betwixt them But such as knew M r Hooker knew him to be too wise to take exception at such trifles the rather because the most judicious is always the least part in all auditories 55. Here might one on Sundayes have seen They clash about matters of Doctrine almost as many writers as hearers Not only young students but even the gravest Benchers such as S t Edw Cook and S t James Altham then were were not more exact in taking instructions from their clients then in writing notes from the mouths of their Ministers The worst was these two preachers though joyned in affinity their nearest kindred being married together acted with different principles and clashed one against another So that what M r Hooker delivered in the forenoon M r Travers confuted in the afternoon At the building of Solomons Temple 1 King 6. 7. neither hammer nor axe nor tool of iron was heard therein Whereas alass in this Temple not only much knocking was heard but which was the worst the nailes and pins which one master-builder drave in were driven out by the other To pass by lesser differences betwixt them about Predestination Hooker maintained The Church of Rome though not a pure and perfect yet is a true Church so that such who live and die therein * Being weak ignorant and seduced upon their repentance of all their sins of ignorance may be saved Travers defended The Church of Rome is no true Church at all so that such as live and die therein holding Justification in part by works cannot be said by the Scriptures to be saved Thus much disturbance was caused to the disquieting of peoples consciences the disgrace of the ordinance the advantage of the common enemy and the dishonour of God himself 56. Here Arch-Bishop Whitgift interposed his power Travers is silenced by the Arch-Bishop and silenced Travers from preaching either in the Temple or any where else It was lai'd to his charge 1. That he was no lawfull ordained Minister according to the Church of England 2 ly That he preached here without licence 3 ly That he had broken the order made in the 7 th year of her Majesties reign Wherein it was provided that erroneous Doctrine if it came to be publickly taught should not be publickly refuted but that notice thereof should be given to the Ordinary to hear and determine such causes to prevent publick disturbance 57. As for Travers Many pleased with the deed but not with the manner of doing it his silencing many which were well pleased with the deed done were offended at the manner of doing it For all the Congregation on a Sabbath in the after noon were assembled together their attention prepared the Cloath as I may say and napkins were laied yea the guests set and their knives drawn for their spirituall repast when suddenly as M r Travers was going up into the pulpit a sorry fellow served him with a letter prohibiting him to preach any more In obedience to Authority the milde and constant submission whereunto won him respect with his adversaries M r Travers calmly signified the same to the Congregation and requested them quietly to depart to their chambers Thus was our good Zacheus struck dumb in the Temple but not for infidelity unpartial people accounting his fault at most but indiscretion Mean time his Auditory pained that their pregnant expectation to hear him preach should so publickly prove abortive and sent sermonless home manifested in their variety of passion some grieving some frowning some murmuring and the wisest sort who held their tongues shaked their heads as disliking the managing of the matter 58. Travers addressed himself by petition to the Lords of the privie Councell where his strength lay Travers his plea in his petition as Hookers in the Arch-Bishop of Cant and high Commission grievously complained that he was punished before he was heard silenced by him apprehended the heaviest penalty before sent for contrary to equity and reason The a Joh. 7. 51. Law condemning none before it hear him and know what he hath done 1. To the exception against the lawfulness of his Ministry he pleaded that the communion of Saints allows Ordination legall in any Christian Church Orders herein are like degrees and a Doctor graduated in any University hath his title and place granted him in all Christendome 2. For want of licence to preach he pleaded that he was recommended to this place of the Temple by two letters of the Bishop of London the Diocesan thereof 3. His Anti-preaching in the afternoon against what was delivered before he endeavoured to excuse by the example of S t Paul b Gal. 2. 5. Who gave not place to Peter no not an hour that the truth of the Gospell might continue amongst them But we are too tedious herein especially seeing his petition is publickly extant in print with M r Hooker his answer thereunto whither we referr the reader for his more ample satisfaction 59. By the way A charitable adversary it must not be forgotten that in the very midst of the Paroxisme betwixt Hooker and Travers the latter stil bare and none can challenge the other to the contrary a reverend esteem of his adversary And when an unworthy aspersion some years after was cast on Hooker if Christ was dasht shall Christians escape clean in their journey to heaven M r Travers being asked of a private friend what he thought of the truth of that accusation In truth said he I take M r Hooker to be a holy man A speech with coming from an adversary sounds no less to the commendation of his charity who spake it then to the praise of his piety of whom it was spoken 60. The Councell table was much divided about Travers his petition All Whitgists foes were ipso facto made Travers his favourers Travers must have no favour besides he had a large stock of friends on his own account But Whitgifts finger moved more in Church matters then all the hands of all the privie Councellers besides and he was content to suffer others to be beleeved and perchance to beleeve themselves great actors in Church-government whilst he knew he could and did do all things himself therein No favour must be afforded Travers on any terms 1. Dangerous was his person a Cartwright junior none in England either more loving Geneva or more beloved by it 2 ly Dangerous the place the Temple being one of the Jnns therefore a publick of Court therefore a principall place and to suffer one opposite to the English discipline to continue Lecturer there what was it but in effect to retain half the Lawyers of England to be of Councell against the ecclesiastical government thereof 3 ly Dangerous the Precedent this leading case would be presumed on for others to follow and a ranks breaking may be an armies ruining 61. This was the constant custome of Whitgift Whitgift his politick carriage if any Lord or Lady
done lesse themselves if in their condition 18. Thus was an old Convocation converted into a new Synod Out of the buriall of an old Convocation the birth of a new Synod and now their disjoynted meeting being set together again they betook themselves to consult about new Canons Now because great bodies move slowly and are fitter to be the consenters to than the contrivers of businesse it was thought fit to contract the Synod into a select Committee of some six and twenty beside the Proloquutour who were to ripen matters as to the propounding and drawing up the formes to what should passe yet so that nothing should be accounted the act of the House till thrice as I take it publiquely voted therein 19. Expect not here of me an exemplification of such Canons Why the Canons of this Synod are not by us exemplified as were concluded of in this Convocation Partly because being printed they are publique to every eie but chiefly because they were never put in practice or generally received The men in Persia did never look on their little ones till they were seven yeers old bred till that time with thâ—ir Mothers and Nurses nor did they account them in their Genealogies amongst their children but amongst the more long-lived abortives if dying before seven yeers of age I conceive such Canons come not under our cognizance which last not at least an apprenticeship of yeers in use aâ—d practice and therefore we decline the setting down the Acts of this Synod It is enough for us to present the number and titles of the severall Canons 1. Concerning the Regal power 2. For the better keeping of the day of his Majesties most happy Inauguration 3. For suppressing of the growth of Popery 4. Against Socinianism 5. Against Sectaries 6. An Oath injoyned for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government 7. A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies 8. Of Preaching for Conformity 9. One Book of Articles of inquiry to be used at all Parochiall Visitations 10. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy 11. Chancellors Patents 12. Chancellors alone not to censure any of the Clergy in sundry Cases 13. Excommunication and Absolution not to be pronounced but by a Priest 14. Concerning the Commutations and the disposing of them 15. Touching concurrent Jurisdictions 16. Concerning Licences to Marry 17. Against vexatious Citations 20. As for the Oath concluded on in this Synod The form of the Oath c. because since the subject of so much discourse it is here set forth at large according to the true tenour thereof as followeth I A. B. doe swear That I doe approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavour by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deanes and Archdeacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpation and superstitions of the Sea of Rome And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plaine and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I doe heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ 21. Towards the close of the Convocation Doctor Griffith A motion for a new edition of the Welsh Bible a Clark for some Welsh Diocesse whose moderate carriage all the while was very commendable made a motion that there might be a new edition of the Welsh Church-Bible some sixty yeers since first translated into Welsh by the worthy endeavours of Bishop Morgan but not without many mistakes and omissions of the printer He insisted on two most remarkable a whole verse left out Exod. 12. concerning the Angels passing over the houses besprinkled with blood which mangleth the sense of the whole Chapter Another Habak 25. where that passage He is a proud man is wholly omitted The matter was committed to the care of the Welsh Bâ—shops who I fear surprised with the troublesome times effected nothing herein 22. The day before the ending of the Synod Glocester his singularity threatned with suspension Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester privately repaired to the Archbishop of Canterbury acquainting him that he could not in his conscience subscribe the new Canons It appeared afterwards that he scrupled some passages about the Corporal presence But whether upon Popish or Lutheran principles he best knoweth himself The Archbishop advised him to avoide obstinacy and singularity therein However the next day when we all subscribed the Canons suffering our selves according to the order of such meetings to be all concluded by the majority of Votes though some of us in the Committee privately dissenting in the passing of many particulars he alone utterly refused his subscription thereunto Whereupon the Archbishop being present with us in King Henry the seventh his Chappell was highly offended at him My Lord of Glocester said he I admonish you to subscribe and presently after My Lord of Glocester I admonish you the second time to subscribe and immediately after I admonish you the third time to subscribe To all which the Bishop pleaded conscience and returned a deniall 23. Then were the judgements of the Bishops severally asked His suspension suspended whether they should proceed to the present suspension of Glocester for his contempt herein Davenant Bishop of Sarisbury being demanded his opinion conceived it fit some Lawyers should first be consulted with how far forth the power of a Synod in such cases did extend He added moreover that the threefold admonition of a Bishop ought solemnly to be done with some considerable intervalls betwixt them in which the party might have time of convenient deliberation However some dayes after he was committed by the Kings command as I take it to the Gate-house where he got by his restraint what he could never have gained by his liberty namely of one reputed Popish to become for a short time popular as the only Confessor suffering for not subscribing the Canons Soon after the same Canons were subscribed at York where the Convocation is but the hand of the Diall moving and pointing as directed by the clock of the Province of Canterbury June 30. And on the last of June following the said Canons were publiquely printed with the Royall Assent affixed thereunto 24. No sooner came these Canons abroad into publique view First exception against â—he Canons but various were mens censures upon them Some were offended because bowing toward the Communion-Table now called Altar by many was not only left indifferent but also caution taken that the observers or the omitters thereof should not
others grumbling at it as too much for what by them was performed And now what place more proper for the building of Sion as they propounded it then the Chamber of Jerusalem the fairest in the Deans Lodgings where King Henry the fourth died and where these Divines did daily meet together 7. Be it here remembred The superadded Divines that some besides those Episcopally affected chosen to be at this Assembly notwithstanding absented themselves pretending age indisposition c. as it is easie for able unwillingness to finde out excuses and make them probable Fit it was therefore so many evacuities should be filled up to mount the Meeting to a competent number and Assemblies as well as Armies when grown thin must be recruited Hence it was that at severall times the Lords and Commons added more Members unto them by the name of the Super-added Divines Some of these though equall to the former in power were conceived to fall short in parts as chosen rather by the affections of others then for their own abilities the Original members of the Assembly not overpleased thereat such addition making the former rather more then more considerable 8. One of the first publick Acts The Assemblies first petition for a fast which I finde by them performed was the humble presenting of a Petition to both Houses for the appointing of a solemn fast to be generally observed And no wonder if their request met with fair acceptance and full performance seeing the Assemblies Petition was the Parliaments intention and this solemn suite of the Divines did not create new but quicken the old resolutions in both Houses presently a Fast is appointed July 21. Frid. and accordingly kept on the following Friday M r Boules and M r Newcomen whose sermons are since printed preaching on the same and all the rest of the particulars promised to be taken into speedy consideration 9. It was now projected to finde out some Band or Tie The Covenent entreth England for the streighter Vnion of the English and Scotish amongst themselves and both to the Parliament In order whereunto the Covenant was now presented This Covenant was of Scottish extraction born beyond Tweed but now brought to be bred on the South-side thereof 10. The House of Commons in Parliament The Covenant first taken and the Assembly of Divines solemnly took the Covenant at S t. Margarets in Westminster 11. It was ordered by the Commons in Parliament that this Covenant be forthwith printed and published Commanded to be printed 12. Divers Lords Taken by Gentlemen Knights Gentlemen Collonels Officers Souldiers and others Sept. 27. Wed. 29. Frid. then residing in the City of London met at S t Margarets in Westminster and there took the said Covenant M r Coleman preaching a Sermon before them concerning the piety and legality thereof 13. It was commanded by the authority of both Houses Enjoyned all in London that the said Covenant on the Sabbath day ensuing Frid. Octo. 1. Sund. should be taken in all Churches and Chappels of London within the lines of Communication and thoroughout the Kingdom in convenient time appointed thereunto according to the Tenour following A Solemn league and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happiness of the King and the peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of the Kings Majesty and his posterity and the true publick liberty safety and peace of the Kingdom wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to minde the Treacherous and Bloody Plots Conspiracies attempts and Practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and the professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time encreased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplications Remonstrances Protestations and sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practises of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods people in other nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual solemn League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most High God do swear That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith form of Church-Government directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacie that is Church-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godliness lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and priviledges of the Parliaments and the due liberties of the kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesty his person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and greatness We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill instruments
last bee let in when they had paid dear for a dispensation 19. Lanckfranck likewise charged Remigius And against Remigius elect of Lincoln elect of Lincoln as irregular because guilty of Simony Yet he did not tax him with a penny of money either paid or contracted for onely charged him that officio b Eadmerus ibid. emerar by service-Simony he had purchased the place of King William so that his officiousness to comply with the Kings pleasure had made him injurious and vexatious unto the people Here all things were referred to Lanckfrancks own arbitration whom the Pope of an accuser made a Judg so far as either to admit or exclude the aforesaid Prelates affirming that if any unworthiness crept into English preferment be it charged on Lanckfranck his account whom he made sole judg of mens merits to any promotion 20. But all is well Lanckfranck his return and imployment that ends well and so did this contest Lanckfranck having first given them a taste of his power did afterwards give them a cast of his pitty and favourably accepted them both into their places Hence they all post homewards where we leave Lanckfranck safely arrived and foundly employed in variety of business 1. In asserting the superiority of his See above York 2. In defending his Tenants in what Diocess soever from the visitations of their respective Bishops which gave the first original to Peculiars 3. In repairing his Church of Canterbury lately much defaced with fire 4. In casting out Secular Priests and substituting Monks in their room 5. Lastly in recovering lands long detained from his See Nor was he affrighted with the heighth and greatness of Odo Bishop of Bayeux though half-brother to King William and Earl of Kent but wrestled a fair fall with him in a legal trial and cast him flat on his back regaining many Lordships which Odo had most unjustly invaded Such as desire more of Lanckfranck his character let them consult Eadmerus a Monk of Canterbury and therefore prodigal in Lanckfrancks praise an Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and great promoter of monastical life Indeed there was a design driven on by Walkeline Bishop of Winchester who had privately wrought the King to abet it to reinduce Secular Priests into Monks places till Lanckfranck getting notice defeated the plot procuring that all such Monks whom he had first fastened in their Covents were afterwards riveted therein by Papal authority 21. About this time a constitution was made Bishops Sees removed from villages to cities that Bishops should remove their Sees from petty towns to populous places This reason being rendred for their removal Ne vilesceret Episcopalis dignitas by their long living in so little villages Such Bishops Churches could not properly be called Cathedrals who fate not upon chairs but low stools so inconsiderably small were some places of their residences A fair candle-stick advantagiously set in some sense may be said to give light to the candle it self and Episeopal lustre will be the brighter if placed in eminent Cities Besides Bishops having now gotten Canon-Law and distinct Courts by themselves much people repaired unto their Consistories which conveniently could not be accommodated in little villages but required bigger places for their better entertainment In order to this command the Bishop of Dorchester near Oxford removed to Lincolne as somewhat before Selsey was translated to Chichester and Sherborne to Sarisbury and not long after Thetford to Norwich Now as these Cities to which they removed being great before grew greater afterwards so those places which they left Dorchester and Selsey especially decayed to contemptible villages it faring with places as with persons the rich grow richer still and the meaner are daily diminished 22. As these Bishops accounted themselves well busied Wolstans sunplicity faveth his Bisho prick in removing their Bishopricks so some I am sure were ill imployed in endeavouring to remove a good Bishop I mean Wolstan from his Church of Worcester As the Poëts saign of Janus that he had two faces because living before and after the flood so this Wolstan may be charactered accordingly made Bishop before but continuing his place long after the Norman inundation But in what sense soever he may be said to have two faces he had but one heart and that a single and sincere one to God and all goodness yet his adversaries heaved at him to cast him out of his Bishoprick because an Englishman of the old stamp but he fate safe right-poised therein with his own gravity and integrity And being urged to resign his staff and ring ensignes of his Epifcopacy he refused to surrender them to any man alive but willingly offered them up at the Tomb of Edward the Confessor from whom he received them This his gratitude to his dead Patron and candid simplicity in neglecting the pomp of his place procured him much favour and occasioned his peaceable confirmation in his Bishoprick 23. At this time several Liturgies were used in England The original of Secundum usum Sanum which caused confusion and much disturbed mens devotions Yea which was worse a brawle yea a battel happ'ned betwixt the English Monks of Glassenbury and Thurstan their Norman Abbot in their very Church obtruding a Service upon them which they dislik'd Unfit persons to fight being by their profession men of peace and unfitter the place for a quarrel * 1 Cor. 11. 22. Have ye not houses to eat and drink in saith S t Paul to the Corinthians or despise ye the Church of God Was there no other room in their Covent for them to fall out and fight in but their Church alone Here was an Holy War indeed when Church-forms candle-sticks and Crucifixes were used for shields by the Monks against the Abbot's armed-men brought in against them Nor was Holy-water onely but much bloud spilled in the place eight Monks being wounded and * Fulegium an ancient and authenick Chronicle cited by Mr. Fox pag. 233. two slain or if you will sacrificed near the steps of the High Altar But this accident ill in it self was then conceived good in the event thereof because occasioning a settlement and uniformity of Liturgie all over England For hereupon Osmund Anno Dom. 1081 Bishop of Salisbury devised that Ordinary or form of Service which hereafter was observed in the whole Realm his Churches practice being a precedent and the devotion therein a direction to all others Hence forward the most ignorant Parish-Priest in England though having no more Latin in all his treasury yet understood the meaning of Secundum usum Sarum that all Service must be ordered According to the course and oustome of Salisbury Church 24. I finde no Jews in England no deviation I hope from Church-History The first coming of the Iews into England to touch at the Synagogue before the Reign of the Conqueror who a Srows Survey of London in Coleman street Ward brought many from Roan in Normandy and
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
have nothing left unto me for to provide any better but as my b b Robert Fisher brother of his own purse laieth out for me to his great hinderance Wherefore gode Master Secretary estsones I beseche yow to have som pittie pon me and let me have such things as bar necessary for me in mine Age and especially for my health and also that it may please yow by yowr high wysdome to move the Kings Highnesse to take me unto his gracious favour againe and to restore me unto my liberty out of this cold and painful Imprisonment whereby ye shall bind me to be yowr pore beadsman for ever unto Almighty God who ever have yow in his protection and custody Other twain things I must also desyer upon yow first oon is that itt may please yow that I may take some Preest within the Tower by th'assignment of Master Livetenant to have my confession against my hooly tym That other is that I may borrow some bookes to stir my devotion mor effectually theis hooly dayes for the comfortte of my sowl This I beseche yow to grant me of yowr charitie And thus our Lord send yow a mery Christenmas and a comfortable to yowr heart desyer Att the Tower this xxij day of December Your poor Beadsman JOHN ROFFE His first petition for cloaths was granted him having exchange thereof at his execution and it is probable the other two petitions being so reasonable were not denied him 19. During his durance in the Tower he was often and strictly examined Ann. Regis HeÌ„ 8. 27. before Sir Edmund Walsingham Lieutenant thereof His often exminations by Thomas Bedyll and Richard Layton Clerks of the Councell and was sworn in verbo Sacerdotii to answer to many Interrogatories but chiefly concerning four subjects First Off 〈…〉 about the King's Divorce wherein he was alwaies constant to what he had printed of the unlawfulnesse thereof Secondly about His Supremacy which at last he peremptorily denyed Thirdly about his concealing the Imposture of Elizabeth Barton the Maide of Kent wherein he confessed his weaknesse and over-easie beliefe but utterly denied any ill Intentions to the King's Person Fourthly about the Statute of Succession wherein as appears by his Letter to * Extant in Sir Thomas Cottons Library Secretary Cromwell he was content to subscribe and swear to the body but not to the Preamble thereof 20. Which words therein Taketh offence â— the Preface 〈…〉 so offensive to Fisher except there be any other unprinted Preface to this Statute were these The Bishop a See in printed Statutes 25 of Hen. 8. cap. 22 p. 558. of Rome and See Apostolick contrary to the great and inviolable grants of Jurisdiction by God immediately to Emperours Kings and Princes in Succession to their Heires hath presumed in times past to invest who should please them to inherit in other mens Kingdomes and Dominions which thing we Your most humble Subjects both Spiritual and Temporal doe most abhorre and detest 21. Here I know not whether more to commend the policy or charity of Archbishop Cranmer desiring in a Letter to b ex Litt. MS. in Bib Corion Secretary Cromwell that this partial subscription which Bishop Fisher proffered Archbishop Cranmer his 〈◊〉 charity to the Statute of Succession might be accepted adding that good use mighe be made thereof to the King's advantage such generall reputation the World had of this Bishop's Learning and of Sir Thomas Moore 's both which it seems went the same path and pace and in this point started 〈◊〉 and stopp'd together Indeed it was not good to strain such fine springs too high which possibly moistened with milde usage might in processe of time have been stretched to a further compliance But it seems nothing at present would satisfie except both of them came up to the full measure of the King's demands 22. As for Bishop Fisher his concealing the pretended Prophesies of Elizabeth Barton Fisher concealing Bartons forgeries waved it was so farre waved that he was never indicted for the same And indeed he made an ingenuous Plea for himself namely that the said Elizabeth had told him she had acquainted the King therewith yea he had assurance thereof from the c in his Letter to the King in bib Cotton Archbishop And therefore knowing the King knew of it before he he was loath to hazard His displeasure in that which was not revealing what was unknown but repeating what would be unwelcome to His Grace 23. But not long after Yâ—t how indicted why condemned he was arreigned of high Treason and it will not be amisse to insert the sting of the Indictment out of the Originall DIversis Domini Regis veris * May 7. subditis falsè malitiosè proditoriè loquebatur propalabat videlicet * His 〈◊〉 were spoken May 7. in the Tower of London but he arraigned afterwards The King owre Soveraigne Lord is not Supreme Hed ynerthe of the Cherche of England In dicti Domini Regis immund despect vilipendium manifest Of this he was found guilty had Judgment and was remanded to the Tower where for a time we leave him and proceed 24. Thus was the power of the Pope totally abolished out of England Papists unjustly charge us for Schismaticks whereof the Romanists at this day doe bitterly complain but can revenge themselves no other way save by aspersing us as guilty of Schisme and Separation for rending our selves from the mother-Mother-Church Blame us not if loath that the Church of England in whose Doctrine and Discipline we were born and bred and desire to die should lie under so foule and false an Imputation which by the following Narrative may fully be confuted 25. Three things are Essential to justifie the English Reformation Three Essentials in Reformation from the scandal of Schisme to shew that they had 1. Just cause for which 2. True authority by which 3. Due moderation in what they deceded from Rome 26. The first will plainly appear The grosse errors in Popery if we consider the abominable Errors which contrary to Scripture and Primitive practise were then crept into the Church of Rome As the denying the Cup to the Laity Worshipping of Images locking up the Scriptures in Latine and performing prayers in an unknown Tongue with the monstrosity of Transubstantiation unexcusable practises Besides the Behemoth of the Pope's Infallibility and the Leviathan of his Universall Jurisdiction so exclaimed against by Gregory the great as a Note of Anti-Christ 27. Just cause of Reformation being thus proved The impossibility of 〈◊〉 general Councell proceed we to the Authority by which it is to be made Here we confesse the most regular way was by order from a Free and Generall Councell but here alas no hope thereof General it could not be the Greeks not being in a capacity of repairing thither nor Free such the Papal Usurpation For before men could trie
the Truth hand to hand by dint of Scripture the Sword and Buckler thereof by God's appointment the Pope took off all his Adversaries at distance with those Guns of Hellish Invention his Infallibility and Universall Jurisdiction so that no approaching his presence to oppose him but with certainty of being pre-condemned 28. Now seeing the Complaints of the conscientious in all Ages The power of a Nationall Church well improved against the Errors in the Romish Church met with no other entertainment than frowns and frets and afterwards fire and fagot it came seasonably into the mindes of those who steered the English Nation to make use of that power which God had bestowed upon them And seeing they were a National Church under the civil command of one King He by the advice and consent of his Clergie in Convocation and great Council in Parliament resolved to reform the Church under His inspection from grosse abuses crept into it leaving it free to other Churches either to follow His example or continue in their former condition and on these terms was the English Reformation first advanced 29. But the Romanists object Objection to the contrary that England being first converted to Christianity by the zeale and care of the Church of Rome when Pope Gregory the great sent Augustine over to preach here cannot not onely without great Ingratitude but flat Undutifulnesse depart from the Church which first taught it true Religion It is answered Answer 1. First this Argument reacheth not west of Severne into Wales where the antient Britains by generall confession were converted before the time of Augustine Secondly Answer 2. this first favour received from Rome puts not on England so strict and servile an obligation of perpetual continuance that she may and must not serve God without asking her leave It ties England onely to a faire and gratefull respect which she alwaies tender'd till the Insolency of the Church of Rome made Us unwilling to pay and Her unworthy to receive it Thirdly Answer 3. some strength may be allowed to this Objection if Rome could be proved the same in Doctrine and Discipline when under the Reign of King Henry the eighth England divided it self from it with Rome when in the time of Gregory the great it was converted by God's blessings on his endeavours But since that time the Church of Rome hath been much corrupted in Opinions and practise easie to prove but that it is not the set work of our History 30. But again the Papists object 2. Objection of the Romanists that the most judicious Protestants doe ingeniously confesse that the Church of Rome maintaineth all the Fundamentals of Religion England therefore cannot be excused from Schisme for dividing from that Church which by their own confession still retaineth the true Foundation of Christianity 31. It is answered The Answer if some Protestants be so civil in their censures on Papists it appears thereby though they have left Rome they have not lost their courtesie nor their Charity But grant which is disputable the Errours of the Church of Rome not Fundamental they are Circa-Fundamental grating on the very Foundation Besides we are bound to avoid not onely what is deadly but what is hurtful not onely what may destroy the life but what may prejudice the health of our Souls But our Adversaries persist to object 3. Objection that our Reformation took its rise from King Henry's pride to pluck down a Power which crossed His designes from His covetousnesse to compasse the Revenues of Abbey and from His wantonnesse to exchange His old Embracings for new ones Well therefore may the English blush at the Babe when they behold its Parents and be ashamed of their Reformation considering the vitious Extraction thereof Answ The Answer Malice may load the Memory of K. Henry about His demerit yet grant the charge true that bad inclinations first moved Him to the Reformation yet He acted therein nothing but conformable to the Law Divine and Humane It is usuall with God's wisdome and goodnesse to suffer Vice to sound the first Alarum to that fight wherein Virtue is to have the Victory Besides King Henry's Reformation hath since been Reformed by successive Princes of England who cannot justly be taxed with any vitious reflexion therein 32. It remaineth that we take notice of the moderation of the Reformers The moderation of Reformers who being acted not with an Opposition to all which the Papists practised but with an Affection to Truth disclaimed onely the Ulcers and Sores not what was sound of the Romish Church retaining still what was consonant to Antiquity in the Four first Generall Councels 33. Matters thus ordered The Conclusion of the Contest had the Romanists been pleased to joyn with us there had been no complaining of Schisme either in their Streets or ours But such their pride and peevishnesse to persist obstinate to this day incense many people who listen more to the loudnesse than weigh the justnesse of Complaints accusing us of wilfull Separation But the Premisses well considered England may say to Rome * Gen. 38. 29. Pharez the breach be upon thee who with * 2 Kings 11. 14. Athaliah crying Treason treason being her self the prime Traytour taxeth us with Schisme when she the onely Schismatick 34. We enter now on a subject The Popes revenues out of England which we must not omit such is the concernment thereof in our History yet which we cannot compleat so intricate the nature thereof and so short and doubtfull our intelligence therein namely to give a generall estimate particulars being impossible of the Papall Revenues of England 35. Here be it premised that I humbly conceive Greatest under King Hen. 3. the Pope's Income ran the highest in England under King Henry the third and King Edward the first before the Statute of Mortmaine and after it that of Premunire was made for these much abated his Intrado And although I deny not but under King Henry the eighth he might receive more Money as then more plentifull in England yet his profit formerly was greater if the standard of Gold and Silver be but stated proportionably 36. However the vast summes Rome received hence at the time of Reformation Popes profit by sale of Trinkets will appear by the insuing commodities For first Agnus Dei's this is here set by Synecdoclie to signifie all Popish Trinkets Medals consecrated Beads c. which I as little know what they be as Papists why they use them Of these were yearly brought over from Rome into England as many as would fill the shop of a Habberdasher of Holy Wares Now though their prices were not immediately paid into the Pope's purse but to such his subordinate Officers who traded therein Yet they may be accounted part of the Papall Revenues the King hath what the Courtiers have by His consent and if such trading was not permitted unto them the
represent And seeing Sir Thomas More would have his own jests when dying no wonder if he makes others to jeer when dead 6. These two Supplications pressing both together for audience and reception The first Supplication best received that of the Beggars on earth found the best entertainment Whether because it came first which we know is great advantage in Beggars first come first served Or because these Terrestrial beggars were neerer at hand and so best able to manage their own suit whilst those in Purgatory were conceived at a greater distance Or chiefly because their Supplication suggested matter of profit to the King and His Courtiers and such whispers sound loud and commonly meet with attentive ears And as an introduction to the dissolution of all Abbeys spies were sent forth to make strict discovery of mens behaviours therein Indeed the Lord Cromwell Scout-Master-Generall in this designe stayed at the Court whilst his subordinate Emissaries men of as prying eyes as afterwards they proved of gripple hands sent unto him all their intelligence in manner and form as in due time shall ensue The lesser Monasteries bestowed on the King NOW because some moneths were imployed in that service before a perfect account was returned to the Lord Cromwell The suppressing of the smaller Monasteries may here seasonably be inserted For in the twenty seventh of the King's Reign Anno 1539 a motion was made in Parliament A gainfull motion made for the King That to support the King's States and supply His wants all Religious Houses might be conferred on the Crown which were not able clearly to expend above Two hundred pounds a year 2. Some may report Reported by mistake opposed by Bishop Fisher that John Fisher Bishop of Rochester earnestly though pleasently opposed the motion by alledging an Apologue out of Aesope That the Helve of the Axe craved a Handle of the wood of Oaks onely to cut off the Serebowes of the Tree but when it was a complete Instramentall Axe it felled down all the wood Applying it That the grant of these smaller Houses would in fine prove destructive to all the rest But Fisher being now in his grave this could not be spoken in this Parliament which with more probability was formerly urged by him against Cardinal Wolsey in dissolving the forty Houses whereof before 3. This Proposition found little opposition in either Houses Easily passed in Parliament Henry the eighth was a King and His necessities were Tyrants and both suing together for the same thing must not be denied besides the larger thongs they cut out of other mens leather the more intire they preserved their own hide which made the Parliament to ease their own purses by laying the load on those lesser Houses which they accordingly passed to the Crown 4. The Lord Herbert in his a Of Henry 8 pag. 376. Historie complaineth and that justly That this Statute for dissolution of the lesser Monasteries doth begin very bluntly A Preamble of importance restored out of the Records to the Printed Statute without any formall Preamble in the Printed Books they are Published It seemeth that herein he never searched the Record it self otherwise industrious in that kinde to which a solemn Preface is prefixed shewing some Reasons of the dissolution and pious uses to which they were attained In form as followeth The Preamble is this Forasmuch as manifest sin vitious carnall and abominable living is daily used and committed commonly in such little and small Abbeys Priories and other religious houses of Monks Canons and Nuns where the Congregation of such religious persons is under the number of twelve persons whereby the Governours of such religious Houses and their Covent spoile destroy consume and utterly waste as well the Churches Monasteries Priories principall Houses Farms Granges Lands Tenements and Hereditaments as the ornaments of the Churches and their goods and Chattels to the high displeasure of Almighty God slander of good Religion and to the great infamy of the King's Hignesse and the Realm if redresse should not be had thereof And albeit that many continuall Visitations hath been heretofore had by the space of two hundred years and more for an honest and charitable reformation of such unthrifty carnall and abominable living yet neverthelesse little or no amendment is hitherto had but their vitious living shamefully increaseth and augmenteth and by a cursed custome so grown and infested that a great multitude of the religious persons in such small Houses do rather choose to rove abroad in Apostasie than to conform themselves to the observation of good Religion so that without such small Houses be utterly suppressed and the Religion therein committed to the great and honourable Monasteries of Religion in this Realm where they may be compelled to live religioussly for reformation of their lives there can else be no redresse nor reformation in that behalf In consideration whereof the King 's most royall Majesty being Supreme head in earth under God of the Church of England daily studying and devising the increase advancement and exaltation of true doctrine and virtue in the said Church to the onely glory and honour of God and the totall extirping and destruction of vice and sin having knowledge that the premises be true as well by the compts of his late visitations as by sundry credible informations considering also that divers and great solemn Monasteries of this Realm wherein thanks be to God Religion is right well kept and observed be destitute of such full numbers of religious persons as they ought and may keep have thought good that a plain Declaration should be made of the premises as well to the Lords spirituall and Temporall as to other His loving Subjects the Commons in this present Parliament assembled WHEREUPON the said Lords and Commons by a great deliberation finally be resolved That it is and shall be much more to the pleasure of Almighty God and for the honour of this His Realm that the possessions of such small religious Houses not being spent spoiled and wasted for increase of maintenance of sin should be used and converted to better uses and the unthrifty religious persons so spending the same to be compelled to reform their lives And hereupon most humbly desire the King's Highnesse that it may be enacted by authority of this present Parliament That His Majesty shall have to Him and to Hit Heirs for ever all and singular such Monasteries His Majesty shall have and enjoy c. As it foloweth in the printed b Cap. 28. Statute In this Preamble two principles are laid down of infallible truth Two principles which must not be questioned and posterity must not be so presumptuous as to question them 1. The smallest Convents were the greatest sinners and they who had the least lands led the leudest lives 2. It was harder to reform little Covents than those that were greater It seems such small Houses like little fishes could not be caught with the
this promoted to be Bishop of Worcester then succeeded Grindal in London and Yorke an excellent and painfull preacher and of a pious and Godly life which increased in his old age so that by a great and good stride whilst he had one foot in the Grave he had the other in Heaven He was buried in Southwell and it is hard to say whether he was more eminent in his own Vertues or more happy in his Flourishing Posterity 26. The next year produced not any great Church matters in its self 32. but was only preparatory to the ripening of business 1589. and raising the charges against the principall Patrons of Nonconformity Arch-Bishop Whitgift his discretion Indeed Arch-Bishop Whitgift according to his constant custome and manner repaired daily to the Councell-Table early in the morning and after an usuall apprecation of a Good-morrow to the Lords he requested to know if there were any Church business to be debated and if the answer were returned in the Affirmative He stayed and attended the issue of the matter But if no such matter appeared he craved leave to be dispensed withall saying Then my Lords here is no need of me and departed A commendable practise clearing himself from all aspersions of civill-pragmaticallness and tending much to the just support of his reputation 27. On the first of September M r. Cartwright 33. Batchelor in Divinity 1590. Sept. 1. was brought before Her Majesties Commissioners Articles objected against Mr. Thomas Cartwright there to take his oath and give in his positive answer to the following Articles 1. IMprimis a a The copy of these Articles â—ere 〈…〉 after his death who as kindly communicated as 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 â—nscribed them We do object and articulate against him Anno Dom. 1590. that he Anno Regin Eliza. 33. being a Minister at least a Deacon lawfully called according to the godly laws and orders of this Church of England hath forsaken abandoned and renounced the same orders Ecclesiastical as an antichristian and unlawfull manner of calling unto the Ministry or Deaconship 2. Item that he departing this Realm into forraign parts without license as a man discontented with the form of Government Ecclesiasticall here by law established the more to testifie his dislike and contempt thereof and of the manner of his former Vocation and Ordination was contented in forraign parts as at Antwerpe Middeburgh or elsewhere to have a new Vocation Election or Ordination by imposition of hands unto the Ministry or unto some other order or degree Ecclesiasticall and in other manner and form than the laws Ecclesiasticall of this Realm do prescribe Let him declare upon his oath the particular circumstances thereof 3. Item that by vertue or colour of such his later Vocation Election or Ordination becoming a pretended Bishop or Pastor of such Congregation as made choice of him he established or procured to be established at Antwerp and at Middleburgh among Merchants and others Her Majesties Subjects a certain Consistory Seminary Presbytery or Eldership Ecclesiastical consisting of himself being Bishop or Pastor and so President thereof of a Doctor of certain Ancients Sentours or Elders for government Ecclesiastical and of Deacons for distributing to the poor 4. Item that the said Eldership and the authority thereof certain English-born Subjects were called elected or ordained by imposition of hands to be Ministers or Ecclesiastical Doctors being not of that degree before as Hart Travers Grise or some of them and some that were also Ministers afore according to the orders of the Church of England as Fenner Acton were so called and other English Subjects were also called and likewise ordained Elders and some others were ordained Deacons in other manner and form than the laws Ecclesiasticall of the Realm do prescribe or allow of 5. Item that such Eldership so established under the Presidentship of him the said Thomas Cartwright had used besides this authority of this Vocation and Ordination of Officers ecclesiasticall the Censures and keyes of the Church as publick admonition suspension from the Supper and from execution of offices ecclesiastical and the censures of excommunication likewise authority of making laws degrees and orders ecclesiastical and of dealing with the doctrine and manners of all persons in that Congregation in all matters whatsoever so far as might appertain to conscience 6. Item that he the said Thomas Cartwright in the publick administration of his Ministry there among Her Majesties Subjects used not the forme of liturgie or Book of Common-Prayer by the laws of this land established nor in his government ecclesiasticall the laws and orders of this land but rather conformed himself in both to the use and form of some other forraign Churches 7. Item that since his last return from beyond the Seas being to be placed at Warwick he faithfully promised if he might be but tolerated to preach not to impugne the laws orders policy government nor governours in this Church of England but to perswade and procure so much as he could both publickly and privately the estimation and peace of this Church 8. Item That he having no Ministry in this Church other then such as before he had forsaken and still condemneth as unlawful and without any license as Law requireth he hath since taken upon him to preach at Warwick and at sundry other places of this Realm 9. Item That since his said return in sundry private conferences with such Ministers and others as at sundry times by word and letter have asked his advice or opinion he hath shewed mislike of the Laws and Government Ecclesiastical and of divers parts of the Liturgie of this Church and thereby perswaded and prevailed also with many in sundry points to break the orders and form of the Book of Common-Prayer who observed them before and also to oppose themselves to the Government of this Church as himself well knoweth or verily believeth 10. Item That in all or most of such his Sermons and Exercises he hath taken occasion to traduce and enveigh against the Bishops and other governours under them in this Church 11. Item That he hath grown so far in hatred and dislike towards them as that at sundry times in his prayer at Sermons and namely Preaching at Banbury about a year since in such place as others well disposed pray for Bishops he prayed to this or like effect Because that they which ought to be pillars in the Church do bend themselves against Christ and his truth therefore O Lord give us grace and power all as one man to set our selves against them And this in effect by way of emphasis he then also repeated 12. Item that preaching at sundry times and places he usually reacheth at all occasions to deprave condemn and impugn the manner of Ordination of Bishops Ministers and Deacons sundry points of the Politie Government Laws Orders and rights Ecclesiastical and of the publick Liturgie of the Church of England contained in
time may be limited within the compasse whereof they shall conforme His Majesty I assent thereunto and let the Bishop of the Diocesse set downe the time Mr. Knewst I request * Here he fell down on his knees the like favour of forbearance to some honest Ministers in Suffolk For it will make much against their credits in the Countrey to be now forced to the Surplice and Crosse in Baptisime Arch-b of Cant. Nay Sir His Majesty Let me alone to answer him Sir you shew your self an uncharitable man We have here taken paines and in the end have concluded on Unity and Uniformity and you forsooth must prefer the credits of a few Private Men before the Peace of the Church This is just the Scotch Argument when any thing was concluded which disliked some humours Let them either conform themselves shortly or they shall hear of it L d. Cecil The indecencie of ambuling Communions is very offensive and hath driven many from the Church BP of Lond. And Mr. Chaderton I could tell you of sitting Communions in Emanuel Colledge Mr. Chad. It is so because of the seats so placed as they be and yet we have some kneeling also in our Chappell His Majesty No more hereof for the present seeing they have joyntly promised hereafter to be quiet and obedient Whereat He rose up to depart into an inner Chamber BP of Lond. Gods goodnesse be blessed for your Majesty and give health and prosperity to Your Highnesse your Gracious Queene the young Prince and all the Royall Issue Thus ended the three dayes Conference The generall censure of the Conferencers wherein how discreetly the King carried himself Posterity out of the reach of Flatterie is the most competent Judg such matters being most truly discerned at distance It is generally said that herein he went above himselfe that the Bishop of London appeared even with himselfe and Dr. Reinolds fell much beneath himselfe Others observed that Archbishop Whitgift spake most gravely Bancroft when out of passion most politickly Bilson most learnedly And of the Divines Mr. Reynolds most largely Knewstubs most affectionately Chaderton most sparingly In this Scene onely Dr. Sparks was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making use of his hearing not speech converted it seemes to the truth of what was spoken and soon after setting forth a Treatise of Unity and Uniformity But the Nonconformists complained The Non-conformists Complaint that the King sent for their Divines not to have their Scruples satisfied but his Pleasure propounded not that he might know what they could say but they what he would do in the matter Besides no wonder if Dr. Reynolds a little lost himself whose eyes were partly dazled with the light of the Kings Majesty partly daunted with the heat of his displeasure Others complaine that this Conference is partially set forth onely by Dr. Barlow Dean of Chester their professed Adversary to the great disadvantage of their Divines And when the Israelites go down to the Philistines to whet all their Iron Tooles no wonder if they set a sharp edge on their owne and a blunt one on their Enemies weapons This Conference produced some alterations in the Lyturgie The Product of this Conference Womens baptising of Infants formerly frequent hereafter forbidden in the Rubrick of Absolution Remission of Sinnes inserted Confirmation termed also an Examination of Children and some words altered in the Dominicall Gospels with a resolution for a new Translation of the Bible But whereas it was hitherto disputable whether the North where he long lived or the South whither he lately came should prevaile most on the Kings judgement in Church-government this doubt was now clearly decided Hence forward many cripples in conformitie were cured of their former halting therein and such who knew not their owne till they knew the Kings minde in this matter for the future quietly digested the Ceremonies of the Church We have formerly made mention of the Millemanus Petition for Reformation The Copy of the Milenary Petition which about this time was solemnly presented to His Majesty and which here we have truly exemplified The humble Petition of the Ministers of the Church of England desiring Reformation of certaine Ceremonies and abuses of the Church To the most Christian and excellent Prince our Gracious and dread Soveraigne James by the grace of God c. We the Ministers of the Church of England that desire Reformation wish a long prosperous and happy Raigne over us in this Life and in the next everlasting Salvation MOst gracious and dread Soveraigne Seeing it hath pleased the Divine Majesty to the great comfort of all good Christians to advance Your Highnesse according to Your just Title to the peaceable Government of this Church and Common-wealth of ENGLAND We the Ministers of the Gospel in this Land neither as factious men affecting a popular Parity in the Church nor as Schismatikes aiming at the dissolution of the State Ecclesiasticall but as the faithfull servants of Christ and Loyall Subjects to Your Majesty desiring and longing for the redresse of divers abuses of the Church could doe no lesse in our obedience to God service to Your Majesty love to his Church than acquaint Your Princely Majesty with our particular griefs For as Your Princely Pen writeth The King as a good Physitian must first know what peccant humours his Patient naturally is most subject unto before he can begin his cure And although divers of us that sue for Reformation have formerly in respect of the times subscribed to the Book some upon Protestation some upon Exposition given them some with Condition rather than the Church should have been deprived of their labour and ministerie Yet now we to the number of moe than a thousand of Your Majesties Subjects and Ministers all groaning as under a common burden of Humane Rites and Ceremonies doe with one joynt consent humble our selves at Your Majesties Feet to be eased and relieved in this behalf Our humble suit then unto Your Majesty is that these offences following some may be removed some amended some qualified I. In the Church-Service That the Crosse in Baptisme Interrogatories ministred to Infants Confirmation as superfluous may be taken away Baptisme not to be ministred by Women and so explained The Cap and Surplice not urged That Examination may goe before the Communion That it be ministred with a Sermon That divers termes of Priests and Absolution and some other used with the Ring in Marriage and other such like in the Book may be corrected The long-somenesse of Service abridged Church-songs and Musick moderated to better edification That the Lords day be not profaned The Rest upon Holy-dayes not so strictly urged That there may be an Uniformity of Doctrine prescribed No Popish Opinion to be any more taught or defended No Ministers charged to teach their people to bow at the name of JESUS That the Canonicall Scriptures onely be read in the Church II. Concerning Church-Ministers That none hereafter
words which cannot without some circumlocution so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text 7. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down as shall serve for the fit reference of one Scripture to another 8. Every particular man of each company to take the same Chapter or Chapters and having translated or amended them severally by himself where he thinks good all to meet together conferre what they have done and agree for their part what shall stand 9. As any one company hath dispatched any one Book in this manner they shall send it to the rest to be considered of seriously and juditiously for His Majestie is very carefull in this point 10. If any company upon the review of the Book so sent shall doubt or differ upon any places to send them word thereof note the places and therewithall send their reasons to which if they consent not the difference to be compounded at the General Meeting which is to be of the chief persons of each company at the end of the work 11. When any place of speciall obscurity is doubted of Letters to be directed by Authority to send to any learned in the Land for his judgment in such a place 12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the rest of his Clergie admonishing them of this Translation in hand and to move and charge as many as being skilfull in the Tongues have taken pains in that kinde to send his particular observations to the Company either at Westminster Cambridge or Oxford 13. The directours in each Company to be the Deans of Westminster and Chester for that place and the Kings Professours in the Hebrew and Greek in each Universitie 14. These Translations to be used when they agree better with the Text than the Bishops-Bible viz Tindals Matthews Coverdals Whitchurch Geneva Besides the said directions before mentioned three or four of the most antient and grave Divines in either of the Universities not employed in translating to be assigned by the Vice-Chancellour upon conference with the rest of the Heads to be Overseers of the Translations as well Hebrew as Greek for the better observation of the fourth Rule above-specified 2. The untimely death of Mr. Edward Lively Mr. Lively his death much weight of the work lying on his skill in the Oriental Tongues happening about this time happy that servant whom his Master when he cometh findeth so doing not a little retarded their proceedings However the rest vigorously though slowly proceeded in this hard heavie and holy task nothing offended with the censures of impatient people condemning their delaies though indeed but due deliberation for lazinesse Our pen for the present taketh its leave of them not doubting but within two years to give a good account of them or rather that they will give a good account of themselves In the translating of the Bible one of the eminent persons employed therein The death of Dr. Reynolds was translated into a better life viz 3. Doctor John Reynolds May 21 Kings Professour in Oxford born in Devon shire with Bishop Iewell and Mr. Hooker and all three bred in Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford No one County in England bare three such men * He was Bachâ—lor of Arts before Bishop Jewels death contemporarie at large in what Colledge soever they were bred no Colledge in England bred such three men in what County soever they were born 4. This Iohn Reynolds at the first was a zealous Papist A strange encounter whilst William his Brother was as earnest a Protestant and afterwards Providence so ordered it that by their mutuall disputation Iohn Reynolds turned an eminent Protestant and William an inverterate Papist in which perswasion he died This gave the occasion to an excellent Copie of Verses Ann. Dom. 1607 Ann. Reg. Jac. 5 concluding with this Distich Quod genus hoc pugnae est ubi victus gaudet uterque Et simul alteruter se superâsse dolet What war is this when conquered both are glad And either to have conquered other sad Daniel saith Chap. 12. ver 4. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased But here indeed was a strange transcursion and remarkable the effects thereof 5. His memory was little lesse than miraculous he himself being the truest Table to the multitude of voluminous Books he had read over His admirable parts and piety whereby he could readily turn to all materiall passages in every leaf page volume paragraph not to descend lower to lines and letters As his Memory was a faithfull Index so his Reason was a solid Judex of what he read his Humility set a lustre on all admirable that the whole should be so low whose severall parts were so high communicative of which he knew to any that desired information herein like a tree Joaden with fruit bowing down its branches to all that desired to ease it of the burden thereof deserving this Epitaph Incertum est utrum Doctior an Melior 6. His disaffection to the discipline established in England was not so great Most conformable in his practice to the Church of England as some Bishops did suspect or as more Non conformists did believe No doubt he desired the abolishing of some Ceremonies for the ease of the conscience of others to which in his own practice he did willingly submit constantly wearing Hood and Surplice and kneeling at the Sacrament On his death-bed he earnestly desired absolution Dr. Crackenthorp in his Defence of the English against Spalato according to the form of the Church of England and received it from Doctor Holland whose hand he * affectionately kissed in expression of the joy he received thereby Doctor Featly made his funerall Oration in the Colledge Sir Isaac Wake in the University 7. About this time Mr. John Molle Mr. Molle his birth and breeding Governour to the Lord Ross in his travails began his unhappy journey beyond the Seas This Mr. Molle was born in or neer South-Molton in Devon His youth was most spent in France where both by sea and land he gained much dangerous experience Once the ship he sailed in sprung a-leak wherein he and all his company had perished if an Hollander bound for Garnesay passing very neer had not speedily taken them in which done their ship sunk immediately Being Treasurer for Sir Thomas Shirley of the Englâ—sh Army in Britanie he was in the defeat of Cambray wounded taken prisoner and ransomed Providence designing him neither to be swallowed by the surges nor slain by the sword but in due time to remain a Land-mark of Christian patience to all posterity At last he was appointed by Thomas Earl of Exeter who formerly had made him Examiner in the Councell of the North to be Governour in Travail to his Grand-childe the Lord Ross undertaking the charge with much reluctancie as a presage of ill successe and with a profession and a resolution not to passe the Alpes 8.
3. If in debating of the cause by the Learned men there any thing be emergent whereof you thought not before you shall meet and consult thereupon again and so resolve among your selves joyntly what is fit to be maintained And this to be done agreeable to the Scriptures and the doctrine of the Church of England 4. Your advise shall be to those Churches that their Ministers doe not deliver in the Pulpit to the people those things for ordinary Doctrins which are the highest points of Schools and not fit for vulgar capacity but disputable on both sides 5. That they use no Innovation in Doctrine but teach the same things which were taught twenty or thirty years past in their own Churches and especially that which contradicteth not their own Confessions so long since published and known unto the world 6. That they conforme themselves to the publick Confessions of the neighbour-reformed Churches with whom to hold good correspondency shall be no dishonour to them 7. That if there be main opposition between any who are overmuch addicted to their own opinions your endevour shall be that certain Positions be moderately laid down which may tend to the mitigation of heat on both sides 8. That as you principally look to God's glory and the peace of those distracted Churches so you have an eye to Our honour Who send and employ you thither and consequently at all times consult with Our Ambassadour there residing who is best acquainted with the form of those Countreys understandeth well the Questions and differences among them and shall from time to time receive Our Princely directions as occasion shall require 9. Finally in all other things which We cannot foresee you shall carry your selves with that advise moderation and discretion as to persons of your quality and gravity shall appertain Doctor Davenant and Doctor Ward Octo. 8. presented themselves again to His MAJESTY at Royston October the 8. Where His MAJESTY vouchsafed His familiar discourse unto them for two hours together commanding them to sit down by Him and at last dismissed them with His solemn prayer That God would blesse their endeavours which made them cheerfully to depart His presence 66. Addressing themselves now with all possible speed to the Sea-side they casually missed that Man of Warre which the States had sent to conduct them over though they saw him on Sea at some distance and safely went over in a small Vessel 20. landing October 20 at Middleburgh On the 27 of the same Moneth they came to Hague 27. where they kissed the hand of His Excellency GRAVE MAURICE to Whom the Bishop made a short Speech and by Whom they were all courteously entertained Hence they removed to Dort Nov. 3. where November the 3 the Synod began and where we leave them with the rest of their fellow-Divines when first every one of them had taken this Admission-Oath at their entrance into the Synod I Promise before God l Acts Synodi Dordratenae pag. 64. whom I believe and adore the present searcher of the heart and reins that in all this Synodal action wherein shall be appointed the examination judgment and decision as well of the known five Articles and difficulties thence arising as of all other Doctrinals that I will not make use of any Humane Writing but onely of God's Word for the certain and undoubted Rule of Faith And that I shall propound nothing to my self in this whole cause besides the glory of God the peace of the Church and es pecially the preservation of the purity of Doctrine therein So may my Saviour Jesus Christ be mercifull unto me whom I earnestly pray that in this my purpose He would alwaies be present with me with the grace of his Spirit I say we leave them here with fellow-Divines For should my pen presume to sail over the Sea it would certainly meet with a strom in the passage the censure of such who will justly condemn it for medling with transmarine matters especially Doctrinall points utterly aliene from my present subject Onely a touch of an Historical passage therein confining our selves to our own Countreymen 67. These four Divines had allowed them by the STATES Ten pounds sterling a day 〈…〉 Threescore and ten pounds by the week an entertainment farr larger than what was appointed to any other forreign Theologues and politickly proportioned in gratefull consideration of the Greatnesse of His MAJESTY who employed them And these English Divines knowing themselves sent over not to gain wealth to themselves but glory to God and reputation to their Sovereign freely gave what they had freely received keeping a Table general where any fashionable Forreigner was courteously and plentifully entertained 68. They were commanded by the KING to give Him a weekly account each one in his several Week Weekly intelligence to the King from his Divines according to their seniority of all memorable passages transacted in the Synod Yet it happened that for a moneth or more the KING received from them no particulars of their proceedings whereat His Majesty was most highly offended But afterwards understanding that this defect was caused by the countermands of an higher King even of him who m Prov. 30. 4. gathereth the winde in his fists stopping all passages by contrary weather no wonder if He who was so great a peace-maker was himself so quickly pacified yea afterwards highly pleased when four weekly dispatches not neglected to be orderly sent but delayed to be accordingly bought came all together to His Majesties hands 69. On the 10 of December Dec. 10. Gualter Balcaâ—quall Bachelour of Divinity and Fellow of Pembroke-Hall Mr. Balcanquall admitted into the Synod came into the Synod where his Credential Letters from King JAMES were publickly read Whose pleasure it was that he should be added to the four English Collegues in the name of the Church of Scotland The President of the Synod welcomed him with a short Oration which by Mr. Balcanquall was returned with another and so was he conducted to his place A place built for him particularly as one coming after all the rest so that his seat discomposed the uniformity of the building exactly regular before But it matters not how the seats were ordered so that the judgments of such as sate therein were conformed to the truth of the Scriptures 70. Doctor Joseph Hall being at the Synod of Dort 17. and finding much indisposition in himself 1619. the aire not agreeing with his health Dr. Hall his return thence on his humble request obtained His Majesties leave to return Whereupon composing his countenance With a becoming gravity he publickly took his solemn farewell of the Synod With this Speech following NOn facilè verò mecum in gratiam redierit cadaverosa haec moles quam aegrè usque circumgesto quae mihi hujus Conventus celebritatem toties inviderit jamque prorsus invitissimum à vobis importunè avocat divellit Neque enim
the King himself was pleased to interpose in his behalf July 7 Thursday 9. Saturday signifying to the House That those things which were then spoken and determined concerning Mountague without his Privitie did not please Him who by his Court-friends being imployed in the Kings Service his Majesty signifiyed to the Parliament that he thought his Chaplains whereof M r. Montague was one might have as much protection as the Servant of an ordinary Burgess neverthelesse his bond of two thousand pounds wherewith he was tailed continued uncancelled and was called on the next Parliament 11. The Plague increasing in London The Parliament removed to Oxford and brake up in discontent the Parliament was removed to Oxford But alas no avoiding Gods hand The infection followed or rather met the Houses there whereof worthy D r. Challenor died much lamented yet were the Members of Parliament not so carefull to save their own persons from the Plague as to secure the Land from a worse and more spreading contagion the daily growth of Poperie In prevention whereof they presented a Petition to his Majesty containing sixteen particulars all which were most graciously answered by his Majesty to their full satisfaction Thus this meeting began hopefully and cheerfully proceeded turbulently and suspiciously brake off suddenly and sorrowfully the reason whereof is to be fetch'd from our Civil Historians 12. The Convocation kept here Dr. James his motion in the Convocation is scarce worth the mentioning seeing little the appearance thereat nothing the performance therein Dean Bowles the Prolocurour absented himself for fear of infection D r. Thomas Good officiating in his place and their meeting was kept in the Chappell of Merton-Colledge Here D r. James that great Book-man made a motion that all Manuscript-Fathers in the Libraries of the Universities and elswhere in England might be perused and that such places in them as had been corrupted in Popish editions much superstition being generated from such corruptions might faithfully be printed according to those ancient Copies Indeed though England at the dissolving of Abbies lost moe Manuscripts than any Countrey of Christendome of her dimensions ever had yet still enough were left her if well improved to evidence the truth herein to all posteritie This designe might have been much beneficiall to the Protestant cause if prosecuted with as great endeavour as it was propounded with good intention but alas this motion was ended when it was ended expiring in the place with the words of the mover thereof 13. The King according to his late answer in the Parliament at Ox. The insolence of Papists seasonably restrained Nov. 11. issued out a Commission to the Judges to see the Law against Recusants put in execution This was read in all the Courts of Judicature at Reading where Michaelmas Terme was kept and a letter directed to the Arch-bishop of Cant. to take speciall care for the discovery of Jesuits Seminary Priests c. within his Province A necessary severity seing Papists presuming on Protection by reason of the late Match were grown very insolent And a Popish Lord when the King was at Chappell was heard to prate on purpose lowder in a Gallery adjoyning then the Chaplain prayed whereat the King was so moved that he sent him this message Either come and doe as we doe or I will make you prate further off 14. In this Severall Writers against Mr. Mountague and the next yeer many Books from persons of severall abilities and professions were writen against M r. Mountague By 1. D r. Sutcliffe Dean of Exeter One who was miles emeritus age giving him a Supersedeas save that his zeale would imploy it self and some conceived that his choler became his old age 2. M r. Henry Burton who then began to be well as afterwards wards too well known to the World 3. M r. Francus Rowse a Lay-man by profession 4. M r. Yates a Minister of Norfolk formerly a Fellow of Emmanuel in Cambridge he intitles his Book Ibus ad Caesarem 5. D r. Carleton Bishop of Chichester 6. Anthonie Wootton Divinitie-Professour in Gresham-Colledge In this Armie of Writers the strength is conceived to consist in the rere and that the last wrote the solidest confutations Of these six Dean Sutcliffe is said to have chode heartily M r. Rowse meant honestly M r. Burton wrote plainly Bishop Carleton very piously M r. Yates learnedly and M r. Wootton most solidly 15. I remember not at this time any of Master Mountague's partie engaged in print in his behalf Mr. Mountague left to deâ—end himself Whether because they conceived this their Champion sufficient of himselfe to encounter all opposers or because they apprehended it unsafe though of the same judgment to justifie a Book which was grown so generally offensive Insomuch as his Majesty himself sensible of his Subjects great distaste thereat sounded by the Duke of Buckingham to that purpose was resolved to leave Mr. Mountague to stand or fall Jan. 19. 1611-16 according to the justice of his cause The Duke imparted as much to Dr. Laud Bishop of Saint Davids who conceived it of such ominous concernment that he entred the same in his Diarie viz. I seem to see a cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God for his mercie dissipate it 16. The day of the Kings Coronation drawing neer A maim on the embleme of Peace his Majesty sent to survey and peruse the Regalia or Royal Ornaments which then were to be used It happened that the left wing of the Dove on the Scepter was quite broken off by what casualty God himself knows The King sent for Mr. Acton then his Goldsmith commanding him that the very same should be set on again The Goldsmith replied that it was impossible to be done so fairly but that some mark would remain thereof To whom the King in some passion returned l His Son succeeding his Father in that place and then present attested to me the truth hereof If you will not doe it another shall Hereupon Mr. Acton carried it home and got another Dove of Gold to be artificially set on whereat when brought back his Majesty was well contented as making no discovery thereof 17. The Bishop of Lincolne A Dilemma well waved Lord-Keeper was now dayly descendant in the Kings favour who so highly distasted him that he would not have him as Dean of Westminster to perform any part of His Coronation yet so was it a favour or a triall that it was left to his free choice to prefer any Prebendary of the Church to officiate in his place The Bishop met with a Dilemma herein To recommend Dr. Laud Bishop of Saint Davids and Prebendary of Westminster for that performance was to grace one of his greatest enemies to passe him by and prefer a private Prebendary for that purpose before a Bishop would seem unhandsome and be interpreted a neglect of his own Order To avoid all exceptions
They are loath therefore to make a blind promise for fear of a lame performance 19. As for the Reforming of Religion which necessarily implies a changing thereof of England Nor without a double scandal and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government they cannot consent thereunto without manifest scandal both to Papists and Separatists For besides that they shall desert that just cause which many pious Martyrs Bishops and Divines of our Church have defended both with their inke and blood writings and sufferings hereby they shall advantage the cavils of Papists against our Religion taxing it of uncertainty not knowing where to fix our feet as allways altering the same Yea they shall not only supply Papists with pleas for their Recusancy Sectaries for their Separation acknowledging something in our Church-Doctrine and Service not well agreeing with Gods-word but also shall implicitly confess Papists unjustly punished by the Penal-Statutes for not conforming with us to the same Publick-Service wherein somethings are by our selves as well as them misliked and disallowed 20. Nor can they take this Covenant without injury and perjury to themselves Injury to themselves Injurie by insnaring their consciences credits and estates if endeavouring to reform Religion under the notion of faulty and vicious to which formerly they had subscribed enjoyned thereto by the b b 13. Eliz. cap. 12. Law of the Land not yet abrogated never as yet checked by the regrets of their own consciences nor confuted by the reasons of others for the doing thereof 21. Perjury Perjury to their souls as contrary to the Protestation and solemn vow they had c c May the 5. 1641. lately taken and Oath of Supremacy swearing therein to defend all the Kings Rights and Priviledges whereof His Spiritual Jurisdiction in reforming Church-matters is a principal Now although a latter oath may be corroborative of the former or constructive of a new obligation consistent therewith yet can it not be inductive of a tie contrary to an oath lawfully taken before Exceptions to the Second Article 22. It grieveth them therein to see Prelacy so unequally yoak'd Ill but forc'd 〈◊〉 of Prelacy Popery being put before it Superstition Heresie Schisme and Prophaneness following after Such the pleasure of those that placed them though nothing akin in themselves But a captive by the power of others may be fettered to those whom he hates and abhorres Consent they cannot to the extirpation of Prelacy Foure reasons against extirpation of Prelacy neither in respect Of 1 The thing it self being perswaded that neither Papal Monarchie nor Presbyterian Democracie nor Independant Anarchie are so conformable to the Scriptures as Episcopal Aristocracy being if not of Divine in a strict sence of Apostolical Institution confirmed with Church-practice the best Comment on Scripture when obscure for 1500 years and bottomed on the same foundation with Infants-Baptisme National Churches observing the Lords-day and the like 2 Themselves of whom 1 All when taking degrees in the University 2 Most as many as are entred into Holy-Orders 3 Not a few when lately petitioning the Parliament for the continuing of Episcopacy 4 Some being members of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches have subscribed with their hands and with their corporal oaths avowed the justification and defence of that government 3 Church of England fearing many mischiefs from this alteration felt sooner than seen in all great and sudden changes especially because the Ecclesiastical Government is so interwoven in many Statutes of the land And if Schisms so encrease on the Suspension what is to be expected on the Extirpation of Episcopacy 4 His Majesty as contrary to their Oath of Supremacy wherein they were bound to maintain His Priviledges amongst which a principal is that He is Supreme moderator over all Causes and Persons Spiritual wherein no change is to be attempted without his consent Dignity The Collations of Bishopricks and Deanries with their profits in their vacancies belonging unto Him and the First-fruits and Tenths of Ecclesiastical Dignities a considerable part of the Royal Revenue Here we omit their Plea whose chief means consisting of Cathedral preferment alledge the like not done from the beginning of the world that men though deserving deprivation for their offences should be forced to swear sincerely seriously and from their souls to endeavour the rooting out of that whence their best livelihood doth depend Exceptions against the Third Article 23. It grieveth them herein to be sworn to the Preservation of the Priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdom at large and without any restriction being bound in the following words to defend the Kings person and Authority as limited in the preservation and defence of true Religion and the Liberties of the Realm enlarging the former that the later may be the more confined 24. They are jealous what should be the cause of the inversion of the method seeing in the Solemn Vow and Protestation the Defence of the Kings Person and Authority is put first which in this Covenant is postposed to the Priviledges of Parliament However seeing the Protestation was first taken the Covenant as the younger cannot disinherit the elder of the possession which it hath quietly taken in mens consciences Exceptions to the Fourth Article 25. They are unsatisfied whether the same imposeth not a necessity for children to prosecute their Parents even to death under the notion of Malignants against all rules of Religion and humanity For even in case of Idolatry children under the old * * Deut. 13. 6. law were not bound publickly to accuse their Parents so as to bring them to be stoned for the same though such unnaturall cruelty be foretold by our * * Mat. 10. 21. Saviour to fall out under the Gospell of those that shall rise up against their Parents and cause them to be put to death Exceptions to the Fifth Article 26. They understand not what is meant therein by the happiness of a blessed peace betwixt these Kingdoms whereof Ireland must needs be one whilest the same is rent with a wofull warr and the other two lands distracted with homebred discords whereof no settlement can be hoped untill first all interests be equally stated and the Kings Authority Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of Subjects justly bounded and carefully preserved Exceptions to the Sixth Article 27. They are unsatisfied therein as wholy hypothetical supposing what as yet is not cleared by solid arguments viz. that this is the common cause of Religion Liberty and peace of the Realms c. And if the same be granted it appeareth not to their conscience that the means used to promote this Cause are so lawfull and free from just objections which may be raised from the Laws of God and man Exceptions to the Conclusion 28. They quake at the mention that the taking of this Covenant should encourage other Churches groaning under the yoak of Antichristian Tyranny to joyn in the same fearing the dangerous consequences
but therewith the others were unsatisfied jealousie is quick of grouth as not the same which His Majesty delivered unto him When presently the souldier whose rudeness the bad cause of a good effect had formerly over-inspected it in the Kings hand attested this the very same paper and prevented farther suspicions which might have terminated to the Bishops trouble 42. On the Wednesday sennight after Feb. 7. wednesday His Corpse embalmed His Corpse carried to Windsor and coffined in lead was delivered to the care of two of His servants to be buried at Windsor The one Anthony Mildmay who formerly had been His Sewer as I take it the other John Joyner bred first in His Majesties Kitchin afterwards a Parliament-Captain since by them deputed when the Scots surrendred His person Cook to His Majesty This night they brought the Corpse to Windsor and digged a grave for it in S. George his Chappel on the South side of the Communion-Table 43. But next day the Duke of Richmond 8. Thursday the Marquess of Hertford The Lords follow after it the Earles of South-Hampton and Lindsey others though sent to declining the service so far was their feare above their gratitude to their dead Master came to Windsor and brought with them two Votes passed that morning in Parliament Wherein the ordering of the Kings buriall for the form and manner thereof was wholy committed to the Duke of Richmond provided that the expence thereof exceeded not five hundred pounds Coming into the Castle they shewed their Commission to the Governor Colonel Wichcot desiring to interr the Corpse according to the Common-Prayer-Book of the Church of England The rather because the Parliaments total remitting the manner of the Buriall to the Dukes discretion implied a permission thereof This the governor refused alledging it was improbable that the Parliament would permit the use of what so solemnly they had abolished and therein destroy their own Act. 44. The Lords returned The Governors resolution that there was a difference betwixt destroying their own act and dispensing with it or suspending the exercise thereof That no power so bindeth up its own hands as to disable it self in some cases to recede from the rigour of their own acts if they should see just occasion All would not prevaile the Governour persisting in the negative and the Lords betook themselves to their sad employment 45. They resolved not to interre the Corpse in the grave which was provided for it The Lords with much searching finde a vault but in a Vault if the Chappel afforded any Then fall they a searching and in vain seek for one in King Henry the eighth His Chappel where the tombe intended for Him by Cardinal Wolsey lately stood because all there was solid earth Besides this place at the present used for a Magazine was unsuiting with a solemn sepulture Then with their feet they tried the Quire to see if a sound would confess any hollowness therein and at last directed by one of the aged poore Knights did light on a Vault in the middle thereof 46. It was altogether darke as made in the middest of the Quire and an ordinary man could not stand therein without stooping The description thereof as not past five foot high In the midst thereof lay a large leaden coffin with the feet towards the East and a far less on the left side thereof On the other side was room neither to spare nor to want for any other coffin of a moderate proportion 47. That one of the Order was buried there One of the Order buried therein plainly appeared by perfect pieces of purple-velvet their proper habit remaining therein Though some pieces of the same velvet were fox-tawnie and some cole-black all eye of purple being put out therein though all originally of the same cloath varying the colour as it met with more or less moisture as it lay in the ground 48. Now a concurrence of presumptions concluded this great Coffin to contain the Corpse of King Henry the eighth Presumed to be K. Henry the eight though there was neither Armes not any inscription to evidence the same 1. The place exactly corresponds to the designation of His burial See it in the end of K. Henry His Reign mentioned in His last Will and Testament 2. The small Coffin in all probability was His Queens Jane Semaurs by whom in His Will He desired to be buried and the room on the other side seems reserved for His surviving Wife Queen Katherine Parr 3. It was never remembred nor recorded that any Subject of that Order was interred in the body of that Quire but in by-Chappels 4. An herse stood over this vault in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth which because cumbering the passage was removed in the reign of King James I know a tradition is whispered from mouth to mouth that King Henry His body was taken up and burned in the reign of Queen Mary and could name the Knight Her Privie-Councellor and then dwelling not far off muttered to be employed in this inhumane action This prevailed so far on the Lord Herberts belief that he closeth his History of King Henry the eighth with these suspicious words To conclude I wish I could leave Him in His grave But there is no certainty hereof and more probable that here He quietly was reposed The lead-coffin being very thin was at this time casually broken and some yellow stuff altogether sentless like powder of gold taken out of it conceived some exsicative gumms wherewith He was embalmed which the Duke caused to be put in again and the Coffin closed up 49. The Vault thus prepared The leaden inscription on His Coffin a scarse of lead was provided some two foot long and five inches broad therein to make an inscription The Letters the Duke himself did delineate and then a workman call'd to cut them out with a Chesil It bare some debate whether the letters should be made in those concavities to be cut out or in the solid lead betwixt them The latter was concluded on because such vacuities are subject to be soon filled up with dust and render the inscription less legible which was KING CHARLES 1648. The Plummer souldred it to the Coffin about the brest of the Corpse within the same 50. All things thus in readiness The Corpse deposited the Corpse was brought to the vault Febr. 9. Friday being borne by the souldiers of the Garrison Over it a black velvet herse-cloth the foure labels whereof the foure Lords did support The Bishop of London stood weeping by to tender that his service which might not be accepted Then was It deposited in silence and sorrow in the vacant place in the vault the herse-cloth being cast in after it about three of the clock in the afternoone and the Lords that night though late returned to London FINIS THE HISTORY OF THE University of Cambridge SINCE THE CONQUEST Printed in the year of
recentioribus authoribus Nauclero viz. Balaeo Binnius and Baronius sullen and why Authour was called at London to introduce into England the Doctrine of Image-worship not heard of before and now first beginning to appear in the publick practice thereof 10. Here we expected that Binnius and Baronius two of the Romish Champions should have been both joyfull at and thankfull for this London Synod in favour of Image-worship a point so beneficiall to the Popish Coffers But behold them contrary to our expectation sad and sullen insomuch as they cast away the Credit of this Synod as of no account and disdain to accept the same For say they long before by Augustine the Monk Worship of Images was introduced into England But let them shew us when and where the same was done We deny not but that Augustine brought in with him in a Banner the f See our second Book Cent. 6. paragr 10. Image of Christ on the Crosse very lively depictured but this makes nothing to the Worshipping thereof Vast the distance in their own nature betwixt the Historical Use and Adoration of Pictures though through humane Corruption Anno Dom. 709 the former in after-Ages hath proved introductory to the later Nor was it probable that Augustine would deliver Doctrine point-blank against Gregory that sent him who most zealously a In his epistle ad Serenum Massiliensem inveigheth against all Worshipping of Images Wherefore let Binnius and Baronius make much of this London-Synod for Image-worship or else they must be glad to accept of later Councils in England to prove the same seeing before this time none can be produced tending thereunto 11. Now also flourished another noble-born Saint The miracle-working of S t. Iohn of Beverley namely Iohn of Beverley Arch-bishop of York a Learned man and who gave the b Bede acknowledgeth that he received the order of Priesthood from him Education to one more learned then himself I mean Venerable Bede Now though Iohn Baptist did c Iohn 10. 41. none yet Iohn of Beverley is said to have done many Miracles But did not the Monk over-do who reports in his Relation that this Iohn of Beverley by making the Sign of the Crosse on a Dumb Youth with a scalled head not onely restored him to Speech and an Head of Haire but Eloquent Discourse and brave d Flowers of the lives of English Saints pag. 416. Curled Locks Some yeares before his Death he quitted his Arch-bishoprick 718 and retired himself to his Monastery at Beverley where he died and which afterwards King Athelstan made I will not call it a SANCTUARY because unhallowed with the largenesse of the Liberties allowed thereunto but a place of Refuge for Murderers and Malefactours so that the FREED-STOOL in Beverley became the Seat of the Scornfull and such hainous Offenders as could recover the same did therein securely desie all Legall Prosecution against them 12. About this time it grew fashionable with Kings and Queens in England Kings and Queens turn Monks and Nuns to renounce the World and turn Monks and Nuns commonly in Convents of their own Foundation Surely it is not onely lawfull but commendable for men to leave the World before it leaveth them by being e Gal. 6. 14. crucified thereunto and using it as if they used it not But let others dispute whether this properly be Renouncing the World for Christians to bury their Parts and Persons in a Cloister which put forth to the Bank would turn to good Account for Church and Common-wealth David I dare say as holy a man as any of these lived a King and died a King the swaying of his Sceptre did not hinder the tuning of his Harp his Dignity being no Impediment to his Devotion And whilest these Kings turning Monks pretended to go out of the World a world of spirituall Pride and Superstitution went into them if as it is too too supicious they had an high opinion to Merit Heaven thereby 13. Amongst the Saxon Princes who thus renounced the World King Ina his fine and rent to the Church in this and the next Century these nine following were the principall 1. Kinigilsus King of VVest-Saxons 2. Ina King of VVest-Saxons 3. Ceololfus King of Northumberland 4. Edbertus King of Northumberland 5. Ethelredus King of Mercia 6. Kenredus King of Mercia 7. Offa King of East-Saxons 8. Sebbi King of East-Saxons 9. Sigebertus King of East-Angles Of all whom King Ina was paramount for his reputed Piety who accounting himself to hold all that he had of God his Land-Lord in chief paid not onely a great Fine but settled a constant Rent on the Church then accounted the Receiver-general of the God of Heaven Great Fine for besides his Benefaction to other he bestowed on the Church of Glassenbury two thousand six hundred fourty pounds f Sir Henry Spelman in his Councils pag. 229. weight in the Utensills thereof of massie Gold and Silver So that whiles some admire at his Bounty why he gave so much others wonder more at his Wealth how he got so much being in that Age wherein such Dearth of Coin and he though perchance the honorary Monarch of England but the effectuall King of the VVest-Saxons The constant Rent he settled 726 where the g Antiq. Brit. sol 58. Peter-pences to the Pope of Rome to be paid out of every fire-house in England a small Summe in the single Drops Anno Dom. 726 but swelling great in the general Chanel which saith Polydore Virgil this King Ina began in England I say Polydore Virgil and let every Artificer be believed in his own Art seeing as he confesseth this place was his first Preferment in England which brought him over to be the Popes Publicane or Collectour of that Contribution Afterwards this King went to Rome there built a School for the English and a Church adjoyning unto it to bury their Dead 14. But Winnisride an Englishman converteth the Germans if my Judgement mistake not 730 Winnifride an English-man was better employed being busied about this time to convert to Christ the Provinces of Franconia and Hassia in Germany True it is the English were indebted to the Dutch from them formerly deriving their Originall by Naturall Generation and now none will censure them for Incest if the Son begate his Parents and this VVinnifride descended from the Dutch was an active Instrument of their Regeneration 15. Now Bede though sent for went not to Rome although many in this Age posted from England to Rome possessed with an high opinion of the Holinesse thereof yet sure I am one of the best Judgement namely Venerable Bede was often sent for by Pope Sergius himself to come to Rome yet for ought we can find never went thither which no doubt he would not have declined if sensible of any transcendent Sanctity in that Place to advantage the Dwellers therein the nearer to Heaven This Bede was
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
that which renders the Conquest to Consideration in our Church-Story is the manifest Change of Religion from what formerly was publickly professed in England To make this Mutation in it's due time more conspicuous we will here conclude this Book with a brief Character of the principall Doctrines generally taught and believed by the English in these four last Centuries before tainted with any Norman Infection For though we must confesse and bemoan that Corruptions crept into the Church by Degrees and Divine Worship began to be clogg'd with superstitious Ceremonies yet that the Doctrine remained still sound and intire in most materiall Points will appeare by an Induction of the dominative Controversies wherein we differ from the Church of Rome 1. Scripture generally read For such as were with the Holy Bishop Aidan sive Attonsi sive b Bedae Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 5. Laici either Clergy or Laity were tied to exercise themselves in reading the Holy Word and learning of Psalms The Originall preferred For Ricemarch a c Caradoc in Chron. of Cambridge Britan a right Learned and Godly Clerk Son to Sulgen Bishop of Saint Davids flourishing in this Age made this Epigram on those who translated the Psalter out of the Greek so taking it at the Second hand and not drawing it immediatly out of the first Vessel Ebreis d MS. in the Library of the Learned Bishop William Bedel and cited by the Arch-bishop of Armagh in the Religion of the ancient Irish pag. 9. Nablam custodit liter a signis Pro captu quam quisque suo sermone Latino Edidit innumeros lingua variante libellos Ebreum que jubar suffuscat nube Latina Nam tepefacta ferum dant tertia Labra Saporem Sed sacer Hieronymus Ebreo fonte repletus Lucidius nudat verum breviusque ministrat This Harp the holy Hebrew Text doth tender Which to their Power whil'st every one doth render In Latine Tongue with many Variations He clouds the Hebrew Rayes with his Translations Thus Liquors when twice shifted out and powr'd In a third Vessel are both cool'd and sowr'd But Holy Ierome Truth to light doth bring Briefer and fuller fetcht from th' Hebrew Spring No Prayers for the Dead in the modern notion of Papists For though we find Prayers for the Dead yet they were not in the nature of Propitiation for their Sins or to procure Relaxation from their Sufferings but were onely an honourable Commemoration of their Memories and a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving for their Salvation Thus S t. Cuthbert after he had seen the Soul of one Hadwaldus e Bede in vita Cuthberti cap. 34. carried by Angels into Heaven did celebrate Obsequies of Prayers in his behalf Purgatory though nevvly hatched not yet fledged For although there are frequent Visions and Revelations in this Age pretended thereon to build Purgatory which had no Foundation in Scripture yet the Architects of that fancy-full Fabrick had not so handsomely contrived it as it stands at this day in the Romish Belief For a Lib. 3. c. 19. Bede out of the Vision of Furseus relateth certain great Fires above the Aire appointed to examine every one according to the merits of his VVork differing from the Papists Purgatory which Bellarmine by the common Consent of the School-men determineth to be within the Bowels of the Earth Thus nothing can be invented and perfected at once Communion under both kinds For b De vita Cuthberti prosa cap. 15. Bede relateth that one Hildmer an Officer of Egfride King of Northumberland intreated our Cuthbert to send a Priest that might minister the Sacrament of the Lords Body and Bloud unto his Wife that then lay a dying And Cuthbert himself immediately before his own Departure out of this Life received the Communion of the Lords Body and Bloud And lest any should fondly hope to decline so pregnant an Instance by the novel conceit of Concomitancy a Distinction that could not speak because it was not born in that Age it is punctually noted that he distinctly received the Cup. Pocula c Idem in vita Cuthberti carmine cap. 36. degustat vitae Christique supinum Sanguine munit iter His Voyage steep the easier to climbe up Christs Bloud he drank out of Lifes healthfull Cup. So that the Eucharist was then administred entire and not maimed as it is by Papists at this day serving it as d 2 Sam. 10. 4 Hanun the Ammonite did the Cloaths and Beards of David's Ambassadours cutting it off at the Middle And though the word Mass was frequent in that Age generally expressing all Divine Service yet was it not known to be offered as a propitiatory-Sacrifice for the quick and dead 43. But if any desire farther Information herein The Authors engagement to the Archb. of Armagh and conclusion of this second book let him repair to the worthy Work which Iames the right learned and pious Arch-bishop of Armagh hath written of the Religion professed by the ancient Irish and British From whom I have borrowed many a Note though not alwayes thanking him in the Margin by citing his Name and therefore now must make one generall Acknowledgement of my Engagement In Cities we see that such as sell by Retaile though of lesse Credit are of great Use especially to poor people in parcelling out Peny-worths of Commodities to them whose Purses cannot extend to buy by Whole-sale from the Merchant Conceive I in like manner my Pains will not be altogether unprofitable who in this History have fetch'd my Wares from the Store-house of that Reverend Prelate the Cape-Merchant of all Learning and here in little Remnants deliver them out to petty-country-Chapmen who hitherto have not had the Hap or Happinesse to understand the original Treasuries whence they are taken And clean through this Work in point of Chronologie I have with implicite Faith followed his e In his book de Brit. Eccl. primord Computation setting my Watch by his Dial knowing his Dial to be set by the Sun and Account most exactly calculated according to the critical truth of Time Long may he live for the Glory of God and Good of his Church For whereas many learned men though they be deep Abysses of Knowledge yet like the Caspian Sea receiving all and having no Out-let are loth to impart ought to others this bright Sun is as bountifull to deal abroad his Beams as such dark Dales as my self are glad and delighted to receive them SEVERALL COPIES OF BATTEL-ABBEY ROLL To the right worshipfull S r. Simon Archer of Tanvvorth in Warvvickshire SOme report that the Toad before her death sucks up if not prevented vvith suddain surprisall the precious Stone as yet but a Jelly in her Head grudging Mankind the Good thereof Such generally the Envy of Antiquaries preferring that their Rarities should die vvith them and be buried in their Graves rather then others receive any Benefit thereby You cross the current of common Corruption it being
to receive large summes of money for his leave after whose faculties obtained if such marriage were against the Law of God men did sin not with less guiltiness but more Expences 26. That the Bodies of the Dead be not carried to be buried out of their own Parishes so that the Parish Priest should lose his due unto him 27. That none out of a rash novelty which we know to have happened exhibit reverence of Holiness to any Bodies of the Dead fountains or other things without Authority from the Bishop 28. That none persume hereafter what hitherto men used in England to sell Men like bruite Beasts Anno Dom. 1102. This Constitution as all others which concerned the Subjects Civil right found not general obedience in the Kingdom For the proceedings of the Canon Law were never wholly received into practice in the Land but so as made subject in whatsoever touched temporals to secular Laws and national Customs And the Laytie at pleasure limited Canons in this behalf Nor were such sales of servants being mens proper goods so a See Mr Selden spicileg ad Eadmerum pag. 208. weakned with this prohibition but that long after they remained legal according to the Laws of the Land 29. That the sin of Sodometry both in Clergie and Laytie should be punished with heavy Censures Remarkable that the same Synod which forbad Priests Marriage found it needful to punish Sodometry an Italian Vice beginning now to be naturaliz'd in England For those who endeavour to make the way to heaven narrower then God hath made it by prohibiting what he permits do in event make the way to hell wider occasioning the committing of such sins which God hath forbidden We may further observe that the plaister now applied to the rotten sore of Sodometry was too gentle too narrow and too little time laid on Too gentle for whereas the sin is conceived to deserve death it was onely slubber'd over that the party convict of this Wickedness if in Orders was admitted to no higher honour and deposed from what he had till restored again on his repentance Too narrow if it be true what one observes that b Bale in the Acts of English Votaries second part chap. 74. MONKS as neither merely Lay nor Priests were not threatned with this Curse where all was hidden in Cloysters Lastly too little time laid on for whereas at first it was constituted that such Excommunication of Sodomites convicted should solemnly be renewed every Lords Day this short-liv'd Canon did die in the birth thereof and Anselme himself c Eadmerus ut prius postponi concessit suffered it to be omitted on pretence that it put beastly thoughts into many mens mindes whose corruption abused the punishment of sin in the provocation thereof whilest others conceive this relaxation indulged in favour to some great offenders who hardened in Conscience but tender in Credit could not endure to be so solemnly publickly and frequently grated with the shame of the sin they had committed So much for the Constitutions of that Synod wherein though Canons were provided for Priests Cap a Pe from the shavnig to the shooes yet not a syllable of their instructing the people and preaching Gods word unto them We must not forget that men guilty of Simony in the first Canon are not taken in the Vulgar acception for such as were promoted to their places by money but in a new coyned sence of that word for those who were advanced to their Dignities by investiture from the King which gave occasion to the long and hot Broil happening betwixt King Henry and Anselme which now we come to relate 4. The King commanded him to Consecrate such Bishops 4. as he lately had invested 1103 namely An selme refuseth to consecrate the Kings Bishops William of Winchester Roger of Hereford c. which Anselme refused because flatly against the Canon newly made in the Councel of Rome by Pope Vrban that any who had their entrance by the Authority of temporal Princes should be admitted to Bishopricks Hereupon the King enjoyned Gerard Arch-Bishop of York to Consecrate them who out of opposition to Anselme his Competitour was as officious to comply with the King King as the other was backward Anno Dom. 1105. hoping thereby to hitch his Church a degree the higher Anno Regis Hen. 16. by help of his Royal Favour Here hapned an unexpected accident For William Bishop of Winchester refused Consecration from the Arch-Bishop of York and resigned his staff and ring back again to the King as illegally from him This discomposed all the rest For whereas more then the moity of Ecclesiastical persons in England were all in the same condemnation as invested by the King the very multitude of offenders would have excused the offence if loyal to their own cause Whereas now this defection of the Bishop of Winchester so brake the ranks and maimed their entireness that their cause thereby was cast by their own confession and so a party raised among them against themselves 5. Soon after Anselme sent to Rome the King was contented that Anselme should go to Rome to know the Popes pleasure herein But one none of the Conclave without a prophetical spirit might easily have foretold the resolution of his Holiness herein never to part with power whereof how injuriously soever though but pretendedly possessed Anselme for his complyance with the Pope herein is forbidden to return into England while the King seiseth on his temporalities 6. However The king parts with his investing of Bishops not log after 1106. by mediation of friends 7. they are reconciled the King disclaiming his right of Investitures a weak and timerous act of so wise and valiant a Prince whose Predecessors before the Conquest held this power though some time loosely in their own hands and his Predecessors since the Conquest grasp'd it fast in their fist in defiance of such Popes as would finger it from them Whereas now he let it go out of his hand whilest his Successors in vain though with a long arme reach't after it to recover it And now Anselme who formerly refused consecrated all the Bishops of vacant Sees amongst whom Roger of Sarisbury was a prime person first preferred to the Kings notice because he began prayers quickly and caded them speedily for which quality he was commended as fittest for a Chaplain in the Camp and was not unwelcome to the Court on the same account 7. Anselme having devested the King of investing Bishops one of the fairest roles in his Ward-robe did soon after deprive the Clergie of one half of themselves Anselme forbids Priests marriage For in a solemn Synod he forbad Priests Marriage wherein 1107 as charitably we believe 8. his intentions pious and commendable and patiently behold his pretences specious and plausible so we can not but pronounce his performance for the present injurious and culpable and the effects thereof
Sons having much of the Mother in them grew up as in Age in obstinacy against him His Subjects but especially the Bishops being the greatest Castle mongers in that Age very stubborn and not easily to be ordered 54. Mean time one may justly admire What became of Maud the Empress than no mention in Authors is made of nor provisions for Maud the Kings Mother surviving some years after her Son's Coronation in whom during her life 〈◊〉 lay the real right to the Crown 〈◊〉 Yet say not King Henries policy was little in preferring to take his Title from an Usurper by adoption rather then from his own Mother the rightful heir by succession and his piety less in not attending his Mothers death but snatching the Scepter out of her hand seeing no Writer ever chargeth him with the least degree of undutifulness unto her Which leadeth us to believe that this Maud worn out with age and afflictions willingly waved the Crown and reigned in her own contentment in seeing her Son reign before her 55. Those who were most able to advise themselves 1. are most willing to be advised by others 1155. as appeared by this politick Prince The body of the Common-Law compiled Presently he chuseth a Privy Councel of Clergie and Temporalty and refineth the Common Laws Yea towards the end of his Reign began the use of our Itiâ—erant Judges The platform hereof he fetch'd from France where he had his education and where Charles the Bald some hundred of years before had divided his Land into twelve parts assigning several Judges for administration of Justice therein Our Henry parcelled England into six Divisions and appointed three Judges to every Circuit annually to visit the same Succeeding Kings though changing the limits have kept the same number of Circuits and let the skilful in Arithmetick cast it up whether our Nation receiveth any loss by the change of three Judges every year according to Henry the second 's Institution into two Judges twice a year as long since hath been accustomed 56. The Laws thus setled King Henry cast his eye on the numerous Castles in England 2. As a good reason of State formerly perswaded the building 1156. so a better pleaded now for the demolishing of them Castles demolished William the Conqueror built most of them and then put them into the custody of his Norman Lords thereby to awe the English into obedience But these Norman Lords in the next generation by breathing in English ayre and wedding with English wives became so perfectly Anglized and lovers of Liberty that they would stand on their guard against the King on any petty discontentment If their Castles which were of proof against Bowes and Arrows the Artillery of that Age could but bear the brunt of a sudden assault they were priviledged from any solemn Siege by their meanness and multitude as whose several beleguerings would not compensate the cost thereof Thus as in foul bodies the Physick in process of time groweth so friendly and familiar with the disease that they at last side together and both take part against Nature in the Patient so here it came to pass that these Castles intended for the quenching in continuance of time occasioned the kindling of Rebellion To prevent farther mischief King Henry razed most of them to the ground and secured the rest of greater consequence into the hands of his Confidents if any ask how these Castles belong to our Church-History know that Bishops of all in that Age were the greatest Traders in such Fortifications 57. Thomas Becket Thomas Becket L. Chancellor of England born in London and though as yet but a Deacon Arch-Deacon of Canterbury Doctor of Canon-Law bred in the Universities of Oxford Paris Bononia was by the King made Lord Chancellor of England During which his office who braver then Becket None in the Court wore more costly clothes Anno Dom. 1158. mounted more stately steeds made more sumptuous feasts kept more jovial company brake more merry jests used more pleasant pastimes In a word he was so perfect a Lay-man that his Parsonages of Bromfield and S t Mary-hill in London with other Ecclesiastical Cures whereof he was Pastor might even look all to themselves he taking no care to discharge them This is that Becket whose mention is so much in English and miracles so many in Popish writers We will contract his acts in proportion to our History remitting the Reader to be satisfied in the rest from other Authors 58. Four years after His great reformation being made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury upon the death of Theobald 1162 Becket was made by the King 8. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The first Englishman since the Conquest and he but a mongrel for his mother was a Syrian the intercourse of the Holy-War in that age making matches betwixt many strangers who was preferred to that place And now if the Monks their writing his life may be believed followed in him a great and strange Metamorphosis Instantly his cloaths were reformed to gravity his diet reduced to necessity his company confined to the Clergie his expences contracted to frugality his mirth retrenched to austerity all his pastimes so devoured by his piety that none could see the former Chancellor Becket in the present Arch-Bishop Becket Yea they report that his clothes were built three stories high next his skin he was a Hermite and wore sack-cloth in the midd he had the habit of a Monk and above all wore the garments of an Arch-Bishop Now that he might the more effectually attend his Archiepiscopal charge he resigned his Chancellors place whereat the King was not a little offended It added to his anger that his patience was daylie pressed with the importunate petitions of people complaining that Becket injured them Though generally he did but recover to his Church such possessions as by their covetousness and his predecessors connivence had formerly been detained from it 59. But A stubborn defender of the vicious Clergy against secular Magistrates the main matter incensing the King against him was his stubborn defending the Clergie from the secular power and particularly what a great fire doth a small spark kindle that a Clerk having killed and stolen a Deer ought not to be brought before the Civil Magistrate for his punishment Such impunities breeding impieties turned the house of God into a den of thieves many rapes riots robberies murders were then committed by the Clergie If it be rendered as a reason of the viciousness of Adonijah that his father never said unto him a 1 King 1. 6. Why doest thou so No wonder if the Clergy of this age were guilty of great crimes whom neither the King nor his Judges durst call to an account And seeing Ecclesiastical censures extend not to the taking away of life or lim such Clerks as were guilty of capital faults were either altogether acquitted or had onely penance inflicted upon
places which time out of minde hath decided the precedency to Canterbury Yorks Title 1. When Gregory the great made York and Canterbury Archiepiscopal Sees he affixed precedency to neither but that the Arch-Bishops should take place according to the seniority of their consecrations Until Lanckfranck Chaplain to King William thinking good reason he should conquer the whole Clergie of England as his Master had vanquished the Nation usurped the superiority above the See of York 2. If Antiquity be to be respected long before Gregories time York was the See of an Arch-Bishop whilest as yet Pagan Canterbury was never dream'd of for that purpose Lucius the first Christian Brittain King founding a Cathedral therein and placing Sumson in the same who had Taurinus Pyrannus Tacliacus c. his successors in that place 3. If the extent of jurisdiction be measured York though the lesser in England is the larger in Britain as which at this time had the entire Kingdom of Scotland subject thereunto Besides if the three Bishopricks viz. Worcester Lichfield Lincoln formerly injuriously taken from York were restored unto it it would vie English Latitude with Canterbury it self This controversie lasted for may years it was first visibly begun passing by former private grudges betwixt Lanckfrank of Canterbury and Thomas of York in the Reign of the Conqueror continued betwixt William of Canterbury and Thurstan of York in the dayes of King Henry the first increased betwixt Theobald of Canterbury and William of York at the Coronation of Henry the second and now revived betwixt Richard of Canterbury and Roger of York with more then ordinary animosity 4. Some will wonder that such spiritual persons should be so spiteful How much carnality in the most spiritual that they who should rather have contended de pascendis ovibus which of them should better feed their flocks should fall out de lana caprina about a toy and trifle onely for Priority Yet such will cease to wonder when they consider how much carnality there was in the Disciples themselves Witness their unseasonable contest just before our Saviours * Luke 22 24. death quis esset major which of them should be the greater when then the question should rather have been quis esset maestior not who should be the highest but who should be the heaviest for their departing Master 5. Here the Pope interposed The Popes decision gives final satisfaction and to end old Divisions made a new distinction Primate of all ENGLAND and Primate of ENGLAND giving the former to Canterbury the latter to York Thus when two Children cry for the same apple the indulgent father divides it betwixt them yet so that he giveth the bigger and better part to the Childe that is his Darling York is fain to be content therewith though full ill against his will as sensible that a secondary Primacy is no Primacy and as one stomaching a Superiour as much as Canterbury disdained an Equal Yea on every little occasion this controversie brake out again The last flash which I finde of this flame was in the Reiga of King Edward the first when William Wickham Arch-Bishop of York at a Councel at Lambeth for Reformation would needs have his Cross carried before him which John Peckam Arch-Bishop of Canterbury would in no case permit to be done in his Province Wherefore the said Peckam inhibited all from selling b Mr Jackson out of Florilegus in his Chronologie Anno 1280. victuals to him or his family so hoping to allay his stomach by raising his hunger and starve him into a speedy submission which accordingly came to pass Since York was rather quiet then contented pleasing it self that as stout came behinde as went before But at this day the Clergie sensible of Gods hand upon them for their Pride and other offences are resolved on more humility and will let it alone to the Layetie to fall out about Precedency 6. To return to King Henry The far extended English Monarchie in this Kings Reign never did the branches of the English Monarchy sprout higher or spread broader before or since as in the Reign of this King so large and united his command though in several capacities For by right of inheritance from his Mother Maud he held England and the Dukedom of Normandy Anno Dom. 1277. by the same title from his Father Anno Regis Hen. 2. 23. Geffery Plantagenet he possessed fair lands in Anjou and Maine by Match in right of Queen Elranor his Wife he enjoyed the Dukedoms of Aquitane and Guien even to the Pyrenean Mountains by Conquest he lately had subdued Ireland leaving it to his successors annexed to the English Dominions and for a time was the effectual King of Scotland whilest keeping William their King a Prisoner and acting at pleasure in the Southern parts thereof The rest of Christendom he may be said to have held by way of Arbritration as Christiani orbis arbiter so deservedly did Foreign Princes esteem his wisdom and integrity that in all difficult controversies he was made Vmpire betwixt them 7. Yet all this his greatness could neither preserve him from death Could not make him fortunate in his own Family nor make him when living happy in his own house so that when freest from Foreign foes he was most molested in his own Family his Wife and Sons at last siding with the King of France against him the sorrow whereat was conceived to send him the sooner to his grave I meet with this Distick as parcel of his Epitaph Cui * Mat. Paris pag. 151. satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climata terra modo sufficit octo pedum He whom alive the world would scarce suffice When dead in eight foot earth contented lies He died at Chinon in Normandy 1289. and was buried with very great solemnity 39. Rich. 1. in the Nunnery of Font-Everard in the same Countrey A Religious House of his own Foundation and Endowment 8. It is confidently a Mat. Paris at prius reported Disobedience endeavoured to be expiated by superstition that when Richard Son and Successor to King Henry approached his Fathers dead Corps they bled afresh at the Nostrils whence some collected him the cause of his death But whilest natures Night-councellors treading in the dark causes of hidden qualities render the reason of the salleying forth of the bloud on such occasions let the learned in the Laws decide how far such an accident may be improved for a legal evidence For surely that Judg is no better then a Murderer who condemneth one for Murder on that proof alone However on the bleeding of the Fathers Nostrils the Sons heart could not but bleed as meeting there with a guilty Conscience And therefore according to the Divinity and Devotion of those dayes to expiate his disobedience he undertook with Philip Augustus King of France a long Voyage against Sultan Saladine to recover CHRIST his grave
Private Chappels wherein particular persons claim a propriety of sepulture at their own charges 3. The Chauncel at the expence of the Parson However in all these such respect is had to the custom of the place time out of minde that it often over-ruleth the premisses Quaere Whether the Fences of the Church-yard be to be made on the Parish-charges or on the purse of the several persons whose ground surroundeth it or abutteth on the same * Oblations and Tythes It is a question which I believe will never be decided to the contentment of both Parties in what notion Tythes belong to the Court-Christian 1. The Canonists maintaine That Originally and ex sua natura they are of Ecclesiastical cognizance as commonly avouched and generally believed due Jure Divino Besides such the near relation of the Church and its maintenance that to part the oyl from the lamp were to destroy it They produce also the Confession in the Statute of the first of Richard the second That pursuit for Tythes ought and of ancient time did pertain to the Spiritual Court 2. The Common-Lawyers defend That Tythes in their own nature are a civil thing and therefore by Britton who being Bishop of Heresord and learned in the Laws of this Realm was best qualified for an unpartial Judg herein omitted when treating of what things the Church hath cognizance They * Bracton lib. 5. fol. 401. affirm therefore that Tythes were annexed to the Spirituality Thus they expound those passages in Statutes of Tythes anciently belonging to Court-Christian as intended by way of concession and not otherwise But the Canonists are too sturdy to take that for a gift which they conceive is their due left thanks also be expected from them for enjoying the same and so we leave the question where we found it 27. Mortuary Because something of history is folded up in this word which may acquaint us with the practice of this age we will enlarge a little hereon and shew what a Mortuary was when to be paid by whom to whom and in what consideration 1. A Mortuary a Linwood Constit lib. 1. fol. 11. c. de Consuetudine was the second best quick cattel whereof the party died possessed If he had but two in all such forsooth the charity of the Church no Mortuary was due from him 2. It was often bequeathed by the dying but however alwayes payed by his Executors after his death thence called a Mortuary or Corse-present 3. By whom No woman under Covert-Baron was lyable to pay it and by proportion no children unmarried living under their Fathers tuition but Widows and all possessed of an Estate were subject to the payment thereof 4. To whom It was paid to the Priest of the Parish where the party dying received the Sacrament not where he repaired to prayers and if his house at his death stood in two Parishes the value of the Mortuary was to be divided betwixt them both 5. It was given in lieu of small or personal Tythes Predial Tythes are too great to be casually forgotten which the party in his life-time had though ignorance or negligence not fully paid But in case the aforesaid Mortuary fell far short of full satisfaction for such omissions Casuists maintain the dying party obliged to a larger restitution So much of Mortuaries as they were generally paid at the present until the time of Henry the sixth when learned Linwood wrote his Comment on that Constitution How Mortuaries were after reduced to a new regulation by a Statute in the twenty first of Henry the eighth pertains not to our present purpose 28. For laying violent hands on a Priest The Ecclesiastical Judg might proceed ex officio and pro salute animae punish the offender who offered violence to a Priest but dammages on Action of Battery were onely recoverable at Common-Law Note that the arresting of a Clergy-man by Process of Law is not to be counted a violence 29. And in cause of Defamation Where the matter defamatory is spiritual as to call one Heretick or Schismatick c. the plea lay in Court-Christian But defamations with mixture any matter determinable in the Common-Law as Thief Murderer c. are to be traversed therein 30. Defamation it hath been granted From this word granted Common-Lawyers collect let them alone to husband their own right that originally defamations pertained not to the Court-Christian From the beginning it was not so until the Common-Law by Acts of Parliament granted and surrendred such suits to the Spirituality 31. Thus by this Act and Writ of Circumspectè agatis No end can end an everlasting difference King Edward may seem like an expert Artist to cleave an hair betwixt the spiritual and temporal jurisdiction allowing the premisses to the former and leaving whatever is not specified in this Act to the Cognizance of the Common-Law according to the known and common Maxime Exceptio firmat regulam in non exceptis However for many years after there was constant heaving and shoving betwixt the two Courts And as there are certain lands in the Marches of England and Scotland whilest distinct Kingdomes termed Battable-grounds which may give for their Motto not Dentur justiori but Dentur fortiori for alway the strongest sword for the present possessed them So in controversial cases to which Court they should belong sometimes the Spirituality sometimes the Temporality alternately seized them into their Jurisdiction as power and favour best befriended them See more hereof on Articuli Cleri in the Reign of Edward the second But generally the Clergie complained that as in the blending of liquors of several colours few drops of red will give tincture to a greater quantity of white so the least mixture of Civil concernment in Religious matters so discolourated the Christian candor and purity thereof that they appeared in a temporal hue and under that notion were challenged to the Common-Law Sad when Courts that should be Judges turn themselves Plaintiffs and Defendents about the bounds of their Jurisdiction 32. We long since mentioned the first coming in of the Jews into England brought over by William the Conqueror and now are come this year to their casting out of this Kingdome A transition to the entire story of our English Jews having first premised some observables concerning their continuance therein 1290. If hitherto we have not scattered our History with any discourse of the Jews 18. know it done by design that as they were enjoyned by our Laws to live alone in streets by themselves not mixing in their dwellings with Christians so we purposely singled out their story and reserved it by it self for this one entire relation thereof 33. They were scattered all over England Their principal residence in London In Cambridg Bury Norwich Lin Stanford Northampton Lincoln York and where not But their principal aboad was in London where they had their Arch-Synagogue at the North corner of the Old-Jury as opening
the Crown of Scotland is written on the back-side of Constantines Donation And it is strange that if Scotland be the Popes peculiar Demeanes it should be so far distant from Rome his chief Mansion house he grounded his Title thereunto because a Fox Acts Monuments lib. 1. p. 444 and 445. Scotland was first converted by the reliques of S t Peter to the unity of the Catholick faith But it seemes not so much ambition in his Holiness made him at this present to start this pretence but the secret solicitation of the Scots themselves Anno Dom. 1301. who now to avoid the storme of the English Anno Regis Ed. 1. 29. ran under this Bush and put themselves in the Popes protection 2. Hereupon King Edward called a Councel of his Lords at Lincoln 〈…〉 where perusing the contents of the Popes prescript he returned a large answer where in he endeavoured by evident reasons and ancient predceents to prove his propriety in the Kingdom of Scotland This was seconded by another from the English Peerage subscribed with all their hands the whole a 〈…〉 the first pag. 311. tenor whereof deserves to be inserted but this passage must not be omitted being directed to no meaner then his Holiness himself Wherefore after treaty had and diligent deliberation of the contents of your foresaid Letters this was the common agreement and consent with one minde and shall be without fail in time to come by Gods grace that our foresaid Lord the King ought by no means to answer in judgement in any case or should bring his foresaid rights into doubt nor ought not to send any Proctors or messengers to your presence Especially seeing that the premisses tend manifestly to the disheriting of the Crown of England and the plain overthrow of the State of the said Realm and also hurt of the Liberties Customes and Laws of our Fathers for the keeping and defence of which we are bound by the duty of the Oath made and we will maintain them with all power and will desend them by Gods help with all our strength The Pope perceived he had met with men which understood themselves and that King Edward was no King John to be frighted or flattered out of his Right he therefore was loath to clash his Keys against the others sword to trie which was made of the hardest mettal but foreseeing the Verdict would go against him wisely non-suited himself Whereas had this unjust challenger met with a timerous Defendant it had been enough to have created an undeniable title to him and his successors The best is Nullum tempus occurrit Papae no process of time doth prejudice the Popes due but whensoever he pleaseth to prosecute his right One condemned for a traitor for bringing the Popes Bull. Scotland lieth still in the same place where it did before 3. About this time a subject brought in a Bull of Excommunication against another subject of this Realm 1302 and published it to the Lord Treasurer of England 30. and this was by the ancient a Brook tit pâ—aemuntre p. 10. Common-Law of England adjudged Treason against the King his Crown and dignity for the which the offender should have been drawn and hanged but at the great instance of the chancelour and Treasurer he was onely abjured the Realm for ever And this case is the more remarkable because he was condemned by the Common-Law of England before any particular c â— part of Sir Ed. Cokes Reports de jure Reg. Ecc. fol. 12. Statute was enacted in that behalf The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury humbled by the King 4. But the Courage of the King Edward most appeared in humbling and ordering Robert Wincelsey 1305 Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 33. He was an insolent man hated even of the Clergie because though their champion to preserve them from Civil and Secular burdens yet the Popes Broker to reserve them for his unconscionable exactions as if keeping Church-men to be wrong'd by none but himself Long had the King looked on him with an angry eye as opposite to his proceedings and now at the last had him at his mercy for plotting d Annal. Eccl. August Cant. Guiltiness makes proud men base Treason with some others of the Nobility against him against him projecting to depose him and set up his Son Edward in his Room 5. The Arch-Bishop throwing himself prostrate at the Kings feet with tears and e Antiq Brita p 20◠〈…〉 Wâ—â—singham lamentation confessed his fault in a posture of cowardly dejection descending now as much beneath himself as formerly he had arrogantly insulted over others f Haâ—pssield Hist Eccl. Aug. pag. 446. some are loath to allow him guilty of the crime objected Worthily see Goâ—dwin de Archiepisâ— Cantâ—â—riens p. 145. others conceive him onely to have done this Anno Regis Ed. 1. 33. presuming on the Kings noble disposition for pardon Anno Dom. 1305. But such must yield him a Traitor either to the Kings Crown or to his own innocence by his unworthy acknowledging his offence Thus that man who confesseth a debt which he knows not due hoping his Creditor will thereupon give him an acquittance scarce deserveth pitty for his folly if presently sent to prison for non-payment thereof Then he called the King his Master a terme wherewith formerly his tongue was unacquainted whom neither by word or letter he would ever acknowledg under that nation tendering himself to be disposed at his pleasure 6. No Quoth the King The remarkable Dialogue betwixt the King and Arch Bish I will not be both party and judg and proceed against you as I might by the Common-Law of the Land I bear more respect to your order whereof you are as unworthy as of my favour having formerly had experience of your malice in smaller matters when you so rigorously used my Chaplains attending on me in their ordinary service beyond the Seas â— Antiquitates Britiannicae ut prius so that though I sent my Letters unto you you as lightly regarded what I wrot as what they pleaded in their own behalf Wincelsey having but one guard for all blows persisted in his submission desiring a president unparalle'd that the King would give him his blessing No said the King it is more proper that you should give me your blessing But well I will remit you to your own great Master the Pope to deal with you according to your deserts But the Arch-Bishop loath belike to-go-to Rome and staying longer in England then the Kings command and perchance his own promise lurk'd in a Covent at Canterbury till fourscore b Annal. Eccl. August Cant. Monks were by the Kings command thrust out of their places for relieving him out of their charity and were not restored till the aforesaid Arch-Bishop was banished the Kingdom 7. Not long after he appeared before Pope Clement the fift at Burdeaux Wincelsey finds no â—avour
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
indignities offered him was at last by them beheaded on Tower-Hill patiently ending his life and dying a State-Martyr But most fiercely fell their fury on the Dutch in London offended be-like with them for ingrossing of Trade and these words bread and cheese were their neck-verse or Shibboleth to distinguish them all pronouncing broad and cause being presently put to death Of all people onely some a See Godwins Catalogue of the Bishops of Norwich in Hen Spencer Franciscan Friers found favour in their sight whom they intended to preserve What quality to us occult commended them to their mercy Was it because they were the most ignorant of other Friers and so the likest to themselves But perchance these Rebells if demanded were as unable to render a reason why they spared these as why they spoiled others being equally irrational in their kindnesses as in in their cruelties 21. Judas Wat Tyler parallel'd When I read that passage of Judas in the Counsel of b Acts 5. 37. Gamaliel it seemeth to me plainly to describe the rising increase and ruine of these Rebels 1. Rising There rose up Judas of Galilee in the dayes of the taxing so Tiler appeared and this rebellion was caused by poll-money heavily imposed by the King and the arrears thereof more cruelly exacted by his Courtiers that farmed it And pitty it is so foul a rebellion could pretend so fair an occasion for the extenuating thereof 2. Encrease And drew away much people after him so the snow-ball encreased here John c In his book called Vox Clamantis lib. 1. cap. 14. Gower telleth us in his paralel of the martyring of Simon Sudbury Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with Thomas Becket his predecessour Quatuor in mortem spirarunt foedera Thomae Simonis centum mille dedere necem But four conspir'd Thomas his bloud to spill Whiles hundred thousands Simon help to kill Nor was this any poetical Hyperbole but an historical truth if the several numbers of their three armies were summ'd up together 3. Ruine He also perished and all even as many as obeyed him were dispersed so here no sooner was Wat Tiler their General as I may terme him kill'd by valiant Wallworth the Lord Mayor of London and his assistance for it was John a Weavers funeral Monuments p. 693. Cavendish Esquire that dispatch'd him with a mortal wound in Smithfield and Jack Straw their Lieutenant-General legally b Stow Survey of London pag. 55. beheaded too brave a death for so base a fellow but all the rest mouldered away and vanished In memory of S r William Wallworths valour the Armes of London formerly a plain Cross were augmented with the addition of a Dagger to make the coat in all points compleat Happy when the Cross as first there in place directeth the Dagger and when the Dagger defendeth the Cross when Religion sanctifieth power and power supporteth Religion 22. But Cope chargeth all this rebellion on Wicliffs doctrine Alanus Copus for he it is whose Ecclesiastical History of England goes under the name of Harpsfield heavily chargeth all this rebellion on the account of Wicliffe's doctrine Whose scholars saith c In his Histo Wicliffiana cap. 12. he to promote their Masters opinions stirred up this deadly and damnable sedition and sounded the first trumpet thereunto Adding moreover that Wicliffe's tenet that Dominion is founded in grace and that a King guilty of mortal sin is no longer Lord of any thing was Cos hujus seditionis The whet-stone of this sedition But to what lyer the whet-stone doth properly belong will presently appear 23. It is no news for the best of Gods children His malicious slander confused to be slandered in this kinde Jeremy was d Jer. 37. 13 traduced Thou fallest away to the Caldeans S t Paul was e Acts 24. 5. accused We have found this man a pestilent fellow a mover of sedition Yea our Saviour himself was f John 19. 12. charged that He made himself a King and was a traytor to Caesar But as these were soul and false aspersions so will this appear if we consider 1. When John Ball was executed at S t Albans and Jack g See his confession at large in Stows Survey of London p. 54. Straw at London not the least compliance with Wicliffe or his doctrine is either charged on them or confessed by them 2. No wilde beast will prey on his own kinde Now it is certainly known that John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was the principal Patron and supporter of Wicliffe whose life they sought to destroy and whose Palace in the Strand they pillaged 3. Wicliffe himself came within the compass of their destructive principles designing the death of all who wore a pen and ink And that Wicliffe had both pen and ink Cope himself doth know and the Court of Rome with shame and sorrow will confess 4. Wicliffe lived some years after and died peaceably possessed of the Living of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire Surely had he been reputed the inflamer of this rebellion the wisdom of the King and Councel would have taken another order with him 5. Amongst the articles laid to the charge of Wicliffe and his followers in this Kings Reign examined at Oxford and elsewhere not a tittle of this rebellion is pressed upon them Which their malicious adversaries would not have omitted if in any hope to make good that accusation against them 6. Whereas it is charged on Wicliffe that he held that Dominion was founded in grace which occasioned this rebellion we know this that Huss his scholar though he did hold that a King being in mortal sin was onely called a King aequivoca denominatione yet the same Huss confesseth to use his own h Huss Tract de Decimis pag. 128. See Bishop Davenants 30 Determination words Ipsum Deum approbare hujusmodi Regem quoad esse Principem exterius That God himself allows such a King to be a Prince in all outward matters So that leaving him to Divine Justice he never dreamt of any resistance or rebellion to be made against him 7. The modern Protestants heirs say the Papists to Wicliffe's doctrine so far abominate these Rebels their levelling and ignorant principles that they are known both to maintain distances of people and to have been the restorers of lost yea the revivers of dead learning and languages How had the Mathematicks measured their own grave Greek turn'd barbarisme Hebrew as it readeth gone backward never to return again had not Protestant Criticks with vast pains and expence preserved them 8. It is more suspicious that this rebellion came out of the Franciscan Covent because some of these belike were the rebels white-boyes and as is afore mentioned to be spared in a general destruction In a word I wonder how many ingenuous Papists can charge Wicliffe of rebellion in maintaining Dominion to be founded in grace when the Grandees of their own Religion Aquine Cajetane Bellarmine Suarez
pay and reward some of his poorest servants giving them money on this condition that hereafter they should serve no subject but onely the b Rex Platonicus pag. 43. King himself as if this had been suscipere gradum Simeonts for those who so long had attended on a Lord-Cardinal But this happened many years after we return to this proud Prelate while he flourished in the height of his Prosperity 36. Their heads will catch cold Wolsey turns his waiting into revenge which wait bare for a dead Popes Tiple-Crown Wolsey may be an instance hereof who on every avoidance of S t Peters Chaire was sitting down therein when suddenly some one or other clapt in before him Weary with waiting he now resolved to revenge himself on Charles the Emperour for not doing him right and not improving his power in preferring him to the Papacy according to his promioses and pretences He intends to smite Charles through the sides of his Aunt Katharine Queen of England endeavouring to alienate the Kings affections from her And this is affirmend by the generality of our Historians though some of late have endeavoured to acquit Wolsey as not the first perswader of the King divorce 37. Indeed he was beholding The scruple of the Kings marriage for the first hint thereof to the Spaniards themselves For when the Lady Mary was tendered in marriage to Philip Prince of Spain the Spanish Embassadours seemed to make some difficulty thereof and to doubt her extraction as begotten on a mother formerly married to her husbands elder brother Wolsey now put this scruple into the head of Bishop Longlands the Kings Confessour and he insinuated the same into the Kings conscience advising him hereafter to abstain from the company of his Queen to whom he was unlawfully married Adding moreover that after a divorce procured which the Pope in justice could not deny the King might dispose his affections where he pleased And here Wolsey had provided him a second Wife viz Margarite Countess of Alenzon sister to Francis King of France though heavens reserved that place not for the Mistress but her Maid I mean Anna Bollen who after the return of Mary the French Queen for England attended in France for some time on this Lady Margarite 38. Tunder needs no torch to light it The King willingly embraceth the motion the least spark will presently set it on flame No wonder if King Henry greedily resented the motion Male issue he much wanted and a young Female more on whom to beget it As for Queen Katharine he rather respected then affected rather honoured then loved her She had got an habit of miscarrying scarce curable in one of her age intimated in one of the Kings private papers as morbus incurabilis Yet publickly he never laid either fault or defect to her charge that not dislike of her person or conditions but onely principles of pure conseience might seem to put him upon endeavours of a Divorce 39. The business is brought into the Court of Rome The Pope a Captive there to be decided by Pope Clement the seventh Bnt the Pope at this time was not sui juris being a prisoner to the Emperour who constantly kept a guard about him 44. As for the Queens Councel Fishers short plea. which Anno Dom. 1529 though assigned to her Anno Regis Hen. 8 25. appear not dearly accepted by her as chosen rather by others for her then by her for her self I finde at this present little of moment pleaded or performed by them Onely Bishop Fisher affirmed that no more needed to be said for the validity of the marriage then Whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder A most true position in it self if he could have cleared the application thereof to his Royal Client but Hoc restat probandum the contrary that God never joyned them together being vehemently urged by her adversaries 45. Notwithstanding the Queens absence The pleas of the Kings Councel the Court proceeded And first the Kings Proctors put in their exceptions against both Bull and Breve of Pope Julius the second dispensing with the Kings marriage with his brothers wife viz. 1. That they were not to be found amongst the Original Records in Rome 2. That they were not extant in Chartaphylacio amongst the King of Englands papers most concerned therein but found onely in Spain amongst the writings of a State-Officer there 3. That in them it was falsely suggested as if the same were procured at the instance of Henry Prince of Wales who then not being above thirteen years old was not capable of such intentions 4. That the Date thereof was somewhat discrepant from the form used in the Court of Rome 46. After this Secrets sub sigillo thalami many witnesses on the Kings side were deposed July 12. and though this favour is by custome indulged to the English Nobility to speak on their Honours yet the Canon-Law taking no notice of this their municipal priviledg and for the more legal validity of their restimonies required the same on oath though two Dukes one Dutchess one Marquess many Lords and Ladies gave in their depositions These attested 1. That both were of sufficient age Prince Arthur of fifteen years the Lady Katharine somewhat elder 2. That constant their cohabitation at board and in bed 3. That competent the time of the same as full five moneths 4. That entire their mutual affection no difference being ever observ'd betwixt them 5. That Henry after his Brothers death by an instrument produced in Court and attested by many witnesses refused to marry her though afterwards altered by the importunity of others 6. That by several expressions of Prince Arthur's it appeared he had carnal knowledg of the Lady Katharine The beds of private persons are compassed with curtaines of Princes vailed also with canopies to conceal the passages therein to which modesty admitteth no witnesses Pitty it is that any with Pharaoh should discover what is exchanged betwixt Isaac and Rebekah all which are best stifled in secrecy and silence However such the nature of the present cause that many privacies were therein discovered 47. Observe by the way A shrewd retortion that whereas it was generally alledged in favour of the Queen that Prince Arthur had not carnal Knowledg of her because soon after his marriage his consumptionish body seemed unfit for such performances this was retorted by testimonies on the Kings side his witnesses deposing that generally it was reported and believed the Prince impaired his health by his over liberal paiment of due benevolence 48. It was expected that the Cardinals should now proceed to a definitive sentence An end in vain expected according as matters were alledged and proved unto them The rather because it was generally reported that Campegius brought over with him a Bull Decretal to pronounce a nulsity of the match if he saw just cause for the same Which rumor like
long since should have sent him namely to visit his Diocess so large in extent and reside therein 3. Indifferent men thought that he had enough 〈…〉 his Foes that too much onely himself that too little was left unto him Pride accounts the greatest plenty if without Pomp no better then Penury Yet he had the whole revenues of York Arch-Bishoprick worth then little less then four thousand pounds yearly besides a large Pension paid him out of the Bishoprick of Winchester Was not here suel enough had thee not been too much fire within such his covetousness and ambition 4. Earthly Kings may make men humbled He states it at York God alone humble Wolsey began to state it at York as high as ever before in proportion to his contracted revenues Preparation is made in a Princely equipage for his Installation attracting envie from such as beheld it All is told unto the King and all made worse by telling it complaining Wolsey would never leave his pride till life first left him His old faults are revived and aggravated and the King incensed afresh against him 5. The Earl of Northumberland by the Commission from the King Arrested of Treason and dieth Arrested him of high-Treason in his own chamber at Cawood By slow and short journeys he setteth forward to London meeting by the way with contrary messages from the King Sometimes he was tickled with hopes of pardon and preserment sometimes pinched with fears of a disgraceful death so that he knew not how to dispose his minde to Mirth or Mourning Age and anguish brought his disease of the dysentery the pain lying much in his guts more in his heart Especially aftger S r William Kingston was sent unto him who being Lieutenant of the Tower seemed to carry a restraint in his looks Coming to Leicester he died being buried almost as obscurely as he was born 6. I know not whether or no it be worth the mentioning here Wolseys credulity befooled with dubious Prophecy however we will put it on the adventure that Cardinal Wolsey in his life time was inform'd by some Fortune-tellers that he should have his end at Kingston This his credulity interpreted of Kingston on Thames which made him alwayes to avoid the riding through that Town though the nearest way from his house to the Court. Afterwards understanding that he was to be committed by the Kings express order to the charge of S r Anthony Hen. Lord Howard in his Book against Prophesies chap. 28. fol. 130. Kingston it struck to his heart too late perceiving himself deluded by that Father of Lies in his homonymous prediction 7. Anna Bollen did every day look fairer and fiarer in the King's eyes The King deluded with delays at Rome whilest the hopes of his marriage with her seemed every day farther and farther from him For the Court at Rome meddled not with the merits of the causse but fell upon by-points therein of lesser concernment Yea they divided his case into three a Hist of Councel of Trent pag. 69. and twenty particulars whereof the first was Whether Prince Arthur had carnal knowledg with the Lady Katharine This bare about a years debate so that according to this proportion King Henry would be not onely past marrying but past living before his cause should be decided This news put him into a passionate pensiveness the rather because meeting with sadness here many populous places in England and Cambridg particularly being at the present visited with the sickness 8. But it is an evil plague which brings no body profit On this occasion D r Cranmer retired to Waltham with two of his Pupils Doct. cranmet comes to Waltham the sons of M r Cressey a name utterly extinct in that Town where God hath fixed my present habitation long before the memory of any alive But consulting Weavers a In Essex Pag. 645. But see the former part of Cranmers life until this time in our History of Cambridg Funeral-Monuments of Waltham-Church more truly then nearly by him composed I finde therein this Epitaph Here lyeth Jon and Jone Cressy On whose soulys Jesu havmercy Amen It seems paper sometimes in more lasting then brass all the ancient Epitaphs in that Church being defac'd by some barbarous hands who perchance one day may want a grave for themselves 9. The King coming to Waltham Is imployed by the King to the Pope D r Fox his Chaplain and Almoner afterwards Bishop of Hereford is lodged in M r Cressy 's house Discoursing about the Kings Divorce Cranmer conceived that the speediest course was to prove the unlawfulness of his Match by Scripture whence it would follow that the Pope at first had no power to dispence therewith and that the Vniversities of Christendom would sooner and truer decide the case then the Court of Rome This passage Fox reports to the King who well pleased thereat professes that this man had the b Fox Acts Mon. 1861. Sow by the right ear An ear which the King never left worrying till he had got it off and effected his will therein Cranmer being sent for comes to the King who very lovingly entertains him Indeed he was a most comely person having an amiable eye and as the soul sees much by the eye so is it much seen in them and pleasing countenance as by his lively c Which I have seen at Chesthunt in the house of Sir Tho. Docres done as I take it by Hans Holbein Picture doth appear Glad was the King to see more to hear him enlarge himself on the former subject that it was above the Popes power to dispense with Gods work in the Kings case And now what fitter Nurse for the Childe then the own Mother what person more proper to manage this matter then Cranmer himself who first moved it The King resolves and Cranmer consents he should be sent to the Pope there to make God his possition Leave we Cranmer for a time preparing himself for his long journey and come briefly to state the Kings Controversie out of Gods Word and several Authors who have written thereof 10. It plainly appears that a marriage with a Brothers wife is unlawful Marriage with Brothers Wives twice forbidden in Scripture because expresly forbidden LEVIT 18. 16 Thou shalt not uncover the Nakedness of thy Brothers Wife it is thy Brothers Nakedness Wherein we have 1. A Prohibition Thou shalt not uncover the Nakedness of thy Brothers Wife See all these Laws are made to men it being presumed that the weaker sex whose part it is to take not tender accept not offer love would be so modest as not to adventure of themselves on any incestuous act except first solicited by men thereunto 2. The Reason thereof It is thy Brothers Nakedness God could according to his Dominion peremptorily have forbidden the same without rendring a reason of his Prohibition but that men might pay the more willing obedience to his Law
space as possible they may after Our departure out of this transitory life One thousand marks of lawfull money of England part in the same place and thereabout where it shall please Almighty God to call us to his mercy partly by the way and part in the same place of Our buriall after their discretions And to move the poor people that shall have Our alms to pray heartily unto God for the remission of Our offense and the wealth of Our soule And We will that with as convenient speed as may be done after Our departure out of this world if it be not done in Our life that the Dean and Canons of Our Free Chappell of Saint George within Our Castle of Windesor shall have Manours Lands Tenements and Spiritual promotions to the yearly value of vj C. pounds over all charges made sure to them and to their successours for ever upon these conditions hereafter ensuing and for the due accomplishment and full performance of all other things contained with the same in the form of an Indenture signed with Our own hand which shall be passed by way of Covenant for that purpose between the said Dean and Canons and Our Executors if it passe not between Us and the said Dean and Canons in Our life That is to say the said Dean and Canons and their successors forever shall finde two Priests to say Masses at the said Altar to be made where We have before appointed our Tomb to be made and stand And also after Our decease keep yearly Four solemn Obits for us within the said Colledge of Windesor and at every of the same Obits to cause a solemn Sermon to be made and also at every of the said Obits to give to poor people in alms Ten pounds and also to give for ever yearly to thirteen poor men which shall be called Poor Knights to every of them Twelve pence a day and once in the year yearly for ever a long Gown of white cloth with the Gatter upon the breast imbroydered with a Shield and Crosse of Saint George within the garter and a mantle of red cloath and to such one of the thirteen poor Knights Ann. Dom. 1546. as shall be appointed to be head and governour over them iij li. vjs viij d. yearly for ever over and beside the said xij d. by the day And also to cause every Sunday in the year for ever a Sermon to be made at Windesor aforesaid Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 as in the said Indenture and Covenant shall be more fully and particularly expressed willing charging and requiring Our Son Prince EDWARD all Our Executors and Counsellors which shall be named hereafter and all other Our Heirs and Successours which shall be Kings of this Realm as they will answer before God Almighty at the dreadfull day of judgment that they and every of them doe see that the said Indenture and Assurance to be made between Us and the said Dean Canons or between them and Our executors and all things therein contained may be duly put in execution and observed and kept for ever perpetually according to this Our last Will and Testament And as concerning the order and dispostion of the Imperiall Crown of this Realm of England and Ireland with Our Title of France and all dignities honours preheminences prerogatives authorities and jurisdictions to the same annexed or belonging and for the sure establishment of the succession of the same And also for a full and plain gift disposition assignment declaration limitation and appointment with what conditions Our Daughters MARY and ELIZAsBETH shall severally have hold and enjoy the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decease and for default of Issue and Heires of the severall bodies of Us and of Our Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten and His Heirs And also for a full gift disposition assignment declaration limitation and appointment to Whom and of what estate and in what manner form and condition the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall remain and come after Our decease And for default of Issue and Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of the said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH lawfully begotten We by these presents doe make and declare Our last Will and Testament concerning the said Imperiall Crown and all other the premises in manner and form following That is to say We will by these presents that immediately after Our departure out of this present life Our said Son Prince EDWARD shall have and enjoy the said Imperiall Crown and Realm of England and Ireland Our Title of France with all dignities honours preheminences prerogatives authorities and jurisdictions lands and possessions to the same annexed or belonging unto Him and to His Heirs of His body lawfully begotten And for default of such Issue of Our said Son Prince EDWARD's body lawfully begotten We will the same Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our two deceases shall wholly remain and come to the Heirs of our body lawfully begotten of the body of Our entirely beloved Wife Queen Katharine that now is or of any other Our lawfull Wife that We shall hereafter marry and for lack of such Issue and Heirs We will also that after Our decease and for default of Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of our said Son Prince EDWARD's lawfully begotten the said Imperial Crown and all other the premises shall wholly remain and come to Our said Daughter MARY and the Heris of Her body lawfully begotten upon condition that Our said Daughter MARY after Our decease shall not marry not take any Person to Her Huband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counsellours and others appointed by Us to Our dearest Son Prince EDWARD aforesaid to be of Counsell or of the most part of them or the most of such as shall then be alive thereunto before the said marriage had in writing sealed with their seals All which conditions We declare limit appoint and will by these presents Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 shall be knit and invested to the said estate of our Daughter MARY in the said Imperiall Crown Ann. Dom. 1546. and other the premises And if it fortune Our said Daughter MARY to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after Our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten and of Our Daughter MARY the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain to come to Our said Daughter ELIZABETH and to the Heirs of Her body lawfully begotten upon condition that our said Daughter ELIZABETH after Our decease shall not marry nor taken any Person to Her Husband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counsellors and others appointed by â—â—s to be of Counsell with Our said dearest Son Prince EDWARD or the most part of them or the most part of such of them as shall
execute these points first that is to say the payment of Our debts with redresse of injuries if any such can be duly proved though to Us they be unknown before any other part of this Our Will and Testament Our Buriall Exequies and Funerals onely except Furthermore We will that all such Grants and Gifts as We have made given or promised to any which be not yet perfected under Our singe or any Our seals as they ought to be and all such recompense for exchanges sales or any other thing or things as ought to have been made by Us and be not yet accomplished shall be perfected in every point towards all manner of men for discharge of Our conscience charging Our Executors and all the rest of Our Counsellours to see the same done performed finished and accomplished in every point foreseeing that the said Gifts Grants and Promises and Recompense shall appear to Our said Executors or the most part of them to have been granted made accorded or promised in any manner of wise Further according to the laws of Almighty God and for the fatherly love which We bear to Our Son Prince EDWARD and to this Our Realm We declare Him according to justice equity and conscience to be Our lawfull Heir and doe give and bequeath unto Him the succession of Our Realms of England and Ireland with Our Title of France and all Our Dominions both on this side the seas and beyond a convenient portion for Our Will and Testament to be reserved Also We give unto Him all Our plate stuffe of houshold artillery ordnance ammunition ships cables and all other things and implements to them belonging And money also and jewels saving such portions as shall satisfie this Our last Will and Testament charging and commanding Him on pain of Our curse seeing He hath so loving a Father of Us and that Our chief labour and study in this world is to establish Him in the Crown Imperial of this Realm after Our decease in such sort as may be pleasing to God and to the wealth of this Realm and to His own honour and quiet that He be ordered and ruled both in His marriage and also in ordering the affairs of the Realm as well outward as inward And also in all His own private affairs and in giving of Offices of charge by the advise and counsell of Our right entirely beloved Counsellours the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Wriothesly Chancellour of England the Lord St. John great Master of Our house the Lord Russell Lord Privie Seal the Earl of Hertford great Chamberlain of England the Viscount Lisle high Admirall of England the Bishop Tonstall of Duresme Sir Anthony Browne Knight Master of Our horses Sir William Pagett Our chief Secretary Sir Anthony Denny Sir William Herbert Justice Montague and Bromley Sir Edward Wotton Mr. Doctor Wotton and Sir Edward North whom We ordain name and appoint and by these presents signed with Our hand doe make and constitute Our Privie Counsell with Our said Son and will that they have the governance of Our most dear Son Prince EDWARD and of all Our Realms Dominions and Subjects and of all the Affairs publick and private untill he shall have fully compleated the xviij th year of his age And for because the variety and number of things affairs and matters are and may be such as we not knowing the certainty of them before cannot conveniently prescribe a certain order or rule unto Our said Counsellours for their behaviours and proceedings in this charge which We have now and doe appoint unto them about Our said Son during the time of his minority aforesaid We therefore for the speciall trust and confidence which We have in them will and by these presents doe give and grant full power and authority unto Our said Counsellours that they all or the most part of them being assembled together in Counsell or if any of them fortune to die the more part of them which shall be for the time living being assembled in Counsel together Ann. Dom. 1546. shall Ann. Reg. Hē 8. 38. and may make devise and ordain what things soever they or the more part of them as aforesaid shall during the minority of Our said Son think meet necessary and convenient for the benefit honour and surety of the weal profit and commodity of Our said Son His Realms Dominions or Subjects or the discharge of Our conscience And the same things devised made or ordained by them or the more part of them aforesaid shall and may lawfully doe execute and accomplish or cause to be done executed and accomplished by their discretions or the discretions of the more part of them as aforesaid in as large and ample manner as if We had or did expresse unto them by a more speciall Commission under Our Great Seal of England every particular cause that may chance or occurre during the time of Our said Sons minority and the self-same manner of proceeding which they shall for the time think meet to use and follow Willing and charging our said Son and all others which shall hereafter be Counsellours to Our said Son that they never charge molest trouble or disquiet Our aforesaid Counsellours nor any of them for the devising or doing nor any other person for the doing of that they shall devise or the more part of them devise or doe assembled as is aforesaid And We doe charge expresly the same Our entirely beloved Counsellours and Executors that they shall take upon them the rule and charge of Our said Son and Heir in all His causes and affairs and of the whole Realm doing neverthelesse all things as under Him and in His name untill Our said Son and Heir shall be bestowed and married by their advise and that the xviij th year be expired willing and desiring furthermore Our said trusty Counsellours and then all Our trusty and assured Servants and thirdly all other Our loving Subjects to aid and assist Our forenamed Counsellors in the execution of the premises during the aforesaid time Not doubting but they will in all things deal so truly and uprightly as they shall have cause to think them well chosen for the charge committed unto them straightly charging our said Counsellours and Executors and in Gods name exhorting them for the singular trust and speciall confidence which We have and ever had in them to have a due and diligent eye perfect zeal love and affection to the honour surety estate and dignity of Our said Son and the good state and prosperity of this Our Realm And that all delaies set apart they well aid and assist Our said Counsellours and Executors to the performance of this Our present Testament and last Will in every part as they will answer before God at the day of judgment Cum venerit judicare vivos mortuos and furthermore for the speciall trust and confidence which we have in the Earls of Arundell and Essex that now be Sir Thomas Cheny Knight
goe out thereof Sure I am it was a loud lie which * In the Examen of Fox's Martyrs Month of Feb. pag. 306. Parsons tells that Latimer was kept bare who kept himself bare living not in the want but neglect yea contempt of all worldly wealth He was Confessour-General to all Protestants troubled in minde yea he was the Corban or treasurie into which restored-ill-gotten-goods were cast to be bestowed on the poor according to his discretion And Latimer by the courtesie of England once a Bishop and ever a Bishop was in civility saluted Lord and honoured by all good people that knew him This I conceive the true cause why Hooper would not be translated to Worcester but held it in Commendam with Gloucester because Latimer and Heath were both surviving each accounted a lawfull Bishop by those of their own Religion 29. But when Hooper unwillingly willing wore those Episcopal Ornaments Hooper and Ridley reconciled by afflictions he put on with them a great grudge against Ridley who enforced him thereunto Yea when those his clothes may be presumed half worn out his anger was new and fresh as at the beginning nor were they fully reconciled till their death in the daies of Queen Mary High time then to period their passion before the Sun of their life went down in their wrath Strange that their heart-burnings could not be quenched till the fire was kindled which was to burn both their bodies But it matters not what is the cause if amendment be the effect The * Parsons ut supra pag. 31◠Jesuite challengeth the credit of this reconciliation to the Catholicks bragging that they made them friends But we know their cruell intention was not to make friends but ashes of them Let the thanks be paid to that Divine Power and Providence which sanctified their sufferings into an agreement besides beyond above against the designe and desire of those which inflicted them Thus when froward children fall out and fight a good parent and a good rod doe quickly make them friends See the Letters at large in Master Fox which passed betwixt them in prison wherein as Hooper had the honour first to offer agreement let Ridley receive his praise that he did fast embrace it For as the second blow makes the fray so it is not the tender but acceptance of peace makes the reconciliation As for their observation that of all the Marian-Martyrs Hooper and Ridley suffered with most torture and impute this to a Divine punishment justly inflicted on them for this their dissention there is somewhat of curiosity in the observation and nothing of charity in the application 30. We must not forget Three sorts of Non-conformists that this earnest contest was not about the calling but clothes not the vocation but onely about the vestments of Bishops Whereupon the juditious Reader will distinguish three Ranks or if the word be better liked three Classes of Non-conformists according to their severall dates and designes 1. Antient Non-conformists here in King Edward's daies who desired onely to shake down the leaves of Episcopacy misliking onely some garments about them 2. Middle Non conformists in the end of Queen Elizabeth and beginning of King James who struck at the branches thereof Chancellours and Officialls and other appendant limbs which they endeavoured to remove 3. Modern Non-conformists who did lay the axe to the root of the tree to cut down the function it self as unlawfull and Antichristian Thus after-Ages still made new additions as if it would be accounted idlenesse in them if the strong and active legs of the sons and nephews should not goe faster and farther than the old and feeble feet of their fathers and grand-fathers 31. About this time The Psalmes translated into meeter David's Psalms were translated into English meeter and if not publickly commanded generally permitted to be sung in all Churches The work was performed by Thomas e Ballcius Cent. 9. pag. 728. Sternhold an Hampshire man Esquire and of the Privie Chamber to King Edward the sixt who for his part translated thirty seven selected Psalms John Hopkins Robert Wisedome c. men whose piety was better than their poetry and they had drank more of Jordan than of Helicon These Psalms were therefore translated to make them more portable in peoples memories Verses being twice as light as the self-same bulk in Prose as also to raise mens affections the better to enable them to practice the Apostles precept f Jam. 5. 13. Is any merry let him sing Psalms Yet this work met afterwards with some frowns in the faces of great Clergy-men who were rather contented than well pleased with the singing of them in Churches I will not say because they misliked so much liberty should be allowed the Laitie Rome only can be guilty of so great envy as to sing in Churches rather because they conceived these singing Psalms erected in corrivality and opposition to the reading-Psalms which were formerly sung in Cathedral Churches or else the childe was disliked for the mothers sake because such Translatours though branched hither had their root in Geneva 32. Since The meanness of the Translation endeavoured to be excused later men have vented their just exceptions against the baldnesse of the translation so that sometimes they make the Maker of the Tongue to speak little better than barbarisme and have in many Verses such poor rhime that two hammers on a Smith's anvill would make better musick Whilst others rather to excuse it than defend it doe plead that English poetry was then in the nonage not to say infancy thereof and that match these Verses for their age they shall goe a breast with the best Poëms of those times Some in favour of the Translatours alledge that to be curious therein and over-descanting with wit had not become the plain song and simplicity of an holy style But these must know there is great difference between painting a face and not washing it Many since have farre refined these Translations but yet their labours therein never generally received in the Church principally because un-book-learn'd people have conn'd by heart many Psalms of the old Translation which would be wholly disinherited of their patrimony if a new Edition were set forth However it is desired and expected by moderate men that though the fabrick stand unremoved for the main yet some bad contrivance therein may be mended and the bald rhimes in some places get a new nap which would not much discompose the memory of the people 33. On the twenty fourth of July The first legal election of the Dutch-Congregation in London King Edward by His Letters patent at the request of John à Lasco free Baron of Lasco in Poland did by the consent of His Counsell give and grant the whole Church of S. Augustine's neer Broad-stree◠in London the Quire excepted formerly possessed by Marquesse Pawlet unto the Superintendent and Ministers of the Dutch-Church and
all due and wonted Ecclesiasticall monition declared so requiring it conceived it to belong unto us to provide for the eternall Salvation both of our selves and such as are committed to our charge by all means possible for us to obtain Wherefore stirred up by the examples of our Predecessours who have lived in the like times that faith which in the Articles under-written we believe to be true and from our souls profess to the praise and honour of God and the discharge of our duty and such souls as are commited unto us we thought in these presents publiquely to insert affirming and avowing as God shall helpe us in the last day of judgement First that in the Sacrament of the Altar by the vertue of Christs assisting after the word is duly pronounced by the Priest the naturall Body of Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary is really present under the species of bread and wine also his naturall bloud Item that after the Consecration there remains not the substance of Bread and Wine nor any other substance save the substance of God and man Item that the true body of Christ and his true bloud is offered a propitiatory sacrifice for the Quick and Dead Item that the supreme power of feeding and governing the militant Church of Christ and of confirming their Brethren is given to Peter the Apostle and to his lawfull Successours in the See Apostolike as unto the Vicars of Christ Item that the Authority to handle and define such things which belong to faith the Sacraments and Discipline Ecclesiasticall hath hitherto ever belonged and only ought to belong unto the Pastors of the Church whom the holy spirit hath placed in the Church of God and not unto lay-men Which our Assertion Affirmation and faith We the lower Clergy aforesaid so represent the aforesaid considerations unto your Fatherhoods by the Tenor of these Presents humbly requesting that because we have not liberty otherwise to notifie this our Judgement and intention to those which in this behalf are concerned you who are Fathers would be pleased to signifie the same to the Lords in Parliament wherein as we conceive you shall performe an office of Charity and Piety and you shall provide as it is meet for the safety of the flock committed to your charge and shall discharge your duty towards your own soul This remonstrance exhibited by the lower house of Convocation to the Bishops was according to their Requests presented by Edmond Bonner B p. of London to the Lord Keeper of the broad Seal of England in the Parliament Marc. 3. and as the said Bishop in the eighth Session reported he generously and gratefully received it But we finde no further news thereof save that in the 10. Session an account was given in by both Universities in an Instrument under the hand of a Publique Notary 10. wherein they both did concur to the Truth of the aforesaid Articles the last only excepted 10. But we may probably conceive that this Declaration of the Popish Clergy hastened the Disputation appointed on the last of March in the Church of Westminster The Disputations betwixt the Papists and Protestants at Westminster wherein these questions were debated 1. Whether Service and Sacraments ought to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue 2. Whether the Church hath not power to alter Ceremonies so all be done to edification 3. Whether the Mass be a propitiatory sacrifice for the Living and the Dead Popish Disputants Moderators Protestant Disputants * There is some difference in the Number and Names of Both Parties Mr. Fox neither agreeth with Mr. Camden nor with himself White Watson Baynes Scot. Bps. of Winchester Lincolne Covent and Lichfield Chester D r. Cole Deane of Pauls D r. Langdale D r. Harpsfield D r. Cheadsey Arch-Deac of Lewes Canterbury Middlesex Nicholas Heath B p. of York S r. Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal John Scory late B p. of Chichester David Whitehead Robert Horne Edmond Gwest Edwine Sands John Aelmer Edmond Grindall John Jewell The passages of this Disputation whereof more Noise then fruit and wherein more Passion then Reason Anno Dom. 1458. Cavils then Arguments are largely reported by M r. Fox It was ordered that each side should tender their Judgements in writing to avoid verball extravagancies as also in English for the better information of the Nobility and Gentry of the house of Parliament their Auditors and that the Papists should begin first and the Protestants answer them But in the second dayes disputation this order was broken by the Popish Bishops who quitting their Primacy to the Protestants stood peremptorily upon it that they themselves would deliver their Judgements last Alledging in their behalf the fashion of the Schools that because they had the negative on their side the others ought first to oppose Citing also the Custome of the Courts at Westminster where the plaintiffe pleadeth before the defendant conceiving themselves in the nature and notion of the Later because maintaining those opinions whose Truth time out of minde were established Chester more open then the Rest plainly confessed that if the protestants had the last word they would come off cum Applausu Populi with applause of the People which themselves it seems most desired Whereby it appears what Wind they wished for not what was fittest to fanne the truth but what would blow them most reputation In this Refusal to begin Winchester and Lincolne behaved themselves faucily and scornfully the rest stiffly and resolutely only Feckenham Abbot of Westminster who it seems the second day was added to the Popish Disputants carried it with more meeknesse and moderation Hereupon the Lord Keeper cut off this conference with this sharp Conclusion Seeing my Lords we cannot now hear you you may perchance shortly hear more of us 11. Yet need we not behold the frustration of this meeting The Papists complain of partial usage as a private Doome peculiarly to this conference alone but as the generall Destiny of such publike Colloquies which like Sicamore-trees prove barren and which the larger the Leaves of the Expectation the less the fruits of Successe The Assembly dissolved it were hard to say which were lowder the Papists in Complaining or the Protestants in Triumphing The former found themselves agrieved that they were surprised of a sudden having but two dayes warning to provide themselves That Bacon the Moderator though well skil'd in matters of Equity ignorant in matters of Divinity was their Zealous Enemy to whom the Arch-Bishop was added only for a stale That to call such fundamentall points of Doctrine into question would cause an unsetlednesse in Religion of dangerous consequence both to single souls and to the Church in generall That it was unlawfull for them owing obedience to the Sea Apostolike without leave of his Holinesse first obtained to discusse these truthes long since decided in the Church 13. The Protestants on the other side slighted the Papists Plea of want
year an Obitum English Catholicks especially the parents or friends of such youths as here have their education Watton-Cloister being a most pleasant place with good land and a fair wood some two leagues off It anciently belonged to the Benedctines of whom the Jesuits here bought it Pope Paulus Quintus and the King of Spain confirming their bargain It is said to be worth five hundred pounds a year Number Rectour Eminent Scholars Welnigh an hundred of Gentlemens sons not as yet professed Jesuits though like them in habit but young Scholars Besides above twenty Jesuits Priests and Lay-brethren having an inspection over them Though this Colledge be of English only yet their Rectour generally is a Fleming and that out of a double designe First that he may solicite their suits in that country the better by the advantage of his language and acquaintance Secondly that they may the more colourably deny such English passengers as begg of them pleading that their Rectour being a stranger will part with no money and they have none of their own Father Fleck Floid Wilson Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 6. Colledge of Madrid in New Castile in Spain founded 1606. Joseph Creswel Jesuite with money of the two Colledges of Valladolit and Sivil bought an house here and built a Colledge thereon  What they gain by soliciting of suits for Merchants and others in the Spanish Court The rest is supplied unto this Colledg from the Parents thereof I mean the two Colledges of Valladolit and Sivil Number Rectour Eminent Scholars Colledge Founder Benefactour Means 7. Colledge of Lovain in Brabant founded about the year 1606. Philip the Third King of Spain gave a Castle then much decayed never much defensive for this City with a pension to the English Jesuits to build them a Colledge therewith   Number Rectour Eminent Scholars Uncertain as much in motion and never all resident here together   Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 8. Colledge of Liege in Lukeland founded 1616. The Arch-Bishop of Collen being at this time also Bishop of Liege gave them a pension to live on and leave to build a fair Colledge here Many of the English Nobility and Gentry under pretence of passing to the Spaw for recovery of their healths here drop much of their gold by the way It is doubtfull how soveraign the Spaw-water will prove to these passengers but certain that their gold is cordial to these Jesuits  Number Rectour Eminent Scholars   M r. Brown brother to the last Vicount Mountacute in Sussex became here a Jesuite Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 9. Colledge of Gant in Flanders founded 1624. Philip the Fourth who gave them a pension   Number Rectour Eminent Scholars One may observe a kinde of gradation in these Colledges S t. Omers generally is for boyes to be taught in Grammar Rome for youths studying the arts all the rest for men Novices or professed Jesuits save that Doway is for any of what age or parts soever Compare these Colledges amongst themselves Rome will appear the richest in visible Valladolit the cunningest in concealed wealth Doway the largest in men and straightest in means Liege getting the most from passengers on land Sivil gaining the best by Travellers at sea Madrid wearing the bravest cloaths where all the Jesuits are constant Courtiers and S t. Omers eating the best meat as neerest to England whence many a dainty bit is daily sent unto them 22. It is incredible what a mass of mony much in specie The bounty of English Catholicks more in exchange was yearly made over out of England for the maintenance of these Colledges having here their Provincials Sub-Provincials Assistants Agents Coadjutours Familiars c. who collected vast sums for them especially from Catholicks possessed of considerable estates out of Abby-lands his Holinesse dispensing with them to hold the same with a clear conscience if bountifull on all such occasions 23. We will conclude all with the solemn Oath The oath taken by English Fugitives at their admission which each Student arrived at mans estate ceremoniously sweareth when admitted into one of these Colledges I. A. B. a In the continuation of Sanders de schismate Anglicano p. 116. one bred in this English Colledge considering how great benefits God hath bestowed upon me but then especially when he brought me out of mine own Country so much infected with Herche and made me a member of the Catholick Church as also desiring with a thankfull heart to improve so great a mercy of God have resolved to offer my self wholy up to Divine Service as much as I may to fulfill the end for which this our Colledge was founded I promise therefore and swear in the presence of Almighty God that I am prepared from mine heart with the assistance of Divine Grace in due time to receive Holy Orders and to return into England to convert the souls of my Countrimen and kindred when and as often as it shall seem good to the Superiour of this Colledge c. Be it remembred that our long Vacation is their chiefest Termâ— for in the moneths of August or September these Colledges receive their annual supplies of green Students and then dispatch their ripe Nâ—viciats for England or if you will then take in young spawn and send their old frogs over hither a croaking All that I will adde is this If covetousness should prevail so far as to pluck down Protestant-Colledges in England whilest superstition preserves and increaseth Popish Seminaries beyond the seas sad would the sight be to behold the truth on our side encumbred with ignorance to encounter falsehood on theirs advantaged with learning and languages 24. Pope Pius the fifth had now long patiently expected the amendment of Queen Elizabeth The Pope excommunicateth the Queen and weary with his waiting in vain resolved at last if not wisely valiantly that seeing desperate diseases must have desperate cures he would thunder his Excommunication against Her according to the tenour following A Sentence Declaratory of our Holy Lord Pope PIUS QUINTUS against ELIZABETH Queen of England and the Hereticks adhering unto Her Wherein also Her Subjects are declared absolved from the Oath of Allegiance and every other thing due unto Her whatsoever And those which from henceforth obey Her are innodated with the Anathema Pius Bishop servant to Gods servants for a future memorial of the matter HE that reigneth on high to whom is given all power in heaven and in earth committed One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church out of which there is no salvation to one alone upon earth namely to Peter the chief of the Apostles and to Peters Successour the Bishop of Rome to be governed in fulness of power Him alone he made Prince over all people and all Kingdoms to pluck up destroy scatter consume plant and build that he may contain the faithfull that are knit together with the band of charity in the unity of the
long time accustomed to be taken the Law already established providing a sharp and severe punishment for such as shall exceed the same Besides an order also which we at this present have taken amongst our selves for the better performance thereof I therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty to continue your gracious goodness towards us who with all humility submit our selves to your Highness and cease not daily to pray for your happy estate Mar. 24. and long and prosperous Reign over us Your Majesties Chaplain and daily Orator most bounden John Cantuar. Thus the old year on the last day whereof this Letter was dated ended sadly and suspiciously with the Prelates but the next year began Cheerfully and presented good tidings unto them 25. For Her Majesty will alter nothing materiall to church government the Queen to verifie her Motto SEMPER EADEM and to disprove that Inconstancy generally charged on her sex acquitted Her self more then Woman in Her masculine resolutions and nothing of moment was altered in Church discipline Many things indeed were offered to both houses debated agitated and as it seems passed the Commons but nothing in fine was effected Thus the Major may propound what it pleaseth and the Minor assume what it listeth but no conclusive argument could then be framed without the Ergo of the royall Assent which the Queen refused to affix to any materiall Alteration 26. And few dayes after the session of the Parliament for the present broke off Mar. 29. Parliament dissolved wherewith ended the assenbly of the Ministers And now all of them had leave to depart to their own homes Otherwise such members thereof as formerly went away without leave were obnoxious to censure Witness one of them in his Ingenious confession a Mr. Gelibrand to Mr. Field cited by Bp. Bancroft in his dangerous positions pag 75. Touching my departure from that holy assembly without leave c. I crave pardon both of you and them c And thus commending this holy Cause to the Lord himself and your Godly Councell to the President thereof I take my leave 27. The next day the Convocation ended Iohn Hilton in Convocation abjoreth his hereticall opinions having effected nothing of moment save that in the 9 th session thereof Iohn Hilton Priest made a solemn Abjuration of his blasphemous heresies according to the tenour ensuing b b This was by me faithfully transcribed out of the records of Canterbury In Dei nomine Amen Mar. 30. Before you most reverend father in God Lord John Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of all England and the reverend fathers in God the Bishops of this your Province of Canterbury here Congregated and Assembled together in this holy Synod and Convocation I John Hilton Priest of my pure heart and free will voluntarily and sincerely knowledge confess and openly recognize that in times past I thought beleeved said held and presumptuously affirmed and preached the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and damnable opinions following c. Here he distinctly read a Schedule containing his heresies which what they were may be collected by that which ensueth and then proceeded as followeth Wherefore I the said John Hilton detesting and abhorring all and every such my said Heresies Blasphemies and damned opinions willing and with all my power affecting hereafter firmely to beleeve in the true and perfect faith of Christ and his holy Church purposing to follow the doctrine of Christ and his holy Apostles with a pure and free heart voluntary minde will and intent utterly forsake relinquish renounce and despise the said detestable Errours Heresies Blasphemies and Abominable opinions Granting and confessing that the blessed Trinity consisteth in three distinct persons and one Godhead as God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost coe quall in power and might Secondly that Jesus Christ is both God and man and my Saviour and Redeemer and of all other baptized and beleeving in him Who of his Father of his own substance in his humanity was conceived by the Holy Ghost incarnate and for our Redemption being very God became man And that by the death of Jesus Christ we be not only made partakers of his Testament and so deduced to the knowledge of his godly will and power but also that we have full Redemption and Remission of our sins in his bloud And where I did most ungodly detestably and blasphemously affirme that the Old and New Testaments were Fables now being most sorry for that abominable and damnable assertion I do most humbly and c c Here the record is so ill written that this word is not legible beleeve the same Testaments to contain all truths necessary to salvation and that I and all others are bound to beleeve the same as the undoubted word of God and that without that I cannot be saved And therefore the said Errours Blasphemies and all other Heresies false doctrines and damned opinions in generall contrary and repugnant to the faith of Christ I utterly absuâ—e forsake and purely renounce before you most Reverend father in God and the rest of this holy Synod here assembled And moreover I swear by this holy Evangelist by me here bodily touched that from henceforth I shall never hold teach believe or affirme the said Errours Heresâ—s â—lasphemies or damned opinions or any other against contrary or repugnâ—t to the holy saith of Christs Church Nor yet shall I by my self or any other person privately oâ— apertly defend maintain succour favour or support any person that to my knowledge holdeth beleeveth affirmeth or teacheth any such Heresies Errours or damned opinions So help me God and these holy Evangelists In witness whereof to this my present Abjuration and renunciation I have with my own hand voluntarily subscribed my proper name JOHN HILTON 28. Upon this his Abjuration Pennance imposed upon him Pennance was imposed on him first that he should attend at Pauls Crosse upon the Preacher Sunday next all the time of the Sermon and there penitently stand before the said Preacher with a faggot on his shoulders Secondly that he should not preach minister Sacraments nor exercise any Ecclesiasticall function in the Church except specially licensed by the Arch-Bishop thereunto Thirdly that he should recant the said heresies and damnable opinions in the Church of S t. Martius in the fields at a sermon there to be made by the Arch-Deacon and there to shew himself very penitent I finde in the Records a recognizance of five hundred pounds drawn up to the Queen whereby the said Hilton bound himself for the performance hereof but because the rude draught of the bond is crossed I conceive it not insisted on and finding nothing to the contrary presume the aforesaid pennance by him exactly performed 29. The Ministers or Brethren now missing their mark Exchange of important Letters betwixt the Earl of Leicester and the Arch-Bishop abated much of their former activity in so much as that
certainly cause suspition slalnder c. 14. The concealing argueth either some guiltiness or at the least some faintness and fear to be seen or known in these Actions 15. It leaveth the truth which now travaileth poor naked destitute and void of friends it casteth the care credit countenance defence and maintenance of it upon those few which are in prison which ought to be supported and maintained by all 16. It leaveth the burden upon eight or nine mens shoulders which ought to be eased by many What satisfaction this gave to his party I know not sure I am the Bishops till his dying day beheld him as an ingenuous man carrying his conscience with the reason thereof in his own brest and not pinning it on the president of any other whereupon they permitted him peaceably to possess his parsonage being none of the meanest though he continued a stiffe Non conformist only quietly enjoying his own opinion Indeed he was a down-right Nathanael if not guilty of too much of the dove in him faulty in that defect wherein more offend in the excess not minding the world so much as became a provident parent But we leave him when we have told the Reader that he was bred a Student in Christ-Church and was a Brian Twine in Appendice Ant. Ac. Oxon. Proctor of Oxford Anno 1580 and died quietly an old man Anno 1617 at Warkton in Northampton-shire 41. Synodicall meetings finally blasted Thus one link being slipp'd out the whole chain was quickly broken and scattered Stone his discovery marr'd for the future all their formal meetings as Classically or Synodically methodized If any of these Ministers hereafter came together it was for visits not visitations to enjoy themselves not enjoyn others orders to be observed by them 42. Perkin's piety 〈…〉 Whereas M r Stone confesseth their meeting in Cambridge with M r Chatterton and others I finde some of these others a Dr Banerâ—st in his book of dangerous positions chap. 7. p. 59. elsewhere specified namely M r Perkins and M r Thomas Harrison afterwards the reverend Vice-Master of Trinity-Colledge both of them concurring though neither of them very active in this cause M r Perkins whatsoever his judgement was in point of Church-discipline never publickly medled with it in his preaching and being pressed by others about the lawfullness of subscription he declined to manifest his opinion therein glad to enjoy his own quiet and to leave others to the liberty of their own consciences Solomons observation found truth in him b Prov. 16. 7â— When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him whose piety procured freedom to his preaching and fair respect to his person even from those who in affections differed and in opinion dissented from him for all held Perkins for a Prophet I mean for a painfull and faithfull dispenser of Gods will in his word 43. Transition to a more pleasant subject But I am weary of writing these sad dissentions in our Church and fain would pass over to some more pleasing subject from the renting of Gods Church to the repairing of it from the confounding thereof to the founding and building of some eminent place for learning and religion But finding none of that nature this very year in England I am fain to seek one beyond the seas and at last have lighted on the University and Colledge of Dublin which now began to be erected 44. The foundation of an University in Dublin Anciently Ireland was the Seminary of Saints people from all parts of Christendome repairing thither there to finde and thence to fetch the perfect pattern of Monastical devotion Many hundred years after namely in the Reign of King Edward the Second Alexander Bickner Arch-Bishop of Dâ—blin obtained licence of the Pope to erect an University in Dublin but the designe succeeded not according to his desire and others expectation Now at the last the same was effected by Royall Authority and a Colledge there erected and dedicated to the Holy Trinity This mindeth me of a pleasant passage In the Reign of King Henry the eighth it was enjoyned that all Churches dedicated to S t Thomas Becket should be new named and consigned over to some real Saint Now whilest country people sate in consultation what new Saint such Churches should assume being divided in their opinions to whom the same should be dedicated an old man gave this advice Even dedicate it to the Holy Trinity which will last and continue when all other Saints may chance to be taken away 45. The severall Benefactors thereto Many eminent persons concurred to advance so worthy a work And because we are to speak of a Colledge wherein seniority takes place we will rank these persons not according to their dignity but time of their benefaction 1. Henry Vsher then Arch-Deacon of Dublin bred in Cambridge afterward Arch-Bishop of Armagh and uncle to James Vsher the present Arch-Bishop thereof took a journey with much danger into England and with more difficulty procured the Mort-main from 2. Queen Elizabeth who graciously granted it naming the Corporation Collegium Sanctae ac Individuae Trinitatis ex fundatione Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin 3. William Cicill Baron of Burleigh Anno Dom. 1591. and treasurer of England is appointed in the Mort-main first Chancellour of the University Anno Regin Eliza. 34. as being an active instrument to procure the same 4. S r William Fitz-Williams Lord Deputy of Ireland whose Arms are deservedly graven over the Colledge gate issued out his letters for collection to all the Counties in Ireland to advance so good a designe and the Irish though then generally Papists were very bountifull thereunto 5. M r Luke Chaloner Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge received and disbursed the monies had the oversight of the fabrick which he faithfully procured to be finished meriting that verse inscribed on his fair monument in Dublin Colledge Chappel built by his * Since married to the Arch-Bishop of Armagh daughter Conditur hoc Tumulo Chaloneri triste Cadaver Cujus ope precibus conditur ista domus This Tomb within it here contains Of Chalnor the sad Remains By whose prayer and helping hand This House erected here doth stand 6. The Major and Aldermen of Dublin bestowed on the Colledge the sight thereof with some accommodations of considerable grounds about it being formerly a Religious house termed Allhallows which at the suppression of Abbies was bestowed on their Corporation 7. Adam Loftus Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge at this present Arch-Bishop of Dublin and Chancellour of Ireland was the first Master of the Colledge holding it as an honorarie title though not so much to receive credit by as to return lustre to the place 8. S r Warham Saint-Leger was very bountifull in paying yearly pensions for the maintenance of the first students thereof before the Colledge was endowed with standing revenues
to Scripâ—ure long difused and neglected now seasonably revived for the encrease of piety Others conceived them grounded on a wrong bottome but because they tended to the manifest advance of Religion it was pitty to oppose them seeing none have just reason to complain being deceived into their own good But a third sort flatly fell out with these positions as galling mens necks with a jewish yoak against the liberty of Christians That Christ as Lord of the Sabbath had removed the Rigour thereof and allowed men lawfull recreations That this Doctrine put an unequall Lustre on the Sunday on set purpose to eclipse all other Holy dayes to the derogation of the authority of the Church That this strickt observance was set up out of Faction to be a Character of Difference to brand all for libertines who did not entertain it 22. Tho Rogers first publickly opposeth Dr Bounds opinions However for some years together in this controversie D r Bound alone carried the Garland away none offering openly to oppose and not so much as a feather of a quill in print did wag against him Yea as he in his second edition observeth that many both in their Preachings Writeings and Disputations did concurr with him in that argument and three several profitable treatises one made by M r Greenham were within few years successively written by three godly learned a Dr Bound in his preface to the Reader 2 edition Ministers But the first that gave a check to the full speed of this doctrine was Thomas Rogers of Horningâ—r in Suffolk in his preface to the Book of Articles And now because our present age begins to dawn and we come within the view of that Truth whose footsteps heretofore we only followed at distance I will interpose nothing of my own but of an historian only turn a Notarie for the behoof of the Reader faithfully transcribing such passages as we meet with in order of time Notwithstanding what the b Rogers preface to the Articles Parag. 20. Brethren wanted in strength and learning they had in wiliness and though they lost much one way in the general and main point of their Discipline yet recovered they not a little advantage another way by an odde and new device of theirs in a special Article of their Classical instructions For while worthies of our Church were employing their engins and forces partly in defending the present Government Ecclesiastical partly in assaulting the Presbyterie and new discipline even at that very instant the Brethren knowing themselves too weak either to overthrow our holds and that which we hold or to maintain their own they abandoned quite the Bulwarks which they had raised and gave out were impregnable suffering us to beat them down without any or very small resistance and yet not careless of their affairs left not the Warrs for all that but from an odde corner and after a new fashion which we little thought of such was their cunning set upon us a fresh again by dispersing in Printed Books which for tenn years space before they had been in hammering among themselves to make them compleat their Sabbath speculations and Presbyterian that is more then either kingly or Popely Directions for the observation of the Lords day And in the next page he c Idem Parag. 23. proceedeth It is a comfort unto my soule and will be till my dying hour that I have been the man and the means that the Sabatarian errors and impieties are brought into light and knowledge of the state whereby whatsoever else sure I am this good hath ensued namely that the said Books of the Sabbath comprehending the above-mentioned and many moe such fearfull and heretical assertions hath been both called in and forbidden any more to be printed and made common Your Graces predecessor Arch-Bishop Whitgift by his letters and officers at Synods and Visitations Anno 1599. did the one and S r John Popham Lord chief Justice of England at Bury S t Edmonds in Suffolk Anno 1600. did the other But though both Minister and Magistrate joyntly endeavoured to suppress Bounds Book with the Doctrine therein contained yet all their care did but for the present make the Sunday set in a cloud to arise soon after in more brightness As for the Arch-Bishop his known opposition to the proceedings of the Brethren rendered his Actions more odious as if out of envie he had caused such a pearl to be concealed As for Judge Popham though some conceived it most proper for his place to punish fellonious Doctrines which robbed the Queens subjects of their lawfull liberty and to behold them branded with a mark of Infamie yet others accounted him no competent Judge in this controversie And though he had a dead hand against offenders yet these Sabbatarian Doctrines though condemned by him took the priviledge to pardon themselves and were published more generally then before The price of the Doctors Book began to be doubled as commonly Books are then most called on when called in and many who hear not of them when printed enquire after them when prohibited and though the Books wings were clipt from flying abroad in print it ran the faster from friend to friend in transcribed Copies and the Lords day in most Places was most stricktly observed The more liberty people were offered the less they used it refusing to take the freedom Authority tendered them For the vulgar sort have the Actions of their Superiors in constant jealousie suspecting each gate of their opening to be a Trap every Hole of their Diging to be a Mine wherein some secret train is covertly conveyed to the blowing up of the Subjects liberty which made them almost afraid of the recreations of the Lords day allowed them and seeing it is the greatest pleasure to the minde of man to do what he pleaseth it was sport for them to refrain from sports whilst the forbearance was in themselves voluntary arbitrary and elective not imposed upon them Yea six years after Bounds Book came forth with enlargements publickly sold and scarce any comment Catechism or controversie was set forth by the stricter Divines wherein this Doctrine the Diamond in this Ring was not largely pressed and proved so that as one saith the Sabbath it self had no rest For now all strange and unknown writers without further examination passed for friends and favourites of the Presbyterian party who could give the word and had any thing in their Treatise tending to the strict observation of the Lords day But more hereof God willing in the 15 th year of K. JAMES 23. Now also began some opinions about Predestination The Articles of Lambeth Freewill Perseverance c. much to trouble both the Schools and Pulpit Whereupon Arch-Bishop Whitgift out of his Christian care to propagate the truth and suppress the opposite errours caused a solemn meeting of many grave and learned Divines at Lambeth where besides the Arch-Bishop Richard Bancroft Bishop of London Richard Vaughan
to affirm that those Articles of Lambeth were afterwards forbidden by publick Authority but when where and by whom he is not pleased to impart unto us And strange it is that a publick prohibition should be whispered so softly that this Author alone should hear it and none other to my knowledge take notice thereof 27. How variously forraign Divines esteemed of them As for forrain Divines just as they were biased in judgement so on that side ran their Affections in raising or decrying the esteem of these Articles some a Thysias twice printed them at Hardâ—ovick Anno 1613. printed set forth and b Bogerman in his 107. 108. notes on the second part of Grotius cited them as the sence of the Church of England others as fast slighted them as the narrow positions of a few private and Partial persons As for Corvinus as we know not whence he had his intelligence so we finde no just ground for what he reporteth that Arch-Bishop Whitgift for his pains incurred the Queens displeasure and c In his answer to the notes of Bogerman 2 part pag. 566. and so forward to pag. 570. a Praemunire We presume this forrainer better acquainted with the Imperial Law and locall customes of Holland then with our municipal Statutes and the nature of a Praemunire Indeed there goes a tradition that the Queen should in merriment say jestingly to the Arch-BP My Lord I now shall want no mony for I am informed all your goods are forfeited unto me by your calling a Councel without my consent but how much of truth herein God knows And be it referred to our learned in the Law whether without danger of such a censure the two Arch-Bishops by vertue of their place had not any implicite leave from the Queen to assemble Divines for the clearing declaring and asserting of difficult Truths provided they innovate or alter nothing in matters of Religion 28. And now I perceive These Articles excellent witnesses of the general doctrine of England I must tread tenderly because I goe not as before on mens graves but am ready to touch the quick of some yet alive I know how dangerous it is to follow Truth too nere to the heels yet better it is that the teeth of an Historian be struck out of his head for writing the the Truth then that they remain still and rot in his Jaws by feeding too much on the sweet-meats of flattery All that I will say of the credit of these Articles is this That as Medalls of Gold and Silver though they will not pass in payment for currant coyne because not stamped with the Kings Inscription yet they will goe with Goldsmiths for as much as they are in weight So though these Articles want Authentick Reputation to pass for Provinciall Acts as lacking sufficient Authority yet will they be readily received of Orthodox Christians for as far as their own purity bears conformity to Gods word And though those learned Divines be not acknowledged as competent Judges to pass definitive Sentence in those Points yet they will be taken as witnesses beyond exception whose testimony is an infallible evidence what was the generall and received doctrine of England in that Age about the forenamed controversies 29. This year ended the life Bp. Wickham Dr Whitakers Dan. Halsworth and Râ—b Southwell end their lives First of Doctor William Wickam bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge first Bishop of Lincoln after of Winchester whose namesake William Wickham in the Reign of King Edward the third sat in the same See more years then this did weeks Indeed we know little of his life but so much of his death as we must not mention it without some pitty to him whil'st in pain and praise to God for our own health such was his torture with the stone before his death that for d Bp Goodwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Winchester 14 days together he made not water Secondly Worthy Doctor William Whittakers whose larger character we reserve God-willing for our History of Cambridge And amongst the Romanists Daniel Halseworth who as e De Angliae scriptoribus Aetate â—6 pag. 794. Pitzaeus describes him Papists give no scant measure in praising those of their own Party was well skill'd in Latin Greek and Hebrew and Elegant Poet Eloquent Orator acute Philosopher expert Mathematician deep-studied Lawyer and excellent Divine flying from England he lived successively in Savoy Rome and Millain having too many professions to gather wealth and with all his Arts and Parts both lived in Poverty and died in Obscurity More eminent but more infamous was the death of Robert Southwell a Jesuite born in f Idem ibidem Suffolk bred beyond the Seas where he wrote abundance of Books who returning into England was executed March the third for a Traitor at London and honoured for a Martyr amongst men of his own Religion 30. The Secular Priests continued their complaints Anno Regin Eliza. 39. Anno Dom. 1596. The complaint of the Seculars against the Jesuits and principally against Parsons as against Jesuits in general so particularly against Robert Parsons This Parsons about 18 years since was in England where by his statizing and dangerous activity he had so incensed the Queens Councell that the Secular Priests made him a main occasion why such sharp laws were so suddenly made against a DeclaratioÌ„ motuum ad Clementein ecitaâ—um pag. 24. Catholicks in England But no sooner did danger begin to appear but away went Parsons beyond the Seas wherein some condemned his cowarliness and others commended his policy seeing such a commander in chief as he was in the Romish cause ought to repose his person in safety and might be never the less vertually present in the fight by the issuing out of his orders to meaner officers Nor did Parsons like a wheeling Cock turn aside with intent to return but ran quite out of the Cockpit and then crowed in triumph when he was got on his own dunghil safely resident in the City of Rome Here he compiled and hence he dispatched many letters and libels into England and amongst the rest that Book of the succession to the English entit'ling the Spaniard thereunto setting it forth under the false name of b Camdens Eliz. in Anno 1594. p. 72. Dolman an honest harmless Secular Priest and his professed Adversary And surely Parsons was a fit fellow to derive the pedigree of the Kings of England who might first have studied to deduce his own descent from a lawfull Father being himself otherwise called Cowback c Watsons Quâ—â—libets p. 109 236. filius populi et filius peccati as Catholicks have observed Many letters also he sent over full of threats and assuring his party that the land would be invaded by forrainers writing therein not what he knew or thought was but what he desired and endeavoured should be true Some of these letters being intercepted made the
A reginsine ecclesiasticâ— say * * In their epistle to the Reader prefixed to Mr Hortons book they uti nunc in Scotia viget longius distamus quippe quod ut nobis videtur non tantum à scripturis sed ab ecclesiarum reformatarum suorumque Theologorum sententijs qui sub Episcoporum tyrannide diu duriterque passi sunt plurimum distit No wonder therefore if they desired a Toleratien to be indulged them and they excused for being concluded by the Votes of the Assembly 49. But the Presbyterians highly opposed their Toleration Opposed by others and such who desired most ease and liberty for their sides when bound with Episcopacy now girt their own government the closest about the consciences of others They tax the Dissenting Brethren for Singularity as if these men like the five senses of the Church should discover more in matter of Discipline then all the Assembly besides some moving their ejection out of the same except in some convenient time they would comply therewith 50. Hopeless to speed here the Dissenters seasonably presented an Apologetical narrative to the Parliament But favoured by the Parliament stiled by them the most sacred resuge or Asylum a a Apol. Nar. pag. 2. for mistaken and misjudged innocence Herein they petitioned Pathetically for some favour whose conscience could not joyn with the Assembly in all particulars concluding with that pittifull close enough to force tears from any tender heart that they b b Ib. p. 31. pursued no other interest or designe but a subsistence be it the poorest and meanest in their own land as not knowing where else with safety health and livelihood to set their feet on earth and subscribed their names Thomas Goodwin Philip Nye Sidrach Simson Jeremiah Burroughes William Bridge If since their condition be altered and bettered that they then wanting where to set their feet since lie down at their length in the fat of the land surely they have returned proportionable gratitude to God for the same Sure it is that at the present these Petitioners found such favour with some potent persons in Parliament that they were secured from farther trouble and from lying at a posture of defence are now grown able not only to encounter but invade all opposers yea to open and shut the dore of preferment to others so unsearchable are the dispensations of Divine Providence in making suddain and unexpected changes as in whole nations so in private mens estates according to the Counsel of his will 51. Such as desire further instruction in the Tenents of these Congregationalists New England Churches Congregationalists may have their recourse to those many Pamphlets written pro and con thereof The worst is some of them speak so loud we can scarce understanding what they say so hard is it to collect their judgements such the violence of their passions Only I will adde that for the main the Churches of New-England are the same in Discipline with these Dissenting Brethren 52. Only I will add The rest referred to Mr. Nortons book that of all the Authors I have perused concerning the opinions of these Dissenting Brethren none to me was more informative then M r John Norton One of no less learning then modesty Minister in New-England in his answer to Apollonius Pastor in the Church of Middle-borrough 53. Look we now again into the Assembly of Divinâ—s 20. 1644. Mr Herle succeedeth Prolocutor to Dr Twisse where we finde D r Cornelius Burges and M r Herbert Palmer the Assessors therein and I am informed by some more skilfull in such niceties then my self that Two at the least of that Office are of the Quâ—rum Essential to every lawfull Assembly But I miss D r William Twiss their Prolocutor lately deceased He was bred in New-Colledge in Oxford good with the Trowell but better with the Sword more happy in Polâ—mical Divinity then edifying Doctrine Therefore he was a a See his dedication to them in his book called Vindiciae gratiae chosen by the States of Holland to be Professor of Diviniâ—y there which he thankfully refused M r Charles Herle Fellow of Exeter Colledge of Oxford succeeded him in his place one so much Christian Scholar and Gentleman that he can unite in affection with those who are disjoyn'd in judgement from him 54. The Assembly met with many difficulties Mr Seldens puzling Queeies some complaining of M r Selden that advantaged by his skill in Antiquity Commonlaw and the Oriental tongues he imployed them rather to pose then profit perplex then inform the members thereof in the fourteen queries he propounded Whose intent therein was to humble the Jure-divino-ship of Presbytery which though Hinted and Held forth is not so made out in Scripture but being too Scant on many occasions it must be peeced with prudential Additions This great Scholer not over loving of any and lest of these Clergie-men delighted himself in raising of scruples for the vexing of others and some stick not to say that those who will not feed on the flesh of Gods-word cast most bones to others to break their teeth therewith 55. More trouble was caused to the Assembly by the Opinions of the Erastians Erastians why so called and what they held and it is worth our enquiry into the first Author thereof They were so called from Thomas Erastus a D r of Physick born at Baden in Switzâ—rland lived Professor in Hidelbridge and died at Basil about the year one thousand five hundred eighty three He was of the Privie Councel to Frederick the first Protestant Prince Palatine of that name and this Erastus like our M r Perkins being b b Thuanus in Obit vir illustr Anno 1583. lame of his right wrote all with his left hand and amongst the rest one against Theodor. Beza de Excommunicatione to this effect that the power and excommunication in a Christian State principally resides in secular power as the most competent Judge when and how the same shall be exercised 56. M r Iohn Coleman a modst and learned man The Erastians in the Assembly beneficed in Lincolnshire and M r Iohn Lightfoot well skilled in Rabinical Learning were the chief members of the Assembly who for the main maintained the tenents of Erastus These often produced the Hebrew Original for the power of Princes in ecclesiastical matters For though the New Testament be silent of the Temporal Magistrate Princes then being Pagans his â—ermedling in Church-matters the Old is very vocal therein where the Authority of the Kings of Judah as nursing fathers to the Church is very considerable 57. No wonder if the Prince Palatine constantly present at their debates heard the Erastians with much delight Favourably listned to as wellcoming their Opinions for Country sake his Natives as first born in Hidelbridge though otherwise in his own judgement no favourer thereof But other Parliament men listned very favourably to their Arguments Interest
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
the Silver-tongu'd b. 9. p. 142. ¶ 3 4. Rich. SMITH â—â—eularie Bishop of Chaâ—â—edon b. 11. ¶ 72. some write for others against him Episcopizethin England b. 11. p. 137. ¶ 7. opposed by Nicholas Smith and defended by Dr. Kelison both zealous Papists ¶ 8 9 c. SOBRIQUETS what they were b. 3. p. 30. ¶ 52 fifteen principall of them ibid. SODOMITRY the beginning thereof in England b. 3. p. 19 ¶ 29. with too gentle a Canon against it ibid. SOUTH SAXONS their Kingdome when begun how bounded C. 5. ¶ 17. converted to Christianity by Wilfride C. 7. ¶ 98 c. taught by him first to fish ¶ 101. SPALATO his coming over into England with the whole story of his stay here departure hence and burning at Rome for a Heretick after his death b. 10. p. 93. unto the 100. King STEPHEN usurpeth the Crown b. 3. p. 24. ¶ 28. by the perjury of the Clergy p. 25. ¶ 29. variety of opinions and arguments pro and con about him ¶ 30 31 c. the Clergy revolt from him p. 27. ¶ 39. appeareth as some say in person summoned to a Synod in Winchester p. 28. ¶ 43. a founder of Religious houses p. 29. ¶ 46. his death p. 30. ¶ 51. STEWES suppressed by statute b. 5. p. 239. ¶ 38. their Original ¶ 39. and Constitution p. 140. ¶ 40. arguments pro and con for their lawfulness ¶ 41 42. STIGANDUS Arch-bishop of Cant his Simony b. 3. ¶ 2. and covetousness ¶ 4â— Simon STOCK living in a trunk of a tree esteemed a Saint b. 6. p. 272. ¶ 21. STONEHENGE the description and conceived occasion thereof C. 5. ¶ 26. Tho. STONE a conscientious Non-conformist discoverth the Anatomy of the disciplinarian meetings p. 207 c. his sixteen Reasons in his own defence against his accusers herein p. 209 c. J. STORY a most bloody persecuter b. 8. s. 2. ¶ 12. with a fine design trained into England b. 9. p. 84. ¶ 20. executed his revenge on the executioner ibid. STRASBURGH the congregation of English Exiles therein in the Reign of Q. Mary b. 8. S. 2. ¶ 41. Jack STRAW his rebellion b. 4. p. 138. ¶ 18. his rabble of Rebells in Rhythme p. 139. ¶ 19. their barbarous outrages p. 140. ¶ 20. and ruin ¶ 21. See Wat Tyler STURBRIDGE FAIRE the Originall thereof Hist of Camb. p. 66. ¶ 36. SUBSCRIPTION first pressed by the Bishops b. 9. p. 76. ¶ 66. and more rigorously p. 102. ¶ 3. Simon SUDBURY Arch-bishop of Canterbury why silent in the conference at St. Paul's b. 4. p. 136. ¶ 10. slain by the rebells under Jack Straw ¶ 20. being one hundred thousand ¶ 21. founded whilst living Canterbury Colledge in Oxford b. 5. p. 169. ¶ 28. Matthew SUTCLIFFE Dean of Exeter his bounty to Chealfey Colledge b. 10. p. 51. ¶ 22. the Lands of that Colledge restored to his heirs generall p. 55. ¶ 27. Richard SUTTON his death b. 10. p. 75. ¶ 15. the severall mannours bestowed by him on Charter-house ¶ 16. the Cavils of Mr. Knot ¶ 17. his constant prayer p. 66. ¶ 20. SWEATING sicknesse in Cambridge the cause and cure thereof Hist of Camb. p. 128. Edward SYMPSON an excellent Criticks Hist of Camb. p. 123. ¶ 20. enjoyned a recantation before King James p. 160. ¶ 44. SYON nunnes their notorious wantonnesse b. 6. p. 318. ¶ 8. T. Adam TARLETON Bishop of Hereford his life and death letter b. 3. p. 107. ¶ 28. thrice arraigned for his life yet escapeth p. 108. Mr. TAVERNOUR high Sheriff of Oxford part of his Sermon preached at St. Maries b. 9. p. 65. ¶ 35. TAVISTOCK in Devon the last mitred Abbot made by King Henry the eighth few years before the dissolution b. 6. p. 293. ¶ 5. TAURINUS how by mistake made the first Bishop of York C. 2. ¶ 1. TAXERS in Cambridge their original His of Camb. p. 10. ¶ 36 37 c St. TELIAU his high commendation C. 6. ¶ 12. TEMPLES of heathen Idols converted into Christian Churches C. 2. ¶ 11. our Churches succeed not to the holinesse of Solomons Temple but of the Jewish Synagogues b. 11. p. 150. ¶ 51. TENTHS their Original why paid to the Pope b. 5. p. 226. ¶ 1. commissioners being unquestioned Gentlemen imployed by King Henry the eighth to rate them ¶ 2. their Instructions ¶ 3. Tenths remitted by Q. Mary p. 228. ¶ 6. resumed by Q. Elizabeth ¶ 7. in vain heaved at at the present in our state ¶ 8. A TERRIER made of all Glebe Lands b. 3. p. 113. New TESTAMENT severall Bishops assigned to peruse the translation of the several Books thereof b. 5. p. 233. Gardiner gives in a List of Latine words which he would not have translated p. 238. why p. 239. ¶ 35. TEUXBURY Abbot in Glocestershire controverted whether on no a Baron in Parliament b. 6. p. 294. ¶ 12. THE ODORUS Arch-bishop of Cant. C. 7. ¶ 95. settleth Easter according to the Romish Rite ¶ 96. the Canons of a Councill kept by him at Hartford ibidem Tho. THIRLEBY Bishop of Ely sent to Rome to reconcile England to the Pope b. 8. ¶ 42. no great persecuter in his Diocess in the dayes of Q. Mary S. 2. ¶ 14. found favour under Q. Elizabeth b. 9. ¶ 18. being a Prisoner to be envied ibidem though reputed a good man wasted the lands of Westminster Church whereof he the first and last Bishop b. 9. ¶ 43. Thomas TISDALE founder of Pembrook Colledge in Oxford b. 11. ¶ 41. TYTHES first given to the Clergie C 9. ¶ 8 c. by King Athelwolphus The objections against his grant answered c. ibidem confirmed by the Charter of King William the Conquerour b. 3. ¶ 12. three orders exempted from payment of them b. 6. p. 283. ¶ 3. THOR a Saxon Idol his name shape and office b. 2. C. 6. ¶ 6. John THRASK censured for his Iudaicall opinions b. 10. p. 76. ¶ 64. George THROGMORTON an Oxford man challengeth all Cambridge to dispute on two questions Hist of Cambridge p. 104. ¶ 44. the ill successe thereof ¶ 45 c. TOLERATION of Papiss set a-foot in the Reign of King James with the arguments pro and con b. 10. p. 106 and 107. resumed 〈◊〉 rejected in the Reign of K. Charles â— 11. ¶ 56 57 58. Rob. TOUNSON Bishop of Salisbury his death b. 10. p. 91. ¶ 35. TRANSLATOURS of the Bible their names and number b. 10. p. 45 46. instructions given by King James p. 47 their work finished p. 58. and defended against causelesse Cavils ibidem TRINITY COLL. in Oxford founded by Sir Tho. Pope b. 8. S. 3. ¶ 43. being the first that gained by Abbey lands and made a publick acknowledgement in charitable uses ibidem The Presidents Bishops Benefactours c. of that Colledge TRINITY COLL. in Cambridge founded by King Henry the eighth Hist of Cambridge p. 121. ¶ 17. enriched by Queen Mary p. 122. ¶ 18. and enlarged by Dr. Nevile ¶ 19.
the Prior in the Vestiary Leth win the Sub-Prior in the Refectory Pauline in the Quire Herbert in the Quire VVolride the Torch-Bearer in the same place Grimketule and Agamund each of them an hundred yeares old in the Cloisters These faith my c Iugulphus pag. 866. Author were first examinati tortured to betrary their Treasure and then exanimati put to death for their Refusall The same VVriter seems to wonder that being killed in one place their Bodies were afterwards found in another Surely the Corse removed not themselves but no doubt the Danes dragged them from place to place when dead There was one ChildMonk therein but ten yeares old Turgar by name of most lovely Looks and Person Count Sidroke the younger pittying his tender yeares all Devills are not cruell alike cast a Danish d In Latine Collobium Peterbarough Monks killed Monastery burned Coat upon him and so saved him who onely survived to make the sad Relation of the Massacre 20. Hence the Danes marched to Medeshamsted since called Peterborough where finding the Abbey-gates locked against them Anno Regis Etheltedi 4 they resolved to force their Entrance Anno Dom. 870 in effecting whereof Tulba Brother to Count Hubba was dangerously wounded almost to Death with a Stone cast at him Hubba enraged hereat like another Doeg killed Abbot Hedda and all the Monks being fourscore and four with his own hand Count Sidroke gave an Item to young Monk Turgar who hitherto attended him in no wise to meet Count Hubba for fear that his Danish Livery should not be found of proof against his Fury Then was the Abbey set on Fire which burned fifteen dayes together wherein an excellent Library was consumed Having pillaged the Abbey and broke open the Tombes and Coffins of many Saints there interred these Pagans marched forwards into Cambridgeshire and passing the River Nine two of their VVagons fell into the Water wherein the Cattell which drew them were drowned much of their rich Plunder lost and more impaired 21. Some dayes after A heap of Martyrs the Monks of Medeshamsted were buried altogether in a great Grave and their Abbot in the middest of them a Crosse being erected over the same where one may have four yards square of Martyrs Dust which no place else in England doth afford Godric Successour to Theodore Abbot of Crowland used annually to repair hither and to say Masses two dayes together for the Souls of such as were entombed One would think that by Popish Principles these were rather to be prayed to then prayed for many maintaining that Martyrs go the nearest way to Heaven sine ambage Purgatorii so that surely Godric did it not to better their Condition but to expresse his own Affection out of the Redundancy of his Devotion which others will call the Superfluity of his Superstition 22. The Danes spared no Age The cruel Martyrdome of King Edmond Sex Condition of people such was the Cruelty of this Pagan unpartial Sword With a violent Inundation they brake into the Kingdome of the East-Angles wasted Cambridge and the Countrey thereabouts burnt the then City of Thetford forced Edmond King of that Countrey into his Castle of Framling ham who perceiving himself unable to resist their Power came forth and at the Village of Hoxon in Suffolk tendered his Person unto them hoping thereby to save the Effusion of his Subjects Blouds Where after many Indignities offered unto him they bound him to a Tree and because he would not renounce his Christianity shot him with Arrow after Arrow their Cruelty taking Deliberation that he might the better digest one Pain before another succeeded so distinctly to protract his Torture though Confusion be better then Method in matters of Cruelty till not Mercie but want of a Mark made them desist according to the a Camden's Britan in the description of Suffolk Poets Expression Iam loca Vulneribus desunt nec dum furiosis Tela sed hyberna grandine plura volant Room wants for Wounds but Arrows do not fail From Foes which thicker fly then winter Hail After-Ages desiring to make amends to his Memory so over-acted their part in shrining sainting and adoring his Relicks at Bury S t. Edmonds that if those in Heaven be sensible of the Transctions on Earth this good Kings Body did not feel more Pain from the Fury of the Pagan Danes then his Soul is filled with holy Indignation at the Superstition of the Christian Saxons 23. However the VVest-Saxon King Ethelbert behaved himself bravely fighting King Ethelbert his prayer-victory with various Successe nine b William Malmesbury De Gestis Regum Anglorum lib. 2. pag. 42. Battels against the Danes though ninety nine had not been sufficient against so numerous an Enemy But we leave these things to the Historians of the State to relate We read of an c Gen. 31. 52. Heap of Stones made between Iacob and Laban with a mutuall Contract that neither should passe the same for Harm Thus would I have Ecclesiasticall and civil Historians indent about the Bounds and Limits of their Subjects that neither injuriously incroach on the Right of the other And if I chance to make an Excursion into the matters of the Common-wealth it is not out of Curiosity or Busybodinesse to be medling in other mens Lines but onely in an amicable way to give a kind Visit and to clear the mutuall Dependence of the Church on the Common-wealth Yet let me say that this War against the Danes was of Church-concernment for it was as much pro aris as pro focis as much for Religion as civil Interest But one War must not be forgotten Importunate Messengers brought the Tidings that the English were dangerously ingaged with the Danes at Essendune haply Essenden now in surrey and likely to be worsted King Ethelhert was at his Devotions which he would not omit nor abbreviate for all their Clamour No suit would he hear on Earth till first he had finished his Requests to Heaven Then having performed the part of pious Moses in the a Exod. 17. 11 Mount he began to act valiant Ioshua in the Valley The Danes are vanquished leaving Posterity to learn that time spent in Prayer is laid out to the best Advantage 24. But alas King Ethelbert heart-broken with grief this Danish Invasion was a mortal VVound 871 Dedecus Saxonica fortitudinis 5 the Cure whereof was rather to be desired then hoped for Ease for the present was all Art could perform King Ethelbert saw that of these Pagans the more he slew the more they grew which went to his valiant Heart Grief is an heavy Burthen and generally the strongest Shoulders are able to bear the least proportion thereof The good king therefore withered away in the Flower of his Age willingly preferred to encounter rather Death then the Danes for he knew how to make a joyfull End with the one but endless was his Contest with the other according
to the Observation of the English b Malemesburiensis ut prims King Alfred's exemplary Character Historian that the Saxon-Kings in this Age magis optabant honestum Exitum quam acerbum Imperium 25. In this sad condition God sent England a Deliverer namely King Alfred or Alured born in England bred in Rome where by a Prolepsis he was anointed King by Pope Leo though then but a private Prince and his three elder Brothers alive in auspicium futuriregnt in hope that hereafter he should come to the Crown Nor did this Vnction make Alfred ante-date his kingdome who quietly waited till his foresaid Brothers successvely reigned and died before him and then took his Turn in the Kingdome of the VVest-Saxons The worst was his Condition was like a Bride-groom who though lawfully wedded yet might not bed his Bride till first he had conquered his Rival and must redeem England before he could reign over it The Danes had London many of the in-land moe-of the maritime Towns and Alfred onely three effectuall Shires Somerset Dorset and VVilts yet by Gods Blessing on his Valour he got to be Monarch of all England Yea consider him as a King in his Court as a Generall in his Camp as a Christian in his Closer as a Patron in the Church as a Founder in his Colledge as a Father in his Family his Actions will every way appear no lesse excellent in themselves 872 AIfredâ— sen Aâ—luredi 1 then exemplary to others 26. His most daring Design was Alfred as a fidler discovereth the Danish designes when lying hid about Athelney in Somerset-shire 876 and disguised under the habit of a Fidler being an excellent Musician he adventured into the Danish Camp Had not his spirit been undaunted 5 the sight of his armed Foes had been enough to have put his Instrument out of Tune Here going unsuspected through their Army he discovered their Condition and some of their Intentions Some would say that the Danes deserved to be beaten indeed if they would communicate their Counsels to a Fidler But let such know Alfred made this generall Discovery of them that they were remisse in their Discipline lay idle and carelesse and Security disarmes the best-appointed Army Themistocles said of himself that he could not fiddle but he knew how to make a little city great But our Alfred could fiddle and make a little City great too yea enlarge a petty and contracted Kingdome The Danish ships left water-bound into a vast and absolute Monarchy 27. But as the Poets feign of Anteus the Son of the Earth who fighting with Hercules Anno Regis Alfredi seu Aluredi 5 and often worsted by him recovered his Strength again every time he touched the Earth Anno Dom. 876 revived with an addition of new Spirits so the Danes which may seem the sons of Neptune though often beaten by the English in land-Battels no sooner recovered their Ships at Sea but presently recruiting themselves they returned from Denmark more numerous and formidable then before But at last to follow the Poeticall Fancy as Hercules to prevent Antaeus his farther reviving hoised him aloft and held him strangled in his Armes till he was stark dead and utterly expired so to secure the Danes from returning to the Sea who out of the Thames had with their Fleet sailed up the River Ley betwixt Hartfordshire and Essex Alfred with Pioneers divided the grand Stream of Ley into severall Rivulets so that their Ships lay Water-bound leaving their Mariners to shift for themselves over land most of which fell into the hands of their English Enemies so that this proved a mortal Defeat to the Danish Insolence 28. Alfred having thus reduced England to some tolerable terms of Quiet The general ignorance in England made most of the Danes his Subjects by Conquest the rest his Friends by Composition encountred a fiercer Foe namely Ignorance and Barbarisme which had generally invaded the whole Nation Inso much that the writeth that South of Thames he found not any that could read English Indeed in these dayes all men turned Students but what did they study onely to live secretly and safely from the Fury of the Danes And now that the next Age might be wiser then this Alfred intended the founding of an University at Oxford 29. Indeed Ancient Schools at Crekelade and Lechlade there were anciently standing on the Banks of Isis which in due time commenceth Thamisis two Towns one Crekelade or Greeklade in Wiltshire the other Lechlade or Latinlade in Gloucestershire In the former of these many yeares since things time out of mind must not be condemned as time out of truth the Greek Tongue as in the later the Latine Tongue are said to be publickly professed by Philosophers But where was Hebrew-lade the Hebrew Tongue being more necessarie then both the former for the understanding of the Old Testament Alas in this Age it was banished not onely out of England but out of Christendome As in the ordinary method of Nature the more aged usually die first so no wonder if Hebrew generally presumed the oldest Language in the world expired first in this Age of Ignorance utterly abolished out of the Western Countries Yea it is well the other two learned Tongues were preserved in these places Grekelade and Lechlade being then Cities of eminent Note shrunk now to mean Towns and content with plain English where Latine and Greek were formerly professed 30. But now the Muses swam down the Stream of the River Isis 11 to be twenty miles nearer to the rising Sun 882 and were by King Alfred removed from Crekelade and Lechlade The University first founded by Alfred at Oxford to Oxford where he founded an University Yet some say Alfred did find and not found Letters therein seeing there was a sprinkling of Students therein before though Learning was very low and little therein till this considerable Accession when Alfred founded therein three Colledges one for Grammarians a second for Philosophers a third for Divines Take a List of their primitive Professours In Divinity S t. Grimbal S t. Neoth In Grammar Asserius a Monk In Logick Iohn of S t. Davids In Mathematicks Ioannes Monachus It is credibly reported that what is now called Vniversity-Colledge was then one of King Alfred's Foundations as the Verses written in their Hall under his Armes do attest Nobilis Alfredi sunt haec Insignia cujus Primum constructa est haec pietate domus And from this time Learning flourished here in great Plenty and Abundance though oft-times abated Anno Dom. 882 the Universities feeling the Impressions of the Common-wealth Anno Regis Alfredi seu Aluredi 11 31. At the same time wherein King Alfred built Vniversity Colledge in Oxford Kings-Hall founded by King Alfred he also founded Another House called Kings-great-Hall intimating a lesser hard by now included within the compasse a Rex Platonicus pag. 211. of