And yet in way of recovering health by changing of Aire of study for a time in thâ— Vniversity of mortall enmity borne by some in the parish of prosecution of Law or of being imployed in publick Affairs they cannot be wholy abrogated That there were in England foure thousand five hundred Benefices with Cure not above ten and most of them under eight pounds in the first fruits-book which cannot be furnished with able Pastors as the Petitioners desire because of the smallness of their livings Moreover he affirmed that what ever was pretended to the contrary England at that time flourished with able Ministers more then ever before yea had more then all Christendome besides 3. The Lord Grey rejoyned to this Assertion of more learned Ministers in the Church of England then ever heretofore The Lord Gray his rejoynder nay then in all the reformed Churches in Christendome this That it was not to he attributed to the Bishops or their actions but to God who now opened the hearts of many to see into the truth and that the Schools were better observed 4. The Lord Treasurer Burghley seeming to moderate betwixt them The Lord Treasurer his moderation after a long and learned oration concluded that he was not so scrupuleus as absolutely to like of the bill against Pluralities without any exception for he did favour both learning and wished a competent reward to it And therefore could like and allow a learned man to have two Benefices so they were both in ene parish that is to say in one Diocess and not one in the Diocess of Winchester and another in the North where the severall Diocesans would have no regard of them whereas being both in one Diocess the Bishop would look unto them 5. Here it was signified that her Majesty was acquainted with the matter Others interpret and that she was very forward to redress the faults and therefore required the Bishops not to binder her good and gracious purpose for that her Majesty would conferr with them 6. The Lord Gray again said The Lord Grays quere whether of Withen or what most probable of Ruthen afterwards Earl of Kent replyed he greatly wondred at her Majesty that she would make choice to conser with those who were all enemies to Reformation for that it meerly touched their freeholds and therefore he thought it good the house should make choice of some to be joyned with them Also he wished the Bishops might be served as they were in in King Henry the 8 th dayes when as in the case of praemunire they were all thrust out of doores 7. Then the Lord Treasurer said that the Bishops if they were wise would themselves be humble suiters to her Majesty to have some of the Temporall Lords joyned with them 8. The Lord Chamberlain utterly disliked the Lord Grayes motion alledging that it was not to be liked of that the Lords should appoint her Majesty any to confer withall but that it should be left to her own election 9. Matters flying thus high the Arch-Bishop with the rest of the Clergy The Bishops providently petition the Queen conceived it the safest way to apply themselves by Petition to the Queen which they presented as followeth To the Queens most excellent Majesty THe wofull and distressed state whereinto we are like to fall forceth us with griâ—f of heart in most humble maner to crave your Majesties most soveraign Protection For the pretence being made the maintenance and increase of a learned ministry when it is throughly weighed decryeth learning spoâ—leth their livings taketh away the sâ—t form of prayer in the Church and is the means to bring in confusion and Barbarisme How dangerous innovations are in a setled estate whosoever hath judgemeâ—t perceiveth Set dangers apart yet such great inconviniences may ensae as will make a state lamentable and miserable Our nâ—ighbours miseries might make us fearfull but that we know who tales the same All the reformed Churches in Europe cannot compare with England in the number of learned Ministers These benefits of your Majesties most sacred and are fall Government with hearty joy we feel and humbly acknowledge senceless are they that repâ—ne at it and careless wâ—o lightly regard it The respect hereof made the Prophet to say Dii estis All the faithfull and discreet Clergy say ô Dea certè Nothing is impossible with God Requests without grounded reasons are lightly to be rejected We therefore not as directors but as humble Remembrancers beseech your Highness favourable beholding of our present state And what it will be in time to come if the Bill against Pluralities should take any place To the Petition were annexed a catalogue of those inconveniences to the State present State to come Cathedrall Churches Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case pluralities were taken away here too large to be inserted So that in effect nothing was effected as in relation to this matter but things left in staâ—u quo prius at the dissolution of this Parliament 10. Amongst the mortalities of this year The death of Bp Barns most remarkable the death of Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham one commendable in himself but much suffering for the * See the life of Bernard Gilpin p. 190. corruption and viciousness of John Barnes his brother and Chancellour This Bishop was bred in Brasen-nose Colledge made Suffragan of Nottingham the last I beleeve who wore that title and behaved himself very gravely in his Diocess A great friend at last to Bernard Gilpin though at first by some ill instruments incensed against him and seeing they were loving in their lives their memories in my Book shall not be divided though I confess the later died some three years before 11. This Bernard Gilpin And of Bernard Gilpin born of a right worshipfull family at Kentmirâ— in Westmerland had Cuthbert Tonstali Bishop of Durham for his great Vncle he was bred first in Queens Colledgs then Christs-Church in Oxford and no doubt the prayers of Peter Martyr conduced to his conversion to be a Protestant For he hearing this Gilpin dispute cordially on the Popish party desired of God that so good affections might not be misguided and at last obtained his desire 12. He Weathered out the Raign of Queen Mary Hardly escaped in Queen Maries dayes partly with his travels beyond the seas Anno Dom. 1587. chiefly residing at Lovain Anno Regin Eliza. 30. and Paris partly after his return by the favour of his Uncle Tonstall Before whom he was often cited chiefly about the Eucharist but was discharged by confessing the reall presence and that the manner thereof transcended his apprehension Tonstall not inforcing him to the particularity of Transubstantiation as using himself to complain on Pope Innocent for defining de modo to be an article of faith However his foes so hardly beset him that once he ordered his servant to provide for him a long shroud not for his
is a great deal when it must be taken from a new-shorne sheep so pilled and polled were all people before with constant exactions Such whom his hard usage forced beyond the seas were recalled by his Proclamation So that his heavy leavies would not suffer them to live here and his hard Laws would not permit them to depart hence And when the Clergy complain'd unto him to be eased of their burdens I beseech you said he have ye not coffins of gold and silver for dead mens bones intimating that the same treasure might otherwise be better imployed 36. The streams of discord began now to swell high variance between the King and Anselme betwixt the King and Arch-Bishop Anselme flowing principally from this occasion At this time there were two Popes together so that the Eagle with two heads the Arms of the Empire might now as properly have fitted the Papacy for the present Of these the one Guibertus I may call the Lay-Pope because made by Henry the Emperor the other Vrban the Clergy-Pope chosen by the Conclave of Cardinals Now because like unto like King William sided with the former whilest Anselme as earnestly adhered to Vrban in his affections desiring to receive his Pall from him which the King resused to permit Hereupon Anselme appealed to his Pope whereat King William was highly offended 37. But Their several pleadings and present reconcilement because none are able so emphatically to tell their stories and plead their causes as themselves take them in them in their own words The King Objected The custome from my Father's time hath been in England that no person should appeal to the Pope without the Kings license He that breaketh the customs of my Realm violateth the power and Crown of my Kingdom He that violateth and taketh away my Crown is a Traytor and enemy against me Anselme Answered The Lord hath discussed this question Give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto God the things that are Gods In such things as belong to the terrene dignities of temporal Princes I will pay my obedience but Christ said Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church c. Whose Vicar he ought to obey in spiritual matters and the fetching of his Pall was of that nature At last an expedient was found out that Anselme should not want his Pall nor fetch it himself from Rome being by the King's consent brought to him by Gualter Pope Urban's Legate whom the King at last was fain to acknowledg and so all things for the present reconciled 38. But the wound betwixt them was rather skinned over They disagree again then perfectly healed and afterwards brake out again the King taking occasion of displeasure at Anselmes backwardness to assist him in his expedition into Wales Whereupon Anselme desired a second journey to Rome there to bemoan and probably to relieve himself by complaint to the Pope But the King stopt his voyage affirming that Anselme had led so pious a life he need crave no absolution at Rome and was so well stored with learning that he needed not to borrow any counsel there Yea said the King Vrban had rather give place to the wisdom of Anselme then Anselme have need of Urban In fine after much contesting Anselme secretly stole out of the Realm and the King seized all his goods and lands into his own coffers Three years was he in exile somtimes at Lions sometimes at Rome welcome wheresoever he came and very serviceable to the Church by his pious living painfull preaching learned writing and solid disputing especially in the general Councel of Bar where he was very useful in confuting and condemning the errours of the Greek-Church about the Procession of the Holy Spirit 39. King Rufus was a hunting in New-Forest 14. Aug. 2. which was made by King William 1100 his Father King Rufus his death not so much out of pleasure or love of the game as policy to clear and secure to himself a fair and large landing-place for his forces out of Normandy if occasion did require Here then was a great devastation of Towns and Temples the place being turned into a wilderness for Men to make a Paradise for Deer God seemed displeased hereat for amongst other Tragedies of the Conquerors family acted in this place Rufus was here slain by the glancing of an arrow shot by S r Walter Tirrel An unhappy name to the Kings of England this man casually and another wilfully S r James Tirrel employed in the murthering of King Edward the fifth having their hands in royal bloud Now it is seasonably remembred that some yeers since this King William had a desperate disease whereof he made but bad use after his recovery and therefore now Divine Justice would not the second time send him the summons of a solemn visitation by sickness but even surprized him by a sudden and unexpected death 40. Thus died King William Rufus His hurial and character leaving no issue and was buried faith my a John Bromton pag. 997. Author at Winchester multorum Procerum conventu paucorum verò planctu many Noble-men meeting but few mourning at his funerals Yet some who grieved not for his death grieved at the manner thereof and of all mourners Anselme though in exile in France expressed most cordial sorrow at the news of his death A valiant and prosperous Prince but condemn'd by Historians for covetousness cruelty and wantonness though no woman by name is mentioned for his Concubine probably because thrifty in his lust with mean and obscure persons But let it be taken into serious consideration that no pen hath originally written the life of this King but what was made by a Monkish pen-knife and no wonder if his picture seem bad which was drawn by his enemy And he may be supposed to fare the worse for his opposition to the Romish usurpation having this good quality to suffer none but himself to abuse his Subjects stoutly resisting all payments of the Popes imposing Yea as great an enemy as he was conceiv'd to the Church he gave to the Monks called De Charitate the great new Church of S t Saviours in Bermondsey with the Manor thereof as also of Charlton in Kent 41. Henry Beauclarke Henry the first succeedeth Rufus and is crowned his brother succeeded him in the Throne one that crossed the common Proverb The greatest Clerks are not the wisest men being one of the most profoundest Scholars and most politick Princes in his generation He was Crowned about four dayes after his brothers death Anno Dom. 1100. At that time Anno Regis Hen. 1. the present providing of good swords was accounted more essential to a Kings Coronation then the long preparing of gay clothes Such preparatory pomp as was used in after-ages at this Ceremony was now conceived not onely useless but dangerous speed being safest to supply the vacancy of the Throne To ingratiate himself to
Pope must either abate of his Traine or finde his Officers other waies of subsistance 37. Secondly By his Annates for Annates so called because they were the intire Revenues of one Yeare in the nature of first Fruits which the Bishops and inferiour Clergie paid to the Pope We have no light concerning the latter but can present the Reader with an exact account what every Bishop in England new elected or translated to a See paid at his entrance to his Holinesse BISHOPRICK paid a This Catalogue was extracted our of Bishop Godwin Canterbury 10000. F. Besides for his Pall 5000. F. London 3000. F. Winchester 12000. D. Elie 7000. D. Lincolne Coventrey and Lichfield 1733. D. Salisbury 4500. * This standeth for Crown Cr. Bath and Wells 430. D. Exeter 6000. D. Norwich 5000. D. Worcester 2000. F. Hereford 18000. F. Chichester 333. F. Rochester St. Davids 1500. F. Landaffe 700. F. Bangor 126. F. St. Asaph 126. F. Yorke 10000. D. Besides for his Pall 5000. D. Durham 9000. F. Carlisle 1000. F. In this account F stands for Florenes being worth 4s 6d in our English money D for single Duckets sufficiently known for 8 shillings Lincolnes not being valued I behold as a meeâ— casual omission in this Catalogue but can render a reason why Rochester not rated who being accounted as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury and antiently in his Donation may be supposed valued in the high valuation of his Patron That Bath and Wells then so high in Wealth should be so low in first Fruits whereat my b Quod miror Godw in his Catalogue of Bishops p. 447 By appea's Authour wonders plainly shows that Favour was fashionable as in all other Courts so in the Court of Rome The rest of the English Bishopricks were not in being before the Reformation 39. Thirdly by Appeals The Pope having learn'd this policy from the Councill of Jethro to Moses * Exod. 18. 22. every Great thing they shall bring unto thee but every Small matter they viz the 70 Elders shall Judge reserved to himself the definitive sentence in all high Controversies which brought no small profit unto him 40. Fourthly By King Athelwolth's Pension by K. Athelph's Pension given by him to the Pope Anno 852. whereof largely before A distinct payment from Peter pence with which some confound it as stinted to three hundred c See Sir Henry Spelman's Councils p. 353. By his Dispensations Marks whereas the other were casual and increased according to the number of Houses 41. Fiftly for Dispensations Oh the charity of the Pope to lay heavy Burdens on mens consciences without command from God's Word too heavy for them to bear but then so mercifull he was for Money to take them off again thus Licences to marry within degrees forbidden for Priests base Sonnes to succeed their Fathers in a Benefice and a hundred other particulars brought yearly a Nemo scit into the Papal Treasury 42. Sixtly By Indulgencies Indulgencies are next though I know not how essentially distinguished from Dispensations nor dare warrant the distinction that the former was against the other above Canon Law As when Abbeys and other places were freed from Episcopal Jurisdiction and many other Priviledges and Exemptions both personal and conventual 43. Seventhly By Legatine Levies by Legatine Levies these though not Annuall yet came almost as often as the Pope's needs or covetousnesse would require them 44. Eighthly By Mortuaries Mortuaries due at the death of great Prelates though I finde not in what manner and proportion they were paid 45. Ninthly By Pardons Pardons He saveth his credit the best who makes no conjecture at the certainty of this Revenue And though the Pope as then too politick openly to confesse his profit by granting so since be too proud publickly to bemone his losse by stopping of these Pardons yet is he secretly and sadly sensible of a great emptinesse in his Treasure thereby 46. Tenthly By Peter-pence Peter-pence succeed granted by Ina King of the West Saxons to Pope Gregory the second Anno 626. It was a peny paid for every Chimney that smoaked in England which in that Hospitall Age had few smoaklesse ones the device of Cypher Tunnels or mock-Chimneys meerly for uniformity of building being unknown in those dayes Indeed before the Conquest such onely paid Peter-pence who were worth * See Spelman's Council p 625. thirty pence in yearly revenue or half a marke in goods but afterwards it was collected generally of all solvable Housekeepers and that on most heavy penalties 47. Now though none can tell what these amounted to To what they amounted yet conjecture may be made by descending to such proportions which no rational man will deny Allowing nine thousand Parishes abating the odde hundreds in England and Wales a hundred houses in every Parish two chimneys in every house one with another it ariseth unto a yearly summe of seven thousand five hundred pounds Here I say nothing of the intrinsecal value of their Peny worth two pence in our Age. 48. Eleventhly By Pilgrimages Pilgrimages follow many persons of quality going yearly to Rome somtimes perchance with bare feet but never with empty hands But the Pope's principal harvest was in the Jubile which of late recurred every five and twenty years when no fewer than two hundred thousand strangers have been counted at Rome at once Of these more than the tenth part may be justly allowed English it being alwaies observed that distance encreaseth devotion and the farthest off the forwardest in Will-worship of this nature 49. Twelfthly By Tenths we conclude with Tenths and on what Title they were paid to the Pope largely hereafter 50. Here we speak not of the accidentals All cannot be truly counted as Legacies bequeathed by the deaths of Princes and great Persons and other Casualties and Obventions Sixtus the fourth being wont to say that a Pope could never want Money while he could hold a Pen in his hand understand him to grant general Indulgencies though Luther's holding a pen in his hand hath since much marred his Mart herein Now certainly Demetrius could tell better what was gotten by making * Acts 19. 27. silver Shrines for Diana than S. Paul himself and while some Protestants compute the Papal profit to be a hundred and fifty thousand pounds per annum some more some lesse but all making it above the King's Revenues they doe but state his Income at randome 51. Onely Polidore Virgil Polidore Virgil Collector of the English Peter-pence if alive and willing were able to give a certain account of the Peter pence a good guesse at the rest of Papall Revenues knowing them as well as the Begger knows his dish as holding the Bason into which they were put being Collector general of Peter pence all over England But this Italian was too proud to accept them as gratuities in which nature they were first given
Te Deum laudamus to the end and the Psalm In te Domine speravi Then came the Executioner and bound an handkerchief about his eyes and so the Bishop lifting up his hands and heart to heaven said a few prayers which were not long but fervent and devout Which being ended he laid his head down over the midst of a little block where the Executioner being ready with a sharp and heavy Ax cut asunder his slender Neck at one blow which bled so abundantly that many saith my Authour wondred to see so much blood issue out of so lean and slender a body Though in my judgement that might rather have translated the wonder from his leanesse to his age it being otherwise a received tradition That lean folk have the most blood in them 13. Thus died John Fisher in the seventy seventh year of his age His age and statuâ—e on the two and twentieth of June being S. Alban's day the Protomartyr of England and therefore with my Authour most remarkable But surely no day in the Romish Kalendar is such a Skeleton or so bare of sanctity but had his death hapned thereon a Priest would pick a mysterie out of it He had a lank long body full six foot high toward the end of his life very infirm insomuch that he used to sit in a chair when he taught the people in his Diocesse 14. His corpse if our Authour speaketh truth was barbarously abused His mean not to say if true barbarous buriall no winding-sheet being allowed it which will hardly enter into my belief For suppose his friends durst his foes would not afford him a shroud yet some neuters betwixt both no doubt would have done it out of common civility Besides seeing the King vouchsafed him the Tower a noble prison and beheading an honourable death it is improbable He would deny him a necessary equipage for a plain and private buriall Wherefore when Hall tells us That the Souldiers attending his execution could not get spadâ—s to make his grave therewith but were fain with halbards in the North-side of the Church yard of All-Hallows Barking to dig a hole wherein they cast his naked corpse I listen to the relation as inflamed by the Reporters passion Be it here remembred that Fisher in his life-time made himself a Tomb on the North-side of the Chappel in S. John's Colledge intending there to be buried but therein disappointed This Fisher was he who had a Cardinals Hat sent him which stopp'd at Callis never came on his head and a Monument made for him wherein his body was never deposited 15. Our Authour reporteth also An impudent improbable Lie how Queen Anna Bolen gave order his head should be brought unto Her before it was set up on London bridge that She might please Her self at the sight thereof and like another Herodias insult over the head of this John Her professed enemy Nor was she content alone to revile his ghost with taunting terms but out of spight or sport or both struck Her hand against the mouth of this dead head brought unto her and it hapned that one of Fisher's teeth more prominent than the rest struck into her hand and not onely pained Her for the present but made so deep an impression therein that She carried the mark thereof to Her grave It seems this was contrary to the proverb Mortui non mordent But enough yea too much of such damnable falshoods Passe we from Fisher to More his fellow prisoner whom Fisher's execution had not mollified into conformity to the King his pleasure as was expected 16. Son he was to Sir John More Sir Tho. More 's extraction and education one of the Judges of the Kings Bench who lived to see his Son preferred above himself Bred a Common-Lawyer but withall a general Schollar as well in polite as solid learning a terse Poet neat Oratour pure Latinist able Grecian He was chosen Speaker in the House of Commons made Chancellour first of Lancaster-Dutchie then of all England performing the place with great integrity and discretion Some ground we have in England neither so light and loose as sand nor so stiffe and binding as olay but a mixture of both conceived the surest soil for profit and pleasure to grow together on such the soil of this Sir Thomas More in which facetiousnesse and judiciousnesse were excellently tempered together 17. Yet some have taxed him Charged for his over-much jesting that he wore a feather in his cap and wagg'd it too often meaning he was over-free in his fancies and conceits Insomuch that on the Scaffold a place not to break jests but to break off all jesting he could not hold but bestowed his scoffs on the Executioner and standers-by Now though innocency may smile at death surely it is unfit to flout thereat 18. But the greatest fault we finde justly charged on his memory A great Anti-Procestant is his cruelty in persecuting poor Protestants to whom he bare an implacable hatred Insomuch much that in his life-time be caused to be inscribed as parcell of his Epitaph on his Monument at Chelsey that he ever was Furibus Homicidis Haereticisque molestus a passing good praise save after the way which he there calleth Heresie pious people worship the God of their fathers He suffered the next moneth after Fisher's execution in the same place July 6. for the same cause July 6. and was buried at Chelsey under his Tomb aforesaid which being become ruinous and the Epitaph scarce legible hath few years since been decently repaired at the cost as I am informed of one of his near Kinsmen 19. At this time Katharine Dowager The death and character of Qu. Katharine Dowager whom we will be bold still in courtesie to call a Queen notwithstanding King Henry's Proclamation to the contrary ended her wofull life at Kimbolton Jan. 8. A pious woman toward God according to Her devotion frequent in prayer which She alwaies performed on Her bare knees nothing else between Her and the earth interposed little curious in Her clothes being wont to say She accounted no time a Sanders de Schismate Anglicano lost but what was laid out in dressing of Her though Art might be more excusable in Her to whom Nature had not been over-bountifull She was rather staid than stately reserv'd than proud grave from Her cradle insomuch that She was a matrone before She was a mother This Her naturall gravity encreased with Her apprehended injuries setled in Her reduced age into an habit of melancholie and that terminated into a consumption of the spirits She was buried in the Abby-Church of Peterborough under an Herse of black Say probably by Her own appointment that She might be plain when dead who neglected bravery of clothes when living A noble b Lord Herbert in his Henry the eighth pen tells us that in intuition to Her corpse here interred King Henry at the destruction of Abbies not
Sisters sixty 2. Priests thirteen 3. Deacons four 4. Lay-brethren eight In all Eighty five Where by the way know we must reckon seventy two Disciples which the n Luke 10. 1. Evangelist makes but just seventy and also put in S. Paul for the thirteenth Apostle or else it will not make up the summe aforesaid but it is all even with discreet persons be it over or above it This Order constantly kept their Audit on All-Saints Eve October 31 and the day after All-Souls being the third of November they gave away to the poor all that was left of their annual Revenue conceiving otherwise it would putrifie and corrupt if treasured up and be as heinous an offence as the Jews when preserving Manna longer than the continuance of one day These Brigetteans had but one Convent in England at Sion in Middlesex built by King Henry the fifth but so wealthy that it was valued yearly worth at the dissolution o Th WalsinghaÌ„ ut priù◠One thousand nine hundred forty four pounds eleven shillings eight pence farthing 41. No Convents of Nuns in England more carfully kept their Records than the Priory of Clarkenwell Spcel's Catal. of Religious Houses p. 793. to whose credit it is registred That we have a perfect Catalogue of their Prioresses from their foundation to their dissolution defective in all other Houses according to the order following viz 1. Christiana The Prioresses of Clerkenwell 2. Ermegard 3. Hawisia 4. Eleonora 5. Alesia 6. Cecilia 7. Margery Whatvile 8. Isabell 9. Alice Oxeney 10. Amice Marcy 11. Denys Bras 12. Margery Bray 13. Joan Lewkenor 14. Joan Fullham 15. Ratherine Braybroke 16. Luce Attwood 17. Joan Viene 18. Margaret Blakewell 19. Isabell Wentworth 20. Margaret Bull. 21. Agnes Clifford 22. Katherine Greene. 23. Isabell Hussey 24. Isabell Sackvile Had the like care continued in other Convents it had contributed much to the clearnesse of Ecclesiasticall Historie 42. Sir Thomas Challoner Tutour as I take it to Prince HENRY not long agoe built a spacious House within the Close of that Priory A good exchange upon the Frontispiece whereof these Verses were inscribed not unworthy of remembrance Casta fides superest velatae tecta Sorores Ista relegatae deseruere licèt Nam venerandus Hymen hic vota jugalia servat Vestalémque focum mente fovere studet Chast Faith still stayes behinde though hence be flown Those veyled Nuns who here before did nest For reverend Marriage Wedlock vows doth own And sacred Flames keeps here in Loyall brest I hope and believe the same may truly be affirmed of many other Nunneries in England which now have altered their properity on the same conditions 43. So much for the severall dates of Monks and Fryers Exactnesse in dates not to be expected wherein if we have failed a few years in the exactnesse thereof the matter is not much I was glad to finde so ingenuous a passage in Pitzeus so zealous a Papist with whom in this point I wholly concurre He speaking of the different Aeraes of the coming in of the Augustinians into England thus concludeth In r Pitz. in Indice Illust Angl. script p 974. tantâ sententiarum Varietate veritatem invenire nec facile est nec multùm refert The best is though I cannot tell the exact time wherein every Counter was severally laid down on the Table I know certainly the year wherein they were all thrown together and put up in the bagge I mean the accurate date of their generall dissolution viz Anno One thousand five hundred thirty and eight on the same signe that Sanders observeth a grand providence therein That Jesuits began beyond the Seas at the very same time we will not higgle with so frank a chapman for a few months under or over but taking his Chronology herein de bene esse one word of the name of that Order first premising a pleasant story 44. A Countrey-man A pleasant story who had lived many years in the Hercinian woods in Germany at last came out into a populous City demanding of the people therein What God they did worship It was answered him They worshipped Jesus Christ Whereupon the wilde Wood man asked the names of the severall Churches in the City which were all called by the sundry Saints to whom they were consecrated It s strange said he that you should worship JESUS CHRIST and he not have one Temple in all your City dedicated unto him But it seems Ignatius Loyola Founder of this new Order finding all other Orders consigned to some SAINT or other whence they take their denomination intended at last peculiarly to appropriate one to JESUS That as at that holy name every knee should bow So all other Orders should doe homage and submit to this his new one of Jesuits 45. Here Jesuats different from Jesuits had not better eyes than mine own made the discovery being beholden to M. Chemnitius therein I had never noted the nice difference betwixt JESUATS and JESUITS so neer in name though not in time but it seems in nature distinguished The former began at Siena in Italy in the year 1366 of whom thus Sabellicus Colligebantur ab initio domesticatim simplici habitu amicti multâ innocentiâ pietate viri victum sibi labore operâ quaeritantes Apostolici ab initio Clerici nuncupati Hi neque sacris initiantur neque celebrant Missarum solemnia tantùm orationi vacant Jesuati ab eo dicti quòd Jesu Regis summi frequens sit nomen in illorum ore c. Men of much innocence and piety were gathered in the beginning from house to house cloathed in poor habit and seeking their own livelyhood with labour and pains called from the beginning Apostolicall Clerks These neither were entred into Orders neither did celebrate the solemnity of Masses but onely bestowed themselves in prayer therefore called Jesuats because the name of Jesus was so frequent in their mouthes But it seems these Iesuats sunk down in silence when the Iesuits appeared in the world the former counting it ill manners in likeness of name to sit so near to those who were so farr their betters 56. All Orders may be said eminently extant in the Iesuits to and above the kinde Jesuits the best buttresses of the Romish Church the degree thereof and indeed they came seasonably to support the tottering Church of Rome For when the Protestants advantaged with Learning and Languages brought in the Reformation Monks Fryers were either so ignorant as they could not so idle as they would not or so cowardly that they durst not make effectual opposition as little skill'd in Fathers lesse in Scripture and not at all versed in Learned Languages As for the Franciscans I may say of them they were the best and * See Cent. 14. pag. â—40 worst schollars of all Fryers The best as most sublime in School-Divinity worst for if before their entrance into that Order they knew not
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
not unusefull to be inserted 1. Sir Robert Hales Lord Treasurer of England slain in the tumult of Tyler Anno 1380 in the fourth of K. Richard the second At which time 2. Next him Sir John Long-strother I say next proximus at longo qui proximus intervallo siding with the House of Lancaster he was taken prisoner in Teuxbury Battail Anno 1471 and by King Edward the fourth put to death in cold blood contrary to the promise of a Prince who had assured his life unto him 3. Sir Thomas Dockwray is the next not of all but in our discovery A person of much desert expending himself wholly for the credit and profit of his Priory as who re-edified the Church out of its ruine finishing it Anno 1504 as appeareth by the Inscription over the Gate-house yet remaining 4. Sir William Weston succeeds of whom before dissolved this List on the very day of the dissolution of this Priory 5. Sir Thomas Tresham was the first and last of Q. Mary's re-erection There goeth a tradition that Q. Elizabeth in consideration of his good service done to Her self in Her Sister Q. Mary whom he proclaimed and Their Titles being shut out of doors together both were let in again at once though to take place successively allowed him to be called Lord Prior during his life which was not long and the matter not much deriving no power or profit unto him Here I purposely omit Sir Richard Shelley which family I finde of remark for worship and antiquity at Michel-Grove in Sussex He bare a great enmity to Q. Elizabeth especially after She had flatly denied Philip King of Spain whither Shelley was fled to consent to his abiding there and to his quier receiving his rents out of England However the Spanish King imployed him in an Honorable Ambassy unto Maximilian King b Cambd. Eliz. Anno 1563. of the Romans weating the high title of Prior of the Order of St. c Idem in Anno 1560. p. 46. John ' s in England A Prior without a Posterior having none un-under him to obey his power nor after him to succeed in his place We behold him only as the wry-stroak given in by us out of courtesie when the game was up before 5. The Site of the Priory of S. Iohn's was lately the possession of William Earl of Exeter Cecil the present owner of this Priory whose Countess Eliz Druery was very forward to repair the ruin'd Quire thereof Doct. Ios Hall preached at the solemn Reconciling thereof on S. Stephen's day 1623 taking for his Text Hag. 2. 9. The glory of the latter house shall be greater than of the former saith the Lord of Hosts At this day though coarctated having the side-Iles excluded yet so that their upper part is admitted affording conveniencies for attention it is one of the best private Chappels in England discreetly embracing the mean of decency betwixt the extreams of slovenly profaneness and gaudy superstition and belongeth at this present to the truly noble Thomas as Earle of Elgin SECTION VII TO THOMAS DOCKWRAY of Bedford-shire Esquire I Finde Sir THOMAS DOCKWRAY one of the last Lord Priors of our English Hospitallers To say you are descended from him would fix a stain on your Extraction seeing none might marry who were of his Order But this I will say and justifie that you Both are descended from the same Ancestour as by authentick Records doth most plainly appear Besides some conformity may be seen in your commendable inclinations He was all for * * Stow Survey of London pag. 483. building of a fair Church according to the devotion of those dayes Your bountifull hand hath been a great sharer in advancing of this Church-History Now although his stately Structure of the strongest stone had the hard hap to be blown up almost as * * Stows Surv. of Lond. ut priùs soon as it was ended this of yours a frailer Fabrick as but of Paper-walls may be Gods blessing have the happinesse of a longer continuance Of English Nunneries beyond the Seas THus were all Monks Fryers Why no Pensions paid to outed Votaries by Qu. Eliz. and Nunnes totally routed by the coming in of Qu. Elizabeth I finde not that any Pensions were allowed to those Votaries who at this time were outed their Covents though large Annuities were assigned to such who were ejected their Monasteries Colledges or free Chanteries in the Reigns of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixt whereof this may seem the reason because now caveat ingressor He or She might beware who entred an Abbey be it at their own perill seeing they formerly had so fair a warning though indeed some of them who had no friends to help them were left in no very good condition and died in much want and distresse 2. But now in the beginning of this Queens Reign Detained pensions paid to old Fryers and Nunnes a complaint did arise That Pensions were detained from many ejected out of Abbeys in her Father and Brother his Reigne who being poor old and impotent and repairing to the Queens Officers for their Pensions were instead of money paid with ill language and affronts Her Majesty possessed with the truth hereof took strict order both that their Arrears for the time past should be satisfied and their Aunuities for the time to come effectually discharged which much advanced her honour in pecuniary matters 3. Hence grew the Proverb crossed in the daies of her successours As sure as Exchequer pay Chequer pay the best of payments For all who in this Queens Reign had summes due unto them from the Treasurie had no other trouble than to tell them there and take them thence Thus it came to passe that by Her maintaining of the Exchequer the Exchequer maintained Her having money at most credit at all times on the reputation of so good a Pay-Mistresse insomuch that She was not onely able to lay down Her stake but also to vye ready silver with the King of Spaine when He notwithstanding both His Indies was fain to go on Bare board 4. As for Popish Religious persons flying out of England at the coming in of this Queen The onely stump of an old tree our pen shall follow them as fast as it can with convenient speed We begin with the Nunnes partly because the courtesie of England alloweth the first place to the feeblest Sex but chiefly because they seem still to continue an entire body and successively an immortall corporation being with the Carthusians the onely stump that remaineth of the huge tree which once overspread and shadowed our whole Nation 5. May the Reader be pleased to remember The progresse of Nunnes from Sion to Lisbone that King Henry the fifth founded one Abbey of Nunnes at Sion in Middlesex peopling it with Brigetine Nunnes and Fryers and another at Sheine in Surrey overagainst it so ordering it that all the day long alternately when the Devotions of the one
appears in the whole Lordship In this sute Plaintiff Judges Defendant Peter Duke of Savoy the Kings dear Uncle first founder I take it of the Savoy in London on whom the King conferred many Lordships and Chesthunt amongst the rest Solicitor Adam de Alverton Ralph Fitz-Nicolas John of Lexington Paulin Peyner Seneschal Henry of Bath Jeremy of Caxton Henry de Bretton The Case Simon the Abbot and the Covent of Waltham The Plaintiff endeavoured to prove that the stream of Ley called the Kings-Stream dividing Hertford-shire from Essex ran thorow the Town of Waltham all the land West thereof belonging to the Manor of Chesthunt This was denied by the Defendant maintaining that Small-Ley-stream running welnigh half a mile West of Waltham parted the Counties all the interjacent meadows pertained to Waltham Perusing the names of these the Kings Justices at Westminster A like not the same who would not suspect but that this Henry of Bath was Bishop of that See considering how many Clergy-men in that age were imployed in places of Judicature But the suspicion is causless finding none of that name in the Episcopal Catalogue Others in like manner may apprehend that Bretton here mentioned was that Learned Lawyer afterwards Bishop of Hereford who wrote the * See Godwin in his Bishops of Hereâ—ord Book De Juribus Anglicanis and who flourished in the latter end of the Reign of this King Henry the third But his name being John not Henry discovereth him a different person Not long after this sute was finally determined and Peter Duke of Savoy remised and quit-claimed from him and his Heirs to the said Abbot and his Successors Anno Regis the right and claim he had to ask in the same Meadows and Marshes of the said Abbot Anno Dom. This is called in the Instrument finalis concordia though it proved neither final nor a concord For soon after this palliaâ—â— cure broke out again and the matter was in variance and undetermined betwixt Robert the last Abbot and the Lord of Chesthunt when the Abby was dissolved Many accessions besides those common prolongers of all sutes namely the heat of mens anger and the bellows of instruments gaining by Law did concur to lengthen this cause 1. The considerableness and concernment of the thing controverted being a large and rich portion of ground 2. The difficulty of the cause about the chanels of that River which Proteus-like in several Ages hath appeared in sundry formes disguised by derivations on different occasions 3. The greatness of the Clients Chesthunt Lordship being alwayes in the hand of some potent person and the Corporation of Waltham Covent able to wage Law with him Hence hath this sute been as long-lov'd as any in England not excepting that in * Cambden in Glocester-shire Glocester-shire betwixt the posterity of Vice-Count Lisle and the Lord Barkley seeing very lately if not at this day there were some sutes about our bounds Waltham Meadows being very rich in grass and hay but too fruitful in contentions For mine own part that wound which I cannot heal I will not widen and seeing I may say with the Poet Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites No power of mine so far extends As for to make both parties friends I will not turn of an unpartial Historian an engaged person who as a neighbour wish well to Chesthunt as a Parishioner better to Waltham as a Christian best to both And therefore so much for matter of fact in our Records and Leiger-books leaving all matters of right for others to decide Mean time whilest the Abbot and Monks of Waltham were vexed with the men of Chesthunt they found more favour if publick same belies them not from some loving women in that Parish I mean the Holy Sisters in Chesthunt-Nunnery whose House when ever Founded I finde some ten years since thus confirmed by Royal Authority Henricus Rex Anglie Chesthunt Nunnery Founded Dominus Hybernie Dux Normanie Aquitanie Comes Andegavie c. Shestrehunt Moniales totam terram Dom. teneant cum pertinentiis suisque Canonicis de Cathele c. quos amoveri fecimus Datum apud West xj Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiij But this subject begins to swell beyond the bounds intended unto it lest therefore what we intended but a Tract should swell to a Tome we will here descend to matters of later date Onely be it premised Copt-Hall past to King Hen. 8. that some years before the Dissolution Robert the last Abbot of Waltham passed over the fair seat of Copt-Hall unto King Henry the eighth Thus as the Castor when pursued by the Hunter to make his escape is reported to bite off his own stones as the main treasure sought after and so saves his life by losing a limb So this Abbot politickly parted with that stately Mansion in hope thereby to preserve the rest of his revenues However all would not do so impossible it is to save what is design'd to ruine and few years after the Abby with the large Lands thereof were seized on by the King and for some Moneths He alone stood possessed thereof The Extraction Charter Death and Issue of Sir Anthony Dennie on whom King Henry the Eighth bestowed WALTHAM-ABBY AT the Dissolution A Lease of Waltham Abby given to Sir Anthony Denny King Henry bestowed the Site of this Abby with many large and rich Lands belonging thereunto on S r Anthony Dennie for the terme of Thirty one years Let us a little enquire into his extraction and discent I finde the name very Ancient at a Speed or ratherâ—â— Rob. Cotton in Huntingdon-shire Chesterton in Huntington-shire where the Heir-general was long since married John Denny the great souâ—der in France to the worshipful and Ancient Family of the Bevils It seems a branch of the Male-line afterwards fixed in Hertford-shire Whereof John Denny Esquire valiantly served Henry the fifth in France where he was slain and buried with Thomas his second Son in S t Dionys his Chappel their interment in so noble a place speaking their worthy performances In the Reign of Queen Mary a Frier shewed their Tombes to S r Matthew Carew together with their Coates and differences Henry eldest son of this John Denny begat William Denny of Chesthunt in Hertford-shire which William was High Sheriff of the County in the year 1480. leaving Edmond Denny to inherit his estate Edmond Denny was one of the Barons of the Exchequer Edm. Denny Baron of the Exchequer in credit and favour with King Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh He Married Mary the Daughter and Heir of Robert Troutbeck Esquire on whom he begat Thomas Denny from whom the Dennies in Norfolk are descended Anthony Denny Anthony Denny his high commendations second Son to Baron Denny was Knighted by King Henry the Eighth made Gentleman of his Bed-chamber Privy-Councellour and one of his Executors I cannot say he was bred any great Scholar
was afterwards to prevent wantonness to make the more expedition commuted into a new custome viz. A piece of wood or metall with Christ's picture thereon was made and solemnly tendred to all people to kiss This was called the Pax or Peace to shew the unity and amity of all there assembled who though not immediately by the Proxie of the Pax kissed one another Item For a pair of Censers copper and gilt nine shillings and eight pence These were pots in the which frankincense was burned perfuming the Church during Divine Service Item For a Stock of brass for the Holy-water seven shillings Which by the Canon must be of marble or metall and in no case of brick b Durantus de Ritibus Eccles num 6. pag. 173. lest the sacred liquor be suck'd up by the spunginess thereof Item For a Chrismatory of pewter three shillings four pence This was a vessel in which the consecrated oyl used in Baptisme Confirmation and Extreme Vnction was deposited Item For a yard silver Sarcenet for a cloth for the Sacrament seven shillings eight pence Here some Silkeman or Mercer must satisfie us what this was The price seems too low for Sarcenet inwoven with silver and too high for plain Sarcenet of a silver colour Item For a Pix of Pewter two shillings This was a Box wherein the Host or consecrated wafer was put arid preserved Item For Mary and John that stand in the Rood-left twenty six shillings eight pence Christ c John 19. 26. c. on the Cross saw his Mother and the Disciple whom he loved standing by In apish imitation whereof the Rood when perfectly made with all the appurtenances thereof was attended with these two images Item For washing eleven Aubes and as many Head-clothes six pence An Aube or Albe was a Priests garment of white linen down to their feet girded about his middle The thin matter denoted simplicity colour purity length deep d Durontus de Rititbus Eccles num 9. pag. 316. Divinitie perseverance and the cincture thereof signified the person wearing it prompt and prepared for Gods service Their head-clothes were like our Sergeants Coifes but close and not turned up Item For watching the Sepulchre eight pence Thus the price of that service but a groat in King Henries dayes was doubled However though Popery was restored to its kinde yet was it not re-estated in its former degree in the short Reign of Queen Mary for we finde no mention of the former six Obits anniversarily performed the lands-for whose maintenance were alienated in the Reign of King Edward and the Vicar of the Parish not so charitable as to celebrate these Obits gratis without any reward for the same Item For a Processioner and a Manual twenty pence Item For a Corporas-cloth twelve pence This was a linen cloth laid over or under the consecrated Host Item To the Apparitor for the Bishops Book of Articles at the Visitation six pence This Bishop was bloudy Bonner that corpulent Tyrant full as one said of guts and empty of bowels who visited his Diocese before it was sick and made it sick with his Visitation His Articles were in number thirty seven and John a Fox Acts Mon. pag. 1474. Bale wrote a book against them The Bishops chief care herein was the setting up of compleat Roods commonly called but when without his ear-reach Bonners Block-almightie If any refused to provide such blocks for him let them expect he would procure fagots for them Anno 1556. Mariae tertio Imprimis For coles to undermine a piece of the Steeple which stood after the first fall two shillings This Steeple formerly stood in the middle now East end of the Church and being ruined past possibilitie of repair fell down of it self onely a remaining part was blown up by underminers How quickly can a few destroy what required the age and industry of many in long time to raise and advance It soundeth not a little to the praise of this Parish that neither burthensome nor beholding to the Vicinage for a collection they re-built the Steeple at the West end of the Church on their own proper cost enabled thereunto partly by their stock in the Church-box arising from the sale as is aforesaid of the goods of the Brotherhood and partly by the voluntary contribution of the Parishioners This Tower-Steeple is eighty six foot high From the foundation to the battlements each b The thirty three foot on the top diffculty danger of climbing made it the dearer cost fourty shillings a foot as appeareth by the Church-wardens accounts Anno 1563. foot whereof besides the materials preprovided costing thirty three shillings four pence the building Three years passed from the founding to the finishing thereof every years work discernable by the discolouration of the stones and the Parish was forced for the perfecting of the building to fell their Bells hanging before in a wooden frame in the Church-yard so that Waltham which formerly had Steeple-less-Bells now had for some years a Bell-less-Steeple The condition of the Church from the beginning of Queen ELIZABETH to this day IN eleven full years viz. from the last of King Henry the Eighth Anno 1547. till the first of Queen Elizabeth 1558. this Church found four changes in Religion Papist and Protestant Papist and Protestant again The last turn will appear by the Wardens following accounts Anno 1558. Elizabethae primo Imprimis For the taking down of the Rood-lost three shillings two pence If then there living and able I hope I should have lent an helping hand to so good a work as now I bestow my prayers that the like may never in England be set up again Item Received for a suite of Vestments being of blew velvvet and another suite of Damask and an Altar-cloth four pound Item For three Corporasses whereof two white silk and one blew velvet two pound thirteen shillings four pence Item For two suits of Vestments and an Altar-cloth three pound Now was the superstitious Ward-robe dispersed and that no doubt sold for shillings which cost pounds They were beheld as the garments spotted with sin and therefore the less pity to part with them But see what followeth Anno 1562. Elizabethae quinto Item For a cloth of Buckeram for the Communion-Table and the making four shillings Having fold so much could they not afford a better Carpet Is there no mean betwixt painting a face and not washing it He must have a fixt aim and strong hand who hits decency and misseth gaudiness and sluttery But there is a generation of people who over-do in the spirit of opposition such conceive that a tressel is good enough for Gods Table and sucn a Table Covering enough for it self Item For Lattices for the Church-windows fifteen shillings Fain would I for the credit of our Church by Lattices understand Casements if the word would bear it Yet surely it was not for covetousness wholly to spare glazing but thrift to preserve