off my good Unkle Somerse ' s head And it is generally conceived that grief for his death caused K. Edwards Consumption who succeeded not to any Consumptive Inclination as hereditary from His Extraction from a Father but little past and a Mother just in the strength of Their Age. 16. However An uncertain report I finde in a * Image of both Churches page 423. Popish Writer that it was said That the Apothecary who poisoned him for the horrour of the offence and the disquietnesse of his conscience drowned himself And that the Landresse who washed His shirt lost the skin off her fingers But if his History be no better than his Divinity we that justly condemn the one can doe no lesse than suspect the other 17. We will conclude this Kings most Pious life with that His most devout Prayer on His Death-Bed The Prayer of K. Edward on his death-bed which God heard and graciously answered for the good of the Church of England d Fox Acts Mon. p. 13â—5 LOrd God deliver Me out of this miserable and wretched life and take Me among thy chosen Howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serve thee Oh my Lord God blesse thy people and save thine inheritance Oh Lord God save thy chosen People of England Oh my Lord God defend this Realm from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy holy Name for Jesus Christs sake 17. One of the last Sermons King Edward heard Opposers of the Liturgie grow a strong was preached before Him by Hugh Latimer at what time their party began to spread and increase who opposed the Liturgie witnesse this passage in his Sermon * Latimers Semons printed Anno 1607. pag. 83. I have heard say when that the good Queen that is gone had ordained in her House daily Prayer both before Noon and after Noon the Admirall getteth him out of the way like a Mole digging in the earth He shall be Lots Wife to me as long as I live He was I heard say a Covetous man a covetous man indeed I would there were no more in England He was I heard say an Ambitious man I would there were no more in England He was I heard say a Seditious man a Contemner of Common-Prayer I would there were no more in England Well! he is gone I would he had left none behinde him A passage so informative to the Church History of that Age must not passe without some observation thereon The good Queen is gone this was Queen Katharine Par the Relict of King Henry the eighth who some two years since died in Child-bed The Admirall This was Thomas Lord Seymour her Husband Getteth himself out of the way Here is the question on what terms he absented himself whether on Popish or Non Conformist In proof whereof he is compared to Lots Wife which importeth a looking back and reflexion on former practise  Being termed herein Seditious and not Superstitious it intimates that a factious Principle made him distast the Common-Prayer A Contemner of the Common Prayer I wish there were no more This probably relates unto a potent Party disaffected to the Liturgie which now began to be very considerable in England but if the premisses be rightly collected much too blame in the judgment of godly Master Latimer 18. The dislikers of the Liturgie bare themselves high upon the judgment of Master Calvin in his Letter four year since to the Duke of Somerset Lord Protectour now no longer a privacie because publickly printed in his Epistles And yet Master Calvin is therein very positive for a set Forme Mr. Calvin's 3 Reasons for a set Form of Prayer whose words deserve our Translation and observation * Libro Epist pag. 69. Formulam precums rituum Ecclesiasticorum valde probo ut certa illa extet A quâ ne Pastoribus discedere in functione sua liceat 1. Ut consulatur quorundam simplicitati imperitiae 2. Ut certius constet omnium inter se Ecclesiarum consensus 3. Ut obviam ineatur desultoriae quorundam levitati qui novationes quasdam affectant Sic igitur statum esse Catechismum oportet statam Sacramentorum administrationem publicam item precum formulam I doe highly approve that there should be a certain Form of Prayer and Ecclesiasticall Rites From which it should not be lawfull for the Pastors themselves to discede 1. That provision may be made for some peoples ignorance and unskilfulnesse 2. That the consent of all Churches amongst themselves may the more plainly appear 3. That order may be taken against the desultorie levity of such who delight in innovations Thus there ought to be an established Catechisme an established Administration of Sacraments as also a publick Form of Prayer So that it seems not a Form but this Form of Prayer did displease and exceptions were taken at certain passages still in the Liturgie though lately reviewed by the Bishops and corrected 19. Whilst mutuall animosities were heightned betwixt the Opposers and Assertors of the Liturgie Wanton fâ—owardnesse jâ—stly punished Providence put a period for a time to that Controversie in England Such who formerly would not soon after durst not use the Common Prayer Masse and Popery being set up by Queen Mary in the room thereof Thus when Children fall out and fight about the candle the Parents comming in and taking it away leave them to decide the differences in the dark The end of the Reign of King EDWARD the sixt THE Church-History OF BRITAINE The Eighth BOOK CONTAINING THE PERSECUTIONS Under the Reign of QUEEN MARY SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO LONDON Printed in the Year M.DC.LV. Punishment for their going naked that what sometimes they affect of Fancy should alwayes be enjoyned them by Authority till the Cold converted them into more Civility In vain do they plead for their Practise the Precedent of the Prophet * Isaiah 20. 3. Isaiah going naked for three years Whose act was extraordinary and mystical having an immediate command from God for the same As well may they in Imitation of Hos ea 1. 2. Hosea take a known harlot to their wives which I beleeve they would not willingly do though they have made Harlots of other mens wives if all be true reported of them Their other Opinion is that THOU and THEE is the Omer of Respect to be measur'd out to every single person allowing the hiest no more the lowest no less be he to speak in their own * Pamphlet called the Language of truth pag. 2. Phrase either King Lord Judge or Officer We will take their words asunder as the wheels of a watch only scowre them and then put them together again King though none at this present in the
Longevile P. Longesly I. Pouchardon R. de la Pomercy I. de Pountz R. de Pontlarge R. Estraunge Tho. Savage I presume the Reader sufficiently wearied with so many dull Prose-Catalogues and now we will refresh him a little with an Old Song as I find their Names metrically composed in the Chronicle of Iohn Brompton the Abbot Indeed the Rythms may be said to make themselves such is the like Cadency of many Norman-names and if the Verses do but chime and tinck in the Close it is enough to the purpose Vous que desyrez assaver Les Nons de grauntz de la la mer Que vindrent Od le conquerour William Bastard de graunt vigoure Lours surnons issi nous denys Com je les trova en escris Car des propres nons force ny a Purce qillis sont chaunges sa la Come de Edmond en Edwarde De Baldwyn en Barnard De Godwyn en Godard De Elys en Edwin Et issint de toutz autrez nons Come ils sont levez dufons Purce lour surnons que sont usez Et ne sont pas sovent chaungez Vous ay escript ore escotez Si vous oier les voylletz Maundevyle Daundevyle Ounfravyle Downefrevyle Bolvyle Baskarvyle Evyle Clevyle Morevyle Colevyle Warbevyle Carvyle Botevyle Sotevyle Deverous Cavervyle Mooun Boâ—â— Vipoun Vinoun Baylon Baylaun Maris Marmyoun Agulis Aguloun Chaumberleyn Chaumber soun Vere Vernoun Verdyers Verdoun Cryel Caroun Dummer Dammoun Hastyng Cammois Bardelse Botes Boys Warenne Wardeboys Rodes Devâ—rois Auris Argenten Botetour Botevelyn Malebouch Malemeyn Hautevyle Hauteyn Danvey Dyveyn Malure Malvesyn Morten Mortimer Braunz Columber Seynt Denis Seynt Cler Seint Aâ—byn Seynt omer Seynt Fylbert Fyens Gomer Turbevyle Turbemer Gorges Spenser Brus Boteler Crevequel Seynt Quinreyn Deverouge Seynt Martin Seynt Mor Seynt Leger Seynt Vigor Seynt Per Avynel Paynell Peyvere Perverell Rivers Rivel Beauchamp Beaupel Lou Lovell Ros Druell Mountabours Mountsorell Trussebot Trussell Bergos Burnell Bra Boterell Biset Basset Malevyle Malet Bonevyle Bonet Nervyle Narbet Coynale Corbet Mountayn Mounsychet Geynevyle Gyssard Say Seward Chary Chaward Pyryton Pypard Harecourt Haunsard Musegrave Musard Mare Mautravers Frenz Ferters Bèrnevyle Berners Cheyne Chalers Daundon Daungers Vessi Gray Graungers Bertram Bygod Traylliz Tragod Penbri Pypotte Freyn Folyot Dapisoun Talbote Sanzaver Saunford Vadu Vatorte Montagu Mounford Forneus Fornyvaus Valens Yle Vaus Clarel Claraus Aubevyle Seint Amauns Agantez Dragans Malerbe Maudut Brewes Chaudut Fizowres Fizde Lou Cantemor Cantelou Braybuffe Huldbynse Bolebeke Molyns Moleton Besyle Richford Desevyle Watervyle Dayvyle Nebors Nevyle Hynoys Burs Burgenon Ylebon Hyldebrond Holyon Loges Seint Lou Maubank Seint Malou Wake Wakevyle Condree Knevyle Scales Clermount Beauvys Beamount Mouns Mountchampe Nowers Nowchampe Percy Crus Lacy Quincy Tracy Stokes Somery Seynt Iohan Seynt Iay Greyle Seynt Walry Pynkeney Panely Mohant Mountchensy Loveyn Lucy Artoys Arcy Grevyle Courcy Arras Cressy Merle Moubray Gornay Courtnay Haustlayng Tornay Husee Husay Pounchardon Pomeray Longevyle Longespay Peyns Pountlarge Straunge and Sauvage Passe we now from Poetry to Painting seeing great the affinity betwixt them Fancy being predominant in both Present we here the Reader with the Names and Armes of fourty Souldiers of King William the Conquerour matched with as many Monks but how and on what occasion the ensuing Writing will acquaint us In the time of Thurston our Abbot of Ely born of worshipfull Parentage in the Village of Wichford near Ely King Harold Son of Godwin and together with him all the States of England almost were slain by the Souldiers of William Duke of Normandy Nephew to Saint Edward the King upon the Feast of S t. Calixt the Pope in the year of our Lord God one thousand sixty and six VVhereupon Egelwine Bishop of Durham Egfride Abbot of S t. Albans the Earle of Margary and Edward Byarn with sundry other chief of the Land together with their Friends laden with great Treasures fled unto us desirous to withstand so far as lay in them the enterprise of the Bastard by whose Aide we withstood the tempestuous Threats of the Normans seven yeares untill such time as Belase who at that time was General of the Kings Army and from whom the circuit of certain Hills at the South end of Alderhithe-Causey which at this day are corruptly called Belsar's Hills took their name being cast up on purpose that the Army in the Night time might lodge there safely astonied us by the means of an huge number of Boats gathered together upon a sudden à Councell then being called it seemed good to our Captains in convenient time to crave the Kings Mercy VVhereupon certain were sent to the Kings Court being then at Warwick carrying with them to the King a mighty Treasure a competent Price Satisfaction to pacify him concerning an unadvised Attempt VVhere with the Honourable King was appeased yet with this Covenant and Condition that so long as it pleased him fourty of the Kings Souldiers should be maintained at the charge of the Monastery For the King feared lest that whilest he bent his forces against the Scots not yet subdued the Isle of Ely being indeed a dreadfull Strength should again revolt to his great Danger The Souldiers with their Retinue are sent they come and here abide VVhereof each one is delivered to some principall Monk as a Captain to his Lieutenant or a Guest to his Host Now the King decreed that Bertwolde the Butler should minister Food to the Souldiers and Monks joyntly together one with another in the common Hall of the Monastery VVhat need many words These Captains to their Lieutenants these Guests to their Hosts these Souldiers to their Monks were most welcome for all of them entertained each one each one entertained all and every one mutually one another with all duties of Humanity At the length the Fire of the civil VVar being quenched and the King established according to his Hearts desire five yeares after his Severity in punishing being in godly manner pacified it pleased the King to withdraw this Yoke wherewith the Pride of the Monks was now sufficiently abated And the Conquerour reclaimed his Souldiers to punish the ungodly Insolency of his Son Robert who at that time in outragious manner kept Riot in Normandy But our Monks which is a wonder to report did not onely with Teares bewaile the departure of their dearest Mates the heroicall Souldiers and welcome Guests but howled out most fearfully and beat their Breast as destitute of Hope after the manner of a new-married Wife whose
is a great deal when it must be taken from a new-shorne sheep so pilled and polled were all people before with constant exactions Such whom his hard usage forced beyond the seas were recalled by his Proclamation So that his heavy leavies would not suffer them to live here and his hard Laws would not permit them to depart hence And when the Clergy complain'd unto him to be eased of their burdens I beseech you said he have ye not coffins of gold and silver for dead mens bones intimating that the same treasure might otherwise be better imployed 36. The streams of discord began now to swell high variance between the King and Anselme betwixt the King and Arch-Bishop Anselme flowing principally from this occasion At this time there were two Popes together so that the Eagle with two heads the Arms of the Empire might now as properly have fitted the Papacy for the present Of these the one Guibertus I may call the Lay-Pope because made by Henry the Emperor the other Vrban the Clergy-Pope chosen by the Conclave of Cardinals Now because like unto like King William sided with the former whilest Anselme as earnestly adhered to Vrban in his affections desiring to receive his Pall from him which the King resused to permit Hereupon Anselme appealed to his Pope whereat King William was highly offended 37. But Their several pleadings and present reconcilement because none are able so emphatically to tell their stories and plead their causes as themselves take them in them in their own words The King Objected The custome from my Father's time hath been in England that no person should appeal to the Pope without the Kings license He that breaketh the customs of my Realm violateth the power and Crown of my Kingdom He that violateth and taketh away my Crown is a Traytor and enemy against me Anselme Answered The Lord hath discussed this question Give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto God the things that are Gods In such things as belong to the terrene dignities of temporal Princes I will pay my obedience but Christ said Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church c. Whose Vicar he ought to obey in spiritual matters and the fetching of his Pall was of that nature At last an expedient was found out that Anselme should not want his Pall nor fetch it himself from Rome being by the King's consent brought to him by Gualter Pope Urban's Legate whom the King at last was fain to acknowledg and so all things for the present reconciled 38. But the wound betwixt them was rather skinned over They disagree again then perfectly healed and afterwards brake out again the King taking occasion of displeasure at Anselmes backwardness to assist him in his expedition into Wales Whereupon Anselme desired a second journey to Rome there to bemoan and probably to relieve himself by complaint to the Pope But the King stopt his voyage affirming that Anselme had led so pious a life he need crave no absolution at Rome and was so well stored with learning that he needed not to borrow any counsel there Yea said the King Vrban had rather give place to the wisdom of Anselme then Anselme have need of Urban In fine after much contesting Anselme secretly stole out of the Realm and the King seized all his goods and lands into his own coffers Three years was he in exile somtimes at Lions sometimes at Rome welcome wheresoever he came and very serviceable to the Church by his pious living painfull preaching learned writing and solid disputing especially in the general Councel of Bar where he was very useful in confuting and condemning the errours of the Greek-Church about the Procession of the Holy Spirit 39. King Rufus was a hunting in New-Forest 14. Aug. 2. which was made by King William 1100 his Father King Rufus his death not so much out of pleasure or love of the game as policy to clear and secure to himself a fair and large landing-place for his forces out of Normandy if occasion did require Here then was a great devastation of Towns and Temples the place being turned into a wilderness for Men to make a Paradise for Deer God seemed displeased hereat for amongst other Tragedies of the Conquerors family acted in this place Rufus was here slain by the glancing of an arrow shot by S r Walter Tirrel An unhappy name to the Kings of England this man casually and another wilfully S r James Tirrel employed in the murthering of King Edward the fifth having their hands in royal bloud Now it is seasonably remembred that some yeers since this King William had a desperate disease whereof he made but bad use after his recovery and therefore now Divine Justice would not the second time send him the summons of a solemn visitation by sickness but even surprized him by a sudden and unexpected death 40. Thus died King William Rufus His hurial and character leaving no issue and was buried faith my a John Bromton pag. 997. Author at Winchester multorum Procerum conventu paucorum verò planctu many Noble-men meeting but few mourning at his funerals Yet some who grieved not for his death grieved at the manner thereof and of all mourners Anselme though in exile in France expressed most cordial sorrow at the news of his death A valiant and prosperous Prince but condemn'd by Historians for covetousness cruelty and wantonness though no woman by name is mentioned for his Concubine probably because thrifty in his lust with mean and obscure persons But let it be taken into serious consideration that no pen hath originally written the life of this King but what was made by a Monkish pen-knife and no wonder if his picture seem bad which was drawn by his enemy And he may be supposed to fare the worse for his opposition to the Romish usurpation having this good quality to suffer none but himself to abuse his Subjects stoutly resisting all payments of the Popes imposing Yea as great an enemy as he was conceiv'd to the Church he gave to the Monks called De Charitate the great new Church of S t Saviours in Bermondsey with the Manor thereof as also of Charlton in Kent 41. Henry Beauclarke Henry the first succeedeth Rufus and is crowned his brother succeeded him in the Throne one that crossed the common Proverb The greatest Clerks are not the wisest men being one of the most profoundest Scholars and most politick Princes in his generation He was Crowned about four dayes after his brothers death Anno Dom. 1100. At that time Anno Regis Hen. 1. the present providing of good swords was accounted more essential to a Kings Coronation then the long preparing of gay clothes Such preparatory pomp as was used in after-ages at this Ceremony was now conceived not onely useless but dangerous speed being safest to supply the vacancy of the Throne To ingratiate himself to
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
and the City of Jerusalem from the Turks in Palestine 9. Having formerly written an whole Book of the Holy War An account of our design and particularly of King Richards atchievements therein 1190 I intend here no repetition 1. Onely our design is to give a Catalogue of some of our English Nobility who adventured their persons in the Holy War and whose Male-Posterity is eminently extant at this day I have known an excellent Musician whom no Arguments could perswade to play until hearing a Bungler scrape in the company he snatch'd the Instrument out of his hand in indignation that Musick should be so much abused then turned and played upon it himself My project herein is that giving in an imperfect list of some few noble Families who ingaged themselves in this service It will so offend some eminent Artist hitherto silent in this kinde that out of disdain he will put himself upon so honourable a work deserving a Gentleman who hath Lands Learning and leisure to undertake so costly intricate and large a subject for the honor of our Nation And be it premised that to prevent all cavils about precedency first come first serv'd I shall Marshal them in no other method but as in my studies I have met with the mention of them 10. To begin with the place of my present habitation Anno Regis Rich. prim 1. one Hugh Nevil attended King Richard into the Holy War Anno Dom. 1190 and anciently lieth buried in a Marble Monument Nevil Kill Lion his performance in Palestine in the Church of Waltham Abbey in Essex whereof no remainders at this day This Hugh Nevil being one of the Kings special samiliars slew a Lion in the Holy Land first driving an arrow into his Breast and then running him through with his sword on whom this Verse was made a Mat. Paris Anno Dom 1222. Viribus Hugonis vires periêre Leonis The strength of Hugh A Lion slew If Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah was recounted the fifth amongst Davids worthies for b 2 Sam. 23. 20. killing a Lion in the middest of a pit in the time of snow surely on the same reason this bold and brave Baron Hugh ought to be entred into the Catalogue of the Heroes of his Soveraign But I cannot give credit to c Weavers Fun. Mon. pag. 644. his report who conceiveth that the Atchievement of the man was translated to his Master And that on this occasion King Richard the first got the name of Cordelion or Lions Heart 11. This Hugh Nevil gave the Manor of d Registrum Cart Abbat de Waltham Thorndon to Waltham Abby Ancesters to the Noble numerous Nevils and was Ancester of the Noble and numerous Family of the Nevils to which none in England equal for Honor Wealth and number in the later end of King Henry the sixth though at this day the Lord Abergavenny be the only Baron thereof He gave for his Armes a Cross Saltire or the Cross of S t Andrew probably assuming it in the Holy War For though I confess this is not the proper Cross of Hierusalem yet was it highly esteemed of all those who adventured thither as may appear in that all Knights-Templers make such Saltire Cross with their Thwarted Leggs upon their Monuments 12. Giralde de Talbote succeeds in the second place Giralde de Talbote whence the house of Shrewsbury When Articles were drawn up between our King Richard in his passage to Palestine and Tancred King of Sicily for the mutual observation of many Conditions betwixt them He put in upon their Oaths for his Sureties a Grand-Jury of his principal Subjects then present viz. two Arch-Bishops two Bishops and twenty other of his Prime Nobility expressed in his Letters e R. Hoveden pars poster 〈◊〉 in Rich. primo Patents Besides many other whose names were concealed Of these twenty the aforesaid Girald de Talbote is the first whose Male Issue and Name is extant at this day flourishing in the Right Honourable Family of the Earls of Shrewsbury 13. Next amongst the Royal Jurors as I may term them was Guarrin Fitz-Girald Guarrin Fitz Girald from whom the Earls of Kildare and Barons of Windsor from whom are descended the Fitz Giralds in Ireland where their name is in some places Provincial of whom the Earl of Kildare is chief A memorial of their service in Palestine is preserved in their Armes giving Argent a Cross Saltire Gules Here it must be remembred that the valiant sprightly Gentleman Hickman Lord Windsor is descended from the same f See Camd. Brit. in Berkshire Male Ancestors with the Fitz Giralds as Robert Glover a most exquisite Herald doth demonstrate though according to the fashion of that age altering his old and assuming a new name from Windsor the place of his office and Command This Lord Windsor carrieth the Badg of his Service in his Arms being essentially the same with the Earl of Kildares save that the colours are varied the field Gules and cross Saltire Argent betwixt twelve Crosses crossed OR Which Coat seemingly sursited was conceived in that age the more healthful for the same the more Crossed the more Blessed being the Devotion of those dayes 14. Four other Gentlemen of quality remain mentioned in that Parent A Quaternion more of adventures William de Curcy Father to John the valiant Champion and Conqueror of Ireland Robert de Novo Burgo Hugh le Brain and Amaury de Mountford of all whom formerly in our Alphabetical Comment on Abby Roll. Anno Dom. 1191. Anno Regis Rich. Prim. 2. 15. At the siege of Acres or Ptolemais the Grave General of the Christian Army amongst many Worthies dying there within the compass of one year Ingleram 〈◊〉 his posterity I finde a 〈…〉 pag. 655. Ingelram de Fiennes to be slain from whom the Lord Viscount Say and Seal and the Lord Dacres of the South derive their discent But most visible are the remains of the Holy War in the atchievement of Theophilus Finnes alias Clinton Earl of Lincoln giving in the lower parts of his shield in a field Argent six Crosses crossed Fitchee Sable denoting the stability and firmness of his Ancestors in that service 16. Also at the aforesaid Siege of Acres Radulphus De Alta ripa Radulphus de Alta ripa Arch-Deacon of Colchester ended his life Now although because a Clergy-man he could not then leave any lawful Issue behinde him Yet we may be confident that the Ancient Family De Alta ripa or Dautry still continuing in b Camd. Brit. ibid. Sussex were of his Alliance 17. Before we leave the Siege of Acres let me refresh the Reader with my innocent and give me leave to say provable mistake A mistake freely confest I conceived the Noble Family of the Lord Dacres took their Sir-name from some service there performed confirmed in my conjecture 1. Because the
100. Kings nursing Fathers to this house Monaesteries and I cannot but smile at such who will have O Royal as a Pathetical admiration of Princely Magnificence 11. However I do not deny but that the Kings of England have been very indulgent to this Foundation For besides King Edward the second the Founder thereof his Son King Edward gave unto them the Hospital of Saint Bartholmews nigh Oxford with Lands to maintain eight poor people subject to the government of the Provost and Fellows of this Colledge Besides King James being informed of some Legal defects in this Foundation granted them a new Corporation Cavill-proof against all exceptions 12. This Colledge being much decayed Lately rebuilded most decently Anthony Blencow late Provost bequeathed twelve hundred pounds to the new building of a Front thereof Which being done lest it should be a disgrace to the rest of the Fabrick the whole Colledge is rebuilt in a most decent manner Provosts Anno Dom. 1324. Adam Brown Anno Regis Ed. secun 16 William de Leverton William de Hankesworth William Daventre William Colyntre John Middleton John Possell William Corff Thomas Lintlewarden Henry Kayle Nicholas Barry John Carpenter Walter Lyhart John Hales Henry Sampson Thomas Hawkins John Taylower Thomas Cornish Edmund Mylforde James Morc Thomas Ware Henry Myn. William Haynes John Smith Roger Marbeck John Belly Anthony Blencowe Dr. Lewes Dr. Tolson Dr. Sanders Benefactors John Franke gave four Fellowships John Carpenter Bishop of Worcester gave one Fellowship William Smith Bishop of Lincolne gave one Felship Richard Dudley D. D. gave two Fellowships two Exhibitions Bishops John Carpenter Bishop of Worcester Learned Writers William Allen Cardinal * Before or after of Christ-church S r Walter Rawleigh William Prin. So that lately were maintained therein one Provost eighteen Fellows one Bible-Clerk twelve Exibitioners with Commoners and Colledge Officers amounted to one hundred and sixty 13. Let us cast our eye on the Common-wealth only War between the Queen and King as it is the Ring wherein the Diamond of the Church is contained and that now full of Cracks caused by the severall state-factions The two Spencers ruled all things till the Queen and her Son who politiquely had got leave to go beyond the Seas returned into England with a Navy and Army landing in Suffolk She denounceth open war against her Husband unlessse he would presently conform to her desires 14. The King proclaimed that a thousand pound should be given to Him that brought the head of Roger Mortimer Counter-proclamations and counterrumours The Queen proclaimed such who had the better purse may give the greater price that whosoever brought the head of the young Spencer it seems his Father was not so considerable should have two thousand pounds The Queens party gave out that the King of France had sent over a vast Army for her assistance Anno Regis Ed. secun 18 and the Kings side Anti-rumoured who could raise reports easier then Armies that the Pope had excommunicated all such who sides against him Anno Dom 1326 now though both reports were false they made true impressions of hope in such hearts as beleeved them 15. Three wayes were presented to King Edward The King unable to fight Fight Flight and Concealment the first he was unable to doe having no effectuall Forces only able for a time to defend the Castle of Bristol till many of his Complices were taken therein a Tower therein given out to be undermined being indeed undermonied with bribes to the defenders thereof Here the elder Spencer was taken and executed 16. Flight was no lesse unsafe then dishonourable And flee For his Kingdome being an Island the Sea would quickly put a period thereunto Indeed there was some thoughts of his Flight into Ireland which was no better then out of a dirty way into a very Bogg besides great the difficulty to recover the Sea and greater to passe over it all Ports and passages were so way-layed 17. Concealment was at the last resolved on After a short concealment is taken not as the best but only way of his security for a time he lay hid amongst the Welsh not able to help but willing to pitty him as a Native of their Countrey concealed in the Abby of Neath till men are sent down with money no such ligh as the shine of silver wherewith to discover a person enquired for and soon after he was betrayed into their hands The younger Spencer taken with him is hung on a Gallows fiftie foot high and the promised two thousand pounds were duly payed and equally parted betwixt severall persons imployed in his apprehension 18. Many Persons of quality were sent down from the Parliament then sitting King Edward resigneth his Crown to King Edward to Kenelworth Castle to move alias to command him to resign the Crown which at last he sadly surrendred Sir William Trussel a Lawyer of great abused abilities being rather to make then finde a precedent in this kinde improved his witts in the formalities thereof Soon after Prince Eward his Son is Crowned King whose Father is now no more then plain Edward of Caernarvon though his mother whose title was Relative to and a Derivative from her Husband the dethroned King was now more Queen Isabel then ever before Thus the degradation of a Knight as some have informed me extendeth not to his Wife who by the courtesie of England if once is ever a Lady 19. Edward late King He is rejected by his own wife with many Letters Solicited to be admitted into the Queens company All in vain she found embraces at a lesse distance dearer unto her preferring the society of a Lord who in effect had deposed a King before a King who had deposed himself She made many excuses of sickness and indisposition to enjoy him So easily can that Sex make plausible pretences that they cannot what they will not do 20. Roger Mortimer And cruelly murthered whose lust and revenge was equally unsatiable could not be quiet whilst King Edward was alive he feared King Edward was might play an after game of affection in his Subjects in order therefore to his death he is removed from Kenelworth where the Earl of Leicester his Keeper was suspected too sympathising with his sorrow unto Berkley Castle where he was barbarously butchered being struck into the Postern of his body with a hot spit as it is generally reported 21. Nothing now remaineth in this Kings reign A brace of loyal Subjects save to take notice how the Clergy understand such who were Active for Newters shall passe for none stand affected in this great State-difference I find not enough to call a number of the Bishops cordial to the King For besides Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter of whom before only John Stratford Bishop of Winchester heartily adhered unto him and yet this Stratford was imployed on a message from the Parliament to the King at
our leave of this Bishop whosoever considers the vast buildings and rich endowments made by this Prelate besides his expence in repairing the Cathedral at Winchester will conclude such atcheivements unpossible for a Subject until he reflect on his vast Offices of preferments being Bishop of Winchester Rector of S t Martins Le Grand holding twelve Prebends in Comendam with it Anno Dom. 1392. Lord Privy-Seal Chancellor and Treasurer of England besides other places of meaner consequence Anno Regis Ric. 2. 16. Wardens Rich. Toneworth Nich. Wickam Tho. Cranely Rich. Malsorde Jo. Bouke Will. Escot Nich. Osylbury Tho. Chaundler Walt. Hill Will. Porter Jo. Reade Jo. Younge Jo. London Hen. Cole Ral. Skinner Tho. White Mart. Culpepper George Rives Arth. Lake Pink. Stringer Marshal Benefactors M r Rawlins S r Rich. Read K t. D r Newman D r Reeve Ward D r Martin Rob. Bell. D r Smith Bishops Will. Warham Arch-Bish of Cant. Will. Wainffet Bish of Winchester Jo. White Bish of Winchester Tho. Bilson Bish of Winchester Will. Knight Bish of Bath Wells James Turbervil Bish of Exeter Rob. Sherbourne Bish of Chichester Arth. Lake Bish of Bath and Wells Learned Writers Tho. Harding Tho. Nele Nich. Sanders Nich. Harpsfield Will. Reynolds * He was brother to Doct John Reynolds the great protestant Tho. Hide Jo. Marshall Tho. Stapleton Jo. Fenne Rich. White * He wrote a History of England Jo. Pits All violent maintainers of the Popish Religion S r HEN. WOOTTON D r Tooker Dean of Lichfield D r James Cook Arch-Dec of Winch. S r. Tho. Rives besides other elegant works for his VICARS PLEA S r James Hassee S r Hen. Martin D r Merideth Dean of Wells ARTHUR LAKE Bish of Bath and Wells William Twisse John White One may defie the suspicion of flattery if adding D r Harris the reverend Warden of Winchester D r Rich. Zouch not beholden to his Noble extraction for his Repute founded on his own worth and Books reprinted beyond the Seas D r Merick late Judg of the Prerogative but it is better to leave the characters of their worth to the thankfullness of the next Age to describe 32. Lately the Popes usurpation was grown so great Good Laws in due season in intrenching on the Crown that there was an absolute necessity seasonably to retrench his usurpation For albeit the Kings of England were as absolute in their demeans their Prelacy and Clergie as learned their Nobility as valiant and prudent their Commons as free and wealthy Anno Dom. 1393. as any in Christendom Yet had not some Laws of Provision now been made England had long since been turned part of S t Peters Patrimony in demeans Yea the Scepter wrested out of their Kings hands her Prelates made the Popes Chaplains and Clerks Nobility his servants and vassals Commons his slaves and villaines had not some seasonable Statutes of Manumission been enacted 33. For now came the Parliament wherein the Statute was enacted The Maul-Popes Statute of premunire which mauled the Papal power in England Some former laws had pared the Popes nailes to the quick but this cut off his fingers in effect so that hereafter his hands could not grasp and hold such vast summes of money as before This is called the Statute of PREMUNIRE and let not the Reader grudg the reading therof which gave such a blow to the Church of Rome that it never rcovered it self in this Land but dayly decayed till its finall destruction VVHereas the Commons of the Realm in this present Parliament have sued to our redoubted Lord the King grievously complaining that whereas the said our Lord the King and all his liege people ought of right and of old time were wont to sue in the Kings Court to recover their Presentments to Churches prebends and other benefices of holy Church to the which they had right to present the Conisance of Plea of which Presentment belongeth onely to the Kings Court of the old right of his Crown used and approved in the time of all his Progenitors Kings of England And when judgment shall be given in the same Court upon such a Plea and Presentment the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Spiritual persons which have Institution of such Benefices within their jurisdictions be bound and have made Execution of such Judgments by the Kings commandements of all the time aforesaid without interruption for another Lay person cannot make such execution and also be bound of right to make execution of many other of the Kings commandements of which right the Crown of England hath been peaceably seised as well in the time of our said Lord the King that now is as in the time of all his Progenitors till this day But now of late divers Processes be made by the Bishop of Rome and censures of Excommunication upon certain Bishops of England because they have made execution of such commandements to the open disherison of the said Crown and destruction of our said Lord the King his Law and all his Realm if remedie be not provided And also it is said and a common clamor is made that the said Bishop of Rome hath ordained and purposed to translate some Prelates of the same Realm some out of the Realm and some from one Bishoprick into another within the same Realme without the Kings assent and knowledg and without the assent of the Prelates which so shall be translated which Prelates be much profitable and necessary to our said Lord the King and to all his Realme By which translations if they should be suffered the Statutes of the Realm should be defeated and made void and his said liege Sages of his Councel without his assent and against his will carried away and gotten out of his Realm and the substance and treasure of the Realm shall be carried away and so the Realm destitute as well of Councel as of substance to the final destruction of the same Realm And so the Crown of England which hath been so free at all times that it hath been in no earthly subjection but immediately subject to God in all things touching the realitie of the same Crown and to none other should be submitted to the Pope the Laws Statutes of the Realm by him defeated avoided at his will in the perpetual destruction of the Soveraigntie of the King our Lord his Crown his Regalitie of all his Realm which God defend And moreover the Commons aforesaid say that the things so attempted be clearly against the Kings Crown and Regality used and approved of the time of all his Progenitors Wherefore they and all the liege Commons of the same Realm will stand with our said Lord the King and his said Crown and his Regalitie in the cases aforesaid and in all other cases attempted against him his Crown and his Regalitie in all points to live and to die And moreover they pray the King and him require by way of justice that he would
examin all the Lords in Parliament as well Spiritual as Temporal severally and all the States of the Parliament how they think of the cases aforesaid which be so openly against the Kings Crown and in derogation of his Regalitie and how they will stand in the same cases with our Lord the King in upholding the rights of the said Crown and Regalitie Whereupon the Lords Temporal so demanded have answered everie one by himself that the cases aforesaid be clearly in derogation of the Kings Crown and of his Regalitie as it is well known and hath been of along time known and that they will be with the same Crown and Regalitie in these cases especially and in all other cases which shall be attempted against the same Crown and Regality in all points with all their power And moreover it was demanded of the Lords Spiritual there being and the procurators of others being absent their advise and will in all these cases which Lords that is to say the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Prelates being in the said Parliament severally examined making protestations that it is not their minde to denie nor affirm that the Bishop of Rome may not Excommunicate Bishops nor that he may make translation of that if any Execution of Processes made in the Kings Court as before be made by any and censures of Excommunication to be made against any Bishops of England or any other of the Kings liege people for that they have made execution of such commandments and that if any executions of such translations be made of any Prelates of the same Realm which Prelates be very profitable and necessarie to our said Lord the King and to his said Realm or that the sage people of his Councel without his assent and against his will be removed and carried out of the Realm so that the substance and treasure of the Realm may be consumed that the same is against the King and his Crown as it is contained in the petition before named And likewise the same procurators every one by himself examined upon the said matters have answered and said in the name and for their Lords as the said Bishops have said and answered and that the said Lords Spiritual will and ought to be with the King in these cases in lawfully maintaining of his Crown and in all other cases touching his Crown and his Regalitie as they be bound by their Liegeance Whereupon our said Lord the King by the assnt aforesaid and at the request of his said Commons hath ordained and established that if any purchase or pursue or cause to be purchased or pursued in the Court of Rome or elsewhere any such translations processes sentences of Excommunications Bulls Instruments or any other things whatsoever which touch the King against him his Crown and his Regalitie or his Realm as is aforesaid and they which bring within the Realm or them receive or make thereof notification or any other execution whatsoever within the same Realm or without that they their notaries procurators maintainers abbettors fantors and councellors shall be put out of the Kings protection and their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeit to our Lord the King and that they be attached by their bodies if they may be found and brought before the King and his Councel there to answer to the cases aforesaid or that process be made against them by Praemunire facias in manner as it is ordained in other Statutes of Provisors and other which do sue in any other Court in derogation of the Regality of our Lord the King 43. Something of the occasion The occasion of this Statute name and use of this Statute the first is notoriously known from the Papal encroachments on the crown No Bishoprick Abathie Dignitie or Rectorie of value in England was likely to fall but a successour in reversion was by the Popes provisions fore-appointed for the same To make sure work rather then they would adventure to take the place at the first rebound Anno Dom. 1392. they would catch it before it light on the ground Anno Regis Ric. 2 16. This was imputed to the Popes abundance yea superfluity of care 〈◊〉 â—etur vacuum in the Church and rather then a Widow Benefice should mourn it self to death a second husband had his License for marriage before the former was deceased But great parishes where small the profit and numorous the people and where indeed greatest care ought to be had of their soules were past by in the Popes Bulls His Holiness making no provisions for those Livings which Livings had no provisions for his Holiness 35. Some will have it called Praemunire Why called Praemunire from fencing or fortifying the Regal power from forain assaults as indeed this was one of the best bulworks and sconces of Soveraignty Others that Praemunire signifieth the Crown fortified before the making of this Statute as fixing no new force therein but onely declaring a precedent and forgoing just right and due thereof Others conceive the word Praemonere turned by corruption of barbarous transcribers interpreters and pronouncers into Praemunire Others alledg the figure of the effect for the cause and the common Proverb Praemonitus Praemunitus Most sure it is that Praemunire sacias are operative words in the form of the Writ grounded on the Statute which may give denomination to the whole 36. It may seem strange such a Statute could pass in Parliament where almost sixty Spiritual Barons Popes covetousness odious to the Clergy Bishops and Abbots Voted according to Papal Interest except any will say that such who formerly had much of a Pope in their bellies had now more of Patriots in their breast being weary of Romes exactions Indeed no man in place of power or profit loves to behold himself buried alive by seeing his successour assigned unto him which caused all Clergy-men to hate such superinductions and many friends to the Pope were foes to his proceedings therein 37. This Law angred all the veines in the heart of his Holiness The Popes Letter against this Statute the Statute of Mortmain put him into a sweat but this into the sit of a fever The former concerned him onely mediately in the Abbies his darlings this touched him in his person and how cholerick he was will appear by the following Letter here inserted though written some fifty years after to make the story entire MArtinus Episcopus The Original of this Bill was in the Study of Sir Nichol. Bacon L. C ancellor whence the Arch-Bish of Armagh had this his Copy from which that of S Robert Cottons is derived servus servorum Dei 1393. Dilecto filio nobili viro Jobanni 16 Duct Bedsord Salutem Apostolicam Benedictionem Quamvis dudum in regno Anghae jurisdictio Romanae Ecclesiae liberatas Ecclesiastica suerit oppressa vigore illius Execrabilis Statuti quod omni divinae humanae rationi contrarium est Tamen adhuc non
worse did he finde it witness Leland thus praising him Praedicat Algerum meritò Florentia Dantem Italia numeros tota Petrarche tuos Anglia Chaucerum veneratur nostra Poëtam Cui veneres debet patria lingua suas Of Alger Dants Florence doth justly boast Of Petrarch brags all the Italian coast England doth Poet Chaucer reverence To whom our language ows its eloquence Indeed Verslegan a learned a In his restitution of de caied intelligence p. 203. Antiquary condemns him for spoiling the purity of the English tongue by the mixture of so many French and Latin words But he who mingles wine with water though he destroies the nature of water improves the quality thereof 49. I finde this Chaucer fined in the Temple two shillings A great enemy to Friers for striking a Franciscan Frier in Fleet-street and it seems his hands ever after itched to be revenged and have his penniworths out of them so tickling Religious-Orders with his tales and yet so pinching them with his truths that Friers in reading his books know not how to dispose their faces betwixt crying and laughing He lies buried in the South-Isle of S t Peters Westminster and since hath got the company of Spencer and Drayton a pair-royal of Poets enough almost to make passengers feet to move metrically who go over the place where so much Poetical dust is interred 50. Since the Abjuration last exemplified A short quiet in the Church we meet in this Kings Reign no more persecution from the Bishops We impute this not to their pity but other imployment now busie in making their applications to the new King on the change of government King Richard being now deposed 51. He was one of a goodly person The character of King Rich the second of a nature neither good nor bad but according to his company which commonly were of the more vicious His infancy was educated under several Lord Protectours successively under whom his intellectuals thrived as babes battle with many nurses commonly the worse for the change At last he grew up to full age and empty minde judicious onely in pleasure giving himself over to all licentiousness 52. As King Richard was too weak to govern Conspired against by Hen. the fourth so Henry Duke of Lancaster his Cousin-germane was too wilful to be governed Taking advantage therefore of the Kings absence in Ireland he combined with other of the discontented Nobility and draws up Articles against him some true some false some both as wherein truth brought the matter and malice made the measure Many misdemeanors mo misfortunes are laid to his charge Murdering the Nobility advancing of worthless Minions sale of justice oppression of all people with unconscionable taxations For such Princes as carry a forke in one hand Anno Regis Hen. 4 1. must bear a rake in the other and must covetously scrape to maintain what they causlesly scatter 53. Loosness brings men into streights at last And resigneth the Crown as King Richard may be an instance thereof Returning into England he is reduced to this doleful Dilemma either voluntarily by resigning to depose himself or violently by detrusion to be deposed by others His misery and his enemies ambition admit of no expedient Yea in all this Act his little judgment stood onely a looker-on whilest his fear did what was to be done directed by the force of others In hopes of life he solemnly resigneth the Crown but all in vain For cruel thieves seldom rob but they also kill and King Henry his Successour could not meet with a soft pillow so long as the other wore a warm head Whereupon not long after King Richard was barbarously murdered at Pomfret-Castle But of these transactions the Reader may satisfie himself at large out of our civil Historians 54. Onely we will add The baseness of the disloyal Clergy that the Clergy were the first that led this dance of disloyaltie Thomas Arundel now Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the room of William Courtney deceased made a Sermon on Samuels words Vir dominabitur populo He shewed himself a Satyrist in the former a Parasite in the later part of his Sermon a Traitor in both He aggravated the childish weakness of King Richard his inability to govern magnifying the parts and perfections of Henry Duke of Lancaster But by the Arch-Bishops leave grant Richard either deservedly deposed or naturally dead without issue the right to the Crown lay not in this Henry but in Edmond Mortimer Earl of March descended by his mother Philippa from Lionel Duke of Clarence elder son to Edward the third This the Arch-Bishop did willingly conceal Thus in all State-alterations be they never so bad the Pulpit will be of the same wood with the Councel-board And thus ambitious Clergy-men abuse the silver trumpets of the Sanctuary who reversing them and putting the wrong end into their mouthes make what was appointed to sound Religon to signifie Rebellion 55. But whilest all other Churches in England rung congratulatory peales to King Henry his Happiness The couragious conscience of the Bishop of Carlile one jarring bell almost marr'd the melody of all the rest even Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlile For when the Lords in Parliament not content to Depose King Richard were devising more mischief against him up steps the aforesaid Bishop formerly Chaplain to the King and expresseth himself as followeth There is no man present worthy to pass his sentence on so a Bishop Gedwin in the Bishops of Carlile great a King as to whom they have obeyed as their lawful Prince full two and twenty years This is the part of Traitors Cut-throats and Thieves None is so wicked none so vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime we should think to condemn before we heard him And you do ye account it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and Crowned giving him no leave to defend himself How unjust is this But let us consider the matter it self I say nay openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom you are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Soveraign as ours of his Kingdom More would he have spoken when the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence for speaking too much Truth in so dangerous a time Since it seems some Historians have made up what more he would have said spinning these his Heads into a very large Oration though tedious to none save those of the Lancastrian faction 56. Here Innocency the lest Armour if ever did the Proverb take effect Truth may be blam'd but cannot be sham'd for although the rest of the Bishops being guilty themselves condemned him as discovering more Covent-devotion who originally was a Monk of Westminster then Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren Yet generally he was beheld as Loyalties a Confessor Anno Dom. 1400. speaking what became his calling Anno Regis Ric. 2 2. in discharge of his
Pope who as Pastor Pastorum claimed Decimas Decimarum Entituling himself thereunto partly from Abraham a Priest paying o Gen 14. 20 Heb. 7. 4. Tithes to Melchizedeck the high Priest partly from the Levites in the Mosaical Law paying the Second Tithes that is the Tithes of their Tithes to the Priest Thus shall you offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your p Num. 18. 28. Tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel and ye shall give thereof the Lords heave-offering to Aaron the Priest Hereupon the Pope had his Collectors in every Diocesse who sometimes by Bills of Exchange but generally in specie to the great impoverishing of the Land yearly returned the Tenths and First-fruits of the English Clergie to Rome 2. But the Pope being now dead in England the King was found his Heir at Common Law Commissioners imployed to 〈◊〉 all Ecclesistical preferments as to most of the power and profit the other had usurped But now as the Clergie changed their Land lord so their Rents were new rated and I believe somewhat raised Commissioners being imployed in all Counties the Bishop of the Diocesse being alwaies one of them to valew their yearly revenue Ann. Dom. 1537. that so their Tenths and First-fruits may be proportioned accordingly These Raters were the chiefest persons in all Counties under the degree of Barons and I had a project to presence their names as of men of unquestionable extraction none as yet standing on the ruins of Abbies to heighten their mean birth into the repute of Gentility Surrey Nicholas Carew Knights Matthew Broun Thomas Stidolfe Esquire John Banister Gentleman Huntingdon-shire Richard Sapcot Knights Lawrence Taylard John Gostwick Esquires John Goodrick Devon-shire William Courtney Knights Thomas Dennis John Birnall Major of Exeter John Hull Auditors William Simonds John Ford Auditors John Southcote Somerset-shire William Stourton Kn t s John Horsey Andrew Lutterell Thomas Speke Esq s. Hugh Powlet Henry q In this method they are named Capel Knight William Portman Gent. Roger Kinsey Auditor Stafford-shire John Talbot Knights John Gifford Walter Wrotley Esquire John Wrotely Gentleman Cheshire John Holford Knight Peter Dutton Knight George Booth Esq s. Thomas Aston Richard Ligh William Brereton But my designe failed when I found the return of the Commissioners names into the Office so defective that in most Counties they are wholly omitted 3. These Commissioners were impowered by the King Instructions given to the Commissioners to send for the Scribes and Notaries of all Bishops and Arch-Bishops and Arch-deacons to swear the Receivers and Auditors of Incumbents to view their Register-books Easter-books and all other writings and to use all other waies to know the full value of Ecclesiastical preferments with the number and names of Persons enjoying the same They were to divide themselves by Three and Three allotting to every number so many Deaneries and to enquire the number and names of all Abbies Monasteries Priories Brotherships Sisterships Fellowships c. Houses religious and conventual as well r Transcribedwith my owne hand out of the original in the Office CHARTER-HOUSE as others these carthusians being specified by name because proudly pretending priviledges of Papal exemption and meeting together to certifie into Exchequer at the time limited in their Commission the true value of such Places or Preferments Herein Reparations Fees of in t ſ No Clerk in the Office cou'd read this word were not to be deducted but perpetual Rents Pensions Alms Synods Fees paid out yearly to Persons were to be allowed 4. This being a work of time exactly to perform Some yeares spent in the work took up some years in the effecting thereof Devon-shire and Somer set were done in the twenty-seventh Staffordshire and many other Countries in the thirty-fourth of King Henry the eighth and most of Wales not till the reign of King Edward the sixt Yea I am credibly informed that in Ireland to which Kingdome such Commissions were afterwards extended the Commissioners partly tired with their troblesome work partly afraid to pass the dangerous hill of Rushes in Irish Sleue Logher never came into the County of Kerry the South-west extremity of that Island So that the Clergie thereof though the poorest of the poorest in Ireland enjoy this priviledge that they are presently put into their Livings or Benefices rather without any payments 5. But no such favour was allowed to any place in England where all were unpartially rated Vicaridges why so high-rated and Vicaridges valued very high according to their present revenue by personal Perquisites In that Age he generally was the richest Shepherd who had the greatest flock where Oblations from the living and Obits for the dead as certainly paid as Predial Tithes much advanced their Income In consideration whereof Vicaridges mostly lying in Market-Towns and populous Parishes where set very high though soon after those Obventions sunk with superstition And the Vicars in vain desired a proportionable abatement in the King's book which once drawn up were no more to be altered 6. Now Queen Mary a Princesse Q Mary remits Tenths and First-fruits whose conscience was never purse-ridden as one who would go to the cost of Her own principles did by Act of Parliament exonerate acquit and discharge the Clergie from all First-fruits As for Tenths the same * 2 3 Phil Mary cap. 4. Statute ordereth them to be paid to Cardinal Poole who from the same was to pay the Pensions allowed by Her Father to Monks and Nuns at the dissolution of Abbies yet so that when such persons who were but few and aged all named in a Deed indented should decease all such paiments of the Clergie reserved nomine decimae should cease and be clearly extinct and determined for ever 7. But Her Sister Q. Elizabeth succeeding Her Q. Elizabeth resumeth them and finding so fair a flower as First fruits Tenths fallen out of Her Crown was careful quickly to gather it up again and get it re-sett therein A Princesse most to forgive injuries but inexorable to remit debts who knowing that necessitous Kings are subject to great inconveniences was a thrifty improver of Her treasure And no wonder if She were exact though not exacting to have Her dues from the Clergie who herein would not favour her grand favourite Sir Christopher Hatton who by the way was Master of this first-fruits Office and was much indebted unto Her for moneys received All which arrears Her Majesty required so severely and suddainly from him that the grief thereof cost his life I say this Queen in the first of Her t See the Stat. 1 Eliz. cap. 4. Reign resumed first-fruits and tenths onely with this case to Parsonages not exceeding ten marks and Vicaridges ten pounds that they should be freed from first-fruits A clause in this Statute impowering the Queen to take all that was due unto Her from the first day of this Parliament was so
be then alive thereunto before the marriage had in writing sealed with their seals which Condition We declare limit and appoint and will by these presents shall be to the said estate of Our said Daughter ELIZABETH in the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises knit and invested And if it shall fortune Our said Daughter ELIZABETH to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after Our decease and for default of Issue of the several bodies of Us and of our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decesse shall wholly remain and come to the Heires of the body of the Lady FRANCES Our Niece eldest Daughter to Our late Sister the French Queen lawfully begotten and for default of such Issue of the body of the said Lady FRANCES We will that the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our Son Prince EDWARD and of Our Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and of the Lady FRANCES lawfully begotten shall wholly remain and come to the Heirs of the body of the Lady ELANOR Our Niece second Daughter to Our said Sister the French Queen lawfully begotten And if it happen the said Lady ELANOR 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 and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and of the said Lady FRANCES and of the said Lady ELANOR lawfully begotten the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next rightfull Heirs And we sill that if Our said Daughter MARY doe marry without the consent and assent of the Privy Counsellours and others appointed by Us to be of Counsell to Our said Son Prince EDWARD or the most part of them as shall then be alive thereunto before the said marriage had in writing sealed with their seals as is aforesaid that then and from thenceforth for lack of Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten the said Imperial Crown shall wholly remain be and come to Our said Daughter ELIZABETH and to the Heirs of Her body lawfully begotten in such manner and form as though Our said Daughter MARY were then dead without any Issue of the body of Our said Daughter MARY lawfully begotten Any thing contained in this Our Will or any Act of Parliament or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And in case Our said Daughter the Lady MARY doe keep and perform the said Condition expressed declared and limited to Her estate in the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises in this Our last will declared And that Our said Daughter ELIZABETH doe not keep and perform for Her part the said condition declared and limited by this Our last Will to the estate of the said Lady ELIZABETH in the said Imperiall Crown of this Realm of England and Ireland Ann. Dom. 1546 and other the premises Ann. Regis HeÌ„ 8. 38. We will that then â—and from thencesorth after Our decease and for lack of Heirs of the several bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughter MARY lawfull begotten the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next Heirs lawfully begotten of the body of the said Lady FRANCES in such manner and form as though the said Lady ELIZABETH were then dead without any Heir of Her body lawfully begotten Any thing contained in this Will or in any Act or Statute to the contrary not withstanding the remainders over for lack of Issue of the said Lady FRANCES lawfully begotten to be an continue to such persons like remainders and estates as is before limited and declared And We being now at this time thanks to Almighty God of perfect memory Names of the Executo s. doe constitute and ordain these personages following Our Executors and Performers of this Our last Will and Testament willing commanding and praying them to take upon them the occupation and performance of the same as Executors Tho Cranmer that is to say the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Wriothesly Chancellour of England the Lord St. John greater Master of Our House Edw. Seymour John Dudley the Earl of Hartford great Chamberlain the Lord Russell Lord Privie Seal the Viscount Lisle high Admirall of England the Bishop Tonstall of Duresme Sir Anthony Browne Knight Master of our Horses Sir Edward Montague Knight chiefe Judge of the Common Pleas Justice Bromley Sir Edward North Knight Chancellour of the Augmentations Sir William Pagett Knight Our chief Secretary Sir Anthony Denny Sir William Herbert Knights chief Gentlemen of Our Privy Chamber Sir Edward Wotton Knight and Mr. Doctor Wotton his brother and all these We will to be Our Executors and Counsellors of the Privie Counsell with Our said Son Prince EDWARD in all matters concerning both his private affairs and publick affairs of the Realm willing and charging them and every of them as they must and shall answer at the day of judgment wholly and fully to see this my last Will and Testament performed in all things with as much speed an diligence as may be and that none of them presume to meddle with any of Our treasure or to do any thing appointed by Our said Will alone unlesse the most part of the whole number of these Co-executors doe consent and by writing agree to the same And will that Our said Executors or the most part of them may lawfully doe what they shall think most convenient for the execution of this Our Will without being troubled by Our said Son or any other for the same Willing further by Our said last Will and Testament that Sir Ed mund Peckham Our trusty servant and yet Cofferer of Our house shall be Treasurer and have the receipt and laying out of all such treasure and money as shll be defrayed by Our Executors for the performance of this Our last Will straightly charging and commanding the said Sir Edmund that he pay no great summe of money but he have first the hands of Our said Executors or of the most part of them for his discharge touching the same charging him further upon his allegiance to make a true account of all such summes as shall be delivered to his hands for this purpose And sithence We have now named and constituted Our Executors We will and charge them that first and above all things as they will answer before God and as We put Our singular trust and confidence in them that they cause all Our due Debts that can be reasonably shewed and proved before them to be fully contented and payed as soon as they conveniently can or may after Our decease without longer delay and that they doe
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
they were summoned the way long the weather especially in winter tedious travelling on the way costly living at London chargeable Some Priors were so poor they could not more so covetous they would not put themselves to needlesse expences All so lazie and loving their ease that they were loath to take long journeys which made them afterwards desire to be eased of their Honourable but Trouble some attendance in Parliament 3. At last Their number contracted to twenty six King Edward the third resolved to fix on a set number of Abbots and Priors not so many as with their numerousnesse might be burdensome to His Councell yet not so few but that they should be a sufficient representation of all Orders therein concerned which being twenty six in number are generally thus reckoned up 1. St. Albans 2. Glassenbury 3. St. Austins Cant. 4. Westminster 5. Edmunds-bury 6. Peterborough 7. Colchester 8. Evesham 9. Winchelcombe 10. Crowland 11. Battaile 12. Reading 13. Abington 14. Waltham 15. Shrewsbury 16. Glocester 17. Bardney 18. Bennet in the Holme 19. Thorney 20. Ramsey 21. Hide 22. Malmsbury 23. Cirencester 24. St. Mary Yorke 25. Selbye 26. VVith the Prior of St. Johns of Jerusalem first chief Baâ—on of England None of these held of mean Lords by franke almonage but all of the King in capite per Baroniam having an intire Baronie to which thirteen Knights sees at least did belong 4. Yet even after this fixation of Parliamentary Abbots in a set number the same was estsoons subject to variety Doubtfull Barons amongst the Abbots The Prior of Coventry played at in and out and declined his appearance there So did the Abbot of Lester who may seem to have worn but half a Mitre on his head So also the Abbot of St. James by Northhampton may be said to sit but on one hip in Parliament he appears so in the twilight betwixt a Baron and no Baron in the summons thereunto But afterwards the first of these three was confirmed in his place the two last on their earnest request obtained a discharge Partly because they were summoned onely interpolatis vicibus and nor constantly Partly because they made it to appear that they held not of the king a whole Barony in chief 5. To these twenty six regular Barons A short-lived Baroney made by K. Henry the eighth King Henry the eighth added one more for a casting voice viz the Abbot of Tavistocke in Devon-shire on this token that being created in the eighth of His Reigne he enjoyed not his Baronie full twenty years and acted so short a part on the stage of Parliament that with Cato he might seem onely ingredi ut exiret to come in that he might go out And because some may be curious to know the manner of his creation take here the form thereof HENRICUS c. b Pat. 5. Hen 8. part 2. in 22. Sciatis quod certis considerationibus nos specialitèr moventibus ob specialem devotionem quam ad beatam Virginem Mariam matrem Christi Sanctumque Rumonum in quorum Honore Abbatia de Tavistoke quae de fundatione nobillium progenitorum nostroum quondam Regum Angliae nostro patro natu dedicata existit gerimus habemus hinc est quod de gratia nostra speciall ac ex certa scientia mero motu nostris volumus eandem Abbatiam sive Monasterium nostrum gaudere honore privilegio ac libertatibus spirtualium Dominorum Parliamenti nostri Haredem successorum nostrorum ideo concessimus per prasentes concedimus pro nobis Haeredibus sucessoribus nostris quantum in nobis est dilecto nobis in Christi Richardo Banham Abbati de Tavistocke pradicto successoribus suis ut corum quilibet qui pro tempore ibidem fuerit Abbas sit erit unus de spiritualibus religiosis Dominis Parliamenti nostri Haeredem successorum nostrorum gandendo honore privilegio ac libertatibus ejusdem Et insuper de uberiori gratia nostra affectando utilitatem dicti nostri Monasterii considerando ejus distantiam ita quod si contingat aliquam Abbatem qui pro tempore fuerit sore velesse absentem propter praedicti Monasterii utilitatem in non veniendo ad Parliamentum praedictum Haeredem vel successorum nostrorum quam quidem absentiam eidem Abbati perdonamus per praesentes Ita tamen quod tunc solvet pro hujusmodi absentia cujuslibet Parliamenti integri in nostro Saccario suum per attornatum quinque Marcas nobis haeredibus sive successoribus nostris toties quoties hoc in futurum contigerit In cujus c. Teste c. Vicesimo tertio die Januarii c. Whereas this Charter affirmeth Tavistocke founded by King Henry's noble Progenitors Some will wonder thereat and the rather because c Combdens Br. in Devon-shire Ordulph the son of Ordgare Earl of Devon-shire is notoriously known for the Founder of this Monastery before the Conquest and no English King appeareth eminently a Benefactour thereunto Yet because the English Kings successively confirmed the Charters thereof they were in a loyall complement acknowledge as the interpretative Founders of that Abbey And as little children whose parents decease in their infancie innocently own their Fathers and Mothers-in-laws for their naturall parents So many Monasteries whose first Founders were in a manner forgotten as time out of minde applied themselves to the present Kings though but the Favourers as to the Founders of their Corporations 6. Know that besides these Abbots Abbesses no Baronesses though holding Baronies there were four Abbesses viz of Shaftsbury Barking in Essex St. Marys in Winchester and Wilton who held from the King an intire Baronry yet never were summoned as Baronesses to Parliament because that honour frequent in Lay-persons was never conferred on any Ecclestastical Female Yet were they and almost all other Abbesses of any quality saluted Ladies as Earls Daughters are by the courtesie of England which custome hath made such a right that they are beheld not onely as unmannerly but unjust who in common discourse deny the same However the aforesaid four Abbessos though not called to Parliament were solemnly d Pat. 5. Ed. 1. Dors in 11. Rot. Scutagii ejusd an in 7. summoned by special Writs ad habendum servitium suum that is to have their full number of Knights in time of warre where the Ladies personal presence was not expected but their effectual appearance by the proxies or their purses to supply the King's occasions 7. Of all these Prior of Ierusalem chief Baton the Prior of S. Johns in Jerusalem took the precedencie being generally of Noble extraction and a Military person Yea not content to take place of all regular Barons Primus Angliae Baro haberi voluit saith my e Cambd. Brit. pag. 123. Authour He would be counted simply and absolutely the first and chief Baron in England though the expression speaks rather his affectation than
Abbey Nor must it be forgotten that a Text X pierced through with a dash is fixed in the navill of the Crosse Now though I have read * Accidence of Armes Letters to be little honourable in Armes this cannot be disgracefull partly because Church-Heraldrie moveth in a sphere by it self partly because this was the Letter of Letters as the received character to signifie Christus 9. S. Augustines in Canterbury gave Sable a Cross-Argent Of S. Augustine 10. Crosse we now the Thames Of Gloucester where Westward we first fall on S. Peters in Gloucester whose Dedication to that Apostle sufficiently rendreth a reason for the Armes thereof viz AZure two Crosse Keyes or two Keyes Saltire Or. 11. Teuxbury gave Gules Of Teuxbury a Cross of an antick form Or a border Argent 12. I will not adventure on the blazoning of the Armes of Winchcombe having much conformity therein with Mortimers Coat but leave the Reader to satisfie his own eyes in the inspection thereof Of Winchcomb 13. I should be thankfull to him who would inform me of the Armes of Cirencester Of Cirencesâ—er which hitherto I cannot procure 14. * S. Maryes in Coventry had no Armes in their Seale as my good friend Mr. Dugdale informed me St. Albans gave Azure a Cross Saltire Or. Of S. Albanâ— 15. Westminster-Abbey gave Azure a Cross flurt betwixt five Marteletts Or and this I humbly conceive were antiently the entire Armes of that Abbey being in effect the same with those of King Edward the Confessour the first Founder thereof But afterwards their Conventuall Seale was augmented with the Armes of France and England on a Chiefe Or betwixt two Roses Gules plainly relating to King Henry the seventh enlarging their Church with his Chappell 16. The Prior of St. John of Jerusalem gave Gules a Cross Argent Of S. Johns of Jerusalem which the Lord Priot sometimes a Thus Sir Tho. Tressam impayled with but before his own Coate and b Thus Sir Tho. Dockwray sometimes bare it in a Chiefe about it 17. The Armes of Waltham Abbey in Essex appear at this day neither in glass wood Of Waltham nor stone in or about the Town or Church thereof At last we have recovered them Unus home nobis out of a faire Deed of Robert Fullers the last Abbot though not certain of the mettall and colours viz Gules as I conjecture two Angels can they be lesse than Or with their hands such we finde of them in c Mat. 4. 6. Scripture holding betwixt them a Cross Argent brought hither faith our d Gamd. Brit in Essex Antiquary by miracle out of the West whence Waltham hath the addition of Holy Cross 18. The Arms of S. Johns in Colchester Of Colchester I leave to the eye of the Reader 19. Burie gave Azure three Crowns Or Of Bury The Armes of the Kings of the East-Angles assumed in the memory of King Edmund to whom this Abbey was dedicated martyred by the Danes when his Crown of Gold thorough a Crown of Thorns or Arrows rather was turned into a Crown of Glory 20. St. Benet's in the Holme Of S. Benets in Norfolke gave Sable a Pastorall Staffe Argent picked below and reflexed above intimating the Abbots Episcopal Jurisdiction in his own precincts betwixt two Crowns-Or pointing at England and Norway the two Kingdomes of Canutus the Founder thereof The aforesaid Staffe was infulated that is adorned with an holy Lace or Label carelesly hanging down or cast a crosse such with which their Mitres used formerly to be fastned 21. Thorney-Abbey in Cambridge shire gave Azure three Crosses crossed fitchee Of Thorny betwixt three Pastoral Staves Or. 22. Ramsey in Huntingdon-shire gave Or three Rams Heads couped Argent Of Ramsey 〈◊〉 Bend Azure The rest of the Rams must be supposed in the blue Sea the Fennes appearing such when overflown Besides such changes were common here whereof Melibaeus complaineth in the Marishes * Virgil. Eâ— log 9. of Mantua Non bene ripae Creditur ipse Aries etiam nunc vellera siccat There is no trusting to the foundring bank The Ramme still dries his fleece so lately dank But since the draining of the Fennes hath I hope secured their Cattell from casualties 23. The very name of Peterborough unlocks the reason why that Abbey gave Gules Of Peterborough two crosse Keyes betwixt four Crosses crossed fitchee Or. 24. Crowland Abbey gave quarterly three call them long Knives Of Crowland or short Swords bladed Argent hasted or pomelled or Azure three Whips stringed and knotted Or the second like the third the fourth like the first Instruments of cruelty relating to their Monks massacred by the Danes Anno 870. Ingulphus pag. 866. whereof their Historian gives us this account That first they were examinati tortured see there the Whips and then exanimati killed see there the Swords But if any will have those Whips to relate to the Whip of S. Bartholomew the most remarkable Relique of that Monastery I will not appose 25. The Armes of Evesham Abbey in Worcester-shire Of Evesham I cannot recover but possibly may before the conclusion of this Work 26. Shrewsbury gave Azure Of Shrewsbury a Lyon Rampant over a Pastorall-staffe Bendwayes so that both the ends thereof are plainly discovered 27. Crosse we now North of Trent Of Selby where onely two remain Selby founded by William the Conquerour which gave Sable three Swans Argent membred Or alluding as I believe to the depressed scituation of the place where the neighbouring River of Ouse affordeth such Birds in abundance 28. St. Maryes in Yorke gave Argent a Crosse Of Yorke Gules and a Key in the first Quarter of the same In the midst of the Crosse a King in a circle in his Robes of state with his Scepter and Mound Yet hath he onely a ducall Cap and no Crown on his head I humbly conceive under favour of better judgments this King-Dukes picture to relate partly to King VVilliam Rufus partly to Alan Duke of Britain and Richmond the principall Co-Founders of that Monastery The Lord Darcy his Extraction justly vindicated AMongst the principal persons who suffred for their zeale in defending of Abbeys was the lately mentioned Thomas Lord a vide supra pag. 313. parag 5. Darcy A causlesse aspersion grounded on passion whose extraction I finde foully aspersed by the pen of that passionate Prince K. Henry the eighth for when the Rebels boasted of the many Noblemen who sided with them in confutation thereof King Henry returned a Letter to them interlined with His own hand wherein this passage b Speeds Châ—â— in his 1 â—dit pag. 776. Others as the Lord Marney and Darcy are but mean scarce well-born Gentlemen and yet of no great Lands till they were promoted by Us and so made Knights It cannot be denied but that K. Henry too much consulted
Orders have spauned much since our late Civil Warres Protestant confusions multiplying Popish foundations 2. Yet I cannot believe what * Mr. Prin. one reports of two Covents in London Two Covents reported in London set up about the year 1640. One at the Lord Gages neer Queens-street the other at Westminster For finding no person who is properly tearmed the Lord Gage I suspect all the rest And though I confesse Catholicks then arrived at such boldnesse as rather to dare than dread any discovery yet it seemeth improbable any should abide there save onely to wait conveniencie of transportation And so much for English Covents beyond the Seas which discourse let none censure as alien and not pertaining to the History of England For I would willingly be condemned for a needlesse excursion on the condition that they belonged not at all unto us who daily fetch over too much money hence and doe mutually bring back too much mischief hither To whom the Sites of Mitred Abbeys were granted and by whom they are possessed at this day IT were a work almost impossible for our pen to pursue the Lands of each Religious house from the time that they parted from the Crown to the present Owners thereof A possible designe preferred impossible declined Yea such a task when ended were endlesse of no other use than the satisfaction of curiosity As therefore the best Anatomists cannot hunt out the deviations of every petty vein embracing severall courses in sundry bodies but abundantly acquit their skill and industry if truly discovering the trunkveins observing the same chanels in all people Kephalicall Basilicall c. So we conceive our duty discharged to any rationall expectation if instancing onely out of the Originall Records in the Sites of the Mitred Abbeys marking their fluctuation since passed from the Crown into the possession of severall subjects 2. Here I intended to present the Reader with the particulars of all those Owners through whose hands these Mitred Abbeys have passed from those to whom King Henry granted them to those who at this day are possessed thereof A thing with very much difficulty such the frequencies of the exchange collectible out of the severall fines payd at their alienation but having tyred out mine own modesty though not my good friend Mr. John Witt 's officious industry in being beholden to him above my possibility of requitall for perusing so many Records I desisted from so difficult a design Abbey Granted by Unto In consideration Tenure and rent After alien'd to Present owner Tavestock in Devon K. a 1 parte rotulo 29. formerly Osboâ—ns Remembrancers Office Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign July 4. Iohn Lord Russel Anne his Wife and their Heires c. of his faithfull service and counsell in Capite by Knights service of cum aliis one Knights see paying 36 li. none but still possessed by their Heirs William Russell Earle of Bedford Middleton in Dorsetshire K. b 1 par rot 95. Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign 23 of Febr. Iohn Tregonwell Kn t Doctor of Law of a PensioÌ„ of 40 l. per ann surrendred 1000 l. paid down his good service in Capite by Knights service of the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 12 l. 4s none but still possessed by his Heirs Iohn Tregonwell Esquire Malmesbury in Wilt-sh K. c 7 par râ—t 147. Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign William Stampe Gentleman of the payment of 1516 l. 15s 2d ob in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 8l 8s ob  Thomas Ioy Esquire Ramsey in Huntingtonshire K. d 2 par rot 293. Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign 4 of March. Richard Williams alià s Cromwell Esq of his good service and the payment of 4663l 4s 2d in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 29l 16s none possessed by his Heir Sir Oliver Cromwell the most aged Gent. and Knight in England Selby in Yorkshire K. e 1 part rot 140. Henry the 8 in the 32 of his Reign 28 of August Ralph Sadleir of Hackney Knight of 736l paid in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 3l 10s 8d  Charles Walmesley Esquire Teuxburie in Glocester shire K. f 2 part rot 26. Henry the 8 in the 36 of his Reign Tho Stroud Wal Earle and Iam Paget of 2283 li. 19s 3d. in capite by the 20th part of a Knights fee paying 1l 18s 0 3 4   Hyde juxta Winton K. g 7 part rot 44 Henry the 8 in the 37 of his Reign 11 of Janu. Rich Bethel Gent. after a Lease of the Lord Wriothesly was expired of 110 li. 17 s. 1d in free Soccage of the King's Manour of Rumsey paying 6l 13s 4d to the Vic. of St. Barthol Wint   S. Johns juxta Colchester K. h 4 part rot 13. Edward the sixt in the first of his Reign June 22. Iohn Dudley Earle of Warwick of his service in Scotland and France whereby he had much impair'd his own estate in Capite cum aliis by service of one Knights fee paying 16s 11. d. ob  Sir Iohn Lucas L d Lucas Cirencester in Glocester shire K. i 1 part rot Edward the sixt in the first of his Reign 19 of August Thomas Lord Seymer high Admiral of his service and kindred being the Kings Uncle in Capite with land in 15 Shires by the service of one Knights fee paying 1l 1s 8d  Sir William Masters Bardney in Lincoln-shire K. k 3 part rot 95. Edw 6. in the second of his Reign Thomas Heneage Katherine his Wife and their Heirs of an exchange for the Manour of overton in Knights service  Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham Glaston in Somerset K. l 3 part rot 17. and againe 4 pars rot 77. Edward the sixt in the 4 th year of his Reign 4 of June Ed Seymer Duke of Somerset of his Petition and the advise of the Counsel to support his dignity in Capite by the 40 th part of a Knights fee sine reditu   Reading in Berkshire K. m Ibidem Edw. the sixt in the 4 th year of his Reign 4 of June Ed Seymer Duke of Somerset of his Petition and the advise of the Counsel to support his dignity in Capite by the 40 th part of a Knights fee sine reditu  Francis Knolles Esquire Crowland in Lincolnshire K. Edward the sixt in the 4 th year of his Reign Decemb. 1. Edw. Fines Knight L d. Clinton and Say high Admiral of England of the exchange of other lands with the Crown to be held in Soccage as of the Kings Manour of Louth by fealty only  till lately in the Crown Winchcomb in Glocestershire K. Edward the sixt in the fift year of his Reign June 24. William Par Marquesse of Northhampton of his faithfulness and valour against the Rebels in Northfolk in
put on a civil account Good policie Injunction 23. to avoid contention about places Indeed peoples pride herein consisted in pretended humility which the Injunction at large termeth a fond Courtesie For in a mock-practise of the Apostles * Rom. 12. 12. precept in honour preferring one another they strained courtesie to goe last Where by the way I conceive that accounted the highest place which was next the Crosse bearer or next the Priest carrying the Host Quaere whether in the 24 Injunction labouring in time of Harvest on Holy-daies and Festivals relateth not onely to those of Ecclesiasticall constitution as dedicated to Saints or be inclusive of the Lords day also Mr. Calvin in his Letter to the Lord * pag. 187 188. Protector Mr. Calvin dissents disliketh the praying for the dead and this is one of those things which he termed tolerabiles ineptias Englished by some tolerable fooleries more mildly by others tolerable unfitnesses In requital whereof Bishop Williams was wont to say That Master Calvin had his tolerabiles morositates And thus moderately did our first Reformers begin Moderation 〈◊〉 farre as the subject they wrote on would give them leave for as carefull Mothers and Nurses on condition they can get their Children to part with knives are contented to let them play with raitles So they permitted ignorant people still to retain some of their fond and foolish Customes that they might remove from them the most dangerous and destructive Superstitions Come we now to give in a List of such principall Books which in the Reign of this King and His Father The Protestant Library as Preparatory to and Introductive of Reformation And to bring them high enough we will begin with HEN 7th Prayers printed by the Commandements of the moost hye and vertuous Princesse our lyege Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Quene of England and of France and also of the right hye and moost noble Princesse Margarett mother to our Soveraign Lord the King c. without the year when printed HEN 8th The Institution of a Christian man contayneng the Exposition of the Commune Crede of the seaven Sacraments of the ten Commandements and of the Pater noster and the Ave Maria Justification and Purgatory London by Tho Barthelet 1537. A necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christen man set furthe by the Kynges Majestie of England c. London by Tho Barthelet 1543. HEN 8th Henry the eighth his Epistle to the Emperour Christen Princes and all true Christen men desiring peace and concord amonges them Against the power of the Pope and concerning a Generall Councell London by Tho Barthelet 1538. A Protestation made for the most mighty and most redoubted King of England c. and his hole Counsell and Clergie wherein is declared that neither His Highnesse nor His Prelates neyther any other Prince or Prelate is bound to come or send to the pretended Councell that Paul Bishop of Rome first by a Bull indicted at Mantua a Citie in Italy and now alate by an other Bull hath proroged to a place no man can telle where London by Tho Barthelet 1537. Articles devised by the Kinges Highnes Majestie to stablishe Christen quietnes and unitie amonge us and to avoyde contentious opinions which Articles be also approved by the consent and determination of the hole Clergie of this Realme Lond Tho Barthelet 1536. Injunctions to the Clergie 1536. M. Sc. Articles devised by the holle consent of the Kinges most honourable Counsayle His Graces licence opteyned thereto not only to exhorte but also to enfourme His loving Subjects of the trouth London Tho Barthelet 1533. Orarium seu libellus Precationum per Regiam Majestatem Clerum Latinè editus Ex officina Richard Graftoni 1545. Pia Catholica Christiani hominis institutio Londini apud Thomam Barthelet 1544. Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarū ex authoritate primum Regis Hen 8. inchoata deinde per Regem Edw 6. provecta c. Londini ex officina Jo Day 1571. EDW 6th Injunctions given by the most excellent Prince Edward the sixt by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defendor of the Fayth and in yearthe under Christ of the Church of England and of Ireland the Supreeme Hedde to all and singuler His loving Subjects aswell of the Clergie as of the Laietie By R. Grafton 1547. Articles to be enquired of in the Kynges Majesties visitation By Rich Grafton Cum privilegio Communion book translated into French for Jersey and Garnesey 1553. EDW 6th The Booke of Common-Prayer and Administration of Sacraments c. London 1549. 1552. The forme and manner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons 1552 1549. The Copie of a Letter sent to all those Preachers which the Kings Majestie hath licensed to preach from the Lord Protectors Grace and others of the Kinges Majesties most Honourable Councell The 23 of May 1548. Catechismus brevis Christianae disciplinae summam continens omnibus ludimagistris authoritate Regiâ commendatus Londini 1553. Articuli de quibus in Synodo Londinensi 1552. ad tollenda◠opinionum dissensionem consensum verae religionis firmandum inter Episcopos alios eruditos atque pios viros-convenerat Regia similiter authoritate promulgati Londini The Primer or Booke of Prayers translated out of Hen the 8 ths Orarium London by Rich Grafton 1547. Certain Sermons viz the first part of the Church Homilies appointed by the Kinges Majestie to be read everie Sonday and Holy day c. 1549 1547. A Primer or Booke of private Prayer c. in the 7 yeare of Ed 6. Ex officina Wilhelmi Seres 1552. The order of the Communion with the Proclamation London by Rich Grafton 1548. Q. MARIE The Primer in Latin and English after the use of Sarum London 1555. Edm Bonners Catechisme 1555. with Homelies composed by H. Pendleton and Jo Harpesfield London 1555. These are the principall State-books which that Age produced not mentioning such as numberlesse which private persons set forth onely I cannot as yet recover the Lord Cromwell's Catechisme except it be concealed under another name amongst the Books aforementioned 4. Come we now to the Liturgie which in the Reign of K. Henry the eighth was said or sung all in Eatine save only the Creed Pater noster and ten Commandements put into English by the Kings command Anno 1536. Nine years after viz 1545 the Letanie was permitted in English and this was the farthest pace which the Reformation stept in the Reign of King Henry the eighth Ann. Dom. 1547. But under His son King Edward the sixt a new form of Divine worship was set forth in the vulgar Tongue which passed a threefold purgation The first Edition of the Liturgie or Common-Prayer The 2 d Edit of the Liturgy or Common-Prayer The 3 d Edit of the Liturgy or Common-Prayer In the first year of King Edward the sixt it was recommended to the care
mile of this City runneth partly by partly through it but contributeth very little to the strengthning thereof 5. The Rebels encamped or rather enkennelled themselves on Moushold-Hill whereon Mount-Surry a fair House of the Dukes of Northfolk whence they had free egresse and regresse into Norwich as oft as they pleased One Coigniers a Vicar in the City they had for their Chaplain and were so religiously rebellious that prayers Morning and Evening were read amongst them Mean time so intolerable was their insolence that now they sent up such Demands to the King to which He neither would in honour nor could in justice condescend Yet the King constantly chequered His comminations with Proclamatians of pardon which the Rebels scorn'd to accept 6. As for Thomas Cod Major of Norwich and others of the Gentry detained prisoners in Ket's camp they were admitted to the counsels of the Rebels for the better credit thereof If Ket were present they were no better than herbe John in the pottage and had no influence on their consultations But if he happily chanced to be absent then they were like S. Johns wort so soveraign for soars and against the plague it self and did much mitigate the fury of their mischievous Decrees Mean time great plenty was in Kets camp where a fat sheep was sold for a groat but penury and misery in all other places 7. Doctor Matthew Parker afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury getting up into the Oake of Reformation preached to their Rebels of their duty and allegiance But the Oake as soon as the Auditory would embrace his Doctrine yea his life was likely to be ended before his Sermon Arrows being shot at him had not Coigniers Kets Chaplain seasonably yet abruptly set the Te Deum during the singing whereof the Dr. withdrew to sing his part at home and thank God for his great deliverance 8. William Par Marquesse of Northhampton Aide sent to suppresse the Rebels but more acquainted with the witty than the warlike part of Pallas as compleat in Musick Poetry and Courtship with many persons of honour as the Lords Sheffield and Wentworth Sir Anthony Denny Sir Ralph Sadlier Sir Thomas Paston c. is sent to quell this Rebellion They were assisted with a band of Italians under Malatesta their Captain whereof the Rebels made this advantage to fill the Countrey with complaints that these were but an handfull of an armfull to follow driving on the designe to subject England to the insolence of Foraigners 9. Now The Lord Russell conqueror Lord Marquiss conquered though neither wisdome nor valour was wanting in the Kings Souldiers yet successe failed them being too few to defend Norwich and oppose the Rebels Insomuch that the Lord Sheffield was barbarously butcher'd S r Tho Corwallis taken prisoner and the City fired by the Rebels which probably had been burnt to ashes had not the clouds commiserating the Cities calamity and melting into tears quenched the flames and thus the Marquesse fain to quit the service returned to London 10. Then was John Dudley Earle of Warwick The Lord Gray and Earle of Warwick come with new supplies with such Forces as were intended for Scotland sent to undertake the Task The Marquesse of Northhampton attended him to trie whether he could be more fortunate in following than he had been in leading Coming to Norwich he easily entred the City and entertained the Rebels with many sallies with various successe here too long to relate but generally the Earle of Warwick came off with the better 11. Now the Rebels impregnable in some sort if still keeping Moushold-Hill whereon the Earles Horse could doe small service deserted it of their own accord and came down into Dussin-dale Here their superstition fancied themselves sufficiently fenced by the virtue of an old prophecie Hob Dick and Hick with clubs and clouted shoon Shall fill up Dassin-dale with blood of slaughtered bodies soon It hath ever been charged on the English as if they alwaies carried an old Prophesie about with them in their pockets which they can produce at pleasure to promote their designes though oft mistaken in the application of such equivocating Predictions as here these silly folke were deluded For it being believed that Dussin dale must make a large and soft pillow for Death to rest thereon these Rebels apprehended themselves the Upholsters to make who proved onely the stuffing to fill the same 12. The Earle glad that the enemy had quitted the Hill fell with all his forces upon them and here happened a most bloody Battle The Rebels disputed the ground with their naturall Logick as I may term it down-right blows without much military Discipline Here one might have seen young Boyes timely Traytours plucking the arrows wherewith they were wounded out of their own flesh and giving them to those of their owne party to shoot them back againe July 27. Here some thrust through with spears wilfully engaged their Bodies the deeper thereon onely striving to reach out their revenge on those who wounded them But at last rage was conquered by courage number by valour Rebellion by Loyalty and in the fight and pursuit two thousand at the least were slain 13. Remarkable was Divine Providence in preserving the captive Gentlemen of the Countrey whom the Rebels coupled together and set them in the front of the Fight Now although it be true what David saith * 2 Sam. 11. 25. The sword devoureth one as well as another yet so discreetly did Captaine Druery charge the Van of the Rebels that most of these innocent Prisoners made their escape The last litter of Kets kennell stifly standing out and fortifying themselves accepted of pardon on the Earls promise it should be assured unto them 14. On the nine and twentieth of August a solemn Thanks-giving was made in Norwich for their deliverance Aug. 6. and is annually continued Indeed this City being betwixt weaknesse and strength â—s taxed for wavering at the time betwixt Loyalty and Revolt though to give the Citizens their due many expressed their fidelity to their Prince as farre as they durst for fear of destruction Yet better had it been had Norwich been weaker to be quitted or stronger to be defended whose mongrell strength exposed it to the greater misery 15. Robert Ket was hanged on Norwich Castle The legal 〈◊〉 of the Rebels William his brother on Windham Steeple Nine others on the Oake of Reformation which never till then brooked the name thereof Amongst these Miles a cunning Cannoneer was much lamented because remorse kept him from doing much mischief to which his cunning did enable him Thus by Gods blessing on Mans endevours both these Rebellions were seasonably supprest That of Devon-shire did openly avouch the advancing of Popery the other was suspected secretly fomented by some Papists who stood behinde the curtain but ready to step on the stage had Successe of the Designe but given them the Cue of Entrance As for the Rebellion at the same
But a Vagari took the Lord Ross to go to Rome His sad Dilemmâ— though some conceive this motion had its root in more mischievous brains In vain doth Mr. Molle disswade him grown now so wilfull he would in some sort govern his Governour What should this good man doe To leave him were to desert his trust to goe along with him was to endanger his own life At last his affections to his charge so prevailed against his judgment that unwillingly willing he went with him Now at what rate soever they rode to Rome the fame of their coming came thither before them so that no sooner had they entred their Inne but Officers asked for Mr. Molle took and carried him to the Inquisition-House where he remained a prisoner whilest the Lord Ross was daily feasted favoured entertained so that some will not stick to say That here he changed no Religion for a bad one 9. However His constancy in the 〈…〉 such Mr. Molle's glorious constancy that whilest he look'd forward on his cause and upwards to his crown neither frights nor flattery could make any impression on him It is questionable whether his friends did more pity his misery or admire his patience The pretence and allegation of his so long and strict imprisonment was because he had translated Du Plessis his Book of The Visibility of the Church out of French into English but besides there were other contrivances therein not so fit for a publick relation In vain did his friends in England though great and many endeavour his enlargement by exchange for one or moe Jesuits or Priests who were prisoners here Papists beholding this Molle as a man of a thousand who if discharged the Inquisition might give an account of Romish cruelty to their great disadvantage 10. In all the time of his durance His death in durance he never heard from any * So am I informed by a Letter from Mr. Hâ—n Molle his Son friend nor any from him by word or letter no English-man being ever permitted to see him save onely one viz Mr. Walter Strickland of Botnton-house in York shire With very much desire and industry he procured leave to visit him an Irish Frier being appointed to stand by and be a witnesse of their discourse Here he remained thirty years in restraint and in the eighty first year of his age died a Prisoner and constant Confessour of Christ his cause God be magnified in and for the sufferings of his Saints 11. In this year Richard Vaughan The death of Bishop Vaughan Doctor of Divinity bred in S. John's Colledge in Cambridge successively Bishop of Bangor Chester and London ended his life A corpulent man but spiritually minded such his integrity not to be bowed though force was not wanting to any base connivance to wrong the Church he was placed in His many virtues made his losse to be much bemoaned 12. Greater was the grief Mr. Brightmans birth and breeding which the death of Master Thomas Brightman caused to the disaffectors of the Church-discipline of England He was born in the Town of Nottingham bred in Queens-Colledge in Cambridge where a constant opposition in point of judgment about Ceremonies was maintained between him and Doctor Meryton afterwards Dean of Yorke Here he filled himselfe with abilities for the Ministerie waiting a call to vent himselfe in the Countrey 13. It happened this very time A Patron paramount that Sir John Son to Mr. Peter Osborne both lovers of learned and godly men not onely bought and restored the Rectorie of Haunes in Bedford shire formerly alienated to the Church but also built thereon from the ground a fair House which he furnished with fitting utenfils for the future Incumbent thereof This done at his desire of an able Minister Doctor Whitakers recommended Master Brightman unto him on whom Sir John not onely freely conferred the Living but also the profits of two-former years which the Knight inned at his own cost and kept in his possession 14. Here Mr. Brightman employed himself both by preaching Exceptions against Master Brightman's Book and writing to advance Gods glory and the good of the Church witnesse his learned Comments in most pure Latine on the Canticles and Revelation though for the latter greatly grudged at on severall accounts 1. For the Title thereof conceived too insolent for any creature to affix A Revelation of The Revelation except immediate Inspiration which made the lock had given the key unto it 2. For being over-positive in his interpretations The rather because the Reverend Mr. Calvin himself being demanded his opinion of some passages in the Revelation as a learned * Bodin in his Method of History cap. 7. man reporteth answered ingenuously That he knew not at all what so obscure a writer meant 3. For over-particularizing in personal expositions applying severall Angels mentioned therein Chap. 14. v. 18 He maketh Arch-bp Cranmer the Angel to have power over the fire and Ch. 16. v. 5. He makes Hillâ— Cecil Ld Treas of England the Angel of the waters if Lord Admirall it had been more proper justifying the pouring out of the third viall to the Lord Cromwell Archbishop Cranmer Cecill Lord Burley c. Such restrictiveness being unsuitable with the large concernment of Scripture as if England half an Island in the Western corner were more considerable than all the world besides and the theater whereon so much should be performed 4. In resembling the Church of England to luke-warm Laodicea praising and preferring the purity of forrain Protestant-Churches Indeed his daily discourse was against Episcopal Government which he declared would shortly be pulled down He spake also of great troubles which would come upon the Land of the destruction of Rome and the Universall calling of the Jewes affirming That some then alive should see all these things effected 15. However His angelical life his life was most angelicall by the confession of such who in judgment dissented from him His manner was alwaies to carry about him a Greek Testament which he read over every fortnight reading the Gospels and the Acts the first the Epistles and the Apocalyps the second week He was little of stature and though such commonly cholerick yet never known to be moved with anger and therefore when his pen falls foul on Romish superstition his friends account it zeal and no passion 16. His desire was to die a sudden death His sudden death if God so pleased surely not out of opposition to the English Liturgie praying against the same but for some reasons best known to himself God granted him his desire a death sudden in respect of the shortnesse of the time though premeditated on and prepared for by him who waited for his change and being a watchfull souldier might be assaulted not surprized For riding in a Coach with Sir Iohn Osborne and reading of a Book for he would lose no time he fainted and though instantly taken out
Mountaine Bishop of London had much adoe to make his Chaplains peace for licensing thereof the Printer and Translator being for some time kept in Prison 19. Yet after all this Yet still conâ—hued and after Merick Casaubon had written a Latine Vindication to give satisfaction to all Ann. Regis Ja. 22. Ann. Dom. 1624. the same Translation since is printed in Amsterdam with a Justificatory Preface of the former Edition So impudent are some falsly to father Books on worthy Authors to make them more vendible for their own profit though it discredit the memory of others 20. The businesse of the Palatinate being now debated by Martiallists None of the work counsel the Kings Councill of Warre disswading from regaining it in kinde advised Him rather to recover it in value where he could with the best conveniency out of the Spanish Dominions For the Palatinate was not worth the rewinning which grant recover'd by the English could not recover it self for many years such the havock and waste made therein Secondly it was hard to be gotten such the distance thereof and harder to be kept so ill-neighboured it was on all sides So that the King if so pleased might with as much honour and more ease carve out his own reparations nearer home 21. During these Agitations King Iames falleth sick K. James fell sick at Theobalds of a tertian Ague commonly called in Spring for a King rather Physicall than dangerous But soon after his Ague was heighten'd into a Fever four mischiefs meeting therein 22. First A confluence of four mischiefs the malignity of the Malady in it self hard to be cured Secondly an aged Person of sixty years current Thirdly a plethorick Body full of ill humours Fourthly the Kings aversness to Physick and impatience under it Yet the last was quickly removed above expectation The King contrary to His custome being very orderable in all His sicknesse Such sudden alterations some apprehend a certain prognostick of death as if when mens mindes acquire new qualities they begin to habit and cloath themselves for a new world 23. The Countesse of Buckingham contracted much suspition to her selfe A plaster applied to His wrists and her Son for applying a plaster to the Kings wrists without the consent of His Physicians And yet it plainly appeared that Dr. John Remington of Dunmoe in Essex made the same plaster one honest able and successful in his practice who had cured many Patients by the same a piece whereof applied to the King one eat down into His belly without the least hurt or disturbance of nature However after the applying thereof the King grew worse 24. The Physicians refused to administer physick unto Him till the plasters were taken off And Julip without the advice of His Physicians which being done accordingly His fift sixt and seventh fits were easier as Dr. Chambers said On the Monday after the plasters were laid on again without the advice of the Physicians and His Majestie grew worse and worse so that Mr. Hayes the Kings Chirurgeon was called out of his bed to take off the plasters Mr. Baker the Dukes servant made the King a Julip which the Duke brought to the King with his own hand of which the King drank twice but refused the third time After His death a Bill was brought to the Physicians to sign that the ingredients of the Julip and Plasters were safe but most refused it because they knew not whether the ingredients mentioned in the Bill were the same in the Julip and Plasters This is the naked truth delivered by oath from the Physicians to a select Committee two years after when the Parliament voted the Dukes act a transcendent presumption though most thought it done without any ill intention 25. Four daies before His death Catechized on His death-bed in His Faith and Charity He desired to receive the Sacrament and being demanded whether He was prepared in point of faith and charity for so great mysteries 〈◊〉 24. He said He was and gave humble thanks to God for the same Being desired to declare His faith and what He thought of those Books He had written in that kinde He repeated the Articles of the Creed one by one and said He believed them all as they were received and expounded by that part of the Catholick Church which was established here in England And said with a kinde of sprightfulnesse and vivacity that whatever He had written of this Faith in his life he was now ready to seal with his death Being questioned in point of charity He answered presently that He forgave all men that offended Him and desired to be forgiven by all Christians whom He in any wise had offended 26. Then after absolution read and pronounced His death He received the Sacrament and some hours after He professed to the standers by that they could not imagine what ease and comfort he found in himself since the receiving hereof And so quiedy resigned His soul to God having reigned twenty two years and three daies 27. He was of a peaceable disposition Of a peaceable nature Indeed when he first entred England at Barwick He himself gave fire to and shot off a * Stowes Chro. p. 819. piece of Ordnance and that with good judgment This was the onely military act personally performed by Him So that He may have seemed in that Cannon to have discharged Warre cut of England 28. Coming to Yorke Made Nobility lesse respected by the commonnesse thereof He was somewhat amazed with the equipage of the Northern Lords repairing unto Him especially with the Earl of Cumberland's admiring there should be in England so many Kings for less He could not conjecture them such the multitude and gallantry of their attendance But following the counsel of His English Secretary there present He soon found a way to abate the formidable greatness of the English Nobility by conferring Honour upon many persons whereby Nobility was spread so broad that it became very thin which much lessened the antient esteem thereof 29. He was very eloquent in speech His eloquence whose Latine had no fault but that it was too good for a King whom carelessness not curiosity becomes in that kinde His Scotch tone he rather affected than declin'd and though His speaking spoil'd His speech in some English ears yet the masculine worth of his set Orations commanded reverence if not admiration in all judicious hearers But in common speaking as in His hunting he stood not on the cleanest but nearest way He would never go about to make any expressions 30. His wit was passing-sharp and piercing And piercing wit equally pleased in making and taking a smart jest His Majestie so much stooping to His mirth that He never refused that coine which he paid to other folk This made Him please Himself so much in the company of Count Gondomer and some will say the King was contented for reasons best known
five by the Lords and five by the Commons This Bill was but once read in the House and no great matter made thereof the Antiâ—piscopall party conceived it needlesse to shave their beards whose heads they intended to cut off designing an utter extirpation of Bishops 3. By the way the mention of a moiety to the Curats A crying sinne of the English Clergy minds me of a crying sin of the English Clergy conceived by the most conscientious amongst them a great incentive of Divine anger against them namely the miserable and scandalous Stipends afforded to their Curats Which made Lay-men follow their pattern in Vicaridges unindowed seeing such who knew most what belong to the work allowed the least wages to the Ministry Hence is it that God since hath changed his hand making many who were poor Curats rich Rectors and many wealthy Incumbents to become poor Curats It will not be amisse to wish thankfulnesse without pride to the one and patience without dejection to the other 4. A Bill was sent up by the Commons against Matthew Wren Bishop of Ely July 20 containing twenty five Articles A Bill against Bishop Wren charging him for being Popishly affected a suppressor of Preaching and introducer of Arbitrary Power to the hazard of the estates and lives of many They desired he might be sequestred from the Kings Person and Service 5. To return to the Bishops The Bishops impeached for making of Canons the Commons perceiving that they were so tenacious of their votes in Parliament resolved vigorously to prosecute the impeachment against them for making of Canons expecting the Bishops should willingly quit their votes as Barons to be acquitted of their premunire whereby they forfeited all their Personall estates yet the sound of so great a charge did not so afright them but that they persisted legally to defend their innocence 6. The Bishops that were impeached for making Canons Aug. 16. craved time till Michaelmas Term to make their answer Have time and câ—uncell allowed them This was vehemently opposed by some Lords and two questions were put 1. Whether the Bishops should sit still in the House though without voting to which themselves consented whilst the circumstance of time for their answer was in debate 2. What time they should have for their answer The first of these was carried for them by one present voice and four Proxies and for the second time was allowed them till the tenth of November And although the adverse Lords pleaded that in offences criminall for matters of fact no councell should be allowed them but to answer yea or no yet on the Lord Keepers affirming it ordinary and just to allow councell in such cases it was permitted unto them 7. Bishop Warner of Rochester is chosen by joynt consent The impeachment of the Bishops waved and why to solicite the cause sparing neither care nor cost therein Of the Councell he retained two only appeared Serjeant Jermin who declined to plead for them except the Bishops would first procure him a Warrant from the House of Commons which they refused to doe and Mr. Chuite who being demanded of the Lords whether he would plead for the Bishops Yea said he so long as I have a tongue to plead with Soon after he drew up a Demurrer in their behalf that their offence in making Canons could not amount to a Premunire This being shown to the Bishop of Lincoln he protested that he never saw a stronger demurrer all the dayes of his life and the notice hereof to the Lords was probably the cause that they waved any further prosecution of the charge which henceforward sunk in silence 8. Passe we now from the outworks of Episcopacy I mean the Deans and Chapters this fiercely stormed but as yet not taken to the Bishops themselves The Bishops accused for mean birth who began to shake seeing their interest and respects in the House of Lords did daily decay and decline Yea about this time came forth the Lord Brook his book against Bishops accusing them in respect of their parentage to be de faece populi of the dregs of the people and in respect of their studies no way fit for government or to be Barons in Parliament 9. Whereupon the Bishops taking this accusation to heart Vindicated their paâ—entage meet together and in their own necessary defence thought fit to vindicate their extractions some publickly some in private discourse Dr. Williams began then Archbishop of York Canterbury being in the Tower was accused in the Star-Chamber for purchasing the two ancientest Houses and inheritances in North-Wales which are Penrhyne and Quowilocke in regard he was descended from them So that he might as truely accuse all the ancient Nobility of Britain as tax him for meanly descended Dr. Juxon Bishop of London did or might plead that his parents lived in good fashion and gave him large allowance first in the University then in Grays-Inn where he lived as fashionably as other Gentlemen so that the Lord Brooks might question the parentage of any Inns-of-Court-Gentlemen as well as his Bishop Morton of Durham averred that his father had been Lord Major of York and born all the Offices of that City with credit and honour so that the Lord Brook might as justly quarrell the descent of any Citizens Sons in England Bishop Curle of Winchester his father was for many yeers Auditor in the Court of Wards Anno Dom. 1641 Anno Regis Carol. 16 to Queen Elizabeth and King James and the aforesaid Lord may as well condemn all the sonnes of Officers to be meanly born as accuse him Bishop Cook of Hereford his Fathers family had continued in Darbyshire in the same house and in the same means four hundred yeers at least often Sheriffs of that County and matched to all the best houses therein So that the Lord Brook might as well have charged all the ancient Gentry of that shire for mean parentage as accuse him Bishop Owen of Asaph that there was not a Gentleman in the two Counties of Carnarvan and Anglesey of three hundred pounds a yeer but was his Kinsman or allieman in the fourth degree which he thinks will sufficiently justify his parentage Bishop Goodman of Glocester that though his very name seemed to point out his descent from Yeomantry yet though the youngest sonne of the youngest brother he had more left unto him than the Lord Brook his father had to maintain him and all his family That his grandfather by his father side purchased the whole estate of Sir Thomas Exmew Lord Maior London 1517. and that by his mothers side he was descended of the best parentage of the City of London The rest of the Bishops might sufficiently vindicate their parentage as most the Sonnes of Ministers or Lay-Gentlemen whose extractions ran not so low as to any such feculencie charged upon them 10. But moe symptomes of their dying power in Parliament daily discovered themselves The
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
Now though the said Sir Reginald did modestly decline the Pope's Honour for want of Maintenance yet had he at that time no fewer then forty three Knights Fees held of his Castle of Dunstar I have nothing else to adde herein save that the ancient Armes of the Mohuns viz. a hand in a Maunch holding a Flower de luce in that Age more fashionable then a Rose in Heraldry seems to relate to this occasion which their Family afterward changed into a Sable Crosse in the Atchievements in the Holy land born at this day by the truely honourable the Lord Mohun Baron of Oakehampton as descended from this Family 28. This year died Robert Grouthead 38 Bishop of Lincoln 1254 born at Stodebrook in Suffolk The death of Bishop Grouthead Natalibus pudendis saith my c Bishop Godwin in Catalogue of Linc. Bish. Authour of Shamefull extraction intimating suspicion of Bastardy though the parents rather then the child have caused a blush thereat He got his Surname from the greatness of his head having large Stoage to receive and store of Braines to fill it bred for a time in Oxford then in France a great and generall Scholar Bale reckoning up no fewer then two hundred books of his making and a great opposer of the Popes oppression which now grew intolerable 29. For it appeared by inquisition made the last year The Popes fume against this good Bishop that the Ecclesiasticall Revenues of Italians in England whereof many were Boyes more Blockheads all Aliens amounted per annum unto threescore and ten thousand Marks whereas the Kings Income at the same time was hardly d Matthew Paris in Anno 1552. twenty thousand Bishop Grouthead offended thereat wrote Pope Innocent the fourth such a Iuniper Letter taxing him with extortion and other vitious practices that his Holiness brake out into this expression VVhat meaneth this doting old man surdus absurdus thus boldly to controll our actions By Peter and Paul did not our innate ingenuity restrain us I would confound him and make him a prodigie to the whole world Is not the King of England our Vassall yea our Slave to imprison and destroy what persons we please to appoint 30. The Pope being in this pelt quenched by a Spanish Cardinall Aegidius a Spanish Cardinall thus interposed his gravitie It is not expedient my Lord to use any harshness to this Bishop We must confesse the truths which he saith He is a holy man of a more Religious life then any of us yea Christendome hath not his equall a great Philosopher skilled in Latine and Greek a constant reader in the Schools Preacher in the Pulpit lover of Chastity and loather of Simony 31. Thus the Pope took wit in his anger Grouthead the peoples though not the Pope's Saint and Grouthead escaped for the present though Bale reporteth that he died excommunicate and deprived of his Bishoprick Popish e Iohn Burie Mat. Paris Mat. Westminster Mr. Fabian Authours confidently report a strange vision or rather a passion of Pope Innocent the fourth whom Grouthead appearing after his death so beat with many blows it seems he had a heavy hand as well as a great head that the Pope died thereof soon after No wonder therefore if his successours would not Canonize this Robert who notwithstanding was a Saint though not in the Popes yet in the peoples Calendar many miracles being ascribed unto him and particularly f Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops Discontents begin in England that a sweet oyl after his death issued out of his monument which if false in the litterall may be true in a mysticall meaning Solomon observing that a good name is as oyntment poured out 32. England began now to â—urfet of more then thirty yeares Peace and Plenty which produced no better effects then ingratitude to God and murmuring at their King Many active spirits whose minds were above their means offended that others beneath them as they thought in Merit were above them in Employment Anno Dom. 1254 cavilled at many errours in the Kings Government Anno Regis Henrici 3. 38 being State-Donatists maintaining the perfection of a Commonwealth might and ought to be attained A thing easie in the Theory impossible in the Practice to conform the actions of mens corrupted natures to the exact Ideas in mens Imaginations 33. Indeed they had too much matter whereon justly to ground their Discontents Grounded on too much occasion partly because the King distrusting his Natives imployed so many French Forrainers in places of power and profit partly because he had used such indirect courses to recruit his Treasuries especially by annihilating all Patents granted in his Minority though indeed he was never more in his Full-age then when in his Non-age as guided then by the best counsell and forcing his Subjects to take out new ones on what Terms his Officers pleased In a word an a Roger Wendover Authour then living complaineth that Iustice was committed to men unjust the Laws to such who themselves were Out-laws and the keeping of the Peace to injurious people delighting in Discords 34. After many contests betwixt the King and his Subjects which the Reader may learn from the Historians of the State four and twenty prime persons were chosen by Parliament to have the supreme inspection of the Land A Title without power onely lest to the King which soon after to make them the more cordiall passed a decoction and were reduced to three and they three in effect contracted to one Simon Mountfort Earle of Leicester the Kings Brother in Law The King himself standing by as a Cypher yet signifying as much as his ambitious Subjects did desire These to make sure work bound him with his solemn Oath to submit himself to their new-modelled Government 35. Here the Pope charitable to relieve all distressed Princes interposed his power The Pope freely gives his curtesies for money absolving the King from that Oath as unreasonable in it self and forced upon him His Holinesse was well paid for this great favour the King hereafter conniving at his Horse-Leeches Legates and Nuncioes sucking the bloud of his Subjects with intolerable Taxations Thus was it not altogether the Flexibility of King Henry but partly the Flexion of his Condition I mean the altering of his occasions which made him sometimes withstand and otherwhiles comply with the Popes extortion Thus alwayes the Popes Curtesies are very dear and the Storm it self is a better Shelter then the Bramble fleecing such Sheep as fly under the shade thereof 36. Mean time the King having neither Coyn nor Credit Sad case when the Royall Root is no better then a sucker having pawn'd his Iewels mortgag'd all his Land in France and sold much of it in England wanting where withall to subsist lived on Abbeys and Prioreys till his often coming and long staying there made what was welcome at the first quickly to become
that the Clergy ingrossed all Secular Offices and thereupon presented the insuing Petition to the King according to this effect insisting only in the substance thereof 42. And because that in this present Parliament it was declared to our Lord the King 45 by all the Earls 1370 Barons Ex Rot. Parl. in Turr. Lond. in 45. Ed. tertii and Commons of England that the Government of the Kingdom hath been performed for a long time by the men of Holy Church which are not * Justifiables in the French Originals 〈◊〉 whether whether not able to do justice or not to be justified in their imployment as improper for it justifiable in all cases whereby great mischiefs and damages have happened in times past and more may happen in time to come in disheriting of the Crown and great prejudice of the Kingdom for divers causes that a man may declare that it will please our said Lord the King Anno Dom. 1370 that the Laymen of the said Kingdom which are sufficient and able of estate Anno Regis Ed. tertii 45. may be chosen for this and that no other person be hereafter made Chancelour Treasurer Clerk of the Privy Seale Barons of the Exchequer Chamberlains of the Exchequer Controler and all other great Officers and Governours of the said Kingdom and that this thing be now in such manner established in form aforesaid that by no way it may be defeated or any thing done to the contrary in any time to come Saving alwaies to our Lord the King the Election and removing of such Officers but that alwaies they be Lay-men such as is abovesaid 43. To this Petition the King returned The Answer in effect a denial that he would ordain upon this point as it shall best seem to him by the advice of his good Councel He therefore who considereth the present power of the Clergy at the Councel-Table will not wonder if all things remained in their former Condition till the Nobility began more openly to favour John Wickliff his Opinions which the next Book God willing shall relate 44. We will close this with a Catalogue of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury Simon Mepham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Contemporary with King Edward the third and begin with Simon Mepham made Arch-Bishop in the first year of his reign so that the Crown and the Mitre may seem in some sort to have started together only here was the odds the King was a young yea scarce a man whereas the Arch-Bishop was well stricken in years Hence their difference in holding out the King surviving to see him buried and six more whereof four Simons inclusively heart-broken as they say with grief For when John Grandison Bishop of Exeter making much noise with his Name but more with his Activity refused to be visited by him the Pope siding with the Bishop Mepham so resented it that it cost him his life 45. John Stratford was the second John Sratford his successor Consecrated first Bishop of Winchester on the Lords day whereon it was solemnly sung many are the afflictions of the Righteous whereof he was very apprehensive then and more afterwards when his own experience had proved a Comment thereon Yet this might comfort him whilst living and make others honour his memory that a good Conscience without any great crime generally caused his molestation For under King Edward the second he suffered for being too loyall a Subject siding with the King against the Queen and her Son and under King Edward the third he was molested for being too faithfull a Patriot namely in pittying his poor Countreymens taxations for which he was accused for correspondency with the French and complying with the Pope Pope and King of France then blowing in one Trumpet whereat King Edward was highly incensed 46. However Stratford did but say what thousands thought His last his best dayes viz. that a peace with France was for the profit of England especially as proffered upon such honourable conditions This the Arch-Bishop was zealous for upon a threefold accompt First of Pietie to save the effusion of more Christian blood Secondly of Policie suspecting successe that the tide might turn and what was suddenly gotten might be as suddenly lost Thirdly on Charity sympathizing with the sad condition of his fellow Subjects groaning under the burthen of Taxes to maintain an unnecessary war For England sent over her wealth into France to pay their victorious Souldiers and received back again honour in exchange whereby our Nation became exceeding proud and exceeding poor However the end as well as the beginning of the Psalm was verified of this Arch-Bishop the Lord delivereth them out of all dying in great honour and good esteem with the King a strong argument of his former innocence 47. The third was Tho. Bradwardine Tho. Bradwardine the third Arch-bishop whose election was little lesse then miraculous For Commonly the King refused whom the Monks chose the Pope rejected whom the Monks and King did elect whereas all interests met in the choise of Bradwardine Yea which was more the Pope as yet not knowing that the Monks and the King had pre-elected him of his own accord as by supernaturall instinct appointed Bradwardine for that place who little thought thereon Thus Omne tulit punctum and no wonder seeing he mingled his profitable Doctrines with a sweet and amiable conversation Camden in Eliz. indeed he was skilled in School Learning which one properly calleth Spinosa Theologia and though some will say can figgs grow on thorns yet his thorny Divinity produced much sweet devotion 48. He was Confessor to king Edward the third whose miraculous victories in France The best Arch-Bishop of that See some impute more to this mans devout prayers Then either to the Policy or Prowess of the English Nation He died before he was inthronized few moneths after his consecration though now advanced on a more Glorious and durable Throne in Heaven where he hath received the Crown from God who here defended the * He wrote de Causae Dei Cause of God I behold him as the most pious man who from Anselm not to say Augustine to Cranmer sat on that Seat And a better St. Thomas though not sainted by the Pope then one of his predecessors commonly so called 49. Simon Islip was the fourth Simon Islip next Arch-Bishop a parcimonious but no avaricious man thrifty whilst living therefore clandestinely Inthronized and when dead secretly interred without any solemnity Yet his frugality may be excused if not commended herein because he reserved his estate for good uses founding Canterbury Colledge in Oxford Excipe Merton Colledge Thus generally Bishops founders of many Colledges therein denominated them either from that Saint to whom they were dedicated or from their See as Exeter Canterbury Durham Lincoln putting thereby a civil obligation on their Successors to be as Visitors so Benefactors thereunto This Canterbury Colledge is now
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
pains seriously to peruse it Partly for the authenticalness thereof being by me transcribed out of the Acts of the Convocation partly for its usefulness shewing by what degrees the Gospel insinuated it self into the souls of men What said Zeresh Haman's c Esther 6. 13. wife to her husband If thou hast begun to fall before Mordecai thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before-him Seeing Popery began even now to reel and stagger within few years we shall have it tumble down and lay prostrate with the face thereof at the foot-stool of truth 35. HENRY the Eight by the grace of God KING of England and of France Defensour of the Faith Lord of Ireland and in earth Supreme Head of the Church of England to all singular our most loving faithfull and obedient Subjects greeting AMongst other cures appertaining unto this Our Princely Office whereunto it hath pleased Almighty God of his infinite mercy and goodnesse to call Vs We have alwaies esteemed and thought like as We also yet esteem and think that it most chiefly belongeth unto Our said charge diligently to foresee and cause Ann. Regis Hē 8. 28. That not onely the most holy Word and Commandements of God should most sincerely be believed and most reverently be observed and kept of Our Subjects but also that unity and concord in opinions namely in such things as doe concern Our Religion may encrease goe forthward and all occasion of dissent and discord touching the same be repressed and utterly extinguished For the which cause We being of late to Our great regrete credibly advertised of such diversity in opinions as have grown and sprongen in this Our Realm as well concerning certain Articles necessary to Our salvation as also touching certain other honest and commendable ceremonies rites and usages now a long time used and accustomed in Our Churches for conservation of an honest politie and decent and seemly order to be had therein minding to have that unity and agreement established through Our said Church concerning the premisses And being very desirous to eschew not onely the dangers of souls but also the outward unquietness which by occasion of the said diversity in opinions if remedy were not provided might perchance have ensued have not onely in Our own Person at many times taken great pain study labours and travails but also have caused Our Bishops and other the most discreet and best learned men of Our Clergie of this Our whole Realm to be assembled in Our Convocation for the full debatement and quiet determination of the same Where after long and mature deliberation had of and upon the premisses finally they have concluded and agreed upon the most special points and Articles as well such as be commanded of God and are necessary to our salvation as also divers other matters touching the honest ceremonies and good and politick orders as is aforesaid Which their determination debatement and agreement for so much as We think to have proceeded of a good right and true judgment and to be agreeable to the laws and ordinances of God and much profitable for the stablishment of that charitable concord and unity in Our Church of England which We most desire We have caused the same to be published willing requiring and commanding you to accept repute and take them accordingly And farther We most heartily desire pray Almighty God that it may please him so to illuminate your hearts that you and every of you may have no lesse desire zeal and love to the said unity and concord in reading divulging and following the same than We have had and have in causing them to be thus devised set forth and published And for because We would the said Articles and every of them should be taken and understanden of you after such sort order degree as appertaineth accordingly We have caused by the like assent agreement of our said Bishops other learned men the said Articles to be divided into two sorts where of the one part containeth such as be commanded expresly by God and be necessary to our salvation and the other containneth such things as have been of a long continuance for a decent order honest polity prudently instituted used in the Church of Our Realm be for that same purpose end to be observed kept accordingly although they be not expresly cōmanded of God nor necessary to our salvation Wherefore We will require you to accept the same after such sort as We have here prescribed them unto you to conform your selves obediently unto the same whereby you shall not only attain that most charitable unity loving concord whereof shall ensue your incomparable cōmodity profit lucre as well spiritual as other but also you shall not a little encourage Vs to take farther travails pains labours for your commodities in all such other matters as in time to come may happen to occur and as it shall be most to the honour of God the profit tranquility quietness of all you Our most living Subjects The principal Articles concerning our Faith First As touching the chief and principal Articles of our Faith it is thus agreed as hereafter followeth by the whole Clergie of this Our Realm We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people by Us cōmitted to their spiritual charge that they ought and must most constantly believe and defend all those things to be true which be comprehended in the whole body and Canon of the Bible and also in the three Creeds or Symbols whereof one was made by the Apostles and is the common Creed which every man useth The second was made by the Councel of Nice and is said daily in the Masse and the third was made by Athanasius and is comprehended in the Psalm Quicunque vult And that they ought and must take and interpret all the same things according to the self-same sentence and interpretation which the words of the self-same Creeds or Symbols doe purport and the holy approved doctrines of the Church doe intreat and defend the same Item That they ought and must repute hold and take all the same things for the most holy most sure and most certain and infallible words of God and such as neither ought he can altered or convelled by any contrary opinion or authority Item That they ought and must believe repute and take all the Articles of our Faith contained in the said Creeds to be so necessary to be believed for mans salvation That whosoever being taught will not believe them as is aforesaid or will obstinately affirm the contrary of them he or they cannot be the very members of Christ and his Spouse the Church but be very Infidels or Hereticks and members of the Devil with whom they shall perpetually be damned Item That they ought and must most reverently and religiously observe and keep the self-same words according to the very same form and
Monks therein were it so their soyl being so fruitfull and pleasant it would merit more wonder than that Ireland hath no Venemous creatures therein Quare what meant by four Abbots peculiarly exempt But their brag hath more of Mirth than Truth in it seeing the Priorie at Caris-brook and Nunnery at Quarre evidence them sufficiently stockt with such Cattell 17. I have done with this subject of Mitred Abbeys when we have observed that they were called ABBOTS GENERALL aliàs ABBOTS n Sir H. Spelman in Glossario verbo Abbas SOVEREIGNE as acknowledging in a sort no Superiour because exempted from the Jurisdiction of any Diocezan having Episcopall power in themselves And here I would be thankfull to any who would inform me that seeing all these Abbots were thus priviledged how it came to passe that Four of them were especially termed ABBOTS o Titles of honour pag. 727. EXEMPTI viz Bury Waltham S. Albans and Evesham I say seeing these were so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EXEMPT as it were out of the EXEMPTED I would willingly be satisfied what extraordinary Priviledges these enjoyed by themselves above others of their own Order Of the Civill benefits and Temporall conveniences accruing to the State by the continuance of Abbies SO much of the greatnesse Give Abbies their due somewhat of the goodnesse of Abbeys if possibly it may be done without prejudice to truth Surely some pretences plausible at least did ingratiate them with the Politicians of that Age otherwise Prince and people in those daies though blinded with ignorant zeal yet worldly-wise would never have been gulled into so long a toleration yea veneration of them 2. They were an easie and cheap outlet for the Nobility and Gentry of the land They convenient to dispose youngest children in therein to dispose their younger children That younger son who had not mettal enough to manage a sword might have meeknesse to become a coule Which coule in short time might grow up to be a Mitre when his merits presented him to be Abbot of his Covent Clap a vail on the head of a younger daughter especially if she were superannuated not over-handsome melancholy c. and instantly she was provided for in a Nunnery where without cost or care of her parents she lived in all outward happinesse wanting nothing except perhaps it were an husband This was a great cause of the long continuance of the English Nobility in such pomp and power as having then no temptation to torture their Tenants with racking of rents to make provision for their younger children Indeed sometimes Noblemen gave small portions with their children to the Covent not such as would preferre them in marriage to one of their own quality but generally Abbeys were glad to accept them with nothing thereby to engage the Parents and Brothers of such young men and maidens to be the constant friends to their Covent on all occasion at Court and chiefly in all Parliaments 3. One eminent instance hereof we have in Ralph Nevil An eminent instance thereof first Earl of Westmerland of that Family whom I behold as the happiest Subject of England since the Conquest if either we count the number of his Children or measure the height of the Honour they attained He had by Margaret his first Wife Joan his second Wife 1. John his eldest son Lord Nevil c. 2. Ralph in the right of Mary his wife Lord Ferrars of Ously 3. Maud married to Peter Lord Mauley 4. Alice married to Sir Thomas Gray 5. Philip married to Thomas Lord Dacres of Gilsland 6. Margaret married to the Lord Scroop of Bolton 7. Anne married to Sir Gilbert Umfrevil 8. Margerie Abbesse of Bearking 9. Elizabeth a Nun. 1. Richard Earl of Sarisbury 2. William in the right of Joan his wife Lord Faulconbridge 3. George Lord Latimer 4. Edward Lord Abergavennie 5. Robert Bishop of Durham 6. Thomas in right of his wife Lord a Mills p. 393. Seymour 7. Katharine married to Thomas Duke of Norfolke 8. Elianour to Henry Earl of Northhumberland 9. Anne to Humphrey Duke of Buckingham 10. Jane a Nun. 11. Cicilie to Richard Duke of York and Mother to King Edward the fourth See we here the policie of that age in disposing of their numerous issue More than the tithe of them was given to the Church and I trow the Nuns and Abbesse especially were as good Madams as the rest and conceived themselves to go in equipage with their other Lady-Sisters And no wonder if an Earl preferred his daughters to be Nuns seeing no King of England since the Conquest had four Daughters living to womans estate but He disposed one of them to be a Votarie And Bridget the fourth Daughter to King Edward the fourth a Nun at Dartford in Kent was the last Princesse who entered into a Religious Order 4. They were tolerable Tutours for the education of youth there being a great penurie of other Grammar-schools in that Age and every Covent had one Children taught therein or moe therein who generally gratis taught the children thereabouts Yea they who were loose enough in their own lives were sufficiently severe in their discipline over others Grammar was here taught and Musick which in some sort sung her own Dirige as to the generall use thereof at the dissolution of Abbies 5. Nunneries also were good Shee-schools Conveniency of Shee-Colledges wherein the Girles and Maids of the Neighbourhood were taught to read and work and sometimes a little Latine was taught them therein Yea give me leave to say if such Feminine Foundations had still continued provided no vow were obtruded upon them virginity is least kept where it is most constrained haply the weaker sex besides the avoiding modern inconveniences might be heightned to an higher perfection than hitherto hath been attained That sharpnesse of their wits and suddenness of their conceits which their enemies must allow unto them might by education be improved into a judicious solidity and that adorned with Arts which now they want not because they cannot learn but are not taught them I say if such Feminine Foundations were extant now of dayes haply some Virgins of highest birth would be glad of such places and I am sure their Fathers and elder Brothers would not be sorry for the same 6. They were the sole Historians Monks the sole Historians and why in writing to preserve the remarkable passages of Church and Common-wealth I confesse I had rather any than Monks had written the Histories of our Land yet rather than the same should be unwritten I am heartily glad the Monks undertook the performance thereof Indeed in all their Chronicles one may feel a rag of a Monks coule I mean they are partial to their own interest But in that Age there was a choicelesse choice that Monks or none at all should write our English Histories Sword-men lacked learning States-men leasure to doe it it was therefore devolved to Monks and Friers who
not in obedient humylyte have undre the shadowe or color of the saide rule and habite vaynely detestably and also ungodly employed yea rather devowred the yerely revenues yssuing and comyng of the saide possessions in continuall in gurgitations and farcyngs of owr carayne bodyes and of others the supportares of owr voluptuose and carnal appetyte with other vayne and ungodly expensys to the manyfest subvertion of devocion and clennes of lyvyng and to the moost notable slaunder of Christs holy Evangely which in the forme of owr professyon we did ostentate and openly devaunt to kepe moost exactly withdrawyng thereby from the symple and pure myndys of yowr graces subjectes the onely truth and comfort which they oughte to have by the true faith of Christe And also the devyne honor and glory onely due to the glorious Majesty of God Almyghty steryng them with all perswasions ingynes and polyce to dedd Images and counterfett reliques for owr dampnable lucre Which our moost horryble abominacions and execrable persuacions of yowr graces people to detestable errours and our long coveryd Ipocrysie cloked with fayned sanctite We revolving dayly and continually ponderyng in owr sorrowfull harts and thereby perseyving the botomlas gulf of everlasting fyre redy to devowre us if persysting in this state of lyving we shulde depart from this uncertayn and transytory lâ—ffe constrayned by the intollerable anguysh of owr conscience callyd as we trust by the grace of God who wold have no man to perysh in synne with harts moost contrite and repentante prostrate at the noble feet of yowr moost royall Majestye most lamentably doo crave of yowr highnes of yowr abundant mercy to grant unto us moost greevous against God and yowr Highnes your most gracious perdon for owr saide sondry offences omyssyons and negligences comytted as before by us is confessed agaynst yowr Highnes and yowr most noble Progenitors And where yowr Hyghnes being Supreme hedd immediately aftre Christ of his Church in this yowr Roialme of England so consequently generall and onely Reformator of all religious persons there have full authority to correct or dyssolve at yowr Graces pleasure and libertye all Covents and religious companyes abusing the Rewles of their profession And moreover to yowr Highnes being owr soveraygn Lord and undoubted fownder of yowr said Monastery by dissolucion whereof apperteyneth onely the Oryginall title and propre inherytance as well of all other goods moveable and unmoveable to the said Monastery in any wyse apperteyning or belonging to be disposed and imployed as to yowr graces most excellent wysdeme shall seme expedyent and necessary Per me Franciscum Priorem Per me Johannem Sub-Priorem Per me Tho Smyth Per me Tho Golston Per me Rob Martin Per me Jacob Hopkins Per me Ric Bunbery Per me Johannem Pette Per me Jo Harrold Per me Tho Barly Per me Will Ward Per me Tho Atterbury Per me Will Fowler Other Resignations varying in their words met for the maine in the matter and were with all speed presented to the Kings Visitors As School-boyes hope to escape with the fewer stripes for being the first in untying their points those Convents promised to themselves the kindest usage which were forwardest in their Resignations though all on the matter fared alike 4. Yea Betwixt first and last no great difference John de Warboise so called from the place of his nativity in Huntingdon shire where my worthy friend Mr. William Johnson is well beneficed though the a Speed in his description of Huntingdon-shire first with his sixty Benedicti Monks who with solemn subscription renounced the Popes Supremacy and now as officious as any in surrendring his Convent to the Kings Visitors met with no peculiar and extraordinary civility above others of his Ordâ—r 5. Such Resignations seal'd and deliver'd the Visitors called for the Seales themselves which now had survived their own use having passed the last effectual Act and these generally made of silver were by the Kings Officers presently broken in pieces Such material Stamps being now abolished it will be charity to preserve their Impressions and exhibit them to posterity which here we shall endeavour rendring some probable reason how most of them referre to the Founders or scituation or some remarkable action therein The Seale of Armes of the Mitred Abbeys in England IN presenting of them The designe of the work I will not be confined to the strict termes of Blazoury the rather because some of their Armes may be presumed so antient as sitter to give Rules to than take them from our moderne Heraldry And what my pen cannot sufficiently describe therein the Reader may satisfie himselfe by his own eye To which these Cotes are presented in the last sheet of this Volume after the History of Waltham Abbey 1. I will make a method of my own beginning where the Sun ends in the West The Armes of Tavestocke Tavestock in Devon shire gave Varrey Or and Azure on a Chiefe Or two Mulletts Gules 2. Glassenbury gave Vert as I conjecture the Colour a Crosse Bottone Argent Of Glossenbury In the first Quarter the Woman with a Glory holding a Babe radiated about his head in her Armes because forsooth by the direction of the Angel * See the first Cent. Paragr 11. Gabriel their Church was first dedicated to the Virgin Mary 3. Middleton in Gloucester-shire gave Sable Of Middleton three Baskets Argent replenished with Loaves of Bread Gules Had the number of the Baskets been either Seven or Twelve some would interpret therein a reference to the Reversions preserved by Christ his command of the Loaves miraculously multiplied whereas now they denote the Bounty of that Abbey in relieving the poor 4. What Malmesbury in Wiltshire gave I cannot yet attain Of Malmsbury 5. Abingdon gave a Crosse flurt betwixt Martelletts Sable Of Abingdon much alluding to the Armes of our English Kings before the Conquest who it seems were great Benefactors thereunto 6. The Abbey of S. James in Reading Of Reading gave AZure three Scallop Shells Or. Here I know not what secret sympathy there is between S. James and Shells but sure I am that all Pilgrims that visit St. James of Compos-Stella in Spaine the Paramount Shrine of that Saint returned thence obsiti * Erasmâ—â— in his Dialogue called Peregrinatio Religionis eâ—go conchis all beshell'd about on their clothes as a religious Donative there bestowed upon them 7. The Abbey of Hide Of Hide juxta Winton gave Argent a Lyon rampant Sable on a cheiff of the second four Keyes Argent 8. Bataile Abbey in Sussex gave Gules a Crosse betwixt a Crown Or Of Battaile in the first and third Quarter A Sword bladed Argent hilted Or in the second and fourth Quarter thereof Hete the Armes relate to the Name and both Armes and Name to the fierce Fight hard by whereby Duke William gained the English-Crown by Conquest and founded this
in terra supremum caput Anglicanae Ecclesiae Omnibus ad quos praesentes litterae pervenerint Salutem Cum nuper Monasterium de Carthus de Hinton in Com nostro Somer jam dissolvatur unde quidam Edmundus Horde tempore dissolutionis illiê° et diu antea Prior inde fuit Nos volentes rationabilem annualem pensionem sive promotionem condignam eidem Edmundo ad victum exhibitionem sustentationem suam melius sustinendum provideri Sciatis igitur quod nos in consideratione praemissoruÌ„ de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia meros motu nostris per advisamentum consensum Cancellarit consilii Curiae Augmentationum reventionum Coronae nostrae dedimus concessimus ac per praesentes damus concedimus eidem Edmundo quandam annuitatem sive annualem pensionem quadragint ' quatuor librar ' sterlingorum babend gaudendum annuatim percipiendum easdem quadraginta quatuor libras praefato Edmundo assignatis suis à festo Annuntiationis beatae Mariae virginis ultimo praeterito ad terminum pro termino vitae ipsius Edmundi vel quosque idem Edmundus ad unum vel plura Beneficia Ecclesiastica sive aliam promotionem condignam clari annui valoris quadragint ' quatuor librarum aut ultra per nos promotus fuerit tam per manus Thesaurarii reventionum augmentationum Coronae nostrae pro tempore existentis de Thesauro nostro in manibus suis de reventionibus praedictis remanere contingen ' quam per manus receptor exituum reventionum dicti nuper Monasterii pro tempore existen ' de eisdem exitibus reventionbus ad festum Sancti Michaëlis Archangeli Anuntiationis beatae Mariae virginis per aequales portiones Et ulterius de uberiori gratia nostra Dedimus pro consideratione praedicta per praesentes concedimus praefato Edmundo Horde undecim libras sterlingorum habend eidem Edmundo ex dono nostro per manus Thesaurarii praedicti de Thesauro praedicto vel per manus dicti Receptoris de exitibus reventionibus maneriorum terrarum tenementorum dicti nuper Monasterii solvend ' Eo quod expressa mentio de vero valore annuo Aut de certitudine praemissorum sive eorum alicujus aut de aliis donis sive concessionibus per nos praefato Edmundo ante haec tempora fact ' in praesentibus minime fact ' existit aut aliquo statuto actu ordinatione provisione sive restrictione in contrarium inde habit ' fact ' ordinat ' seu provis ' aut aliqua alia re causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non obstante In cujus rei testimonium has Literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes Tesse Ricardo Riche Milite apud Westmonasterium vicesimo septimo die Aprilis anno Regni nostri tricesimo primo Duke Per Cancellarium concilium Curiae Augmentationum Reventionum Coronae Regiae virtute warranti Regii HENRY the Eighth by the Grace of God King of England and France Defender of the Faith Lord of Ireland and supreme Head of the English Church on earth To all to whom Our present Letters shall come Greeting Whereas the Monastery of the Carthusions of Hinton in Our County of Somerset is now lately dissolved whereof Edmond Horde was Prior at the time of the dissolution thereof and long before We are willing that a reasonable Pension annuall or sutable promotion should be provided for the said Edmond the better to maintain and sustaine him in diet and maintenance Know therefore that Wee in consideration of the premises out of Our speciall Grace and favour certaine knowledge and Our meere motion by the advice and consent of the Chancellour and Counsell of the Court of Augmentations of the Revenues of Our Crown Have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant to the same Edmond an annuity or yearly Pension on of forty four pounds sterling that the said forty foure pounds may bee had enjoyed or yearly received by the aforesaid Edmond and his Assignes from the Feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past to the term and for the term of the life of the said Edmond or untill the said Edmond shall be preferred by Us to one or more Ecclestasticall Benefices or other sutable Promotion of the cleer yearly value of forty foure pounds or upwards as well by the hands of the Treasurer of the Augmentations of the Revenues of Our Crown for the time being out of Our treasure which shall chance to remain in his hands of the Revenues aforesaid as from the Receiver of the profits and revenues of the said late Monastery for the time being out of the said profits and Revenues at the feast of Saint Michael the Arch-angel and the Anuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary by equall portions And furthermore of Our more plentiful Grace We have given and for the consideration aforesaid by these presents doe grant to the aforesaid Edmond Horde eleven pounds sterling that the said Edmond may have it from Our gift by the hands of Our foresaid Treasurer of Our foresaid Treasure or by the hands of Our foresaid Receiver to be paid out of the profits and Revenues of the Manours Lands and Tenements of the said late Monastery any Statute Act Ordinance promission or restriction to the contrary had made ordained or provided or any other matter cause or thing whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding In testimony whereof We have made these Our Letters Patents witnesse Richard Rich Knight at Westminster the twenty seventh day of April in the one and thirtieth of Our Reign Duke By the Chancellor and Councell of the Court of Augmentations of the Revenues of the Crown by virtue of the King's Warrant See we here the payment to this Prior consisted of two Summes of several natures or conditions Namely 1. The forty four pounds being properly the Pension paid yearly unto him 2. The additionall eleven pounds granted with an ulterius paid but once as advance-money to fit him with necessaries at his departure out of the Covent This is observable in all the Patents I have seen That constantly the King's gratuity for their vale some small fractions excepted bears the proportion of a fourth part of their yearly Pension 5. Suppose then this our Prior preferred to a Church Dignity What Church Livings were inconsistent with Pensions or Living amounting very neer but not to the full value of forty four pounds yearly this did not avoid his Pension but that he might hold it and his Living together Wherefore as it was the desire and endevour of every Monk so advanced to beat down the value of his Church-Living as low as might be thereby to render himself capable of it and his Pension so was it the proper work of the King's Officers in the Augmentation Court truly to state the valuation of the Livings of such Pensioners that the Crown might not be defrauded Where by
not unusefull to be inserted 1. Sir Robert Hales Lord Treasurer of England slain in the tumult of Tyler Anno 1380 in the fourth of K. Richard the second At which time 2. Next him Sir John Long-strother I say next proximus at longo qui proximus intervallo siding with the House of Lancaster he was taken prisoner in Teuxbury Battail Anno 1471 and by King Edward the fourth put to death in cold blood contrary to the promise of a Prince who had assured his life unto him 3. Sir Thomas Dockwray is the next not of all but in our discovery A person of much desert expending himself wholly for the credit and profit of his Priory as who re-edified the Church out of its ruine finishing it Anno 1504 as appeareth by the Inscription over the Gate-house yet remaining 4. Sir William Weston succeeds of whom before dissolved this List on the very day of the dissolution of this Priory 5. Sir Thomas Tresham was the first and last of Q. Mary's re-erection There goeth a tradition that Q. Elizabeth in consideration of his good service done to Her self in Her Sister Q. Mary whom he proclaimed and Their Titles being shut out of doors together both were let in again at once though to take place successively allowed him to be called Lord Prior during his life which was not long and the matter not much deriving no power or profit unto him Here I purposely omit Sir Richard Shelley which family I finde of remark for worship and antiquity at Michel-Grove in Sussex He bare a great enmity to Q. Elizabeth especially after She had flatly denied Philip King of Spain whither Shelley was fled to consent to his abiding there and to his quier receiving his rents out of England However the Spanish King imployed him in an Honorable Ambassy unto Maximilian King b Cambd. Eliz. Anno 1563. of the Romans weating the high title of Prior of the Order of St. c Idem in Anno 1560. p. 46. John ' s in England A Prior without a Posterior having none un-under him to obey his power nor after him to succeed in his place We behold him only as the wry-stroak given in by us out of courtesie when the game was up before 5. The Site of the Priory of S. Iohn's was lately the possession of William Earl of Exeter Cecil the present owner of this Priory whose Countess Eliz Druery was very forward to repair the ruin'd Quire thereof Doct. Ios Hall preached at the solemn Reconciling thereof on S. Stephen's day 1623 taking for his Text Hag. 2. 9. The glory of the latter house shall be greater than of the former saith the Lord of Hosts At this day though coarctated having the side-Iles excluded yet so that their upper part is admitted affording conveniencies for attention it is one of the best private Chappels in England discreetly embracing the mean of decency betwixt the extreams of slovenly profaneness and gaudy superstition and belongeth at this present to the truly noble Thomas as Earle of Elgin SECTION VII TO THOMAS DOCKWRAY of Bedford-shire Esquire I Finde Sir THOMAS DOCKWRAY one of the last Lord Priors of our English Hospitallers To say you are descended from him would fix a stain on your Extraction seeing none might marry who were of his Order But this I will say and justifie that you Both are descended from the same Ancestour as by authentick Records doth most plainly appear Besides some conformity may be seen in your commendable inclinations He was all for * * Stow Survey of London pag. 483. building of a fair Church according to the devotion of those dayes Your bountifull hand hath been a great sharer in advancing of this Church-History Now although his stately Structure of the strongest stone had the hard hap to be blown up almost as * * Stows Surv. of Lond. ut priùs soon as it was ended this of yours a frailer Fabrick as but of Paper-walls may be Gods blessing have the happinesse of a longer continuance Of English Nunneries beyond the Seas THus were all Monks Fryers Why no Pensions paid to outed Votaries by Qu. Eliz. and Nunnes totally routed by the coming in of Qu. Elizabeth I finde not that any Pensions were allowed to those Votaries who at this time were outed their Covents though large Annuities were assigned to such who were ejected their Monasteries Colledges or free Chanteries in the Reigns of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixt whereof this may seem the reason because now caveat ingressor He or She might beware who entred an Abbey be it at their own perill seeing they formerly had so fair a warning though indeed some of them who had no friends to help them were left in no very good condition and died in much want and distresse 2. But now in the beginning of this Queens Reign Detained pensions paid to old Fryers and Nunnes a complaint did arise That Pensions were detained from many ejected out of Abbeys in her Father and Brother his Reigne who being poor old and impotent and repairing to the Queens Officers for their Pensions were instead of money paid with ill language and affronts Her Majesty possessed with the truth hereof took strict order both that their Arrears for the time past should be satisfied and their Aunuities for the time to come effectually discharged which much advanced her honour in pecuniary matters 3. Hence grew the Proverb crossed in the daies of her successours As sure as Exchequer pay Chequer pay the best of payments For all who in this Queens Reign had summes due unto them from the Treasurie had no other trouble than to tell them there and take them thence Thus it came to passe that by Her maintaining of the Exchequer the Exchequer maintained Her having money at most credit at all times on the reputation of so good a Pay-Mistresse insomuch that She was not onely able to lay down Her stake but also to vye ready silver with the King of Spaine when He notwithstanding both His Indies was fain to go on Bare board 4. As for Popish Religious persons flying out of England at the coming in of this Queen The onely stump of an old tree our pen shall follow them as fast as it can with convenient speed We begin with the Nunnes partly because the courtesie of England alloweth the first place to the feeblest Sex but chiefly because they seem still to continue an entire body and successively an immortall corporation being with the Carthusians the onely stump that remaineth of the huge tree which once overspread and shadowed our whole Nation 5. May the Reader be pleased to remember The progresse of Nunnes from Sion to Lisbone that King Henry the fifth founded one Abbey of Nunnes at Sion in Middlesex peopling it with Brigetine Nunnes and Fryers and another at Sheine in Surrey overagainst it so ordering it that all the day long alternately when the Devotions of the one
thirty years since Mistris Mary Ward Jesuitesses and Mistris Twitty being the first beginners of them They are not confined as other Nunns to a Clâ—yster but have liberty to go abroad where they please to convert people to the Catholick Faith They weare a Huke like other women and differ but little in their habit from common persons The aforesaid two Virgins or rather Viragins travelled to Rome with * Mistris Vaux Fortescus three the most beautifull of their society endevouring to procure from his Holiness an establishment of their order but no Confirmation onely a Toleration would be granted thereof Since I have * English-Spanish pilgrim P. 31. read that Anno 1629 Mistris Mary Ward went to Vienna where she prevailed so farre with the Emperesse that she procured a Monastery to be erected for those of her Order as formerly they had two Houses at Liege Since I have heard nothing of them which rendreth it suspitious that their Order is suppressed because otherwise such turbulent spirits would be known by their own violence it being all one with a storm not to be and not to bluster For although this may seem the speediest way to make their Order to propagate when Iesuita shall become hic haec of the common gender yet conscientious Catholicks conceived these Lady Errants so much to deviate from feminine not to say Virgin modesty what is but going in Men being accounted gadding in Maids that they zealously decried their practice probably to the present blasting thereof The forraign Covents of English Monks and Fryers WE will not so farre distrust the Readers memory as to repeat our premised distinction betwixt Monks and Fryers Jesuits gapeing for the Benedictines lands in England Onely know that the Papists themselves report that towards the end of Queen Elizabeth there was but one English Monk Mauro by name living in the whole world A thing not incredible to such who consider Monks generally grown men before admitted into their Order and that more than sixty years were passed from the dissolution of Abbeys to the end of Queen Elizabeth Hereupon several Catholicks of the Anti-Jesuiticall faction as Doctor Gifford Bagshaw Stevens Smith fearing the Jesuits on Father Mauro's death would for want of lawfull successours to the old English Benedictine Monks enter upon all the Abbey lands they had here solicited many English Students then living in their Colledges and Seminaries to become Monks of the Order of S. Bennet perswading them that hereby they should intitle themselves to a large Patrimony of land now likely to fall unto them 2. Here am I put to a double wonder First Defeated by Father Roberts and others whereon this Papisticall confidence was grounded of the speedy restitution of Abbey land at Queen Elizabeth her death finding no visible probability for the same Secondly I admire how Iesuits could pretend in default of Benedictine issue themselves Heires to these lapsed or vacant lands seeing other Orders farre more antient might lay a better claim thereto Except they conceive such English Abbey-lands held in Burrough English wherein the youngest according to the custome of some Manours is to inherit and so by the same advantage this last and newest of all Orders possessed themselves thereof 3. However to prevent them at the instance of the aforesaid secular Priests many English students got into forraign Covents of Benedictines and took on them the habit of S. Bennet John Roberts first a Lawyers Clerk in London then a student in the English Colledge at Vallydolid first led the dance running away to a neighbouring Covent of Spanish Benedictines More of the flock followed this Bell-weather thick and threefold leaving the Colledge of the Iesuits in despight of all the care and caution of their Father-Prefects Father Angustine if that his true and not assumed name was the second Monke of note at this time a name very active I am sure in propagating superstition in England and Roberts and Augustine the two revivers of the new Benedictines These obtained leave of Pope Pius quintus and the King of Spaine to build them a Covent at Doway And though Roberts coming over into England to procure the Catholicks contribution thereunto had the hard hap to meet with Tyburne in his way yet the designe proceeded and was perfected Doway Covent in Artois FOr the Lord Abbot of S. Vedastus anglieè S. Forsters in Arras Doway Covent a wealthy man and great favourer of the English yea generally good to all poor people built them a Cloyster and fine Church adjoyning on his own proper cost To whom and his successours the English Monks are bound to pay yearly on the first of February a wax-Candle weighing threescore pound by way of homage and acknowledgement of their Founder S. Mallowes Covent in Bretaigne DOctor Gifford Dean of the Collegiate Church of S. Peter's in Ritsell alià s Insula in Flanders erected a small Congregation of English Monks at S. Mallowes in France whereof he himself became Prior. Here he remained some years S. Mallowes Covent till at last resigning it to another Monke he removed unto Paris Covent Paris Covent WHich the aforesaid Doctor but now advanced and augmented with the honour and profit of the Archbishoprick of Rheams built and endowed on his own expences Paris Covent conferring thereon whatsoever he can get from his Archbishoprick on the profits whereof the Duke of Guise was suspected too heavily to quarter 2. Passe we now from our English Monks to the Fryers The Carthusians Covent at Macblin and begin with the Carthusiaus These being outed of Shoine in Surrey at the coming in of Queen Elizabeth wafted themselves over the Seas with so much wealth as bought them a Cloyster with lands to maintain it at Machlin These take themselves to be the most visible Church of English Fryers as continuing an uninterrupted succession and so puffed up with hopes of regaining their old lands that when Prince Charles went to Spaine they sent two of their Fryers into England to take possession both of Charter-House and Sheine Say not one of those places had been fair at first seeing to save double pains and charges they did well to claim them both together as likely to possess them both together as no doubt they had done long ago had not the rightfull Owners then and ever since detained the same Doway SOme report this erected by Count Gundamor others Doway more probably by the charity of English Catholicks for recollect Fryers of the Order of S. Francis They have a strong fancy that Christ-Church in London shall one day be theirs at the next return of times The best is being to goe bare foot by the rules of their Order they are well provided to wait for dead-mens shooes Here I omit the little Cloyster of Benedictine Monks in the Dukedome of Loraine near Ponto-Mouson as also some other Nunneries and Fryeries since erected at Paris and elsewhere for surely these
time in York shire which from a small pustle might have proved a painfull bile yea a fistulated ulcer if neglected it was quickly quelled on the execution of Omler and Dale the chief promoters thereof 22. By the favour of Sir Thomas Cotton 1550. having obtained to make use of his Library our English Vatican Abstracts of Church matters out of K. Edwards own Diary for Manuscripts I shall transcribe King Edwards Diurnall written with His own hand of the transactions in His Reigne True it is His Observations for his two first years are short and not exactly expressing the notation of time but His Notes as the Noter got perfection with His age They most belong to Secular affairs out of which we have selected such as respect Ecclesiasticall matters May the Reader be pleased to take notice that though my Observations as printed goe a-breast in parallel Columes with those of His Highnesse it is my intention they should observe their distance in their humble attendance thereupon Text Royall Observations thereon THe Lord Protectour by his own a a Thus the Pilot to save the Ship from sinking casts out the rich lading into the Sea agreement April 2. and submission lost his b b This lay void ever after whilst the Treasurership was presently conferred on Will Powlet Marquesse of Winchester and the Marshalship on John Dudley Earle of Warwick Protectourship Treasurership Marshalship all his Moveables and neer 2000 li. Land by Act of Parliament The Bp. of c c Namely George Day who notwithstanding this Sermon remained a zealous Papist and on that score was deprived of his Bishoprick Chichester before a vehement affirmer of Transubstantiation Ann. Dom. 1650. did Preach against it at Westminster in the Preaching-place April 4. My Lord Somerset taken into the Counsel 10. Order taken 13. that whosoever had d d Understand it not by Private Patrones but either presented by the King or Lord Chancellour Benefices given them should preach before the King in or out of Lent and every Sunday there should be a Sermon Masse for the Lady Mary denied to the Emperours e e These ingaged Archbishop Cranmer and Bishop Ridlye to presse the King with politick Reasons for the permission therof He unable to answer their Arguments fell a weeping Ambassadour 19. It is granted that my Lord of Somerset should have all his moveable Goods 27. and Leases except those that be already f f Courtiers keep what they catch and catch what ever they can come by given May 2. Joane g g An obstinate Heretick maintaining That Christ assumed nothing of the Virgin Mary but passed through Her as a Conduit-pipe She with one or two Arians were all who and that justly died in this Kings Reign for their Opinions Bocher otherwise called Joane of Kent was burnt for holding that Christ was not incarnate of the Virgin Mary being condemned the year before but kept in hope of conversion The Bishops of London and Ely were to perswade her but she withstood them and reviled the Preacher that preached at her death The Lord Cobham and Sir William Peter came home from their journy 20. delivering both the Oath and the Testimonial of the Oath witnessed by divers Noblemen of France and also the h h Advantageous enough for the French and dishonourable too much to the English whose covetousnesse was above their sense of Honor selling Bologne bought with blood for a summe of money Treaty sealed with the great Seal of France and in both was confessed that I was i i The Controversie about this Title lying not betwixt the Crowns of England and France but betwixt England and Rome no wonder if the French yeilded to any Style in a Treaty so gainfull to themselves supreme Head of the Church of England and Ireland Ann. Dom. 1550. The Duke of Somerset June 9. Marquesse of North-hampton Lord Treasurer Bedford and the Secretary Peter went to the Bishop of Winchester to know to what he would k k For as yet this subtile-Statist scarce knew his own mind often receding from his Resolves whose inconstancy in this kinde incensed the King and Councell against him stick He made Answer that he would obey and let forth all things set forth by Me and My Parliament and if he were troubled in conscience he would reveal it to the Councell and not reason openly against it The Books of My Proceedings were sent to the Bishop of Winchester to see whether hee would set his hand to it 10. or promise to set it forth to the people The Duke of Somerset 14. with five others of the Councell went to the Bp. of the Winchester to whom he made this Answer I having deliberately seen the Book of Common-Prayer although I would not have made it so my self yet I finde such things in it as satisfieth my conscience therefore both I will execute it my self and also see other my l l Parish in the Dialect of a Bishop is notoriously known to be his Diocese Yet I deny not but that the numerous Parishioners of Saint Mary Overies wherein Winchester-House are herein particularly intended Parishioners to doe it This was subscribed by the aforesaid Counsellours that they heard him say these words The Earl of Warwick July 9. the Lord Treasurer Sir William Herbert and Secretary Peter went to the Bishop of Winchester with certain Articles signed by Me and the Councel containing the Confessing of his Fault the Supremacy the establishing of Holy-daies the abolishing of the six Articles c. whereunto he put his hand saving to the Confession Sir William Herbert and the Secretary Peter July 10. were sent to him to tell him That I marvelled that he would not put his hand to the Confession To whom he made Answer That he would not doe it because he was m m If conscious of no crime he is not to be condemned for justifying his own integrity innocent 11. The Bishop of London Secretary Peter Mr. Cecil and Gooderich were commanded to make certain Articles according to the Laws and to put them in the Submission It was appointed that under the n n Such Umbrages of Simulation presumed lawful by all Politicians Quaere whether the Protestants in the Netherlands or France those of High Germany being beyond the line of probability were here intended shadow of preparing for Sea-matters 12. there should be sent 5000 lib. to the Protestants to get their good wills The Bishop of Winchester denied the o o They were drawn up in so punctual expressions the other had neither compasse for evasion nor covert for equivocation Articles 14. which the Bishop of London and others had made The Bishop of Winchester was p p A Rod formerly in fashion but never so soundly layd on as of late sequestred from his fruits for three months 19.
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
Land yet because these pretend to a Prophetical spirit and there may be one in due time their words are considerable Lord here your Honour with those many persons your Peers are concerned Judge in this place the shooe pinches them because they * Rom. 13. 4. bear the Sword to punish Offendors Officers I suppofe either Civil or Military if they allow of the destinction No mention here of Ministers It seems THOU and THEE is too good language for us who are Cains and Balaams and Dogs and Devils in their mouths The best is the sharpest railing cannot pierce where Guiltiness in the person railed on hath not first wimbled an hole for the entrance thereof Their Principall Argument for their Practice is drawn from many places in * Exod-33 12 five times in one verse Scripture where THOU and THEE are used by God to Man and Man to God and Man to Man which cannot be denid In Opposition whereunto we maintain that THOU from Superiors to inferiors is proper as a Signe of Command from equals to equals is passable as a note of Familiarity but from Inferiors to Superiors if proceeding from Ignorance hath a smack of Clownishness if from Affectation a tang of Contempt But in answer to their Objection from Scripture we return foure things First THOU is not so distastful a term in Hebrew and Greek as it is in the English custom of every Country being the grand Master of Language to appoint what is honourable and disgraceful therein The Jews had their * Matth. 5. 26. Racha or terme of contempt unknown to us we our THOU a signe of slighting unused by them Secondly It followeth not because THOU and THEE only are set down that therefore no other Additions of Honour were then and there given from Inferiors to their Superiors A negative Argument cannot be framed in this Case that more respect was not used because no more exprest in scripture it being the designe of Histories chiefly to represent the substance of deeds not all verbal Formalities Thirdly What Inferiors in Scripture wanted in words they supplied in Postures and Gestures of Submission even to * Gen. 33. 3 King 1. 16 23. as also 1 King 18. 7. Prostration of their bodies which would be condemned for Idolatry if ussed in England Lastly There are extant in Scripture expressions of respect as when Sarah termed her Husband Lord which though but * 1 Pet 3. 6. once mentioned in the text was no doubt her constant Practise or else the holy Spirit would not have took such notice thereof and commended it to others imitation But they follow their Argument urging it unreasonable that any should refuse that Coine in common discourse which they in their solemn Devotions pay to God himself THOU and THEE are Currant in the Prayers of Saints clean thorough the Scipture as also in our late admired Liturgy we Praise THEE we Belss THEE we Worship THEE we Glorifie THEE we give THEE Thanks for THY great Glory It is answered those Attributes of Greatness Goodness c. given to God in the Beginning of every Prayer do Vertually and Effectually extend and apply themselves to every Clause therein though for Brevities sake not actually repeated Thus OURFATHER in the Preface of the Lords Prayer relateth to every Petition therein OURFATHER hallowed be thy Name Our FATHER thy Kingdom come Our FATHER thy will be done c. And this qualifieth the harshness and rudeness of THOU THEE and THY when for expedition and expressiveness sake they are necessarily used Your Honour will not wonder at the Practise of these QUAKERS having read in the Prophetical Epistles of * 2 Pet. 2. 10. S. Peter and * Jude 8. S. Jude last placed because last to be performed that towards the end of the world some shall NOT BE AFFRAID to speak evil of Dignities These Feare where no feare is and QUAKE where they need not but feare not where feare is being bold and impudent where they ought not They are NOTAFRAID not only to speak against Dignities which in some case may be done where they are Vitious men but against Dignities the lawful useful needful Ordinances of God himself God grant these may seasonably be suppressed before they grow too numerous otherwise such who now quarel at the Honour will hereafter question the wealth of others Such as now accuse them for Ambition for being higher will hereafter condemne them for Covetousness for being broader then other yea and produce Scripture too proper and pregnant enough for their purpose as abused by their Interpretation In a word it is suspicious such as now introduce THOU and THEE will if they can expel Mine and Thine disolving all propriety into confusion And now my Lord how silly a thing is that Honour which lies at the mercy of such mens mouths to tender or deny the same The best is Mens Statures are not extended or contracted with their shaddows so as to be stretched out into Giants in the morning shrunk up into Dwarfes at Noone and stretch'd out at Night into Giants again Intrinsecal worth doth not increase and abate Wax and Waine Ebb and Flow according to the Fancy of others May your Lordship therefore labour for that true Honour which consisteth in Vertue and God's Approbation thereof which will last and remain how furiously soever the wicked rage and imagine vain things against it Here I presume to present your Honour the Lives and Deaths of some worthies contrary to those QUAKERS in their Practise and Opinion I mean the Martyrs in the Reign of Queen Mary These despised not their Superiors giving due Reverence to those who condemned them honouring lawfull Authority though unlawfully used These cast not off their Cloaths but modestly wore their Linnen on them at their Suffering These counterfeited no Corporall QUAKING standing as firme as the stake they were fastned to though in a Spirituall sense working out their salvation with Feare and Trembling Whos 's admirable Piety and Patience is here recommended unto your Lordships consideration by Your humble Servant to be commanded in all Christian Offices THOMAS FULLER THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITAINE CENT XVI 1. July 6. KIng Edward Queen Mary in despight of the Duke of Northumberland's opposition crowned tender in yeers and weak with sicknesse Anno Regin Mar. 1. was so practiced on by the importunitie of others that Anno Dom. 1553 excluding His two Sisters he conveyed the Crown to the Ladie Jane His Kinswoman by that which we may we call the Testament of King Edward and the Will of the Duke of Northumberland Thus through the piousintents of this Prince wishing well to the Reformation the Religion of Queen Marie obnoxious to exception the ambition of Northumberland who would do what he listed the simplicity of Suffolke who would be done with as the other pleased the dutifulnesse of the Ladie Jane disposed by her Parents the fearfulnesse of the Judges not daring
carie this style in their superscription To the Students at Zurich But behold their names Robert Horne Richard Chambers Thomas Leaver Nicolas Karvile John Mullings Thomas Spenser Thomas Bentham William Cole John Parkhurst Roger Kelke Robert Beamont Laurence Humsrey Henry Cockraft John Pretio 6. Frankford on the Meine Where they found the State very favourable unto them And this was the most visible and conspicuous English Church beyond the seas consisting of c Tr. of Fr. pag. 20. 25. Iohn Bale Edmond Sutton Iohn Makebraie William Whittingham Thomas Cole William Williams George Chidley William Hammon Thomas Steward Thomas Wood. Iohn Stanton William Walton Iasper Swyft Iohn Geofric Iohn Graie Mighell Gill. Iohn Samford Iohn wood Thomas Sorby Anthonie Cariar Hugh Alford George Whetnall Thomas Whetnall Edward Sutton Iohn Fox Laurence Kent William Kethe Iohn Hollingham Here we omit their petty Sanctuaries having like d 1 Sam. 30. 31 David places where himself and his men were wont to haunt Deesburgh VVormes c. Where their stragling numbers amounted not to the constitution of a Church If these Congregations be compared together Emden will be found the richest for substance there the Merchants which bear the bagg VVeasel the shortest for continuance Arrow the slenderest for number Strasburgh of the most quiet temper Zurich had the greatest scholars and Frankford had the largest priviledges Nor let any wonder if some in these Catalogues assigned to one colonie were afterwards found in another seeing the Apostles e Heb. 13. 14. expression VVe have here no biding City hath in it a single truth in time of peace and at least a double one in time of persecution men slitting from place to place as they were advised by their own security Know also that besides these the first founders of these severall Congregations many additional persons coming afterwards out of England joyned themselves thereunto 42. Come we now to set down the sad troubles of Frankford A brief introduction to the troubles of Frankford rending these banished exiles asunder into severall factions This I dare say if the Reader takes no more delight in perusing than I in penning so dolefull a subject he will shew little mirth in his face and feel less joy in his heart However we will be somewhat large and wholy impartial in relating this sorrowfull accident the rather because the penn-knives of that age are grown into swords in ours and their writings laid the foundations of the fightings now adayes 43. The English exiles came first to Frankford Iune the 24 th A Church at Faankford first granted to the English and on the 14 th of Iuly following by the speciall favour and mediation of M r. Iohn Glauberg one of the chief Senatours of that State had a Church granted unto them yet so as they were to hold the same in Coparcenie with the French-Protestants they one day and the English another and on Sunday alternately to chuse their hours as they could best agree amongst themselves The Church was also granted them with this proviso a Tr. of Fr. pag. 6. That they should not dissent from the French in doctrine or ceremonie lest thereby they should minister occasion of offence On the 29 th of the same moneth our English with great joy entred their new Church and had two Sermons preached therein to their singular comfort About which time they constituted their Church choosing a Minister and Deacons for a time and out of conformity to the French abrogated many things formerly used by them in the Church of England as namely 1. They concluded that the answering aloud after the Minister should not be used 2. The Letanie Surplice and other ceremonies in Service and Sacraments they omitted both as superstuous and superstitious 3. In place of the English Confession they used another adjudged by them of more effect and framed according to the b Tr. of Fr. pag. 7. State and Time 4. The same ended the people sung a Psalme in meeter in a plain tune 5. That done the Minister prayed for assistance of Gods Spirit and so proceeded to the Sermon 6. After Sermon a generall prayer for all States and particularly for England was devised which was ended with the Lords prayer 7. Then followed a rehearsall of the Articles of Belief which ended the people sung another psalme as before 8. Lastly the Minister pronounced the blessing The peace of God c. or the like and so the people departed What is meant by framing their Confession according to the State and Time I understand not must our confessions as our clothes follow the fashions of the State and place we live in except it be this that it was made more particularly not only for sinners but for exiles acknowledging their present banishment justly inflicted on them for their offences The prayer devised after Sermon according to the genuine sense of the word seems no extemporary prayer then conceived by the Minister but a set forme formerly agreed upon by the Congregation Thus have we a true account of their Service conceive it onely of such things wherein they differed from the English Liturgy not of such particulars wherein they concurr'd therewith the cause as I conceive why no mention of reading of psalms and chapters in their Congregation These certainly were not omitted and probably were inserted betwixt the Confession and singing the first psalme 44. Thus setled in their Church Other English Congregations invited to Frankford their next care was to write letters Dated August the first to all the English Congregations at Strasburgh Zurich Weasel Emden c. to invite them with all convenient speed to come and joyne with them at Frankford This is the Communion of Saints who never account themselves peacably possessed of any happiness untill if it be in their power they have also made their fellow-sufferers partakers thereof However this their invitation found not any great entertainment amongst the other English Church-Colonies all delaying and some denying to come but especially those of Zurich were most refractory and shewed least inclination to repair to Frankford 45. This occasioned severall reiterated letters from Frankford Those of Zurich quickned by importunity pressing and requiring those of Zurich deeply to weigh this matter of Gods calling and the necessity of uniting themselves in one Congregation Let none say that Frankford might as well come to Zurich as Zurich to Frankford because the English-Zurichians though not in number in learning and quality equalled if not exceeded those of Frankford For Frankford was neerer to England and more convenient for receiving intelligence thence and returning it thither Besides all Christendome met at Frankford twice a yeer the vernal and autumnal mart and grant there was more learning at Zurich there were moe books at Frankford with conveniences to advance their studies But chiefly at Frankford the Congregation enjoyed most ample priviledges and it was conceived it would much conduce to the
to return into his native Land and died quietly neere the City of London 6. The second The death of Nicholas Harpsfield Nicholas Harpsfield bred first in Winchester School then New Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law and afterward became Arch-Deacon of Canterbury Under King Edward the 6 th he banished himself under Queen Mary he returned and was advanced And under Queen Elizabeth imprisoned for denying Her Supremacy Yet such was his milde usage in restraint that he had the opportunity to write much therein and amongst the rest his Ecclesiastical History no less learnedly then painfully peformed and abating his Partiality to his own Interest well deserving of all posterity He wrote also six dialogues in favour of his Religion but because in durance he durst not set it forth in his own but under the Name of Alan Cope Yet lest truth should be conceal'd and friend defraud friend of his due praise he caused these Capitall Letters to be ingraved at the end of his Book A. H. L. N. H. E. V. E. A. C. Hereby mystically meaning Auctor Hujus Libri Nicholaus Harpesfeldus Edidit Verò Eum Aalnus Copus He died this year at London in prison after 20. years restraint leaving behind him the general reputation of a Religious man 7. The third The death of Gregory Martin Gregory Martin born at Macfield in Sussex bred with Campian in St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford Tutor to Philip Earl of Arundel eldest son to Thomas Duke of Norfolke Afterwards he went over beyond Sea and became Divinity Professor in the Colledge of Rhemes died there October 28. and is buried with a large Epitaph under a plain monument 8. I shall now withdraw my self Letter History best History or at leastwise stand by a silent spectator whilst I make room for far my betters to come forth and speak in the present controversie of Church Government Call it not Cowardize but count it Caution in me if desirous in this difference to lie at a close-guard and offer as little as may be on either side Whilst the Reader shall behold the Masters of Defence on both sides engaged therein in these following letters of State Baronius the great Roman Annalist was wont to say Epistolaris Historia est optima Historia that is the best History which is collected out of Letters How much of the Acts of the Apostles especially for the regulation of time is contained in the Epistles of S t. Paul Of the Primitive History the most Authenticall part is what is gathered out of the letters of the Fathers and in like manner the true estate of Ecclesiasticall affairs in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth may be extracted out of the following despatches and their returns exhibiting the inclinations of their Authors in pure Naturalls without any adulterated addition and therefore the surest for others instruction and safest for my own protection 9. But one thing I must clear in our entrance thereon Objection against Letter want of Date answered in excuse that these Letters are Dateless as to the day and moneth a great omission which I have seen in many Originalls whose Authors so minded the matter that they neglected the time the present dispatching of them being date enough to their purpose though now the want thereof leaves Posterity at a loss A Blew Coat without a Badge is but a white Coat in effect as nothing informing the Beholder to what Lord the Bearer thereof doth relate And as little instructive will some say are these Letters as to the point of Chronologie But be it known that no Readers stomack can be so sharp set on Criticalness of Chronologie Anno. Dom. 1583. but that being fed with the certainty of the year He will not be famisht with the uncertainty of the moneth or day Anno Regin Eliza. 26. Indeed as such whose names are casually omitted in the Register may recover the truth of their age by a Comparative Computation of their years who were born about the same time so by the mixture and comparing of these dateless Letters with those having date of secular affairs I could Competently have collected and inserted the time save that I loath to obtrude any thing conjecturall on the readers belief But we must begin with the ensuing Petition as the ground-work of all the rest The Ministers of Kent to the Privie Councel MAy it please your Honours of your great and wonted favour towards the distressed The petition of the Kentish Ministers to consider these following Whereas we have been called to subscribe in the County of Kent to certain Articles propounded by my Lords Grace of Canterbury unto the Ministers and Preachers The first concerning Her Majesties authority The second concerning no contrariety to the word of God in the Book of Common-Prayer and administration of the Sacraments the book of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons And the third that we beleeve all things in the book of the Articles of Religion to be agreeable to the word of God Whereupon all have most willingly offered to subscribe unto the other two And being pronounced in the open Court Contumaces reservata poenâ and so refer'd to answer at Law the 11 and 13 of February Which we feared would be prosecuted with much trouble and no resolution to our consciences we amongst the rest repaired with that carefull avoiding that we could of offence to his Lordships Grace to whom when we had the first day made known some of our doubts concerning the first book only many moe in number and as great in weight concerning the first and second and some concerning the third remaining beside we have upon our refusall and record taken by publick notary of one point only from every particular refuser which moved him thereunto and one place of Scripture adjoyned without collection or the reason of the same been suspended from our Ministery by which occasion as we fear that that account which hath been made of the consequence of our cause both in publick sermons and pronouncing of sentence against us namely that in denying to subscribe to the two aforesaid Articles we separated our selves from the Church and condemned the right service of God in prayer and administration of the Sacraments in the Church of England and the Ministry of the same and disobeyed Her Majesties Authority hath been intimated to your Honours So we think it our bound duties most humbly on our knees to beseech your Honours to know and make manifest in our behalf to Her Majesty that which we before the Lord in simplicity protest we in all reverence judge of the authority which is established and the persons which were Authors of those books that they did not only speak but also did highly to the glory of God promote the true Religion of God and the Glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ and that we so esteem of those books and there is nothing in them to cause us to separate our selves
from the unity of the Church which in the execution of our ministry in participation of the publick prayers and Sacraments we have in our own example testified and by publick doctrine maintained And that the ministery of the word preached and publick administration of the Sacraments exercised in this land according to Authority is as touching the substance of it Lawfull and greatly blessed of God And lastly that we have and always will shew our selves obedient to Her Majesties authority in all causes Ecclesiasticall and civil to whomsoever it be committed and therefore that as poor but most faithfull subjects to Her Majesty and Ministers of Jesus Christ the great cause we have in hand and which consequently as we under your Honours correction judge the necessary reformation of many things in the Church according unto Gods word may have that sufficient hearing as all causes of our refusall to subscribe may be known and equally out of Gods word judged of and the lamentable estate of the Churches to which we appertain with the hard condition of us may in that manner that your Honours most excellent wisdom shall finde expedient in the pitty of Jesus Christ for the mean time be relieved the Lord Almighty vouchsafe for Jesus Christ his sake long to continue and bless your Honours wisdom and Councell to the great glory of God and the happy government of Her Majestie and flourishing estate of this Church of England Your Honours daily and faithfull Orators the Ministers of Kent which are suspended from the execution of their Ministery The Lords of the Councell sent this Petition with another Bill of complaint exhibited unto them against Edmond Freak Bishop of Norwich unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury What his answer was thereunto the reader may informe himself out of the following letter To the Lords of the Councell Most Honorable UPon Sunday last in the afternoon The Arch-Bishops letter in answer thereof M r. real brought unto me in your Lordships names two supplications or Bills of complaint exhibited unto your Lordships The one by certain Ministers of Suff. against their Diocesan there The other by some of Kent against my self with this further message that it was your desires I should come to the Court on Sunday next It may please your good Lordships to be advertised that it seemeth something strange to me that the Ministers of Suffolk finding themselves aggrieved with the doings of their Diocesan should leave the ordinary course of proceeding by Law which is to appeal unto me and extraordinarily trouble your Lordships in a matter not so incident as I think to that most honourable Board seeing it hath pleased Her Majesty Her own self in express words to commit these causes Ecclesiasticall to me as to one who is to make answer to God to her Majesty in this behalf my office also and place requiring the same In answer of the complaint of the Suffolk men of their Ordinaries proceeding against them I have herewith sent to your Lordships a Copie of a letter which I lately received from his Lordship wherein I think that part of their Bill to be fully answered and his doings to have been orderly and charitable Touching the rest of their Bill I know not what to judge of it neither yet of what spirit it cometh but in some points it talketh as I think modestly and charitably They say they are no Jesuits sent from Rome to reconcile c. True it is neither are they charged to be so but notwithstanding they are contentious in the Church of England and by their contentions minister occasion of offence to those which are seduced by Jesuits and give the arguments against the forme of publick prayer used in this Church and by law established and thereby encrease the number of them and confirm them in their wilfullnesse They also make a Schism in the Church and draw many other of her Majesties subjects to a misliking of her Laws and Government in causes Ecclesiasticall so far are they from perswading them to obedience or at least if they perswade them to it in the one part of her authority it is in causes civill they desswade them from it as much in the other that is in causes Ecclesiasticall so that indeed they pluck down with the one hand that which they seem to build with the other they say that they have faithfully traveled in perswading to obedience c. and have therein prevailed c. It is but their own testimony I think it were hard for them to shew whom they converted from Papistry to the Gospell But what stirrs and discentions they have made amongst those which professed the Gospel before they were taught by them I think it to be apparent It is notorious that in King Edwards time and in the beginning of her Majesties Reign for the space of divers years When this self same book of publick prayers was uniformally used c. by all learned Preachers maintained and impugned by none the Gospell mightily prevailed took great increase and very few were known to refuse to communicate with us in prayer and participation of the Sacraments But since this Schism and division the contrary effect hath fallen out and how can it otherwise be seeing we our selves condemn that publick form and order of prayer and administration of the Sacraments as in divers points contrary to the word of God from which as in like manner condemning the same the Papists do absent themselves In the later part of their Bill conteining the reasons why they cannot submit themselves to observe the form prescribed by the book in all points I wonder either at their ignorance or audacity They say that the Learned writers of our time have shewed their mislikings of some of our Ceremonies The most learned writers in our times have not so done but rather reproved the mislikers those few that have given contrary judgement therein have done more rashly then learnedly presuming to give their Censures of such a Church as this is not understanding the fruits of the cause Nor alledging any reason worth the hearing especially one little Colledge in either of our Universities containing in it more learned men then in their Cities But if the authority of men so greatly move them why make they so small account of those most excellent and learned Fathers who were the penners of the Book whereof divers have sealed their Religion with their Blood which none yet have done of the impugners of the Book The Pope say they hath changed his Officium B. Mariae c. And so it is neither is there any man that doubteth but the Book of Common-Prayer may also be altered if there appear good cause why to those in Authority But the Pope will not suffer that Officium B. Marie c. to be preached against or any part thereof till it was by publick order reformed neither will he confess that he hath reformed it in respect of any errours but such only
And yet in way of recovering health by changing of Aire of study for a time in thâ— Vniversity of mortall enmity borne by some in the parish of prosecution of Law or of being imployed in publick Affairs they cannot be wholy abrogated That there were in England foure thousand five hundred Benefices with Cure not above ten and most of them under eight pounds in the first fruits-book which cannot be furnished with able Pastors as the Petitioners desire because of the smallness of their livings Moreover he affirmed that what ever was pretended to the contrary England at that time flourished with able Ministers more then ever before yea had more then all Christendome besides 3. The Lord Grey rejoyned to this Assertion of more learned Ministers in the Church of England then ever heretofore The Lord Gray his rejoynder nay then in all the reformed Churches in Christendome this That it was not to he attributed to the Bishops or their actions but to God who now opened the hearts of many to see into the truth and that the Schools were better observed 4. The Lord Treasurer Burghley seeming to moderate betwixt them The Lord Treasurer his moderation after a long and learned oration concluded that he was not so scrupuleus as absolutely to like of the bill against Pluralities without any exception for he did favour both learning and wished a competent reward to it And therefore could like and allow a learned man to have two Benefices so they were both in ene parish that is to say in one Diocess and not one in the Diocess of Winchester and another in the North where the severall Diocesans would have no regard of them whereas being both in one Diocess the Bishop would look unto them 5. Here it was signified that her Majesty was acquainted with the matter Others interpret and that she was very forward to redress the faults and therefore required the Bishops not to binder her good and gracious purpose for that her Majesty would conferr with them 6. The Lord Gray again said The Lord Grays quere whether of Withen or what most probable of Ruthen afterwards Earl of Kent replyed he greatly wondred at her Majesty that she would make choice to conser with those who were all enemies to Reformation for that it meerly touched their freeholds and therefore he thought it good the house should make choice of some to be joyned with them Also he wished the Bishops might be served as they were in in King Henry the 8 th dayes when as in the case of praemunire they were all thrust out of doores 7. Then the Lord Treasurer said that the Bishops if they were wise would themselves be humble suiters to her Majesty to have some of the Temporall Lords joyned with them 8. The Lord Chamberlain utterly disliked the Lord Grayes motion alledging that it was not to be liked of that the Lords should appoint her Majesty any to confer withall but that it should be left to her own election 9. Matters flying thus high the Arch-Bishop with the rest of the Clergy The Bishops providently petition the Queen conceived it the safest way to apply themselves by Petition to the Queen which they presented as followeth To the Queens most excellent Majesty THe wofull and distressed state whereinto we are like to fall forceth us with griâ—f of heart in most humble maner to crave your Majesties most soveraign Protection For the pretence being made the maintenance and increase of a learned ministry when it is throughly weighed decryeth learning spoâ—leth their livings taketh away the sâ—t form of prayer in the Church and is the means to bring in confusion and Barbarisme How dangerous innovations are in a setled estate whosoever hath judgemeâ—t perceiveth Set dangers apart yet such great inconviniences may ensae as will make a state lamentable and miserable Our nâ—ighbours miseries might make us fearfull but that we know who tales the same All the reformed Churches in Europe cannot compare with England in the number of learned Ministers These benefits of your Majesties most sacred and are fall Government with hearty joy we feel and humbly acknowledge senceless are they that repâ—ne at it and careless wâ—o lightly regard it The respect hereof made the Prophet to say Dii estis All the faithfull and discreet Clergy say ô Dea certè Nothing is impossible with God Requests without grounded reasons are lightly to be rejected We therefore not as directors but as humble Remembrancers beseech your Highness favourable beholding of our present state And what it will be in time to come if the Bill against Pluralities should take any place To the Petition were annexed a catalogue of those inconveniences to the State present State to come Cathedrall Churches Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case pluralities were taken away here too large to be inserted So that in effect nothing was effected as in relation to this matter but things left in staâ—u quo prius at the dissolution of this Parliament 10. Amongst the mortalities of this year The death of Bp Barns most remarkable the death of Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham one commendable in himself but much suffering for the * See the life of Bernard Gilpin p. 190. corruption and viciousness of John Barnes his brother and Chancellour This Bishop was bred in Brasen-nose Colledge made Suffragan of Nottingham the last I beleeve who wore that title and behaved himself very gravely in his Diocess A great friend at last to Bernard Gilpin though at first by some ill instruments incensed against him and seeing they were loving in their lives their memories in my Book shall not be divided though I confess the later died some three years before 11. This Bernard Gilpin And of Bernard Gilpin born of a right worshipfull family at Kentmirâ— in Westmerland had Cuthbert Tonstali Bishop of Durham for his great Vncle he was bred first in Queens Colledgs then Christs-Church in Oxford and no doubt the prayers of Peter Martyr conduced to his conversion to be a Protestant For he hearing this Gilpin dispute cordially on the Popish party desired of God that so good affections might not be misguided and at last obtained his desire 12. He Weathered out the Raign of Queen Mary Hardly escaped in Queen Maries dayes partly with his travels beyond the seas Anno Dom. 1587. chiefly residing at Lovain Anno Regin Eliza. 30. and Paris partly after his return by the favour of his Uncle Tonstall Before whom he was often cited chiefly about the Eucharist but was discharged by confessing the reall presence and that the manner thereof transcended his apprehension Tonstall not inforcing him to the particularity of Transubstantiation as using himself to complain on Pope Innocent for defining de modo to be an article of faith However his foes so hardly beset him that once he ordered his servant to provide for him a long shroud not for his
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
consueto ritu fuisse in sancto verbi Dei ministerio institutum precibusque ac maâ—uum impositione confirmatum Postero autem die post sabbatum bâ—llo in frequenti Anglorum coetâ— concionem rogante eo qui a Synodo delegatus erat Ministro propensissimisque totius Ecclesiae animis acceptum fusse Quod quidem Domini ac fratris nostri celendi apud Anglos Ministerum ut benignitate sua Deus omnipotens donorum suorum incremento amplissimo functionis ejus fructu ornare dignetur enixè precamur per Iesum Christum Amen Dat. Antwerpiae 14. Maij. 1578. Det Logelerius Vilerius verbi Dei Minister Johannes Hochelcus verbi Dei minister Johannes Taffinus Verbi Dei Minister Thus put in orders by the Presbytery of a forrain Nation he continued there some years preached with M r Cartwright unto the English factory of Merchants at Antwerpe untill at last he came over into England and for seven years together became Lecturer in the Temple refusing all presentative preferment to decline subscription and lived domestick chaplain in the house of the Lord Treasurer Cicel being Tutor for a time to Robert his son afterwards Earl of Sarisbury And although there was much heaving and shuffing at him as one disaffected to the discipline yet Gods goodness his friends greatness and his own honesty kept him but with much difficulty in his ministeriall imployment 52. Yea now so great grew the credit and reputation of M r Travers He with Mr Cartwright invited to be Divinity professors in St. Andrews that by the advice of M r Andrew Meluin he and M r Cartwright were solemnly sent for to be Divinity professors in the University of S t Andrews as by this autograph which I have in my hands and here think fit to exemplfie may plainly appear MAgno quidem fratres charissimi gaudio nos afficit constantia vestra invicta illa animi fortitudo quâ contra Satanae imperium reluctantem Christi imperio mundi fastum armavit vos domini spiritus in asserenda apud populares vestros Ecclesiae suae disciplina Sed permelesium tamen nobis semper fuit pertinaci inimicorum odio violentia factum esse ut cum latere solum subinde vertere cogimini minus aliquanto fructus ex laboribus vestris ad pios omnes perveniat quam si docendo publicè concionando destinatam ecclesiae Dei operam navare licuisset Hoc quia in patria vobis negatum videbamus non aliud nobis magis in votis erat quà m ut exulanti in vobis Christo hospitium aliquod in ultma Scotia praeberatur Quod ut fieri non incommodè possit speramus longo nos conatu perfecisse Vetus est non ignobilis apud nos Academia Andreana in quâ cùm aliae artes tum philosophia imprimis ita hucasque culta fuit ut quod ab exteris nationibus peteretur parum nobis aut nihil in eo genere deesset Verum divina ilia sapientia quam vel solam vel praecipuam colere christianos decet neglecta diu in scholis jacuit quod à prima statim religionis instauratione summus omnium ardor exstaret in erudienda plebe in aliis ad sacrum verbi ministerium instituendis paucissimi labor aerent non leve ut periculum subesset nâ— quod propitius nobis Deus avertat concionatorum aliquando inopia periret quod tanta cum spe in hominum animos conjectum est verae pietatis semen Animadvertit hoc tandem ecclesiasticus Senatus cum rege regnique proceribus diligenter egit ne hanc officij sui solicitudinis partem desiderari amplius paterentur Placuit summo omnium applausu in proximis ordinum comitiis decretum est ut quod amplitudine ceteris opulentia collegium praestat theologiae perpetuo studiis consecretur utque ad verbi Dei ministerium nemo admittatur nisi linguarum utriusque testamenti locorum communium curriculo prius consecto confiti autem quadriennii spacio à quinque professoribus posse Ex hoc numero adhuc desunt Thomas Cartwrigtus Gualterus Traversus reliquos nobis domi ecclesia nostra suppeditabit Messem hic videtis singulari vestra eruditione pietate non indignam Ad quam pius vos princeps proceres nostri ad quam boni vos omnes fratres vestri ad quam Christi vos ecclesia Christus ipse operarios invitat Reliquum est ut humanissimè vocantes sequi velitis ad docendi hanc provinciam vobis honorificam ecclesiae Dei salutarem maturetis magnas à principe majores à Christi ecclesia maximas immortales à maximo immortali Deo gratias inituri Quod ut sine mor a facere dignemini per eum ipsum vos etiam atque etiam obtestamur cui acceptum ferri debet quod ecclesiae filii sui prodesse tantopere possitis Valete Edinburgi Ja Glasgney Academiae Cancelarius Alaynus Rector Thomas Smetonius Decanus Andreas Melvinus Collegij praefectus Mr David Wems minister Glascoviensis This proffer both joyntly refused with return of their most affectionate thanks and such who know least are most bold in their conjectures to adventure at the reasons of their refusall As that they would not leave the Sun on their backs and remove so far North or they were discouraged with the slenderness of the salary assigned unto them In plain truth they were loath to leave and their friends loath to be left by them conceiving their pains might as well be bestowed in their native Country and Travers quietly continued Lecturer at the Temple till M r Hooker became the Master thereof 53. M r Hooker his voice was low The character of Hooker as to his preaching stature little gesture none at all standing stone-still in the Pulpit as if the posture of his body were the emblem of his minde unmoveable in his opinions Where his eye was left fixed at the beginning it was found fixed at the end of his Sermon In a word the doctrine he delivered had nothing but it self to garnish it His stile was long and pithy driving on a whole flock of severall Clauses before he came to the close of a sentence So that when the copiousness of his stile met not with proportionable capacity in his auditors it was unjustly censured for perplext tedious and obscure His sermons followed the inclination of his studies and were for the most part on controversies and deep points of School Divinity 54. M r Travers his utterance was gracefull The description of Travers gesture plausible matter profitable method plain and his stile carried in it indolem pietatis a Genius of grace flowing from his sanctified heart Some say that the congregation in the Temple ebb'd in the fore noon and flowed in the afternoon and that the auditory of M r Travers was far the more numerous the first occasion of emulation
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
consequence thereof which encreased the Secular Opposition against this leading case of Jurisdiction 17. He will not stand to the determination of a grave priest chosen Umpire About this time came to Wisbich an aged Priest who had given great Testimony of the Ability of his judgement and ardency of his affections to the Catholick Cause being the Generall Collector of the charitable contributions unto the Prisoners In which place he had been so diligent in gathering secret in conveying faithfull in delivering unpartiall in dispensing such sums committed unto him that deservedly he had purchased reputation to himself Who as he had been a Benefactor to both Parties so now he was made an Arbitrator betwixt them with promise of both sides to rest satisfied with his decision He condemneth the Jesuits guilty of a scandalous separation and that Weston ought to desist from his Supriority But the Jesuits would not stand to his sentence confessing their separation Scandalous but only per accidens and therefore not to be left off And whereas the aforesaid Priest had determined that that separation could not be continued without sin the Jesuits in derision demanded of him whether he meant a venial sin or a mortall and so the whole business took no effect 18. At last is forced by letters from his provincial to leave off his Agency Some moneths after two reverend Priests often sent for by both sides were by joynt consent made Judges in this Cause who resolved that Westons Agency should be abolished as the original of evill and seminary of much discord and because Weston refused to obey their order these two Priests posted up to London where Garnet the Jesuits Provincial did lodge and from him with much adoe obtained peremptory letters to Weston presently to leave off his pretended superiority A message which went to the proud Jesuits heart who was formerly heard to say that he o Declaratio motuum ac c. pag. 20. had rather throw himself headlong from the Castle wall then desist from his office But now there was no remedy but he must obey desiring only he might make a speech to his society exhorting them to unity and concord and in the midst of his Oration as if he would have surrendred his soul and place both together he fell speechless into a p Ibidem swoond and hardly recovered again so mortall a wound it is to a proud heart to part with Authority Thus ended Westons Agency the short continuance whereof was the best commendation of his command 19. The Schism notwithstanding continues and increases But this was but a palliate cure to skin the sore over which festered within the enmity still continued Seculars complaining that the Jesuits traduced them to Lay-Catholicks as cold and remiss in the cause only dull to follow beaten paths not active to invent more compendious wayes for the advance of Religion Anno Regin Eliza. 38. Anno Dom. 1595. The Jesuits also boasted much of their own merit how their order though last starting had with its speed overtook and over-run all before them Indeed they are excellent at the art of self-praising not directly but by certain consequence for though no man blazed his own praise for one to be a herauld to commend himself the same on the same is false blazon as well against the rules of modesty as prudence yet every one did praise his partner laying an obligation on him to do the like who in justice must do as much and in bounty often did more gratefully repaying the commendations lent him with interest And thus mutually arching up one another they fill'd the ears of all Papists with loud relations of the transcendent Industry Piety Learning of the men of their society to the manifest derogation of all other orders But more of these discords in the year following 20. The strickt keeping of the Sabbath first revived About this time thorowout England began the more Solemne and strickt observation of the Lords day hereafter both in writing and preaching commonly called the Sabbath occasioned by a Book this year set forth by one P. Bound Doctor of Divinity and enlarged with Additions Anno 1606. wherein these following opinions are maintained 1. That the commandement of Sanctifying every seventh Day as in the Mosaicall Decalogue is morall and perpetual 2. That whereas all other things in the a Dr Bounds BOOK of the Sabbath p. 91. Jewish Church were taken away Priesthood Sacrifices and Sacraments this Sabbath was so changed that it still remaineth 3. b pag. 247. That there is a great reason why we Christians should take our selves as streightly bound to rest upon the Lords day as the Jews were upon their Sabbath it being one of the morall Commandements where all are of equall Authority 4. c pag. 124. The rest upon upon this day must be a notable and singular rest a most carefull exact and precise rest after another manner then men are accustomed 5. d pag. 163. Schollers on that day not to study the liberall Arts nor Lawyers to consult the case nor peruse mens evidences 6. e pag. 164. Sergeants Apparitours and Sumners to be restrained from executing their offices 7. f pag. 166. Lustices not to examine Causes for the conservation of the peace 8. g pag. 102. That ringing of more bell's then one that day is not to be justified 9. h pag. 206. 209. No Solimâ— feasts nor wedding dinners to be made on that Day with permission notwithstanding of the same to i pag. 211. Lords Knights and Gentlemen of Quality which some conceive not so fair dealing with him 10. k pag. 102. All honest recreations and pleasures lawfull on other dayes as shooting fencing bowling on this day to be forborn 11. l pag. 272. 275. No man to speak or talk of pleasures or any other worldly matter It is almost incredible how taking this Doctrine was partly because of it's own Purity and partly for the eminent piety of such persons as maintained it so that the Lords Day especially in Corporations began to be precisely kept people becoming a Law to themselves forbearing such sports as yet by statute permitted yea many rejoycing at their own restraint herein On this day the stoutest fencer laid down the buckler the most skillful Archer unbent his bow counting all shooting besides the Marke Mâ—y-games and Morish-dances grew out of request and good reason that Bells should be silenced from gingling about mens leggs if their very Ringing in Steeples were adjudged unlawful some of them were ashamed of their former pleasures like children which grown bigger blushing themselves out of their rattles and whistles Others forbear them for fear of their Superiors and many left them off out of a Politick Compliance least otherwise they should be accounted licentious 21 Yet learned men were much divided in their judgements about these sabatarian Doctrines some embraced them as ancient truths consonant
of this Meeting I mislike your sudden interruption of Doctour Reynolds whom you should have suffered to have taken his liberty For there is no Order nor can be any effectuall Issue of Disputation if each party be not suffered without chopping to speak at large Wherefore either let the Doctor proceed or frame your Answer to his Motions already made although some of them are very needlesse BP of Lond. Upon the first motion concerning falling from Grace may Your Majesty be pleased to consider how many in these dayes neglect holinesse of Life presuming on persisting in Grace upon Predestination If I shall be saved I shall be saved A desperate Doctrine contrary to good Divinity wherein we should reason rather ascendendo than descendendo from our Obedience to God and Love to our Neighbour to our Election and Predestination As for the Doctrine of the Church of England touching Predestination it is in the very next Paragraph viz. We must receive Gods Promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture and in our doings the will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God His Majesty I approve it very well as consonant with the place of Paul Work out your salvation with feare and trembling Yet let it be considered of whether any thing were meet to be added for clearing of the Doctors doubt by putting in the word often or the like Mean time I wish that the Doctrine of Predestination may be tenderly handled lest on the one side Gods Omnipotency be questioned by impeaching the Doctrine of his eternall Predestination or on the other side a desperate presumption arreared by inferring the necessary certainty of persisting in Grace B. of Lond. The second Objection of the Doctors is vain it being the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of England that none but a Licensed Minister may preach nor administer the Lords Supper His Majesty As for Private Baptisme I have already with the Bishops taken order for the same Then came they to the 2 d. point of Confirmation and upon the perusal of the words of the Article His Majesty concluded the pretended Contradiction a Cvaill Bp. of Lond. Confirmation is not so much founded on the place in the Acts of the Apostles but upon Heb. 6. 2. which was the opinion besides the judgement of the Fathers of Mr. Calvin h On Heb 6. 2. and Doctour Fulk i On Act. 8. 27. neither needeth there any farther proof seeing as I suppose he that objected this holds not Confirmation unlawfull but he and his Party are vexed that the use thereof is not in their owne hands for every Pastor to confirme his owne Parish for then it would be accounted an Apostolicall Institution if Dr. Reynolds were pleased but to speak his thoughts therein D r. Reyn. Indeed seeing some Diocesse of a Bishop hath therein six k Here the Bishop of London thought himself touched because about 609 in his Diocess hundred Parishes it is a thing very inconvenient to permit Confirmation to the Bishop alone and I suppose it impossible that he can take due examination of them all which come to be confirmed BP of Lond. To the matter of fact I answer that Bishops in their Visitations appoint either their Chaplains or some other Ministers to examine them which are to be confirmed and lightly confirme none but by the testimony of the Parsons and Curates Ecclesiae Salus in sumi sacerdotis dignitate pendet cui si non exors quaedem ab omnibus eminens data potestos tor in Ecclesis efficientur Schismata quot Sacerdotes where the Children are bred and brought up To the Opinion I answer that none of all the Fathers ever admitted any to confirme but Bishops alone Yea even S. Jerome himselfe otherwise no friend to Bishops confesseth the execution thereof was restrained to Bishops onely BP of Winch. Dr. Reynolds I would fain have you with all your Learning shew where ever Confirmation was used in antient times by any other but Bishops These used ait partly to examine Children and after Examination by Imposition of Hands the Jewish Ceremony of Blessing to blesse and pray over them and partly to try whether they had been baptised in the right forme or no. For in former ages some baptised as they ought in the name of the Father Son and Holy-Ghost Some as the Arrians in the name of the Father as the greater and the Sonne as the lesse Some in the name of theFather by the Sonne in the Holy Ghost Some not in the name of the Trinity but onely in the Death of Christ Whereupon Catholick Bishops were constrained to examine them who were baptised in remotis concerning their Baptisme if right to confirme them if amisse to instruct them His Majesty I dissent from the judgement of S. Jerome in his assertion that Bishops are not of Divine Ordination BP of Lond. Unlesse I could prove my Ordination lawfull out of the Scriptures I would not be a Bishop four hours longer His Majesty I approve the calling and use of Bishops in the Church and it is my Aphorisme No Bishop no King nor intend I to take Confirmation from the Bishops which they have so long enjoyed Seeing as great reason that none should confirme as that none should preach without the Bishops License But let it be referred whether the word Examination ought not to be added to the Rubrick in the title of Confirmation in the Communion-book And now Dr. Reynolds you may proceed D â— Reyn. I protest I meant not to gall any man though I perceive some took personall exceptions at my words and desire the imputation of m It seemes the Bishop of London jealous that he was reflected on as is aforesaid called the Doctor Schismatick Schisme may not be charged upon me To proceed on the 37. Article wherein are these words The Bishop of Rome hath no authority in this Land These are not sufficient unless it were added nor ought to have any His Majesty Habemus jure quod habemus and therefore in as much as it is said he hath not it is plaine enough that he ought not to have Here passed some pleasant discourse betwixt the King and Lords about Puritants till returning to seriousnesse There began the BP of Lond. May it please your Majesty to remember the Speech of the French Embassadour Mounsieur Rognee upon the view of our solemne service and Ceremonie viz. That if the Reformed Churches in France had kept the same order there would have been thousands of Protestants more than there are D r. Reyn. It were well if this proposition might be added to the Book of Articles The Intention of the Minister is not of the Essence of the Sacrament the rather because some in England have preached it to be essentiall and here againe I could desire that the nine Orthodoxall Assertions concluded at Lambeth may be
not legally be conveyed to any Petitioner Ann. Dom. 1604 Ann Reg. Jac. 2 Thus his Majesty manifested his good will and affection to Religion and although this Law could not finally preserve Church-lands to make them immortall yet it prolonged their lives for many yeares together 12. Passe we now into the Convocation The Acts of this Convocation why as 〈…〉 recovered to see what was done there But here the History thereof as I may say is shot betwixt the joynts of the Armor in the intervall after Whitgift's death and before Bancroft's removall to Canterbury so that I can finde the Originall thereof neither in the Office of the Vicar-generall nor in the Registry of London not can I recover it as yet from the Office of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury where most probably it is to be had the Jurisdiction belonging to them in the Vacancy 13. Take this as the result thereof Many Canon made therein Bishop Bancroft sitting President A Book of Canons was compiled not onely being the summe of the Queens Articles Orders of her Commissioners Advertisements Canons of 1571. and 1597. which were in use before but also many more were added the whole number amounting unto 141. Some wise and moderate men supposed so many Lawes were too heavy a burden to be long borne and that it had been enough for the Episcopall party to have triumphed not insulted over their adversaries in so numerous impositions However an Explanation was made in one of the Canons of the use of the Crosse in Baptisme to prevent Scandall and learned Thuanus in his History taketh an especiall notice thereof 14. Motion being made in this Convocation Bishop Rudd why opposing the oath against Simony about framing an Oath against Simony to be taken by all presented to Churchpreferment Bishop Rudde of St. Davids as conscientious as any of his order and free from that fault opposed it chiefly because he thought it unequall that the Patron should not be forced as well as the Clerk to take that Oath Whereupon it was demanded of him whether he would have the King to take that Oath when he presented a Bishop or Dean and hereat the Bishop sate downe in silence 15. About this time the Corporation of Rippon in York-shire The Petition of the Town of Rippon to Queen Anne presented their Petition to Queen Anne on this occasion They had a faire Collegiate Church stately for the structure thereof formerly erected by the Nobility and Gentry of the Vicenage the meanes whereof at the dissolution of Abbies were seized on by the King so that small maintenance was left to the Minister of that populous Parish Now although Edwin Sands Arch-bishop of York with the Earle of Huntinton Lord Burgley and Sheaffield successively Presidents of the North had recommended their Petition to Qu. Elizabeth they obtained nothing but faire unperformed Promises whereupon now the Ripponeers humbly addressed themselves to Queen Anne and hear her answer unto them ANNA R. ANNE by the grace of God Qu. of England Scotland France and Ireland c. To all to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas there hath been lately exhibited and recommended unto us a frame and plat-forme of a Colledge Generall to be planted and established at Rippon in the County of Yorke for the manifold benefit of both the Borders of England and Scotland Upon the due perusing of the plot aforesaid hereunto annexed and upon signification given of the good liking and approbation of the chief points contained therein by sundry grave learned and religious parties and some other of honourable Place and Estate We have thought good for the ample and perpetuall advancement of Learning and Religion in both the borders of our aforesaid Realmes to condescend to yeild our favour and best furtherance thereunto And for the better encouraging of other honourable and worthy Personages to joyn with us in yeilding their bounty and benevolence thereunto We have and do signifie and assure and by the word of a sacred Princesse and Queen do expresly promise to procure with all convenient speed to and for the yearely better maintenance of the said Colledge All and every of the Requests specified and craved to that end in a small Schedule hereunto annexed In confirmation whereof we have signed these Presents by our hand and name above mentioned and have caused our privy Signet to be set unto the same July 4. Dated at our Honour at Greenwich July 4. An. Dom. 1604. and of our Reigne c. After the sealing thus subscribed Gulielmus Toulerius Secretarius de mandate serenissimae Annae Reginae Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae 16. Such need never fear successe King James his bountifull grant who have so potent a person to solicite their suite King James being forward of himselfe to advance Learning and Religion and knowing Christs precept Let your Light shine before Men knew also that Rippon was an advantagious place for the fixing thereof As which by its commodious position in the North there would reflect lustre almost equally into England and Scotland Whereupon he founded a Dean and Chapter of seven Prebends allowing them two hundred forty seven pounds a yeare out of his own Crowne-land for their maintenance 17. I am informed These Lands since twice sold that lately the Lands of this Church are by mistake twice sold to severall Purchasers viz. Once under the notion of Dean and Chapters Lands and againe under the property of Kings Lands I hope the Chapâ—men when all is right stated betwixt them will agree amongst themselves on their bargaine Mean time Rippon Church may the better comport with poverty because onely remitted to its former condition 18. The Family of Love or Lust rather at this time The Petition of the Family of Love to King James presented a tedious Petition to King James so that it is questionable whether His Majesty ever graced it with his perusall wherein they endeavoured to cleare themselves from some misrepresentations and by fawning expression to insinuate themselves into his Majesty's good opinion Which here we present To the King 's most excellent MAJESTY JAMES the first by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOst gracious and Sveraigne Lord whereas there is published in a Book written by your Highnesse as an instruction to your most noble * * In his Basilicon Doron Sonne whom Almighty God blesse with much Honour Happinesse and Long life of a People that are of a vile Sect among the Anabaptists called the Family of Love who doe hold and maintaine many proud uncharitable unchristian and most absurd Opinions unto whom your Highnesse doth also give the name of Puritans assuming in the said Book that divers of them as Brown Penry and others doe accord with them in their foule Errours heady and phantasticall Opinions which are there set downe at large by Your Majesty
much that She commanded Archbishop Whitgift to signifie unto him Mar. 12. That â—e should be his Successour in case the Archbishoprick ever fell in the Queens disposall 34. Not long after the Archbishop meeting Bishop Rudde The Bishop by â—lain preaching gains the Queens â—avour Brother said he I bring good tydings to you though bad to my self for they cannot take full effect till after my death Her Grace is so pleased with your last Sermon She enjoyned me to signifie to you Her pleasure That you shall be my Successour in Canterbury if surviving me The Bishop modestly declined his words desiring the long life of his Grace and in case of his advancement to Heaven confessed many other in England farre fitter for the Place than his own unworthinesse adding after some other exchange of words Good my Lord might I be my â—wn-Judge I conceive I have preached better Sermons at Court surely such as cost me more time and pains in composing them I tell you replied the Archbishop the truth is this the Queen now is grown weary of the vanities of wit and eloquence wherewith Her youth was formerly affected and plain Sermons which come home to Her heart please Her the best Surely his Grace was too mortified a man though none naturally love their Successours whilst themselves are alive intentionally to lay a train to blow up this Archbishop designed though by the others unadvised practise of his words it proved so in the event 35. For And by too personal preaching loseth it again next time when it came to the Bishop's Course to preach at Court then lying at Richmond Anno â—596 he took for his Text Psalm 90. 12. O teach us to number our daies that we may incline our hearts unto wisdome and in the close of his Sermon touched on the Infirmities of Age Ecclesiastes 12. When the grinders shall be few in number and they wax dark that look out at the windows personally applying it to the QUEEN how Age had furrowed Her face and besprinkled her hair with its meal Whereat Her MAJESTY to whom ingratissimum acroama to hear of death was highly displeased Thus he not onely lost his Reversion of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury which indeed never fell in the QUEENS daies but also the present possession of Her MAJESTIES favour 36. Yet he justly retained the repute of a Reverend and godly Prelate Yet did generally beloved and lamented and carried the same to the grave He wrought much on the Welsh by his wisdome and won their affections and by moderate thrift and long staying in the same See left to his Son Sir Rise-Rudde Baroner a fair estate at Aberglaseny in Carmarthenshire 37. Some three years since Causabon invited into England on the death of King HENRY the fourth Isaac Causabon that learned Critick was fetcht out of France by King JAMES and preferred Prebendary of Canterbury Thus desert will never be a drug but be vented at a good rate in one Countrey or another as long as the world affordeth any truly to value it King HENRY is not dead to Causabon as long as King JAMES is alive He who formerly flourished under the Bayes now thriveth altogether as well under the Olive Nor is Causabon sensible that England is the colder Climate whilst he findes the beams of His Majesty so bright and warm unto him to whom also the lesser lights of Prelates and Peers contributed their assistance 38. Presently he falls a writing Where he dyâ—th and is buried as naturall and almost as necessary as breathing unto him First to Fronto-Duraeus his learned Friend Then to Cardinal Peron in the just Vindication of our English Church After these he began his Exercitations on Baronius his Ecclesiastical Annals which more truly may be termed the Annals of the Church of Rome But alas Death here stopped him in his full speed and he lieth entombed in the South-Ile of Westminster-Abbey Not on the East or Poetical Side thereof where Chaucer Spencer Draiton are interred but on the West or Historical Side of the I le next the Monument of M r Camden Both whose plain Tombs made of white Marble shew the simplicity of their intentions the candidnesse of their natures and perpetuity of their memories Mr. Causabon's was erected at the cost of Thomas Moreton Bishop of Durham that great lover of Learned men dead or alive 39. The KING comes to Cambridge in a sharp Winter The supposed occasion of Mr. Selden's writing against the Divine Right of Tithes Mar. 7. when all the world was nothing but Aire and Snow Yet the Scholers Wits did not Freez with the Weather witness the pleasant Play of IGNORAMUS which they presented to His Majesty Yet whilst many laughed aloud at the mirth thereof some of the graver sort were sad to see the Common Lawyers made ridiculous therein If Gowns begin once to abase Gowns Cloaks will carry away all Besides of all wood the Pleaders Bar is the worst to make a Stage of For once in an Age all Professions must be beholding to their patronage Some a Authour of Dr. Preston's Life conceive that in revenge Master John Selden soon after set forth his Books of Titbes wherein he historically proveth That they were payable jure humano and not otherwise 40. I cannot suspect so high a Soul Many write in Answer to his Book 1615. 13. guilty of so low reflections that his Book related at all to this occasion but only that the latitude of his minde tracing all pathes of learning did casually light on the rode of this Subject His Book is divided into two parts whereof the first is a meer Jew of the practise of Tithing amongst the Hebrews the second a Christian and chiefly an English-man of their customes in the same And although many Divines undertook the Answer of this Book as Mr. Stephen Nettles Fellow of Queens-Coll in Cambridge applying himself to the Judaical part Dr. Tillesly and Mr. Montague all writing sharply if strongly enough yet sure it is never a fiercer storm fell on all Parsonage Barns since the Reformation than what this Treatise raised up 41. By this time Mr. Andrew Melvin Melvin freed from the Tower a Scotchman got to be enlarged out of the Tower whither he had been committed for writing some satyrical Verses against the Ornaments on the Altar or Communion-Table in the Kings Chappell When first brought into the Tower he found Sir William Seymour now the Right Honorable most truly Noble and religious Marquis of Hertford there imprisoned for marrying the Lady ARABELLA so nearly allyed to the Crown without the KING's consent To whom Melvin being an excellent Poet but inferiour to Buchanan his Master sent this Distick Causa mihi tecum communis Carceris ARA Regia BELLA tibi Regia SACRA mihî As for his invective Verses against the Chappel-Ornaments I conceive the following Copie most authentick though there be various Lections of them but all
their recreations on the Sunday the Papists in this Realm being thereby perswaded that no honest mirth or recreation was tolerable in our Religion Whereupon the Court being then at Greenwich He set forth a Declaration to this effect That for His good peoples lawfull recreations His pleasure was that after the end of Divine Service they should not be disturbed letted or discouraged from any lawfull recreations Such as dancing either of men or women archerie for men leaping vaulting or any such harmless recreations Nor from having of May-games Whitsun-ales or Morice-dances and setting up of May-poles or other sports therewith used so as the same be had in due and convenient time without impediment or let of Divine Service and that women should have leave to carry rushes to the Church for the decoring of it according to their old custome withall prohibiting all unlawfull games to be used on the Sundaies onely as bear-baiting bull-baiting interludes and at all times in the meaner sort of people by Law prohibited bowling 59. But when this Declaration was brought abroad The various effects thereof it is not so hard to believe as sad to recount what grief and distraction thereby was occasioned in many honest mens hearts who looked on it not as locall for Lancashire but what in processe of time would enlarge it self all over a So it was in the Reign of King Charles Anno 1633. England Some conceived the recreations specified impeditive to the observation of the Lords day yea unsuitable and unbeseeming the essentiall duties thereof But others maintained that if private mens speeches must not be pressed to an odious construction much more men were bound candidly to interpret the Acts of Authority and in charity must presume and be perswaded that religious Princes will command nothing what they conceive either to be unjust or not expedient all things considered They considered moreover which was mainly material that this Declaration was not dogmatical or doctrinal to say or averre these things to be Theologically lawfull but it was Edictum Civile what the King thought fit upon just reasons to permit without restraint or punishment The hardnesse of mens hearts on one side which will break loose though restrained and the hope of gaining others on the other side by a favourable allowance might be just motives in Authority to give way to things civiliter that they may be done impunè and yet not prejudice any point of Religion and not be done licitè as in Divorces extra casum adulterii Usurie c. 60. But the difficulty was encreased Reasons of the reâ—aâ—ers to publish this Declaration when Ministers daily feared to be urged upon their Canonicall obedience to promulgate and publish the said Declaration in their Parish Churches which some resolved flatly to refuse especially such who formerly had strictly preached and pressed the observation of the Lords-day alledging for and applying to themselves that place of Saint Paul b Gal. 2. 18. For if I build again the things which I have destroyed I make my self a transgressour Besides this they enforced the Reasons following for their Recusancie Yea though the KING Himself should enjoyn them on their Alleageance 1. That the publishing of this Declaration would be interpretativè an approbation thereof whereas on the contrary they are c Ephes 5. 11. commanded to have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkness but rather to reprove them 2. That hereby they should draw a just woe upon them pronounced by the Prophet d Isa 10. 1. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees and that write grievousness which they have prescribed Where as the e Junius Piscator on the place Learned interpret even publick Notaries which are but instrumental are threatned with a curse 3. That the promulgation of a Law is de essentia Legis so that people would neither take notice of this Declaration nor liberty by it till it were published and so the Publisher should per se be a Promoter of a sin 4. That Obedience to Authority obligeth onely in licitis honestis and the f 2 Cor. 13. 10. Apostle confesseth That he himself had power to edification and not to destruction whereunto the publishing thereof did manifestly tend 61. On the other side The Arguments for the lawful publishing of the Declaration some learned and pious Ministers who in their judgments were convinced that some of the aforesaid recreations were incompatible with the sanctification of the Sabbath notwithstanding in case His MAJESTY should enjoyn it on serious deliberation resolved in obedience to the KING publickly to read or cause the reading of the Declaration not looking at the contents therein but at the Authority commanding the publication thereof the rather because no Subscription was required or Vocall assent to approve what therein was contained to be just or affirm it to be true but a bare ministerial declaring of the KING's will and pleasure therein which they conceived themselves bound in conscience to perform for the Reasons ensuing 1. The refusal well observed doth resolve into a principle which would take away the necessity of Obedience universally when the Partie commanded can pretend the Magistrate ought not to command him any such thing and if the PRINCE must suspend His Edicts upon each Subjects doubt He should never set forth any considering the variety of judgments and the distractions which are in His Subjects 2. A Sheriffe may yea must disperse the KING his Proclamations which he liketh not and a Clerk at the command of his Master a Justice of Peace may lawfully write the Mittimus of that person to Prison whom in his parricular judgment he conceiveth to be innocent and what is most proper to our purpose because a religious instance a Minister without any sin may safely pronounce an Excommunication legally delivered unto him though in his own private conscience he be convinced that the Partie is unjustly excommunicated 3. There are many precedents hereof in antiquity A Father g Optatus Melâ—vitanus lib. 7. gives this censure that when the Jewes commanded by Antiochus gave up the Divine Books to His Officers to be destroyed it was Peccatum imperantis minantis non populi cum dolore tremore tradentis A sinne of Him that commanded and threatned it not of the people who surrendred up those Volumes with fear and sorrow And Saint h Contra Faustum lib. 22. cap. 75. Augustine resolveth it in the case of a Christian Souldier fighting under a sacrilegious Emperour that though he be not satisfied in the lawfulnesse of the commands he may notwithstanding lawfully obey Ita ut fortasse reum faâ—iat Regem iniquitas imperandi innocentem militem ostendat ordo serviendi And what is most apposite to the matter in hand because the Edict of a godly Emperour seriously distasted by a godly Bishop Mauritius set forth a command That no Souldier should be admitted into a Monasterie and
eies are waking let such who all the foregoing week had their Cheeks moistned with sweat and hands hardened with labor let such have some recreation on the Lordsday indulged unto them whilst persons of quality who may be said to keep Sabbath all the week long I mean who rest from hard labor are concerned in conscience to observe the Lords-day with the greater abstinence from recreations Anno Dom. 34. Pass we now from the pen Troubles begâ—n in Somerset-shire to the practicall part of the Sabbatarian difference Somerset-shire was the stage whereon the first and fiercest Scene thereof was acted Here Wakes much different I dare say from the watching prescribed by our Saviour were kept on thâ— Lords day with Church-Ales Bid-Ales and Clerks-Ales If the Reader know not the criticall meaning and difference of these words I list not to be the interpreter and his ignorance herein neither is any disgrace nor can be any damage unto him The Gentry of that County perceiving such revells the cause of many and occasion of moe misdemeanors many acts of wantonness bearing their dates from such meetings importuned Sr. Thomas Richardson Lord Chief Justice and Baron Denham then Judges riding the Western circuit in the Lent-vacation to make a severe Order for the suppressing of all Ales and Revells on the Lords-day 35. In complyance with their desire March 19 Judg Richardsons order against Lords-day Revells the aforesaid Judges made an order on the 19. day of March founded on former precedents signed by Judge Popeham Lord Chief Justice in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth her Reign therein suppressing such Revells in regard of the infinite number of inconveniences daily arising by means thereof injoyning the Constables to deliver a copie thereof to the Minister of every Parish who on the first Sunday in February and likewise the two first Sundays before Easter was to publish the same every yeare 36. The Archbishop of Canterbury beheld this as an usurpation on Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction Which he would not revoke and complained of the Judges to his Majesty procuring a Commission to Bishop Pierce and other Divines to enquire into the manner of publishing this Order and the Chief Justice his cariage in this business Notwithstanding all which the next Assise Judge Richardson gave another strict charge against these Revels required an account of the publication and execution of the aforesaid Order punishing some persons for the breach thereof After whose return to London the Archbishop sent for him and commanded him to revoke his former Order as he would answer the contrary at his peril telling him it was his Majesties pleasure he should reverse it The Judge alledged it done at the request of the Justices of the Peace in the County with the generall consent of the whole Bench on the view of ancient precedents in that kinde 1634 However the next Assise he revoked his Order with this limitation as much as in him lay At what time also the Justices of the Peace in Somerset shire who in birth brains spirit and estate were inferiour to no County in England drew up an humble petition to his Majesty for the suppressing of the aforesaid unlawfull assemblies concurring with the Lord Chief Justice therein sending it up by the hand of the Custos Rotulorum to deliver it to the Earle of Pembroke Lord Lieutenant of their County to present it to his Majesty 37. Just in this juncture of time a Declaration for sports The Kings Declaration set forth the fifteenth of King James was revived and enlarged For his Majesty being troubled with petitions on both sides thought good to follow his Fathers royal example upon the like occasion in Lancashire and we refer the Reader to what we have writen * See the 15. of K. James before for arguments pro and con about the lawfulnesse of publique reading thereof 38. It was charged at his triall The Archbishop excuseth himself on the Archbishop of Canterbury that he had caused the reviving and enlarging of this Declaration strong presumptions being urged for the proof thereof He denied it yet professing his judgment for recreations on that day alledging the practice of the Church of Geneva allowing shooting in long Bowes c. thereon Adding also that though indulging liberty to others in his own person he strictly observed that day Anno Dom. 1634 Anno Regis Caroli 10 A self-praise or rather self-purging because spoken on his life which seem'd uttered without pride and with truth and was not cleerly confuted Indeed they are the best carvers of libertie on that day who cut most for others and leave least for themselves 39. However No injunction to the Ministers there was no express in this Declaration that the Minister of the Parish should be pressed to the publishing Many counted it no Ministers work and more proper for the place of the Constable or Tithing-man to perform it Must they who were if not worst able most unfitting hold the Candle to lighten and let in licentiousnesse But because the Judges had enjoyned the Ministers to read their order in the Church the Kings Declaration was inforced by the Bishops to be published by them in the same place 40. As for such whose consciences reluctated to publish the Declaration Yet some silenced for refusall to read the book various were their evasions Some left it to their Curats to read Nor was this the plucking out of a thorn from their own to put it in another Mans conscience seeing their Curats were perswaded of the lawfulnesse thereof Others read it indeed themselves but presently after read the fourth Commandement And was this fair play setting God and their King as they conceived at odds that so they themselves might escape in the fray Others point-blanck refused the reading thereof for which some of them were suspended ab officio beneficio some deprived and moe molested in the High Commission it being questionable whether their sufferings procured more pity to them or more hatred to the causers thereof 41. All Bishops urged not the reading of the Book with rigour alike Moderation of some Bishopâ— therein nor punished the refusall with equall severity I hear the loudest longest and thickest complaints come from the Diocess of Norwich and of Bath and Wells I knew a Bishop in the West to whom I stood related in kindred and service who being pressed by some to return the names of such as refused to read the Book to the Archbishop of Canterbury utterly denied and his words to me were these I will never turn an accuser of my Brethren there be enough in the World to take that office As for the Archbishop of Canterbury much was his moderation in his own Diocess silencing but three in whom also a concurrence of other non-conformities through the whole extent thereof But oh The necessity of the generall day of Judgment wherein all Mens actions shall be expounded
according to their intentions which here are interpretable according to other Mens inclinations The Archbishops adversaries imputed this not to his charity but policy Fox-like preying farthest from his own den and instigating other Bishops to doe more than he would appear in himself As for his own Visitation-Articles some complained they were but narrow as they were made and broad as they were measured his under-officers improving and enforcing the same by their enquiries beyond the letter thereof 42. Many complain that Mans badness took occasion to be worse Licentiousness increaseth under the protection of these sports permitted unto them For although liberty on the Lords-day may be so limited in the notions of learned men as to make it lawfull it is difficult if not impossible so to confine it in the actions of lewd people but that their liberty will degenerate into licentiousness 43 Many moderate Men are of opinion Conceived by some a concurring cause of our civil Warrs that this abuse of the Lords day was a principall procurer of Gods anger since poured out on this land in a long and bloody civil war Such observe that our fights of chief concernment were often fought on the Lords-day as pointing at the punishing of the profanation thereof Indeed amongst so many battells which in ten yeers time have rent the bowels of England some on necessity would fall on that day seeing we have be-rubrick'd each day in the week almost in the yeer with English blood and therefore to pick a solemne providence out of a common-casualty savours more of curiosity than conscience Yeâ— seeing Edge-hill-fight which first brake the peace and made an irreconcileable breach betwixt the two parties was fought on that day and some battells since of greatest consequence there may be more in the observation than what many are willing to acknowledge But whatsoever it is which hence may be collected sure I am those are the best Christians who least censure others and most reform themselves 44. But here it is much to be lamented A sad alteration that such who at the time of the Sabbatarian controversie were the strictest observers of the Lords-day are now reeled by their violence into another extreme to be the greatest neglecters yea contemners thereof These Transcendents accounting themselves mounted above the Predicament of common piety averr they need not keep any because they keep all days Lords-dayes in their elevated holinesse But alas Christian duties said to be ever done will prove never done if not sometimes solemnly done These are the most dangerous Levellers equalling all times places and persons making a generall confusion to be Gospell-perfection Whereas to speak plainly we in England are rebus sic stantibus concerned now more strictly to observe the Lords-day than ever before Holy-daies are not and Holy-eves are not and Wednesday and Friday-Letanies are not and Lords-day eves are not and now some out of errour and others out of profaneness goe about to take away the Lords-day also all these things make against Gods solemn and publique service Oh let not his publique worship now contracted to fewer chanells have also a shallower stream But enough of this subject wherein if I have exceeded the bounds of an Historian by being to large therein such will pardon me who know if pleasing to remember that Divinity is my proper profession 45. At this time miserable the maintenance of the Irish Clergy Irish impropriations restored where Scandalous means made Scandalous Ministers And yet a Popish Priest would grow fat in that Parish where a Protestant would be famished as have not their lively-hood on the oblations of those of their own Religion But now such Impropriations as were in the Crown by the King were restored to the Church to a great diminution of the Royall-Revenew though his Majesty never was sensible of any loss to himself if thereby gain might redound to God in his Ministers Bishop Laud was a worthy Instrument in moving the King to so pious a work and yet this his procuring the restoring of Irish did not satisfy such discontented at his obstructing the buying in of English Impropriations thus those conceived to have done hurt at home will hardly make reparations with other good deeds at distance 46. A Convocation concurrent with a Parliament was called and kept at Dublin in Ireland The 39 Articles received in Ireland wherein the 39. Articles of the Church of England were received in Ireland for all to subscribe unto It was adjudged fit seeing that Kingdome complies with England in the Civill government it should also conform thereto in matters of Religion Mean time the Irish Articles concluded formerly in a Synode 1616. wherein Arminianisne was condemned in terminis terminantibus and the observation of the Lords day resolved jure Divine were utterly excluded 47. A Cardinals-Cap once and again offered by the Pope Bishop Laud refuseth a Cardinalls-Cap to Bishop Laud was as often refused by him The fashion thereof could not fit his Head who had studied and written so much against the Romish Religion He who formerly had foiled the Fisher himself in a publick disputation would not now be taken with so filly a bait but accquainted the King therewith timuit Roman vel donaferentem refusing to receive anything from Rome till she was better reformed 48. Doctor William Juxon Bishop of London March 6 1635 Bishop Juxon made Lord Treasurer was by Bishop Lauds procurement made Lord Treasurer of England entring on that Office with many and great disadvantages Anno Dom. 1635 Anno Regis Caroli 10 First because no Clergy-man had executed the same since William Grey Bishop of Ely almost two hundred yeare agoe in the raign of King Edward the fourth Secondly because the Treasury was very poor and if in private houses bare walls make giddy Hous-wives in Princes Palaces empty Coffers make unsteady Statesmen Thirdly because a very Potent I cannot say Competitor the Bishop himself being never a Petitor for the Place but desirer of this Office was frustrated in his almost assured expectation of the same to himself 49. However so discreet his carriage in that place His comendable carriage it procured a generall love unto him and politick malice despairing to bite resolved not to bark at him He had a perfect command of his passion an happiness not granted to all Clergy-men in that age though privy-Counsellors slow not of speech as a defect but to speak out of discretion because when speaking he plentifully payed the principall and interest of his Auditors expectation No hands having so much money passing thorough them had their fingers less soiled there with It is probable his frugality would have cured the consumption of the Kings Exchequer had not the unexpected Scotch commotion put it into a desperate relapse In this particular he was happy above others of his order that whereas they may be said in some sort to have left their Bishopricks
33. As Bishop Williams and Mr. Osbaston Dr Pocklinton and Dr. Bray censured were the two first Clergy-men who found the favour of this Parliament being remitted their finâ—s and restored to their livings and liberty so Doctor Pocklington and Doctor Bray were the two first that felt their displeasures The former for preaching and printing the latter for licencing two books one called Sunday no Sabbath the other The Christian altar Bishop Williams moved that Dâ—ctor Bray might recant seven errours in the first four and twenty in the second Treatise Soon after both the Doctors deceased for grief say some that they had writen what they should not for shame say others that they had recanted what they would not though a third sort more charitably take notice neither of the one nor the other but meerly impute it to the approach of the time of their dissolution 34. Anno Dom. 1640. Doctor Cosen soon after was highly accused Superstitions charged on Dr. Coseâ— for superstition and unjust proceedings against one Mr. Smart on this occasion The Doctor is charged to have set up in the Church of Durham a Marble Altar with Cherubins which cost two thousands pounds with all the appurtenances thereof namely a Cope with the Trinity and God the Father in the figure of an old man another with a Crucifix and the Image of Christ with a red Beard and blew Cap. Besides he was accused for lighting two hundred wax Candles about the Altar on Candlemas day For forbidding any Psalmes to be sung before or after Sermon though making an Anthem to be sung of the three Kings of Collen by the names of Gasper Balthazar and Melchior and for procuring a consecrated Knife only to cut the Bread at the Communion 35. Mr. Smart a prebendary of the Church Cruel usage of Mr. Smart one of a grave aspect and reverend presence sharply enveyed in a Sermon against these innovations taking for his text I hate all those that hold superstitious vanities but thy law doe I love 36. Hereupon he was kept prisoner four moneths by the high Commission of York before any Articles were exhibited against him and five moneths before any Proctor was allowed him Hence was he carried to the High-Commission at Lambeth and after long trouble remanded to York fined 500. pounds committed to prison ordered to recant and for that neglect thereof fined again excommunicated degraded and deprived his damage as brought in amounting to many thousand pounds 37. But now Mr. Rows of the House of Commons Relieved by Parliament bringing up the charge to the Lords against Doctor Cosen termed Mr. Smart the Proto martyr of England in these latter dayes of persecution and large reparations was allowed unto him though he lived not long after to enjoy them 38. Now though none can excuse and defend Doctor Cosen his carriage herein Dr. Cosen his due praise yet this must be reported to his due commendation Some yeers after getting over into France he neither joyned with the Church of French Protestants at Charentoun nigh Paris nor kept any communion with the Papists therein but confined himself to the Church of old English Protestants therein Where by his pious living and constant praying and preaching he reduced some recusants to and confirmed more doubters in the Protestant Religion Many his incounters with Jesuits and Priests defeating the suspicions of his foes and exceeding the expectation of his Friends in the successe of such disputes 39. The Commons desired the Lords to joyn with them to finde out Jan. 23 Goodman a Priest handled betwixt life and death who moved the King to reprieve John Goodman a seminary Priest who as they said had been twice condemned and now the second time reprieved whilest the Parliament sate 40. The King sent a message by the Lord Privy-Seal Jan. 25 that Goodman was not as the Commons were informed condemned and banished but only sentenced for being a Priest and therefore that in reprieving him he shewed but the like mercy which Queen Eliz. and King James had shewed in the like cases 41. The Lords joyned with the Commons in their desire concerning Goodman Jan. 27 that the Statutes might speedily be executed upon him as necessary in this juncture of time wherein Papists swarmed in all parts presuming on indemnity With what credit or comfort could they sit to enact new Lawes whilst they beheld former Statutes dayly broken before their eyes 42. The King acquainted the Houses that though Queen Eliz. and King James never condemned Priest meerly for Religion Feb. 3 yet rather then he would discontent his Subjects he left him to the judgment of both Houses to be disposed of at their pleasure 43. Goodman petitioned the King that like Jonah the Prophet Anno Dom 1640 Anno Regis Caroli 16 he might be cast into the Sea Yet he escapeâ—â— with lâ—fe at last to still the tempest betwixt the King and his People conceiving his blood well spent to cement them together But in fine he escaped with his life not so much by any favour indulged him as principally because the accusations could not be so fully proved against him Febr. 4. 44. About this time was the first motion of a new Protestation The first mention of the Protestation to be taken all over England the Copy whereof is omitted as obvious every where which some moneths after was generally performed as containing nothing but what was lawfull and commendable therein Yet some refused it as suspecting the adding of new would substract obedience from former oâ—thes men being prone to love that best which left the last relish in their souls and in fine such new obligations of conscience like suckers would draw from the stock of the old oathes of supremacy and alleagiance 45. March began very blusteringly March 1. on the first day whereof Archbishop Laud was in Mr. Maxfeild his Coach carried to the Tower A Committee of the Lords to settle religion and not long after the Lords appointed a Committee of their own Members for settling of peace in the Church What hopefull opinion the aforesaid Archbishop had of their proceedings will appear by the following note which he entred into his a March 21. pag. 24. Diarie A Committee for Religion settled in the upper house of Parliament Mond 21. Ten Earles ten Bishops ten Barons So the Lay-Votes will be double to the Clergy This Committee will meddle with Doctrine as well as Ceremonies and will call some Divines to them to consider of the businesse as appears by a Letter hereto annexed sent by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln to some Divines to attend this service upon the whole matter I believe this Committee will prove the Nationall Synod of England to the great dishonour of the Church And what else may follow upon it God knowes 46. At the same time the Lords appointed a Sub-committee A Sub-Committee for the
Sr that the least wrong may redound to You by my indiscretion in the writing hereof desiring You only to Patronize what is acceptable therein and what shall appear otherwise is left on my account to answer for the same YOu may know Anno Regis Carol. 21. that amongst the most Remarkables effected by the Assembly of Divines Anno Dom. 1645. the compiling of the Directory was one The Directory drawn up by the Assembly which although composed in the former yeare yet because not as yet meeting with universal Obedience it will be seasonable enough now to enter on the consideration thereof The Parliament intending to abolish the Liturgie and loath to leave the Land altogether at a loss or deformity in publick service imployed the Assembly in drawing up a model of Divine Worship Herein no direct forme of Prayer Verbis conceptis was prescribed no outward or bodily worship enjoyned nor people required in the Responsals more than in Amen to bear a part in the Service but all was left to the discretion of the Minister not enjoyned what but directed to what purpose he ought to order his devotions in publick-prayer and administring Sacraments 2. The dissenting Brethren commonly call'd Independents were hardly perswaded to consent to a Directory Even libera custodia To which the dissenting Brethren at last assent though it be the best of Restraints is but a restraint and they suspected such a Directory would if inforced be an infringing of the Christian-liberty Anno Dom. 1645. Anno Regis Carol 21. However they consented at last the rather because a Preface was prefixed before it which did much moderate the matter and mitigate the rigorous imposition thereof 3. In this preface A discreet and charitable Preface respectful terms are no less discreetly than charitably afforded to the first compilers of the Liturgie allowing them wise and pious in redressing many things which were vain erroneous superstitious and idolatrous affirming also that many Godly and Learned men of that age rejoyced much in the Liturgie at that time set forth But adding withall that they would rejoyce more had it been their happiness to behold this present reformation they themselves were perswaded that these first Reformers were they now alive would joyn with them in this work at advanting the Directory 4. The Assemblie-work of the Directorie thus ended The Directorie inforced by ordinance of Parliament the Lords and Commons began therewith prefixing an Ordinance thereunto made much up of forms of repeal laying down the motives inclining them to think the abolishing of the Common-Prayer and establishement of this Directory necessary for this Nation First the consideration of the many inconveniences risen by that book in this Kingdom Secondly their Covenant-Resolution to reform Religion according to Gods word and the best reformed Churches Thirdly their consulting with the learned pâ—â—us and reverend Divines for that purpose 5. The Benefit of Printing the Directorie was bestowed on M r Rowborrough and M r Byfield Scribes to the Assembly who are said to have sold the same for some hundreds of pounds Surely the Stationer who bought it A good price if well paid did not with the dishonest * Pro. 20. 14. Chap-man first decry the worth thereof and then hoast of his penniworth If since he hath proved a loser thereby I am confident that they who sold it him carried such a Chancery in their bosoms as to make him fair satisfaction 6. Now because it was hard to turn people out of their old track and put them from a beaten path such was call it constuncy or obstinacy love or doting of the generality of the Nation on the Common-Prayer the Parliament found it fit yea necessary to back their former Ordinance with a second dated twenty third of August 1645. And entitled an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for the more effectual putting in execution the Directorie c. Wherein directions were not only given for the dispersing and publishing of the Directory in all Parishes Chappelries and Donatives but also for the calling in and suppressing of all books of Common-Prayer A Second Ordinance to back the former and several forfeitures and penalties to be levied and imposed upon conviction before justices of Assize or of Oyer and terminer c. 7. But in opposition hereunto the King at Oxford set forth a Proclamation bearing date the thirteenth of November 1645. enjoyning the use of Common-Prayer according to the Law notwithstanding the pretended ordinances for the new Directory Thus as the waves The Kings Proclamation contrary to the Parliaments Ordinance commanded one way by the Tide and countermanded another with the wind know not which to obey so people stood amused betwixt these two forms of service line upon line * Isa 28. 10. precept upon precept being the easiest way to edifie whilst line against line precept against precept did much disturb and distract 8. The King and Parliament being thus at difference Arguments pro and con to Directory no wonder if the pens of the Chaplains followed their Patrons and engaged violently pro and con in the controversy I presume it will be lawful and safe for me to give in a breviat of the Arguments on both sides reserving my private opinion to my self as not worthy the readers taking notice thereof for as it hath been permitted in the height and heat of our Civil man for Trumpeters and Messengers to have fair and free passage on both sides pleading the Priviledge of the publick faith provided they do not interest themselves like parties and as spies forfeit the protection so subjecting themselves justly to the severest punishment So. Historians in like manner in all ages have been permitted to transmit to posterity an unpartial account of actions preserving themselves Neuters in their indifferent relations Against the Liturgie 1. Sad experience hath made it manifest that the Liturgie used in England notwithstanding the religious intentions of the compilers thereof hath prove an offence to many godly people 2. Offence thereby hath also been given to the reformed Churches abroad 3. M r Calvin himself disliked the Liturgie in his letter to the Lord Protector charitably calling many thing therein tolerabiles ineptias 4. The Liturgie is no better then confining of the Spirit tying it to such and such words which is to be left alone to its own liberty use praying and have praying the extemporary gift is improved by the practice thereof 5. It being a compliant with the Papists in a great part of their Service doth not a little confirm them in their Superstition and Idolatry 6. It is found by experience that the Liturgie hath been a great means to make an idle and an unedifying Ministry For the Liturgie 1. Such offence if any was taken not given and they must be irreligious mistakes which stand in opposition to such religious intentions 2. No forrain Church ever in print expressed
backward in Time to make our History the more entire Die Martis August 19. 1645. Directions of the Lords and Commons after advice had with the Assembly of Divines for the election and chusing of Ruling Elders in all the Congregations and in the Classical Assemblies for the City of London and Westminster Anno Regis Carol. 22. and the several Countries of the Kingdom Anno Dom. 1646. For the speedy setling of the Presbyteriall Government Die Lunae Oct. 20. 1645. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons together with Rules and Directions concerning suspension from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in cases of Ignorance and Scandal Also the names of such Ministers and others that are appointed Triers and Judges of the ability of Elders in the twelve Classes with the Province of London Die Sabbathi March 14. 1645. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for keeping of scandalous persons from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the enabling of the Congregation for the choice of Elders and supplying of defects in former ordinances and directions of Parliament concerning Church Government Die Veneris June 5. 1646. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for the present setling without further delay of the Presbyterial Government in the Church of England Die Veneris August 28. 1646. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for the Ordination of Ministers by the Classical Presbyters within their respective bounds for the several Congregations in the Kingdom of England Die Sabbathi Jan. 29. 1647. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for the speedy dividing and setling of the several Counties of this Kingdom into distinct Classical Presbyteries and Congregational Elderships 34. Great now was the clamorous importunity of the Wives and Children of Ministers sequestred An order for the fift part for Ministers Wives and Children ready to starve for want of maintenance I had almost called them the Widdows and Orphans of those Ministers because though their Fathers were living to them their Means were not living to their Fathers and they left destitute of a livelihood Indeed there was an Ordinance of Parliament made 1644 impowring their Commissioners in the Country to appoint means not exceeding a fift part to the Wives and Children of all sequestred Persons but seeing Clergie-men were not therein expressed by name such as enjoyed their Sequestrations refused to contribute any thing unto them Whereupon the House of Commons compassionately reflecting on the distresses of the foresaid complainers made an Order in more particular manner for the Clergy and seeing it is hard to come by I conceive it a charitable work here to insert a Copy thereof Die Jovis Nov. 11. 1647. That the Wives and Children of all such Persons as are or have been or shall be sequestred The Copy thereof by Order of either Houses of Parliament shall be comprehended within the Ordinance that alloweth a fift part for Wives and Children and shall have their fift part allowed unto them and the Committee of Lords and Commons for sequestration and the Committee of plundered Ministers and all other Committees are required to take notice hereof and yeeld Obedience hereunto accordingly H. Elsing Clericus Parliamenti Domus Communis 35. But Covetousnesse will wriggle it self out at a small hole Several ways endeavoured to srustrate this order Many were the Evasions whereby such Clergie-men possest of their livings do frustrate and defeat the effectual paiment of the fift part to the aforesaid Wives and Children Anno Dom. 1647. Some of which starting-holes we will here present Anno Regis Carol. 23. not to the intent that any should unjustly hide themselves herein but that for the future they may be stopped up as obstructing the true performance of the Parliaments intended Curtesie 36. First they plead that Taxes being first deducted First evasion Tythes are so badly paid they cannot live and maintain themselves if they must still pay a fift part out of the remainder Such consider not if themselves cannot live on the whole Grist how shall the Families of such sequestred Ministers subsist on the Tole 37. Secondly Second evasion if the foresaid Minister hath a Wife without Children or Children without a Wife or but one Child they deny paiment as not within the Letter though the Equity of the Order though one Child is as unable to live on nothing as if there were many more 38. Thirdly Third evasion if the sequestred Minister hath any temporal means of his own or since his sequestration hath acquired any place wherein he officiateth though short of a comfortable subsistence they deny paiment of a fift part unto him 39. Fourthly Fourth Evasion they affright the said sequestred Minister threatning to New article against for his former faults Whereas had he not been reputed a malignant not a fift part but all the five parts were due unto him 40. Fiftly Fift Evasion many who have livings in great Towns especially Vicarages disclaim the receiving of any Benefits in the nature of Tithes and accept them only in the notion of Benevolence Then they plead nothing due to the sequestred Minister out of the free gratuities which only are bestowed upon them 41. Sixtly Sixt Evasion they plead that nothing can be demanded by vertue of the said Ordinance longer then the sitting of the said Parliament which made it which long since is dissolved now though this be but a dilatory plea themselves enjoying the foure parts by vertue of the same Order yet though it doth not finally blast it doth much set back the fift part and whilst the same groweth the Ministers Wives and Children starve 42. Lastly Seventh Evasion of late since the setting forth of the Proclamation that all who disquiet their peaceable possession who are put into livings by the Parliaments Order should be beheld as enemies to the State Such sequestred Ministers who only sue the refusers to pay the fift part unblameable in all things else are threatned though they humbly conceived contrary to the true intent of the Proclamation with the foresaid penalty if they desist not in their suite Many more are their subterfugies besides vexing their wives with the tedious attendance to get Orders on Orders so that as one truly and sadly said the fifts are even paid at sixes and sevens 43. I am sorry to see the pittiful and pious intentions of the Parliament Remember the Poor so abused and deluded by the indirect dealings of others so that they cannot attain their intended ends for the relief of so many poor people seeing no doubt therein they desired to be like the best of beings who as closely applieth his lenitive as corrasive plasters and that his mercy may take as true effect as his justice Sure if the present Authority when at leisure from higher imployment shall be pleased to take the groans of these poor souls into its confideration the voice of their hungry bowels will quickly be turned to
or change often avouched by noe other Authour then this Doctors Vnconstancy However let us not be over cruel to his memory for not suffering for his own who was so kind and carefull to keep other from suffering for their conscience Andrew Pern 1559 6◠Vice-Chan Barth Dodington George Fuller Proct. Tho. Ventris 2 Major Doct. Leg. 3 Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 6 Mag. Art 25 Bac. Art 60 Henry Harvy Vice-Chanc Anthony Gilblington Iohn Cowell Proct. Roger Slegg 156 ◠◠Maj. 3 Doct. Leg. 1 Bac. Theol. 9 Mag. Art 31 Bac. Leg. 1 Mus 2 Art 53 Philip Baker 156 1 2 Vice-Chan VVilliam Master Georg Blithe Proct. Tho. Kymbold 4 Major Doct. Theol. 1 Leg. 2 Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 8 Mag. Art 20 Bac. Leg. 3 Art 51 Francis Newton 156 2 3 Vice-Chan Andrew Oxenbridg Iohn Igulden Proct. Hen. Serle 5 Major Doct. Theol. 3 Leg. 1 Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 4 Mag. Art 44 Bac. Leg. 7 Art 80 Edward Hauford 156 1 4 Vice-Cha Richard Curtesse Henry Woorley Proct. Rob. Cano 6 Major Doct. Theol. 12 Medic. 2 Bac. Theol. 4 Mag. Art 39 Bac. Leg. 2 Art 71 Robert Beaumont 156 4 5 Vice-Chanc Tho. Bing Barth Clark Proct. William Munsey 7 Maj. Doct. Theol. 1 Bac. Theol. 7 Mag. Art 27 Bac. Art 85 Now began a great difference in Trinity Colledge betwixt Doctor Beaumont Master thereof and some in that Society which hath its Influence at this day on the Church of England whereof hereafter SECT VII TO FRANCIS ASH OF LONDON Ann. Dom. 156 3 4. Esquire Ann. Reg. Eliz. 6. IT is the life of a Gift to be done in the life of the Giver farre better than funeral Legacies which like Benjamin are born by the losse of a Parent For it is not so kindly charity for men to give what they can keep no longer besides such donations are most subject to abuses Silver in the living Is Gold in the giving Gold in the dying Is but Silver a flying Gold and Silver in the dead Turn too often into Lead But you have made your own hands Executors and eyes Overseers so bountifull to a flourishing foundation in Cambridge that you are above the standard of a Benefactour Longer may you live for the glory of God and good of his servants QUeen Elizabeth Aug. 5. partly to ease Her self Queen Elizabeth comes to Cambridge with some recreation partly to honour and encourage Learning and Religion came to Cambridge where she remained five whole daies in the Lodgings of the Provost of Kings Colledge She was entertained with Comedies Tragedies Orations whereof one most eloquent made by William Masters the Publique Oratour disputations and other Academical Exercises She severally visited every House And at Her departure She took Her leave of Cambridge with this following Oration ET si foeminilis iste meus Pudor subditi fidelissimi Academia charissima in tanta doctorum turba illaboratum hunc Sermonem Orationem me narrare apud vos impediat Her Oration to the University tamen Nobilium meorum intercessus Ann. Dom. 1563-64 erga Academiam benevolentia me aliqua proferre invitat Ann. Regi Eliz. 6. Duobus ad hanc rem stimulis moveor Aug. 10. Primus est bonarum literarum Propagatio Alter est vestra omnium expectatio Quod ad propagationem spectat unum illud apud Demosthenem memini Superiorum verba apud inferiores Librorum locum habent Principum dicta legum Authoritatem apud subditos retinent Hoc igitur vos omnes in memoria tenere velim quod semita nulla praestantior est sive ad bona fortunae acquirenda sive ad Principum gratiam conciliandam quam graviter ut coepistis studiis vestris exhibeatis operam quod ut faciatis vos omnes oro obsecróque De secundo stimulo vestra nimirum expectatione hoc unum dico me nihil libenter praetermissuram esse quod vestrae de me animae benevolae concipiunt cogitationes Jam ad Academiam venio Tempore ante meridiano vidi ego aedificia vestra sumptuosa à meis majoribus clarissimis Principibus literarum causa extructa inter videndum dolor Artus meos occupavit atque ea mentis suspiria quae Alexandrum quondam tenuisse feruntur qui cum legisset multa à Principibus monumenta conversus ad familiarem seu potius ad Consiliarium multum doluit se nihil tale fecisse Haec tamen vulgaris sententia me aliquantum recreavit quae etsi non auferre tamen minuere potest dolorem Quae quidem sententia haec est Romam non uno aedificatam fuisse die tamen non est ita senilis mea aetas nec tam diu fui ex quo regnare coepi quin ante redditionem debiti naturae si non nimis cito Atropos lineam vitae meae amputaverit aliquod opus faciam quamdiu vita hos regit artus nunquam à proposito deflectam Et si contingat quam citò futurum sit nescio me mori opportere priusquam hoc ipsum quod polliceor complere possim aliquod tamen egregium opus post mortem relinquam quo memoria mea in posterum celebris fiat alios excitem exemplo meo vos omnes alacriores faciam ad studia vestra Sed jam videtis quantum inter sit inter doctrinam Lectam disciplinam animo non retentam Quorum alterius sunt complures satis sufficientes testes alterius autem vos omnes nimis quidem inconsideratè testes hoc tempore effeci quae meo barbaro Orationis genere tam diu doctas vestras aures detinuerim DIXI At that time the Degree of Master of Art Noble-men made Masters of Art was conceived to take a Degree and it self commenced in honour when the following Peers and Noble Persons were in the Regent House created Masters of Art a Caius Hist Cant. Acad. Pag 88. Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Edward Veere Earl of Oxford Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwicke Edward Manners Earl of Rutland Thomas Ratclyf Earl of Sussex Robert Dudley Earl of Leicestre Edw Clinton high Adm. of England William Howard Lord Chamberlain Henry Carew Lord Hunsden Sir William Cecil Secretary Sir Francis Knolls Vice-chamb Tho Heneage John Ashley Richard Bartue William Cooke Edmond Cooke Esquires Thus Acts being ended Degrees conferred University Officers well rewarded and all persons pleased Her Majesty went on in Her Progresse and the Schollers returned to their Studies 2. And yet we finde one great Scholler much discontented if my * Sir Geo. Paul in the Life of Archbishop Whitigist p. 7 Author may be believed namely The first cause of Mr. Cartwrights discontentment Mr. Thomas Cartwright He and Thomas Preston then Fellow of Kings Colledge afterwards Master of Trinity Hall were appointed two of the four Disputants in the Philosophy Act before the Queen Cartwright had dealt most with the
appears in the whole Lordship In this sute Plaintiff Judges Defendant Peter Duke of Savoy the Kings dear Uncle first founder I take it of the Savoy in London on whom the King conferred many Lordships and Chesthunt amongst the rest Solicitor Adam de Alverton Ralph Fitz-Nicolas John of Lexington Paulin Peyner Seneschal Henry of Bath Jeremy of Caxton Henry de Bretton The Case Simon the Abbot and the Covent of Waltham The Plaintiff endeavoured to prove that the stream of Ley called the Kings-Stream dividing Hertford-shire from Essex ran thorow the Town of Waltham all the land West thereof belonging to the Manor of Chesthunt This was denied by the Defendant maintaining that Small-Ley-stream running welnigh half a mile West of Waltham parted the Counties all the interjacent meadows pertained to Waltham Perusing the names of these the Kings Justices at Westminster A like not the same who would not suspect but that this Henry of Bath was Bishop of that See considering how many Clergy-men in that age were imployed in places of Judicature But the suspicion is causless finding none of that name in the Episcopal Catalogue Others in like manner may apprehend that Bretton here mentioned was that Learned Lawyer afterwards Bishop of Hereford who wrote the * See Godwin in his Bishops of Hereâ—ord Book De Juribus Anglicanis and who flourished in the latter end of the Reign of this King Henry the third But his name being John not Henry discovereth him a different person Not long after this sute was finally determined and Peter Duke of Savoy remised and quit-claimed from him and his Heirs to the said Abbot and his Successors Anno Regis the right and claim he had to ask in the same Meadows and Marshes of the said Abbot Anno Dom. This is called in the Instrument finalis concordia though it proved neither final nor a concord For soon after this palliaâ—â— cure broke out again and the matter was in variance and undetermined betwixt Robert the last Abbot and the Lord of Chesthunt when the Abby was dissolved Many accessions besides those common prolongers of all sutes namely the heat of mens anger and the bellows of instruments gaining by Law did concur to lengthen this cause 1. The considerableness and concernment of the thing controverted being a large and rich portion of ground 2. The difficulty of the cause about the chanels of that River which Proteus-like in several Ages hath appeared in sundry formes disguised by derivations on different occasions 3. The greatness of the Clients Chesthunt Lordship being alwayes in the hand of some potent person and the Corporation of Waltham Covent able to wage Law with him Hence hath this sute been as long-lov'd as any in England not excepting that in * Cambden in Glocester-shire Glocester-shire betwixt the posterity of Vice-Count Lisle and the Lord Barkley seeing very lately if not at this day there were some sutes about our bounds Waltham Meadows being very rich in grass and hay but too fruitful in contentions For mine own part that wound which I cannot heal I will not widen and seeing I may say with the Poet Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites No power of mine so far extends As for to make both parties friends I will not turn of an unpartial Historian an engaged person who as a neighbour wish well to Chesthunt as a Parishioner better to Waltham as a Christian best to both And therefore so much for matter of fact in our Records and Leiger-books leaving all matters of right for others to decide Mean time whilest the Abbot and Monks of Waltham were vexed with the men of Chesthunt they found more favour if publick same belies them not from some loving women in that Parish I mean the Holy Sisters in Chesthunt-Nunnery whose House when ever Founded I finde some ten years since thus confirmed by Royal Authority Henricus Rex Anglie Chesthunt Nunnery Founded Dominus Hybernie Dux Normanie Aquitanie Comes Andegavie c. Shestrehunt Moniales totam terram Dom. teneant cum pertinentiis suisque Canonicis de Cathele c. quos amoveri fecimus Datum apud West xj Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiij But this subject begins to swell beyond the bounds intended unto it lest therefore what we intended but a Tract should swell to a Tome we will here descend to matters of later date Onely be it premised Copt-Hall past to King Hen. 8. that some years before the Dissolution Robert the last Abbot of Waltham passed over the fair seat of Copt-Hall unto King Henry the eighth Thus as the Castor when pursued by the Hunter to make his escape is reported to bite off his own stones as the main treasure sought after and so saves his life by losing a limb So this Abbot politickly parted with that stately Mansion in hope thereby to preserve the rest of his revenues However all would not do so impossible it is to save what is design'd to ruine and few years after the Abby with the large Lands thereof were seized on by the King and for some Moneths He alone stood possessed thereof The Extraction Charter Death and Issue of Sir Anthony Dennie on whom King Henry the Eighth bestowed WALTHAM-ABBY AT the Dissolution A Lease of Waltham Abby given to Sir Anthony Denny King Henry bestowed the Site of this Abby with many large and rich Lands belonging thereunto on S r Anthony Dennie for the terme of Thirty one years Let us a little enquire into his extraction and discent I finde the name very Ancient at a Speed or ratherâ—â— Rob. Cotton in Huntingdon-shire Chesterton in Huntington-shire where the Heir-general was long since married John Denny the great souâ—der in France to the worshipful and Ancient Family of the Bevils It seems a branch of the Male-line afterwards fixed in Hertford-shire Whereof John Denny Esquire valiantly served Henry the fifth in France where he was slain and buried with Thomas his second Son in S t Dionys his Chappel their interment in so noble a place speaking their worthy performances In the Reign of Queen Mary a Frier shewed their Tombes to S r Matthew Carew together with their Coates and differences Henry eldest son of this John Denny begat William Denny of Chesthunt in Hertford-shire which William was High Sheriff of the County in the year 1480. leaving Edmond Denny to inherit his estate Edmond Denny was one of the Barons of the Exchequer Edm. Denny Baron of the Exchequer in credit and favour with King Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh He Married Mary the Daughter and Heir of Robert Troutbeck Esquire on whom he begat Thomas Denny from whom the Dennies in Norfolk are descended Anthony Denny Anthony Denny his high commendations second Son to Baron Denny was Knighted by King Henry the Eighth made Gentleman of his Bed-chamber Privy-Councellour and one of his Executors I cannot say he was bred any great Scholar
favoured by W. Rufus ibid. had a chief Justicor â—ver them p. 84. ¶ 33. a High priest or Presbyter ¶ 35. their griping usurie p. 85. ¶ 36 c. unfortunate at Feast and Frayes p. 86. ¶ 40. eruelly used by K. Henry the 3d. ¶ 43. Misdomeanours charged on them p. 87. ¶ 46 cast out of the land by K. Edward the first 47. though others say they craved leave to depart ibid c. ILTUTUS abused by Monkish for geries C. 6. ¶ 8. IMAGE-WORSHIP first setled by Synod in England C. 8. ¶ 9 10. injoyned point-blank to poore people to practice it b. 4. p. 150. ¶ 40. IN A King of the West-Saxons his Ecclesiasticall Laws C. 7. ¶ 106. he giveth Peter-Pence to the Pope C. 8. ¶ 13. INDEPENDENTS vide dissenting Brethren Sr. Fra. INGLEFIELD a Benefactour to the English Coll. at Valladolit b. 9. p. 87. yea to all English Papists p. 108. ¶ 20. St. JOHNS COLLEDGE in Cambridge founded by the Lady Margaret Hist of Cam. p. 94. ¶ 11. the Masters Bishops c. thereof p. 94 95. St. JOHNS COLL. Oxford founded by Sr. Tho. White b. 8. S. 3. ¶ 44. The Presidents Bishops Benefactours c. thereof ¶ 45. King JOHN receives a present from the Pope b. 3. p. 48. ¶ 4. returns him a stout answer 5. for which the whole Kingdome is interdicted p. 49. ¶ 6 7 c. his Innocency to the Popes injustice ¶ 9. by whom he is excommunicated by name ¶ 10. yet is blessed under his curse ¶ 11. his submission to the Pope p. 51. ¶ 13. resigning his Crown ibid. his unworthy Embassey to the King of Morocco p. 53. ¶ 21. lamentable death ¶ 22. and character ¶ 23. JOSEPH of ARIMATHEA said to be sent into Britain C. 1. ¶ 11. his drossy History brought to the Touch ¶ 12. severall places assigned for his buriall ¶ 14. the Oratours of Spain in the councill of Basel endeavour to disprove the whole story b. 4. p. 180. ¶ 8. whose objections are easily answered p. 181. ¶ 9. IRELAND excludeth their own Articles and receiveth the 39 Articles of England b. 11. p. 149. ¶ 46. ITALIANS had in England seventy thousand Marks a year of Ecclesiasticall revenues b. 3. p. 65. ¶ 29. held the best livings and kept no Hospitalitie b. 4. p. 138. ¶ 17. William JUXON Bishop of London made Lord Treasurer b. 11. p. 150. ¶ 48. his commendable carriage ¶ 49. K. Q. KATHARINE de Valois disobeyeth her Husband b. 4. p. 170. ¶ 46. therefore never buried ¶ 47 48. Q. KATHARINE Dowager for politick ends married to King Henry the eighth b. 5. p. 165. ¶ 6. on what score the match was first scrupled by the King p. 171. ¶ 36 37 c. her Speech p. 173. her character and death b. 5. p. 206. ¶ 19. KATHARINE HALL founded by Robert Woodlark Hist of Camb. p. 83. ¶ 40. in strictnesse of Criticisme may be termed Aula bella ¶ 41. KEBY a British Saint fixed in Anglesey C. 4. ¶ 25. KENT the Saxons Kingdome therein when beginning how bounded C. 5. ¶ 17. first converted to Christianity by Augustine the Monk b. 2. C. 6. ¶ 11. the Petition of the Ministers of Kent against subscription b. 9. p. 144. KENULPHUS King of the West-Saxons his Charter granted to the Abbey of Abbington proving the power of Kings in that Age in Church matters b. 2. p. 101. ¶ 25. notwithstanding Persons his objections to the contrary ¶ 26. putteth down the Arch bishoprick of Lichfield KETTS Robert and William their Rebellions b. 7. p. 339. ¶ 2. their execution p. 397. ¶ 15. The KINGS EVILE a large discourse of the cause and cure thereof C. 11. p. 145 146 147. John KING Dean of Christ-Church b. 5. p. 170. present at Hampton-Court conference b. 10. p. 7. when Bishop of London graveleth Legate the Arrain p. 62. ¶ 8. condemneth him for a Heretick p. 63. ¶ 10. his cleare carriage in a cause of great consequence p. 67. ¶ 24 25. his death p. 90. ¶ 31. and eminencies in defiance of Popish falshood ¶ 32. 33. Henry KING made Bishop of Chichester b. 11. p. 194. KINGS HALL built by King Edward the third Hist of Camb. p. 39. ¶ 46. three eminences thereof ¶ 47. KINGS COLLEDGE founded by K. Henry the sixth Hist of Camb. p. 73. John KNEWSTUBS minister of Cockfield in Suffolk b. 9. p. 135. ¶ 16. a meeting of Presbyterians at his house ibidem against conformities at Hampton-Court conference b. 10. p. 7. his exceptions propounded p. 16 and 17. shrewdly checkt by King James p. 20. a Benefactour to Saint Johns Colledge Hist of Camb. p. 95. ¶ 15. KNIGHTS of the Garter their Institution qualifications hubilliments Oath and orders by them observed how their places become vacant b. 3. p. 116. KNIGHTS anciently made by Abbots b. 3. p. 17 18. untill it was forbidden by Canon ibidem Mr. KNOT the Jesuit his causelesse Cavills at Mr. Sutton confuted b. 10. p. 65. ¶ 17 c. John KNOX chosen their minister by the English Exiles at Frankford b. 8. S. 3. ¶ 1. opposed in his discipline by Dr. Cox ¶ 3 4. accused for treacherous speeches against the Emperour ¶ 5. forced to depart Frankford to the great grief of his party ibidem L. Arthur LAKE Bishop of Bath and Wells his death and character b. 11. ¶ 45. LAMBETH Articles by whom made b. 9. p. 229. ¶ 23. nine in number p. 230. various judgements of them p. 231. ¶ 24 c. LANCASTER and York houses the Battels betwixt them for the Crown Place Time number slain and Conquerour b. 4. p. 186 and 187. LANCK-FRANCK made Arch-bishop of Canterbury b. 3. ¶ 4. most kindly treated by the Pope ¶ 17. to whom he accuseth Thomas elect of York and Remigius elect of Lincoln ¶ 18 19. his return and imployment ¶ 20. Hugh LATIMER a violent Papist History of Cambridge p. 102. ¶ 33. converted by Bilney ¶ 34. his Sermon of Cards p. 103. ¶ 38. preacheth before the Convocation b. 5. p. 207. ¶ 23. deprived of his Bishoprick of Worcester p. 231. ¶ 18. why he assumed it not again in the Reign of King Edward the sixth b. 7. p. 405. ¶ 28. his judgement of the contemners of common prayer p. 426. ¶ 17. William LAUD made Bishop of St. Davids b. 9. p. 90. ¶ 30. a great Benefactour to St. Johns in Oxford b. 8. p. 40. ¶ 45. accused by the Scotch for making their Liturgy b. 1â— p. 163. prepares for his death b. 11. p. 215. ¶ 68. his Funerall speech and burial p. 216. ¶ 69 70. his birth breeding and character p. 216 217 218 219. LAURENTIUS Arch-bishop of Cant. reconcileth the British to the Romish Church in the Celebration of Easter C. 7. ¶ 27. intending to depart England iâ— rebuked in a vision ¶ 34 35. LECHLADE or LATINELADE a place where Latine was anciently taught Cent. 9. ¶ 30. Thomas LEE or LEAH a prime Officer imploied in the dissolution of
free Soc. to be held as of the Manour of East Greenwich sine reditu  George Bridges Lord Shandois St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolke Q. o 2 parte rot 13. Elizabeth in the second year of her Reign Feb. 14. Iohn Eye Esquire of the payment of four hundred pound in free Soccage to be held as of the Queens Manour of East Greenwich sine reditu   St. Albans in Hertfordshire Q. p 4 part rot 52. Elizabeth in the sixt of her Reign May 6. Christopher Smith Esq Thomas Broughton Gent. of the payment for it and other lands in the Grant of 1703 li. 1s 4d in free and common Soccage sine reditu   Hitherto we have proceeded on the most authentick authority out of Records And although we are confident of the truth of such as follow yet wanting the like assurance in the Dates Tenures and Considerations we thought fit to rank them by themselves 2. Battel-Abbey in Sussex was bestowed by King Henry the eighth on Sir Anthony Browne Knight of the Garter and Master of His Majesties Horse enjoyed by his heir-male in a direct line at this day 3. Thorney-Abbey in Cambridge-shire was conferred by King Henry the eighth on Iohn Lord Russell and is possessed by his Abnepos William Earle of Bedford in a lineall descent 4. S. Iohn's Priory in Coventry was given by King Henry the eighth to Hales Esquire Clerk of the Hanaper at this day in possession of one of his name and lineage 5. Eversham-Abbey in Worcester-shire I finde not to whom first granted but by a long Lease it was in the possession of one Mr. Andrewes father and son whose Grandchilde living now at Berkhampsteed in Hertford shire hath better thrived by God's blessing on his own industry than his Father and Grandfather did with Evesham-Abbey The sale of the stones whereof he imputeth a cause of their ill successe Lately it was Sir William Curteens and I know not to whom his Sonne sold it 6. The Abbey of S. Bennet's in the Holme in Norfolke was never sold Bennet in the Holme changed with the Bishop of Norwich but onely changed in the two and thirtieth of King Henry the eighth with the Bishop of Norwich as appeareth by the printed Statute which affirmeth That the lands setled by the King on the Bishoprick were of a greater yearly value than the Lordships and Manours given to his Grace Which might be so seeing all profit consists not in annuall revenue but much in casualties of Fines Indeed generally Coronets did gain but Miters lose in their exchanges with the Crown 7. S. Maryes in Yorke with Selby S. Maryes in Yorke how disposed the onely Mitred Abbey beyond Trent was kept in the Crown to be the Kings Palace when repairing into those parts Since called the Manour where the Lord President of the Councell in the North held his residence At this day it is in the hands of the States as excepted by name in the Ast for the sale of Kings lands and one was allowed a Fee for the carefull keeping thereof 8. My enquire cannot attain to whom S. Maryes in Shrewsburie was passed As for Augustine's in Canterbury I conceive it never aliened from the Crown reading in my worthy * Will Somner in his Antiq. of Canterbury pag. 60. friend that the remaining ruines thereof are made subject to publick uses And thus we have a perfect account of all the Mitred English-Abbeys The Reader well remembring what we have formerly written at large of S. Iohn's of Ierusalem and Waltham as also of Glocester Peterborough and Westminster advanced into Cathedrals save that the last was afterwards altered into a Collegiate-Church 9. we may observe that the greatest Abbeys founded in Cities were of the least profit Countrey Abbeys largest in profit because so streight-laced with streets and houses round about them that they could not grow to any extraordinary bulk for ground continued thereunto so that the Sites were but Sites as in S. Albans S. Edmunds-Bury Hyde c. Whereas Monasteries in Countrey-Towns let loose at more liberty to dilate themselves had generally a large Manour and ample Demesnes annexed unto them 10. Wise men have informed me Present gaine future losse that had succeeding Princes followed King Henry's pattern generally granting Abbeys only in Capite that such lands though passed gratis from the Crown under small rents would notwithstanding in some part have returned thither again as affording Respit of Homage Reliefs Wardships Fines for alienation for a constant revenue Whereas being afterwards granted in free soccage whilst the tenure onely advanced the present sale the Crown was deprived of much Emolument and more obligation 11. Richard Williams aliàs Cromwell Esquire A solemn Tilting proclaimed to whom Ramsey Abbey was partly given partly sold was one of the five who in the thirty second year of Henry the eighth made the bold challenge at Justs to all comers that would in France Flanders Scotland and Spain Here it was expected that some of our Knights Hospitallers whose House by Act of Parliament was dissolved but a month before should appear valiantly in their vindication if conceiving any injustice offered unto them But they kept themselves close probably not so much for fear of all the Challengers as of one of the Spectatours viz King Henry Himself as sure if Conquerours of the King's anger and others envy if worsted of their own disgrace Besides by the laws of their Order they were not to Tilt against Christians but onely to spend their spears against Pagans and Infidels Lastly the challenge seemed only confined to forraigners 12. This Richard Williams aliàs Cromwell came into the place an Esquire The noble atchievements of Rich. Cromwell but departed a Knight dubbed by the King for his valour clearly carrying away the credit overthrowing Mr. Palmer * Stow in the reign to Hen. 8. pag. 580. in the field at Justs one day and the next serving Mr. Culpepper at Barriers in the same manner Hereupon there goeth a Tradition in the Familie that King Henry highly pleased with his prowesse Formerly said He thou wast My Dick but hereafter shalt be My Diamond and thereat let fall His Diamond-Ring unto him In avowance whereof these Cromwells have ever since given for their Crest a Lyon holding a Diamond-Ring in his Fore-paw 13. Some conceive these Abbey-Lands more unsuccessfull than any other Censure on Abbey-Lands and infectious to the third Generation Yea Papists would perswade us that as Bucephalus cast all his Riders till backed by Alexander his Lord and Master so these skittish-Lands will dismount all that bestride them untill forsooth they be as they hope restored to their proper Owners And this they impute to the curse of their Founders denounced to such who should alienate them from their first institution Others maintain that no certainty can be concluded from such casualties but that all things come to passe alike to all As dye