and the City of Jerusalem from the Turks in Palestine 9. Having formerly written an whole Book of the Holy War An account of our design and particularly of King Richards atchievements therein 1190 I intend here no repetition 1. Onely our design is to give a Catalogue of some of our English Nobility who adventured their persons in the Holy War and whose Male-Posterity is eminently extant at this day I have known an excellent Musician whom no Arguments could perswade to play until hearing a Bungler scrape in the company he snatch'd the Instrument out of his hand in indignation that Musick should be so much abused then turned and played upon it himself My project herein is that giving in an imperfect list of some few noble Families who ingaged themselves in this service It will so offend some eminent Artist hitherto silent in this kinde that out of disdain he will put himself upon so honourable a work deserving a Gentleman who hath Lands Learning and leisure to undertake so costly intricate and large a subject for the honor of our Nation And be it premised that to prevent all cavils about precedency first come first serv'd I shall Marshal them in no other method but as in my studies I have met with the mention of them 10. To begin with the place of my present habitation Anno Regis Rich. prim 1. one Hugh Nevil attended King Richard into the Holy War Anno Dom. 1190 and anciently lieth buried in a Marble Monument Nevil Kill Lion his performance in Palestine in the Church of Waltham Abbey in Essex whereof no remainders at this day This Hugh Nevil being one of the Kings special samiliars slew a Lion in the Holy Land first driving an arrow into his Breast and then running him through with his sword on whom this Verse was made a Mat. Paris Anno Dom 1222. Viribus Hugonis vires periêre Leonis The strength of Hugh A Lion slew If Benaiah the son of Jehoiadah was recounted the fifth amongst Davids worthies for b 2 Sam. 23. 20. killing a Lion in the middest of a pit in the time of snow surely on the same reason this bold and brave Baron Hugh ought to be entred into the Catalogue of the Heroes of his Soveraign But I cannot give credit to c Weavers Fun. Mon. pag. 644. his report who conceiveth that the Atchievement of the man was translated to his Master And that on this occasion King Richard the first got the name of Cordelion or Lions Heart 11. This Hugh Nevil gave the Manor of d Registrum Cart Abbat de Waltham Thorndon to Waltham Abby Ancesters to the Noble numerous Nevils and was Ancester of the Noble and numerous Family of the Nevils to which none in England equal for Honor Wealth and number in the later end of King Henry the sixth though at this day the Lord Abergavenny be the only Baron thereof He gave for his Armes a Cross Saltire or the Cross of S t Andrew probably assuming it in the Holy War For though I confess this is not the proper Cross of Hierusalem yet was it highly esteemed of all those who adventured thither as may appear in that all Knights-Templers make such Saltire Cross with their Thwarted Leggs upon their Monuments 12. Giralde de Talbote succeeds in the second place Giralde de Talbote whence the house of Shrewsbury When Articles were drawn up between our King Richard in his passage to Palestine and Tancred King of Sicily for the mutual observation of many Conditions betwixt them He put in upon their Oaths for his Sureties a Grand-Jury of his principal Subjects then present viz. two Arch-Bishops two Bishops and twenty other of his Prime Nobility expressed in his Letters e R. Hoveden pars poster 〈◊〉 in Rich. primo Patents Besides many other whose names were concealed Of these twenty the aforesaid Girald de Talbote is the first whose Male Issue and Name is extant at this day flourishing in the Right Honourable Family of the Earls of Shrewsbury 13. Next amongst the Royal Jurors as I may term them was Guarrin Fitz-Girald Guarrin Fitz Girald from whom the Earls of Kildare and Barons of Windsor from whom are descended the Fitz Giralds in Ireland where their name is in some places Provincial of whom the Earl of Kildare is chief A memorial of their service in Palestine is preserved in their Armes giving Argent a Cross Saltire Gules Here it must be remembred that the valiant sprightly Gentleman Hickman Lord Windsor is descended from the same f See Camd. Brit. in Berkshire Male Ancestors with the Fitz Giralds as Robert Glover a most exquisite Herald doth demonstrate though according to the fashion of that age altering his old and assuming a new name from Windsor the place of his office and Command This Lord Windsor carrieth the Badg of his Service in his Arms being essentially the same with the Earl of Kildares save that the colours are varied the field Gules and cross Saltire Argent betwixt twelve Crosses crossed OR Which Coat seemingly sursited was conceived in that age the more healthful for the same the more Crossed the more Blessed being the Devotion of those dayes 14. Four other Gentlemen of quality remain mentioned in that Parent A Quaternion more of adventures William de Curcy Father to John the valiant Champion and Conqueror of Ireland Robert de Novo Burgo Hugh le Brain and Amaury de Mountford of all whom formerly in our Alphabetical Comment on Abby Roll. Anno Dom. 1191. Anno Regis Rich. Prim. 2. 15. At the siege of Acres or Ptolemais the Grave General of the Christian Army amongst many Worthies dying there within the compass of one year Ingleram 〈◊〉 his posterity I finde a 〈…〉 pag. 655. Ingelram de Fiennes to be slain from whom the Lord Viscount Say and Seal and the Lord Dacres of the South derive their discent But most visible are the remains of the Holy War in the atchievement of Theophilus Finnes alias Clinton Earl of Lincoln giving in the lower parts of his shield in a field Argent six Crosses crossed Fitchee Sable denoting the stability and firmness of his Ancestors in that service 16. Also at the aforesaid Siege of Acres Radulphus De Alta ripa Radulphus de Alta ripa Arch-Deacon of Colchester ended his life Now although because a Clergy-man he could not then leave any lawful Issue behinde him Yet we may be confident that the Ancient Family De Alta ripa or Dautry still continuing in b Camd. Brit. ibid. Sussex were of his Alliance 17. Before we leave the Siege of Acres let me refresh the Reader with my innocent and give me leave to say provable mistake A mistake freely confest I conceived the Noble Family of the Lord Dacres took their Sir-name from some service there performed confirmed in my conjecture 1. Because the
installed Priors some voted as Barons in Parliament whereof formerly as the Prior of Canterbury and Coventrie But when the Abbot was Superintendent there the person termed Prior was his subordinate who in his absence in mitred Abbeys by courtesie was saluted the Lord Prior. 3. Secondly The Sub-Prior the Sub-Prior as Hugo Balciam Sub-Prior of Elie Founder of Peter-House Quaere whether any complement descended so low as to Lord the Sub-Prior in the absence of the Prior and Abbot As for the third Prior and fourth Prior for such Diminutives c In the subscri of the Chron. of the August of Cant. p. 2294. appear they come not within the suspition of so much favour 4. Thirdly The Secretary the Secretary who was the Register Auditour and Chancellour of the Covent it being proper to his place to write and return Letters and manage the most learned employments in the Monastery 5. With him the Camerarius The Chamberlain or Chamberlain may seem to contest for precedency as keeping the keyes of the Treasury issuing out and receiving in all considerable summes of money in which notion the Chamberlaine of London holdeth his name 6. Fiftly The Cellerer the Cellarius or Cellerarius a Place of more power and profit than the name may seem to import He was the Burser who bought in all provisions and appointed the pittances for the severall Monks and in some Houses he was d John Brakeland Secundus Pater in Monasterio as in the Abbey of Burie where a large part of the Buildings was assigned for his Residence and Lands for his Maintenance These Cellerers were brave blades much affecting Secular gallantry For I finde it e Burchard inde Index Gâ—s 8. Gal. complained of that they used to swagger with their swords by their sides like lay-Gentlemen 7. The remaining Officers are best reckoned up by the Canonical rooms as I may term them in an Abbey The Gate-house each giving denomination to him who had the inspection thereof I begin with the Gate-house and its relative the Porter an office I assure you of some trust in an Abbey to know what guests and when especially at the postern are to be admitted thereunto The Refectory 8. The next room is the Refectorium and Refectorius the f Chron. August Cant. p. 2294. Controller thereof It was the Hall wherein the Monks dined together and sometimes the Abbot on great solemnities graced them with his presence when he had g In Vitis p. 141. Vastellum that is not common bread but vastell bread h See Glossarie of Will. Somner or simnels for his diet 9. Adjoyning to it was the Locutorium The Parlour or Parlour because there leave was given for the Monks to discourse who were enjoyned silence elsewhere Thus we read how Paul the fourteenth Abbot of S. Albans made it penal for any to talk in the Cloister Church Refectory or Dormitory 10. The Oriol Oriolium i In Vitis p. 100. or the Oriol was the next room Why so called some of the name-sake Colledge in Oxford are best able to satisfie Sure I am that small excursion out of Gentlemen's Halls in Dorcetshire respect it East or West is commonly called an Orial The use hereof is known for Monks who were in latitudine morbi rather distempered than diseased to dine therein it being cruelty to thrust such into the Infirmarie where they might have died with the conceit of the sicknesse of others 11. Dormitorium The Dormitorie the Dormitorie where they all slept together it being ordered in the Councel k Sub Ludov. Imp. Au. 816. cap. 134. of Aquisgrane Nisi in Dormitorio cum caeteris absque causae inevitabili nemo dormire praesumpserit 12. Lavatorium succeeds The Laundry generally called the Laundrey where their clothes were washed Haply it was also the place such in the West-side of Westminster-cloysters where all the Monks at the Conduit washed their hands there being as much good fellowship in washing as eating together 13. Scriptorium remains a room where the Chartularius was busied in writing especially employed in the transcribing of these Books Their 1. Ordinals containing the Rubrick of their Missal and Directorie of their Priests in Service 2. Consuetudinals presenting the antient customs of their Covents 3. Troparies 4. Collectaries wherein the Ecclesiastical Collects were fairly written 14. Next this the Librarie The Library which most great Abbeys had exactly furnished with variety of choice Manuscripts 15. All is marred if the Kitchin be omitted The Kitchin so essential a requisite in an Abbey with the Larder and Pantrey the necessary suburbs thereof 16. Come we now their Abbey-Church The severall parts in the Church where we first meet their 1. Cloisters consecrated ground as appeares by their solemne Sepultures therein 2. Navis Ecclesiae or Body of the Church 3. Gradatorium a distance containing the ascent out of the former into the Quire 4. Presbyterium or the Quire on the right side whereof was the Stall of the Abbot and his on the lefe side the Prior and his moiety of Monks who alternately chaunted the Responsals in the Service 5. Vestiarium the Vestiarie where their Copes and Clothes were deposited 6. A Vaulta l In Vitis pag. 225. a Vault being an arched-room over part of the Church which in some Abbeys as S. Albans was used to enlarge their Dormitorie where the Monks had twelve beds for their repose 7. Concameratio being an arched-room betwixt the East-end of the Church and the m In Viâ—â—s pag. 521. High Altar so that in Procession they might surround the same founding their fancie on n Psal 26. 6. David's expression and so will I compass thine Altar O Lord. As for the other Rooms of the Church Cerarium where their wax candles were kept Campanile their Steeple Polyandrium the Church-yard and sometime the Charnel-house let such be consulted with who have written large Volumes on this subject who will also inform them of the Dignities and Duties of the Praecentor Sacrist Sub-sacrist Capellane Ostiarie Vestiarie Ceroferarie c. belonging thereunto The remaining Rooms of an Abbey stood a distance from the main structure thereof To begin with the best first Eleëmosynaria or the Almorie being a building neer or within the Abbey wherein poor and impotent persons did live maintained by their Charity 17. Secondly The Centurie Sanctuarium of the Centurie wherein Debtours taking refuge from their Creditours Malefactours from the Judge lived the more the pity in all security 18. Thirdly The Firmorie Infirmarium or the Firmorie the Curatour whereof Infirmarius wherein persons down-right sick trouble to others and troubled by others if lodging in the Dormitorie had the benefit of Physick and attendance private to themselves No Lent or Fasting-dayes came ever the threshold of this roome Sicknesse being a Dispensation for the eating of Flesh It was punishable for any to eate therein
cruell to cast off were sent by their Masters to such Abbeys where they had plentifull food during their lives Now though some of those Corrodies where the property was altered into a set summe of money was solvable out of the Exchequer after the dissolution of Abbeys yet such which continued in kinde was totally extinct and no such Diet hereafter given where both Table and House were overturned The Premisses proved by instance in the Family of the Berkeleys THe Noble Family of the Berkeleys may well give an Abbots Mitre for the Crest of their Armes because so loving their Nation and building them so many Synagogues Hence it was that partly in right of their Auncestors partly by their Matches with the Co-heirs of the Lord Mowbray and Seagrave in the Vacancies they had a right of Nomination of an Abbot in following Foundations Place Founder Order Value 1. St. Augustines in Bristoll 2. Burton Laus in Leicester shire 3. Byland or Bella-Launda in York sh 4. Chancomb in Northhampton shire 5. Combe in Warwick shire 6. Croxton in Leicester shire 7. Edworth in the Isle of Axholme in Lincoln-shire 8. Fountains 9. Kirkby in Leicestershire 10. Newburge in Yorkshire 1. Robert Fitz-Harding whose posterity assumed the name of Berkeley 2. The Lord Mowbray in the Reign of K. Henry the first 3. Robert de Mowbray Gonnora his Mother 4. Hugh de Anaf Kn t in the time of the Conq. whose Son Robert took the name of Chaâ—comb Annabisia his daughter was married to Gilbert Lord Seagrave 7. Tho Mowbray Earl of Notingham in the Reign of K. Rich. the 2. to which the Mowbrays were grand Benefactors 9. Roger de Beller who held this Manour of the Lord Mowbray 1. Black Canons of the Order of S. Victor 2. Leprous people professing the Order of S. Augustine 6. Premonstratentian Monks 7. Carthusians 9. Canons Regular of S. Augustine l. s. d. ob q. 767.15.3.0.0 458.19.11.1.1 7.290.14 178.7.10 0 1 What shall I speak of the small Houses of Longbridge and Tintern in Gloucestershire not mentioned in Speed the Hospitals of S. Katharine and Mary Maudlins neer Bristol the well endowed Schoole of Wotton Underhedge in Glocester shire besides forty Chanteries founded by the Berkeleys yea I have read in a Manuscript belonging unto them no lesse judiciously than industriously composed by Mr. John Smith who did and received many good offices to and from that Family as is mutually confessed that the forenamed Abbeys and others held of the Lord Berkeley at the dissolution no fewer than eighty Knights fees and payed services unto them accordingly all which are now lost to the value of ten thousand pounds within the compasse of few years 2. Nor will it be amisse to insert Rob. Derby last Abbot of Croxton that Robert Derby the last Abbot of Croxton was presented thereunto April 22. the 26 of King Henry the eighth by Thomas the sixt of that name Lord Berkeley the place being void by the death of one Atter cliffe belonging to his presentation by inheritance And in the Record he commandeth the Prior and Convent to receive and obey him as Abbot Ingratitude to their Founders a grand fault in many Abbeys INgratitude is the abridgement of all basenesse If unthankfull all bad a fault never found unattended with other vitiousness This is justly charged on the account of many Abbeys whose stately structures grew so proud as to forget the Rock whence they were Hewen and the Hole of the Pit whence they were digged unthankfull to such Founders who under God had bestowed their maintenance upon them 2. One instance of many Great bounty Vast was the liberality of the Lord Berkeleys to S. Austins in Bristoll leaving themselves in that their large Estate not one Rectory to which they might present a Chaplaine all the Benefices in their numerous Manours being appropriated to this and other Monasteries Now see the Requitall 3. Maurice Ill required the first of that name Lord Berkeley having occasion to make the ditch about his Castle the broader for the better fortifying thereof took in some few feet of ground out of Berkeley Church-yard which Church with the Tithes thereof his Ancestors had conferred on the aforesaid Monastery The Abbot beholding this as a great trespasse or rather as a little sacriledge so prosecuted the aforesaid Lord with Church-censures that he made him in a manner cast the dirt of the ditch in his own face inforcing him to a publick confession of his fault and to give Five shillings rent for ever with some Tithes and Pasture for as many Oxen as would till a Plow-land by the words of his Will Pro emendatione culpa meae de fossato quod feci de Coemiterio de Berkeley circa castellum meum 4. I know it will be pleaded for the Abbot that there is as much right in an inch as in an ell Summum jâ—â— that he was a Fiduciary intrusted to defend the rights of his Covent that Founders Heirs are not priviledged to doe injuries yea they of all persons most improper to take back what their Ancestors have given However the Lords incroachment on the Church-yard being in a manner done in his own defence the thing in it self so small and the merit of his Ancestors so great to that Abbey might have met with that meeknesse which should be in the brests of all Spirituall persons to abate his rigorous prosecution against him 5. Thomas the first Lord Berkeley of that name Another instance of ingratitude found little better usage from the Abbot of S. Austines though he had formerly besides confirmation of many Lands conferred on that Convent pasture for Twenty four Oxen discharging also their Lands lying within certain of his Manours from all Services and Earthly demands onely to remember him and his in their prayers yet did that Abbot and Convent implead him before the Popes Delegates for Tythes of Paunage of his Woods for Tythes of his Fishing and of his Mills The Lord removed the Suit to Common Law as challenging the sole power to regulate Modum Dicimandi And now when all was ready for a Tryall before the Judge irinerant at Gloucester it was compounded by Friends on such Terms as the Abbot in effect gained his desire 6. Indeed A cause of their â—uine so odious and obvious was the unthankfulnesse of some Convents that it is reputed by some the most meritorious Cause of their Dissolution and their doing things without and against the Will of their Founders is instanced in the * For the dissolution of Chanteries Colledges 37 of Hen. 8. cap. 4. An overwise conceit Statute as a main Motive to take them away 7. Some who pretend to a Prometheus wit fondly conceive that the Founders of Abbeys might politickly have prevented their dissolution had they inserted a provision in their Foundations That in case Abbey Lands should be alienated to other uses against or besides the Owners intents then such
the Ignorant with much Veneration Now at the dissolution of Abbeys it was brought up to London and burnt at the Gallows in Smithfield with Fryer Forrest executed for a Traytor 13. A Prophecie was current in the Abbey of Glassenborough Haret Delphinus in ulmo That a Whiting should swim on the top of the Torr thereof which is a steep hill hard by and the credulous Countrey people understood it of an eruption of the Sea which they suspected accordingly It happened that Abbot Whiting the last of Glassenbury was hanged thereon for his Recusancy to Surrender the Abbey and denying the King's Supremacy so swimming in aire and not water and waved with the winde in the place 14. We will close all with the Propheticall Mottoes at leastwise as men since have expounded them of the three last successive Abbots of Glocester Propheticall Mottoes inscribed in Glocester Church because much of modesty and something of piety contained therein 1. Abbot Boulers Memento memento that is as some will have it Remember remember this Abbey must be dissolved 2. Abbot Sebruck Fiat voluntas Domini that is if it must be dissolved the will of the Lord be done 3. Abbot Mauborn Mersos reatâ— suscita Raise up those which are drowned in guiltiness Which some say was accomplished when this Abbey found that favour from King Henry the eighth to be raised into a Bishoprick But I like the Text better than the Coment and there is more humility in their Mottoes than solidity in the Interpretations That many precious Books were embezeled at the dissolution of Abbeys to the irreparable losse of learning THe English Monks were bookish of themselves English Libraries excellently furnished and much inclined to hoord up monuments of learning Britain we know is styled Another world and in this contradistinction though incomparably lesse in quantity acquits it self well in proportion of famous Writers producing almost as many Classical School-men for her Natives as all Europe besides Other excellent Books of forraign Authors were brought hither purchased at dear rates if we consider that the Presse which now runs so incredibly fast was in that Age in her infancie newly able to goe alone there being then few Printed Books in comparison of the many Manuscripts These if carefully collected and methodically compiled would have amounted to a Librarie exceeding that of Ptolomie's for plenty or many Vaticans for choicenesse and rarity Yea had they been transported beyond the seas sent over and sold entire to such who knew their value and would preserve them England's losse had been Europe's gain and the detriment the lesse to Learning in generall Yea many years after the English might have repurchased for pounds what their Grand-fathers sold for fewer pence into forraign parts 2. But alas The miserable martyrdome of innocent Books those Abbeys were now sold to such Chap-men in whom it was questionable whether their ignorance or avarice were greater and they made havock and destruction of all As Broakers in Long-lane when they buy an old suit buy the lineings together with the out-side so it was conceived meet that such as purchased the buildings of Monasteries should in the same grant have the Libraries the stuffing thereof conveyed unto them And now these ignorant owners so long as they might keep a Lieger-book or Terrier by direction thereof to finde such stragling acres as belonged unto them they cared not to preserve any other Monuments The covers of books with curious brasse bosses and claspes intended to protect proved to betray them being the baits of covetousness And so many excellent Authors stripp'd out of their cases were left naked to be burnt or thrown away Thus Esop's cock casually lighting on a pearl preferr'd a grain before it yet he left it as he found it and as he reaped no profit by the pearl it received no damage by him Whereas these cruell Cormorants with their barbarous beaks and greedy claws rent tore and tatter'd these inestimable pieces of Antiquity Who would think that the Fathers should be condemn'd to such servile employment as to be Scavengers to make clean the foulest sink in mens bodies Yea which is worse many an antient manuscript Bible cut in pieces to cover filthy Pamphlets so that a case of Diamond hath been made to keep dirt within it yea the Wisemen of Gotham bound up in the Wisdome of Solomon 3. But hear how John Bale John Bale lamentably bemoaneth thâ—â—massacre a man sufficiently averse from the least shadow of Popery hating all Monkery with a perfect hatred complained hereof to King Edward the sixt a In his Declaration upon Leland's Journall Anno 1549. Covetousnesse was at that time so busie about private commodity that publick Wealth in that most necessary and of respect was not any where regarded A number of them which purchased those superstitious mansions reserved of those Library-books some to serve their jakes some to scour their candlesticks and some to rub their boots some they sold to the Grocers and Sope sellers and some they sent over sea to the Book binders not in small number but at times whole ships full Yea the Universities of this Realme are not all clear in this detestable fact But cursed is that belly which seeketh to be fed with so ungodly gains and so deeply shameth his naturall Countrey I know a Merchant-man which shall at this time be namelesse that bought the contents of two noble Libraries for fourty shillings price a shame it is to be spoken This stuffe hath he occupied instead af gray paper by the space of more than these ten years and yet he hath store enough for as many years to come A prodigious example is this and to be abhorred of all men which love their Nations as they should doe Yea what may bring our Realm to more shame and rebuke than to have it noised abroad that we are despisers of learning I judge this to be true and utter it with heavinesse that neither the Britains under the Romans and Saxons nor yet the English people under the Danes and Normans had ever such damage of their learned monuments as we have seen in our time Our posterity may well curse this wicked fact of our Age this unreasonable spoil of Englands most noble antiquities 4. What soul can be so frozen Learning recelveth an incurable wound by the losse of books as not to melt into anger hereat What heart having the least spark of ingenuiry is not hot at this indignity offered to literature I deny not but that in this heap of Books there was much rubbish Legions of lying Legends good for nothing but fewell whose keeping would have caused the losse of much pretious time in reading them I confesse also there were many volumes full fraught with superstition which notwithstanding might be usefull to learned men except any will deny Apothecaries the priviledge of keeping poison in their shops when they can make antidotes of them But be
1238. Ran. Cistrensis l. ult c. 34. T. Walsingham in Hypodigm Nenstriae Oxford took up his Lodging in the Abbey of Osney To him the Scholars in Oxford sent a Present of Victuals before dinner and after dinner came to tender their attendance unto him The Porter being an Italian demanded their business who answered him that they came to wait on the Lord Legate promising themselves a courteous Reception having read in b Prov. 18. 16. Ill requited Scripture A man's gift maketh room for him though here contrary to expectation they were not received Call it not Clownishness in the Porter because bred in the Court of Rome but carefulnesse for the safety of his Master 13. But whilst the Porter held the Doore in a dubious posture betwixt open and shut the Scholars forced their entrance In this juncture of time it unluckily happened that a poor Irish Priest begged an Almes in whose face the Clark of the Kitchin cast scalding-water taken out of the Caldron A Welsh Clerk beholding this bent his Bow by this time the Scholars had got VVeapons and shot the Clark of the Kitchin stark dead on the place 14. This Man thus killed The Legate's Brother kill'd by the Scholars of Oxford was much more then his plain place promised him to be as no meaner then the Brother of the Legate himself who being suspicious O how jealous is guiltinesse that he might find Italy in England and fearing to be poisoned appointed his Brother to over-see all food for his own eating And now the three Nations of Irish Welsh and English fell down-right on the Italians The Legate fearing as they came from the same VVombe to be sent to the same Grave with his Brother Anno Dom. 1238 secured himself fast locked up in the Tower of Osney Church Anno Regis Henrici 3. 22. and there â—at still and quiet all attired in his Canonicall Cope 15. But he it seems The Legate flies to the King trusted not so much to his Canonicall Cope as the Sable Mantle of Night under the Protection whereof he got out with a Guide to make his escape not without danger of drowning in the dark being five times to crosse the River then swelling with late rain as much as the Scholars with anger He made Fordes where he found none all known passages being way-laid and heard the Scholars following after railing on and calling him Vsurer Simoniack Deceiver of the Prince Oppressour of the people c. whilst the Legate wisely turned his Tongue into Heeles spurring with might and main to Abington where the Court then lay Hither he came being out of all breath and Patience so that entring the King's presence his Tears and Sighs were fain to relieve his Tongue not able otherwise to expresse his Miseries whom the King did most affectionatly compassionate 16. And now Woe to the poor Clergy of Oxford Oxford in a sad condition when both temporall and spirituall Armes are prepared against them Next day the King sent the Earle Warren with Forces against them and a double Commission Eripere arripere to deliver the remainder of the Italians little better then besieged in Osney Abbey and to seize on the Scholars of whom thirty with one Othe Legista forward it seems in the Fray against the Legate his Name-sake were taken Prisoners and sent like Felons bound in Carts to VValling ford-prison and other places of Restraint 17. Nor was the Legate lazy the while Interdicted by the Legate but summoning such Bishops as were nearest him interdicted the Vniversity of Oxford and excommunicated all such as were partakers in the Tumult which were not the young fry of Scholars but Clerks in Order and many of them Beneficed and now deprived of the profit of their Livings 18. From Abington the Legate removed to London Who returns to London lodging at Durham-house in the Strand the King commanding the Major of London to keep him as the Apple of his eye with watch and ward constantly about him Hither he assembled the Bishops of the Land to consider and consult about Reparation for so high an Affront 19. The Bishops pleaded hard for the Vniversity of Oxford as being the place wherein most of them had their Education The Bishops interecede for the University They alledged it was Secunda Ecclesia a second Church being the Nursery of Learning and Religion They pleaded also that the Churlishnesse of the Porter let in this sad Accident increased by the Indiscretion of those in his own Family adding also that the Clerks of Oxford had deeply smarted by their long Durance and Sufferings for their fault therein 20. Mollified with the Premisses All are reconciled the Legate at last was over-intreated to pardon the Clergy of Oxford on their solemn Submission which was thus performed They went from S t. Paul's in London to Durham-house in the Strand no short Italian but an English long Mile all on foot the Bishops of England for the more State of the Businesse accompanying them as partly accessary to their fault for pleading in their behalf When they came to the Bishop of Carlile's now VVorcester house the Scholars went the rest of their way bare-foot sine Capis Mantulis which some understand without Capes or Cloaks And thus the great Legate at last was really reconciled unto them 21. The mention of the house of the Bishop of Carlile Bishops ancient Innes in London minds me how anciently every Bishop as all principall Abbots had a House belonging to their See commonly called their Inne for them to lodge in when their occasions summoned them to London Not to mention those which still retain their Names as VVinchester Durham Ely c. We will only observe such which are swallowed up into other Houses conceiving it charitable to rescue their Memory from Oblivion House Salisbury S t. Davids Chichester Exeter Bath and Wells Landaf VVorcester Lichfi Convent Carlile Norwich York Hereford Place Fleet-street North of Bride wel Chancery lane By Temple-bar Strand Strand Strand Strand Strand Strand VVestminster Old Fish-street hill Built by Ralph Nevil Bishop of Chichester Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter Walter Lancton Bishop of Chester Ralph de Maydenction B p. of Heref. Turned into Dorcet House Small Tenements Lincolns Inne Essex House Arundel House Somerset House Somerset House Somerset House VVorcester House York House VVhite-hall A Sugar-maker ' s House I question whether the Bishop of Rochester whose Country-House at Brumlay is so nigh had ever a House in the City Let others recover the rest from Oblivion a hard task I believe they are so drowned in private Houses O let us secure to our selves a Luke 16. 9. everlasting habitations A valiant offer seing here no abiding mansion 22. Come we now to present the Reader with another offer of the Kings I fear it was not much more to represse Papal oppression b Pat. 25. of Henry the third mem
mischief against the King Witnesse the Sermon preached by him at Oxford before the Queen then in hostile pursuit after her Husband taking for this Text the words of the sick Son of the Shunamite My head my head Here his wit and malice endeavoured to reape what Gods Spirit did never intentionally sowe and urged that a bad King the distempered head of a State is past Physick or Chirurgery to be cured by Receits or Plasters but the only way is to cut it off from the Body 29. His writing was worse then his Preaching And as bad writing For when such Agents set to keep King Edward in Berkley Castle were by secret Order from R. Mortimer commanded to kill him they by letters addressed themselves for advice to this Bishop then not far off at Hereford craving his Counsel what they should do in so difficult and dangerous a matter He returned unto them a Ridling Answer altogether unpointed which carried in it Life and Death yea Life or Death as variously construed resolved to be guided and governed wholy by his direction not to dispute but do what from him was recommended unto them as knowing him able both in Conscience and Policy to advise them Life Anno Dom. 1326 and Death Anno Regis Ed. secâ—â— 19. To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good A strange apparition Life To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good Death To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good 30. This Adam Tarlton was afterwards accused of Treason Arraigned for treason he escapes the the first time in the beginning of the reign of King Edward the third and arraigned by the Kings Officers when in the presence of the King he thus boldly uttered himself My Lord the King with all due respect unto your Majesty I Adam an humble Minister and member of the Church of God and a consecrated Bishop though unworthy neither can nor ought to answer unto so hard Questions without the connivence and consent of my Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury my immediate Judge under the Pope and without the consent of other Bishops who are my Peers Three Arch-Bishops were there present in the place Canterbury York and Dublin by whose intercession Tarlton escaped at that time 31. Not long after Arraigned again and protected by the Clergy he was arraigned again at the Kings Bench the news whereof so startled the Clergie that the foresaid Arch-Bishops erected their standards I mean set up their Crosses and with ten Bishops more attended with a numerous train of well-weaponed servants advanced to the place of judicature The Kings Officers frighted at the sight fled away leaving Tarlton the Prisoner alone at the Bar whom the Arch-Bishops took home into their own custody denouncing a curse on all such who should presume to lay violent hands upon him 32. The King offended hereat caused a jury of Lay-men to be impannelled Cast the third time by a Lay-jury and proscribed and to enquire according to form of Law into the actions of the Bishop of Hereford This was a leading case and the first time that ever Lay-men passed their verdict on a Clergy-man These Jurors found the Bishop guilty whereupon the King presently seized on his Temporals he proscribed the Bishop and dispoiled him of all his moveables However afterwards he came off and was reconciled to the King and by the Pope made Bishop of Winchester where he died a thorow old man and blinded with age many envying so quiet a death to one who living had been so turbulent a person But these things happened many years after SECT To Master THOMAS WILLIAMS And Master WILLIAM VANBRVG of London Merchants AStronomers affirm that some Planets Saturn Jupiter c. are by many degrees greater then the Moon it self And this they can easily evidence by Demonstration However the Moon is bigger and shews brighter to mens eyes because of the Vicinity thereof Whilst other Stars are dimmed and diminished by their distance He is not the happiest man who has the Highest friends too remote to assist him whilst others lesser might be nearer at his need My own experience can avouch the truth thereof in relation to your Courtesies bestowed upon me SOon after his death King Edward was much lamented by those of whom in his life time he was never beloved Whether this proceeded from the meer mutability of mens minds weary to loyter long in the lazie posture of the same affection Defunctus amabitur Idem Or whether it proceeded from the pride of Mortimer whose insolence grew intolerable Or whither it was because his punishment was generally apprehended to be too heavie for his fault So that Deposition without death or at the worst death without such unhumane cruelty had been sufficient One of our English * King Edward the second half-sainted Poet-Historians acquainteth us with a passage which to my knowledge appeareth not in other Authors At Gloucester entombed faire and buried Where some say God shewed for him great grace Sith that time Anno Dom. 1326 with Miracles laudisied Oft times Anno Regis Ed. tertii 1. in diverse many case As is written there King John Harding in the life of K Ed. the second in that same place For which King Richard called the second To translate him was purposed whole and sound It is much that one but a small Saint whilst alive should be so great an one when dead as to be miraculously illustrious But every man may believe his proportion 2. Indeed great was the conformity betwixt this King Edward and that King Richard A paire of Kings well matched both being secundi the second of their name but not secundi happy in their successe And had King Richard the second known aforehand what casualtie did attend him no wonder if he secretly sympathized with his condition Both sons of valiant and beloved Fathers both of proper and amiable persons Both debauched by the ill Counsel of their dissolute companions Both deposed from their Crowns Both murdered whilst prisoners in a Clandestine and as some report self same way of Cruelty 3. Ingenuous people are very loath to believe King Edward the third accessary to his Fathers death King Edward not active in his fathers deposing otherwise then by accepting the Crown which he should have resused and antedating his own Soveraignty Which may be excused by his tender years thirteen as some fifteen as others compute them Nor is it a weak argument of his innocence with impartiall people because he reigned above fifty years and lived to be a thorow old man An happiness promised by God to such who are obedient to their Parents Besides it is considerable that this King having a numerous issue of active children of both Sexes none visibly appear a crosse unto him for any notorious undutifulnesse 4. The former part of this Kings reign affords but little Church-History
a Godwin Catal of Bps. in S. Davids Treasurer of England In whom the King much confided though T. Walsingham be pleased to dash his Memory that he was the cause of much mischief His Sir-Name speaks him English by extraction and he was of no remarkable activity He might be English or Welch by his Name but I believe the latter A man of merit sent by the King into Germany to give satisfaction of King Henries proceedings Second of that Christian and Sirname Bishop of that See a Welchman no doubt he was sent saith T. Walsangham to Spain to give account of the Kings proceedings Very loyal at the present but after his return home he sided with Owen Glendowre But though the English at this time were so severe against the Welch King Henry the seventh born in the bowels of Wales at Pembroke and assisted in the gaining of the Crown by the valour of his Country-men some years after plucked down this partition-wall of difference betwixt them admitting the Welch to English Honours and Offices as good reason equality of merits should be rewarded with equality of advancement 14. Sir John Tiptoff made afterwards Earl of Worcester put up a Petition to the Parliament The Petition of the Lords and Commons to the King against Lollards touching Lollards which wrought so on the Lords that they joined a Petition to the King Anno Regis Hen. 4 14. according to the Tenour following To our most redoubted and gracious Soveraign the King YOur humble * * Contracted by my self exactly keeping the words out of the Original Son HENRY PRINCE OF WALES and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in this present Parliament humbly shew That the Church of England hath been and now is endowed with temporal possessions by the gifts and grants as well of your Royal Progenitours as by the Ancesters of the said Lords Temporal to maintain Divine Service keep Hospitality c. to the Honour of God and the souls health of your Progenitors and the said Lords Temporal Yet now of late some at the instigation of the Enemy against the foresaid Church and Prelates have as well in publick Sermons as in Conventicles and secret places called Schools stirred and moved the people of your Kingdom to take away the said temporal Possessions from the said Prelates with which they are as rightly endowed as it hath been or might be best advised or imagined by the Laws and Customes of your Kingdom and of which they are as surely possessed as the Lords Temporal are of their inheritances Wherefore in case that this evil purpose be not resisted by your Royal Majestie it is very likely that in process of time they will also excite the people of your Kingdom for to take away from the said Lords Temporal their possessions and heritages so to make them common to the open commotion of your people There be also others who publish and cause to be published evilly and falsly among the people of your Kingdom that Richard late King of England who is gone to God and on whose soul God thorow his Grace have mercy is still alive And some have writ and published divers false pretended prophecies to the people disturbing them who would to their power live peaceably Serve God and faithfully submit and obey you their Liege Lord. Wherefore may it please your Royal Majestie in maintenance of the honour of God conservation of the Laws of the holy Church as also in the preservation of the estate of You your Children Anno Regis Hen. quart 14. and the Lords aforesaid and for the quiet of all your Kingdom to ordain by a Stature in the present Parliament by the assent of the Lords aforesaid and the Commons of your Kingdom that in case any man or woman of what estate or condition they be preach publish or maintain hold use or exercise any Schools if any Sect or Doctrine hereafter against the Catholick faith either preach publish maintain or write a schedule whereby the people may be moved to take away the Temporal Possessions of the aforesaid Prelates or preach and publish that Richard late King who is dead should still be in full life or that the Fool in Scotland is that King Richard who is dead or that publish or write any pretended Prophesies to the commotion of your people That they and every of them be taken and put in Prison without being delivered in Bail or otherwise except by good and sufficient mainprise to be taken before the Chancellour of England c. 15. See we here the Policy of the Clergie The Prince made a party against Wicklivites who had gained Prince Henry set as a Transcendent by himself in the Petition to their side entring his Youth against the poor Wicklivites and this Earnest engaged him to the greater Antipathy against them when possest of the Crown 16. Observe also the Subtilty of the Clergie in this medley Petition Complication or Royal and Prelatical interest interweaving their own interest with the Kings and endeavouring to possess him that all the Adversaries to their Superstitions were Enemies also and Traytors to his Majesty 17. Now as Conventicles were the Name of disgrace cast on Wicklivists their Schools Schools was the terme of Credit owned by the Wicklivists for the place of their meeting Whether because f Acts 19. 9. the School of Tyrannus wherein S t Paul disputed was conceived by them Senior in Scripture to any material Church Or that their teaching therein was not in intire discourses but admitted as in the Schools of interlocutory opposition on occasion 18. By Lollards all know the Wicklivites are meant Lollards why so called so called from h Trithemius in Chron. Anno 1315. Walter Lollardus one or their Teachers in Germany and not as the i Of S. Aug. Cont. M. S. Anno 1406. Monk alluded quasi lolia in ar â Domini flourishing many years before Wickliffe and much consenting with him in judgment As for the word Lollard retained in our Statutes since the Reformation it seems now as a generical name to signifie such who in their opinions oppose the setled Religion of the Land in which sense the modern Sheriffs are bound by their Oath to suppress them 19. The Parenthesis concerning King Richard Who is gone to God and on whose Soul God through his Grace have Mercy is according to the Doctrine of that Age. For they held all in Purgatory gone to God A charitable parenthesis because assured in due time of their happiness yet so that the suffrages of the Living were profitable for them Nor feared they to offend King Henry by their charitable presumption of the final happy estate of King Richard his professed Enemy knowing he cared not where King Richard was so be it not living and sitting on the English Throne 20. As for the report of King Richards being still alive King Richard why believed alive it is strange any
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
His Graces late promotion had Subverted the Faith of CHRIST as they thought which is the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Rochester Salisbury S. Davids and Dublin 3. This Lincoln shire Commotion being quickly suppressed and a right understanding begotten betwixt the King and His Subjects the Rebellious humour removed into Yorkâ—shire where no fewer than fifty thousand saith Sanders were assembled in a body under Robert Aske a mean Gentleman their Captain and one Diamond though a knave of another suit who termed himself the Earl of Poverty yet this distemper also was seasonably cured by the King's pardon and their submission till soon after a great part of them fell into a relapse of Rebellion carrying in their Ensignes the five wounds of our Saviour the Chalice wiâ—h the Hoste and the Name of JESUS betwixt them who being vanquished by the King's forces under the command of the Earle of Shrewesbury were condignely executed for the same 4. Indeed Sanders Excused by Sanders unjustly to whom it is as naturall to defame as for a stone to descend complaineth That the King executed those whom formerly He had pardoned for the same offence contrary to Gods proceedings with whom peccata remissa non recurrunt yea contrary to equity and all common justice but our Chronicles make it plain that they ran on the score of a new Rebellion their faults specifically not numerically the same and justly suffered for their offences therein 5. Thomas Lord Darcy and the Lord Hussey first and last Baron of his Family were beheaded on this account The first of these being much bemoaned both for what he had been a marshall man of merit by sea and land and for what he was decaied being almost eighty with old age insomuch that there goeth a Tradition that he had the King's Pardon in his pocket and slept the while the sentence of condemnation was passed on him and then produced it too late such it seems were the rigorous proceedings against him Ask and Diamond were executed in this Rebellion Persons executed and so also were six Abbots namely of Sanley Barling Gerviaus Whaley Rivers with the Prior of Berlington besides many Gentlemen of prime account whereof these the chief Robert Constable Thomas Piercy Francis Bigot Nicholas Musgrave Nicholas Temple Stephen Hamilton Thomas Gilby William Lomley John Bulmar and his Wife However some pity may seem proper to these persons as ignorantly zealous and grieved to behold the destruction of the old Religion before they had received any competent instruction for a new And thus was there a rout of the most antient of the Northern Gentlemen of the Romish perswasion who in the next Generation had scarcely rallied themselves again but they were routed the second time in the Rebellion of the Earls of Northuâ—berland and Westmerland The return of the Visitors of Abbeys BY this time the Instruments imployed by the Lord Cromwell The return of the L. Cromwells agents to make discovery of the vitious lives of Monks and Fryers were all returned in their persons or in their intelligence sent unto him They were men who well understood the Message they went on and would not come back without a satisfactory answer to him that sent them knowing themselves were likely to be no losers thereby And now they had sound out water enough to drive the mill besides what ran by a sufficient detection to effect the businesse Of these some were put in Commission to visit Abbeys others moving in a lower but no lesse needful sphere of activity 2. Of these Commissioners the principal were Rich Layton The principall Commissioners The Legh William Peters Doctors of the Law a L. Herbert in the Life of Hen. 8. p 398. Doctor John London Dean of Wallingford Of the three former I can say nothing but finde the later though imployed to còrrect others no great Saint himself For afterwards he was publickly b Fex Acts Mon p. 1221 where is a picture thereof Their two-edged sword convicted of perjury and adjudged to ride with his face to the Horse-tale at Windosor and Ockingham with papers about his head which was done accordingly 3. Their power was partly Inquisitive to search into the former lives of religious persons partly Impositive to enjoyn them stricter rules for their future observation It is hard to say whether their eyes were more prying for what was past or hands more heavy for the time to come and most true it is that betwixt both many Monks formerly lazie in were now weary of their present profession 4. Some counted their Convents Monks weâ—ry of their lives their Prisons being thus confined for once out of the house without lawful cause and leave obtained and never in again It was a fine thing when they might but sad case when they must live in their Monasteries the Eighty six Articles of the Visitors looking with Janus partly backward partly forward did so vex them that many who had hopes of others subsistence cast off the Couls and Vails and quitted their Convents The second sort of insinuating Emissaries THese Visitors were succeeded with a second sort of publick Agents Others undone by their own dissentions but working in a more private way encouraging the members in Monasteries to impeach one another for seeing there was seldome such general agreement in any great Convent but that factions were found and parties did appear therein these Emissaries made an advantageous use thereof No Abbey could have been so soon destroyed but by cunning setting it against it self and secret fomenting of their own divisions Whereupon many being accused did recriminate their Accusers and hopelesse to recover their own innocency pleased themselves by plunging others in the like guiltinesse Others being conscious to themselves prevented accusing by confessing their faults and those very foul ones Insomuch that some have so much charity as to conceive that they made themselves worse than they were though it was a needlesse work for a Black-Moore to besoot his own face 2. Yea A charitable censure some hold that as Witches long-tortured with watching and fasting and pinched when but ready to nod are contented causlessly to accuse themselves to be eased of the present pain so some of these poor souls frighted with menaces and fearing what might be the successe acknowledged all and more than all against themselves the truth whereof none on earth can decide Soliciting and tempting Emissaries complained of by the Papists THe Papists doe heavily complain how justly God alone knoweth that a third sort of Agents were imployed A devilish design if true to practise on the chastity of the Nuns so to surprize them into wantonness Some young Gallants were on disigne sent to some Covents with fair faces flattering tongues store of gold and good cloathes youth wit wantonness and what else might work on the weaker sex These having with much craft scrued themselves into the affections of Nuns and brought them to
Abbey Nor must it be forgotten that a Text X pierced through with a dash is fixed in the navill of the Crosse Now though I have read * Accidence of Armes Letters to be little honourable in Armes this cannot be disgracefull partly because Church-Heraldrie moveth in a sphere by it self partly because this was the Letter of Letters as the received character to signifie Christus 9. S. Augustines in Canterbury gave Sable a Cross-Argent Of S. Augustine 10. Crosse we now the Thames Of Gloucester where Westward we first fall on S. Peters in Gloucester whose Dedication to that Apostle sufficiently rendreth a reason for the Armes thereof viz AZure two Crosse Keyes or two Keyes Saltire Or. 11. Teuxbury gave Gules Of Teuxbury a Cross of an antick form Or a border Argent 12. I will not adventure on the blazoning of the Armes of Winchcombe having much conformity therein with Mortimers Coat but leave the Reader to satisfie his own eyes in the inspection thereof Of Winchcomb 13. I should be thankfull to him who would inform me of the Armes of Cirencester Of Cirencesâ—er which hitherto I cannot procure 14. * S. Maryes in Coventry had no Armes in their Seale as my good friend Mr. Dugdale informed me St. Albans gave Azure a Cross Saltire Or. Of S. Albanâ— 15. Westminster-Abbey gave Azure a Cross flurt betwixt five Marteletts Or and this I humbly conceive were antiently the entire Armes of that Abbey being in effect the same with those of King Edward the Confessour the first Founder thereof But afterwards their Conventuall Seale was augmented with the Armes of France and England on a Chiefe Or betwixt two Roses Gules plainly relating to King Henry the seventh enlarging their Church with his Chappell 16. The Prior of St. John of Jerusalem gave Gules a Cross Argent Of S. Johns of Jerusalem which the Lord Priot sometimes a Thus Sir Tho. Tressam impayled with but before his own Coate and b Thus Sir Tho. Dockwray sometimes bare it in a Chiefe about it 17. The Armes of Waltham Abbey in Essex appear at this day neither in glass wood Of Waltham nor stone in or about the Town or Church thereof At last we have recovered them Unus home nobis out of a faire Deed of Robert Fullers the last Abbot though not certain of the mettall and colours viz Gules as I conjecture two Angels can they be lesse than Or with their hands such we finde of them in c Mat. 4. 6. Scripture holding betwixt them a Cross Argent brought hither faith our d Gamd. Brit in Essex Antiquary by miracle out of the West whence Waltham hath the addition of Holy Cross 18. The Arms of S. Johns in Colchester Of Colchester I leave to the eye of the Reader 19. Burie gave Azure three Crowns Or Of Bury The Armes of the Kings of the East-Angles assumed in the memory of King Edmund to whom this Abbey was dedicated martyred by the Danes when his Crown of Gold thorough a Crown of Thorns or Arrows rather was turned into a Crown of Glory 20. St. Benet's in the Holme Of S. Benets in Norfolke gave Sable a Pastorall Staffe Argent picked below and reflexed above intimating the Abbots Episcopal Jurisdiction in his own precincts betwixt two Crowns-Or pointing at England and Norway the two Kingdomes of Canutus the Founder thereof The aforesaid Staffe was infulated that is adorned with an holy Lace or Label carelesly hanging down or cast a crosse such with which their Mitres used formerly to be fastned 21. Thorney-Abbey in Cambridge shire gave Azure three Crosses crossed fitchee Of Thorny betwixt three Pastoral Staves Or. 22. Ramsey in Huntingdon-shire gave Or three Rams Heads couped Argent Of Ramsey 〈◊〉 Bend Azure The rest of the Rams must be supposed in the blue Sea the Fennes appearing such when overflown Besides such changes were common here whereof Melibaeus complaineth in the Marishes * Virgil. Eâ— log 9. of Mantua Non bene ripae Creditur ipse Aries etiam nunc vellera siccat There is no trusting to the foundring bank The Ramme still dries his fleece so lately dank But since the draining of the Fennes hath I hope secured their Cattell from casualties 23. The very name of Peterborough unlocks the reason why that Abbey gave Gules Of Peterborough two crosse Keyes betwixt four Crosses crossed fitchee Or. 24. Crowland Abbey gave quarterly three call them long Knives Of Crowland or short Swords bladed Argent hasted or pomelled or Azure three Whips stringed and knotted Or the second like the third the fourth like the first Instruments of cruelty relating to their Monks massacred by the Danes Anno 870. Ingulphus pag. 866. whereof their Historian gives us this account That first they were examinati tortured see there the Whips and then exanimati killed see there the Swords But if any will have those Whips to relate to the Whip of S. Bartholomew the most remarkable Relique of that Monastery I will not appose 25. The Armes of Evesham Abbey in Worcester-shire Of Evesham I cannot recover but possibly may before the conclusion of this Work 26. Shrewsbury gave Azure Of Shrewsbury a Lyon Rampant over a Pastorall-staffe Bendwayes so that both the ends thereof are plainly discovered 27. Crosse we now North of Trent Of Selby where onely two remain Selby founded by William the Conquerour which gave Sable three Swans Argent membred Or alluding as I believe to the depressed scituation of the place where the neighbouring River of Ouse affordeth such Birds in abundance 28. St. Maryes in Yorke gave Argent a Crosse Of Yorke Gules and a Key in the first Quarter of the same In the midst of the Crosse a King in a circle in his Robes of state with his Scepter and Mound Yet hath he onely a ducall Cap and no Crown on his head I humbly conceive under favour of better judgments this King-Dukes picture to relate partly to King VVilliam Rufus partly to Alan Duke of Britain and Richmond the principall Co-Founders of that Monastery The Lord Darcy his Extraction justly vindicated AMongst the principal persons who suffred for their zeale in defending of Abbeys was the lately mentioned Thomas Lord a vide supra pag. 313. parag 5. Darcy A causlesse aspersion grounded on passion whose extraction I finde foully aspersed by the pen of that passionate Prince K. Henry the eighth for when the Rebels boasted of the many Noblemen who sided with them in confutation thereof King Henry returned a Letter to them interlined with His own hand wherein this passage b Speeds Châ—â— in his 1 â—dit pag. 776. Others as the Lord Marney and Darcy are but mean scarce well-born Gentlemen and yet of no great Lands till they were promoted by Us and so made Knights It cannot be denied but that K. Henry too much consulted
Orders have spauned much since our late Civil Warres Protestant confusions multiplying Popish foundations 2. Yet I cannot believe what * Mr. Prin. one reports of two Covents in London Two Covents reported in London set up about the year 1640. One at the Lord Gages neer Queens-street the other at Westminster For finding no person who is properly tearmed the Lord Gage I suspect all the rest And though I confesse Catholicks then arrived at such boldnesse as rather to dare than dread any discovery yet it seemeth improbable any should abide there save onely to wait conveniencie of transportation And so much for English Covents beyond the Seas which discourse let none censure as alien and not pertaining to the History of England For I would willingly be condemned for a needlesse excursion on the condition that they belonged not at all unto us who daily fetch over too much money hence and doe mutually bring back too much mischief hither To whom the Sites of Mitred Abbeys were granted and by whom they are possessed at this day IT were a work almost impossible for our pen to pursue the Lands of each Religious house from the time that they parted from the Crown to the present Owners thereof A possible designe preferred impossible declined Yea such a task when ended were endlesse of no other use than the satisfaction of curiosity As therefore the best Anatomists cannot hunt out the deviations of every petty vein embracing severall courses in sundry bodies but abundantly acquit their skill and industry if truly discovering the trunkveins observing the same chanels in all people Kephalicall Basilicall c. So we conceive our duty discharged to any rationall expectation if instancing onely out of the Originall Records in the Sites of the Mitred Abbeys marking their fluctuation since passed from the Crown into the possession of severall subjects 2. Here I intended to present the Reader with the particulars of all those Owners through whose hands these Mitred Abbeys have passed from those to whom King Henry granted them to those who at this day are possessed thereof A thing with very much difficulty such the frequencies of the exchange collectible out of the severall fines payd at their alienation but having tyred out mine own modesty though not my good friend Mr. John Witt 's officious industry in being beholden to him above my possibility of requitall for perusing so many Records I desisted from so difficult a design Abbey Granted by Unto In consideration Tenure and rent After alien'd to Present owner Tavestock in Devon K. a 1 parte rotulo 29. formerly Osboâ—ns Remembrancers Office Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign July 4. Iohn Lord Russel Anne his Wife and their Heires c. of his faithfull service and counsell in Capite by Knights service of cum aliis one Knights see paying 36 li. none but still possessed by their Heirs William Russell Earle of Bedford Middleton in Dorsetshire K. b 1 par rot 95. Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign 23 of Febr. Iohn Tregonwell Kn t Doctor of Law of a PensioÌ„ of 40 l. per ann surrendred 1000 l. paid down his good service in Capite by Knights service of the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 12 l. 4s none but still possessed by his Heirs Iohn Tregonwell Esquire Malmesbury in Wilt-sh K. c 7 par râ—t 147. Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign William Stampe Gentleman of the payment of 1516 l. 15s 2d ob in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 8l 8s ob  Thomas Ioy Esquire Ramsey in Huntingtonshire K. d 2 par rot 293. Henry the 8 in the 31 of his Reign 4 of March. Richard Williams alià s Cromwell Esq of his good service and the payment of 4663l 4s 2d in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 29l 16s none possessed by his Heir Sir Oliver Cromwell the most aged Gent. and Knight in England Selby in Yorkshire K. e 1 part rot 140. Henry the 8 in the 32 of his Reign 28 of August Ralph Sadleir of Hackney Knight of 736l paid in Capite by the tenth part of a Knights fee paying 3l 10s 8d  Charles Walmesley Esquire Teuxburie in Glocester shire K. f 2 part rot 26. Henry the 8 in the 36 of his Reign Tho Stroud Wal Earle and Iam Paget of 2283 li. 19s 3d. in capite by the 20th part of a Knights fee paying 1l 18s 0 3 4   Hyde juxta Winton K. g 7 part rot 44 Henry the 8 in the 37 of his Reign 11 of Janu. Rich Bethel Gent. after a Lease of the Lord Wriothesly was expired of 110 li. 17 s. 1d in free Soccage of the King's Manour of Rumsey paying 6l 13s 4d to the Vic. of St. Barthol Wint   S. Johns juxta Colchester K. h 4 part rot 13. Edward the sixt in the first of his Reign June 22. Iohn Dudley Earle of Warwick of his service in Scotland and France whereby he had much impair'd his own estate in Capite cum aliis by service of one Knights fee paying 16s 11. d. ob  Sir Iohn Lucas L d Lucas Cirencester in Glocester shire K. i 1 part rot Edward the sixt in the first of his Reign 19 of August Thomas Lord Seymer high Admiral of his service and kindred being the Kings Uncle in Capite with land in 15 Shires by the service of one Knights fee paying 1l 1s 8d  Sir William Masters Bardney in Lincoln-shire K. k 3 part rot 95. Edw 6. in the second of his Reign Thomas Heneage Katherine his Wife and their Heirs of an exchange for the Manour of overton in Knights service  Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham Glaston in Somerset K. l 3 part rot 17. and againe 4 pars rot 77. Edward the sixt in the 4 th year of his Reign 4 of June Ed Seymer Duke of Somerset of his Petition and the advise of the Counsel to support his dignity in Capite by the 40 th part of a Knights fee sine reditu   Reading in Berkshire K. m Ibidem Edw. the sixt in the 4 th year of his Reign 4 of June Ed Seymer Duke of Somerset of his Petition and the advise of the Counsel to support his dignity in Capite by the 40 th part of a Knights fee sine reditu  Francis Knolles Esquire Crowland in Lincolnshire K. Edward the sixt in the 4 th year of his Reign Decemb. 1. Edw. Fines Knight L d. Clinton and Say high Admiral of England of the exchange of other lands with the Crown to be held in Soccage as of the Kings Manour of Louth by fealty only  till lately in the Crown Winchcomb in Glocestershire K. Edward the sixt in the fift year of his Reign June 24. William Par Marquesse of Northhampton of his faithfulness and valour against the Rebels in Northfolk in
free Soc. to be held as of the Manour of East Greenwich sine reditu  George Bridges Lord Shandois St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolke Q. o 2 parte rot 13. Elizabeth in the second year of her Reign Feb. 14. Iohn Eye Esquire of the payment of four hundred pound in free Soccage to be held as of the Queens Manour of East Greenwich sine reditu   St. Albans in Hertfordshire Q. p 4 part rot 52. Elizabeth in the sixt of her Reign May 6. Christopher Smith Esq Thomas Broughton Gent. of the payment for it and other lands in the Grant of 1703 li. 1s 4d in free and common Soccage sine reditu   Hitherto we have proceeded on the most authentick authority out of Records And although we are confident of the truth of such as follow yet wanting the like assurance in the Dates Tenures and Considerations we thought fit to rank them by themselves 2. battel-Battel-Abbey in Sussex was bestowed by King Henry the eighth on Sir Anthony Browne Knight of the Garter and Master of His Majesties Horse enjoyed by his heir-male in a direct line at this day 3. thorney-Thorney-Abbey in Cambridge-shire was conferred by King Henry the eighth on Iohn Lord Russell and is possessed by his Abnepos William Earle of Bedford in a lineall descent 4. S. Iohn's Priory in Coventry was given by King Henry the eighth to Hales Esquire Clerk of the Hanaper at this day in possession of one of his name and lineage 5. Eversham-Abbey in Worcester-shire I finde not to whom first granted but by a long Lease it was in the possession of one Mr. Andrewes father and son whose Grandchilde living now at Berkhampsteed in Hertford shire hath better thrived by God's blessing on his own industry than his Father and Grandfather did with Evesham-Abbey The sale of the stones whereof he imputeth a cause of their ill successe Lately it was Sir William Curteens and I know not to whom his Sonne sold it 6. The Abbey of S. Bennet's in the Holme in Norfolke was never sold Bennet in the Holme changed with the Bishop of Norwich but onely changed in the two and thirtieth of King Henry the eighth with the Bishop of Norwich as appeareth by the printed Statute which affirmeth That the lands setled by the King on the Bishoprick were of a greater yearly value than the Lordships and Manours given to his Grace Which might be so seeing all profit consists not in annuall revenue but much in casualties of Fines Indeed generally Coronets did gain but Miters lose in their exchanges with the Crown 7. S. Maryes in Yorke with Selby S. Maryes in Yorke how disposed the onely Mitred Abbey beyond Trent was kept in the Crown to be the Kings Palace when repairing into those parts Since called the Manour where the Lord President of the Councell in the North held his residence At this day it is in the hands of the States as excepted by name in the Ast for the sale of Kings lands and one was allowed a Fee for the carefull keeping thereof 8. My enquire cannot attain to whom S. Maryes in Shrewsburie was passed As for Augustine's in Canterbury I conceive it never aliened from the Crown reading in my worthy * Will Somner in his Antiq. of Canterbury pag. 60. friend that the remaining ruines thereof are made subject to publick uses And thus we have a perfect account of all the Mitred English-Abbeys The Reader well remembring what we have formerly written at large of S. Iohn's of Ierusalem and Waltham as also of Glocester Peterborough and Westminster advanced into Cathedrals save that the last was afterwards altered into a Collegiate-Church 9. we may observe that the greatest Abbeys founded in Cities were of the least profit Countrey Abbeys largest in profit because so streight-laced with streets and houses round about them that they could not grow to any extraordinary bulk for ground continued thereunto so that the Sites were but Sites as in S. Albans S. Edmunds-Bury Hyde c. Whereas Monasteries in Countrey-Towns let loose at more liberty to dilate themselves had generally a large Manour and ample Demesnes annexed unto them 10. Wise men have informed me Present gaine future losse that had succeeding Princes followed King Henry's pattern generally granting Abbeys only in Capite that such lands though passed gratis from the Crown under small rents would notwithstanding in some part have returned thither again as affording Respit of Homage Reliefs Wardships Fines for alienation for a constant revenue Whereas being afterwards granted in free soccage whilst the tenure onely advanced the present sale the Crown was deprived of much Emolument and more obligation 11. Richard Williams aliàs Cromwell Esquire A solemn Tilting proclaimed to whom Ramsey Abbey was partly given partly sold was one of the five who in the thirty second year of Henry the eighth made the bold challenge at Justs to all comers that would in France Flanders Scotland and Spain Here it was expected that some of our Knights Hospitallers whose House by Act of Parliament was dissolved but a month before should appear valiantly in their vindication if conceiving any injustice offered unto them But they kept themselves close probably not so much for fear of all the Challengers as of one of the Spectatours viz King Henry Himself as sure if Conquerours of the King's anger and others envy if worsted of their own disgrace Besides by the laws of their Order they were not to Tilt against Christians but onely to spend their spears against Pagans and Infidels Lastly the challenge seemed only confined to forraigners 12. This Richard Williams aliàs Cromwell came into the place an Esquire The noble atchievements of Rich. Cromwell but departed a Knight dubbed by the King for his valour clearly carrying away the credit overthrowing Mr. Palmer * Stow in the reign to Hen. 8. pag. 580. in the field at Justs one day and the next serving Mr. Culpepper at Barriers in the same manner Hereupon there goeth a Tradition in the Familie that King Henry highly pleased with his prowesse Formerly said He thou wast My Dick but hereafter shalt be My Diamond and thereat let fall His Diamond-Ring unto him In avowance whereof these Cromwells have ever since given for their Crest a Lyon holding a Diamond-Ring in his Fore-paw 13. Some conceive these Abbey-Lands more unsuccessfull than any other Censure on Abbey-Lands and infectious to the third Generation Yea Papists would perswade us that as Bucephalus cast all his Riders till backed by Alexander his Lord and Master so these skittish-Lands will dismount all that bestride them untill forsooth they be as they hope restored to their proper Owners And this they impute to the curse of their Founders denounced to such who should alienate them from their first institution Others maintain that no certainty can be concluded from such casualties but that all things come to passe alike to all As dye
them how much they have profited in the study of holy Scripture 21. That in the time of High Masse be that sayeth or singeth a Psalm shall read the Epistle and Gospel in English and one Chapter in the New Testament at Mattens and another at Evensong and that when nine Lessons are to be read in the Church three of them shall be omitted with Responds And at Evensong the Responds with all the Memories 22. That to prevent in Sick persons the damnable vice of Despair They shall learn and have alwaies in readinesse such comfortable places and sentences of Scripture as doe set forth the mercy benefits and goodnesse of God Almighty towards all penitent and believing persons 23. To avoid all contention and strife which heretofore have risen amongst the Kings subjects by challenging of Places in Procession no Procession hereafter shall be used about the Church or Church-yard but immediately before high Masse the Letany shall be distinctly said or sung in English none departing the Church without just cause and all ringing of Bells save one utterly forborne 24. That the Holy-day at the first beginning Godly instituted and ordained be wholly given to God in hearing the Word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment in reconciling themselves to their Neighbours receiving the Communion visiting the sick c. Onely it shall be lawfull for them in time of harvest to labour upon Holy and Festival-daies and save that thing which God hath sent and that scrupulosity to abstain from working upon those daies doth grievously offend God 25. That no Curate admit to the Communion such who are in ranchor and malice with their neighbours till such controversies be reconciled 26. That every Dean Arch-Deacon c. being a Priest preach by himself personally twice a year at least 27. That they instruct their people not obstinately to violate the Ceremonies of the Church by the King commanded to be observed and not as yet abrogated And on the other side that whosoever doth superstitiously abuse them doth the same to the great perill of his souls health 28. That they take away and destroy all Shrines covering of Shrines Tables Candlesticks Trindills or rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and other Monuments of fained Miracles so that no memory of them remain in Walls or Windows exhorting their Parishioners to doe the like in their severall houses And that a comely Pulpit be provided in a convenient place 29. That a strong Chest be provided with a hole in the upper part thereof with three Keyes thereunto belonging be provided to receive the charity of people to the poor and the same at convenient times distributed unto them in the presence of the Parish 30. That Priests be not bound to go to visit Women lying in Child-bed except in times of dangerous sicknesse and not to fetch any Coarse except it be brought to the Church yard 31. That to avoid the detestable sin of Simonie the Seller shall lose his right of Patronage for that time and the Buyer to be deprived and made unable to receive Spirituall promotion 32. That because of the lack of Preachers Curats shall read Homilies which are or shall be set forth by the Kings Authority 33. Where as many indiscreet persons doe uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests having small learning his Majesty chargeth his Subjects that henceforth they be reverently used for their Office and Ministration sake 34. That all persons not understanding Latine shall pray on no other Primmer but what lately was set forth in English by K. Henry the eighth and that such who have knowledge in Latine use none other also and that all Craces before and after meat be said in English and no Grammer taught in Schools but what is set forth by Authority 35. That Chantery Priests teach youth to read and write 36. That when any Sermon or Homily shall be had the Prime and Houres shall be omitted ⧠The form of bidding the Common Prayers YOu shall pray for the whole Congregation of Christs Church and specially for this Church of England and Ireland wherein first I commend to your devout prayers the Kings most excellent Majesty Supreme Head immediately under God of the spirituality and temporalty of the same Church And for Queen Katharine Dowager and also for my Lady Mary and my Lady Elizabeth the Kings sisters Secondly You shall pray for my Lord Protectors grace with all the rest of the Kings Majesties Councell for all the Lords of this Realm and for the Clergie and the Commons of the same beseeching Almighty God to give every of them in his degree grace to use themselves in such wise as may be to Gods glory the Kings honour and the weal of this Realm Thirdly You shall pray for all them that be departed out of this world in the faith of Christ that they with us and we with them at the Day of Judgment may rest both body and soul with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of heaven Observations on the Kings Injunctions Let us here admire Gods wisdome in our first Reformers The wisdome of our Reformers who proceeded so moderately in a matter of so great consequence To reform all at once had been the ready way to reform nothing at all New wine must be gently powred into old bottles lest the strenght of the liquor advantaged with the violence of the infusion break the vessel Iacob could not keep pace with Esau presumed fleet on foot as used to hunting whilest he had in his company the * Gen. 33. 13. tender children and flocks with young which if over driven one day would die And though no doubt he himself was foot-man enough to go along with his Brother yet he did lead on softly according as the cattle and children were able to endure Thus our wise Reformers reflected discreetly on the infirmities of people long nouzled in ignorance and superstition and incapable of a sudden and perfect alteration On this account in the third Injunction they reduced Candles formerly sans number in Churches to two Onely two lights left upon the high Altar before the Sacrament these being termed lights shews they werenot luminacaeca but burning Know also that at this time there was an universall dilapidation of Chancells and men had seen so many Abbey-Churches pluckt down that they even left Parish-Churches to fall down on themselves now to repair them all at once would have stopt the holes in the Chancells and made one in the states of the Ministers It was therefore in the sixteenth Injunction ordered That a fift part of their means should be imployed therein whereby the work was effectually done without any great dammage to the Repairers By Memories appointed to be omitted What meant by Memories Injunction 21. we understand the Obsequia for the dead which some say succeeded in the place of the Heathen Roman Parentalia The abolishing Processions is politickly
put on a civil account Good policie Injunction 23. to avoid contention about places Indeed peoples pride herein consisted in pretended humility which the Injunction at large termeth a fond Courtesie For in a mock-practise of the Apostles * Rom. 12. 12. precept in honour preferring one another they strained courtesie to goe last Where by the way I conceive that accounted the highest place which was next the Crosse bearer or next the Priest carrying the Host Quaere whether in the 24 Injunction labouring in time of Harvest on Holy-daies and Festivals relateth not onely to those of Ecclesiasticall constitution as dedicated to Saints or be inclusive of the Lords day also Mr. Calvin in his Letter to the Lord * pag. 187 188. Protector Mr. Calvin dissents disliketh the praying for the dead and this is one of those things which he termed tolerabiles ineptias Englished by some tolerable fooleries more mildly by others tolerable unfitnesses In requital whereof Bishop Williams was wont to say That Master Calvin had his tolerabiles morositates And thus moderately did our first Reformers begin Moderation 〈◊〉 farre as the subject they wrote on would give them leave for as carefull Mothers and Nurses on condition they can get their Children to part with knives are contented to let them play with raitles So they permitted ignorant people still to retain some of their fond and foolish Customes that they might remove from them the most dangerous and destructive Superstitions Come we now to give in a List of such principall Books which in the Reign of this King and His Father The Protestant Library as Preparatory to and Introductive of Reformation And to bring them high enough we will begin with HEN 7th Prayers printed by the Commandements of the moost hye and vertuous Princesse our lyege Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Quene of England and of France and also of the right hye and moost noble Princesse Margarett mother to our Soveraign Lord the King c. without the year when printed HEN 8th The Institution of a Christian man contayneng the Exposition of the Commune Crede of the seaven Sacraments of the ten Commandements and of the Pater noster and the Ave Maria Justification and Purgatory London by Tho Barthelet 1537. A necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christen man set furthe by the Kynges Majestie of England c. London by Tho Barthelet 1543. HEN 8th Henry the eighth his Epistle to the Emperour Christen Princes and all true Christen men desiring peace and concord amonges them Against the power of the Pope and concerning a Generall Councell London by Tho Barthelet 1538. A Protestation made for the most mighty and most redoubted King of England c. and his hole Counsell and Clergie wherein is declared that neither His Highnesse nor His Prelates neyther any other Prince or Prelate is bound to come or send to the pretended Councell that Paul Bishop of Rome first by a Bull indicted at Mantua a Citie in Italy and now alate by an other Bull hath proroged to a place no man can telle where London by Tho Barthelet 1537. Articles devised by the Kinges Highnes Majestie to stablishe Christen quietnes and unitie amonge us and to avoyde contentious opinions which Articles be also approved by the consent and determination of the hole Clergie of this Realme Lond Tho Barthelet 1536. Injunctions to the Clergie 1536. M. Sc. Articles devised by the holle consent of the Kinges most honourable Counsayle His Graces licence opteyned thereto not only to exhorte but also to enfourme His loving Subjects of the trouth London Tho Barthelet 1533. Orarium seu libellus Precationum per Regiam Majestatem Clerum Latinè editus Ex officina Richard Graftoni 1545. Pia Catholica Christiani hominis institutio Londini apud Thomam Barthelet 1544. Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarū ex authoritate primum Regis Hen 8. inchoata deinde per Regem Edw 6. provecta c. Londini ex officina Jo Day 1571. EDW 6th Injunctions given by the most excellent Prince Edward the sixt by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defendor of the Fayth and in yearthe under Christ of the Church of England and of Ireland the Supreeme Hedde to all and singuler His loving Subjects aswell of the Clergie as of the Laietie By R. Grafton 1547. Articles to be enquired of in the Kynges Majesties visitation By Rich Grafton Cum privilegio Communion book translated into French for Jersey and Garnesey 1553. EDW 6th The Booke of Common-Prayer and Administration of Sacraments c. London 1549. 1552. The forme and manner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons 1552 1549. The Copie of a Letter sent to all those Preachers which the Kings Majestie hath licensed to preach from the Lord Protectors Grace and others of the Kinges Majesties most Honourable Councell The 23 of May 1548. Catechismus brevis Christianae disciplinae summam continens omnibus ludimagistris authoritate Regiâ commendatus Londini 1553. Articuli de quibus in Synodo Londinensi 1552. ad tollenda◠opinionum dissensionem consensum verae religionis firmandum inter Episcopos alios eruditos atque pios viros-convenerat Regia similiter authoritate promulgati Londini The Primer or Booke of Prayers translated out of Hen the 8 ths Orarium London by Rich Grafton 1547. Certain Sermons viz the first part of the Church Homilies appointed by the Kinges Majestie to be read everie Sonday and Holy day c. 1549 1547. A Primer or Booke of private Prayer c. in the 7 yeare of Ed 6. Ex officina Wilhelmi Seres 1552. The order of the Communion with the Proclamation London by Rich Grafton 1548. Q. MARIE The Primer in Latin and English after the use of Sarum London 1555. Edm Bonners Catechisme 1555. with Homelies composed by H. Pendleton and Jo Harpesfield London 1555. These are the principall State-books which that Age produced not mentioning such as numberlesse which private persons set forth onely I cannot as yet recover the Lord Cromwell's Catechisme except it be concealed under another name amongst the Books aforementioned 4. Come we now to the Liturgie which in the Reign of K. Henry the eighth was said or sung all in Eatine save only the Creed Pater noster and ten Commandements put into English by the Kings command Anno 1536. Nine years after viz 1545 the Letanie was permitted in English and this was the farthest pace which the Reformation stept in the Reign of King Henry the eighth Ann. Dom. 1547. But under His son King Edward the sixt a new form of Divine worship was set forth in the vulgar Tongue which passed a threefold purgation The first Edition of the Liturgie or Common-Prayer The 2 d Edit of the Liturgy or Common-Prayer The 3 d Edit of the Liturgy or Common-Prayer In the first year of King Edward the sixt it was recommended to the care
the Lord Protectour or by the Archbishop of Canterbury should take upon him to preach in any open audience upon pain in the said Proclamation contained and that upon hope and assurance that those being chosen and elect men should preach and set forth onely to the people such things as should be to Gods honour and the benefit of the Kinges Majesties subjects Yet neverthelesse His Highnesse is advertised that certain of the said preachers so licenced not regarding such good admonitions as hath been by the said Lord Protectour and the rest of the Councell on His Majesties behalf by Letters Ann. Dom. 1548 or otherwise given unto them Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 2. hath abused the said authority of preaching and behaved themselves irreverently and without good order in the said preachings contrary to such good instructions and advertisements as was given unto them whereby much contention and disorder might rise and insue in this his Majesties Realm wherefore his Highnesse minding to see very shortly one uniforme order throughout this his Realm and to put an end to all controversies in Religion so farre as God shall give grace for which cause at this time certain Bishops and notable learned men by his hignesse commandement are congregate hath by th' advise aforesaid thought good although certain and many of the said preachers so before licenced have behaved themself very discretly and wisely and to the honor of God and his highnesse contentation yet at this present and untill such time that the said Order shall be set forth generally throughout this His Majesties Realme to inhibit and by these presents doth inhibit generally as well the said Preachers so before licenced as all manner of persons whosoever they be to preach in open audience in the pulpit or otherwise by any sought colour or fraud to the disobeying of this commandement to the intent that the whole Clergie in this mean space might apply themself to prayer to Almighty God for the better atchieving of the same most Godly intent and purpose not doubting but that also His loving Subjects in the mean time will occupie themself to Gods honour with due prayer in the Church and patient hearing of the Godly Homelies heretofore set forth by His Highnesse Injunctions unto them and so endevour themself that they may be the more ready with thankefull obedience to receive a most quiet Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 2. godly Ann. Dom. 1548. and uniform order to be had throughout all His said Realms and Dominions And therefore hath willed all His loving Officers and Ministers as well Justices of peace as Majors Sheriffs Bailiffs Constables or any other His Officers of what estate degree or condition soever they be to be attendant upon this Proclamation and commandement and to see the infringers or breakers thereof to be imprisoned and His Highnesse or the Lord Protectors grace or His Majesties Councell to be certified thereof immediately as they tender His Majesties pleasure and will answer to the contrary at their perill 16. Some Preachers perusing the aforesaid Proclamation A Pannick silence of Pulpits will complain of persecution that all the Pulpits in England should be universally silenced at once and will conclude it summum jus That the Righteous should be condemned with the Wicked the mouthes of good Ministers stopt with Railers Well might the souls of weak Christians be faint and feeble having no warm meat but the cold Homilies allowed them But Statesmen easily excuse the matter finding the juncture of time falling out when many Popish Pulpits sounded the Alarum to Ket his Rebellion and the Devon-shire Commotion whereof hereafter Besides this prohibition of preaching lasted but for few weeks and we read of a silence for about * Revel 8. 1. the space of half an hour even in heaven it self 7. A Proclamation for the payment of the late Incumbents of Colledges 3. and Chanteries 1549. lately dissolved Anno 3 o Edvardi sexti Octob. 31. 17. The Pulpit thus shut and silent by Proclamation A Proclamation against Stage-plaies the Stage was the more open and vocall for the same the Popish Priests which though unseen stood behinde the hanging or lurked in the tyring-bouse removed their invectives from Sermons to Playes and a more proper place indeed for the venting thereof Here it made old sport to see the New Religion as they term it made ridiculous with the prime Patrons thereof which caused the insuing Proclamation for the prohibition 8. A Proclamation for the inhibition of Players Ann. Dom. 1549. Anno 3 Edvardi 6. Aug 6. And some perchance will not grudge the time to read the form thereof Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 3. FOrasmuch as a great number of those that be common Players of Enterludes and Plaies as well within the City of London or elsewhere within the Realm doe for the most part play such Interludes as contain matter tending to sedition and contemning of sundry good orders and laws whereupon are grown and daily are like to grow and ensue much disquiet division tumults and uprores in this Realm the Kings Majestie by the advise and consent of his dearest Uncle EDWARD Duke of Somerset Governour of His Person and Protectour of His Realms Dominions and Subjects and the rest of His Highnesse privie Councell straitly chargeth and commandeth all and every His Majesties subjects of whatsoever state order or degree they be that from the ninth day of this present Month of August untill the Feast of All-Saints next comming they nor any of them openly or secretly play in the English Tongue any kinde of Interlude Play Dialogue or other matter set forth in form of play in any place publick or private within this Realm upon pain that whosoever shall play in English any such Play Interlude Dialogue or other matter shall suffer imprisonment and further punishment at the pleasure of His Majestie For the better execution whereof His Majesty by the said advise and consent straitly chargeth and commandeth all and singular Majors Sheriffs Bailiffs Constables Headboroughs Tythingmen Justices of Peace and all other His Majesties head Officers in all the parts throughout the Realm to give order and speciall heed that this Proclamation be in all behalfs well and truly kept and observed as they and every of them tender His Highnesse pleasure and will avoid His indignation 18. The Proclamation being but temporary did not take down but only clear the stage for a time reformed Enterludes as they term them being afterward permitted yea in the first of Queen Elizabeth Scripture-plaies were acted even in the Church it self which in my opinion the more pious the more profane stooping faith to fancy and abating the majestie of Gods Word Such Pageants might inform not edifie though indulged the ignorance of that Age For though children may be played into Learning all must be wrought into Religion by Ordinances of Divine institutions and the means ought to be as serious as the end is
The Lady Mary 28. after long Communication was content to come to Lees Ann. Dom. 1549 to the Lord Chancellours and then to Hunsdon but She utterly denied to come to the q q She loved to deale with the King her Brother eminus by Letters but in no wise comminus by discourse Besides she hated coming to the Court suspecting some harsh usage to her Person and jealous of being put into Restraint Court or Oking at that time The Lord Chancellor fell sore sick Aug. 13. with 40 more of his r r Lees in Essex a County generally not very healthfull where Agues sit as close and sometimes last as long as a new suit house that the Lady Mary came not thither at this time There were Letters sent to every Bishop to pull downe the Altars Nov. 19. There were Letters sent for the taking of certain Å¿ Å¿ Of these Francis Mallet last * * Sceletos Cant. MS. Master of Michael House in Cambridge was the chief He having leave from the Councell to officiate Masse onely in the presence of the Lady Mary presumed on the same liberty in her absence Whereupon he was notwithstanding his Ladies refusall to surrender him fetcht from her by force and committed to prison Chaplains of the Lady Mary Dec. 15. Edw. sexâ—i 4. for saying Masse which She denied Whaley was examined for perswading divers Nobles of the Realm to make the Duke of Somerset t t Now where the seeds sown and the foundation laid of the Protectours overthrow which ensued not long after Proâ—ector at the next Parliament Febr. 6. stood to the Denial the Earle of Rutland affirmed it manifestly The Bishop of Winchester after a long triall was deposed his Bishoprick 17. It seems some legall formalities were pretended wanting in Gardiner his deprivation For in my memory a Suit was commenced to overthrow a long Lease made by Bishop Poinet Gardiner's successour in Winchester on this point that Gardiner still remained lawfull Bishop but nothing therein was effected 23. Come we now to the saddest difference that ever happened in the Church of England The conception of non-conformity if we consider either the time how long it continued the eminent persons therein ingaged or the dolefull effects thereby produced It was about matters of conformity Alas that men should have lesse wisdome than locusts which when sent on God's errand Did not * * Joel 2. 8. thrust one another whereas here such shoving and shouldring and hoising and heavings and justleing and thronging betwixt Clergie-men of the highest parts and places For now non-conformity in the daies of King Edward was conceived which afterward in the Reign of Queen Mary but beyond Sea at Frankford was born which in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth was nursed and weaned which under King James grew up a young youth or tall stripling but towards the end of King Charles His Reign shot up to the full strength and stature of a man able not onely to coap with but conquer the Herarchie its adversary 24. Two opposite parties now plainly discovered themselves The favourers and opposers thereof driving on different interests Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 4. under their respective Patrones Ann. Dom. 1550. Founders of Conformity 1. Such as remained here all the Reign of King Henry the eighth and weathered out the tempest of His tyrannie at open Sea partly by a politick compliance and partly by a cautious concealment of themselves 2. These in the daies of King Edward the sixt were possessed of the best preferments in the land 3. And retained many ceremonies practiced in the Romish Church conceiving them to be antient and decent in themselves 4. The authority of Cranmer and activity of Ridley headed this party the former being the highest the latter the hottest in defence of conformity Founders of Non-conformity 1. Such as fled hence beyond the Seas chiefly into Germany where living in States and Cities of popular Reformation they suck'd in both the aire and discipline of the place they lived in 2. These returning late into England were at a losse for meanes and maintenance onely supported with the reputation of being Confessors rendring their patience to the praise and their persons to the pity of all conscientious people 3. And renounced all ceremonies practiced by the Papists conceiving that such ought not onely to be clipt with the sheers but to be shaved with a raizor yea all the stumps thereof to be pluckt out 4. John Rogers Lecturer in S. Pauls and Vicar of S. Sepulchres with John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Glocester were Ring-leaders of this party This Iohn Hooper was bred in Oxford well skill'd in Latine Greek and Hebrew a little of the last would go farre in this Age and afterwards travelled over into Switzerland Yea he seemed to some to have brought Switzerland back with him in his harsh rough and unpleasant behaviour being grave into rigour and severe into surliness Yet to speak truth all Hoopers ill nature consisted in other mens little acquaintance with him Such as visited him once condemned him of over-austerity who repaired to him twice onely suspected him of the same who conversed with him constantly not onely acquitted him of all morosity but commended him for sweetness of manners which saith my Author Godwin in the Bishops of Glocester endeared him to the acquaintance of Bullinger This Hooper was preferred to be Bishop of Glocester by the special favour of his Patrone Iohn Earl of Warwick afterward Duke of Northumberland 25. The worst was Hooper refuseth to wear the Episcopal habit when Hooper came to be consecrated Bishop of Glocester he scrupled the wearing of certain Episcopall ornaments Rochet Chimere Square-cap c. producing a Letter from the Earl of Warwick omniprevalent then at Court in the declining of his Corrival the Duke of Somerset that he might be favourably dispensed with therein according to the tenour ensuing to Archbishop Cranmer AFter my most hearty commendations to your Grace these may be to desire the same that in such reasonable things wherein this beâ—rer my Lord Elect of Glocester craveth to be born withall at your hands you would vouch safe to shew him your Graces favour the rather at this my instance Which thing partly I have taken in hand by the Kings Majesties own motion The matter is weighed by His Highnesse none other but that your Grace may facilely condescend thereunto The principall cause is that you would not charge this said Bearer with an Oath burdenous to his conscience And so for lack of time I commit your Grace to the tuition of Almighty God Your Graces most assured loving friend July 23. John Warwick What this Oath was because not expressed is variously conjectured Parsons to render Hooper more odious will have it the Oath of Supremacy which in my opinion is improbable it being utterly unlikely that the King would dispense with any from taking Oath
with the Church of St. Mary le Strand were pluckt down to make room for it The stones and timber were fetcht from the Hospitall of S. Johns This Somerset house is so tenacious of his name that it would not change a Dutchie for a Kingdome when solemnly proclaimed by King James Denmarke-house from the King of Denmarke's lodging therein and His Sister Queen Anne her repairing thereof Surely it argueth that this Duke was wel belov'd Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 6. because his name made such an indelible impression on this his house whereof he was not full five years peaceably possessed Ann. Dom. 1552. 47. We lately made mention of Barnaby Fitz-Patrick The Kings Instructions to Fitz-Patrick for his behaviour in France to whom the King directed His Letter as who was bred and brought up with Him from His infancy though somewhat the older He was Prince Edward's PROXIE for CORRECTION though we may presume seldome suffering in that kinde such the Princes generall innocence and ingenuity to learn His book Yet when such execution was done as Fitz-Patrick was beaten for the Prince the Prince was beaten in Fitz-Patrick so great an affection did He bare to His Servant Towards the end of His Reign He maintained him in the Court of France both to learn fashions there and send intelligence thence And it will not be amisse to insert the King's private Instructions unto him how he should behave himself in the French Court partly for the rarity partly for the certainty thereof having it transcribed out of the Originall of the King 's own hand as followeth 1. First he shall goe in the Lord Admirals Company and at the same Lords departing he shall have a Letter to the French King which the Lord Admirall shall deliver and present him to the French King and if it shall chance that the French King will give him any Pension entertainment or reward at his being there for the time he tarrieth there he shall receive it and thank His Majesty for it and shall serve when he shall be appointed Neverthelesse when he is out of the Court he shall be most conversant with Mr. Pickering * Afterwards Knighted and supposed suâ—â—er to Qâ—liz 2. And at his setting forth shall carry with him four Servants and if the wages amount to any great summe more than I give him that the French King giveth him to live there after that proportion advertising Me of the same 3. Also all this Winter he shall study the Tongue and see the manner of the Court and advertise Me of the occurrences he shall hear and if he be desirous to see any place Notable or Town he may goe thither asking leave of the King And shall behave himself honestly more following the company of Gentlemen than pressing into the company of the Ladies there and his chief pastime shall be Hunting and Riding 4. Also his Apparell he shall wear it so fine as shall be comely and not much superfluous And the next Sommer when either the King goeth or sendeth any man of name into the Warres to be His Lieutenant or to lead an Army he shall desire to goe thither and either himself or else shall will Mr. Pickering to declare to the French King how he thinketh not himself to have fully satisfied nor recompensed neither His Majesties good entertainment nor Mine expectation who had sent him over if he should return having so delicately and idlely almost spent the time without he did at this time of service be desirous to goe himself into the Warres by the which thing he might at this time doe His Majesty service and also learn to doe Me service hereafter yea and His Majesty to if the case so required And therefore seeing this Nobleman shall now goe that his request is to have leave to goe with him 5. Having said this to the French King he shall depart into the Warres waiting on this Nobleman that shall be sent and there he shall mark the divers fortifications of places and advantages that the enemy may take and the ordering and conduct of the Armies As also the fashion of the skirmishes battles and assaults and the plats of the chief Towns where any enterprises of weight have been done he shall cause to be set out in black and white or otherwise as he may and shall send them hither to Me with advertisement of such things as have passed 6. Furthermore he shall at all times when he taketh money advertise Me of it and I shall send him And so the next year being well spent upon further advertisement and taking leave of the French King he shall return 7. And if there arise or grow any doubt in any matter hereafter in the which be shall need advise he shall advertise by the Post and shall have Anser thereof This Barnaby Fitz-Patrick after his return out of France was created by the King Baron of upper Ossery in Ireland and died a most excellent Protestant as hereafter we shall shew in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 48. On the 15 th of April Little Church-work in this Parliament the Parliament ended which had sate three Moneths at Westminster April 15. though therein nothing of Church-matters determined save a Penalty imposed on such who should strike or draw weapon in Church or Church-yard with the abolishing of the generall Holy daies of S. Mary Magdalen and S. Geroge yet so that it should be lawfull for the latter to be solemnly celebrated by the Knights of the Right honourable Order of the Garter The Orders of which Order were about this time reformed and purged from some antient superstitions An ill presage 49. Six k Bishop Godwins Annals in this year Dolphins were taken in the Thames three neer Quinborough and three above Greenwich where the Thames is scarce tainted with brackishnesse in so much that many grave men dispensed with their wisdome and beheld them with wonder as not seen before on our shores A fish much loving man and musick swifter than all other fishes and birds too yea than the Swallow it self if Pliny l Nat. Hist l. 9. cap. 8. say true though all their celerity besteaded them not here to escape the nets of the fisher-men Their coming up so farre was beheld by Mariners as a presage of fowl weather at Sea but by States-men as a prodigious omen of some tempestuous mutations in our Land And particularly they suspected the Kings death though for the present He was very pleasant and merry in His progresse about the Countrey Aug. 22. as by his ensuing Letter to His former favourite written in the next August doth appear EDWARD THE cause why we have not hitherto written unto you have partly been the lack of a convenient Messenger partly because we meant to have some thing worthy writing ere VVe would write any thing And therefore being now almost in the midst of Our journey which VVe have undertaken this Sommer VVe have thought
Reign wherein no Church-matter was medled with save that therein a Subsidie granted by the Clergy was confirmed Such moneys being the Legacie of course which all Parliaments fairly coming to a peaceable end bequeath to their Sovereign As for the Records of this Convocation they are but one degree above blanks scarce affording the names of the Clerks assembled therein Indeed they had no Commission from the King to meddle with Church-businesse and every Convocation in it self is born deaf and dumb so that it can neither hear complaints in Religion nor speak in the redresse thereof till first Ephata be thou opened be pronounced unto it by Commission from Royall Authority 9. Now The true reason thereof the true reason why the King would not intrust the diffusive body of the Convocation with a power to meddle with matters of Religion was a just jealousie which He had of the ill affection of the major part thereof Ann. Dom. 1553. who under the fair rinde of Protestant profession Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 7. had the rotten core of Romish superstition It was therefore conceived safer for the King to relie on the ability and fidelity of some select Confidents cordiall to the cause of Religion than to adventure the same to be discussed and decided by a suspitious Convocation 10. However Forty two Articles of Religion and the Kings Catechisme this barren Convocation is intituled the parent of those Articles of Religion fourty two in number which are printed with this Preface Articuls de quibus in Synodo Londinensi Anno Domini 1552. inter Episcopos alios eruditos viros convenerat With these was bound a Catechisme younger in age as bearing date of the next year but of the same extraction relating to this Convocation as authour thereof Indeed it was first compiled as appears by the Kings Patent prefix'd by a single Divine * ◠pio quodam crudito viro conscipto in the Kings Patent Consented and not consented to by the Convocation charactred pious and learned bu◠afterwards perused and allowed by the Bishops and other learned men understand it the Convocation and by Royall Authority commended to all Subjects commanded to all School Masters to teach it their Scholars 11. Yet very few in the Convocation ever saw it much lesse explicitly consented thereunto but these had formerly it seems passed over their power I should be thankfull to him who would produce the originall instrument thereof to the select Divines appointed by the King in which sense they may be said to have done it themselves by their Delegates to whom they had deputed their authority A case not so clear but that it occasioned a cavill at the next Convocation in the first of * See more thereof in the next year Queen Mary when the Papists therein assembled renounced the legality of any such former transactions Pretious King Edward the sixt now changed his Crown of Gold for one of Glory July 6. we will something enlarge our selves The death of K. Edward the sixt who was not cut out of His Mothers belly as is commonly reported to give posterity His true Character never meeting more virtues in so few years For His Birth there goeth a constant tradition that Caesar-like He was cut out of the belly of His Mother Jane Seymour though a great person of Honour deriving her Intelligence mediately from such as were present at Her Labour assured me of the contrary Indeed such as shall read the calm and serene style of that Letter which I have seen written though not by for that Queen and signed with Her own Signet after Her delivery cannot conjecture thence that any such violence was offered unto Her But see the Letter RIght trusty and welbeloved Queen Ianes Letter after Her Delivery to the Lords of the Councell We greet you well and forasmuch as by the inestimable goodnesse and grace of Almighty God We be delivered and brought in Childe-bed of a PRINCE conceived in most lawfull Matrimony between my Lord the Kings Majestie and Vs. Doubting not but that for the love and affection which you bear unto Vs and to the Common-wealth of this Realm thi◠knowledge shall be joyous and glad tidings unto you We have thought good to certifie you of this Iame To the intent ye might not onely render unto God condigne thanks and praise for so great a benefice but also continually pray for the long continuance and preservation of the same here in this life to the honour of God joy and pleasure of my Lord the KING and Vs and the universall weal quiet and tranquility of this whole Realm a a Extant in Sir Tho. Cottons Library sub Ner. cap. 10. ¶ Given under our Signet at my Lords Manour of Hampton-Court the 22 day of October And although this Letter was soon after seconded with b Extant ibid. another of a sadder subject here inserted subscribed by all the Kings Physitians yet neither doth that so much as insinuate any impression of violence on Her person as hastening Her death but seems rather to cast the cause thereof on some other distemper THese shall be to advise your Lordships of the Queens estate Yesterday afternoon She had a natural Lax A sadder Letter of Her Physitians unto them by reason whereof She began to lighten and as it appeared to amend and so continued till towards night All this night She hath been very sick and doth rather appare than amend Her Confessour hath been with Her Grace this morning and hath done that to his office appertaineth and even now is preparing to minister to Her Grace the Sacrament of Unction ¶ At Hampton-Court this Wednesday morning at eight a clock Your Lordships at Commandement Thomas Cutland Robert Karhold Edward Bayntam John Chambers Priest William Butts George Owen Impute we here this Extreme Unction administred to Her partly to the over-officiousness of some superstitious Priest partly to the good Ladies inability perchance insensible what was done unto her in such extremity otherwise we are confident that Her judgment when in strength and health disliked such practices being a zealous Protestant Which Unction did her as little good as the twelve Masses said for Her soul in the City of London at the Commandement of the Duke of Norfolk whether he did it to credit their Religion with the countenance of so great a Convert or did it out of the Nimiety of his own Love and Loyaltie to the Queen expressing it according to his own judgment without the consent if not against the will of the Queens nearest kindred 12. But leaving the Mother Prince Edw. towardlinesse in learning let us come to the Son who as he saith of himself in the Manuscript of His Life was for the first six years bred and brought up amongst the Women and then consigned to masculine Tuition under Doctor Richard Cox and Sir John Cheekè who taught Him Latine and John Belmain who
and the Scotch in the minority of King James exacted it of Noblemen Gentlemen and Courtiers which here was extended onely to men of Ecclesiastical function Not that the Queen and State was careless of the spiritual good of others leaving them to live and believe as they list but because charitably presuming that where Parishes were provided of Pastors Orthodox in their judgments they would by Gods blessing on their preaching work their people to conformity to the same opinions * Querie about the 20 Article whether shufled in or no. Some question there is about a clause in the twentieth Article whether originally there or since interpolated Take the whole a Pag. 98. Article according to the common Edition therof Twentieth Article of the Authority of the Church The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and authority in controversies of faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods word neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a Witness and keeper of holy writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Take along with this the bitter invective of a modern b Mr Burton in his Apologie Minister who thus laieth it on with might and main on the backs of Bishops for some unfair practice herein in an epistle of his written to the Temporal Lords of His Majesties Privy Councel reckoning up therein Fourteen Innovations in the Church The Prelates to justifie their proceedings have forged a new Article of Religion brought from Rome which gives them full power to alter the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church at a blow and have foisted it into the twentieth Article of our Church And this is in the last edition of the Articles Anno 1628. in affront of his Majesties Declaration before them The clause forged is this The Church that is the Bishops as they expound it hath power to decree rites and ceremonies and authoritie in matters of faith This clause is a forgery fit to be examined and deeply censured in the Star-chamber For it is not to bee found in the Latin or English Articles of Edward 6 or Queen Elizabeth ratified by Parliament And if to forge a Will or writing be censurable in the Star-chamber which is but a wrong to a private man How much more the forgery of an Article of Religion to wrong the whole Church and overturn Religion which concerns all our souls 57. Such as deal in niceties discover some faltering from the truth in the very words of this grand Delator The accuser his first mistake For the Article saith that The Church hath authority in controversies of faith He chargeth them with challenging authority in matters of Faith Here some difference betwixt the terms For matters of faith which all ought to know and believe for their souls health are so plainly setled by the Scriptures that they are subject to no alteration by the Church which notwithstanding may justly challenge a casting voice in some controversies of faith as of less importance to salvation 58. But to come to the main matter The dubious appearing of this clause this clause in question lieth at a dubious posture at in and out sometimes inserted sometimes omitted both in our written and printed copies Inserted in The originall of the Articles 1562 as appeareth under the hand of a Publick Notary whose inspection and attestation is only decisive in this case So also Anno 1593. and Anno 1605. and Anno 1612. all which were publick and authentick Editions Omitted in The English and Latine Articles set forth 1571. Anno Dom. 1563. Anno Regin Eliza. 5. when they were first ratified by Act and whose being as obligatory to punishment beares not date nine yeers before from their composition in Convocation but hence forward from their confirmation in Parliament And now to match the credit of private Authours in some equality we will weigh M r. Rogers Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Whitgift inserting this clause in his Edition 1595. against D r. Mocket Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Abbot omitting it in his Latine translation of our Articles set forth 1617. 59. Arch-bishop Laud Arch-Bishop Land his opinion in the point in a speech which he made in the Star-Chamber inquiring into the cause why this clause is omitted in the printed Articles 1571. thus expresseth himself * * In his speech made Iune 14. 1637. pag. 65. Certainly this could not be done but by the malicious cunning of that opposite Faction And though I shall spare dead mens names where I have not certainty Yet if you be pleased to look back and consider who they were that governed businesses in 1571. and rid the Church allmost at their pleasure and how potent the Ancestors of these Libellers began then to grow you will think it no hard matter to have the Articles printed and this clause left out I must confess my self not so well skilled in Historicall Horsemanship as to know whom his Grace designed for the Rider of the Church at that time It could not be Arch-Bishop Parker who though discreet and moderate was sound and sincere in pressing conformity Much less was it Grindall as yet but Bishop of London who then had but little and never much influence on Church-Matters The Earle of Leicester could not in this phrase be intended who alike minded the insertion or omission of this or any other Article As for the non-Conformists they were so far at this time from riding the Church that then they first began to put foot in stirrup though since they have dismounted those whom they found in the saddle In a word concerning this clause whether the Bishops were faulty in their addition or their opposites in their Substraction I leave to more cunning State-Arithmeticians to decide 60. One Article more we will request the Reader to peruse An Article to confirme the Homilies made in King Edward his reign as the subject of some historicall debates which thereon doth depend 35. Article of Homilies The second Booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former Booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understood of the People See we here the Homilies ranked into two formes Anno Regin Eliza. 4. The first such as were made in the Raign of Edward the sixth being twelve in number Of which the tenth of obedience to Magistrates was drawn up at or about Kets Rebellion in a dangerous juncture of time For as it is observed of the Gingles or S t.
miseries I have been alwayes stifled and that which yet makes this Tempest more cruel unto me is that those who had promised to make provisions for my good have afterwards failed me nor given me the least favour in the world nor do I hope that ever they will do it except perhaps these made or prepared for or journey most inclined to help me shall not be moved to undertake such enterprises in my behalf But to say the truth of it although there were succours gathered together and a most assured Army of-from beyond the Seas certainly not without great perill could they cross the Ocean into Scotland in the winter time which then is wont to be most turbulent and stormy But the English on the other side who are not separated from the Scots with any River interposed between them are able not only in Summer but in Winter time also to move warr against the Scots themselves who when there doth rise up even the least occasion of discord between them are wont suddenly to put themselves effectually into Arms. Constrained therefore by these principall respects without I should expose the interest of my Life and Country to the hazard of the greatest dangers I am by no means able to help it but that even to my greatest disadvantage I must make peace with the English saving alwayes as they say my honour and conscience because honour doth regard the civill administration whereby to be able afterwards to rule or govern the Commonwealth Then the conscience as being the forme and force divine given to men to direct them to a good end which admitting it to be sometimes straightned and bound with calamities Yet nevertheless may it neither for torments nor for promises of rewards be ever expelled or deprived from the Communion and obedience of the Catholick Church But amongst other things it now happeneth that I must relate to your Holiness one thing most truly bitter unto me that is that we are come to those tearms of desiring my only Son the Heir of the Temporal Kingdoms to be delivered by a certain time into the hands of the English by way of Hostage or pledge reserving to me nevertheless the liberty to appoint him such Governours and Councellours afterwards as shall best please me There is moreover granted leave of accession unto him not only for me but likewise to all those that for my satisfaction shall be sent into England to visit him Let not your Holiness for this cause have any doubt but that he shall be not only full of good and holy conversation but also though he be amongst an unluckie nation a perfect member of the Catholick and Apostolick Church and alwayes ready and prone to help the same But because that by this my letter I may not extend my self in greater length beyond my duty I do conclude with this that I have determined with my self nevertheless to give your Holiness to understand of my estate and of all these things which for the present do pass between them and me and if these also which shall happen in the journey of any importance and because it is a most difficult thing to put all my occasions in writing I have for that cause informed the Bishop of Dublin with all mine occurrences as him that is and alwayes hath been my most faithfull Nâ—ncio and most lovingly affected towards your Holiness and the seat Apostolick May it please your Holiness to give faith unto him concerning all the things whereof he shall treat with you in my name Mean time I pray our Lord God that he by his most holy grace protect the Catholick Church from all the wicked thoughts of her Adversaries in which case all we have fixed our eyes upon your Holiness as upon a most clear light expecting of the same continually in name of his Divine Majesty your most Holy Benediction And all with the same minde do desire unto your Holiness a most long life to the glory of the most mighty God and comfort of all the faithfull From Chattisworth in England the last of October 1570. The most Devout Daughter of your Holiness Mary the Queen Who so consults our State-Historians in this very juncture of time shall finde the Queen of Scots on tolerable tearms daily likely to amend with Queen Elizabeth Yea now she was in the Verticall of her favour wherein hence-forward she began to decline principally for practising with the Pope and Forraign Princes SECTION III. To M rs ANNE DANVERS of Chelsey Madam LEt not your Maiden modesty be betrayed to a blush seeing your self here left alone sorrounded on all sides with Masculine Dedications It will keep you in countenance if reflecting your eye either on the first page of this Booke or side Columnes of this page Where you shall finde the Queen of Virgins in the front thereof whose Reign in this Booke is described Indeed a portion thereof being designed to your late Brother now glorious Saint falls of course to you with his goods and Chattells as his sole Executrix If any Latine Letters occurr in this Section I doubt not but God will seasonably provide you such a Consort who amongst his many other Virtues will change you to a happy wife and translate them to your understanding 1. ABout this time deceased William Alley Bishop of Exeter The death of the Bps. of Exeter and Salisbury a Painfull Preacher and John Jewell of Salisbury of whom largely before He was borne in Devonshire bred first in Merton then Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford first Pupill to afterwards Fellow Exile with M r. Parkhurst in Germany After Queen Maries death Parkehurst durst not for danger return with Jewell but went a securer way as he supposed by himself Though Jewell came safe and sound home whilest Parkehurst was robbed of all in his return and relieved by the other at his journies end and soon after both of them were made Bishops M r. Parkehurst of Norwich and Jewell of Salisbury * Vide supra in the first year of Queen Mary 2. A Jewell sometimes taken for a single precious stone is properly a collective of many The praise of Bp. Jewell orderly set together to their best advantage So severall eminences met in this Worthy man Naturals Artificials amongst which I recount his studied memory Anno Dom. 1572. Anno Regin Eliza. 15. deserving as well as Theodectes the Sophister the Sirname of Mnemonicus Moralls but principally Spiritualls So devout in the Pew where he prayed diligent in the Pulpit where he preached grave on the Beach where he assisted milde in the Consistory where he judged pleasant at the Table where he fed patient in the bed where he died that well it were if in relation to him Secundâ—m usum Sarum * Laurence Humfrey in the long life of Bp Jewell were made Precedentiall to all Posterity He gave at his death to Peter Martyr a golden rose yet more fragrant for the worth of the Giver
to return into his native Land and died quietly neere the City of London 6. The second The death of Nicholas Harpsfield Nicholas Harpsfield bred first in Winchester School then New Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law and afterward became Arch-Deacon of Canterbury Under King Edward the 6 th he banished himself under Queen Mary he returned and was advanced And under Queen Elizabeth imprisoned for denying Her Supremacy Yet such was his milde usage in restraint that he had the opportunity to write much therein and amongst the rest his Ecclesiastical History no less learnedly then painfully peformed and abating his Partiality to his own Interest well deserving of all posterity He wrote also six dialogues in favour of his Religion but because in durance he durst not set it forth in his own but under the Name of Alan Cope Yet lest truth should be conceal'd and friend defraud friend of his due praise he caused these Capitall Letters to be ingraved at the end of his Book A. H. L. N. H. E. V. E. A. C. Hereby mystically meaning Auctor Hujus Libri Nicholaus Harpesfeldus Edidit Verò Eum Aalnus Copus He died this year at London in prison after 20. years restraint leaving behind him the general reputation of a Religious man 7. The third The death of Gregory Martin Gregory Martin born at Macfield in Sussex bred with Campian in St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford Tutor to Philip Earl of Arundel eldest son to Thomas Duke of Norfolke Afterwards he went over beyond Sea and became Divinity Professor in the Colledge of Rhemes died there October 28. and is buried with a large Epitaph under a plain monument 8. I shall now withdraw my self Letter History best History or at leastwise stand by a silent spectator whilst I make room for far my betters to come forth and speak in the present controversie of Church Government Call it not Cowardize but count it Caution in me if desirous in this difference to lie at a close-guard and offer as little as may be on either side Whilst the Reader shall behold the Masters of Defence on both sides engaged therein in these following letters of State Baronius the great Roman Annalist was wont to say Epistolaris Historia est optima Historia that is the best History which is collected out of Letters How much of the Acts of the Apostles especially for the regulation of time is contained in the Epistles of S t. Paul Of the Primitive History the most Authenticall part is what is gathered out of the letters of the Fathers and in like manner the true estate of Ecclesiasticall affairs in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth may be extracted out of the following despatches and their returns exhibiting the inclinations of their Authors in pure Naturalls without any adulterated addition and therefore the surest for others instruction and safest for my own protection 9. But one thing I must clear in our entrance thereon Objection against Letter want of Date answered in excuse that these Letters are Dateless as to the day and moneth a great omission which I have seen in many Originalls whose Authors so minded the matter that they neglected the time the present dispatching of them being date enough to their purpose though now the want thereof leaves Posterity at a loss A Blew Coat without a Badge is but a white Coat in effect as nothing informing the Beholder to what Lord the Bearer thereof doth relate And as little instructive will some say are these Letters as to the point of Chronologie But be it known that no Readers stomack can be so sharp set on Criticalness of Chronologie Anno. Dom. 1583. but that being fed with the certainty of the year He will not be famisht with the uncertainty of the moneth or day Anno Regin Eliza. 26. Indeed as such whose names are casually omitted in the Register may recover the truth of their age by a Comparative Computation of their years who were born about the same time so by the mixture and comparing of these dateless Letters with those having date of secular affairs I could Competently have collected and inserted the time save that I loath to obtrude any thing conjecturall on the readers belief But we must begin with the ensuing Petition as the ground-work of all the rest The Ministers of Kent to the Privie Councel MAy it please your Honours of your great and wonted favour towards the distressed The petition of the Kentish Ministers to consider these following Whereas we have been called to subscribe in the County of Kent to certain Articles propounded by my Lords Grace of Canterbury unto the Ministers and Preachers The first concerning Her Majesties authority The second concerning no contrariety to the word of God in the Book of Common-Prayer and administration of the Sacraments the book of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons And the third that we beleeve all things in the book of the Articles of Religion to be agreeable to the word of God Whereupon all have most willingly offered to subscribe unto the other two And being pronounced in the open Court Contumaces reservata poenâ and so refer'd to answer at Law the 11 and 13 of February Which we feared would be prosecuted with much trouble and no resolution to our consciences we amongst the rest repaired with that carefull avoiding that we could of offence to his Lordships Grace to whom when we had the first day made known some of our doubts concerning the first book only many moe in number and as great in weight concerning the first and second and some concerning the third remaining beside we have upon our refusall and record taken by publick notary of one point only from every particular refuser which moved him thereunto and one place of Scripture adjoyned without collection or the reason of the same been suspended from our Ministery by which occasion as we fear that that account which hath been made of the consequence of our cause both in publick sermons and pronouncing of sentence against us namely that in denying to subscribe to the two aforesaid Articles we separated our selves from the Church and condemned the right service of God in prayer and administration of the Sacraments in the Church of England and the Ministry of the same and disobeyed Her Majesties Authority hath been intimated to your Honours So we think it our bound duties most humbly on our knees to beseech your Honours to know and make manifest in our behalf to Her Majesty that which we before the Lord in simplicity protest we in all reverence judge of the authority which is established and the persons which were Authors of those books that they did not only speak but also did highly to the glory of God promote the true Religion of God and the Glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ and that we so esteem of those books and there is nothing in them to cause us to separate our selves
from the unity of the Church which in the execution of our ministry in participation of the publick prayers and Sacraments we have in our own example testified and by publick doctrine maintained And that the ministery of the word preached and publick administration of the Sacraments exercised in this land according to Authority is as touching the substance of it Lawfull and greatly blessed of God And lastly that we have and always will shew our selves obedient to Her Majesties authority in all causes Ecclesiasticall and civil to whomsoever it be committed and therefore that as poor but most faithfull subjects to Her Majesty and Ministers of Jesus Christ the great cause we have in hand and which consequently as we under your Honours correction judge the necessary reformation of many things in the Church according unto Gods word may have that sufficient hearing as all causes of our refusall to subscribe may be known and equally out of Gods word judged of and the lamentable estate of the Churches to which we appertain with the hard condition of us may in that manner that your Honours most excellent wisdom shall finde expedient in the pitty of Jesus Christ for the mean time be relieved the Lord Almighty vouchsafe for Jesus Christ his sake long to continue and bless your Honours wisdom and Councell to the great glory of God and the happy government of Her Majestie and flourishing estate of this Church of England Your Honours daily and faithfull Orators the Ministers of Kent which are suspended from the execution of their Ministery The Lords of the Councell sent this Petition with another Bill of complaint exhibited unto them against Edmond Freak Bishop of Norwich unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury What his answer was thereunto the reader may informe himself out of the following letter To the Lords of the Councell Most Honorable UPon Sunday last in the afternoon The Arch-Bishops letter in answer thereof M r. real brought unto me in your Lordships names two supplications or Bills of complaint exhibited unto your Lordships The one by certain Ministers of Suff. against their Diocesan there The other by some of Kent against my self with this further message that it was your desires I should come to the Court on Sunday next It may please your good Lordships to be advertised that it seemeth something strange to me that the Ministers of Suffolk finding themselves aggrieved with the doings of their Diocesan should leave the ordinary course of proceeding by Law which is to appeal unto me and extraordinarily trouble your Lordships in a matter not so incident as I think to that most honourable Board seeing it hath pleased Her Majesty Her own self in express words to commit these causes Ecclesiasticall to me as to one who is to make answer to God to her Majesty in this behalf my office also and place requiring the same In answer of the complaint of the Suffolk men of their Ordinaries proceeding against them I have herewith sent to your Lordships a Copie of a letter which I lately received from his Lordship wherein I think that part of their Bill to be fully answered and his doings to have been orderly and charitable Touching the rest of their Bill I know not what to judge of it neither yet of what spirit it cometh but in some points it talketh as I think modestly and charitably They say they are no Jesuits sent from Rome to reconcile c. True it is neither are they charged to be so but notwithstanding they are contentious in the Church of England and by their contentions minister occasion of offence to those which are seduced by Jesuits and give the arguments against the forme of publick prayer used in this Church and by law established and thereby encrease the number of them and confirm them in their wilfullnesse They also make a Schism in the Church and draw many other of her Majesties subjects to a misliking of her Laws and Government in causes Ecclesiasticall so far are they from perswading them to obedience or at least if they perswade them to it in the one part of her authority it is in causes civill they desswade them from it as much in the other that is in causes Ecclesiasticall so that indeed they pluck down with the one hand that which they seem to build with the other they say that they have faithfully traveled in perswading to obedience c. and have therein prevailed c. It is but their own testimony I think it were hard for them to shew whom they converted from Papistry to the Gospell But what stirrs and discentions they have made amongst those which professed the Gospel before they were taught by them I think it to be apparent It is notorious that in King Edwards time and in the beginning of her Majesties Reign for the space of divers years When this self same book of publick prayers was uniformally used c. by all learned Preachers maintained and impugned by none the Gospell mightily prevailed took great increase and very few were known to refuse to communicate with us in prayer and participation of the Sacraments But since this Schism and division the contrary effect hath fallen out and how can it otherwise be seeing we our selves condemn that publick form and order of prayer and administration of the Sacraments as in divers points contrary to the word of God from which as in like manner condemning the same the Papists do absent themselves In the later part of their Bill conteining the reasons why they cannot submit themselves to observe the form prescribed by the book in all points I wonder either at their ignorance or audacity They say that the Learned writers of our time have shewed their mislikings of some of our Ceremonies The most learned writers in our times have not so done but rather reproved the mislikers those few that have given contrary judgement therein have done more rashly then learnedly presuming to give their Censures of such a Church as this is not understanding the fruits of the cause Nor alledging any reason worth the hearing especially one little Colledge in either of our Universities containing in it more learned men then in their Cities But if the authority of men so greatly move them why make they so small account of those most excellent and learned Fathers who were the penners of the Book whereof divers have sealed their Religion with their Blood which none yet have done of the impugners of the Book The Pope say they hath changed his Officium B. Mariae c. And so it is neither is there any man that doubteth but the Book of Common-Prayer may also be altered if there appear good cause why to those in Authority But the Pope will not suffer that Officium B. Marie c. to be preached against or any part thereof till it was by publick order reformed neither will he confess that he hath reformed it in respect of any errours but such only
negotiations wherein he was imployed for he was joyned with S r. William Winter Anno 1576 in a Commission to the Zealanders about their reprisalls And again Anno 1583 he was sent to the Queen of Scots Sharply to expostulate with her concerning some querulous letters Well knew Queen Elizabeth what tools to use on knotty timber our a Camden in his Elizabetha pag. 359. Author giving M r. Beal this Character that he was Homo vehemens austerè acerbus a Eager man and most austerely bitter His affections were wholy Presbyterian and I behold him as one of the best friends of the second Magnitude that party had What he wanted in authority he had in activity on their sides And what influence sometimes the Hands have on the Head I mean Notaries on the Judges themselves at Councell Board others may conjecture He either compiled or countenanced a Book made against the Bishops and the reader may receive a further confirmation of his Character herein from the following Complaint To the Lord Treasurer My singular good Lord I have borne much with M r. Beals intemperate speeches Arch Bishop Whiâ—gift his Letter complaining of Beals insolent carriage towards him unseemly for him to use though not in respect of my self yet in respect of her Majesty whom he serveth and of the laws established whereunto he ought to shew some duty Yesterday he came to my house as it seemed to demand the book he delivered unto me I told him that the book was written to me and therefore no reason why he should require it again especially seeing I was assured that he had a Copie thereof otherwise I would cause it to be written out for him whereupon he fell into very great passions with me which I think was the end of his coming for proceeding in the execution of his Articles c. and told me in effect that I would be the overthrow of this Church and a cause of tumult with many other bitter and hard speeches which I heard patiently and wished him to consider with what spirit he was moved so to say for I said it cannot be by the spirit of God because the spirit of God worketh in men humility patience and love and your words declare you to be very Arrogant proud impatient and uncharitable Moreover the spirit by God moveth men to hear the word of God with meekness c. And you have alomst heard with disdain every sermon preached before her Majesty this lent gibing and jesting openly thereat even in the sermon time to the offence of many and especially at such sermons as did most commended her Majesty and the State and moved the Auditory to obedience which he confessed and justified accusing some of the Preachers of false Doctrine and wrong allegations of Scripture c. Then he began to extol his book and said we were never able to answer it neither for the matter of Divinity not yet of Law I told him as the truth is that there was no great substance in the book that it might be very soon answered and that it did appear neither his Divinity nor Law to be great I further wished him to be better advised of his doings and told him indeed that he was one of the principall causes of the waywardness of divers because he giveth incouragement to divers of them to stand in the matter telling them that the Articles shall be shortly revoked by the Councell and that my hands shall be stopped c which saying is spread abroad already in every place and is the only cause why many forbear to subscribe which is true neither could he deny it All this while I talked with him privately in the upper part of my Gallery my Lord of Winchester and divers strangers being in the other part thereof But M r. Bâ—al beginning to extend his voice that all might hear I began to break off then he being more and more kindled very impatiently uttered very proud and contemptuous speeches in the justifying of his book and condemning of the orders established to the offence of all the hearers whereunto being very desirous to be rid of him I made small answer but told him that his speeches were intolerable that he forgat himself and that I would complain of him to her Majesty whereof he seemed to make small account and so he departed in great heat I am loth to hurt him or to be an accuser neither will I proceed therein further then your Lordships shall think it convenient but I never was abused more by any man at any time in my life then I have been by him since my coming to this place in hardness of speech for doing my duty and for all things belonging to my charge Surely my Lord this talk tendeth only to the increasing of the contention and to the animating of the wayward in their waywardness casting out dangerous speeches as though there were likelihood of sometumult in respect thereof Whereas in truth God be thanked the matter growth to greater quietness then I think he wisheth and will be soon quieted if we be let alone and they not otherwise encouraged It seemeth he is some way discontented and would work his anger no me The tongues of these men tast not of the Spirit of God your Lordship seeth how bold I am to impart unto you my private causes Truly if it were not that my conscience is setled in these matters and that I am fully perswaded of the necessity of these proceedings in respect of the peace of the Church and due observation of Gods laws and that I received great comfort at her Majesties hand as I did most effectually at my last being at the Court and that I were assured to your Lordships constancie in the cause and of your unmoveable good will towards me I should be hardly able to endure so great a burden which now I thank God in respect of the premises seemeth easie unto me neither do I doubt but God will therein prosper me Thus being desirous to impart this matter to your Lordship to whose consideration I leave it I commit you to the tuition of Almighty God John Cantuar. Nor have I ought else to say of this M r. Beal but that afterwards I finde one of his name and quality a Robert Beal Esabque Stow his survey of London pag. 183. dying 1601 and buried in London at Athallows in the wall who by all probability should be the same person Now that the Presbyterian party was not unfriended at the Councell Board but had those there which either out of Dictates of their conscience or reasons of State or reflections on their private interests endeavoured to mitigate the Arch-Bishops proceedings against them Let their ensuing letter to him be perused AFter our hearty commendations to both your Lordships although we have heard of late times sundry complaints out of divers Countries of this Realm of some proceedings against a great number of Ecclesiasticall persons
done Well because I would be loath to omit any thing whereby your Lordship might be satisfied I have sent unto you herein inclosed certain reasons to justifie the manner of my proceedings which I marvel should be so misliked in this cause having been so long practised in the same and never before this time found fault with Truly my Lord I must proceed this way or not at all the reasons I have set down in this paper And I heartily pray your Lordship not to be carried away either from the cause or from my self upon unjust surmises and clamours lest you be the occasion of that confusion which hereafter you would be sorry for For mine own part I desire no further defence in these occasions neither of your Lordship nor any other then Justice and Law will yield unto me In my own private affairs I know I shall stand in need of friends especially of your Lordship of whom I have made alwayes an assuâ—ed account but in these publick actions I see no cause why I should seek for friends seeing they to whom the care of the Commonwealth is committed ought of duty therein to joyne with me To conclude I am your Lordships assured neither will I ever be perswaded but you do all even of hearty good will towards me John Cantuar Now amongst all the favourers of the Presbyterians surely honesty Sr. Fra. Walsingham a good friend to nonconformists and wisdom never met more in any then in S r. Francis Walsingham of whom it may be said abate for the disproportion as of S t. Paul though poore yet making many rich Having but one only Daughter whole extraordinary handsomnesse with a moderate portion would considerably prefer her in marriage He neglected wealth in himself though I may say he enriched many not only his dependants but even the English Nation by his prudent steering of State affairs How he interceded to qualifie the Arch-Bishop for a Semi-non conformist we learn from his following Letter IT may please your Grace to understand St. Francis Walsinghams Letter to the Arch. Bishop in favour of non-conformists that this bearer M r. Leverwood of whom I wrote unto your Grace Anno Dom. 1583. Anno Regiâ— Eliza. 26. hath been here with me and finding him very conformable and willing to observe such orders as are appointed to be used in the Church as your Grace shall partly perceive by certain Articles subscribed with his own hand and herein inclosed I willed him to repair unto your Grace And in case these Articles may be allowed then I pray your Grace to be his good Lord and that with your good will and favour he may proceed in his suit upon knowledge whereof I do mean to deal further therein with her Majesty thereof for him as I have already begun to do upon the good report I heard of the man before your Graces message sent to M r. Nicasius for the stay thereof And so I humbly take my leave Your Graces at command Francis Walsingham What this Letter effected the next will informe us Right Honourable I thank you heartily for your letter The Arch-Bishops answer to secretary Walsingâ—aâ—s Letter written unto me in the behalf of Leverwood wherein I perceive the performance of your honorable speeches to my self in promising to joyne with me against such as shall be breakers of the orders of the Church established and movers of contentions therein upon that and other like speeches of yours with me at your last being at Lambeth I have forborn to suspend or deprive any man already placed in any cure or charge for not subscribing only if hereafter he would promise unto me in writing the observing of the Book of Common-Prayer and the orders of the Church by law setâ—down and I do now require subscription to the said Articles of such only as are to be admitted to the Ministry and to Ecclesiasticall livings wherein I finde my self something eased of my former troubles and as yet none or very few of the last named persons to refuse to subscribe to the said Articles though some of them have been accounted heretofore very precise I also very well remember that it was her own wish and desire that such as hereafter should be admitted to any living should in like manner be tied to the observing the orders which as it hath already wrought some quietness in the Church so I doubt not but that it will in time perfect the same And I cannot break that order in one but other will look for the like favour to the renewing and increasing of the former Atheisme not yet already extinguished Wherefore I heartily pray you to joyn with me herein Touching the Articles inclosed in your letter whereunto Leverwood hath subscribed they are of no moment but such as may easily be deluded For whereas he first saith that he will willingly subscribe as far as the law requireth at his hand his meaning is that the law requireth no such subscription for so I am informed that some Lawyers therein deceived have perswaded him and others and in saying that he will alwayes in the Ministry use the Book of Common-Prayer and none else his meaning is that he will use but so much of the Book as pleaseth him and not that he will use all things in the Book required of him I have dealt with him in some particularities which he denieth to use and therefore his subscription is to small purpose I would as neer as I can promise that none should hereafter come into the Church to breed new troubles I can be better occupied otherwise And God would bless our labours more amply and give better success to the word so commonly and diligently preached if we could be at peace and quietness among our selves which I most hartily wish and doubt not to bring to pass by Gods grace the rather through your good help and assistance whereof I assure my self and so with my hearty prayers c. John Cantuar. Thus have we presented to the Reader some select Letters out of many in my hand A transition to other matter passing betwixt the highest persons in Church matters I count it a blessing that providence hath preserved such a treasure unplundred esteem it a favour in such friends as imparted them unto me and conceive it no ungratefull act in our communicating the same to the Reader And now we who hitherto according to good manners have held our peace while such who were farr our betters by their pens spake one to another begin to resume our voice and express our selves as well as we may in the following History 10. By the changing of Edmond into John Cantuar. Good Grindal his death It plainly appears that as all these letters were written this year so they were indited after the sixth of July and probably about December when BP Grindal deceased Our English Eli for office highest in spirituall promotion age whereby both were blinde and
Anno 1630. it nothing related to those opinons he did or his followers do maintain For as I am credibly informed being by the Constable of the Parish who chanced also to be his God-son somewhat roughly and rudely required the payment of a rate he happ'ned in passion to strike him The Constable not taking it patiently as a castigation from a God-father but in anger as an affront to his office complained to S r. Rowland S r. John a neighbouring Justice of the peace and Brown is brought before him The Knight of himself was prone rather to pity and pardon than punish his passion but Browns behaviour was so stubborn that he appeared obstinately ambitious of a prison as desirous after long absence to renew his familiarity with his ancient acquaintance His Mittimus is made and a cart with a feather-bed provided to carry him he himself being so infirme above eighty to goe too unweldie to ride and no friend so favourable as to purchase for him a more comly conveyance To Northampton jayle he is sent where soon after he sickned died and was buried in a neighbouring Church-yard and it is no hurt to wish that his bad opinions had been interred with him 7. The Tenents of Brownists daily increasing June 4. 6. July 6. their books were prohibited by the Queens authority Two Brownists executed Notwithstanding which prohibition some presumed to disperse the same and paid dearly for their contempt therein For Elias a Stow Chronicle pag. 697. Thacker was hanged on the fourth and John Coping on the sixth of June at the same place St. Edmonds Burie and for the same offence the scattering such schismatical pamphlets 8. John Whitgift succeeding in the Arch-Bishoprick Sept. 24. found it much surcharged in the valuation Whitgift succeedeth him and empaired in the revenues through the negligence of his predecessour who would pay willingly what they asked of him and take contentedly what any tendered to him First therefore Whitgift b Sr. George Paul in his life pag. 28. procured an order out of the Exchequer for the abatement of an hundred pound for him and his successours in the payment of his first-fruits Afterwards he encountred no meaner man than that great Courtier Souldier and Privie-Councellour S r. James Crosts or rather he legally contested with the Queen in him and recovered from both long c Idem p. 29. Beachwood in Kent containing above a thousand acres of land detained from his predecessour under colour of a lease from Her Majesty 9. This d Camdens Eliz. in hoc Anno. year Nicholas Sanders more truly Slanders Death of Sanders had in Ireland a wofull end of his wretched life He was borne in Sâ—rrey bred first in Winchester then in New Colledge in Oxford where he was Kings-Professor of Canon-Law but afterwards banishing himself fled to Rome there made Priest and D r. of Divinity He accompanied Cardinal Hosius to the Councel of Trent and there is said by disputing and declaiming to have gained himself great reputation At last he was sent over Popes Nuncio into Ireland conceived then a desperate employment and therefore many Catholicks regreted thereat Yea some were overheard to say but it is e De scriptor Anglican aetate 16. pag. 773. Pitzaeus Sander's own sisters son who reports it Why does his Holiness send our Sanders into Ireland We value him more then all Ireland is worth There amongst the bogs and mountains was he starved to death justly famished for want of food who formerly had surfited on improbable lies by him first forged on the nativity of Queen Elizabeth 10. We must not forget Lewes burnt at Norwich how this year one John Lewes was burnt at Norwich for denying the Godhead of Christ and holding other detestable heresies He called himself f Stows Chron. pag. 697. Abdeit let him tell you what he meant thereby alluding therein to the promise of a new g Rev. 2. 17. name which no man knoweth but him that receiveth it having in it a little mock-Hebrew to make himself the more remarkable 11. Now 27. 1584. so great was the malice of the Jesuits against Her Majesty Popish libels that at this time they set forth many slanderous libels stirring up Her Subjects and Servants to do the same to Her as Judith did to h Camdens Eliz. in hoc Anno. Holofernes One of their principal pamphlets was intitled A Treatise of Schism The suspicion of making it fell on Gregory Martin one probable enough for such a prank as being Divinity Professor in Rhemes did not his Epitaph there i Pitzaeus Descript Anglic pag. 782. ensure me he was dead and buried two years before Though it is possible his posthume work might be born abroad after the death of the author thereof But whoever made it William Carter the Stationer paid dearly for publishing it being executed at Tiburn And in the next moneth five Seminaries John Fen George Haddock John Munden John Nutter and Thomas Hemmerford were hanged bowelled and quartered for treason at Tiburn and many others about the same time Anno Dom. 1584. Anno Regin Eliza. 27. executed in other places 12. Yet The Queen Her eminent mercy even in the midst of this necessarie severity Her Majesty was most mercifull unto many Popish malefactors whose lives stood forfeited to the Laws in the rigour thereof For no fewer then seventy Priests some of them actually condemned to die all legally deserving death were by one act of Grace pardoned and sent over beyond sea Amongst these were 1. Gaspar Heywood son to that eminent Epigrammatist the first a Camdens Eliz. 1584. Jesuite that ever set foot in England 2. James Bosgrave 3. John Hart a learned man zealous to dispute not dangerous to practice for his religion 4. Edward Rishton ungrateful wretch who afterwards railed in print on the Queen who gave him his life Her Majesties mercy herein was the more remarkable because done at a time when treasons against her person by Arden Summerfield Throgmorton c. did follow or rather tread one on another If hereafter the edge of justice fall sharper on Jesuits let them thank their own trechery which whetted it against themselves 13. This year two conferences or disputations were kept Two fruitless Conferences the last at Lambeth about the Discipline and Ceremonies of the Church 1. Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Sandys of York and Cooper of Winchester for the same 2. Unconforming Ministers whose names I cannot certainly attain against it 3. The Lords of Her Majesties Privie Councell and some other persons of Honour Auditors thereof This Conference effected nothing on the disputants as to the altering of their opinions little on the Auditors but as much on all as any judicious person ever expected What Eliah said passionately b 1 King 19. 4. I am no better then my Fathers may be soberly said of this conference It was no happier then
And yet in way of recovering health by changing of Aire of study for a time in thâ— Vniversity of mortall enmity borne by some in the parish of prosecution of Law or of being imployed in publick Affairs they cannot be wholy abrogated That there were in England foure thousand five hundred Benefices with Cure not above ten and most of them under eight pounds in the first fruits-book which cannot be furnished with able Pastors as the Petitioners desire because of the smallness of their livings Moreover he affirmed that what ever was pretended to the contrary England at that time flourished with able Ministers more then ever before yea had more then all Christendome besides 3. The Lord Grey rejoyned to this Assertion of more learned Ministers in the Church of England then ever heretofore The Lord Gray his rejoynder nay then in all the reformed Churches in Christendome this That it was not to he attributed to the Bishops or their actions but to God who now opened the hearts of many to see into the truth and that the Schools were better observed 4. The Lord Treasurer Burghley seeming to moderate betwixt them The Lord Treasurer his moderation after a long and learned oration concluded that he was not so scrupuleus as absolutely to like of the bill against Pluralities without any exception for he did favour both learning and wished a competent reward to it And therefore could like and allow a learned man to have two Benefices so they were both in ene parish that is to say in one Diocess and not one in the Diocess of Winchester and another in the North where the severall Diocesans would have no regard of them whereas being both in one Diocess the Bishop would look unto them 5. Here it was signified that her Majesty was acquainted with the matter Others interpret and that she was very forward to redress the faults and therefore required the Bishops not to binder her good and gracious purpose for that her Majesty would conferr with them 6. The Lord Gray again said The Lord Grays quere whether of Withen or what most probable of Ruthen afterwards Earl of Kent replyed he greatly wondred at her Majesty that she would make choice to conser with those who were all enemies to Reformation for that it meerly touched their freeholds and therefore he thought it good the house should make choice of some to be joyned with them Also he wished the Bishops might be served as they were in in King Henry the 8 th dayes when as in the case of praemunire they were all thrust out of doores 7. Then the Lord Treasurer said that the Bishops if they were wise would themselves be humble suiters to her Majesty to have some of the Temporall Lords joyned with them 8. The Lord Chamberlain utterly disliked the Lord Grayes motion alledging that it was not to be liked of that the Lords should appoint her Majesty any to confer withall but that it should be left to her own election 9. Matters flying thus high the Arch-Bishop with the rest of the Clergy The Bishops providently petition the Queen conceived it the safest way to apply themselves by Petition to the Queen which they presented as followeth To the Queens most excellent Majesty THe wofull and distressed state whereinto we are like to fall forceth us with griâ—f of heart in most humble maner to crave your Majesties most soveraign Protection For the pretence being made the maintenance and increase of a learned ministry when it is throughly weighed decryeth learning spoâ—leth their livings taketh away the sâ—t form of prayer in the Church and is the means to bring in confusion and Barbarisme How dangerous innovations are in a setled estate whosoever hath judgemeâ—t perceiveth Set dangers apart yet such great inconviniences may ensae as will make a state lamentable and miserable Our nâ—ighbours miseries might make us fearfull but that we know who tales the same All the reformed Churches in Europe cannot compare with England in the number of learned Ministers These benefits of your Majesties most sacred and are fall Government with hearty joy we feel and humbly acknowledge senceless are they that repâ—ne at it and careless wâ—o lightly regard it The respect hereof made the Prophet to say Dii estis All the faithfull and discreet Clergy say ô Dea certè Nothing is impossible with God Requests without grounded reasons are lightly to be rejected We therefore not as directors but as humble Remembrancers beseech your Highness favourable beholding of our present state And what it will be in time to come if the Bill against Pluralities should take any place To the Petition were annexed a catalogue of those inconveniences to the State present State to come Cathedrall Churches Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case pluralities were taken away here too large to be inserted So that in effect nothing was effected as in relation to this matter but things left in staâ—u quo prius at the dissolution of this Parliament 10. Amongst the mortalities of this year The death of Bp Barns most remarkable the death of Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham one commendable in himself but much suffering for the * See the life of Bernard Gilpin p. 190. corruption and viciousness of John Barnes his brother and Chancellour This Bishop was bred in Brasen-nose Colledge made Suffragan of Nottingham the last I beleeve who wore that title and behaved himself very gravely in his Diocess A great friend at last to Bernard Gilpin though at first by some ill instruments incensed against him and seeing they were loving in their lives their memories in my Book shall not be divided though I confess the later died some three years before 11. This Bernard Gilpin And of Bernard Gilpin born of a right worshipfull family at Kentmirâ— in Westmerland had Cuthbert Tonstali Bishop of Durham for his great Vncle he was bred first in Queens Colledgs then Christs-Church in Oxford and no doubt the prayers of Peter Martyr conduced to his conversion to be a Protestant For he hearing this Gilpin dispute cordially on the Popish party desired of God that so good affections might not be misguided and at last obtained his desire 12. He Weathered out the Raign of Queen Mary Hardly escaped in Queen Maries dayes partly with his travels beyond the seas Anno Dom. 1587. chiefly residing at Lovain Anno Regin Eliza. 30. and Paris partly after his return by the favour of his Uncle Tonstall Before whom he was often cited chiefly about the Eucharist but was discharged by confessing the reall presence and that the manner thereof transcended his apprehension Tonstall not inforcing him to the particularity of Transubstantiation as using himself to complain on Pope Innocent for defining de modo to be an article of faith However his foes so hardly beset him that once he ordered his servant to provide for him a long shroud not for his
of this Meeting I mislike your sudden interruption of Doctour Reynolds whom you should have suffered to have taken his liberty For there is no Order nor can be any effectuall Issue of Disputation if each party be not suffered without chopping to speak at large Wherefore either let the Doctor proceed or frame your Answer to his Motions already made although some of them are very needlesse BP of Lond. Upon the first motion concerning falling from Grace may Your Majesty be pleased to consider how many in these dayes neglect holinesse of Life presuming on persisting in Grace upon Predestination If I shall be saved I shall be saved A desperate Doctrine contrary to good Divinity wherein we should reason rather ascendendo than descendendo from our Obedience to God and Love to our Neighbour to our Election and Predestination As for the Doctrine of the Church of England touching Predestination it is in the very next Paragraph viz. We must receive Gods Promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture and in our doings the will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God His Majesty I approve it very well as consonant with the place of Paul Work out your salvation with feare and trembling Yet let it be considered of whether any thing were meet to be added for clearing of the Doctors doubt by putting in the word often or the like Mean time I wish that the Doctrine of Predestination may be tenderly handled lest on the one side Gods Omnipotency be questioned by impeaching the Doctrine of his eternall Predestination or on the other side a desperate presumption arreared by inferring the necessary certainty of persisting in Grace B. of Lond. The second Objection of the Doctors is vain it being the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of England that none but a Licensed Minister may preach nor administer the Lords Supper His Majesty As for Private Baptisme I have already with the Bishops taken order for the same Then came they to the 2 d. point of Confirmation and upon the perusal of the words of the Article His Majesty concluded the pretended Contradiction a Cvaill Bp. of Lond. Confirmation is not so much founded on the place in the Acts of the Apostles but upon Heb. 6. 2. which was the opinion besides the judgement of the Fathers of Mr. Calvin h On Heb 6. 2. and Doctour Fulk i On Act. 8. 27. neither needeth there any farther proof seeing as I suppose he that objected this holds not Confirmation unlawfull but he and his Party are vexed that the use thereof is not in their owne hands for every Pastor to confirme his owne Parish for then it would be accounted an Apostolicall Institution if Dr. Reynolds were pleased but to speak his thoughts therein D r. Reyn. Indeed seeing some Diocesse of a Bishop hath therein six k Here the Bishop of London thought himself touched because about 609 in his Diocess hundred Parishes it is a thing very inconvenient to permit Confirmation to the Bishop alone and I suppose it impossible that he can take due examination of them all which come to be confirmed BP of Lond. To the matter of fact I answer that Bishops in their Visitations appoint either their Chaplains or some other Ministers to examine them which are to be confirmed and lightly confirme none but by the testimony of the Parsons and Curates Ecclesiae Salus in sumi sacerdotis dignitate pendet cui si non exors quaedem ab omnibus eminens data potestos tor in Ecclesis efficientur Schismata quot Sacerdotes where the Children are bred and brought up To the Opinion I answer that none of all the Fathers ever admitted any to confirme but Bishops alone Yea even S. Jerome himselfe otherwise no friend to Bishops confesseth the execution thereof was restrained to Bishops onely BP of Winch. Dr. Reynolds I would fain have you with all your Learning shew where ever Confirmation was used in antient times by any other but Bishops These used ait partly to examine Children and after Examination by Imposition of Hands the Jewish Ceremony of Blessing to blesse and pray over them and partly to try whether they had been baptised in the right forme or no. For in former ages some baptised as they ought in the name of the Father Son and Holy-Ghost Some as the Arrians in the name of the Father as the greater and the Sonne as the lesse Some in the name of theFather by the Sonne in the Holy Ghost Some not in the name of the Trinity but onely in the Death of Christ Whereupon Catholick Bishops were constrained to examine them who were baptised in remotis concerning their Baptisme if right to confirme them if amisse to instruct them His Majesty I dissent from the judgement of S. Jerome in his assertion that Bishops are not of Divine Ordination BP of Lond. Unlesse I could prove my Ordination lawfull out of the Scriptures I would not be a Bishop four hours longer His Majesty I approve the calling and use of Bishops in the Church and it is my Aphorisme No Bishop no King nor intend I to take Confirmation from the Bishops which they have so long enjoyed Seeing as great reason that none should confirme as that none should preach without the Bishops License But let it be referred whether the word Examination ought not to be added to the Rubrick in the title of Confirmation in the Communion-book And now Dr. Reynolds you may proceed D â— Reyn. I protest I meant not to gall any man though I perceive some took personall exceptions at my words and desire the imputation of m It seemes the Bishop of London jealous that he was reflected on as is aforesaid called the Doctor Schismatick Schisme may not be charged upon me To proceed on the 37. Article wherein are these words The Bishop of Rome hath no authority in this Land These are not sufficient unless it were added nor ought to have any His Majesty Habemus jure quod habemus and therefore in as much as it is said he hath not it is plaine enough that he ought not to have Here passed some pleasant discourse betwixt the King and Lords about Puritants till returning to seriousnesse There began the BP of Lond. May it please your Majesty to remember the Speech of the French Embassadour Mounsieur Rognee upon the view of our solemne service and Ceremonie viz. That if the Reformed Churches in France had kept the same order there would have been thousands of Protestants more than there are D r. Reyn. It were well if this proposition might be added to the Book of Articles The Intention of the Minister is not of the Essence of the Sacrament the rather because some in England have preached it to be essentiall and here againe I could desire that the nine Orthodoxall Assertions concluded at Lambeth may be
generally received His Majesty I utterly dislike the first part of your motion thinking it unfit to thrust into the Book of Articles every position negative which would swell the book into a volume as big as the Bible and confound the Reader Thus on M. Craig in Scotland with his I renounce and abhorre his multiplyed detestations and abrenuntiations so amazed simple people that not able to conceive all their things they fell back to Popery or remained in their former ignorance If bound to this forme the Confession of my faith must be in my Table booke not in my head Because you speake of intention I will apply it thus If you come hither with a good intention to be informed the whole work will sort to the better effect But if your intention be to go as you came whatsoever shall be said it will prove the intention is very materiall and essentiall to the end of this present action As for the nine Assertions you speak of I cannot sodainly answer not knowing what those Propositions of Lambeth be BP of Lond. May it please your Majesty this was the occasion of them by reason of some Controversies arising in Cambridge about certain points of Divinity my Lords Grace assembled some Divines of speciall note to set down their opinions which they drew into nine Assertions and so sent them to the University for the appeasing of those quarrels His Majesty When such questions arise amongst Scholars the quietest proceedings were to determine them in the University and not to stuff the Book of Articles with all Conclusions Theologicall Secondly the better course would be to punish the Broachers of false Doctrine than to multiply Articles which if never so many cannot prevent thecontrary opinions of men till they be heard Dean of Pauls May it please your Majesty I am neerely concerned in this matter by reason of a Controversie betwixt me and some other in Cambridge upon a Proposition which I there delivered namely that whosover though before justified did commit any grievous sinne as Adultery Murder c. doe become ipso facto subject to Gods wrath and guilty of Damnation quoad praesentem statum untill they repent Yet so that those who are justified according to the purpose of Gods Election though they might fall into grievous sin and thereby into the present Estate of Damnation yet never totally nor finally from Justification but were in time renewed by Gods spirit unto a lively Faith and Repentance Against this Doctrine some did oppose teaching that persons once truly justified though falling into grievous sinnes remained still in the state of Justification before they actually repented of these sinnes yea and though they never repented of them through forgetfulnesse or sudden death they neverthelesse were justified and saved His Majesty I dislike this Doctrine there being a necessity of conjoyning repentance and holinesse of Life with true Faith and that is Hypocrisie and not justifying Faith which is severed from them For although Predestination and Election depend not on any qualities actions or works of Man which are mutable but on Gods eternall Decree Yet such is the necessity of repentance after known sinnes committed that without it no Reconciliation with God or Remission of Sins Dr. Reyn. The Catechisme in the Common-Prayer-book is too brief and that by Mr. Nowel late Deane of Pauls too long for Novices to learne by heart I request therefore that one Uniform Catechisme may be made and none other generally received His Majesty I think the Doctour's request very reasonable yet so that the Catechisme may be made in the fewest and plainest affirmative termes that may be not like the many ignorant Catechismes in Scotland set out by every one who was the Sonne of a good man insomuch that what was Catechisme-Doctrine in one Congregation was scarcely received as Orthodox in another and herein I would have two rules observed First That curious and deep questions be avoided in the Fundamentall instruction of a People Secondly That there should not be so general a departure from the Papists that every thing should be accounted an Errour wherein we agree with them Dr. Reyn. Great is the Prophanation of the Sabbath day and contempt of your Majestie 's Proclamation which I earnestly desire may be reformed This motion found an unanimous consent Dr. Reyn. May your Majesty be pleased that the Bible be new translated such as are extant not answering the Originall and he instanced in three particulars Gal. 4. 25. Psal 105. 28. Psal 106. 30. In the Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They were not disobedient Phinehas execut judgement Ill translated Bordereth They were not obedient Phinehas prayed B. of Lond. If every mans humour might be followed there would be no end of translating His Majesty I professe I could never yet see a Bible well translated in English but I think that of all that of Geneva is the worst I wish some speciall pains were taken for an uniform translation which should be done by the best learned in both Universities then reviewed by the Bishops presented to the Privy Councell lastly ratified by Royall Authority to be read in the whole Church and no other Bp. of Lond. But it is fit that no marginall notes should be added thereunto His Majesty That Caveat is well put in for in the Geneva Translation some notes are partiall untrue seditious and savouring of traiterous conceits As when from Exodus 1. 19. Disobedience to Kings is allowed in a Marginall note And 2 Chron. 15. 16. King Asa taxed in the Note for onely deposing his Mother for Idolatry and not killing her To conclude this point let Errours in matters of Faith be amended and indifferent things be interpreted and a gloss added unto them For as Bartolus de Regno saith that a King with some weaknesse is better than still a change so rather a Church with some Faults than an Innovation And surely if these were the greatest matters that grieved you I need not have been troubled with such importunate Complaints D r. Reyn. May it please your Majesty that unlawfull and seditious Books be suppressed such as Ficlerus a Papist De Jure Magistratus in Subditos applyed against the late Queen for the Pope Bp. of Lond. There is no such licentious divulging of those Books and none have Liberty by Authority to buy them except such as Dr. Reynolds who was supposed would confute them And if such Books come into the Realme by secret conveyances perfect nottce cannot be had of their importation Besides Ficlerus was a great Disciplinarian whereby it appeares what advantage that sort gave unto thei Papists who mutatis personis apply their owne arguments against Princes of their Religion though for my part I detest both the Author and Applyer alike The L d. Cecil Indeed the unlimited liberty of dispersing Popish and Seditious Pamphlets in Paul's Church yard and both the Universities hath done much mischief but especially one called Speculum Tragicum His
Majesty That is a dangerous Book indeed L. H Howard Both for Matter and Intention L d. Chancel Of such Books some are Latin some are English but the last dispersed do most harm Secret Cecil But my Lord of London and no man else hath done what he could to suppresse them His Majesty Dr. Reynolds you are a better Colledge man than a States-man if meaning to tax the Bishop of London for suffering those Books betweene the Secular Priests and Jesuits to be published which he did by warrant from the Council to nourish a Schisme betwixt them L d. Cecil Such Books were tolerated because by them the Title of Spaine was confuted L d. Treasurer And because therein it appeares by the Testimony of the Priests themselves that no Papists are put to death for Conscience onely but for Treason Dr. Reyn. Indeed I meant not such Books as were printed in England but one ly such as came from beyond the Seas And now to proceed to the second generall point concerning the planting of learned Ministers I desire they be in every Parish His Majesty I have consulted with my Bishops about it whom I have found willing and ready herein But as subita evacuatio is periculosa so subita mutatio It cannot presently be performed the Universities not affording them And yet they afford moe learned men than the Realme doth Maintenance which must be first provided In the mean time ignorant Ministers if young are to be removed if there be no hope of amendment if old their death must be expected because Jerusalem cannot be built up in a day BP of Winch Lay-Patrons much cause the insufficiency of the Clergy presenting mean Clerks to their Cures the Law admitting of such sufficiency and if the Bishop refuseth them presently a Quare impedit is sent out against him BP of Lond. Because this I see is a time of moving Petitions * This he spake kneeling may I humbly present two or three to your Majesty First That there may be amongst us a praying Ministery it being now come to passe that men think it is the onely Duty of Ministers to spend their time in the Pulpit I confesse in a Church newly to be planted Preaching is most necessary not so in one long established that Prayer should be neglected His Majesty I like your Motion exceeding well and dislike the Hypocrisie of our Time who place all their Religion in the Eare whilest Prayer so requisite and acceptable if duly performed is accounted and used as the least part of Religion Bp. of Lond. My second motion is that untill Learned men may be planted in every Congregation godly Homilies may be read therein His Majesty I approve your Motion especially where the Living is not sufficient for the maintenance of a learned Preacher Also where there be multitudes of Sermons there I would have Homilies read divers times Here the King asked the assent of the Plantiffs and they confessed it A preaching Ministry is best but where it may not be had godly Prayers and Exhortations do much good L d. Chancel Livings rather want Learned men Egcrtor L. Elsemcr than Learned men Livings many in the Universities pining for want of Places I wish therefore some may have single Coats one Living before others have Doublets Pluralities And this method I have observed in bestowing the King's Benefices Bp. of Lond. I commend your honourable care that way but a Doublet is necessary in cold Weather L d. Chancel I dislike not the Liberty of our Church in granting to one man two Benefices but speak out of mine own purpose and practise grounded on the aforesaid reason BP of Lond. My last motion is that Pulpits may not bemade Pasquils wherein every discontented Fellow may traduce his Superiours His Majesty I accept what you offer for the Pulpit is no place of personall Reproof let them complaine to me if injured BP of Lond. If you Majesty shall leave your self open to admit of all Complaints hour Highnesse shall never be quiet nor your under-Officers regarded whom every Delinquent when censured will threaten to complain of His Majesty I mean they shall complaine to Me by degrees first to the Ordinarie from him to the Arch-bishop from him to the Lords of the Council and if in all these no remedy be found then to my Self Dr. Reyn. I come now to Subscription * This concerned the fourth generall head viz. the Communion Book as he first propounded it however here he took occasion to urge it as a great impeachment to a learned Ministerie and therefore intreat it may not be exacted as heretofore for which many good men are kept out though otherwise willing to subscribe to the Statutes of the Realme Articles of Religion and the Kings Supremacy The reason of their backwardness to subscribe is because the Common-prayer enjoyneth the Apocripha books to be read in the Church although some Chapters therein contain manifest Errours repugnant to Scripture For instance Ecclus 48. 10. Elias in person is said to come before Christ contrary to what is in the New * Mat 11. 14. Luke 1. 17. Testament of Elias in resemblance that is John the Baptist BP of Lond. Most of the Objections against those Books are the old Cavills of the Jewes renewed by S. Jerome who first called them Apocripha which opinion upon Ruffinus his challenge he after a sort disclaimed BP of Winch. Indeed S. Jerome saith Canonici sunt ad informandos mores non ad confirmandam fidem His Majesty To take an even order * Viz. in the Dominical Gospels betwixt both I would not have all Canonicall Books read in the Church nor any Chapter out of the Apocripha wherein any errour is contained wherefore let Dr. Reynolds note those Chapters in the Apocripha-books wherein those offences are and bring them to the Arch-bishop of Cant. against Wednesday next and now Dr. proceed Dr. Reyn. The next Scruple against Subscription is because it is twice * Here we omit Mr. Knowstub his exception against the interrogatories in Baptisme because he spake so perplexedly that his meaning is not to be collected therein set down in the Common-prayer-book Jesus said to his Disciples when by the Text in the Originall it is plain that he spake to the Pharisees His Majesty Let the word Disciples be omitted and the words Jesus said be printed in a different Letter Mr. Knewst I take exceptions at the Crosse in Baptism whereat the weak Brethren are offended contrary to the counsel of the Apostle Romans 14. 2 Corinth 8. His Majesty Distingue tempora concordabunt Scripturae Great the difference betwixt those times and ours Then a Church not fully settled Now ours long established How long will such Brethren be weak Are not FORTY FIVE years sufficient for them to grow strong in Besides who pretends this weaknesse We require not Subscriptions of Layicks and Ideots but of Preachers and Ministers who are not still I trow to be
not legally be conveyed to any Petitioner Ann. Dom. 1604 Ann Reg. Jac. 2 Thus his Majesty manifested his good will and affection to Religion and although this Law could not finally preserve Church-lands to make them immortall yet it prolonged their lives for many yeares together 12. Passe we now into the Convocation The Acts of this Convocation why as 〈…〉 recovered to see what was done there But here the History thereof as I may say is shot betwixt the joynts of the Armor in the intervall after Whitgift's death and before Bancroft's removall to Canterbury so that I can finde the Originall thereof neither in the Office of the Vicar-generall nor in the Registry of London not can I recover it as yet from the Office of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury where most probably it is to be had the Jurisdiction belonging to them in the Vacancy 13. Take this as the result thereof Many Canon made therein Bishop Bancroft sitting President A Book of Canons was compiled not onely being the summe of the Queens Articles Orders of her Commissioners Advertisements Canons of 1571. and 1597. which were in use before but also many more were added the whole number amounting unto 141. Some wise and moderate men supposed so many Lawes were too heavy a burden to be long borne and that it had been enough for the Episcopall party to have triumphed not insulted over their adversaries in so numerous impositions However an Explanation was made in one of the Canons of the use of the Crosse in Baptisme to prevent Scandall and learned Thuanus in his History taketh an especiall notice thereof 14. Motion being made in this Convocation Bishop Rudd why opposing the oath against Simony about framing an Oath against Simony to be taken by all presented to Churchpreferment Bishop Rudde of St. Davids as conscientious as any of his order and free from that fault opposed it chiefly because he thought it unequall that the Patron should not be forced as well as the Clerk to take that Oath Whereupon it was demanded of him whether he would have the King to take that Oath when he presented a Bishop or Dean and hereat the Bishop sate downe in silence 15. About this time the Corporation of Rippon in York-shire The Petition of the Town of Rippon to Queen Anne presented their Petition to Queen Anne on this occasion They had a faire Collegiate Church stately for the structure thereof formerly erected by the Nobility and Gentry of the Vicenage the meanes whereof at the dissolution of Abbies were seized on by the King so that small maintenance was left to the Minister of that populous Parish Now although Edwin Sands Arch-bishop of York with the Earle of Huntinton Lord Burgley and Sheaffield successively Presidents of the North had recommended their Petition to Qu. Elizabeth they obtained nothing but faire unperformed Promises whereupon now the Ripponeers humbly addressed themselves to Queen Anne and hear her answer unto them ANNA R. ANNE by the grace of God Qu. of England Scotland France and Ireland c. To all to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas there hath been lately exhibited and recommended unto us a frame and plat-forme of a Colledge Generall to be planted and established at Rippon in the County of Yorke for the manifold benefit of both the Borders of England and Scotland Upon the due perusing of the plot aforesaid hereunto annexed and upon signification given of the good liking and approbation of the chief points contained therein by sundry grave learned and religious parties and some other of honourable Place and Estate We have thought good for the ample and perpetuall advancement of Learning and Religion in both the borders of our aforesaid Realmes to condescend to yeild our favour and best furtherance thereunto And for the better encouraging of other honourable and worthy Personages to joyn with us in yeilding their bounty and benevolence thereunto We have and do signifie and assure and by the word of a sacred Princesse and Queen do expresly promise to procure with all convenient speed to and for the yearely better maintenance of the said Colledge All and every of the Requests specified and craved to that end in a small Schedule hereunto annexed In confirmation whereof we have signed these Presents by our hand and name above mentioned and have caused our privy Signet to be set unto the same July 4. Dated at our Honour at Greenwich July 4. An. Dom. 1604. and of our Reigne c. After the sealing thus subscribed Gulielmus Toulerius Secretarius de mandate serenissimae Annae Reginae Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae 16. Such need never fear successe King James his bountifull grant who have so potent a person to solicite their suite King James being forward of himselfe to advance Learning and Religion and knowing Christs precept Let your Light shine before Men knew also that Rippon was an advantagious place for the fixing thereof As which by its commodious position in the North there would reflect lustre almost equally into England and Scotland Whereupon he founded a Dean and Chapter of seven Prebends allowing them two hundred forty seven pounds a yeare out of his own Crowne-land for their maintenance 17. I am informed These Lands since twice sold that lately the Lands of this Church are by mistake twice sold to severall Purchasers viz. Once under the notion of Dean and Chapters Lands and againe under the property of Kings Lands I hope the Chapâ—men when all is right stated betwixt them will agree amongst themselves on their bargaine Mean time Rippon Church may the better comport with poverty because onely remitted to its former condition 18. The Family of Love or Lust rather at this time The Petition of the Family of Love to King James presented a tedious Petition to King James so that it is questionable whether His Majesty ever graced it with his perusall wherein they endeavoured to cleare themselves from some misrepresentations and by fawning expression to insinuate themselves into his Majesty's good opinion Which here we present To the King 's most excellent MAJESTY JAMES the first by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOst gracious and Sveraigne Lord whereas there is published in a Book written by your Highnesse as an instruction to your most noble * * In his Basilicon Doron Sonne whom Almighty God blesse with much Honour Happinesse and Long life of a People that are of a vile Sect among the Anabaptists called the Family of Love who doe hold and maintaine many proud uncharitable unchristian and most absurd Opinions unto whom your Highnesse doth also give the name of Puritans assuming in the said Book that divers of them as Brown Penry and others doe accord with them in their foule Errours heady and phantasticall Opinions which are there set downe at large by Your Majesty
fraudulent force of the person of the Duke Catesbie undertook the other difficulty under a pretended Hunting-match advantaged thereunto by the vicinitie of Ashbie to the Lord Harrington's where the Princesse had Her education to train Her into their command All rubs thus removed their way was made as smooth as glasse and as slippery too as by the sequele may appeare 27. But first be it remembred The odium must be cast on the Puritan that though these plotters intended at last with honour to own the action when successe had made all things secure yet they purposed when the blow was first given and whilest the act was certain but the successe thereof doubtfull to father the fact on the Puritans They thought their backs were broad enough to bear both the sin and shame and that this saddle for the present would finely fit their backs whose discontent as these plotters would pretend unable otherwise to atchieve their desired alteration in Church-Government had by this damnable treason effected the same By transferring the fact on the then most innocent Puritans they hoped not onely to decline the odium of so hellish a designe but also by the strangenesse of the act and unsuspectednesse of the actors to amuze all men and beget an universall distrust that every man would grow jealous of himself And whilest such amazement tied Ann. Reg. Jac. 5 Ann. Dom. 1604. in a manner all mens hands behinde them these plotters promised themselves the working out their own ends part by their home-strength and the rest by calling in the assistance of forraign Princes 28. They fall a working in the Vault Will-worship a painfull labour Dark the place in the depth of the earth dark the time in the dead of the night dark the designe all the actors therein concealed by oath from others and thereby combined amongst them selves Oh! how easie is any work when high merit is conceived the wages thereof In piercing thorough the wall c Speed's Chro in King James nine foot thick they erroniously conceived that they thereby hewed forth their own way to heaven But they digged more with their silver in an hour than with their iron in many daies namely when discovering a Cellar hard by they hired the same and these Pioneers saved much of their pains by the advantage thereof And now all things were carried so secretly no possibility of any detection seeing the actors themselves had solemnly sworn that they would not and all others might as safely swear they could not make any discovery thereof 29. But God gives them warning to desist but they will take none so it fell out that the sitting of the Parliament was put off from time to time namely from the seventh of February whereon it was first appointed to meet it was adjourned till the fifth of October and afterward from the fifth of October put off till the fifth of November and accordingly their working in the vault which attended the motion of the Parliament had severall distinct intermissions and resumptions thereof As if Divine Providence had given warning to these Traytors by the slow proceeding and oft adjourning of the Parliament mean time seriously to consider what they went about and seasonably to desist from so damnable a designe as suspitious at last it would be ruined which so long had been retarded But no taking off their d Exod. 14. 25. wheels will stay those chariots from drowning which God hath decreed shall be swallowed in the Red sea 30. Behold The latitude of their designe here is fire and wood but where is the Lamb for the burnt offering Alas a whole flock of lambs were not farre off all appointed to the slaughter The King Prince Henry Peers Bishops Judges Knights and Burgesses all designed to destruction Let me smite him said Abishat of Saul e 1 Sam. 26. 8. even at once and I will not smite him the second time So here a blow so sound secret and sudden was intended it would not need iteration once and ever the first act would finish all in an instant But thanks be to God nothing was blown up but the Treason or brought to execution but the Traytors 31. Indeed The apish behaviour of Keies some few daies before the fatall stroke should bee given Master Keyes being at Tichmersh in Northampton-shire at the house of Master Gilbert Pickering his Brother-in-law but of a different Religion as a true Protestant suddenly whipped out his sword and in metriment made many offers therewith at the heads necks and sides of many Gentlemen and Gentlewomen then in his company This then was taken as a meer frolick and for the present passed accordingly but afterwards when the Treason was discovered such as remembred his gestures thought thereby he did act what he intended to doe if the plot had took effect hack and hew kill and slay all eminent persons The mysticall Letter of a different Religion from themselves 32. Curse f Eccles 10. 20. not the King no not in thy thought for a bird of the aire shall carry the voice As here such a discovery was made with a Pen fetched from the feather of a foul a Letter was written to the Lord Mounteagle in manner following My Lord OUt of the love I bear to some of your friends I have a care of your preservation Therefore I would advise you as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament For God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this Time And think not slightly of this advertisement but retire your self into your Countrey where you may expect the event in safety For though there be no appearance of any stirre yet I say they shall receive a terrible Blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This counsell is not to be contemned Ann. Dom 1605. Ann. Reg. Jac. 4 because it may doe you good and can doe you no harm for the danger in past so soon as you have burnt the Letter And I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it To whose holy protection I commend you A strange Letter from a strange hand by a strange Messenger without date to it name at it and I had almost said sense in it A Letter which even when it was opened was still sealed such the affected obscurity therein 33. The Lord Mounteagle as loyalty advised him The first search proves ineffectuall communicates the Letter to the Earl of Salisbury he to the KING His Majesty on the second perusall expounded the mysticall Blow meant therein must be by Gun-powder and gives order for searching the Rooms under the Parliament House under pretence to look for lost Hangings which were conveyed away The first search about evening discovered nothing but Percy 's Cellar full of Wood and Johnson his man under that name was Faux disguised attending therein However
the name of Percy and sight of Faux so quickned the jealousie of the Lord Mounteagle that this first slight Search led to a second scrutinie more strictly and secretly performed 34. This was made at midnight by Sir Thomas Knevet The second search discovers all Gentleman of His Majesties Privie Chamber and others into the Vault under the Parliament House There the mysterie of iniquity was quickly discovered a Pile of Fewell faced over with Billets lined under with thirty six Barrels of Powder besides Iron barres to make the force of the fire more effectuall Guido Faux was apprehended in the outward Room with a Dark Lantern in his hand the lively embleme of their designe whose dark side was turned to man whiles the light part was exposed to God and three Matches ready to give fire to the Train This Caitiffe professed himself onely grieved that he was not in the inner room to blow himself and them all up together affirming moreover that not God but the Devil made the discovery of the Plot. 35. Mean time The Traytors slie and are taken Catesbie Percy Rookwood both the Wrights and Thomas Winter were hovering about London to attend the issue of the matter Having sate so long abrood and hatching nothing they began to suspect all their eggs had proved addle Yet betwixt hope and fear they and their Servants post down into the Countrey thorough Warwick and Worcester into Stafford shire Of Traytors they turn Felons breaking up Stables and stealing Horses as they went But many of their own men by a farre more lawfull felonie stole away from their Masters leaving them to shift for themselves The neighbouring Counties and their own consciences rise up against these riotous Roisters as yet unknown for Traytors At last Sir Richard Walsh High Sheriffe of Worcestershire overtook them at Holbeck in Stafford shire at the house of Mr. Stephen Littleton where upon their resistance the two Wrights were killed Rookwood and Thomas Winter shrewdly wounded 36. As for Percy Catesbi◠and Piercie fight desperately for their lives and Catesbie they fought desperately for their lives as knowing no quarter but quartering would be given unto them and as if they scorned to turn their backs to any but themselves setting back to back they fought against all that assaulted them Many swords were drawn upon them but gunpowder must doe the deed which discharged that bullet which dispatched them both Never were two bad mens deaths more generally lamented of all good men onely on this account that they lived no longer to be forced to a farther discovery of their secret Associates 37. It must not be forgotten The Lord is just how some hours before their apprehension as these Plotters were drying dank gun-powder in an Iane a Miller casually coming in haply not heeding the black meal on the hearth by carelesse casting on of a billet fired the gun-powder Up flies the Chimney with part of the house all therein are frighted most hurt but especially Catesbie and Rookwood had their faces soundly scorched so bearing in their bodies not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g Gal. 6. 17. the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ but the print of their own impieties Well might they guesse how good that their cup of cruelty was whose dregs they meant others should drink Ann. Reg. Jac. 4 Ann. Dom. 1605-6 by this little sip which they themselves had unwillingly tasted thereof 38. The rest were all at London solemnly arraigned The rest are legally executed convicted condemned So foule the fact so fair the proof they could say nothing for themselves Master Tresham dying in the prison prevented a more ignominious end 1. Sir Everard Digbie Robert Winter Grant and Bates were hanged drawn Jan. 30. and quartered at the West end of S. Paul's Three of them but especially Sir Everard Digbie died very penitently and devoutly onely Grant expressed most obstinacy at his end 2. Thomas Winter Ambrose Rookwood Keies Jan. 31. and Faux were executed as the former in the Parliament-yard in Westminster Keies followed Grant in his obstinacie and h Stow's Chro pag. 882. Faux shewed more penitencie than all the rest 3. Garnet Provinciall of the English Jesuits was arraigned some weeks after by i Stow p. 883. four severall names and executed on the Saturday which he said was called Institutio crucis of whom largely in the next year They all craved testimony that they died Roman Catholicks my pen shall grant them this their last and so equall petition and bears witnesse to all whom it may concern That they lived and died in the Romish Religion And although the hainousnesse of their offence might with some colour of justice have angred severity into cruelty against them yet so favourably were they proceeded with that most of their Sons or Heirs except since disinherited by their own prodigality at this day enjoy their Paternall possessions 39. Heaven having thus defeated Hell of its desired successe The presumption of a posthume report justly censured Earth since hath endevoured to defraud Heaven of its deserved praise A posthume report is brought forth into the world nursed as it is fit by the mothers thereof that King JAMES was privie to this Plot all along and that His observing ran parallel with the Traytors acting therein so that He could discover it when He pleased but was not pleased to discover it untill the Eve of the fifth of November A fancie inconsistent with that ordinary piety which all charitable men must allow King JAMES as a Christian and with that extraordinary policie which His adversaries admire in Him as a Statesman Was it probable that He would tempt God so profanely as solemnly to thank him for revealing that to Him which he knew before Would King JAMES his wisdome not to say His warinesse not to say His fearfulnesse dally so long with destruction as to put it off to the last hour when Uno actu tactu ictu nictu all might have been confounded Was it not hard for Him to equivocate before such a Master of equivocation as Garnet the Jesuit was who certainly if he had smelt any jugling of King JAMES therein would no doubt have proclamed it to all the world at his execution I deny not but that the King both by intelligence from forain parts and secret information from those secular Priests that Bishop Bancroft secretly kept in his house was advertised in generall of some great Plot which the Jesuited Papists were hatching against the ensuing Parliament but for the particulars that ridd'ling Letter brought Him the first notice thereof whatsoever is fancied to the contrary But if wilde conjectures in such cases from obscure Authors shall be permitted to justle for credit against received Records all former unquestionable history will be quickly reduced to an universall uncertainty But there is a generation of people who to inhanse the reputation of their knowledge seem not only like mothes to have
quickly be perused and yet then no such effigiation was therein discovered which some nineteen weeks after became visible about the nineteenth of September following Surely had this pregnant straw gone out its full time of fourty weeks it would have been delivered of a perfect picture indeed whereas now miscarrying before that time wonder not if all things were not so complete therein 54. For the face therein was not so exact Not perfectly done as which might justly intitle heaven to the workmanship thereof Say not it was done in too small a scantling to be accurate for Deus est maximus in minimis Gods exquisitenesse appears the most in q Exod. 8. 18. modells Whereas when Witnesses were examined about this mock-miracle before the Archbishop of Canterbury Francis Bowen deposed that he believed that a good Artisan might have drawn one more curiously and Hugh Griffith himself attested that it was no more like Garnet than to any other man who had a beard and that it was so small none could affirm it to resemble him adding moreover that there was no glory or streaming raies about it which some did impudently report 55. However Garnet's beâ—tification occasioned by this mock-miracle this inspirited straw was afterward copied out and at Rome printed in pomp with many superstitious copartments about it as a coronet a crosse and nails more than ever were in the originall Yea this miracle how silly and simple soever gave the ground-work to Garnet's beatification by the Pope some moneths after Indeed Garnet complained before his death That he could not expect that the Church should own him for a Martyr and signified the same in his Letter to his dear Mistresse Anne but for her sirname call her Garnet or Vaux as you please because nothing of religion and onely practices against the State were laid to his charge It seemed good therefore to his Holinesse not to canonize Garnet for a solemn Saint much lesse for a Martyr but onely to beatificate him which if I mistake not in their heavenly heraldrie is by Papists accounted the least and lowest degree of celestiall dignity and yet a step above the Commonaltie or ordinary sort of such good men as are saved This he did to qualifie the infamie of Garnet's death and that the perfume of this new title might out-sent the stench of his treason But we leave this Garnet loth longer to disturb his blessednesse in his own place and proceed to such Church-matters as were transacted in this present Parliament 56. Evil manners prove often though against their will the parents of good laws Acts against Papists in Parliament but principally the Oath of Obedience as here it came to passe The Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the fifth of November and there continued till the 27 of May following enacted many things for the discovering and repressing of Popish Recusants extant at large in the printed Statutes Whereof none was more effectuall than that Oath of Obedience which every Catholick was commanded to take the form whereof is here inserted The rather because this Oath may be termed like two of Isaac's r Gen. 26. 20. 21. wells Esek and Sitnah Contention and Hatred the subject of a tough controversie versie betwixt us and Rome about the legall urging and taking thereof Protestants no lesse learnedly asserting than Papists did zealously oppose the same The form of which Oath is as followeth I A. B. doe truly and sincerely acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world That our Soveraigne Lord King James is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realm and of all other His Majesties Dominions and Countreys and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any power or authority to depose the King or to dispose any of His Majesties Kingdomes or Dominions or to authorize any forraign Prince to invade or annoy Him or His Countâ—â— or to discharge any of His subjects of their allegiance and obedience to His Majestie or to give licence or leave to any of them to bear armes raise tumult or to offer any violence or hurt to His Majesties Royall Person State or Government or to any of His Majesties subjects within His Majesties Dominions Also I doe swear from my heart that notwithstanding any declaration or sentence of Excommunication or deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successours or by any authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his See against the said King His Heires or Successours or any absolution of the said subjects from their obedience I will bear faith and true allegiance to His Majestie His Heires and Successours and Him and Them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against His or Their Persons Their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise and will doe my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto His Majestie His Heires and Successours all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against Him or any of Them And I doe farther swear That I doe from my heart abhorre detest and abjure as impious and hereticall this damnable doctrine and position That Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by Their subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full authority to be lawfully ministred unto me and doe renounce all Pardons and Dâ—spensations to the contrary And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I doe make this recognition and acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian So help me God This Oath was devised to discriminate the pernicious from the peaceable Papists Sure binde sure finde And the makers of this were necessitated to be larger therein because it is hard to strangle equivocation which if unable by might to break will endeavour by slight to slip the halter 57. No sooner did the newes thereof arrive at the ears of his Holiness The Pope his two Breve's against this Oath but presently he dispatcheth his Å¿ See K. James his Works pag. 250. Breve into England prohibiting all Catholicks to take this Oath so destructive to their own souls and the See of Rome exhorting them patiently to suffer persecution and manfully to endure martyrdome And because report was raised that the Pope wrote this
and nice-conscienced Elects scrupled to be consecrated by him He gave during his own life Twenty pounds a year to the Man's Widow which was not long a Widow as quickly re-maried He kept a Monethly-Fast on a Tuesday as the day whereon this casualty befell in a word this Keeper's death was the Archbishop's mortification 18. A project against the Clergy to get money At this time the KING's Exchequer grew very low though Lionel Cransield Lord Treasurer and Earl of Middlesex neglected no means for the improving thereof In order whereunto Reader let this Story passe into thy belief on my credit knowing my selfe sufficiently assured thereof a Projector such necessary evils then much countenanced informed His MAJESTY of a way whereby speedily to advance much Treasure And how for sooth was it Even that a new Valuation should be made of all Spiritual preferments which now in the King's Books passed at Under-tates to bring them up to or near the full value thereof This would promote both the casual fines as I may term them of First-fruits and the Annual rent of Tenths to the great advantage of the Crown The KING sent to the Lord Treasurer demanding his judgment thereof 19. Declined by the Lord Treasurer The Treasurer returned His MAJESTY an Answer to this effect so near as I can remember from the mouth of a Noble person then present Sir You have ever been beheld as a great Lover and Advancer of Learned men and You know Clergy-mens education is chargeable to them or their friends Long it is before they get any preferment which at last generally is but small in proportion to their pains and expences Let it not be said that You gained by grinding them other waies lesse obnoxious to just censure will be found out to furnish your occasions The KING commended Cranfield as doing it only for triall adding moreover I should have accounted thee a very knave if encouraging Me herein and so the project was blasted for the present as it was when it budded again propounded by some unworthy instrument in the Reign of King CHARLES 20. Who is truly excused I know some will suspect the Treasurer more likely to start than crush so gainful a design as who by all waies means sought to encrease the royal Revenue I know also that some accuse him as if making his Master's wings to molt thereby the better to feather his own nest Indeed he raised a fair estate and surely he will never be a good Steward for his Master who is a bad one for himself Yet on due and true enquiry it will appear that though an High power did afterwards prosecute him yet his innocence in the main preserved him to transmit a good estate to his posterity So that much of truth must be allowed in his * Frequent in his House at Copâ—hall Motto PERDIDIT FIDES he was lost at Court for his fidelity to K. JAMES in sparing His Treasure and not answering the expensivenesse of a great Favourite 21. The L. Bacon outed â—or Bâ—ibery A Parliament was call'd Jan. 20. wherein Francis Bacon L d Chancellor was outed his Office for Bribery the frequent receiving thereof by him or his was plainly proved Yet for all his taking just and unjust he was exceedingly poor and much indebted Wherefore when motion was made in the House of Commons of Fining him some thousand of pounds Sir Fr. S. a noble Member standing up desired that for two Reasons his Fine might be mitigated into fourty shillings First because that would be payed whereas a greater summe would onely make a noise and never be payed Secondly the shame would be the greater when such his prodigality that he who had been so large a taker in his Office was reduced to such penury that forty shillings should be conceived a sufficient Fine for his Estate But it was fine enough for him to lose his Office remitted to a mean and private condition 22. None can character him to the life An 〈…〉 his character save himself He was in parts more than a Man who in any Liberal profession might be whatsoever he would himself A great Honourer of antient Authors yet a great Deviser and Practiser of new waies in Learning Privy Counsellor as to King JAMES so to Nature it self diving into many of her abstruse Mysteries New conclusions he would dig out with mattocks of gold silver not caring what his experience cost him expending on the Trials of Nature all and more than he got by the Trials at the Barre Posterity being the better for his though he the worse for his own dear experiments He and his Servants had all in common the Men never wanting what their Master had and thus what came flowing in unto him was sent flying away from him who in giving of rewards knew no bounds but the bottome of his own purse Wherefore when King JAMES heard that he had given Ten pounds to an under-keeper by whom He had sent him a Buck the KING said merrily I and He shall both die Beggars which was condemnable Prodigality in a Subject He lived many years after and in his Books will ever survive in the reading whereof modest Men commend him in what they doe condemn themselves in what they doe not understand as believing the fault in their own eyes and not in the object 23. Bishop Williams made Lord Keeper All stood expecting who should be Bacon's Successour in the Chancery Sure he must be some man of great and high abilities otherwise it would seem a valley next a mountain to maintain a convenient and comely level in that eminent Place of Judicature Now whilst in common discourse some made this Judge others that Sergeant Lord Chancellor King JAMES made Dr. Williams lately and still Dean of Westminster soon after Bishop of Lincolne Though the KING was the principal July 10. the Duke of Buckingham was more than the instrumental advancer of him to the title of Lord Keeper in effect the same in Place and Power with the Lord Chancellor 24. Some causlesly offended The KING's choice produced not so much dislike as general wonder Yet some cavilled at Doctor Williams his Age as if it were preposterous for one to be able for that Office before antient and as if one old enough for a Bishop were too young for a Chancellor Others questioned his abilities for the Place Could any expect to reap Law where it was never sown who can apply the remedy whilst he is ignorant in the malady Being never bred to know the true grounds and reasons of the Common Law how could he mitigate the rigour thereof in difficult cases He would be prone to mistake the severity of the Common Law for cruelty and then unequal equity and unconscionable conscience must be expected from him Besides the Place was proper not for the plain but guarded Gown and the Common Lawyers prescribed for six * Yet Sir Ch.
quick-sighted did the promised Bishoprick make him whereof formerly he took no notice and all which are learnedly answered in the posthume book of Doctor Crakenthorpe carefully set forth by Dr. Barkham after the Authors death and may all orphan-works have the happinesse of so faithfull a Guardian Lastly and chiefly as he confesseth himself allectus pretio octuplicis stipendii allured with the reward of a salarie eight times as great as his revenues in England In which computation as he ungratefully depresseth the value of what he had in hand so he undiscreetly advanced the worth of what in hope he promised himself not to speak of the difference of Italian Ducates when told out and when told off at so great a distance 11. In pursuance of which his desire Spalato's second Letter to King James he wrote a second Letter to K. JAMES the tenour whereof we thought fit here to insert for the better clearing of the matter Most excellent Prince and most gracious Lord AS I signified lately unto Your Majesty in my former Letter I neither ought nor could neglect the Popes fair and gracious invitation of me especially when I saw that he dealt with me concerning the service of Christ and his Church And being now at length better certified that all things are in a readiness for me I am tied to my former promises Yet I make it my humble request that I may take my journey with Your Majesties good will And for that purpose I doe now most humbly and earnestly crave your leave by these Letters which I would much more willingly have begg'd by word of mouth in Your presence that I might have parted with Your Majesty with all due thanks and submission but that my accesse to Your Majesty might have confirmed the vain and foolish * * viz. That the King had employed Spalato to the Pope to make a reconciliation betwixt us and Rome rumours of the people I beseech Your Majesty therefore to vouchsafe to give me some Letters whereby my departure may be made both safe and creditable As for the Ecclesiastical Titles and Revenues which I hold by Your Majesties gift I shall resigne them by publick Indentures So from the bottom of my heart I doe commit my self to Your Royall favour and vow my self your servant for ever London From the Savoy Feb. 3. Your MAJESTIES c. M. Ant. de Dom. Archbishop of Spalato This Letter produced new Interrogatories Feb. 3. 1622. and severall fruitfull Controversies one alwaies begetting another but the last was a sharp one at Lambeth March the 30 which cut off all future discourse For a Commission was issued out to the Archbishop of Canterbury Mar. 30. the Bishops of Lincolne Lord Keeper of the Great Scale of England London Duresme Winchester and severall other Privie Councellors before whom Spalato personally appeared When the Archbishop of Canterbury in the name of the rest by His MAJESTIES speciall command in a long Latine Speech recapitulated the many misdemeanors of Spalato principally insisting on his changing of Religion as appeared by his purpose of returning to Rome and that contrary to the Laws of the Realm he had held correspondency by Letters with the Pope without the privity of the King's Majesty To which Charge when Spalato had made rather a shuffling Excuse than a just Defence the Archbishop in His Majestie 's name commanded him to depart the Kingdome at his own peril within twenty daies and never to return again To this he promised obedience protesting he would ever justifie the Church of England for orthodox in fundamentals even in the presence of the Pope or whomsoever though with the losse of his life 12. However Desires in vain still to stay loth to depart was his last tune And no wonder if well considering whence and whither he went He left a Land where he lacked nothing but a thankfull heart to God and a contented soul in himself He went to a place of promise suspicious whether ever it should be performed He feared not without cause he might lose his gray Head to fetch a red Hat And an ominous instance was lately set before his eyes One Fulgentius a Minorite had inveighed at Venice against the Pope and was by his Nuncio trained to Rome on promise of safe conduct where being favoured and feasted at first soon after in the field of Flora he was burnt to ashes This made Spalato effectually but secretly to deal with his friends in the English Court that His Majesty would permit him to stay But in vain and therefore within the time appointed he went over in the same ship with Count Swartzenburgh the Emperours Ambassadour returning hence into Flanders 13. And now Spalato is shipped Departeth to Rome A good winde and faire weather goe after him His sails shall not be stuffed with a blast of my curses conceiving that his fault was sufficient punishment But b Dr. Barkham in his Dedicatory Epistle to King James others have compared him to the house i Mat. 12. 44. swept and garnished to which the Devil returned with seven spirits more wicked than himself Which they thus reckon up Avarice Ambition and Hypocrisie whilst he stayed here Apostasie and Perjury when going hence Ingratitude and Calumnie when returned to Rome Yea they finde as many punishments lighting on him God angry with him the Devil tormenting him his conscience corroding him the world cursing him the true Church disdaining him Protestant-pens confuting him and the Pope at last in revenge executing him And now the Master hath had the just shame for his Apostasie let the Man receive the due praise of his perseverance one Gio Pietro Paravicino a Grizon who waited on Spalato in his chamber whom neither frights nor flatteries could remove but he died in Holland a firm professour of the Protestant Religion 14. Being come to Bruxels Ann. Reg. Ja. 20 Ann. Dom. 1622. Retuâ—ns to his railing vomit he recants his Religion and rails bitterly on the English Church calling his coming hither an unhappy irrational pestiferous k In his Book call'd Cencilium Reditus pag. 9. devilish voyage to which he was moved with sickness of soule impatience and a kinde of phrensie l Ibid. pag. 5. of anger Here he stayed six moneths for the Pope's Breve which was long a coming and at last was utterly denied him Insomuch that Spalato was fain to run the hazard and desperately adventure to Rome having nothing in Scriptis for his security but barely presuming on promises and the friendship of Gregory the fifteenth now Pope formerly his Collegue and chamber-fellow 15. I finde not his promised Bishoprick conferred upon him Lives at Rome not loved and diâ—s unlamented who as well might have been made Primate and Metropolitane of Terra incognita Yea returning to Sodome though not turned into a pillar of salt he became unsavoury-salt cared for of no side Such a crooked-stick which had
pained Him not no not when He was troubled with the gout this cunning Don being able to please Him in His greatest passion And although the Match was never effected yet Gondomar whilst negotiating the same in favour to the Catholick cause procured of His MAJESTY the enlargement of all Priests and Jesuits through the English Dominions 23. The actions of Princes are subject to be censured A malicious Comment on a mercifull Text. even of such people who reap the greatest benefit thereby as here it came to passe These Jesuits when at liberty did not gratefully ascribe their freedome to His MAJETIE's mercy but onely to His willingnesse to rid and clear His gaoles over-pestered with prisoners As if His Majestie if so minded could not have made the gallows the besome to sweep the gaole and as easily have sent these prisoners from Newgate up westward by land as over Southward by Sea What moved King JAMES to this lenity at this time I neither doe know nor will enquire Surely such as sit at the stern and hold the helm can render a reason why they steer to this or that point of the compasse though they give not to every mariner much lesse passenger in the ship an account thereof I being onely by my place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a rower or minister in the vessel content my self in silence with the will of the Master thereof But let us exemplifie the Lord Keeper's Letter to this purpose To the Judges AFter my hearty commendations to you His Majesty having resolved out of deep Reasons of State and in expectation of the like correspondence from forraign Princes to the profession of our Religion to grant some grace and connivency to the imprisoned Papists of this Kingdome hath commanded me to passe some Writs under the Broad Seal to this purpose Requiring the Judges of every Circuit to enlarge the said Prisoners according to the tenour and effect of the same I am to give you to understand from His Majesty how His Majesties Royal pleasure is that upon receipt of these Writs you shall make no nicenesse or difficulty to extend that His Princely favour to all such Papists as you shall finde Prisoners in the Gaols of your Circuits for any Church Recusancy whatsoever or refusing the Oath of Supremacy or dispersing Popish Books or hearing saying of Masse or any other point of Recusancie which doth touch or concern Religion only and not matters of State And so I bid you farewell Westminster-Colledge August 2. 1622. Your loving friend John Lincolne Now although one will easily believe many Priests and Jesuits were set at liberty Yet surely that p Mr. Prâ—â— in loc Gentleman is no true accomptant if affirming to fewer than four thousand to be set free at this time Especially considering that q Jo Gee in his Foot out of the snare one who undertakes to give in a perfect list of all the Jesuits in England and is since conceived rather to asperse some Protestants than conceal any Papists cannot mount their number higher than two hundred twenty and five To which if such whom he detects for Popish Physicians with all those whom he accuses for Popish Books be cast in they will not make up the tithe of four thousand 24. However Bitter Complements betwixt Gondomar and the Earl of Oxford most distastful was Gondomar ' s greatnesse to the English antient Nobility who manifested the same as occasion was offered as by this one instance may appear Henry Vere Earle of Oxford chanced to meet with Count Gondomar at a great entertainment The Don accosted him with high Complements vowing That amongst all the Nobility of England there was none he had tendred his service with more sincerity than to his Lordship though hitherto such his unhappiness that his affections were not accepted according to his integrity who tendred them It seems replied the Earle of Oxford that your Lordship had good leisure when stooping in your thoughts to one so inconsiderable as my self whose whole life hath afforded but two things memorable therein It is your Lordships modesty returned Gondomar to undervalue your self whilst we the spectators of your Honours deserts make a true and unpartiall estimate therof Hundreds of Memorables have met in your Lordships life But good my Lord what are those Two signall things more conspicuous than all the rest They are these two said the Earl I was Born in the Eighty Eight and Christned on the Fift of November 25. Henry Copinger Dec. 21. The death of Master Henry Câ—pinger formerly Fellow of S. John's Coll in Cambridge Prebendary of Yorke once Chaplain to Ambrose Earl of Warwick whose funeral Sermon he preached made Master of Magdalene Colledge in Cambridge by Her MAJESTIES Mandate though afterwards Resigning his Right at the Queens shall I call it request to prevent trouble ended his religious life He was the sixth Son of Henry Copinger of Bucks-Hall in Suffolke Esquire by Agnes Daughter of Sir Thomas Jermyn His Father on his death-bed asking him what course of life be would embrace He answered he intended to be a Divine I like it well said the old Gentleman otherwise what shall I say to Martin Luther when I shall see him in heaven and he knows that GOD gave me eleven Sons and I made not one of them a Minister An expression proportionable enough to Luther's judgement who r Pantalcon de Illustribus Germaniae in Vitae Lutheri p. 82. maintained some houres before his death That the Saints in heaven shall knowingly converse one with another 26. Laneham Living fell void A free Patrone and faithfull Incumbent well met which both deserved a good Minister being a rich Parsonage and needed one it being more than suspicious that Dr. Reinolds late Incumbent who ran away to Rome had left some superstitious leaven behinde him The Earl of Oxford being Patrone presents Mr. Copinger to it but adding withall That he would pay no Tithes of his Park being almost half the land of the Parish Copinger desired to resigne it again to his Lordship rather than by such sinfull gratitude to betray the Rights of the Church Well! if you be of that minde then take the Tithes saith the Earl I scorn that my Estate should swell with Church-goods However it afterwards cost Master Copinger Sixteen hundred pounds in keeping his questioned and recovering his detained rights in suit with the Agent for the next minor E. of Oxford and others all which he left to his Churches quiet possession being zealous in Gods cause but remisse in his own 27. He lived forty and five years the painfull Parson of Laneham His long and good life in which Market-Town there were about nine hundred Communicants amongst whom all his time no difference did arise which he did not compound He had a bountiful hand plentiful purse his paternal inheritance by death of elder Brothers and others transactions descending upon him bequeathing Twenty pounds
he presented a list of all the Prebendaries of that Church referring the election to his Majesty himself who made choise of Dr. Laud Bishop of Saint Davids for that attendance 18. Dr. Senhouse Feb 2. The Coronation Sermon Bishop of Carlile Chaplain to the King when Prince preached at the Coronation his text And I will give unto thee a Crown of life In some sort it may be said that he preached his own funerall dying shortly after and even then the black Jaundice had so possessed him a disease which hangs the face with mourning as against its buriall that all despaired of his recovery Now seeing this Coronation cometh within if not the pales and Park the purlews of Ecclesiastical Historie we will present so much thereof as was acted in the Church of Westminster Let Heraulds marshall the solemnitie of their advance from Westminster-Hall to this Church The solemn advance to the Church Anno Dom. 1625-2â— Anno Regis Car. 1. 1 where our pen takes the first possession of this subject 19. But first we will premise the equipage according to which they advanced from Westminster-Hall to the Abbey-Church in order as followeth 1. The Aldermen of London two by two ushered by an Herauld 2. Eightie Knights of the Bath in their Robes each having an Esquire to support and Page to attend him 3. The Kings Serjeants at Law Solicitour Atturney Masters of Request and Judges 4. Privie-Counsellors that were Knights and chief Officers of the Kings Houshold 5. Barons of the Kingdome all bare-headed in their Parliament-Robes with swords by their sides 6. The Bishops with Scarlet-gowns and Lawn-sleeves bare-headed 7. The Vice-Counts and Earles not in their Parliament but in their Coronation-Robes with Coronetted-Caps on their Heads 8. The Officers of State for the day whereof these are the principall Sr. Richard Winn. Sr. George Goreing The Lord Privie-Seal The Archbishop of Canterbury The Earl of Dorset carrying The first Sword naked The Earl of Essex The second The Earl of Kent The third The Earl of Montgomerie The Spurs The Earl of Sussex The Globe and Crosse upon it The Bishop of London The Golden Cup for the Communion The Bishop of Winchester The Golden Plate The Earl of Rutland The Scepter The Marquesse Hammilton The Sword of State naked The Earl of Pembroke The Crown The Lord Maior in a crimson Velvet gown carried a short Scepter before the King amongst the Serjeants But I am not satisfied in the criticalness of his place The Earl of Arundel as Earl-Marshall of England and the Duke of Buckingham as Lord High-Constable of England for that day went before his Majestity in this great solemnity 20. The King entred at the West-gate of the Church The manner of the Kings Coronation under a rich Canopy carried by the Barons of the Cinque-Ports his own person being supported by Dr. Neyle Bishop of Durham on the one hand and Dr. Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells on the other His train being six yards long of purple Velvet was held up by the Lord Compton as belonging to the Robes and the Lord Viscount Dorcester Here he was met by the Prebends of Westminster Bishop Laud supplying the Dean his place in their rich Copes who delivered into his Majesties hand the Staff of King Edward the Confessor with which he walked upto the Scaffold 21. This was made of wood at the upper end of the Church The fashion of the Scaffold from the Quire to the Altar His Majesty mounted it none under the degree of a Baron standing thereon save only the Prebends of Westminster who attended on the Altar three Chaires were appointed for him in severall places one of Repose the second the ancient Chair of Coronation and the third placed on an high square of five Staires ascent being the Chair of State 22. All being settled and reposed The King presented and accepted by the People the Lord Archbishop did present his Majesty to the Lords and Commons East West North South asking their minds four severall times if they did consent to the Coronation of King Charles their lawfull Soveraign The King mean time presented himself bare-headed Anno Regis Car. 1. 1. Anno Dom. 1623-26 the consent being given four times with great acclamation the King took his Chaire of repose 23. After the Sermon whereof before the L. Archbishop Sworn and annointed invested in a rich Coape tendered to the King kneeling down on cushions at the Communion-Table a large Oath then were his Majesties Robes taken off him and were offered on the Altar He stood for a while stripped to his Doublet and Hose which were of white Satten with Ribbons on the Armes and Shoulders to open them and he appeared a proper Person to all that beheld him Then was he led by the L. Archbishop and the Bishop of St. Davids and placed in the Chaire of Coronation a close Canopie being spread over him the L. Archbishop anointing his head shoulders armes and hands with a costly ointment the Quire singing an Antheme of these words Zadok the Priest anointed King Solomon 24. Hence the King was led up in his Doublet and Hose with a white Coyfe on his head to the Communion Table Solemnly Crowned where Bishop Laud Deputy for the Dean of Westminster brought forth the ancient Habiliments of King Edward the Confessour and put them upon him Then was his Majestie brought back to the Chaire of Coronation and received the Crown of King Edward presented by Bishop Laud and put on his head by the Archbishop of Canterburie The Quire singing an Antheme Thou shalt put a Crown of pure Gold upon his head Whereupon the Earles and Viscounts put on their Crimson Velvet Caps with Coronets about them the Barons and Bishops alwayes standing bare headed Then every Bishop came severally to his Majesty to bring his benediction upon him and he in King Edwards Robes with the Crown upon his head rose from his Chaire and did bow severally to every Bishop apart 25. Then was King Edwards Sword girt about him And giâ—t with several Swords which he took off again and offered up at the Communion Table with two Swords more surely not in relation to Scotland and Ireland but to some ancient Principalities his Predecessors enjoyed in France Then the Duke of Buckingam as Master of the Horse put on his Spurres and thus completely crowned his Majesty offered first Gold then Silver at the Altar and afterwards Bread and Wine which were to be used at the holy Communion 26. Then was his Majesty conducted by the Nobility to the Throne upon that square Bâ—fs of five ascents Homage done by the Nobility to his Majestys the Quire singing Te deum Here his Majesty took an Oath of homage from the Duke of Buckingam as Lord high Constable for that day and the Duke did sweare all the Nobilitie besides to be Homagers to his Majestie at his Majesties knees 27. Then as
many Earles and Barons as could conveniently stand about the Thrane With their solemne oath did lay their hands on the Crowne on his Majesties head protesting to spend their bloods to maintain it to him and his lawfull Heirs The Bishops severally kneeled down but took no oath as the Barons did the King kissing every one of them 28. Then the King took a Scrowle of parchment out of his bosom and gave it to the Lord Keeper Williams A Pardon generall granted who reâ—d it to the Commons four severall times East West North and South The effect whereof was that his Majesty did offer a pardon to all his Subjects-who would take it under his Broad-Seale 29. From the Throne The Communion concludes the solemnity his Majesty was conducted to the Communion Table where the Lord Archbishop kneeling on the North side read prayers in the Quire and sung the Nicene Creed The Bishop of Landaff and Nâ—â—ich read the Epistle and Gospell with whom the Bishops of Durham and St. Davids in rich Copes kneeled with his Majesty and received the Communion the bread from the Archbishop the wine from the Bishop of St. Davids his Majesty receiving last of all whilest Gloria in excelsis was sung by the Quire Anno Dom. 1625-26 Anno Regis Caroli 1 and some prayers read by the Archbishop concluded the solemnity 30. The King after he had disrobed himself in King Edwards Chappell The return to White-Hall came forth in a short Robe of red Velvet girt unto him lined with Ermins and a Crown of his own on his head set with very pretious stones and thus the Train going to the Barges on the water side returned to White Hall in the same order wherein they came about three a clocke in the afternoon 31. I have insisted the longer on this Subject moved thereunto by this consideration Our prolixity herein excused that if it be the last Solemnitie performed on an English King in this kinde Posteritie will conceive my paines well bestowed because on the last But if hereafter Divine providence shall assign England another King though the transactions herein be not wholly precedentiall something of State may be chosen out gratefull for imitation 32. And here if a Blister was not A soul mouth railer it deserved to be on the fingers of that scandalous Pamphleteer who hath written that King Charles was not Crowned like other Kings Whereas all essentills of his Coronation were performed with as much ceremonie as ever before and all Robes of State used according to ancient prescription But if he indulged his own fancie for the colour of his clothes a White Sute c. Persons meaner than Princes have in greater matters assumed as much libery to themselves 33. Indeed one Solemnitie no part of Why the King rode not through the Citie but preface to the Coronation was declined on good consideration For whereas the Kings of England used to ride from the Tower through the City to Westminster King Charles went thither by water out of double providence to save health and wealth thereby For though the infectious Aire in the City of London had lately been corrected with a sharp Winter yet was it not so amended but that a just suspicion of danger did remain Besides such a procession would have cost him threescore thousand Pounds to be disbursed on Scarler for his Train A summe which if then demanded of his Exchequer would scarce receive a satisfactory answer thereunto and surely some who since condemne him for want of state in omitting this Royall Pageant would have condemned him more for prodigality had he made use thereof 34. As for any other alterations in Prayers or Ceremonies A memorable alteration in a Pageant though heavily charged on Bishop Laud are since conceived by unpartiall people done by a Committee wherein though the Bishop accused as most active others did equally consent Indeed a passage not in fashion since the Reign of King Henry the sixt was used in a prayer at this time Obtineat gratiam huic populo sicut Aaron in Tabernaculo Elizeus in Fluvio Zacharias in Templo sit Petrus in Clave Paulus in Dogmate Let him obtain favor for this people like Aaron in the Tabernacle Elisha in the Waters Zacharias in the Temple give him Peters Key of dicipline Pauls Doctrine This I may call a Protestant passage though anciently used in Popish times as fixing more spirituall power in the King than the Pope will willingly allow jealous that any should finger Peters Keyes save himself 35. A few dayes after a Parliament began A Conference at York House Feb 6 11. wherein M r. Mountague was much troubled about his Book but made a fhift by his powerfull Friends to save himself During the sitting whereof at the instance and procurement of Robert Rich Earle of Warwick a conference was Kept in York house before the Duke of Buckingam and other Lords betwixt Dr. Buckridge Bishop of Rochester and Dr. White Dean of Carlile on the one side and Dr. Morton Bishop of Coventry and Dr. Preston on the other about Arminian points and chiefly the possibilitie of one elected to fall from grace The passages of which conference arâ— variously reported For it is not in tongue combats Anno Regin Carol. 1 Anno Dom. 1626-2â— as in other battails where the victorie cannot be disguised as discovering it self in keeping the field number of the slain Captives and Colours taken Whilest here no such visible effects appearing the persons present were left to their libertie to judge of the Conquest as each one stood affected However William Earle of Pembrooke was heard to say that none returned Arminians thence save such who repaired thither with the same opinions 36. Soon after a second conference was entertained Feb. 17. A second on the same Subject in the same place on the same points before the same Persons betwixt Dr. White Dean of Carlile and Mr. Mountague on the on side and Dr. Morton Bishop of Lichfield and Dr. Preston on the other Dr. Preston carried it clear at the first by dividing his adversaries who quickly perceiving their error pieced themselves together in a joynt opposition against him The passages also of this conference are as differently related as the former Some makeing it a a Thus the writer of Dr. Prestons Life concludes the conquest on his side clear conquest on one some on the other side and a third sort a drawn battail betwixt both Thus the success of these meetings answered neither the commendable intentions nor hopefull expectations of such who procured them Now whil'st other dare say Universally of such conferences what David saith of mankinde that of them b Psalme 14. 3. there is none that doth good no not one we dare onely intimate that what Statesmen observe of Interviews betwixt Princes so these conferences betwixt Divines rather increase the differences than abate them 37.
Court hoped hereby to make him fall totally and finally from the Kings favour though missing their mark herein as in fine it did appear 15. Two daies after he was called before the Privie Councell For which he is convented before the Councell where he presented himself on his knees and so had still continued for any favour he found from any of his own function there present But the Temporall Lords bad him arise and stand to his own defence being as yet only accused not convicted Dr. Harsenet Archbishop of York managed all the businesse against him Bishop Laud walking by all the while in silence spake not one word making a long oration uttered with much vehemency to this effect First He magnified King James his bounty unto him Anno Regis Caroli 6 Anno Dom. 1630-31 who from a private Master of a Colledge in Cambridge without any other immediate preferment advanced him by an unusuall rise to the great and rich Bishoprick of Salisbury Secondly He extolled the piety and prudence of King Charles in setting forth lately an usefull Declaration wherein he had commanded that many intricate questions tending more to distraction then edification of people should utterly be forborn in preaching and which had already produced much peace in the Church Thirdly He aggravated the hainousnesse of the Bishops offence who so ill requited his Majesties favour unto him as to offer in his own presence in so great an Auditorie to break his Declaration inviting others by his example to doe the like Fourthly that high contempt was the lowest tearm could be given to such an offence seeing ignorance could in no probability be pretended in a person of his reputed learning and eminent Profession What the other answered hereunto will best appear by his own letter writen to his worthy friend Doctor Ward giving him an exact account of all proceedings herein in manner as followeth 16. As for my Court businesse Bishop Davenant his relation of the whole matter in his letter to Doctor Ward though it grieved me that the established Doctrine of our Church should be distasted yet it grieved me the lesse because the truth of what I delivered was acknowledged even by those which thought fit to have me questioned for the deliverie of it Presently after my Sermon was ended it was signified unto me by my L. of York and my L. of Winchester and my L. Chamberlain that his Majesty was much displeased that I had stirred this question which he had forbidden to be medled withall one way or other My answer was that I had delivered nothing but the received Doctrine of our Church established in the 17 Article and that I was ready to justify the truth of what I had then taught Their answer was the Doctrine was not gainsaid but his Highnesse had given command these questions should not be debated and therefore he took it more offensively that any should be so bold as in his own hearing to break his royall commands And here my L. of York aggravated the offence from many other circumstances My reply was only this That I never understood that his Majesty had forbid a bandling of any Doctrine comprised in the Articles of our Church but only raising of new questions or adding of new sense thereunto which I had not done nor ever should doe This was all that passed betwixt us on Sunday night after my Sermon The matter thus rested and I heard no more of it till coming unto the Tuesday Sermon one of the Clerks of the Councell told me that I was to attend at the Councell-Table the next day at two of the clock I told him I would wait upon their Lordships at the hour appointed When I came thither my L. of York made a speech welnigh of half an hour long aggravating the boldnesse of mine offence and shewing many inconveniences that it was likely to draw after it And he much insisted upon this what good effect his Majesties Declaration had wrought how these controversies had ever since been buried in silence no man medling with them one way or other When his Grace had finished his speech I desired the Lords that since I was called thither as an offender I might not be put to answer a long speech upon the suddain but that my Lords grace would be pleased to charge me point by point and so to receive my answer for I did not yet understand wherein I had broken any commandement of his Majesties which my Lord iâ— his whole discourse took for granted Having made this motion I gave no further answer and all the Lords were silent for a while At length my Lords Grace said I knew well enough the point which was urged against me namely the breach of the Kings Declaration Then I stood upon this Defence that the Doctrine of Predestination which I taught was not forbidden by the Declaration First because in the Declaration all the Articles are established amongst which the Article of Predestination is one Secondly because all Ministers are urged to subscribe unto the truth of the Article and all Subjects to continue in the profession of that as well as of the rest Upon these and such like grounds I gathered it could not be esteemed amongst forbidden curious or needless Doctrines and here I desired that out of any Clause in the Declaration it might be shewed me that keeping my selfe within the bounds of the Article I had transgressed his Majesties command but the Declaration was not produced nor any particular words in it onely this was urged that the Kings will was that for the peace of the Church these high questions should be forborne My answer then was that I was sorry I understood not his Majesties intention which if I had done before I should have made choice of some other matter to intreat of which might have given none offence and that for the time to come I should conform my self as readily as any other to his Majesties command The Earle of Arundell seemed to approve of this my answer and withall advised me to proceed no further in my defence This in substance all which was done or said in this matter and so I was dismissed The Lords said nothing either in approbation of what I had alleadged to shew that I had not wittingly broken the Kings known command or in confirmation of the contrary urged against me by my Lords Grace At my departure I intreated their Lordships to let his Majesty understand that I had not boldly or wilfully and wittingly against his Declaration medled with the forenamed point and that now understanding fully his Majesties minde and intenâ—ion I should humbly yeeld obedience thereunto This business thus ended I went the next day to my L. Chamberlain and intreated him to doe me the favor that I might be brought to kisse the Kings hand before I went out of Town which his Lordship most readily promised and performed When I came in his Majesty declared his
eies are waking let such who all the foregoing week had their Cheeks moistned with sweat and hands hardened with labor let such have some recreation on the Lordsday indulged unto them whilst persons of quality who may be said to keep Sabbath all the week long I mean who rest from hard labor are concerned in conscience to observe the Lords-day with the greater abstinence from recreations Anno Dom. 34. Pass we now from the pen Troubles begâ—n in Somerset-shire to the practicall part of the Sabbatarian difference Somerset-shire was the stage whereon the first and fiercest Scene thereof was acted Here Wakes much different I dare say from the watching prescribed by our Saviour were kept on thâ— Lords day with Church-Ales Bid-Ales and Clerks-Ales If the Reader know not the criticall meaning and difference of these words I list not to be the interpreter and his ignorance herein neither is any disgrace nor can be any damage unto him The Gentry of that County perceiving such revells the cause of many and occasion of moe misdemeanors many acts of wantonness bearing their dates from such meetings importuned Sr. Thomas Richardson Lord Chief Justice and Baron Denham then Judges riding the Western circuit in the Lent-vacation to make a severe Order for the suppressing of all Ales and Revells on the Lords-day 35. In complyance with their desire March 19 Judg Richardsons order against Lords-day Revells the aforesaid Judges made an order on the 19. day of March founded on former precedents signed by Judge Popeham Lord Chief Justice in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth her Reign therein suppressing such Revells in regard of the infinite number of inconveniences daily arising by means thereof injoyning the Constables to deliver a copie thereof to the Minister of every Parish who on the first Sunday in February and likewise the two first Sundays before Easter was to publish the same every yeare 36. The Archbishop of Canterbury beheld this as an usurpation on Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction Which he would not revoke and complained of the Judges to his Majesty procuring a Commission to Bishop Pierce and other Divines to enquire into the manner of publishing this Order and the Chief Justice his cariage in this business Notwithstanding all which the next Assise Judge Richardson gave another strict charge against these Revels required an account of the publication and execution of the aforesaid Order punishing some persons for the breach thereof After whose return to London the Archbishop sent for him and commanded him to revoke his former Order as he would answer the contrary at his peril telling him it was his Majesties pleasure he should reverse it The Judge alledged it done at the request of the Justices of the Peace in the County with the generall consent of the whole Bench on the view of ancient precedents in that kinde 1634 However the next Assise he revoked his Order with this limitation as much as in him lay At what time also the Justices of the Peace in Somerset shire who in birth brains spirit and estate were inferiour to no County in England drew up an humble petition to his Majesty for the suppressing of the aforesaid unlawfull assemblies concurring with the Lord Chief Justice therein sending it up by the hand of the Custos Rotulorum to deliver it to the Earle of Pembroke Lord Lieutenant of their County to present it to his Majesty 37. Just in this juncture of time a Declaration for sports The Kings Declaration set forth the fifteenth of King James was revived and enlarged For his Majesty being troubled with petitions on both sides thought good to follow his Fathers royal example upon the like occasion in Lancashire and we refer the Reader to what we have writen * See the 15. of K. James before for arguments pro and con about the lawfulnesse of publique reading thereof 38. It was charged at his triall The Archbishop excuseth himself on the Archbishop of Canterbury that he had caused the reviving and enlarging of this Declaration strong presumptions being urged for the proof thereof He denied it yet professing his judgment for recreations on that day alledging the practice of the Church of Geneva allowing shooting in long Bowes c. thereon Adding also that though indulging liberty to others in his own person he strictly observed that day Anno Dom. 1634 Anno Regis Caroli 10 A self-praise or rather self-purging because spoken on his life which seem'd uttered without pride and with truth and was not cleerly confuted Indeed they are the best carvers of libertie on that day who cut most for others and leave least for themselves 39. However No injunction to the Ministers there was no express in this Declaration that the Minister of the Parish should be pressed to the publishing Many counted it no Ministers work and more proper for the place of the Constable or Tithing-man to perform it Must they who were if not worst able most unfitting hold the Candle to lighten and let in licentiousnesse But because the Judges had enjoyned the Ministers to read their order in the Church the Kings Declaration was inforced by the Bishops to be published by them in the same place 40. As for such whose consciences reluctated to publish the Declaration Yet some silenced for refusall to read the book various were their evasions Some left it to their Curats to read Nor was this the plucking out of a thorn from their own to put it in another Mans conscience seeing their Curats were perswaded of the lawfulnesse thereof Others read it indeed themselves but presently after read the fourth Commandement And was this fair play setting God and their King as they conceived at odds that so they themselves might escape in the fray Others point-blanck refused the reading thereof for which some of them were suspended ab officio beneficio some deprived and moe molested in the High Commission it being questionable whether their sufferings procured more pity to them or more hatred to the causers thereof 41. All Bishops urged not the reading of the Book with rigour alike Moderation of some Bishopâ— therein nor punished the refusall with equall severity I hear the loudest longest and thickest complaints come from the Diocess of Norwich and of Bath and Wells I knew a Bishop in the West to whom I stood related in kindred and service who being pressed by some to return the names of such as refused to read the Book to the Archbishop of Canterbury utterly denied and his words to me were these I will never turn an accuser of my Brethren there be enough in the World to take that office As for the Archbishop of Canterbury much was his moderation in his own Diocess silencing but three in whom also a concurrence of other non-conformities through the whole extent thereof But oh The necessity of the generall day of Judgment wherein all Mens actions shall be expounded
to take off their heavy hand from them informing them that his Majesty inâ—ended to use them hereafter with more mildnesse as a considerable party â—â—ing great influence on the Parliament without whose concurrence the 〈◊〉 could not comfortably supply his necessities adding moreover that 〈◊〉 Majesty had communicated this unto him by his own mouth with his â—â—â—tions hereafter of more gentlenesse to men of that opinion 〈◊〉 Some yeers after upon the deniall of an Officialls place in Leicester 〈◊〉 which notwithstanding Informed against him in the Star-chamber he carried in despight of the Bishop Sir John â—â—â—be fell foul with his old Friend and in revenge complained of him for â—evealing the Kings secrets concredited to his privacy Hereupon Atturney Noy was employ'd to put the same into an Information in the Star-chamber unto which Bishop Williams by good advise of counsell did plead and demurre as containing no matter fit for the cognizance of that Court as concerning words spoken of matters done in Parliament secrets pretended to be revealed by him a Privy Counsellor and Peere of Parliament and therefore not to be heard but in that High-Court This Demurrer being heard argued by Counsell Pro and Con in open Court for two or three hours the Lord Keeper and other Lords there present finding no cause nor colour to overrule it was referred to Judge Richison who lately having singded his Coat from blasts at the Court by him to be smothered who in a private Chamber presently after dinner over-ruled the same in a quarter of an houre 79. The Demurrer thus rendred useless in the Bishops defence Deserteth his intents of compounding with the King he used what means he could by the Lord Weston a proper person because Treasurer to meddle in money matters to compound with his Majesty but his Majesty resolved to have the Bishops answer and confession of his fault before he would compound with him Whereupon the Bishop quitting all thoughts of composition resolved to weather out the Tempest of his Majesties displeasure at open sea either out of confidence of the strength of his tackling his own innocence or skill of his Pilots who were to steere his suit having the learnedst Counsel of the Land by whose advise he put in a strong plea which likewise being argued and debated in open Court came at last to 70. His Eares were cut off very close Severall censures on his behaviour so that the Temporall or Head Artery being cut Anno Dom. 1637 the blood in abundance streamed down upon the Scaffold Anno Regis Caroli 13 all which he manfully endured without manifesting the least shrinking thereat Indeed of such who measured his minde by his words some conceived his carraige farre above others though using the same scale suspected the same to be somewhat beside himself But let such who desire more of his character consult with his printed lite written with his own hand though it be hard for the most Excellent Artist truely to draw his own Picture 71. Dr. Bastwick succeeded him Mr. Bastwick his Speech making a Speech to this effect Here are many spectatours of us who stand here as Delinquents yet am I not conscious to my self of the least trespasse wherein I have deserved this outward shame Indeed I wrote a Book against Antichrist the Pope and the Pope of Canterbury said it was written against him But were the Presse open unto us we would scatter his Kingdome and fight couragiously against Gog and Magog There be many here that have set many daies apart on our behalf let the Prelates take notice thereof and have sent up strong prayers to God for us the strength and fruit whereof we have felt all along in this cause In a word so farre am I from fear or care that had I as much blood as would swell the Thames then visible unto him his face respecting the South I would lose every drop thereof in this cause 72. His Friends much admired and highly commended the erection of his minde triumphing over pain and shame Many Men many mindes making the one easie the other honourable and imputed the same to an immediate Sprituall support Others conceived that anger in him acted the part of patience as to the stout undergoing of his sufferings and that in a Christian there lyeth a reall distinction betwixt Spirit and Stomach Valour and Stubbornnesse 73. Mr. Prince concluded the sad sight of that day Mr. Prince his Speech and spake to this purpose The cause of my standing here is for not bringing in my Answer God knoweth my conscience beareth witnesse and my Councell can tell for I paid them twice though to no purpose But their cowardise stands upon Record And that 's the reason why they did proceed and take the cause pro confesso against me But rather then I would have my cause a leading cause to the depriving of the Subjects liberties which I seek to maintain I choose to suffer my body to become an example of this punishment 74. The censure was with all rigour executed on him His behaviour at the censure and he who felt the most fretted the least commended for more kindly patience than either of his Predecessours in that place So various were mens fancies in reading the same letters imprinted in his face that some made them to spell the guiltiness of the Sufferer but others the cruelty of the Imposer Of the latter sort many for the cause more for the man most for huâ—anity sake bestowed pity upon him and now all three were remanded 〈◊〉 their former Prisons and Mr. Prinne as he returned by water to the Tâ—â—er made this Distick upon his own stigmatizing S. L. Stigmara maxillis referens insignala Laudis Exultans remeo Victima grata Deo Not long after they were removed Mr. Prinne to Carnarvan-Castle in Wales Dr. Bastwicke and Mr. Burton the one to Lancaster-Castle the other to Lanceston in Cornewall 75. But it seems these places were conceived to have Their removall either too little of Privacy or too much of Pleasure The two latter therefore were removed again One to the Isle of Scilly the other to the Isle of Gernezey and Mr. Prinne to Mount Orgueile-Castle in Jersey This in vulgar apprehensions added breadth to the former depth of their sufferings scattering the same over all the English Dominions making the Islands thereof as well as the Continent partake of their patience And here we leave them all in their Prisons and particularly Mr. Prinne improving the Rocks and the Seas good Spirituall Husbandrie with pious meditations But we shall heare more of them hereafter at the beginning of the Parliament 76. Next came the Bishop of Lincoln to be censured in the Star-chamber A preparative to the censure of the Bishop of Lincoln and something must be premised preparative thereunto After the great Seal some ten yeares since was taken from him he retired himself to Bugden in
Huntingdonshire where he may be said to have lived in a publick privacie So many his Visitants hospitall his house-keeping it being hard to say whether his Table were more free and full in dyet or discourse indeed he had a plentifull estate to maintain it besides his purchased Land The revenues of his Bishoprick and Deanery of Westminster out of which long since he had been shaken if not fastned therein by the Letters Patents of King James His Adversaries beheld him with envious eyes and one great Prelate plainly said in the presence of the King that the Bishop of Lincoln lived in as much pompe and plenty as any Cardinall in Rome for Dyâ—t Musick and attendance They resolved therefore to humble his height the concurrence â—f many matters ministring occasion thereunto 77. Sir John Lambe Dean of the Arches formerly a Favourite of Lincoln feâ—cht off from being prosecuted in Parliament The Bishop his discourse at the table with Sir John Lamb. and knighted by his means with Dr. Sibthorp Allen and Burden two Proctors as I take them were entertained at the Bishops talk at Bugden where their table was the discourse generall of those dayes against Puritans The Bishop advised them to take off their heavy hand from them informing them that his Majesty intended to use them hereafter with more mildnesse as a considerable party having great influence on the Parliament without whose concurrence the King could not comfortably supply his necessities adding moreover that his Majesty had communicated this unto him by his own mouth with his resolutions hereafter of more gentlenesse to men of that opinion 78. Some yeers after upon the deniall of an Officialls place in Leicestershire which notwithstanding Informed against him in the Star-chamber he carried in despight of the Bishop Sir John Lambe fell foul with his old Friend and in revenge complained of him for revealing the Kings secrets concredited to his privacy Hereupon Atturney Noy was employ'd to put the same into an Information in the Star-chamber unto which Bishop Williams by good advise of counsell did plead and demurre as containing no matter fit for the cognizance of that Court as concerning words spoken of matters done in Parliament secrets pretended to be revealed by him a Privy Counsellor and Peere of Parliament and therefore not to be heard but in that High-Court This Demurrer being heard argued by Counsell Pro and Con in open Court for two or three hours the Lord Keeper and other Lords there present finding no cause nor colour to overrule it was referred to Judge Richison who lately having singded his Coat from blasts at the Court by him to be smothered who in a private Chamber presently after dinner over-ruled the same in a quarter of an houre 79. The Demurrer thus rendred useless in the Bishops defence Deserreth his intents of compounding with the King he used what means he could by the Lord Weston a proper person because Treasurer to meddle in money matters to compound with his Majesty but his Majesty resolved to have the Bishops answer and confession of his fault before he would compound with him Whereupon the Bishop quitting all thoughts of composition resolved to weather out the Tempest of his Majesties displeasure at open sea either out of confidence of the strength of his tackling his own innocence or skill of his Pilots who were to steere his suit having the learnedst Counsel of the Land by whose advise he put in a strong plea which likewise being argued and debated in open Court came at last to the same untimely end with the Demurrer as referred to Judge Richison and smothered by him in a Chamber 80. This Plea thus overruled Puts in an especiall answer the Bishop put in an especiall answer to the information declaring how all was grounded by a conspiracy and combination of the persons named in the Bill to wit Lambe Sibthorpe Allen and Burden out of an intent to advance themselves and hatred they bare to him for not permitting them to pole and pill the Kings Subjects in Leicestershire in their Ecclesiasticall Courts by haling them into their nets ex officio mero without any previous complaint under an imaginary colour of Puritanism To this especiall answer Atturney Noy rejoyned in issue admitting the Bishop to prove his especiall matters who proceeded to the examination of his witnesses therein 81. Now began Atturney Noy to grow weary of the matter Kilveâ—t entertained his Prosecutor and became slow and remisse in the prosecution thereof whether out of respect to the Bishop whom he honoured though tart in tearms against him to please a greater Prelate or out of consciousnesse that more weight was hung thereon then the slender Wyres of the cause would bear Hereupon Richard Kilvert was entertained to follow the Suite though not entring himself as he ought Prosecutour upon record at the best being a necessary evill to doe what an honest man would be ashamed of Indeed like an English Mastiffe he would fiercely flye upon any person or project if set on with promise of profit and having formerly made his Breakfast on Sir John Bennet he intended to dine and supp on the Bishop And though his strength consisted much in a cunning head yet farre more in an able back as seconded in this suit and abetted from the Court in his undertakings This Kilvert so wrought himself into Warren an Examiner of the Star-Chamber that some say contrary to his oath he revealed unto him that the Testimony of one John Pregion Register of Lincoln and Leicester was most materiall in the Bishop his defence 82. Then was it Kilvert his designe to uncredit the Testimony of Pregion Pregion a principall witnesse of the Bishop much molested by charging him with several accusations particularly getting a Bastard though being no matters upon record to take away the validity of his witnesse The Bishop apprehending himself necessitated to weigh up Pregion his repute engaged himself more zealously therein then was conceived consistent with the gravity of so great a Prelate for so inconsiderable a person Especially to such who knew not that Dr. Morrison and this Pregion were the only persons of note present at the Bishop his Table when the discourse passed betwixt him and Sir John Lambe The Bastard laid to his charge is bandied at Lincoln-Sessions backward and forward betwixt Pregion and another The first Court fathers it upon him the next freed him from it and a third returned it upon him again This last order of Sessions was again dissolved as illegall by the Judges of the Kings-Bench and Pregion cleared from the child charged on him Sir John Munson a Justice of that County appearing very active against him and the Bishop no lesse earnest in his behalf 83. Here hapned the occasion or that w ch was afterwards so highly charged Subornation of perjury charged on the Bishop and heavily censured on the Bishop Williams wiz tampering to 〈◊〉
witnesses Henceforward 〈…〉 all his first information which from this day sunk 〈◊〉 silence and employed all his power on the proof of Subornation That 〈…〉 too hard for his Teeth to enter and fastned his fangs on a softer place so to pinch the Bishop to purpose yea so expensive was the suit that the Bishop well skilled in the charge of charitable works might with the same cost have built and endowed a small Colledge 84. Some daies before she hearing a Noble Lord of his Majesties Councell In 〈…〉 with the King the Bishops great Friend interposed himself to compound the matter prevailing so farre that on his payment of two thousand pound the Suit should be superseded in the Star-Chamber and he freed from further molessation But at this Lords return the price was risen in the market and besides the aforesaid 〈◊〉 it was demanded of him that to procure his peace he must part with his Deanery of Westminster Parsonage or Walgrave and Prebend of Lincoln which he kept in commendam To this the Bishop answered that he would in no base forgoe those few remainders of the favour which his dead master King James had conferred 〈◊〉 him 85. Not long after another bargain was driven frustrated therein by his great Adversary by the well intended endeavours of the same Lord that seeing his Majesty at that time had much occasion of moneys if he would but double the former summe and lay down four thousand pounds he should be freed from further trouble and might goe home with all his 〈◊〉 about him The Bishop returned that he took no delight 〈◊〉 at law with his Soveraign and thankfully embracing the motion prepared himself for the payment When a great Adversary stepping in so violented his Majesty to a Tryall that all was not onely frustrated but this afterwards urged against the Bishop to prove him conscious of a crime from his forwardness to entertain a composition 86. The day of censure being come July 11. Tuesday Sir John Finch Lord chief Justice fined the Bishop ten thousand pound for tempering to suborn Witnesses His heavy censure Secretary Windebank concurred with that little Bell being the lowdest and shrillest in the whole peaâ— as who alone motioned to degrade him which was lustily pronounced by a Knight and Layman having no precedent for the same in former ages The other Lords brought the fine downe to eight thousand pound and a thousand marks to Sir John Munson with suspension ab officio et beneficio and imprisoning him during the Kings pleasure The Earl of Arundell added that the cause in its self was extraordinary not so much prosecuted by the Atturney as immediately by the King himself recommended to their justice Manchester Lord privy Seal said that this was the first precedent wherein a Master had undone himself to save his Servant 87. The Archbishop of Canterbury did consent thereunto To which the Archbishop of Canterbury did concurre aggravating the fault of subornation of perjury with a patheticall speech of almost an houre long shewing how the world was above three thousand years old before ripe enough to commit so great a wickedness and Jesabell the first in Scripture branded with that infamie whose false Witnesses the holy Spirit refused to name otherwise than under the Character of Men of Belial Wherefore although as he said he himself had been five times down on his knees to his Majesty in the Bishops behalf yet considering the guilt so great he could not but agree with the heaviest censure And although some Lords the Bishops Friends as Treasurer Weston Earl of Dorset c. concurred in the fine with hope the King should have the sole honor of the mitigation thereof yet his Majesties necessaries meeting with the person adjudged guilty and well known for solvable no wonder if the utmost penny of the fine was exacted 88. At the same time were fined with the Bishop Three of his Servants fined with 〈◊〉 George Walker his Secretary Cadwallader Powell his Steward at three hundred pounds a piece and Thomas Lund the Bishop his Servant at a thousand 〈◊〉 all as 〈◊〉 in the same cause yet none of them was imprisoned save Lund for a few weeks and their fine never called upon into this day which the Bishop said was commuted into such Office as hereafter they were go doe in the favour of Kilvert 7. To make this our History entire The complaints against the unjust proceedings against him put in by the Bishop into the Parliament the matter in this particular suite Be it therefore known to the Reader than some foure years after 〈◊〉 1640 when this Bishop was fetch out of the Tower and restored a Peer in Parliament he there in presented severall grievances concerning the indirect prosecution of this cause against him whereof these the principall First that his Adversaries utterly waâ—ed and declined the matter of their first Information about revealing the Kings secrets as hopeless of success therein and sprung a new mine to blow up his credit about perjury in the examination of Witnesses Whereas he conceived it just that all accidentalls and occasionalls should sink with the substance of the accusation otherwise suits would be endless if the branches thereof should still survive when the root doth expire * These complaints I extracted out of the Bishop his Originall Secondly that he was deprived of the benefit of bringing in any exceptions against the Testimonies of Sir John Lambe and Dr. Sibthorp to prove their combination against him because they deposing pro Domino Rege nonâ— must impeach the credit of the Kings Witnesses who must be reputed holy and sacred in what they 〈◊〉 in so much that after Briefs were drawn by Counsells on both sides the Court was moved to expunge those Witnesses which made most against the King and for the Defendant Thirdly that Kilvert used all wayes to menace and intimidate the Bishop his Witnesses frighting them as much as he could out of their own consciences with dangers presented unto them To this purpose he obtained from Secretary Windebank that a Messenger of the Star-chamber one Pechye by name was directed to attend him all along the speeding of the Commission in the Country with his Coat of Armes upon him with power to apprehend and close imprison any person whom Kilvert should appoint pretending from the Secretary Warrants for matters of State and deep consequence so to doe by vertue whereof in the face of the Commission he seised on and committed George Walker and Thomas Lund two materiall Witnesses for the Bishop and by the terror thereof chased away many more whose Depositions were necessary to the clearing of the Bishop his integrity yet when the aforesaid two Prisoners in the custody of the Messenger were produced before Secretary Winebank he told them he had no matters of State against them but turned them over to Kilvert wishing them to give him satisfaction and were not permitted
be in the Commission of the Peace nor Judges in Temporall Courts 3. Nor sit in the Star-Chamber nor be Privy-Counsellors The two last branches of this Bill passed by generall consent not above two dissenting But the first branch was voted in the Negative wherein all the Bishops gave their own voices for themselves Yet had their suffrages been secluded and the question only put to the lay-Lords it had been carried for the Bishops by sixteen decisive June 8 76. After some dayes debate the Lords who were against the Bishops protested that the former manner of voting the Bill by branches was unparlamentary and illegall Wherefore they moved the House that they should be so joyned together as either to take the Bill in wholly or cast it all out Whereupon the whole Bill was utterly cast out by many voices had not the Bishops as again they did given their suffrages in the same 77. Master Maynard made a Speech in the Committee of Lords against the Canons At last wholly cast out made by rhe Bishops in the last Convocation therein with much learning indeavouring to prove 1. That in the Saxons times as Malmesbury Hoveden Sir Henry Spelman c. doe witnesse Lawes and constitutions Ecclesiasticall had the confirmation of Peers and sometimes of the People Mr. Maynards Speech against the Canons to which great Councells our Parliaments doe succeed 2. That it appears out of the aforesaid Authors and others that there was some checking about the disuse of the generall making of such Church Lawes 3. That for Kings to make Canons without consent of Parliament cannot stand because built on a bad foundation viz. on the Popes making Canons by his sole Power so that the groundwork not being good the superstructure sinketh therewith 4. He examined the Statute 25 of Henry 8 avouching that that clause The Clergy shall not make Canons without the Kings leave implyeth not that by his leave alone they may make them Lastly he endeavoured to prove that these Canons were against the Kings Prerogative the Rights Liberties and Properties of the Subject insisting herein on severall particulars 1. The first Canon puts a penalty on such as disobey them 2. One of them determineth the Kings Power and the Subjects right 3. It sheweth that the Ordinance of Kings is by the Law of Nature and then they should be in all places and all alike 4. One of the Canons saith that the King may not be resisted 5. Another makes a Holy Day whereas that the Parliament saith there shall be such and no more This his Speech lost neither life nor lustre being reported to the Lords by the Bishop of Lincoln a back friend to the Canons because made during his absence and durance in the Tower 78. One in the House of Commons heightned the offence of the Clergy herein Severall judgments of the Clergyes offence into Treason which their more moderate adversaries abated into a Premunire Many much insisted on the Clarks of the Convocation for presuming being but private men after the dissolution of the Parliament to grant subsidies A Bill read against the High-Commission and so without Law to give away the estates of their fellow-subjects 78. A Bill was read to repeal that Statute of 1 Eliz. whereby the High-Commission Court is erected This Bill afterwards forbad any Archbishop Bishop c. deriving power from the King to Assesse or inflict any pain penalty amercement imprisonment or corporall punishment for any ecclesiasticall offence or transgression Forbidding them likewise to administer the Oath Ex officio or give Oath to Church-Wardens Sides-men or any others whereby their own or others offences should be discovered DIGNISSIMO DOM. THOMAE FISHER BARONETTO CUM Insignia tua Gentilitia intueor Anno Regis Carol 16 Anno Dom. 1640 non sum adeò Heraldicae Artis ignarus quin probè sciam quid sibi velit Manus illa Scutello inserta Te scilicet Baronettum designat cùm omnes in illum Ordinem cooptati ex Institutione sua ad * * Seldenus in titulis Honoris Vltoniam Hiberniae Provinciam forti dextrâ defendendam teneantur At sensum praeter hunc vulgarem alium latiorem quoad meipsum laetiorem Manui illi expansae quae in tuo Clypeo spectabilis subesse video Index est summae tuae Munificentiae quo nomine me tibi divinctissimum profiteor 1. OMitting matters of greater consequence The High-Commission Court put down know that the Bill against the High-Commission June 24 was the third time read in the House of Lords and passed it which some dayes after was confirmed by his Majesty Thus the edge of the Spiritual Sword as to discipline was taken away For although I read of a Proviso made in the House of Lords that the generall words in this Bill should extend only to the High-Commission Court and not reach other Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction yet that Proviso being but writen and the Statute printed all coercive power of Church Consistories were taken away Mr. Pim triumphed at this successe crying out Digitus Det it is the finger of God Anno Dom. 1641 that the Bishops should so supinely suffer themselves to be surprised in their power Anno Regis Caroli 16 Some disaffected to Episcopy observed a Justice that seeing many simple souls were in the high Commission Court by captious interrogatories circumvented into a self-accusation an unsuspected clause in this Statute should abolish all their lawfull authority 2. The Bishop of Lincoln brought up a Bill to regulate Bishops and their jurisdiction The Bill for Regulation of Bishops consisting of severall particulars July 2 1. That every Bishop being in his Diocesse not sick should preach once every Lords day or pay five pounds to the poor to be levyed by the next Justice of Peace and distresse made by the Constable 2. That no Bishop shall be Justice of Peace save the Dean of Westminster in Westminster and St. Martines 3. That every Bishop should have twelve assistants besides the Dean and Chapter four chosen by the King four by the Lords and four by the Commons for jurisdiction and ordination 4. That in all vacancies they should present to the King three of the ablest Divines in the Diocesse out of which his Majesty might choose one to be Bishop 5. Deans and Prebends to be resident at the Cathedralls but sixty dayes 6. That Sermons be preached therein twice every Lords day once every Holy day and a Lecture on Wednesday with a salary of 100. Marks 7. All Archbishops Bishops Collegiate Churches c. to give a fourth part of their fines and improved rents to buy out Impropriations 8. All double beneficed men to pay a moiety of their benefice to their Curates 9. No appeal to the Court of Arches or Audience 10. Canons and Ecclesiasticall capitulations to be drawn up and fitted to the Lawes of the Land by sixteen learned men chosen six by the King
degrees whereby the Bishops declined in Parliament some whereof we will recount that posterity may perceive by what degrees they did lessen in the House before they lost their Votes therein First whereas it was customary that in all Commissions such a number of Bishops should be joyned with the temporall Lords of late their due proportions were not observed The Clark of the Parliament applying himselfe to the prevalent party in the reading of Bills turned his back to the Bishops who could not and it seems he intended they should not distinctly hear any thing as if their consent or dissent were little concerned therein When a Bill passed for exchange of Lands betwixt the Bishop of London and Sir Nicolas Crispe the temporall Lords were offended that the Bishop was styled Right Honourable therein which at last was expung'd and he intitled one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell the honour being fixed upon his State imployment not Episcopall function On a solemn Fast in their going to Church the temporall Lords first took precedency of the Bishops who quietly submitted themselves to come behind on the same token that a The young Lord Spencer afterwards E. of Sunderland one of the Lay-Lords said Is this a day Humiliation wherein we shew so much pride in taking place of those to whom our ancestors ever allow'd it But the main matter was that the Bishops were denied all medling even in the Commission of preparatory examinations concerning the Earl of Strafford as causa sanguinis and they as men of mercy not to deal in the condemnation of any person The Bishops pleaded though it was not proper for them to condemn the guilty yet they might acquit the innocent and such an one as yet that Earl was charitably presumed to be untill legally convicted to be otherwise They alledged also in their own behalf that a Commission was granted in the reign of Queen Elizabeth to certain Privy-Counsellors for the examination of the Queen of Scots Anno Dom. 1640 even to her condemnation if just cause appear'd b Camdens Eliz in An. 15â—6 and John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury first named therein All would not prevaile the Bishops being forbidden any interposing in that matter 11. It must not be forgotten Bishops refus willingly to resigne their Votes how about this time the Lord Kimbolton made a motion to perswade the Bishops willingly to depart with their Votes in Parliament adding that if the same would surrender their suffrages the temporall Lords who remained in the House were obliged in honour to be more tender of and carefull for the Bishops preservation in their Jurisdictions and Revenues An instrument was imployed by the Earl of Essex or else he imployed himself conceiving the service acceptable who dealt privately with severall Bishops to secure themselves by prevention to surrender that which would be taken away from them But the Bishops persisted in the negative refusing by any voluntary act to be accessarie to their own injury resolving to keep possession of their Votes till a prevalent power outed them thereof 12. Now no day passed Multitudes of petitions against Bishops wherein some petition was not presented to the Lords or Commons from severall persons against the Bishops as grand grievancers causing the generall decay of trade obstructing the proceedings in Parliament and what not In so much that the very Porters as they said were able no longer to undergoe the burden of Episcopall tyranny and petitioned against it But hitherto these were but blunt petitions the last was a sharp one with point and edg brought up for the same purpose by the armed Apprentices 13. Now A land-tide of Apprentices flow to Westminster seeing mens judgments are at such a distance about the nature of this their practice some terming it a tumult Anno Dom. 1441. mutiny riot others calling it courage zeal and industry some admiring them as acted with a publique spirit above their age and education others condemning them much their countenancers more their secret abetters and contrivers most of all I say when men are thus divided in point of judgement it will be safest for us to confine our selves meerly to matter of fact Wherein also we meet with much diversity of relation though surely what a c John Vicars in his God in the Mount or Parliamentarie Chronicle lib. 1. pag. 58. Parliatary Chronicler writes thereof must be believed Now Decem. 26. see how it pleased the Lord it should come to passe some of the Apprentices and Citizens were again affronted about Westminster-Abbey and a great noise and hubbub fell out thereabouts Others some of them watched as it seems by the sequell the Bishops coming to the Parliament who considering the disquiet and great noise by land all about Westminster durst not come to Parliament that way for fear of the Apprentices and therefore intended to have come to Parliament by water in Barges But the Apprentices watched them that way also and as they thought to come to land they were so pelted with stones and frighted at the sight of such a company of them that they durst not land but were rowed back and went away to their places Thus the Bishops were fain to shelter themselves from the showre of stones ready to fall upon them and with great difficulty made their escape Who otherwise on St. Stephans day had gone St. Stephans way to their graves 14. As for the hubbub at Westminster Abbey lately mentioned The manner of the tumult at Westminster Abby and White-Hall belongs to the pens of State Historians eye-witnesses have thus informed me of the manner thereof Of thoses Apprences who coming up to the Parliament cryed No Bishops no Bishops some rudely rushing into the Abby Church were reproved by a Virger for their irreverent behaviour therein Afterwards quitting the Church the doors thereof by command from the Dean were shut up to secure the Organs and Monuments therein against the return of Apprentices For though others could not foretell the intentions of such a tumult who could not certainly tell their own yet the suspicion was probable by what was uttered amongst them The multitude presently assault the Church under pretence that some of their party were detained therein and force a pane out of the North door but are beaten back by the officers Scholars of the Colledge Here an unhappy tile was cast by an unknown hand from the leads or battlements of the Church which so bruised Sir Richard Wiseman conductor of the Apprentices that he died thereof and so ended that dayes distemper 15. To return to the Bishops Why no more then 12 of the Bishops present at the Protest the next day twelve of them repaired to Jerusalem-Chamber in the Deans lodgings and if any demand where were the rest of them to make up twenty six take this account of their absence 13 Dr. Laud Archbishop of Cant. was in the Tower 14 Dr. Juxon Bishop
others grumbling at it as too much for what by them was performed And now what place more proper for the building of Sion as they propounded it then the Chamber of Jerusalem the fairest in the Deans Lodgings where King Henry the fourth died and where these Divines did daily meet together 7. Be it here remembred The superadded Divines that some besides those Episcopally affected chosen to be at this Assembly notwithstanding absented themselves pretending age indisposition c. as it is easie for able unwillingness to finde out excuses and make them probable Fit it was therefore so many evacuities should be filled up to mount the Meeting to a competent number and Assemblies as well as Armies when grown thin must be recruited Hence it was that at severall times the Lords and Commons added more Members unto them by the name of the Super-added Divines Some of these though equall to the former in power were conceived to fall short in parts as chosen rather by the affections of others then for their own abilities the Original members of the Assembly not overpleased thereat such addition making the former rather more then more considerable 8. One of the first publick Acts The Assemblies first petition for a fast which I finde by them performed was the humble presenting of a Petition to both Houses for the appointing of a solemn fast to be generally observed And no wonder if their request met with fair acceptance and full performance seeing the Assemblies Petition was the Parliaments intention and this solemn suite of the Divines did not create new but quicken the old resolutions in both Houses presently a Fast is appointed July 21. Frid. and accordingly kept on the following Friday M r Boules and M r Newcomen whose sermons are since printed preaching on the same and all the rest of the particulars promised to be taken into speedy consideration 9. It was now projected to finde out some Band or Tie The Covenent entreth England for the streighter Vnion of the English and Scotish amongst themselves and both to the Parliament In order whereunto the Covenant was now presented This Covenant was of Scottish extraction born beyond Tweed but now brought to be bred on the South-side thereof 10. The House of Commons in Parliament The Covenant first taken and the Assembly of Divines solemnly took the Covenant at S t. Margarets in Westminster 11. It was ordered by the Commons in Parliament that this Covenant be forthwith printed and published Commanded to be printed 12. Divers Lords Taken by Gentlemen Knights Gentlemen Collonels Officers Souldiers and others Sept. 27. Wed. 29. Frid. then residing in the City of London met at S t Margarets in Westminster and there took the said Covenant M r Coleman preaching a Sermon before them concerning the piety and legality thereof 13. It was commanded by the authority of both Houses Enjoyned all in London that the said Covenant on the Sabbath day ensuing Frid. Octo. 1. Sund. should be taken in all Churches and Chappels of London within the lines of Communication and thoroughout the Kingdom in convenient time appointed thereunto according to the Tenour following A Solemn league and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happiness of the King and the peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of the Kings Majesty and his posterity and the true publick liberty safety and peace of the Kingdom wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to minde the Treacherous and Bloody Plots Conspiracies attempts and Practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and the professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time encreased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplications Remonstrances Protestations and sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practises of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods people in other nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual solemn League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most High God do swear That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith form of Church-Government directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacie that is Church-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godliness lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and priviledges of the Parliaments and the due liberties of the kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesty his person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and greatness We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill instruments
unto him D r Williams waving and slighting all mony requested foure Books being the collections of the Lord his industry learning and experience concerning 1. The Prerogative Royall 2. Priviledges of Parliaments 3. The proceedings in Chancery 4. The power of the Starr-Chamber These were no sooner asked then granted and the Doctor afterwards copied out these foure Books into his own brains Books which were the foure elements of our English State and he made an absolute Master of all the materials that is of all the passages therein seeing nothing superfluous was therein recorded 16. By the Duke of Buckingham whom he had married to the daughter of the Earle of Rutland he presented these Books to King James The means of his speedy and great preferment Then did His Majesty first take notice of his extraordinary abilities soon after preferring him by the Dukes mediation to the Deanry of Westminster Bishop of Lincolne and Keepers place of the Great Seal till he lost the last in the first of King Charls as hath formerly been related 17. I dare confidently avouch what I knowingly speak The original breach betwixt the Duke and Lord Keeper that the following passage was the motus primò primus of the breach betwixt him and the Duke There was one D r Theodore Price a Welsh man highly beloved both by Bishop Williams and BP Land so that therein the rule did not hold Those that agree in one third agree among themselves these two Prelates mutually mortal enemies meeting in the love of this Doctor Now the Archbishoprick of Armagh in Ireland falling vacant Bishop Williams moved the Duke for D r Price his country man to whom the Duke answered that King James had by promise fore-disposed the place on the Bishop of Meath D r James Vsher one whose deserts were sufficiently known Not satisfied herewith Bishop Williams by his own interest endeavoured to bring D r Price into the place The Duke understanding that he who formerly professed a subordination to at the least a concurrence with his desires should now offer to contest with him resolved that seeing the Lord-Keeper would not own himself to stand by his love the world should see he should fall by his anger and this ministred the first occasion to his ruine And when once the Alarum was sounded of the Dukes displeasure no Courtier so deaf and drowsie but did take the same And all things concurred to his disadvantage This is that D r Theodore Price afterwards died a professed Catholick reconciled to the Church of Rome 18. Yet after his resigning the Seal Not contented with his own wish faire preferment was left unto him could he have consined his large heart thereunto I meet with a passage in a * Cabala or Scrinia Sacra part 1 p. 59. letter from this Lord-Keeper to the Duke wherein he professeth calling God to witness that the Lord-Keeper troubled with many miseries wherewith suddain greatness is accompanied envied the fortunes of one D r Williams late Dean of Westminster Be this a truth or a complement what he formerly envied now he enjoyed returned to a plentifull privacie not only of the Deanry of Westminster but Bishoprick of Lincoln which he held with the same But alass when our desires are forced on us by our foes they do not delight but afflict The same step is not the same step when we take it aseendendo in hopes to higher preferment and when we light upon it descendendo or are remitted unto it as falling from higher advancement The Bishop is impatient for being less than he had been and there wanted not those secret enemies to improve his discontents to his disgrace almost destruction as fining in the Star-Chamber and long imprisoning in the Tower 19. Now came that Parliament so much wished for Enlarged out of the Tower and made Arch-Bishop of York that many feared it would never begin 1640. and afterwards oh the mutability of desires or change of things desired the same feared it would never have an end Then is Bishop Williams sent for out of the Tower brought to Parliament advanced to the Arch-Bishoprick of York and is the Antesignanus of the Episcopal party to defend it in the House of Lords as best armed with his power and experience against a volly of affronts and oppositions 20. Once when His Majesty saw him earnest in the defence of Episcopacy then opposed by Parliament His pleasant answer to the King My Lord saith the King I commend you that you are no whit daunted with all disasters but are zealous in defending your Order Please it your Majesty returned the Arch-Bishop I am a true Welshman and they are observed never to run away till their Generall do first forsake them No fear of my flinching whilest your Highness doth countenance our cause But soon after he was imprisoned about the Bishops Protestation to the Parliament and with great difficulty obtained his liberty as was afore observed 21. Retiring himself into North-Wales where his birth Retires into North-Wales and sinks by degrees into disfavour estate alliance but chiefly hospitality did make him popular he had a great but endeavoured a greater influence on those parts It gave some distast that in all consultations he would have his advise pass for an oracle not to be contested with much less controled by any But vast the difference betwixt his Orders in Chancery armed with power to enforce obedience and his counsell here which many Military men as in their own element took the boldness to contradict Buff-coats often rubb'd and grated against this Prelats silk Cassock which because of the softer matter was the sooner fretted therewith Indeed he endeavoured as much as might be to preserve his country from taxes an acceptable and ingratiating designe with the people but sometimes inconsistent with the Kings present and pressing necessities All his words and deeds are represented at Oxford where his Court-interest did daily decline to his disadvantage and some jealousies are raised of his cordialness to the Royal Cause 22. At last some great Affronts were put upon him increased with his tender resenting of them Incensed with great affronts being himself as I have been informed put out of Commission and another placed in his room A disgrace so much the more insupportable to his high Spirit because he conceived himself much meriting of his Majesty by his loyalty industry ability and expence in his Cause who hitherto had spared neither care nor cost in advancing the same even to the impairing of his own estate 23. But now he entereth on a designe Takes a Commission from the Parliament which had I line and plummet I want skill to manage them in measuring the depth thereof He sueth to the Parliament for favour and obtained it whose General in a manner he becomes in laying siege to the Town and Castle of Abercon-way till he had reduced it to their service and much of the Town to
or change often avouched by noe other Authour then this Doctors Vnconstancy However let us not be over cruel to his memory for not suffering for his own who was so kind and carefull to keep other from suffering for their conscience Andrew Pern 1559 6◠Vice-Chan Barth Dodington George Fuller Proct. Tho. Ventris 2 Major Doct. Leg. 3 Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 6 Mag. Art 25 Bac. Art 60 Henry Harvy Vice-Chanc Anthony Gilblington Iohn Cowell Proct. Roger Slegg 156 ◠◠Maj. 3 Doct. Leg. 1 Bac. Theol. 9 Mag. Art 31 Bac. Leg. 1 Mus 2 Art 53 Philip Baker 156 1 2 Vice-Chan VVilliam Master Georg Blithe Proct. Tho. Kymbold 4 Major Doct. Theol. 1 Leg. 2 Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 8 Mag. Art 20 Bac. Leg. 3 Art 51 Francis Newton 156 2 3 Vice-Chan Andrew Oxenbridg Iohn Igulden Proct. Hen. Serle 5 Major Doct. Theol. 3 Leg. 1 Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 4 Mag. Art 44 Bac. Leg. 7 Art 80 Edward Hauford 156 1 4 Vice-Cha Richard Curtesse Henry Woorley Proct. Rob. Cano 6 Major Doct. Theol. 12 Medic. 2 Bac. Theol. 4 Mag. Art 39 Bac. Leg. 2 Art 71 Robert Beaumont 156 4 5 Vice-Chanc Tho. Bing Barth Clark Proct. William Munsey 7 Maj. Doct. Theol. 1 Bac. Theol. 7 Mag. Art 27 Bac. Art 85 Now began a great difference in Trinity Colledge betwixt Doctor Beaumont Master thereof and some in that Society which hath its Influence at this day on the Church of England whereof hereafter SECT VII TO FRANCIS ASH OF LONDON Ann. Dom. 156 3 4. Esquire Ann. Reg. Eliz. 6. IT is the life of a Gift to be done in the life of the Giver farre better than funeral Legacies which like Benjamin are born by the losse of a Parent For it is not so kindly charity for men to give what they can keep no longer besides such donations are most subject to abuses Silver in the living Is Gold in the giving Gold in the dying Is but Silver a flying Gold and Silver in the dead Turn too often into Lead But you have made your own hands Executors and eyes Overseers so bountifull to a flourishing foundation in Cambridge that you are above the standard of a Benefactour Longer may you live for the glory of God and good of his servants QUeen Elizabeth Aug. 5. partly to ease Her self Queen Elizabeth comes to Cambridge with some recreation partly to honour and encourage Learning and Religion came to Cambridge where she remained five whole daies in the Lodgings of the Provost of Kings Colledge She was entertained with Comedies Tragedies Orations whereof one most eloquent made by William Masters the Publique Oratour disputations and other Academical Exercises She severally visited every House And at Her departure She took Her leave of Cambridge with this following Oration ET si foeminilis iste meus Pudor subditi fidelissimi Academia charissima in tanta doctorum turba illaboratum hunc Sermonem Orationem me narrare apud vos impediat Her Oration to the University tamen Nobilium meorum intercessus Ann. Dom. 1563-64 erga Academiam benevolentia me aliqua proferre invitat Ann. Regi Eliz. 6. Duobus ad hanc rem stimulis moveor Aug. 10. Primus est bonarum literarum Propagatio Alter est vestra omnium expectatio Quod ad propagationem spectat unum illud apud Demosthenem memini Superiorum verba apud inferiores Librorum locum habent Principum dicta legum Authoritatem apud subditos retinent Hoc igitur vos omnes in memoria tenere velim quod semita nulla praestantior est sive ad bona fortunae acquirenda sive ad Principum gratiam conciliandam quam graviter ut coepistis studiis vestris exhibeatis operam quod ut faciatis vos omnes oro obsecróque De secundo stimulo vestra nimirum expectatione hoc unum dico me nihil libenter praetermissuram esse quod vestrae de me animae benevolae concipiunt cogitationes Jam ad Academiam venio Tempore ante meridiano vidi ego aedificia vestra sumptuosa à meis majoribus clarissimis Principibus literarum causa extructa inter videndum dolor Artus meos occupavit atque ea mentis suspiria quae Alexandrum quondam tenuisse feruntur qui cum legisset multa à Principibus monumenta conversus ad familiarem seu potius ad Consiliarium multum doluit se nihil tale fecisse Haec tamen vulgaris sententia me aliquantum recreavit quae etsi non auferre tamen minuere potest dolorem Quae quidem sententia haec est Romam non uno aedificatam fuisse die tamen non est ita senilis mea aetas nec tam diu fui ex quo regnare coepi quin ante redditionem debiti naturae si non nimis cito Atropos lineam vitae meae amputaverit aliquod opus faciam quamdiu vita hos regit artus nunquam à proposito deflectam Et si contingat quam citò futurum sit nescio me mori opportere priusquam hoc ipsum quod polliceor complere possim aliquod tamen egregium opus post mortem relinquam quo memoria mea in posterum celebris fiat alios excitem exemplo meo vos omnes alacriores faciam ad studia vestra Sed jam videtis quantum inter sit inter doctrinam Lectam disciplinam animo non retentam Quorum alterius sunt complures satis sufficientes testes alterius autem vos omnes nimis quidem inconsideratè testes hoc tempore effeci quae meo barbaro Orationis genere tam diu doctas vestras aures detinuerim DIXI At that time the Degree of Master of Art Noble-men made Masters of Art was conceived to take a Degree and it self commenced in honour when the following Peers and Noble Persons were in the Regent House created Masters of Art a Caius Hist Cant. Acad. Pag 88. Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Edward Veere Earl of Oxford Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwicke Edward Manners Earl of Rutland Thomas Ratclyf Earl of Sussex Robert Dudley Earl of Leicestre Edw Clinton high Adm. of England William Howard Lord Chamberlain Henry Carew Lord Hunsden Sir William Cecil Secretary Sir Francis Knolls Vice-chamb Tho Heneage John Ashley Richard Bartue William Cooke Edmond Cooke Esquires Thus Acts being ended Degrees conferred University Officers well rewarded and all persons pleased Her Majesty went on in Her Progresse and the Schollers returned to their Studies 2. And yet we finde one great Scholler much discontented if my * Sir Geo. Paul in the Life of Archbishop Whitigist p. 7 Author may be believed namely The first cause of Mr. Cartwrights discontentment Mr. Thomas Cartwright He and Thomas Preston then Fellow of Kings Colledge afterwards Master of Trinity Hall were appointed two of the four Disputants in the Philosophy Act before the Queen Cartwright had dealt most with the
on the ninth of March 1588. as appears by the Epitaph on her Monument in Westminster Abbey in which Church she founded a Salarie of twenty pounds a yeare for a Divinity Lecture By her Will dated December the sixt 1588. she left to her Executours Henry Gray Earl of Kent and to her Nephew Sir Iohn afterwards Lord Harrington five thousand pounds besides her goods unbequeathed for the erection of a Colledge and purchasing of competent lands for one Master ten Fellows and twenty Schollers But in case the Legacie would not thereunto extend then the same to goe to the enlarging of Clare Hall for the maintenance of so many Fellows and Schollars therein to enjoy all liberties customes and priviledges with other Fellows and Schollars of that Foundation She appointed Iohn Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury and Gabriel Goodman Dean of Westminster Overseers of her Will ordering also that Alexander Nowel Dean of S. Pauls should preach her funerall Sermon which no doubt was done accordingly 24. Be it remembred by the way The spight of Index expurgatorius that the lately mentioned Earl of Kent is he on whom Mr. Cambden bestows this deserved commendation Verae Nobilitatis ornamentis a Camdens Brit in the conclusion of Kent Vir longè bonoratissimus But the Index expurgatorius set forth at Madrid by Lewis Sanchez the King's Printer 1612. and truly reprinted at Geneva 1619. dashes these words with a Dele b Prima Classe literae G. thought the character given this Peet most honourable for his parentage and no lesse for his piety will justly remain to his memory when this peevish partial Index shall be purged to nothing 25. These two noble Executours The Colledge Mortmain how procured in pursuance of the Will of this Testatrix according to her desire and direction therein in her name presented Q. Elizabeth a Jewell being like a starre of Rubies and Diamonds with a Rubies in the midst thereof worth an hundred and forty pounds having on the back side an Hand delivering up an Heart unto a Crown At the delivery hereof they humbly requested of Her Highnesse a Mortmaine to found a Colledge Copied out of the words of her Will. which She graciously granted unto them Their next care was to purchase of Trinity Colledge a parcell of ground with some antient buildings thereon formerly called the Franciseans or Gray Fryers procuring the same to be passed unto them in Fee farme by Act of Parliament Ann. Dom. 159-96 and thereon they laid the foundation of this new Colledge Ann. Regi Eliz. 38. 26. We usually observe Infants born in the seventh month A little Babe thank God and good Nurses well batled though poor and pitifull creatures are vitall and with great care and good attendance in time prove proper persons Ovid or his elder Brother the words being dubiously placed may be an instance hereof d De tristibus lib. 4. Eleg. 10. Qui tribus ante quater mensibus ortus erat To such a Partus Septimestris may Sidney Colledge well be resembled so low lean and little at the birth thereof Alas what is 5000 li. to buy the scite build and endow a Colledge therewith As for her unbequeathed goods they answered not expectation and I have heard that some inferiour persons imployed in the sale of her Jewels were out of their own want of skill or of honesty in others much deceived therein Yet such was the worthy care of her honourable Executors that this Benjamin-Colledge the least and last in time and born after as he at the death of its mother thrived in a short time to a competent strength and stature Masters Bishops Benefactours Learn'd Writers Liveings 1. I am Montague first Master of this House and a worthy Benefactour thereof giving much procuing more thereunto 2. Fran Aldridge Fellow of Trin Coll chosen 1608. 3. Sam Ward Fellow of Emmanuel Colledge chosen 1609. of whom largely hereafter 4. Rich Minshul first I am since informed one once a Servant of Bishop Montagu hath given them one in Bedfordshire Master bred in and chosen by the Colledge and much meriting thereof by his providence Iames Montague Bishop of Bath and Wells Anno 1608. afterwards Bishop of Winchester Iohn Bramhall Bishop of London-Derrie in Ireland Henry Earle of Kent who let the Legacy of of 100 l. bequeathed him by the Foundresse go on to the building of the Coll though generally omitted in the Catalogue of their Benefactors Sir Iohn Hart Knight Leonard Smith Citizen of London Peter Blundel of Tiverton Clothier Iohn Freestone Esq Edward Lord Montagu of Boughton Iohn Lord Harrington the younger Lady Lucy his Sister Countesse of Bedford Lady Anne Harrington their Mother George Lord Goringe Iohn Yong D. D. Dean of Winchester Sir Will Wilmore first Pensioner in the Coll Robert Iohnson Archdeacon of Leicester Iohn Harrington Godfr Fuliambe Edward Wray Robert Hadson Francis Combe Esq Paul Micletwait D. D. and Fell of the Coll. Richard Dugard 1. Daniel Dike that faithfull Servant in discovering the deceitfulnesse of mans heart 2. Ier Dike his Brother 3. Sam Ward Minister of Ipswich 4. Tho Gatacre much knowne by his Book of Lots and other works 5. Ier Witaker 6. Tho Adams a noted Preacher in London * The three former were put in by the Foundresse Executors Sunt mihi non potis est dicere dicit erunt 27. As for the bounty of Sir Francis Clerk Sir Fran Clark deservedly accounted a By-Founder it exceedeed the bounds of Benefaction and justly entituled him to be a By-founder The Giver doubled the Gift if we consider First his estate was not great for one of his condition Secondly he had a Daughter and generally it is observed that Parents are most barren and the childlesse most fruitfull in great expressions of Charity Thirdly he was altogether unknown to the Colledge and the Colledge to him surprizing it on a suddain with his bounty so much the more welcome because not expected Yet such his liberality that he not onely built a fair and firm range of twenty chambers from the addition whereof a second Court resulteth to the Colledge but also augmented the Schollarships of the foundation and founded four Fellowships and eight Schollarships more Herein his favour justly reflected on his Countrey-men of Bedford shire preferring them before others to places of his own foundation 28. Nor comes the bounty of Sir John Brereton much behinde him To whom Sir John Brereton not much inferiour He was as I may term him one of the Aborigines of the Colledge one of the first Schollars of the House and afterwards became His Majesties Sergeant for the Kingdome of Ireland At his death he was not unmindfull of this his Mother to whom he bequeathed a large Legacy above two thousand pounds Now whereas some Benefactors in repute are Malefactors in effect giving to Colledges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz such as burden and clog their donations to maintain