take the rest in Order onely premising this that t is true indeed we find fewer of this See upon the Civil Stage than any other most Offices being lookt upon as below the Archiepiscopal Dignity and therefore a Nobleman upbraided Hurbert Arch Bishop 1199. when he was made Chancellour of England Chief Justice of England and high Governour of all the Dominions under King Richard the first however we shall begin with his Person and See Canterbury Hubert under Richard 1. and King John who intrusted the same Prelate with the Government of the whole Realm at his departure into Normandy Gualter Reynolds Chancellour Ann. Dom. 1310. John Stratford Chancellour under Edw. 3. And when the King Invaded France no Person thought so fit in his absence to have the Government of the Nation entrusted to him Simon Islip of the Privy Counsel to the Edw. 3. John Stafford to Hen. 5. John Morton to Hen. 6. and Edw. 4. But we need not stand upon this when in truth it hath been seldom known that any of them have been at any time omitted Nor was this proper only to the times of Propery Come to the Reformation we find Arch Bishop Cranmer of the Privy Counsel to Hen. 8. and Edw. 6. and very active in Civil matters yet a man so averse to Rome so instrumental in planting the Gospel so Laborious so Holy that a great Apocalyptical man Mr. Brightman in his Commentaries oa the Apocalypse a man no friend to the Hierarchy takes him to be that Angel pointed at by God Rev. 14. that had power over the fire Under the renown'd Queen Elizabeth John Whitgift of the Council and had the Government of the Principality of Wates given to him YORK Waler Gray Chancellour under King John had the Government of the Realm entrusted to him under Hen. 3. William de Melton Successively Treasurer and Chancellour of England 1317. William de Zouche Vicegerent to King Edw. Ann. Dom. 1346. John Kemp Ann. 1425. twice Lord Chancellour And Thomas Young Lord Precident of the North An. Dom. 1561. LONDON There was not long since to be seen in St. Pauls the Monument of William Bishop of London who obtained from the Conqueror the City Charter to which the Lord Major and his Brethren the Aldermen used in a gratefull Commemoration every year to walk on foot He was Privy Counsellor to King William the Conqueror Mauritius Chancellour under the same King Eustachius de Falconbridge one of King Rich. 1. his Justices Chancellour of the Exchequer Treasurer of England and twice Embassadour into France Henry de Wingham Chancellour under Edw. 3. Ralph Boldoc under Edw. 1. Richard Bintworth under Edw. 3. Robert Braybrook under Rich. 2. Richard Cox Dean of Westminster whom I crave leave to name here as belonging to the Diocess of the privy Counsel to Edw. 6. And Bishop Bancroft sent Embassadour to Embden to treat with the King of Denmarks Commissioners Ann. Dom. 1600. DURHAM Geoffrey Rufus Chancellour of England Ann. Dom. 1140. Richardus de Marisco Ann. Dom. 1217. Anthony Beake of the Privy Councel Ann. Dom. 1294. Richard de Bury Cancellarius Ann. Dom. 1334. and Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1336. Thomas Langley Chancellor Ann. Dom. 1406. Thomas Ruthal of the Counsel to Henry 8. and as his Monument at Westminster testifies Secretary to Hen. 7. Richard Neyle of the Privy Council A. D. 1627. And here we cannot omit that known passage of Newbrigensis who brings in K. Richard making himself merry with the Bishop boasting what a feat he had done E Vetusto Episcopo novitium Comitem ego mirus artifex feci To make a New Count of an Old Bishop a Priviledge yet continued to that Ancient See WINCHESTER Swithan Chancellour of England under K. Egbert Ann. Dom. 860. William Giffard Chancellour under the Conqueror William Rufus and K. Henry 1. Peter de la Roch. Lord Chief Justice under K. John Sendall Chancellour 1316. William Edenden Treasucr under Edw. 3. William of Wickam Founder of New Colledge in Oxon Principal Secretary of State Keeper of the Privy Seal Master of the Wards and Treasurer of the Kings Revenues in France Ann. Dom. 1360. William Wainfleet Founder of Magdalen Colledge Oxon for his great Wisdom and Integrity long Lord Chancellor of England under Hen. 6. Richard Fox Founder of C. C. C. Oxon one of the Privy Counsel to Hen. 7. as Prudent a Prince as this Nation hath known and this Bishop as wise a Privy Counsellor as he a Prince continually employed either in matters of Counsel at home or Embassies and Treaties abroad ELY William Longchamp Chancellor Ann. Dom. 1189. after Chief Justice and Protector of the Realm when K. Richard the first undertook his Journey to the Holy Land Eustacius Chancellor Ann. Dom. 1196. John Hotbam Chancellor Ann. Dom. 1317. Simon Laughan And. Dom. 1361. first Treasurer then Chancellor of England John Barnet Treasurer A. D. 1366. John Fordham Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1385. William Gray Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1469. John Alcock Chancellor Ann. Dom. 1486 And Thomas Goodrick Chancellor under Edw. 6. LINCOLN Robert Bleuet Chancellor under the Conqueror Ann. 1092. Alexander under K. Henry the I. Lord Chief Justice of England Galfridus Chancellour A. D. 1180. Hugh de Wells Chancellour Ann. Dom. 1209. Walter de Constantiis Chancellour under Hen. 6. and Dr. Williams Dean of Westminster and after Bishop of this See made Lord Keeper by the Learned K. James COVENTRY and LICHFIELD Roger de Wiseman Keeper of the Great Seal Ann. Dom. 1245. William de Langton Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1226. Roger Northbrough Clerk of the Wardrope afterwards Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1322. Geoffrey Blyth Lord President of Wales Ann. Dom. 1513. Rowland Lee his Successor in the same Office Ann. D. 1535. Richard Sampson in the same Ann. Dom. 1537. William Smith Founder of Brazen-Nose Colledge Oxon in the same under Hen. 8. SARUM Osmond Chancellor of England always of the Privy Council and seldom separated from the Court under the Conqueror Roger Chancellor 1107. and under K. Stephen Ann. Dom. 1136. John Waltham Master of the Rools Keeper of the Privy Seal and after Treasurer of England under Richard the II. Nicolas Bubwith Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1407. William Ayscoth Clerk of the Counsel Ann. Dom. 1438. BATH and WELLS Robert Burnet first Lord Treasurer then Chancellour of England and always of the Council under Edw. I. John Drokensford Keeper of the Wardrope Ann. 1309. Robert Stillington first Keeper of the Privy Seal then Chancellour Ann. Dom. 1465. Oliver King Principal Secretary of State 1492. John Clark Master of the Rolls A. D. 1523. EXETER Leofricus first one of the Privy Counsel then Chancellour of England under the Conqueror though Sir Henry Spelman reckons him of Bath at that time and possibly he might be of both William Brewster of the Privy Counsel under Henry the 3. Walter Stapledon Founder of Exon Colledge Oxon first of the Privy Counsel then Treasurer under Edw. 2. John Grandesson Privy Counsellor to Edw. 3. John Voysey Lord
yet for the publick benefit their constant Preaching was now and then dispenced with to attend on Tables Thirdly They argue from the Canons of the Primitive Church prohibiting Clergy men to judge and intermeddle in Civil Matters or any Causes Secular the Prohibitions of this sort are many and various they may be seen in Balsamon Zonarus Binias c. It would be an infinite task to give particular answers to each Canon and therefore I shall lay down some general Rules which may the better conduce to the understanding of them all which if well applyed will make an abundant solution to that so complicated an Objection And here I cannot but admire the Modesty of the Primitive Church and the Charity of the People the earnestness of Princes in Commissioning of Spiritual Persons to compose all emergent differences and the forwardness of the oppressed in flying to the Tribunals for Justice whereupon the Holy Fathers in process of time to take off their Clergy from those Affairs made sundry and severe Canons in divers Counsels and therefore 1. 'T is clear the great design was to forbid ambitious seeking after and voluntary engageing in Secular matters for Sordid ends and out of Covetous Principles and this may probably be collected because we find a dispensation given when imposed by the supreme Magistrate In the Counsel of Sardis t is granted upon the motion of Osius Si religiosi imparatoris literis vel invitati vel vocati fuerint and undertaken in obedience as causes of Piety and Charity overseeing Widdows and Orphans provided it extended not to the notorious neglect of their Religious Callings And thus Justin Martyr calls the Bishop the great Steward of all the poor Apol. 2. the Contributions of the Faithfull being laid down at his feet and by him distributed And Ignatius Ep. ad Polycarp calls the Bishop the great Trustee of the Widdows 2 'T is not a total prohibition but only a prudent restraint least animosities and jealousies should arise in the Laity by too much encroaching upon their Courts and therefore the wisdom of sundry Counsels confin'd the Clergy to such matters as were properly of Ecclesiastical Cognizance But 3. The ground and reason of these interdictions was not the unfitness and incapacity of spiritual Persons but out of respect to their eminent Callings least they should be disparaged by mean and vile employments and express mention is made of sordid Offices about Princes and Noble men as of Stewards Bailiffs c. But when by the favour of Princes their employments were honourable and their temporary diversions did bring abundant recompence to the Church we find those that had the principal hadn in enacting these Canons themselves engageing Now can it be supposed if this had been the meaning they would have been guilty of so great a contradiction and no future Counsel reprove it St. Cyprian much confirms me in this Opinion l. de Lapsis is perswaded that God sent the great Persecution under Decius onely to awaken the Christians who were growing exceeding corrupt especially the Clergy for he there complains that the Bishops themselves abandoned their holy Functions and dealt in matters of the World haunting Marts and Fairs for filthy lucre sake And much to same purpose we find in Writers of our own Country as Gildas Bede c. But to make peace between quarrelling Nations to compound differences amongst Christians and such like tending to the honour of God and the Glory of the Gospel which may be often practised without detriment to their Spiritual charges I never find these expresly forbidden or such as engaged in them as Cyprian Austin Chrysostom Gregory Bernard c. Condemned for St. Paul became all things to all men to gain a Soul Will not the example bear his Successors out if they go to the utmost verge of their Christian Liberty still keeping on this side sin to preserve Kingdoms the Churches Peace and to prevent the effusion of Christian Blood their absence some days from their private charges will be abundantly recompenced by such happy consequences CHAP. IV. The Ancient Estate of the Clergy and Priests in this and other Kingdoms WE have before intimated that the Prudent Piety of the first Christian Emperours for the better Encouragement of Religion and Learning did confer many and great Priviledges and exemptions upon their Clergy in those Primitive times Come we now to manifest that the Franchise of our Brittish Church were neither short for number or extent and that they a reall confirmed by Magna Charta without restraint the words are we have granted to God and by this our present Charter confirmed and for our Heirs for ever that the Church of England shall be free and have all her whole Rights and Liberties invitolable all the Nation being content to stand accursed if this grant were at any time infringed You may see in Ancient Authors the manner of its Publication viz. The King Prelates and Peers c. came with burning Tapers in their hands throwing them down on the ground and saying so let his light be extinguished in the other World which shall go about to break this Charter and Agreement yea more if any thing should be done against it and contrary to it it was ipso facto declared void 26. Edw. 1. c. 2. And must Magna Charta be violated only when the Clergys Priviledges are invaded Why shall it not stand firm and good for them and on their behalfs as for the Laity Did not the Clergy labour as much as any for the Procurement of it Nay were they not they who procured it from the several and respective Kings Let us desire the Enemies of the Clergy to see their own Cronicles and they shall receive satisfaction Now what the Liberties of the Church were to set them down would ask a Volume the Lord Chief Justice Cooke says expresly they had more and greater than other of the Kings Subjects some few he recites as that they were discharged from Purveyances Tolls Customs Distresses by the Sheriff in the old inheritance of the Church with others of the like nature It might fetch tears from some to look back upon the Piety and Charity of our Saxon Ancestors who in their greatest impositions ever held their Ecclesiasticks excused no part of that insupportable Tax of Danegelt under which the Kingdom so much groaned being ever paid by them Vid. Spelm. Gloss in Danegelt and it may be made appear that till after the Conquest the tenure of their Lands being at that time Frank Almoigne they were ever priviledged For King Ethelwolf in a full Convention of his States at Winchester Ann. Dom. 858. Enacted that Tithes and Church Lands throughout all his Dominions should be free from Civil Burdens and Exactions as much as Royal Tributes great and small Vid. Spelm. Concil ad Annum dictum But dureing our late intestine Wars How unequal were Quarterings and Contributions What heavy Burthens did the poor Clergy bear no
by their Proxies the next authority I shall make use of is a Parliament Roll it self of that year as I find it in Sir Robert Cotton's Collections intituled as followeth Placita Coronae coram Domino Rege in Parliamento suo apud Wegmonast diae Lunae proximae post Festum Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis Anno regni Regis Ric. 2. Post Conquestum 21. The Roll it self you may see in the Tower among the Records there kept It is of an Impeachment of the Earl of Arundel and Warr. c. for Treason c. the Articles were exhibited against him by several Lords as Edward Earl of Rutland Thomas Earl of Kent John Earl of Huntington c. which the said Lords were ready to prove the Crimes objected and demanded the Prisoner to be brought to the Bar which the Lord Nevil then Constable of the Tower did and the aforesaid Lords in their own Persons appeared also His Articles being read the Earl of Lancaster Lord Steward of England by the King's commandment and assent of the Lords declares the whole matter And thereupon the said Earl's answer to the Articles was demanded who pleaded two Pardons and prayeth they may be allowed but they were not whereupon Sir Walter Clopton Lord Chief Justice demands of him what he had farther to say for that if nothing more to say the Law would adjudge him guilty And the said Earl not pleading any thing else the Lords Appellants in their proper persons require that Judgment may be given against the said Earl as Convict of the Treason aforesaid Whereupon the Lord Steward of England by the assent of the King Bishops and Lords adjudged the said Earl Guilty and Convict of all the Articles aforesaid and thereby a Traitor to the King and Realm and that he should be therefore Hanged Drawn and Quartered and forfeit all his Lands in fee c. though the Punishment in regard he was of Noble Blood was changed and he was ordered to be Beheaded which was done by the Lieutenant of the Tower and this is a short account of that Trial for Blood in Parliament Where 't is plain and evident that the Bishops were there present for 't is said that the said Earl was adjudged Guilty and Convict by the assent of the King Bishops and Lords Q. E. D. Next we will produce another Instance and Precedent of the Condemnation of Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury who was accused by the Commons in full Parliament die loco praedictis where we find the Commons by their Speaker Sir John Bussy Petitioning the K. in manner following For that divers Judgments were heretofore undone for that the Clergy were not present the Commons prayed the King that the Clergy would appoint some to be their common Proctor with sufficient authority thereunto Whereupon the Clergy appoint Thomas de la Percy by their Instrument their Proctor who together with the King and the said Lords adjudged him the said Archbishop guilty of Treason and himself a Traitor The Crimes objected to him was his traiterous obtaining a Commission from the King whereby the Kings Royal Power was encroached his Subjects put to death without Royal Assent c. for all which he was found guilty as aforesaid What I observe in brief is this from this Trial. 1. That there had been divers Errors in Judgment which Judgments were in Law void for that the Bishops were not present 2. That hereupon the Commons Petitioned the King that the Bishops would appoint their Proxy and which accordingly they did Thomas de la Percy 3. He was Condemned by the said Court wherein sate Percy accordingly 4. That the said Bishops did not Vote there personally for that the Arch-bishop their Primate was Arraigned and it might not be seemly for them so to do And here we have the Case adjudged Judgments in Parliament Revers'd for that the Bishops were not Present by themselves or Proxys the Commons Petitioning the King that they would make Proxys a Judgment obtained for that the Bishops had made their Proxys Q. E. D. And if any be not satisfied they may see the Roll of Parliament as before among the Records in the Tower to which they are Referred Furthermore to make another discovery of the Inconstancy of the said Mr. Selden I find him in his Titles of Honour in the latter end of his Book Confessing that Thomas Becket Arch-bishop of Canterbury was Condemned by the Bishop of Winchester in Case of High Treason Vid. Titles of Honour And if any person would but a little reflect upon the Reason why the Bishops have not sometimes Voted in Cases of Blood but by their Proxies viz. Their respect they had to the Canons of the Primitive Church which might give them umbrage for their so doing And together with this what hath been said before of their being frequently appointed by the King and acting as Lord Chief Justices of England any person of an ordinary Capacity may guess at the Reason of their forbearing to Judge in Matters of Blood for the Reason aforesaid and their ready and chearfull compliance with their Princes Command when by the Law of this Land they were enabled so to do and which is a sufficient Supersedeas to the former Canon of the Church Another Precedent we have of the Bishops Personally sitting in Parliament held at Westminster on Monday next after the Feast of All Saints in the 3d of Hen. 5. wherein Henry Bishop of Winton was Chancellour wherein was Tryed Richard Earl of Cambridge and others for Treason for having Levyed men against the King and procured Edmund Earl of March as Heir to Rich. 2. to take upon him to be King of England and had Proclaimed him such in Wales and set one Thomas Trompington an Ideot and Scotchman to Personate Rich. 2. where the said Earl and others his adherents in that Action were Tryed and found Guilty the Lords Spiritual in Parliament being Present c. See the Records in the Tower Parl. 3. H. 5. p. 2. M. 4. Many other Precedents of a later Date and Time might be here Ex superabundanti added but I shall referr them for the matter of another Chapter they being all of them taken out of the Journals of the Lords House beginning in 32 Hen. 8. and ending 29. Eliz. 2. I might have enlarged in these which I have taken out of the Tower but I have purposely forborn to do it for that I find Mr. Selden himself in the days of 1642. granting me the Matter of Fact as clear and evident from the Ancient Records in the Tower of the Spiritual Lords Priviledges in this Matter And will now proceed to another Argument that the Bishops have Right to sit in all Cases as well Capital as Civil For that 4. they are undoubted Peers of the Realm which also I find Mr. Selden himself granting in his Priviledges of the Barronage of England p. 192. For there he saith Though some have doubted we know whom he means
Solis Levitis Sacerdotibus constaret That as near as might be the endeavour was it might consist only of Priests and Levites whence Josephus and Philo oftentimes under the Title of Priests understand the Sanhedrim Come we down to David whose Government was a Pattern to all his Successors his Reign was peaceable and flowrishing nor did he want States-men of the most raised abilities for his employments Yet did not this Wise this Holy Prince think it inconsistent with the Sacred Function which yet St. Austin tells us in some respects Operosius Ministerium than that of the Gospel to engage Levites in his weightiest secular Charges For we find Hathaliah and his Brethren appointed Officers on this side Jordan not only in the business of the Lord but in the Service of the King And Jerijah another in Holy Orders is made Plenipotentiary or Ruler over the Reubenites the Gadites and the half Tribe of Manassah in every matter pertaining to God and in the affairs of the King likewise 1 Chron. 26. 30. 32. Nor was he singular in it but was Imitated by good Jehosaphat who made the Priests and the Levites Judges of all the Controversies in Israel not excluding matters of Blood 2 Chron. 19. 8 10. Now run over the Catalogue of all the Kings of Israel and were any to be paralled with these I am sure that none went beyond these none whose Government did more prosper with Righteousness Justice and Tranquility And though under the rest of the Kings we have no express mention of the same practice yet all things considered we have more reason to conclude it held than the contrary for we find Jehoiada the Priest chief Counsellour to Joash 2 King 11. And if we look into after times at the Babylonian Captivity the Priests command all and possess the Scepter for some Hundred of years for the Assamonaean Race continued absolute Princes till Pompeys Conquest Joseph l. 13. c. 9. We may further add that many Civil Causes are by name reserv'd to the Levical Cognizance as the Inquisition for Murther false Witness c. Deut. 21. And yet after all the Preachers of the Gospel do not hence draw arguments that they are chiefly and solely to be instructed with these great and Important Ministeries but I do on their behalf averr and will be ready to prove and maintain That a fit allowance being made to the difference of Times and Persons the model prescribed by God himself under this Levitical Administration may safely be followed now in some things and those no Circumstantials also But leaving Moses let us come to Christ and see how matters stood under the Gospel here though we have no instances of Honours conferr'd by our Saviour upon his Apostles yet have we Prophesies that after the publication thereof Kings should become the Nursing Fathers of it and that the feet of those that brought the glad tydings of Peace should be Beautiful upon the Mountains which Mr. Calvin applyeth to the Bounty and Munificence of Princes to the Church Isa 49. But for the first 300 years What could rationally be expected from the professed Enemies of Christianity no other honours than cruel Persecutions whilst the persecuting fury lasted whilst they were burnt in usum nocturni luminis as Tacit. the Historian hath it The ordinary sentence was Toeda lucebis in illa Qua stantes ardent fixo gutture fumant Juven But no sooner was Gentilism abolish'd but we have a new and smiling face of Affairs under the happy Reign of Constantine the Churches great Patron as well as the Clergies Friend And henceforth the Primitive Piety was not wanting who thought no Honours or Powers misplaced upon their Spiritual Fathers for whom they judged nothing too dear All Histories ring of Constantines kindness to his Clergy by whom the most weighty Affairs of his Empire dureing his time was most happily transacted and that most of his Successors wrote after his Copy will appear by what follows for it were very easie to muster a little Army of Fathers engaged in Secular Employments We read Zozomen l. 6. c. 32. that Epiphanius Bishop of Cyprus a Person of singular vertue prudence and piety 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man busied in Political matters Theodoret reports l. 2. c. 30. that one Jacobus Bishop of Nisibis or the Mygdonian Antioch was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishop Governour and Captain of the same City In Baronius A. 610. I find that John Patriarch of Alexandria was accustomed to sit twice a Week and Judge between those that were at variance and to reconcile them and once when none came to him he departed weeping That all that day he had done no good but Sophronius replyed That he had more cause of rejoycing than of Weeping for having brought the City to such good Order and to so great Peace that they were more like Angels than men having no differences left but were all in friendship and amity A rare Example to the Immortal Fame of an Exclesiastical Judge We all remember that Sir Thomas Moore commanded it to be scored up as a wonder That he had once been able to clear the High Court of Chancery from Suites and not one cause to remain unheard But here we have a Populous City hardly short of any in our Nation by the pains of a good Bishop without any charge to the Litigants reduced to a perfect unity within it self But wee will pass over such obscure Names whom it were endless to reckon up and Select only a few whose eminent Labours have Eternized them to posterity and begin with St. Ambrose who flourished A. C. 378. and to his Conduct and Government was the great City of Milan entrusted so that St. Austin Conf. l. 6. c. 7. Complains that he was a long time kept from access to him Secludentibus me ab ejus aure atque ore Catervis negotiorum hominum quorum infirmit atibus serviebat He had whole troops of Suiters about him to dispatch their worldly business The next shall be that great Affrican Light St. Austin who Ep. 147. hath this passage Homines quidem suas saeculares causas apud nos finire capientes dum iis necessarii fuerimus sit nos Sanctos Dei Servos appellant ut negotia terra suae peragant aliquando agamus negotia salutis eorum non de auro non de argento non de fundis pecoribus pro quibus rebus quotide submisso capite salutamur ut dissentiones hominum terminemus He saith he was every day sollicited to make up some breaches about Gold Silver Land Cattel c. And yet where have we found a more Faithfull and Assiduous Preacher and Pastor than this good father Were any more engaged in contests with Hereticks or any that left a larger Legacy of his Learned Labours to the Church I dare challenge any before or since the Churches Reformation who have done the like and who will say that the good Father had mispent
Dor. l. 2. p. 43. Then for Geneva it self who is so much a stranger to that Reformation as to be ignorant what a stroke Calvin and others had upon the Senate or grand Counsel which gave occasion to that complaint of some that they had expelled One Bishop and admitted many If remote Countries be to be regarded amongst the Abissines the Clergy is Paramount in Affairs of all natures and we read in Damianus a Goes of Zaga Zaba an Ethiopian Bishop Viceroy of Bagana sent Embassadour to the King of Portugal Dress Orat. In Muscovy their supreme Convention which those Inhabitants call Zabore consists of the great Duke Twenty Ecclesiasticks and as many Nobles the common People being wholly excluded and when they are met together the Patriarch and Ecclesiasticks are always first Consulted and first deliver their Opinion I shall conclude this Paragraph onely reminding that neither the Pagans nor Mahometans are so inhumane or irreligious or discourteous to their Priests as to deny them this Liberty For that Tully acquaints us that it was the appointment of the Gods that the Roman Pontifices should not only take care of their Religion but further Sumnis Reipub. praeesse voluerunt Orat. pro. dom sua Nay at this very day the Barbarous Turks never exclude their Mufti but allow him free entrance and Vote into all their Divans and Counsels yea the great Sultan himself so Honours the Mufti that as often as he comes into his Presence he rises from his Seat and according to their mode putting his hand to his breast bows his head in token of reverence and Honour which he shews not to any other Subject and will hardly vouchsafe the like honours to the mightiest Monarch upon Earth CHAP. V. Englands more particular Respect and Kindness to the Clergy I Might here be very large should I but give the World a brief account of the Honour which our Saxon Kings had for their Clergy neither was this a matter onely precarious and by the Courtesie as we say of England Sed ipsis confirmatum legibus Spelm. Concil Ep. ad Regem The Person who Ministred at the Altar was esteemed equal in all things in censu pariter Capitis to the Lord of the Mannour or any Knight Leg. Aethel c. ult de Wirgildis The Abbot was esteemed no less than a greater Thane which now we call a Baron of the Kingdom The Bishop of no inferiour Rank than the Count or Earl Qui integro fruebantur comitatu The Arch Bishop equal to any Duke who might happen to be set over and have the Rule of many Countries for that saith the Learned Spelman in these times our Kings gave always the greatest respect and honour to their Clergy for that in their keeping were the Keys of Learning and Knowledge the Seculars in the mean time addicting themselves most what to the Wars so that in those times it came to pass that the Priests mouth was the Oracle of our Common People no less than of the King and Commonwealth for that they had ever the first Place in our Commitia's and Assemblies no less than in the Kings Courts of Justice and Law Tribunals in the Kings Palace with the Nobles of his Kingdom in the Counties with the Comittees and Justices of the Counties in the Sheriffs Courts turno Vicecomites together with the Sheriffs the Bishops had their Adsessors yea in the Hundred Courts they or their Ministers sate together with the Lord of the Hundred so that one sword was ever helpfull to the other in the Administration of Justice and nothing of moment was done in these Courts of Judgment but by their advice and assistance Spelm. l. prius citat The practice of the Kingdom ran parallel with the Law for in all Antient Charters and Laws which heretofore were passed and made by signing their names cum signo crucis the Spiritual Lords ever preceeded the Temporal In a donation of Ethelbert A. D. 605. to the Monastery of St. Peter in Canterbury the first witness subscribing it is Austin the Bishop and after him several Dukes and Earls Monast Angl. Spelm. Conc. passim In a Charter of King Inas Ann. Dom. 725. To the Monastery of Glassenbury after the Bishops Boorthwald and Fordred occur Waldhere Ethelherd Ummin and Winchelin the greatest Peers in the Nation putting their Names Not long after in a Grant of King Offus to the Abby of Worcester Ann. Dom. 708. Brotdran Berthand Eadbald and Eadbald two Princes and two Dukes follows the Bishops And at the same Kings Consecration at St. Albans Ann. 793. No less than 10 Dukes besides other Nobles give place to the Prelates And to make an end in a Charter of King Edward the Confessor to the Monastery of Winchester immediately after the King subscribed Plegmund and Frithestan the Bishops being followed by Ethelward the Kings Brother Aethelstan Aelfweard the Kings two Sons Oredluf Orced Brorhâ—â—â—f and Heerferth Dukes many more of this nature might be produced out of the same Authors and others as standing monuments of the Clergies Reputation and the Reverence our Religious Ancestors bare to their Functions particularly the third Charter of King Edward the Confessor of the Foundation of the Abby of Westminster where more particularly we find Osberne and Peter two of the said Kings Chaplains signing the Charter before several of the Earls And furthermore here is Statute Law in the Case that this usage may not be thought to proceed meerly from the Curtesie of England 't is confirm'd by the Statute of the 31 Hen. 8. c. 10. Wherein all degrees and offices are placed in Assemblies and Conferences and there the Arch Bishop of Canterbury as primus Par regni the first Peer of the Kingdom is ranked before all the Nobility and Seated at the Kings right hand next and immediately after the Royal Blood and the Vicegerent and the rest of the Bishops follow him in their due precedency according to the Dignities and Aunciencies of their respective Sees See farther the Statute of 8. of Eliz. c. 1. where in that Statute they are called an high and one of the greatest Estates of the Kingdom nor were they ever excluded from the greatest Employments of Honours and Trust in the Kingdom and to evidence that this is not spoke without Book we will subjoin a Catalogue of Churchmen Collected out of Godwin Malmesbury Spelman Dugdale and others c. that have born all at least the most honourable Offices of State and how ever bespatter'd by some discharged them with much integrity and repute England owing more of its happiness to men of this Calling than any other though it cannot be denyed but some miscarriages might be here and there found and yet as few as can be expected in such a Multitude and if a man were disposed to find fault he might without much pains takeing two for one in Critically examining any other Profession Let us begin then with Englands Metropolitan to whom this Primacy justly appertains and