hundred committed within the Realm by Church-men Thomas Bâ—cket Doâ—tor of Canon-law was by the King made Lord Chancellor of England Four years after upon the Death of Theobald Becket was made by the King Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 1160. Thirty Teachers come from Germany into England and taught the right use of Baptism and the Lord's Supper c. and were put to Death Then John of Sarum and others taught that the Roman Church was the Whore of Babylon Some were burnt with an hot Iron at Oxford that dissented from the Roman Church The King Commanded that Justice should be executed upon all Men alike in his Courts but Thomas Becket would have the Clergy so offending judged in the Ecclesiastical Court and by Men of their own Coat This Incensed the King against him To reâ—rench these enormities of the Clergy the King called a Parliament at Clarendon near Sarisbury to confirm the Antient Laws and Customs to which Becket with the rest of the Bishops consented and subscribed them but afterwards recanting his own Act renounced the same The same year the King required to have punishment of some misdoings among the Clergy The Archbishop would not permit and when he saw in his judgement the Liberties of the Church trodden under Foot he without the King's knowledge took Ship and intended toward Rome but by a contrary Wind he was brought back Then he was called to account for his Receipts that came to his hand while he was High-Chancellor He appealeth to the See of Rome and under pain of Excommunication forbad both Bishops and Nobles to give Sentence against him seeing he was both their Father and their Judge Nevertheless they without his consent gave Sentence against him Then he seeing himself forsaken of all the other Bishops lifted the Cross which he held in his Hand aloft and went away from the Court and the next day got him over into Flanders and so to the Pope Matthew Paris hath many Letters betwixt the Pope and this King and the King of France and sundry Bishops of France and England for reconciliation betwixt the King and the Archbishop who abode seven years in exile Thomas Becket quarrelled with Roger Archbishop of York for presuming to Crown Henry the King's Son made joint-King in the Life of his Father a priviledge which Becket claimed as proper to him alone He solemnly resigned his Archbishoprick to the Pope as troubled in Conscience that he had formerly took it as illegally from the King and the Pope again restored it to him whereby all scruples in his mind were fully satisfied But afterward by the Mediation of the French King Becket had leave given him to return into England howsoever the King still retained his Temporals in his Hand on weighty considerations namely to shew their distinct Nature from the Spirituals of the Archbishoprick to which alone they Pope could restore him Thomas returning into England Excommunicateth all the Bishops which had been at the Coronation of the young King The King sent and required him to absolve them seeing what was done to them was done for his Cause but Thomas refuseth The next year after he Excommunicated solemnly the Lord Sackvill appointed by the King Vicar of the Church at Canterbury because he did derogate from the rights of the Church to please the King He also Excommunicated one Robert Brook for cutting off an Horses tail that carried Victuals to the Archbishops House The King being then in Normandy grieved very sore before his Servants at the insolent cariage of Thomas Becket This moved Sir Richard Breton Sir Hugh Morvil Sir William Tracey Sir Reginald Fitz-Vrse to return into England and coming to Canterbury they found the Archbishop in Cathedral Church at three a Clock in the After-noon and calling him Traytor to the King they slew him and dashed his Brains upon the floor His last words when he died were I commend my self and God's Cause unto God and to the blessed Mary and to the Saints Patrons of this Church and to St. Denis Here see the lightness of the People for the same Men that detested the pride of that Thomas began to Worship him after his Death Thus they sang of Thomas Becket Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit By the Blood of Thomas which for Thee he did spend Make us O Christ to climb whither Thomas did ascend Multitudes of People flocked to Canterbury yearly especially on his Jubile or each fifty years after his enshrining an hundred thousand of English and Forreigners repaired thither The Revenues of peoples Offerings amounted to more than six hundred pounds a year Before Becket's Death the Cathedral in Canterbury was called Christ-Church it was afterward called the Church of St. Thomas though since by the demolishing of Becket's shrine the Church hath recovered it's Antient name King Henry protested himself innocent from the Death of Thomas Becket yet was he willing to undergo such a penance as the Pope would impose The Pope made him buy his Absolution at a dear rate He enjoyned him to suffer Appeals from England to Rome to quit his Rights and Claim to the Investitures to keep two hundred Men of Armes in pay for the Holy War of which pay the Popes Assignes were to be the Receivers and that in England they should celebrate the Feast of that glorious Martyr St. Thomas of Canterbury The words of the Bull are these We strictly charge you that you solemnly Celebrate every year the Birth-day of the glorious Martyr Thomas sometime Archbishop of Canterbury that is the day of his passion and that by devout Prayers to him you endeavour to merit the remission of your sins To make the satisfaction compleat King Henry passeth from Normandy into England stayeth at Canterbury strippeth himself naked and is whipped by diverse Monks of whom some gave him five lashes some three Concerning which penance Machiavel speaks thus in the first Book of Iâ— quali cose surono da Enrico accettare et sotto Mâ—sse si à quel gâ—â—dicio un tauto Reche boggi â—â— huomo privatâ— si vergognarebbe ottomâ—sâ— c. Tanto le cose che paiâ—no soâ—o piu daâ—icosto che â—â—â—â—presse tom de the Hostory of Florence These things were accepted by Henry and so great a King submitted himself to that judgement to which a private man in our dayes would be ashamed to submit himself Then he exclaimeth So much things that have some shew are more dreaded afar off than near hand Which he saith Because at the same time the Citizens of Rome expelled the Pope out of the City with disgrace scorning his Excommunication This was done in the year of our Lord 1170. as appeareth by these Verses Anno Milleno Centeno Septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas In the year 1179. Lewis King of France who had entertained Thomas at Sens passed over into England to Worship him and made his
Pâ—yâ—nâ—'s History Book 3. ch 3. new devises to effect their designs by fraud and terror to which purpose they procured sundry Letters from divers Quarters to be brought unto him whilst he sate at dinner at Nottingham intending to set upon the Welch-men with a potent Army whom they had stirred up to rebel against him and invade England to divert him from his design all to this effect That there was a secret Plot laid to destroy him He marched to Chester where he met with new Letters to the like effect which caused him to dismiss his Army and design against the Welchmen Besides the Popish Priests set up one Peter an Hermite a counterfeit Prophet to terrifie the King and alienate the peoples hearts from him by his false Prophesies This counterfeit Sooth-sayer prophesied That King John should reign no longer than the Ascension-day within the year of our Lord 1213. which was the fourteenth from his Coronation and this he said he had by Revelation When the Ascension-day was come the King commanded his Regal Tent to be spread abroad in the open field passing that day with his noble Council and Men of Honour in the greatest solemnity that ever he did before solacing himself with musical Songs and Instruments most in sight of his trusty Friends This day being past in all prosperity and mirth the King commanded that Peter the Hermite that false Prophet should be drawn and hanged like a Traitor Now behold the misery of King John perplexed with the French King 's daily preparation to invade England assisted by many English male-contents and all the exil'd Bishops Hereupon he sunk on a sudden beneath himself to an act of unworthy submission and subjection to the Pope For on Ascension-Eve May 15. being in the Town of Dover standing as it were on tiptoes on the utmost edge brink and label of that Land which now he was about to surrender King John by an Instrument or Charter sealed and solemnly delivered in the presence of many Prelats and Nobles to Pandulphus the Pope's Legat granted to God and the Church of Rome the Apostles Peter and Paul and to Pope innocent the Third and his Successors the whole Kingdom of England and Ireland And took an Estate thereof back again yielding and 〈◊〉 Church History Booâ— 3. paying yearly to the Church of Rome over and above the Peter-pence a thousand Marks Sterling viz. seven hundred for England and three hundred for Ireland In the passing hereof the King's Instrument to the Pope was sealed with a Seal of Gold and the Pope's to the King was sealed with a Seal of Lead This being done the King took the Crown off his Head and set it upon Pandulphus his Knees at whose feet he also laid his Scepter Robe Sword and Ring his Royal Ensigns as John de Serres relates and these words said he in hearing of all the great Lords of England Here I resign up the Crown and the Realm of England into the hands of Pope Innocentius the Third and put me wholly in his mercy and in his ordinance Then Pandulph received the Crown of King John and kept it five dayes in his hands and confirmed all things by his Charter Now the Pope's next design was how to take off and pacifie the French King from his intended Invasions and so sent the Archbishop and his Confederates into England there to insult over King John as they had done abroad Next year the Interdict was taken off the Kingdom and a general joy was over the Land The seventeenth of August following the exiled Bishops landed at Dover and were conducted in State to the King at Winchester the King 's extraordinary humbling to and begging pardon of them prostrating himself to the ground at their feet and their insolent carriage toward him is related by Matthew Paris The next day after their coming to Winchester the King issued out Writs to all the Sheriffs of England to enquire of their damages There were other Writs sent to the Kings Judges to proceed in the said Inquisition After this general compliance with them the King conceiving he had given them full-content and setled â—ll â—hings in peace resolved to pass with an Army into Picardy whither the Nobles refused to follow him In the mean time the Archbishop Bishop Nobles mâ—eâ—ing aâ— St. Albans about the damages to be restored by the King to the Prelates during their exile fell to demand the confirmation of their Liberties granted by his Grandfather King Henry the first which the King condescended unto Soon after the Archbishop caused all the Bishops Abbots Priors Deans and Nobles of the Realm to meet together at London upon pretext of satisfying his and the exiled Bishops damages but in verity to engage in a new Rebellion against the Crown and confer it on Lewis the French King's Son as they did in the conclusion under pretence of demanding the confirming the Charter and Liberties granted by King Henry the first there produced by the Archbishop which the King had buâ— newly ratified at St. Albans Pandulphus besides his former insolencies endeavoured to wrest out of the King's hand the power of imprisoning Clerks for Fellonies that so they might be at his own disposal and act any villanies wiâ—h impunity King John being thus distressed sent a base and unchristian-like Ambassage to Admiralius Murmelius a Mahometan King of Morocco then very potent and possessing a great part of Spain offering him if he would send him succour to hold the Kingdom of England as a Vassal from him and to receive the Law of Mahomet saith Matthew Paris The Moor offended at his offer told the Ambassadours That he lately had read Paul's Epistles which for the matter liked him well save only that Paul had renounced that Faith wherein he was born and the Jewish profession Wherefore he slighted King John as one devoid both of piety and policy who would love his liberty and disclaim his Religion A strange tender if true But Mr. Prynne proveth it to be a most scandalous malitious forgery of this Monk of St. Albans against the King for sequestring that Abbey Philip King of France together with his Son Lewis and his Proctor and all the Nobles of France Anno 1216. with his own mouth protested against this Charter and resignation to Walo the Pope's own Legat when purposely sent to them by Pope Innocent to disswade them from invading England as being then St. Peter's Patrimony not only as null void in it self for several Reasons but of most pernitious example King John out of his piety to prevent profanations of the Lord's-day removed the Market of the City of Exeter from the Lord's-day whereon it was formerly kept to the Monday This King to ingratiate himself with the Romish Cardinals and Court granted them annual Pensions out of his Exchequer the Arrears whereof he ordered to be satisfied in the first place and likewise gave Benefices or Prebends to their Nephews and Creatures Moreover to
and Kingdom of Scotland in Causes and Inheritances which concerned the Church Clergy or Religious Persons as well as in Secular mens cases notwithstanding any Pretences or Appeals to Rome where Justice was delayed or refused to them by the King of Scots whereof there are sundry Presidents in the Patent and Plea-Rolls of Scotland in this and succeeding years Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury was no sooner consecrated at Rome but he procured a Bull from Pope Celestine the Fifth by Vid. Godw. Cataâ—â— â— â—27 his Papal provision to confer the Bishoprick of Landaff which had been void for nine years space and thereby devolved to the Pope by lapse as he pretended on any Person he should think meet for that employment Whereupon without the King 's previous Authority he conferred it by way of provision upon John de Monmouth Yet the King was not forward to restore the Temporalties of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury to this Archbishop oâ— of Landaff to John de Monmouth thus intruded into it against his Prerogative but detained them near two years after in his hands as vacant receiving the profits and presenting to the Benefices belonging to them Upon the death of Robert Burnel Bishop of Bath and Wells the King's Chancellor William de Marchia then Treasurer of England was elected to succeed him in that Bishoprick This year John de Langton succeeded Robert Burnel in the Chancellors Office of England The King in the twenty two year of his Reign notwithstanding a Matth. Wâ—sâ—m Subsidy granted to him wanting Moneys searched all the Monasteries and Churches throughout England where any Moneys were deposited by Religious persons or others and forcibly carried it away to supply his occasions by the advice of his Treasurer William de Marchia Bishop of Bath and Wells The same year the King granted Protections to divers Abbots and Clergy-men who aided him with their Contributions against the French He also desired the assistance of their devout Prayers unto God for a blessing upon him and his Military Forces in defence of his Inheritance against their armed Powers as appears by his Writs under his Privy Seal issued to his Bishops and other Religious persons John Duke of Brabant the King 's dear Friend and Kinsman dying this year the King issued Writs to all his Bishops and sundry Abbots and Priors to make Prayers and chaunt Masses for him according to the superstition of that Age. Then the Roman See through the Cardinals divisions continuing void about three years and three months after the decease of Pope Nicholas the Fourth the Cardinals at last elected Peter de Murone an Hermite and Monk of the Order of St. Benedict whom they named Celestine the Fifth He during his short continuance in the Papacy granted our King Edward the First a Disme for seven years from all the Clergy of England out of zeal to the relief of the Holy Land But his Wars with the French Welch-men and Scots wasted all these Dismes Pope Celestine in the month of September created twelve Cardinals among whom were two Hermits But the Cardinals being weary of this precise reforming Pope perswaded him to resign his Papacy as being unfit to manage it without the Churches ruine and his own destruction So after he had sate five months and seven dayes he resigned the Papacy Then Benedict Cajetan his grand Counsellor was chosen Pope and called by the name of Boniface How unsutable yea contradictory his actions were to both his good names he immediately discovered which occasioned this Distich to be made of and applied to him Audi tace lege bene dic bene fac Benedicte Aut haec perverte male dic male fac Maledicte Celestine returned to his Cell from whence Boniface drew him forth and cast him into a close Prison where he abode till his death whence it is reported that Celestine prophecied of him Ascendisti ut Vulpes Regnabis ut Leo Morieris ut Canis Thou hast ascended into the Papacy like a Fox thou shalt reign like a Lion and die like a Dog and so it came to pass This Pope Boniface by his Bull having appropriated the Church of Wermington to the Abby of Peterburgh whereof they had the Patronage the King authorized them accordingly to appropriate it to them and their Successors against him and his Heirs notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain This Pope sent two Cardinal Legats a latere first to the King of France and from him to the King of England then engaged in Wars against each other under a specious pretext of mediating a Truce between England and France but instead thereof these Cardinals did twice prey upon the English and Irish Churches and Clergy and transported their Treasure into France to enrich themselves and the King's Enemies there Then King Edward sent Writs to his Archbishops Bishops Abbots and others to make Prayers sing Masses and do other Works of Piety for the Soul of his Brother Edmond and after that of Margaret Queen of France according to the superstition of that Age. In the twenty fourth year of King Edward's Reign there arose a great Tâ—o Walsingh Hist Angl â— â—4 Sedition and Combat between the Scholars and Townsmen in the University of Oxford wherein many were slain on both sides and the Goods of the Scholars plundered and carried away upon complaint whereof to the King by the Scholars he sent his Justices thither to punish the Malefactors and repair the Scholars damages King Edward strenuously opposed Pope Boniface's Anti-monarchical Constitution against demanding or imposing Subsidies on the Clergy Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury was stout in the prosecution of the Popes Bull which he had procured for it for which all his Tempoporalties were seized and he being forced to hide his head and reduced to great extremities was restored to the King's favour by the earnest mediation of his Suffragan Bishops on his behalf Whereupon the King issued out Writs to restore his Temporalties with all his Oxen Goods and Chattels formerly seized in the state now they were In the twenty fifth year of this King's Reign Henry de Newark being elected Archbishop of York and his election approved by the King his Proctors sent to Rome procured the Pope's confirmation of his election together with a License to be consecrated in his own Church at York by the Bishop of Durham The King upon the receipt of the Pope's Bull issued a Writ for the restitution of his Temporalties Pope Boniface having confirmed the election of David Martyn to the Bishoprick of St. Davids in Wales the King upon notice given accepted thereof The Bishoprick of Ely becoming void by the death of William Luda the minor part of the Chapter elected John their Prior but the better John de Langten the King's Chancellor The King confirmed the election of his Chancellor The King by his Prerogative having granted a License to the Bishop of Anno Reg. 26. Coventry and Lichfield to hold the Hospital of St.
Pope at first grew afterwards into custom by degrees both in England and elsewhere As this Pope thus introduced these First-fruits into England so he likewise frequently sent abroad his Bulls of Provisions for Ecclesiastical Benefices and Promotions therein for his Favourites and Clerks which were then void or should afterwards fall void by death or otherwise Manifold were the Cautions inserted into Pope's Provisions for poor Clerks though Learned and Honest which must be confined to an Archbishop's Living in one Diocess of small value and those not formerly granted to any others and they bound to personal residence thereon when as others that were rich and more able to pay great sums for them were not clogged with so many Cautions Many Instruments under the hands of publick Notaries these poor Clerks must procure with vast sollicitation travel and expence before they get the least hopes of enjoying any small Prebend or Benefice by Popes Bulls and yet in fine not enjoy actual possession of them Many of the Pope's Provisions to every small as well as great Prebendary nor Benefice were granted to several persons in possession or expectacy by sundry Bulls at once contradicting repealing each other by Non obstantes engendring infinite Suits and Appeals in the Pope's Court to the great vexation of the Patrons Provisors and other Competitors and neglect of the Peoples souls during suâ—h Contests concerning them The King granted the Tithes and Appropriations of all his new Assarts within his Forrest of Deane which were extraparochial to the Bishop of Landâ—ff to augment his small Bishoprick and maintain a Chauntry in the Church of Newland The like Grant the King made this year of extraparochial Tithes within the Forrest of Sherwood to the Prior of Fellâ—y The King likewise ordered the Tithes of all his Mills in Holderness to be paid to the Parsons of all Parish-churches wherein they were as the Nobles and others there used to pay them Then the King according to the manner of that Age commanded Prayers and Masses to be made for the Soul of Joan late Queen of France and for Blanch late Dutchess of Austria deceased In Scotland there arose a great Rebellion through the treachery of the perjured Archbishop of St. Andrews the Bishop of Glasgo and Abbot of Schone who confederating with Robert Brus Earl of Carrick and others of the Scottish Nobility resolved to make and Crown Robert King of Scotland who being opposed therein by John Comyn his Cousin German a man of great power in Scotland he set upon and murdered the said John Comyn in the Church of Dunfrees and was soon after â—â—owned King by the premised Bishops and Abbot Pope Clement the Sixth being informed of this murder of John Comyn by King Robert ordered the Archbishop of York and Bishop of Carlisie to excommunicate him and his Complices with sound of Bells and Candles in all places of England Scotland Ireland Wales and elsewhere though without their Diocess and to Interdict all their Lands and Castles till they should submit themselves This Bull was executed accordingly King Edward sent a great and strong Army into Scotland against Robert Brus. And Aymery de Valence Earl of Pembrook put to flight King Robert took his Wife his Brother Nigellus and others but himself escaped into the utmost Isles of Scotland The Earl of Athol was put to death at London and Nigellus at Barwick The Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgo and the Abbot of Scone were put in Iron chains and kept close prisoners in Porchesâ—â—â—-castle King Robert was brought to such misery that he was sometime naked and hungry without meat or drink save only water and roots of Herbs and his life alwayes in danger Robert Brus came forth at length out of the Scottish Islands with such forces as he had gotten together taking the Castles of Carrick Innerness and many other To put an end to all which trouble King Edward appointed a great Daniel's Chron. in Edw. 1 Host to attend him at Carlisle three weeks after Midsummer-day There he held his last Parliament wherein the State got many Ordinances to pass for reformation of the abuses of the Pope's Ministers and his own former exactions wringing from the elect Archbishop of York in one year nine thousand five hundred Marks And Anthony Bishop of Durham to be made Patriarch of Jerusalem gave the Pope and his Cardinals mighty sums The Pope required the Fruits of one years revenue of every Benefice that should fall void in England Wales and Ireland and the like of Abbies Priories and Monasteries King Edward in July enters Scotland with a fresh Army and dyes at Burgh upon Sands having reigned thirty four years seven months aged sixty eight This King had founded the Abbey of Val-royal in Cheshire for the Cistercians and by Will bequeathed thirty two thousand pounds to the Holy Land He was obedient not servile to the See of Rome Edward the Second his Son called of Caeernarvan succeeded in the Kingdom in July 1307. He soon caused Walter de Langton Bishop of Chester Treasurer of England and principal Executor of the last Will of the deceased King to be arrested by Sir John Felton Constable of the Tower and imprisoned in Wallingford-castle seizing upon all his Temporalties till afterwards by means of the Papal authority he was restored and they were seemingly reconciled The Bishop's crime was a good freedom which he used in the late King's dayes in gravely reproving this Prince for his misdemeanours and shortening his wast of coin by a frugal moderation All the Bishop's Goods he gave to Piers Gaveston makes a new Treasurer of his own removes most of his Father's Officers and all without the advice and consent of his Council The King was married to Isabel Daughter of Philip the fair King of France which was performed magnificently at Boleign Piers Gaveston was the King's great Favourite who filled the Court with Buffoons Parasites Minstrels Stage-players and all kind of dissolute persons King Edward the Second by Letters to the Pope requested that Robert Winchelsey might be restored to his Archbishoprick which was done accordingly though he returned too late to Crown the King which solemnity was performed by Henry Woodlock Bishop of Winchester Shortly after his Coronation all the Knights Templers throughout The Order of the Knights Templars abolished throughout Christendom England were at once arrested and committed to prison In the General Council of Vienna this Order was utterly abolished through Christendom The French King caused fifty four of that Order together with their great Master to be burnt at Paris And the Pope and Council annexed their possessions to the Order of the Knights Hospitallers called commonly Knights of the Rhodes But in England the Heirs of the Donors and such as had endowed the Templars here with Lands entred upon those parts of the ancient Patrimonies after the dissolution of the Order and detained them until not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred unto
certain parts of him were covered and after certain dayes a Trumpetter of the King 's called Thomas Cliffe gat leave of the King to take him down and bury him The next Month after the Execution of these Men died Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury famished to Death not for want of Food but of a Throat to swallow it such the swelling therein that he could neither speak nor eat for some days After him succeeded Henry Chichely whose mean birth interrupted Godwin's Catal of Bish the chain of Noble Archbishops his two Predecessors and Successors being Earls Sons by Extraction Although many Laws had been made against the Pope's usurped Authority in bestowing Ecclesiastical preferments by way of Provision yet durst not this man consent unto his election made by the Covent of Canterbury but committed the matter unto the Pope's determination who first pronounced the election of the Monks void and then bestowed the Archbishoprick upon him The same year the King began the Foundation of two Monasteries one of the Friars observants on the one side of Thames and the other on the other side of the same River called Shene and Sion dedicated unto the Charter-house Monks with certain Nuns of St. Briget to the number of sixty dwelling within the same precinct so that the whole number of these with Priests Monks Deacons and Nuns should equal the number of thirteen Apostles and seventy two Disciples These were to eat no Flesh to touch no Money to wear no Linnen The King held a Parliament at Leicester in which the Commons put up their Bill again which was put up Anno 11. Henry the fourth that the Temporalties wasted so disorderly by the Clergy might be converted to the use of the King and of his Earls and Knights c. In fear of which Bill the Clergy put him upon a long War with the French offering to him in behalf of the Clergy great and notable sums by reason whereof the Bill was put off again The Archbishop Henry Chichley condemned John Claydon's Books and condemned him and shortly after â—â—e was burnt in Smithfield with Richard Turning Baker Anno 1415. The next year the said Archbishop in his Convocation holden at London made sharper Comâ—itutions than were before against the Lollards There two Priests noted for Hereticks were brought before the Bishops the one John Barton the other Robert Chappel Barton was committed to Philip Bishop of Lincoln to be kept in prison till otherwise it were determined Chappel submitted himself and with much ado received pardon and was in stead of penance enjoyned certain Articles to publish at Paul's Cross Then divers persons were forced to abjure as John Tailâ—r of the Parish of St. Maries at Quern William James Physitian who had long lain in prison John Courdley of Lincoln-shire a learned man John Duerfer Katherine Dertford the Parson of Higley in Lincoln-shire named Mr. Robert William Henry of Tenterden John Gaul a Priest of London Richard Monk Vicar of Chesham in Lincoln-shire with divers others During the time of â—he Provincial Convocation Pope Martin had sent to the Clergy of England for a Subsidy to maintain the Pope's Wars against the Lollards of Bohemia Another Subsidy was demanded to persecute William Clerk Master of Arts in Oxford who sailing out of England was at the Council of Basil disputing on the Bohemians side A third Subsidy was also required to persecute William Russel Warden of the Grey-Friers in London who was fled having escaped out of prison Ralph Mungin Priest refusing to abjure was condemned to perpetual prison The recantation of Thomas Granter and Richard Monk Priests was read openly at Paul's Cross after which Granter was put to seven years imprisonment under the custody of the Bishop of London Edmond Frith recanted who was Butler to Sir John Oldcastle Besides these many other Wicklivites were sore vexed in Kent in the Towns of Romney Tenterden Woodchurch Cranbrook Staplehurst Bennenden and Rolvenden where Men and their Wives and whole Families were driven to forsake their Houses and Towns for fear of persecution Among whom were William White and Thomas Greensted Priests Bartholomew Chronemonger Joan Waddon Joan his Wife Thomas Evernden Stephen Robins William Chineling John Tame John Facolin William Somer Marian his Wife John Abraham Robert Munden Laurence Cook which persons because they appeared not were excommunicated by the Archbishop The Lord Cobham having lived four years in Wales and being at last discovered was taken by the Lord Powis yet so that it cost some blows and blood to apprehend him till a Woman at last with a stool broke the Lord Cobham's legs whereby being lame he was brought up to London in an Horse-litter At last he was drawn upon an Hurdle to the Gallows and there was hanged and burnt In the ninth year of King Henry the Fifth he suppressed the French Houses of Religious Monks and Friars and such like in England because Stow's chroh in Hen. 8. they spake ill of the King's Conquest over France Their Lands were given by him and King Henry the Sixth to Monasteries and Colledges of learned men King Henry died in France and was brought over and buried at Westminster This King ordained the King of Heraulds over the English which is called Garter In this King's Reign Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln founded a Colledge named Lincoln-colledge in Oxford King Henry the sixth an Infant of eight months old succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of England Anno 1422. In the eighth year of his Age he was crowned at Westminster and in the tenth year crowned King at Paris Cardinal Henry Bishop of Winchester being present at them both The Clergy had then a strong party in the Privy Council viz. 1. Henry Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury 2. John Kemp Bishop of London 3. Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchester lately made Cardinal 4. John Wackaring Bishop of Norwich Privy-seal 5. Philip Morgan Bishop of Worcester 6. Nicholas Bubwith Bishop of Bath and Wells Lord Treasurer In the first year of this King's Reign was burned a faithful Witness of God's Truth William Tailor a Priest under Henry Chichâ—ley Archbishop of Canterbury March 1. Anno 1423. In the year 1424. John Florence a Turner appeared before Will. Bernam Chancellor to the Bishop of Norwich being accused for holding and teaching divers Heresies But being threatened he submitted himself and abjured and for his penance he was whipped three Sundayes in a solemn procession in the Cathedral Church of Norwich before all the people The like also was done about his Parish-church of Shelton three other several Sundayes he being bare-headed bare-footed and bare-necked after the manner of a publick Penitentiary his body being covered with a canvass shirt and breeches carrying in his hand a Taper of a pound weight In the same year John Goddesel of Dichingham Parchment maker abjured and was set at liberty till the year 1428. Richard Belward of Erisam sware that he would neither teach nor assist any against the
eight Choristers twenty four Almes-men at this present Students of all sorts with Officers and Servants of the Foundation to the number of two hundred twenty three John Higdon first Dean of this Colledge was a great Persecutor of Protestants viz. John Clark John Frith Henry Sumner Baley + John Fryer Goodman + Nicholas Harmar + Michael Drumme William Betts Lawney Such whose names are noted with a-Cross did afterwards turn zealous Papists Richard Cox Richard Taverner All these were for their Religion imprisoned in a deep Cave under-ground where the Salt-fish of the Colledge was kept Some of them died soon after with the stench thereof and others escaped with great difficulty Taverner was well-skilled in Musick on which account he escaped though vehemently accused the Cardinal pleading for him that he was but a Musitian though afterward he repented to have set Tunes to so many Popish ditties The example of Wolsey's haughtiness made the English Clergy so Martin's Chr. in Henry 8. proud and insolent that their labours formerly applyed to the studies of moral verâ—ues and of Divinity were now employed to devise curious fashions in their behaviour in their apparrel and in their diet In the fifteenth sixteenth and seventeenth year of King Henries Reign this proud Cardinal under colour of the King 's partaking with the Emperor in his Wars against the French King of his own authority and wiâ—hout the King's commandement granted forth Commissions under the Great Seal of England into every Shire and Province of the Kingdome and directed them unto the chiefest men And therein every man was required to depose the true value of their Estates and then of every fifty pounds there was demanded four shillings in the pound And in London he made himself the chief Commissioner The like Commissions he granted forth against all the Clergy of the Land of whom he demanded four shillings in the pound of all their livings These things grieved the Clergy and Common People at the heart The Cardinal perceiving this recalled those Commissions and sent forth others which also being not endured the King by his Letters directed into every County commanded a present cessation of all executions of the said Commissions and protested they were granted forth without his knowledge or consent But if they would by way of a Benevolence of their own accord enlarge themselves towards him he would take it as an infallible proof of their love toward him The Cardinal now resolved to revenge himself on the Emperor Charles the Fifth for not doing him right and improving his power in preferring him to the Papacy according to his promises and intends to smiâ—e Charles through the sides of his Aunt Katharine Queen of England endeavouring to alienate the King's affections from her Wolsey now put this scruple into the head of Bishop Longlands the King's Confessor and he insinuated the same into the King's Conscience King Henry greedily resented the motion and principles of pure Conscience puts him upon endeavours of a divorce The business is brought into the Court of Rome there to be decided by Pope Clement the Seventh But the Pope at this time was a prisoner to the Emperor who constantly kept a guard about him Yet after some delay the Pope dispatched a Commission to two Cardinals Wolsey and Campegius an Italian to hear and determine the matter at London The Pope draws back the cause unto himself and the King being impatient having the consent of both Universities as also of that of Paris he forsaketh Katharine and Marrieth Anna Bolen Anno 1533. And in the year 1534. he denieth obedience to the Pope and chargeth all his Subjects that they send no Money unto Rome nor pay Peter-pence unto any of the Collectors which vexeth the Roman Court. Then he published an Edict whereby he declares himself under Christ The supreme Head of the Church of England and chargeth upon pain of Death that no man ascribe any Power to the Pope within England and commandeth all the Collectors of Peter-pence to be gone These things were confirmed by the Parliament who also enacted That the Archbishop of Canterbury should invest all the Bishops of England and that the Church-men shall pay to the King yearly one hundred and fifty thousand pounds for defence of the Kingdom Wolsey was accused in Parliament for exercising his power Legantine without leave to the prejudice of the King's Crown and dignity Mr. Cromwel Servant to the Cardinal being a Burgess defendeth his Master yet were all his goods of inestimable value confiscated to the King and he outed of most of his Ecclesiastical promotions His enemies get the King to command him away to York leaving him the whole revenues of York-Archbishoprick then worth little less than four thousand pounds yearly besides a large pension paid him out of the Bishoprick of Winchester As he was preparing there in a Princely Equipage for his Installation he is Arrested by the Earl of Northumberland by Commission from the King in his own Chamber at Cawood By slow and short Journeys he setteth forward toward London and coming to Leicester he died where he was obscurely buried Then John Fisher Bishop of Rochester was imprisoned for refusing the Oath of Supremacy The Clergy in the Province of York did a long time deny the King's Supremacy Edward Lee Archbishop of York fomented this difference He was a virulent Papist one that wrote against Erasmus and a persecutor of Protestants witness John Bale Convented before him for suspition of Heresie who in vain pleaded Scripture in his own defence till at last he casually made use of a distinction out of Scotus which the Archbishop more valued than all which he had before more pertinently alledged out the Old and New Testament The King wrote a fair and large Letter to the Convocation of York claiming nothing more than what Christian Princes in the Primitive times assumed to themselves in their own Dominions so that it seems he wrought so far on their affections that at last they consented thereunto Soon after the Clergy in the Convocation so submitted themselves to the King that each one severally promised in verbo Sacerdotis never henceforth to presume to Alledge Claim or put in ure any new Canons unless the King 's most Royal assent might be had unto them and soon after the same was ratified by Act of Parliament After the Statute of Praemunire was made which did much restrain the Papal power and subject it to the Laws of the Land Archbishops called no more Convocations by their sole and absolute command but at the pleasure of the King as oft as his necessities and occasions with the distresses of the Church did require it Yea now their meetings were by verâ—ue of a Writ or Precept from the King For it was Enacted in the Parliament of the twenty fifth of Henry the Eight That all Convocations shall be thenceforth called by the King 's L. Herbert's Hist of Hen. 8. Writ and that in them
Hypocrite unmasked Now died Toby Mathew Archbishop of York presently posts Spalato to Theobalds becomes an Earnest Petitioner to the King for the vacant Archbishoprick and is as flatly denied Spalato offended at this repulse requests his Majesty by his Letter to grant him his good leave to depart the Kingdom Five days after the Bishops of London and Durham with the Dean of Westminster by his Majestie 's direction repaired to Spalato propounding unto Him sixteen Queries all arising out of his own Letter and requiring him to give the explanation of five of the most material under his hand for his Majestie 's greater satisfaction which he did accordingly yet not so clearly but that it occasioned a second meeting wherein more interrogatories were propounded unto him to all which he gave his answers He pretended many reasons for his return In pursuance of which his desire he wrote a second Letter to King James At length Spalato appears before the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Lincoln London Durham Winchester at Lambeth where the Archbishop of Canterbury in a long Latin Speech recapitulated the many misdemeanors of Spalato principally insisting on his changing of Religion as appeared by his purpose of returning to Rome and that contrary to the Laws of this Realm he had held correspondency with the Pope without the privity of the King's Majesty To which charge wheâ— Spalato had made a shuffling excuse rather than a just defence the Arâ—hbishop in his Majestie 's name commanded him to depart the Kingdom within twenty days and never to return again To this he promised obedience protesting he would ever justifie the Church of England for Orthodox in Fundamentals even in the presence of the Pope or whomsoever though with the loss of his life However he was loth to depart and secretly deals with his Friends in the English Court that his Majesty would permit him to stay But in vain and therefore within the time appointed he went over in the same Ship with Count Swartenzburgh the Emperor's Ambassador returning hence into Flanders Being come to Bruxels he recants his Religion and rails bitterly on the English Church Here he stayed six moneths for the Pope's Breve which at last was utterly denied him Now he desperately adventures to Rome barely presuming on promises and the Friendship of Pope Gregory the Fifteenth then Pope formerly his Colleague and Chamber-fellow He lived at Rome not loved and died unlamented He was clapt into prison his study seized on wherein many papers were found speaking Heresie enough his Adversaries being admitted sole Interpreters thereof He died some moneths after and after his death his Excommunicated Corps were put to publick shame and solemnly proceeded against in the Inquisition for relapsing Fuller Church Hist Ad. Aâ— 1622. into Heresie since his return to Rome Several Articles of Heresie are charged upon him and he found convict thereof is condemned to have his body burnt by the publick Executioner in the Field of Flora which was performed accordingly The Spanish Match was now the Discourse general but at last it brake off Heaven forbidding the Banes saith Mr. Fuller even at the third and last asking thereof King James falls off and for a condition of the Marriage demands the Restitution of the Palatinate The Prince returns from Spain Then was there a conference entertained between Dr. White and Dr. Featly Protestants Father Fisher and Father White Jesuites Now hapned the fatal Vespers at Black-friers in London Father Drury a Jesuite of excellent Morals Preached there in a great upper-room next to the House of the French Ambassador where three hundred persons were assembled His Text Matth. 18. 32. O thou ungratious servant I forgave thee all the debt because thou desiredst me shouldst not Thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant In application whereof he bitterly inveighed against the Protestants About the middle of his Sermon and the day declining on a sudden the Floor fell down where they were assembled many were killed more bruised all frightted Ninety five persons were slain among whom Mr. Drury Mr. Rodiat Priests with the Lady Webb were of the chiefest note Twenty of the poorer sort were buried hard by in one Grave and the rest bestowed by their friends in several places of Sepulture Yet notwithstanding this sad Accident the Papists were very insolent The Letter may be read at large in Rushworth's Collect. and Fuller Church History towards all true English men the rather because it was generally reported That his Majesty intended a Toleration of Religion which made the Archbishop of Canterbury in a serious Letter to present the King with his apprehensions beseeching the King to consider Lest by this Toleration and discountenancing of the true profession of the Gospel wherewith God hath blessed us and this Kingdom hath so long fâ—ourished under it God's heavy wrâ—th be not drawn upon this Kingdom c. What effect this Letter took is unknown sure it is all mens mouths were filled with a discourse of a Toleration for or against it yea the Pulpits are loud against Toleration Now because the peoples mouths were open and some Preachers were two busie the King gave directions for the regulation of the Ministry in his Letters directed to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for many shallow Preachers handled the profound points of Predestination c. Sermons were turned into Satyrs against Papists and Non-conformists The King revived the primitive and profitable order of Catechizing in the after-noon Various censures were passed on the King's Letters But these Instructions from his Majesty were not pressed with equal rigour in all places Both the Palatinates were now lost the Vpper seized on by the Emperor the Nether by the King of Spain the City of Heidelberg taken and plundered and the inestimable Library of Books therein carried over the Alpes on Mules backs to Rome Now those Books are placed in the Pope's Vatican The Duke of Bavaria was invested in the upper Palatinate Anno 1624. The match with France was concluded and in November the Articles were sworn unto by King James Prince Charles and the French King The Articles for Religion were not much short of those for Spanish match Count Mansfield was at this time in England and the Forces raised in the several parts of the Kingdom for the recovery of the Palatinate were put under his command Dover was the place assigned for their Rendezvous where the Colonels and Captains were to receive their several Regiments and Companies from the Conductors employed by those several Counties where the men were raised These being long pent up in their Ships suffered the want of all necessaries by which means a Pestilence devoured many of them so that scarce a Third part of the men were lâ—nded the which also afterwards mouldred away and the design came to nothing At this time upon the death of William Titular Bishop of Calcedon most of the English Secular Priests did petition the Pope that another
have right thereunto might present or nominate some other fit person to such place according to the said Ordinance August the sixteenth 1654. an Ordinance was passed against ignorant and scandalous Ministers in all the respective Counties within England and Wales in which it was declared 1. That such Ministers and Scholars should be accounted scandalous in their lives as should be proved guilty for holding such blaspemous and Atheistical Opinions as are punishable by an Act of Parliament entitled An Act against several Atheistical Blasphemous and Execrable Opinions derogatory to the Honour of God and destructive to Humane society orguilty of cursing swearing or subornation of perjury 2. Such as hold or teach any of those Popish opinions required in the Oath of abâ—uration to be abâ—ured or be guilty of adultery fornication drunkenness c. carding dicing profaning of the Lord's day or allow the same in their Families 3. Such as have publickly and frequently received and used the Common-prayer-book since the first of January last or shall at any time hereafter do the same 4. Such as do encourage or countenance by word or practice any Whitsun-ales Wakes Morris-dances May-poles 5. Such as have declared or shall declare by writing preaching or otherwise their disaffection to the Government 6. Such Ministers were to be accounted negligent as omit the publick Exercises of Preaching and Praying on the Lord's-day not being hindered by necessary absence or infirmity of sickness or that are or shall be non-resident 7. Such School-masters should be accounted negligent as absent themselves from their Schools and do wilfully neglect their duties in teaching their Scholars 8. Such Ministers and School-masters should be accounted ignorant and insufficient as should be so declared and adjudged by the said Commissioners five or more of them together with five or more of the Ministers particularly named in the Ordinance for the several and respective Counties of England and Wales Assistants to the said Commissioners August the thirtieth 1654. It was ordained That Sir Hugh Owen Baronet and divers other persons particularly named in the Ordinance for all the several Counties in the Dominion of Wales be Commissioners in their several limits and that the said Commissioners or any three of them therein are authorized by their Warrants under their hands and seals to call before them all such persons who by authority and colour of an Act of Parliament made February the twenty second 1649. entitled An Act for the better Propagation and Preaching of the Gospel in Wales c. have intermedled in the receiving keeping and disposing the said rents issues and profits of all or any of the Rectories Vicarages portion of Tenths and other Ecclesiastical livings Impropriations and Glebe-lands within the said Counties and to give a true and perfect account upon Oath which Oath the Commissioners are impowred to administer of all such rents issues and profits which they or any of them have received And if any of them shall refuse to give a true account to commit him or them so refusing to the Gaol of the County there to remain till they conform themselves The moneys found in their hands to be paid into the hands of such Treasurer as the respective Commissioners should nominate and appoint for that purpose which Treasurer should within three months pay in the same into the Exchequer Seâ—tember the second 1654. It was ordained That the Ordinance entitled An Ordinance for bringing in the publick Revenue of this Common-wealth into one Treasury to be paid into the Receipt of the Exchequer nor any thing therein contained shall extend or be construed to extend to any the Rents Profits or Revenues by Acts of Parliament of Rectories impropriate appropriate Tythes c. or any of them setled in the Trustees in the said Acts named That all and every the Rectories Impropriations Tithes appropriate Donatives Oblations Obventions First-fruits Tenths Pensions Portions of Tiths by the said recited Acts vested in the Trustees and not exâ—osed to sale by an Act entitled An Act for the sale of Mannors of Rectories and Glebe-lands belonging to Archbishops Bishops Deans Deans and Chapters shall from benceforth be setled in the possession and seizin of W. Steele Serjeant at Law and other persons particularly named in the Ordinanâ—e Survivor and Survivors of them and their Heirs to the uses and upon the Trusts in the said Acts expressed c. That they shall sue for recover collect and gather the Rents Issues and Profits thereof as Owners in Trust and manage the Revenue in such way and manner as shall be most advantageous for the carrying on of this service That the said Trustees shall haâ—e power to make unions of two Parishes or more into one and the whole Ecclesiastical Revenues Tithes and Profits belonging to the said Parishes so united to be supplied for a provisioâ— for one godly and painful Minister to preach in such of the said Parish charge where such union shall be made as the said Trustees shall judge convenient The said Trustees also shall appoint where the meeting of both the said Parishes for the worship of God shall be c. The said Trustees also shall have power to sever and divide Parishes where they shall conceive it needful and fix such maintenance out of the profits of the said Church so to be divided as they shall think fit to be approved of by the Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by the Protector and his Council c. This year died that famous and learned Antiquary Mr. John Selden and was buried in the Inner-Temple Church in London Anno 1655. the Duke of Savoy's Souldiers having committed many Addition to Sir Rich. Bakâ—r â—s Chron. cruel outrages upon the Protestants in Piedmoâ—t Cromwel took this occasion to ingratiate himself with the Protestants abroad and appointing a solemn day of Humiliation to be kept he caused a large contribution to be gathered for them throughout the Nation and sent his Agents abroad to mediate for them Alderman Viner and Pack were made Treasurers for this Money which amounted to a very large fum but how much came to the hands of those for whom it was pretended to be collected I know not The French King accommodated the business the Duke of Savoy refusing to admit Cromwel's mediation Upon the tendring of certain Proposals to the Protector by Manasseh Ben-Israel a Jewish Merchant in the behalf of his Hebrew Nation for their free admission to Trade and exercise of their Religion in England a Conference was held about it several dayes at White-hall by the Members of the Council and certain Divines of the greatest note among them and many Arguments being urged pro and con those against their admission so far prevailed that the Proposals took no effect Mr. Prynne wrote a Book at the same time against their admission Then was an Ordinance made by the Protector with the advice of his Council for the Relief of Ministers put into sequestred Livings against
gratifie Stephen Langton his great Enemy he granted the Patronage of the Bishoprick of Rochester to him and his Successors and to the Bishop of Ely he granted the Patronage of the Abbey of Torney Mr. Prynne who kept the Records of the Tower tells us that upon strictest search he could find no payment of the foresaid Annuity or Oblation to Pope Innocent by King John himself who granted it but only for one year before hand when he sealed his Charter who dying about three years after during which time his Kingdom was infested with Civil Wars between him and his Barons invaded by Lewis of France who was made King by the Barons in his stead his Lands Rents seized his Treasure exhausted and the People every where miserably plundered it is probable that there neither was nor could be expected any other punctual payment of it The Pope and his Legat Nicholas having in a manner bereaved King John of his Regal Dignity and Authority began forthwith to play Rex they usurped the Sovereign Authority both in Church and State presenting to all Bishopricks Abbies Spiritual promotions and Benefices Mâ—â—th Paris Hâ—st Anglic. p. 237 238. then void without the Patrons consent by way of Provision and Collation to the prejudice of the Crown and enthralling of the Church of England not vouchsafing to consult either with the King himself the Archbishop or Bishops concerning their disposal This was the very original of Pope's Provisions and disposals of Bishopricks Abbies with all sorts of Spiritual promotions and Benefices in England no Pope presuming to confer any Bishoprick Benefice or Prebendary in France or England Vsque ad tempora Domini Innocentii â—ertii qui primus assumpsit sibi jus istud in tempore suo as the French Agent remonstrated to Pope Innocent the Fourth These Provisions soon overflowed the Church of England and France too for many succeeding Ages notwithstanding all oppositions and complaints against them Which the Archbishop and Bishops foreseeing perceiving withall the Legat more ready to gratifie the King and his Clerks in the disposal of Bishopricks and Ecclesiastical preferments than themselves meeting together at Dunstaple drew up an Appeal against his proceedings which he slighting and sending to Rome by Pandulphus together with King John's Charter so highly magnified the King and made such complaints to the Pope against the Archbishop and Bishops as frustrated their Appeal King John having satisfied and secured the damages of the Exiled Bishops and Monks before the Interdict released according to his agreement other Abbots Priors Clergy-men and Lay-men repaired to the Legat craving full satisfaction also for their damages sustained by the King's proceedings during the Interdict though never insisted on before The King issued out two Writs on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Lincoln to restore them to the possession of their Temporalties in the Cinque-ports and other places Yet on the contrary all the Bishops and Clergy-men who saithfully adhered to the King and communicated with him or any other excommunicated person or received any Benefices from them during the Interdict were by these Prelates now made their Judges and Pope's censures ordered to be suspended from all their Ecclesiastical Offices Benefices Preferments and ordered to appear personally at Rome before the Pope to be examined â—re their Suspensions released except only such as had given satisfaction to the Church for this offence The turbulent Archbishop stirred up the Barons to a new Insurrection against the King about their Liberties who coming all to the King after Christmas Anno 1215. demanded the confirmation of their Charter who craved time to advise thereon till after Easter the Archbishop and two more becoming his Sureties that then he should give satisfaction to all of them The Barons against the time rather preparing themselves for a Battel than Conference with the King assembled together at Stamford with a mighty Army having Archbishop Stephen their principal Abettor who yet seemed to side with the King and was most assiduous about him The Barons marching as far as Brackley the King sent the Archbishp to treat with them who brought back a Schedule of their claimed Liberties with this Message That if he presently confirmed them not to them by his Charter they would force him to it by seizing all his Castles and Provisions Whereupon the King replied Why do they not also demand the Kingdom swearing never to enslave himself to such a concession The Archbishop returning with this peremptory Answer the Barons forthwith seized Bedford-Castle and were admitted into London the Citizens siding with them Whereupon the King appointed to treat with them at Running-mead whither the Barons came with armed multitudes from all parts of the Realm where after some parley the King granted them their desires not only for their Liberties specified in Magna Charta and Charta Forrestae which he then sealed and by his Writs commanded to be put in due execution but also that twenty five Peers elected by them to whom all were sworn to obey should force the King to observe these Charters if ever he receded from them by seizing all his Castles Juratum est a parte Regis Quod Anglicana Ecclesia libera sit c. It was sworn on the Kings part that the Church of England is free and all men of our Kingdom have and do hold all the foresaid Liberties Rights and Customs well and peaceably freely and quietly fully and wholly to themselves and their Heirs c. All the Barons and Commons of the Realm then and afterwards taking the same Oath The Archbishop and Barons thrust into this new Charter many Articles and Clauses for their own the Churches and Pope's advantage not extant in the Charter of King Henry the First as may be seen in Matthew Paris his History This Charter though it saved a great part of the King's Prerogative to petition him and his Heirs for Licenses to elect and for his Assent gave a great wound to his Ecclesiastical Supremacy and made all Chapters Covents Bishops Monks yea Popes and their Agents to slight his Regal Authority and Licenses too insomuch that he could prefer no person to any Bishoprick Monastery or elective Dignity but whom the Electors pleased to make choice of King John withdrawing and obscuring himself from his Bishops and Barons in the Isle of Wight sent Messengers secretly to Rome to complain and appeal to the Pope against their Treasons Rebellions and the Charters forcibly extorâ—ed from him whilst under the Pope's protection who thereupon vacated the Charters Then the Archbishop to demonstrate his gratitude to King John for the Patronage and Royalty of the Bishoprick of Rochester newly conferred on him and his Successors delivered up Rochester Castle with all the Ammunition therein to the Barons King John after three months siege took it by force out of the Barons hands who proceeding in their Rebellions against the King the Pope excommunicated them The Pope's Agents
Dorothy Stafford afterwards of the Bed-chamber to Queen Elizabeth 〈…〉 Lady Elizabeth Berkley Some of the English Exiles seated themselves at Emden in East-Frizland a Staple Town of English Merchants John Scory late Bishop of Chichester was Superintendent of the English Congregation in Emden Some setled themselves at Weasel then in the Dominions of the Duke of Cleve but bordering on the Low Countries in the King of Spain's possession but they quickly left this place some of them went to Arrow a small City in Switzerland on the banks of the River Arrola belonging to Bern. The most eminent English seated themselves at Strasburgh as James Haddon Edwyn Sandys Edmond Grindal John Huntington Guido Eaton John Geoffry John Peader Thomas Eaton Michael Raymuger Augustine Bradbridge Arthur Saule Thomas Steward Christopher Goodman Thomas Lakin Humfrey Alcocson Thomas Crafton Some went to Zuric stiled the Students at Zuric viz. Robert Horn Richard Chambers Thomas Leaver Nicholas Carvil John Mullings Thomas Spencer Thomas Bentham William Cole John Parkhurst Roger Kelk Robert Beaumont Laurence Humfrey Henry Cockcraft John Pretio At Franckford on the Meine was the most conspicuous English Church beyond the Seas consisting of John Bale Edmond Sutton John Makebray William Whittingham Thomas Cole William Williams George Chidley William Hammon Thomas Steward Thomas Wood John Staunton William Walton Jasper Swift John Geoffry John Gray Michael Gill John Fox Laurence Kent William Kethe John Hollingham John Samford John Wood Thomas Sorby Anthony Carier Hugh Alford George Whetnal Thomas Whetnal Edward Sutton Besides these the first Founders of these Congregations many additional persons coming afterward out of England joyned themselves thereunto Now followed the sad troubles of Frankford rending these Exiles into divers Factions The English had a Church granted unto them in câ—parcenie with the French Protestants they one day and the English another Which was granted them with this proviso That they should not dissent from the French in Doctrine or Ceremony lest thereby they should minister occasion of offence The English constituted their new Church chusing a Minister and Deacons for a time and out of conformity to the French abrogated many things formerly used by them in the Church of England 1. They concluded there should be no answering aloud after the Minister 2. That the Litany Surplice c. should be omitted 3. Instead of the English Confession they used another framed according to the state and time 4. The same ended the people sang a Psalm in metre in a plain tune 5. That done the Minister prayed for the assistance of God's Spirit and so proceeded to the Sermon 6. After Sermon a general Prayer for all States and particularly for England was devised 7. Then followed a Rehearsal of the Articles of Belief which ended the people sang another Psalm 8. Lastly The Minister pronounced the Blessing and so the people departed Thus setled in their Church they write Letters to all the English Congregations at Strasburgh Zuric Emden c. to invite them with all convenient speed to joyn with them at Franckford This occasioned several reiterated Letters from Franckford requiring those of Zurich to weigh the necessity of joyning themselves in one Congregation Those of Zurich by many dilatory Letters excused themselves from coming thither But the main reason was those of Zurich were resolved to recede no whit from the Liturgy used in England under King Edward the sixth and unless coming thither they might be assured they should have the full and free use thereof they utterly refused any Communion with their Congregation Then came Mr. John Knox from Geneva and was chosen by the Congregation at Frankford for their Pastor At which time Mr. Chambers and Mr. Edmond Grindal came thither as Agents with a Letter from Troubles of Frankford p. 24. the Congregation of Strasburgh These made a motion that they might have the substance of the Common-prayer-book though such Ceremonies and things which the Country could not bear might well be omitted But Knox and Whittingham were as much bent against the substance of the Book as against any of the Circumstantials which belonged to it Hereupon Grindal and Chambers return back again to Strasburgh Knox and others in Frankford drew up in Latin a platform of the English Liturgy and sent it to Geneva tendring it to the judgment of Mr. John Calvin who answereth that in the English Liturgy he had observed multas tolerabiles ineptias many tolerable fooleries adding that there wanted that purity which was to be desired in it that it contained many Relicks of Popish dregs that seeing there was no manifest impiety in it it had been tolerated for a season because at first it could not otherwise be admitted But howsoever though it was lawful to begin with such beggarly rudiments yet it behoved the learned grave and godly Ministers of Christ to endeavour further and set forth something more refined from filth and rustiness This being sent unto Knox and Whittingham those who formerly approved did afterwards dislike the English Liturgy But in the end it was agreed on that a mixt form consisting partly of the order of Geneva and partly of the Book of England should be digested and received till the first of April In this condition of affairs Doctor Richard Cox the late Dean of Christ-church and Westminster first School-master and afterward Almoner to King Edward the Sixth putteth himself into Frankford March 13. accompanied with many English Exiles Being a man of great learning of great authority in the Church and one that had a principal hand in drawing up the Liturgy by Law established he could not patiently bear these innovations in it He thereupon first begins to answer the Minister contrary to the order there agreed on and the next Lord's-day after causeth one of his company to go into the Pulpit and read the Litany Against which doings of his Knox in a Sermon the same day inveigheth most bitterly affirming many things in the English book to be imperfect and superstitious for which he is both rebuked by Cox and forbidden to preach Hereupon Whittingham procureth an Order from the Magistrates requiring that the English should conform themselves to the Rules of the French Cox his party being depressed they accuse Knox to the State for high Treason against the Emperor in an English book of his entitled An Adnonition to all Christians first privately preached in Buckinghamshire and now publickly printed to the world wherein he called the Emperor no less an enemy to Christ than Nero. Hereupon the State of Frankford willed Knox to depart the City who on March 25. to the great grief of his Friends left the Congregation and retâ—â—eth himself to Geneva Whittingham and the rest of his party were commanded to receive the Book of England against which Order Whittingham for a time opposeth encouraged therein by Goodman but finding Cox and his party too strong for them they also left Franckford shortly after Then Doctor Cox and his Adherents
proceed to elect Officers in the Congregation Mr. Whitehead is chosen their Pastor yet so as two Ministers four Elders and four Deacons were joyned to assist him And because this was then an University as well as a Congregation of the English Mr. Robert Horn was chosen to be Hebrew Reader Mr. Mullings to read the Greek Lecture and Mr. Trahern the Lecture in Divinity Here a moderate motion was made that the difference might be compremised and referred to Arbitrators which should be equally chosen on both sides To this Doctor Cox his party would in no wise consent and lost much reputation by the refusal The Names of those who separated themselves from this Congregation were as followeth William Williams William Whittingham Anthony Gilby Christopher Goodman Thomas Cole John Fox Thomas Wood. William Kethe John Kelk John Hilton Christopher Scothous Nicholas Purfote John Escot Thomas Grafton William Walton Laurence Kent John Hellingham Anthony Carier Of these Mr. Fox with a few more went to Basil the rest setled themselves at Geneva where they made choice of Knox and Goodman for their constant Preachers under which Ministry they reject the whole frame and fabrick of he Reformation made in England conformed themselves wholly to the fashions of the Church of Geneva It was not long after the setling of the Liturgy at Franckford before Whitâ—head left the Ministry of the English Congregation which Cox obtained for Mr. Horn. That being done he withdrew himself to Strasburg there to enjoy the company of Peter Martyr with whom he was well acquainted while he lived in Christ-church By Doctor Cox his departure a new gap is open for another dissention Some words had passed at a Supper between Horn the Pastor and Ashley a Gentleman of note intended rather for increase of charity than breach of friendship Ashley is three dayes after cited to appear at the house of one of the Elders to answer for some words he had spoken in contempt of the Ministry But from the Elders he appeals to the Congregation among whom he prevails so far that they send a Message by two of their company to the Pastor and Elders to proceed no further in the cause Horn being backed by Chambers the publick Treasurer excepts against this Message as not decreed by the whole Congregation and resolves to maintain that authority which had been conferred on him and the rest of the Elders Ashley and his party on the other side protest against the Pastor and Elders as an adverse party and therefore not in a capacity to sit as Judges in the present case and do consult about the making of a Book of Discipline for the curbing the exorbitant power for so they thought it of the Pastors and Elders Thereupon the Pastor and Elders forsake their Offices and on the next day of publick meeting take place among the rest as private persons The Congregation full but the Pulpit empty which put the rest upon a humour of electing others to take the Pulpit charge upon them The noise of these disorders awakens the Magistrates who command Horn and Chambers to forbear the Congregation until further order and afterwards restoring them to their former authority by publick edict were contradicted in it by Ashley's party who having got some power into their hands were resolved to hold it In the mean time a Book of Discipline had been drawn and tendred to the Congregation according to the Rules whereof the Supreme power in all Ecclesiastical causes was put into the hands of the Congregation and the disposing the publick moneys committed to the trust of Heylin's Hist of Q. Mary certain Officers by the name of Deacons This makes the breach wider than before The Magistrates write their Letters to Strasburg desiring Doctor Cox Doctor Sandys together with Robert Berty Esquire to undertake the closing of the present Rupture To their arbitrament each party is content to submit the controversie In the end a form of Reconciliation is drawn up by some of the English who really sought the peace of the Church But those who stood for the new discipline refused to submit themselves to any establishment by which the power of the diffusive body of the Congregation might be called in question Whereupon Horn and Chambers depart to Strasburg from whence Chambers writ his Letters to them twice but to no effect They had before elected some new Ministers and though Horn and his party opposed it yet they concluded it for the present and now they mean to stand to the conclusion let Horn and Chambers go or tarry as best pleased themselves Such were the troubles and disorders in the Church of Frankford occasioned first by a dislike of the publick Liturgy before which they preferred the nakedness and simplicity of the French and Genevian Churches saith Doctor Heylin and afterwards continued by the opposition made by the general body of the Congregation against such who were appointed to be Pastors and Rulers over them And now it is time to return to England and look back upon Cranmer who had been cited to the Court of Rome for nothing could be done against the person of a Metropolitan before the Pope had taken cognisance of the cause and eighty dayes had seemingly been given to Cranmer for making his appearance in the Court of Rome And though the Pope knew well enough as well the Archbishop's readiness to appear before him if he were at at liberty as the impossibility of making any such appearance as the case then stood yet at the end of the said eighty dayes he is pronounced by the Pope to be contumacious and for his contumacy to be degraded excommunicated and finally delivered over to the secular Magistrate According unto which Decree a Commission is directed unto Edmond Bonner Bishop of London and Thomas Thurlby Bishop of Ely to proceed in the Degradation of the said Archbishop who caused him to be degraded After this and before his death great pains was taken by a Spanish Frier in the University to perswade him to a retraction of his former Opinions by whom it was suggested to him How acceptable it would be to the King and Queen how gainful to himself in regard both of his soul and of his temporal being putting him in good hope that he should not only have his life but be restored again to his ancient Dignity c. if he would but subscribe his name to a piece of Paper which was made ready for his hand By these and the like alluring temptations he was prevailed upon to sign the Writing in which were briefly comprehended the chief points of Doctrine defended in the Church of Rome and by him formerly condemned both in publick and in private But all this could not save him from being made a Sacrifice to revenge and avarice The Queen had still a vindicative spirit against him for the injury which she conceived had been done to her Mother and the Cardinal who hitherto had enjoyed the profits
midst thereof Which last remained there for some years The antient Ceremonies customably observed by the Knights of the Garrer in their Adoration toward the Altar were by this Queen retained aâ— formerly in her Father's time The solemn Sermons Preached upon each Wednesday Friday and Lords-day in the time of Lent Preached by the choycest of the Clergy she devoutly heard attired in black according to the custom of her Predecessors The Bishoprick of Carlile was first profered to Bernard Gilpin Rector â—uller Church History of Britain of Houghton in the North but Mr. Gilpin refused the offer not that he had any disaffection to the Office but because he had so much kinred about Carlile at whom He must either connive in many things not without hurt to himself or else deny them not without offence to them It was afterward given to Dr. John Best as was shewed before As for Miles Coverdale formerly Bishop of Exeter he hever returned to his See but remained a private Minister to the day of his death Such of the Scots as desired a Reformation of Religion taking advantage by the Queen's abscence and want of power in the Queen Regent to suppress their practices had put themselves into a Body Headed by some of the Nobility they take unto themselves the name of the Congregation managing their own Affairs apart from the rest of the Kingdom They petition the Queen Regent and the Lords of the Council that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper might be administred in both kinds That divine Offices might be celebrated in the vulgar Tongue and that they might have the choice of their own Ministers The chief of the party well backed by the common people put themselves into Perth the news whereof occasioneth Mr. Knox to leave Geneva and joyn himself to the Lords of the Congregation At Perth he Preacheth against Images Idolatry and other Superstitions of the Church of Rome so bitterly that the people in a popular fury deface all the Images in that Church and presently demolish all Religious Houses in that City Those of Couper hearing of it forthwith destroyed all Images and pulled down the Altars in that Church also The like was done after his Preaching at Craile and St. Andrews in those places They burnt down the rich Monastery of Scone and ruined that of Cambuskenneth demolished all the Altars Images and Covents of Religious persons in Sterling Lithgow Glascough Edenburgh which last they possess and put up their own Preachers into all the Pulpits of that City not suffering the Queen Regent to have the use of one Church onely for her own devotions They alse deprive the Queen Regent of all place and power in the publick Government But she gathering Forces recovereth Edenborough and the chief key of all that Kingdom garisoned by the French In their extremity Maitland and Melvin being dispatched to the Court of England imploring aid from Queen Elizabeth And an Army is sent into Scotland of six thousand Foot and three thousand Horse commanded by the Lord Gray Some Ships were also sent to block up the haven and hinder all Relief which might come by Sea to the Town of Leith At length after divers Articles signed and confirmed for both Kingdoms the French take their leave of Scotland and the English Army was disbanded at Berwick As the Congregation was by the Queen put upon a present confidence of going vigorously on in their Reformation so it concern'd them to proceed so carefully in pursuance of it as might comply with the dependance which they had upon her First Therefore they bound themselves by their subscription to embrace the Liturgy with all the Rites of the Church of England which for a time remained the onely form of Worship for the Kirk of Scotland In the next place They cause a Parliament to be called in the moneth of August for the Boroughs there appeared the accustomed number but of the Lords Spiritual no more than six Bishops of thirteen with thirteen Abbots and Priors and the Temporal Lords to the number of ten Earls and as many Barons Three Acts were passed to the advantage of the Reformation The first was for the abolishing the Pope's Jurisdiction and Authority within the Realm The second for annulling all Statutes made in former times for maintenance of Idolatry and Superstition The third for the punishing the Sayers and Hearers of the Mass To this Parliament also some of the Ministers presented a Confession of the Faith and Doctrine to be believed and professed by the Protestants of the Kirk of Scotland which being put to the Vote was opposed but by three of the Temporal Lords The Popish Prelates were silent in it which being observed by the Earl Marshal he broke out into these words Seeing saith He that my Lords the Bishops who by their Learning can and for the zeal they should have to the Truth ought as I suppose to gainsay any thing repugnant to it say nothing against the Confession we have heard I cannot think but that it is the very Truth of God and that the contrary of it is false Doctrine The Queen was now as active in advancing the Reformed Religion in Ireland as she had been in either of the other Kingdoms A Parliament is therefore held on January 12. where past an Act restoring to the Crown the antient Jurisdiction over all Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Persons By which Statute were established both the Oath of Supremacy and the High Commission as before in England There past also an Act for the Uniformity of Common-Prayer c. with a permission Heyliâ—'s Hist of Q. Elizab. for saying the same in Latin in those Churches where the Minister had not the knowledge of the English Tongue The people by that Statute are required under several penalties to frequent their Churches and to be frequent at the reading the English Liturgy which they understand as little as the Mass by which means the Irish were kept in ignorance as to the Doctrines and Devotions of the Church of England There also past another Statute for restoring to the Crown the first-fruits and twenty parts of all Ecclesiastical promotions within that Realm as also of all Impropriate Parsonages The like Act passed for restoring all such Lands belonging to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem An Act was also past for the recognition of the Queen 's just Title to the Crown as before in England The Queen left the prosecution of the work to her Bishops and Clergy But they so dissipated the Revenues of their several Bishopricks by long Leases Fee-farmes and plain Alienations that to some of their Sees they left no more than a Rent of five Marks per annum to others a bare yearly Rent of forty shillings to the great dishonour of God disservice of the Church and the perpetual Ignominy of themselves Now Return we again to England where we find Reverend Jewel newly consecrated Bishop of Salisbury to have Preached a Sermon at
different from the Church of England in Government and Forms of worship as that of John Alasco was in the Augustine Friars Upon the news of which success divers both French and Dutch came into England planted themselves in the Sea-Towns and openly professed the Reformed Religion But some of them proved to be Anabaptists and others infected with corrupt Oâ—inions of as ill a nature which being made known to the Queen she commands them all by Proclamation to depart the Kingdom whether they were Aliens or natural-born English within twenty days upon pain of imprisonment and loss of all their goods yet notwithstanding many of them lurked in England without fear of discovery especially after the erecting of so many French and Dutch Churches in the Maritime parts The French and Dutch Churches in London were infected with their frenzies and such disputes were among them on that account that Peter Martyr interposed his Authority with them to the composing of those differences which had grown among them for which see his Letter bearing date at Zurich on February 15. next following after the date of the said Proclamation which seemeth to have been about September 16. and superscribed Vnto the Church of Strangers in the City of London By another Proclamation she labours to restrain a sacrilegious kind of people which under pretence of abolishing Superstition demolished antient Tombâ—s razed the Epitaphs and Coat-armors of most Noble Familes and other Monuments of venerable Antiquity took the Bells out of Churches and pluckt off the Lead from the Church-roofs The Abbey of Westminster most renouned for the Inauguration of the Kings of England their Sepulture and the keeping of the Regal Ensignes she converted to a Collegiat Church and there she instituted a Dean twelve Prebendaries a School-master an Usher forty Scholars called the Queen's Scholars whereof six or more are preferred every year to the Vniversities Petit Canons and others of the Quire to the number of thirty ten Officers belonging to the Church and as many Servants belonging to the Colledge-diet and twelve Almes-men besides many Officers Stewards and Collectors for keeping Courts and bringing in of their Revenue The principal of which called the High Steward of Westminster hath ever since been one of the prime Nobility The Dean intrusted with keeping the Regalia honoured with a place of necessary service at all Coronations and a Commissioner for the peace within the City of Westminster and the libâ—rties of it by Act of Parliament The Sâ—holars annually preferred by election either to Christ-church in Oxford or Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Since this new Foundation of it it hath given breeding and preferment to four Archbishops two Lord Keepers of the Great Seal of England twenty two Bishops and thirteen Deans of Cathedral-churches besides Archdeacons Prebendaries and other Dignitaries in the Church to a proportionable number The death of Francis the second the young King of France who had married Mary Queen of Scots encouraged the Scots to proceed boldly with their Reformation The Duke of Guise laboured with the Pope to fulminate his Excommunications against Queen Elizabeth as one that had renounced his authority apostatized from the Catholick Religion and utterly exterminated the profession of â—t out of her Dominions But the Duke sped no better in his negotiation than the Count of Feria did before About this time one Geoffrys was committed Prisoner to the Marshalsey in Southwark and More to the house of Mad-men commonly called Bethlem without Bishop's-gate in London More professed himself to be Christ Geoffrys believed him to be such and reported him so Having remained a whole year in prison without shewing any sign of their repentance Geoffrys was whipt on April 10. 1561. from the said Marshalsey to Bethlem with a paper bound about his head which signified That this was William Geoffrys a most blasphemous Heretick who denied Christ to be in Heaven At Bethlem he was whipt again in the presence of More till the lash had extorted from him a confession of his damnable error After which More was stript and whipt in the open Streets till he had made the like acknowledgment confessing Christ to be in Heaven and Himself to be a vile sinful man Which being done they were again remitted to their several prisons for their further cure On June the fourth a lamentable fire about four a Clock in the afternoon first shewed it self near the top of the Steeple of St. Paul's Church in London and from thence burnt down the Spire to the Stone-work and Bells and raged so terribly that within the space of four hours the Timber and Lead of the whole Church and whatsoever else was combustible in it was miserably consumed to the great terror of all Beholders Which Church said to be the largest in all the Christian World for all dimensions contains in length seven hundred and twenty foot in breadth one hundred and thirty foot and in height from the pavement to the top of the roof one hundred and fifty foot The Steeple from the ground to the Cross or Weather-cock contained in height five hundred and twenty foot of which the square Tower onely amounted to two hundred and sixty the Pyramide or Spire to as many more which Spire being raised of massy Timber and covered over with sheets of Lead as it was the more apt to be enflamed so was the mischief more incapable of a present remedy The Queen hereupon directed her Letters to the Lord Mayor and City of London to take care therein In obedience to whose Royal Pleasure the Citizens granted a Benevolence and three Fifteens to be speedily paid besides the great bounty of particular persons c. The Queen also sent in a thousand Marks in ready money and Warrants for one thousand load of Timber to be served out of Her Majesties Woods The Clergy of the Province of Canterbury contributing to this work the fortieth part of their Benefices which stood charged with first-fruits and the thirtieth part of those which had paid the same The Clergy of the Diocess of London bestowed the thirtieth part of such of their livings as were under the burden of that payment and the twentieth part of those which were not To which the Bishop added at several times the sum of nine hundred pound one shilling eleven pence the Dean and Chapter one hundred thirty six pound thirteen shillings four pence By all which and some other little helps the work was carried on so fast that before the end of April 1566. the Timber-work of the Roof was not onely fitted but compleatly covered And now the Pope's Nuncio being advanced already in his way to England as far as Flanders expecteth the Queen's pleasure touching his admittance for the Pope could not be taken off from sending his Nuncio to the Queen with whom he conceived himself to stand upon termes of Amity But the Queen persevered in her first intent affirming she could not treat with the Bishop of Rome whose authority was
the Company haled to the next prison and the rest dispersed the Priest escaping with difficulty by a private passage the Queen being then absent in the North. In France the City and Castle of Cane besieged by the confederate forces both French and English was finally surrendred to the Admiral Chastilion to the use of the Princes After which followed the surrendry of Baieux Faleise S. Lod's and divers other Towns and Castles The Town of Harâ—flew on the Seine was gallantly taken by the help of the English of Newhaven on the tenth of March and garrisoned by such Souldiers and Inhabitants as were sent from thence These successes amazed the Guisian faction that they agreed unto an Edict of Pacification by the which the French forces were restored to the King's Favour the Hugonots to the free exercise of their own Religion But they must buy this happiness by betraying the English whom they had brought into the Countrey and joyn their forces with the rest to drive them out of New-haven if they would not yield it on demand The French closely besiege the Town and the Plague raging sore among the English they capitulate and leave the Town to the French on July the twenty ninth and carry the Plague with them into England The Pope was so incensed against Queen Elizabeth that he dispatched a commission to the Fathers of Trent to proceed to an excommunication Hist Concil 〈◊〉 of the Queen of England But the Emperour Ferdinand wrote Letters both to the Pope and to the Legates in which he signified unto them That if the Council would not yield that fruit which was desired at least they should not give occasion to the Hereticks to unite themselves more which certainly they would do in case they proceeded so against the Queen of England by means whereof they would undoubtedly make a league against the Catholicks Hereupon the Pope desisted at Rome and revoked his Commission sent before to the Legates at Trent The Plague brought out of France by the Garrison Souldiers of New-haven had so dispersed it self and made such desolation in many parts of England that it swept away above twenty thousand of the City of London which was the greatest at that time which any man living could remember Soon after this the Queen makes peace with France Then the Queen went in progress to take the pleasures of the Countrey and visited the University of Cambridge where being with all kinds of honour received by the Students and delighted with Comedies Tragedies and Scholastical disputations she survayed every Colledge and in a Latine Oration takes her leave of Cambridge giving them encouragement to pursue their Studies The English Bishops being impowered by their Canons began to shew their Authority in urging the Clergy of their Diocesses to subscribe to the Liturgy Rites and discipline of the Church and such as refused the same were branded with the name of Puritans The Non-conformists in this Age were divided into two Ranks some mild and moderate contented onely to enjoy their own conscience Others fierce and fiery to the diâ—turbance of Church and State saith Fuller Among the former was Father John Fox for so Queen Elizabeth termed him summoned to subscribe by Archbishop Parker The old man produced the New Testament in Greek To this saith he will I subscribe But when a subscription to the Canons was subscribed of him he refused it saying I have nothing in the Church save a Prebend at Salisbury and much good may it do you if you will take it away from me However such respect did the Bishops most formerly his fellow-exiles bear to his Age parts and pains that he continued his place till the day of his death With Mr. Fox we may joyn his dear friend Laurence Humfery who was Regius Profâ—ssor of Divinity in Oxford But such was his quiet carriage that notwithstanding his non-subscribing he kept his Professors place and Deanery of Winchester as long as he lived A second sort of Non-conformists were fierce sticklers against Church-discipline we will begin with Anthony Gilby bred in Christ's Colledge in Cambridge His fierceness against the Ceremonies â—ake from his own pen They are saith he known Liveries of Anâ—â—christ accursed leaven of the blasphemous popish Priest-hood cursed patches of Popery and Idolatry c. William Whittingham succeeds who after his return from his exile in Germany was made Dean of Durham Christopher Goodman is the third who wrote a book stuffed with much dangerous Doctrine wherein he maintained that Sir Thomas Wait was no Traitor that his cause was God's c. These three saith Mr. Fuller were the Antesignani of the fierce Non-conformists for David Whitehead is not mentioned with them Yet find we none of them silenced Onely we meet with Thomas Sampson Dean of Christ-church in Oxford who was displaced out of his Deanery for his Non-conformity This Deanery was then conferred on Dr. Thomas Godwin Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen who was after advanced to the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells who was Father to Francis Godwin late Bishop of Landaff the Author of the Catalogue of the English Bishops Bullinger and Gualter two Divines of Switzerland men eminent in all points of Learning being sollicited by some zealous brethren to signifie their judgement in the present controversie about the Habit of the Clergy return an approbation of it but send the same enclosed to Sandy's Horn and Grindal Now the Queen thought fit to make a further signification of Her Royal Pleasure legally declared by Her Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical according to the Acts and Statutes made in that behalf The Archbishop is thereupon required to consult together with such Bishops and Commissioners as were next at hand upon the making of such Rules and Oâ—ders as they thought necessary for the peace of the Church with reference to the present estate thereof Which being accordingly performed presented to the Queen and by her approved the said Rules and Orders were set forth and published in a certain Book Entitled Advertisements partly for due Order in the publick Administration of the Common-prayers and using the holy Sacraments and partly for the Apparel of all Persons Ecclesiastical by vertue of the Queen's Majestie 's Letters Commanding the same January fifteenth c. In this year 1564. died the Emperour Ferdinand and Mr. John Calvin What Peter Lombard was esteemed to be in the Schools at Rome the same was Calvin reckoned to be in all those Churches which were Reformed according to the Zuinglian Doctrine in the point of the Sacrament Yet the Royal and Prelatical Divines conceived otherwise Hâ—yâ—in's Hist of Q. 〈◊〉 of him saith Dr. Heylin and the learned Adrian Seravia though by birth a Dutchâ—an Yet being once preferred in the Church of England could not endure to be called Calvinian About the middle of February the Lord Darly came to the Court of Scotland who being not fully twenty years old of lovely person sweet behaviour and a most
the Dutch Chronicle is to begg to take of every man and to do nothing again for it They lye dissemble and beguile the people with flattering words under the pretence of long prayer William Duke of Aquitain and Count of Lectavia invented or rather renued the Order of the Augustine Friars which had been before long decayed This William first dwelt in the Wilderness with his Brethren chastised his flesh and subdued it with a coat of male on his bare Body Praying VVatching and Fasting night and day so that he was called a Father and Restorer of that Order Thus much for the four principal sorts of Fâ—iers The following Orders were but additional Descants upon the former with some variations of their Founders among whom were 1. THE Trinitarians for whom Robert Rooksley built first an house at Mottingden in Kent they were called also de Redemptione Captivorum whose work was to beg money of well-disposed people for the ransoming of Christians in captivity with the Pagans 2. The Crouched Friars who came over into England 1244. with the Pope's Authentick and this unusual priviledge that none should reprove their Order or upbraid them or command them under pain of excommunication Some say they carried a cross on their staves others on their backs called in French a Crouch the place of Crouched Friars in London still retaineth the Name 3. The Bonhomes or good men being also Eremites brought over into England by Richard Earl of Cornwal in the Reign of his Brother King Henry the Third so stiled because of their signal goodness These Bonhomes though begging Friars the poorest of Orders and Eremites the most sequestred of begging Friars had two and it is believed no more Covents in all England Monks onely excepted the one at Asheridge in Buckingham-shire now the mansion of the Right Honourable the Earl of Bridgewater it was valued at the dissolution yearly at four hundred forty seven pound eight shillings half-penny The other at Eddingdon in Wilt-shire the late habitation of the Lady Beauchamp valued when dissolved at five hundred twenty one pound twelve shillings half-penny In the year 1257. arose two new Orders both of them were fixed in Cambridge the first the brethren De paenitentia Jesu otherwise Fratres Saccati brethren of the Sack whose Cell is since turned into Peter-house Matthew Paris gives this account of them at their first coming into Englaâ—d Eodem tempore quidam novus ordo fratrum Londini apparuit incognitus Papale tanen autenticum palam ostendens ita ut tot ordinum confusio videretur qui quia saccis incedebant induti Fratres Saccati vocabantur It is most likely that this avaritious Pope Alexander instituted this new Order to help fill his bag and Sachel by these Fratres Saccati employed to promote his rapines and revenues as the Friars Minorites and Predicants were The other were the Bethlemites dwelling somewhere in Trompington-street and wearing a Star with five raies on their backs I will conclude with the Robertines who owe their original to one Robert Flower who had been twice Mayor of York who forsaking the fair Lands left him by his Father betook himself to a solitary life about the rocks in Nidsdale in York-shire and it seemeth at Knaresborough the first and last house was erected for his Order Of the Templars and Hospitallers THE Inner Temple and Middle Temple in London do now stand in the very place where in times past in the Reign of King Henry the Second Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem Consecrated a Church for Knights Templars which they had newly built according to the form of the Temple near unto the Sepulchre of our Lord at Jerusalem For at their first institution about the year of our Lord 1113. they dwelt in part of the Temple hard by the Sepulchre whereof they were so named they vowed Poverty Chastity and Obedience to defend Christian Religion the holy Land and Pilgrims going to visit the Lord's Sepulchre against all Mahâ—metans and Infidels whereupon all men most willingly and most cordially embraced them so that through the bounâ—eous liberality of Princes and devout people having gotten in all places very fair possessions and exceeding great wealth they flourished in great reputation for Piety and Devotion yea and in the opinion both of the holiness of the men and of the place King Henry 〈…〉 the Third and many Noble men desired much to be buried in their Church among them some of whose Images are there to be seen with their leggs across for so they were buried in that age That had taken upon them the Cross as they then termed it to serve in the holy Land or had vowed the same But in process of time when with unsatiable greediness they had hoorded up great wealth by withdrawing Tithes from Churches appropriating spiritual livings to themselves and other hard means from Almes-men they turned Lords and though very Valiant at the first for they were sworn rather to die than to fly afterward they grew lazy they laughed at the Rules of their first Institution as at the swadling-clothes of their Infancy neglecting the Patriarch at length partly their vitiousness and partly their wealth caused their final exâ—irpation Pope Clement having long so journed in France had received many Fullers Supplement of the Hist of the Holy War l. 5. c. 1. real Courtesies from King Philip the Fair At last Philip requested of the Pope all the Lands of the Knights Templars through France forfeited as was pretended by reason of their horrible Heresies and licentious living The Pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received and therefore being thus long the King's Guest he gave him the Templars Lands and Goods to pay for his entertainment On a sudden all the Templars in France are clapt in prison damnable sins are laid to their charge and they most cruelly burned to death at a stake with James the Grand Master of their Order All Europe followed the Copy that France had set them Here in England King Edward the Second of that name suppressed the Order and put them to death So by vertue of a Writ sent from him to Sir John Wogan Lord Chief Justice in Ireland were they served there and such was the secrecy of the contâ—iâ—ance of the business that the storm fell upon them ere they were aware of it In England their possessions were by Authority of Parliament assigned to the Hospitaller-Knights of St. John of Jerusalem least that such Lands given to good and pious uses against the Donour's will should be given to other uses At the North-side of the City of London John Briset a rich and devout man built an House for the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem which in time grew so great that it resembled a Palace and had in it a very fair Church and a Tower-steeple raised to so great height with so fine workmanship that while it stood it was a singular beauty and ornament to