dogs revive again I remember not in Scripture that God ever revived a brute Beast partly because such mean subjects are beneath the Majesty of a Miracle and partly because as the Apostle faith brute Beasts b 2 Pet. â— 12. are made to be taken destroyed Well then might the Monk have knockt off when he had done well in saving the Man and Horse and might have left the Dogs Deer to have remained dead on the place the Deer especially were it but to make Venison Pasties to feast the Courtiers at the solemnizing of their Lord and Masters so miraculous Deliverance 20. Dunstan returning to Court was in higher Favour then ever before 6 Edredi 1 Nor was his Interest any whit abated by the untimely Death of King Edmund slain by one Leoff a Thief seeing his Brother Edred 946 succeeding to the Crown King Edred a high Patron of Dunstan continued and increased his Kindness to him Under him Dunstan was the Doe-all at Court Anno Dom. 946 being the Kings Treasurer Anno Regis Edredi 1 Chancellour Counsellour all things Bishopricks were bountifully profered him pick and chuse where he please but none were honoured with his Acceptance Whether because he accounted himself too high for the place and would not stoop to the Employment or because he esteemed the place too high for him unable conscientiously to discharge it in the midst of so many Avocations Mean time Monasteries were every where erected King Edred devoutly resigning all his Treasure to Dunstan's Disposall Secular Priests being thrust out of their Convents and Monks substituted in their rooms 21. But after Edred's Death But King Edwine his profest Enemy the Case was altered with Dunstan falling into Disgrace with King Edwin his Successour 954 This King on his Coronation-day was said to be incestuously imbracing both Mother Daughter 9 Edwini 1 when Dunstan boldly coming into his Bed-chamber after bitter Reproofs stoutly fetcht him thence and brought him forth into the company of his Noblemen An heroick act if true done with a Iohn Baptist spirit and no wonder if Herod and Herodias I mean this incestuous King and his Concubines were highly offended with Dunstan for the same 22. But good men Who though wronged by the Monks was a worthy Prince and grave Authours give no belief herein conceiving King Edwin how bad soever charactered by the Monks his malicious Enemies to have been a worthy Prince In witnesse whereof they produce the words of a Hist lib. 5. pag. 357. Henry Huntington a learned man but no Monk thus describing him Edwin non illaudabiliter regni insulam tenuit Et rursus Ed win rex anno regni sui quito cum in principio regnum ejus decentissime flor eret prospera laetabunda exordia mors immatura perrupit Edwin was not undeserving of praise in managing the Sceptre of this Land And again King Edwin in the fifth year of his Reign when his Kingdome began at first most decently to flourish had his prosperous and pleasant Beginnings broken off with untimely Death This Testimony considered makes many men think better of King Edwin and worse of Dunstan as guilty of some uncivil Intrusion into the Kings Chamber for which he justly incurred his royall Displeasure 23. Hereupon Dunstan is banished by King Edwin He banisheth Dunstan and dieth heart-broken with grief not as before from England to England from the Court to his Cell at Glassenbury but is utterly expelled the Kingdome and flieth into Flanders Where his Friends say that his Fame prepared his Welcome the Governour of Gaunt most solemnly entertained him 956 Mean time 3 all the Monks in England of Dunstan's Plantation were rooted up and Secular Priests set in their places But soon after happened many Commotions in England especially in Mercia and Northumberland The Monks which write the Story of these Rebellions conceive it unfit to impart to Posterity the Cause thereof which makes wise men to
peaceable possession of such priority 8. Next him Next the Abbot of S. Albans the Abbot of S. Albans took place above all of his Order to the no small grief and grudge of Glassenbury seeing Joseph of Arimathea was two hundred years senior to S. Albans But who shall deny the Patriarck f Gen. 48. 14. Jacob the priviledge of crossing his own hands to preferre the younger before the elder The same power but on what pretence let others enquire the Pope assumeth to himself whereby Adrian the fourth once a Monk of S. Albans gave that Convent the precedencie 9. As for the remaining Abbots The carelesse order of the rest we may observe a kinde of a carelesse order observed in their summoning to and consequently their sitting in Parliament Now seeing it will not enter into a rationall belief that their methodizing was meerly managed by the will of the Clerk of the Writs it must descend on the disposall of the King calling them in what order He pleaseth 10. Sure I am Seniority not observed in the summons these Abbots were not summoned according to their personall seniorities of their severall instalments nor according to the antiquity of their respective foundations For Waltham Abbot being ante-penultimus as but founded by King Herold is commonly fourteenth or fifteenth in the summons Battaile Abbey which in this body of Abbeys should be beneath the ancle as last of all save Selbye is commonly about the breast the eight or ninth in number 11. Nor are they ranked according to the richnesse of their annuall Revenues Not ranked by their wealth for then according to their Valuations at the Dissolution they should be martialled according to the method here insuing when first I have premised a Note concerning the Abbey of Teuxbury in Glocester-shire 12. This Abbot appeareth Parliamentary neither in any summons exhibited Teuxbury to be added to the Catalogue by g Titles of borror p. 728. Master Selden most curious in this point nor yet in the Catalogue of them presented by h Brit. p. 170. Master Cambden and reverence to these worthy Authors hath prevailed with me so much that durst not insert him However since I am convinced in my judgement he must be entred in the list Partly moved by the greatnesse of Revenues Partly because I finde him registred by i In his Annall of K. Hen. 8. An. 1539. Bishop God win no lesse Criticall than the former in Historicall matters Yet to please all parties we will onely adde him in the Margine and not enter him in the body of the Catalogue  lib. s. d. ob q. 1. S. Peters Westminster 3977 6 4 1 1 2. Glassenbury Somerset-shire 3508 13 4 1 1 3. S. Albans Hertford-shire 2510 6 1 1 1 4. S. Johns of Jerusalem Middlesex 2385 19 8 0 0 5. S. Edmunds-Bury Suffolke 2336 16 0 0 0 6. Reading Berk-shire 2116 3 9 0 1 7. S. Maryes nigh Yorke 2085 1 5 1 1 8. Abington Berk-shire 2042 2 8 1 1 9. * Teuxbury valued at 1598 ◠◠3d. Ramsey Huntingdon shire 1983 15 3 0 1 10. Peterborough Northampton-shire 1972 7 0 1 1 11. Gloucester 1550 4 5 1 0 12. S. Austines Canterbury 1412 4 7 1 1 13. Evesham Worcester-shire 1268 9 9 0 0 14. Crewland Lincoln-shire 1217 5 11 0 0 15. Wealtham Effex 1079 12 1 0 0 16. Cirencester Glocester-shire 1051 7 1 0 0 17. Battaile Suffex 987 0 11 1 1 18. Tavystoke Devonshire 902 5 7 1 1 19. Hide nigh Winchester 865 1 6 1 1 20. Selby York-shire 819 2 6 0 0 21. Malinsbury Wilts-shire 803 17 7 0 0 22. Wivelscombe Glocester-shire 756 11 9 0 0 23. Middleton Dorset-shire 720 4 1 0 0 24. S. Bennet Hulm Morthfolke 677 9 8 0 1 25. Shrewsbury 615 4 3 1 0 26. Thorny * All these valuations are taken out of Speed's Catalogue of religious Houses pag 787. Cambridge-shire 508 2 5 0 0 27. Bardney Lincoln-shire 429 7 0 0 0 The valuations of Coventry Colchester I cannot finde and in all these sums we have trusted Harps-field and Speed both subject to many mistakes those standing on stippery ground who in point of computation tread onely on figures and not on numbers at length The Auditors in these accounts pretend to much exactnesse descending to the fractions of half-pence and farthings though much partiality was used therein many of the Raters at the dissolution being Ranters for the present proved Purchasers for the future of the lands The Abbey of Ramsey commonly called l Sir Rob. Cotton under due name of Speed in the description of Huntingdonshire the RICH is here but the ninth in number according to the wealth thereof whereby it plainly appears that much favour was used in the undervaluing of that foundation 13. We must know there were other Abbeys Some Abbots not Barons richer than those that were who though not so high in Dignity were richer in Indowments than many of these Parliamentary Barons viz  lib. s. d. ob q. 1. Fountains Richmond-shire 1173 0 7 1 0 2. Lewes Suffex 1691 9 6 0 1 3. S. Werburghs Cheshire 1073 17 7 1 0 4. Leicester 1062 0 4 1 1 5. Marton Surrey 1039 5 3 0 0 6. Fournance Richmond-shire 969 7 1 0 0 These had more Lands at best were more highly valued though not so Honourable a tenure as holding of mean Landlords in frank almonage And probably the Parliamentary Barons had more old rents though these as later foundations greater incomes by improved demeans 14. There also were Nunneries corrivall in revenues with Parliamentary Abbeys Shafts-bury the richest Nunnery whereof Shafts-bury the chiefest valued at 1329 li. 21 s. 3d. So that the Countrey-people had a Proverb That if the Abbot of Glassenbury might marry the Abbesse of Shafts-bury their Heire would have more land than the King of England Barkeing in Essex and Sion in Middlesex fell not much short of Shafts-bury being severally endowed with above a 1000 li. per annum 15. Of all Counties in England Glocester-shire was most pestered with Monks having four mitred Abbeys beside S. Austines in Bristoll who sometimes passed for a Baron within the compasse thereof viz Glocester Teuxbury Ciren-cester and Wevelscome Hence the topical wicked Proverb deserving to be banisht out of that Countrey A prophane proverb being the prophane childe of superstitious parents As sure as God is in Glocester-shire As if so many Convents had certainly fastned his gracious presence to that place 16. As Glocester-shire was the fullest of No Countrey free from Monks so Westmoreland the freest from Monasteries It seemeth the Monks did not much care for that cold Countrey nestling themselves but in one place called Sharp which they found so answering the name that they sought warmer places elswhere As for the boasting of the men of the Isle of Wight That they never had m Cambd. Brit. in the Isle of Wight hooded
and the City of Jerusalem from the Turks in Palestine 9. Having formerly written an whole Book of the Holy War An account of our design and particularly of King Richards atchievements therein 1190 I intend here no repetition 1. Onely our design is to give a Catalogue of some of our English Nobility who adventured their persons in the Holy War and whose Male-Posterity is eminently extant at this day I have known an excellent Musician whom no Arguments could perswade to play until hearing a Bungler scrape in the company he snatch'd the Instrument out of his hand in indignation that Musick should be so much abused then turned and played upon it himself My project herein is that giving in an imperfect list of some few noble Families who ingaged themselves in this service It will so offend some eminent Artist hitherto silent in this kinde that out of disdain he will put himself upon so honourable a work deserving a Gentleman who hath Lands Learning and leisure to undertake so costly intricate and large a subject for the honor of our Nation And be it premised that to prevent all cavils about precedency first come first serv'd I shall Marshal them in no other method but as in my studies I have met with the mention of them 10. To begin with the place of my present habitation Anno Regis Rich. prim 1. one Hugh Nevil attended King Richard into the Holy War Anno Dom. 1190 and anciently lieth buried in a Marble Monument Nevil Kill Lion his performance in Palestine in the Church of Waltham Abbey in Essex whereof no remainders at this day This Hugh Nevil being one of the Kings special samiliars slew a Lion in the Holy Land first driving an arrow into his Breast and then running him through with his sword on whom this Verse was made a Mat. Paris Anno Dom 1222. Viribus Hugonis vires periêre Leonis The strength of Hugh A Lion slew If Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah was recounted the fifth amongst Davids worthies for b 2 Sam. 23. 20. killing a Lion in the middest of a pit in the time of snow surely on the same reason this bold and brave Baron Hugh ought to be entred into the Catalogue of the Heroes of his Soveraign But I cannot give credit to c Weavers Fun. Mon. pag. 644. his report who conceiveth that the Atchievement of the man was translated to his Master And that on this occasion King Richard the first got the name of Cordelion or Lions Heart 11. This Hugh Nevil gave the Manor of d Registrum Cart Abbat de Waltham Thorndon to Waltham Abby Ancesters to the Noble numerous Nevils and was Ancester of the Noble and numerous Family of the Nevils to which none in England equal for Honor Wealth and number in the later end of King Henry the sixth though at this day the Lord Abergavenny be the only Baron thereof He gave for his Armes a Cross Saltire or the Cross of S t Andrew probably assuming it in the Holy War For though I confess this is not the proper Cross of Hierusalem yet was it highly esteemed of all those who adventured thither as may appear in that all Knights-Templers make such Saltire Cross with their Thwarted Leggs upon their Monuments 12. Giralde de Talbote succeeds in the second place Giralde de Talbote whence the house of Shrewsbury When Articles were drawn up between our King Richard in his passage to Palestine and Tancred King of Sicily for the mutual observation of many Conditions betwixt them He put in upon their Oaths for his Sureties a Grand-Jury of his principal Subjects then present viz. two Arch-Bishops two Bishops and twenty other of his Prime Nobility expressed in his Letters e R. Hoveden pars poster 〈◊〉 in Rich. primo Patents Besides many other whose names were concealed Of these twenty the aforesaid Girald de Talbote is the first whose Male Issue and Name is extant at this day flourishing in the Right Honourable Family of the Earls of Shrewsbury 13. Next amongst the Royal Jurors as I may term them was Guarrin Fitz-Girald Guarrin Fitz Girald from whom the Earls of Kildare and Barons of Windsor from whom are descended the Fitz Giralds in Ireland where their name is in some places Provincial of whom the Earl of Kildare is chief A memorial of their service in Palestine is preserved in their Armes giving Argent a Cross Saltire Gules Here it must be remembred that the valiant sprightly Gentleman Hickman Lord Windsor is descended from the same f See Camd. Brit. in Berkshire Male Ancestors with the Fitz Giralds as Robert Glover a most exquisite Herald doth demonstrate though according to the fashion of that age altering his old and assuming a new name from Windsor the place of his office and Command This Lord Windsor carrieth the Badg of his Service in his Arms being essentially the same with the Earl of Kildares save that the colours are varied the field Gules and cross Saltire Argent betwixt twelve Crosses crossed OR Which Coat seemingly sursited was conceived in that age the more healthful for the same the more Crossed the more Blessed being the Devotion of those dayes 14. Four other Gentlemen of quality remain mentioned in that Parent A Quaternion more of adventures William de Curcy Father to John the valiant Champion and Conqueror of Ireland Robert de Novo Burgo Hugh le Brain and Amaury de Mountford of all whom formerly in our Alphabetical Comment on Abby Roll. Anno Dom. 1191. Anno Regis Rich. Prim. 2. 15. At the siege of Acres or Ptolemais the Grave General of the Christian Army amongst many Worthies dying there within the compass of one year Ingleram 〈◊〉 his posterity I finde a 〈…〉 pag. 655. Ingelram de Fiennes to be slain from whom the Lord Viscount Say and Seal and the Lord Dacres of the South derive their discent But most visible are the remains of the Holy War in the atchievement of Theophilus Finnes alias Clinton Earl of Lincoln giving in the lower parts of his shield in a field Argent six Crosses crossed Fitchee Sable denoting the stability and firmness of his Ancestors in that service 16. Also at the aforesaid Siege of Acres Radulphus De Alta ripa Radulphus de Alta ripa Arch-Deacon of Colchester ended his life Now although because a Clergy-man he could not then leave any lawful Issue behinde him Yet we may be confident that the Ancient Family De Alta ripa or Dautry still continuing in b Camd. Brit. ibid. Sussex were of his Alliance 17. Before we leave the Siege of Acres let me refresh the Reader with my innocent and give me leave to say provable mistake A mistake freely confest I conceived the Noble Family of the Lord Dacres took their Sir-name from some service there performed confirmed in my conjecture 1. Because the
Duke her Husband and the Cardinall * I see not how this is much materiall in her defence of Winchester about the year 1440. 5. It is not probable if the Dutchess intended such Treason against the Kings life as to consume him by burning a wax candle that she would impart a plot of such privacy to four persons viz. Sir Roger Margaret Jourdman Mr. Thomas Southwell and Iohn Hume seeing five may keep counsell if four be away 6. So hainous a treason against the Kings person if plainly proved would have been more severely punished with death no doubt of all privy thereunto Whereas this Lady escaped with Exile and Iohn Hume had his life pardoned which being so foule a fact would not have been forgiven if clearly testified against Him 7. She is accused in our Chronicles Harding Polycronicon c. for working Sorcery and Inchantments AGAINST the Church and the King Now how can Inchantments be made AGAINST the Church which is a Collective Body consisting of a Multitude of Christians and reader in my weak opinion this Conjecture carrieth some weight with it Anno Dom. 1433. Balaam himself can tell us Anno Regis Hen. 11 6. There is no Sorcery against Jacob not Southsaying against Israel If any interpret Against the Church that is the Laws and Canons of the Church Num. 23. 23. the Sence is harsh and unusual This rendreth it suspicious that her Inchantments against the Church was only her disliking and distasting the errours and Superstitions thereof 8. This Witch of Eye saith Fabian lived neer Winchester a Presumption as Mr. Fox conjectureth that the Cardinall of Winchester had a hand in packing this accusation 9. Polydore Virgil maketh no mention thereof otherwise sufficiently quicksighted in matters of this nature 10. Why may not this be false as well as that King Richard the third his accusing of Iane Shore for bewitching of his withered arm These conjectures are not Substantial enough severally to subsist of themselves yet may they be able to stand in complication in the whole Sheaf though not as single Arrows and conduce not a little towards the clearing of her innocence For my own part 23. A moderate way it is past my Skill to seour out stains inlayed in the memory of one diseased more then two hundred years agoe I see her credit stands condemned by the generality of Writers and as it is above the power of the present Age to pardon it so it is against all pitty crueltie to execute the same some after-evidences appearing with glimmering light in her vindication Let her Memory therefore be reprieved till the day of Judgement when it is possible Micah 7. 9. that this Lady bearing here the indignation of God for her sins may in due time have her cause pleaded and judgement executed for her and her righteousnesse be brought into light Sure I am she fared no whit the better for her sirname of Cobbam odious to the Clergy of that Age on the account of Sir Iohn Oldcasile Lord Cobham though these two were nothing of kin The best is she left no issue to be ashamed of her faults if she were guilty the best evidences of whose innocence are in the Manuscript Books of J. Leyland which as yet I have not had the happinesse to behold At this time William Heiworth sat Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield The meanest Bishop above the mightiest Abbot being translated thither from being Abbot of St. Albans Wonder not that he should leave the richest Abbey of England where he took place of all of his Order and exchange it for a middle-sized Bishoprick For first even those who most admire the holinesse and perfection of Monasticallife do grant the Episcopal Function above it in all Spirituall respects Secondly in Temporal Considerations the poorest Bishop was better and might be more beneficial to his Kindred than the richest Abbot seeing he by will might bequeath his estate to his Heirs which no Abbot incapable in his own person of any Propriety could legally do whose goods belonged to his Convent in common This Bishop Heiworth deserved not ill of his Cathedral Church of Litchfield Litchfield's Cathedral Indeed the body of the Church was built by Roger de Clinton Bishop thereof 1433 in the reign of King Henry the first 11. who increased the number of the Prebends and surrounded Litchfield with a ditch bestowing much cost on the invisible Castle which now is vanished out of sight Afterwards Walter de Langton his successour in the reign of King Edward the first was a most munificent Benefactor thereunto laying the foundation of the Chappel of the Virgin Mary and though dying before it was finished bequeathing a sufficient summe of money for the finishing thereof He also fenced the Close of the Church about with a high wall and deep ditch adorning it with two beautifull gates the fairer on the west the lesser on the South side thereof He expended no lesse then two thousand and pound in beautifying the shrine of Saint Chad his predecessor 65. But now in the time of the aforesaid VVilliam Heyworth Anno Regis Hen. 6 11. the Cathedral of Litchfield was in the verticall height thereof Anno Dom. 1433. being though not augmented in the essentials beautified in the Ornamentals thereof The nearest Pile in England Indeed the West front thereof is a stately Fabrick adorned with exquisite imagerie which I suspect our age is so far from being able to imitate the workmanship that it understandeth not the Historie thereof 66. Surely what Charles the fifth is said to have said of the Citie of Florence Charles the fifth of Florence that it is pittie it should be seen save only on Holy-dayes as also that it was fitt that so fair a Citie should have a Case and Cover for it to keep it from wind and weather so in some sort this Fabrick may seem to deserve a shelter to secure it 67. But alas it is now in a pittifull case indeed An ingenious design almost beaten down to the ground in our civil dissensions Now lest the Church should follow the Castle I mean quite vanish out of view I have at the cost of my worthy friend here exemplified the Portraiture thereof and am glad to hear it to be the design of ingenious persons to preserve ancient Churches in the like nature whereof many are done in this and more expected in the next part of Monasticon seeing when their substance is gone their verie shadows will be acceptable to posteritie 68. The Commons in Parliament complained to the King A grievance complained on that whereas they had sold great wood of twenty years growth and upwards to their own great profit and in aid to the King in his wars and shipping the Parsons and Vicars impleaded such Merchants as bought this Timber for the Tithes thereof whereby their estates were much damnified the King and the Kingdome disserved 69.
Deductions Divisions and Sub-divisions of these Orders which have no foundation in the Scripture Yea hear what c Matth. Park An. Dom. 1257. pag. 949. Matthew Paris being a Monk of S. Albans saith Tot jam apparuerunt Ordines in Angliâ ut ordinum confusio videretur inordinata It is possible then for my best diligence to commit an Errour and impropriety in Reckoning them up For what wonder is it if one be lost in a wood to which their numerous Orders may well be resembled though in all this wood there appears not one plant of God's planting as one of their own f Rob. Witgift Abbot of Wellow Abbots most remarkably did observe In a word when the g Exod. 8. 13 14. Frogs of Aegypt died out of the houses out of the villages and out of the fields They gathered them together upon heaps c. And give us leave in like manner confusedly to shovel up these Vermin now dead in England 2. First Benedictines the primitive Monks in England come forth the Benedictines or Black Monks so called from S. BENEDICT or BENET an Italian first Father and Founder of that Order Augustine the Monk first brought them over into England and these black Birds first nested in Canterbury whence they have flowen into all the parts of the Kingdome For as h Clem. Reyner De antiq Ordin is S. Benedict one rightly observeth all the Abbeys in England before the time of King William the Conquerour and some whiles after were filled with this Order Yea all the Abbeys in England of the first magnitude which had Parliamentary Barons abate onely the Prior of the Hospitallers of S. John's in London were of this Order and though the Augustinians were their Seniors in Europe they were their Juniors in England Now as Mercers when their old Stuffes begin to tire in Sale refresh them with new Names to make them more vendible So when the Benedictines waxed stale in the world the same Order was set forth in a New Edition corrected and amended under the names first of CLUNIACKS these were Benedictines sifted through a finer search with some additionals invented and imposed upon them by Odo Abbot of Cluni in Burgundy who lived Anna Domini 913. But these Cluniacks appeared not in England till after the Norman Conquest and had their richest Covents at Barnestable in Devon-shire Pontefract and Meaux in Yorkshire c. 2. CISTERCIANS so called from one Robert living in Cistercium in Burgundy aforesaid he the second time refined the drossie Benedictines and Walter Especk first established their Brotherhood in England at Rivall in York-shire besides which they had many other pleasant and plentifull habitations at Warden and Woburne in Bedford shire Buckland and Ford in Devon shire Bindon in Dorset-shire c. The Bernardine Monks were of a younger House or under-Branch of the Cistercians 3. Of GRAND-MONT which observed S. Benet's Rule were brought into England Anno 1233 and were principally fixed at Abberbury in Shropshire The Family of these Benedictines taken at large with their Children and Grand-Children of under-Orders springing from them were so numerous and so richly endowed that in their Revenues they did match all the other Orders in England especially if the Foundations of Benedictine Nuns be joyned in the same reckoning I doubt not but since these Benedictines have had their crudities deconcocted and have been drawn out into more slender threds of sub-divisions For commonly once in a hundred years starts up some pragmaticall person in an Order who out of novelty alters their old Rules there is as much variety and vanity in Monks Cowles as in Courtiers Cloaks and out of his fancie adds some observances thereunto To crie quits with whom after the same distance of time ariseth another and under some new Name reformeth his Reformation and then his late new now old Order is looked on as an Almanack out of Date wanting the Perfection of new and necessary Alterations 3. A scandal hath lately been raised Scandalum Benedictinorum much in dishonour of these Benedictines viz That all the antient English Monks before the Conquest were onely of the Order of S. Equitius Some highly concerned to confute this Report wrote over to our Antiquaries in England for their Judgments herein from whom they received this following Answer a Extant in Clem Reynere de Apostolatu Benedictinorum in Angliâ— pag. 202. QUoniam hâc nostra aetate exorta est controversia de Monachatu Gregorii magni Augustini Cantuariensis Sociorúmque ejus quos Gregorius in Angliam de sâ—o Monasterio praedicandi Evangelii causa destinâsse legitur quibusdam ipsos ordini Benedictino addicentibus quibusdam vero id acriter pernegantibus ipsos Ordini S. Equitii sive alicui alii ascribentibus Nos qui multum temporis in rebus vetustis tam civilibus quà m sacris atque iis imprimis quae ad Britanniam nostram potissimum spectant impendimus rogati ut testimonium perhiberemus veritati cum neutrius partis prejudiciis simus obnoxii Dicimus affirmamus nos duo solùm Monachorum genera in primis Saxonicae apud majores nostros Ecclesiae temporibus unum eorum qui Aegyptiensium mores secuti in hac Insulâ florebant ante adventum Augustini alterum eorum qui Benedictini Augustino itineris erant comites Hanc traditionem à patribus ad filios derivatam esse testamur atque ita derivatam ut non levibus innitatur fabulis aut ambitiosis partium conjecturis quin eam ipsam vetusta signatae fidei exhibent apud nos monumenta Ab Augustino insupper ad Henricum octavum per petuo in hac Insulâ viguit Benedictina Institutio nec Augustino recentiorem ejusve originem originisve recentioris vestigium ullibi comperimus Tantum abest Equitianum aliquem in hâc Insula fuisse Ordinem ut nulla omnino hujusmodi neque ordinis neque nominis mentio in vetustis quibus versamur tabulariis habeatur Sanè aliorum fere omnium in hâc Insulâ origines ita observavimus ut unius cujusque etiam minimi ingressum suo anno consignatum habeamus solius Benedictini ordinis originem ante Augustini saeculum non invenimus ipsius saeculo floruisse apertè re reperi mus Unde exploratissimum nobis esse profitemur non alterius ordinis fuisse ipsum sociósque ejus quam Benedictini qui ideo proculdubiâ— tam altas radices in Anglia egerit quoniam primi illi Monachi à Gregorio in Insulam destinati Regulae Benedictinae professores extiterunt Robertus Cotton Johannes Seldenus Henricus Spelman Gulielmus Cambdenus England may see 400 years yet not behold 4 such Antiquaries her Natives at once the four wheels of the Triumphant chariot of truth for our British History This Quaternion of Subscribers have stick'n the point dead with me that all antient English Monks were Benedictines Which Order lasting above one thousand years in this Land hath produced about
betwixt them Whether a Fryer may be said to be Owner of the Cloathes be weareth and it hath been for the most part over-ruled in the negative 11. It will be objected Objection to null the distinction that many Convents of Fryers had large and ample revenues as will appear by perusing the Catalogue in Speed's Tables amounting to some hundreds though never thousands by the year some Fryers barns well-nigh as wealthy as some Monks rather every pretended Lazarus a Dives holding though not severally to themselves joyntly amongst themselves most rich endowments Here also it will be in vain to flie to the distinction of Cresis and Chresis of using and owning seeing the Monks will lay a claim to that distinction and challenge as great an interest therein as the Fryers themselves 12. I have nothing to return in answer hereunto Answered save onely that Olim verò non fuit sic from the beginning of the Institution of Fryers it was not so these additions of Lands unto them are of later date and believe it not of their seeking but their Benefactors casting upon them 13. However Criticisme in this subject not materiall nothing more common than to make Monks and Fryers both Synonyma's and reciprocall and for my own part I passe not if in this my History I have committed the same and hereafter shall be guilty of greater mistakes Foresters laughed at the ignorance of that Gentleman who made this difference betwixt a Stag and a Hart that the one was a red the other a fallow deer being both of a kinde only different in age and some other circumstances in Venarie I may make the like sport to some Popish Reader and much good let it do him in differencing some Orders which are the same and identifying other Orders which are distinct but the matter is of no dangerous concernment May we be but carefull to order f Psal 50. 23. our conversations aright that God may shew us his salvation and it matters not much if we commit errours and discover ignorance in ordering Fryers not in their exact number and seniority These premised we begin with their four Elemental Orders 14. Wickliffe constantly inveigheth against Fryers What means by Wickliffe's CAIM. under the name of CAIM. Had it been Caine I should have suspected his allusion to the words of the Apostle They have gone in the * Jude ver 11. way of Cain but now am at a losse and had so continued had I not lighted on a railing Hexastick of an uncharitable Rythmer a base fellow may show an honest man the way who thus letteth flie at them Per decies binos Sathanas capiat Jacobinus Propter errores Jesu confunde Minores Augustienses Pater inclyte sterne per enses Et Carmelitas tanquam falsos Heremitas Sunt Confessores Dominorum seu Dominarum Et seductores ipsarum sunt animarum C. Carmelites A. Augustinians I. Jacobines M. Minorites or Dominicans Franciscans Fryers And thus at last we have the great mysterie unfolded whom Wickliffe therein did intend 15. Of these Dominicans were the first Fryers Dominican Fryers which came over into England Anno 1221 being but twelve an Apostolical number with Gilbert de Fraxineto their Prior first landed at Canterbury fixed at Oxford but richly endowed at London they were commonly called Black Fryers Preaching Fryers and Jacobine Fryers They took their name from S. Dominick born at Calogora in Spain and Hubert de Burg◠Earl of Kent was their prime Patrone bestowing his Palace in the Suburbs of London upon them which afterwards they sold to the Archbishop's of York residing therein till by some transactions betwixt King Henry the eighth and Cardinal Wolsey it became the Royal-Court now known by the name of White-hall Afterwards by the bounty of Gregory Rocksly Lord Major of London and Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury they were more conveniently lodged in two Lanes on the bank of Thames in a place enjoying great priviledges and still retaining the name of Black Fryers No fewer than g Pitzeus in Indice p. 981. fourscore famons English writers are accounted of this Order At this day as beyond the Seas they are much condemned for being the sole active managers of the cruell Spanish Inquisition so they deserve due commendation for their Orthodox judgements in maintaining some Controversies in Divinity of importance against the Jesuits 16. Franciscans follow Franciscan Fryers commonly called Grey Fryers and Minorites either in allusion to Jacob's words h Gen. 32. 10. Sum Minor omnibus beneficiis Tuis or from some other humble expressions in the New Testament They received their name from S. Francis born in the Dutchy of Spoletum in Italy Canonized by Pope Gregory the ninth about two years after whose death the Franciscans came over into England and one Diggs Ancestour of Sir Dudley Diggs bought for them their first seat in Canterbury who afterwards were diffused all over England For skill in School-Divinity they beat all other Orders quite out of distance and had a curious Library in London built by Richard Whittington in that Age costing five hundred and fifty pounds which quickly might be made up if as it is reported an i Reyn. in Ap. Benedict pag 162. hundred marks were expended in transcribing the Commentaries of Lyra. 17. We must not forget that one Bernard of Siena about the year 1400 Sub-reformations of Franciscans refined the Franciscans into Observants no distinct metall from the former but different from them as steel from iron K. Edward the fourth first brought them into England where they had six famous Cloysters since which time there have been a new Order of Minims begun beyond the Seas conceiving the comparative of Minor too high they have descended to Minimus according to our Saviour's own words He that is a minime or the least among you the same shall be greatest and I much admire that none have since begun an Order of Minor-Minimo's the rather because of the Apostles words of himself who am lesse than the least of all saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As I may say a subter-subterlative in his humility As for other Diminutives of Franciscans or Minorites beyond the Seas Recollects Penitentiaries Capuchins c. seeing they had their rise since the fall of Abbeys in England they belong not to our present enquiry Sufficeth it that this Order during the extent of our story afforded in England an hundred and ten learned Writers 18. Carmelites Carmelites their first coming into England or White Fryers come next so named from Mount Carmel in Syria brought over into England in the Reign of King Richard the first by Ralph Ereeborn and placed at Alnewicke in Northumberland in a wildernesse sic canibus catulos most like unto Carmel in Syria Whose Convent at their dissolution in the Reign of King Henry the eighth Speed Catalog pag. 795. was at low rates in that cheap County valued at
except solemnly designed for the place 19. At distance stood the Stables The Stables where the Stallarius or Master of the Horse did command and under him o In Vâ—tis c. pag. 97. the Provendarius who as his name imports provided Provender for the Horses These were divided into foure ranks and it would puzzle all the Jockies in Smithfield to understand the meaning of their names 1. Manni being Geldings for the Saddle of the larger size 2. Runcini Runts p Wats in Glossar at the end of Mat. Paris small Pad-Nags like those of Galloway or Goonehely 3. Summarii Sumpter-horses 4. Averii Cart or Plough-horses This was the quadripartite division of the Horses of William the two and twentieth Abbot of S. Albans on the token that he lost an hundred Horses in one yeer 20. One roome remaines The Gaâ—le last named because least loved even a Prison for the punishment of incorrigible Monkes who otherwise would not be ordered into obedience It was a grand penance imposed on the q In Vitis pag. 52. Delinquents to carry about the Lanthorn though light an heavy burden but such contumacious Monks as would not be amended therewith the Abbot had tetrum fortem carcerem a strong and hideous Prison where their Obstinacie was corrected into Reformation 21. We omit other roomes The Grange as Vaccisterium the Cow-house Porcarium the Swine-stie as having nothing peculiar therein but concurrent with those offices in other houses As for Granges being Farms at distance kept and stocked by the Abbey and so called as it seemeth à grana gerendo the Overseer whereof was commonly called the Prior of the Grange because sometimes many miles from the Monasterie they come not within the reach of our present discourse Onely I adde in Female Foundations of Nunneries there was a correspondencie of all the same essential Officers and Offices 22. Expect not of me a List of those mean Officers in the Abbey Barbarous names and Offices whose employment was not so base as their names barbarous and of English extraction Such were 1. Coltonarius Cutler 2. Cupparius 3. Potagiarius 4. Scutellarius Aulae 5. Salsarius 6. Portarius 7. Carectarius Cellerarii 8. Pelliparius Parchment-Provider 9. Brasinarius Maltster All these appeared at the Hali-mote or Holy Court of the Cellarer and it is the degrading the soul of a Scholar best pleased in a progressive motion to attain elegancy to stoop to the understanding of such base and unlearned Etymologies 23. Note that the Offices aforesaid in the smaller Abbeys were but one fair intire room Rooms in small houses in great Abbeys which in greater Monasteries were a distinct structure with all under-Offices attendant thereupon Thus the Firmorie in the Priorie of Canterbury had a Refectorie thereto belonging a Kitchin a Dortour distributed into several Chambers that one might not disturb another and a private Chappel for the devotions of the diseased Their Almerie also was accommodated with all the aforesaid appurtenances and had many distinct Manours consigned onely to their maintenance 24. It were aliene from our present purpose to speak of Cells The use of Cells which were aut pars aut proles of all great Abbeys sometime so farre off that the mother-Mother-Abbey was in England the Childe-Cell beyond the Seas and so reciprocally Some of these were richly endowed as that of Windham in Norfolke which though but a Cell annexed to S. Albans yet was able at the Dissolution to expend of its own Revenues seventy two pounds per annum These were Colonies into which the Abbeys discharged their superfluous numbers and whither the rest retired when Infections were feared at home 25. Thus have we run through the main Rooms in all great Abbeys The Honours in Canterbury Priorie though besides the same particular Abbeys had particular Houses known to those of their own Covent by peculiar denominations It were endlesse for one to instance in all these and impossible to render a reason of their names except he were privie to the fancies of the Founders Thus we meet with a pile of building in the Priorie of Canterbury called the Honours but why so termed my good friend and great r Mr. William Somner in his Antiquit. of Canterbury pag. 196. Antiquarie is fain to confesse his own ignorance Some generall Conformities observed in all Covents SUndry Orders were bound to observe severall Canonicall Constitutions Rules calculated for the Benedictines without any grand errour will serve all Orders However the rule of the antient Benedictines with some small variations according to time and place hold true thorough most Monasteries Some generall heads whereof the under-branches being infinite we will here insert it being hard if amongst much drosse some gold be not found to repair the pains of the Reader We will contrive them into Canons collected out of Authors before or in the daies of Dunston 1. Let Monks after the example of a Psal 119. 164. David praise God seven times a day Seven times Some difference in reckoning them up but the following computation is generally imbraced 1. At Cock-crowing Because the b Psal 119. 62. Psalmist saith At midnight will I praise the Lord and most conceive that Christ rose from the dead about that time 2. Matutines At the first hour or six of the clock when the Jewish morning sacrifice was offered And at what time Christ's resurrection was by the Angels first notified to the women 3. At the third hour or nine of the clock before none When according to S. Marke Christ was condemned and scourged by Pilate 4. At the sixt hour or twelve of the clock at high noon When Christ was crucified and darknesse over all the earth 5. At the ninth hour or three of the clock in the afternoon When Christ gave up the ghost and which was an hour of publick prayer in the c Acts 3. 1. Temple and privately in his closet with d Acts 10. 30. Cornelius 6. Vespers At the twelfth hour or six a clock in the afternoon When the Evening-sacrifice was offered in the Temple and when Christ is supposed taken down from the Crosse 7. At seven of the clock at night or the firâ—t hour beginning the nocturnall twelve When Christ's agonie in the garden was conceived began The fift e This whole Chapter is the abridgment of CONGORDIA REGULARUM collected by S. Bennet the Anian Abbot but printed with a Comment An. 1638. set forth by Frier Aeâ—ard of these was performed at two of the clock in the morning When the Monks who went to bed at eight at night had slept six hours which were judged sufficient for nature It was no fault for the greater haste to come without shooes or with unwashen hands provided sprinkled at their entrance with holy-water to this nights service And I finde no expresse to the contrary but that they might go to bed again But a flat prohibition after Matutines when
downfall of these Covents some years before it came to passe For when it was in the intention and designe of Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester to have built a Monasterie Hugh Oldham Bishop of Exeter disswaded him affirming That such Covents possessed more already than they would long a Godwin in the Bishop of Winchester enjoy He advised him rather to bestow his bounty on founding some Colledge in the University as which was likely to last longer and certain to doe more good promising also his own utmost assistance in so pious an undertaking This was done accordingly Fox being the first Founder of and Oldham a liberall Benefactour to CORPUS CHRISTI Colledge in Oxford 2. Adde to this Seconded by Abbot Whitgift a Speech of Robert b Sir George Paul in Whitgift's life p. 3. Whitgift Abbot of Wellow nigh Grimsbey in Lincoln shire Uncle to Archbishop Whitgift who was wont to say That they and their religion chiefly in relation to Monasteries could not long continue because said he I have read the whole Scripture over and over and could never finde therein that our religion was founded by God And for proof of his opinion the Abbot would alledge that saying of our Saviour Every planting which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up And that he proved a true Prophet herein the next Book will sufficiently evidence 3. We will conclude with their observation as an ominous presage of Abbies Ominous burning of Abbeys often by lightning ruine that there was scarce a great Abbey in England which once at the least was not burnt down with lightning from heaven 1. The Monastery of Canterbury burnt Anno 1145. And afterward again burnt Anno c Ex Hist Gerâ—afâ—i 1174. 2. The Abbey of Croyland twice d Ex Histor Ingulphi burnt 3. The Abbey of Peterborow twice set on e Ex Chron. Peterb Walteri Weeks Hovedeni Gualteri Coventr Fabiani fire 4. The Abbey of S. Maryes in Yorke burnt 5. The Abbey of Norwich burnt 6. The Abbey of S. Edmonds-bury f Ex Ghron S. Edmond Guil. Malmeâ—b burnt and destroyed 7. The Abbey of Worcester burnt 8. The Abbey of Glocester was also burnt 9. The Abbey of Chichester burnt 10. The Abbey of Glastenbury burnt 11. The Abbey of S. Mary in South-warke burnt 12. The Church of the Abbey of Beverley burnt 13. The Steeple of the Abbey of Evesham burnt I will not with Master Fox inferre from such casualties that God was more offended with Abbeys than other buildings a naturall cause presenting it selfe of such accidents namely because the highest structures whatever they are are the fairest marks for lightning and thunder As if those active Meteors took the usurpation of such aspiring buildings in distaste for entring their territory and for offering without leave to invade the marches of the middle region of the aire And if mountains of Gods own advancing thither and placing there pay dear for their honour and frequently feel the weight of thunder-bolts falling upon them feriunt summos fulmina montes no wonder if artificiall buildings of mens making whatsoever they be Palaces or Castles or Churches or Covents have their ambition often humbled with thunder and lightning which casually melt and consume them 4. Onely we will adde Bells no effectuall charm against lightning that such frequent firing of Abbey-Churches by lightning confuteth the proud Motto commonly written on the Bells in their Steeples wherein each Bell intituled it self to a sixfold efficacie 1. Funera plango Men's deaths I tell By dolefull knell 2. Fulgura Fulmina frango Lightning and thunder I break asunder 3. Sabbata pango On Sabbath all To Church I call 4. Excito lentos The sleepy head I raise from bed 5. Dissipo ventos The winds so fierce I doe disperse 6. Paco cruentos Men's cruell rage I doe asswage Whereas it plainly appears that these Abbey-steeples though quilted with Bells almost cap a pee were not of proof against the sword of God's lightning Yea generally when the heavens in tempests did strike fire the Steeples of Abbeys proved often their tynder whose frequent burning portended their finall destruction which now God willing we come to relate Of the Essaies and Offers to overthrow Abbeys before they took effect GReat buildings commonly crack before they fall Orders of Friers alterable according to the pleasures of their Founders to give the dwellers therein warning to depart so was it here in Abbeys But may we here first premise as an Introduction that it was placed in the power and pleasure of Princes and great persons their Founders to displace exchange particular Orders as sometimes Monks for Nuns and reciprocally Nuns for Monks white for gray Friers and gray for white as their fancie directed them whereof we have plenty of instances But all this made nothing to the losse of Monkery in generall though sexes or colours of Friers were altered the same Bells did hang still in the steeple though rung in changes to content severall people 2. Secondly Particular Covents on misdemeanour dissolvable particular Covents might be wholly dissolved upon their misdemeanour as in Berklie Nunnery Here a young man left out of designe by Earl Godwine dissembled himself to be sick who in short space so acquitted himself amongst the Votaries there that all of them with their Abbesse whose age might have been presumed a protection for her honesty were got with a De honestis onustas de agnis lupus Cambdens Brit in Glocester-shire out of Walterus Maâ—aeus childe upon complaint and proof whereof unto King Edward the Confessour they were all driven out and their Nunnery with large revenues bestowed upon Earl Godwine by the aforesaid King who was then accounted Patron of all Abbeys which now fallen into His hands by this foule lapse He bestowed as a Lay fee upon this new Owner wholly altering the property thereof 3. Thirdly Whole Orders routed out by the Pope for their faults whole religious Orders might by order from the Pope be totally and finally extirpated Here I passe by the Fratres Flagelliferi or scourging Friers religious Bedlams who used publickly to whip themselves in the Market-place making velame of their own skins thereon to write their follies in legible characters I say I omit them afterwards put down by the Pope himself the rather because I finde them not in England or elswhere endowed with considerable revenues I will insist on the Templers whose numerous and wealthy fraternity was for their vitiousness by the Pope in the Councell of Vienna dissolved all over Europe and in England all or most of their land was given to the Knights b See Supplemoâ—t of the Holy Warre chap. 1 2 3. Hospitallers This was a great shaking of all religious Orders the plucking out of these chief threads made a in the whole cloth men conceiving that in processe of time the whole sheafe may be broken as
forged leases are countenanced under the pretence of this passing the same 22. As for the number of Recusants which forsook the land at this time A list of persons deprived the prime of them were Henry Lord Morley S r. Francis Inglefield Thomas Shelly and John Gage Esqrs As for the Nuns of Sion and other Votaries wasted over we have formerly treated of them in our History of Abbies Nor were there moe then eighty Rectours of Churches fifty Prebendaries fifteen Masters of Colledges twelve Arch-Deacons twelve Deans with six Abbots and Abbesses deprived at this time of their places thoroughout all England 23. Now the Queen and Her Councell Matthew Parker designed Arch-Bishop his due commendation accounted it high time to supply the Church of Canterbury which hitherto had stood * Counted from Pooles death to Parkers consecration Vacant a yeer Anno Dom. 1559. and three weeks with an Arch-Bishop Anno Regin Eliza. 2. D r. Matthew Parker is appointed for the place borne in Norwich bred in Cambridge Master of Benefactour to Bennet-Colledge there Chaplain to Queen Anne Bollen a relation which next his own merits befriended him with Queen Elizabeth for such high and suddain advancement then to King Henry the eighth Deane of the Colledge of Stoke juxta Clare a learned and religious Divine He confuted that character which one gives of Antiquaries that generally they are either superstitious or supercilious his skill in antiquity being attended with soundnesse of doctrine and humility of manners His Book called Antiquitates Britanicae hath indebted all posterity to his pen. Which work our great a Mr Selden of Tithes cap. 9. pag. 256. Critick cites as written by M r. Joscelin one much employed in the making thereof But we will not set the memories of the Patrone and Chaplaine at variance who loved so well in their lives time nor needeth any Writ of partition to be sued out betwixt them about the authorship of this book though probably one brought the matter the other composure thereof 24. The Queen had formerly sent order to D r. Wotton The Queen Her letter for his consecration Dean of Canterbury an exquisite Civilian July 18. Aug. 1. and therefore one who may be presumed critical in such performances and to the Chapter there to choose Matthew Parker their Arch-Bishop which within fourteen dayes after was by them accordingly performed This done She directeth Her Letters-Patents in manner and forme following Elizabetha b Registrum Parker 1. Iom 1 fol. 3. Dei Gratia c. Reverendis in Christo Patribus Antonio Landavensi Episcopo Will Barlow quondam Bath Well Ep. nunc Cicestrensi electo Joh Scory quondam Cicestrensi Episcopo nunc electo Heâ—esor Miloni Coverdalio quondam Exoniensi Episcopo Johanni Surffaganeo Bedford Johanni Suffraganeo Thetford Johanni Bale Osserensi Episcopo Quatenus vos aut ad minus quatuor vestrûm eundem Matthaeum Parkerum in Archiepiscopum Pastorem Ecclesiae Cathedralis Metropoliticae Christi Cantuariensis praedictae sicut praefertur electum electionemque praedictum confirmare eundem Magistrum Matthaeum Parkerum in Archiepiscopum Pastorem Ecclesiae praedictae consecrare caeteraque omnia singula peragere quae vestro in hac parte editorum provisorum velitis cum effectu c. Dat sexto Decembris Anno secundo Elizabethae But the old Bishop of Landaffe appeared not at the Consecration Dece 6. terrified say the Papists by Bonners threats so as to absent himself which others do not believe For he that feared not the Lion out of the grate would he be frighted with the Lion within the grate If Bonner when at liberty could not deterr him from taking the oath of Supremacy improbable it is that when now detain'd prisoner in the Tower he could disswade him from his obedience to his Soveraigne More likely it is that his absence as also Bishop Bale's and the Suffragans of Thetford was occasioned by their indisposition of body and infirmity of old age 25. But the other four Bishops appeared The manner thereof William Barlow John Scory Miles Coverdal and John Hodgskins by whom Matthew Parker was solemnly consecrated in manner and forme following The East part of the Chappel of c Regist Parker Tom 1. fol. 9. Lambeth was hung with tapestry the floore spred with red cloth chairs and cushions are conveniently placed for the purpose morning prayer being solemnly read by Andrew Peerson the Arch-Bishops Chaplaine Bishop Scory went up into the d Ibid. fol. 10. pulpit and took for his text The e 1 Pet. 5. 1. Elders which are among you I exhort who also am an Elder and a witnesse of the sufferings of Christ c. Sermon ended and the Sacrament administred they proceed to the Consecration the Arch-Bishop had his Rochet on with Hereford and the Suffragan of Bedford Chichester wore a silke cope and Coverdal a plain cloth-gown down to his ancles All things are done conâ—ormable to the book of Ordination Letanie sung the Queens Patent for Parkers consecration audibly read by D r. Vale Dece 17. he is presented the oath of Supremacy tendred to him taken by him hands reverendly imposed on him and all with prayers begun continued concluded In a word though here was no Theatrical pompe to make it a Popish pageant though no sandals gloves ring staffe oyle pall c. were used upon him yet there was ceremony enough to cloth his consecration with decency though not to clog it with superstition 26. This his consecration is avowed most legal The legality of his consecration both according to Canon and Common Law In the latter it was ordered by King Henry a Anno Regin 25. the eighth that an Arch-Bishops should not be consecrated but by an Archbishop and two Bishops or by four Bishops in case an Arch-Bishop was wanting as here it was performed Object not that one of these foure was but a Suffragan seeing such by the b 26. of Henry 8 cap. 14. laws of the land though not able to vote as Barons in Parliament had Episcopal power to all purposes and intents Neither cavill that Coverdale henceforward led a private life being always a Bishop quoad characterem and for the present quoad jâ—es â—itulum Exeter his former Bishoprick being actually void by the deprivation of Turbervile though refusing to be so quoad possessionem As for the canonical part of his consecration six of the most eminent Doctours of that faculty England then afforded gave it under their hands that the same was exactly observed 27. Yet notwithstanding all circumstances so solemnly performed The impudent lie of the Naggs-head some impudent Papists have raised a lie that Matthew Parker was consecrated Ad caput manni At the Naggs-head a tavern in Cheapside Indeed they shew a place therein just against the barr so anciently arched that an active phansie which can make any thing of
died in his own House in Waltham and was g Matt. Paris Anno 1252. A heap of difficulties cast together buried in the Abby-Church therein And now because we have so often cited Matthew Paris I never met with more difficulties in six lines then what I finde in him which because nearly relating to this present subject I thought fit to exemplifie MATTHEW PARIS in Anno 1242. p. 595. Eodemque Anno videlicet in crastino S ti Michaelis dedicata est Ecclesia conventualis Canonicorum de Waltham ab Episcopo Norwicensi Willielmo solemniter valde assistibus aliis plurimis Episcopis Praelatis Magnatibus venerabilibus statim post dedicationem Ecclesiae sancti Pauli Londinensis ut peregrinantes hinc inde indistanter remearent And in the same year namely the morrow after S t. Michaels day the conventual Church of the Canons at Waltham was dedicated by William Bishop of Norwich very solemnly many other Bishops Prelates and venerable Peers assisting him presently after the dedication of S t Pauls in London that Pilgrims and Travellers up and down might indistantly return It is clear our Church of Waltham Abby is intended herein a See speed his Caralogue of religiious houses Queries on queries England affording no other Conventual Church This being granted how comes Waltham Church built by Harold two hundred years before now to be first Dedicated that Age accounting it as faulty and fatal to defer the Consecration of Churches as the Christning of Children 2. What made the Bishop of Norwich to meddle therewith an Office more proper for the Bishop of London to perform Waltham being though not under in his jurisdiction 3. What is meant by the Barbarous word indistanter and what benefit accrewed to Travellers thereby I will not so much as conjecture as unwilling to draw my bow where I despair to hit the mark but leave all to the judgment of others But I grow tedious and will therefore conclude Anno 1641. King CHARLES came the last time to Waltham and went as he was wont where any thing remarkable to see the Church the Earl of Carlile attending him His Majestie told him that he divided his Cathedral Churches K. Charls his last coming to Waltham as he did his Royal ships into three ranks accounting S t Pauls in London York Lincoln Winchester c. of the first form Chichester Lichfield c. of the second the Welch Cathedrals of the third with which Waltham Church may be well compared especially if the Roof thereof was taken lower and Leaded The Earl moved His Majestie Conditionally granteth the repairing of the Church that seeing this Ancient Church Founded by king Harold his Predecessor was fallen into such decay that the repair was too heavy for the Parish he would be pleased to grant a moderate Tole of Cattle coming over the Bridg with their great Driftss doing much damage to the High-wayes and therewith both the Town might be Paved and the Church repaired The King graciously granted it provided it were done with the privity and cons ent of a great Prelate not so safe to be named as easie to be guessed with whom he consulted in all Church-matters But when the foresaid Prelate was informed But it misarcrieth that the Earl had applied to His Majestie before addresses to himself he dashed the design so that poor Waltham Church must still be contented with their weak walls and worse Roof till Providence procure her some better Benefactors As for the Armes of Waltham Abby being loath to set them alone I have joyned them in the following draught with the Armes of the other Mitred Abbies as far as my industry could recover them SOLI DEO GLORIA FINIS AN INDEX OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PERSONS and Passages in this BOOK TO THE READER ALthough a Methodicall Book be an Index to it self yet an Index is not to be contemned by the most Industrious Reader Whom we request to take notice of the following Particulars I. C. stands for Century B. for Book P. for Page ¶ for Paragraph II. In the two first Books memorables are ranked onely according to Centuries an Paragraphs but afterwards by Books III. Paragraph without page doth for brevity sake referre to that page which was last named IV. Page without Book on the same reason relates to the last Book that was named V. VVhere no Paragraph is named it sheweth that the page by it self is sufficient notification Lastly know that the discounting of Sheets to expedite the work at severall Presses hath occasioned in the Fifth book after page 200. completed to go back Again to page 153 surrounded in this fashion to prevent confusion ARON a Citizen of Caerlion martyred Cent. 4. 1. 10. ABBEYS The prodigious expence in building and endowing them Cent. 10. ¶ 40. multitudes of them causeth the Danish invasion ¶ 51. mischiefs done by them b. 2. p. 282 283 284. prime Officers and Officines p. 285 286 287. the civil benefits by them p. 296 297 298. presage of their ruin p. 300. and offers to overthrow them p. 301 302. the lesser which could not expend 200. pounds a year bestowed on the King p. 310 311 and the rest visited with three sorts of Officers p. 314. 315. some appear vertuous p. 316. otherâ—â—otouriously vitious p. 317. all resigned by their Abbots unwillingly willing to the King p. 319 c. Rob. ABBOT Bishop of Salisbury his death and commendation B. 10. P. 70. ¶ 53. George ABBOT Arch-bishop of Cant. B. 10. P. 57. 9. 47. casually killeth a keeper p. 87 ¶ 12 c. befriended by Sir Edward Coke ¶ 15. and Bishop Andrews ¶ 16. mortified by this chance ¶ 17. seven years after severely suspended from his jurisdication b. 11. ¶ 51. his character ¶ 53. and vindication ¶ 54. 55. Tho. ADAMS Alderman of London foundeth an Arabick Professours place in Cambridge Hist of Cam. P. 166. ¶ 23. ADELME the first Bishop Sherborn Cent. 8. ¶ 4. and the first Englsnman who wroted Latin or made a verse ibid. AETHELARD Arch-bishop of Cant. calleth a Svnod Cent. 9. ¶ 2. with the solemn subscriptions thereunto ibidem AGRICOLA a principall spreader of Pelagiamisme in Britain Cent. 5. ¶ 3. AIDAN Bishop of Lindissern his due Commendation Cent. 7. ¶ 70. dissenteth from the Romish Church in the Celebration of Easter ¶ 71. inciteth Lay-men to the Reading of Scripture ¶ 72. St. ALBAN though a Britan how a Citizen of Rome Cent. 4. ¶ 2. converted to Christianity by Amphibalus ¶ 3. his Martyrdome and reported Miracles ¶ 4. 5. his intire body pretended in three places Cent. 5. ¶ 11. Enshrined some hundred years after by King Offa Cent. 8. ¶ 35. St. ALBANS Abbey founded by King Offa Cent. 8. ¶ 38. the Abbot thereof confirmed first in place of all England by Pope Adrian the fourth b. 3. p. 29. ¶ 49. ALL-SOULS Colledge in Oxford founded by Hen. Chichely Arch-bishop of Cant. b. 4. p. 182. ARROW a small city in
Virginity another of the Celebration of Easter And about this time the Libraries of Monasteries began to be replenished with Books many being written in that Age. 5. By the way Multitude of books created by a mistake one Mistake I could not have discerned it my self had not a learned b Spelman in Conciliis pag. 210. Writer discovered it unto me makes Books of this Age more numerous and the Kings therein more Learned then indeed they were Namely because every Latine Charter granted by any King to a Monastery is termed by the Saxon Writers Liber or Libellus a Book Wherefore when they tell us of such and such Books made by the Saxon Kings understand we most of them of their Charters of Donation In which sense King Edgar who some two hundred yeares after this time founded as many Monasteries as Weeks in the year and consequently made as many Charters was a voluminous Writer of no lesse then fifty two Books And yet this large acception of Books will not make up the Number which Bale and Pitz pretend they have seen in this Age. A Vanity in them to affect a Title-learning though a Stationers Apprentice after some weeks Experience might excell them therein and the greater because many imaginary Authours which they make as if they had seen either were never extant or long since extinguished 6. But the multitude of Books encreaseth not our Marvel so much The numerosity of noble Saints in this Age. as the Numerosity of Saints such as they were in this Age whereof four parts of five according to the Herauldry of such who wrote their Lives were of Royall or Noble Extraction It addeth to the wonder because S t. Paul c 1 Cor. 1. 26. saith Not many Noble are called except any confine that Observation of the Apostle to times of Persecution whereas Christianity now in England flourished in all Peace and Prosperity But to render their noble Parentage at this time the more probable know that under the Saxon Heptarchy Royalty was encreased seven-fold in England which must beget a proportionable multiplication of Nobility attending them Yet when all is done as the Iewish Rabbins on their bare Tradition without ground from Scripture make Ruth the Daughter to Eglon King of Moab merely to make the Descent of their King David from her the more illustrious so it is suspicious that to advance the Temporall Reputation of these Saints such Monks as wrote their Lives causelesly â—â—arified and refined many of their Blouds into Noble Extraction However if truely pious indeed such Saints have the best Nobility in the Scripture-sense d Acts 17. 11. These were more noble because they received the word with all readinesse of mind 7. Of these noble Saints 708 S t. Guthlake a Benedictine Monk S t Guthlake the first Saxon Heremite was the first Saxon that professed an Heremitical life in England to which purpose he chose a Fenny place in Lincolnshire called Crowland that is the raw or crudeland so raw indeed that before him no man could digest to live therein Yea the Devils are said to claim this place as their peculiar and to call it e Flores Sanctorum written by Hierome Porter in the life of St. Guthlake pag. 348. their own land Is any place but the Prison of Hell properly theirs Yet wonder not at their Presumption pretending this Spot of ground to be theirs whose Impudence durst affirm that God had given them f Matth. 4. 8. all the World and the Glory thereof Could those infernal Fiends tortured with immateriall Fire take any Pleasure or make any Ease to themselves by padling here in Puddles and dabling in the moist dirty Marishes However Guthlake took the Boldnesse to enter common with them and erect his Cell in Crowland But if his prodigious Life may be believed Ducks and Mallards do not now flock thither faster in September then Heards of Devils came about him all whom he is said victoriously to have vanquished Anno Dom. 708 But whom Satan's Power could not foil his Policy had almost destroyed by perswading Guthlake to fast fourty dayes and nights together after the Example of Moses a Idem P. 347. and Elias till finding this Project destructive to Nature he was forced in his own Defence to take some necessary but very sparing Refection He died in his own Cell and Pega his sister an Anchoritesse led a solitary life not far from him 8. Doves also Aswinish conceit of a Monk a poor plain man was eminent in this Age a Shepheard say some a Neatheard others Swineheard say the third sort and that most probable For whilest he lived in Worcestershire not far from the River Avon the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared unto him even where fare well all good Tokens he found a lost Sow b Godwin in Catalogo Episcoporum pag. 301. with seven Piggs sucking upon her and to have given order that in that very place a Monastery should be erected to her Honour The beastly Monk who made this Vision had e'ne learned as far as Virgil's Aeneids whence he fetched the Platform of this pretty Conceit a place so marked being foretold fortunate to Aeneas to found Alba since Rome therein c Aeneidosl 3. Litories ingens inventa sub ilicibus Sus Triginta capitum faetus enixa jacebit Alba solo recubans albi circum ubera nati Hic locus Vrbis erit requies ubi certa laborum Where under Oakes on Shore there shall be found A mighty Sow all white cast on the ground With thirty sucking Piggs that place is ' sign'd To build your Town and ease your wearied Mind Here the Monk mutatis mutandis but principally shrinking the Number of the Pigs from thirty to seven as more mystical he applies the Apparition to his Purpose A pretty Parallel that Pagan-Rome and Popish Superstition if Hue-and-cry should be made after them might be discovered by the same Marks This gave the first motion to the Foundation of Eovesham Abbey so called from Eoves aforesaid first built in that Sow-place 9. But the Building thereof was hastened by a second The first Synod for Image-worship in England more neat and cleanly Apparition of the Virgin Mary in the same place who is pretended to have shewed her self with two Maiden-attendants to Egwin Bishop of Worcester prompting him to expedite a Structure therein d See Sir Henry Spelman's Councils pag. 210. Egwin posts presently to Rome and makes faith of this Vision to Constantine the Pope who convinced in his judgement of the truth thereof dispatcheth his Commands to Brightwall Arch-bishop of Canterbury 709 to assemble a Synod at Alncester in VVorcestershire to promote the building of an Abbey in that place which was done accordingly and the same was bountifully endowed by Offa and other Mercian Kings with very large Revenues And not long after another Synod saith my c Magdeburgenses Cent. sed ex
suspect that Dunstan who could blow Coals elsewhere as well as in his Furnace though at distance vertually or rather viciously present had a Finger yea a Hand therein Heart-broken with these Rebellions 958 King Edwin died in the Flower of his Age. 5 Edgati 1 24. Edgar succeeds him Dunstan recalled by King Edgar and takes a double Bishoprick and recalls Dunstan home 959 receiving him with all possible Affection 2 Yea now Dunstan's Stomack was come down and he could digest a Bishoprick which his Abstemiousness formerly refused And one Bishoprick drew down another VVorcester and London not successively but both a-breast went down his Conscience Yea never Age afforded more Pluralist Bishops In this Kings reign Letine held b Vid. Antiq. Britan. p. 83. Lincoln and Leicester oswald a great Monk-monger of whom hereafter held York and VVorcester Aldulph his Successour in both Churches did the like pardoned yea praised for the same though Woolstan because no favourer of Monks is reproved for the like Plurality Thus two men though doing the same thing do not the same thing Bigamy of Bishopricks goes by Favour and it is condemnable in one what is commendable in another Anno Regis Edgari 2 Odo Severus Anno Dom. 959 Arch-bishop of Canterbury being ceremoniously to consecrate Dunstan Bishop of VVorcester used all the Formalities fashionable at the Consecration of an a Antiq. Britan ibidem Arch-bishop And being reproved for the same he answered for himself That he foresaw that Dunstan instantly after his death would be Arch-bishop of Canterbury And therefore a compendious way to spare Paines he onely by a provident Prolepsis ante-dated his Consecration Surely whosoever had seen the decrepit age of Odo the affection of King Edgar to Dunstan the affection of Dunstan to Dignity needed no extraordinary prophetical Spirit to presage that on the supposition of Dunstan's surviving him he should succeed him in the Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury 25. Yea King Edgar was so wholly Dunstanized Oswald's Law to eject secular Priests that he gave over his Soul Body and Estate to be ordered by him and two more then the Triumvirate who ruled England namely Ethelwald Bishop of Winchester and Oswald Bishop of Worcester This Oswald was the man who procured by the Kings Authority the Ejection of all Secular Priests out of Worcester and the placing of Monks in their Room which Act was called Oswald's Law in that Age. They might if it pleased them have stiled it Edgar's Law the Legislative Power being then more in the King then in the Bishop This Oswald's Law afterwards enlarged it self over all England Secular Priests being thrown out and Monks every where fixed in their rooms till King Henry the eighth his Law outed Oswald's Law and ejected those Drones out of their Habitations 26. King Edgar violated the Chastity of a Nun at Wilton Dunstan's disciplining of king Edgar Dunstan getting notice thereof refused at the Kings Request to give him his Hand because he had defiled a Daughter of God as he termed her Edgar hereby made sensible of his Sin with Sorrow confessed it and Dunstan now Arch-bishop of Canterbury enjoyned him seven years Penance for the same Monks endeavour to inforcea mock-Parallel betwixt David and Edgar Nathan and Dunstan herein Sure I am on David's profession of his Repentance Nathan presently pronounced Pardon b 2 Sam. 12. 13 the Lord also hath put away thy Sin thou shalt not die consigning him to be punished by God the Principall using an Undutifull Son Treacherous Servants and Rebellious Subjects to be the Instruments thereof but imposing no voluntary Penance that David should by Will-worship undertake on himself All that I will adde is this If Dunstan did septennary Penance to expiate every mortall Sin to use their own Termes he committed he must have been a Methusalah extremely aged before the day of his Death 27. More commendable was Dunstan's Carriage towards an English Count 12 who lived incestuously with his own Kinswoman 969 Dunstan admonished him once And carriage towards an incestuous Count. twice thrice nothing prevailed whereupon he proceeded to Excommunicate him The Count slighted his Excommunication conceiving his Head too high for Church-Censures to reach it King Edgar falsly informed desires Dunstan to absolve him and is denied Yea the Pope sends to him to the same Purpose and Dunstan persists in his c Osbern in vita Dunstani Refusall At last the Count conquered with Dunstan's Constancy and the sense of his own Sin came into a Nationall Council at Canterbury where Dunstan sate President active therein to substitute Monks in the places of Secular Priests on his bare Feet with a Bundle of Rods tendering himself to Dunstan's Chastisement This wrought on Dunstan's mild Nature scarce refraining from Teares who presently absolved him 28. Three things herein are remarkable Observations thereon First that Bribes in the Court of Rome may purchase a Malefactor to be innocent Secondly that the Pope himself is not so infallible but that his Key may misse the Lock and he be mistaken in matter of Absolution Thirdly that men ought not so with blind Obedience to obey his pretended Holinesse but that if with Dunstan here they see just Cause to the contrary it is no Mortall Sin to disobey his Commands 29. The Apprentiship of Edgar's Penance long since expired Edgar's Canons why by us here related he flourished in all Monarchicall Lustre sole Founder of many Co-founder of more Benefactor to most Abbeys in England Anno Dom. 969 And as he gave new Cases to most Monasteries repairing their outward Buildings so he gave new Linings to all Anno Regis Edgari 12 substituting Monks in stead of the Secular Priests whom he expelled Many Ecclesiasticall Canons were by him ordained which at large are presented in S t. Henry Spelman and which I have neither List nor Leisure to recount in this my History Our Women have a Proverb It is a sad Burden to carry a dead mans Child and surely an Historian hath no heart to take much Pains which herein are Pains indeed to exemplify dead Canons dead and buried long since as most relating to Monkery this Age wherein we live being little fond of Antiquity to know those things which were antiquated so many yeares since 30. Now though the Devotion of King Edgar may be condemned to be byassed to Superstition Edgar a most triumphant King yet because the Sincerity of his Heart sought to advance Gods Honour according to the Light in those dark dayes he appears one of the most puissant Princes that ever England enjoyed both in Church and Common-wealth I have read in a most fair and authentick guilded a Extant in the precious Library of S r. Tho. Cotton Manuscript wherein he stileth himself Gods Vicar in England for the ordering Ecclesiasticall matters a Title which at this day the Pope will hardly vouchsafe to any
Provisions from a Far Country let them be paid in due Coin not Silver but Steel Secondly unprofitable If once the Danes got but the Trick to make the English bleed Money to buy Peace they would never leave them till they had sucked out their Heart-bloud and exhausted the whole Treasure of the Land 51. Indeed one may safely affirm Multitudes of Monasteries caused the Danish invasion that the multitude of Monasteries invited the Invasion and facilitated the Conquest of the Danes over England and that in a double respect First because not onely the Fruit of the Kings Exchequer I mean ready Money was spent by this King his Predecessours on sounding of Monasteries but also the Root thereof his Demeasne lands pluckt up parted with to endow the same whereby the Sinews of War were wanting to make effectuall Opposition against Forrein Enemies Secondly because England had at this time more Flesh or Fat then Bones wherein the Strength of a Body consists moe Monks then Military men For instance Holy-Island near Northumberland is sufficiently known for the Position thereof an advantageous Landing-place especially in relation to Denmark This place was presently forsaken of the fearfull Monks 15 frighted with the Danes their Approach 994 and Aldhunus the Bishop thereof removed his Cathedral and Convent to Durham an Inland place of more Safety Now had there been a Castle in the place of this Monastery to secure the same with Fighters instead of Feeders men of Armes instead of men of Bellies therein probably they might have stopped the Danish Invasion at the first Inlet thereof England then as much wanting martiall men as a Viz. in the wars between York and Lancaster The cruelty of the returning Danes since it hath surfeited with too many of them 52. The Danes 16 having received and spent their Money 995 invaded England afresh according to all wise mens expectation It is as easie for armed Might to pick a Quarrel as it is hard for naked Innocence to make Resistance The Deluge of their Cruelty over-ran the Realm whose Sword made no more difference betwixt the Ages Sexes and Conditions of people then the Fire which they cast on Houses made distinction in the Timber thereof whether it was Elme Oake or Ash the Fiercenesse of the one killing the Fury of the other consuming all it met with Indeed in some small Skirmishes the English got the better but all to no purpose There is a place in Hartfordshire called Danes-end where the Inhabitants by Tradition report uncertain of the exact Date thereof that a fatal blow in a Battel was given to the Danes thereabouts But alas this Danes-end was but Danes-beginning they quickly recovered themselves as many and mighty in the Field and it seemed an endlesse end to endeavour their utter Extirpation Thus this Century sets with little Mirth and the next is likely to arise with more Mourning THE ELEVENTH CENTURY Anno Dom. BALDWINO HAMEY Anno Regis Ethelredi Medicinae Doctori literatissimo Mecoenati suo dignissimo COnqueruntur nostrates novissimo hoc Decennio novam rerum faciem indui nec mutata solum sed inversa esse omnia Hujus indicia plurima proferunt tristia sane ac dolenda Dominos nimirum Servis postpositos dum alii è Servis Domini repente prodierint At ad Metamorphosin hanc probandam argumentum suppetit mihi ipsi laetum memoratu jucundum Solent enim aegroti si quando Medicum adeant manus afferre plenas referre vacuas At ipse è contra Te saepe accessi aeger inops decessi integer bene nummatus Quoties enim opus hoc nostrum radicitus exaruisset si non imbre munificentiae tuae fuisset irrigatum THis Century began as Children generally are born with crying Murther of the Danes in a Church partly for a Massacre made by the English on the Danes but chiefly for the Cruelty committed by the Danes on the English 1002 Concerning the former 25 certain Danes fled into a Church at Oxford hoping the Sanctity thereof according to the devout Principles of that Age would secure them and probably such Pitty might have inclined them to Christianity Whereas by command from K. Ethelred they were a Hen. Hunt Matth. West Conterbury sacked Alphage killed by the Danes all burned in the place Anno Regis Ethelredi 34 whose Bloud remained not long unrevenged Anno Dom. 1011 The Danish Fury fell if not first fiercest on the City of Canterbury with Fire and Sword destroying eight thousand people therein and which Authours who quadruple that number surely take in not onely the Vicenage but all Kent to make up their account Ealphegus the Archbishop of Canterbury commonly called Alphage was then slain and since Sainted a Church nigh Creeple-gate in London being consecrated to his Memory 2. b Thorn in hiâ— description of Canterb. A Monk of Canterbury reports Believe what you list that the Abbey of S t. Augustine was saved on this occasion A Danish Souldier stealing the Pall from the Tombe of S t. Augustine it stuck so close under his Arme-pits that it could not be parted from his Skin untill he had publickly made confession of his Fault Vltio Raptorem rapuit faith the Authour And hereupon the Danes of Invaders turned Defenders of that Monastery But c See Will. Somner in his Antiqu. of Canterb. pag. 56. others conceive if it found extraordinary favour their Money not this Miracle procured it Sure I am when Achan stole the Babylonish Garment he was left at large to discovery by d Ioshrea 7. 18 More cruelty Lot and no Miracle detected him Next year a namelesse Bishop of London was sacrificed to their Fury 35 used worse then the Task-Masters of Israel 1012 on whose Back the number of Bricks wanting were e Exod. 5. 14. onely scored in Blows being killed out-right for want of present pay of the f Hen. Hunt Rog. Hoved. The valour of Cambridgeâ—hire-men Tribute promised unto them 3. Cambridge and Oxford both of them deeply tasted of this bitter Cup at the same time True it is some two years since when the rest of the East-Angles cowardly fled away homines Comitatus Cantabrigiae g Chronicon 10. Bromton pag. 887. viriliter obstiterunt unde Anglis regnantibus laus Cantabrigiensis Provinciae splendide florebat Hence it is that I have read though unable at the instant to produce my Authour that Cambridgeshire-men claim an ancient now antiquated Priviledge Edmu. cognom Ironside 1 to lead the Van in all Battels But Valour at last little befriended them the Danes burning Cambridge to Ashes and harassing the Country round about 4. Here let State-Historians inform the Reader of intestine Warres betwixt Edmund Ironside so called for his hardy enduring all Troubles King of England 1016 Defendour Two English Kings at once and Canutus the Dane Invader of
this Land till at last after a personall Duel fought the Land was equally divided betwixt them A division wherewith both seemed neither were well pleased seeing the least whole head cannot be fitted with the biggest half Crown all or none was their desire Edm. Iron side teacherously slain Canutus at last with his Silver Hand was too hard for the other his Iron Side who by his promised Bribes prevailed with one Edrick to kill this his Corrivall which being performed he was fairely advanced with a h Others say he was beheaded Canutus his cruelty Halter It would spoil the Trade of all Traytours Canuti 1 if such Coyn onely were currant in paying their Rewards 5. Canutus or Knot the Dane from whom a Bird in Lincolnshire is so called 1017 wherewith his Palate i Draitons Poly-olbion pag. 112. was much pleased bathed himself in English Bloud whom at this distance of time we may safely term a Tyrant so many Murthers and Massacres were by him committed For his Religion as yet he was a Mungrel betwixt a Pagan and a Christian though at last the later prevailed especially after his Pilgrimage to Rome In his passage thither 14 he went through France 1031 where understanding that the people paid deep Taxes Converted into charity he disburst so much of his own money in their behalf that he brought their k Rodulph de Diceto column 468. Taxes to be abated to one l Iohannes Bromton in leg Canuti column 912. He goeth to Rome half An Act of Pitty in a Prince without Precedent done to Forrainers It is vain for the English to wish the like Curtesy from the King of France partly because England lies not in their way to Rome partly because they are fuller of Complements then Curtesie 6. Coming to Rome 16 Canutus turned Convert 1033 changing his Condition with the Climate shewing there many expressions of Devotion Much he gave to the Pope and something he gained from him namely an Immunity for Archbishops Returneth improved in devotion from their excessive Charges about their Pall and some other Favours he obtained for his Subjects After his return into his own Country he laid out all the remainder of his dayes in Acts of Charitie in founding or enriching of religious Houses Anno Dom. and two especially Anno Canuâ—i Saint Bennets in the Holm in Norfolk and Hyde Abbey near VVinchester 7. To this latter he gave a Crosse so costly for the Metall The paramount Crosse of England for richness and curious for the Making 1035 that one yeares a Camdens Briton in Hantshire revenues of his Crown was expended on the same 18 But the Crosse of this Crosse was that about the Reign of King Henry the sixth it was b Idem ibidem King Canutus his Humility burnt down with the whole Monastery in a Fire which was very suspicious to have been kindled by intentionall Malice This Canutus towards the latter end of his Reign never wore a Crown resigning up the same to the Image of our Saviour he was also famous for a particular act of Humility done by him on this occasion 8. A Parasite and sooner will an hot May want Flies Commands the Sea then a Kings Court such Flatterers sought to puffe up King Canutus with an opinion of his Puissance as if because England and Norway therefore Aeolus and Neptune must obey him In confuting of whose falsehood Canutus commanded his Chair of State to be set on the Sea-shore nigh South-Hampton and settled himself thereon Then he c Hen. Huntington in vita Canuti But in vain imperiously commanded the Waves as a Fence which walled that Land belonging unto him to observe their due Distance not presuming to approach him The surly Waves were so far from obeying they heard him not who listned onely to the Proclamation of a higher Monarch d Iob 38. 11 Hither shalt thou come and no further and made bold to give the Kings Feet so course a Kisse as wetted him up to the Knees 9. On this accident King Canutus made an excellent Sermon His Sermon thereon First adoring the infinite Power of God sole Commander of the Winds and Waves Secondly confessing the frailty of all Flesh unable to stop the least Drop of the Sea Thirdly confuting the Profanenesse of Flatterers fixing an infinite Power in a finite Creature As for the Laws made by King Canutus His Laws why omitted we have purposely omitted them not so much because many large and ordinarily extant but chiefly because most of Civil Concernment Haroldi Harefoot 1 10. Two of his Sons succeeded him Harold Harefoot succeeded him more known by their handsome Sur-names 1036 then any other Desert First his base Son taking advantage of his Brothers absence called from his Swiftnesse Hardy Canuti 1 Harold Harefoot belike another e 2 Sam. 2. 18 Then Hardy Canutus Asahel in Nimblenesse but Hares-heart had better befitted his Nature 1040 so cowardly his disposition Then his legitimate Sonne called Hardy Canute more truely bloudy Canute eminent for his Cruelty With him expired the Danish Royall Line in England leaving no Issue behind him and opening an Opportunity for the banished Sonne of King Ethelred to recover the Crown whose ensuing Reign is richly worth our description Mean time it is worth our observing in how few yeares the Danish Greatnesse shrank to nothing and from formidable became inconsiderable yea contemptible Indeed Canutus was one of extraordinary Worth and the Wheel once moved will for a time turn of it self Had Harold his Son by what way it skilled not been one of a tolerable disposition he might have traded in Reputation on the Stock of his Fathers Memory But being so very mean considerable onely in Cruelty his Fathers Worth did him the Disadvantage to render his Vnworthynesse the more conspicuous Besides when Hardy Canute his Brother succeeded him and though better born shewed himself no better bred in his inhumane Carriage it caused not onely a Neuseation in the people of England of Danish Kings but also an appetite yet a longing after their true and due Soveraign 11. Edward the Confessour Anno Regis Edvardi confessoris 1 youngest Son of King Etherlred Anno Dom. 1042 his elder Brethren being slain Edward the Confessour becomes King of England and their Children fled away came to be King of England I understand not the Ceremony which I read was used to this Edward whilest as yet saith a Monkish a Father Hierome Porter in the flowers of the lives of the Saints pag. 2. Authour properly enough in his own Language he was contained in the weak Cloisters of his Mothers VVomb at which time the Peers of the Land sware Allegiance unto him or her the Sex as yet being unknown before he was born Indeed I find that Varanes his Child was crowned King whilest yet in his
command all to abstain from meats This were the way to empty the world of men as the simple forbidding of marriage would fill it with bastards And although some silly Hereticks as Tatian Marcion and Manichens are said absolutely to forbid marriage yet they never mounted high nor spread broad nor lasted long Surely some more considerable mark is the aim of the Apostles reproof even the Church of Rome who by an oblique line and consequentially prohibit marriage to the Priests a most considerable proportion of men within the pale of the Church 16. Notwithstanding the premisses Marriage Bed may be â—orborn for a time not totally forbidden it is fit that the embraces of marriage should on some occasion for a time be forborn for the advance of Piety first when private dalliance is to yield to publick dolefulness b Joel 2. 11. Let the Bridegroom go out of his chamber and the Bride out of her closet For though by the Levitical Law one might not be forced to fight in the first year of his marriage yet might he on just occasion be pressed to fast on the first day thereof It is not said Let the Bridegroom go out of his Bridegroom-ship but onely out of his Chamber and that also with intention to return when the solemnity of sorrow is over-past Secondly when such absence is bewixt them mutually agreed on c 1 Cor. 7. Desraud ye not one another except it be with consent for a time that ye may give your selves to fasting and prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency Here indeed is an Interdiction of the marriage Bed but it is Voluntary by mutual consent of the parties and Temporary onely durante eorum beneplacito not as the Popish Prohibition Impulsive by the power of others and perpetual to continue during their lives 17. Hear what Henry of Huntington expresly saith of Anselmes carriage herein H. Huntington his Censure of Anselme He prohibited English Priests to have wives who before time were not prohibited which as some thought to be a matter of greatest purity so others again took it to be most perilous lest while by this means they aimed at cleanliness above their power Anno Regis Hen. 19. they should fall into horrible uncleanness Anno Dom. 1108 to the exceeding great shame of Christianity 18. But Anselme died before he could finish his project of Priests Divorces who had he deceased before he began it Anselme dieth re infecta of Priests Divor his memory had been left less stain'd to Posterity His two next Successors Rodulphus and William Corbel went on vigorously with the Design but met with many and great Obstructions Other Bishops found the like opposition but chiefly the Bishop of Norwich whose obstinate Clergie would keep their Wives in defiance of his endeavours against them 19. Indeed Norfolk-men are charactred in jure municipali versatissimi The sloutness of Norwich Clergy and are not easily ejected out of that whereof they had long prescription and present possession No wonder therefore if they stickled for their Wives and would not let go a moytie of themselves Besides Herbet Losing of Norwich needed not to be so fierce and furious against them if remembring his own extraction being the Son of an Abbot These married Priests traversed their cause with Scripture and Reason and desired but Justice to be done unto them But Justice made more use of her sword then of her Ballance in this case not weighing their Arguments but peremptorily and powerfully enjoyning them to forgo their Wives notwithstanding that there were in England at this time many married Priests signal for Sanctity and Abilities 20. Amongst the many eminent married Priests Learned married Ealphegus flourishing for Learning and Piety 26. one Ealphegus was now living 1125. or but newly dead His Residence was at Plymouth in Devonshire a Brit. in Devon M r Cambden saith he was eruditus conjugatus but the Word conjugatus is by the b Printed Anno 1612. pag. 3. 383. Index Expurgatorius commanded to be deleted 21. To order the Refractory married Clergie A Virgin Lecher unmasked the Bishops were fain to call in the aid of the Pope John de Crema an Italian Cardinal jolly with his youthfull Bloud and Gallant Equipage came over into England with his Bigness and Bravery to Bluster the Clergie out of their wives He made a most Gawdy Oration in the Commendation of Virginity as one who in his Own Person knew well how to valew such a Jewel by the loss thereof Most true it is that the same night at London he was caught a Bed with an c Roger Hoveden and Han. Huntington Harlot whereat he may be presumed to blush as red as his Cardinals Hat if any remorse of Conscience remained in him What saith d Judg. 5. 6. Deborach In the dayes of Shamgar when the high-wayes were unimployed obstructed by the Philistims travellers walked thorow by-paths The stopping the Way of marriage Gods Ordinances make them frequent such base by-paths that my Pen is both afraid and asham'd to follow them Cardinal Crema his mischance or rather misdeed not a little advantaged the Reputation of married Priests 22. Bishops Arch-Bishops Priests buy their own Wives and Cardinal 27. all of them almost tired out with the stubbornness of the Recusant Clergie 1126. the King at last took his turn to reduce them William Corbel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury willingly resigned the work into the Kings hand hoping he would use some Exemplary severity against them but all ended in a money matter the King taking a Fine of married Priests permitted them to enjoy their Wives as well they might who bought that which was their own before 23. About this time the old Abby of Ely was advanced into a new Bishoprick ely-Ely-Abbey made a Bishoprick and Cambridg-shire assigned for its Diocess taken from the Bishoprick of Lincoln Out of which Henry the first carved one Ely and Henry the last two Oxford and Peterborough Bishopricks and yet left Lincoln the largest Diocess in England Spaldwick Manor in Huntington-shire was given to Lincoln in Reparation of the Jurisdiction taken from it and bestowed on Ely 24. One Herveyus was made first Bishop of Ely And inriched with Royalties One who had been undone if not undone banished by the Tumultuous welsh from the Beggerly Bishoprick of Bangor and now in Pitty to his Poverty and Patience made the rich Bishop of Ely It is given to Parents to be most fond of and indulgent to their youngest which some perchance may render as a Reason why this Bishoprick as last born Anno Regis Hen. 127. was best beloved by the King Surely he bestowed upon it vast priviledges and his Successors cockering this See for their Darling conferred some of their own Royalties thereon 25. Bernard Chaplain to the King and Chancellor to the Queen
wearisome Though a Royall Guest with often coming his Royalty made not his Guestship the more accepted but the notion of a Guest rendred his Royalty the lesse to be esteemed Indeed his visits of Abbeys at first did wear the countenance of Devotion on which account this King was very eminent but afterwards they appeared in their own likeness the dimmest eye seeing them to proceed from pure Necessity 37. Soon after began the Civill Warrs in England No part of Church-work with various success sometimes the King and sometimes the Barons getting the better till at last an indifferent Peace was concluded for their mutuall good as in the Historians of the Common-wealth doth plentifully appear 38. The later part of the reigne of King Henry was not onely eminent in it self Bettered by affliction but might be exemplary to others He reformed first his own naturall errours then the disorders in his Court the Expence whereof he measured by the just rule of his proper Revenue The rigour and corruption of his Iudges he examined and redressed by strict commission filled the seats of Iudgement and Counsell with men nobly born sate himself daily in Counsell and disposed affairs of most weight in his own person 39. And now the Charta Magna was very strictly observed Charta Magna first fully practised being made in the ninth year of this Kings reign but the practice thereof much interrupted and disturbed with Civill Wars it is beheld by all judicious men as like the aurea Bulla or golden Bull of Germany the life of English Liberty rescued by the bloud and valour of our Auncestours from Tyrannicall incroachment giving the due bounds to Prerogative and Propriety that neither should mutually intrench on the others lawfull Priviledges And although some high Royallists look on it as the product of Subjects animosities improving themselves on their Princes extremities yet most certain it is those Kings flourished the most both at home and abroad who tyed themselves most conscientiously to the observation thereof 40. Two Colledges in Oxford were founded in the Reign of this King Bailiol Colledge built by a banisht Prince One Bailiol Colledge 46 by Iohn Bailiol and Dervorguill his Lady of Bernads Castle in the Bishoprick of Durham 1262 banisht into England and Father of Bailiol King of Scotland Wonder not that an Exile should build a Colledge Charity being oftentimes most active in the afflicted willingly giving to others a little of that little they have witness the Macedonians whose deep a 2 Cor. 8. 2. poverty abounded to the riches of their Liberality 41. True it is Great revenues for that Age. the ancient revenues of this Colledge were not great allowing but b Roger Walden in his History eight pence a week for every Scholar therein of his Foundation whereas Merion Colledge had twelve pence and yet as c Bri. Twine antiq Acad. Ox. in Appendice Endowed with more land then now it possesseth one casteth up their ancient revenues amounted unto ninety nine pounds seventeen shillings ten pence which in that Age I will assure you was a considerable Summe enough to make us suspect that at this day they enjoy not all the Originall lands of their foundation 42. Indeed I am informed that the aforesaid King Bailiol bestowed a large proportion of Land in Scotland on this his Fathers Foundation The Master and Fellows whereof petitioned King Iames when the Marches of two Kingdomes were newly made the middle of one Monarchy for the restitution of those Lands detained from them in the Civil Warres betwixt the two Crowns The King though an affectionate lover of Learning would not have his Bounty injurious to any save sometimes to himself and considering those Lands they desired were long peaceably possessed with divers Owners gave them notice to surcease their Suit Thus not King Iames but the infeacibility of the thing they petitioned for to be done with justice gave the denyall to their Petition 43. Being to present the Reader with the Catalogues of this The Authours request to the learned in Oxford and other worthy Foundations in Oxford I am sorry that I can onely build bare Walls erect empty Columns and not fill them with any furniture which the ingenuous Reader I trust will pardon when he considers first that I am no Oxford-man secondly that Oxford is not that Oxford wherewith ten years since I was acquainted Wherefore I humbly request the Antiquaries of their respective Foundations best skill'd in their own worthy Natives to insert their own observations which if they would return unto me against the next Edition of this work if I live it be thought worthy thereof God shall have the Glory they the publick thanks and the world the benefit of their contribution to my endeavours 44. The Catalogue of Masters we have taken with an implicite faith Four necessary things premised out of M r. Brian Twine who may be presumed knowing in that subject untill the year 1608. where his work doth determine Since which time we have supplyed them as well as we may though too often at a losse for their Christian names If M r. Twine his Register be imperfect yet he writes right who writes wrong if following his Copy 45. The List of Bishops hath been collected out of Francis Godwine Bishop of Hereford Whence the Bishops are collected whose judicious paines are so beneficiall to the English Church Yet Godwinus non vidit omnia and many no doubt have been omitted by him 46. As for the Roll of Benefactours Whence the Benefactours I who hope to have made the other Catalogues true hope I have made this not true upon desire and confidence that they have more then I have or can reckon up though following herein I. Scot his printed Tables Anno Dom. 1262 and the last Edition of Iohn Speed his Chronicle Anno Regis Henrici 3. 46 47. The column of learned Writers I have endeavoured to extract out of Bale and Pitts Whence the learned writers Whereof the later being a member of this University was no lesse diligent then able to advance the Honour thereof 48. Let none suspect that I will enrich my Mother No wilfull wrong done by rebbing my Aunt For besides that Cambridge is so conscientious she will not be accessary to my Felony by receiving stollen goods Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine habetur A Trojan whether he Or a Tyrian be All is the same to me It matters not whether of Cambridge or Oxford so God hath the Glory the Church and State the Benefit of their learned endeavours 49. However Adde and mend I am sensible of many defects and know that they may be supplied by the endeavours of others Every man knows his own land better then either Ortelius or Mercator though making the Maps of the whole world And the members of respective Colledges must be more accurate in the
a By-Foundation of Postmasters in this House a kinde of Colledg in the Colledg and this Tradition goeth of their Original Anciently there was over against Merton Colledg a small un-endowed Hall whose Scholars had so run in arrears that their opposite neighbours out of charity took them into their Colledg then but nine in number to wait on the Fellows But since they are freed from any attendance and endowed with plentiful maintenance M r Willet being the first Benefactor unto them in that nature whose good example hath provoked many to follow his liberality These most justly conceive themselves much honoured in that Bishop Jewel was a postmaster before removed hence to be Fellow of Corpus Christs Colledg We take our farewell of this House when we have told it consisted lately viz. 1635. of one Warden twenty one Fellows fourteen a The same I conceive with the Postmasters Scholars besides Officers and Servants of the foundation with other Students the whole number being eighty 9. Come we now to the Kings retrenching the Popes power The Church ready to eat up the Common-wealth grown so exorbitant in England A principall part whereof consisted in the multitude of Monasteries daylie increasing in wealth and all at the Popes absolute devotion If posterity had continued at this rate to build and endow Religious Houses all England would in short time have turned one entire and continued Monastery and the inhabitants thereof become either Friers or Founders Where then should be any Souldiers to fight the Kings battels Seamen to steer his ships Husbandmen to plough the Kings land or rather any land of his to be ploughed by husbandmen 10. Besides The mischief of Mortmain to the Crown though these Friers had a living-hand to take and receive from any they had Mortmaine a dead-hand to restore and return any profit to the King again Yea such alienation of lands in Mortmaine setled on Monasteries which as Corporations neither married nor died afforded neither Wards Marriages Reliefs nor Knights-service for the defence of the Realm in a word enriched their private coffers impoverished the publick Exchequer It was not therefore such a dead band which could feed so many living mouthes as the King for his state and safety must maintain Wherefore for the future he restrain'd such unlimited Donatives to Religious Houses 11. Ignorance makes many men mistake meer transcripts for Originals This Law not new but renewed So here the short-fighted vulgar sort beheld the Kings Act herein as new strange and unprecedented whereas indeed former times and forein Princes had done the like on the same occasion First we finde some countenance for it in a Exod 36. 6. Scripture when Moses by proclamation bounded the overflowing bounty of the people to the Tabernacle And in the Primitive times Theodosius the Emperor although most loving and favourable to the Clergie made a Law of A Mortisation or Mortmain to moderate peoples bounty to the Church Yet a great Father Jerome by name much disliked this Act as appears by his complaint to Nepotian of that Law I am ashamed to say it the Priests of Idols Stage-players Coach-men and common Harlots are made capable of inheritance and receive Legacies only Ministers of the Gospel and Monkes are barred by Law thus to do and that not by Persecutors but by Christian Princes But that passionate Father comes off well at last neither do I complain of the Law but I am sorry we have deserved to have such a Law made against us 12. b In his 31. Epist S t Ambrose likewise expresseth much anger on the same occasion out of his general zeal for the Churches good Ambrose angry with Mortmaine But had the aforesaid Fathers men rather pious then politick good Church-men no States-men seen the Monasteries swollen in revenues from an inch in their dayes to an ell by peoples fondness yea dotage on the four sorts of Friers in King Edwards Reign they would no doubt instead of reproving have commended his and the neighbouring Kings care for their Common-wealths 13. For the like laws for limiting mens liberality The Statute of Mortmaine were lately made in Spain and France and now at last followed by King Edward according to the tenour ensuing WHere of late it was provided Anno Dom. 1279. that religious men should not enter into the fees of any without licence and will of the chief Lords of whom such fees be holden immediately Anno Regis Ed. 〈◊〉 7. Nov. 4. And notwithstanding such religious men have entered as well into their own sees as in the fees of other men approprying and buying them and sometime receiving them of the gift of others whereby the services that are due of such fees and which at the beginginning were provided for defence of the Realme are wrongfully without own and the chief Lords do leese their Escheats of the same we therefore to the profit of our Realm intending to provide convenient remedy by the advice of our Prelates Earls Barons and other our subjects being of our Councel have provided made and ordained That no person Religious or other whatsoever he be that will buy or sell any Lands or Tenements or under the colour of Gift or Lease or that will receive by reason of any other title whatsoever it be Lands or Tenements or by any other Craft or Engine will presume to appropriat to himself under pain of forfeiture of the same whereby such Lands or Tenements may any wise come into Mortmaine We have provided also That if any person religious or other do presume either by Craft or Engine to offend against this Statute it shall be lawful to us and other chief Lords of the Fee immediately to enter in the land so aliened within a year from the time of their alienation and to hold it in fee and as Inheritance And if the chief Lord immediately be negligent and will not enter into such Fee within the year then it shall be lawful to the next chief Lord immediate of the same Fee to enter in the said land within half a year next following and to hold it as before is said and so every Lord immediate may enter into such Land if the next Lord be negligent in entering into the same Fee as is aforesaid And if all the chief Lords of such Fees being of full age within the four Seas and out of prison be negligent or slack in this behalf we immediately after the year accomplished from the time that such purchases Gifts or Appropriations hap to be made shall take such tenements into our hand and shall enfeoffe others therein by certain Services to be done to Us for the defence of our Realm saving to the chief Lords of the same Fees their Wardes and Escheats and other Services thereunto due and accustomed And therefore we command you that ye cause the foresaid Statute to be read before you and from henceforth to be kept firmly and observed
of the Duke de Alva drove over more Dutch into England But enough of this subject which let none condemn for a deviation from Church-history First because it would not grieve one to goe a little out of the way if the way be good as this digression is for the credit and profit of our Country Secondly it reductively belongeth to the Church-History seeing many poore people both young and old formerly charging the parishes as appeared by the accounts of the Church Officers were hereby enabled to maintain themselves 14. The extortion of the Pope being now somewhat abaâ—ed in England The Popes Italian Usurers turn Merchants the Caursines or Lumbards formerly the money Merchants of his Holinesse and the grand Vsurers of England did not drive so full a Trade as before Wereupon they betake themselves to other Merchandize and began to store England with forraign commodities but at unreasonable rates whilst England it self had as yet but little and bad shipping and those lesse imployed 15. But now King Edward But at last are prohibited by the King to prevent the ingrossing of Trade into the hand of Forreigners and to restore the same to his native Subjects took order that these Aliens should no longer prey on the Radical moisture of his Land but began to cherish Navigation in his own Subjects and gave a check to such Commodities which Forreiners did import as in ancient Poems is largely described whereof so much as concerneth our purpose He made a Statute for Lombards in this Land Liber de custodia Maris extant in Hacluits voyages book 1. p. 191 That they should in no wise take on hand Here to inhabit here to charge and dsscharge But forty dayes no more time had they large This good King by wit of such appreise Kept his Merchants and the sea from mischiefe But this was a work of time to perform and took not full effect to the end of this Kings reign yea the Lombards were not totally routed till the reign of King Richard the third 16. About this time the Clergie were very bountifull in contributing to the Kings necessities A survey made of the Cleargies Glebeland in proportion to their Benefices Hereupon a survey was exactly taken of all their Glebeland and the same fairly ingrossed in parchment was returned into the Exchequer where it remaineth at this day and is the most usefull Record for Clergie men and also for Impropriators as under their claim to recover their right Many a stragling Acre wandring out of the way had long since by Sacrilegious Guides been seduced into the possession of false owners had not this Record directed them at last to their true proprietary 17. The worst is Partly useless by ill engrossing whilst some Diocesses in this Terreer were exactly done and remain fairly legible at this day others were so slightly slubbered over that though kept with equall carefulnesse they are useless in effect as not to be read Thus I was informed from a Clerk in that Office * Walt. Hillary lately desceased who when Living was older and as able as any therein And thus Manuscripts like those men who wrote them though starting with their equals hold not all out to the same length their humidum radicale their inke I mean not lasting alike in all Originals 18. It was now generally complained of as a grand grievance Clergie-men engrosse all offices that the Clergie engrossed all places of Judicature in the Land Nothing was left to Lay-men but either military commands as General Admiral c. or such Judges places as concerned only the very letter of the Common Law and those also scarcely reserved to the Students thereof As for Embassies into forraine parts Noblemen were imployed therein when expence not experience was required thereunto and Ceremony the substance of the service otherwise when any difficulty in civil-law then Clergy-men were ever entertained The Lord Chacellor was ever a Bishop as if against Equity to imploy any other therein yea that Court generally appeared as a Synod of Divines where the Clerks were Clerks as generally in Orders The same was also true of the Lord Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer 19. Some imputed this to the pragmaticalnesse of the Clergie Severall opinions of the causes thereof active to insinuate themselves into all employment how improper soever to their profession Others ascribed it to the Kings necessitie The war engrossing the maine of his men of merit so that he was necessitated to make use of Clergie-men Others attributed it to the Kings election no way weak in head or hand plotting or performing finding such the fittest to serve him who being single persons and having no design to raise a family were as knowing as any in the Mysteries of money * Matters of weight and safest to be entrusted therein * The founding of Q. Col. in Oxford by R. Englesfield But more hereof hereafter 20. Robert Eglesfield Batchelour of Divinity Chaplain to Queen Philippa wife to King Edward the third Anno Dom. 1340. founded a Colledge on his own ground Anno Regis Ed. tertii 15. by the name of Queens Colledge commending the Patronage thereof to his Lady the Queen and to the Queens of England successively which he endowed with Lands and Revenewes for the maintenance of a Provost and twelve Fellows which were to be augmented as the Revenews increased 21. Now though this was called Queens A paire of Princes bred therein from their Honorarie Patronesses a Rossus war wicensis Mâ—â—in Henricâ— quinto it may be stiled Princes Colledge from those paire of Students therein Edward the black Prince who presently after this foundation had his Education therein and Henry the fift as yet Prince of Wales under Henry Beaufort Chancelor of this University and his Uncle his Chamber was over the Colledge gate where his picture at this day remaineth in brass with this inscription under it In perpetuam rei memoriam Imperator Britanniae Triumphator Galliae Hostium Victor sui Henricus quintus hujus Collegii Et cubiculi minuti satis Olim magnus Incola which lodging hath for this sixteen years belonged to my worthy friend Mr. Thomas Barlow that most able and judicious Philosopher and Divine being a Library in himself and keeper of another that of Sir Tho. Bodlyes erection out of which he hath courteously communicated to me some rarities of this University 22. Now according to the care and desire of the founder Queens nursing Mothers to this Colledge The Queens of England have ever been Nursing Mothers to this Foundation O what advantage they have when lying in the bosoms of their Royall Consorts by whom they cannot be denyed what is equall and of whom they will not desire what is otherwise Thus Queen Philippa obtained of her Husband King Edward the third the Hospital of St. Julians in Southampton commonly called Gods House Queen Elizabeth wife to King
a Godwin Catal of Bps. in S. Davids Treasurer of England In whom the King much confided though T. Walsingham be pleased to dash his Memory that he was the cause of much mischief His Sir-Name speaks him English by extraction and he was of no remarkable activity He might be English or Welch by his Name but I believe the latter A man of merit sent by the King into Germany to give satisfaction of King Henries proceedings Second of that Christian and Sirname Bishop of that See a Welchman no doubt he was sent saith T. Walsangham to Spain to give account of the Kings proceedings Very loyal at the present but after his return home he sided with Owen Glendowre But though the English at this time were so severe against the Welch King Henry the seventh born in the bowels of Wales at Pembroke and assisted in the gaining of the Crown by the valour of his Country-men some years after plucked down this partition-wall of difference betwixt them admitting the Welch to English Honours and Offices as good reason equality of merits should be rewarded with equality of advancement 14. Sir John Tiptoff made afterwards Earl of Worcester put up a Petition to the Parliament The Petition of the Lords and Commons to the King against Lollards touching Lollards which wrought so on the Lords that they joined a Petition to the King Anno Regis Hen. 4 14. according to the Tenour following To our most redoubted and gracious Soveraign the King YOur humble * * Contracted by my self exactly keeping the words out of the Original Son HENRY PRINCE OF WALES and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in this present Parliament humbly shew That the Church of England hath been and now is endowed with temporal possessions by the gifts and grants as well of your Royal Progenitours as by the Ancesters of the said Lords Temporal to maintain Divine Service keep Hospitality c. to the Honour of God and the souls health of your Progenitors and the said Lords Temporal Yet now of late some at the instigation of the Enemy against the foresaid Church and Prelates have as well in publick Sermons as in Conventicles and secret places called Schools stirred and moved the people of your Kingdom to take away the said temporal Possessions from the said Prelates with which they are as rightly endowed as it hath been or might be best advised or imagined by the Laws and Customes of your Kingdom and of which they are as surely possessed as the Lords Temporal are of their inheritances Wherefore in case that this evil purpose be not resisted by your Royal Majestie it is very likely that in process of time they will also excite the people of your Kingdom for to take away from the said Lords Temporal their possessions and heritages so to make them common to the open commotion of your people There be also others who publish and cause to be published evilly and falsly among the people of your Kingdom that Richard late King of England who is gone to God and on whose soul God thorow his Grace have mercy is still alive And some have writ and published divers false pretended prophecies to the people disturbing them who would to their power live peaceably Serve God and faithfully submit and obey you their Liege Lord. Wherefore may it please your Royal Majestie in maintenance of the honour of God conservation of the Laws of the holy Church as also in the preservation of the estate of You your Children Anno Regis Hen. quart 14. and the Lords aforesaid and for the quiet of all your Kingdom to ordain by a Stature in the present Parliament by the assent of the Lords aforesaid and the Commons of your Kingdom that in case any man or woman of what estate or condition they be preach publish or maintain hold use or exercise any Schools if any Sect or Doctrine hereafter against the Catholick faith either preach publish maintain or write a schedule whereby the people may be moved to take away the Temporal Possessions of the aforesaid Prelates or preach and publish that Richard late King who is dead should still be in full life or that the Fool in Scotland is that King Richard who is dead or that publish or write any pretended Prophesies to the commotion of your people That they and every of them be taken and put in Prison without being delivered in Bail or otherwise except by good and sufficient mainprise to be taken before the Chancellour of England c. 15. See we here the Policy of the Clergie The Prince made a party against Wicklivites who had gained Prince Henry set as a Transcendent by himself in the Petition to their side entring his Youth against the poor Wicklivites and this Earnest engaged him to the greater Antipathy against them when possest of the Crown 16. Observe also the Subtilty of the Clergie in this medley Petition Complication or Royal and Prelatical interest interweaving their own interest with the Kings and endeavouring to possess him that all the Adversaries to their Superstitions were Enemies also and Traytors to his Majesty 17. Now as Conventicles were the Name of disgrace cast on Wicklivists their Schools Schools was the terme of Credit owned by the Wicklivists for the place of their meeting Whether because f Acts 19. 9. the School of Tyrannus wherein S t Paul disputed was conceived by them Senior in Scripture to any material Church Or that their teaching therein was not in intire discourses but admitted as in the Schools of interlocutory opposition on occasion 18. By Lollards all know the Wicklivites are meant Lollards why so called so called from h Trithemius in Chron. Anno 1315. Walter Lollardus one or their Teachers in Germany and not as the i Of S. Aug. Cont. M. S. Anno 1406. Monk alluded quasi lolia in ar â Domini flourishing many years before Wickliffe and much consenting with him in judgment As for the word Lollard retained in our Statutes since the Reformation it seems now as a generical name to signifie such who in their opinions oppose the setled Religion of the Land in which sense the modern Sheriffs are bound by their Oath to suppress them 19. The Parenthesis concerning King Richard Who is gone to God and on whose Soul God through his Grace have Mercy is according to the Doctrine of that Age. For they held all in Purgatory gone to God A charitable parenthesis because assured in due time of their happiness yet so that the suffrages of the Living were profitable for them Nor feared they to offend King Henry by their charitable presumption of the final happy estate of King Richard his professed Enemy knowing he cared not where King Richard was so be it not living and sitting on the English Throne 20. As for the report of King Richards being still alive King Richard why believed alive it is strange any
Vniversitas praedicta solvant teneantur folvere ipsi Domino nostro Regi Henrico haeredibus suis mille Libras legalis Monetae Angliae Concordat cum Originali GULIELMUS RYLEY Afterwards the King confirmed the same with the consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as in the Tower Rouls doth plainly appear 27. See we here the grand difference The effect of the Statute of Praemunire betwixt the Popes power in England before and after the Statute of Praemunire Before it his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was authentical and his Bulls received next to Canonical Scripture Since that Statute hath broken off their best Seals wherein they crosse the Royall Power and in all things else they enter into England mannerly with good King by your leave Sir or else they were no better then so much waste Parchment 28. This doth acquaint us with a perfect Character of King Henry the fourth Farwell to K. Henry the fourth who though curteous was not servial to the Pope And * Fourth book of his Instit of the Jurisd of Courts page 228. S r Edward Cook accounteth this his Oxford action though unwilling to transcribe the Instrument for the tediousness thereof a noble act of Kingly power in that Age and so we take our farwell of King Henry the fourth not observed as all English Kings before and after him to have erected and endowed any one intire house of Religion as first or sole Founder thereof though a great Benefactor to the Abby of Leicester and Colledg of Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire his Picture is not so well known by his Head as his Hood which he weareth upon it in an antick fashion peculiar to himself 29. At the Commons Petition to the King in Parliament Chaumberdakyns banished England that all Irish begging-Priests Hen. 5 1413 called * Rotuli in Turre in hoc anno The death of T. Arundel Chaumberdakyns should avoid the Realm before Michaelmas next 1. they were ordered to depart by the time aforesaid upon pain of loss of goods and imprisonment during the Kings pleasure 30. I had almost forgotten that just a moneth before the death of King Henry the Fourth Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishops of Canterbury expired famished to death not for want of food but a throat to swallow it such the swelling therein that he could neither speak nor eat for some dayes I may safely report what others observe how he who by his cruel Canons forbad the food to the soul and had pronounced sentence of condemnation on so many innocents was now both starv'd and strick dumb together Henry Chichely succeeded him in the place whose mean birth interrupted the Chain of Noble Arch-Bishop his two predecessors and successors being Earls sons by their extraction 31. The Prelates and Abbots especially The Clergie jealous of King Henries activity began now to have the activesoul of King Henry in suspition For working heads are not so willing to follow old wayes Hen. 5 1414. 2. as well-pleased to find out new ones Such a medling soul must ne sent out of harms-way If that the Clergie found not this King some work abroad he would make them new work at home Had his humor happend to side with the Lollards Anno Regis Hen. 2 8. Henry the fifth would have saved King Henry the Eight much pains in demolishing of Monasteries Anno Dom. 1414. 32. Hereupon the Clergie cunningly gave vent to his Activity Divert it on a war in France by divertting it on a long warre upon the French where his Victories are loundly sounded forth by our State Historians A warre of more credit then profit to England in this Kings Reigne draining the Men and Money thereof Thus Victorious Bayes bear onely barren Berries no whit good for food and very little for Physick whilst the Peaceable Olive drops down that precious liquor making the face of man to shine therewith Besides what this King Henry gained his Son as quickly lost in France Thus though the Providence of Nature hath priviledged Islanders by their entire position to secure themselves yet are they unhappy in long keeping their acquisitions on the Continent 33. Now began the Tragedy of Sir John Oldcastle The sad story of Sir John Oldcastle so largely handled in Mr. Fox that his pains hath given Posterity a Writ of Ease herein He was a vigorous Knight whose Martiall Activity wrought him into the affections of Jone f Camd. Brit. in Kent D la Pole Baronesse of Cobham the Lord whereof he became sed quaere whether an Actuall Baron by her Marriage 34. As for the Opinions of this Sir John Oldcastle His belief they plainly appear in his Belief which he drew up with his own hand and presented it first to the King then to the Archbishop of Canterbury wherein some things are rather coursely then falselie spoken He knew to speak in the Language of the Schools so were the meetings of the Wicklivists called but not scholastically and I believe he was the first that coyned and last that used the distinction of the Church Militant divided into Priest-hood Knight-hood and Commons which had no great harm therein as he explained it As for * In his 3 conversion Persons his charging him with Anabaptistical Tenets it is pitty that the words of a plain meaning man should be put on the Wrack of a Jesuites malice to extort by deduction what never was intended therein 35. But a worse accusation is charged on his Memory He is charged of Treason that he was not onely guilty of Herese but Treason But by the way it appeareth that Lolardisme then counted Heresie was made Treason by Statute and on that account Heresie and Treason signifie no more then Heresie and then Heresie according to the abusive language of that Age was the best serving of God in those dayes But besides this a very formal Treason is laid to this Lords account in manner following It is laid to his charge that though not present in the person with his Councel he encouraged an Army of Rebels no fewer then twenty thousand which in the dark thickets expounded in our Age into plain pasture of S t Giles Fields nigh London intended to seize on the Kings Person and his two Brothers the Dukes of Bedford and Glocester Of this numerous Army thirty six are said to be hang'd and burnt though the Names of three are onely known and S r Roger Acton Knight the onely person of quality named in the design 36. For mine own part The Author intricated I must confess my self so lost in the Intricacies of these Relations that I know not what to assent to On the one side I am loath to load the Lord Cobhams memory with causless crimes knowing the perfect hatred the Clergie in that Age bear'd unto him and all that look d towards the reformation in Religion Besies that 20000 men should be brought into the field
none should speak any thing of the King's death Which Act though onely intended to retrench the Predictions and mock-Prophesies of Southsayers yet now all the Courtiers glad of so legall a covert for their cowardise alledged it to excuse themselves to inform the King of Nis approaching end At last Sir Anthony Denny went boldly unto Him and plainly acquainted Him of His dying condition whereupon Archbishop Cranmer was by the King his desire sent for to give him some ghostly counsell and comfort 62. But before Cranmer then being at Croidon could come to Him His hope expressed by speechlesse gesture He was altogether speechlesse but not senslesse The Archbishop exhorted Him to place all His trust in Gods mercies thorough Christ and besought Him that if He could not in words He would by some signe or other testifie this His hope Who then wringed the Archbishops hand as hard as He could and shortly after expired having lived fifty five years and seven moneths Jan. 28. and thereof reigned thirty seven years nine moneths and six daies 63. As for the report of Sanders Lying Slanders that King Henry perceiving the pangs of approaching Death called for a great bowle of white wine and drinking it off should say to the company We have lost all it is enough to say it is a report of Sanders As loud a lie is it what he affirmeth that the last words heard from His mouth were The Monks the Monks and so gave up the ghost This may goe hand in hand with what another Gatholick * Rich. Hall in his Manuscript-Life of Bishop Fisher relates that a black Dog he might as truly have said a blew one lickt up His blood whilest the stench of His corps could be charmed with no embalming though indeed there was no other noysomnesse than what necessarily attendeth on any dead body of equall corpulency 64. Vices most commonly charged on His memory are His Vices and Virtues 1. Covetousness He was an eminent Instance to verifie the Observation Omnis prodigus est avarus vast His profusiveness coming a fork after a rake not only spending the great Treasure left Him by His Father but also vast wealth beside and yet ever in want and rapacious to supply the same Secondly Cruelty being scarce ever observed to pardon any Noble person whom He condemned to death I finde but two black swannes in all the currant of His Reign that tasted of His favour herein And therefore when Arthur * Godwin in Hen. 8. p. 181. Lord Lisle imprisoned and daily expecting death in the Tower was unexpectedly set free he instantly died of soddain joy so that it seems King Henry's pity proved as mortal as His cruelty Thirdly Wantonness which cannot be excused But these faults were if not over even poised with His virtues of Valour Bounty Wisdome Learning and love of Learned men scarce one Dunce wearing a Miter all His daies 65. The Monument mentioned in His Will Why K. Henry's Monument never perfected as almost made was never all made but left imperfect whereof many reasons are rendred Some impure it to the very want of workmen unable to finish it according to the exactnesse wherewith it was begun a conceit in my minde little better than scandalum seculi and very derogatory to the Art and Ingenuity of our Age. * Godwin in Hen. 8. p. 113. Others more truly ascribe it to the costlinesse thereof which deterred His Successours from finishing of it Indeed King Henry the seventh in erecting His own Monument in His Chappell at Westminster did therein set a Pattern of despair for all Posterity to imitate And yet Sanders * De schis Angl. pag. 216. tells us That Queen Mary had a great minde to make up His Tomb but durst not for fear a Catholick should seem to countenance the memory of one dying in open schism with the Church of Rome As for His imperfect Monument it was beheld like the barren Fig-tree bearing no fruit and cumbring the * Luke 13. 7. ground I mean the Chappell wherein it stood and therefore it was since these Civill Warres took down and sold by order of Parliament 66. In the Reign of Queen Mary Card. Poole his project it was reported that Cardinal Poole whose spleen generally vented it self against dead-mens bodies had a designe with the principall Clergie of England to take up and burn the body of King Henry the eighth This plot is said to be discovered by Doctor Weston * Fox Acts and Mon. p. 2102. Dean of Westminster But because Weston was justly obnoxious for his scandalous living for which at that time he stood committed to the Tower and bare a personal grudge to the Cardinal his report was the lesse credited as proceeding from revenge and desire to procure his own enlargement 67. Indeed when a Vault The bones of K. Hen. abused seven years since was pierced in the midst of the Quire at Windesor therein to interre the corps of King CHARLES they lighted on two Coffins therein Now though no memory alive could reach the same yet constant tradition seconded with a * See more hereof at the buriall of K. Charles coincidency of all signs and circumstances concluded these Coffins to contain the bones of King HENRY the eighth and His dear Queen JANE SEYMOUR And yet the bignesse of the Coffin though very great did not altogether answer that Giant-like proportion which posterity hath fancied of Him The end of the Fift Book THE Church-History OF BRITAIN THE SIXT BOOK BEING The History of Abbeys in ENGLAND Of their Originall Increase Greatnesse Decay and Dissolution To the Right Honourable WILLIAM COMPTON Sonne and Heire to the Right Honourable JAMES Baron COMPTON of COMPTON AND Earle of NORTHAMPTON HAving formerly proved at a In severall Dedicatory Epistles in my Pisgah Sight large That it is lawfull for any and expedient for me to have Infant-Patrons for my Books let me give an account why this parcell of my History was set apart for your Honour not being cast by chance but led by choice to this my Dedication First I resolved with my self to select such a Patron for this my History of Abbies whose Ancestour was not onely of credit and repute in the Reîgn but also of favour and esteem in the affection of King HENRY the Eighth Secondly he should be such if possible to be found who had no partage at all in Abbey-Lands at their dissolution that so his judgement might be unbiased in the reading hereof Both my Requisits have happily met in your Honour whose direct Ancestour Sir WILLIAM COMPTON was not onely chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to the aforesaid KING but also as a noble b The Lord Herbert in his History page 8. pen writing his Life informeth us the third man in His favour in the beginning of His Reign yet had he not a shooe-latchet of Abbey-Land though nothing surely debarred him save his
own abstinence as there is none in all your antient Paternall estate for I account not what since by accession of Matches hath accrued unto it Thus are you the Person designed for my purpose and I believe very few if any in ENGLAND can wash their hands in the same Bason to have no Abbey-lands sticking to their fingers and thus being freest from being a Party in due time you will be fittest to be a Judge to passe unpartial sentence on what is written on this subject And now let me make your Lordship smile a little acquainting you with a passage in the Legend of NICHOLAS a Popish Saint They c Lib. Festival in die S. Nichol. fol. 55. report of him That when an Infant hanging on his Mothers breast he fasted Wednesdaies and Fridaies and could not be urged to suck more than once a day But good my Lord be not so ceremonious or rather superstitious to imitate his example Wean not your self until you be weaned and let all daies be alike to your Honour I dare assure you no spark of Sanctity the lesse for a drop of milke the more A good case is no hindrance to a pretious jewell and a healthfull body no abasement to a holy soule And when your Lordship shall arrive at riper years consult your own Extraction as the best Remembrancer of worthy behaviour In whose veines there is the confluence of so many Rivulets that a mean Herault by the guidance thereof upwards may be led to the fountains of the most of the English Nobility All I will adde is this as you give three Helmets for your Armes may you be carefull to take the fourth even the d Eph. 6. 17. helmet of salvation An Helmet which here is worn close whilest Souldiers in the Church-Militant we see but in part but hereafter shall be born like the Helmet of Princes with the bever open in the Church-Triumphant when we shall see as we are seen The desire of Your Honours most engaged Beads-man THOMAS FVLLER The History of Abbeys in ENGLAND Primitive MONKS with their Piety and Painfulnesse WHen the Fornace of Persecution in the Infancy of Christianity was grown so hot First Monks caused by persecution that most Cities Towns and populous Places were visited with that Epidemical Disease many pious men fled into Desarts there to live with more safety and serve God with lesse disturbance No wilde humour to make themselves miserable and to chuse and court their own calamity put them on this project much lesse any Superstitious Opinion of transcendent Sanctity in a Solitary life made them willingly to leave their former Habitations For whereas all men by their Birth are indebted to their Countrey there to stay and discharge all civil relations it had been dishonesty in them like Bankrupts to run away into the Wildernesse to defraud their Countrey their Creditor except some violent Occasion such as Persecution was forced them thereunto and this was the first Originall of Monks in the world so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because living alone by themselves 2. Here they in the Desarts hoped to finde Rocks Their pious employment in a solitary life and Stocks yea Beasts themselves more kinde than Men had been to them What would Hide and Heat Cover and keep Warm served them for Cloathes not placing as their Successours in after-Ages any Holinesse in their Habit folded up in the affected Fashion thereof As for their Food the Grasse was their Cloath the Ground their Table Herbs and Roots their Diet wilde Fruits and Berries their Dainties Hunger their Sauce their Nails their Knives their Hands their Cups the next Well their Wine-cellar But what their Bill-of-fare wanted in Cheer it had in Grace their Life being constantly spent in Prayer Reading Musing and such like pious Employments They turned Solitarinesse it self into Society and cleaving themselves asunder by the divine Art of Meditation did make of one two or more opposing answering moderating in their own Bosomes and busie in themselves with variety of Heavenly recreations It would doe one Good even but to think of their Goodnesse and at the rebound and second hand to Meditate on their Meditations For if ever Poverty was to be envied it was here And I appeal to the moderate men of these Times whether in the heighth of these wofull Warres they have not sometimes wisht not out of Passionate distemper but serious recollection of themselves some such Private Place to retire unto where out of the noise of this Clamorous World they might have reposed themselves and served GOD with more Quiet 3. These Monks were of two sorts They vowed no Poverty Chastity or Obedience either such as fled from actuall or from imminent Persecution For when a danger is not created by a timorous Fancie but rationally represented as probable See 〈◊〉 Virgil le 〈…〉 lib. 761. in such a case the Principles of Prudence not out of Cowardise but Caution warrant men to provide for their Safety Neither of these bound themselves with a wilfull Vow to observe Poverty but Poverty rather vowed to observe them In Sixtâ—s Sene si lib 6. 〈◊〉 332. waiting constantly upon them Neither did they vow Chastity though keeping it better than such as vowed it in after-Ages As for the Vow of Obedience it was both needlesse and impossible in their Condition having none beneath or above them living alone and their whole Covent as one may say consisting of a single Person And as they entred on this Course of Life rather by Impulsion than Election so when Peace was restored they returned to their former homes in Cities and Towns resuming their Callings which they had not left off but for a time laid aside The first British Monks that we meet with in this kinde were immediately after the Martyâ—dome of Saint Alban for then saith Gildas Qui superfuerant sylvis ac desertis abditisque speluncis se occultaverunt Such as survived hid themselves in woods and desarts and secret dens of the earth As long after on the like Occasion when the Pagan Saxons and Danes invaded this Island many religious Persons retired themselves to Solitary lives Voluntary MONKS embracing that Life not for Necessity but Conveniency AFter these succeeded a Second Sort of Monks leading a Solitary Life Silver Monks succeeded the former golden ones when no visible need forced them thereunto as neither feeling nor fearing any apparent Persecution Yet these considering the inconstancy of humane matters that though they had Prosperity for the present it might soon be changed into a contrary condition if either the restlesse endevours of the Devil took effect or sinfull Christians were rewarded according to their deserts freely chose a Lone life also prompted perchance thereunto by their own Melancholy disposition 2. Afterwards it was counted convenient Fetcht from wandring in the wilderness to dwell together that such who hitherto dwelt desolate in Desarts scattered asunder should be
gathered together to live under one Roof because their Company would be Cheerfull in Health and Needfull in Sicknesse one to another Hence these two words though contrary to sound signifie the same Monasterium Coenobium A place containing men living Alone In common For though they were sequestred from the rest of the World yet they enjoyed mutuall Society amongst themselves And again though at solemn times they joyned in their Publick Devotions and Refections yet no doubt they observed howers by themselves in their Private Orisons Of these some were Gardeners like Adam Husbandmen like Noah caught Fish with Peter made Tents with Paul as every man was either advised by his Inclination or directed by his Dexterity and no Calling was counted Base that was found Beneficiall Much were they delighted with making of Hives as the Embleme of a Covent for Order and Industry wherein the Bees under a Master their Abbot have severall Cells and live and labour in a regular discipline In a word they had hard hands and tender hearts sustaining themselves by their labour and relieving others by their Charity as formerly hath been observed in the Monks of Bangor 3. Take a tast of their Austerity who lived at Vall Rosine The discipline of British 〈◊〉 under S. David since called Minevea in Pembroke-shire under the Method of S. David They were raised with the crowing of the a 〈◊〉 Hist Eccl. Angl. p. 40. Cock from their beds and then betook themselves to their prayers and spent the rest of the day in their severall calling when their task was done they again bestowed themselves in prayers meditations reading writing and at night when the heavens were full of starres they first began to feed having their temperate repast to satisfie hunger on bread water and herbs Then the third time they went to their prayers and so to bed till the circulation of their daily employment returned in the Morning A spectacle of virtue and continence who although they received nothing or any thing very unwillingly of others yet were so farre from wanting necessaries that by their pains they provided sustenance for many poor people Orphans Widows and Strangers 4. Here as we cannot but highly commend the integrity of their Hearts herein Superstition unawares occasioned by them so we must withall bemoan that what in them was intentionally good proved occasionally evill hatching Superstition under the warmth of their Devotion For though even these as yet were free from humane Ordinances and Vows yet Will-worship crept in insensible in the next Age Tares are easier seen grown than growing and error and vitlousnesse came in by degrees The Monks afterwards having sufficiency turned lazie then getting wealth waxed wanton and at last endowed with superfluity became notoriously wicked as hereafter shall appear Thus as Pliny reporteth of the GAGATE-stone that set a fire it burneth more fiercely if water be cast on but is extinguished if oyle be poured thereupon So the zeal of Monastick men was inflamed the more with the bitter water of affliction whilst in prosperity the oyle of plenty quenched their piety So ill a Steward is humane corruption of outward happinesse oftner using it to the Receivers hurt than the Givers glory Of Superstition which was the fundamentall fault in all Abbeys THis was one main fault in all English Abbeys Abbeys built on the sand of superstition that the Builders did not dig deep enough to lay the Foundation as grounded on the foundred and mouldring bottome of superstition For every Monastery was conceived a magazine of merit both for the Founder his Ancestors and Posterity And although all these Dotations did carry the title of pure Alms yet seriously considered they will be found rather forced than free as extorted from men with the fear of Purgatory one flash of which fire believed is able to melt a miser into charity yea which is worse many of their foundations had their morter tempered with innocent blood For which we may conceive afterwards they sped never a whit the better To give some instances of many 2. Wolpher Peterborough Abbey founded to expâ—ate murder King of the MERCIANS having murdered Wolphald and Rufine his own Sons with cruell and barbarons Immanity because they had devoted themselves unto Christ and embraced his Religion afterwards turning Christian himself b Cambd. Brit. in Northampton-shire MiddletoÌ„ being on the same occasion Idem in Dorceâ— to wash away the stain of his impiety built that famoâ—s Abbey since known by the name of Peterborough 3. King Athelstance drowned his brother Edwine having put him into a little Wherry or Cockboat without any tackling or furniture thereunto to the end he might impute his wickedness to the waves and afterwards as a satisfaction to appease his Ghost built the fair Abbey of Middleton in Dorset-shire 4. To joyn to these two houses of Monks So also the Nunnery of Ambresbury one of Nuns such society hath not been unacceptable Aelfrith second Wife to King Edgar having contrived the death of Edward her Son-in-law King of England murdered him by a company of Hacksters and Villains at her appointment at Corfe-Castle in Dorset-shire to pave the way for the Succession of her Son Etheldred to the Crown afterwards built the stately Nunnery of c Harpsfield Hist Eccl. Angl. saec 10. p. 188. Ambresbury with some other religious Houses 5. It is confest Suspitious therein might be a great fault herein that wilfull murder may be pardoned in Christ and they who deny it are guilty as much as lies in their power of a worse soul-murder in their uncharitable opinion Yet this we say that all the chantings of the Monks and Nuns in their Covents could not drown the noise of innocent blood And if these Founders of Abbeys thought that their murder could be expiated by raising such beautifull buildings their most polished marble and costly carved pieces were in the expression of the Prophet but d Ezck. 22. 28. dawbing over their damnable sins with untempered morter But though Abbeys long since have been demolished we leave their Founders to stand or fall to their own Maker when his all-seeing Eye hath discerned betwixt the Errours of their Judgment and Integrity of their Affections endevouring that which they conceived was to the glory of God and advance of true Religion Of the severall Orders of Monks and Nuns in England SO much of the Superstition of the Founders An heap of Monkish Orders in England come we now to their Superstition and other notorious sins who lived in these foundations But first we will premise their severall Orders Herein we pretend not to any criticall skill For though every Minister of God's Word whereof I am the meanest is a spirituall Herald to derive and deduce the Pedigrees and Genealogies of any Institution which hath its Originall in God's Word yet they are not bound not to say it is a learned Ignorance to be skilled in the
well it is in Latine calling his Book Charta Cacata which saving reverence to the Reader may be returned on the foul of mouth of him who first uttered it 32. Now I conceive Justly disproved not onely Queen Elizabeths poor people at Greenwich so are the Almes-men there termed in a fair House which this Mr. Lambert charitably g Cambd. Brit. in Kent founded for them engaged to assert their good Patron but also that all ingenious English men are obliged in his just vindication from this unjust aspersion Indeed his Book is a rare piece of learning and he in age and industry the true successour to Leland in the studies of English Antiquity and the height thereof above common capacity the sole cause that his Book as also his worthy work on the Saxon Laws hath no oftner passed the Impression His labours are feasts for schollars not like Stow's works daily fare for common people Thus the Draper may sooner sell forty ells of freeze and course cloath than the Mercer four yards of cloath of gold as onely for the wearing of persons of prime quality Nor doth the slow-selling of a book argue it to be a drugge wanting reall worth in its self seeing this railing Reinerius his own Book notwithstanding the pompous Title thereof Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Angliâ though printed nine and twenty years since viz 1626 hath not on my best enquiry as yet been honour'd with a second Edition 33. Before we take our farewell of Fryers Antipathy betwixt Fryers and Parish-Priests know there was a deadly Antipathie betwixt them and Parish-Priests For the former slighted the later as good alone to take Tythes and like Hackney post-horses onely to run the stage in the Masse-book secundùm usum Sarum Ignorant and unable to preach Wherefore the Fryers when invading the Pulpit would not say to the Parson By your leave Sir but proudly presuming on their Papall Priviledges assumed it to themselves as forfeited to them for the Parson's want of skill or will to make use of it But these Vultures had the quickest sight and scent about Corps flocking fastest to men of fashion when lying on their Death-beds whose last Confessions were more profitable to the Fryers than half the Glebe-land that year to the Priest of the Parish 34. This plainly appeareth out of Erasmus in his Dialogues In Erasâ—â—â— his Jeast-earnest Dialogue who though perchance therein he doth Lucian it too much yet truth may be discovered under the varnish of his scoffing wit He in his Dialogue entituled FUNUS tells us how Sir George the rich Knight being formerly confessed to the Fryers the Parochiall Pastour refused to bury him because he could not give an account to God of this his sheep as unacquainted with his finall estate and this case commonly happened in England the occasion of much heart-burning betwixt them 35. Monks also hated Fryers at their hearts Monks why hating Fryers because their activity and pragmaticalnesse made Monks be held as idle and uselesse yea as meer Cyphers whilst themselves were the onely Figures of reckoning and account in the Church 36. h Hist. Angl. in Hen. 3. pag. 949. Matthew Paris a Benedictine Monke of S. Albans was a back-friend to Fryers and on all occasions hath a good word in store for them thus speaking of the coming in of the Brethren of the Sack as also of the Order of Betblemites he welcomes them with this Complement That now there were so many Orders in England that of them there was an inordinate confusion 37. Indeed Fryers stinted to 4 Orders the Pope at last grew sensible that the world began to groan as weary with the weight of Fryers Who if multiplying proportionably in after-Ages would so increase there would be more mouthes to beg almes than hands to relieve them and therefore they were stinted to the aforesaid four Cardinal Orders of Dominicans Franciscans Carmelities and Augustinian Eremites These boasted themselves to be like the i Erasmus Dialogues in Fun. four Evangelists though the number alone excepted no conformity betwixt them And they more like unto God's four k Ezek. 14. 21. sore Iudgments wherewith he useth to afflict a sinfull Nation 37. Come we now to Nuns The numerousnesse of Nuns almost as numerous in England as Monks and Fryers as having though not so many Orders more of the same Order The weaker sex hath ever equalled men in their devotion Often exceeded them in superstition as in the one instance of Gilbertines may appear These were an Hermophrodite Order as is aforesaid admitting both men and women under the same roof and during the life of Gilbert their first Founder for seven hundred Brethren there were l Weavers Fun. Mon. pag. 148. eleven hundred Sisters entred into that Order None can be so exact in reckoning up the Nuns as the Fryers because that sex afforded no Writers to acquaint us with the Criticismes of their observances 38. We will insist onely on three sorts The ancientest and poorest Nuns 1. The Antientest 2. The Poorest 3. The latest Nuns in England Of the first sort we account the she Benedictines commonly called black Nuns but I assure you peny white being most richly endowed The Poorest follow being the strict Order of S. Clare a Lady living in the same time and born in the same Town with S. Francis and her Nuns did wear a like habit in colour with the Franciscans I am charitably enclined to believe that these were the least bad amongst all the Professions of Virginity 39. The Brigettean Nuns were the latest in England Brigetteans the last Order of Nuns first setled here in the second year of King Henry the fifth Anno Dom. 1415 dissolved with the rest of all Orders Anno 1538 so that they continued here onely one hundred three and twenty years an Order to be loved on this account That it was the last in England Bridget Queen of Sweden gave them their name and institution Men and Women living under the same roof the Women above the Men beneath and one Church common to both By their Order their House was to be endowed plentifully at the first whereon they might live without wanting or begging as well in dear as cheap years and after their first foundation they were uncapable of any future benefactions Si posteatotus m Tho. Walsingham in Hen. 5. in Anno 1413. mundus possessiones praedia eis offerret quicquam omninò recipere non liceret If afterwards the whole world should proffer them farms and possessions it was utterly unlawfull for them to accept any thing thereof as indeed additions to such who had plenty before is rather a burden than a benefit 40. The mysterious number of Brigetteans might not exceed the number of eighty five The mysticall number of Brigetteans which forsooth was the number of Christ's Apostles and Disciples put together and thus they were precisely to be qualified 1.
had store of time and no want of intelligence to take that task upon them And surely that industrious b An able Stationer in Little Britain London Bee hath in our Age merited much of posterity having lately with great cost and care enlarged many Manuscripts of Monks formerly confined to private Libraries that now they may take the free aire and being printed publickly walk abroad Mean time whilest Monks pens were thus employed Nuns with their needles wrote histories also that of Christ his passion for their Altar-clothes and other Scripture and moe Legend stories in hangings to adorn their houses 7. They were most admirable good Land-lords Abbots excellent Land-lords and well might they let and set good peny-worths who had good pounds-worths freely given unto them Their yearly rent was so low as an acknowledgment rather than a rent onely to distinguish the Tenant from the Land-lord Their fines also were easie for though every Convent as a body politick was immortal yet because the same consisted of mortal Monks for their members and an old Abbot for the head thereof they were glad to make use of the present time for their profit taking little fines for long leases As for rent-beeves sheep pullein c. reserved on their leases Tenants both payed them the more easily as growing on the same and the more cheerfully because at any time they might freely eat their full share thereof when repairing to their Land-lords bountiful table Insomuch that long Leases from Abbeys were preferred by many before some Tenures of freeholds as lesse subject to taxes and troublesome attendance 8. Their hospitality was beyond compare And admirable House-keepers insomuch that Ovid if living in that Age who feigned famine to dwell in Scythia would have fancied feasting an inhabitant of English Abbeys Especially in Christmas-time they kept most bountifull houses Whosoever brought the face of a man brought with him a Patent for his free welcome till he pleased to depart This was the method where he brake his fast there he dined where he dined there he supped where he supped there he brake his fast next morning and so in a circle Alwaies provided that he provided lodging for himself at night Abbeys having great halls and refectories but few chambers and dormitories save for such of their own society 9. Some will object Objection against their hospitality that this their hospitality was but charity mistaken promiscuously entertaining some who did not need and moe who did not deserve it Yea these Abbeys did but maintain the poor which they made For some Vagrants accounting the Abbey-almes their own inheritance served an apprentiship and afterwards wrought journey-work to no other trade than begging all whose children were by their fathers copie made free of the same company Yea we may observe that generally such places wherein the great Abbeys were seated some few excepted where cloathing began when their Covent did end swarm most with poor people at this day as if beggary were entailed on them and that lazinesse not as yet got out of their flesh which so long since was bred in their bones 10. All this is confessed The same answered yet by their hospitality many an honest and hungry soul had his bowels refreshed which otherwise would have been starved and better it is two drones should be fed than one bee famished We see the heavens themselves in dispensing their rain often water many stinking bogs and noisome lakes which moisture is not needed by them yea they the worse for it onely because much good ground lies inseparably intermingled with them so that either the bad with the good must be watered or the good with the bad must be parched away 11. Of all Abbeys in England Elie puts all Abbeys down for feasting Elie bare away the bell for bountifull feast-making the vicinity of the fenns affording them plenty of flesh fish and fowle at low rates Hereupon the Poët Praevisis aliis Eliensia festa videre Est quasi praevisa nocte videre diem When other Feasts before have been If those of ELIE last be seen 'T is like to one who hath seen night And then beholds the day so bright But with the leave of the Poëts Hyperbole other Abbeys as Glassenbury S. Albans Reading spurred up close to Elie which though exceeding them in feasts the evidence oft of a miser yet they equalled Elie in the constant tenour of house-keeping The mention of Reading mindes me of a pleasant and true story which to refresh my wearied self and Reader after long pains I here intend to relate 12. King Henry the eighth A pleasant story of K Henry the eighth as He was hunting in Windesor Forrest either casually lost or more probable willfully losing Himself struck down about dinner-time to the Abbey of Reading Where disguising Himself much for delight more for discoverie to see unseen He was invited to the Abbots table and passed for one of the Kings guard a place to which the proportion of His person might properly intitle Him A Sir-loyne of beef was set before Him so Knighted saith tradition by this King Henry on which the King laid on lustily not disgracing one of that place for whom He was mistaken Well fare thy heart quoth the Abbot and here in a cup of sack I remember the health of His Grace your Master I would give an hundred pounds on the condition I could feed so heartily on beef as you doe Alas my weak and squeazie stomack will hardly digest the wing of a small rabbet or chicken The King pleasantly pledged him and heartily thanking him for His good cheer after dinner departed as undiscovered as He came thither 13. Some weeks after He proves a good Physician the Abbot was sent for by a Pursevant brought up to London clapped in the Tower kept close-prisoner fed for a short time with bread and water Yet not so empty his body of food as his minde was filled with fears creating many suspitions to himself when and how he had incurred the King's displeasure At last a sir-loyne of beef was set before him on which the Abbot fed as the Farmer of his Grange and verified the Proverb That two hungry meals makes the third a glutton In springs King Henry out of a private lobbie where He had placed Himself the invisible spectatour of the Abbots behaviour My Lord quoth the King presently deposit your hundred pounds in gold or else no going hence all the daies of your life I have been your Physician to cure you of your squeazie stomack and here as I deserve I demand my fee for the same The Abbot down with his dust and glad he had escaped so returned to Reading as somewhat lighter in purse so much more merrier in heart than when he came thence Presages of the approaching ruine of Abbeys THE wisest and most religious amongst the Romanists Oliban's prophesie of the Friers fall presaged and suspected a
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
The miserable ends of the Cardinals instruments herein that these houses were still continued to the generall end of pious uses however it was not fair to alienate them from the primitive intention of the Founders yea God himself seemed not well-pleased therewith I know that g Eccles 9. 1 2. no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked c. However Gods exemplary hand ought to be heeded in the signall fatality of such as by the Cardinall were employed in this service Five they were in number two whereof challenging the field of each other one was h Godwin his Annals of Hen. the eighâ—h Anno 1525. Yet Mr. Fox maketh the Lord Cromwell the principall person employed by the Cardinall therein slain and the other hanged for it A third throwing himself headlong into a well perished wilfully A fourth formerly wealthy grew so poor that he begged his bread The fifth Dr. Allen one of especiall note afterward Archbishop of Dublin was slain in Ireland What became of the Cardinal himself is notoriously known and as for his two Colledges that in Ipswich the embleme of its Builder soon up soon down presently vanished into private houses whilst the other Christ-Church in Oxford was fain to disclaim its Founder and being adopted the issue of the bounty of the King Henry the eighth at this day owns not him for Father who first gave it life but who afterwards kept it from dying In a word this dissolution of fourty small Houses caused by the Cardinall made all the Forest of religious Foundations in England to shake justly fearing the King would finish to fell the oaks seeing the Cardinal began to cut the underwood Of the first Priory which was solemnly suppressed by King Henry the eighth SOme six years after Christ-Church Priorie neer Allgate first and solely dissolved whilst as yet all other Abbeys flourished in their height and happinesse as safe and secure as ever before King Henry the eighth for reasons best known to Himself singled out the Priory of Christ-Church nigh Allgate in London and dissolved the same This He bestowed as a boon on Thomas a Hall's Chronicle An. 1525. Audley Speaker in the Parliament and indeed it was an excellent receit to clear his voice to make him speak shrill and loud for his Master This shrewdly shook the freehold of all Abbeys seeing now two such great men Wolsey and Audley both in their times Lord-Chancellours of England and therefore presumed well versed in cases of conscience the one a Divine first took the other a Common-Lawyer first received such lands into their possession 2. A word of the antiquity The antiquity wealth and dignity thereof wealth and dignity of this Covent because in each respect it was remarkable It was founded Anno 1108. by Queen b Harpâ—field in his Catalogue of Abbeys Matilda Wife to King Henry the first dedicated to the holy Trinity for Black Canons or Canons-Regular and one Norman by name and nation was first Prior thereof In processe of time it became rich in land and ornaments and passed all the Priories in London or Middlesex especially in this particular that the Prior thereof was alwaies an c Stow's Survey of London p. 145. Alderman of London namely of Portsoken Ward though otherwise their Covent standeth in Ealgate Ward and used to ride amongst the Aldermen in a livery like the rest save that his habit was in the shape of a spiritual person In the year 1264 d Idem ibidem Eustathius the eighth Prior of this Covent because he himself was loth to deale in temporall matters instituted Theobald Fitz-Ivo Alderman in his place They were most bountifull house-keepers relieving all comers and goers and got themselves much reputation for their hospitality 3. Some conjecture this was King Henry's designe in dissolving this Priorie A guesse at King Henry's design thereby to make a discovery in peoples affections how they resented the same He dispatched this Covent first as the forelorn hope is sent out before the body of the Army which if meeting with unsuspected dangers may give timely notice to the rest to advance no farther And if He had found the people much startled thereat He could quickly knock off retrench His resolutions and dexterous to decline envy for Himselfe handsomely cast the same on His instruments employed therein Others think the King as yet had no such project in intention but did it meerly to gratifie Sir Thomas Audley whom He loved the better for hating Cardinal Wolsey now beginning to fall against whom he had bitterly inveighed in the Parliament 4. As for the manner of the dissolving thereof The Priory taken by composition whereas all other Abbeys afterwards were stormed by violence whatsoever is plausibly pretended to the contrary this onely was fairly taken by composition For the Prior thereof was sent for by the King commended for his hospitality promised preferment as a man worthy greater dignity which promise surely He performed though the particulars of the agreement are not to be known Whereupon Anno 1531 the twenty third year of the King's reign in the moneth of July he surrendred the same to the King's use As for the Canons they were sent to other houses of the same Order who now being severally disposed in other Covents they might serve them as Monitours to warn all the rest seasonably to prepare for the time of their dissolution 5. The rooting out of this Priory wrought a middle effect in people The effect thereof upon the people for they were neither dumb nor clamorous thereat but grumbled out their discontentment for a time and then returned to their former temper However at first they were so abstemious that whereas the Priory Church and Steeple was e Idem ut priùs profered to whomsoever would take it down no man would undertake the offer Whereupon Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than he could make of the materials the workmen with great labour beginning at the top loosed stone from stone and throwing them down most part of them were broken in the fall and remained uuelesse 6. What might move the King to single this Priory out of all the rest This the antientest of all Priories to lead this sad dance is variously conjectured Indeed this was the antientest of all England of that Order since the Conquest I mean of Canon-Regulars as our f Stow ut priùs Authour telleth us And therefore it was but reasonable the oldest should go first the first-born should be first buried But surely no such consideration moved King Henry to this choice who was not so methodical in His deeds of undoing 7. As for the Lord Audley At this day called the Dukes-Place on whom this Priory was bestowed Margaret his sole Daughter Heir was
not in obedient humylyte have undre the shadowe or color of the saide rule and habite vaynely detestably and also ungodly employed yea rather devowred the yerely revenues yssuing and comyng of the saide possessions in continuall in gurgitations and farcyngs of owr carayne bodyes and of others the supportares of owr voluptuose and carnal appetyte with other vayne and ungodly expensys to the manyfest subvertion of devocion and clennes of lyvyng and to the moost notable slaunder of Christs holy Evangely which in the forme of owr professyon we did ostentate and openly devaunt to kepe moost exactly withdrawyng thereby from the symple and pure myndys of yowr graces subjectes the onely truth and comfort which they oughte to have by the true faith of Christe And also the devyne honor and glory onely due to the glorious Majesty of God Almyghty steryng them with all perswasions ingynes and polyce to dedd Images and counterfett reliques for owr dampnable lucre Which our moost horryble abominacions and execrable persuacions of yowr graces people to detestable errours and our long coveryd Ipocrysie cloked with fayned sanctite We revolving dayly and continually ponderyng in owr sorrowfull harts and thereby perseyving the botomlas gulf of everlasting fyre redy to devowre us if persysting in this state of lyving we shulde depart from this uncertayn and transytory lâ—ffe constrayned by the intollerable anguysh of owr conscience callyd as we trust by the grace of God who wold have no man to perysh in synne with harts moost contrite and repentante prostrate at the noble feet of yowr moost royall Majestye most lamentably doo crave of yowr highnes of yowr abundant mercy to grant unto us moost greevous against God and yowr Highnes your most gracious perdon for owr saide sondry offences omyssyons and negligences comytted as before by us is confessed agaynst yowr Highnes and yowr most noble Progenitors And where yowr Hyghnes being Supreme hedd immediately aftre Christ of his Church in this yowr Roialme of England so consequently generall and onely Reformator of all religious persons there have full authority to correct or dyssolve at yowr Graces pleasure and libertye all Covents and religious companyes abusing the Rewles of their profession And moreover to yowr Highnes being owr soveraygn Lord and undoubted fownder of yowr said Monastery by dissolucion whereof apperteyneth onely the Oryginall title and propre inherytance as well of all other goods moveable and unmoveable to the said Monastery in any wyse apperteyning or belonging to be disposed and imployed as to yowr graces most excellent wysdeme shall seme expedyent and necessary Per me Franciscum Priorem Per me Johannem Sub-Priorem Per me Tho Smyth Per me Tho Golston Per me Rob Martin Per me Jacob Hopkins Per me Ric Bunbery Per me Johannem Pette Per me Jo Harrold Per me Tho Barly Per me Will Ward Per me Tho Atterbury Per me Will Fowler Other Resignations varying in their words met for the maine in the matter and were with all speed presented to the Kings Visitors As School-boyes hope to escape with the fewer stripes for being the first in untying their points those Convents promised to themselves the kindest usage which were forwardest in their Resignations though all on the matter fared alike 4. Yea Betwixt first and last no great difference John de Warboise so called from the place of his nativity in Huntingdon shire where my worthy friend Mr. William Johnson is well beneficed though the a Speed in his description of Huntingdon-shire first with his sixty Benedicti Monks who with solemn subscription renounced the Popes Supremacy and now as officious as any in surrendring his Convent to the Kings Visitors met with no peculiar and extraordinary civility above others of his Ordâ—r 5. Such Resignations seal'd and deliver'd the Visitors called for the Seales themselves which now had survived their own use having passed the last effectual Act and these generally made of silver were by the Kings Officers presently broken in pieces Such material Stamps being now abolished it will be charity to preserve their Impressions and exhibit them to posterity which here we shall endeavour rendring some probable reason how most of them referre to the Founders or scituation or some remarkable action therein The Seale of Armes of the Mitred Abbeys in England IN presenting of them The designe of the work I will not be confined to the strict termes of Blazoury the rather because some of their Armes may be presumed so antient as sitter to give Rules to than take them from our moderne Heraldry And what my pen cannot sufficiently describe therein the Reader may satisfie himselfe by his own eye To which these Cotes are presented in the last sheet of this Volume after the History of Waltham Abbey 1. I will make a method of my own beginning where the Sun ends in the West The Armes of Tavestocke Tavestock in Devon shire gave Varrey Or and Azure on a Chiefe Or two Mulletts Gules 2. Glassenbury gave Vert as I conjecture the Colour a Crosse Bottone Argent Of Glossenbury In the first Quarter the Woman with a Glory holding a Babe radiated about his head in her Armes because forsooth by the direction of the Angel * See the first Cent. Paragr 11. Gabriel their Church was first dedicated to the Virgin Mary 3. Middleton in Gloucester-shire gave Sable Of Middleton three Baskets Argent replenished with Loaves of Bread Gules Had the number of the Baskets been either Seven or Twelve some would interpret therein a reference to the Reversions preserved by Christ his command of the Loaves miraculously multiplied whereas now they denote the Bounty of that Abbey in relieving the poor 4. What Malmesbury in Wiltshire gave I cannot yet attain Of Malmsbury 5. Abingdon gave a Crosse flurt betwixt Martelletts Sable Of Abingdon much alluding to the Armes of our English Kings before the Conquest who it seems were great Benefactors thereunto 6. The Abbey of S. James in Reading Of Reading gave AZure three Scallop Shells Or. Here I know not what secret sympathy there is between S. James and Shells but sure I am that all Pilgrims that visit St. James of Compos-Stella in Spaine the Paramount Shrine of that Saint returned thence obsiti * Erasmâ—â— in his Dialogue called Peregrinatio Religionis eâ—go conchis all beshell'd about on their clothes as a religious Donative there bestowed upon them 7. The Abbey of Hide Of Hide juxta Winton gave Argent a Lyon rampant Sable on a cheiff of the second four Keyes Argent 8. Bataile Abbey in Sussex gave Gules a Crosse betwixt a Crown Or Of Battaile in the first and third Quarter A Sword bladed Argent hilted Or in the second and fourth Quarter thereof Hete the Armes relate to the Name and both Armes and Name to the fierce Fight hard by whereby Duke William gained the English-Crown by Conquest and founded this
Abbey Nor must it be forgotten that a Text X pierced through with a dash is fixed in the navill of the Crosse Now though I have read * Accidence of Armes Letters to be little honourable in Armes this cannot be disgracefull partly because Church-Heraldrie moveth in a sphere by it self partly because this was the Letter of Letters as the received character to signifie Christus 9. S. Augustines in Canterbury gave Sable a Cross-Argent Of S. Augustine 10. Crosse we now the Thames Of Gloucester where Westward we first fall on S. Peters in Gloucester whose Dedication to that Apostle sufficiently rendreth a reason for the Armes thereof viz AZure two Crosse Keyes or two Keyes Saltire Or. 11. Teuxbury gave Gules Of Teuxbury a Cross of an antick form Or a border Argent 12. I will not adventure on the blazoning of the Armes of Winchcombe having much conformity therein with Mortimers Coat but leave the Reader to satisfie his own eyes in the inspection thereof Of Winchcomb 13. I should be thankfull to him who would inform me of the Armes of Cirencester Of Cirencesâ—er which hitherto I cannot procure 14. * S. Maryes in Coventry had no Armes in their Seale as my good friend Mr. Dugdale informed me St. Albans gave Azure a Cross Saltire Or. Of S. Albanâ— 15. westminster-Westminster-Abbey gave Azure a Cross flurt betwixt five Marteletts Or and this I humbly conceive were antiently the entire Armes of that Abbey being in effect the same with those of King Edward the Confessour the first Founder thereof But afterwards their Conventuall Seale was augmented with the Armes of France and England on a Chiefe Or betwixt two Roses Gules plainly relating to King Henry the seventh enlarging their Church with his Chappell 16. The Prior of St. John of Jerusalem gave Gules a Cross Argent Of S. Johns of Jerusalem which the Lord Priot sometimes a Thus Sir Tho. Tressam impayled with but before his own Coate and b Thus Sir Tho. Dockwray sometimes bare it in a Chiefe about it 17. The Armes of Waltham Abbey in Essex appear at this day neither in glass wood Of Waltham nor stone in or about the Town or Church thereof At last we have recovered them Unus home nobis out of a faire Deed of Robert Fullers the last Abbot though not certain of the mettall and colours viz Gules as I conjecture two Angels can they be lesse than Or with their hands such we finde of them in c Mat. 4. 6. Scripture holding betwixt them a Cross Argent brought hither faith our d Gamd. Brit in Essex Antiquary by miracle out of the West whence Waltham hath the addition of Holy Cross 18. The Arms of S. Johns in Colchester Of Colchester I leave to the eye of the Reader 19. Burie gave Azure three Crowns Or Of Bury The Armes of the Kings of the East-Angles assumed in the memory of King Edmund to whom this Abbey was dedicated martyred by the Danes when his Crown of Gold thorough a Crown of Thorns or Arrows rather was turned into a Crown of Glory 20. St. Benet's in the Holme Of S. Benets in Norfolke gave Sable a Pastorall Staffe Argent picked below and reflexed above intimating the Abbots Episcopal Jurisdiction in his own precincts betwixt two Crowns-Or pointing at England and Norway the two Kingdomes of Canutus the Founder thereof The aforesaid Staffe was infulated that is adorned with an holy Lace or Label carelesly hanging down or cast a crosse such with which their Mitres used formerly to be fastned 21. Thorney-Abbey in Cambridge shire gave Azure three Crosses crossed fitchee Of Thorny betwixt three Pastoral Staves Or. 22. Ramsey in Huntingdon-shire gave Or three Rams Heads couped Argent Of Ramsey 〈◊〉 Bend Azure The rest of the Rams must be supposed in the blue Sea the Fennes appearing such when overflown Besides such changes were common here whereof Melibaeus complaineth in the Marishes * Virgil. Eâ— log 9. of Mantua Non bene ripae Creditur ipse Aries etiam nunc vellera siccat There is no trusting to the foundring bank The Ramme still dries his fleece so lately dank But since the draining of the Fennes hath I hope secured their Cattell from casualties 23. The very name of Peterborough unlocks the reason why that Abbey gave Gules Of Peterborough two crosse Keyes betwixt four Crosses crossed fitchee Or. 24. Crowland Abbey gave quarterly three call them long Knives Of Crowland or short Swords bladed Argent hasted or pomelled or Azure three Whips stringed and knotted Or the second like the third the fourth like the first Instruments of cruelty relating to their Monks massacred by the Danes Anno 870. Ingulphus pag. 866. whereof their Historian gives us this account That first they were examinati tortured see there the Whips and then exanimati killed see there the Swords But if any will have those Whips to relate to the Whip of S. Bartholomew the most remarkable Relique of that Monastery I will not appose 25. The Armes of Evesham Abbey in Worcester-shire Of Evesham I cannot recover but possibly may before the conclusion of this Work 26. Shrewsbury gave Azure Of Shrewsbury a Lyon Rampant over a Pastorall-staffe Bendwayes so that both the ends thereof are plainly discovered 27. Crosse we now North of Trent Of Selby where onely two remain Selby founded by William the Conquerour which gave Sable three Swans Argent membred Or alluding as I believe to the depressed scituation of the place where the neighbouring River of Ouse affordeth such Birds in abundance 28. St. Maryes in Yorke gave Argent a Crosse Of Yorke Gules and a Key in the first Quarter of the same In the midst of the Crosse a King in a circle in his Robes of state with his Scepter and Mound Yet hath he onely a ducall Cap and no Crown on his head I humbly conceive under favour of better judgments this King-Dukes picture to relate partly to King VVilliam Rufus partly to Alan Duke of Britain and Richmond the principall Co-Founders of that Monastery The Lord Darcy his Extraction justly vindicated AMongst the principal persons who suffred for their zeale in defending of Abbeys was the lately mentioned Thomas Lord a vide supra pag. 313. parag 5. Darcy A causlesse aspersion grounded on passion whose extraction I finde foully aspersed by the pen of that passionate Prince K. Henry the eighth for when the Rebels boasted of the many Noblemen who sided with them in confutation thereof King Henry returned a Letter to them interlined with His own hand wherein this passage b Speeds Châ—â— in his 1 â—dit pag. 776. Others as the Lord Marney and Darcy are but mean scarce well-born Gentlemen and yet of no great Lands till they were promoted by Us and so made Knights It cannot be denied but that K. Henry too much consulted
of Paul's in giving up their accounts to the King's Commissioners pretended themselves yearly losers by some of these Chanteries For generally they were founded on candle-rents houses are London's land which were subject to casualtie reparations and vacations In such intervalls though the house wherewith the Chanterie was endowed wanted a Tenant yet the Chanterie must not want a Chaplain to officiate for the dead Yea so charitable was the Dean and Chapter in such cases as sometimes to allow lands in augmentation of maintenance and assigne houses of their own for the habitation of such Chaplains as wanted a mansion The King therefore may be said in some sort to have done a courtesie to the Chapter of Paul's when suppressing such poor Chanteries formerly not beneficial but burdensome unto them 17. By other Chanteries they were only savers Nothing pretended gotten no gainers having only their labour for their pain in seeing things performed according to the Will of the Testatour as in Bishop Fitz. James and many othersâ— so that the Priest paid and other allowances deducted remanets nil as they brought in the reckoning of their receipts and disbursments However we may take notice that herein the Dean and Chapter of Paul's were both their own Accomptants and Auditors and none could disprove their reckonings therein But grant that among forty seven Chanteries two or three of them were unprofitable servants returning no emolument unto them yea suppose as many prodigall children wasting the stock of their Parent understand the Church wherein they were founded yet from the collective body of them altogether she gained a grand revenue And it is considerable that in this their Audit they onely brought in their bare annual rent of houses their fines not being charged on their accompt but swallowed in silence to the great commodity of the Chapter 18. Vast was the wealth accrewing to the Crown by the dissolution of Chanteries The great though uncertain number of Chanteries Many a little saith the Proverb make a mickle These foundations though small in revenue yet being many in number mounted up a great bank There was not a Cathedral or Collegiate-Church in England but some Chanteries were founded therein as in many Parochial-Churches Thus at Oldwincle in North hampton shire the Village of my nativity a Chantery in the Parish-Church of All-Saints was endowed with house and lands for a Priest at the cost of Sir John Oldwincle Knight about the Reign of King Henry the sixt Yea let the model of Countrey-Churches be well observed wherein such excursions of building as present themselves beyond the old fabrick from which oft-times they differ as neater and newer were since erected and added as intended and used for Chanteries 19. Free-Chappels succeed Free Chappels and Colledges not so called from the freenesse and bounty of their Founders but because subsisting of themselves as children of full age whose parents are still alive For though Chappell speaks a relation to a Mother-Church yet free avoweth them sui juris especially so farre forth that right of burialls belonged unto them These were greater than Chanteries having more room for Priests and moe Priests for that room to pray for the souls of their Founders Colledges come the last as the heaviest and best ladâ—n with land into consideration These though fewest in number were richer than both the former insomuch that the Colledge of Fothering hay in North-hampton-shire was yearly valued at Four hundred nineteen pounds eleven shillings ten pence hafpeny And no wonder since this * See Speeds Catalogue in Norâ—hamptonshire Colledge had the rare happinesse to be endowed by the Kings both of Yorke and Lancaster at deadly mutuall enmity yet joyntly agreeing in their bounty to this place 20. How much the yearly revenue of all these Chanteries A 〈◊〉 scit of wealth accruing to the Crown Free-Chappels and Colledges amounted to God knows for the King knew as little as some in our Age. Indeed some of His Officers did but would not know as wilfully concealing their knowledge herein Yea some of these Chanteries may be said in a double sense to be supprest as not onely put down but also concealed never coming into the Exchequer being silently pocketed up by private but potent persons True it is the Courtiers were more rapacious to catch and voracious to swallow these Chanteries than Abbey-lands For at the first many were scrupulous in minde or modest in manners doubting the acceptance of Abbey-land though offered unto them till profit and custome two very able Confessours had by degrees satisfied their consciences and absolved them from any fault therein Now all scruples removed Chantery-land went down without any regreet Yea such who mannerly expected till the King carved for them out of Abbey lands scrambled for them selves out of Chantery-revenues as knowing this was the last dish of the last course and after Chanteries as after cheese nothing to be expected As for those who fairly purchased them of the King they had such good bargains therein that thereby all enriched and some ennobled both themselves and posterity But for satisfaction herein I referre the Reader to his * Sir Iohn Hayward in Edw. 6. pag. 155. pen who never spared any that came under it and seldome such as came neer it who speaks more bitternesse than falshood in this particular 21. The Chanterie-Priests Pensions assigned to Chantery-Priests by this suppression outed at once of all their livelyhood were not left to the wide world to shift for themselves but had durante vita pensions setled on them by King Edward His Letters Patents I have seen in the Auditor's Office for the North-part of the Dutchie of Lancaster the * Made in the 3 4 of Phil. and Mary Account of William Mallet Esq particular Receiver of the rents Colledges Chanteries c. in the Countie of Yorke viz of so many of them as were in that Shire annexed to the Dutchie of Lancaster which parcell alone amounted yearly to Seven hundred ninety six pounds four shillings two pence halfpeny Out of which summe was deducted One hundred twenty six pounds two shillings four pence for annuall pensions to Chantery Priests and others five pounds apiece the generall proportion assigned them for term of life by King Edward the sixt 22. The Parliament at the same time put Hospitalls also into the King's possession Some tendernesse to Hospitalls Yet surely more tendernesse was used to Hospitalls and I finde very few of them finally suppressed Indeed that of the Savoy at this time was much * Stows Survey of London pag. 344. abused with Loyterers Vagabonds and Strumpets which lay all day in the fields and at night were harboured there In which consideration King Edward dissolved the Hospitall but gave the land thereof worth six hundred pound per annum to the City of * Stow ut prius p. 491. London to endow Bridewell therewith Thus He did not extinguish charity
though dying some dayes after Bishop Andrews and indeed great was the conformity betwixt them Both being Sons of Seafaring * Bishop Andrews in London and Felton in Yarmouth Men who by Gods blessing on their industry attained comfortable estates both Scholars Fellows and Masters of Pembrook Hall both great Scholars painfull Preachers in London for many years with no less profit to others than credit to themselves both successively Bishops of Ely This Bishop Felton had a sound Head and a sanctified Heart beloved of God and all good men very Hospitable to all and charitable to the poor He died the 5. of October 1626 and lieth buried under the Communion Table in St. Antholins in London whereof he had been Minister for twenty * Attested unto me by John Norgate his Son in Law eight years One whilst a private man happy in his Curates whereof two Dr. Bowlles and Dr. Westfield afterwards became Bishops and when a Bishop no lesse happy in his learned and religious Chaplains TO JOHN CARY OF STANSTED in HARTFORD-SHIRE Esq RAre is your hapiness in leaving the Court before it left you Not in deserting your attendance on your Master of whom none more constantly observant but in quitting such vanities which the Court then in Power did tender and You then in Prime might have accepted Whilest you seasonably retrenched your Self and reduced your Soul to an Holy Seriousnes declining such expensive Recreations on Principles of Piety as wel as Providence wherewith your Youth was so much affected And now Sir seeing you are so judicious in RACING give me leave to prosecute the Apostles Metaphore in applying my best wishes to you and to your worthy Lady which hath repaired the Losses caused by Loyalty so that you have found in a virtuous Mate what you have lost for a gracious Master Heaven is your Mark Christ your way thither the Word the way to Christ Gods Spirit the Guide to both When in this Race Impatience shall make you to tire or Ignorance to stray or Idleness or Weakness to stumble or Wilfulnes to fall may Repentance raise you Faith quicken you Patience strengthen you til Perseverance bring you both to the Mark. 1. QUeen Mary surprised with some fright Anno Regis Carol. 5 Anno Dom. 1629 The birth and death of Pr. Charles as is generally beleeved antedated the time of her travel by some weeks and was delivered of a Son Wednesday May 13. But a greater acceleration was endeavoured in his Baptisme than what happened at his Birth such the forwardnes of the Popish Priests to snatch him from the hands of those as dressed him had not the care of K. Charles prevented tâ—em assigning Dr. Web then waiting his Moneth to Christen him He died about an houre after the King very patiently bearing the loss as receiving the first fruits of some of his Subjects estates Anno Dom. 1629 Anno Regis Carolis and as willingly paying those of his own Body to the King of Heaven 2. The University of Oxford Oxford Muses Cambridge being then heavily infected with the Plague at once in their verses congratulated the safe Birth and condoled the short life of this Prince and a Tetrastich made by one of Christi-Church thus in making his addresse to the Queen I must not omit Quòd Lucina tuos semel est frustrata Labores Nec fortunantes praebuit illa manus Ignoscas Regina uno molimine Ventris Non potuit Princeps ad triae Regna dari This Prince the next day after was buried by Bishop Laud in the Chappel at Westminster 3. During the sitting of the last Parliament Dr. Leighton his raâ—ling Book May 14 one Leighton a Scotish-man presented a Book unto them had he been an English man we durst call him a Furious and now will terme him a fiery whence kindled let other ghess Writer His Book consisted of a continued railing from the beginaing to the end exciting the Parliament and People to kil all the Bishops and to smite them under the fifth Rib. He bitterly enveyed against the Queen calling her a Daughter of Heth a Canaanite and Idolatress and ZIONSPLEA was the specious Title of his Pamplhet for which he was sentenced in the Star-chamber to be whipt and stigmatized to have his eares cropt and nose slit But betwixt the pronouncing and inflicting this Censure he makes his escape into Bedford-shire 4. The Warden of the Fleet was in a Bushel of Troubles about his escape Recovered after his escape and severely punished though alledging that some helped him over the wal and that he himself knew nothing thereof til the noon after But no plea seemed available for one in his place but either the keeping or recovering of his Prisoner unfortunate in the former he was happy in the latter brought him back into his custody so that the aforesaid censure was inflicted on him It is remarkable that amongst the many accusations charged on Archbishop Laud at his trial the severity on Leighton is not at all mentioned chiefly because though he might be suspected active therein his faults were of so high a nature none then or since dare appear in his defence The Papists boast that they have beyond the Seas with them his Son of an other perswasion 5. Some three yeers since Feoffees to buy in impropriations certain feoffees were though not incorporated by the Kings Letters Patent or any Act of Parliament legally setled in trust to purchase in impropriations with their own and other well disposed Persons money and with their profit to set up and maintain a constant preaching Ministry in places of greatest need where the word was most wanting These consisted of a number neither too few as the work should burden them nor so many as might be a burden to the work twelve in all diversly qualified 1 William Gouge 2 Richard Sibbs Drs. in Divinity 3 C. Ofspring 4 J. Davenport 5 Ralph Eyre 6 S. Brown of Lincolns Inn. 7 C. Sherland 8 John White of Grayes Inn. Middle Temple 9 John Geering 10 Richard Davis 11 George Harwood 12 Francis Bridges Citizens Here were four Divines Anno Regis Caroli 6 Anno Dom. 1950. to perswade mens consciences four Lawyers to draw all conveiances and four Citizens who commanded rich Coffers wanting nothing save what since doth all things some Swordmen to defend all the rest Besides these the Capemerchants as I may term them there were other inferiour Factors Mr. Foxley c. who were imployed by appointment or of officiousnes imployed themselves in this designe 6. It is incredible Begin and precceed hopefully what large sums were advanced in a short time towards so laudable an imployment There are indeed in England of Parish Churches nine thousand two hundred eighty four endowed with Glebe and Tithes But of these when these Feoffees entered on their work three thousand eight hundred fourty five were either or Appropriated to Bishops
the Conqueror going to subdue the Monks of Ely that resisted him Anno Regis Will. Conq. 5 made Cambridgeshire the Seat of Warre 2. For to the town of Cambridge he retired Cambridge Castle built by King William and there for a season reposed himself half dead with sorrow that his designe against the aforesaid Monks took no effect At what time he found in the Town 3â—7 dwelling houses 18 d Camden â—â—ittan in Cambridgeshire whereof he caused then to be pluck't down to make room for the erecting of a Castle which he there reedified that it might be a check-bit to curb this Countrey which otherwise was so hard-mouth'd to be ruled This Castle here built by him was strong for situation stately for structure large for extent and pleasant for prospect having in it amongst other rooms a most magnificent Hall the stones and timber whereof were afterwards beg'd by the Master and Fellows of e Caiuâ— Hist Cant. Acad. lib 2. pag 117 Kings-Hall of King Henry the fourth towards the building of their Chappell At this day the Castle may seem to have run out of the Gate-house which only is standing and imployed for a Prison so that what was first intended to restrain Rebells without it is now only used to confine Felons within it There is still extant also an artificiall high Hill deeply entrenched about steep in the ascent but levell at the top which indureth still in defiance of the teeth of Time as the most greedy Glutton must leave those bones not for manners but necessity which are too hard for him to devour King William had scarce finished this â—â—stle when it was first hanselled with the submission of the Abbot of Ely who came hither f Idem ibidem to bewail his errours and beseech the Kings mercie having formerly paid 700 Marks to preserve the life and liberty of himself and his Covent Besides when that money came to be paid and one g Speed in the life of King William the Conqâ—eâ—or groat thereof was found wanting in weight a new summe was extorted from him for breach of Covenants to teach them who are to deale with potent Creditors to weigh right left otherwise they approve themselves penny wise and pound foolish 3. Now though these martiall impressions did much discompose the studies of Scholars in Cambridge Henry â—eauclerk bred in Cambridge under William the Conqueror who being a Militarie man by his very constitution was not over-fond of Learning yet even in these dayes the place was not totally abandoned of Scholars 1080 Yet Cambridge was in some reputation and eminence for Literature 15 For Henrie youngest sonne to King William was h Thomas Rudburn Leland Fabian Bale Pitzeus pag. 203. here brought up in the study of Arts and Sciences and afterwards he travailed beyond the Seas being at Paris some say though improbable when news was brought of the death of his brother King William Rufus so that both homâ—bred and forain Learning met in him to deserve the surname of Beauclerk His father is reported to have designed him for a Bishop as Maud wife to this Henrie is said by her Parents to have been intended for a Nunne and these two marrying together were the most learned couple in that Age. 4. Some i Caiuâ— de ant Cantab. Acad. pag. 97. say that this Henry Probably a Benefactor to the University afterwards King of England in gratitude to Cambridge for his education endowed Readers of severall languages therein alledging Lelands verses as alluding thereunto Quid quòd Granta novem dicata Musis Henrici pietate literati Tersis prâ—nitet erudita Linguis Cambridge devoted to the Muses nine By learned Henries piety doth shine With learned men which Languages resine But we will not wrest the words beyond the intent of the Poet who herein seems to relate to the Hebrew and Greek Professors founded in his dayes at Cambridge by King Henrie the eighth whom we may call Beauclerk junior though short as in time Anno Regis so in learning of the former Anno Dom. Thus though for the present we will not build the bounty of this King Henrie to Cambridge on a false bottome yet certainly he was a dutifull Sonne to his Mother from whom he had his breeding and not forgetting her favour unto him 5. Not long after Will. Rufi 1 Roger of Montgomerie 1088 most mischievously with Fire and Sword destroied the Town and Countie of Cambridge Mischievous Montgomerie spoiling the poore Subjects so to be revenged of their Soveraign King William Rufus in so much as for a time the Universitie was wholly abandoned 6. Hugolina Picot his foundation in St. Giles his Parish a worthie woman and wife to Picot Baron of Burne and Sheriff of Cambridge-shire 5 recovered at Cambridge of a desperate sicknesse 1092 wherefore in gratitude according to the devout mode of those dayes she built a Church there dedicating it to God and S t. Giles and placed six Canons therein Yea she prevailed so far with her husband that he endowed this her Church with half the tithes of his Demesnes in his Manors of 1. Qui 2. Stow 3. Water-Beach 4. Midleton 5. Histons 6. Impeton 7. Gretton 8. Hokington 9. Ramton 10. Cotenham 11. Lolesworth 12. Trumpington 13. Haselingfield 14. Harleton 15. Eversden 16. Toft 17. Caldecot 18. Kingston 19. Winepole 20. Gransden 21. Hatley 22. Pampsworth 23. Alewind But soon after these tithes were but poorely payed namely when Robert Picot his sonne forfeited his Baronrie which King Henrie the first bestowed upon Pagan Peverell 7. See we here a grand difference betwixt the endowments of Monasteries before and after the Conquest The injurious original of Impropriations The Saxons generally endowed them with solid and substantial revenues out of their own estates giving good Farms and Manors unto them Or if any tithes only those within the circuit of that Parish wherein that Covent was erected the secular Priests and afterwards the Monks therein being presumed to take some spiritual pains in that place to the deserving thereof This properly was frank-almonage bestowing on God in his Church as they accounted it what was their own to estate upon him But the Normans embraced a cheaper way of dotations chiefly bestowing all or part of the tithes of their lands on Covents of their foundation payable out of Parishes lying a good distance from the same and this was according to the French fashion Now if it be true that tithes be due jure Divino this was no gift but a paiment which they were bound to tender to the Church Yea which is more such grants of tithes were no better than felonie robbing the Ministers of their respective Parishes of what was due unto them Insomuch that they took the oile from the weike the Pastor laboring in his Church and gave it to the thief or waster in the Lamp to which the
hitherto their great indeavours had small success adding moreover Franciscanórum aedes non modò decus atque ornamentum Academiae sed opportunitates magnas ad Comitia omnia Academiae negotia conficienda habent What accommodations this House could then afford the University at Commencement I understand not Sure I am King Henry the eighth bestowed it on Trinity-Colledge of whom the Executors of the Lady Frances Sidney did afterward purchase it Augustine-Friers on the south-side of Pease-Market lately the dwelling of Mr. Pierce and now of Mr. Thomas Back Esquire-Beadle Their Founder and value unknown Carmelites built by Edward the first to which Sir Guy de Mortimer and Thomas de Hertford were great Benefactors Their House crossed athwart the street now leading to Kings-Colledge as occupying the ground whereon Katherine-Hall and Queens doe stand at this day White-Canons almost over against Peter-house where now a brick wall the back-side is called White-Canons at this day and an Inn with the signe of the Moon As for the Nunnerie of St. Radigunds and Priorie of Barnewell we have formerly spoken of them onely I add that at the dissolution King Henry bestowed the site of the latter on Sir Anthony Brown afterward Viscount Mountague and Dame Elizabeth his wife and their heires at the rent of one pound four shillings penny half penny 26. These Friers living in these Covents were capable of Degrees Frequent contests betwixt Friers and University men and kept their Acts as other University men Yet were they Gremialls and not Gremialls who sometimes would so stand on the tiptoes of their priviledges that they endeavored to be higher than other Students so that oftentimes they and the scholars could not set their horses in one stable or rather their books on one shelf However generally the Chancellors ordered them into tolerable obedience as will appear hereafter 27. Last of all A list of learned Friers Writers it will be enough for the present Anno Dom. 1282 to give in a list of such learned Writers Anno Regis Edw. 1. 11 which were bred in Cambridge in these several Orders as we have collected them out of Bale Pitz and other Authors Augustinians Gulielmus Wels 1421 Joannes Buriensis 1460 Galfride Glandfield 1340 Joannes Godwick 1360 John Langham John Sloley 1477 John Tonney 1490 Ralph Marcham 1380 Richard Chester 1354 Roger Clacton 1340 Dominicans William Encurt 1340 William King sham 1262 John Boltesham 1388 John Bromiard 1390 John Stock 1374 Simon Barnstone 1337 Tho. Langford 1320 Franciscans Will. Folvil 1384 John Wichingham 1362 Reginald Langham 1410 Vin. Coventriensis 1251 Stephen Baron 1520 Carmelites Alan de Lin 1420 Dionys Holcan 1424 Walter Diss 1404 Walter Heston 1350 Will. Beccle 1438 Will. Bintree 1493 Will. Blacvey 1490 Will. Califord Will. Cokisford 1380 Will. de Sancta Fide 1372 Will. Greene 1470 Will. Harsick 1413 Will. Lincoln 1360 Will. Sarslet 1466 Wil. Parcher 1470 Hugh of St. Neots 1340 Joh. Bampto 1341 Jo. Baret 1556 Jo. Beston 1428 Jo. Clipston 1378 Jo. Elin 1379 Jo. Falsham 1348 Jo. Hornby 1374 Jo. Pascal 1361 Jo. Repingal 1350 Jo. Swaffam 1394 Jo. Thorpe 1440 Jo. Tilney 1430 Jo. Wamsleet 1418 Mart. Sculthorp 1430 Nic. Cantilupe 1441 Nic. Kenton 1468 Nic. Swaffam 1449 Pet. de Sancta Fide 145â— Ralph Spalding 1390 Rob. Ivorie 1392 Tho. Hilley 1290 Tho. Maldon 1404 These were bred in the aforesaid Houses in Cambridge belonging to their Orders untill graduated in Divinitie and were afterwards dispersed into their respective Covents all over England 27. The Reader doth remember how above twenty yeares since The first endowing of Peter house viz. anno 1257 Hugh Balsham Subprior of Ely founded a Colledge without Trumpington-gate consisting of two Hostles he had purchased and united The same Hugh now Bishop of Ely removed the Secular Brethren from S t Johns-Hospital in the a Betwixt Round-Church and what is now St. Johns Colledge Jewry where they and the Regulars agreed not very well to this his new foundation At which time he endowed the same with maintenance for one Master fourteen Fellowes two Bible-clerks and eight poore Scholars whose number might be increased or diminished according to the improvement or abatement of their revenues He appointed his successors the Bishops of Ely to be honorary Patrones yea nursing Fathers to this his infant Colledge who have well discharged their trust therein 28. We know what the Historian saith Zoars may grow great in time Omnia ferme principia sunt parva Almost all beginnings are small as here indeed they were Alas Balsham for a long time was little able to endow a Colledge as scarce sufficient to subsist of himself whilst his election to Ely made b Godwin in his catalogue of Bishops without the Kings consent was not yet confirmed But no sooner had he any certainty for himself but his Colledge had a share thereof for he gave them all the rights and Tithes belonging to S t Peters Church adjoyning and by his Will bequeathed them three hundred Markes wherewith was bought and built a faire Hal and Court since much beautified and enlarged Masters Benefactors Bishops Learned Writers Livings in Col. gift 1 Roger de la Goter Anno Regis Edw. 1. 9 of S Botolphs Anno Dom. 1282 Master 1340. 2 Ralph de Holbech resigned his place and resum'd a Fellowship 1349. 3 William de Whitlesey Archd. of Huntington chosen Custos 1349. 4 Richard de wisbich chosen Master 1351. 5 Thomas de Wormthall Canon of SaruÌ„ Chancellor of Ely 1381. He died the same year 6 John de Newton chosen 1381. 7 Thomas de castro Berhard 8 John Holbrook He dyed 1431. 9 Thomas Lane 1457. 10 Thomas Deinman 11 John Warkworth 1474 12 Henry Hornby 1417. 13 Jo. Edwunds 14 Ralph Ainsworth 15 Andrew Pern 16 Robert Soame 17 Jo. Richardson 18 Tho Turner 19 Leonard Maw 20 Math. Wren 21 John Cosâ—ns Dean of Peterborough 22 Lazarus Seaman D. D. Sim. Montagu Sim. Langham Joh. Fordbam Bishops of Ely John Holbrook Thomas Lane Tho. Dryman Joh. Warkworth Will. Burgoin Henrie Hornbye John Edmunds Andrew Perne All Masters of the Colledge Ralph Walpool Bishop of Norwich 1290 gave two Messuages in Cambridge Mr. Thomas Packington Will. Noyon Rector of Haddenbam William Martin Rob. Shorton Edm Hanson Rob. Gilbert Mr. Skelton Mrs. Elizabeth Wolfe John Whitgift Arch. of Cant. Edward Lord. NORTH Robert Smith Henry wilshaw The Lady Mary Ramsey Robert Warden Thomas Warren Mrs Margaret Dean William Herne Mr. Robert Slade Mr. John Blitb late Fellow Mrs. Frances Mathew Dr. John Richardson Dr. Haukings what gave 100 l. 100 l. 100 l. towards the building of a new Court front and Gate towards the street now finished c So Mr. R. Parker proves him out of the Reco ds of Ely though otherwise I consess Bishop Godwin makes him of Oxford WilliaÌ„de whitlesey third Master of this Coll. Archbishop of Canterbury John de Botelsham Bishop of Rotchester Master of
this Col. John Whitgift Arch. of Canterbury Fellow Walter Curle Bishop of Winchester Fellow Matth. Wren Master of this Coll. Bishop of Ely Roger Marshal well skild in Mathematicks whereof saith Pitz in his Appendix he wrote many Books and collected more which he gave to the Library d Bale Cent. nonae p. 721. George Joye who flourished annò 1547 translated part of the Bible Edw. Simmons who wrote many good Treatises 1547 1 Cherry-Hinton Vicaridge in Ely Diocess valued in the Kings Books at 9 l. 14 s. 6 d. 2 Ellington in the Diocess of Lincoln a Vicatidge valued at 6 l. 9 s. 3 Triplow Vic. in Ely Diocess valued 9 l. 4s 2d 4 St. Maries the less in Cambridge valued 0l 0s 0d 5 Statberne Rec. in Lincoln Dioc. valued 16l 3s The Reader wil pardon the shortness of this out catalogue of Masters not touching the top of the foundation by fifty yeers which looks like the blunt Tower of a Steeple whose spire or shaft hath been burnt down with lightning or broken with thunder as indeed some such casualty hath caused this imperfection For in the year 1420 a sad fire consumed the muniments of this Colledge which caused Caius to begin his list of Masters but at Thomas de castro Bernardi and the six Seniors before him are recovered by the care of Mr. R. e In his Scelatos Cantabrigiensis M S. Parker out of Ely-Records Yet this catalogue stil remaineth incomplete O that it were as easy to rectify as reprove faults guilty I am afraid not onely of transposition in the order but omission in the number thereof For I have * Maâ—â—script in 10. read that John Botsham was admitted Master 14 yet he appears not in Caius or any other printed Author 29. Amongst the Benefactors many who onely gave plate smal summs A generall rule about our catalogue of Benefactors and books are for Brevity sake omitted and not any slighting of their bounty for the smalness thereof For if our Saviour beheld the Widow as the best benefactor to the Corban who endowed it only with two mites and if a cup of cold water warm comfort to a thirsty Soul shall receive its reward surely such as give the cup also deserve their due commendation and shall have a requiral thereof Anno Dom. 1282 I have ordered some blank lines at the end of that Catalogue Anno Regis Edw 1. 11 as a reserve to register the bounty of posterity which shall not complain that they are paper bound in my book where room on purpose is left to enter their names who shall be charitably disposed I hope also that those void intervals and spaces in the List of Learned Writers which as so many open mouths invoke the industry of the Reader wil have their emptiness filled by several mens observations whose pens may at their leasure supply what the Press hath left unperfect 30. Know also I could have more particularly specified the value and place of Founders and Benefactors bounty what land they gave Cautela non nocet how much worth where lying but thought better to forbear as ignorant in these dangerous dayes what ill use might be made of my well intended endeavours 31. Condemn not our Tautology if the same Bishop often recur in several Colledges Repetition of Bishops why necessary perchance Scholar of one Fellow of another Master of a third because rather than I would wrong any House with the omission I would right them all with the repetition of the same person Such Bishops as passed through many Seas successively are for shortness entitled only from the last and highest dignity 32. To return to Peter-house A commendable custome of this Colledge I cannot but commend one peculiar practise of this Colledge which in their Parlour preserveth the Pictures of all their principall Benefactors For although the bounty of the Judicious is grounded on more solid motives than to be flattered thereinto by the fancy that their Effigies shall be kept yet such an ingenuous Memoriall may be an encouragement to a Patrons Liberality Besides under such Pictures a Distich commonly is written and I will instance in one of the latest date Haeredem voluit SLADUS conscribere PETRUM Clauderet extremum ne sine prole diem SLADE PETER chose and for his Heir assign'd him Lest he should die and leave no Child behinde him At this day the Colledge maintaineth one Master nineteen Fellowes twenty nine Bible-clerks eight poor Scholars besides other officers and Students amounting lately viz. anno 1634 to an hundred and six 33. We Cambridge men behold this Colledge as the first foundation endowed in England The eldest English endowed Colledge which our corrivals at Oxford wil not allow For I finde it inscribed in Rotchester Church on the monument of Walter de Merton that the Colledge by him founded and named is the example of all in that kinde t Britannia page 381. M r Gamden in his description of Oxford affirmeth that Ballol and Merton Colledges therein are the two first endowed for Students in Christendome And some alledge that Merton Colledge must needs be the Mother and Peter house but the Daughter because Spâ—on de Montagu Bishop of Ely did prescribe the Statutes of Merton to be observed by the Students of Peter-house 34. All this scarce moveth Exception to the contrary answered nothing removeth us from our former Opinion being almost as confident of the Seniority of Peter-house before all other Colledges as Romanists are of the Priority of St. Peter before the rest of the Apostles And first as for the inscription in Rotchester both it and Mertons Monument are modern as set up by S t Henery Savil anno 1598. That passage of the great Antiquary is only extant in the English translation not Latin Britannia and so may justly seem to have more of Philemon Holland than William Caâ—den therein It is confest that Simon Montagu the 17 Bishop of Ely more then sixty yeares after Balshaâ—s death Anno Regis Edw. 1. enjoyned our Petreans the observation of Merton Colledge Statutes Anno Dom. finding them more convenient than such which their Founder had left them But this makes nothing to the matter of most antiquity the point in controversy In requitall of this eurresie if Cambridge hath ought the imitation whereof may be acceptable to Oxford she is right glad for the welcome occasion as lately Oxford in choise of her Procters hath conformed herself to Cambridge custome by way of a Circular Combination of Colledges as a Course most quiet and freest from faction 35. The Crisis of the Controversie depends p The truth unpartially slated if I mistake not on the clearing of the different dates of Peter-house its foundation and comparing it with others Peter-house first founded 1257. the 41 of Hen. the third by Sub prior Hugh Balsham Peter house first endowed 1282 the 11 of Edw. the first by Hughâ—â— Balsham
meae Ignorantias ne memineris Domine Remember not Lord my sins nor the Ignorances of my Youth But may the Reader take notice this Story is related by Richard Hall a zealous Papist in his life of Bishop Fisher A Book which when lately in Manuscript I then more prized for the Rarity then since it is now printed I trust for the Verity thereof Iohn VVatson 11 Vice-Chan 1518-19 VVilliam Smith Iohn Cheswrigh Proctours VVil. Barber Major Doct. of Divinity 10 Can. Law 3 Bac. of Divin 11 Mast of Arts 26 Bac. of Law 26 Arts 38 27. Monks Colledge this year had it's name altered Monks turned into Buckingham Coll. and condition improved Formerly it was a place where many Monks lived on the Charge of their respective Convents being very fit for solitary Persons by the Situation thereof For it stood on the trans-Cantine side an Anchoret in it self severed by the River from the rest of the University Here the Monks some seven years since had once and again lodged and feasted Edward Stafford the last Duke of Buckingham of that Family Great men best may good men alwayes will be gratefull Guests to such as entertain them Both Qualifications met in this Duke and then no wonder if he largely requited his VVelcome He changed the Name of the House into Buckingham Colledge began to build and purposed to endow the same no doubt in some proportion to his own high and rich estate Edm. Nateres 12 Vice-Chan 1519-20 Iohn Denny VVil. Meddow Proct. Richard Clark Major Doct. Theol. 5 Iu. Can. 1 Civ 1 Bac. Theol. 20 Mag. Art 23 Bac. Leg. 19 Art 31 28. Two eminent men are assigned by a good Authour at this time to flourish in Cambridge A pair of learned Writers The one VVilliam Gonel a friend to Erasmus and here publick Professour saith b In Appendice illustrium Angliae Scriptorum Pitz but would he had told us of what Faculty But probably Publick Professour in the laxe acception of that Title importeth no more then an ordinary Doctour We need not question his Sufficiency when we find Sir Tho. More an Oxford man and able Judge of Merit select him for Tutour to his Children The other Stephen Baron Provinciall of the Franciscans and Confessour faith one c Idem p. 696 in anno 1520. to King Henry the eighth Some will scarce believe this Anno Dom. 1519-20 onely because about this time they find Longland Bishop of Lincoln performing that place Anno Regis Henrici 8. 12 except King Henry as he had many Faults had many Confessours at once But this Baron might have this office some years since Let me here without offence remember that the Seniour Vicar as I take it of the Kings Chappel is called the Confessour of the Kings Houshold which perchance hath caused some Mistakes herein Tho. Stackhouse 1520-21 Vice-Chan 13 Rich. Frank lo. Crayford Proctours Rich Clark Major Doct. Theol. 9 Ju. Can. 3 Civ 1 Bac. Theol. 5 Mag. Art 21 Bac. Leg. 7 Art 26 29. Edward Stafford D. of Buckingham The untimely death of the Duke of Buckingham a Gentleman rather vain then Wicked guilty more of Indiscretion then Disloialty by the practise of Cardinall VVoolsey lost his Life and was beheaded Charles the fifth Emperour being informed of his death a Godwin in Henry the eighth May 17 said that a Butchers Dog such VVoolsey's extraction had kill'd the fairest BUCK in England Let Oxford then commend the Memory of this Cardinall for founding a fair Colledge therein Cambridge hath more cause to complain of him who hindred her of an hopefull Foundation For this Duke surprized with death built but little and endowed nothing considerably in this Buckingham Colledge No wonder to such who consider that prevented with an unexpected End he finished not his own House but onely brought the sumptuous and stately Foundation thereof above ground at Thornbury in b Camden's Brit. ibidem Glocestershire Afterwards in Commiseration of this Orphan Colledge severall Convents built Chambers therein But more of it hereafter in Magdalen Colledge Iohn Edmunds Vice-Chan Nich. Rowley Iohn Stafford 1521-22 14 Proct. Robert Smith Major Doct. Theol. 6 Ju. Can. 1 Civ 1 Bac. Theol. 19 Mag. Art 22 Bac. Leg. 6 Art 40 30. Richard Crook was the first Crook his Character who now brought Greek into request in the University He was born in London bred in Kings Colledge where Anno c Manuscript Hatcher 1506. he was admitted Scholar Then travailing beyond the Seas he became publick Reader of Greek at Lipzick in Germany After his return by the perswasion of Bishop Fisher Chancellour of Cambridge he professed therein the Greek Language All Students equally contributed to his Lectures whether they heard d Epist Tho. Mori ad Aca. Oxon. or heard them not as in Dutch Ordinaries all Guests pay alike for the Wine e Erasmi Colloqu in Diversorio though they drink it not because they were or should be present thereat Crook dedicated his first publick Speech made in praise of the Greek tongue to Nich. VVest Bishop of Ely because Cambridge understand him of all the Parish Churches therein is of his Jurisdiction A passage impertinently pressed by f Brian Twine Oxford Antiquary to prove this University under his Episcopall Power as being in not of Elic Diocese exempted from it though surrounded with it Crook was also chosen the first publick Oratour a place of more Honour then Profit whose originall Salary g Cajus Hist. Cant. Aâ— l. 2 pag. 129. was but 40â— per ann Tho. Green Vice-Chan 1522-23 Robert Dent Io. Briganden Proct. Geo. h MS. Coll. Corp. Christi Hoyster Major He was excommunicated for his obstinacy towards the Deputy of the Vice-Ch 15 Doct. Theol. 5 In. Can. 2 Mag. Art 22 Bac. Art 46 31. It will not be amisse here to present the Reader with a List of the University Oratours Anno Regis Henrici 8. 15 Anno Dom. 1522-23 A Catalogue of Cambridge Oratours Oratours chosen 1 Richard Crook 1522 2 George Day fellow of Kings Col. 1528 3 Iohn Redman of Kings Hall 1537 4 Thomas Smith fellow of Queens Col. 1538 5 Roger Ascham fellow of S t. Iohns Col. 1547 6 Tho. Gardiner fellow of Kings Col. 1554 7 Iohn Stokes of the same 1557 8 George Ackworth 1560 9 Anthony Girlington fellow of Pembrook Hall 1561 10 Andrew Oxenbridge fellow of Trin. Col. 1562 11 VVil. Masters fellow of Kings Col. 1564 12 Thomas Bing fellow of Peter House 1564 13 VVilliam Lewin fellow of Christs Col. 1570 14 Iohn Beacon fellow of S t Iohns Col. 1571 15 Rich. Bridgewater fellow of Kings Col. 1573 16 Anthony VVing field fellow of Trin. Col. 1580 and re-admitted 1586 17 Henry Moutlow fellow of Kings Col. 1589 18 Rob. Naunton fellow of Trin. Col. 1595 19 Francis Nethersole fellow of Trin. Col. 1611 20 George
breeding b. 11. p. 219. ¶ 85. his peaceable disposition ¶ 86. improving of piety p. 220. ¶ 87 c. an innocent deceiver ¶ 90. excellent Hebrician ¶ 91. last of the old Puritans ¶ 92. DOGGES meat given to men b. 3. p. 29. ¶ 46 DOMINICAN Friers their first coming over into England b. 6. p. 270. ¶ 15. after their expulsion set up again by Q. Mary p. 357. the learned men of this order who were bred in Cambrid Hist. of Cam. p. 30. De DOMINIS Marcus Antonius see SPALATO John DONNE Dean of St. Pauls prolocutour in the Convocation b. 10. p. 112. ¶ 15. his life excellently written by Mr. Isaack Walton ¶ 16. DOOMES-DAY Book composed by the command of Will the Conquerour b. 3. ¶ 3. DORT Synod b. 10. p. 77. ¶ 63. four English Divines sent thither ibidem King James his Instructions unto them p. 77 78. Oath at their admission into it p. 78. ¶ 66. liberall allowance from the State p. 77. ¶ 77. various censures on the decisions thereof p. 84. ¶ 5 c. The DOVE on King Charles his Sceptre ominously broken off b. 11. ¶ 16. Thomas DOVE Bishop of Peterborough his death b. 11. p. 41. ¶ 17. DOWAY COLL. in Flanders for English fugitives b. 9. p. 85. A Convent there for Benedictine Monks b. 6. p. 365. And another for Franciscan Friers 366. DRUIDES their office and imployment amongst the Pagan Britans C. 1. ¶ 3. The DUTCH Congregation first set up in London b. 7. p. 407. ¶ 33. priviledges allowed them by King Edward the sixth ibidem under Queen Mary depart with much difficulty and danger into Denmark b. 8. p. 8. ¶ 13. DUBLIN University founded by Queen Elizabeth b. 9. p. 211. ¶ 44. the severall benefactours whereof Mr. Luke Chaloner a chief p. 212. no rain by day during the building of the Colledge ibidem The Provosts therof p. 213. ¶ 47. DUBRITIUS Arch-bishop of Caer-lion a great Champion of the truth against Pelagius C. 6. ¶ 3. ADUCATE worth about four shillings but imprinted eight b. 5. p. 196 ¶ 37. Andrew DUCKET in effect the founder of Queens Colledge in Cambridge Hist of Cambridge p. 80. ¶ 33. St. DUNSTAN his story at large Cent. 10. ¶ 11. c. his death and burial in Canterbury ¶ 44. as appeared notwithstanding the claim of Glassenbury by discovery ¶ 45 46. DUNWOLPHUS of a swine-heard made Bishop of VVinchester C. 9. ¶ 41. DURHAM the Bishoprick dissolved by King Edward the sixth b. 7. p. 419. ¶ 2. restored by Queen Mary ¶ 3. VVil. DYNET the solemn abiuration injoyned him wherein he promiseth to worship Images b. 4. p. 150. E. EASTER-DAY difference betwixt the British Romish Church in the observation thereof Cent. 7. ¶ 5. the Controversie stated betwixt them ¶ 28. reconciled by Laurentius ¶ 30. the antiquity of this difference ¶ 31. spreads into private families ¶ 89. A counsell called to compose it ¶ 90. setled by Theodorus according to the Romish Rite ¶ 96. EATON COLLEDGE founded by K. Henry the sixth b. 4. EDGAR King of England Cent. 10. ¶ 24. disciplined by Dunstan for viciating a Nun. ¶ 26. The many Canons made by him why in this book omitted ¶ 29. A most Triumphant King ¶ 30. his death ¶ 34. EDMUND King of the East Angles cruelly Martyred by the Danes Cent. 9. ¶ 22. EDWARD the Elder calls a Councell to confirm his Fathers acts Cent. 10. ¶ 5. gives great Priviledges to Cambridge ¶ 6. EDWARD the Martyr Cent. 8. ¶ 34. Barbarously murthered ¶ 42. EDWARD the Confessour his life at large Cent. 11. ¶ 11 c. King EDWARD the first his advantages to the Crown though absent at his Fathers death b. 3. p. 74. ¶ 3. his atchievements against the Turkes ¶ 4. Casteth the Iews out of England p. 87. ¶ 47. chosen arbitratour betwixt Baliol Bruce claiming the Kingdome of Scotland p. 88. ¶ 49. which Kingdome he conquereth for himself ¶ 50. stoutly maintaineth his right against the Pope p. 90. ¶ 2. humbled Rob. Winchelsey Arch-bishop of Cant. ¶ 4 5. the Dialogue betwixt them 6. his death and character p. 92. ¶ 11. his Arme the standard of the English yard ibid. King EDWARD the second his character b. 3. p. 93. ¶ 13. fatally defeated by the Scots ¶ 14. his vitiousnesse p. 100. ¶ 28. accused for betraying his Priviledges to the Pope ¶ 29. his deposing and death p. 103. King EDWARD the third a most valiant and fortunate King both by Sea and Land foundeth Kings Hall in Cambridge Hist of Camb. p. 39. ¶ 36. his death and Character b. 4. p. 136. ¶ 12. King EDWARD the fourth gaineth the Crown by Conquest b. 4. p. 190. ¶ 46. Beaten afterwards in Battel by the Earle of VVarwick p. 191. ¶ 31. escapeth out of prison flyeth beyond the Seas returneth and recovereth the Crown ¶ 32 33. A Benefactour to Merron Coll. in Oxford b. 3. p. 75. ¶ 7. but Malefactour to Kings Coll. in Cambridge Hist of Camb. p. 76. ¶ 19. his death b. 4. p. 199. ¶ 4◠King EDWARD the fifth barbarously murthered by his Vncle Richard Duke of York b. 4. p. 196. ¶ 5. King EDWARD the sixth his Injunctions b. 7. ¶ 3. observations thereon p. 374. his severall proclamations whereof one inhibiteth all Preachers in England for a time p. 388 389. his TEXT ROYAL and our observations thereon p. 397 398. c. Giveth an account by letter to B. Fitz-Patrick of his progresse p. 412 413. severall letters written by him p. 423 424. his diary p. 425. ¶ 14. quick wit and pious prayer ¶ 17. at his death ibid. EDWIN King of Northumberland and in effect Monarch of England after long preparatory promises Cent. 7. ¶ 39 c. at last converted and baptised ¶ 43. slain by the Pagans in Battel ¶ 60. EGBERT Arch-bishop of York famous in severall respects b. 2. p. 101. ¶ 23. his beastly Canons ¶ 24. EGBERT first fixed Monarch of England Cent. 8. ¶ 41. First giveth the name of England Cent. 9. ¶ 5 6. Is disturbed by the Danes ¶ 7. ELEUTHERIUS Bishop of Rome his Letter to King Lucius Cent. 2. ¶ 6. pretendeth to an ancienter date then what is due thereunto ¶ 7. sends two Divines into Britain ¶ 8. ELIE Abbey made the See of a Bishop b. 3. p. 23. ¶ 23. the feasts therein exceed all in England b. 6. p. 299. ¶ 11. Q. ELIZABETH proclaimed b. 8. p. 43. ¶ 56. assumeth the title of supream head of the Church b. 9. p. 152. ¶ 4. defended therein against Papists p. 53. ¶ 5 6. c. Excommunicated by Pope Pius quintus b. 9. p. 93 94. Her farewell to Oxford with a Latine Oration b. 9. p. 223. ¶ 7 8. Her well-come to Cambridge with a Latine Oration Hist of Cambridge p. 138. her death b. 10. p. 4. ¶ 12. Iohn ELMAR Bishop of London his death and Character b. 9. p. 223. ¶ 10. ELVANUS sent by King Lucius to Eleutherius Bishop of
pursued by the Scholars p. 62. ¶ 15. whereupon be interdicteth the university ¶ 17. but at the Bishops intercession ¶ 19. and the Scholars solemn penâ—ance ¶ 20. 〈◊〉 is reconciled ibidem John OVER ALL carryeth the Kings Professours plâ—oe from Mr. Wotton Hist. of Camb. p. 125. ¶ 20. Dean of St. Pauls b. 10. p. 7. gives King James an account of Lambeth Articles p. 13. his death p. 86. ¶ 10. OXFORD Vniversity if not founded restored by King Alfred C. 9. ¶ 30. the Armes of the Vniversity â— 40. the Scholars there of harshly used by King William â—he Conquerour b. 3. p. 6. ¶ 16. killed the brother of Otho the Popes Legate p. 61. ¶ 13. for which â—e interdicteth the Vniversity p. 62. ¶ 17. till the Scholars make their solemn submission ¶ 20. the great and suddain alterations therein in the Reign of Q. Mary b. 8. p. 7 8 9. a strange Mortality Anno 1577. aâ— the Assizes b. 9. p. 109. ¶ 22. counted by â—aunders a greâ—â— miracle ¶ 24. though a natural cause be assigned thereof ¶ 25. discontents therein about innovations b. 11. p. 141 ¶ 18 c. P. APALL what it iâ— with the my steries thereof C. 7. ¶ 38. PANDULPHUS his proud 〈◊〉 b. 3. p. 53. ¶ 22. Katharine PAR marryed to King Henry the eighth b. 3. p. 243. ¶ 48. her enemies 〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉 defeated by Gods providence ¶ 49 50 the form of publick prayer for her b. 7. p. 374 â—â—letter of Edward the sixth while Prince unto her p. 423 424. PARISHES in England first divided by Pope Honourâ—â—â— 7. ¶ 68. Matthew PARKER almost looseth his own life to convert the Rebells b. 7. p. 394. ¶ 7. made Archb. of Cant. b. 9. p. 60. ¶ 23 most legally consecrated ¶ 25 c. in defiance of all Popish Calumnies ibidem his death p. 108. ¶ 17. and defence against Mr. Prin ¶ 18. see Bennet Coll. Margaret PARKER the Arch-bishop his exemplary wife b. 9. p. 108. ¶ 19. St. PATERN a pattern for all Bishops C. 6. ¶ 10. St. PATRICK falsly reported living and dying at Glassenbury C. 5. ¶ 18 19 20. a distinct person from Sen Patrick ¶ 20. St. PAUL by a Poeticall Hyperbole onely made to preach in Britain C. 1. ¶ 8. PAULINUS his death C. 7. ¶ 79. The PAX what it was and the original thereof Hist of Walt. p. 17. in the third Item PEADA first Christian Prince of Mercia C. 7. ¶ 83. PELAGIUS a Britan by birth C. 5. ¶ 1. his principal Errours ¶ 3. condemned by many Councels under the name of his Scholar Caelestius ibid. PEMBROOK HALL in Cambridge founded by Mary de St. Paul Hist. of Camb. p. 41. PEMBROOK Colledge in Oxford founded b. 11. ¶ 41 42. John PENRY with others executed for libelling against the Bishops b. 9. p. 223. ¶ 6. Rob. PERSONS Jesuit cometh over into England b. 9. p. 114. ¶ 41. his three strange escapes p. 118. ¶ 44 45. returns to Rome ¶ 46. Master of the English Colledge there p. 86. the Secular priests bitterly complain of him p. 233. ¶ 30. St. PETER he never preached in Britain not withstanding Persons his arguments to the contrary C. 1. ¶ 7. PETER-Pence first granted to the Pope by King Ina C. 8. ¶ 13. amounting at least to seven thousand five hundred pounds per ann b. 15. p. 197. ¶ 46 47. PETER-HOUSE founded by Hugo Balsham Subprior of Ely Hist of Camb. p. 12. ¶ 44. endowed many years after by the same Hugo when Bishop of Ely p. 30 31 32 33. St. PETROCK captain of the Cornish Saints C. 6. ¶ 11. J. PHILPOT stoutly defendeth the truth in the convocation b. 8. ¶ 22. against railing Weston ¶ 23. sealeth it with his blood ¶ 24. John PIERCE Arch-bishop of York his death and commendation for exemplary temperance b. 9. p. 223. ¶ 9. Thomas PIERCY Earle of Northumberland his Rebellion against Q. Elizabeth b. 9. p. 83. ¶ 15. in maintenance of Popery ¶ 16. routed by the Queens forces ¶ 17. beheaded at York ¶ 19. James PILKINTON the false report of ten thousand pound given with his daughter b. 5. p. 253. ¶ 55. the truth thereof b. 9. p. 109. ¶ 21. his death ibidem Pope PIUS the fourth his letter and proposalls to Q. Elizabeth b. 9. p. 68. ¶ 40. Pope PIUS the fifth his sentence declaratory against Q. Elizabeth b. 9. p. 93. PLAYERS prohibited by proclamation of King Edward the sixth b. 7. p. 391. Thomas PLAYFER his ranting Epitaph Hist of Camb. p. 158. ¶ 40. PLEGMUND of an eminent Eremitâ— made Arch-bishop of Canterbury C. 9. ¶ 43. consecrateth seven Bishops in one day C. 10. ¶ 4. PLUNDER whence derived and when first used in England b. 11. p. 196. ¶ 33. Reg. POOLE Cardinall why so much favoured by Q. Mary b. 8. ¶ 39. Godfather to â— Tremelius ¶ 40 consecrated Archb. of Cant. ¶ 41. his dry Sermon of the Pall ibid. reconcileth England unto Rome ¶ 42. his death b. 8. S. 3. ¶ 49. well inclined to be a Protestant ¶ 50. leaveth all his estate to Italians 51. Chancellour both of Cambridge and Oxford Hist of Camb. p. 135. ¶ 53. Sr. Tho. POPE vide Trinity Colledge Oxford The POPE in England in his Rising improveth his power on five sorts of Princes C. 10. ¶ 2. The POPE in England in his Reigning a conjectural estimate of his yearly revenues in England b. 5. p. 197. The POPE in England in his Ruine how his usurped power at the abolition thereof was restored to several persons to whom it did belong b. 5. ¶ 199. All PREACHERS for a time inhibited by a Proclamation of King Edward the sixth b. 7. p. 388 389. PREMUNIRE-statute why made b. 4. p. 145. the form thereof p. 146 c. why so named p. 148. ¶ 35. Thomas PRESTON Master of Trinity Hall Queen Elizabeth her Scholar History of Camb. p. 139. ¶ 2. John PRESTON his great favour at Court b. 11. ¶ 6. imployed in a double conference ¶ 35 36. temporizeth with the Duke of Buckingham ¶ 43 44. his death and buriall ¶ 66. William PRIN b. 11. p. 152. ¶ 56. accused for libelling against Bishops ¶ 57. his plea rejected p. 152. ¶ 6â— and answer refused ¶ 63. his speech on the Pillory ¶ 73. and behaviour therein ¶ 74. good employment in his exile 75. brought book with triumph p. 172. ¶ 32. False PROPHECYES a great trade driven with them in Abbeys Hist of Abb. p. 333. ¶ 11. PROPHECYINGS in England how ordered b. 9. P. 121. ¶ 2. their inconveniences p. 122. ¶ 3. Arch-bishop Grindal his large letter to Q. Elizab. in their defence p. 123 c. PROVISIONS of the Pope their nature b. 3. p. 8. and b. 4. p. 115. ¶ 25. redressed by a statute ¶ 26. yet complained of many years after p. 147. ¶ 43. PSALMS of David by whom translated into English meeter b. 7. p. 406. ¶ 31. the mean doing thereof endeavoured to be defended ¶ 32.