Thomas Miriall John Williams Proct. 10. Thomas Smart Major Clemens Corbet Vicecan 1612-13 Richard Tompson Stephen Paget Henry Bird Proct. 11. Edward Cropley Major Samuel Harsenett Vicecan 1613-14 Arthur Iohnson Richard Anguish Proct. 12. Iohn Wicksted Major Owen Gwin Vicecan 1614-15 Tho Kitchin Iohn Dod Proct. Thomas French Major 13. Iohn Hill Vicecan Ann. Reg. Jac. 15. Andrew Pern Thomas Smith Proct. Robert Lukin Major 44. Edward Sympson a very good scholar Fellow of Trinity Coll Mr. Sympson his Sermon and Recantation preached a Sermon before King Iames at Royston taking for his Text Iohn 3. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh Hence he endevoured to prove that the commission of any great sin doth extinguish grace and Gods Spirit for the time in the man He added also that S. Paul in the 7 th Chapter to the Romans spake not of himself as an Apostle and Regenerate but sub statu Legis Hereat His Majesty took and publickly expressed great distaste because Arminius had lately been blamed for extracting the like exposition out of the works of Faustus Socinus Whereupon He sent to the two Professours in Cambridge for their judgment herein who proved and subscribed the place ad Romanos 7 mo to be understood of a Regenerate man according to S. Augustine his later opinion in his Retractations and the Preacher was injoyned a publick Recantation before the King which accordingly was performed Nor doth such a Palinodie sound any thing to his disgrace having S. Augustine himself for his precedent modestly retracting what formerly he had erroneously written therein John Richardson Vicecan 16. John Browne George Ramsey Proct. 1617-18 Henry King Major Will Branthwait John Goslin Vicecan 17. Iohn Smithson Alex 1618-19 Read Proct. Sir Edw Hinde Knight Major 45. The neighbouring Gentry of Cambridge The first and last Knight Major of Cambridge being very pleasant at a merry-meeting resolved in a frolick to be made Free-men and so successively to take their turns in being Major thereof The Towns men promised themselves great matters hereby betwixt whom and the University some petty animosities at present when persons of such state and quality should Head their Corporation Sir Edward Hinde of Madingley Knight lead the dance and kept His Majestie in Cambridge expecting others in order to follow him who considering the expensivenesse of the place with some others no lesse politick than thrifty considerations receded from the resolution and let the good Knight alone to possesse that honour by himself Towns-men as formerly succeeded him therein SECT VIII Anno Dom. THOMAE PLAYER Armigero Anno Regis Jacob. Camerarii LONDINENSIS primogenito TAndem aliquando DEO Duce post varios anfractus vias in vias ad Historiae finem perventum est Nec diffiteor me non fessum modò sed lassum cùm mihi ita deficiant vires ut nunc cùm pes sit figendus vix possim me continere ne pronus corruam Opus mihi igitur jam concludenti PATRONO non forti minùs qui possit quà m miti qui velit me nutantem sustentare vel fortè labascentem erigere Hîc Tu mihi Occurris exoptatissimus qui tam mentis quà m corporis dotibus es spectabilis Spero igitur Finem Opus meum certus scio Nomen Tuum finem Operis Coronaturum HEre we have omitted to confesse and amend a fault Henry Howard Chancellour of Cambridge is pardonable how after the decease of Robert Cecil Earle of Salisbury one no lesse willing than able on all occasions to befriend the University dying Anno 1612. Henry Howard Earl of Northhampton was chosen Chancellour of Cambridge He was Son to Henry Earle of Surrey beheaded 1546. for a meer State-nicety and succeeded as to his name to his excellent parts and industry being bred in Kings Colledge where he attained to a great degree of eminency for learning 2. He told his intimate * Mr. George Penny Secretary who related it to me that his Nativity at his Fathers desire was calculated by a skilfull Italian Astrologer Sometimes it hiâ—s who told him That this his infant-son should tast of much trouble in the midst of his life even to the want of a Meals meat but his old age should make amends for all with a plentifull estate which came to passe accordingly For his Father dying in his Infancy no plentifull provision was made for him and when his eldest Brother Thomas Duke of Northfolke was executed his condition was much impaired insomuch that once being in London not overstockt with money when his Noble Nephews the Earle of Arundle and the Lord Thomas Howard were out of the City and loath to pin himself on any Table univited he was sain to dinâ— with the chaire of Duke Humphrey Anno Dom. 1616-17 but other not to say better company viz Anno Regis Jacob. 15. reading of Books in a Stationers shop in Pauls Church-yard But K JAMES coming to the Crown and beholding the Howards as His Mothers Martyrs revived them with His favours and this Lord attained under Him to great wealth honour and command 3. However this Lord gave little credit to His Learned Book and placed lesse confidence in such Predictions as appeared by a Learned Worke he hath written of that subject He died Anno 1614. and his Nephew Thomas Howard Earle of Suffolke succeeded him in the Chancellours place of the University John Richardson Vicecan 1617-18 John Smithson Alexander Read Proct. 16. John Durant Major 4. On the 29 of January died Mr. William Butler The death of Dr. Butler the Aesculapius of our Age as by the Inscription on his Marble Tombe in the Chancel of St. Maries will appear Nil proh marmor agis Butlerum dum tegis illum Si splendore tuo nomen habere putas Ille tibi monumentum iudigner is ab illo Butleri vivis munere marmor iners Sic homines vivus sic mirâ mortuus arte Phoebo chare Senex vivere saxa facis But the Prose is higher than the Verse and might have served for Joseph of Arimathea to have inscribed on the Monument of our Saviour whereof this is a part Abi Viator ad tuos reversus dic te vidisse Locum in quo salus jacet He gave to Clare Hall whereof he was Fellow a Chalice with a cover of beaten-gold weighing and worth three hundred pounds besides other Plate and Books to the value of five hundred pounds Will 1618-19 Branthwait John Goslin Vicecan 17. Henry Goch Tho Horseman Proct. Richard Foxton Major 5. The Title of the Earledome of Cambridge which as we have formerly observed The Marquesse of Hamilton made Earle of Cambridge was onely conferred on Forreigne Princes or those of the English blood-Royall had now lyen dormant since the death of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke and eighth Earle of Cambridge It was now
born in the Kingdome of Northumberland at a Camden's Brit. pag. 743. Girwy now Yarrow in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by S t. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar in his Age for Latine Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his Life-time in the Christian Churches a Dignity afforded to him alone We are much beholding to his Ecclesiasticall History written by him and dedicated to Ceolwoolfus King of Northumberland A worthy Work indeed though in some respect we could heartily wish that his Faith had been lesse and his Charity more Faith lesse in believing and reporting so many prodigious Miracles of the Saxons except any will say that this in him was not so much Vitium Hominis as Seculi Charity more I mean to the Britans being no Friend to them and over-partial to his own Country-men slightly and slenderly touching British matters onely thereof to make a Pedestall the more fairly to reare and advance his Saxon History thereupon 16. Some report that Bede never went out of his Cell Bede probably went out of his Cell but lived and died therein If so the Scholars of Cambridge will be very sory because thereby deprived of their Honour by Bede's living once in their University whose House they still shew betwixt S t. Iohn's Colledge and Round-Church or S t. Sepulchres Surely Bede was not fixed to his Cell as the Cockle to his Shel seeing no Observance of his Benedictine Order imposed such a Penance upon him Indeed his own words in the end of his Book give some Countenance to their Conjecture of his voluntary Confinement speaking of himself Cunctum tempus vitae in ejusdem Monasterii habitatione peragens But his Expression imports onely his generall Residence therein that he was no Gadder abroad or Discontinuer from his Convent for a long time though he might for some short space make his Abode elsewhere Thus when of the Prophetesse it is said b Luke 2. 37. that she departed not from the Temple we understand it not so as if she never went out thereof but that for the main she spent the most of her time therein 17. He is generally surnamed Venerable Bede why surnamed Venerabilis but why Authours differ therein Some say a Dunce-Monk being to make his Epitaph was non-pluss'd to make that Dactyle which is onely of the Quorum in the Hexameter and therefore at Night left the Verse thus gaping Hic sunt in fossa Bedae ossa till he had consulted with his Pillow to fill up the Hiatus But returning in the morning an Angel we have often heard of their Singing see now of their Poetry Anno Dom. 730 had filled up the Chasma with Venerabilis Others disclaiming this Conceit assign this Reason Because Bede's Homilies were as aforesaid read in all a Flores Sanctorum in the life of Bede pag. 528. Churches in his Life-time plain Bede was conceived too little and S t. Bede too much because according to Popish but not S t. Paul's Principles Saint is too much Flattery to be given to any whilest alive Solon allowing none happy and this mine Authour none in this degree holy before their Death Wherefore Venerable was found out as an Expedient to accommodate the Difference luckily hitting the Mark as a Title neither too high nor too low just even to so good a man and great a Scholar whilest alive This is observable in all those who have written the Life of Bede that whereas such Saxon-Saints as had not the tenth of his Sanctity nor hundredth part of his Learning are said to have wrought Miracles ad Lectoris nauseam not one single Miracle is reported to have been done by Bede Whereof under favour I conceive this the Reason Monks who wrote the Lives of many of their Saints knew little more of many of them then their bare Names and Times wherein they lived which made them Historiae vacua miraculis supplere to plump up the Hollownesse of their History with improbable Miracles swelling the Bowells of their Books with empty Wind in default of sufficient solid Food to fill them Whereas Bede's Life affording plenty and variety of reall and effectuall Matter the Writer thereof why should a Rich man be a Thief or Lyar had no Temptation I am sure no Need to farse his book with fond Miracles who might rather leave then lack of materiall Passages therein 18. One of the last things he did 734 was the translating of the Gospel of S t. Iohn into English Bede's last blaze and the going out of the candle of his life When Death seised on him one of his devout Scholars whom he used for his Secretary or Amanuensis complained My beloved Master there remains yet one Sentence unwritten Write it then quickly replied Bede and summoning all his spirits together like the last Blaze of a Candle going out he indited it and expired Thus Gods Children are immortall whiles their Father hath any thing for them to do on Earth and Death that Beast cannot overcome and kill them till first they have b Revel 11. 7. finished their Testimony which done like Silk-worms they willingly die when their Web is ended and are comfortably entombed in their own Endeavours Nor have I ought else to observe of Bede save onely this A forreign Embassadour some two hundred yeares since coming to Durham addressed himself first to the high and sumptuous Shrine of S t. Cuthbert If thou beest a Saint pray for me then coming to the plain low and little Tombe of Bede Because said he thou art a Saint good Bede pray for me 19. Now began the Saxons to be infected with an universall Vitiousnesse 735 The cause whereof was The general viciousnesse of the Saxons how occasioned Ethelbald King of Mercia contemned Marriage and though Abstinence from it in some cases may be commendable the Contempt thereof alwayes is dangerous yea damnable as it proved in him For his unlawfull Lust made no difference of Places or Persons Castles or Cloisters common-Kerchief or Nuns-vaile all came alike to him But oh the legislative power which is in a great Prince his Example His Subjects presumed they might not onely impune but legitime follow his Precedent which made the Land swarm with Wickednesse 20. This caused the Letter of Boniface Arch-bishop of Ments an English-man born The effect of Boniface his letter to the King of Mercia and lately very eminent for converting the Germans to Christianity to King Ethelbald wherein he observed the prudent method of S t. Paul to the c 1 Cor. 11. 2. and 22. Corinthians As the Apostle first commended them I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things c. so he began with a large Encomium of King Ethelbald his Charity and bountifull Almes-giving Hence seasonably he descended to his Faults shall I praise you in this I praise you not and soundly and
that the Clergy ingrossed all Secular Offices and thereupon presented the insuing Petition to the King according to this effect insisting only in the substance thereof 42. And because that in this present Parliament it was declared to our Lord the King 45 by all the Earls 1370 Barons Ex Rot. Parl. in Turr. Lond. in 45. Ed. tertii and Commons of England that the Government of the Kingdom hath been performed for a long time by the men of Holy Church which are not * Justifiables in the French Originals 〈◊〉 whether whether not able to do justice or not to be justified in their imployment as improper for it justifiable in all cases whereby great mischiefs and damages have happened in times past and more may happen in time to come in disheriting of the Crown and great prejudice of the Kingdom for divers causes that a man may declare that it will please our said Lord the King Anno Dom. 1370 that the Laymen of the said Kingdom which are sufficient and able of estate Anno Regis Ed. tertii 45. may be chosen for this and that no other person be hereafter made Chancelour Treasurer Clerk of the Privy Seale Barons of the Exchequer Chamberlains of the Exchequer Controler and all other great Officers and Governours of the said Kingdom and that this thing be now in such manner established in form aforesaid that by no way it may be defeated or any thing done to the contrary in any time to come Saving alwaies to our Lord the King the Election and removing of such Officers but that alwaies they be Lay-men such as is abovesaid 43. To this Petition the King returned The Answer in effect a denial that he would ordain upon this point as it shall best seem to him by the advice of his good Councel He therefore who considereth the present power of the Clergy at the Councel-Table will not wonder if all things remained in their former Condition till the Nobility began more openly to favour John Wickliff his Opinions which the next Book God willing shall relate 44. We will close this with a Catalogue of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury Simon Mepham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Contemporary with King Edward the third and begin with Simon Mepham made Arch-Bishop in the first year of his reign so that the Crown and the Mitre may seem in some sort to have started together only here was the odds the King was a young yea scarce a man whereas the Arch-Bishop was well stricken in years Hence their difference in holding out the King surviving to see him buried and six more whereof four Simons inclusively heart-broken as they say with grief For when John Grandison Bishop of Exeter making much noise with his Name but more with his Activity refused to be visited by him the Pope siding with the Bishop Mepham so resented it that it cost him his life 45. John Stratford was the second John Sratford his successor Consecrated first Bishop of Winchester on the Lords day whereon it was solemnly sung many are the afflictions of the Righteous whereof he was very apprehensive then and more afterwards when his own experience had proved a Comment thereon Yet this might comfort him whilst living and make others honour his memory that a good Conscience without any great crime generally caused his molestation For under King Edward the second he suffered for being too loyall a Subject siding with the King against the Queen and her Son and under King Edward the third he was molested for being too faithfull a Patriot namely in pittying his poor Countreymens taxations for which he was accused for correspondency with the French and complying with the Pope Pope and King of France then blowing in one Trumpet whereat King Edward was highly incensed 46. However Stratford did but say what thousands thought His last his best dayes viz. that a peace with France was for the profit of England especially as proffered upon such honourable conditions This the Arch-Bishop was zealous for upon a threefold accompt First of Pietie to save the effusion of more Christian blood Secondly of Policie suspecting successe that the tide might turn and what was suddenly gotten might be as suddenly lost Thirdly on Charity sympathizing with the sad condition of his fellow Subjects groaning under the burthen of Taxes to maintain an unnecessary war For England sent over her wealth into France to pay their victorious Souldiers and received back again honour in exchange whereby our Nation became exceeding proud and exceeding poor However the end as well as the beginning of the Psalm was verified of this Arch-Bishop the Lord delivereth them out of all dying in great honour and good esteem with the King a strong argument of his former innocence 47. The third was Tho. Bradwardine Tho. Bradwardine the third Arch-bishop whose election was little lesse then miraculous For Commonly the King refused whom the Monks chose the Pope rejected whom the Monks and King did elect whereas all interests met in the choise of Bradwardine Yea which was more the Pope as yet not knowing that the Monks and the King had pre-elected him of his own accord as by supernaturall instinct appointed Bradwardine for that place who little thought thereon Thus Omne tulit punctum and no wonder seeing he mingled his profitable Doctrines with a sweet and amiable conversation Camden in Eliz. indeed he was skilled in School Learning which one properly calleth Spinosa Theologia and though some will say can figgs grow on thorns yet his thorny Divinity produced much sweet devotion 48. He was Confessor to king Edward the third whose miraculous victories in France The best Arch-Bishop of that See some impute more to this mans devout prayers Then either to the Policy or Prowess of the English Nation He died before he was inthronized few moneths after his consecration though now advanced on a more Glorious and durable Throne in Heaven where he hath received the Crown from God who here defended the * He wrote de Causae Dei Cause of God I behold him as the most pious man who from Anselm not to say Augustine to Cranmer sat on that Seat And a better St. Thomas though not sainted by the Pope then one of his predecessors commonly so called 49. Simon Islip was the fourth Simon Islip next Arch-Bishop a parcimonious but no avaricious man thrifty whilst living therefore clandestinely Inthronized and when dead secretly interred without any solemnity Yet his frugality may be excused if not commended herein because he reserved his estate for good uses founding Canterbury Colledge in Oxford Excipe Merton Colledge Thus generally Bishops founders of many Colledges therein denominated them either from that Saint to whom they were dedicated or from their See as Exeter Canterbury Durham Lincoln putting thereby a civil obligation on their Successors to be as Visitors so Benefactors thereunto This Canterbury Colledge is now
upon my power and meynten hem And alsoe I shall never more meynten ne tochen ne defenden errours conclusions ne techynges of the Lollardes ne swych conclusions and techynges that men clepyth Lollardes doctryn ne I shall her bokes Ne swych bokes ne hem or any suspeict or diffamede of Lolardery resceyve or company withall wyttyngly or defende in yo matters and yf I know ony swich I shall wyth all the haste that y may do yhowe or els your ner officers to wyten and of her bokes And also I shall excite and stirre all you to goode doctryn yat I have hindered wyth myn doctryn up my power and also I shall stonde to your declaracion wych es heresy or errour and do thereafter And also what penance yhe woll for yat I have don for meyntenyng of this false doctryn in mynd mee and I shall fulfill it and I submit me yer to up my power and also I shall make no othir glose of this my oth bot as ye wordes stonde and if it be so that I come againe or doe again this oath or eny party thereof I yhelde me here cowpable as an heretyk and to be punyshed be the lawe as an heretyk and to forfet all my godes to the Kynges will withowten any othir processe of Lawe and yerto I require ye notarie to make of all this ye whych is my will an instrument agayns me Et ex habundanti idem Will. Dynet eodem die voluit recognovit quod omnia bona Catalla sua mobilia nobis sint forisfca in casu quo ipse juramentum praedictum seu aliqua in eodem juramento contenta de cetero contravenerit ullo modo 41. We have here exemplified this Abjuration just according to the Originals Take it faults and all with all the faults and Pseudographie thereof For I remember in my time an under-Clerk at Court threatned to be called before the Green-Cloath for an Innovation from former Bills though onely writing Sinapi with an S. contrary to the common custom of the Clerks of the Kitchin formerly writing of it with a C. so wedded are some men to old orders and so dangerous in their judgment is the least deviation from them 42. The Arch-Bishop of York mentioned therein Some observations on this abjuration was Tho. Arundell then Chancellour of England and in all probability this Instrument was Dated at York For I finde that at this very time Tho. Arundell to humble the Londoners then reputed disaffected to the King removed the Termes and a Godwin in his Catalogue of the Arch-Bishops of York Courts to York where they continued for some short time and then returned to their ancient course Whereas he is enjoyned point-blank to worship Images it seemeth that the modern nice distinction of worshipping of Saints in Images was not yet in fashion It appeareth herein that Relaps after Abjuration was not as yet as afterwards punishable with death but onely with forfeiture of goods to the Crown 43. This year a Godly 23. Learned 1397 and Aged Servant of God ended his dayes The death of John de Trevisa viz. John de Trevisa a Gentleman of an ancient b Carews Survey of Cornwall p. 114. Family bearing Gules a Garbe OR born at Crocadon in Cornwall a Secular Priest and Vicar of Berkeley a painful and faithful Translator of many and great Books into English as Policronicon written by Ranulphus of Chester Bartholomeus de rerum proprictatibus c. But his master-piece was the Translating of the Old and New Testament justifying his act herein by the example of Bede who turned the Gospel of S t John in English 44. I know not which more to admire Who Translated the Bible into English his ability that he could his courage that he durst or his industry that he did perform so difficult and dangerous a task having no other commission then the c Balaeus de Script Angl. cent 7. numero 18. command of his Patron THOMAS Lord BERKELEY Which Lord as the said d Pelicronicon fol. 2. Trevisa observeth had the Apocalyps in Latin and French then generally understood by the better sort as well as English written on the roof and walls of his Chappel at Berkeley and which not long since viz. Anno 1622. so remained as not much defaced Whereby we may observe that midnight being past some early risers even then began to strike fire and enlighten themselves from the Scriptures 45. It may seem a Miracle Yet escaped persecution that the Bishops being thus busie in persecuting Gods servants and Trevisa so obnoxious to their fury for this Translation that he lived and died without any molestation Yet was he a known enemy to Monkery witness that among many other of his Speeches that he had read how Christ had e Balaeus ut prius sent Apostles and Priests into the world but never any Monks or begging Friers But whether it was out of reverence to his own aged gravity or respect to his Patrons greatness he died full of honour quiet and age little less then ninety years old For 1. He ended his Translation of Policronicon as appeareth by the conclusion thereof the 29 th of Edward the third when he cannot be presumed less then 30. years of age 2. He added to the end thereof fifty f Pitzeus de Scrip. Angla some say more years of his own historical observations Thus as he gave a Garbe or Wheat-sheaf for his Armes so to use the g Micah 4. 12. Prophets expression the Lord gathered him as a sheaf into the floor even full ripe and ready for the same 46. We may couple with him As did his contemporary Geoffery Chaucer his contemporary Geffery Chaucer born some say in Berke-shire others in Oxford-shire most and truest in London If the Grecian Homer had seven let out English haven three places contest for his Nativity Our Homer I say onely herein he differed Maeonides nullas ipse reliquit opes Homer himself did leave no pelf Whereas our Chaucer left behinde him a rich and worshipful estate 47. His Father was a Vintner in London His parentâ—ge and armes and I have heard his Armes quarell'd at Anno Dom. 1399. being Argent and Gules strangely contrived Anno Regis Ric. 2 23. and hard to be blazon'd Some more wits have made it the dashing of white and red wine the parents of our ordinary Claret as nicking his fathers profession But were Chaucer alive he would justifie his own Armes in the face of all his opposers being not so devoted to the Muses but he was also a son of Mars He was the Prince of English Poets married the daughter of Pain Roëc King of Armes in France and sister to the Wife of John of Gaunt King of Castile 48. He was a great Refiner He refined our English tongue and Illuminer of our English tongue and if he left it so bad how much
he maketh those who were to keep it in some sort Judges of the justness thereof endeavouring to convince their consciences and make their souls sensible of the natural uncleanness of such an act It is thy Brothers nakedness Such marriages are again forbidden in another Text. Anno Dom. 1530 Nor can I render other resson of this Duplicate Anno Regis Hen. 8. 22. whereas others are but once that this should be twice prohibited save that God foreseeing in his providence mens corrupt inclinations prone here to climb over did therefore think fit to make a double fence LEVIT 20. 21. And if a man shall take his Brothers Wife it is an unclean thing he hath uncovered his Brothers Nakedness they shall be Childless Here we have the Prohibition backt with a Commination of being Childless which is variously interpreted either that they shall never have children or if having them they shall not survive their Parents or if surviving they shall not be counted Children but Bastards illegitimate in the Court of Heaven This Commination of being childless as applied ad hominem fell heavy on King Henry the eighth who sensible that his Queen though happy often to conceive was unhappy almost as often to miscarry Henry his onely Christian son by her died before a full year old a second was nameless as never living to the honour of Baptism and of many blasted in the bud Mary onely survived to womans estate 11. Such as inquire into the nature of this Law finde it founded in Nature it self This proved to be a Law of Nature being onely declaratory of what true reason doth dictate to man God in making this Law did not imprint a new writing in mens hearts but onely rub off some old rust from the same wherefore it is added Levit. 18. 27 28. For all these abominations have the men of the Land done which were before you and the Land is defiled that the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the Nations that were before you Surely the Land would never have vomited out the Heathen for not observing a positive precept never immediately delivered unto them which plainly shews it was imprinted in nature though partly obliterated by their corrupt customes to the contrary and their consciences in their Lucid Intervals were apprehensive thereof This would make one the more to admire that any should maintain that this Law the breach whereof made the Country to avoid her Pagan Inhabitants should be onely a Senders de schism Angli pag. 3. lex imposititia Ecclesiastica an imposed and Church-Law To hear of a Church-Law amongst the Canaanites is a strange Paradox 12. It is objected this could not be a Law of Nature The Objection to the contrary because almost at the beginning of nature men brake them by the consent and permission of the God of heaven For Cain and Seth with the elder sons of Adam must be allowed to have married their own sisters far nearer in nature then their Brothers Wife 13. It is answered Answered when God first created man-kinde it was his pleasure all men should derive their original from Eve as she from Adam For had he made as one may say two distinct houses of Man-kinde what falling out and fighting what bickering and battleing would have been betwixt them If men now adayes descended from the loyns of one general Father and womb of one mother are full of so fierce hatred how many and keen may their differences be presumed had they sprung from several Fountains and then all their hatred would have been charged not on their corruption but on their Creation God therefore as the Apostle saith Acts 17. 26. hath made of one bloud all nations Now in the beginning of Mankinde absolute necessity gave Brethren liberty to marry their own sisters Yea God himself interpretatively signed and sealed the same with his own consent because his wisdom had appointed no other means without miracle for the propagation of man-kinde Anno Regis Hen. 8. 82. But when men began to be multiplied on the earth Anno Dom. 1530 that necessity being removed the light of Nature dictated unto them the unlawfulness of such marriages and of some others more remote as coming within the compss of Incest though the corrupt practises of Pagans sometimes trespassed in that kinde God therefore being to give his Law to the Jews cleared and declared that light of Nature by his positive Law unto his people to whom his Goodness gave a Garden and sorbad a Tree so inconsiderable were those few prohibited to the many persons permitted them in marriage For whereas there came out of a Exâ—d 12. 37. Egypt and six hundred thousand men besides children fifty persons at the most counting those forbidden as well by consequence as expresly were interdicted unto them amongst whom one was the Marriage with a Brothers Wife For although God Permitted this by a judicial Law ro his own people in case of b Deut. â—5 5. raising up seed to a Brother deceased childless the Will of God being the Law of Laws yet otherwise it was utterly unlawful as whereon God had stamped as is aforesaid a double Note of natural uncleanness 14. The Law then of forbidding marriage with a Brothers Wife Gods Laws indispensable with by the Pope being founded in nature it was pride and presumption in the Pope to pretend to dispense therewith Indeed we read that the dispensation of the Gospel to see it dealt and distributed to several persons was committed to c 1 Cor. 9. â—â— S t Paul whose joynt successour with S t Peter the Pope pretends to be but a Dispensation from the Law of God to free men from the same neither Paul nor Peter ever pretended unto Let the Pope make relaxations of such Church Canons which meerly Ecclesiastical Authority hath made there he may have the specious power to remit the rigour thereof at some times places and persons as he apprehendeth just occasion But let him not meddle to grant liberty for the breach of Gods Law The first Dispensation in this kinde is what Satan in the Serpent gave our first Parents in Paradice d Gen. 3. 4. you shall not surely dye and whether the Granter had less power therein or the receivers less profit therby we their woful posterity have little comfort to decide 15. Nor doth it any thing alter the case Carnal knowled not material in this controversie what was so much controverted in the Court of Rome whether or no Prince Arthur had carnal knowledge of his Wife seeing we may observe that in the Court of Heaven Marriages bear date not from their Copulation but solemn Contact And they thenceforward are esteemed Man and Wife before God For it is e Deut. 22. 24. provided that if a Damsel be betrothed to Husband still remaining a Virgin and shall be layen with by another man both of
rarity thereof and because containing many passages which may reflect much light upon our Church-History IN the name of God Testamentum Regis HENRICI octavi and of the glorious and blessed Virgin our Lady S. Mary and of all the holy company of Heaven We HENRY by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in earth immediately under God the supreme Head of the Church of England and also Ireland of that name the eight calling to Our remembrance the great gifts and benefits of Almighty God given unto Us in this transitory life give unto him Our most lowly and humble thanks acknowledging Our selves insufficient in any part to deserve or recompense the same But fear that we have not worthily received the same and considering further also that We be as all mankinde are mortal and born in sinne believing neverthelesse and hoping Ann. Dom. 1546. that every Christian creature living here in this transitory and wretched world under God dying in stedfast and perfect faith endevouring and exercising himself to execute in his life-time Ann. Regis Hē 8. 38. if he have leisure such good deeds and charitable works as Scripture commandeth and as may be to the honour aud pleasure of God is ordained by Christs passion to be saved and attain Eternal life Of which number We verily trust by his grace to be one And that every creature the more high that he is in estate honour and authority in this world the more he is bound to love serve and thank God and the more diligently to endevour himself to doe good and charitable works to the laud honour and praise of Almighty God and the profit of his soule We also calling to remembrance the dignity estate honour rule and governance that Almighty God hath called Us unto in this world and that neither We nor any other creature-mortal knoweth the time place when nor where it shall please Almighty God to call him out of this transitory world willing therefore and minding with Gods grace before our passage out of the same to dispose and order Our later minde Will and Testament in that sort as We trust it shall be acceptable unto Almighty God our onely Saviour Jesus Christ and all the holy Company of Heaven and the due satisfaction of all godly brethren in earth have now being of whole and perfect minde adhering wholly to the right faith of Christ and his doctrine repenting also Our old and detestable life and being in perfect will and minde by his grace never to return to the same nor such like And minding by Gods grace never to vary therefro as long as any remembrance breath or inward knowledge doth or may remain within this mortall body most humbly and heartily doe commend and bequeath Our soule to Almighty God who in Person of the Son redeemed the same with his most pretious body and blood in time of his passion And for Our better remembrance thereof hath left here with us Us in his Church militant the consecration and administration of his pretious body and blood to Out no little consolation and comfort if We as thankfully accept the same as he lovingly and undeservedly on mans behalf hath ordained it for our onely benefit and not his Also we doe instantly require and desire the blessed Virgin Mary his mother with all the holy Company of Heaven continually to pray for Us whiles We live in this world and in the time of passing out of the same that We may the sooner attain Everlasting life after Our departure out of this transitory life which We doe both hope and claime by Christs passion And for my body which when the soul is departed shall then remain but as a cadaver and so return to the vile matter it was made of were it not for the crown and dignity which God hath called Us unto and that We would not be counted an Infringer of honest worldly policies and customes when they be not contrary to Gods laws We would be content to have it buried in any place accustomed for Christian folks were it never so vile it is but ashes and to ashes it shall return Neverthelesse because We would be loath in the reputation of the people to doe injury to the Dignity which We are unworthily called unto We are content and also by these presents Our last Will and Testament to will and order That Our body be buried and entered in the Quier of Our Colledge of Widsor middle-way between the Stalls and the high Altar and there to be made and set as soon as conveniently may be done after Our decease by Our Executors at Our costs and charges if it be not done by Us in Our life-time an honourable Tomb for Our bones to rest in which is well onward and almost made therefore already with a faire grate about it in which We will also that the bones and body of Our true and loving Wife Queen Jane be put also And that there be provided ordained and set at the costs and charges of Us or of our Executors if it be not done in Our life-time a convenient Altar honourably prepared and apparelled with all manner of things requisite and necessary for daily Masses there to be said perpetually while the world shall endure Also We will that the Tombs and Altars of King Henry the sixth and also of King Edward the fourth Our great Unkle and Grandfather be made more Princely in the same place where they now be at Our charge And also will and specially desire and require that where and whensoever it shall please God to call Us out of this transitory world to his infinite mercy grace be it beyond the sea or in any other place without Our Realm of England or within the same that Our Executors as soon as they convniently may shall cause all Divine Service accustomed for dead folks to be celebrated for Us in the next and most proper place where it shall fortune Us to depart out of this transitory life And ever that We will that whensoever and wheresoever it shall please God to call Us out of this transitory life to his infinite mercy and grace be it within the Realm or without that Our Executors in as goodly brief and convenient haste as they reasonably can or may order prepare and cause Our body to be removed conveyed and brought into the said Colledge of Windesor and the Service of Placebo and Dirige with a Sermon and Masse on the morrow at Our costs and charges devoutly to be done observed and solemnly kept there to be buried and interred in the place appointed for Our said Tomb to be made for the same intent and all this to be done in as devout-wise as can or may be And We will and charge Our Executors that they dispose and give almesto the most poor and needly people that may be found common beggars as much as may be avoided in as short
flattery Little beloved of her subjects to whom though once she remitted an intire Subsidie yet it little moved their affections because though liberall in this Act she had been unjust in another her Breach of promise to the gentry of Norfolke and Suffolk However she had been a worthy Princesse had as little Cruelty been done under her as was done by her Her Devotion alwayes commanded her Profit and often times did fill the Church with the emptying of her own Exchequer 54. Take one instance of many Her and her Ladies Bounty to the Hospitals of the Savoy The Hospitall of the Savoy in the Strand founded by her grandfather King Henry the seventh and since Dissolved was by her Erected again And whereas the Utensells thereof had lately been Embezelled the house being left as bare as the poore people which were brought therein her maids of Honour out of their own Wardrope furnished it with * Stow in his survey of London pag. 491. Beds Blankets and Sheets Were any of those Ladies still alive I would pray for them in the language of the * Psal 41. 3. Psalmist The Lord make all their bed in their sicknesse And he is a good Bed-maker indeed who can and will make it fit the person and please the patient But seeing such long since are all deceased it will be no Superstition to praise God for their piety and Commend their practise to the imitation of Posterity 55. Her Body was enterred in the Chappell of King Henry the seventh The place of her Burial In the Isle on the North-side thereof and afterwards the Corps of her sister Queen Elizabeth were buried in the same Vault Over Both King James afterwards erected a most sumptuous monument though the Epitaph inscribed thereon taketh noe notice at all of Queen Mary as destined and designed soly to the memory of Queen Elizabeth But Maryes name still surviveth in many Roman Catholick families being though never mother her self Godmother to many of her Servants Sons giving her own Anthony Maria Edward Maria c. as an addition to their Christian names 56. Many great persons Q. Eliz. 1. chiefly of the Clergy followed her into another world God paveth the way for Q. Elizabeths coming to the crown a communis quaedam lues ex ardore febrium per universos Angliae ordines â—ermeabat in illis maxime divites honorantes personas de populabatur Haddon contra Osorium fol. 25. whether out of a politick Sympathic that being raised by her they would fall with her or that fore seeing alteration of religion and their own ruine they died to prevent death heart-broken with sorrow Besides at this time there was a strange mortality different from other infections not sweeping but choosing which did principally single out men of wealth and quality Whil'st such as make uncharitable applications parallel this to the plague of the Israelites b Psal 71. 32. which slew the wealthest of them we will onely conceive that God intending to plant in Queen Elizabeth first cleared the ground by removing such as probably would oppose her Neither was it a small advantage unto her that the Parliament sat at her sisters death after which they onely continued so long as joyntly and publiquely to proclaim Elizabeth Queen Nov. 18. and then they were c Holinshed pag. 1170. dissolved Now though her Title was free from doubt yet it it was not so clear from cavils but that one considering the power of the English Papists at this time and their activity at all times will conclude they might have though not hurt troubled and though not hindred disturb'd her succession Whereas now being so solemnly proclaimed it gave much countenance and some strength to her right being done by the whole State in so weighty a manner that it crush't in pieces all hopes of private oppositions Thus those whom God will have to rise shall never want hands to lift them up THE Church-History OF BRITAINE THE NINTH BOOK Containing the Raign of QUEEN ELIZABETH SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO To the Honourable GEORGE BERKLEY Sole Son to the Right Honorable GEORGE Baron of BERKLEY I have ever dissented from their opion who maintain that the world in was created a levell Champian Mountains being only the product of NOAHS flood where the violence of the waters aggested the earth goared out of the hollow valleys For we reade how in that deluge * Gen. 7. 20. the mountains were not then as upstarts first caused but as old standards newly covered As much do I differ from their false position who affirme that all being equall in the loynes of Adam and wombe of Eve honour was onely the effect of humane ambition in such whose pride or power advanced themselves above others Whereas it was adequate to the creation as originally fixed in Eldership or Primogeniture and afterwards by Divine providence the sole fountain thereof confer'd on others Either out of love by nothing lesse than his express Commission for their good or hatred by somewhat more than his bare Permission for their ruine The three Sons of David serve us for the threfold division of honour 1. Absolon said * 2. Sam. 15. 4. O that I were made Judge in the land 2. Adoniah exalted himself saying * 1 King 1. 5. I will be King 3. Solomon said nothing But * 1 King 1. 17. David said and God confirmed his words Assuredly he shall reign after me The first sought by secret ambition to surprise his fathers subjects The second went a mere bold and blunt way to work by open usurpation but both finally miscaried The Third reached not at all at Honor but only happily held what was put into his hands But when outward Greatnesse as in the last instance is attended with inward Grace all Christian beholders thereof are indebted to a double tribute of respect to that person whose Honour is martialled according to the * Rom. 2. 12. Apostolicall equipage BUT GLORY HONOUR AND PEACE See how it standeth like a Shield in the middle with GLORY and PEACE as supporters on each side And this is that Honor the zealous pursute whereof I humbly recommend unto you Nor will you be offended at this my counsel as If it imported a suspition of your present practise who know well what St. paul * 1 Thes 5. 1â— saith Edifie one another EVEN AS YE DOE It is no tautologie to advise good people to do what they do Such precepts are prayses such counsels commendations And in this notion do I tender my humble advice to your consideration Remember the modesty of * Psal 27. 4. David in asking One thing have I desired of the Lord Viz. to be constantly present at his publique service And behold the bounty of * 1 Cor. 29. 28 God in giving three for one And he died in a good old age full of dayes riches and honor Such measure may you
Though his death much affected his friends in Oxford The death of Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury Mar. 2. yet farre greater the grief of that University for the decease of Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury who died this year One of the honours not onely of that See but of the Church of England born at Guilford in Surrey of religious Parents as persevering in the Truth though g Abel Redivivus pag. 540. persecuted for the same in the Reign of Queen MARY Whose two younger Brothers George and Maurice the one came to be Archbishop of Canterbury the other was Lord Mayor of London and the first Knight of King CHARLES his dubbing This good Bishop his deserts without any other Friend or Spokesman preferred him to all his Promotions For Upon his Oration made on Queen ELIZABETH her Inauguration he was chosen Scholar and afterwards Fellow and Master of Baliol-Colledge Upon a Sermon preached At Worcester he was made Lecturer of that City At Paul's Crosse Master John Stanhoppe preferr'd him to the rich Benefice of Bingham in Nottingham-shire Before King JAMES he was nominated Successour to Doctor Holland in the Kings-Professour his place in Oxford Upon the same of his incomparable Lectures de potestate Regiâ and other labours he was made Bishop of Salisbury In conferring which Place the KING conquered all opposition which some envious persons raised against him witnesse His MAJESTIES pleasant speech Abbot I have had much to doe to makeâ— thee a Bishop but I know no reason for it unless it were because thou hast written a Booke against a Popish Preâ—â—â—e meaning William Bishop entituled by the Pope the Nominall Bishop of the Aâ—reall Diocesse of Calcedon which enraged the Courâ— Papists against him to obstruct his preferment The hour-glass of his life saith my h Dr. Fealty in the Life 〈◊〉 Bp. Abbor p. 549. Authour ran out the sooner for having the sand or gravel thereof stopt so great his grief of the stone though even whilst his body was on the rack his soule found ease in the assurance of salvation 54. About this time The Imp. stuâ—e of the Boy of Bilâ—on a Boy dwelling at Bilson in Stafford-shire William Perry by name not full fifteen years in age but above forty in cunning was practised on by some Jesuits repairing to the house of Mr. Gifford in that County to dissemble himself Possessed This was done on designe that the Priests might have the credit to cast out that Devil which never was in so to grace their Religion with the reputation of a Miracle 55. But now the best of the jest or rather the worst of the earnest Found ouâ— by Bishop Moâ—cton was the Boy having gotten a habit of counterfeiting leading a lazie life thereby to his own ease and Parents profit to whom he was more worth than the best Plough-land in the shire would not be undeviled by all their Exorcisms so that the Priests raised up a spirit which they could not allay At last by the industry of Dr. Moreton Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield the jugling was laid open to the world by the Boyes own confession and repentance who being bound an Apprentice at the Bishops cost verified the Proverb That an untoward Boy may make a good Man 56. Indeed all this KING's Reign was scattered over with Cheaters in this kinde Cheaters of several kindes Some Papists some Sectaries some neither as who dissembled such possession either out of malice to be revenged on those whom they accused of Witchcraft or covetousnesse to enrich themselves seeing such who out of charity or curiosity repaired unto them were bountifull in their relief But take a few of many Papists No Papists i See Bp. Harsnet his Book on this subject pag. 81. Sarah Williams lying past all sense in a Trance had a Devil say the Roma nists slipt up into her leg k John Gâ—â—'s Foot out of the snare pag. 53. Grace Sourebuts of Salmisbury in the County of Lancaster was perswaded by Southworth a Priest to dissemble possession to gain himself credit by Exorcising her l Idem pag. 54. Mary and Amie two Maids of Westminster pretended themselves in raptures from the Virgin Mary and Michael the Arch-Angel m Idem p. 55. Edward Hance a Popish Priest born at Lutterworth in Leicester-shire gave it out that he was possessed of the Blessed Trinity Rich Haydok Fellow of New-Colledge in Oxford preached in his dreams Latine Sermons against the Hierarchie He afterwards recanted lived in good esteem to a great age in Salisbury practising Physick being also an excellent Poet Limner and Ingraver Anne Gunter a Maid of Windsor gave it out she was possessed of a Devil was transported with strange Extaticall Phrensies A Maid at Standon in Hartfordshire which personated a Demoniack so lively that many judicious persons were deceived by her See we this Catalogue consists most of the weaker sex either because Satan would plant his Battery where easiest to make a Breach or because he found such most advantaged for dissembling and his Cloven-foot best concealed under Long coats Indeed some Feminine weaknesses made them more strong to delude the ruines of the Disease of the Mother being the best Foundation to build such Impostourie thereon 57. K. James remembring what Solomon n Prov. 25. 2. King James his dexterity in detecting them Ann. Dom. 1618. Ann. Regis Jac. 16 saith It is the honour of a King to search out a matter was no lesse dexterous than desirous to make discovery of these Deceits Various were His waies in detecting them awing some into confession with His presence perswading others by promise of pardon and fair usage He ordered it so that a Proper Courtier made love to one of these be witched Maids and quickly Cupid his Arrows drave out the pretended Darts of the Devil Another there was the Tides of whose Possession did so Ebbe and Flow that punctually they observed one hour till the KING came to visit her The Maid loath to be so unmannerly as to make His MAJESTY attend her time antedated her Fits many houres and instantly ran through the whole Zodiack of tricks which she used to play A third strangely-affected when the first verse of S. John's Gospel was read unto her in our Translation was tame and quiet whilst the same was pronounced in Greek her English Devil belike understanding no other language The frequency of such forged Possessions wrought such an alteration upon the judgement of King JAMES that he receding from what he had written in his Demonologie grew first diffident of and then flatly to deny the workings of Witches and Devils as but Falshoods and Delusions 58. K. James having last year in His progress passed through Lancashire The Kings Declaration for liberty on the Lords day May 24. took notice That by the preciseness of some Magistrates and Ministers in severall places of this Kingdome in hindring people from
W. Prynne in Canterbury's Doom pag. 121 sequentiâ—us superabundant ceremonies thereof To which I can say little but this I dare affirm that wheresoever he was a Parson a Dean or a Bishop he never troubled Parish Colledge or Diocess with pressing other ceremonies upon them then such which he found used there before his coming thither And it had not been amiss if such who would be accounted his friends and admirers had followed him in the footsteps of his moderation content with the enjoying without the injoyning their private practises and opinions on others 49. As for such who causlesly have charged his Sermons as affected Causlesly charged with affectation in his Sermons and c Mr. Bayley in his Ladeâ—sium Autocatacriton surcharged with verball allusions when they themselves have set forth the like it will then be time enough to make this Bishops first defence against their calumniations Nor is it a wonder that the Mâ—sters Pen was so in his writings whose very Servant a Lay man was so successefull in the same I mean Mr. Henry Isackson lately gone to God the industrious Author of the usefull Chronologie 50. It is pitie to part this Patron from his Chaplain Nicholas Fuller his Chaplain that profitable Critick Nicholas Fuller born as I take it in Hampshire bred in Oxford where he was Tutor to Sir Henry Walhop who afterwards preferred him to the small Parsonage of Aldingeton in Wiltshire And Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury made him Canon of that Church Afterwards a Living of great value was sent by Bishop Andrews the Patron d See Bishop And his funeral Sermon thereof on the welcom errand to finde out Mr. Fuller to accept the same who was hardly contented to be surprised with a presentation thereunto such his love to his former smal Living and retired life He was the Prince of all our English Criticks And whereas men of that tribe are generally morose so that they cannot dissent from another without disdaining nor oppose without inveighing against him it is hard to say whether more candor learning or judgement was blended in his Miscellanies By discovering how much Hebrew there is in the New-Testament-Greek he cleereth many reall difficulties from his verball observations 51. A Commission was granted unto five Bishops whereof Bishop Laud of the Quorum to suspend Archbishop Abbot from exercising his Authority any longer 3 1627 Severe proceedings against Archbishop Abbot suspended from his Jurisdiction because uncanonicall for casuall Homicide the proceeding against him being generally condemned as over-rigid and severe 1. The Act was committed seven years since in the reign of King James 2. On a Commission then appointed for that purpose he was cleered from all Irregularity by Bishop Andrews in Divinity Sir Ed. Coke in Common and Sir Henr. Martin in Canon Law 3. It would be of dangerous consequence to condemn him by the Canons of forain Councels which never were allowed any Legislative Power in this Land 4. The Archbishop had manifested much remorse and self-affliction for this rather sad than sinful act 5. God may be presumed to have forgotten so much as there was of fault in the fact and why then should man remember it 6. Ever since he had executed his Jurisdiction without any interruption 7. The Archbishop had both feet in the Grave Anno Dom. 1627 Anno Regis Car. 1. 3 and all his whole Body likely soon after to follow them 8. Such heighsning of Casual-Homicide did â—avour of Intentional malice The truth is the Archbishops own stiffness and aversness to comply with the Court-Designes advantaged his Adversaries against him and made him the more obnoxious to the Kings displeasure But the blame did most light on Bishop Laud men accounting this a kinde of Filius ante diem c. As if not content to succeed he indeavored to supplant him who might well have suffered his decayed old age to have died in honor What needs the felling of the tree a falling 52. However a double good accrued hereby to the Archbishop Two good effects of a bad cause First he became the more beloved of Men the Countrey hath constantly a blessing for those for whom the Court hath a curse And secondly he may charitably be presumed to love God the more whose service he did the better attend being freed from the drudgery of the World as that soul which hath the least of Martha hath the most of Mary therein 53. And although this Archbishop survived some years after The character of Archbishop Abbot yet it will be seasonable here for us to take a fair farewell of his memorie seeing henceforward he was buried to the World He was bred in Oxford Master of University Colledge an excellent Preacher as appears by his Lectures on Jonah Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar with whom he was once solemnly sent by King James into Scotland to preach there and afterwards by his means promoted to the Arch-bishop-rick of Canterbury haply according to his own but sure I am above if not against the expectations of others A grave man in his conversavion and unblameable in his life 54. Indeed it is charged on him that non amavit Gentem nostram Accounted no great friend to the Clergy he loved not our Nation forsaking the Birds of his own feather to flie with others and generally favoring the Laity above the Clergie in all cases brought before him But this he endeavored to excuse to a private friend by protesting he was himself so severe to the Clergie on purpose to rescue them from the severity of others and to prevent the punishment of them from Lay Judges to their greater shame 55. I also reade in a nameless e In answer to the Pamphlet intituled The Court and Character of King James page 132. Author Accused for the fautor of male-contents that towards his death he was not onely discontented himself but his house was the randezvouz of all male-contents in Church and State making mid-night of noon-day by constant keeping of candles light in his Chamber and Study as also such visitants as repaired unto him called themselves Nicodemits because of their secret addresses But a credible f Dr. Barnard his Houshold Chaplain person and one of his neerest relations knew nothing thereof which with me much shaketh the probability of the report And thus we leave this Archbishop and the rest of his praises to be reported by the poor people of Gilford in Surrey where he founded and indowed a fair Almes-house in the Town of his Nativity 56. The Kings Treasury now began to grow low A Toleration blasted in Ireland and his expenses to mount high No wonder then if the Statesmen were much troubled to make up the distance betwixt his Exchequer and his Occasions Amongst other designes the Papists in Ireland taking advantage of the Kings wants proffered to pay constantly 5000 Men if they might but enjoy a
Wares and Weights at Sturbridge Fair. Thirdly That no Action be brought by any Townsman against Scholar or Scholars Servant save onely in the Court of the Chancellour Fourthly That the University have power to punish and amerce all Fore-stallers Regrators c. paying a Rent of ten pounds a year for that Priviledge into the Exchequer This their Power extending to the Town and Suburbs thereof from which Clause of Suburbs the Lord b Vide ut supra Coke collects and concludes Cambridge then to be a City in Reputation 45. We must not forget that at the same time Focalia Focalia prized by the Chancellour that is all kind of Fewell Wood Coales Turf c. was then subjected to the Chancellour as to set the Price thereof Seeing the Townsmen had so little Wit and Honesty as to make Fewell of Kings Charters hereafter they should meddle no more with Materialls for Fire Thus ill Manners occasion good Laws as the Handsome Children of Ugly Parents Iohn Nekton Chancellour 1384 46. The University now began to grow sensible of a great Grievance 8 caused by the Minors or Franciscan Friars An Order that no Scholar is to be admitted under 18 yeares of Age. For they surprized many when Children into their Order before they could well distinguish betwixt a Cap and a Coule whose time in the University ran on from their Admission therein and so they became Masters of Arts before they were Masters of themselves These Vniversity-Boyes for Men they were not wanting Wit to manage their Degrees insolently domineered over such who were their Iuniors yet their Elders To prevent future Inconveniences in this kind the Chancellour and University made an Order that hereafter none should be admitted Gremialls under eighteen years of Age. 47. The Minors or Franciscans were much netled hereat Anno Regis Rich. 2. 8 who traded much in such tender Youth Anno Dom. 1384 Minors and Children agree well together The Franciscans oppose this Order and a Pitz de Script Ang. in An. 1384. William Folvil a Franciscan wrote an Invective against the Act of the University as injurious to the Priviledges of this Order it being against Monasticall Liberty to be stinted to any Age for the Entrance therein 48. I find not what was the Issue of this Contest The Issue uncertain but believe that the University never retracted their Order though it stands not in Force this day wherein many of yonger Age are daily admitted And seeing mans Life is now shortened it is but reason that what we want of our Ancestours in long Running we should supply in soon Starting Let the Water-men of London whose violent Work requires robustious Bodies make an Order in their Hall that none under the Age of eighteen should be bound Apprentice in their Company Ability is more to be respected then Age in the Sonnes of the Muses in whom often Eruditio supplet Aetatem Nor is there to my knowledge any Prohibition in this kinde observed save that they fright Scholars of a low Stature with a jocularie Tradition That none are to commence which are not higher then the Bedles Staff 49. A great Schisme hapned this year in the Regent-house about the Choice of a new Chancellour I find not who carried the Place and therefore probably the old one still continued Thomas de Hetherset 10 Chancellour Richard Maycent 1386 Proctour 50. Pope Urbane the sixth gave licence to Beneficed men to be Non-residents for five years and follow their Studies in the University if allowed by the Chancellour for the same William Colvil 12 Chancellour 1388 Iohn Wace Rich. Baston Proctours 51. A Parliament was called at Cambridge A Parliament kept at Cambridge a Place at this time very convenient for that purpose For he that will hinder the Hide from rising up on either side must fix his Foot on the Middle thereof Cambridge was well nigh the Centre of those Eastern Counties lately mutinous with Popular Commotions The King for his Privacy was pleased to prefer Barnwell Priory for the place of his Repose though otherwise Kings-Hall founded by his Grandfather was prepared for his Entertainment where all things were so conveniently contrived that the Courtiers had all Lodgings and Offices by themselves without meeting with the Scholars save onely in the passage towards the Kitchin William Courtney Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Edmond Langly Earle of Cambridge lodged in the Convents of the Carmelites being of the largest Receit of any Religious House in Cambridge A sad Accident happened as the King rode in State to the House One S r. Thomas Trivet attended his Majestie which Knight being mounted on an unruly Horse was cast off brake his Entrails and died the next day 52. By the way Canterbury misprinted for Cambridge in the Statute-book me thinks Cambridge might bring an Action of Trespasse against all our printed Statute-books for depriving her of the Honour of this Parliament and rendering the place Canterbury in stead of Cambridge in the Preface to the Acts thereof This Inconvenience cometh from contracting long words in writing when there be two Names whose Faces as I may say I mean their Beginnings are the same and whose lower parts though much differing being cut off with a Dash causeth a Confusion betwixt them And although by the Tower Rolls and other excellent b Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton in their lives of Richard the second The excellent statutes of Cambridge Parliament Authours this Parliament appeareth kept at Cambridge not Canterbury yet as if Prescription turned Usurpation into lawfull Possession the Lawyers will not amend this Mistake The best is it matters not where good Statutes be made so they be made the Place being not essentiall unto them 53. Many and good were the Laws enacted in this Parliament besides the Confirmation of those made in the Reign of King Edward the third Anno Dom. 1388 viz. Anno Regis Richardi 2. 12 That the manly and Martiall Exercise of Archery should be generally used Secondly a Statute was made against the multitude of Servants great Lords keeping then little Armies in their Families which soon after occasioned the Wars betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster And whereas it was the generall Complaint that men were grown so vain and expensive in their Cloaths that Servants were not to be known from their Masters the Clergy from the Laiety something was ordered for the Regulating of Apparell the Wages of Labourers and removing the Staple 54. We must not forget that in this Parliament a Statute was made also against Wanderers Against wandring Scholars and particularly against Scholars of both the Universities that they should not go about without Licence from the Chancellour Indeed I have ever beheld begging Scholars as the most improper Object of Charity who must be vicious or else cannot be necessitous to a Mendicant condition But since I have revoked my
a J. Scot his â—ables Author hath affirmed But finding no such place in that b See Speeds maps in the Catalogues of both Countâ—â— County a Wakerly nigh Stanford in Northamptonshire blame me not if willing to restore my native shire to its right and the honor of his nativity This Richard being the last foundation-Fellow and third Provost of Kings-Colledge purchased four Tenements in Millstreet over against the late Carmelites then newly Queens-Colledge and founded an Hall thereon for one Master and three Fellowes dedicating it to St. Katherine the Virgin and Martyr since augmented by the bounty of others 41. This may be termed Aula Bella Properly a prety Hall if not a proper a pretty Hall even by the confession of the Poet so critical in the word Sed qui bellus homo Cotta c Martial lib. 1. Epigra 10 pusillus homo What thing is in it self but small d in his list of Edward the fift folio 62. That Cotta we doe pretty call And the beholding of this House mindeth me of what Sir Thomas More wrteth of a She favourite of King Edward the fourth as to this particular conformity betwixt them otherwise far be it from me to resemble this Virgin Hall to a wanton Woman namely that there was nothing in her Body one could have changed except one would have wished her somewhat higher Lowness of endowment and littlensse of Receit is all can be cavilled at in this foundation otherwise proportionably most compleat in chappell cloisters library Hal c. Indeed this House was long Town-bound which hindered the growth thereof til Dr. Goslin that good Physitian cured it of that disease by giving the Bull-Inn thereunto so that since it hath flourished with buildings and Students lately more numerous than in greater Colledges Masters Benefactors Bishops Learn Writers Col. Livings 1 Robert Roch. 2 John Tarton 3 John Wardoll 4 Rich. Barleston 5 Thomas Green 6 Rain Bainbrig 7 Edwin Sands 8 Edm. Cosin 9 John May. 10 Edm. Hound 11 John Overal 12 John Hills 13 Richard Sibs 14 Ralph Brounrig 15 Willam Spurstow 16 John Lightfoot 1 Isabel Canterbury Sister to the founder 2 William Tayler 3 Katherine Mils 4 Robert Simpton 5 Hugh PembertoÌ„ 6 John Chester 7 Thomas Green 8 The Lady Elizabeth Bernardiston 9 John Leach 10 Rich. Nealson 11 Rob. Shorton 12 D. Thimblebie 13 Dr. Middleton 14 Hugh Garret 15 Rosamond Paster 16 John Colmlex 17. John Duke 18 John Claypoole 19 John Gostlin Knight 20 Thomas Buck. Esquire Bedle. 21 Mr. Christopher Shirland 22 Mrs. Stafford 23 Mr. Tho. Hobbs 24 Mr. Peter Phesant 25 Lady Cocket 26 Mrs. Jurdain 27 Ann. Lady Bernardiston 28 William Gouge 39 Mr. Coulson 30 Mr. Skirne Esquire 31 Mr. Alured 32 Mr. Cradock 33 The worthy company of Mercers of the City of London Edwin Sands Master Archbishop of York John May Mr. Bishop of Carlile John Overal Mr. Bishop of Norwich Ralp Brounrig Mr. Bishop of Exeter Edwin Sands Archbishop of York Richard Sibs a most Pious and profound Divine Thomas Godwin Fellow an eminent Preacher John Lightfoot an excellent Linguist Coaton Rect. in the Diocess of Ely valued at 6l 12s 9d 0b So that lately in this were maintained one Master six Fellowes with all the Students above an hundred Joannes Boynton Can. Thomas Rotheram Can. Thomas Northwood Can. Richardus Badew Can. Tho. Cosine Can. Joannes Blithe The foundation of Jesus Colledge Can. Robertus Fitz-hugh Can. Richard Freyer 1476 17 Ro. Woodroof Proct. Thomas Swayne 1477 18 Gerard Borell Proct. Guil. Stockdale 1478 19 John Laycroft Proct. Robert Wellby 1479 20 Robert Luther Proct. Guil. Tompson 1480 21 Roger Bower Proct. Phil 1481 22 Morgan Thomas Hole Proct. Jo. Green 1482 Edv. 5. Rich. 3. and James Grave Proct. Jo. Smith 1483 2 and Ro. Hacumblen Proct. John Butler 1484 3 and Gilb. Geuge Proct. John Butler and Gilb. Urmsen 1485 Hen. 7. Proct. Gilb. Fitz-John 1486 2 Hen. Babington Proct. Tho. Waters 1487 3 and Guil. Birly Proct. Richard Walle 1488 4 and John Basset Proct. Tho. Medcalfe 1489 5 Roger Layburne Proct. Gual Bedman 1490 6 John Wolfe Proct. Ric. Burton 1491 7 and John Wolfe Proct. John Sickling 1492 8 and John Walle Proct. Jo. Lound 1493 9 and Ric. Huddleston Proct. Ric. Bramton 1494 10 and John Robinson Proct. John Fisher 1495 11 and Thomas Cooke Proct. Jac. Denton 1496 12 and Tho. Gogney Proct. 42. This year a new Colledge was made in Cambridge of an old Nunâ—ery sounded some three hundred years agoe Viz. anno 1133. by Malcolme of the Scots Royall-race Earle of Cambridge and Huntington and dedicated to St. Radegund This Radegund daughter to Berthram Prince of Thuringia was wife to Lotharius King of France Son to Clodoveus the great the first Christian King of that country whose sequestring herself from her husbands company about the year 560 liv'd The incontinence of Saint Radegunds Nuns and died in a small Monasterie in Poicton thereby gaining the reputation of a Saint 43. But it seems the Sisters living in Cambridge Nunnery consecrated to her honor fell as far short in chastity as she over-did therein Indeed one of them left a good memory Anno Regis Henr. 7. 12 Anno Dom. 1443 or at least hath a good Epitaph inscribed on her monument in the Chappell Moribus ornatae jacet hîc bona Berta Rosata But the rest were not so sweet and fragrant in their reputes squandring away the wealth and ornaments of their house which was no wonder for those to doe which were prodigals of their own persons Not able therefore to go away from their shame they went away with their shame and quitting their covent concealed themselves privately in their own countrey Tradition e Godwin in his catalogue of Bishops of Ely in the life John Alcock saith that of the two remaining one was with child the other but a child so that their land seemed lapsed for want of owners or rather for the owners want of honesty 44. John Maiors testimony here of But let us heare what John Maior f De gestis Scotoâ—um fol. 9. the blunt Scotch Historian saith hereof living in Cambridge some years after whilest those matters were yet fresh in most mens memories Quoddam mulierum coenobium in collegium Jesu converterunt consilio eruditissimi pariter et optimi Viri Stubis doctoris Theologi Nolebant mulieres illae includi sed scholasticorum consortium admiserunt Unde graves viros scandalizarunt quocirca eis ejectis allis Coenobiis imposit is earum loco studentes inopes positi sunt quatenus literis virtutibus incumberent folium darent in tempore suo Hanc mulierum ejectionem approbo Si enim proreligione