his plain Prayer which he immediately after made His Prayer whereby his Speech may be interpreted too long here to insert but set down at large in Mr. Fox and which speaketh him a true Protestant And if negative Arguments avail ought in this matter no superstitious crossing of himself no praying to Saints no desiring of prayers for him after his death c. may evidence him no Papist in the close of his life Indeed Anti-Cromwellists count this controversie of the Religion he died in not worth the deciding no Papists conceiving the gain great to get him on their side and some Protestants accounting the losse as little to part with him However this right ought to be done to his Memory in fixing it on its own principles and not mis-representing the same to posterity 28. Remarkable is that passage in his Speech Heaven is just in Barths injustice wherein he confesseth himself by Law condemned to die because a story dependeth thereupon Not long agoe an Act had passed in Parliament That one might be attainted of Treason by Bill in Parliament and consequently lose his life without any other legal triall or being ever brought to answer in his own defence The Lord Cromwell was very active in procuring this Law to passe insomuch that it is generally believed that the Arme and Hammer of all King Henry's Power could never have driven on this Act thorough both Houses had not Cromwell first wimbled an hole for the entrance thereof and politickly prepared a major part of Lords and Commons to accept the same For indeed otherwise it was accounted a Law injurious to the liberty which reason alloweth to all persons accused and which might cut out the tongue of Innocency it self depriving her of pleading in her own behalf Now behold the hand of Heaven It hapned that this Lord first felt the smart of this rod which be made for others and was accordingly condemned before ever he was heard to speak for himself Nec lex est justior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire suâ Most just it is that they bad Laws who make Should themselves first of their own Laws partake Thus those who break down the banks and let in the stream of Arbitrary power be it into the hands of Prince or People are commonly the first themselves which without pity are drowned in the deluge thereof 29. Thus farre I have swome along with the winde and tide of all our English Historians Yet the Lord Cromwell by a great person acquitted herein in charging of Cromwell herein But I finde one * Sir Edward Coke Part 4. of Institut in Jurisdiction of Courts p. 37. Authour of strong credit such he needs to be who swims against the stream acquitting the said Lord deriving his intelligence from Sir Thomas Gawdie a grave Judge then living who acquainted him as followeth King Henry commanded the L. Cromwell to attend the Chief Justices and to know whether a man that was forth-coming might be attainted of high Treason by Parliament and never called to his answer The Judges answered That it was a dangerous question and that the high Court of Parliament ought to give examples to inferiour Courts for proceeding according to justice and no inferiour Court could doe the like and they thought the high Court of Parliament would never doe it But being by the expresse commandement of the King and pressed by the said Earl to give a direct answer they said That if he be attainted by Parliament it could not come in question afterwards whether he was called or not called to answer and the Act of Attainder being passed by Parliament did binde as they resolved The party against whom this was intended was never called in question but the first man after the said resolution that was so attainted and never called to answer was the said Earl of Essex whereupon that erroneous and vulgar opinion amongst our Historians grew That he died by the same Law which he himself had made 30. But His exemplary gratitude grant this Lord Cromwell faulty in this and some other actions in the main he will appear a worthy person and a great instrument of God's glory in the reforming of Religion and remarkable for many personal eminencies Commonly when men are as in a moment mounted from meannesse to much wealth and honour first they forget them selves and then all their old friends and acquaintance Whereas on the contrary here gratitude grew with his greatnesse and the Lord Cromwell conferred many a courtesie on the Children from whose Fathers Master Cromwell had formerly received favours As he was a good Servant to his Master so was he a good Master to his Servants and fore-seeing his own full which he might have foretold without the Spirit of Prophesie some half a year before he furnished his Men which had no other lively-hood to subsist by with Leases Pensions and Annuities whereby after his death they had a comfortable maintenance 31. One so faithfull to his Servants His care for his Children cannot be suspected for an Infidel in not providing for his family of his own children It was not therefore his ambition but providence that on the same day wherein he was created Earle of Essex he procured Gregory his Son which otherwise had been then but a Lord by courtesie to be actually made Baron Cromwell of Oke-ham Which honour because inherent in the Son was not forfeited on his Father's attainture but descends at this day on his Posterity 32. We will conclude his story with this remarkable instance of his humility An eminent instance of his humility Formerly there flourished a notable family of the b Camdens Brit. in Lincoln-shire Cromwells at Tattershall in Lincoln-shire especially since Sir Ralph Cromwell married the younger Sister and Coheir of William the last Lord Deincourt Now there wanted not some flattering Heraults excellent Chemists in Pedegrees to extract any thing from any thing who would have entituled this Lord Cromwell to the Armes of that antient Family extinct in the issue male thereof about the end of King Henry the sixt His answer unto them was That he would not weare another mans coat for fear the right owner thereof should pluck it off over his ears and preferred rather to take a new coate viz. * See Vincent in the Earles of Essex AZure Or a Fess inter three Lyons rampant Or a Rose Gules betwixt two Chaughes proper being somewhat of the fullest the Epidemical dissease of all Armes given in the Reign of Henry the eighth 33. After the execution of the Lord Cromwell Men of different judgment meeting at their death the Parliament still sitting a motly execution happened in Smithfield three Papists hanged by the Statute for denying the King's supremacy and as many Protestants burnt at the same time and place by vertue of the six Articles dying with more pain and no lesse patience Papists Protestants Edward Powell
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-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
of London was keeping his hospitality it being Christmas at Fulham 15 So was Dr. Curle at Winchester-House and it was conceived unsafe though but cross the Thames to send unto him 16 So also was Dr. Warner of Rochester returned to entertain his neighbours in the Country 17 Dr. Bridgeman of Chester were not as yet come out of the Country 18 Dr. Roberts of Bangor 19 Dr. Manwaring Bishop of St. Davids sate not in the house as disabled long since by his censure in Parliament 26 Dr. Duppa Bishop of Salisbury was attending his charge Prince Charles 21 Dr. John Prideaux were not yet consecrated Bishops of Worcester 22 Dr. Winniffe Lincoln 23 Dr. Ralf Brounrigge Exeter 24 Dr. Henry King Chichester 25 Dr. John Westfield Bristoll 20 Carlile was void by the late death of Dr. Potter only confer'd by the King on Archbishop Ussher to hold it in Commendam Thus have we made up their numbers and must not forget that a secret item was given to some of the Bishops by some of their well-wishers to absent themselves in this licentious time of Christmas though they had not the happinesse to make use of the advice 16. The other twelve Bishops being not yet fully recovered from their former fear The form thereof grief and anger which are confest by all to be but bad counsellors in cases of importance drew up in hast and disturbance such a Protestation that posterity already hath had more years to discusse and examine then they had hours I had almost said minutes to contrive and compose and most of them implicitly relying on the conceived infallability of the Archbishop of York in point of common law all subscribed as followeth To the Kings most excellent Majesty and the Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament WHereas the Petitioners are called up by severall and respective writs Decem. 27. and under great penalties to attend the Parliament and have a cleer and indubitable right to vote in Bills and other matters whatsoever debatable in Parliament by the ancient customes Lawes and Statutes of this Realm and ought to be protected by your Majesty quietly to attend and prosecute that great service They humbly remonstrate and protest before God your Majesty and the noble Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament That as they have an indubitate right to sit and vote in the House of the Lords so are they if they may be protected from force and violence most ready and willing to perform their duties accordingly And that they doe abominate all actions or opinions tending to Popery and the maintenance thereof as also all propension and inclination to any malignant party or any other side or party whatsoever to the which their own reasons and conscience shall not move them to adhere But whereas they have been at severall times violently menaced affronted and assaulted by multitudes of people in their coming to perform their services in that Honourable House and lately chased away and put in danger of their lives and can finde no redresse or protection upon sundry complaints made to both Houses in these particulars They humbly protest before your Majesty and the Noble House of Peers that saving unto themselves all their rights and interest of sitting and voting in that House at other times they dare not sit or vote in the House of Peers untill your Majesty shall further secure them from all affronts indignities and dangers in the premises Lastly whereas their fears are not built upon phantasies and conceits but upon such grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of resolution and much constancy they doe in all humility and duty protest before your Majesty and Peers of that most Honourable House of Parliament against all Lawes Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves Null and of none effect which in their absence since the 27 th of this instant moneth of December 1641. have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter passe in that most Honourable House during the time of this their forced and violent absence from the said most Honourable House not denying but if their absenting of themselves were wilfull and voluntary that most honourable House might proceed in all their premises their absence or this protestation notwithstanding And humbly beseeching your most excellent Majesty to command the Clark of that house of Peers to enter this their Petition and Protestation among his Records They will ever pray God to blesse c. John Eborac Jho Duresme Ro. Co. Lich. Jos Norw Jo. Asaph Guli Ba. and Wells Geo. Heref. Robt. Oxon. Ma. Ely Godfry Glouc. Jo. Peterburg Morice Landasf This instrument they delivered to Archbishop Williams who according to their desire his own counsell and promise at the next opportunity presented it to his Majesty 17. His Majesty would not meddle therewith in this dangerous juncture of time The Bishops impeached of High-Treason his great Councell then sitting but wholly remitted the matter to the Parliament The next morning a Privy-Counsellor brought this protestation into the house at the reading whereof the anti-episcopall party much triumphed that the Bishops had gratified them with such an advantage against themselves which their adversaries might wish but durst not hope for heretofore A conference is desired with the Commons in the painted Chamber and therein concluded that the Bishops should be impeached of high Treason for indeavouring to subvert the fundamentall laws of the land and the very being of Parliaments 18. Hereupon the next day the twelve subscribes were voted to be committed to the Tower And committed to the Tower 28 save that Bishop Morton of Durham and Hall of Norwich found some favour partly in respect of their old age and partly in regard of the great good they had done with their pens and preaching to the Church of God So that they alone were sent to the custody of the black rod. The rest being brought into the Tower had that honour granted them in the prison which was denied them in the Parliament to be esteemed equall with yea above temporall Lords as appeared by the fees demanded of them Though in fine Sir John Biron Lieutenant of the Tower 30 proved very courteous in removing the rigor thereof The Archbishop of Cant. by a civill message excused himself for not conversing with them because he was committed on a different account from them and probably they might mutually fare the worse for any intercourse And here we leave them prisoners for eighteen weeks together and proceed 19. Now was the Bill against the Bishops sitting in Parliament brought up into the house of Lords Viscount Newwark his two Speeches in the behalf of Bishops and the matter agitated with much eagernesse on both sides Amongst those who sided with them none appeared in print more zealous then the Lord Viscount Newwarke afterward Earle of Kingstone c. whose two speeches in Parliament although spoken some * The first
May 21. The second May 24 anno 1641. moneths before yet for the entirenesse of the History may now seasonably be inserted I shall take the boldnesse to speak a word or two upon this subject first as it is in it self then as it is in the consequence For the former I think he is a great stranger in Antiquity that is not well acquainted with that of their sitting here they have done thus and in this manner almost since the conquest and by the same power and the sameright the other Peers did and your Lordships now doe and to be put from this their due so much their due by so many hundred yeers strengthned and confirmed and that without any offence nay pretence of any seems to me to be very severe if it be jus I dare boldly say it is summum That this hinders their Ecclesiasticall vocation an argument I hear much of hath in my apprehension more of shadow than substance in it if this be a reason sure I am it might have been one six hundred yeers agoe A Bishop my Lords is not so circumscribed within the circumference of his Diocesse that his sometimes absence can be termed no not in the most strict sense a neglect or hinderance of his duty no more then that of a Lieutenant from his County they both have their subordinate Ministers upon which their influences fall though the distance be remote Besides my Lords the lesser must yeeld to the greater good to make wholsome and good Lawes for the happy and well regulating of Church and Common-wealth is certainly more advantagious to both then the want of the personall execution of their office and that but once in three yeers then peradventure but a month or two can be prejudicall to either I will goe no further to prove this which so long experience hath done so fully so demonstratively And now my Lords by your Lordships good leave I shall speak to the consequence as it reflects both on your Lordships and my Lords the Bishops Dangers and inconveniences are ever best prevented è longinquo this Precedent comes neer to your Lordships the bill indeed hath a direct aspect only upon them but an oblique one upon your Lordships and such a one that mutato nomine de vobis Pretences are never wanting nay sometimes the greatest evills appear in the most fair and specious outsides witnesse the Shipmony the most abominable the most illegall thing that ever was and yet this was painted over with colour of the Law What Bench is secure if to alleage be to convince and which of your Lordships can say that he shall continue a member of this House when at one blow six and twenty are cut off It then behoves the Neighbour to look about him cùm proximus ardet Ucalegon And for the Bishops my Lords in what condition will you leave them The House of Commons represents the meanest person so did the Master his Slave but they have none to doe so much for them and what justice can tie them to the observation of those Lawes to whose constitution they give no consent Anno Regis Carol. 17 the wisedome of former times gave proxies unto this House meerly upon this ground that every one might have a hand in the making of that which he had an Obligation to obey This House could not represent therefore proxies in room of persons were most justly allowed And now my Lords 28 before I conclude I beseech your Lordships to cast your eyes upon the Church which I know is most dear and tender to your Lordships you will see her suffer in her most principall members and deprived of that honour which here and throughout all the Christian World ever since Christanity she constantly hath enjoyed for what Nation or Kingdome is there in whose great and publique assemblies 30 and that from her beginning she had not some of hers if I may not say as essentiall I am sure I may say as integrall parts thereof and truly my Lords Christianity cannot alone boast of this or challenge it only as hers even Heathenism claims an equall share I never read of any of them Civill or Barbarous that gave not due honour to their Religion so that it seems to me to have no other originall to flow from no other spring then nature it self But I have done and will trouble your Lordships no longer how it may stand with the honour and justice of this house to passe this Bill I most humbly submit unto your Lordships the most proper and only Judges of them both His second Speech I shall not speak to the preamble of the Bill that Bishops and Clergy-men ought not to intermeddle in temporall affaires For truly My Lords I cannot bring it under any respect to be spoken of Ought is a word of relation and must either refer to Humane or Divine Law to prove the lawfulnesse of their intermedding by the former would be to no more purpose than to labour to convince that by reason which is evident to sense It is by all acknowledged The unlawfulnesse by the later the Bill by no means admits of for it excepts Universities and such persons as shall have honour descend upon them And your Lordships know that circumstance and chance alter not the nature and essence of a thing nor can except any particular from an universall proposition by God himself delivered I will therefore take these two as granted first that they ought by our Law to intermeddle in Temporall affaires secondly that from doing so they are not inhibited by the Law of God it leaves it at least as a thing indifferent And now my Lords to apply my self to the businesse of the day I shall consider the conveniency and that in the severall habitudes thereof But very briefly first in that which it hath to them meerly as men quà tales then as parts of the Commonweale Thirdly from the best manner of constituting Laws and lastly from the practice of all times both Christian and Heathen Homo sum 1. nihil humanum à me alienum puto was indeed the saying of the Comedian but it might well have become the mouth of the greatest Philosopher We allow to sense all the works and operations of sense and shall we restrain reason Must only man be hindred from his proper actions They are most fit to doe reasonable things that are most reasonable For Science commonly is accompanied with conscience so is not ignorance they seldome or never meet And why should we take that capacity from them which God and nature have so liberally bestowed My Lords 2. the politick body of the Common-wealth is analogicall to the body naturall every member in that contributes something to the preservation of the whole the superfluity or defect which hinders the performance of that duty your Lordships know what the Philosopher calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natures sinne And truly my Lord to be part of the
may happen to your Lordships but I have done this heretofore and will not offer your Lordships Cramben bis coctam These speeches though they converted none of the opposite confirmed those of the Episcopall party making the Lords very zealous in the Bishops behalf 20. There were in the House Temporall Lords favourers of Bishops many other defenders of Episcopacy as William Lord Marques of Hartford the Earle of Southampton the Earle of Bristol and the Lord Digby his Son and the never to be forgotten William Earle of Bath a learned Lord and lover of learning oftentimes on occasion speaking for Bishops once publiquely prefessing it one of the greatest Honours which ever happily happened to his family that one thereof Thomas Bourcher by name was once dignified with the Archbishoprick of Canterbury Many other Lords though not haranging iâ—in long Orations by their effectuall Votes for Bishops manifested their unfained affections unto them 22. About this time The death of Bishop Mountague there were many vacant Cathedrals Anno Dom. 1641 Anno Regis Caroli 17 which the King lately had or now did furnish with new Bishops Dr. Joseph Hall being removed from Exeter to Norwich voyd by the death of Richard Mountague born in Westminster bred in Eaton School Fellow in Kings Colledge a great Grecian and Church Antiquary well read in the Fathers But all in his Diocesse not being so well skilled in Antiquity as himself some charged him with superstitious urging of Ceremonies and being accused in Parliament he appeared not being very weak but * He died on the 12 of April went a more compendious way to answer all in the High-Court of Heaven 22. As for new elected Bishops Eminent and popular persons made Bishops his Majesty was most carefull to chuse them out of the most sound for Judgement and blamelesse for Conversation 1. Dr. John Prideaux almost grown to the Kings-Professors-Chair in Oxford he had set so long and close therein Procuring by his painfull and learned Lectures deserved repute at home and amongst Forain Protestants he was made Bishop of Worcester 2. D. Thomas Winniffo Dean of St. Pauls a grave learned and moderate Divine made Bishop of Lincoln 3. Dr. Ralph Brownrig of most quick and solid parts equally eminent for disputing and preaching made Bishop of Exeter 4. Dr. Henry King acceptable on the account of his own merit and on the score of a Pious and popular Father made Bishop of Chichester 5. Dr. John Westfield for many yeers the painfull and profitable Preacher of great St. Bartholomews London made Bishop of Bristol He dyed not long after Surely si urbs defensa fuisset his dextris if Divine Providence had appointed that Episcopacy at this time should have been kept up and maintained more probable Persons for that purpose could not have been pick'd out of England so that envie and detraction might even feed on their own flesh their teeth finding nothing in the aforesaid Elects to fasten upon 23. But Episcopacy was so far from faring the better for them All would not doe that they fared the worse for it insomuch that many who much loved them in their Gowns did not at all like them in their Rochets 24. The Bill was again brought in A disadvantageous juncture of time for Bishops against Bishops Votes in Parliament and that in a disadvantageous juncture of time the Bishops then being under a threefold qualification 1. Imprisoned in the Tower Of these eleven besides Archbishop Laud whose absence much weakned the party 2. Lately Consecrated and later inducted into the House of Lords as the Bishops of Worcester Lincoln Exeter Chichester Bristol such their modesty and manners they conceived it fitting to practise their hearing before speaking in the House So that in some sort they may be said to have lost their Voices before they found them in the Parliament 3. The remainder of ancient Bishops London Salisbury Bangor c. who seldome were seen detained with other occasions and more seldome heard in the Parliament So that the Adversaries of Episcopacy could not have obtained a fitter opportunity the spirits of time at large being distilled thereinto then in this very instant to accomplish their desires 25. Only Dr. John Warner Bishop of Rochester Bishop Warner the best Champion for Bishops was he in whom dying Episcopacy gave the last groan in the House of Lords one of good speech and a cheerfull spirit and which made both a good Purse and which made all three a good cause as he conceived in his conscience which made him very pertinently and valiantly defend the Antiquity and Justice of Bishops Votes in Parliament This is he of whose bounty many distressed soules since have tasted whose reward no doubt is laid up for him in another World 26. The main argument which was most insisted on The principall Plea against Bishops Barontes against their temporall Baronies were the words of the Apostle * 2 Tim. 2 4 No man which warreth entangleth himself with the affaires of this life Their friends pleaded 1. That the words equally concerned all Militant Christians Bishops not being particularized therein 2. That it was uncharitable to conclude their fingers more clasping of the World or the World more glutinous to stick to their fingers that they alone of all persons could not touch the World but must be entangled therewith But it was answered that then à fortiore Clergy-men were concerned in the Text aforesaid not to meddle with Worldly matters whose Governing of a whole Diocesse was so great an imployment that their attendance in Parliament must needs be detrimentall to so carefull a vocation 27. The Earl of Bristol engaged himself a valiant Champion in the Bishops behalf Earl of Bristols Plea for Bishops he affirmed that it was according to the Orders of the House that no Bill being once cast out should be brought in again at the same Sessions Seeing therefore the Bill against Bishops Votes had formerly been cleerly carried by many decisive Votes for the Bishops it was not only praeter but contra Parliamentarie it should be brought again this Sessions 28. But seeing this Parliament was extraordinary in the manner and continuance thereof one Session being likely to last for many yeers Resuted by others it was not conceived fit they should be tied to the observance of such punctuall niceties and the resumption of the Bill was not only overruled by Votes but also it was cleerly carryed in the Negative that Bishops never more should vote as Peers in Parliament 29. Nothing now wanted The King unwilling to consent save the Royall Assent to passe the said Votes into a Law The King appeared very unwilling therein partly because he conceived it an injury to give away the Bishops undoubted right partly because he suspected that the haters of the function and lovers of the Lands of Bishops would grow on his grants and improve themselves on his
worse did he finde it witness Leland thus praising him Praedicat Algerum meritò Florentia Dantem Italia numeros tota Petrarche tuos Anglia Chaucerum veneratur nostra Poëtam Cui veneres debet patria lingua suas Of Alger Dants Florence doth justly boast Of Petrarch brags all the Italian coast England doth Poet Chaucer reverence To whom our language ows its eloquence Indeed Verslegan a learned a In his restitution of de caied intelligence p. 203. Antiquary condemns him for spoiling the purity of the English tongue by the mixture of so many French and Latin words But he who mingles wine with water though he destroies the nature of water improves the quality thereof 49. I finde this Chaucer fined in the Temple two shillings A great enemy to Friers for striking a Franciscan Frier in Fleet-street and it seems his hands ever after itched to be revenged and have his penniworths out of them so tickling Religious-Orders with his tales and yet so pinching them with his truths that Friers in reading his books know not how to dispose their faces betwixt crying and laughing He lies buried in the South-Isle of S t Peters Westminster and since hath got the company of Spencer and Drayton a pair-royal of Poets enough almost to make passengers feet to move metrically who go over the place where so much Poetical dust is interred 50. Since the Abjuration last exemplified A short quiet in the Church we meet in this Kings Reign no more persecution from the Bishops We impute this not to their pity but other imployment now busie in making their applications to the new King on the change of government King Richard being now deposed 51. He was one of a goodly person The character of King Rich the second of a nature neither good nor bad but according to his company which commonly were of the more vicious His infancy was educated under several Lord Protectours successively under whom his intellectuals thrived as babes battle with many nurses commonly the worse for the change At last he grew up to full age and empty minde judicious onely in pleasure giving himself over to all licentiousness 52. As King Richard was too weak to govern Conspired against by Hen. the fourth so Henry Duke of Lancaster his Cousin-germane was too wilful to be governed Taking advantage therefore of the Kings absence in Ireland he combined with other of the discontented Nobility and draws up Articles against him some true some false some both as wherein truth brought the matter and malice made the measure Many misdemeanors mo misfortunes are laid to his charge Murdering the Nobility advancing of worthless Minions sale of justice oppression of all people with unconscionable taxations For such Princes as carry a forke in one hand Anno Regis Hen. 4 1. must bear a rake in the other and must covetously scrape to maintain what they causlesly scatter 53. Loosness brings men into streights at last And resigneth the Crown as King Richard may be an instance thereof Returning into England he is reduced to this doleful Dilemma either voluntarily by resigning to depose himself or violently by detrusion to be deposed by others His misery and his enemies ambition admit of no expedient Yea in all this Act his little judgment stood onely a looker-on whilest his fear did what was to be done directed by the force of others In hopes of life he solemnly resigneth the Crown but all in vain For cruel thieves seldom rob but they also kill and King Henry his Successour could not meet with a soft pillow so long as the other wore a warm head Whereupon not long after King Richard was barbarously murdered at Pomfret-Castle But of these transactions the Reader may satisfie himself at large out of our civil Historians 54. Onely we will add The baseness of the disloyal Clergy that the Clergy were the first that led this dance of disloyaltie Thomas Arundel now Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the room of William Courtney deceased made a Sermon on Samuels words Vir dominabitur populo He shewed himself a Satyrist in the former a Parasite in the later part of his Sermon a Traitor in both He aggravated the childish weakness of King Richard his inability to govern magnifying the parts and perfections of Henry Duke of Lancaster But by the Arch-Bishops leave grant Richard either deservedly deposed or naturally dead without issue the right to the Crown lay not in this Henry but in Edmond Mortimer Earl of March descended by his mother Philippa from Lionel Duke of Clarence elder son to Edward the third This the Arch-Bishop did willingly conceal Thus in all State-alterations be they never so bad the Pulpit will be of the same wood with the Councel-board And thus ambitious Clergy-men abuse the silver trumpets of the Sanctuary who reversing them and putting the wrong end into their mouthes make what was appointed to sound Religon to signifie Rebellion 55. But whilest all other Churches in England rung congratulatory peales to King Henry his Happiness The couragious conscience of the Bishop of Carlile one jarring bell almost marr'd the melody of all the rest even Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlile For when the Lords in Parliament not content to Depose King Richard were devising more mischief against him up steps the aforesaid Bishop formerly Chaplain to the King and expresseth himself as followeth There is no man present worthy to pass his sentence on so a Bishop Gedwin in the Bishops of Carlile great a King as to whom they have obeyed as their lawful Prince full two and twenty years This is the part of Traitors Cut-throats and Thieves None is so wicked none so vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime we should think to condemn before we heard him And you do ye account it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and Crowned giving him no leave to defend himself How unjust is this But let us consider the matter it self I say nay openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom you are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Soveraign as ours of his Kingdom More would he have spoken when the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence for speaking too much Truth in so dangerous a time Since it seems some Historians have made up what more he would have said spinning these his Heads into a very large Oration though tedious to none save those of the Lancastrian faction 56. Here Innocency the lest Armour if ever did the Proverb take effect Truth may be blam'd but cannot be sham'd for although the rest of the Bishops being guilty themselves condemned him as discovering more Covent-devotion who originally was a Monk of Westminster then Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren Yet generally he was beheld as Loyalties a Confessor Anno Dom. 1400. speaking what became his calling Anno Regis Ric. 2 2. in discharge of his
those daies deserveth not ivie in cur Age. Now seeing by the rules of justice and the Kings own appointment His Debts were to be paid before His Legacies and seeing many of His personall debts remained unsatisfied till the daies of Queen Elizabeth probably most of these Legacies were never paid especially to inferiour persons As if it were honour enough for them to have such summs bequeathed unto though never bestowed upon them 53. Whereas mention in this Will of a Monument well onwards and almost made Monument made for the King by the Cardinal it is the same which Cardinal Wolsey built For King Henry and not for himself as is commonly reported Wherefore whereas there goeth a tale That King Henry one day finding the Cardinal with the workmen making His Monument should say unto him Tumble your self in this Tomb whilest you are alive for when dead you shall never lie therein it is a meer fiction the Cardinal originally intending the same for the King as appeareth by the ancient Inscription * Godwin in Hen 8. p. 200. thereupon wherein King Henry was stiled LORD not KING of Ireland without addition of supreme Head of the Church plainly shewing the same was of antient date in the daies of the Cardinal 54. Whereas the Lady Mary and Elizabeth Why His Nieces more at liberty than his Daughters Their marriages are so severely conditioned that if made without consent of the Councell They were to forfeit Their right to the Crown men interpret it as provided in terrorem and not otherwise Yet this clause was it which afterwards put so plausible a pretence on Wiat his rebellion which though made of rotten cloth had notwithstanding a good colour thereon Now whereas the King's Nieces the Daughters to Mary His younger Sister were not clogg'd in this His Will with such restrictions concerning their Marriages the plain reason was because both of them were already married before this Will was made Frances the elder to Henry Gray Marquesse Dorset afterward Duke of Suffolke and Eleanour the younger to Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland 55. The Portion of but ten thousand pounds a piece left to His two Daughters Ten thousand pounds the portion of a Princesse was not much unproportionable to the value of money as it went in that Age though a summe small for such an use in our daies And I have heard that Queen Elizabeth being informed that Doctor Pilkington Bishop of Durham had given ten thousand pounds in marriage with his Daughter and being offended that a Prelates daughter should equal a Princesse in portion took away one thousand pounds a year from that Bishoprick and assigned it for the better maintenance of the Garrison of Barwick 56. Very much of His own abitrarinesse appears in this Will of King Henry Much of arbitrarinesse in this Will entalling the Crown according to His own fancie against all right and reason For first how unjust was it that His female issue by Queen Katharine Parr His last Wife had He had any should inherit the Crown before Mary and Elizabeth His eldest Daughters by His former Wives If Mary and Elizabeth were not His lawfull Children how came They by any right to the Crown If His lawfull Children why was Their birth-right and seniority not observed in succession Well it was for Them that Henry Fitz Roy His naturall Son but one of supernaturall and extraordinary endowments was dead otherwise some suspect had He survived King Edward the sixth we might presently have heard of a K. Henry the ninth so great was His Fathers affection and so unlimited His power to preferre Him 57. But the grand injury in this His Testament is The Scotish Line quite left out That He quite passeth over the Children of Margaret His eldest Sister married into Scotland with all Her issue not so much as making the least mention thereof 58. Great indeed when this Will was first made was the antipathy which for the present possessed Him against the Scotch with whom then He was in actual warre though at other times when in good humour very courteous to His kinred of that extraction For most sure it is that when Margaret Douglas His Sisters Daughter was married to Math. Earle of Lenox He publickly professed That in case His own Issue failed He should be right glad some of Her body should sacceed to the Crown as it came to * Henry Lord Darly her Son Father to King James passe 59. Of the eleven Witnesses Legatees Witnesses in Kings Will. whose names are subscribed to His Will the nine first are also Legatees therein and therefore because reputed Parties not sufficient Witnesses had it been the Will of a private person But the Testaments of Princes move in an higher sphere than to take notice of such Punctilloes and forraigners being unfit to be admitted to such privacies domesticall Servants were preferred as the properest Witnesses to attest an Instrument of their Lord and Master 60. It is but just with God that He who had too much of His Will done Little of His Will performed when living should have the lesse when dead of His Testament performed The ensuing Reformation swept away the Masses and Chantery Priests founded to pray for His soul The Tombs of Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth the one the last of Lancaster the other the first of Yorke the Titles of both which Houses met in this Henry remain at this day in statu quo priùs without any amendment Where by the way seeing in this Will King Henry the sixth is styled his Uncle I cannot make out the relation in the common sence of the word except any will say that Kings Uncles as their Cousins are oft taken in a large and favourable acception But the main wherein His Will missed the intent is in that the Scotch Line neglected and omitted by Him ordinary Heirs are made in Heaven Heirs to Crowns in the Heaven of Heavens came in Their due time to the Throne Their undoubted Right thereunto recognized by Act of Parliament 61. After the making of this his Will His disease and the manner of His death He survived a full Month falling immediately sick He had sesque corpus a body and half very abdominous unweldy with fat and it was death to Him to be dieted so great His appetite and death to Him not to be dieted so great His corpulency But now all His humours repaired to one place and setled themselves in an old sore in His thigh which quickly grew to be greatly enflamed Here flame met with fire the anguish of the sore with an hot and impatient temper so that during his sickness few of His Servants durst approach His presence His Physicians giving Him over desired some who tendred the good of His soul to admonish Him of His estate But such who could flie with good tidings would not halt to Him with ill newes Besides lately a Law was made That
to oppose and the flattery of the Courtiers most willing to comply matters were made as sure as mans policy can make that good which is bad in it self But the Commons of England who for many yeers together had conn'd loyalty by-heart out of the Statute of Succession were so perfect in their lesson that they would not be put out of it by this new started designe so that every one proclaimed Mary next Heir in their consciences and few daies after King Edwards death all the project miscarried of the plotters whereof some executed more imprisoned most pardoned all conquered and Queen Mary crowned Thus though the streame of Loyalty for a while was violently diverted to runne in a wrong channell yet with the speediest opportunitie it recovered the right course again 2. But now in what manner this Will of King Edwards was advanced The truth of the carriage of Sr. Edward Mountagu in his drawing up the Will of King Edw. the sixth that the greatest blame may be laid on them who had the deepest guilt the following answer of Sr. Edward Mountagu Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas accused for drawing up the Will and committed by Queen Mary to prison for the same will truly acquaint us The original whereof under his own hand was commnuicated unto me by his great grandchilde Edward Lord Mountagu of Boughton and here faithfully exemplified SR Edward Mountagu Knight late Chief-Justice of the Common Pleas received a letter from Greenwich dated the eleventh day of June last past signed with the hands of the Lord Treasurer the Duke of Northumberland John Earl of Bedford Francis Earl of Shrewsburie the Earl of Pembroke the Lord Clynton the Lord Darcie John Gate William Peter William Cecill John Cheke whereby he was commanded to be at the Court on the morrow by one of the clock at after-noon and to bring with him Sr. John Baker Justice Bromley the Attorney and Solicitour General and according to the same all they were there at the said hour of one of the clock And after they were brought to the presence of the King the Lord Treasurer the Marquesse of Northampton Sr. John Gate and one or two more of the Councill whose names he doth not now remember were present And then and there the King by His own mouth said that now in His sicknesse he had considered the state of this His Realm and Succession which if He should decease without Heir of His body should go to the Lady Mary who was unmarried and might marry a stranger-borne whereby the Lawâ— of this Realm might be altered and changed and His Highnesse proceedings in Religion might be altered Wherefore His pleasure was that the state of the Crown should go in such forme and to such persons as His Highnesse had appointed in a Bill of Articles not signed with the Kings hand which were read commanded them to make a Book thereof accordingly with speed And they finding divers faults not onely for the incertainty of the Articles but also declaring unto the King that it was directly against the Act of Succession which was an Act of Parliament which would not be taken away by no such devise Notwithstanding His Highnesse would not otherwise but that they should draw a Book according to the said Articles which he then took them and they required a reasonable time of His Highnesse for the doeing thereof and to consider the Laws and Statutes made for the Succession which indeed were and be more dangerous then and of them they did consider and remember and so they departed commanding them to make speed And on the morrow all the said persons met and perusing the said Statutes there grew this question amongst them whether it were presently treason by the words of the Statute of Anno primo Edvardi Sexti or no treason till it were put in execution after the Kings death because the words of the Statute are the King His Heirs and Successours because the King can have no Successours in His life but to be sure they were all agreed that it were the best and surer way to say to the Lords that the execution of this devise after the Kings decease was not onely treason but the making of this devise was also presently treason as well in the whole Councell as in them and so agreed to make their report without doing any thing for the execution thereof And after Sr. William Peter sent for the said Sr. Edward to Eely-place who shewed him that the Lords required great speed in the making of the said Book and he told him there were none like to be made for them for the danger aforesaid And after that the said S. Edward with the rest of his company went to the Court and before all the Council the Duke of Northumberland being not in the Council-chamber made report to the Lords that they had considered the Kings Articles and also the Statutes of Succession whereby it appeared manifestly that if they should make any Book according to the Kings commandment they should not onely be in danger of treason but also their Lordships all wherefore they thought it their bounden duties to declare the danger of the Laws unto them and for avoiding of the danger thereof they had nothing done therein nor intended to doe the Laws being so dangerous and standing in force The Duke of Northumberland having intelligence of their answer either by the Earle of Huntington or by the Lord Admiral cometh into the Council-Chamber before all the Council there benign in a great rage and fury trembling for anger and amongst his ragious talk called the said Sr. Edward Traitour and further said that he would fight in his shirt with any man in that quarrel as all the whole Council being there will report whereby the said Sr. Edward with the rest were in great fear and dread in special Mr. Bromley and the said Sr. Edward for Mr. Bromley told the said after that he dread then that the Duke would have striken one of them and after they were commanded to go home and so departed in great fear without doing any thing more at that time wishing of God they had stood to it as they did then unto this time And after the said Sr. Edward received another letter dated at Greenwich the 14 th of June last past signed with the hands â—f the Lord Treasurer the Earl of Bedford the Marquesse of Northampton the Earle of Shrewsburie the Lord Clynton the Lord Cobham the Lord Darcy William Peter John Gate John Cheeke whereby he was commanded to bring with him Sr. John Baker Justice Bromley and Mr. Gosnolde and to be at the Court on the morrow by one of the clock at after-noon where all they were at the same houre and conveyed into a chamber behinde the Dining-Chamber there and all the Lord looked upon them with earnest countenance as though they had not known them So that the said Sr. Edward with the other might perceive there
were some earnest determination against them and at length they were brought before the King Himself there being present all the whole Council And the King demanded of them why they had not made His Book according to His commandment and refused that to doe with sharp words and angry countenance and the said Sr. Edward opened unto His Highnesse the cause why they did it not and he and other had before declared and opened to the Councill that if the writings were made they were of no effect nor force but utterly void when the King should decease and the Statute of Succession not impaired nor hurted for these will not be taken away but by the same authority they were made and that was by Parliament To that said the King we minde to have a Parliament shortly not telling when which was the first time that the said Sr. Edward heard of any Parliament to be 〈◊〉 Whereunto he said if His pleasure were so all might be deferred to the Parliament and all dangers and perils saved Whereunto the King said he would have this done and after ratifie it by Parliament And after commanded them very sharply upon their allegiance to make it and there were divers of the Lords that stood behind the said Sr. Edward said and if they refused to do that they were traitours And the said Sr. Edward was in great fear as ever he was in all his life before seeing the King so earnest and sharpe and the said Duke so angry the day before who ruled the whole Councill as it pleased him and were all affraid of him the more is the pitty so that such cowardnesse and feare was there never seen amongst honourable men as it hath appeared The said Sr. Edward being an old weak man and without comfort began to consider with himself what was best to be done for the safeguard of his life which was like to chance in that fury and great anger presently And remembring that the making of the said writing was not presently treason by the Statute of Anno primo because this word Successour would take no place while the King was living and determined with himself not to meddle nor execute any thing concerning the same after the death of the King which he hath truly kept hereunto And also remembring that the Queens Highnesse that now is should come by Act of Succession as a purchaser by the law might not lawfully punish treason or contempt committed in the Kings life he said unto the King that he had served His most noble Father many yeers and also His Highnesse during His time Anno Dom. 1553 and loth he would be to disobey His commandment Anno Regin Mar. 1. for his own part he would obey it so that His Highnesse would grant to them His commandment license and commission under His great Seal for the doing making and executing of all things concerning the same and when the things were done that they might have a general pardon All which Commission and pardon was as much as the said Sr. Edward could invent to help this danger over and besides the things above remembred which Commission and pardon the King granted them saying it was but reason that they should have them both and the Commission is passed the Great Seal and the Pardon was signed and as far as he knew sealed All the said matters considered the said Sr. Edward said for his part he would obey the Kings commandment and so did M. Bromley say the same and the King said to Sr. John Baker what say you you said never a word today who as I take it agreed to the same Mr. Gosnold required a respite for he was not yet perswaded to do the thing required How the said Duke and the Earl of Shrewsburie handled him he can tell best himself And after upon the said Sr. Edwards motion the King gave him licence to be advised untill upon the morrow who of himself being in great fear was content to obey the Kings commandment and so the doers and makers of the said Book with sorrowfull hearts and with weeping eyes in great fear and dread devised the said Book according to such Articles as were signed with the Kings proper hand above and beneath and on every side And their said Commission with Articles so signed with the Kings hand and the Book drawn in paper were conveyed from the Court to the Lord Chancelors to be ingrossed in parchment and to passe the great Seal which was done accordingly And on the morrow next after the last Terme ended the said Sr. Edward and all the Judges were sent for he puts his hand to the Book in parchment sealed with the Great Seal and so did many others The said Book of Articles so signed remaineth with the Lord Chancellour Bishop of Eely but who conveyed the said Paper Book into the Chancery or who wrot them or who set their hands to the same Book the said Sr. Edward till he see them he cannot tell but he will not denie but he was privie to the making of them as he hath before said and that he came to the knowledge of the matter by the Articles unsigned and by the Articles signed with the Kings hand and both delivered unto him by the Kings own hands Who put the King in minde to make the said Articles or whowrote them or any of them or by whose procurement or counsell they were made or by what means he and others were called unto this matter he knoweth not but he thinks in his conscience the King never invented this matter of Himself out by some wonderfull false compasse he prayeth God the truth may be known as he doubts not it will be And further he and all his company as well before the King as before the Lords at all times said that their writings before they were made and after they were made were of no value force nor effect to any intent constitution or purpose after the Kings death and there is no remedy to help this but by Parliament And that after the said Thursday being the morrow after the Terme last past that he by any writing printing overt deed or act never did any thing sithence the same day in the Kings life ne sithence the death of the King for he determined with himself to be no executour of the said devise whatsoever should chance of it nor ever medled with the Councill in any thing nor came amongst them untill the Queens Grace that now is was proclaimed Queen in London nor never executed Commission Proclamation or other commandment from the Ladie Jane nor Her Councill but commanded my son to serve the Queens Grace that now is and to go to Sr. Thomas Tresham and Buckingham-shire-men that went to her Grace to defend Her which he so did to my no little cost The case thus stated these notes follow written with the same hand Now that it is to be considered the great fear the said Sr. Edward was
procuring the votes of the Nobility feeding the b 〈…〉 pag. 329. Earle of Arundell with fond hopes that she would marry him and promising the Duke of Norfolke a dispensation from his wife which he could not with such expedition obtain from the Pope and yet faith he when all was done it was carried in the house of Lords but by c Idem pag. 303. three voices Here not to mention how in the greatest Councells matters of most high concernment have been determined with as few as three clear decisive suffrages this suggestion of Sanders is a loud untruth for the Act having easily pass'd the house of Commons found none of the Temporall Nobility in the house of Lords to oppose it save only the d Camdens Elizabeth in this year pag 19. Earle of Shrewsbury And Anthony Brown Viscount Mountacute who had formerly been employed to reconcile the Kingdom of England to his Holiness As for the Bishops there were but fourteen and the Abbot of Westminster then alive of whom foure being absent whether Voluntarily or out of Sickness uncertain the rest could not make any considerable opposition If any other Artifice was used in cunning contriving the businesse the Protestants were not aforchand but just even with the Papists who had used the same subtilty in their own Cause in the first Parliament of Queen Mary 10. But now to remove into the Convocation The acts of this years Convocation which at this time was very small and silent For as it is observed in Nature When one Twinn is of an unusual Strength and bigness the other his partner borne with him is weak and dwingled away So here this Parliament being very active in matters of Religion the Convocation younger Brother thereunto was little imployed and less Regarded Only after a Mass of the Holy Ghost had been celebrated Edmond Bonner Bishop of London in the vacancie of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury President of the Convocation began with a speech to this effect That although it had been an ancient and laudable custome to begin such meetings of the Clergie with a Latine Sermon yet such now was not to be expected partly because the Arch-Bishop was Dead who was to designe the Preacher and partly because they had received a e Liber Synod Anno Dom. 1559. folio 15. mandate from the privy Councel that no such Sermons should be made in that Church till they were further informed by the Queeu and her Councel In the third Session on friday Nicholas Harpsfield Doctor of Law and Arch-Deacon of Canterbury was chosen f Ib. fol. 6. Referendary or Prolocutor for the Clergie a place of some Credit g fol. 8. but little pains to discharge seeing the only remarkable thing which passed in this Convocation was certain Articles of Religion Feb. 18. which they tendered to the * To the Bps. that they might present them to the Parli c. Parliament which here we both Transcribe and Translate requesting the Reader not to begrutch his pains to peruse them Considering they are the last in this kinde that ever were represented in England by a Legall Corporation in defence of the Popish Religion And though errour doth go out with a Stink yet it is a persume that it does go out We are so far from denying a grave to bury them that we will erect the * Copied by me out of the Original Monument over this ashes of these dead errours REVERENDI in Christo Patres ac Domini colendissimi Anno Dom. 1558 Quoniam fama publica referente ad nostram nuper notitiam pervenit multa Religionis Christianae Dogmata publice unanimi gentium Christianarum consensu hactenus recepta probata ac ab Apostolis ad nos usque concorditer per manus deducta prâ—esertim Articulos infra scriptos in dubium vocari Hinc est quod nos Cantuariensis Provinciae inferior secundarius Clerus in uno Deo sic disponente ac Serenissimae Dominae nostrae Reginae Decani Capituls Cant. mandato Brevi Parliamenti ac monitione Ecclesiastica solita declarata id exigente convenientes partium nostrarum esse existimavimus tunt nostrae tum eorum quorum cura nobis Committitur aeternae saluti omnibus quibus poterimus modis prospicere Quocirca majorum nostrorum exemplis Commoti qui in similia saepe tempora inciderunt fidem quam in Articulis infra Scriptis veram esse credimus ex animo profitemur ad dei Laudem honorem officiique aliarum nostrae curae commissarum exonerationem praentibus duximus publicè auferendam affirmantes sicut Deus nos in die Judicij Adjuvet asserentes Primò quod in Sacramento Altaris virtute Christi verbo suo à Sacerdote debitè prolato assistentis praesens est realiter sub speciebus panis vini naturale Corpus Christi Conceptum de Virgine Mariae Item naturalis ejus Sanguis Item quod post Consecrationem non remanet substantia panis vini neque alia ulla substantia nisi substantia Dei hominis Item quod in missa offertur verum Christi Corpus verus ejusdem sanguis sacrificium propitiatiorium pro vivis defunctis Item quod Petro Apostolo ejus legitimis successoribus in sede Apostclica tanquim Christi Vicariis data est suprema potestas pascendi regendi ecclesiam Christi militantem et fratres suos confirmandi Item quod Authoritas tractandi dissiniendi de ijs quae spectant ad fidem Anno Dom. 1457. Sacrantentum disciplinam ecclesiasticam hactenus semper spectavit spectare debet tantum ad Pastores Ecclesiae quos spiritus Sanctus in hoc in ecclesiam Dei Pasuit non ad Laicos Quam nostram assertionem affirmationem fidem Nos inferior Clerus praedictus considerationes praedictas Vestris Paternitatibus tenore presentium exhibemus humiliter supplicantes ut quia nobis non est copia hanc nostram sententiam intentionem aliter illis quos in hac parte interest notificandi Vos qui Patres estis ista superioribus Ordinibus significare velitis Qua in re Offictum charitatis ac Pietatis ut arbitramur praestabitis saluti gregis vestri ut par est Prospicietis vestras ipsi animas liberabisis REVEREND Fathers in Christ and our honourable Lords Whereas by the report of publique fame it hath come unto our knowledge that many Doctrines of the Christain Religion hitherto received and approved by the unanimous consent of Christian nations and with joynt agreement as by hands deduced from the Apostles unto us especially the Articles under-written are now called into question Hence it is that we the inferior and secondary Clergy of the Province of Canterbury assembled in one body God so disposing it and the Command of our Lady the Queens most excellent Majesty together with the mandate of the Dean and chapter of Canterbury the Parliament-Writ and
very yeer these three were cited to appear before Edmuna Grindall BP Their judgements of the Queen of London one who did not run of himself yea would hardly answer the spur in pressing conformity the BP asked them this question Have we not a godly Prince a The Register of 〈◊〉 pag. 33. speak is she evill To which they made their severall answers in manner following William White What a question is that the fruits do shew Thomas Rowland No but the Servants of God are persecuted under her Robert Hawkins Why this question the Prophet answereth in the Psalms How can they have understanding that work iniquity spoyling my peoplâ— and that extoll vanity Wonder not therefore if the Queen proceeded severely against some of them commanding them to be put into Prison though still their Party daily increased 11. Nicholas Wotton died this year Dean at the same time of Canterbury and Yorke The death of Dr. Wotton so that these two Metropolitan Churches so often contesting about their Priviledges were reconciled in his preferment He was Doctour of both Laws and some will say of both Gospels who being Privie Councellour to King Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth never overstrained his conscience such his oylie compliance in all alterations However he was a most Prudent man and happily active in those many Embassies wherein he was employed 12. The Romanists were neither ignorant not to observe 9. 1568 Harding and Saunders Bishop it in England nor idle not to improve the advantage lately given them by the discords betwixt the Bishops and Nonconformists And now to strengthen their Party two most active fugitive Priests Thomas Harding and Nicholas Saunders return into England and that Episcopall power which they had lately received from the Pope they largely exercised on the Papists 1. Absolving all English in the Court of Conscience who returned to the bosome of their Church 2. Dispensing with them in cases of irregularity saving such which proceeded from wilfull murder 3. Even from irregularity of heresie b Camdens Eliz. in this year on condition that the Party to be absolved refrained three years from the Ministery of the Altar Very earnest they were in advancing the Catholick Cause and perverted very many to their own Erroneous opinions 13. Mary Queen of Scots 10. May 17. ill used at home by her own Subjects made an escape into England Q of Scots comes into England and landed at Wirkington in Cumberland the Statepart of whose sufferings we leave to Civill Historians confining our selves to the imprinted passages concerning Religion beginning with her letter to the Pope Most Holy Father Anno Dom. 1568. Anno Regin Eliza. 10. AFter the kissing of your most holy feet Her letter to Pope Pius Quintus hi herâ—o never printed the Copy whereof was as with many other rarities bestowed on me by James Arch-Bishop of Armagh I having been advertised that my Rebels and their Fautours that retain them in their Countries Nove 30. have wrought so effectually by their practises that it hath been related unto the King of Spain my Lord and good Brother that I am become variable in the Catholick Religion although I have within some dayes past written to your Holinesse devoutly to kiss your feet and recommending me unto you I do now again most humbly beseech you to hold me for a most devout and a most obedient Daughter of the Holy Catholick Roman Church and not to give faith unto those reports which may easily come or shall hereafter come to your ears by means of the false and calumnious speeches which the said Rebels and other of the same Sect have caused to be spread abroad that is to say that I have changed my Religion thereby to deprive me of your Holinesse grace and the favour of other Catholick Princes The same hath touched my heart so much that I could not fail to write again of new to your Holinesse to complain and bemoan my self of the wrongs and of the injuries which they do unto me I beseech the same most humbly to be pleased to write in my favour to the devout Christian Princes and obedient sons of your Holinesse exhorting them to interpose their credit and authority which they have with the Queen of England in whose power I am to obtain of her that she will let me go out of her country whither I came secured by her promises to demand aid of her against my Rebels and if neverthelesse she will retain me by all means yet that she will permit me to exercise my Religion which hath been forbidden to me for which I am grieved and vexed in this Kingdom insomuch as I will give you to understand what subtilties my Adversaries have used to colour these calumniations against me They so wrought that an English Minister was sometimes brought to the place where I am streightly kept which was wont to say certain prayers in the vulgar tongue and because I am not at my own liberty nor permitted to use any other Religion I have not refused to hear him thinking I had committed no errour Wherein neverthelesse most Holy Father if I have offended or failed in that or any thing else I ask misericordia of your Holinesse beseeching the same to pardon and to absolve me and to be sure and certain that I have never had any other will then constantly to live the most devout and most obedient Daughter of the Holy Catholick Roman Church in which I will live and die according to your Holinesse advises and precepts I offer to make such amends and pennance that all Catholick Princes especially your Holinesse as Monarch of the world shall have occasion to rest satisfied and contented with me In the mean time I will devoutly kiss your Holinesse feet praying God long to conserve the same for the benefit of his Holy Church Written from Castle a a The Lord Scroop his house in Yorke shire where Sr. Fra. Knowls was her keeper Boulton the last of November 1568. The most devout and obedient Daughter to your Holinesse the Q of Scotland Widdow of France MARIA I meet not with the answer which his Holinesse returned unto her and for the present leave this Lady in safe custody foreseeing that this her exchange of letters with Forraign Princes and the Pope especially will finally cause her destruction 14. Thomas Young Arch-Bishop of Yorke died at Sheffield June 26. Anno Regin 11. The death of T 〈◊〉 Arch 〈◊〉 of York and was buried in his own Cathedrall He plucked down the great Hall at Yorke built by Thomas his predecessour five hundred yeers before so far did plumâ—i sacra fames desire to gain by the leade prevail with him Yet one presumeth to avouch that all that lead in effect proved but dross unto him being a S. 〈◊〉 Harington in his addition to Bp. Godwins catalogue in fine defeated of the
we trust as we can further it M r. Allen liketh well of the matter 18. The year proved very active The activity of the Presbyterian especially in the practices of Presbyterians who now found so much favour as almost amounted to a connivence at their discipline For whilest the severity of the State was at this time intended to the height against Iesuites some lenity of course by the very rules of opposition fell to the share of the Non-conformists even on the score of their notorious enmity to the Iesuitical party 19. The city of Geneva was at this time reduced to great difficulties by the Savoyard her potent adversary Beza's letter to Travers in the behalf of Geneva and forced to purchase peace on dear an bitter termes saving that extremity sweetens all things and her present condition was incapable of better conditions Hereupon M r. Beza Anno Dom. 1582. Anno Regin Eliza. 25. the tongue and pen of that State to forrain parts addressed himself by letter to M r. Walter Travers whom I may terme the neck allowing M r. Cartwright for the head of the Presbyterian party the second in honour and esteem then Chaplain to the Lord Treasurer and of whom more hereafter The tenour of the letter is here inserted subscribed by Beza's own hand and in my possession which though it be of forain extraction carries much in it of English concernment Gratiam pacem à Domino Si quoties tui et C. nostri sum recordâ—tus Mi Frater toties ad te scripsissem jam pridem esses literis meis obrutus Nullus enim dies abit quin de vobis Vâ—strisqae rebus solicâ—tè cogitem quod ita pastulare non amicitia modo vetus nostra sed etiam rerum ipsarum de quibus laboratis magnitudo videatur Sed cùm in ea tempora nos incidisse viderem quibus silere me quam nob is scribere praestaret silentium adhuc mihi invitissimo indixi Nunc verò quum illum quorundam ardorem â—udiam per Dei gratiam deseruisse nolâ—i hunc nostrum absque meis ad te literis pervenire quibus tundem esse me qui fui testâ—rer abs te peterem ut me vicissim de rebus vestris certiorem facere ne graveris Sed alia sese praebuit scribendi occasio hujus videlicet Reip maximae imo tantae difficultates ut nisi aliunde sublevetur parva nobis admodum tuendae inconsueto statu Ecclesiae ac scholae spes supersit quod ita esse vel ex eo cognosses quòd haec planè in verecunda consilia capere cogamur Nam concessae quidem nobis sunt per Dei gratiam aliquae induciae sed parum ut apparet firmae futurae tantis veluti redemptae sumptibus ut in aeris etiam alieni velati freto jactati non temerè nausragium metuamus Amabo te igitur mi frater Precibus assiduis nos juvare perge siquid praetereà apud nonnullos anthoritate vales quantùm nos ames in Domino quacunque honesta ratione poteris ostende Scripst verò etiam ego vestris plerisque proceribus episcoporum quoque collegium ausi sunius communibus literis hac de re compellare verùm quod sit mearum literarum Pondus futurum vel ex eâ— conjicio quod cùm Oxoniensi Scholae superiore vere meam sim observantiam misso venerandâ— planè vetustatis novi testamenti graeco-latini codice testatus qui publicae bibliothecae consecraretur ne literulam quidem inde accepi ex qua meam hanc voluntatem ipsis non ingratam fuisse cognoscerem Cujusmodi etiam am quiddam apudunum alterum ex prioribus vestris sum expertus sed hoo quaeso inter nos dictum esto Ego verò frustra etiam quidvis tentare quà m officio in hanc Rempub Ecclesiam ac scholam deesse tam necessario tempore malui Bene vale mi carissime frater D. Iesus tibi magis ac magis omnibus ipsius gloriam serio cupientibus benedicat Genevae Octobris 1582. * * The figure of the day not legible Tuus Beza aliena jam manu saepe uti coactus sua ipsius vâcillante Grace and peace from the Lord. If as often dear brother as I have remembred thee and our Cartwright so often I should have written unto thee long since you had been overwhelm'd with my letters For there not passes aday wherein I do not carefully think both of you and your matters which not only our ancient friendship but also the greatness of those affairs wherein you take pains seemeth so to require But seeing I perceive we are fallen into those times wherein my silence may be safer for you then my writing I have though most unwillingly commanded my self silence hitherto But now seeing that I hear that the heat of some men by Gods grace is abated I would not have this my friend come to you without my letters that I may testifie my self still the same unto you what formerly I was and that I may request of you not to think much at his return to certifie me of your affairs Also another occasion of writing offereth it self namely the great straits of his common wealth yea so great that except it be relieved from other parts very small hope remaineth unto us to maintain the Church and University in the former state thereof That these things are so you may know from hence that we are forced to adventure on these bold and unmannerly courses for our support For by Gods grace a kinde of peace is granted unto us but as it seems not likely to last long and that also purchased at so great a price that tossed as it were in the Sea of a great debt we have great cause to fear shiprack therein I beseech thee therefore my brother both proceed to help us with thy daily prayers and besides if you have any power to prevail with some persons shew us by what honest means you may how much you love us in the Lord. I also have written to most of your noble men and we have been bold with our publick letters to accquaint your Colledge of Bâ—shops of this matter but what weight my letters are likely to bear I can guess by this that when last spring I testified my respects to the University of Oxford by sending them a new testament greek and latine truly of venerable antiquity which should be kept in their publick library I did not so much as receive the least letter from them whereby I might know that this my good will was acceptable to them And some such requital also I have found from one or two of your noble men but this I pray let it be spoken between us alone For my part I had rather try any thing though in vain then to be wanting in my duty to this State Church and University especiall in so necessary a juncture of time Farewell my
dear brother the Lord Jesus every day more and more bless thee and all that earnestly desire his glory Geneva October 1582. Thine Beza often using another mans hand because of the shaking of my own We must not let so eminent a letter pass without some observations upon it See we here the secret sympathy betwixt England and Geneva about discipline Geneva helping England with her prayers England aiding Geneva with her purse 20. By the Colledge of Bishops here mentioned by Beza Geneva's suit was coldly resented we understand them assembled in the last Convocation Wonder not that Geneva's wants found no more pitty from the Episcopal party seeing all those Bishops were dead who formerly exiles in the Marian dayes had found favour and relief in Geneva and now a new generation arose having as little affection as obligation to that government But however it fared with Geneva at this time sure I am that some years a Vide pag. 1602. parag after preferring her petition to the Prelacie though frequent begging makes slender alms that Common-wealth tasted largely of their liberality 21. Whereas mention is made Why the rigorous pressing of subscription was now remitted of the heat of some abated this relateth to the matter of subscription now not pressed so earnestly as at the first institution thereof This remissnesse may be imputed partly to the nature of all laws for though knives if of good metall grow sharper because their edge thinner by using yet laws commonly are keenest at the first and are blunted in process of time in their execution partly it is to be ascribed to Arch-Bisshop Grindals age and impotency who in his greatest strength did but weakly urge conformity partly to the Earle of Leicester his interposing himself Patron General to non-subscribers being perswaded as they say by Roger Lord North to undertake their protection SECTION V. To DANIEL HARVEY Esq High Sheriff of Surrey I am sufficiently sensible of the great distance and disproportion betwixt my meanesse and your worth as at all other times so now especially whilst you are a prime Officer in publick employment Despairing therefore that my pen can produce any thing meet for your entertainment I have endeavoured in this Section to accommodate you with Company fittest for your Converse being all no meaner then Statesmen and most of them Privie Councellours in their severall Letters about the grand businesse of Conformity God in due time bless you and your Honorable Consort with such issue as may be a Comfort to you and a Credit to all your relations 1. VEry strongly Leicester though at the Councel table Politickly complying with the rest of the Lords A forme of Discipline considered of by the Brethren in a solemn Synod with the severall Decrees thereof and concurring alwayes with their results when sitting in Conjunction with them when alone engaged his Affections in favour of the Non-conformists and improved his power at this time very great with the Queen to obtain great liberty for them Hence it was that many Bishops Active in pressing subscription in their Diocess when repairing to Court were checkt and snibt by this great favourite to their no small grief and discouragement Heartned hereat the Brethren who hitherto had no particular platforme of discipline amongst themselves as universally owned and practised by their party began in a solemne Councell held by them but whether at Cambridge or London uncertain To conclude on a certain forme as followeth in these their decrees faithfully translated out of their own latine Copie The Title thereof videlicet These be the things that do seem may will stand with the peace of the Church The Decrees LEt no man though he be an Vniversity man offer himself to the Ministery nor let any man take upon him an uncertain and vague Ministery a a Under Mr. 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 of the â—spand 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Bancrofi his dangerous positions pag. 46. though it be offered unto him But such as be called to the Ministery by some certain Church let them impart it unto that Classis or conference where of themselves are or else to some greater Church-assembly and if such shall be found fit by them then let them be commended by there letters unto the Bishop that they may be ordained Ministers by him Those ceremonies in the Book of Common-Prayer which being taken from Popery are in controversie doseem that they ought to be omitted and given over if it may be done without danger of being put from the Ministery But if there be any imminent danger to be deprived then this matter must be communicated with the Classis in which that Church is that by the judgement thereof it may be determined what ought to be done If subscription to the Articles of Religion and to the Book of Common-Prayer shall be again urged it is thought that the Book of Articles may be subscribed unto according to the statute thirteenth Elizabeth that is unto such of them only as contain the sum of Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments But for many weighty causes neither the rest of the Articles in that Book nor the Book of Common-prayer may be allowed no though a man should be deprived of his Ministery for it It seemeth that Church-wardens and Collectors for the poor might thus be turned into Elders and into Deacons when they are to be chosen Let the Church have warning fifteen dayes before of the time of Election and of the Ordinance of the Realm but especially of Christs Ordinance touching appointing of Watchmen and overseers in his Church who are to fore-see that none offence of scandall do arise in the Church and if any shall happen that by them it may be duly abolished And touching Deacons of both sorts Videlicet men and women the Church shall be monished what is required by the Apostle and that they are not to chuse men of Custome and of Course or for their riches but for their faith zeal and integrity and that the Church is to pray in the mean time to be so directed that they make choice of them that be meet Let the names of such as are so chosen be published the next Lords day and after that their duties to the Church and the Churches towards them shall be declared then let them be received into the Ministery to which they are chosen with the generall prayers of the whole Church The Brethâ—en are to be requested to ordain a distribution of all Churches according to these rules in that behalf that are set down in the Synodical Discipline touching Classicall Provinciall Comitiall or of Commencements and assemblies for the whole kingdome The Classes are to be required to keep acts of memorable matters which they shall see delivered to the Comitiall assembly that from thence they may be brought by the Provinciall assembly Also they are to deal earnestly with Patrones to present fit men whensoever any Church is fallen void in that Classis The Comitial
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
manner of his death thus far forth as heart-broken with sorrow Grindals grief proceeded from the Queens displeasure undeservedly procured by the practises of his malicious enemies There want not those who will strain the paralel betwixt Eli and Grindal in a fourth respect both being guilty of dangerous indulgence and lenity to offenders Indeed Grindal living and dying sole and single could not be cockering to his own children but as a Father of the Church he is accused for too much conniving at the factious disturbers thereof Sure I am he was an impartial correcter of mens vicious conversations witness his sharp reproving of Julio the Italian Physician for marrying another mans wife Which bitter but wholsome pill the Physician himself not being able to disgest incensed the Earl of Leicester and he the Queens Majesty against the good Arch-bishop But all was put on the account of Grindals non-conformity for favouring the factious meetings called Prophesyings Grindal sensible of the Queens displeasure desired to resigne his place and confine himself to a yearly pension not as some may pretend that it was against his conscience to keep it but because above his impotent age to mannage so great a charge The place was proffered to Whitgift but he in the presence of the Queen utterly refused it yet what he would not snatch soon after fell into his hands by Grindals death 11. Who so beholds the large revenues conser'd on Grindal 〈…〉 the long time he enjoyed them Bishop of London Arch-Bishop of York and Canterbury above eighteen years the little charge incumbring him dying a single man will admire at the mean estate he left behind him Yea perchance they will erroneously impute this to his prodigality which more truly is to be ascribed to his contempt of the world unwilling to die guilty of much wealth not to speak of fat Servants made under a lean Master The little he had as it was well gotten was well bestowed in pious uses on Cambridge and Oxford with the building and endowing of a School at S t. Bees in Cumberland where he was born Yea he may be beheld as a benefactour to the English nation for bringing TamarÃx first over into England As the inventers of evill things are justly taxed by the a â— Rom. 1. 13. Apostle so the first importers of good things deserve due commendation That plant being so soveraign to mollifie the hardness of the spleen a malady whereof Students betrayed thereunto by their sedentarie lives too generally do complain SECTION VI. To the Master Wardens and all the Members of the Honorable Company of Mercers of London As it would be a sin of omission in me so much obliged to your society should no share in my History be allowed unto you so I should commit a great incongruity if assigning it any where else then in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Whose great Grandfather Sr. Godfrey Bollen 1458. Major of London is generally believed one of your Company so that the Crowned Maidenhead in your Arms may in some sort seem Propheticall Presaging such a Queen-Virgin should be extracted from one of your Society as the Christian-World could not paralel in all particulars Indeed much of credit is imported in your very Name For seeing all Buyers and Sellers are Mercers à Mercando Custom hath confined and fixed the term Eminently on your Corporation as alwayes the prime Chapmen of our Nation in which respect you have the precedency of all other Companies I will detain you no longer from better Customers wishing you sound wares quick vent good prizes sure payment One Commodity alone excepted I mean the Truth it self * * Pro. 23. 23. this buy and sell it not Purchase it on any terms but part with it on no Conditions ABout four a clock in the afternoone on the Lords day Warning to Sabbath-breakers a sad accident hapâ—ned in Paris-gardâ—n on the south-side of Thames Jan. 13. 1583. over against London Whilest multitudes were beholding the baiting of the bear the old under-propped Scaffolds overladen with people suddenly fell down killed a Holinshed pag. 1â—53 eight outright hurt and bruised many moe to the shortning of their lives The b Dr. Bound assertors of the strict observation of the Sabbath vigorously improve this as well they may against them who prophane the Lords-day which afterwards the joyfull effect of a dolefull cause was generally kept with more carefulness 2. Robert Brown began at this time to broach his opinions Robert Brown first appears he was born in Rutland-shire of an ancient and worshipfull family one whereof founded a fair Hospital in a Camdens Brit. in Lincoln-shire Stamford nearly allied to the Lord Treasurer Cicel He was bred for a time in Cambridge I conceive in Corpus Christi Colledge but question whether ever a Graduate therein He used some time to preach at Bennet-Church where the vehemency of his utterance passed for zeal among the Common people and made the vulgar to admire the wise to suspect him D r. Still afterwards Master of Trinity out of curiosity or casually present at his preaching discovered in him something extraordinary which he presaged would prove the disturbance of the Church if not seasonaly prevented Some years after Brown went over into Zealand to purchase himself more reputation from forraign parts For a smack of travail gives an high taste to strange opinions making them better relished to the licourish lovers of novelty Home he returne with a full crie against the Church of England as having so much of Rome she had nothing of Christ in her discipline Norfolke was the first place whereon Brown new flown home out of the Low-Countries pearched himself and therein in the City of Norwich A place which then spake little more then medietatem linguae having almost as many dutch strangers as English natives inhabiting therein Brown beginning with the Dutch soon proceeded to infect his own Country-men for which he was confined as the following letter of the Lord Treasurer Burghly to BP 〈…〉 Phrcke of Norwich will informe us AFter my very hearty commendations to your Lordship whereas I understand that one Brown a Preacher is by your Lordship and others of the Ecclesiasticall Commission committed to the custody of the Sheriff of Norfolk where he remains a prisoner for some matters of offence uttered by him by way of preaching wherein I perceive by sight of some letters written by certain godly preachers in your Lordships Diocess he hath been dealt with and by them disswaded from that course he hath taken Forasmuch as he is my kinsman if he be son to him whom I take him to be and that his errour seemeth to proceed of zeal rather then of malice I do therefore wish he were charitably conferred with and reformed which course I pray your Lordship may be taken with him either by your Lordship or such as your Lordship shall assigne for that purpose And in case there shall not
words which cannot without some circumlocution so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text 7. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down as shall serve for the fit reference of one Scripture to another 8. Every particular man of each company to take the same Chapter or Chapters and having translated or amended them severally by himself where he thinks good all to meet together conferre what they have done and agree for their part what shall stand 9. As any one company hath dispatched any one Book in this manner they shall send it to the rest to be considered of seriously and juditiously for His Majestie is very carefull in this point 10. If any company upon the review of the Book so sent shall doubt or differ upon any places to send them word thereof note the places and therewithall send their reasons to which if they consent not the difference to be compounded at the General Meeting which is to be of the chief persons of each company at the end of the work 11. When any place of speciall obscurity is doubted of Letters to be directed by Authority to send to any learned in the Land for his judgment in such a place 12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the rest of his Clergie admonishing them of this Translation in hand and to move and charge as many as being skilfull in the Tongues have taken pains in that kinde to send his particular observations to the Company either at Westminster Cambridge or Oxford 13. The directours in each Company to be the Deans of Westminster and Chester for that place and the Kings Professours in the Hebrew and Greek in each Universitie 14. These Translations to be used when they agree better with the Text than the Bishops-Bible viz Tindals Matthews Coverdals Whitchurch Geneva Besides the said directions before mentioned three or four of the most antient and grave Divines in either of the Universities not employed in translating to be assigned by the Vice-Chancellour upon conference with the rest of the Heads to be Overseers of the Translations as well Hebrew as Greek for the better observation of the fourth Rule above-specified 2. The untimely death of Mr. Edward Lively Mr. Lively his death much weight of the work lying on his skill in the Oriental Tongues happening about this time happy that servant whom his Master when he cometh findeth so doing not a little retarded their proceedings However the rest vigorously though slowly proceeded in this hard heavie and holy task nothing offended with the censures of impatient people condemning their delaies though indeed but due deliberation for lazinesse Our pen for the present taketh its leave of them not doubting but within two years to give a good account of them or rather that they will give a good account of themselves In the translating of the Bible one of the eminent persons employed therein The death of Dr. Reynolds was translated into a better life viz 3. Doctor John Reynolds May 21 Kings Professour in Oxford born in Devon shire with Bishop Iewell and Mr. Hooker and all three bred in Corpus-Christi Colledge in Oxford No one County in England bare three such men * He was Bachâ—lor of Arts before Bishop Jewels death contemporarie at large in what Colledge soever they were bred no Colledge in England bred such three men in what County soever they were born 4. This Iohn Reynolds at the first was a zealous Papist A strange encounter whilst William his Brother was as earnest a Protestant and afterwards Providence so ordered it that by their mutuall disputation Iohn Reynolds turned an eminent Protestant and William an inverterate Papist in which perswasion he died This gave the occasion to an excellent Copie of Verses Ann. Dom. 1607 Ann. Reg. Jac. 5 concluding with this Distich Quod genus hoc pugnae est ubi victus gaudet uterque Et simul alteruter se superâsse dolet What war is this when conquered both are glad And either to have conquered other sad Daniel saith Chap. 12. ver 4. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased But here indeed was a strange transcursion and remarkable the effects thereof 5. His memory was little lesse than miraculous he himself being the truest Table to the multitude of voluminous Books he had read over His admirable parts and piety whereby he could readily turn to all materiall passages in every leaf page volume paragraph not to descend lower to lines and letters As his Memory was a faithfull Index so his Reason was a solid Judex of what he read his Humility set a lustre on all admirable that the whole should be so low whose severall parts were so high communicative of which he knew to any that desired information herein like a tree Joaden with fruit bowing down its branches to all that desired to ease it of the burden thereof deserving this Epitaph Incertum est utrum Doctior an Melior 6. His disaffection to the discipline established in England was not so great Most conformable in his practice to the Church of England as some Bishops did suspect or as more Non conformists did believe No doubt he desired the abolishing of some Ceremonies for the ease of the conscience of others to which in his own practice he did willingly submit constantly wearing Hood and Surplice and kneeling at the Sacrament On his death-bed he earnestly desired absolution Dr. Crackenthorp in his Defence of the English against Spalato according to the form of the Church of England and received it from Doctor Holland whose hand he * affectionately kissed in expression of the joy he received thereby Doctor Featly made his funerall Oration in the Colledge Sir Isaac Wake in the University 7. About this time Mr. John Molle Mr. Molle his birth and breeding Governour to the Lord Ross in his travails began his unhappy journey beyond the Seas This Mr. Molle was born in or neer South-Molton in Devon His youth was most spent in France where both by sea and land he gained much dangerous experience Once the ship he sailed in sprung a-leak wherein he and all his company had perished if an Hollander bound for Garnesay passing very neer had not speedily taken them in which done their ship sunk immediately Being Treasurer for Sir Thomas Shirley of the Englâ—sh Army in Britanie he was in the defeat of Cambray wounded taken prisoner and ransomed Providence designing him neither to be swallowed by the surges nor slain by the sword but in due time to remain a Land-mark of Christian patience to all posterity At last he was appointed by Thomas Earl of Exeter who formerly had made him Examiner in the Councell of the North to be Governour in Travail to his Grand-childe the Lord Ross undertaking the charge with much reluctancie as a presage of ill successe and with a profession and a resolution not to passe the Alpes 8.
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.
he confined not his character so to the Latian Bishops beyond the Alpes but that our English Praelates counted themselves touched therein Hereupon he was accused in the High-Commission committed to the Gate-house where he wrote a second Book taxing the injustice of the proceedings of the High-Commission for which he was indited in the Star-Chamber 59. Mr. Henry Burton Minister rather took a snap then made a meal in any University Mr. Burton his character was first Schoolmaster to the Sonnes of the Lord Cary afterwards Earl of Monmouth whose Lady was Governesse to King Charles when Prince And this opportunity say some more then his own deserts preferred him to the service of Pr. Ch. being designed as I have heard to wait on him in Spain but afterwards when part of his goods were shipped for the voyage excluded the attendance Whether because his parts and learning were conceived not such as to credit our English Church in Forain-Countries or because his Principles were accounted uncomplying with that imployment 60. The crudity of this affront lay long on his minde The cause of his discontent hot stomachs contrary to corporall concoction being in this kinde the slowest of digestion After the venting of many mediate discontents on the last fifth of November he took for his Text Pro. 24. 21. My Sonne fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change This Sermon was afterwards printed charging the Prelats for introducing of severall innovations into Divine worship for which as a Libell he was indited in the Star-Chamber 61. But the fault-generall Their fault-generall which at this day was charged on these three Prisoners at the Barr in the Star-Chamber was this That they had not put in their effectuall answer into that Court wherein they were accused though sufficient notice and competent time was allowed them for the performance thereof The Lord-Keeper Coventry minded them that for such neglect they had a Precedent wherein the Court after six daies had taken a cause pro confesso whereas the favour of six weeks was allowed unto them and now leave given them to render reason why the Court should not proceed to present censure 62. Hereat Mr. Prinne first moved that they would be pleased to accept a cross Bill which he there tendered against the Prelates Mr. Brinne his Plea rejected This the Lord-Keeper refused to accept of at the present as not being the business of the day Then he moved that the Prelates might be dismissed the Court It being agreeable neither to nature reason nor justice that those who were their Adversaries should be their Judges This also was rejected by the Lord-Keeper because by the same proportion had he libelled against the Temporall Lords Judges and Privy Counsellors in the place by this Plea none should passe censure upon them because all were made Parties 63. Mr. Prinne proceeded to shew he had done his endeavour to prepare his answer And his answer refused being hindred first by his close imprisonment denyed pen ink and paper and by the imprisonment also of his Servant who was to sollicit his business That the Councell assigned him came very late and though twice payed for their pains deferred the drawing up of his answer and durst not set their hands unto it Mr. Hole one of his Councell being present confessed that he found his answer would be very long and of such a nature as he durst not subscribe it fearing to give their Lordships distaste 64. Dr. Bastwick being spoken to So is Dr. Bastwicks to speak for himself why he brought not in his answer before laid the blame on the cowardise of his Councell that durst not sign it for fear of the Prelates He there tendred his answer on oath with his own hand which would not be accepted He spake much of his own Abilities that he had been a Souldier able to lead an Army of men into the Field and now was a Physitian able to cure Kings Princes and Emperors and therefore how unworthy it was to curtaâ—lize his EARES generally given out by the Bishops Servants as a punishment intended unto him He minded them of the mutability of all earthly things and chiefly of the changes in the Court where he * The Bishop of Lincoln lately the chief Judge therein was the next day to have his own cause censured wishing them seriously to consider that some who now sate there on the Bench might stand Prisoners at the Barre another day and need the favour which now they denyed 65. Mr. Burton being asked what he could alledge Mr. Purtons cast ouâ— for imperfect why the Court should not take his Fault pro confesso pleaded that he had put in his answer drawn up with great pains and cost signed by his Councell and received into the Court. The Lord-Keeper rejoyned that the Judges had cast his answers out as imperfect Judge Finch affirming that they did him a good turn in making it imperfect being otherwise as libelloâ—s as his Book and deserving a censure alone 66. Here the Prisoners desiring to speak were commanded silence The severe censure and the premises notwithstanding the Court proceeded to censure namely that they should lose their EARES in the Palace Yard at Westminster fining them also five thousand pound a man to his Majesty perpetuall imprisonment in three remote places The Lord Finch added to Mr. Prinnes censure that he should be branded in each Cheek with S. L. for Slanderous Libeller to which the whole Court agreed The Archbishop of Canterbury made a long speech since printed to excuse himself from the introducing of any Innovations in the Church concluding it that he left the Prisoners to Gods mercie and the Kings justice 67. It will be lawfull and safe to report the discourse of severall persons hereon Esteemed too low by some This censure fell out scarce adaquate to any judgement as conceiving it either too low or too high for their offence High Conformists counted it too low and that it had been better if the Pillorie had been changed into a Gallowes They esteemed it improvident but by their leaves more of Machiavill than of Christ in such Counsell to kindle revenge and not to quench life in such turbulent Spirits The only way with them had been to rid them out of the way 68. Most moderate men thought the censure too sharp Too high by most too base and ignominious for Gentlemen of their ingenuous vocation Besides though it be easie in the notion June 27 it is hard in the action to fix shame on the Professors and sever it from the Professions of Divinity Law and hysick As for the former though Burton was first * By Sir John Lamb in the high Commission in St. Pauls degraded yet such who maintain an indelible character of Priesthood hold that Degradation cannot delete what Ordination hath impressed and granâ— the censure pronounced ad
in literature what wil the blow given doe thereon 62. Fourthly he alledged that the ancient and genuine use of Deans and Chapters was as Senatus Episcopi to assist the Bishop in his jurisdiction Now whereas some of his reverend Brethren had lately complained that Bishops have for many yeers usurped the sole government to themselves and their Consistories the continuing of Chapters rightly used would reduce it from one Man to a plurality of assistants 63. Lastly the structures themselves should said he speak for the structures Not that he would have then with Christs disciples fondly to admire the Fabricks but to put them in remembrance that Cathedrall Churches were the first monuments of Christianity in the Kingdome 64. From things he passed to Persons and began with the multitude of such members as had maintenance from Cathedralls some one of them allowing lively-hood to three hundred and the totall amounting to many thousands All which by the dissolutions of Deans and Chapters must be exposed to poverty Next he instanced in their Tenants who holding Leases from Deans and Chapters are sensible of their own happinesse as enjoying six parts of seven in pure gain and therefore have petitioned the House to continue their ancient Land-lords Thirdly such Cities wherein Cathedrals stand if maritime being very poor in Trade are inriched by the hospitality of the Clergy the frequent resort of strangers unto them 65. Then proceeded he to speak of the branches of the whole Kingdome all being in hope to reap benefit by the continuance of Deans and Chapters lands as now emploied For all men said he are not born elder Brothers nor all elder Brothers inheriters of Land Divers of low degree but generous Spirits would be glad to advance themselves and archieve an estate by qualifying themselves by industry and virtue to attain a share of Cathedrall Endowments as the common possession of the Realm inclosed in no private mens estate 66. And whereas travailers inform them that all ranks and degrees of people in England Knights Gentlemen Yeamen live more freely and fashionably than in any other Countries he trusted their Honours would account it reasonable that the Clergy had in some sort a better maintenance then in neighbouring reformed Churches and not with Jeroboams Priests to be the basest of all the People 67. Then did he instance in some famous Protestants of forrain parts who had found great relief and comfort by being installed Prebendaries in our Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches as Dr. Saravia preferred by Queen Elizabeth Dr. Casaubon Father and Son by King James Dr. Primrose Mr. Vossius in the reign of King Charles and Dr. Peter Moulin alive at this day and who intended to leave Sedan if the warlike preparations there proceeded and come over into England where he should have but sad welcome if all his livelyhood were taken away from him 68. Nor could an Act be done more to gratify the Church of Rome than to destroy Deans and Chapters seeing * De schismotâ— Anglicano pag. 163. Sanders himself seemeth to complain that Queen Elizabeth had left Provosts Deans Canons and Prebendaries in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches because he foresaw such foundations would conduce to the stability of religion so that by his words a fatter Sacrifice could not be offered up to such as himself than the extirpation of them 69. He went forwards to shew the benefit the King and Commonwealth reapt by such Lands as paying greater summs to the Exchequer for first fruits tenths and subsidies according to the proportion than any other estates Corporations in the Kingdome And are ready said he if called upon cheerfully to contribute in an extraordinary manner to the charge of the Kingdome 70. Now as he was by their Honours favour admitted to plead under that roof where their noble Progenitors had given to the Clergy so many Charters Priviledges Immunities so he implored to finde the ancient honourable justice of the House unto his Brethren who were not charged much lesse convicted of any scandalous faults justly for the same to forfeit their estates 71. At last he led them to the highest degree of all considerations viz. the honour of God to whose worship and service such Fabricks and Lands were dedicated and barred all alienation with which he said is tremenda vox curses and imprecations he minded them of the censers of Korah and his complices pronounced hallowed * Numbers 16. 38. because pretended to doe God service therewith And left any should wave this as a Leviticall nicety it was * Proverbs 20. 25. proverbiall Divinity as a received rule in every mans mouth It is a snare to a man that devoureth that which is holy He added the smart question of St. Paul Thou that abhorrest Idols doest thou commit Sacriledge and concluded that on the ruins of the rewards of learning no structure can be raised but ignorance and upon the chaos of ignorance nothing can be built but profanenesse and confusion 72. This his speech was uttered with such becoming gravity The Speech well accepted that it was generally well resented and wrought much on the House for the present so that had the aliening of such Lands been then put to the Vote some who conceived themselves knowing of the sense of the House concluded it would have been carried on the Negative by more than six score suffrages 73. In the afternoon Dr. Cornelius Burges Dr. Burges his Speech against Deans and Chapters as Speaker for his Party made a vehement invective against Deans and Chapters and the unprofitablenesse of such Corporations He heavily aggravated the debauchednesse of Singingmen not only uselesse but hurtfull by their vicious conversations Yet he concluded with the utter unlawfulnesse to convert such Endowments to any private Persons profit So that the same Doctrine was delivered by both the Doctors only they differed in their Applications the former being for the continuing such lands to their ancient the latter for diverting them to other but neither for alienating them from publique and pious imployments 74. If since Dr. Burges hath been a large purchaser of such lands to himself His ability in casuisticall Divinity If since St. Andrew * wels and London the first converted and St. Paul the last converted Apostle have met in his purse I doubt not but that he can give sufficient reason for the same both to himself and any other that shall question him therein The rather because lately he read his learned Lectures in St. Pauls on the Criticisms of Conscience no lesse carefully then curiously weighing satisfaction to scruples and if there be any fault so able a Confessor knows how to get his absolution 75. A Bill brought up from the Commons to the Lords against Bishops and Clergy-men A medly Bill against Bishops partly granted partly denyed which having severall branches was severally voted 1. That they should have no votes in Parliament 2. That they should not
five by the Lords and five by the Commons This Bill was but once read in the House and no great matter made thereof the Antiâ—piscopall party conceived it needlesse to shave their beards whose heads they intended to cut off designing an utter extirpation of Bishops 3. By the way the mention of a moiety to the Curats A crying sinne of the English Clergy minds me of a crying sin of the English Clergy conceived by the most conscientious amongst them a great incentive of Divine anger against them namely the miserable and scandalous Stipends afforded to their Curats Which made Lay-men follow their pattern in Vicaridges unindowed seeing such who knew most what belong to the work allowed the least wages to the Ministry Hence is it that God since hath changed his hand making many who were poor Curats rich Rectors and many wealthy Incumbents to become poor Curats It will not be amisse to wish thankfulnesse without pride to the one and patience without dejection to the other 4. A Bill was sent up by the Commons against Matthew Wren Bishop of Ely July 20 containing twenty five Articles A Bill against Bishop Wren charging him for being Popishly affected a suppressor of Preaching and introducer of Arbitrary Power to the hazard of the estates and lives of many They desired he might be sequestred from the Kings Person and Service 5. To return to the Bishops The Bishops impeached for making of Canons the Commons perceiving that they were so tenacious of their votes in Parliament resolved vigorously to prosecute the impeachment against them for making of Canons expecting the Bishops should willingly quit their votes as Barons to be acquitted of their premunire whereby they forfeited all their Personall estates yet the sound of so great a charge did not so afright them but that they persisted legally to defend their innocence 6. The Bishops that were impeached for making Canons Aug. 16. craved time till Michaelmas Term to make their answer Have time and câ—uncell allowed them This was vehemently opposed by some Lords and two questions were put 1. Whether the Bishops should sit still in the House though without voting to which themselves consented whilst the circumstance of time for their answer was in debate 2. What time they should have for their answer The first of these was carried for them by one present voice and four Proxies and for the second time was allowed them till the tenth of November And although the adverse Lords pleaded that in offences criminall for matters of fact no councell should be allowed them but to answer yea or no yet on the Lord Keepers affirming it ordinary and just to allow councell in such cases it was permitted unto them 7. Bishop Warner of Rochester is chosen by joynt consent The impeachment of the Bishops waved and why to solicite the cause sparing neither care nor cost therein Of the Councell he retained two only appeared Serjeant Jermin who declined to plead for them except the Bishops would first procure him a Warrant from the House of Commons which they refused to doe and Mr. Chuite who being demanded of the Lords whether he would plead for the Bishops Yea said he so long as I have a tongue to plead with Soon after he drew up a Demurrer in their behalf that their offence in making Canons could not amount to a Premunire This being shown to the Bishop of Lincoln he protested that he never saw a stronger demurrer all the dayes of his life and the notice hereof to the Lords was probably the cause that they waved any further prosecution of the charge which henceforward sunk in silence 8. Passe we now from the outworks of Episcopacy I mean the Deans and Chapters this fiercely stormed but as yet not taken to the Bishops themselves The Bishops accused for mean birth who began to shake seeing their interest and respects in the House of Lords did daily decay and decline Yea about this time came forth the Lord Brook his book against Bishops accusing them in respect of their parentage to be de faece populi of the dregs of the people and in respect of their studies no way fit for government or to be Barons in Parliament 9. Whereupon the Bishops taking this accusation to heart Vindicated their paâ—entage meet together and in their own necessary defence thought fit to vindicate their extractions some publickly some in private discourse Dr. Williams began then Archbishop of York Canterbury being in the Tower was accused in the Star-Chamber for purchasing the two ancientest Houses and inheritances in North-Wales which are Penrhyne and Quowilocke in regard he was descended from them So that he might as truely accuse all the ancient Nobility of Britain as tax him for meanly descended Dr. Juxon Bishop of London did or might plead that his parents lived in good fashion and gave him large allowance first in the University then in Grays-Inn where he lived as fashionably as other Gentlemen so that the Lord Brooks might question the parentage of any Inns-of-Court-Gentlemen as well as his Bishop Morton of Durham averred that his father had been Lord Major of York and born all the Offices of that City with credit and honour so that the Lord Brook might as justly quarrell the descent of any Citizens Sons in England Bishop Curle of Winchester his father was for many yeers Auditor in the Court of Wards Anno Dom. 1641 Anno Regis Carol. 16 to Queen Elizabeth and King James and the aforesaid Lord may as well condemn all the sonnes of Officers to be meanly born as accuse him Bishop Cook of Hereford his Fathers family had continued in Darbyshire in the same house and in the same means four hundred yeers at least often Sheriffs of that County and matched to all the best houses therein So that the Lord Brook might as well have charged all the ancient Gentry of that shire for mean parentage as accuse him Bishop Owen of Asaph that there was not a Gentleman in the two Counties of Carnarvan and Anglesey of three hundred pounds a yeer but was his Kinsman or allieman in the fourth degree which he thinks will sufficiently justify his parentage Bishop Goodman of Glocester that though his very name seemed to point out his descent from Yeomantry yet though the youngest sonne of the youngest brother he had more left unto him than the Lord Brook his father had to maintain him and all his family That his grandfather by his father side purchased the whole estate of Sir Thomas Exmew Lord Maior London 1517. and that by his mothers side he was descended of the best parentage of the City of London The rest of the Bishops might sufficiently vindicate their parentage as most the Sonnes of Ministers or Lay-Gentlemen whose extractions ran not so low as to any such feculencie charged upon them 10. But moe symptomes of their dying power in Parliament daily discovered themselves The
other body and doe nothing beneficiall thereunto cannot fall under a milder term The Common-wealth subsists by Lawes and their execution and they that have neither head in the making nor hand in the executing of them confer not any thing to the being or well being thereof And can such be called members unless most unprofitable ones only fruges consumere nati Me thinks it springs from nature it self 3. or the very depths of justice that none should be tyed by other lawes then himself makes for what more naturall and just then to be bound only by his own consent to be ruled by anothers will is meerly tyrannicall Nature there suffers violence and man degenerates into beast The most flourishing Estates were ever governed by Lawes of an universall constitution witnesse this our Kingdome witnesse Senatus Populusque Romanus the most glorious Common-wealth that ever was and those many others in Greece and elsewhere of eternall memory Some things 4. my Lords are so evident in themselves that they are difficult in their proofs Amongst them I reckon this conveniency I have spoken of I will therefore use but a word or two more in this way The long experience that all Christendome hath had hereof for these 1300. yeers is certainly argumentum ad hominem Nay my Lords I will goe further for the same reason runs through all Religions never was there any Nation that imployed not their religious men in the greatest affairs Anno Regis Caroli 16 But to come to the businesse that now lyes before your Lordships Bishops have voted here ever since Parliaments began and long before were imployed in the publique The good they have done your Lordships all well know and at this day enjoy for this I hope ye will not put them out nor for the evill they may doe which yet your Lordships doe not know and I am confident never shall suffer A position ought not to be destroyed by a supposition à posse ad esse non valet consequentia My Lords I have done with proving of this positively I shall now by your good favours doe it negatively in answering some inconveniences that may seem to arise For the Text Object 1. No man that wars intangles himself with the affairs of this life which is the full sense of the word both in Greek and Latine it makes not at all against them except to intermeddle and intangle be terms equivalent Besides my Lords though this was directed to a Church-man yet it is of a generall nature and reaches to all Clergy and Laity as the most learned and best expositors unanimously doe agree To end this Argumentum symbolicum non est argumentativum It may be said that it is inconsistent with a spirituall vocation Object 2. Truly my Lord Grace and Nature are in some respects incompatible but in some others most harmoniously agree it perfects nature and raises it to a height above the common altitude and makes it most fit for those great works of God himself to make lawes to doe Justice There is then no inconsistency between themselves it must arise out of Scripture I am confident it doth not formally out of any place there nor did I ever meet with any learned writer of these or other times that so expounded any Text. But though in strict terms this be not inconsistent Object 3. yet it may peradventure hinder the duty of their other calling My Lords there is not any that sits here more for preaching then I am I know it is the ordinary means to salvation yet I likewise know there is not that full necessity of it as was in the primitive times God defend that 1600 yeers acquaintance should make the Gospell of Christ no better known unto us Neither my Lords doth their office meerly and wholly consist in preaching but partly in that partly in praying and administring the blessed Sacraments in a godly and exemplary life in wholsome admonitions in exhortations to vertue dehortations from vice and partly in easing the burthened conscience These my Lords compleat the office of a Churchman Nor are they altogether tyed to time or place though I confesse they are most properly exercised within their own verge except upon good occasion nor then the omission of some can be termed the breach of them all I must add one more an essentiall one the very form of Episcopacy that distinguisheth it from the inferiour Ministery the orderly and good government of the Church and how many of these I am sure not the last my Lords is interrupted by their sitting here once in 3 yeers and then peradventure but a very short time and can there be a greater occasion than the common good of the Church and State I will tell your Lordships what the great and good Emperour Constantine did in his expedition against the Persians he had his Bishops with him whom he consulted about his military affairs as Eusebius has it in his life lib. 4. c. 56. Reward and punishment are the great negotiators in all worldly businesses Object 4. these may be said to make the Bishops swim against the stream of their consciences And may not the same be said of the Laity Have these no operations but only upon them Has the King neither frown honour nor offices but only for Bishops Is there nothing that answers their translations Indeed my Lords I must needs say that in charity it is a supposition not to be supposed no nor in reason that they will goe against the light of their understanding The holinesse of their calling their knowledge their freedome from passions and affections to which youth is very obnoxious their vicinity to the gates of death which though not shut to any yet alwayes stand wide open to old age these my Lords will surely make them steer aright But of matter of fact there is no disputation Object 5. some of them have done ill Crimine ab uno disce omnes is a poeticall not a logicall argument Some of the Judges have done so some of the Magistrates and Officers and shall there be therefore neither Judge Magistrate nor Officer more A personall crime goes not beyond the person that commits it nor can anothers fault be mine offence If they have contracted any filth or corruption through their own or the vice of the times cleanse and purge them throughly But still remember the great difference between reformation and extirpation And be pleased to think of your Trienniall Bill which will save you this labour for the time to come fear of punishment will keep them in order if they should not themselves through the love of vertue I have now my Lords according to my poor ability both shewed the conveniences and answered those inconveniences that seem to make against them I should now propose those that make for them As their falling into a condition worse then slaves not represented by any and then the dangers and inconveniences that
concessions so that such yeelding unto them would not satisfie their hunger but quicken their Appetites to demand the more hereafter 30. The importunity of others pressed upon him Febr. that to prune off their Baronies But is importuned thereunto was the way to preserve their Bishopricks that his Majesty lately obnoxious to the Parliament for demanding the five Members would now make plenary satisfaction and give such assurance of his affections for the future that all things would answer his desired expectation This was set home unto him by some not the farthest relations insomuch that at last he signed the Bill as he was in St. Augustines in Canterbury passing with the Queen towards Dover then undertaking her voyage into the Low-Countries 31. Many expected Keep in thy calling and more desired that the Kings condescension herein should put a period unto all differences 18 1642 But their expectations were frustrate and not long after the King apprehending himself in danger by tumults deserted Whitehall went into the North erected his Standard at Nottingham Edge-Hill-field was fought and much English blood on both sides shed in severall battles But I seasonably remember that the Church is my Castle viz. that the writing thereof is my House and Home wherein I may stand on my own defence against all who assault me It was good counsell King Joash gave to King Amaziah * 2. Kings 14. 10. Tarry at home The practise whereof shall I hope secure me from many mischiefs 32. About this time the word Malignant Malignant first coyned was first born as to the Common use in England the deduction thereof being disputable whether from malus ignis bad fire or malum lignum bad fewell but this is sure betwixt both Anno Dom. 1642 Anno Regis Caroli 18 the name made a combustion all over England It was fixed as a note of disgrace on those of the Kings party and because one had as good be dumb as not speak with the Volge possibly in that sense it may occur in our ensuing Historie However the Royalists plead for themselves that Malignity a * Rom. 1. 29. Scripture word properly denoteth activity in doing evill whereas they being ever since on the suffring side in their Persons Credits and Estates conceive the name improperly applied unto them Which plea the Parliamentary-party smile at in stead of answering taking notice of the affections of the Royalists how Malignant they would have appeared if successe had befriended them 33. Contemporary with Malignant And the word Plunder was the word Plunder which some make of Latine originall from planum dare to levell or plane all to nothing Others make it of Duch extraction as if it were to plume or pluck the feathers of a Bird to the bare skin Sure I am we first heard thereof in the Swedish wars and if the name and thing be sent back from whence it came few English eyes would weep thereat 34. By this time ten of the eleven Bishops The Bishops in the Tower released formerly subscribing their protestation to the Parliament were after some moneths durance upon good bale given released two of them finding great favour in their fees from the Lieutenant of the Tower in respect of their great charge and small estate These now at liberty severally disposed themselves some went home to their own Diocesse as the Bishops of Norwich Oxford c. Some continued in London as the Bishop of Durham not so rich in Age as in all commendable Episcopall qualities Some withdrew themselves into the Kings quarters as Archbishop Williams c. Only Bishop Wren was still detained in the Tower where his long imprisonment being never brought in to a publick answer hath converted many of his adversaries into a more charitable opinion of him 35. The Bishops Votes in Parliament A query worth enquiring being dead and departed neither to be helpt with flatterie nor hurt with malice one word of enquiry in what notion they formerly voted in Parliament Whether as a distinct third Estate of the Clergy or Whether as so many single Barons in their temporall capacity This was formerly received for a trueth countenanced with some passages in the old Statutes reckoning the Lords spirituall and Lords temporall and the Commons to be the three Estates the King as Paramount of all not comprehended therein This is maintained by those who account the King the Lords and Commons the three Estates amongst which Lords the Bishops though spirituall persons appeared as so many temporall Barons Whose absence is no whit prejudiciall to the Acts past in Parliament Some of the Aged Bishops had their Tongues so used to the language of a third Estate that more then once they ran on that reputed Rock in their Speeches for which they were publickly shent and enjoyned an acknowledgement of their mistake 36. The Convocation now not sitting Divines consulted with in Parliament 1643 19 and matters of Religion many being brought under the Cognizance of the Parliament their Wisdomes adjudged it not only convenient but necessary that some prime Clergy-man might be consulted with In order whereunto they resolved to select some out of all Counties whom they conceived best qualified for their designe herein and the first of July was the day appointed for their meeting SECTION IX To Mr Giles Vandepit Clegat Peter Matthewes of London Merchants A Threefold Cable is not easily broken and a Triplicate of Friends may be presumed effectual to protect my endeavours Of whom two are of Dutch the third in the midst of English Extraction not falling there by casual confusion but placed by designed Conjunction Me thinks it is a good sight to behold the Dutch embracing the English and this Dedication may pass for the Emblem of the late Agreement which God long continue if for the mutual good of both Nations 1. WHen on this day the Assembly of Divines Anno Regis Caroli 19. Anno Dom. 1643. The first meeting of the Assembly to consult about matters of Religion met at Westminster in the Chappel of King Henry the Seventh Then the constitution of this Assembly July 1. Satur. as first elected and designed was to consist of about one hundred and twenty persons chosen by the Parliament without respect of Diocesses in relation to Shires two or more of a County They thought it not safe to entrust the Clergie with their own choice of whose generall corruption they constantly complained and therefore adjudged it unfit that the Distempered Patients should be or choose their own Physicians 2. These Elects were of foure severall natures The foure English quarters of the Assembly as the quarters of the same body easily distinguishable by these conditions or opinions First men of Episcopal perswasion as the Right Reverend James Vsher Arch-Bishop of Armagh Doctor Browmrig Bishop of Exeter Doctor Westfield Bishop of Bristol D r Daniel Featly D r Richard
but therewith the others were unsatisfied jealousie is quick of grouth as not the same which His Majesty delivered unto him When presently the souldier whose rudeness the bad cause of a good effect had formerly over-inspected it in the Kings hand attested this the very same paper and prevented farther suspicions which might have terminated to the Bishops trouble 42. On the Wednesday sennight after Feb. 7. wednesday His Corpse embalmed His Corpse carried to Windsor and coffined in lead was delivered to the care of two of His servants to be buried at Windsor The one Anthony Mildmay who formerly had been His Sewer as I take it the other John Joyner bred first in His Majesties Kitchin afterwards a Parliament-Captain since by them deputed when the Scots surrendred His person Cook to His Majesty This night they brought the Corpse to Windsor and digged a grave for it in S. George his Chappel on the South side of the Communion-Table 43. But next day the Duke of Richmond 8. Thursday the Marquess of Hertford The Lords follow after it the Earles of South-Hampton and Lindsey others though sent to declining the service so far was their feare above their gratitude to their dead Master came to Windsor and brought with them two Votes passed that morning in Parliament Wherein the ordering of the Kings buriall for the form and manner thereof was wholy committed to the Duke of Richmond provided that the expence thereof exceeded not five hundred pounds Coming into the Castle they shewed their Commission to the Governor Colonel Wichcot desiring to interr the Corpse according to the Common-Prayer-Book of the Church of England The rather because the Parliaments total remitting the manner of the Buriall to the Dukes discretion implied a permission thereof This the governor refused alledging it was improbable that the Parliament would permit the use of what so solemnly they had abolished and therein destroy their own Act. 44. The Lords returned The Governors resolution that there was a difference betwixt destroying their own act and dispensing with it or suspending the exercise thereof That no power so bindeth up its own hands as to disable it self in some cases to recede from the rigour of their own acts if they should see just occasion All would not prevaile the Governour persisting in the negative and the Lords betook themselves to their sad employment 45. They resolved not to interre the Corpse in the grave which was provided for it The Lords with much searching finde a vault but in a Vault if the Chappel afforded any Then fall they a searching and in vain seek for one in King Henry the eighth His Chappel where the tombe intended for Him by Cardinal Wolsey lately stood because all there was solid earth Besides this place at the present used for a Magazine was unsuiting with a solemn sepulture Then with their feet they tried the Quire to see if a sound would confess any hollowness therein and at last directed by one of the aged poore Knights did light on a Vault in the middle thereof 46. It was altogether darke as made in the middest of the Quire and an ordinary man could not stand therein without stooping The description thereof as not past five foot high In the midst thereof lay a large leaden coffin with the feet towards the East and a far less on the left side thereof On the other side was room neither to spare nor to want for any other coffin of a moderate proportion 47. That one of the Order was buried there One of the Order buried therein plainly appeared by perfect pieces of purple-velvet their proper habit remaining therein Though some pieces of the same velvet were fox-tawnie and some cole-black all eye of purple being put out therein though all originally of the same cloath varying the colour as it met with more or less moisture as it lay in the ground 48. Now a concurrence of presumptions concluded this great Coffin to contain the Corpse of King Henry the eighth Presumed to be K. Henry the eight though there was neither Armes not any inscription to evidence the same 1. The place exactly corresponds to the designation of His burial See it in the end of K. Henry His Reign mentioned in His last Will and Testament 2. The small Coffin in all probability was His Queens Jane Semaurs by whom in His Will He desired to be buried and the room on the other side seems reserved for His surviving Wife Queen Katherine Parr 3. It was never remembred nor recorded that any Subject of that Order was interred in the body of that Quire but in by-Chappels 4. An herse stood over this vault in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth which because cumbering the passage was removed in the reign of King James I know a tradition is whispered from mouth to mouth that King Henry His body was taken up and burned in the reign of Queen Mary and could name the Knight Her Privie-Councellor and then dwelling not far off muttered to be employed in this inhumane action This prevailed so far on the Lord Herberts belief that he closeth his History of King Henry the eighth with these suspicious words To conclude I wish I could leave Him in His grave But there is no certainty hereof and more probable that here He quietly was reposed The lead-coffin being very thin was at this time casually broken and some yellow stuff altogether sentless like powder of gold taken out of it conceived some exsicative gumms wherewith He was embalmed which the Duke caused to be put in again and the Coffin closed up 49. The Vault thus prepared The leaden inscription on His Coffin a scarse of lead was provided some two foot long and five inches broad therein to make an inscription The Letters the Duke himself did delineate and then a workman call'd to cut them out with a Chesil It bare some debate whether the letters should be made in those concavities to be cut out or in the solid lead betwixt them The latter was concluded on because such vacuities are subject to be soon filled up with dust and render the inscription less legible which was KING CHARLES 1648. The Plummer souldred it to the Coffin about the brest of the Corpse within the same 50. All things thus in readiness The Corpse deposited the Corpse was brought to the vault Febr. 9. Friday being borne by the souldiers of the Garrison Over it a black velvet herse-cloth the foure labels whereof the foure Lords did support The Bishop of London stood weeping by to tender that his service which might not be accepted Then was It deposited in silence and sorrow in the vacant place in the vault the herse-cloth being cast in after it about three of the clock in the afternoone and the Lords that night though late returned to London FINIS THE HISTORY OF THE University of Cambridge SINCE THE CONQUEST Printed in the year of
a Cambridge Student as the Writer of his Life prefixed to the last and best Edition of his Works hath well observed For a In his Court of Love fol. 352. being commanded to give an account of himself VVhat is your name reherse it here I pray Of whens and where of what condition That ye been of let see come off and say Faine would I know your disposicion He returned under the assumed name of PHILOGENET Of Cambridge Clerk Here Clerk is not taken in the restrictive sense for one in Orders CHAUCER being a militarie man but for a Scholar skill'd in Learning in which Contradistinction all men were divided as Time into Day Night into Clerks and no Clerks I confesse this CHAUCER living at New-Elme in Oxfordshire b In his Astrolaby fol. 261. compowned his Astrolabye for the Orizont of Oxenford and probably studied also in that University Anno Regis Edvardi 3. being one of that Merit Anno Dom. 1362 who may with Honour be acknowledged a Member of both Universities Iohn de Donewick 49 Chancellour 1374 William de Gotham 51 Chancellour 1376 Rich. 2. Richard le Scroope 2 Chancellour 1378 Guido de Zouch 3 Chancellour 1379 Iohn de Cavendish 4 Chancellour 1380 39. Edmond Lister Major of Cambridge 5 with the Bailiffs and Burgesses thereof 1381 met in the Town-House A rebellious tiot of the Townsmen of Cambridge Here they chose Iames Granchester and Thomas his Brother into their Corporation which formerly were Forrainers and not free of the Town This done they elected the foresaid Iames to be their Ring-leader yet so that they bound him with an Oath to do whatsoever they should command him Now because it is as necessarie almost as acceptable a Work to transmit the Memory of Malefactours to the Detestation as of Benefactours to the Praise of Posterity take a List of the most active Townsmen in this wicked Design 1 Iohn a Cajus Hist Cant. Acad. lib. 1. pag. 97. Blanckpain 2 Iohn Cotten 3 Iohn Marshall 4 Iohn Brigham 5 Iohn Tripplow 6 Thomas Tryvet 7 Peter Lolworth 8 Iohn Cardmaker 9 Robert Beilham 10 Iohn Barley 11 Adam Serjant 12 Henry Rand 13 Iohn Herre 14 Alexander Taverner 15 Britelin of Cambridge Fifteen men all dishonest and false whom I may call the Field-Officers under their General Granchester if the honourable Terms of an Army may be applied to so base a Company 40. Then this Rabble-Rout rowled to Bennet Colledge University Monuments martyred against which Foundation they had a particular Quarrel because endowed with many Candle Rents in Cambridge so that a sixth part of the Town is said at that time to belong thereunto Here they brake open the Colledge Gates on the Saturday Night a good preparation for the Lords-day following and as if the readiest way to pay their Rent were to destroy their Landlords they violently fell on the Master and Fellows therein From them they took all their Charters Evidences Priviledges and Plate to the Value of fourscore pounds Hence they advanced to the House of the Chancellour threatning him and the University with Fire and Sword as indeed they did burn the House of VVilliam VVigmore Esq Bedle proclaiming that whosoever could catch should kill him except they would instantly renounce all their Priviledges and bind themselves in a Bond of three thousand pounds to subject themselves hereafter to the Power of the Townsmen and free the Townsmen from any Actions Reall or Personall which might arise from this Occasion This done they went into the Market-place where with Clubs they brake the Seals of the University Charters and then burnt them in the place One Margaret b Cajus ut prius pag. 99. Sterr a Mad old Woman threw the Ashes into the Aire with these words Thus thus let the Learning of all Scholars be confounded 41. Now if any ask us what is become of the Originalls of the Bulls of Honorius Sergius Eugenius c. of the ancient Charters of Arthur and other Britan and Saxon Kings we have but one sad and true Answer to return to all their Questions They are burnt and that in the worst of Fires not caused by Casualty but by malicious Design From Cambridge they went to Barnwell doing many Sacrilegious Outrages to the Priory therein Nor did their Fury fall on Men alone even Trees were made to tast of their Cruelty In their Return they cut down a curious Grove called Greens-Croft by the Rivers side the Ground now belonging to Iesus Colledge as if they bare such a Hatred to all Wood Anno Dom. 1381 they would not leave any to make Gallows thereof for Thieves and Murderers Anno Regis Rich. 2. 5 All these Insolencies were acted just at that Juncture of time when Iack Straw and Wat Tiler played Rex in and about London More Mischief had they done to the Scholars had not Henry Spencer the warlike Bishop of Norwich casually come to Cambridge with some Forces and seasonably suppressed their Madness Guido de Zouch 1382 Chancellour 6 42. The time was now come that the Townsmen might calmly be counted with The Townsmen called to a legall account to answer that in cold which they had done in hot yea scalding Bloud Two Writs are sent down from London the one to the Major and Bayliffs of Cambridge then being the other to them who were Major and Bayliffs the year before when the Riot was committed The first appeared personally and pleaded themselves not guilty ne knowing of any such Outrages Edmond Lister pleaded also not guilty and that he was enforced to doe all that was done which the Kings Councill quickly confuted by producing the two Bonds which they forced the Chancellour to subscribe 43. Three things the Townsmen desired Their pitisull Plea First a Copy of the Bill secondly Councill thirdly Respite to answer To the Copy of the Bill it was answered That sithence they had heard the same it should a Lord Coke in the fourth part of his Institutes c. 44. suffice for by Law they ought to have no Copy To Councill it was answered They should have it wherein it was to be had but this was mere matter of Fact As for Respite after many Subterfuges and delatory Pleas at last they submitted themselves to the Kings Mercy who seized the Priviledges of the Town as forfeited into his own hands and conferred them on the University 44. First Priviledges conferred on the University That hereafter the Oversight of all Victuals should belong to the Chancellour so that no Townsman ever since putteth a Crum of Bread or Drop of Beer into his Mouth but what first is weighed and measured by an Officer of the University Secondly That the Chancellour and the University should have power to set Prices on Candles very necessary I assure you to hard Students and to licence all Victualling-houses and over-see all