Canonization calls her deuout noble and holy insomuch that euen togeather with his milk he suckd in Sanctity so in his childhood they were no less wanting to furnish him with fitt Masters for his instruction in these first rudiments and this was to be done vnder theyr owne eyes that they might be wittnesses of all Thy knew right well how important the first impressions are in Children and consequently how choyse they ought to be since that tincture is retaynd a long time and giues ordinarily a rellish to theyr proceedings His Parents were so chary in this poynt and sollicitous to haue the blessing of heauen second theyr industry that we may say they imitated dayly the anciente Illyrians who when they gatherd theyr sweet Flower-de-luces lifted them vpp as an offering to heauen from whence they had receiud them so these noble Personages looking vpon this theyr first fruit as a guift of God and acknowledging it to be more his then theyrs endeauour'd with all gratitude to make him a fitt present for the diuine hand and to raise him from earth to heauen by carefull and vertuous breeding Theyr vsuall habitation was at court by reason of the charge which the father of our saint bore and the obligation he had of personall attendance for the dayly seruice of the king The reputation of Courts hath euer bin as of a place where vertue is laugh'd out of countenance and denyd admittance as too Coursly cladd for such fine company Infamy is no where more in credit nor vice so Canoniz'd it is a Schoole of Aegyptian Hieroglyphicks where beasts and Monsters are supposd to signify heroique vertues What care therfore and vigilancy were these pious and noble Parents to vse in preseruing this sweet flower from blasting vnder so malignant a climate What caution and preuention to bannish all folly and vanity from the sight of those innocent eyes to stopp his eares from the least whisper of charming plasures What a perpetuall watch and ward not to lett a word fall not the least action or gesture appeare before this little one which might leaue any noxious impression in his tender soule Though to say the truth and to guie those happy times theyr due which is also to be obserud as a speciall prouidence of God towards the aduancement of our Saint in all perfection the stile of that Court was farr different from the vsuall Course of others and might well be tearmd a Sanctuary of Piety and schoole of vertue Such an influence hath the example of Princes ouer the harts of men drawing them whither they list with a kind of magnetique force eyther to good or euill We had then a king who thought it no vnderualuing of Majesty to visitt spittles and Almes houses to serue and feed the poore with his owne hands to embrace and kiss lepres Insteed of reuells and masques his chief pleasure was in his Chappell where he heard euery day three Masses with sollemne Musique and neuer omitted to be present at the rest as long as there was a Priest at the Aultar where he euer vsd this Ceremony in honour to the king of heauen to support the Priests arme whilst he eleuated the Sacred Host then with reuerence kissd his hand Insomuch as his neer kinsman and brother in Law S. Lewis then king of France obseruing that out of his deuotion to the holy Sacrifice of Mass he left no Considerable time for Sermons aduisd him to allow some part of his pious Exercises to the word of God to which he answerd that for his part he had rather see his friend then heare him spoken of Our Queen as long as this king her husband liud agreed with him as well in piety as in Coniugall loue and as soon as his death left her free to her liberty she retyrd to a Cloyster of Consecrated Virgins where the world might see her hart had euer bin The Consort of our Prince Sonn of Henry the 3. now king and after successour by the name of Edward the 1. was a daughter of Spayne who was so little read in the Platonique of our dayes that she knew not how to loue any thing but Christ and her husband whome she followd through all hazards and terrours to the holy land where the Prince being treacherously stabbd by a Saracen with a poyson'd knife when no skill of Surgery could preuaile the inuincible loue of this lady vndertook the cure and gaue her the courage to suck out the poyson and putrifaction of the wound with her owne mouth to make it good that loue is as strong as death Cant. 8 6. The piety of the whole court was answerable to theyr Souveraign's example which appeares euidently in that so many of the prime nobility deuoted theyr liues and fortunes to the seruice of the holy land and the greatest ladyes ended theyr dayes in holy monasteryes Neuertheless though that court then was such a Paradise the pious and prudent Parents of our saint knew well that serpents might lurk euen there Vipers creep into gardens of balsome poysons and antidotes often grow in the same bed They were not strangers to the infirmity of humane nature especially in youth which like a distemperd Stomack longs for that which is most hurtfull and in such variety of obiects as at a full table seldome or neuer feeds without a surfett They resolud therfore to place this pretious treasure which god had giuen them in a safe retreat as nature or rather the Authour of nature teaches the little Pearles when they are soft and tender in the shell to retyre under shady hollow rocks being otherwise not only exposd to violence of waues and weather but alsoe subiect to change colour and be truly sun-burnt if they float in the open sea They follow'd therfore the aduise of the holy Ghost giuen to all Parents if they loue the safety of theyr children to put them under the shade and protection of wisdome „ Statuet filios suos sub tegmine „ illius „ with a promise not only of security but also of glory „ Protegetur sub tegmine illius a feruore et in gloria eius requiescet „ This holy and Ibid. 27. prudent resolution of theyrs was it seems much furtherd by a neer kinsmaÌ„ frind Walter Cantilupe Bishop of worcester a person of mind and courage equall to his birth and of such zeale that to aduance the heroicall designe of Christian Princes in the holy land he went himselfe thither accompany'd with one of the greatest men of that age for piety and valour William Longuespee Earle of Salisbury whose happy death in that quarrell was sollemnizd with a triumph in heauen as it was reueal'd at that uery instant to his Mother in England who then led a Religious life in a Monastery of her owne founding The sayd noble Prelate Walter Cantiâ—ilupe being in familiar conuersation with William Lord Cantelupe father of S. THOMAS and the child being present the Bishop askd him what
The Life and Gests of S. THOMAS CANTILVPE Bishop of Hereford and some time before L. Chancellor of England Extracted out of the authentique Records of his Canonization as to the maine part Anonymus Matt. Paris Capgraue Harpsfeld and others Collected by R. S S. I. AT GANT Printed by ROBERT WALKER at the signe of the Annuntiation of our B. Lady 1674. To the Great Duke of Tuscany Sr. YOur selfe I conceiue as well as others both may and will at first sight wonder more then a little at the title of this Dedicatory and censure it if not presumtuous at least farr fetch'd by a stranger by an English man by one wholly vnknowne neyther in a capacity to deserue well at your hands or oblige you by any seruice All this notwithstanding I come with confidence to your feet to make my address and with soe much the greater as the pre-alledgd circumstances cleare mee of all self-endedness in the case And why should I not synce I haue to doe with a Prince who is a cherisher of ingenuity whose goodness promises an acceptance not onely beyond but euen without meritt Therfore I come as full of Religious simplicity as voyd of complements nor seek admittance but by my syncerity which aymes at nothing besydes gratitude and an humble acknowledgment But how come I engag'd as to these If I am not for my owne sake at least for my friends if not in my selfe at least in my Country if not explicitly or personally at least implicitly but yett really With a small trespass on your Highnes patience I le tell you all Euer synce you were pleasd to grace England with your presence many Princely expressions of your value for our Nation are reported to haue falln from your mouth as indexes of your affection euen to a more then tacit preference of the same before others I dare not attribute this so much to its meritts as your goodnes but howeuer it were it is both honorable to it and obliging to vs out of the abundance of the hart the tongue speaks Nor should we easily haue belieu'd reports had we not seen them vnder your hand and seale and in such tearmes as import euen a kind of passion both for the generall and much more diuers particulars It s inbred to Princes to Compassionate the afflicted and with what a deep ressentment were you pleasd to express your selfe to my Lady of G. ouer the Sufferings of Romane Catholiques euen so farr as to profess so particular a kindnes for all those of that Kingdome that say you I could be Content to spill my blood to assist them and contribute to theyr selicity in this world synce theyr invincihle Constancy in Suffering persecution usakes them meritt an eternall Crowne in the next These are your owne words and hugely significant The truth is the Cause of Romane Catholiques there is so clearly good that no Prince of that beliefe can doubt of it but he must together doubt of his owne fayth Euery such Prince ownes this truth but not euery one with such a protestation the protestation is glorious to you and encouraging to vs. Why may we not then nay why ought we not Syr in a due returne of Ciuility take notice of it by Registring it to the world that so it may be at least its owne Monument to posterity if we can erect no other Sr. this is one part of the Acknowledgment I am to make the other is yett more Reall as much as deeds are before words You were pleasd not onely to say much of English Catholiques but also to doe much for them this was verifyd by that noble supply of charity wherwith you relieu'd a distressd Religious Community of that nation ready to sink vnder the burden of its wants If I could deem it fit to giue scope to my pen here is a large field and ample subject wherin to dilate But I dare not presume to sound the trumpett contrary to Scripture to your almes deeds charity louing to speak rather by hynts and intimations then boasting language on such a theme And therfore Modesty bids me for beare to say much as well as gratitude something least I may seem eyther to flatter or to begg a new The Charity indeed was as signall as vnexpected and as vnexpected from such a hand as if it had dropt downe from heauen as surely it did a meer piece of prouidence and a Master one of that great Master of the Family to his Religious Seruants Sr. I pretend not here to make a panegyrick of your vertues that requires a more refin'd pen but yet neyther must wee shutt our eyes against the Shining Sun though it dazle them but with reuerence decline the sight Yett I must not omitt to reflect how well you plac'd your Charity among all the little ones of our Lord who neerer or dearer to him then his Virginspouses the noblest part of himselfe or his Mysticall body as S. Cyprian stiles them and least able to help themselues Noble also euen as to the world and this renders theyr case more Compassionate for what greater object of Commiseration then such nobility in a deep or necessitous decay where shame retards as much as want presses from exposing theyr Condition when euery Common beggar can doe it without blushing and Consequently not so much to be pitty'd And hence great Prince arises another part of my Obligation and present engagement a Common tye of Spirituall interest linking mee and that Community so into a Common vnity that I cannot but deem its good and bad Concerns my owne and be deeply Concernd in both Obedience by my present employment for some yeares has entitled mee to a reliefe of theyr Spirituall necessityes as Charity and Compassion did your Highnes to theyr temporall In this Spirituall interest I cannot but be sensible of theyr temporall and though the former alone be my Concern yett I cannot but be Concernd for the latter as the formers necessary support without which it cannot subsist A spirituall tye as more partaking and neerer Relating to charity is or may be equally if not more forcible to engage one then the temporall and this is a further ground of my present presumption The first Address I made as an English-man and on the score of my Nation this second as a Religious and for theyr sake whome charity obliges me to wish as well as my selfe and I know it will be gratefull to them that I acknowledg the fauour Hauing thus farr giuen some account of my Address I must now apologize for the Present I make and that in more respects then one The first is its slendernes for which it may seem to resemble the Widdowes Mite in the Treasury of so many rich Dedicatoryes as are and haue bin made to your Highnes And I doe not mislike the resemblance both because truly expressing its Worthlesnes as also because as that this not withstanding found a gracious acceptance so doe I hope through
Prelate the onely of our Iland which has sanctifyd your Tuscany with a holy death and enrich'd it with his Reliques Another Saint and King also about the yeare 741. Richard by name Father of the Saints Willebald Wunnebald and Walburga Virgin renouncing both Crowne and Kingdome for the loue of Christ and a vertuous life after a long pilgrimage to holy places Settled in fine at Luca and there concluded the whole journey of his life with great opinion of Sanctity where he also was bury'd in the Church of S. Frigidianus his Tomb being afterwards illustrated with many miracles what euer memory may at this present remayne there of him and them So that great Sr. you see our fauours from Tuscany are not groundles wee hauing two such noble Pledges there of intercession and who more powerfull then they that is then the Saints when the Concern relates to the glory of God and aduance of Catholique Religion And giue me leaue Sr. to ascribe and I think not rashly these your present pious inclinations towards our Country and distressd Catholiques to this Originall source the Saints seeming to haue infus'd these noble Sentiments of a feeling ressentment which I mention'd before from your owne pen and cannot too often reflect vpon These pious inclinations haue already produced great and good effects of which we are most sensible and for which we shall hould our selues obliged euer to be most thankfull And now I haue sayd all as to the Apologizing part what remaynes to be sayd further is onely this that your Highnes will daigne to accept what is sayd in good part as also what is humbly offerd by so vndeseruing a hand If it be the first from an English pen the nouelty will in some sort recommend it in hopes it may draw more after it who will suppley for its deficiencyes and it is somthing to lead the way and break the yce If others haue preceeded and I wish they may it willingly for theyr better meritts beggs admittance at least for the Saints if for none of its owne As to him as humbly as hartily I wish you his Patronage and that he may be as fertile to you in heauenly blessings as he was heertofore to his country in supernaturall miracles and what miracle but imports a blessing And Sr. while you haue this Paper-picture before you if in the perusall of his vertues you find any thing for your aduance or aduantage in the same I humbly propose it to your imitation as I doe to others The world is wittnes of your endowments in this but they must be more then very good that cannot be better nor is it any disparagement to be still improueing in the science of Saints and Christian perfection to which each one in his degree and quality be he who he will by that Estote perfecti of our B. Lord and Sauiour is oblig'd What is there prizable in this lifes intercourse but piety and the seruice of God no body being more then he is in that and what imprints this truth more liuely in vs then the liues and examples of Saints wee seeing by what was done by them not onely what is to be done but what is fesible to and by vs. This is the thing I endeauourd to ayme at in this Narratiue by inserting reflexions to that purpose and chiefly of the 4. Cardinall vertues as both propper and common to all states and conditions And if your Highnes or any Reader may be benefitted therby to a due discharge of theyr incumbent duty in the same I haue my desyre which is no other then glory to God honour to the Saint and aduance of soules in vertu and piety A Table of the Chapters Chap. Â Page 1. THe time and Circumstances of his birth 11 2. Of the Parents and Discent of S. Thomas 23 3. Of his Child hood and Domestique Education 33 4. His first Studyes in Oxford 48 5. S. Thomas his Study of Philosophy 56 6. His Study of the Canon-Law at Oxford 63 7. He is made Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Oxford 72 8. He is made Lord High Chancellor of England 79 9. King Henry the 3. dyes his Son Succeeds S. Thomas with license giues vp his Seale and retyres 89 10. S. Thomas returns to Oxford proceeds Doctour of Diuinity the testimony giuen of him c. 97 11. He is made Bishop of Hereford 109 12. His Retyrement and Vnion with God 121 13. Of his Loue to the Poore 136 14. His Charity to all and detestation of detraction 149 15. His Courage in defence of Ecclesiasticall Libertyes 162 16. His journey to Rome and entertainment there 173 17. His returne homewards and death on the way 186 18. The Buriall of his H. Body and returne of his Bones into England 200 19. The Translation of them into a more eminent place 212 20. The multitude of miracles wrought by the Saint 230 21. His Canonization and generall Deuotion of all vnto him both Prince and people till this vnhappy breach 258 22 His Humility and Abstinence 270 23. His Discharge of Duty towards God and his Neighbour 286 24. His Purity of body and mind 301 25. His Iustice and Prudence 314 THE LIFE And Gests of S. THOMAS CANTILUPE Sometimes Chancellor of England and afterwards Bishop of Hereford in the same Kingdome PREFACE THe liues and memory of divers Illustrious persons seem to carry no small resemblance with those great Rivers Nilus Ganges Tigris Euphaates whose names and greatnes are as generally frequent in the mouthes of men as the particulars of theyr course and originall scarse kuowne to any Nor need we wonder it is so especially in the Saints of God for Sanctity is alwayes built vpon humility and with its mantle shrowds it selfe from the eyes of the world neuer better content then when conceald and the profounder it is like the same Rivers the less noyse it makes soe that none but an obseruing eye can discouer its course And if this were true in any it was I may say in our Glorious Prelate S. THOMAS CANTILVPE Bishop of Hereford who the greatest part of his dayes as he liu'd to the eyes of men a secular orderly but ordinary life nothing extraordinary to outward appearance so they knew no more of him then what could not be hid a great vprightnes singular innocency vertuous Conuersation set of with none of these surprising Commendatoryes Raptures Visions Miracles which vsually accompany sanctity True it is that the Common Legends haue left enough to conuince that he was a great Saint and wrought many Miracles Yett if we decend further to particulars we shall find that the greatest part of what we know oâ— him is the least part of what we are ignorant and all compriz'd in a leafe or two For though he were renownd both at home and abroad for his noble Extraction Learning Sanctity yet he was little knowne as to most particulars of his heauenly life and appeard rather visible to the world
the greatest rigour of Pennance and pouerty then to see them seated on the highest Thrones of Monarchs When infine those two great Patriarchs S. Dominick and S. Francis peopled the world with so many quires of Angells and brought Euangelicall perfection out of vnknowne retyrements and solitudes to the Common habitation of men Our country of England though separated by nature from the rest of the world was not excluded from that vniuersall influence of deuine grace wherwith it please'd God to bless those times The blood of the glorious Martyr S. Thomas of Canterbury as the true seed of the Catholique Church was not spilt in vayne and being in this age yet fresh and warm brought forth speciall fruit both in Lay and Clergy But in all none more eminent then another S. Thomas another Chancellor of England another Prelate another Champion of Ecclesiasticall libertyes and though not slayne by the sworde yet lost his life in the cause Thus the mercy of God powr'd downe sweet showers of deuine blessings upon that Kingdome by the mirits of his H. Martyr yet his iustice layd not downe the sword of due reuenge for that bloody sacriledge nor was it yet satisfyed with the personall disasters of that vnfortunate King Henry the second who hauing found as many Absoloms as he had Sonns ready to teare the Crowne from his gray hayres and to bury him aliue who had giuen them life after he had seen two of them lead him the way to his graue followd not long after and left the other two his Curse for inheritance of which they had each one theyr share by succession The former of whome was Richard the first third Sonn of the aforesayd King who though otherwise a valiant and great Prince and therfore surnam'd Coeur de Lion yet for that curse entayld vpon him by his father and much more if there were true cause of deseruing it had his Crowne torne from his head by a violent and vntimely death And that it might not fall to a more innocent hand left no child but a brother farr worse then himselfe who that his royall purple might be of a more lasting tincture gaue it the second dye with the blood of his Nephew Arthur next heyre by birth to the Crowne of England as Sonn of Geffrey Earle or Duke of little Britannie in France which Geffrey was fourth Sonn of Henry the second King of England And though it is not certaine that Arthur was murderd by his Vncle 's owne hands as the French do tell vs yet all agree that Arthur was put in prison in Rouen by his vncle King John and neuer appeard after the manner of his death is best knowne to God alone before whose invisible eyes all things lye visible Howeuer King John fift Sonn of Henry the second and surnam'd Sans terre makes the land his owne and on this wrong builds all his right which he euer mannag'd withan equall tenour as weakly as wickedly Till at last calld to an account by a stranger for oppressing his country left the world like an Outlaw and a poore child to pay his forfeyt Who though otherwise most innocent could not altogeather plead not guilty being he claymd all his right from so great injustice In the midst of this dismall and dark cloud our morning starr first appeard in the hight of this horrid storme which threatned no less then a totall destruction of the nation it pleasd God to giue a pledg of attonement between heauen and earth to bless the world with our glorious S. THOMAS CANTILUPE as a Rayn-bow after a deluge of blood and misery whose birth not like another Benjamin purchasd his life with his Mothers death but finding his country in Agony restord life Neyther was he onely a Common benefitt and happy presage to the plublique but a speciall blessing and reward of his fathers loyalty who when the greatest part and power of the kingdome eyther out of personall offence and hatred of the deceased king would yett pursue him in his image or led by interest the common Idoll of the world thought sitt to combine with the stronger party and rather adore the preualent might and fortune of an a inuading forraigner then to support the weaknes both in yeares and forces of theyr natiue Prince Yett William lord Cantilupe father of our glorious Saint lookd vpon the present state of things with another eye and was resolu'd to lay downe his life and fortune at the feet of iustice leauing the euent to the diuine ballance whether he stood or fell being secure of victory which euer crownes them who sacrifice them selues to truth and loyalty Wherfore as a person of eminent ability and honour he giues strength to the better but lesser party and as he euer maintaynd his fayth inuiolable to the faâ—her though a Prince of most odious and lawless gouerment he could neuer forgett the respect of soueraignty so he continu'd the same vnto the sonn with all the disaduantage of humane interest The Barons with theyr French Protectour were not only masters of the field both in strength and number but also many months possess'd of the head Citty of the Kingdom a thing euer held of highest consequence as being the ordinary residence and Court of Kings whosoeuer winns it seems to weare the Crowne The little king at nine yeares of age being sollemnly Crownd at Glocester was in a manner Confind to that Citty and other two Bustow and Worcester though some other particular places and Castles in seuerall parts of the kingdome stood firmly to him And chiefly Lincolne which was our Orleans where a lady not inferiour to the french sheepardess in Courage as she was farr aboue her in birth and quality defended the Castle of Lincolne the space of a whole yeare against Gilbert de Gant a prime Commander of the french forces though he had possessd himselfe of the Towne and pressd the Castle with a vigorous siege The kings honour Besydes his interest was Conceiu'd to be not a little Concern'd in the reliefe of so much fidelity especially of so rare and vnusuall example in the weaker sexe The Lord Cantilupe therfore with other Nobles of the Royall party accompany'd likewise by the legate of the see Apostolique with what power they could make marchd forth vpon this designe Being arriu'd within 8. miles of Lincolne they all Confessd and receiud the holy Eucharist with a plenary Indulgence which the Legate granted them and sollemnly declard the aduerse faction separated from the Communion of the holy Catholique Church Thus armd and encouragd from heauen they fall on with such irresistible violence that though the defendants exceeded the assaillants farr in number besydes the aduantage of theyr walls and trenches the Towne was soon ground with a totall defeat of the Enemy THOMAS Earle of Perche a person of highest nobility and Command in the Barons army allyd to both the Crownes of England and France being with many others slaine vpon
multitude reduc'd them to order and made them doe pennance for theyr insolency This of Chancellour was the First publick office which S. THOMAS bore this that Candlestick of gold which first shewd that burning and shining light to the world this that Hill where that well built Citty by the hand of God himselfe first appeard and where there neuer was heard any other note but of ioy and Comfort And happy would that University haue deemd it selfe if it might still haue bin exhilarated with these sweet notes enlightend with his knowledg and refreshd with the streames of his wisdome of which they drunk with much gust and he no churle in Communicating them But they like the fountaine of paradise were not to be confind to so narrow a current fitt to water the surface of the whole kingdome to which they were both sufficient and the King at the lowd report which sounded euen to the Court designd them He thought that famous Uniuersity to little a sphere for so great abilityes and that it was an injury to the whole Realme to confine such a person to any particular place though neuer so honorable and therfore resolu'd to make the whole pertake of this vniversall benefitt VIII CHAPTER He is made Lord high Chancellor of England KIng Henry the 3. a pious and gratious Prince as you haue heard before lou'd te employ and preferr the vertuous to great Offices as knowing that weighty affayres were neuer better mannagd and consequently thriue better then in the hands of such For besydes the peculiar blessing and light which they receiue from Almighty God vertue giues them both industry and application and remoues many impediments which lye in the others way towards a due discharge of theyr trust And therfore synce our holy saint carry'd in the opinion of all such a Commendatory of sanctity of life and integrity of conuersation and withall his naturall abilityes corresponded to his supernaturall compleating him in both I wonder not at all that the good King cast his eyes vpon him and entrusted him with the great office of Lord Chancellor As to the Saint himselfe as he neuet sought the employment nay resisted what he could so he came with a disinteress'd hart disburdend of all respects but what he ought to God and his King but seeing himselfe in the eyes of the court and kingdome he thought it stood him vpon to be more circumspect in his actions and behauiour and therfore the Authour of his life sayes Eo honore decoratus mores actionesque arctiori virtutis praescripto deuinxit raysd to that dignity he endeauourd to square his actions and proceedings according to a straighter line of perfection He had learnd to be so farr Master of himselfe that no exaltation could rayse him aboue himselfe Psal 130. so that his hart and eyes were the same nor did he now walk in mirabilibus super se in the cloudes of wonders aboue himselfe He knew he was made the vice-gerent of diuine wisdome as to this pittance of trust and therfore he sayd as it taught him arrogantiam superbiam viam prauam os belingue detestor arrogancy and pride and wicked way and a double tongu'd mouth I doe detest and I wish Prou. 8. 13. all that beare the place would say the same and especially the last of a double tongue fitt onely for a double hart destroying all syncerity and playne dealing He ownd and practisd that which followes Meum est Concilium aequitas mea est prudentia fortitudo Myne is Counsell and equity prudence is myne strength is mine and how he behau'd himselfe in these particulars shall be shewd in the end of this Narratrue To giue now a small hynt at the nature of this office it may be obserud that the word Cancellarius or Chancellor signifyes not onely now but many ages agoe an employment or trust of highest concern and honour next the King himselfe most eminent for power and autority and till Sr. Thomas More 's time when worse changes and innouations followd the dignity of Chancellour was conferrd vpon single or not marry'd persons though Laymen as not to be vncapable of Ecclesiasticall Prelacy eyther arch-Arch-Bishops or Bishops as the ordinary stile of England was As to the etymology of this word Cassiodorus that learned and graue person deriues it from Cancelli that is the grated enclosure wherin the Chancellour sate separated from the common throng not to be disturbd in his office accessible onely to mens eyes and therfore the same Authour calls these barrs or Cancells lightsome doores open Cloysters gates with windowes This was a friendly admonition or caueat giuen by Cassiodorus to a Chancellour newly exalted to that eminent office to putt him in mind that though he was raysd and separated from the common rank of men yet he was exposd to the common view of all and therfore must proceed accordingly not please himselfe as if he were to dance in a nett but to assure himselfe that he was like to haue as many censures and sharp judgments of him as men had eyes Others say he is so calld because the Chancellour is as it were the mouth the eye and eare of the Prince or Soueraigne and hath the reuie wing of all Memorialls or Petitions presented to the Prince and euen decrees of the Prince himselfe what he finds not conuenient to Law or prejudiciall to the Prince's or publick good it is his Office to cancell or cross out as voyd and wholly illegall and not to signe it From this Cancelling or crossing out with such vncontrould autority they will haue the name of Cancellarius or Chancellor deriu'd As for the Chancellor of England's office it is a dignity that makes him esteemd in the kingdome aboue all and next to the King himselfe In so much that on the other part of the Kings Seale wheroff the custody belongs to the Chancellor he signes his owne Orders that the Kings Chappel be in his disposall and care that vacant Arch. Bishopricks Bishopricks Abbeys and Baronyes falling into the Kings hands be receiud and kept by him that is the Chancellor who likewise is to be present when soeuer the King sitts in Counsell euen when he is not calld that all things of the Clark or Clergy man who carryes the Kings Seale be signd by the Chancellors hand that all things be disposd of by the aduise and Counsell of the Chancellor in fine that by the grace of God his desert and meritt concurring he neuer ends his dayes but in the See of an Arch Bishop or Bishop if he will accept of it And for this reason the office of Chancellor is neuer to be bought as hauing so much connexion and Relation to a Clergy state for danger of incurring Simony The manner or ceremony of creating Chancellors in the Raigne of Henry the 2. Grandfather to King Henry the 3. who enstalld S. THOMAS in that dignity was to hang the great Seale about the chosen
Chancello'rs neck But afterwards both the ceremonyes of enstallment and his court of Chancery was augmented three seales one of gold two of syluer a great one and a lesser and for the Lawyers abuses and quirkes in the Common law the Chancello'rs court or Chancery erected to moderate all as Vmpire meerly out of equity and justice independent of sophisticall tricks and verball cauills This was the office of the Lord Chancellor of England synce the Norman conquest for the most part with some ceremoniall changes rather accidentall then in substance as the Kings who raignd thought fitt In the administration of this office as our Saint shewd great wisdome so did he also great integrity and these two compleated his justice so that the former securd him against mistakes and ignorance the latter against bribes and extorsions neyther of which eyther was or euer could be justly layd to his charge Nay he was so scrupulously nice in the latter that he would not haue so much as the shadow of it to approach him It is recorded particularly that certaine Religious men who had a suite depending at Law applyd themselues to him for his fauour and furtherance in the dispatch of the same and therto presented him with a jewell of value which he rejected not without indignation asking them whether they thought him to be wonn with guifts Nor was his courage inferiour eyther to his wisdome or integrity vpon which account when reason and equity dictated that such a thing was to be done he was vndaunted as to the execution euen though the king himselfe stood in the way yett none more obseruant of his Majesty then he This may be confirmd by what happend at the councill table and was driuen on by many great ones who perswaded the king to conferr an office vpon a new conuerted Iew wherby he was impowerd ouer the liues and persons of such subjects as were found to be coyners of false money He opposd it with much earnestnes saying it was too unlimited a power ouer Christians to be committed to a new conuerted Iew who might easily be tempted according to his former ill habitts to abuse it and therfore besought his Majesty with teares eyther to reuoke it or giue him leaue to absent himselfe for he could not approue it The king mou'd with his teares and candour as well as the force of his reasons bidding him sit still changd ther vpon his determination I shall say more relating to this in the last Chapter Now how satisfactory his mannagement of affayres in this ticklish charge was both to Prince and people is euidenc'd by this that the King vpon urgent occasions being calld into France left to him during his absence the trust and charge of the whole kingdome IX CHAPTER King Henry dyes his Sonn succeeds S. Thomas with License giues vpp his Seale and retyres IN this equall track of justice declining neyther to the right hand nor the left did our Saint walk all the respitt of King Henry's life Full often during this space of time did he sigh after his former Retyrement and ceasd not vpon fitt occasions to importune the same but the good King who had found his assistance and dexterity so seruiceable in the dispatch of affayres would by noe meanes harken to that request giuing him leaue to groane vnder his burden and he in complyance with his will submitted to it making the best of the worst and a vertue of necessity At last hauing finishd the course of nature as well as of a vertuous life he payd the common tribute of mortality to death and Edward his eldest Sonn calld the first of that name immediately succeded in the throne of whome it will not be amiss to giue some short account as also how things went in the course of affayres This Edward was not onely a warr-like but wise Prince and as he had receiud both Crowne and life from his father so he restord both againe by cutting off with his owne hand the last and most dangerous Rebellion of all This was raisd by Simon Montfort a great souldier and of a high Spiritt otherwise a pious and gracious person to most men by reason of his forward zeale to engage in what he conceiud did concerne the common good which cost him first expulsion out of France and after his being receiud in England and made Earle of Lecester noe less then his life This great Warriour obseruing the march and approach of Prince Edward to giue him battaile turnd to his Commanders and thus aduisd them let vs commend our soules to God for our bodyes are theyrs as it fell out and he dy'd with the rest The same great Prince Edward the first after he had brought the kingdome of Scotland to the vtmost extremity but preuented by death could not compleat the full conquest he chargd his Sonn Edward the 2. or of Caernaruan calld so from his birth in that castle not to enterre his body till he finishd the work begunn by him of which little remayn'd to be atchieu'd But those court Parasites the young Kings fauorites hating as death the life of a Souldier drew him of from that noble designe to court againe to the shame and infamy of the English Nation and wretched end of that vnfortunate Prince A sad example of disobedience to the last words of a dying father and such a father as England had scarse his like for valour conduct and wisdome In the very beginning of whose Raigne and first stepp into the throne S. THOMAS as his place and office requird brought him the great Seale of England with most humble acknowledgment of his obligation to his Majesty's father for honouring him aboue all desert with that eminent charge which he resignd into his Majestyes hands with this humble petition that with his Majestyes approbation and leaue he may retyre to that knowne mother of learning and wisdome Oxford where he may more enable himselfe for the seruice of God and of his Majesty and the assistance of his country To which the King answerd first with thanks as the manner is for the great seruice done to the King and kingdome and for his petition that he assented to it and for the present gaue him full liberty to dispose of himselfe as he thought fitting This was it which our Saint much more addicted to the Schooles then the court so earnestly breathd after and as cheerfully hastend to them as a stone to its Center or fyre to its element „ trahit sua quemque voluptas And heer I cannot but pawse a while vpon this noble and heroicall act of S. THOMAS which if we measure by a humane ell and mans naturall inclination to greatnes was perchance one of the noblest of his life For where in the world shall one find euen vertuous and holy men who make not preferrments a part of theyr ayme and reward of theyr studyes much less who will diuest themselues willingly of it especially the highest when they