Isabell Sackvile Lady Prioresse of Clarkenwell is an eminent instance of longevity in this kinde For 1. In the one and twentieth of King Henry the seventh she was a * To be seen in the pedegree of the Barl of Dorset Weaver fun Mon. pag. 429. Nun in Clarkenwell-Priory when a Legacy was bequeathed her as Niece by William Sackvile Esquire and must be then conceived fifteen years of age 2. She was the last Prioresse of Clarkenwell at the dissolution thereof 3. She died in the twelfth of Queen Elizabeth as appears by her Epitaph in Clarkenwell-Church and by Computation must be allowed Eighty years of age But farre older was that Monk or Nun I am * Attested by 〈◊〉 Pymme's Kinsman to Godfrey Bp. of Gloucester See his printed Paper assured of the Story not the Sex to whom Living in or neer Hampshire Mr. John Pymme then an Officer in the Exchequer paid the last payment of his Pension about the fift year of King James SECTION VI. DOMINO THOMAE TREVOR Juniori Equiti Aurato MVlti sunt praeproperi Haeredes qui nimiâ parentum vivacitate cruciantur Hi languidâ expectatione macrescunt postquam Rura Paterna spe vanâ devoraverant At Tu è contra Venerandi Patris tui Canitiem si fieri posset immortalem reddere conaris cum eam perpetuo Obsequio humilime colas quo efficacius Kardiacum ad Senectutem ejus elongandam nequit confici Non in Patris sed â—undi senescentis Annos inquiris cum Historiâ plurimum delecteris cujus ope si Praeterita cum Praesentibus conferantur conjectura de Futuris statui potest quo nomine hoc opus nostrum tibi non ingratum fore confido Deus â—e Lectissimâmque Conjugem beat prole patrizante non tam privato commodo quà m Bono Publico ne Respulica tantarum virtutum Haeredi destituatur Of the Erection Officers Vse Continuance and Abolishing of the Court of Augmentation DUring the scuffling for Abbey-land Augmentation Court when erected in the 27 year of King Henry the eighth the Court of Augmentation was set up by Act of Parliament to be a Court of Record and to have an authentick Great Seal besides a Privie Seal and several Officers appointed for management thereof with large fees allowed unto them I finde the same exemplified in a fair Vellum Manuscript which lately was Archbishop Parkers since the Lord Cokes whence I transcribed as followeth Sir Rich Sackvile Chancellor three hundred pounds yearly Fee forty pounds Diet and six shillings eight pence for every Seale Sir Jo Williams Treasurer three hundred and twenty pounds Fee Sir Will Cavendish Treasurer of the King's Chamber one hundred pounds Fee one hundred pound Dyet and ten pounds Boat-hire Sir Thomas Moyle Sir Walter Mildmay Generall Receivers to each two hundred pounds Fee and twenty pounds Diet. Rich Goodrich Attorney one hundred pounds Fee and twenty marks Diet. Jo Gosnall Solicitor eighty pound Fee Diet twenty marks Besides Masters and Surveyors of the woods Clerks Keepers of Records Ushers Messengers Assistants Carpenter and Mason to the Court Auditors Receivers Surveyors Woodwards for every County the totall summe of their Fees yearly amounting unto Seven thousand two hundred forty nine pounds ten shillings and three pence This Catalogue by the persons mentioned therein seems taken towards the end of Edward the sixt when the Court began to decline 2. It belonged unto this Court to order The imployment of the Offiâ—eâ—s in this Court survey and govern sell let set all Manours lands tenements rents services tythes pensions portions advowsons patronages and all hereditaments formerly belonging to Priories and since their dissolution to the Crown as in the printed Statute * An. 17 HeÌ„ 8. cap. 27. more largely doth appear All persons holding any Leases Pensions Corodies c. by former grants from the Covents came into the Court produced their Deeds and upon examination of the validity thereof had the same allowed unto them And although providence for themselves and affection to their kindred prompted many Fryers and Covents foreseeing their rottering condition to antedate Leases to their friends just at the dissolution yet were they so frighted with fear of discovery that very few frauds in that kinde were committed The Court was very tender in continuing any Leases upon that least legall consideration 3. But after some continuance of this Court Motives for the dissolution of this Court the King 's urgent occasions could not stay for the slow coming in of money from the yearly Revenues of Abbey-land insomuch that He was necessitated to sell out-right a great part of those Lands for the present advance of Treasure and thereby quickly was the Court of Augmentation diminished The King therefore took into consideration to dissolve it as superfluous wherein the Officers were many their Pensions great Crown profits thereby small and Causes therein depending few so that it was not worth the while to keep up a Mill to grinde that grist where the Toll would not quit cost It was therefore resolved to stop up this by stream that all causes therein should run in the antient channell of the former Courts of Westminster 4. Indeed in the 7 of King Edw. 6. Finally dissolved in the first year of Queen Mary a doubt did arise amongst the Learned in the Laws whether the Court of Augmentation the Commencement whereof was first had by authority of Parliament would legally be dissolved extinguished and repealed by the King's Letters Patents And the Officers thereof wonder not if they stickled for their own concernments did zealously engage on the Negative Wherefore it was enacted by Parliament That the King during His naturall life had present power by His Letters Patents to alter unite annex reduce or dissolve any of those new erected Courts by His own Letters Patents And the same Act was confirmed in the first year of Queen Mary when the short-lived Court of Augmentation was dissolved as which from the birth thereof 1535 to the extinguishing 1553 survived but eighteen years The Lands of Chanteries free Chappels and Colledges dissolved KIng Henry the eighth his expences like sandy ground Prodigality alwaies wanteth suddenly suckt up the large shower of Abbey lands and little signe or shew was seen thereof yea such the parching thirst of his pressing occasions that still they called aloud for more moysture for whose satisfaction the Parliament in the 38 year of His Reign put the Lands of all Colledges Chanteries and free Chappels in His Majesties full disposition 2. This King made three meals King Henry's three meals on Abbey-lands or if you will one meal of three courses on Abbey-lands besides what Cardinal Wolsey the King's Taster herein had eat before-hand when assuming smaller Houses to endow his two Colledges 1. When Religious Houses under two hundred pounds a yeare â— Anno 1535 were granted to Him by the Parliament 2. When all greater Monasteries â— 1538 3. When Colledges Chanteries and Free
represent And seeing Sir Thomas More would have his own jests when dying no wonder if he makes others to jeer when dead 6. These two Supplications pressing both together for audience and reception The first Supplication best received that of the Beggars on earth found the best entertainment Whether because it came first which we know is great advantage in Beggars first come first served Or because these Terrestrial beggars were neerer at hand and so best able to manage their own suit whilst those in Purgatory were conceived at a greater distance Or chiefly because their Supplication suggested matter of profit to the King and His Courtiers and such whispers sound loud and commonly meet with attentive ears And as an introduction to the dissolution of all Abbeys spies were sent forth to make strict discovery of mens behaviours therein Indeed the Lord Cromwell Scout-Master-Generall in this designe stayed at the Court whilst his subordinate Emissaries men of as prying eyes as afterwards they proved of gripple hands sent unto him all their intelligence in manner and form as in due time shall ensue The lesser Monasteries bestowed on the King NOW because some moneths were imployed in that service before a perfect account was returned to the Lord Cromwell The suppressing of the smaller Monasteries may here seasonably be inserted For in the twenty seventh of the King's Reign Anno 1539 a motion was made in Parliament A gainfull motion made for the King That to support the King's States and supply His wants all Religious Houses might be conferred on the Crown which were not able clearly to expend above Two hundred pounds a year 2. Some may report Reported by mistake opposed by Bishop Fisher that John Fisher Bishop of Rochester earnestly though pleasently opposed the motion by alledging an Apologue out of Aesope That the Helve of the Axe craved a Handle of the wood of Oaks onely to cut off the Serebowes of the Tree but when it was a complete Instramentall Axe it felled down all the wood Applying it That the grant of these smaller Houses would in fine prove destructive to all the rest But Fisher being now in his grave this could not be spoken in this Parliament which with more probability was formerly urged by him against Cardinal Wolsey in dissolving the forty Houses whereof before 3. This Proposition found little opposition in either Houses Easily passed in Parliament Henry the eighth was a King and His necessities were Tyrants and both suing together for the same thing must not be denied besides the larger thongs they cut out of other mens leather the more intire they preserved their own hide which made the Parliament to ease their own purses by laying the load on those lesser Houses which they accordingly passed to the Crown 4. The Lord Herbert in his a Of Henry 8 pag. 376. Historie complaineth and that justly That this Statute for dissolution of the lesser Monasteries doth begin very bluntly A Preamble of importance restored out of the Records to the Printed Statute without any formall Preamble in the Printed Books they are Published It seemeth that herein he never searched the Record it self otherwise industrious in that kinde to which a solemn Preface is prefixed shewing some Reasons of the dissolution and pious uses to which they were attained In form as followeth The Preamble is this Forasmuch as manifest sin vitious carnall and abominable living is daily used and committed commonly in such little and small Abbeys Priories and other religious houses of Monks Canons and Nuns where the Congregation of such religious persons is under the number of twelve persons whereby the Governours of such religious Houses and their Covent spoile destroy consume and utterly waste as well the Churches Monasteries Priories principall Houses Farms Granges Lands Tenements and Hereditaments as the ornaments of the Churches and their goods and Chattels to the high displeasure of Almighty God slander of good Religion and to the great infamy of the King's Hignesse and the Realm if redresse should not be had thereof And albeit that many continuall Visitations hath been heretofore had by the space of two hundred years and more for an honest and charitable reformation of such unthrifty carnall and abominable living yet neverthelesse little or no amendment is hitherto had but their vitious living shamefully increaseth and augmenteth and by a cursed custome so grown and infested that a great multitude of the religious persons in such small Houses do rather choose to rove abroad in Apostasie than to conform themselves to the observation of good Religion so that without such small Houses be utterly suppressed and the Religion therein committed to the great and honourable Monasteries of Religion in this Realm where they may be compelled to live religioussly for reformation of their lives there can else be no redresse nor reformation in that behalf In consideration whereof the King 's most royall Majesty being Supreme head in earth under God of the Church of England daily studying and devising the increase advancement and exaltation of true doctrine and virtue in the said Church to the onely glory and honour of God and the totall extirping and destruction of vice and sin having knowledge that the premises be true as well by the compts of his late visitations as by sundry credible informations considering also that divers and great solemn Monasteries of this Realm wherein thanks be to God Religion is right well kept and observed be destitute of such full numbers of religious persons as they ought and may keep have thought good that a plain Declaration should be made of the premises as well to the Lords spirituall and Temporall as to other His loving Subjects the Commons in this present Parliament assembled WHEREUPON the said Lords and Commons by a great deliberation finally be resolved That it is and shall be much more to the pleasure of Almighty God and for the honour of this His Realm that the possessions of such small religious Houses not being spent spoiled and wasted for increase of maintenance of sin should be used and converted to better uses and the unthrifty religious persons so spending the same to be compelled to reform their lives And hereupon most humbly desire the King's Highnesse that it may be enacted by authority of this present Parliament That His Majesty shall have to Him and to Hit Heirs for ever all and singular such Monasteries His Majesty shall have and enjoy c. As it foloweth in the printed b Cap. 28. Statute In this Preamble two principles are laid down of infallible truth Two principles which must not be questioned and posterity must not be so presumptuous as to question them 1. The smallest Convents were the greatest sinners and they who had the least lands led the leudest lives 2. It was harder to reform little Covents than those that were greater It seems such small Houses like little fishes could not be caught with the
seaven hundred ninety five pounds two shillings and a penny all bestowed by charitable people for that purpose Amongst whom Thomas Barow Dr. of Civil law Arch-deacon of Colchester formerly Fellow of Kings hall and Chancellor of his house to King Richard the third gave for his part two hundred and fourty pounds 55. One may probably conjecture The foundation of Christs-Colledge that a main motive which drew King Henry this year to Cambridge was with his presence to grace his mothers foundation of Christs-Colledge now newly laid without Barnwell-gate over against St. Andrews-Church in a place where Gods house formerly stood founded by King Henry the sixth This King had an intention had not deprivation a civil death prevented him to advance the Scholars of this foundation to the full number of sixty though a great fall never more than foure lived there for lack of maintenance Now the Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond and Darby acounting her self as of the Lancaster-line heir to all King Henries godly intentions onely altered the name from Gods-house to Christs-Colledge and made up the number viz. One Master twelve Fellows fourty seaven Scholars in all sixty 56. Great and good were the lands The fair endowments thereof which this Lady by her last Will bestowed on this Colledge in severall Counties In Cambridge-shire the Manors of Malton Meldred and Beach with divers lands and rents elsewhere in that County Leicester-shire Aliàs Disworth the Manor of Ditesworth with lands and tenements in Ditesworth Kegworth Hathern and Wolton Northfolk All these I have transcribed out of her last Will. the Abbey of Creyke which was in the Kings hands as dissolved and extinct settled by the Popes authority and the Kings licence Essex the Manor of Royden Wales Manibire an Impropriation This Lady being of Welsh affinity a Teuther by marriage and having long lived in Wales where her Sonne King Henry the seaventh was born in Pembroke thought fitting in commemoration thereof to leave some Welsh land to this her foundation 5. Once the Lady Margaret came to Christs-Colledge A Lady of pity to be hold it when partly built This I heard in a Clerum from Dr. Collings and looking out of a window saw the Deane cal a faulty Scholar to correction to whom she said Lentè lentè gently gently as accounting it better to mitigate his punishment than procure his pardon mercy and justice making the best medley to offenders 6. John Maior a Scotishman John Maior a Student in Christs Colledge and a Scotish Historian of good account was onely for the terme of three moneths a Student in this Colledge as himself acknowledgeth He reporteth that the Scholars of Cambridge in his time Lib. de gest Scotorum c. 5. usually went armed with bowes and swords which our learne * Cain Hist Ac. Can. p. 74 Antiquary is very loth to beleeve except it was John Maior his chance to come to Cambridge in that very juncture of time when the Scholars in fend with the Townsmen stood on their posture of defence Thus Pallas her self may sometimes be put to it to secure her wit by her weapons But had Maior lived as many years as he did but moneths in this University he would have given a better account of their peaceable demeanour 7. John Leland John Leyland Fellow therein that learned Antiquary was a Fellow of this Foundation as he gratefully professeth Anno Regis Hen. 7. 21 I account it therefore in my self an excusable envie Anno Dom. 1505 if repining that the rare Manuscripts of his collections were since his death bestowed on Oxford Library In vita Regis Seberti fol. 70 and not here where he had his education But I remember a Maxime in our Common Law wherein the Lands such are Books to Scholars of a Sonne deceasing without heirs fall rather to his Uncle or Aunt than Father or Mother 7. Many yeers after the founding of this Colledge Reformation of augmentation complaint was made to King Edward the sixth of superstition therein the Master and twelve Fellowes of this Christ-Colledge superstitiously alluding to Christ and his twelve Apostles Probably the peevish informers would have added that the Discipuli or Scholars in this House were in imitation of Christs seventy Disciples save the number corresponds not as being but fourty seven by the originall foundation Hereupon King Edward altered this number of twelve not by Subtraction the most easie and profitable way of reformation but Addition founding a thirteenth Fellowship and three Scholarships out of the impropriation of Bourn which he bestowed on the Colledge and so real charity discomposed suspected superstition This good King also gave the Colledge in lieu of the Mannor of Royden which he took from it the entire revenues of Bromwell Abbey such was his bountifull disposition Nor can it be proved that in his own person he ever did to any an injurious action though too many under him if those may be termed under him who did what they pleased themselves were too free of their favours in that nature 9. It may without flattery be said of this house The worthies of this Colledge Many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all if we consider the many Divines who in so short a time have here had their education Prov. 31. 29. Let Papists tell you of Richard Reignalds Doctor of Divinity a Monk of Zion of William Eximew a Carthusian both bred here and martyred say they for the Catholique cause Anno 1535. of Richard Hall who ran beyond the Seas Pitzeut in Cent. ult became Canon of Cambray and wrote the manuscript-life of Bishop Fisher we chiefly take notice of the Divines bred here since the Reformation Masters Bishops Benefactors 1 John Sickling Fellow of Gods-House first Master 2 Richard Wiat Dr. of Divinity 3 Thomas Tompson D. D. a good Benefactor 4 John Watsonne D. D. 5 Henry Lockwood D. D. 6 Richard Wilks D. D. chosen 1549. 7 Cuthbert Scot D. D. chosen 1553. 8 William Taylor D. D. chosen 1557. 9 Edward Hawford D. D. chosen 1559. he was a good Benefactor 10 Edmond Barwell D. D. chosen 1581. 11 Valentine Carey D. D. chosen 1610. 12 Thomas Bainbrigg D. D. chosen 1620. 13 Samuel Bolton 14 Ralph Cudworth 1 Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester 1535. and Martyr 2 Nicholas Heth * So saith Dr. Willet in his dedication of his Comment on Samuel to this Colledge Indeed I finde one Heth but not his Christian name fellow of this Colledge 1520 Archbishop of York 1553. 3 Cuthbert Scot Bishop of Chester 1556. 4 William Hughs Bishop of St Asaph 1573. 5 Anthonie Watson Bishop of Chichester 1596. 6 Valentine Carey Bishop of Exeter 1620. D. Johnson Arch-bishop of Dublin Brute Babington Bishop of Derrie in Ireland George Dounham Bishop of Derrie in Ireland William Chappel Bishop of in Ireland William Chappel Bishop of in Ireland 1 John Fisher Bishop of
of much Uncleannesse it being appliable to them what the Apostle speaketh of others d Ephes 5. 12. It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret And one may justly admire how these Canonists being pretended Virgins could arrive at the knowledge of the Criticismes of all Obscenity so that chast Love may lye seven and seven yeares in the undefiled Marriage bed and be utterly ignorant what the Language of Lust meaneth in such filthy Canons Yea when such Love by the help of an Interpreter shall understand the same it would blush for Shame were it not that that Red would be turned into Palenesse as amazed at so horrid Uncleanness 25. Some five yeares after 755 Kenulphus The Charter of Kenulphus to the Abbot of Abbington King of West-Saxons conferred large Priviledges on the Monastery of Abbington We will recite so much of his e Cited by Stanford l. 3. fol. 111. and this Charter was pleaded primo Hen. 7. fol. 23. 25. Charter as concerns us because usefull to shew the Power which Kings in that Age had in Ecclesiasticall Matters Kenulphus Rex c per liter as suas patentes consilio consensu Episcoporum Senatorum gentis suae largitus fuit Monasterio de Abbindon in Comitatu Barke ac cuidam Richino tunc Abbati Monasterii c. quandam ruris sui portionem id est quindecim Mansias in loco qui à ruricolis tunc nuncupabatur Culnam cum omnibus utilitatibus ad eandem pertinentibus tam in magnis quam in modicis rebus in aeternam haereditatem Et quod praedictus Richinus c. ab omni Episcopali jure in sempiternum esset quietus ut inhabitatores ejus nullius Episcopi aut suorum Officialium jugo inde deprimantur sed in cunctis rerum eventibus discussionibus causarum Abbatis Monasterii praedicti decreto subjiciantur Ita quod c. Kenulphus King c. by his Letters Patents with the advice and consent of the Bishops and Counsellours of His Country hath given to the Monastery of Abbindon in the County of Barks and to one Richine then Abbot of the Monastery c. a certain portion of his land that is to say fifteen Mansions in a place which then of the Inhabitants was called Culnam with all Profits to the same belonging as well in great as mean matters Anno Dom. 755 as an inheritance forever And that the aforesaid Richine c. should be for ever acquit from all Episcopal jurisdiction that the Inhabitants thereof be thenceforth oppressed with the yoke of no Bishop or his Officials but in all events of matters and discussions of causes they be subject to the decree of the Abbot of the aforesaid Monastery So that c. From this Charter S t. Edward a His Reports part 5. fol. 9. Cook the Kings Attorney inferreth that King Kenulphus had Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction in himself in that he had power to discharge and exempt this Abbot from the Iurisdiction of the Bishop Which Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction was alwayes invested in the Imperiall Crown of England and therefore the Statute made under Henry the eighth concerning the Kings Spirituall Authority was not introductory of a new Law but declaratory onely of an old 26. But Father Parsons for he it is who stands under the Vizard of the Catholick Divine The Cavills of Parsons against S t. Edw. Cook confuted in a Book wrote of set purpose against Master Attorney in this point will by no means allow King Kenulphus any Ecclesiasticall Power but by many Fetches seeks to evade so pregnant a Proof Arg. 1. First he b Catholick Divine alias Parsons in his answer to the Kings Attorney p. 95 96 c. pleadeth that in this Charter Kenulphus did not exempt the Abbot from all Iurisdiction Spirituall of the Bishop but from some Temporall Interest or Pretense which perhaps the Bishop of the Diocese claimed over the Lordship of Culnam Answ Perhaps commend not his Modesty but thank his Guiltinesse for his timorous Assertion saith he but how doth this appeare for he bringeth no proof and if he affirmeth it on free cost we can confute it as cheap by denying it Arg. 2. Secondly saith he the King exempted the Abbot ab omni Episcopali jure that is from all Right of the Bishop and not Iurisdiction Answ Sharp Wit to cut so small a Mote in two parts for no purpose seeing jus and Iurisdiction are often known to import the same sense Arg. 3. Thirdly he objecteth the words no way seem fitly to agree to be spoken of the Bishops Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction which run thus That the Abbot should be quiet from the Bishops Right and that the Inhabitants from thenceforward should not be oppressed by the Yoke of the Bishops officers Answ Why what Incongruity but that these words may be spoken as they are of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction Is the word Yoke too course a Phrase to be applied to the Bishops Spirituall Power as they sometimes did manage it I appeale to those who felt it for no Yoke is heavy to him that puts it on but to those who bear it Mark by the way the word he rendereth Officers is in the Charter not Officiarii Lay-Latine but Officiales which is Church-language and the very dialect of the Court-Christian and should be translated Officials to whom Bishops committed their Spirituall Power But Parsons knew well how to lay his Thumb on what he would not have seen Arg. 4. Fourthly Howsoever it were it is manifestly false saith he that this Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction of King Kenulphus was derived from his Crown it might be he had it from the Pope which is most likely Answ Which is most unlikely for no Clause in the Charter relates to any delegate power and yet such a Passage might easily have been inserted yea could not justly have been omitted if he had claimed his Iurisdiction by Deputation from the Pope Arg. 5. Lastly which he saith seemeth to convince the whole matter and decide the very Case one a Harpsfield Hist Aug. seculo primo c. 9. ex Mariano Scoto Rethurus Abbot of Abbington went afterwards to Rome to obtain confirmation of the Priviledges of his Monastery from the See Apostolick Answ What of this This post-fact of Rethurus argues no Invalidity in Kenulphus his former Grant but rather shews the over-Officiousnesse of a pragmaticall Abbot who to ingratiate himself with the Pope craved of him what he had before Yea such cunning Compliance of the Clergy with his Holinesse by degrees fixed in him a supposed Ecclesiasticall Power paramount which really he never had nor rightly ever ought to have See here the King's Power in Church-matters in conferring Ecclesiasticall Priviledges and this single Threed we will twist with another Instance so strong that the Iesuites Art shall be unable to break it in sunder 27. By the Constitution of Augustine 758 first Arch-bishop of Canterbury
a By-Foundation of Postmasters in this House a kinde of Colledg in the Colledg and this Tradition goeth of their Original Anciently there was over against Merton Colledg a small un-endowed Hall whose Scholars had so run in arrears that their opposite neighbours out of charity took them into their Colledg then but nine in number to wait on the Fellows But since they are freed from any attendance and endowed with plentiful maintenance M r Willet being the first Benefactor unto them in that nature whose good example hath provoked many to follow his liberality These most justly conceive themselves much honoured in that Bishop Jewel was a postmaster before removed hence to be Fellow of Corpus Christs Colledg We take our farewell of this House when we have told it consisted lately viz. 1635. of one Warden twenty one Fellows fourteen a The same I conceive with the Postmasters Scholars besides Officers and Servants of the foundation with other Students the whole number being eighty 9. Come we now to the Kings retrenching the Popes power The Church ready to eat up the Common-wealth grown so exorbitant in England A principall part whereof consisted in the multitude of Monasteries daylie increasing in wealth and all at the Popes absolute devotion If posterity had continued at this rate to build and endow Religious Houses all England would in short time have turned one entire and continued Monastery and the inhabitants thereof become either Friers or Founders Where then should be any Souldiers to fight the Kings battels Seamen to steer his ships Husbandmen to plough the Kings land or rather any land of his to be ploughed by husbandmen 10. Besides The mischief of Mortmain to the Crown though these Friers had a living-hand to take and receive from any they had Mortmaine a dead-hand to restore and return any profit to the King again Yea such alienation of lands in Mortmaine setled on Monasteries which as Corporations neither married nor died afforded neither Wards Marriages Reliefs nor Knights-service for the defence of the Realm in a word enriched their private coffers impoverished the publick Exchequer It was not therefore such a dead band which could feed so many living mouthes as the King for his state and safety must maintain Wherefore for the future he restrain'd such unlimited Donatives to Religious Houses 11. Ignorance makes many men mistake meer transcripts for Originals This Law not new but renewed So here the short-fighted vulgar sort beheld the Kings Act herein as new strange and unprecedented whereas indeed former times and forein Princes had done the like on the same occasion First we finde some countenance for it in a Exod 36. 6. Scripture when Moses by proclamation bounded the overflowing bounty of the people to the Tabernacle And in the Primitive times Theodosius the Emperor although most loving and favourable to the Clergie made a Law of A Mortisation or Mortmain to moderate peoples bounty to the Church Yet a great Father Jerome by name much disliked this Act as appears by his complaint to Nepotian of that Law I am ashamed to say it the Priests of Idols Stage-players Coach-men and common Harlots are made capable of inheritance and receive Legacies only Ministers of the Gospel and Monkes are barred by Law thus to do and that not by Persecutors but by Christian Princes But that passionate Father comes off well at last neither do I complain of the Law but I am sorry we have deserved to have such a Law made against us 12. b In his 31. Epist S t Ambrose likewise expresseth much anger on the same occasion out of his general zeal for the Churches good Ambrose angry with Mortmaine But had the aforesaid Fathers men rather pious then politick good Church-men no States-men seen the Monasteries swollen in revenues from an inch in their dayes to an ell by peoples fondness yea dotage on the four sorts of Friers in King Edwards Reign they would no doubt instead of reproving have commended his and the neighbouring Kings care for their Common-wealths 13. For the like laws for limiting mens liberality The Statute of Mortmaine were lately made in Spain and France and now at last followed by King Edward according to the tenour ensuing WHere of late it was provided Anno Dom. 1279. that religious men should not enter into the fees of any without licence and will of the chief Lords of whom such fees be holden immediately Anno Regis Ed. 〈◊〉 7. Nov. 4. And notwithstanding such religious men have entered as well into their own sees as in the fees of other men approprying and buying them and sometime receiving them of the gift of others whereby the services that are due of such fees and which at the beginginning were provided for defence of the Realme are wrongfully without own and the chief Lords do leese their Escheats of the same we therefore to the profit of our Realm intending to provide convenient remedy by the advice of our Prelates Earls Barons and other our subjects being of our Councel have provided made and ordained That no person Religious or other whatsoever he be that will buy or sell any Lands or Tenements or under the colour of Gift or Lease or that will receive by reason of any other title whatsoever it be Lands or Tenements or by any other Craft or Engine will presume to appropriat to himself under pain of forfeiture of the same whereby such Lands or Tenements may any wise come into Mortmaine We have provided also That if any person religious or other do presume either by Craft or Engine to offend against this Statute it shall be lawful to us and other chief Lords of the Fee immediately to enter in the land so aliened within a year from the time of their alienation and to hold it in fee and as Inheritance And if the chief Lord immediately be negligent and will not enter into such Fee within the year then it shall be lawful to the next chief Lord immediate of the same Fee to enter in the said land within half a year next following and to hold it as before is said and so every Lord immediate may enter into such Land if the next Lord be negligent in entering into the same Fee as is aforesaid And if all the chief Lords of such Fees being of full age within the four Seas and out of prison be negligent or slack in this behalf we immediately after the year accomplished from the time that such purchases Gifts or Appropriations hap to be made shall take such tenements into our hand and shall enfeoffe others therein by certain Services to be done to Us for the defence of our Realm saving to the chief Lords of the same Fees their Wardes and Escheats and other Services thereunto due and accustomed And therefore we command you that ye cause the foresaid Statute to be read before you and from henceforth to be kept firmly and observed
into Lothbury After their expulsion their Synagogue was turned into the Covent of the Friers of the Sack or De Poenitentia Jesu and after their supression it became successively the house first of a Lord then of a Merchant since of any man for his money being turned into a Tavern with the sign of the a Stow his Survey of London pag. 288. Wind-mill A proper sign to express the moveableness of that place which with several gales of success hath been turned about from so many owners and to so many uses 34. As for the civil government of Jews in England The Justicer of the Jews the King set over them one principal Officer called the Justicer of the Jews whose place in honor was next to the Barons of the Exchequer His office was to be the Patron Protector of the Jews in their just rights to decide all suits betwixt Christians and them and to keep the seal of the Jews their Corporation with the keys of their Treasury I conceive of such moneys as they paid as Tribute to the King otherwise the Jews had age enough to keep the Keys of their own coffers themselves and wit too much to trust them with others S r Robert de Hoo and S r Philip Luvel afterward Treasurer of England men of signal Nobility successvely discharged this place These Justicers often acted very high in defence of their Clients the Jews insomuch as I finde it b Additamenta Matthaei Parisiensis p. â—02 complained of by the English Clergy as a great grievance that when a Jew was convented before the Ecclesiastical Judg for his misdemeanours as Sacriledg violence offered to some Priest adultery with a Christian woman c. their own Justicer would interpose and by a Prohibition obtained from the King obstruct all legal proceedings against such a Jew as onely responsible in his own jurisdiction 35. In their spiritual government they were all under one Pontifex The High Priest or Presbyter of the Jews or High Priest We finde his name was Elias who Anno 1254. had that office He was also called the Presbyter of the Jews whose place was usually confirmed at least if not constituted by the King who by his Patent granted the same as may appear by this copie of King Johns as followeth REX a Ret. Cart. 1 Reg. Joh. part 1. memb 28. Cart. 171. omnibus fidelibus suis Anno Regis Ed. 1. 18. omnibus Judaeis Anno Dom. 1290. Anglis salutem Soiatis Nos concessisse praesenti Chartâ nostrâ confirmasse Jacobo Judge de Londoniis Presbyterio Judaeorum Presbyteratum omnium Judaeorum totius Angliae babendum tenendum quamdiu vixerit liberè quietè bonorificè integre its quòd nemo ei super hoc molestiam aliquam aut gravamen inferre praesumat Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus quod eidem Jacobo quoad vixerit Presbytoratum Judaeorum per totam Angliam garantetis manu teneatis pacificè defendatis si quis ei super eo foriffacere praesumserit id ei sine dilatione salva nobis emenda nostra de forisfactura nostra emendari faciatis tanquam Dominico Judaeo nostro quem specialiter in servitio nostra retinuimus Prohibemus etiam ne de aliquo ad se pertinente ponatur in placitum nisi coram Nobis aut coram Capitali Justitia nostra sicut Charta Regis Richardi fratris nostri testatur Taeste S. Bathomensi Episcopo c. Dat. per manus H. Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi Chancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum 31. die Julii Anno Regni nostri primo I have transcribed this Patent the rather for the rarity thereof it being a strange fight to see a Christian Arch-Bishop date an Instrument for a Jewish Presbyter 36. Their livelihood was all on Usury Jews griping Usurers One Verse in b Deut. 23. 20. Deuteronomy with their Comment thereon was more beneficial unto them then all the Old Testament besides Vnto a stranger thou maiest lend upon usury but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury Now interpreting all strangers who though neighbours at the next door were not of their own nation they became the universal Usurers of all England and did our Kingdom this courtesie that because all hated the Jews for their Usury sake all also hated Usury for the Jews sake so that Christians generally disdained to be guilty thereof Now seeing there are two wayes to wealth one long and sure by saving at home the other short but not so certain because probably it may meet with detection and punishment by oppressing abroad no wonder if the Jews using both wayes quickly arrived at vast estates 37. For Their rapaciousness and tenaciousness first for their fare it was course in the quality and yet slender in the quantity thereof Insomuch that they would in a manner make pottage of a flint Swines-flesh indeed they would not eat but dogs-meat they would I mean beef and mutton so poor and lean that the refuse of all Christians was the Jews choice in the Shambles Clothes they wore so poor and patch'd beggars would not take them up to have them Attendants they kept none every one waiting on himself No wonder then if easily they did over-grow others in wealth who basely did under-live themselves in all convenient accommodations Nor were they less gripple in keeping then greedy in catching of goods who would as soon lose their fingers as let go what they had clutched therein 38. I was of the opinion and perchance not without company in my mistake that the Jews were not permitted to purchase Lands in England Jews might purchase houses I thought onely the ground of their graves generally buried without Cripplegate in the Jews garden on the West side of S t Gyles's Church-yard now turned into Tenements in Red-cross-street could be termed theirs But since I am informed that Benomy c Stows Survey pag. 288 and 289. Mittun a Jew as certainly many moe besides him was possessed of much Land and many houses in several parishes in London Surely their purchases were limited within some restrictions But the Jews generally more fancied letting-out of money then buying in of Land as which made their estates less subject to discovery more plentiful in their encreasing and more portable in the removing thereof 39. It was an usual punishment legally inflicted on these Jews Lay-excommunication what it was for their offences not capital to Excommunicate them Thus such Jews should be Excommunicated who contrary to the Laws kept Christian-nurses a Additamentaâ— Matthaei Pari. pag 202. in their houses or who cast off that badg or cognizance which they ought to have worn over their upper garment Anno Dom. 1290. to be distinguished from Christians Anno Regis Ed. 1. 18. Surely such Excommunication was no Ecclesiastical censure needless to keep the Jews out of our Churches who hated all coming into them Rather it
Edward the Fourth procured of him the Priory of Sherbourn in Hampshire and Queen Mary by her intercession prevailed with King Charles for the perpetual Patronage of certain Benefices in the same County 23. Nor let not our Virgin Queen be forgotten Queen Elizabeths singular bounty as in effect Refoundresse of this from the third year of her reign being informed that the Title of the Foundation thereof with the lands thereunto belonging were in question and subject to eviction by Act of Parliament conferred a sure Estate of the same 24. I meet in the Records of the Tower Rouls This Colledg parted between two Arch-bishops with a passage concerning this Colledg and though I do not perfectly understand I will exemplifie it And * Ex Rot. Parl. Henrici quarti anno 13. a little after upon divers matters moved between the said Arch-bishop and the Arch-Bishop b Henry Bowet of York upon certain priviledges pretended by the said Arch-Bishop of York in the Colledge called QUEEN-HALL in the Vniversity of Oxford The said Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in presence of the King and of the Lords promised a Tho. Arundel that if the said Arch-Bishop of York could sufficiently show any Priviledge or specially of Record wherefore the said Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ought not to use his Visitation of the said Colledge he would then abstain Saving to himself alwaies the Visitation of the said Schollars abiding in the said Colledge according to the judgement and decrees made and given by K. Richard the second and by our Lord K. Henry that now is as in the * See this recorded at larg in the next Book p. 164. Record thereof made thereof more plainly is declared It seems hereby so far as I can apprehend this Colledge was so parted betwixt the two Metropolitans that the dead Moity viz. the Lands and Revenues thereof belonged to the inspection of the Arch-Bishop of York whilst the living half namely the Schollars especially in matters concerning their Religion pertained to the Visitation of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Provosts Anno Regis Ed. tertii 12. Richard de Retteford John de Hotham Henry Whitfield Thomas de Carlile Roger Whelndale Walter Bell. Rowland Byris William Spenser Thomas Langton Christ Bainbridge Edward Rigge John Pantry William Denyse Hugh Hodgeson Thomas Francis Lancelot Shaw Alane Scot. Barthol Bowse field Henry Robinson Henry Airy Barnabas Petter Christopher Potter Gerard Langbain Benefactors Anno Dom. 1346 Robert Langton Thomas Langton Edmund Grindal Christo Bainbridge William Fettiplace Henry Robinson Henry Ayrie Bishops Henry Baufort Bp. of Winchester and Cardinall of St. Eusebias Christopher Bainbridge Arch-Bishop of York and Cardinal of St. Praxes Henry Robinson Bp. of Carlile Barnabas Potter Bp. of Carlile Learned Writers 1 John Wickliffe Bailiol Merton and Queens colledges claim him and all perchance rightly at several times 2 John de Trevisa of whom hereafter anno 1397. This house hath lately been happy in learned Lawyers Sir John Banks Sir Ro. Berkley Sir Tho. Tempest Atturney General of Ireland Judg Atkins courteous to all men of my profession and my self especially Sr. Thomas Overbury Christopher Potter in his excellent work of Charity Mistaken * Eminent for his review of the Council of Trent GERARD LANGBAIN THOMAS BARLOVV So that at this present are maintained therein one Provost fourteen Fellows seven Schollars two Chaplains two Clerks and other Students about 160. 25. In the mean time the Pope was not idle The Pope makes use of the Kings absence but laid about him for his own profit Knowing King Edward could not attend two things at once And therefore whilest he was busied about his wars in France his Holinesse bestirred him in England cropping the flowers of the best Livings in their bud before they were blown Yea in a manner he may be said to seethe the Kid in the Mothers milk So that before Livings were actually void He provisionally pre-provided Incumbents for them and those generally Aliens and his own Countreymen 26. Though late 15 the King got leisure to look on his own Land 1343 where he found a strange alteration The Statute of provisions reasonably made for as France lately was made English by his Valour England was now turned Italian by the Popes Covetousnesse In prevention therefore of future mischief this Statute of Provision was made whereby such forestalling of Livings to Forrainers was forbidden 27. Our Authors assign another accidentall cause of the Kings displeasure with the Pope Mans anger worketh Gods pleasure namely That when his Holinesse created twelve Cardinals at the request of the King of France He denied to make one at the desire of this King of England Surely it was not reasonable in proportion that his Holinesse giving the whole dozen to the King of France might allow the advantage to the King of England However betwixt both this statute was made to the great enriching of the Kingdom and contentment of the Subjects therein 28. Yet this Law Statures of Provisions not presently obeyed of Provisions as all others did not at the first making meet with present and perfect obedience The Papal party did struggle for a time till at last they were patient per-force finding the Kings power predominant True it is this grievance did continue and was complained of all this and most of the next Kings Reign till the Statute of praemunire was made Anno Dom. 1345. which clinted the naile which now was driven in Anno Regis Ed. tertii 15. So that afterwards the Land was cleared from the incumbrance of such Provisions 29. A good Author tells us Papal power in England declines Habent Imperia suos Terminos huc cùm venerint sistunt retrocedunt ruunt Empyres have their bounds whither when they come they stand still they go back they fall down This is true in respect to the Papal power in England It went forward untill the Statute of Mort-maine was made in the reign of King Edward the first It went backward slowly when this Statute of provisions swiftly when this Statute of Praemunire was made It fell down when the Papacy was abolished in the reign of King Henry the eighth 30. Three years after the statute against the Popes Provisions was made The Pope takes wit in his anger the King presented unto him Thomas Hatlife to be Bishop of Durham 1346 one who was the Kings Secretary 21 and when this is all is said that can be in his commendation as utterly devoid of all other Episcopal qualifications However the Pope confirmed him without any dispute or delay and being demanded why he consented to the preferment of so worthlesse a person he answered that rebus sic stantibus if the King of England had presented an Ass unto him he would have confirmed him in the Bishoprick Indeed as yet his Holiness was in hope that either the K. would revoke the foresaid statute or else
examin all the Lords in Parliament as well Spiritual as Temporal severally and all the States of the Parliament how they think of the cases aforesaid which be so openly against the Kings Crown and in derogation of his Regalitie and how they will stand in the same cases with our Lord the King in upholding the rights of the said Crown and Regalitie Whereupon the Lords Temporal so demanded have answered everie one by himself that the cases aforesaid be clearly in derogation of the Kings Crown and of his Regalitie as it is well known and hath been of along time known and that they will be with the same Crown and Regalitie in these cases especially and in all other cases which shall be attempted against the same Crown and Regality in all points with all their power And moreover it was demanded of the Lords Spiritual there being and the procurators of others being absent their advise and will in all these cases which Lords that is to say the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Prelates being in the said Parliament severally examined making protestations that it is not their minde to denie nor affirm that the Bishop of Rome may not Excommunicate Bishops nor that he may make translation of that if any Execution of Processes made in the Kings Court as before be made by any and censures of Excommunication to be made against any Bishops of England or any other of the Kings liege people for that they have made execution of such commandments and that if any executions of such translations be made of any Prelates of the same Realm which Prelates be very profitable and necessarie to our said Lord the King and to his said Realm or that the sage people of his Councel without his assent and against his will be removed and carried out of the Realm so that the substance and treasure of the Realm may be consumed that the same is against the King and his Crown as it is contained in the petition before named And likewise the same procurators every one by himself examined upon the said matters have answered and said in the name and for their Lords as the said Bishops have said and answered and that the said Lords Spiritual will and ought to be with the King in these cases in lawfully maintaining of his Crown and in all other cases touching his Crown and his Regalitie as they be bound by their Liegeance Whereupon our said Lord the King by the assnt aforesaid and at the request of his said Commons hath ordained and established that if any purchase or pursue or cause to be purchased or pursued in the Court of Rome or elsewhere any such translations processes sentences of Excommunications Bulls Instruments or any other things whatsoever which touch the King against him his Crown and his Regalitie or his Realm as is aforesaid and they which bring within the Realm or them receive or make thereof notification or any other execution whatsoever within the same Realm or without that they their notaries procurators maintainers abbettors fantors and councellors shall be put out of the Kings protection and their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeit to our Lord the King and that they be attached by their bodies if they may be found and brought before the King and his Councel there to answer to the cases aforesaid or that process be made against them by Praemunire facias in manner as it is ordained in other Statutes of Provisors and other which do sue in any other Court in derogation of the Regality of our Lord the King 43. Something of the occasion The occasion of this Statute name and use of this Statute the first is notoriously known from the Papal encroachments on the crown No Bishoprick Abathie Dignitie or Rectorie of value in England was likely to fall but a successour in reversion was by the Popes provisions fore-appointed for the same To make sure work rather then they would adventure to take the place at the first rebound Anno Dom. 1392. they would catch it before it light on the ground Anno Regis Ric. 2 16. This was imputed to the Popes abundance yea superfluity of care 〈◊〉 â—etur vacuum in the Church and rather then a Widow Benefice should mourn it self to death a second husband had his License for marriage before the former was deceased But great parishes where small the profit and numorous the people and where indeed greatest care ought to be had of their soules were past by in the Popes Bulls His Holiness making no provisions for those Livings which Livings had no provisions for his Holiness 35. Some will have it called Praemunire Why called Praemunire from fencing or fortifying the Regal power from forain assaults as indeed this was one of the best bulworks and sconces of Soveraignty Others that Praemunire signifieth the Crown fortified before the making of this Statute as fixing no new force therein but onely declaring a precedent and forgoing just right and due thereof Others conceive the word Praemonere turned by corruption of barbarous transcribers interpreters and pronouncers into Praemunire Others alledg the figure of the effect for the cause and the common Proverb Praemonitus Praemunitus Most sure it is that Praemunire sacias are operative words in the form of the Writ grounded on the Statute which may give denomination to the whole 36. It may seem strange such a Statute could pass in Parliament where almost sixty Spiritual Barons Popes covetousness odious to the Clergy Bishops and Abbots Voted according to Papal Interest except any will say that such who formerly had much of a Pope in their bellies had now more of Patriots in their breast being weary of Romes exactions Indeed no man in place of power or profit loves to behold himself buried alive by seeing his successour assigned unto him which caused all Clergy-men to hate such superinductions and many friends to the Pope were foes to his proceedings therein 37. This Law angred all the veines in the heart of his Holiness The Popes Letter against this Statute the Statute of Mortmain put him into a sweat but this into the sit of a fever The former concerned him onely mediately in the Abbies his darlings this touched him in his person and how cholerick he was will appear by the following Letter here inserted though written some fifty years after to make the story entire MArtinus Episcopus The Original of this Bill was in the Study of Sir Nichol. Bacon L. C ancellor whence the Arch-Bish of Armagh had this his Copy from which that of S Robert Cottons is derived servus servorum Dei 1393. Dilecto filio nobili viro Jobanni 16 Duct Bedsord Salutem Apostolicam Benedictionem Quamvis dudum in regno Anghae jurisdictio Romanae Ecclesiae liberatas Ecclesiastica suerit oppressa vigore illius Execrabilis Statuti quod omni divinae humanae rationi contrarium est Tamen adhuc non
space as possible they may after Our departure out of this transitory life One thousand marks of lawfull money of England part in the same place and thereabout where it shall please Almighty God to call us to his mercy partly by the way and part in the same place of Our buriall after their discretions And to move the poor people that shall have Our alms to pray heartily unto God for the remission of Our offense and the wealth of Our soule And We will that with as convenient speed as may be done after Our departure out of this world if it be not done in Our life that the Dean and Canons of Our Free Chappell of Saint George within Our Castle of Windesor shall have Manours Lands Tenements and Spiritual promotions to the yearly value of vj C. pounds over all charges made sure to them and to their successours for ever upon these conditions hereafter ensuing and for the due accomplishment and full performance of all other things contained with the same in the form of an Indenture signed with Our own hand which shall be passed by way of Covenant for that purpose between the said Dean and Canons and Our Executors if it passe not between Us and the said Dean and Canons in Our life That is to say the said Dean and Canons and their successors forever shall finde two Priests to say Masses at the said Altar to be made where We have before appointed our Tomb to be made and stand And also after Our decease keep yearly Four solemn Obits for us within the said Colledge of Windesor and at every of the same Obits to cause a solemn Sermon to be made and also at every of the said Obits to give to poor people in alms Ten pounds and also to give for ever yearly to thirteen poor men which shall be called Poor Knights to every of them Twelve pence a day and once in the year yearly for ever a long Gown of white cloth with the Gatter upon the breast imbroydered with a Shield and Crosse of Saint George within the garter and a mantle of red cloath and to such one of the thirteen poor Knights Ann. Dom. 1546. as shall be appointed to be head and governour over them iij li. vjs viij d. yearly for ever over and beside the said xij d. by the day And also to cause every Sunday in the year for ever a Sermon to be made at Windesor aforesaid Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 as in the said Indenture and Covenant shall be more fully and particularly expressed willing charging and requiring Our Son Prince EDWARD all Our Executors and Counsellors which shall be named hereafter and all other Our Heirs and Successours which shall be Kings of this Realm as they will answer before God Almighty at the dreadfull day of judgment that they and every of them doe see that the said Indenture and Assurance to be made between Us and the said Dean Canons or between them and Our executors and all things therein contained may be duly put in execution and observed and kept for ever perpetually according to this Our last Will and Testament And as concerning the order and dispostion of the Imperiall Crown of this Realm of England and Ireland with Our Title of France and all dignities honours preheminences prerogatives authorities and jurisdictions to the same annexed or belonging and for the sure establishment of the succession of the same And also for a full and plain gift disposition assignment declaration limitation and appointment with what conditions Our Daughters MARY and ELIZAsBETH shall severally have hold and enjoy the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decease and for default of Issue and Heires of the severall bodies of Us and of Our Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten and His Heirs And also for a full gift disposition assignment declaration limitation and appointment to Whom and of what estate and in what manner form and condition the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall remain and come after Our decease And for default of Issue and Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of the said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH lawfully begotten We by these presents doe make and declare Our last Will and Testament concerning the said Imperiall Crown and all other the premises in manner and form following That is to say We will by these presents that immediately after Our departure out of this present life Our said Son Prince EDWARD shall have and enjoy the said Imperiall Crown and Realm of England and Ireland Our Title of France with all dignities honours preheminences prerogatives authorities and jurisdictions lands and possessions to the same annexed or belonging unto Him and to His Heirs of His body lawfully begotten And for default of such Issue of Our said Son Prince EDWARD's body lawfully begotten We will the same Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our two deceases shall wholly remain and come to the Heirs of our body lawfully begotten of the body of Our entirely beloved Wife Queen Katharine that now is or of any other Our lawfull Wife that We shall hereafter marry and for lack of such Issue and Heirs We will also that after Our decease and for default of Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of our said Son Prince EDWARD's lawfully begotten the said Imperial Crown and all other the premises shall wholly remain and come to Our said Daughter MARY and the Heris of Her body lawfully begotten upon condition that Our said Daughter MARY after Our decease shall not marry not take any Person to Her Huband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counsellours and others appointed by Us to Our dearest Son Prince EDWARD aforesaid to be of Counsell or of the most part of them or the most of such as shall then be alive thereunto before the said marriage had in writing sealed with their seals All which conditions We declare limit appoint and will by these presents Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 shall be knit and invested to the said estate of our Daughter MARY in the said Imperiall Crown Ann. Dom. 1546. and other the premises And if it fortune Our said Daughter MARY to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after Our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten and of Our Daughter MARY the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain to come to Our said Daughter ELIZABETH and to the Heirs of Her body lawfully begotten upon condition that our said Daughter ELIZABETH after Our decease shall not marry nor taken any Person to Her Husband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counsellors and others appointed by â—â—s to be of Counsell with Our said dearest Son Prince EDWARD or the most part of them or the most part of such of them as shall
a barre of iron of the window whereas the examyned the Ladye Abbas that he might have gone in to her by night q This Copie was taken out of the MS. Letters in the Lib. of Sir Simon Dewes And that same window was their commoning place by night He perswaded the Sextene that he would be in his contemplacion in the Chorche by night and by that meanes was many nightes in the Chorche talking with her at the saide gate to the Nunnes Quire and there was their meeting-place by night besides their day communications as in cofession It were too long to declare all thinges of him that I have heard which I suppos it true This afternoone I intend to make forder serche both of some of the Brederen and some also of the Sisters of such like matters if I fynde any thing apparent to be true I shall God willing thereof sertefy your Mastorshipe tomorow by vij in the mornyng And after this daye I suppos there will be no other thinges to be knowne at yet here for I have already examined all the Brederen and many of them wold gladly departe hense and be ryghte weary of their habbyte such Religion and fained sanctetye God save me froe If Master Bedle had byne here a Frior and of Bushopes counsell he wold right welle have helped him to have broghte his mattores to passe without brekyng uppe of any grate or yet counterfetting of keayes such capassetye God hath sent him From Syone this Sondaye xij Decembere By the speedy hand of your assured poor Priest Richard * This was one of the Prime Visitoâ—s afore-mentioned Layton We will conclude this discourse with one observation how through ignorance the true meaning of that word Recluse was in that Age abused For in pure Latine it signifieth one set open or let loose to their own liberty * Hor. lib. 1. Epist 5. Quid non ebriet as designat operta recludit whereas Recluse was taken in that Age for one close shut up so that many Monks and Fryers were Recluses indeed not in the common acception but true notation of that name Abbots willingly unwillingly resigned their Monasteries to the King SAnders saith Monks perswaded into a resignation that King Henry sent a large Instrument to every Monastery fairly ingrossed in Parchment enjoyning them all to subscribe signe and seal the same with their seale conventual upon the pain of His displeasure It is not probable that such a formal Writing was sent unto them drawn up before-hand by the Kings Officers but most certain it is which amounts almost to as much in effect a generall intimation was given to all Houses how acceptable such an act would be to the King It was also pressed upon the said Monks Fryers and Nuns that they through their vitiousnesse being obnoxious to the Kings anger this might and would be done without their consent so that it was better for them rebus sic stantibus to make a vertue of necessity the rather because this complement conduced nothing to the Kings right on whom the Parliament had already bestowed those Abbey-lands but might adde much to their own advantage as being the way whereby their Pensions might the more easily be procured largely allotted and surely satisfied unto them 2. The premisses made such impression on the parties concerned therein Strive who should be the foremost that fearing the Lagge would be looked on with bad eyes they ran as it were a race in their resignations who should be first and foremost therein However they used severall forms therein some onely condemning their lives for superstitious but not confessing themselves personally vitious as by the following Instrument may appear The Å¿ Out of the Records of the Court of Augmentation surrender of the Warden and Fryers of S. Francis in Stanford FOr as moche as we the Warden and Freers of the Howse of Saynt Frances in Stanforde comenly callyd the gray Freers in Stanforde in the Countey of Lincolne doo profoundly consider that the perfeccion of Christain lyving dothe not conciste in the dome ceremonies weryng of the grey cootte disgeasing our selffe after straunge fashions dokyng and beckyng in gurding owr selffes wyth a gurdle full of knots and other like Papisticall ceremonies wherein we have byn moost principally practysed and misselyd in tymes past but the very tru waye to please God and to live a tru Christian man wythe owte all ypocrasie and fayned dissimulation is sincerely declaryd unto us by owr Master Christe his Evangelists and Apostles Being mindyd hereafter to folowe the same conformyng owr selffe unto the will and pleasure of owr supreme hedde undre God in erthe the Kinges Majestye and not to follow hensforth the superstitious tradicions of ony forincycall potentate or poore with mutuall assent and consent doo submytt owr selffes unto the mercye of owr said soveraygne Lorde And withe like mutuall assent and consent doo surrender and yelde upe unto the hands of the same all owr saide howse of Saynt Frances in Stanforde comenly callyd the grey Freers in Stanforde withe all Lands tenements gardens medowes waters pondyards feedings pastures comens rentes reverssons and all other our interest ryghtes or tytles aperteying unto the same mooste humbly besechyng His mooste Noble grace to disspose of us and of the same as best schall stonde wythe His mooste graciouse pleasure And farther freely to graunt unto every one of us His licens undre wretyng and seall to change our abites into seculer fassion and to receive such maner of livyngs as other secular Priestes comenly be preferryd unto And we all faythfully schall pray unto Almighty God long to preserve His moost noble grace wyth encrease of moche felicitie and honor And in witnes of all and singuler the premisses we the saide Warden and Covent of the grey Freers in Stanforde to these presents have put owr Covent Sceall the yeght day of Octobre in the thyrtythe yere of the Raygne of owr moost Soverayne King Henry the yeght Factum Johannis Schemy Gardian Per me Fratrem Johannem Robards Per me Fratrem Johan Chadwhort Per me Fratrem Ricardum Pye Per me Fratrem Johannem Clarke Per me Fratrem Johannem Quoyte Per me Fratrem Johannem Jarman Per me Fratrem JohanneÌ„ Yong. Per me Fratrem Johannem Lo vell Per me Fratrem Willielmum Tomson 3. Other Resignations were far more humble and submissive A more humble form of surrender with an acknowledgment of their vitious and voluptuous lives such was the surrender made by the Prior and Covent of S. Andrews in Northampton which because very tedious we shall onely transcribe so much thereof as concerneth our present purpose But as well as others our predecessors called religiouse persons within yowr said Monastery taking on us the habite of owtward vesture of the said rule onely to the intent to lead owr liffes in the ydle quyetnesse and not in vertuose exercyse in a stately estimation and
the Kings power but flattered into them by the apprehension of their own profit For many lands of subjects either naturally bald or newly shaven of their woods were commuâ—ed for Granges of Abbeys which like Satyres or Salvages were all over grown with trees and timber besides other disadvantages both for quantity and quality of ground as enhaunced for old rent Oh! here was the Royall Exchange 6. Lastly Unconscionable under-sale of Abbey-lands by sale at under-rates Indeed it is beneath a Prince enough to break His state to stoop to each Virgate and rod of ground Pedlar-like to higgle for a toy by retail and all Tenants and Chapmen which contract with Kings expect good bargains yet Officers entrusted to manage the revenue of the Crown ought not to behold it abused out of all distance in such under-valuations Except any will say He is not deceived who would be deceived and King Henry for the reason aforesaid connived at such bargains wherein rich Meadow was sold for barren Heath great Oaks for Fewell and Farms for revenue passed for Cottages in reputation But for farther instruction we remit the Reader to that information i Weaver's funerall Mon. pag. 125. presented to Queen Elizabeth by a man in authority though namelesse of the severall frauds and deceipts offered the Crown in this kinde But the motion rather drew odium on the Authour than brought advantage to the Crown partly because of the number and quality of persons concerned therein and partly because after thirty years the owners of Abbeys were often altered And though the chamber be the same yet if the guests be a new company it is hard for the host from them to recover his old arrearages Yea by this time when the foresaid information was given in the present possessors of much Abbey-land were as little allied to those to whom King Henry granted them as they to whom the King first passed them were of kin to the first Founders of those Monasteries Of the actions of policie pietie charitie and justice done by King Henry the eighth out of the revenues of dissolved Abbeys WE would not willingly be accounted like those called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Jewes Good as well as bad must be observed in mixt actions whose office it was onely to take notice of the blots or blemishes the defects and deformities in sacrifices We would not weed King Henry's actions in His dissolving of Abbeys so as onely to mark the miscarriages and misdemeanous therein Come we to consider what commendable deeds this King did raise on the ruines of Monasteries 2. First K. Henry augmented the Crown-revenues He politickly increased the revenues of the Crown and Dutchie of Lancaster on which He bestowed the rich Abbey of Fourness in that County with annexing much land thereto and erecting the Court of Augmentations whereof largely hereafter for the more methodicall managing thereof though alas what the Crown possessed of Abbey-land was nothing to what He passed away Surely had the revenues of Monasteries been entirely kept and paid into the Exchequer there to make an Aerarium sacrum or Publick treasurie it is questionable whether the same had been more for the ease of the Subject or use and honour of the Soveraigne 3. Secondly Founded five new Bishopricks He piously founded five Bishopricks de novo besides one at West-minster which continued not where none had been before For though antiently there had been a Bishops Seat at Chester for a short time yet it was then no better than the Summer-house of the Bishop of Lichfield onely during the life of one Peter living there which now was solemnly made a Bishoprick for succession and four others namely Bishops See Diocesse assigned it Taken from the Bishoprick of 1. Oxford 2. Bristoll 3. Peterborough 4. Gloucester 5. Chester 1. Oxford shire 2. Dorset and some part of Gloucester shire 3. Northampton shire and Rutland 4. Gloucester-shire the rest 5. Chester Lancaster and Richmond shire 1. Lincolne 2. Sarisbury 3. Lincolne 4. Worcester 5. Lichfield and York Such who are Prelatically perswaded must acknowledge these new foundations of the King 's for a worthy work Those also of contrary judgment will thus farre forth approve His act because had He otherwise expended these Abbey-lands and not continued them to our times in these new Bishopricks they had not been in being by their late sale to supply the Common-wealth 4. Thirdly Monks places turned into Prebends where He found a Prior and Monks belonging to any antient Cathedral-Church there He converted the same into a Dean and Prebendaries as in 1. Canterbury 2. Winchester 3. Elie. 4. Norwich 5. Worcester 6. Rochester 7. Duresme 8. Carlile I dare not say that He entirely assigned though a good a Godwin in Henry the 8. Anno 1539. Nothing was taken away Authour affirmeth it all or the most part of those Priorie-lands to these His new foundations However the expression of a late b Dr. Montague Bishop of Norwich is complained of as uncivil and untrue that King Henry took away the sheep from that Cathedral and did not restore so much as the trotters unto it 5. Fourthly Grammar-schools founded by Him He charitably founded many Grammar-schools great need whereof in that Age in this Land as in Canterbury Coventry Worcester c. allowing liberall salaries to the Masters and Ushers therein had they been carefully preserved But sometimes the gifts of a bountifull Master shrink in the passage thorough the hands of a covetous Steward 6. Fiftly Hospitalls by Him conferr'd on London He charitably bestowed Gray Friers now commonly called Christ-Church and the Hospital of S. Bartholomew in London on that City for the relief of the poor thereof For the death of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke His beloved Brother-in-Law happ'ning the July before so impressed King Henry with a serious apprehension of His own mortality such the sympathy of tempers intimacie of converse and no great disparity of age betwixt them that He thought it high time to bethink Himself of His end and to doe some good work in order thereunto Hereupon on the 13 of January following Anno c Stows Survey of London pag. 417. 1546. He bestowed the said Hospitals on the City a gift afterwards confirmed and enlarged by King Edward the sixt 7. Sixtly Trinity College in Cambridge and Professors places by Him endowed He built and endowed the magnificent Colledge of Trinity finished Kings-Colledge Chappell-in Cambridge and founded Professours places for Languages Physick Law and Divinity in both Universities as in the proper place thereof shall hereafter largely appear 8. Seventhly Leland employed by Him to survey collect and preserve Antiquities He employed John Leland a most learned Antiquary to perambulate and visit the ruines of all Abbeys and record the Memorables therein It seems though the buildings were destroyed King Henry would have the builders preserved and their memories transmitted to
in terra supremum caput Anglicanae Ecclesiae Omnibus ad quos praesentes litterae pervenerint Salutem Cum nuper Monasterium de Carthus de Hinton in Com nostro Somer jam dissolvatur unde quidam Edmundus Horde tempore dissolutionis illiê° et diu antea Prior inde fuit Nos volentes rationabilem annualem pensionem sive promotionem condignam eidem Edmundo ad victum exhibitionem sustentationem suam melius sustinendum provideri Sciatis igitur quod nos in consideratione praemissoruÌ„ de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia meros motu nostris per advisamentum consensum Cancellarit consilii Curiae Augmentationum reventionum Coronae nostrae dedimus concessimus ac per praesentes damus concedimus eidem Edmundo quandam annuitatem sive annualem pensionem quadragint ' quatuor librar ' sterlingorum babend gaudendum annuatim percipiendum easdem quadraginta quatuor libras praefato Edmundo assignatis suis à festo Annuntiationis beatae Mariae virginis ultimo praeterito ad terminum pro termino vitae ipsius Edmundi vel quosque idem Edmundus ad unum vel plura Beneficia Ecclesiastica sive aliam promotionem condignam clari annui valoris quadragint ' quatuor librarum aut ultra per nos promotus fuerit tam per manus Thesaurarii reventionum augmentationum Coronae nostrae pro tempore existentis de Thesauro nostro in manibus suis de reventionibus praedictis remanere contingen ' quam per manus receptor exituum reventionum dicti nuper Monasterii pro tempore existen ' de eisdem exitibus reventionbus ad festum Sancti Michaëlis Archangeli Anuntiationis beatae Mariae virginis per aequales portiones Et ulterius de uberiori gratia nostra Dedimus pro consideratione praedicta per praesentes concedimus praefato Edmundo Horde undecim libras sterlingorum habend eidem Edmundo ex dono nostro per manus Thesaurarii praedicti de Thesauro praedicto vel per manus dicti Receptoris de exitibus reventionibus maneriorum terrarum tenementorum dicti nuper Monasterii solvend ' Eo quod expressa mentio de vero valore annuo Aut de certitudine praemissorum sive eorum alicujus aut de aliis donis sive concessionibus per nos praefato Edmundo ante haec tempora fact ' in praesentibus minime fact ' existit aut aliquo statuto actu ordinatione provisione sive restrictione in contrarium inde habit ' fact ' ordinat ' seu provis ' aut aliqua alia re causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non obstante In cujus rei testimonium has Literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes Tesse Ricardo Riche Milite apud Westmonasterium vicesimo septimo die Aprilis anno Regni nostri tricesimo primo Duke Per Cancellarium concilium Curiae Augmentationum Reventionum Coronae Regiae virtute warranti Regii HENRY the Eighth by the Grace of God King of England and France Defender of the Faith Lord of Ireland and supreme Head of the English Church on earth To all to whom Our present Letters shall come Greeting Whereas the Monastery of the Carthusions of Hinton in Our County of Somerset is now lately dissolved whereof Edmond Horde was Prior at the time of the dissolution thereof and long before We are willing that a reasonable Pension annuall or sutable promotion should be provided for the said Edmond the better to maintain and sustaine him in diet and maintenance Know therefore that Wee in consideration of the premises out of Our speciall Grace and favour certaine knowledge and Our meere motion by the advice and consent of the Chancellour and Counsell of the Court of Augmentations of the Revenues of Our Crown Have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant to the same Edmond an annuity or yearly Pension on of forty four pounds sterling that the said forty foure pounds may bee had enjoyed or yearly received by the aforesaid Edmond and his Assignes from the Feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past to the term and for the term of the life of the said Edmond or untill the said Edmond shall be preferred by Us to one or more Ecclestasticall Benefices or other sutable Promotion of the cleer yearly value of forty foure pounds or upwards as well by the hands of the Treasurer of the Augmentations of the Revenues of Our Crown for the time being out of Our treasure which shall chance to remain in his hands of the Revenues aforesaid as from the Receiver of the profits and revenues of the said late Monastery for the time being out of the said profits and Revenues at the feast of Saint Michael the Arch-angel and the Anuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary by equall portions And furthermore of Our more plentiful Grace We have given and for the consideration aforesaid by these presents doe grant to the aforesaid Edmond Horde eleven pounds sterling that the said Edmond may have it from Our gift by the hands of Our foresaid Treasurer of Our foresaid Treasure or by the hands of Our foresaid Receiver to be paid out of the profits and Revenues of the Manours Lands and Tenements of the said late Monastery any Statute Act Ordinance promission or restriction to the contrary had made ordained or provided or any other matter cause or thing whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding In testimony whereof We have made these Our Letters Patents witnesse Richard Rich Knight at Westminster the twenty seventh day of April in the one and thirtieth of Our Reign Duke By the Chancellor and Councell of the Court of Augmentations of the Revenues of the Crown by virtue of the King's Warrant See we here the payment to this Prior consisted of two Summes of several natures or conditions Namely 1. The forty four pounds being properly the Pension paid yearly unto him 2. The additionall eleven pounds granted with an ulterius paid but once as advance-money to fit him with necessaries at his departure out of the Covent This is observable in all the Patents I have seen That constantly the King's gratuity for their vale some small fractions excepted bears the proportion of a fourth part of their yearly Pension 5. Suppose then this our Prior preferred to a Church Dignity What Church Livings were inconsistent with Pensions or Living amounting very neer but not to the full value of forty four pounds yearly this did not avoid his Pension but that he might hold it and his Living together Wherefore as it was the desire and endevour of every Monk so advanced to beat down the value of his Church-Living as low as might be thereby to render himself capable of it and his Pension so was it the proper work of the King's Officers in the Augmentation Court truly to state the valuation of the Livings of such Pensioners that the Crown might not be defrauded Where by
is provided that John Maplesden Clerk Sub-Prior of the said Hospital William Ermsteed Clerk Master of the Temple in London Walter Limsey and John Winter Chaplains there should every one of them have receive and enjoy the said Master and two Chaplains of the Temple doing their duties and services there during their lives all such Mansion-houses stipends wages with all other profits of money in as large and ample manner as they were accustomed to doe 12. No mention as in other Patents of any Gratuities in ready moneys given unto them Stout hearts can bear the lesse grief which probably cast into their Pensions made them mount so high As for the thousand pounds yearly allowed Sir Will Weston not one peny thereof was paid he dying the next day the House of his Hospitall * Weaver Fun. Mon. p. 460. and of his Earthly Tabernacle being dissolved both together Soul-smitten with Sorrow Gold though a great Cordial being not able to cure a Broken heart 13. We will here present a Female-Patent of the Pension allowed to the Abbesse of Buckland The Patent for a Pension to the Prioresse of Buckland though in all essentials very like unto the Former HENRICUS Octavus Dei gratia c. Cum nuper Monasterium de Buckland in Com' nostro Som ' jam dissolvatur unde quaedam Katherina Bowser tempore dissolutionis illius dicti antea Priorina inde fuit Nos volentes rationabilem annualem Pensionem sive promotionnem condignam eidem Katherinae ad victum exhibitionem sustentationem suam melius sustinendum providerâ— Sciatis igitur quod nos in consideratione praemissorum de Gratia nostra speciali ac ex-certa scientia mero motu nostris per advisamentum concensum Canâ—ellariâ— Concilii Curiae Augment ' reventionum Coronae nostrae Dedimus concessimus at per praesentes damus concedimus eidem Katherinae quandom anno itatem sive annualem Pensionem quinquaginta librarum sterlingorum iabendum gâ—â—dendum annuatim percipiendum easdem quinquaginta libr ' praefat ' Katherinae assignatis suis a festo Annuntiationis beata Mariae virginis ultimo praterito ad terminum vitae ipsus Katherinae tam per manus Thesaurarii nostri Reventionum augmentationum Corona nostra pradict pro tempore existen ' de Thesauro nostro in manibus suis de reventionibus praedict ' remanere contingen ' quam per manus Receptor ' Exituum reventionum dict' nuper Maner ' pro tempore existen ' de eisdem exit ' reventionibus ad festum Sancti Michaëlis Archangeli Annuntiationis beatae Mariae virginis per aequales portiones solvendum Et ulterius de uberiori Gratia nostra Damus pro consideratione praedicta per praesentes concedimus prafatae Katherinae viginti quinque libr ' sterlingor ' Habend ' eldem Katherinae ex dono nostro per manus dict' Thesauraii de Thesaure praedicto vel per manus dict' Receptoris de exitibus reventionibus Maneriorum terrarum tenementorum dicti nuper Monasterii solvend ' Eo quod expressa mentio c. In cujus Rei testimonium c. Teste Richardo Riche Milite apud Westmonasterium decimo die Maii Anno Regni nostri tricesimo primo HENRY the Eighth by the Grace of God c. whereas the late Monastery of Buckland in Our County of Somerset is now lately dissolved whereas one Katherine Bowser was Prioresse at the time of the dissolution thereof and long before We are willing that a reasonable Pension annual or sutable promotion should be provided for the said Katherine the better to sustein her in diet and maintenance Know therefore that We in consideration of the premises of Our speciall Grace and certain Knowledge and Our own meer motion by the advice and consent of the Chancellor and Counsell of the Court of Augmentations of the Revenues of Our Crown Have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant unto the said Katherine a certain annuity or annuall Pension of fifty pounds sterling That the said Katherine or her assigns may have enjoy or yearly receive the said fifty pounds from the Feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past for the term of the life of the said Katherine as well by the hands of Our Treasurer of the Augmentation of the Revenue of Our Crown for the time being out of Our Treasure which shall happen to remain in his hands out of the Revenues aforesaid as by the hands of the Receiver of the profits and revenues of the said late Monastery for the time being out of the said profits and revenues at the feast of S. Michael the Archangel and the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary to be paid by equal portions And furthermore of Our more plentiful Grace and for the considerations aforesaid We give and by these presents doe grant to the aforesaid Katherine twenty five pounds sterling for the said Katherine to have of Our proper gift by the hands of Our foresaid Treasurer out of Our treasury aforesaid or by Our said Receiver to be paid out of the profits revenues of the Manours Lands and Tenements of the said late Monastery because that expresse mention c. In witnesse whereof c. Witnesse Rich Rich Knightâ— at Westminster the tenth of May in the thirty first year of Our Reign There are but two considerable differences betwixt this and the former Patent 1. Whereas Pensions allotted to Priors and Monks were conditionall as determinable upon their preferment to Ecclesiasticall promotion of equall value this to the Prioresse as to all Nuns was absolute for term of life Women being not capable of any Church-advancement Secondly whereas the Gratuity allotted to Monks generally amounted to a fourth part of their Pension this to the Prioresse was double as much as a just moyety thereof Whether this proceeded from the King's courtesie to the weaker Sex or because Mundus Muliebris there was such a world of Tackling required to Rigge and Lanch them forth to shift for themselves in a Secular life 14. But as for ordinary Nuns Youth and strength accompted a pension to it self we finde that four pounds Pension and forty shillings Gratuity was generally their provision and that onely for those qualified with a Diu antea that they had been in the Covent a long time before the dissolution thereof otherwise I meet with no Portions to those that lately were entred into the Houses being outed and left at large to practice the Apostles * 1 Tim. 5. 14. precept I will that the younger women marry bear children guide the house c. 15. The vivacity of some of these Pensioners is little leste than a Miracle Mâ—thusalah Pensioners they survived so long For though none will say they lived out of despite to anger the King to pay their Pensions surely none so highly affected Him as to die in duty to exonerate His Exchequer of their Annuity
Abbey-Lands so dye other lands when in the hands of a riotous person Thus Lands as well as goods and chattels are moveables though not from their Center yet from their Owner Yea our draught lately presented doth prove that many Mitred Abbeys have survived the dangerous Climactericall of the third Generation 14. For mine own part Sir Hen. Spelman's Observations on Abbey-lands my tongue is so farre from bespeaking such lands with any ill successe that I wish to all lawfully possessed of them either by the bounty of their Prince their own or Ancestors fair purchase that peaceably and prosperously they may enjoy them Et nati natorum ut qui nascantur ab ipsis However it will not be amisse to insert the observation of a most worthy Antiquary in the County wherein he was born and best experienced who reporâ—eâ—h â—hat in Norfolke there were an hundred houses of Gentlemen before the Dissolution of Abbeys possessed of fair estates of whom so many as gained accession by abbey-Abbey-lands are at this time extinct or much empaired bemoaning his own familie under the latter notion as diminished by such an addition 15. Hear also what his son faith to the same purpose * Clement Spelman in his Preface to his Father's Book Denon temerandis Eccl fâ—is King Henry exchanged Abbey-lands His Son 's on the same and by this means like the dust flung up by Moses they presently disperse all the Kingdome over and at once become curses both upon the Families and Estates of the Owners they often vitiously spending on their private occasions what was piously intended for publick devotion insomuch that within twenty years next after the Dissolution moe of our Nobility and their children have been attainted and died under the sword of Iustice than did from the Conquest to the Dissolution being almost five hundred years so as if thou examine the List of the Barons in the Parliament of the 27 of Henry the eighth thou shalt finde very few of them whose Sons doe at this day inherit their Fathers titles and estates and of these few many to whom the King's favour hath restored what the rigorous Law of Attainder took both Dignity Lands and Posterity And doubtlesse the Commons have drunk deep in this cup of deadly wine but they being more numerous and lesse eminent are not so obvious to observation 16. As for the report of Reynerus * Apostolatus Benedict in Ang. fol. 227 228. A Papist his observation the Reader may believe the lesse thereof for his known ingagement to Rome thus expressing himself At the Dissolution Henry the eighth divided part of the Church-spoils among two hundred and sixty Gentlemen of families in one part of England and at the same time Thomas Duke of Norfolk rewards the service of twenty of his Gentlemen with the grant of forty pounds a year out of His own inheritance and while not sixty of the Kings Donees had sons owning their fathers estates every one of the Dukes hath a son of his own loines flourishing in his fathers inheritance and I could have set down their several names had conveniencie required it 17. But it is high time for me to put a period to this subject The Conclusion lest as the Abbeys were complained to grow so great that they engrossed the third part of the Land so my discourse of them infected with the same fault will be condemned by the Reader for the tedious prolixity thereof The rather because this old and trite subject is now grown out of fashion men in our Age having got a new object to fix their eyes and observation thereon taking notice how such Church-lands doe thrive which since hath been derived into the hands of new possessors The end of the Sixt Book THE Church-History OF BRITAIN THE SEVENTH BOOK CONTAINING THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE SIXT To the Right Honourable LEICESTER DEVEREUX VISCOUNT HEREFORD Lord FERRARS of Chartley c. My lord GReat was the difference betwixt the breeding of Adonijah and Solomon though sons to the same father The former tasted not of Reproof much lesse of Correction it being never said unto him Why a 1 kings 1. 6. hast thou done so Solomon had his education on severer Principles He was his Parents Darling not their b Prov. 4. 3. Fondling It was after sounded in his ears What c Prov. 31. 2. my Son and what the Son of my womb Our English Gentry too often embrace the first course in breeding their Children whereby they become old-Men before they are wise-Men because their Fathers made them Gentlemen before they were Men making them too soon to know the great Means they are born to and too long to be ignorant of any good quality whereby to acquire a maintenance in case their Estates as all things are uncertain should faile or forsake them Hence it is they are as unable to endure any hardship as David to march in Sauls armour for he f I Sam. 17. 39. had never proved it utterly unacquainted therewith But your discreet Parents though kinde were not cockering unto you whom they sent very young into the Low-Countreys where in some sort you earned what you eat in no lesse honourable than dangerous employment This hath setled the sinewes of your Soule and compacted the ioynts thereof which in too many hang loose as rather tackt than knit together Since being returned into England partly by your Patrimony partly by your Matrimony an antient and fair Estate hath accrewed unto you Yet it hath not grown as S. Basil fancieth roses in Paradise before Adams fall without thorns and prickles Many molestations attended it through which you have waded in a good measure having had TRIALS indeed wherein on what side soever the Verdict went you gained Patience and Experience Indeed there is an experience the MISTRESSE of FOOLS which they learn by their losses and those caused by their own carelesness or wilfulness in managing their affairs But also there is one the MASTER-PIECE of VVISE-MEN to attain wherein they observe the events of all things after their utmost endevours have submitted the success to Divine Providence Yours is of the last and best kind whereby you are become a skilfull Master of Defence Knowing all the advantageous postures and guards in our Lawes not thereby to vex others but save your self from vexation Thus having born the Yoke in your youth you may the better afford ease and repose to your reduced age and having studied many Men in Armes more in Gowns you now may solace your self and entertain the time with perusing of Books amongst which I humbly request this may have the favour of your Honours eye to whom on a double motive it is Dedicated First because containing the Life of that PRINCE who for His Piety may be exemplary to all persons of quality Secondly because it was He who conferred the highest still remaining Honour on your Family advancing it formerly very
a voluntary or free motion one giving another Intelligence as occasion served sometimes by letters and sometimes by word of mouth 3 Interrog Who were Moderators in them and what their Office Answer That he remembred not who where Moderators in any meeting particularly saving once at Northampton when M r Johnsâ—n was admonished and that was either himself or M r Snapes he knew not well whether 4 Interrog What things were debated in those meetings or Assemblies Answer That the things Chiefly and most often considered of in those Assemblies were these First The subscription to the Book of Common-Prayer how farr it might be yielded unto rather then any should forgoe his Ministery Secondly The Book of Discipline was often perused discussed c. Thirdly Three petitions or supplications were agreed upon to be drawn First to her Majesty Secondly to the Lords of the Councell Thirdly to the Bishops The things debated of in particular he remembred not more then these First the pâ—rfecting of the Book of Discipline and purpose to subscribe to it at Cambridge Secondly this question disputed whether it were convenient for M r Cartwright to reveal the Circumstances of the Conference a little before he was committed Thirdly The admonishing of M r Johnson once at Northampton Fourthly The debating of this question whether the Books called Apocrypha were warrantable to be read publickly in the Church as the Canonical Scriptures 5 Interrog Whether any Censures were exercised what kinds when where upon whom by whom for what cause Answer That he never saw any Censure exercised saving admonition once upon M r Johnson of Northampton for miscarrying himself in his conversation to the Scandall of his Calling neither was that used with any kinde of Authority but by a voluntary yielding unto it and approving of it as well in him that was admonished as in him which did admonish 6 Interrog Whether any of the said Defendents had moved or perswaded any to refuse an Oath and in what case c Answer That he never knew any of the Defendents to use words of perswasion to any to refuse an Oath only M r Snape sent him down in writing certain reasons drawn out of the Scripture which moved him to refuse the generall Oath ex officio which I stood perswaded that he sent to none other end but to declare that he refused not to swear upon any contempt but only for Conscience sake I have insisted the longer on this Deposition because the first and fullest that I finde in the kinde thereof conteining their Classes more formally setled in Northampton-shire then any where else in England For as the west part of that shire is observed to be the highest place of England as appeareth by the Rivers rising there and running thence to the four winds so was that County a probable place as the middest of the land for the Presbyterian Discipline there erected to derive it self into all the quarters of the kingdom 40. The reasons why Mr. Stone made this confession againâ— the hope and expectation of the Breth But when the news of Mr. Stones answer was brought abroad he was generally censured by those of his party as well such as were yet at liberty conceiving themselves endangered by his discovery as by those already in prison complaining that he added affliction to their bonds Yea his embracing a different course from the rest cast an Aspersion on others of his side as less sound in Judgement or tender in conscience because peremptorily concealing what he thought fitting to confess Many that highly esteemed him before hereafter accounted him no pretious but a counterfet stone So that he found it necessary in his own vindication to impart the reasons of his Confession to such as condemned him if not for a Traytor at least for a Coward in the Cause 1. a Carefully by me transcribed out of his own Letters to his friends He judged it unlawfull to refuse an oath limitted and bounded within the compass of the conferences being required before a lawfull Magistrate in a Plea for the Prince to a lawfull end 1. to trie out the truth in a doubtfull fact suspected and feared to be dangerous both to Church and Common-Weal but such was that oath which was tendered to him ergo 2. He being lawfully sworn judged it unlawfull to be mute much more to speak any untruth 3. If he had not been urged by oath to reveal yet did he judge that silence unlawfull which justly causeth suspition of evill as of Treason Rebellion Sedition c. 4. He judged that concealment unlawfull which was not only scandalous but also dangerous as this that might occasion and incourage wicked persons to hide their Complices in their worst attempts 5. He judged that the clearing of a doubtfull fact requireth the clearing of the Circumstances which cannot be cleared till they be known 6. He judged that silence unlawfull which leaveth the truth friendless or few friends when she hath need of many 7. He judged it a point or note of Puritanisme for any to stand so upon the integrity of their own Actions as that they should not be doubted of suspected examined censured c. 8. He saw no probability nor possibility in reason to have the circumstances longer concealed 1. Because many of them are already made known partly by the letters and writings of the B. in Bonds which have been intercepted partly also by certain false brethren and lastly by certain faithfull but weak brethren whose confessions are to be seen under their own hands 2. Because the Magistrate is resolutely set to search them out and lastly because divers are to be called and to answer upon Oath which approve not the concealing of them 9. He judged the inconveniences which come by the concealing to be if not moe in number yet greater in weight and nore inevitable then those that come by revealings which as it may appear in some of the former Reasons alledged to prove the unlawfulness of concealing so may it further appear in these that follow 10. The good name and credit of any of a Minister much more ought to be dearer to him and to all those that love him then his liberty c. but by this concealing the credit of many good Ministers is eclipsed 11. This concealing hath caused the continuance of some in bonds and imprisonment hitherto would cause others to be committed and withall causeth suspition of evills Treason Rebellion Sedition c. and thereby also evill report slander c. 12. As by concealing the aforesaid suspition and slander lieth still upon us all which have been in these actions so doth the same grow every day more grievous by the wicked attempts of hypocrites and prophane persons which carry the name of Puritans Precisians c. as those of late in Cheap-side 13. Although it be very like that the revealing will bring punishment upon the rest yet is it not certain nor necessary but the concealing doth
Counties setled for the maintenance of this his Hospitall 1. Balsham Manour in Cambridge-shire 2. Bastinghorpe Manour in Lincoln-shire 3. Blacke-grove Manour in Wilt-shire 4. Broad-Hinton Land in Wilt-shire 5. Castle-Camps Manour in Cambridge-shire 6. Chilton Manour in Wilt-shire 7. Dunby Manour in Lincoln-shire 8. Elcombe Manour and Parke in Wilt-shire 9. Hackney Land Middlesex 10. Hallingbury-Bouchers Manour in Essex 11. Missanden Manour in Wiltshire 12. Much-Stanbridge Manour in Essex 13. Norton Manour in Essex 14. Salthrope Manour in Wilt-shire 15. South-Minster Manour in Essex 16. Totenham Land in Middlesex 17. Ufford Manour in Wilt-shire 18. Watelescote Manour in Wilt-shire 19. Westcot Manour in Wilt-shire 20. Wronghton Manour in Wilt-shire See here the most liberall Endowment made by one man May it most truly be said of our London Merchants as of those of Tyre n Isa 23. 8. whose Merchants are Princes 17. But no work so vertuous The Iesuits carping at his good work which some malicious spirits will not endevour to disgrace One who writeth himselfe J. H. but generally conceived to be Mr. Knott the Jesuit in his Answer to Doctor Potter's Book of o 2 part 1. ch 2. parag Charity mistaken le ts flie as followeth Doe your Hospitals deserve so much as to be named Have you any thing of that kinde in effect of particular Note saving the few mean Nurseries of idle Beggars and debauched People Except perhaps Sutton's Hospitall which as I have been informed was to take no profit till he was dead He who as I have also understood died so without any Children or Brothers or Sisters or known Kindred as that peradventure it might have escheated to the King He who lived a wretched and peâ—â—nious life and drew that Masse of Wealth together by Usury in which case according to good conscience his Estate without asking him leave was by the Law of God obnoxious to Restitution and ought to have been applied to Pious Uses Where as antiently in this Countrey and at all times and specially in this last Age 〈◊〉 see abundance of Heroicall Actions of this kinde performed in forreigne parts And if it were not for fear of noting many other great Cities as if there were any want of most munificent Hospitals in them wherein they abound I could tell you of One called the Annunciata in the City of Naples which spends three hundred thousand Crowns per Annum which comes to above fourscore thousand pounds sterling by the year Which ever feeds and câ—res a thousand sick persons and paies for the nursing and entertaining of three thousand sucking Children of poor people and hath fourteen other distinct Hospitals under it where the persons of those Poor creatures are kept and where they are defrayed of all their necessary charges every week I could also tell you of an Hospitall in Rome called S. Spirito of hâ—ge Revenues but it is not my meaning to enter into particulars which would prove endlesse 18. Before we come to the particular Examination of this his Accusation His politick modesty in his corrective it is observable how many Qualificatives Correctives and Restrictives Perhaps as I have been informed As I have also understood peradventure he inserteth in this his Relation Indeed such Qualifications are better than Equivocations yet what some may impute to Modesty is his Policy if well considered For if any Protestant confute what he hath written this Accuser will take Sanctuary under the protection of those Restrictions defending himself that he delivered nothing positively whilst ignorant Papists of his own profession not heeding his doubting limitations swallow all down for dogmaticall truth 19. More particularly the reformed Religion in England hath been the Mother of many brave Foundations Answers to Jesuits Cavils Many famous Hospitals as that at Warwick built by the Earl of Leicester Croydon by Archbishop Whitgift Guildford by Archbishop Abbot not to speak of Christ-Church and St. Thomas Hospitall built by King EDWARD the VI. though none of them have thrived and battled so fast and so fairly as this of Sutton's foundation Whereas he chargeth him to have had no Children it is confessed seeing he died a Batchelour Whose life had he been of their Opinion had been cried up for a precious piece of Virginity That he had no known Kindred is false Some of them afterwards but in vain endevouring to overthrow his Will though he made the Poor to be his Mother and Sister and Brother As for his getting wealth by unlawfull wales I am not to justifie the particular circumstances of any mans actions Should a secret Scrutiny be made how all Founders of Monasteries first came by their wealth many would be found justly obnoxious to censure 20. Indeed our Sutton began with a good Stock M. Suttoâ—s constant prayer had no Charge to burden him lived to be very aged 79 years and by Gods blessing on his Providence Industry and Thrist advanced the maine of his Estate This I can confidently report from the mouth of a credible Witnesse who heard it himself and told it to me that Master Sutton used often to repair into a private Garden where he poured forth his prayers to God and amongst other passages was frequently over-heard to use this Expression Lord thou hast given me a large and liberal Estate give me also a heart to make use thereof which at last was granted to him accordingly 21. As for the over-grown Hospitall of the Annuntiata at Naples Sutton's Hospitall how exceeding the Annuntiata we envy not the wealth thereof though reports at such distance lose nothing in the relation Nor doe we wonder that it cureth yearly a thousand sick persons considering what disease first came from Naples and was thence denominated As for the three thousand Children nursed therein it is to be feared many wanted Fathers to own them and this not so much the fruit of charity as of wantoness However that Hospitall hath at severall times been advanced by a Colledge of Benefactors Whereas Sutton's may stand peerlesse in this respect that it was founded finished p Stow's Survey of London p. 43. and endowed by himself alone Disbursing 13000 li. payed down before the ensealing of the Conveyance for the ground whereon it stood with some other â—ppurtenances befides 6000 li. expended in the building thereof and that vast yearly Endowment whereof heretofore We mention not the large Summes bequeathed by him to Poor to Prisons to Colledges to mending High-waies to the Chamber of London Ann. Reg. Jac. 10. Ann. Dom. 1612. besides Twenty thousand pounds left to the discretion of his Executors What remaineth but that we pray that according to his pious intentions the same may be continued to the Glory of God Credit of the Protestant Religion Comfort to the Poor good Example to the Rich and perpetual Memory of King JAMES the Honorary and Mr. Sutton the effectual Founder thereof That this Sun amongst the lesser Lights of Protestant-Charities may
The Bishop of Lincoln fell now through the Dukes The Bishop of Lincoln loseth his Keepers place into the Kings displeasure and such who will read the late letters in the Cabala may conjecture the cause thereof but the certainty we leave to be reported by the Historians of the State belonging in his Episcopall capacity to my pen but as Lord Keeper properly to theirs 38. The Bishop finding his own tottering condition The Duke incensed against him addressed himself to all who had intimacie with the Duke to reingratiate himself But such After-games at Court seldome succeed All would not doe for as Amicus omnium optimus was part of the Dukes Epitaph * On his Tomb in Westminster Chappell so no fiercer foe when displeased and nothing under the Bishops removall from his office would give him satisfaction 39. Sir John Suckling was sent unto him from the King The Bishops wariness in resigning the Seale to demand the broad Seale of him which the cautious Bishop refused to surrender into his hands to prevent such uses as might be made thereof by him or others in the intervall betwixt this resigning it and the Kings conferring it on another but he charily locked it up in a Box and sent the Box by the Knight and Key thereof inclosed in a letter to his Majesty 40. However his bruise was the less But keeps his Bishoprick because he fell but from the first Loft and saved himself on the second Floere Outed his Lord Keepership but keeping his Bishoprick of Lincoln and Deanarie of Westminster though forced to part with the Kings Purse he held his owne and that well replenished And now he is retired to Bugden-great where whither greater his anger at his enemies for what he had lost or gratitude to God for what he had left though others may conjecture his owne Conscience only could decide Here we leave him at his hospitable Table where sometimes he talked so loud that his discourse at the second hand was heard to London by those who bare no good will unto him 41. An old Hall turned into a new Colledge A new Colledge of an old Hall in Oxford was this yeare finished at Oxford This formerly was called Broadegates Hall and had many Students therein amongst whom Edmund Bonner afterwards Bishop of London Scholar enough and Tyrant too much had his education But this place was not endowed with any Revenues till about this time for Thomas Tisdale of Glimpton in the County of Oxford Esquire bequeathed five thousand Pounds wherewith Lands were purchased to the value of two hundred and fiftie pounds per annum Anno Dom 16â—â— Anno Regis Caroli 1 for the maintenance of seven Fellowes and six Scholars Afterwards Richard Wightwick Bachelor of Divinity Rector of East-Isle in Barkshire gave Lands to the yearly value of one hundred pounds for the maintenance of three Fellowes and four Scholars whereupon petition being made to King James this new Colledge was erected and a Charter of Mortmain of seven hundred pounds per annum granted thereunto 42. It was called Pembrook Colledge Called Pembrook Colledge partly in respect to William Earle of Pembrook then Chancellor of the University partly in expectation to receive some favour from him And probably had not that noble Lord died suddenly soon after this Colledge might have received more than a bare Name from him The best where a Child hath rich parents it needeth the less any gifts from the Godfather Masters Benefactors Bishops Learned Writers 1 Dr. Clayton 2 Dr. Langley King Charles who gave the Patronage of St. Aldates the Church adjoyning   So that this Colledge consisteth of a Master ten Fellowes and ten Scholars with other Students and Officers to the number of one hundred sixty nine 43. The Doctor and the Duke were both of them unwilling to an openbreach loved for to temporise and wait upon events Surely Temperise here is taken in the Apostle sense according to some * Dr. Prestons Life p 505. * Rom. 12. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ambiosius copies serving the Times And henceforwards the Duke resolved to shake off the Doctor who would not stick close unto him betaking himself to the opposite Interest Nor was the other surprized herein as expecting the alteration long before 44. By the late conferences at York-house it appeared Dr. Preston declines in the Dukes favour that by the Dukes cold carriage towards him and smiling on his Opponents Dr. Preston was now entring into the Autumn of the Dukes favour Indeed they were well met each observing neither trusting other as I read in the Doctors Life written by his judicious Pupil 45. This year concluded the life of Arthur Lakes The death of godly Bishop Lakes Warden of New-Colledge in Oxford Master of St. Crosses Dean of Worcester and at last promoted Bishop of Bath and Wells not so much by the power of his Brother Sir Thomas Secretarie to King James as his own desert as one whose piety may be justly exemplary to all of his Order He seldom if at all is said to have dreamt justly imputed not to the dulness of his fancie in which faculty he had no defect but to the staidness of his judgment wherein he did much excell as by his learned Sermons doth appear 46. About the sametime Lancelot Andrews ended his religious life The death and character of Bishop Andrews born at Alhollows-Barking in London Scholar Fellow and Master of Pembrook-Hall in Cambridge Then Deane of Westminster Bishop of Chicester Ely and at last of Winchester The world wanted learning to know how learned this Man was so skil'd in all especially oriental Languages that some conceive he might if then living almost have served as an INTERPRETER GENERALL at the confusion of Tongues Nor are the Fathers more faithfully cited in his books than lively copied out in his countenance and carriage his gravity in a manner awing King James who refrained from that mirth and liberty in the presence of this Prelate which otherwise he assumed to himself He lyeth buried in the Chappell of St. Mary Overees having on his Monument a large elegant a Stows Survay of London pag. and TRUE Epitaph 47. Since his death some have unjustly snarld at his memory accusing him for covetousness Anno Regis Car. 1. 2. Anno Dom 1626 Unjustly accused for Covetousness who was neither rapax to get by unjust courses as a profest enemy to usury simony and bribery nor tenax to hold money when just occasion called for it for in his life time he repaired all places he lived in and at his death left the main of his Estate to pious uses Indeed he was wont to say that Good Husbandry was good Divinity the truth whereof no wise man will deny 48. Another falls foully upon him for the ornaments of his Chappel as Popish and superstitious And Superstition in the b
magnificence 36. But it was the banquet Where the Doctors of Cambridge wait on His Majesty which made the feast so compleat Hither came the Heads of the University of Cambridge in their scarlet Gowns and corner Caps where Mr. Rob Naunton the Orator made a learned Latin Oration wherewith His Majesty was highly affected The very variety of Latin was welcome to His ears formerly almost surfeited with so many long English Speeches made to Him as He passed every Corporation The Heads in generall requested a Confirmation of their Priviledges otherwise uncourtlike at this present to petition for particulars which His Highnesse most willingly granted Here one might have seen the King passing over all other Doctors for His Seniours apply Himselfe much in His discourse to Dr. Montague Master of Sidney Colledge This was much observed by the Courtiers who can see the Beams of Royall favour shining in at a small cranny interpreting it a token of his great and speedy preferment as indeed it came to passe 37. Within the compasse of this last year The death of Mr. Perkins but in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth died that worthy and painfull servant of Jesus Christ Mr. William Perkins whose life I have f in my Holy State formerly written and therefore forbear any repetition He was buried in his own Parish-Church of S. Andrews in Cambridge Only I will adde it sadded me lately to see that Church wherein this Saint was interred ready to fall to the ground Iacob said of Bethel the house of God g Gen 28. 17. How dreadful is this place I am sorry it may in a farre different sense be said of this S. Andrews filling such as approach to it with fear of the ruins thereof I say no more but as David was glad to go up into the house of the Lord all good men may be sorrowfull to behold Gods ruinous House comming down to them Iohn Cowell Vicecan 1603-4 Iohn Andrews Major 2. Richard Claton Vicecan 1604-5 John Edmonds Robert Wallis Major It was enacted in Parliament Recusants Presentations given to the Universities That the Chancellour Anno. Reg. Jac. 3. and Scholars of the University of Cambridge shall have the Presentation Ann. Dom. 1604-05 Nomination Collation and Donation of and to every such Benefice Prebend or Ecclesiaticall Living School Hospital and Donative as shall happen to be void during such time as the Patrone thereof shall be and remain a Recusant convict in the Counties Of Essex Hartford Bedford Cambridge Huntington Suffolke Norfolke Rutland Leiceister Lincolne Derbie Nottingham Shrop shire Chesshire Lancaster Yorke Bish of Duresme Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Radnor Denbigh Flint Carnarvon Merianith Glamorgan Anglesey The other moyety of Counties was bestowed on Oxford In this division the greater half of the Land fell to the share of Cambridge whether we reckon the number of Shires being more or measure the extent of Ground being greater or consider the main matter herein that Recusant-Patrones were most numerous in the Northern parts of the Kingdome 38. However The Statute how frequently frustrated by Recusants I have heard it oft complained of That this Statute took not effect according to the true intent thereof either because many Bishops were very backward in giving Institutions on the Presentations of the University wherein we are willing to believe the fault not in them but their Officers Or because it is so hard a thing to prove or convict the legal conviction of a Papist Or Recusant-Patrons before their conviction had such sleights by pre-conveyances to make over their Advowsances to others Hence it was that many Clerks presented by the University were wearned ou◠with vexatious suits overpoised with the weight of Popish-Patrons purses and forced at last either totally to relinquish their title or to make an hard not to say sometimes an unworthy composition 39. About this time also it was Burgesses granted the Universities that the two Universities were honoured by the King to have their respective Burgesses to represent them in Parliament Samuel Harsnet Vicecan 4 Mil Raven Edward Sent Proct. 1605-06 John Edmonds Major Roger Goad Vicecan 5. Will Barton Sam Tindall Proct. 1606-07 William Arthur Major 40. Thomas Playfer The death and high Epitaph of Dr. Playfer D. D. Fellow of S. Johns Coll and Margaret Professour died this year and was buried in the Chancell of S. Buttolfs Church where this is part of his Epitaph Minister ille Triados enthei logii Oraculum patronus artium parens Sciarum concionum Rex sacrae Cathedrae Imperator fulmen tonitru scholae Suadae maritus ac gemellus Ingenî Ardor eorum exterae gentis stupor c. Should this Epiteph come under the hands of those Grecian Officers deputed to proportion mens Monuments to their merits it is suspitious they would make bold to pare part therof though indeed the Doctor was one of excellent parts and a great commander of the Latine Tongue Ann. Dom. 1606-07 Doctor John Davenant succeeded in the Professours place Ann. Reg. Jac. 5. Robert Soame Thomas Iegon Vicecan George Dearing Thomas Cecill Proct. 1606-08 Jeremy Chase Major 6. John Duport Vicecan 1608-09 Richard Bridges Anth Disborough Proct. 7. Thomas French Major Fogg Newton Vicecan 1609-10 Abraham Bidle Leonard Mawe Proct. 8. Thomas French Major Barnab Gouge Vicecan 1610-11 John Aungier Will Adison Proct. 9. Thomas French Major 41. About this time William Amese Fellow of Christs Colledge in Cambridge Master Amese troubled about his Sermon in S. Maryes on S. Thomas his day had to use his own * in a Letter I have of his to his friend expression the place of a Watch-man for an hour in the Towre of the University and took occasion to inveigh against the liberty taken at that time especially in such Colledges who had Lords of misrule a Pagan relique which he said as * Lib. 5. cap. 2. Polidore Virgil obserueth remaineth onely in England 42. Hence he proceeded to condemn all playing at Cards and Dice Against all playing at Cards and Dice affirming that the later in all Ages was accounted the device of the Devil that as God invented the one and twenty letters whereof he made the Bible the Devil saith an * Antonius Author found out the one and twenty pricks of the Die that Canon Law forbad the use thereof seeing * Langecruchius inspeculo Inventio Diaboli nullâ consuetudine potest validari 43. His Sermon gave much offence to many of his Auditors He leaveth the Colledge the rather because in him there was a concurrence of much non-conformity insomuch that to prevent an expulsion from Doctor Cary the Master he fairly forsook the Colledge which proved unto him neither losse nor disgrace being not long after by the States of Freezland chosen Professour in their University Valentine Cary Vicecan 1611-12
subscribing the same Chaâ—â—er Afterward Harold usurpeth the Crown Will. Conq. 1. but enjoyed it not a â—ull year 1067 kill'd in Battle-fight Harold Crowned killed buried at 〈◊〉 thaâ— by King William the Conqueror Where either of their swords if victorious might have done the deed though otherwise both their titles twisted together could not make half a good claim to the Crown Githa Mother of Harold and two religious men of this Abby Osegod and Ailâ—iâ— with their prayers and tears hardly prevailed with the Conquerour at first denying him burial whose ambition had caused the death of so many to have Harolds Corps with his two Brethren Girth and Leofwin losing their lives in the same battle to be entombed in Waltham Church of his foundation He was buried where now the Earl of Carlile his leaden Fountain in his Garden then probably the end of the Quire or rather some Eastern Câ—appel beyond it His Tomb of plain but rich gray Marble with what seemeth a Cross-Floree but much descanted on with art upon the same supported with Pillarets one Pedestal whereof I have in my house As for his reported Epitaph I purposely omit it not so much because barbarous scarce any better in that Age but because not attested to my apprehension with sufficient Authority A Picture of King Harold in glass was lately to be seen in the North-window of the Church Deforming Reformers till ten years since some barbarous hand beat it down under the notion of Superstition Surely had such ignorant persons been imployed in the dayes of Hezekiah to purge the Temple from the former Idolatry under the pretence thereof they would have rended off the Lilie-work from the Pillars and the Lions Oxen and Cherubims from the Bases of Brass However there is still a place called Harolds-Park in our Parish by him so denominated Let not therefore the village of Harold on the North side of Oâ—se neer Bedford properly Harewood or Harelswood on vulgar groundless tradition contest with Waltham for this Kings interment The Re-foundation of WALTHAM-ABBY by HENRY the Second ONe will easily believe Waltham Canons in a sad condition that at the death of King Harold Waltham-Abby Founded by him was in a swoon and the Canons therein much disheartned However they had one help which was this that Edward the Confessour was the confirmer of their Foundation whose memory was not onely fresh and fair in all mens mindes bearing a veneration to his supposed sanctity but also King William the Conquerour had the best of his bad titles by bequest of the Crown from this Confessour So that in some sense Waltham-Abby might humbly crave kindred of King William both deriving their best being from one and the same person The industry of Rob. Fuller last Abbot of Waltham Know Reader that what ever hereafter I alledg touching the Lands and Liberties of Waltham if not otherwise attesed by some Author in the margin is by me faithfully transcribed out of Waltham Leidger-Book now in the possession of the Right Honourable JAMES Earl of Carlile This Book was collected by Robert Fuller the last Abbot of Waltham who though he could not keep his Abby from dissolution did preserve the Antiquities thereof from oblivion The Book as appears by many inscriptions in the initial Text-letters was made by himself having as happy an hand in fair and fast writing as some of his Sir-name since have been defective therein Not long after the Conquest Queen Maud gives Waltham Monks a Mill. Waltham-Abby found good Benefactors Anno Dom. 1102 and considerable additions to their maintenance Anno Regis Hen. 1 3. For Maud the first Queen to King Henry the first bestowed on them the Mill at Waltham which she had by exchange for Trinity-Church in London which I take to be part of the Trinity-Priory now called the Dukes-place Adelisia Queen Adelisia the Tythes second wife to King Henry the first 1130 being possessed of Waltham as part of her Revenue 31. gave all the Tythes thereof as well of her Demesnes as all Tenants therein to the Canons of Waltham Mean time how poorly was the Priest of the place provided for Yea a glutton Monastery in former ages makes an hungrie Ministrie in our dayes An Abby and a Parsonage unimpropriate in the same place are as inconsistent together as good woods and an Iron Mill. Had not Waltham Church lately met with a Noble Founder the Minister thereof must have kept moe fasting-dayes then ever were put in the Roman Calender King Stephen King Steven his bounty though he came a wrong way to the Crown 1135 yet did all right to the Monastery of Waltham as who generally sought the good will of the Clergie to strengthen himself and confirmed all their Lands Steph. 1 profits and priviledges unto them King Henry the second utterly dissolved the foundation of Dean and eleven Canons at Waltham King Henry dissolves the Dean and Canons at Waltham The debauchedness of their lives is rendred in his Charter as the occasion thereof 1156 Cum in ea Canonici Clericique minùs religiosè aequaliter vixissent Hen. 2 2. ita quòd inâ—amia conversationis illorum multos scandalisasset Whether these were really or onely reputed vitious God knows seeing all those must be guilty whom power is pleased to pronounce so Sure it is King Henry outed this Dean and Canons and placed an Abbot and Regular Augustinians in their room encreasing their number to twenty four And because to use the Kings own words it was fit that Christ his Spouse should have a new dowry he not onely confirmed to this Monastery the primitive patrimony mentioned in the Confessors Charter cum peciis terrae with many pieces of land and tenements which their Benefactors since bestowed upon them but also conferred the rich Manors of Sewardstone and Eppings on this Monastery The whole Charter of King Henry is too long to transcribe Augustinians substituted in their room but some passages therein must not be omitted First the King had the consent of Pope Alexander for the suppression of these Canons the rather moved thereunto quia praedictis Canonicis sufficienter provisum fuit because the aâ—oresaid expelled Canons had sufficient provision made for them For grant them never so scandalous this was to add scandal to scandal to thrust them out of house and home without any means or maintenance Secondly this Charter Presents us with the ancient liberties of Waltham-Church that Semper suit Regalis Capella ex primitiva sui sundatione nulli Archiepiscopo vel Episcopo sed taâ—â—ùm Ecclesiae Romanae Regiae dispositioni subjecta And though since Reformation the Church hath been subjected to the Arch-Bishops jurisdiction as succeeding to the Royal power and sometimes with grumbling and reluctancy to the Episcopal power yet it never as yet owned an Arch-Deacon or appeared at his Visitation The metioning of the consent of Pope
but finde him a Mecaenas and grand favourer of Learned men For when the School of b Ascham Câ—â—nend Epist fol. 210. Idem fol. 208. Sedbury in the North belonging to S t Johns in Cambridg was run to ruine the Lands thereof being sold and embezeled S r Anthony procured the reparation of the Schoole and restitution of their means firmly setling them to prevent future alienation Hear what character c M r Ascham gives of him Religio Doctrina Respublica omnes curas tuas sic occupant ut extra has tres res nullum tempus consumas Religion Learning Common-wealth so employ all thy cares that besides these three things you spend no other time Let then the enemies if any of his memory abate of this character to what proportion they please pretending it but the Orators Rhetorical Hyperbole the very remainder thereof which their malice must leave will be sufficient to speak S r Anthony a worthy and meriting Gentleman I finde an excellent Epitaph made on him by one the Learned'st of Noblemen His Epitaph made by the Lord Howard and Noblest of Learned men in his age viz. Henry Howard Earl of Surrey and eldest son to the Duke of Norfolk worthy the Reader his perusal Vpon the Death of Sir Anthony a Weavers Funeral Monuments p. 852. Denny Death and the King did as it were contend Which of them two bare Denny greatest love The King to shew his love 'gan far extend Did him advance his betters far above Neer place much wealth great honour eke him gave To make it known what power Princes have But when Death came with his triumphant gift From worldly cark he quit his wearied ghost Free from the corps and straight to Heaven it lift Now deem that can who did for Denny most The King gave wealth but fading and unsure Death brought him bliss that ever shall endure Know Reader that this Lord made this Epitaph by a Poetical Prolepsis otherwise at the reading thereof who would not conceive that the Author surviv'd the subject of his Poem Whereas indeed this Lord died beheaded 1546. in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth whom S r Anthony out-lived being one of the Executors of his Will Nor was it the worst piece of service he performed to his Master when all other Courtiers declining the employment he truly acquainted him with his dying-condition to dispose of his soul for another world S r Anthony died about the second of Edward the sixth His issue by Dame Joan his wife Dame Joan his Wife surviving him Daughter she was to S r Philip Champernoon of Modbury in Devon-shire a Lady of great beauty and parts a favourer of the Reformed Religion when the times were most dangerous She sent eight shillings by her man in a Violet coat to Anne b Fox Acts Monuments fol. 1239. Aschough when imprisoned in the Counter a small sum yet a great gift so hazardous it was to help any in her condition This Lady Joan bought the Reversion in Fee of Waltham from King Edward the Sixth paying three thousand and hundred pounds for the same purchasing therewith large priviledges in Waltham-Forest as by the Letters Patents doth appear She bare two Sons to S r Anthony Henry Denny Esquire of whom hereafter the second S r Edward who by Gods blessing Queen Elizabeths bounty and his own valour atchieved a fair estate in the County of Kerry in Ireland which at this day is if any thing in that woful war-wasted Countrey can be enjoyed by his great Grandchild Arthur Denny Esq of Tralleigh The condition of Waltham Church from the Dissolution of the Abby untill the Death of King HENRY the Eighth HAving the perusal of the Church-Wardens accounts wherein their Ancient expences and receits are exactly taken fairly written and carefully kept I shall select thence some memorable Items to acquaint us with the general devotion of those dayes Know then there were six Ordinary Obits which the Church-wardens did annually discharge viz. For Thomas Smith and Joan his wife on the sixteenth of January Thomas Friend Joan and Joan his wives on the sixteenth of February Robert Peest and Joan his wife on the tenth of April Thomas Towers and Katharine his wife the six and twentieth of April John Breges and Agnes his wife the one and thirtieth of May. Thomas Turner and Christian his wife the twentieth day of December The charge of an Obit was two shillings and two pence and if any be curious to have the particulars thereof it was thus expended To the Parish-Priest four pence to our Ladies-Priest three pence to the Charnel-Priest three pence to the two Clerks four pence to the Children these I conceive Choristers three pence to the Sexton two pence to the Bell-man two pence for two Tapers two pence for Oblation two pence Oh the reasonable rates at Waltham two shillings two pence for an Obit the price whereof in Saint Pauls in London was fourty shillings For forsooth the higher the Church the holier the service the dearer the price though he had given too much that had given but thanks for such vanities To defray the expences of these Obits the parties prayed for or their Executors left Lands Houses or Stock to the Church-Wardens Thomas Smith bequeathed a Tenement in the Corn-Market and others gave Lands in Vpshire called Pater-noster-Hills others ground elswhere besides a stock of eighteen Cows which the Wardens let out yearly to farm for eighteen shillings making up their yearly accounts at the Feast of Michael the Arch-Angel out of which we have excerpted the following remarkable particulars Anno 1542. the 34 th of HENRY the 8 th Imprimis For watching the Sepulchre a groat This constantly returnes in every yearly account though what meant thereby I know not I could suspect some Ceremony on Easter-eve in imitation of the Souldiers watching Christs grave but am loath to charge that Age with more superstition then it was clearly guilty of Item Paid to the Ringers at the coming of the Kings Grace six pence Yet Waltham Bells told no tales every time King Henry came hither having a small house in Rome-land to which he is said oft privately to retire for his pleasure Item Paid unto two men of Law for their counsel about the Church-leases six shillings eight pence Item Paid the Attorney for his Fee twenty pence Item Paid for Ringing at the Prince his coming a penny Anno 1543. the 35 th of HENRY the 8 th Imprimis Received of the Executors of S r Robert Fuller given by the said S r Robert to the Church ten pounds How is this man degraded from the Right Honourable the Lord Abbot of Waltham the last in that place to become a poor S r Robert the title of the meanest Priest in that age Yet such his charity in his poverty that besides this legacy he bequeathed to the Church a Chalice a The Church-wardens account Anno 1556. silver and gilt which they