our Author had known the Story better he should have valued them as Confessors for tho they comply'd in a great many things yet it appers that they were still true to their old perswasions upon which they fell in trouble and were not only turned out illegally but kept in prison for several years till Queen Mary set them at liberty XLVII He says that King Henry had ordered the Bible to be printed correctly and that he had put with it Erasmus's last Paraphrase on the New Testament but the Duke of Somerset found this Translation did not agree so well with the Doctrine of the Sacramentary's so he ordered a new Translation to be made that was more favorable to their figurative expressions At which the Pressâ—s wrought so long till there was not only a sufficient number of Copies printed off for all the Parish Churches but likewise for all that could read There was no new Translation of the Bible thought on during this reign for that was done in Queen Elisabeth's time so that King Henry's continued all this Reign Nor had King Henry put Erasmus's Paraphrase either with the Bible or in the Churches for that was done by the Duke of Somerset and Gardiners Letters to him are yet extant and in print complaining of that Paraphrase in a great many particulars So constantly mistaken is our Auâ—hor even in matters concerning which it had been easy for him to have found better Information XLVIII Mr. Varillas tells us that the Archbishop of York and the Bishops of Chester Mena and Sadore comply'd outwardly as Sacramentaries but lived in the secret practice of the Catholick Religion Somerset was informed of this so he ordered some to tell them that they were the only Prelates of England that were opposite to the publick Religion and therefore the King desired to be satisfied in that matter so the tryal that was required of them was that they should marry which tho it was somewhat uneasy to men past threescore yet they comply'd even in this and Somerset having by this means rendred them very contemptible did not only banish them but put them in prison and he treated other Bishops in the same manner for their defending the Catholick Religion in full Parliament tho they had done it very feebly 1. I find Mr. Varillas is as Ignorant in Geography as he is in Chronology for among all the Bishopricks of England he will neither find Mena nor Sadore 2. There is indeed an Island that lyes between England and Ireland that is a Soveraignty belonging to the Earl of Derby But the Island is Man or in Latin Mona but was never called Mena. In this Island there is a Bishop who is called Bishop of Man but he writes it in Latin Sodore so this is wrong put by Mr. Varillas Sadore yet these may be faults of the press but the making two Bishopricks out of one and the making this Bishop subject to the King of England and receiving Orders from the Protector are Faults that he cannot turn over upon his Compositor 3. It does not appear that either the Archbishop of York or the Bishop of Chester did ever oppose any thing in Parliament for tho many of the other Bishops voted against the changes that were made in matters of Religion as appears by the Journals of the House of Lords yet these two concurred in every thing and all Henry's time Holgate was considered still as one united to Cranmer and he was by his Interest raised to the See of York as for the Bishop of Chester I confess I know no particulars 4. It is true that they were both married for I found a Commission issued out by Queen Mary for turning them out because of their Marriage but it is certain that they were neither in disgrace nor in prison all King Edwards Reign for the Archbishop of York was all this while in High Favour 5. England is not a Countrey in which the displeasure of a Regent or even Letters under the Cachet can either banish or imprison men chiefly when that is founded only on some suspitions No it is a Countrey governed by Law but it seems Mr. Varillas had his head full of somewhat nearer him when he writ this XLIX He sets out the Constancy of Queen Mary during her Brothers Reign and that She continued firm in the Religion of her Ancestors that tho Somerset brought the Italian Divines Martyr and Ochin to her to convince her She answered all their Objections with great vigor She spoke stoutly to Somerset She interrupted the Privy Councellours when they spoke to her of those matters and She would â—ever hear any of their Sermons but one only In short that she threatned those that threatned her and told them a time would come in which they should answer for that Her constancy was such that at last Somerset desired only that she would at least shut her Chappel doors when Mass was said but even in that she satisfied him as little as in other things Here are so many lovely strokes that it is a great Pity they are all false 1. Some Letters past between the Protector and her that are in print but it does not appear that ever he spoke to her upon this subject 2. She never pretended to be of the Religion of her Ancestors but by all her Letters she declared she was of the Religion that her Father had setled and she always insisted on his Laws pretending that in a Minority they could not be altered 3. She spoke French well and understood Latin but she could neither speak Italian nor Latin so she could have no conversations neither with P. Martyr nor Ochin nor is this named among all the Letters that were writ concerning this business 4. She would never hear any one Sermon so here the Character was as much slackened as it was raised in the other parts of this paragraph For when Bishop Ridley went to her and offered to preach before her she told him plainly that she would never hear any one of them 5. The Princess was too discreet to threaten her Brothers Ministers or to talk of a time in which they might be called to an account for what they did for such Language never comes from Collateral Heirs unless they are extream indiscreet 6. The great dispute with the Princess fell out after Somerset's disgrace and was chiefly set on by the King her Brother who could hardly be prevailed with by the Privy Conncil to consent to her having Mass still said in her Chappel and after he had talked with her himself upon that matter he sets down these words concerning the Resolution that was taken in his Journal The Bishops of Canterbury London Rochester did consider to give licence to sin was sin to suffer and wink at it for a time might be born so all hast possible might be used L. He says There was no appearance that King Edward could live till he should be of Age
the King would not accept of the Present â—hat was offered him by the Clergy unâ—ess they would likewise give him that Title Now it is agreed on by all that â—is submission was past by the whole Convocation unanimously Fisher â—eing the only man that stood out a â—hile but even he at last concurred â—ith the rest And Pool was at that 〈◊〉 Dean of Exeter and so he was a â—ember of the Convocation he also â—â—joyed his Deancy several years after â—is so that it cannot be imagined â—â—at the King would have let him go 〈◊〉 of England and have allowed 〈◊〉 a good benefice for supporting 〈◊〉 in his Studies if he had set himâ—â—â—f so vigorously to oppose him in a â—â—â—ter that touched him so near III. Mr. Varillas tells us that in the 〈◊〉 1536. the King made a Law obliging his Subjects to continue firm in the six principal Points which the Hereticks disputed most And to put his Reader out of doubt as to this matter he cites the Acts of Parliament for that year But Chronology is a study too low for so sublime a Writer and therefore since he thought the Fable would go on the better if this Law were puâ— in this year he would needs Anticipateâ— three years and put a Law that pasâ— not before the year 1539. in the yeaâ— 1536. but in this he followed his Sanders or which is all one his Florimonâ—â— de Raimond exactly IV. He reckons up the six Articles it seems as others had done before him but it is certain he never looked into our Acts of Parliament for as they would have set him righâ— as to the year so they would havâ— shewed him that the sixth Article diâ— not at all mention the seven Sacramentâ— and as to Auricular Confession it 〈◊〉 only decreed that it was expedient 〈◊〉 necessary and that it ought to be retaâ—ned in the Church For upon this theâ—â— was a great dispute most of the Cleâ—gy endeavouring to carry the matlâ—â— so far as to declare Confession necessary by the Law of God but King Henry would not consent to that and there is a long Letter yet extant all writ with his own hand in which he argues this matter liker a learned Divine than a great King V. He tells us that Arch-bishop Cranmer conferred all Benefices in the quality of Vicar General of the Church of England and that he disputed with Jesus Christ the Institution of four Sacraments But neither the one nor the other is true for he gave no Benefices but those of his own Diocess and as for his expression of disputing with Iesus Christ the Institution of four Sacraments I pass it as a Sublime of our Author 's yet even the thing is false all the ground for it is that in the first part of the Erudition of a Christian-man that was set out this year no mention was made of these four Sacraments but they were all set forth some years after this when that work was finished VI. He says that upon this the zealous Catholicks of England concluded that the King himself leaned to Heresy and that the Provinces of Lincoln and Northumberland Cambridge-Shire York-Shire and Durresm were the first that revolted and made up a body more than 50000. men Here Mr. Varillas shews us still how well he likes Rebellion by giving those Rebels no worse name than that of Zealous Catholicks and here he gives us the accomplishment of the Cardinal de Bellay's threatnings but one would have thought that a Writer who resolved to dedicate his Book to the King should have softned this part a little otherwise a Zealous Protestant may be naturally carried to make the Inference that if the Fears of the change of Religion in England might carry Catholicks to Rebel on whom no worse Character is bestowed than that of Zealous why may not Protestants oppressed and ruined contrary to the faith of irrevocable Edicts claim the same priviledge His laying of Lincoln-shire and Northumberland together and then returning to Cambridg-Shire and going back to York-Shire shews how well he knows the situation of our â—Counies and he instead of Lanca-Shire and Westmorland has out of his store put Northumberland and Cambridge-Shire in the Rebellion he also represents this rising only as a beginning whereas these were the only Counties that rebelled nor did they ever joyn together for those of Lincoln-Shire were suppressed within that County before the rising in York-Shire VII He says The King ordered the Dukes of Northfolk and Suffolk to go to the Rebels and to promise them all that they demanded upon which these Dukes undertook this Message and went to the Rebels Camp with all the shews of Humility that could have been expected from the most abject of the vanquished they desired them to put their Complaints in writing and when they saw them they thought them very just and signed a Treaty with them in the Kings Name by which they obliged him to redress all the Innovations that had been made in matters of Religion and with this they satisfied those who were in Arms who were so foolish as to lay down their Arms upon the faith of this Treaty yet the King after he had thus dispersed them did not trouble himself much with the keeping of his word to them but as he knew the names of the chief Instruments of this Sedition so he put them all in prison at several times upon some pretended Crimes with which they were charged and soon after they were proceeded against according to the forms of Law and not one of them escaped death either in secret or in publick By this Relation of this Affair one would think that the King sent those Dukes as Supplicants to the Rebels but they went both of them at the Head of the Kings Troops and both to different Armies 2. They were so far from promising every thing in the Kings Name that the Kings Answers to their Demands are yet extant in which he treats them as Brute Beasts that medled themselves in things that they did not understand the King told them their duty was to obey and not to command and that he would not at all be advised by them He did indeed promise a Pardon of what was past to those who should return to their duty but lie would not alter any thing at their sute 3. Our Author did not know that this Rebellion was after the suppression of the lesser Monasteries and that this was one of the Chief of their Grievances otherwise he had embelished it no doubt 4. He taxes them of Imprudence for trusting the Kings promises but one would have expected that in a Reign of so much submission as this is he should have rather shewed their Fidelity and Loyalty that made them so easily believe a Kings word but it seems Mr. Varillas thinks it is a piece of Imprudence to rely too much on that 5. A Prince's breaking his Faith is a thing that needs no aggravation
Religion that had signalised it self with so much Cruelty I will not take upon me to play the Prophet as to the effects that the present Persecution in France may have tho the numbers that come every day out of that Babylon and the visible backwardness of the greatest part of those who have fallen are but too evident signs that this Violence is not like to have those glorious Effects which Mr. Varillas may perhaps set forth in his Panegyrick one thing cannot be denied that this persecution has contributed more to the establishing the Protestant Religion elsewhere and to the awakening men to use all just precaution against the like cruelty than all that the most zealous Protestants could have wished for or contrived and of this some Princes of that Religion are sufficiently sensible and do not stick to express their horrour at it in terms that they may better use than I repeat In a word Queen Mary in this point will be found to have the better of the French King She found her people Protestants and yet in eighteen months time she overthrew all the settlement that they had by Law She turned them out of their Churches and began to burn their Teachers and Bishops whereas the French King had not of that Religion above the tenth part of his Subjects and yet the extirpating them out of his Dominions has cost him as many years as it did Queen Mary moneths The other Article of the preference that Mr. Varillas gives his Monarch to Queen Mary is that whereas she could not do it without marrying the Prince of Spain the King has been able to effect it without the aid of Strangers If this were true the praise due upon it will not appear to be very extraordinary since he who has so vast an Army and is in peace with all the World has been able to crush a small handful without calling in forreign aid but on the other hand Queen Mary had neither Troops nor Fleets and very little Treasure so that her Imploying Strangers would appear to be no great matter yet so unhappy is Mr. Varillas like to be in all that he writes that it seems his Panegyricks and his Historys will be suteable to one another Queen Mary indeed married the Prince of Spain but she was not much the better for it for she took such care to preserve the Nation from falling under his power that as she would receive none of his Troops so she neither gave him nor his Mininisters any share in the Government of England of this he became soon so disgusted that seeing no hope of Issue and as little probability of his being able to make himself Master he abandoned her and She to recover his favour engaged her self into a War with France which ended so fatally for England that Calais was lost so that upon the whole matter she lost much more than she gained by the Spanish Match but as for her administration at home if some money that she had from Spain helped a little to corrupt a Parliament that was the only advantage that she made by it and thus if Mr. Varillas's Panegyrick is not better raised in its other parts than in this it will be an Original but I doubt it will not add much lustre to that Monarch nor draw the recompences on the Author to which he may perhaps pretend And if the Kings Parchment and Wax which he says procured an Obedience from two Millions of persons that were prepossessed against it by the most powerful of all considerations which is that of Religion had not been executed by Dragoons in so terrible a manner it is probable that Edict would have had as little effect upon the Consciences of the Protestants as it seems the Edict of Nantes had upon the King 's tho he had so often promised to maintain it and had once sworn it I would not willingly touch such a Subject but such Indecent Flattery raises an Indignation not easily governed Mr. Varillas in his Preface to his third Volum mentions no Author with relation to English Affairs except the Archbishop of Raguse who as he says writ the Life of Card. Pool I do not pretend to deny that there is any such Author only I very much doubt it for I never heard of it in England and I was so well pleased with the discoveries that I made relating to that Cardinal that I took all the pains I could to be well informed of all that had writ of him so I conclude that there is nothing extraordinary in that Life otherwise it would have made some noise in England and it does not appear credible that a Dalmatian Bishop could have any particular knowledge of our Affairs and if the particulars related in Mr. Varillas's 14. Book are all that he drew out of that life it seems the Archbishop of Raguse has been more acquainted with Swedish than English Affairs for there is not one word relating to England in all that Book and as little of the Cardinal But Mr. Varillas has shewed himself more conspicuously in the Preface to his fourth Tome he pretends to have made great use of P. Martys Works in his 17. Book but he gives us a very good proof that he never so much as opened them he tells us that P. Martyr delivered his Common-places at Oxford where he was the Kings Professor and that one Masson printed them at London some years after his death he tells us that an ambition of being preferred to Melancton had engaged him to that work in which he adds that if he is to be preferred to Melancton for subtilty he is Inferiour to him in all other things upon which he runs out to let his Reader see how well he is acquainted both with P. Martyrs Character and History All men besides Mr. Varillas take at least some care of their Prefaces because they are read by many who often judge of Books and which is more sensible they buy them or throw them by as they are writ Now since Mr. Varillas reproaches me with my Ignorance of Books I will make bold to tell him that the Apprentices to whom he sends me for Instruction could have told him that P. Martyr never writ any such Book of Common Places but that after his death Mr. Masson drew a great Collection out of all his Writings of passages that he put in the Method of Common Places so that tho all that Book that goes by the name of P. Martyrs Common Places is indeed his yet he never designed nor dictated any such Work and this Mr. Masson has told so copiously in his Preface that I have thought it necessary to set down his own words Ergo quemadmodum in amplissima domo rebus omnibus instructissima non omnia in acervum unum indistincta cumulantur sed suis quaeque locis distributa seponuntur ut in usus necessarios proferri possint ita in tantis opibus quas sedulus ille Dei Oeconomus