Canutus died wherefore that land fell to Canutus who anon after sailed thither and tooke the possession and returned into England married Emma late wife of Egelred and by her had a sonne called Herdeknight or Hardiknoutus He assembled a parlement at Oxford wherin was agréed that English men and Danes should hold the lawes made by king Edgar King Edgars lawes as most good reasonable Thus the Danes being in England beganne by little and litle to bée christened and Canutus went to Rome and so returning againe to England gouerned the land 20. yéers leauing behind him two sonnes Harold Hardiknoutus which Hardiknoutus was made K of Denmarke in his fathers time Harold for his swiftnes called Harefoot son to Canutus by Eligna his first wife began his raign ouer Englād an 1039 He banished his stepmother Emma took her goods iewels from her He raigned but 4. yéeres the kingdome fell to Hardeknoutus king of Denmarke his brother who when he had raigned 2. yéeres Hardeknoutus dieth being merry at Lambith sodainly was stricken dumme and fel down to the ground and within 8. daies after died without issue of his body and was the last that raigned of the blood of the Danes The last K. of the Danes For the Earles and Barons agréed that none of that blood should after bée king for the despite and hurt the Danes had done to the English nation and sent into Normandy for the 2. brethren Alfred Edward sonnes of king Egelred entending to make Alfred king of England but Earle Godwin a Westsaxon who had married the daughter of Hardeknoutus thought to slay the two brethren comming into England to make Harold his sonne king which sonne he had by the daughter of Hardeknoutus the Dane King The messengers that went for the brethren founde but Alfred the elder for Edward the younger was gone into Hungary to speake with his cousin the outlaw which was Edward Ironsides sonne So the traitor Godwin met with Alfride the Normans attending vpon him and when they came to Guilde doune he commanded his men to slea all that were of Alfrides company and after that to take Alfred and to leade him to the yle of Ely where they should put out both his eies which they did Alfred cruelly murthered that done they opened his body and tooke out his bowels set a stake into the ground and fastned an end of his bowels thereto and with néedles of yron they pricked his tender body thereby causing him to go about the stake till al his bowels were drawne out After this treason the wicbed Duke fled into Denmark and lost al his lands in England and kept him there 4. yéeres and more The stories record that this Canutus folowing much the superstition of Achelnotus Archb. of Canterbury went on Pilgrimage to Rome and there founded an Hospitall for English Pilgrims hée gaue the Pope pretious giftes and burdened the land with a yéerely tribute called Romeshotte Romeshot He shrined the body of Bernius and gaue greate landes to the Cathedrall Church of Winchester he builded Saints Benets in Northfolke which was before an heremitage Also S. Edmundsburie S. Edmundsburie turned from priestes to monkes which king Ethelstane ordeined before for a colledge of priests he turned to an abbey of Monkes of S. Benets order This king Canutus beyng prouoked to go to Winchester by Egelnothus Archbishop of Canterburie resigned his regall crowne to the rood A Rood crowned king of England and made the roode king ouer the land He ordained lawes of his owne touching matters ecclesiasticall although at the beginning hée vsed Edgars lawes as touching paying for opening the earth at funerals he forbad also all faires and markets vpon Sundayes and all secular actions but vpon vrgent necessitie A good law against adultery He ordained to receaue the communion thrise a yéere That married woman that had committed adultery should haue her eares and nose cut off Also that no widow should marrie within xij moneths after the death of her husband else to lose her ioynture c. Thus ended the Danish kings which Danes had vexed and wasted the land the time of 255. yéeres The land vexed by the Danes 255. yeeres Next vnto Canutus the second or Hardiknoute succéeded Edward the younger sonne of Egelred and Emma who was long banished in Normandy He came ouer with a few Normans and was crowned at Winchester anno 943. by Edesius thē Archbishop of Canterburie and not long after he married Goditha or Editha daughter of Earle Godwin with whom he neither dealt fleshly nor yet put her from his bed He gouerned the land with great wisdome peace xxiiij yeres In the time of this K. came William Duke of Normandie with a goodly companie to sée K. Edward to whom it is said Edw. promised if he died without issue to leaue the Crowne In this K. reigne liued Marianus Scotus M. Scotus the storie wryter About the 13. yéere of this kings raigne he sent Aldred bishop of Worceter to the Emperour Henricus the fourth praying him that he would send to the king of Hungarie that his coosin Edward sonne of Edmund Ironside might come into England for so much as he entended to make him king after him who was called Edward outlaw This was fulfilled and he came into England with his wife Agatha and with his children Edgar Adeling Margaret and Christina but the yéere after his returne he died at London was buried at Westminster or as Iornalensis saith at Paules church in London After whose decease the king receiued Edgar Adeling his sonne as his owne child thinking to make him his heire but fearing the mutabilitie of the Englishmen and the pride and malice of Harold the sonne of Godwin directed Embassadours to William Duke of Normandy William Duke of Normandy appointed heire of the crowne his kinseman assigning him to bée lawfull heire after him After the death of Godwin his son Harold grew in great fauour with the king He sayled into Flaunders and in the course of his sayling he was driuen by force of weather into the prouince of Pomilitie where he was taken prisoner and sent to William Duke of Normandie to whom he was made to sweare that he in time following should marry his daughter and that after the death of King Edward Harold sweareth to Duke William he should kéepe the land of England to his behoofe according to the minde and will of Edward after some Writers and so to liue in honor next to him in the Realme Thus he returned home and shewed to the king what he had done Wherewith he was very wel contented Leofricuss Earle of Chester and of Mercia who was also very faithfull to king Edward with his wife Godina builded the Abbey of Couentrée The Abbey of Couentrie and endued the same with great lands and riches King Edward after hee had reigned thrée and twentie yeares and seuen
yeeres void to the kings vse and the goods of the church was spent to the kings vse the king pretending to take deliberation to choose one answerable to those that went before The same yéere after his death Ely made a bishopricke the king conuerted the abbey of Ely to a bishoprick which was before vnder the bishopricke of Lincolne placing there Henrie B. of Bangor the first Bishop of that sea Ann. 1115. Rodolphus B. of Rochester an English maÌ„ was promoted to be Archb. of Canterbury and Thurstinus the kings Chaplaine was elected Archb. of Yorke who because he refused to professe obedience to the same Sea was depriued by the king and therevpon went to complaine to Pope Paschalis who wrote that he would haue the order of Gregorie stand therein But Thurstine stood stiffely in the matter renounced his Archbishoprick promising he wold neuer either make claime to it or molest those that should enioy it Now afterward when Calixtus had called a CouÌ„cell at Rheims in Fraunce Thurstine wrought so that hée was in that Councell consecrated and had his pal notwithstanding the Pope had promised the king faithfully to the contrarie For which deede the K. was sore discontented with Thurstine and warned him the entrie of his land In the Councel of Rheims were gathered 434. Prelates A Councel of 434. Prelates The pointes there concluded were for establishing their owne authoritie in dispensing of Ecclesiasticall Offices in prohibiting Priestes marriages and sequestring theÌ„ from their wiues Which articles were sent to the Emperor to trie his mind before the Councell should breake vp who was contented with all sauing that he could not away to haue the inuesting of ecclesiasticall function taken from him The Pope excoÌ„municateth the Emperor wherevpon the pope procéedeth against him to excommunication It was not long after but the Pope came to Gisortium where Henry king of England resorted to him desiring that he would send no more Legates into the land except he himselfe desired because they spoiled the realme of great treasures The king of England sueth to the Pope and also that he would graunt him to vse all the customes vsed before of his auncestors in England and in Normandie To these petitions the Pope graunted and required againe of the king that he would license Thurstin the Archbishop aboue mentioned to returne with fauour into the land but the king vtterly denied that except he would submit to Canterbury Submit to Canterbury Anno 1120 the yéere following Pope Calixtus directeth his letters to the king for Thurstinus and to Rodulph Archbishop of Canterbury in which he doth interdict the Churches of Canterbury and Yorke and threatneth the King with excommunication except within a moneth after the the same Thurstine were receyued into the Sea of Yorke The Pope Thurstine Wherevppon Thurstine for feare was immediately sent for and receaued and was placed in the Sea Anno 1122. Within two yeares after Rodolfe Archbishoppe of Canterburie died whom Gulielmus de Turbin succéeded About which time in the xxvij yere of the kings reigne the Gray friers The Graye friers by procurement of the king came first into Englande and had their house first at Canterburie Anno 1125. the king called a Councell at London where the spiritualtie of England not knowing whereabout it was required graunted the king to haue the punishment of maried Priestes The Priests pay to the K. for their wiues Whereupon the Priestes paying to the K. a certain summe were suffered to retaine their wiues stil to the great gaine of the king This king Henrie buylded the Abbey of Reading for ioy of Saint Iames hand which his daughter Mawde who had maried with the Emperor Henrie the fift brought vnto him after the decease of her husband She was after maried to Geffrey Plantagenet Earle of Aniou of whome came Henrie the second About this time was founded the Priorie of Norton in the Prouince of Chester by one William the sonne of Nichelle This K. an 1131. Danegelt released by the king released vnto the land the Danegelt which his father and brother renued Hee erected also a new Bishoprick at Carlill After Calixtus succéeded Honorius 2. Notwithstanding that the Cardinals had elected another Honorius B yet he by that meanes of certaine Citizens obteyned it An. 1125. Vnto this time liued Henricus v. after that hee had reigned xx yeres died out issue Next after Henricus the Empire fell to Lotharius D of Saxon an 1127. In the time of P. Honorius 2. there was one Arnulphus Arnulphus some say Archbishop of Lugdune Trithemiê° saith he was a Priest that for sharpe rebuking of the Cleargie of Rome was layde waite for and priuily drowned He preached very boldly against their abuses Sabellicus and Platina say they hanged him About the time of this Arnulphus if it were not his own worke there was written a booke called Opus tripartitum Opus tripartitum that coÌ„playneth of many abuses and enormities of the Church as first Abuses of the church preached against of the number of holy dayes also of curious singing in the Church of the multitude of begging Friers and professed womeÌ„ with diuers other points of abuse About the yere of our Lord 1128. Knights of the Rhodes and Templars the order of Knights of the Rhodes called Ioannites and the order of Templars rose vp After Honorius Honorius succéeded Innocentius the second in the yere of our Lord one thousande one hundred and thirtie but after hee was chosen the Romanes elected Anacletus Betwixt which Popes great strife and contention rose Contention betwixt the popes till Lotharius the Emperor began to assist and take part with Innocentius This P. decréed that whosoeuer did strike a Priest Strike a Priest shauen should be excommunicate and not be absolued but only of the pope himselfe An. 1135. King H. dieth in Normandie after that he had reigned in England thirtie fiue yeares and odde monethes leauing for his heires Matilde the Empresse his daughter with her young sonne Henrie to succéede But the Prelates and Nobilitie contrarie to their oath made Steuen Earle of Boloign king sisters sonne to Henrie Hee entered his reigne an 1136. But the empresse about the 6. yere of his reign came into England and tooke him sent him to Bristow to be kept prisoner WheÌ„ce he escaped out and pursued the empresse her parte and caused her to flie the Realme the sixt yere of his reigne But after that Henrie Duke of Normandie inuaded in the quarrell of his Mother and so preuayled that Steeuen was contented to holde the kingdome but for his life time and that Henrie in the meane time should be proclaymed Heire apparant The same yere about October Steeuen ended his life after he had reigned xix yeres periuredly As Theobald succéeded after William Archb. of Cant. so in York after Thurstane followed William who was called S.
yéerely thrée hundred markes that is to the maintayning of the light of Saint Peter one hundreth markes to the light of Saint Paule an other hundreth to the vse of the Pope an other hundreth This doone he returned by France into England and married with the daughter of Carolus Caluus whose name was Iudith Hée had to his chiefe councellors two Bishops Adelstanus B. of Schireborne more skilfull in ciuill matters then in diuinitie and the other Swithinus bishop of Winchester beyng of a contrarie disposition Gregory the fourth aboue mentioned was the third Pope that succéeded after Pope Paschalis the first beyng but foure yéeres betwixt them who succéeded after Stephen the fourth which followed Leo the third next Pope vnto Hadrian in the time of Charles the great From the time of that Hadrian the first vnto Pope Hadrian the third the Emperours had some stroke in the election at least in the confirmation of the Romane Pope notwithstanding there were diuerse practises to the contrary Wherefore by the commaundement of Ludouicus the Emperour in the time of Gregory the fourth Generall counsels called by the Emperour a generall Synode was comenced at Aquisgraue where it was decreed by Gregory and his assistants that euery Church should haue sufficient of his proper landes and reuenewes to find the Priests therof That none of the Clergy of what degrée soeuer he were should vse any vesture or any pretious or any Scarlet colour Against the excesse of apparel in the Clergy neyther should weare ringes on their fingers except it be when Prelates be at Masse or giue their consecrations Item that prelates should not kéepe too great portes or families nor kéepe great horses vse dice or kéepe harlots and the Monkes should not excéede measure in gluttony or riot Against the dicing whoring of the Popes Clergie Item that none of the Clergy beyng eyther annoynted or shauen should vse eyther golde or siluer eyther in their shooes slippers or girdles like to Heliogabalus They should were no siluer in their shooes nor gold Moreouer by him at the commaundement of Ludouicus the Emperour the feast of Alsaints was first brought into the Church Feast of Alsaints first erected After this pope came Sergius the second who first brought in the altering of the Popes names because hée was named before Os porci that is Swines snout which also ordained the Agnus thrise to be song at the Masse Alteration of Popes names Swines snout and the host to be deuided into thrée partes After him was Pope Leo the fourth to whom this king Ethelwolfus did commit the tuition of his sonne Alured By this Pope Leo it was first enacted by a Councell of his that no Bishop should bée condemned vnder thrée score and twelue witnesses also contrary to the lawe of Gregory the fourth his predecessor he commaunded and ordained the crosse all to beset with gold and pretious stones and to be carried before him After this Leo succéeded a woman Pope named Gilberta Gilberta a woman Pope and was called Ioan the eight She was a dutchwoman of Magunce who went with an English monke out of the Abbey of Fulda to Athens in mans apparell where shée prooued excellently learned and obtained the Popedome and sat two yéeres and six moneths The Pope trauaileth with childe and at last openly in the face of a generall procession fell in labour and trauell of childe and so died By reason whereof the Cardinals at this day doo auoid to come néere that stréete where that shame was taken By Benedictus the 3. that succéeded next in the whorish sea was first enacted as most writers record the Dirge to be said for the dead The dirge for the dead albeit Gregory the third had doone in that matter worthely for his part already After him sat Pope Nicholas the first who enlarged the Popes decrées with many constitutions equalling the authoritie of them with the wrytings of the Apostles Popes decrees equall with the Apostles writing He ordained that no secular Prince nor the Emperour himselfe should be present at their Councels vnlesse in matters concerning the faith Also that no Lay man should sit in Iudgement vpon the Clergy men or reason vppon the Popes power Item that no Christian magistrate should haue any power ouer any prelate alledging that a prelate is called God A prelat called God Also that all Church seruice should be in Latine except the Polonians and Sclauonians Polonians Sclauonians exempt from Latine seruice to whom he permitted the vse of their owne tounge Sequences in the Masse were by him first allowed By this Pope priestes began first to be debarred marriage Against priests marriages Huldrich of Auspourgh whereof Huldrich Bishop of Auspourgh sendeth a letter to the Pope reclaiming and confuting his procéedings in the matter grauely and learnedly shewing the decrée to be an impious tyrannie contrary to the lawes of God and Nature The epistle séemeth rather to belong to the time of Nicholas the second or third After this pope Nicholas succéeded Hadrianus the second Ioannes 9. Martinus 2. After these came Hadrian the third and Stephen the fifth By this Hadrian it was decréed that no Emperour after that time should intermeddle in the election of the Pope and thus began the Emperour first to decay and the Pope to swell The Emp. beginneth to decay and Pope to swell Ethelwolfe after hée had doone valiantly agaynst the Danes that greatly inuaded and molested the land died and left behind him foure sonnes which raigned euery one in his order after the decease of their father whose names were Ethelbaldus Ethelbrightus Ethelredus and Aluredus About the latter time of the raigne of Ethelred Anno 870. the Danes hauing to their Captains Inguar Hubbar landed in Norfolke and forced Edm. the vnder king of that Prouince to flée to Franingham castle and commaunded him to submit himselfe vnto them and to raigne vnder Inguar Prince of the Danes Whervpon by perswasion of one of his Bishops being his secretary he paused and made answere that Edmund a Christian king for loue of temporal life will not submit himselfe to a Pagan Duke K. Edm. slaine of the Danes vnlesse hée would before be a Christian Wherefore hauing apprehended him at S. Edmondesbury he bound him vnto a trée and caused him to be shot to death for that he woulde not denie Christ and his lawes Lastly they caused his head to bee smitten off and cast it into the thicke bushes which was by his friends at the same time taken vp and solemnly buried at S. Edmondesbury whose brother named Edwoldus notwithstanding of right the kingdome fel to him setting apart the worlde became an Hermite at the abbey of Cerum in the county of Dorset King Ethebald hauing had great conflicts with the Danes and perplexed with the miserable state of his countrey after he had raigned fiue or eight yéeres deceassed During which time
William of York Hée was poysoned in his chalis Archb. poysoned in his chalice by his Chaplains In the xvi yere of the reigne of this king Theobaldus Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Legate to the Pope held a Councell at London wherein was concluded appellations from Councels to the Pope found out by Henry Bishop of Winchester In the time of King Steeuen died Gracianus a Monke of Bononia who compiled the booke called The Popes decrées also his brother Petrus Lombardus Petrus Lombardus Bishop of Paris Maister of Sentences wrote his foure bookes of Sentences These two were the greatest doers in finding out that the similitude onely of bread and wine remained in the sacramentes Some write that Petrus Comestor Petrus Comestor the writer of the Scholasticall history was the third brother In this time also liued Hildegard the Nunne and prophetisse Hildegard the nunne and prophetisse in Almaigne By this K. was builded the abbey of Feuersham where his sonne and he were buried He builded the monasterie of Finerneys and of Fomitance Much about the same time came vp the order of the Gilbertines Gilbertines by one Gilbert sonne to Iacoline a knight of Lincolnshire Theobald Priests no rulers in worldly matters the Archb. of Canterb. among other matters decréed that priests should not be rulers of worldly matters and that they should teach the Lords praier Créed in english Mattheus Parisiensis writeth how Stephen K. of England reserued to himselfe the bestowing of spiritual liuings and inuesting of prelats ann 1133. At which time also Lotharius the Emperour began to doe the like had not Bernardus giuen him contrary councel Then came into the Church the manner of cursing with booke bell and candle Booke bel and candle deuised in the Councell at London holden by William B. of Winchester vnder P. Celestinus who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius succéeded in the Empire Conradus the nenew of Henricus 5. an 1138. Who onely among the Emperors is founde not to haue receaued the Crowne at the popes hand In the dayes of this Emperour who reigned fiftéene yeares were diuers Popes as Celestinus 2. Lucius 2. Eugenius 3. Betwixt P. Lucius Lucius and the Romanes was great strife for the Romanes would haue recouered their auncient libertie in choosing their consuls and Pope Lucius in the fight was well beaten and liued not long after Pope Eugenius Eugenius after him followed the same course An. 1145. and compelled them to abolish their consuls and to take such Senators as he should assigne Then followed Anastasius Anastasius the 4. And after him Adrianus the 4. an Englishman Adrianus pope an Englishmā by his name called Breake speare belonging once to S. Albons He likewise kept great stur preuailed against the Romanes for the former causes and thundered against Fredericus the Emperour Hildegardis a Nunne and as many iudged euen the papistes themselues a Prophetisse liued anno 1146. and prophecied against the whole rowte of Romish prelats and of the fal of that Church especially against the senior Friers and such other bellies of the same In a certain place she hath these wordes And now is the law neglected among the spirituall people Hildegard prophecieth against the kingdome of the Pope which neglect to teach and to doe good things The maister likewise and the Prelates doe sleepe despising iustice and laying it aside c. And in another place Then shall the crowne of Apostolicall honour be deuided because there shal be no religion among the Apostolicall order and for that cause shall they despise the dignitie of that name shall set ouer them other men and other Archbishops In so much that the Apostolike sea of that time by the diminution of his honor shall haue scarce Rome and a fewe other Countreyes thereabout vnder his dominion And these things shall come to passe partly by incursiō of warres and partly by a common Councell Iustice flourish when the Pope is ouerthrowen and consent of the Spirituall and Secular persons Then shall Iustice flourish so that in those dayes men shall honestly applie themselues to the ancient customes and discipline of auncient men and shal obserue them as men in times past haue done c. Shee prophecied also of the Friers In those dayes shall rise a senselesse people proud gréedie without faith and subtill which shall eate the sinnes of the people holding a certain order of foolish deuotion vnder the fained cloke of beggery c. But this order shall be accursed of all wise men and faithfull Christians they shall cease from all labour and giue themselues ouer to idlenesse choosing rather to liue by flattery and begging hauing familiaritie with women teaching them how to deceiue their husbandes by their flattery and deceitfull wordes and to robbe for them for they will take all these stolen euill gotten goods and say giue it vnto vs we will pray for you so that they beyng curious to hide other mens faults do vtterly forget their owne And alas they will receiue all things of rouers pickers spoilers théeues sacrilegious persons vsurers adulterers heretikes schismatikes apostataes whores and bawdes of noblemen periurers merchants false iudges souldiers tyrants princes of such as liue contrary to the law and of many peruerse and wicked men following the perswasion of the Diuell the swéetnesse of sinne a delicate and transitorie life and fulnes euen vnto eternall damnation c. Henry the 2. sonne of Ieffrey Plantagenet and of Mawd the Empresse and daughter of king Henry the first raigned after Stephen and continued 35. yéeres Within a yéere or twaine after the entry of his raigne he made Thomas Becket Thomas Becket Lord Chauncellor of England About the yéere of our Lord 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis did earnestly preach agaynst the Church of Rome mainteyning Gerhardus against the church of Rome that prayer is not more holie in one place then in another that the Pope is Antichrist Pope Antichrist that the Clergie and Prelates of Rome were reiect and the very whore of Babilon Whore of Babilon prefigured in the Apocalips c. These two Anno one thousand one hundred and fiftie eight brought with them thirtie into England who by the king and prelates were burned in the forehead and so sent out of the realme And after as Illyricus writeth were put to death by the Pope Put to death by the Pope The Emperour Fredericus successor to Conradus marched vp to Italy to subdue there certaine rebels The Pope hearing thereof came to méet him with his Cardinals at Sutrium the Emperour seing the Bishop alighted of his horse to receyue him The Emp. holdeth the popes stirrop on the wrong side holding the stirrop on the left side whereat the Pope shewed himselfe somewhat agréeued but the next day with holding the right stirrop
put downe in England In this Parlament also the decrées and prouinciall constitutions were committed to be examined of 32. persons chosen by the king out of the higher and lower house and at their discretions to be abrogated or to stande in strength Also it was decréed that the Cleargie of this Realme submitting themselues to the king should and did promise in verbo Sacerdotij neuer to assemble their Conuocations without the kings writte No Conuocations without the kings writ nor to enact or to execute such constitutions without his Royall assent Moreouer that no person should appeale prouoke or sue to the Court of Rome vnder paine of prouisures prouisure or premunire Item that no Annuales and first fruites of Bishops and Archbishops should be paid to Rome for any Bulles Bréeues Palles c. Item that the king should nominate the person to be elected into any Ecclesiasticall dignitie and so the Prior and Couent Deanrie Chapter of those Cathedrall Churches where the Seate was vacant by the vertue of the kings letters missiues shoulde within 12. dayes choose that person nominated by the king c. Moreouer it was decréed against all intollerable exactions of the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peterpence procurations fruites c. And finally in this Parlament it was consulted concerning the lawfull succession of the Crowne in ratifying it to the heires of the kings body and Q. Anne In which Parlament also the degrées of marriage were plainly set out according to the word of God Not long after the king required an oath of the Spiritualty to be made vnto him abolished that which they were woont to make to the Pope In which only they acknowledged the king to be Supreme head Which oath Sir Thomas Moore misliking was enforced to resigne vp his Chauncellorship The oath of the Cleargie to the Pope abolished Moore resignth the Chauncellourship and to deliuer vp the great Seale of England into the K. hands After whom succéeded Sir Th. Awdley knight who fauourably inclined to the doctrine of the Gospell Not long after the king procéeded to marrie the Ladie Anne Bulleine who was a speciall fauourer of the gospell The K. renoūceth the Pope and so was diuorced both from the Lady Dowager and the Pope together The Princesse Dowager after the diuorce procured from the Pope an interdictment of the king and the whole Realme Anno 1533. 1533. Lady Elizabeth borne Quéene Anne was crowned and not long after her coronation the 7 of September she was brought a bed and deliuered of a faire Ladie named at the Font Elizabeth the Archbishop of Caunterburie being Godfather and the olde Dutches of Norfolke and the olde Marchionesse of Dorcet widowes Godmothers After this the Monkes and Friers and other euill disposed persons feigned that God had reueyled to a Nunne Elizabeth Barton whom they called the holy maid of Kent The holy maid of Kent that if the king procéeded in that diuorce he should not be K. of this Realme one moneth after and in the reputation of God not one day nor houre This dissimulation was found out by the diligence of the Archbishoppe of Caunterburie the Lord Cromwell and Master Hugh Latimer and she condemned and put to death with certaine of her counsell in the moneth of Aprill anno 1533. as Henrie Golde Bacheler of diuinitie Richard Master Parson of Aldington Edwarde Bocking Monke of Caunterburie Iohn Dearing Monke of Caunterburie Hugh Ritch Frier Warden of the Graye friers of Caunterburie Richarde Risbie attaint of treason by acte of Parlament and so put to death Others of the same conspiracie as Fisher bishop of Rochester Thomas Golde Thomas Laurence Edward Thwates Iohn Adeson and Thomas Abell being conuicte and attainted of mesprision were condemned to prison and forfeyted their goods and possessions to the king This yere 1533. one Pauier or Pauie Towneclarke of the Citie of London a notorious enemy of Gods trueth and a verie busie fellow about the burning of Rich. Bayneham hanged himselfe Gods iudgement he saide rather than he woulde sée the scripture in English to be read of the people he would cutte his owne throate but hee made his choise rather of an halter About this time also died Doctor Foxforde Chauncellour to the B. of London a common butcher of Gods saints who was the condemner of all those which were put to death troubled or abiured vnder Stokesley throughout all the Dioces of London He died sitting in his chaire sodainlie his belly being burst his guttes falling out before him About the same time also died Wil. Warham Archbishop of Canterburie whom succeeded Th. Cranmer Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie This yere at Dunkirke in Flaunders a writte of Excommunication was set vp against the king for the diuorce which beeing knowen vnto the king hee caused to be discharged a great sort of the princesse Dowagers seruaunts and they that remained still were sworne to serue her as a Princesse onely and not as Quéene and because she refused to be serued of such she remained with a very few liuing after this sort the space of two yéeres An. 1534. Vpon the iij. of February the parliament was assembled againe wherein was made an act of succession whereto euery person should be sworne Preaching against the popes supremacie During this parlament time euery Sunday preached at Paules crosse a bishop which declared the pope not to be head of the Church Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester sir Thomas Moore and Doctor Nicholas Wilson parson of S. Thomas Apostles in London refused the oath to the Act of succession made then wherfore they were sent to the Tower In the end the Doctor was content to dissemble the matter and so escaped but the other two remained obstinate The third of Nouember this parliament was again assembled in which the Pope and Cardinals with his pardons and indulgences were wholly abolished The Popes pardons wholly abolished to the abolishing whereof and to the ratifying of the kings title of supreme head Stephen Gardiner gaue his othe so did Iohn Stokesley B. of London likewise Edward Lee Archbishop of Yorke Cuthbert B. of Duresme and all the rest of the Bishops in like sort to this title agréed also the sentence of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge Also Ed. Bonner then Archdeacon of Leicester Gardiners booke de obedientia with Bonners notes was of the same iudgemēt and prefixed his preface to Steuen Winchesters booke de obedientia of the same argument To this also agreed the whole Cleargie of the Church of England and subscribed with the handes of the Bishoppes and other learned men to the number of 46. doctors of diuinitie and of both lawes Anno 1535. Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore were executed for refusing the oath of supremacie which all the other Bishoppes and Cleargie yéelded vnto one was executed the xxij of Iune the other the vj. of Iulie The ruine of Religious houses
to be of Antichrist Secondly that he denied the realtie of the Sacrament And so committed him vnto the Sheriffes handes sending him and maister Hooper who with maister Cardemaker was examined at the same time to the Clinke there to remaine till night and from thence then to be remoued to Newgate After sentence giuen Maister Rogers required of Gardiner that his wife being a strāger might come and speake with him so long as he liued Which Gardiner Cruel Gardiner would not though she were a stranger had 11. children and one sucking on her whom her husband woulde haue comforted and counselled but Gardiner would not permit it In the morning the fourth of Februarie Anno 1555. being munday hée was warned sodainely by the kéepers wife to prepare himselfe to the fire Who beeing then sounde asléepe scarce with much shogging coulde bee awaked being bid to make hast then said he if it be so I shal not néede to tye my poyntes And so was he had downe first to Boner Boner would not suffer maister Rogers to talke one word with his wife before his death Maister Rogers the first martyr of Q. Maries dayes to be disgraded that done he craued of Boner he might talke a fewe wordes with his wife before his death This Boner would not suffer So was he brought into Smithfield by maister Chester and maister Woodrofe then Sheriffes of London and chéerefully ended his martirdome in the fire washing his handes in the flame as he was in burning His pardō was brought him at the stake if he would haue recanted but he vtterly refused it and was the first martyr of Quéene Maries daies The Sunday before he suffered he drunke to Master Hooper being then vnderneth him and bad them commend him vnto him and tell him there was neuer little fellow better would sticke to a man then he would to him thinking they should haue burned together In the prison he wrote a certaine prophecie of the ruine of the pope here in England A prophecie of the ruine of the pope in England and restauration of the Gospell againe which accordingly came to passe by the blessed raigne of Quéene Elizabeth In the moneth of February the viij day Anno 1555. Laurence Saunders Laurence Saunders a Gentleman of a worshipfull house was burned at Couentrie after he had béen prysoner a yéere and a half in the Marshalsea He was brought vp in Eaton from thence was chosen to go to Kings Colledge in Cambridge where he continued scholer in the Colledge 3. yeres and profited much From thence departing to his parents by their aduise hee minded to become a marchant and was bounde apprentice with Syr William Chester who afterward was Sheriffe of London The same yéere Saunders was burned at Couentrie his maister considering his towardnesse in learning and his great zeale in religion discharged him of his seruice as one méete for an other vse Wherevpon he returned to Cambridge againe where he profited greatly in the Gréeke and Hebrewe tongues and gaue himselfe whollie to the studie of Diuinitie and continued in the Vniuersitie till he had procéeded Master of Artes. And a long space after in the beginning of King Edwardes time hée was called to reade a Lecture at Fothringam in Diuinitie where he greatlie edified many Which being dissolued hée was placed in the Minster at Lichfielde to reade there From whence hée was called to a Benefice in Leicester shire called Church-lancton wherupon he kept residence And from thence he was called to Ashalowes in Breadstréete in London Where behauing himselfe according to his duetie he was accused by sir Iohn Mordant Counsellour to Quéene Mary vnto Boner and after examination being commanded to prison by the B. of Winchester he answered that he did giue God thanks who had giuen him at the last a resting place where hee might pray for the Bishops conuersion His constancie was such that he forbad his wife to sue for his deliuerie Laurence Saunders constancie And when other of his friends had by suite almost obtained it he discouraged them In prison he wrote diuers comfortable letters to his wife Sanders wrote diuers letters to Doctor Cranmer Ridley and Latimer prisoners for the like cause in Oxford to M. Ferrar B. of S. Dauies Taylor Bradford Philpot to mistres Lucie Harrington c. After hee was excommunicated and deliuered to the secular power he was brought by the Sheriffe of London to the counter in his parish in Bredstréet wherat he reioyced greatly The fourth day of February the Bishop of London did come to prison where he was to disgrade him which when he had done Laurence Saunders said I thanke God I am not of your Church The day following in the morning he was deliuered to certaine of the Quéenes gard to bee carried to Couentrie there to be burned The first night he lay at S. Albones where maister Grimoalde did speake with him a man of greater giftes then constancie after maister Saunders had giuen him a lesson méete for his lightnesse he tooke a cuppe into his hands asked him if he woulde pledge him of that cuppe of which hée woulde beginne to him vnto him to whom Grimoald shrugging saide of that cuppe in your hand I will pledge you Sweet sayings of Laurence Saunders but of that other which you meane I will not promise you Well saide maister Saunders my déere Lorde Iesus Christ hath begunne to mee of a more bitter cup then mine shal be and shall I not pledge my most swéete Sauiour Yes I hope After they were come to Couentrie the same night he was put into the common gaole among other prisoners where he spent all that night in prayer and in instructing others The next day which was the viij of Februarie he was had to the place of execution in the Parke without the Citie where comming to the stake he took it in his armes and kissed it saying welcome the Crosse of Christ welcome euerlasting life And being fastened to the stake and fire put to him full swéetly he slept in the Lord. Anno 1555. The ix of Februarie was B. Hooper burned at Glocester Hooper burned at Gloster for the testimonie of Iesus He had béene Graduate in the Vniuersitie of Oxforde in the time of the sixe Articles Winchester conferred with him 4. or 5. daies together and not preuayling with him dismissed him to his M. sir T. Arundel whose Steward he had béene when hee had forsaken Oxford for feare of the sixe Articles After the conference with Winchester he had intelligence of danger and being counselled to prouide for himself went ouer beyond the sea and being at Paris stayed not long till he was againe layd for So hee returned againe into England and was retayned of M. Sentlow After that he departed againe beyond seas through France into Germanie where he was wel acquainted with M. Bullinger at Zuricke there he married a wife a Burgonian and then applied very
the time of Licinius till Iohn Wickliffe was bound vp Sathan bound vp til Wicliffe Constantine deferred baptisme till his old age because he determined a iourney into Persia and thought in Iordan to haue béene baptized He entered into the Empire Anno 311. and raigned 30. yéeres as Letus saith 32. lacking two moneths Constantine borne in England Helena daughter of king Coilus Constantines mother He was borne in Brytaine His mothers name was Helena daughter of king Coilus He greatly trauelled for the peace of Christians and before hée had conquered Licinius wrote to his subiects inhabiting the East in their fauour He set also peace among the Bishops in the Church who were at dissention and made prouision for ministers and teachers of the people and caused all to be restored vnto the Christians that had béene taken from them in the persecutions Constantine a father of the Church writing to Syluius his chiefe Captaine to that end and commaunded him that in Affrica where he had to doo and where Cecilianus was bishop that Clarkes and ministers should be freed from all manner publike duties burthens He was greatly studious in taking vp causes among the bishops and wrote to that end to diuers as to Miltiades bishop of Rome to Crescēs bishop of Siracusa to Cecilianus bishop of Carthage also to Eusebius for the edifying of new Churches And after he had gathered the Nicene Councell Nicene councell for the vnitie of the Church he writeth to Alexander and Arrius to the same entent He prescribed a certaine prayer for euery one of his souldiers in stead of a brief Catechisme caused them to learne the same Constantine teacheth his souldiers a prayer which is this Wée acknowledge thée onely to be our God we confesse thée onely to be our king we call vpon thée our onely helper by thée we obtaine our victories by thée we vanquish our enemies to thée we attribute whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy and by thée we hope for good things to come vnto thée we direct all our suits and peticions most humbly beséeching thée to kéepe Constantine our Emperour and his noble children to continew in long life and to giue them victory ouer all their enimies through Christ our Lord. Amen He graunted great immunities to the ministers that they might appeale from the ciuil iudge to their bishop Appeale granted by Constantine whose sētence was of as great value in such cases as if the Emperour himselfe had pronounced it He prouided also maintenance for liberall artes and sciences for the professors Prouision for learning their wiues and children and gaue thē great immunities He wrote also to Eusebius the B. of Nicomedia to procure 50. volumes of parchment wel boūd and cause to be written out of the scripture therein in a legeable hand The scriptures written for the vse of the church such things as were profitable for the instruction of the Church and allowed him two ministers for the businesse Finally he was a father to the Church and enforced himselfe euery way to set forth the Gospel and euery good thing and endeuoured to suppresse the contrary Constantine baptised a little before his death He was baptised at Nicomedia of Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia in the 31. yéere of his raigne a little before his death The end of the ten persecutions The rest of this history concerneth chiefly the affaires of the Church of England and Scotland The rest of this history concerneth chiefly England and Scotland England receiued the Gospel in Tyberius time GIldas affirmeth that Britain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor vnder whom Christ suffred and that Ioseph of Arimathea after the dispersiō of the Iews was sent of Philip the apostle out of France into Britain ann 63. And here remained al his time and laid the foundation of the Gospel Easter kept in England after the maner of the East church The Gospel came into Enland from the Cast and not from Rome In the time of Bede almost a thousand yeeres after Christ as he testifieth Easter was kept after the manner of the East Church in the full moone what day of the wéeke soeuer it fell and not on the sunday as we doe now Wherby it may appeare that the preaching of the Gospell came into this land from the East and not from Rome About the yéere 180. King Lucius sonne of Coilus king of Britains which now are called English men hearing of the miracles done by Christians in diuers places K. Lucius the first Christian K. of England Fugatius and Damianus at that time wrote to Eleutherius B. of Rome to receiue of him the Christian faith who sent him therevpon certain preachers Fugatius or by some Faganus and Damianus or Dimianus which conuerted first the king and the people of Britain and baptized them and subuerted the temples and monuments of idolatrie And the 28 Flamines they turned to bishops and thrée Achflamines to thrée Archbishops hauing their seates in thrée head cities London Yorke and Glamorgantia by Wales This king also sent to him for the Romane lawes to frame his people therafter who answered that the lawes of God was to be his direction for lawes and not the Romanes that might be reproued the other being without exception Thus was the Christian faith confirmed in this lande by the meanes of Eleutherius Eleutherius and therein it continued two hundred and sixtéene yeres till the comming of the Pagane Saxons King Lucius raigned 77. yeres and died without issue the yere of our Lord 201. the xiiij yere after his baptisme some say the iiij and some the tenth and was buried at Glocester By reason that the king died without issue the Lande was spoyled and the Romanes inuaded and became sometimes masters When they raigned Gentilisme was aduaunced and when the Britaines the Gospell Albeit no persecution touched the Britaines that is read of Almost all Christianitie destroyed in England before the last persecution of Dioclesian and Maximinianus Herculeus At which time all Christianitie was almost in the whole land destroyed Now the Britanes being greatly distressed and brought to miserie the Archbishop of London called Gnetelinus procured helpe out of lesse Britanie and brought ouer Constantinus the kings brother by whose meanes the state of Religion and Common-wealth was in some quiet all the time of Constantine and the Archbishop till Vortiger cruellie caused his Prince to be slaine and inuaded the Crown Gnetelinus Archb. of London And fearing the other two brethren of Constantine his Prince Aurelius and Vter in litle Britaine he caused aide to be sent for to the Saxons being then Infidels and married him selfe also with Rowen an Infidel the daughter of Hengist Which Hengist depriued him and his people and droue the Britaines out of their Countrey after that the Saxons had slaine of their Nobles two hundred thrée score and eleuen some say foure
hundred and thréescore 271. of the Nobilitie of England slaine by the Saxons Which miserie fell vpon them for couetousnes and oppression in their Princes wickednes in the Iudges slouthfulnes of the Bishops in neglecting their dueties of preaching and ryot and wantonnes of the people as saith Gildas in his chronicle This fell out in anno 469. The Captaines of the Saxons were Hengistus and Horsus Now the first persecution in this Lande began vnder Dioclesian an 210. The first persecution in England by Dioclesian The second by Gnauius and Melga The second was by the inuading of Gnauius Melga whereof the first was Captaine of the Hunnes and the other of the Pictes Which two Tyrants after the slaughter of Vrsula Vrsula and 11000. noble Virgins 11000. Virgins made their rode into Britaine At what time they made a miserable murther of Christians spoyling and rasing Churches without regarde either of women or children The third by Hengist The third by Hengest and the Saxons who destroyed like raging wolues the silie shéepe till Aurelius Ambrosius came Aurelius Ambrosius restoreth the churches and restored againe the Churches destroyed The fourth was by Gurmundus Gurmundus a pagā king of the Affricans who ioyning with the Saxons wrought much mischiefe against the Christians In so much that Theonus B. of London and Thaodiceus of Yorke with the rest of the people did pack away some into Cornewall some into the mountaines of Wales an 550. and remayned till the time of Ethelbert Ethelbert king of Kent an 589. In whose reigne the faith was first receiued of the Englishmen Gospell receiued of the Englishmen Austen sent into England by Gregory B. of Rome by meanes of Gregorie bishop of Rome who in the yere 598. sent Austen into England and with him about xl Preachers to instruct and conuert the people The occasion was offered by séeing certain children of the land to be sold at Rome where considering their beautie he had compassion on them thereupon when the Bishorick of Rome fell vnto him next after Pelagius he sent Austen with the other Preachers Who passing on their iourney were greatly afraid and discouraged considering the barbarousnes of the people But being comforted by Gregorie and perswaded they went on their iorney and came to the I le of Tenet I le of Tenet on the Eastside of Kent Néere vnto which lāding place was the Palace of the K. not farre from Sandwich which the Inhabitants of the I le thē called Richburgh whereof some part of the ruinous walles is yet to sée The king that raigned at that time was Ethelbert the fifth king of that prouince who at that time had married a Frenchwoman Christened whose name was Berda Berda whom hée had of that condition that shée should with her bishop Lebardus Lebardus inioy the faith By meanes whereof he was the more flexible to embrace the preachyng of the faith of Christ Now the king hearing of Austines arriuall within few dayes after and hauing receaued message from Austine of the cause of his comming commeth to the place where hée was to speake with him To whom Austine preached the word of God The king at the first was not perswaded yet for so much as he came for his benefit he both ministred vnto him necessaries and gaue him libertie to preach and conuert his people which hée did in Canterbury where the king gaue him a mansion place and baptized people on the Eastside of the cittie in the old Church of Saint Martine where the Quéene was woont to resort till time that the king himselfe was conuerted to the faith which he was at length by the godly conuersation of Christians myracles Godly conuersation and miracles that were wrought He was conuerted an 586. and the 36. yéere of his raigne who beyng conuerted the number grew innumerable whom he specially embraced None compelled to beleeue The Abbey of S. Peter and S. Paule in Canterbury but compelled none Then he gaue to Austin a place for his bishops sea at Christ church in Canterbury and builded the Abbey of S. Peter and Paule in the Eastside of the citie where after Austin and all the kings of Kent were buried and that place is now called S. Austin In this while Austin sailed into Fraunce to the bishop of Arelatensis called Ethereus by him to be consecrated archbishop by the commandement of Gregory and so was He sent moreouer to Rome one of his company Laurentius to shew Gregory how they had sped and also to be resolued concerning nine or ten questions The first how the B. should vse himselfe towards his clarke Questions resolued from Rome and of oblations what diuidens were to be made For the first Gregory referreth him to the Epistle of Paule to Timothie touching the second he telleth him the order of the church of Rome is to make foure parts Bishops liuings how to be bestowed the one for the B. hospitalitie in receauing commers in the other to the Clergie the third to the poore the fourth to repairing of churches And because he saith Austine could not liue from his clarkes he would haue in their societie all common The second whether Clarkes that can not containe may marry and then marrying whether they are to returne to their secular estate againe or no Clarkes may marrie to whom hée answereth they might marry and also obtaine their stipends The third seing the faith is but one how commeth it to passe Diuerse ceremonies that the ceremonies and customes be so diuerse as one manner of Masse at Rome and an other in France To which he answered that without respect of place he should chose out of many churches the best orders The fourth what punishment should be laid on him that pilfereth out of the church This he referreth to his discretiō consideration being had of the necessitie of the stealer the abilitie to make recompence without any gaine Whether two brethren may marry two sisters being far of from any part of kindred To this he answereth affirmatiuely to what degrée of kindred matrimony may extend and whether it is lawfull to marry with the stepmother Degrees for marriage her kinsfolkes The answere he referreth to the law of God and denieth the lawfulnesse of such marriages or with the kinsfolke but in the third degrée Whether such as be coupled in such vnlawfull mariage ought to be separated and denied the Communion to which he answereth that such as haue béene so maried in time of their ignorance should not therefore be separated from the Communion but admonished to do so no more and such as professe the faith and so couple themselues he willeth they should be denied the Lords body After what manner he should deale with the Bishops of France and Britain To these he answereth that the Bish in Fraunce are not to submit to him but onely his iurisdiction