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
His choller now swelling high because opposed by the Rebels more than His judgment in this His expression and seeing an Historian should suum cuique tribuere give me leave a little to enlarge in this subject 2. Of the Lord Marney What the Lord Marney was I can say but little finding him whilst as yet but a Knight Sir Henry Servant and one of the Executors to the Lady Margaret Countesse of Darby at which time he was Chancellour of the Dutchie of Lancaster It seemeth he rose by the Law being the first and last Baron of his name whose sole Daughter was married to Thomas Howard Vicount Bindon 3. Longer must we insist on the Parentage Three noble Branches of the Darcyes in the North. performances and posterity of Thomas Lord Darcy finding in the North three distinct branches thereof whereof the first was Begun Continued Extingnished In Norman de Adrecy or Darcy possessed under K Will the Conquerour of many Manours in Yorke shire and * Dooms-day book chap. 32. in Lincoln shire Lincoln shire where Normanbye His prime seat seemeth so named by him For ten Generations most of them buried in Noketon Priory in Lincoln sh by them founded and indowed viz 1. Robert 2. Thomas 3. Thomas 4. Norman 5. Norman 6. Philip. 7. Norman 8. Philip. 9. Norman 10. Philip. In Philip Darcy dying issue-less whose two Sisters and Co-heires were married the one to Roger Pedwardine the other to Peter of Limbergh 4. The first Male Line of the Darcyes being thus determined a second Race succeeded derived from Norman Darcy the Penultim Lord in the last Pedigree Begun Continued Extinguished In Iohn Darcy Son to the aforesaid Norman Steward to the King's Houshold Justice of Ireland For five descents being Barons of Knaith Moynill 1. John 2. John 3. Philip. 4. John 5 Philip. In Philip the fifth Baron who though dying under age left two Daughters Elizabeth married to Sir James Strangewayes of Hartley Castle and Margaret to Sir Iohn Coigniers of Hornbey-Castle 5. Thus expired the second Male stem of the Darcyes styled Barons of Knaith long since aliened from their Family and for this last hundred years the habitation of the Lord Willoughby of Parham Come we now to the third Stemme which was Begun Continned Extinguished In Sir Iohn Darcy of Torxay second Son to the last Lord John Darcy of Knaith Through seven Generations 1. Richard 2. William 3. Thomas 4. George 5. Iohn 6. Michael 7. Iohn In Iohn Lord Darcy of Ashton dying issue-lesse though hee had foure Wives in the Reigne of King Charles 6. Thomas Darcy here named is the person the subject of this discourse of whom four things are memorable 1. He was Knighted by K. Henry the seventh who made him Captain of the Town and Castle of Barwick * privatae Sigilla de anno 14 Henrici 7. and Commander of the East and Middle Marches 2. K Henry the eighth in the first year of his Reign made him Iustice in Eyre of the Forests beyond Trent summoned him the same yeare as a Baron to Parliament imployed him with a Navie An. 1511. to assist Ferdinand King of Arragon against the Moores and made him knight of the Garter 3. Though the Ancestours of this Thomas Darcy since the second Branch was expired were styled Lords in some Deeds whether by the courtesie of the Countrey or because the right of a Barony lay in them yet this Thomas was the first summoned Baron to Parliament in the first of King Henry the eighth and his Successours took their place accordingly 4. Though the Revenue of this Thomas Lord Darcy was not great at the beginning of King Henry the eighth because the Heires Generall of the Lord Darcyes of Knaith carried away the maine of the Inheritance yet he had a considerable Estate augmented by his Match with Dowsabella the Daughter and Heire of Sir Richard Tempest The result of all is this This Lord was most Honourably descended and his Nobility augmented not first founded by K. Henry the eighth as his words did intimate Let therefore passionate Princes speak what they please their patient Subjects will believe but their just proportion And although the Foxes eares must be reputed horns whilst the Lyon in presence is pleased so to term them yet they never alter their nature and quickly recover the name after the Lyons departure This I though fit to write in vindication of the Lord Darcy who though he owed his life to the Law it is cruelty he should lose both it and the just honour of his Extraction 7. As for the present Coigniers Lord Darcy he is not onely descended from the foresaid Lord Thomas but also from the Heire Generall of the second Stem of the Lord Darcyes of Knaith and was by King Charles accordingly restored to take his place in Parliament The antient English Nobility great Losers by the Dissolution of Abbeys ALthough many modern Families have been great Gainers by the destruction of Monasteries Antient Nobility losers yet the Antient Nobility when casting up their Audits found themselves much impaired thereby both in power and profit commodity and command I mean such whose Ancestours had been Founders of Abbeys or great Benefactours unto them These reserved to themselves and their Heirs many Annual Rents and Services Reliefs Escuage as also that such Abbots and their Successours should doe Fealry and Homage to their Heirs for such Lands as they held of them in Knights Service 2. Now although order was taken at the dissolution to preserve such Rents to the Founders Heires payable unto them by the Kings Officers out of the Exchequer yet such summes after long attendance were recovered with so much difficulty that they were lost in effect Good rents ill paid Thus when the few sheaves of the Subject are promiscuously made up in the Kings mewe it is hard to finde them there and harder to fetch them thence 3. As for the foresaid Services reserved either at money Services wholly lost or money worth to them and their Heires they were totally and finally extinguished for formerly such Abbeys used 1. To send men on their own Charges in Voyages to Warre to aid and attend such of their Founders and Benefactors Heires of whom they held Land in Knights service 2. They bountifully contributed a Portion to the Marriage of their eldest Daughters 3. They bear the Costs and charges to accoutre their eldest Sonnes in a gentile military equipage when Knighted by the King But now the Tree being pluckt up by the roots no such fruit could afterwards be expected 4. Nor must we forget the benefit of Corrodies With the commodity of Corodies so called à conradendo from eating together for the Heires of the foresaid Founders not by courtesie but composition for their former favours had a priviledge to send a set number of their poor Servants to Abbeys to diet therein Thus many aged Servants past working not feeding costly to keep and
Husband is violently taken away at an unseasonable time out of her sweet Armes unto the VVars For they doubted lest that being thus for saken they should be subject to the Spoil whereas they had lived securely at ease with their armed Guests to whose trust they had committed themselves and their Goods They being now all ready for their Iourney every one of our Monks many in number investured in their Copes in dutifull manner accompanied these Gentlemen departing unto Hadenham with Songs Crosses Censers Processions and all Solemnity that might be used And returning home took order that the Armes of each Souldier should be lively depainted upon the VVall of the common Hall where they took their Repast together to the perpetuall memory of the customed Kindness of their Souldier-like Guests the which from time to time from the Predecessours to the Successours and from obscure Antiquity to our Posterity at this day are curiously set forth to be viewed of all men not without a pleasant Delight in such manner as they glitter and shine honourable in the Margent of this Table This Writing was composed about the Reign of King Henry the seventh but the Armes set up in Ely-Hall as may appeare by inserting the Coat of Robert Orford the fourteenth Bishop of Ely about the year 1306. Which Hall was destroyed at the Dissolution but another Transcript of the Armes of these Knights being depicted on the Wall of the Deanes Dining-room was lately extant whence our Draught here presented was taken rather truly then neatly done out of desire to conform to the Original and communicated to me by that worthy Knight and able Antiquary S t. Simon Archer of VVarwickshire Some will wonder that M r. Camden maketh no mention hereof whose Omnisciencie in these things may be presumed of Yea which is more there is saith a Camden ' s Britannia in Cambridgeshire he a Rampire of mean Height but of very large Compasse which they call Belsar ' s-Hills of one Bellisar I wot not who taking no notice of Belasis the Norman Generall who subdued Elie and from whom our late-produced Writing attesteth those Hills to be so named But besides that Camdenus non videt omnia great Antiquaries are sometimes subject to fits of Sullennesse will not see what they do see when resolved to take no Notice thereof And now we have presented the Reader with eight severall Catalogues two of Holinshead's two of Stow's two of M r. Fox one of Scriven's one of Frier Brompton's besides the List of Elie Knights I could wish a good Herauld would make a Mono-ogdoon that is one out of eight and Alphabetically digest the same also note what Names are extant and which how and when extinct By names which I call extinct understand not existent in any signal and remarkable lustre proportionable to their former greatness though possibly some obscure under-boughs truly derived thence may still be in being That worthy b D r. Hervey Doctour hath made many Converts in Physick to his seeming Paradox maintaining the Circulation of Bloud running round about the Body of man Nor is it lesse true that gentile Bloud fetcheth a Circuit in the body of a Nation running from Yeomanrie through Gentry to Nobility and so retrograde returning through Gentry to Yeomanrie again My Father hath told me from the mouth of S r. Robert Cotton that that worthy Knight met in a Morning a true and undoubted Plantagenet holding the Plough in the Country He might adde Arms to ancient names where he could recover any Certainty therein for I am confident that hereditarie Arms are not so ancient as the Conquest but fixed in Families about the beginning of Henry the third finding before that time the warlike Devises of the Sons not the same with the Fancies of their Fathers and their Grand-children differing from both If any say that I have already gone too far in this Subject who am no Herauld by Profession but onely K 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Praeco a Crier in the spirituall acception of the Office yea that this favours of Revenge as if because so many in this Age invade my Calling I in requitall have made Incursion into other mens Professions like men that take Letters of Mart not caring whom they wrong so they repair themselves for their former sustained or pretended Losses Let such know that I adventure on Herauldry not as a Calling but as an accessorie quality for Recreation And in evidence of my Loyalty to the Kings of Arms I submit what here I have written to their Censure and Correction who have obliged me unto them with their many and great Civilities Onely I will add some Corollaries to this Roll and so conclude First Coroll The prefixing of D' before names When any Name begins with a Vowel or an H the prefixing of D' createth a seeimg new Name as Arcy D' Arcy Aunvers D' Aunvers Haurel or Hairel D' Hairel Second Coroll French Surnames discerned by their terminations French Surnames are generally discernable by their Terminations In Age Ard Champe Court Cy Ell Er As Savage Giffard Beauchampe Harcourt Darcy Terrell Archer In Ers Eux Et Lay Nay Ot Vile As Danvers Devereux Barret Cholmelay Courtnay Talbot Nevile Some few Names whose Endings are exceptions from these Rules are easily observed by reading and known to be of French Extraction Third Coroll Wivil closeth the Catalogue Wivil is the last name in most Catalogues First fixed at Stanton VVivil in Leicestershire where they continued in the twenty fourth year of the Reign of King Henry the sixth on this Token that VVilliam VVivill being sworn and examined did depose that he could expend twenty pounds a year of old Rents besides all Charges Of this House was Robert de VVivil Bishop of Salisbury one neither Handsome nor Learned but eminent for his long Life fourty five years Bishop there and high Spirit that he would not suffer the Castle of Sarum to be parted from his See challenged by VVilliam Mountacute Earle of Salisbury without putting it upon Tryall of Battel Long since the Wivils here are extinct bearing Gules Frettey Vary a Chief Or. But there is extant an ancient Family of that name in the North though different in Armes augmented in State and Honour by Matches with the Heires of Pigot Scroope of Vpsall and Bointon whereof S r. Marmaduke Wivil of Constable-Burton in Richmondshire was created Baronet by King Iames whose Grand-child Marmaduke Baronet Wivil married the Daughter of Coniers Lord Darcy And I am glad that I may auspiciously close and conclude my Catalogue with so worthy a Gentleman bearing Gules three Cheveronels braced in Base Gobonee Argent and Azure a Chief Or. Fourth Coroll The family of the Walgrares All names of Gentry which by authenticall Records came over at the Conquest are not expressed in any of these Catalogues as Saukvil or Sackvil and Walgrave we finding two of that Surname One Iohn Walgrave a Saxon
Henry had already attained both by his partial Reformation Power by abolishing the Pope's usurpation in His Dominions Profit by seizing on the lands and goods of suppressed Monasteries And thus having served His own turn His zeal wilfully tired to goe any farther and onely abolishing such Popery as was in order to his aforesaid designes He severely urged the rest on the practice of His Subjects 16. Herein he appeared like to Jehu King of Israel Compared with King Jehu who utterly rooted out the forraign Idolatry of BAAL fetcht from the Zidonians and almost appropriated to the family of Ahab but still worshipped the CALVES in DAN and BETHEL the state-Idolatry of the Kingdome So our Henry though banishing all out-landish superstition of Papall dependance still reserved and maintained home bred Popery persecuting the Refusers to submit thereunto 17. For The six bloody Articles by the perswasion of Bishop Gardiner in defiance of Archbishop Cranmer and the L. Cromwell with might and main opposing it it was enacted 1. That in the Sacrament of the Altar after consecration no substance of bread or wine remaineth but the naturall body and blood of Christ 2. That the Communion in both kindes is not necessary ad salutem by the law of God to all persons 3. That Priests after Orders received may not Marry by the Law of God 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed 5. That it is meet and necessary that private Masses be admitted and continued in Churches 6. That auricular Confession must be frequented by people as of necessity to salvation Laws bad as penned worse as prosecuted which by some Bishops extensive interpretations were made commensurate to the whole body of Popery 18. Indeed The L. Cromwel's designe miscarrieth the Lord Cromwell unable to right his own had a designe to revenge himself on the opposite party by procuring an Act That Popish Priests convict of Adultery should be subject to the same punishment with Protestant Ministers that were married But Gardiner by his greatnesse got that law so qualified that it soon became lex edentula Ann. Reg. Hē 8. 32. whilst the other remained mordax death being the penalty of such who were made guilty by the six Articles though Nicholas Shaxton of Salisbury Ann. Dom. 1540. and Hugh Latimer of Worcester found the especial favour to save themselves by losing of their Bishopricks 19. And now began Edmond Bonner 〈…〉 aliàs Savage most commonly called by the former but too truly known by the later name newly made Bishop of London to display the colours of his cruelty therein which here I forbear to repeat because cited at large by Mr. Fox For I desire my Church-History should behave it self to his Book of Martyrs as a Lieutenant to its Captain onely to supply his place in his absence to be supplemental thereunto in such matters of moment which have escaped his observation 20. Match-makers betwixt private persons seldome finde great love for their pains Cromwell fal's into the Kings displeasure and peoples hatred betwixt Princes often fall into danger as here it proved in the L. Cromwell the grand contriver of the King's marriage with Anne of Cleve On him the King had conferred Honours so many and so suddainly that one may say The crudities thereof lay unconcted in his soul so that he could not have time to digest one Dignity before another was poured upon him Not to speak of his Mastership of the Jewel-house he was made Baron Master of the Rolls the Kings Vicar-general in spiritual matters Lord Privie-Seale Knight of the Garter Earle of Essex Lord Great Chamberlaine of England And my b Camdens Brit. in Essex p. 454. Authour observeth that all these Honours were conferred upon him in the compasse of five years most of them possessed by him not five moneths I may adde and all taken from him in lesse than five minutes with his life on the scaffold 21. This was the cause why he was envied of the Nobility and Gentry Why Cromwel was deservedly envied being by birth so much beneath all by preserment so high above most of them Besides many of his advancements were interpreted not so much Honours to him as Injuries to others as being either in use improper or in equity unfit or in right unjust or in conscience unlawfull for him to accept His Mastership of the Rolls such who were bred Lawyers conceived it fitter for men of their profession As for the Earldome of Essex conferred upon him though the title lately became void by the death of Bourchier the last Earl without Issue-male and so in the strictnesse of right in the King 's free disposal yet because he left Anne a sole Daughter behinde him Cromwel's invading of that Honour bred no good blood towards him amongst the kinred of that Orphan who were honourable and numerous His Lord great Chamberlainship of England being an Office for many years Hereditary in the Antient and Honourable House of Oxford incensed all of all that Family when beholding him possessed thereof His Knighthood of the Garter which custome had appropriated to such who by three degrees at least could prove their Gentile descent being bestowed on him did but enrage his Competitours thereof more honourably extracted As for his being the King's Vicar-General in Spiritual matters all the Clergie did rage thereat grutching much that K. Henry the substance and more that Cromwell His shadow should assume so high a Title to himself Besides Cromwel's name was odious unto them on the account of Abbies dissolved and no wonder if this Sampson plucking down the pillars of the Popish-Church had the rest of the structure falling upon him July 9. These rejoiced when the Duke of Norfolke arrested him for Treason at the Councel-Table whence he was sent Prisoner to the Tower 22. And now to speak impartially of him Cromwell's admirable parts though in prison If we reflect on his parts and endowments it is wonderfull to see how one quality in him befriended another Great Scholar he was none the Latine Testament gotten by heart being the master-piece of his learning nor any studied Lawyer never long-living if admitted in the Inns of Court nor experienced Souldier though necessity cast him on that calling when the Duke of Burbone besieged Rome nor Courtier in his youth till bred in the Court as I may call it of Cardinal Wolsey's house and yet that of the Lawyer in him so helped the Scholar that of the Souldier the Lawyer that of the Courtier the Souldier and that of the Traveller so perfected all the rest being no stranger to Germany well acquainted with France most familiar with Italy that the result of all together made him for endowments eminent not to say admirable 23. It was laid to his charge Articles charged upon the Lord Cromwell First that he had exceeded his Commission in acting many things of high conseqsence without acquainting the King therwith dealing therein
cruell to cast off were sent by their Masters to such Abbeys where they had plentifull food during their lives Now though some of those Corrodies where the property was altered into a set summe of money was solvable out of the Exchequer after the dissolution of Abbeys yet such which continued in kinde was totally extinct and no such Diet hereafter given where both Table and House were overturned The Premisses proved by instance in the Family of the Berkeleys THe Noble Family of the Berkeleys may well give an Abbots Mitre for the Crest of their Armes because so loving their Nation and building them so many Synagogues Hence it was that partly in right of their Auncestors partly by their Matches with the Co-heirs of the Lord Mowbray and Seagrave in the Vacancies they had a right of Nomination of an Abbot in following Foundations Place Founder Order Value 1. St. Augustines in Bristoll 2. Burton Laus in Leicester shire 3. Byland or Bella-Launda in York sh 4. Chancomb in Northhampton shire 5. Combe in Warwick shire 6. Croxton in Leicester shire 7. Edworth in the Isle of Axholme in Lincoln-shire 8. Fountains 9. Kirkby in Leicestershire 10. Newburge in Yorkshire 1. Robert Fitz-Harding whose posterity assumed the name of Berkeley 2. The Lord Mowbray in the Reign of K. Henry the first 3. Robert de Mowbray Gonnora his Mother 4. Hugh de Anaf Kn t in the time of the Conq. whose Son Robert took the name of Chaâ—comb Annabisia his daughter was married to Gilbert Lord Seagrave 7. Tho Mowbray Earl of Notingham in the Reign of K. Rich. the 2. to which the Mowbrays were grand Benefactors 9. Roger de Beller who held this Manour of the Lord Mowbray 1. Black Canons of the Order of S. Victor 2. Leprous people professing the Order of S. Augustine 6. Premonstratentian Monks 7. Carthusians 9. Canons Regular of S. Augustine l. s. d. ob q. 767.15.3.0.0 458.19.11.1.1 7.290.14 178.7.10 0 1 What shall I speak of the small Houses of Longbridge and Tintern in Gloucestershire not mentioned in Speed the Hospitals of S. Katharine and Mary Maudlins neer Bristol the well endowed Schoole of Wotton Underhedge in Glocester shire besides forty Chanteries founded by the Berkeleys yea I have read in a Manuscript belonging unto them no lesse judiciously than industriously composed by Mr. John Smith who did and received many good offices to and from that Family as is mutually confessed that the forenamed Abbeys and others held of the Lord Berkeley at the dissolution no fewer than eighty Knights fees and payed services unto them accordingly all which are now lost to the value of ten thousand pounds within the compasse of few years 2. Nor will it be amisse to insert Rob. Derby last Abbot of Croxton that Robert Derby the last Abbot of Croxton was presented thereunto April 22. the 26 of King Henry the eighth by Thomas the sixt of that name Lord Berkeley the place being void by the death of one Atter cliffe belonging to his presentation by inheritance And in the Record he commandeth the Prior and Convent to receive and obey him as Abbot Ingratitude to their Founders a grand fault in many Abbeys INgratitude is the abridgement of all basenesse If unthankfull all bad a fault never found unattended with other vitiousness This is justly charged on the account of many Abbeys whose stately structures grew so proud as to forget the Rock whence they were Hewen and the Hole of the Pit whence they were digged unthankfull to such Founders who under God had bestowed their maintenance upon them 2. One instance of many Great bounty Vast was the liberality of the Lord Berkeleys to S. Austins in Bristoll leaving themselves in that their large Estate not one Rectory to which they might present a Chaplaine all the Benefices in their numerous Manours being appropriated to this and other Monasteries Now see the Requitall 3. Maurice Ill required the first of that name Lord Berkeley having occasion to make the ditch about his Castle the broader for the better fortifying thereof took in some few feet of ground out of Berkeley Church-yard which Church with the Tithes thereof his Ancestors had conferred on the aforesaid Monastery The Abbot beholding this as a great trespasse or rather as a little sacriledge so prosecuted the aforesaid Lord with Church-censures that he made him in a manner cast the dirt of the ditch in his own face inforcing him to a publick confession of his fault and to give Five shillings rent for ever with some Tithes and Pasture for as many Oxen as would till a Plow-land by the words of his Will Pro emendatione culpa meae de fossato quod feci de Coemiterio de Berkeley circa castellum meum 4. I know it will be pleaded for the Abbot that there is as much right in an inch as in an ell Summum jâ—â— that he was a Fiduciary intrusted to defend the rights of his Covent that Founders Heirs are not priviledged to doe injuries yea they of all persons most improper to take back what their Ancestors have given However the Lords incroachment on the Church-yard being in a manner done in his own defence the thing in it self so small and the merit of his Ancestors so great to that Abbey might have met with that meeknesse which should be in the brests of all Spirituall persons to abate his rigorous prosecution against him 5. Thomas the first Lord Berkeley of that name Another instance of ingratitude found little better usage from the Abbot of S. Austines though he had formerly besides confirmation of many Lands conferred on that Convent pasture for Twenty four Oxen discharging also their Lands lying within certain of his Manours from all Services and Earthly demands onely to remember him and his in their prayers yet did that Abbot and Convent implead him before the Popes Delegates for Tythes of Paunage of his Woods for Tythes of his Fishing and of his Mills The Lord removed the Suit to Common Law as challenging the sole power to regulate Modum Dicimandi And now when all was ready for a Tryall before the Judge irinerant at Gloucester it was compounded by Friends on such Terms as the Abbot in effect gained his desire 6. Indeed A cause of their â—uine so odious and obvious was the unthankfulnesse of some Convents that it is reputed by some the most meritorious Cause of their Dissolution and their doing things without and against the Will of their Founders is instanced in the * For the dissolution of Chanteries Colledges 37 of Hen. 8. cap. 4. An overwise conceit Statute as a main Motive to take them away 7. Some who pretend to a Prometheus wit fondly conceive that the Founders of Abbeys might politickly have prevented their dissolution had they inserted a provision in their Foundations That in case Abbey Lands should be alienated to other uses against or besides the Owners intents then such
Oxonford I mean Wickliff by Name afterwards chewed the Cud and was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman faith as appears by his Recantation Living and Dying conformable to the holy Catholick Church 58. It is strange that this Popish Priest alone should light on his Recantation which I believe no other eyes before or since did behold Besides if as he saith Wickliff was sufficiently reconciled to the Roman Faith why was not Rome sufficiently reconciled to him using such crueltie unto him so many years after his death Cold incouragement for any to become Romist's Converts if notwithstanding their reconciliation the bodies must be burnt so many years after their death 59. But though Wickliff had no Tombe A Monk's charity to Wickliffe he had an Epitaph such as it was which a Monk afforded him and that it was no worse thank his want not of malice but invention not finding out worse expressions The k Walsing Ypodig Neust p. 3â—2 Divels Instrument Churches Enemie Peoples confusion Hereticks Idol Hypocrites Mirror Schisms Broacher hatreds sower Anno Dom. 1430. lyes forger flatteries sinke who at his death despaired like Cain Anno Regis Hen. 6. 8. and stricken by the horrible Judgements of God breathed forth his wicked Soul to the dark mansion of the black Divell Surely He with whose Name this Epitaph beginneth and endeth was with the maker clean thorow the contrivance thereof 59. Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester A conditional privy Council Cardinal Sancti Eusebij but commonly called Cardinal of England was by consent of Parliament made one of the Kings Council with this condition that he should make a * Ex Archivis tur London Protestation to absent himself from the Council when any matters were to be treated betwixt the King and Pope being jealous belike that his Papal would prevaile over his Royall interest The Cardinal took the Protestation and promised to perform it 60. The Clergy complained in Parliament to the King Priviledge of Convocation that their Servants which came with them to Convocations were often arrested to their great damage and they prayed that they might have the same Priviledge which the Peeres and Commons of the Kingdom have which are called to Parliament which was granted accordingly 61. Great at this time was the want of Grammar Schools and the abuse of them that were even in London it self Want of Grammar Schools complained of for they were no better then Monopolize it being penall for any to prevent the growth of Wicklivism to put their Children to private Teachers hence was it that some hundreds were compelled to go to the same School where to use the words of the Records the Masters waxen rich in money and learners poor in cunning Whereupon this grievance was complained on in Parliament by four eminent Ministers in London viz. M r. William Lichfield Parson of All-Hallow's the More Gilbert Parson of St. Andrews Holbern John Cote Parson of St. Peter's Cornhill John Neele Master of the House of St. Thomas Acre 's and Parson of Colchrich To these it was granted by the Advice of the Ordinary or Archbishop of Canterbury to erect five Schools Neele the last named having a double licence for two places in their respective Parishes which are fitly called the five vowels of London which Mute in a manner before began now to speak and pronounce the Latine Tongue Know that the house St. Thomas Acres was where Mercers Chappel standeth at this day About this time the Lady Eleanor Cobham Elianour Dutchess of Glocester commended by M r. Fox for a Confessor so called from the Lord Cobham her Father 1433 otherwise Elianour Plantagenet by her Husband was married unto Humphrey the Kings Uncle Duke of Glocester 11. She was it seems a great Savourer and Favourer of VVickliffe his Opinions and for such Mr. Fox hath ever a Good word in store Insomuch that he maketh this Lady a Confessor Sr. Roger Only alias Bolignbroke her Chaplain a Martyr assigning in his Kalender the eleventh and twelfth of February for the dayes of their commemoration But Alanus Copus namely Harpsfield under his name falls foul on Mr. Fox for making Sr. Roger a Martyr Made Traitor by A. C. who was a Traitor and Elianour this Dutchess a Confessor who by the consent of our Croniclers Robert Fabian Edward Hall c. was condemned after solemn penance and carrying a Taper barefoot at Pauls Crosse to perpetuall banishment for plotting with Only his Chaplain an abominable Necromancer and three others by witchcraft to destroy the King Anno Regis Hen. sixt 11. so to derive the Crown to her Husband Anno Dom. 1433. as the next heir in the Line of Lancaster But Cope-Harpsfield pincheth the Fox the hardest for making Margaret Jourdman the witch of Eye a Martyr who was justly burnt for her witchcraft Other small errors we omit where of he accuseth him In answer hereunto Mr. Fox makes a threefold return ingeniously confessing part of the charge Mr. Fox His ingenious confession flatly denying part and fairly excusing the rest He confesseth and take it in his own words that the former Edition of his Acts and Monuments was a First Volum pag. 920. HASTILY RASHED up at the present in such shortnesse of time fourteen moneths as I remember too small a term for so great a Task that it betraied him to many mistakes as when he calleth Sir Roger Only a Knight who was a Priest by his profession Adding moreover that had he thought no b Pag. 921. imperfections had passed his former Edition he would have taken in hand a second recognition thereof He flatly denyeth that his Martyr-making of Margaret Jourdman the Witch of Eye His flat deniall I here saith professe confesse and ascertain both you Cope-Harpsfield He meaneth and all English men both present and all posterity hereafter to come that Margaret Jourdman I never spake of never thought of never dreamed of nor did ever hear of before you named her in your Book your self So farre it is off that I either with my will or against my will made any Martyr of Her He excuseth the aforesaid Dutchess Elianour His ten Coniectures in behalf of the Dutchess alledging ten Conjectures as he calleth them in her vindication 1. Sir Roger Only took it upon his death that He and the Lady were innocent of those things for which they were condemned 2. It was usuall for the Clergie in that Age to load those who were of Wickliffe his perswasion such this Dutchess with no lesse false then feule aspersions 3. Sir Roger Only wrote two Books mentioned by c As in his 8th Cent. cap. 4. Bale the one of his own innocency the other Contra Vulgi Superstitiones It is not therefore probable he should be so silly a Necromancer who had professedly confuted Popular Superstitions 4. The Accusation of this Dutches beganne not untill after the Grudges betwixt the
though perchance wisely for the State not warily for himself Indeed it is impossible for such Officers managing not onely multitudes but multiplicity of matters but that in some things they must mistake As in c Prov. 10. 19. many words there wanteth not iniquity so in the Actours of many affairs faults are soon found out He was also accused to set at liberty certain persons not capable of it for granting Licenses and Commissions destructive to the King's authority for being guilty of Heresie himself and favouring it in others Trayterous speeches were also charged upon him spoken two years before in the Church of S. Peter's in the Poor in Broad street the avouchers thereof pretending that as hitherto they had concealed them for love of themselves fearing Cromwel's greatnesse so now for the love of the King they revealed the same Indeed on the first manifesting of the King's displeasure against him the foes of Cromwel had all their mouthes open and his friends their mouthes shut up 24. The mention of S. Peter's in Broad-street An injurious Act to many poor people charged on the Lord Cromwell mindeth me of a passage not unworthy to be recited of an injury offered by this Lord Cromwell to many poor men in the same Parish And because every one is best able to tell his own tale take it in the words of John d Survey of London p. 187. Stow being himself deeply concerned therein The Lord Cromwell having finished his house in Throgmorton-street in London and having some reasonable plot of ground left for a garden caused the pales of the gardens adjoyning to the North part thereof on a sudden to be taken down two and twenty foot to be measured forth-right into the North of every man's ground a line there to be drawn a trench to be cast a foundation laid and an high brick-wall to be builded My father had a garden there and there was an house standing close to his South-pale this house they loosed from the ground and bare upon rowlers into my father's garden two and twenty foot ere my father heard thereof no warning was given him nor other answer when he spake to the Surveyors of that work but that their Master Sir Thomas commanded them so to doe no man durst goe to argue the matter but each man lost his land and my father paid his whole rent which was six sâ—illings eight pence the year for that half which was left Thus much of mine own knowledge have I thought good to note that the sudden rising of some men causeth them to forget themselves I am moved the rather to believe our Authour herein because elsewhere he alloweth this Lord his deserved praise for his virtues and especially his Hospitality affirming e Survey of London p. 74. he had often seen at the Lord Cromwell's gate above two hundred persons served twice every day with meat and drink sufficient Nor can I see what may be said in excuse of this oppression except any will plead that Abimelech's servants violently f Gen. 21. 26. took away the wells from Abraham and yet Abimelech himself never knew more or lesse thereof 25. As for the passionate expressions of Cromwell The worst passionate Speech objected against him a g Sir I. Strode of Parubam in Dorcet-shire Knight aged well-nigh eighty whose Mother was Daughter to the Lord Cromwell's Son hath informed me That the principall passage whereon the Lord's enemies most insisted was this It being told the L. Cromwell that one accused him for want of fidelity to the King Cromwell returned in passion Were he here now I would strike my dagger into his heart meaning into the heart of the false Accuser and therein guilty of want of charity to his fellow-subject not of loyaltie to his Sovereign But seeing the words were a measuring cast as uttered though not as intended to whom they should relate the pick-thank Repeater avowed them uttered against the King Himself So dangerous are dubious words and ambiguous expressions when prevalent power is to construe and interpret the meaning thereof 26. Ten daies after his Arrest His Speech on be scaffold he was attainted of high Treason in Parliament and brought on the Scaffold the next week to execution Here he spake the following words unto the people which the Reader is requested the more seriously to peruse July 19. that thereby he may be enabled to passe if concerned therein his verdict in what Religion this Lord died I Am come hither to die 29. and not to purge my selfe as some think peradventure that I will For if I should so doe I were a very wretch and miser I am by the law condemned to die and thank my Lord God that hath appointed me this death for mine offence For since the time that I have had years of discretion I have lived a sinner and offended my Lord God for the which I aske him heartily forgivenesse And it is not unknown to many of you that I have been a great traveller in this world and being but of base degree I was called to high estate and since the time I came thereunto I have offended my Prince for the which I aske Him heartily forgivenesse and beseech you all to pray to God with me that he will forgive me And now I pray you that be here to bear me record I die in the Catholick Faith not doubting in any Article of my faith no nor doubting in any Sacrament of the Church Many have slandered me and reported that I have been a bearer of such as have maintained evil opinions which is untrue But I confesse that like as God by his Holy Spirit doth instruct us in the truth so the Devil is ready to seduce us and I have been seduced but bear me witnesse that I die in the Catholick Faith of the Holy Church And I heartily desire you to pray for the King's Grace that He may long live with you in health and prosperity and that after Him His son Prince Edward that goodly impe may long reign over you And once again I desire you to pray for me that so long as life remaineth in this flesh I waver nothing in my faith And so making his Prayer c. The generall terms wherein this his Speech is couched hath given occasion for wise men to give contrary censures thereof Fox in his Marginall Note on this Speech pag. 515. A true Christian Confession of the Lord Cromwell at his death Lord Herbert in the Index of his History under C. Cromwell died a Roman-Catholick notwithstanding he had been such a destroyer of the Church True it is so warie were Cromwell's expressions that Luther and Bellarmine might in their own persons have said the same without any prejudice to their own principles and many conceive that the most which these his words amount to will but make him an six-Articles Protestant 27. But let Cromwell's politick Speech be in part expounded by
hand thought fit to insert this his following account thereof though not knowing whether the same will give the Reader satisfaction 45. A match was made Her plea for leaving her husband by the power of their Parents betwixt Mr. Kyme his Son in Lincoln shire and Sir William Ashcough his eldest Daughter who chanced to die before the completing thereof Sir William loth to lose so rich an Heir and having payed part of her Potion for lucrâ—s sake compelled this Anne his second Daughter to supply her Sisters place and to marry him against her own will and consent notwithstanding the marriage once past she demanded her self like a Christian Wife l Bales Manuscript p 91 92. and bare him two Children In processe of time by oft reading of the sacred Bible she cleerly fell from all Papistrie to a perfect belief in Jesus Christ Whereupon her Husband was so offended that by suggestion of the Priests he violently drove her out of his house And she on this occasion sought from the Law a Divorce and because of his cruell usage would not return unto him again thinking her self free from that uncomely kinde of coacted marriage by the doctrine of Saint Paul m 1 Cor. 7.15 But if the unbelieving depart let him depart A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases But God hath called us to peace This is the effect of what our Authour speaketh in moe words Now whether this rule laid down by Saint Paul betwixt Christian and Heathen be also commensurate betwixt Protestant and Papist is not my work to decide Perchance she would only answer to the King for her behaviour towards her Husband as hoping for some tendernesse from His Highnesse because of some general conformity in the first part of her Case with the Kings as Who for by respects was first married to then divorced from His Brothers Wife 46. Her several examinations are largely penned by her self extant in Mr. Fox She is first rached and then burnâ— where the Reader may finde them But be it remembred that whereas heresie onely was charged upon her without the least suspition of Treason yet was she rackt to detect some Court Ladies of her opinion by the Lord Wriothisly the then and Sir Robert Rich the n Fox p. 1239 next Lord Chancellour But whether it was noble in these Lords or legall in these Lawyers or conscientious in these Chancellours to rack one already condemned to death belongeth to others to determine Their cruelty extorted no discovery from her whose constancy now made recompense for her former infirmities If it be true what is charged upon her that before she had twice subscribed the Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar but zealously died at last in the earnest deniall thereof being amongst those who according to the precept in the o Isa 24.15 Prophet glorified the Lord in the sires Her suffering in Smithfield was most solemnly performed where three men Nicolas Belevian Priest of Shropshire John Lacells Gentleman of the Houshold of King Henry the eighth and John Adams a poor Taylor of London were all burnt together Three couple of qualities meeting together in four persons Clergy and Laity Male and Female Gentle and Simple made the fewell of the same fire 47. John Bale registers this Anne Ashcough Her Prose and Poâ—â—â—y amongst the number of his English learned Writers for her Examinations Letters and Poems wrote with her own hand though the p Parsons utpriùs Jesuite jeers him for his pains as if no works save those of the needle became her sex I have seen a Manuscript of her Verses afterwards printed at Marpurge in Germany and must confesse I better approve her Charity in the four last than her Poetry in all rest Yet Lord I thee desire Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 Let them not taste the hire For that they doe to me Of their iniquity However those that have drunk deeper than she of Helicon Ann. Dom. 1546. would be loth to pledge her in the bitter cup of Martyrdome So I take my leave of her memory 48. Now began the troubles of Queen Katharine Parr The King marrieth KatbarineParr whom the King married some two years since For He either being or believing Himself wronged by His last Wife whom He married for a Maid resolved now to take a Widow to Wife who had given proof of her chastity and loyalty to her former Husband and thereupon married this Katharine the Daughter of Sir Thomas Parr of Kendall the Relict of John Nevill Lord Latimer one of great piety beauty discretion Next to the Bible She studied the Kings disposition observing Him to Her utmost And need She had of a nimble soul to attend at all times on His humour whose Fury had now got the addition of Frowardness thereunto She was rather Nurse than Wife unto Him who was more decayed by sickness intemperance than old age 49. Yet sometimes She would presume to discourse with the King about points of Religion The conspiracy of Her enemies against Her defending the Protestant-Tenents by Scripture and reason and sometimes would hold up the King very close hard at it This displeased Him who loved loosness and liberty in His clothes arguments and actions and was quickly observed by Gardiner and others who were the Queens enemies Hereupon taking advantage of an unhappy juncture of time Gardiner drew up Articles against Her and had got them subscribbed with the Kings own hand to remove Her to the Tower Whither had She been sent Vestigia nulla retrorsum without doubt She had followed the way of His former Wives in that place 50. But Divine Providence ordereth all things to fall out for the good of Gods children Chancellour Wriothesly put the paper of those Articles pretious jewels in no worse cabinet than his own bosome Hence it casually fell out By Gods Providence defeated was taken up by one of the Queens servants and brought to Her Grace who on Her sicknesse and submission to the King obtained His pardon signed ad sealed unto Her with may kisses and embraces As for such Her enemies who came at the present to attach Her intending by virtue of the Kings Warrant to send Her the shortest way to Her long home they were sent back with what made worse rumbling than a flea in the eare even the taunts and threats of the enraged King against them 51. And yet Pasons tell q In his Exam. of Fox his Martyrs in June c. 10 p. 433 us that not with standing the King purposed to have burned Her if He had lived Parsons his wild intelligence I know not whence he derived this his strange intelligence and therefore justly suspect the truth hereof The rather because I finde Her in great grace with the King as appeareth by the good language and great Legacie He gave Her in His Will which here we thought fit to transcribe both for the
Monks therein were it so their soyl being so fruitfull and pleasant it would merit more wonder than that Ireland hath no Venemous creatures therein Quare what meant by four Abbots peculiarly exempt But their brag hath more of Mirth than Truth in it seeing the Priorie at Caris-brook and Nunnery at Quarre evidence them sufficiently stockt with such Cattell 17. I have done with this subject of Mitred Abbeys when we have observed that they were called ABBOTS GENERALL aliàs ABBOTS n Sir H. Spelman in Glossario verbo Abbas SOVEREIGNE as acknowledging in a sort no Superiour because exempted from the Jurisdiction of any Diocezan having Episcopall power in themselves And here I would be thankfull to any who would inform me that seeing all these Abbots were thus priviledged how it came to passe that Four of them were especially termed ABBOTS o Titles of honour pag. 727. EXEMPTI viz Bury Waltham S. Albans and Evesham I say seeing these were so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EXEMPT as it were out of the EXEMPTED I would willingly be satisfied what extraordinary Priviledges these enjoyed by themselves above others of their own Order Of the Civill benefits and Temporall conveniences accruing to the State by the continuance of Abbies SO much of the greatnesse Give Abbies their due somewhat of the goodnesse of Abbeys if possibly it may be done without prejudice to truth Surely some pretences plausible at least did ingratiate them with the Politicians of that Age otherwise Prince and people in those daies though blinded with ignorant zeal yet worldly-wise would never have been gulled into so long a toleration yea veneration of them 2. They were an easie and cheap outlet for the Nobility and Gentry of the land They convenient to dispose youngest children in therein to dispose their younger children That younger son who had not mettal enough to manage a sword might have meeknesse to become a coule Which coule in short time might grow up to be a Mitre when his merits presented him to be Abbot of his Covent Clap a vail on the head of a younger daughter especially if she were superannuated not over-handsome melancholy c. and instantly she was provided for in a Nunnery where without cost or care of her parents she lived in all outward happinesse wanting nothing except perhaps it were an husband This was a great cause of the long continuance of the English Nobility in such pomp and power as having then no temptation to torture their Tenants with racking of rents to make provision for their younger children Indeed sometimes Noblemen gave small portions with their children to the Covent not such as would preferre them in marriage to one of their own quality but generally Abbeys were glad to accept them with nothing thereby to engage the Parents and Brothers of such young men and maidens to be the constant friends to their Covent on all occasion at Court and chiefly in all Parliaments 3. One eminent instance hereof we have in Ralph Nevil An eminent instance thereof first Earl of Westmerland of that Family whom I behold as the happiest Subject of England since the Conquest if either we count the number of his Children or measure the height of the Honour they attained He had by Margaret his first Wife Joan his second Wife 1. John his eldest son Lord Nevil c. 2. Ralph in the right of Mary his wife Lord Ferrars of Ously 3. Maud married to Peter Lord Mauley 4. Alice married to Sir Thomas Gray 5. Philip married to Thomas Lord Dacres of Gilsland 6. Margaret married to the Lord Scroop of Bolton 7. Anne married to Sir Gilbert Umfrevil 8. Margerie Abbesse of Bearking 9. Elizabeth a Nun. 1. Richard Earl of Sarisbury 2. William in the right of Joan his wife Lord Faulconbridge 3. George Lord Latimer 4. Edward Lord Abergavennie 5. Robert Bishop of Durham 6. Thomas in right of his wife Lord a Mills p. 393. Seymour 7. Katharine married to Thomas Duke of Norfolke 8. Elianour to Henry Earl of Northhumberland 9. Anne to Humphrey Duke of Buckingham 10. Jane a Nun. 11. Cicilie to Richard Duke of York and Mother to King Edward the fourth See we here the policie of that age in disposing of their numerous issue More than the tithe of them was given to the Church and I trow the Nuns and Abbesse especially were as good Madams as the rest and conceived themselves to go in equipage with their other Lady-Sisters And no wonder if an Earl preferred his daughters to be Nuns seeing no King of England since the Conquest had four Daughters living to womans estate but He disposed one of them to be a Votarie And Bridget the fourth Daughter to King Edward the fourth a Nun at Dartford in Kent was the last Princesse who entered into a Religious Order 4. They were tolerable Tutours for the education of youth there being a great penurie of other Grammar-schools in that Age and every Covent had one Children taught therein or moe therein who generally gratis taught the children thereabouts Yea they who were loose enough in their own lives were sufficiently severe in their discipline over others Grammar was here taught and Musick which in some sort sung her own Dirige as to the generall use thereof at the dissolution of Abbies 5. Nunneries also were good Shee-schools Conveniency of Shee-Colledges wherein the Girles and Maids of the Neighbourhood were taught to read and work and sometimes a little Latine was taught them therein Yea give me leave to say if such Feminine Foundations had still continued provided no vow were obtruded upon them virginity is least kept where it is most constrained haply the weaker sex besides the avoiding modern inconveniences might be heightned to an higher perfection than hitherto hath been attained That sharpnesse of their wits and suddenness of their conceits which their enemies must allow unto them might by education be improved into a judicious solidity and that adorned with Arts which now they want not because they cannot learn but are not taught them I say if such Feminine Foundations were extant now of dayes haply some Virgins of highest birth would be glad of such places and I am sure their Fathers and elder Brothers would not be sorry for the same 6. They were the sole Historians Monks the sole Historians and why in writing to preserve the remarkable passages of Church and Common-wealth I confesse I had rather any than Monks had written the Histories of our Land yet rather than the same should be unwritten I am heartily glad the Monks undertook the performance thereof Indeed in all their Chronicles one may feel a rag of a Monks coule I mean they are partial to their own interest But in that Age there was a choicelesse choice that Monks or none at all should write our English Histories Sword-men lacked learning States-men leasure to doe it it was therefore devolved to Monks and Friers who
not unusefull to be inserted 1. Sir Robert Hales Lord Treasurer of England slain in the tumult of Tyler Anno 1380 in the fourth of K. Richard the second At which time 2. Next him Sir John Long-strother I say next proximus at longo qui proximus intervallo siding with the House of Lancaster he was taken prisoner in Teuxbury Battail Anno 1471 and by King Edward the fourth put to death in cold blood contrary to the promise of a Prince who had assured his life unto him 3. Sir Thomas Dockwray is the next not of all but in our discovery A person of much desert expending himself wholly for the credit and profit of his Priory as who re-edified the Church out of its ruine finishing it Anno 1504 as appeareth by the Inscription over the Gate-house yet remaining 4. Sir William Weston succeeds of whom before dissolved this List on the very day of the dissolution of this Priory 5. Sir Thomas Tresham was the first and last of Q. Mary's re-erection There goeth a tradition that Q. Elizabeth in consideration of his good service done to Her self in Her Sister Q. Mary whom he proclaimed and Their Titles being shut out of doors together both were let in again at once though to take place successively allowed him to be called Lord Prior during his life which was not long and the matter not much deriving no power or profit unto him Here I purposely omit Sir Richard Shelley which family I finde of remark for worship and antiquity at Michel-Grove in Sussex He bare a great enmity to Q. Elizabeth especially after She had flatly denied Philip King of Spain whither Shelley was fled to consent to his abiding there and to his quier receiving his rents out of England However the Spanish King imployed him in an Honorable Ambassy unto Maximilian King b Cambd. Eliz. Anno 1563. of the Romans weating the high title of Prior of the Order of St. c Idem in Anno 1560. p. 46. John ' s in England A Prior without a Posterior having none un-under him to obey his power nor after him to succeed in his place We behold him only as the wry-stroak given in by us out of courtesie when the game was up before 5. The Site of the Priory of S. Iohn's was lately the possession of William Earl of Exeter Cecil the present owner of this Priory whose Countess Eliz Druery was very forward to repair the ruin'd Quire thereof Doct. Ios Hall preached at the solemn Reconciling thereof on S. Stephen's day 1623 taking for his Text Hag. 2. 9. The glory of the latter house shall be greater than of the former saith the Lord of Hosts At this day though coarctated having the side-Iles excluded yet so that their upper part is admitted affording conveniencies for attention it is one of the best private Chappels in England discreetly embracing the mean of decency betwixt the extreams of slovenly profaneness and gaudy superstition and belongeth at this present to the truly noble Thomas as Earle of Elgin SECTION VII TO THOMAS DOCKWRAY of Bedford-shire Esquire I Finde Sir THOMAS DOCKWRAY one of the last Lord Priors of our English Hospitallers To say you are descended from him would fix a stain on your Extraction seeing none might marry who were of his Order But this I will say and justifie that you Both are descended from the same Ancestour as by authentick Records doth most plainly appear Besides some conformity may be seen in your commendable inclinations He was all for * * Stow Survey of London pag. 483. building of a fair Church according to the devotion of those dayes Your bountifull hand hath been a great sharer in advancing of this Church-History Now although his stately Structure of the strongest stone had the hard hap to be blown up almost as * * Stows Surv. of Lond. ut priùs soon as it was ended this of yours a frailer Fabrick as but of Paper-walls may be Gods blessing have the happinesse of a longer continuance Of English Nunneries beyond the Seas THus were all Monks Fryers Why no Pensions paid to outed Votaries by Qu. Eliz. and Nunnes totally routed by the coming in of Qu. Elizabeth I finde not that any Pensions were allowed to those Votaries who at this time were outed their Covents though large Annuities were assigned to such who were ejected their Monasteries Colledges or free Chanteries in the Reigns of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixt whereof this may seem the reason because now caveat ingressor He or She might beware who entred an Abbey be it at their own perill seeing they formerly had so fair a warning though indeed some of them who had no friends to help them were left in no very good condition and died in much want and distresse 2. But now in the beginning of this Queens Reign Detained pensions paid to old Fryers and Nunnes a complaint did arise That Pensions were detained from many ejected out of Abbeys in her Father and Brother his Reigne who being poor old and impotent and repairing to the Queens Officers for their Pensions were instead of money paid with ill language and affronts Her Majesty possessed with the truth hereof took strict order both that their Arrears for the time past should be satisfied and their Aunuities for the time to come effectually discharged which much advanced her honour in pecuniary matters 3. Hence grew the Proverb crossed in the daies of her successours As sure as Exchequer pay Chequer pay the best of payments For all who in this Queens Reign had summes due unto them from the Treasurie had no other trouble than to tell them there and take them thence Thus it came to passe that by Her maintaining of the Exchequer the Exchequer maintained Her having money at most credit at all times on the reputation of so good a Pay-Mistresse insomuch that She was not onely able to lay down Her stake but also to vye ready silver with the King of Spaine when He notwithstanding both His Indies was fain to go on Bare board 4. As for Popish Religious persons flying out of England at the coming in of this Queen The onely stump of an old tree our pen shall follow them as fast as it can with convenient speed We begin with the Nunnes partly because the courtesie of England alloweth the first place to the feeblest Sex but chiefly because they seem still to continue an entire body and successively an immortall corporation being with the Carthusians the onely stump that remaineth of the huge tree which once overspread and shadowed our whole Nation 5. May the Reader be pleased to remember The progresse of Nunnes from Sion to Lisbone that King Henry the fifth founded one Abbey of Nunnes at Sion in Middlesex peopling it with Brigetine Nunnes and Fryers and another at Sheine in Surrey overagainst it so ordering it that all the day long alternately when the Devotions of the one
other strangers in London to have and to hold for them their heirs and successours in Frank Almonage to be a meeting-place for them therein to attend God's Word and Sacraments He ordered also that hereafter it should be called by the new name of the Church of the Lord IESUS and incorporated the said Superintendent Ministers and Congregation to be a body politick for all purposes and intents empowering them from time to time in the vacancy of a Superintendent to chuse name and substitute any able and fit person in that place provided that the person so chosen be first presented to the King His Heirs and Successours to be approved and confirmed by them in the Office of the Ministerie enjoyning all Archbishops Bishops and other Officers Quòd permittant praefatis g The Letters are kept in the Dutch Church and exemplified in Iohannes Utenbovius in his narration of the Dutch Congregation pag. 13. c. Superintendenti Ministris Sucessoribus suis liberè quietè frui gaudere uti exercere ritus ceremonias suas proprias disciplinam Ecclesiasticam propriam peculiarem non obstante quòd non conveniant cum ritibus ceremoniis in Regno nostro usitatis That they permit the foresaid Superintendent and Ministers and their Successours freely and quietly to hold enjoy use and exercise their own proper rites and ceremonies and their proper and peculiar Church-discipline notwithstanding that they agree not with the rites and ceremonies used in Our Kingdome 34. Now followed the fatall tragedy of the Duke of Somerset Womens brawles Mens thralles and we must recoile a little to fetch forward the cause thereof Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudely and Lord Admirall the Protectours younger Brother had married the Lady Katharine Parre the Relict of King Henry the eighth A contest arose betwixt their Wives about place the Protectresse as I may call her refusing to give it to the Kings Dowager Yet was their precedencie no measuring cast but clear in the view of any unpartiall eye Nor needed other Herauld to decide the controversie than the Kings own Injunctions a Vide supra in the first of this King wherein after prayer for His own Royall person Ministers were commanded to pray for the Queen Dowager even before the Kings Sisters Mary and Elizabeth the Protectour under whom his Lady must claim place being placed last in the List of their Devotions 35. The Womens discords derived themselves into their Husbands hearts Lord Thomas â—eymour executed for Treason Whereupon not long after followed the death of the Lord Thomas Seymour arraigned for designing to traslate the Crown to himself though having neither Title to pretend unto it nor effectual Interest to atchieve the same Let b 1 King 2. Adonijah and this Lord's example deterre Subjects from medling with the Widows of their Soveraigns left in the same match they espouse their own danger and destruction This Lord thus cut off the Protectour stood alone on his own bottome at which his enemies daily endevoured to undermine 36. Soon after the Lords of the Councel resolved to accuse him of many high offences A tripartite accusation Of these Lords some were Lawyers as the Lord Wriothesley lately the Lord Rich then Lord Chancellour Sir Edward Montague Chief Justice c. some Martialists as S r Ralph Sadler Treasurer to the Army and some meer Statesmen as William Pawlet Lord Treasurer and their accusations participated of the severall conditions of the Accusers The Lawyers charge him for bringing Westminster-hall into Somerset-house keeping there a Court of Request and therein determining Titles of Land to the apparent injury of the Subject Military men taxed him for his Sumptuous buildings having their Morter tempered with the tears of Souldiers Wives and Children whose wages he detained and for betraying Bolloigne and other places in France to the Enemy States-men chiefly insisted on his engrossing all power to himself that whereas by the constitution of the Protectourship he was to act nothing without the advice of King Henry's Executours he solely transacted matters of the highest consequence without their privity 37. Here I must set John Dudley Earl of Warwick as a Transcendent in a form by himself Earle of Warwick the Proectors grand enemy being a competent Lawyer Ann. Dom. 1551. Son to a Judge known Soldier Ann Reg. Ed 6 5. and able States man and acting against the Protector to all these his capacities Indeed he was the very soul of the Accusation being all in all in every part thereof And seeing the Protector was free spirited open hearted humble hard to distrust easie to forgive The other proud suttle close cruell and revengefull it was impar congressus betwixt them almost with as much disadvantage as betwixt a naked and an armed person 38. Hereupon The Protector accused and imprisoned yet restored he was imprisoned at Windsor in a place antiently called c Fox Acts Mon. pag. Beauchamp's Tower it seems by a sad Prolepsis but never verified till now when this Vâ—count Beauchamp by his original honour was therein consined and hence was he removed to the Tower of London However although all this happened in the worst juncture of time viz in the disjuncture of his best Friend the Lord Russell Privie Seal then away in the West yet by his own innocence his other Friends endeavour the Kings interposing and Divine Providence he was acquitted and though outed his Protectorship restored and continued Privie Counsellour as in the King's Diarie was formerly observed 39. But after two years and two months Accused the second time his enemies began afresh to assault him hoping that as the first stroak shak'd the next would fell him to the ground Indeed Warwick who had too powerfull an influence upon all the Lords could not erect his intended Fabrick of Soveraignty except he first cleared the ground work from all obstructive rubbish whereof this Duke of Somerset was the Principall In whose absence the Lords met at the Councell Table where it was contrived how all things should be ordered in relation to his Arraignment 40. R. Rich Lord Chancellor then living in great S. Bartholomews though outwardly concurring with the rest Lord Rich his Servants dangerous mistake began now secretly to favour the Duke of Somerset and sent him a Letter therein acquainting him with all passages at the Councell Board superscribing the same either out of haste or familiarity with no other direction save To the Duke enjoying his Servant a raw attendant as newly entred into the family safely to deliver it The man made e This story attested to me by his great grand childe the Earl or Warwick more haste than good speed and his Lord wondring at his quick return demanded of him where the Duke was when he deliver'd him the Letter In Charter-house said his Servant on the same token that he read it at the window and smiled thereat But the
captive by their cruelty except also they carry them about in publike triumph as here Bonner a Fox ibidem got S r. John Cheek unawares to sit in the place where godly Martyrs were condemned And although He then did nothing but sit still sigh and be silent yet shame for what He had done Sense of what others suffered and sorrow that his presence should be abused to countenance cruelty brought him quickly to a comfortable end of a miserable life Sept. 13. as carrying Gods pardon and all good mens pitty along with him 32. Since his Death History rectified in his parentage parts and posterity his Memory hath done some pennance I say not to satisfy the failings in his life being wronged in his Parnetage abused in his Parts and mistaken in his Posterity For the first a learned Pen Sr. John Hayward in the life of Edward the 6. pag. 8. but too free in dealing disgracefull characters on the subjects thereof stileth him a Man of mean Birth and generally he is made only the Son of his own Deserts Whereas M r. Peter Cheek S r. Johns Father living in Cambridge where S r. John was borne over against the Cross in the market-place and where by the advantage of his Nativity He fell from the wombe of his Mother into the lap of the Muses was descended of the family of the Cheeks of Moston in the Isle of Wight where their estate was about 300 li a yeer never increased nor diminished till sold outright some 20. yeers since out of which Richard Cheek in the raigne of King Richard the Second married a Daughter of the Lord Mountagu As for Duffield his Mother she was a discreet and grave Matrone as appeared by the good d The Mother of my aged and worthy friend Mr. Jackson of Histons was with many others present thereat counsel and christian charge She gave this her Son when comming to take his farewell of her and betake himself to Prince Edward his Tuition For his Parts the foresaid Author with the same breath termeth Him So far as appears by the books He wrote Pedantick enough that is too much to such as understand his Miosis But had He perused all his works and particularly His True Subject to the Rebel He would have bestowed a better character upon him Another Writer e One that set forth his life in Oxford Anno 1641. can finde no issue left of his body saving one Son bearing his Fathers name whereas he had three Sons by his wife as appears on her Monument in S t. Martins in the Fields 1. Henry the Eldest Secretary to the Councel in the North who one Francis Ratliffe Sister to the last Earle of Sussex of that family begat S r. Thomas Cheek of Pyrgo in Essex blessed with an happy issue John a valiant Gentle man and Edward both dying without any posterity But these things belong to Heraulds not Historians 33. The sufferings of Katherine Dutchess of Suffolk The Pilgrimage of the Dutchess of Suffolk Baroness Willowgby of Eresby late widow of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke since wife to Richard Berty Esq must not be forgotten A Lady of a sharpe wit and sure hand to drive her wit home and make it pierce where She Pleased This made Bp. Gardiner to hate her much for her Jests on Him but more for her earnest towards God the Sincerity of Her Religion and thereupon she was forced with her Husband and infant-Daughter to fly beyond the Seas 34. It would tire our Pen to trace their Removals True and sad Errantry from their House the Barbican in London to Lions-Key thence to Leigh thence over Seas beeing twise driven back again into Brabant thence to Santon a City of Cleveland thence to Wesel one of the Hanse-Towns thence to Windhein in the Palatinate thence to Frankford thence by many intermediate Stages into Poland Every removall ministred them matter of new Difficulties to improve their Patience new Dangers to imploy their Prayers and new Deliverances to admire Gods providence Especially in their a See it at large in Fox tome 3. pag. 928. Passage from Santon to Wesel in a cold February and a great thaw after a long frost on foot in a dark night and rainy weather thorow wayes unknown without guide to direct or company to defend them leaving certain Foes behinde and having but suspected friends before them The end of their journy was worse then their journy it self finding first at Wesel no Inn to entertain them able to speak little high-Dutch for themselves and other willing to speak in comfort to them In a word it would trouble ones Head to invent more Troubles then they had all at once and it would break ones Heart to undergo but halfe so many seeing their real sufferings out Romanced the fictions of many Errant Adventures 35. No English Subject had like fâ—rrain relations with this Lady The vanity of Relations and yet they rather afflicted then befriended Her She had been wife to Him who had been Husband to a Queen of France yet durst not go into that country By the confession of Bp. Gardiner himself She and Queen Mary were the only English Ladies of Spanish extraction and alliance yet was it unsafe for Her to stay in any part of the Spanish Dominions The Emperour owed her as Executrix to her Husband Duke Charles great sums of mony yet durst she not demand payment lest the credetrix should be made away and so the debt satisfied 36. Yet an higher Emperour God the best detter even God himself seemed in some sort indebted unto Her He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord for her bounty at Home in the height of her Honour forrainers Protestants especially in distress 37. And now that good debtour Makes just payment God his providence made full payment thereof by inciting the King of Poland at the mediation of the Palatine of Vilna as He at the instance of John Baron Alasco who formerly in England had tasted of this Ladyes liberality to call this Dutchess with her Husband and family to a place in Poland of Safety Profit Credit and Command where they comfortably continued till the death of Queen Mary During these their Travels Peregrine Berty carrying his forrain nativity in his name was born unto them afterwards the valiant Lord Willowgby of Eresby To conclude let this virtuous Lady her example incourage all to be good to all Godly in distress seeing Hospes hodie crasâ— Hospes the Entertainers to day may want Entertainment to morrow 38. My Pen hath been a long Time an Exile from England Why the Parliament so silent in Church-matters and now is willing to return to its native soile Janu. 21. though finding little comfort to invite it thither and less to welcome it there Only I finde a Parliament called solely commendable on this account that it did no more mischief in Church matters Indeed
Church than themselves and haply might acquire priviledges prejudicial to their Episcopall Jurisdiction 6. The jealousie of the Universities beholding this designe with suspitious eyes as which in processe of time might prove detrimentall unto them Two breasts Cambridge and Oxford being counted sufficient for England to suckle all her children with 7. The suspition of some Patriots and Commoners in Parliament such as carried the keyes of Countrey-mens coffers under their girdles may I safely report what I have heard from no mean mouthes that this Colledge would be too much Courtier and that the Divinity but especially the History thereof would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propend too much in favour of King JAMES and report all things to the disadvantage of the Subject Wherefore though the said Patriots in Parliament countenanced the act as counting it no policy publickly to crosse the project of King JAMES especially as it was made popular with so pious a plausibility yet when returned home by their suspitious Items and private instructions they beat off and retarded peoples charities thereunto The same conceived this foundation superfluous to keep men to confute Popish opinions by writings whilest the maintainers of them were every where connived at and countenanced and the penall Laws not put in any effectuall execution against them 8. It s being begun in a bad time when the world swarmed with proleing Projectours and necessitous Courtiers contriving all waies to get moneys We know that even honest persons if strangers and casually coming along with the company of those who are bad contract a suspition of guilt in the opinions of those to whom they are unknown And it was the unhappinesse of this innocent yea usefull good designe that it appeared in a time when so many Monopolies were on foot 9. Some great Church men who were the more backward because Doctor Sutcliffe was so forward therein Such as had not freeness enough to go before him had frowardness too much to come after him in so good a designe The rather because they distasted his person and opinions Doctor Sutcliffe being a known rigid Anti-Remonstrant and when old very morose and teastie in his writings against them An infirmity which all ingenuous people will pardon in him that hope and desire to attain to old age themselves Thus have I opened my wares with sundry sorts of commodities therein assigning those Reasons which I have either read or heard from prime men of severall interests and am confident that in the variety yea contrariety of judgments now adaies even those very Reasons which are cast away by some as weak and frivolous will be taken up yea preferred by others as most satisfactory and substantiall 27. At this present it hath but little of the case The presen◠sad condition of it and nothing of the jewell for which it was intended Almost rotten before ripe and ruinous before it was finished It stands bleak like a Lodge in a garden of cucumbers having plenty of pleasant water the Thames neer it and store of wholesome aire about it but very little of the necessary element of earth belonging unto it Yea since I am informed that seeing the Colledge taketh not effect according to the desire and intent of the first Founders it hath been decreed in Chancerie by the joynt consent of Doctor Daniel Featly the third Provost of this Colledge and Doctor John Prideaux the surviving Feoffee intrusted in Dr. Sutcliffe's Will that the foresaid Farms of Kingstone Hazzard and Appleton should return again to the possession of Mr. Halce as the Heir-generall to the said Dr. Sutcliffe On what consideration let others enquire it is enough to perswade me it was done in equity because done by the Lord Coventrie in the high Court of Chancerie So that now onely the Farm of Kramerland in Devonshire of Sutcliffe's donation remains to this Colledge All I will adde is this As this Colledge was intended for Controversies so now there is a controversie about the Colledge costly suits being lately commenced betwixt William Lord Mounston who married the Widow of the aforesaid Earl of Nottingham and the present Provost thereof about the title of the very ground whereon it is situated 28. Three Bishops The death of Bishop Overton Heton Ravis all Oxford-men ended their lives this year First William Overton about the beginning of April bred in Magdalene Colledge one sufficiently severe to suppresse such whom he suspected of Non-conformity The second Martin Heton first Dean of Winchester and then Bishop of Elie. I say of Elie which See had stood empty almost twenty years in the Reigne of Queen ELIZABETH after the death of Bishop Cox So long the lantern of that Church so g Camdeus Brit Cambridge-shire artificial for the workmanship thereof wanted a light to shine therein Some suspected this place so long empty would never be filled again seeing no Bishoprick so large in revenues was so little in jurisdiction not having the small County of Cambridge b Part is of the Diocesse of Norwich wholly belonging unto it Some cunning Courtiers observing this breach in Elie-Minster as fiercely assaulted it with hope to get gain to themselves During the vacancie it was offered to many Church-men or chapmen shall I say but either their consciences or coffers would not come up to the conditions thereof Amongst others Mr. Parker brought up in Peter-House in Cambridge and Arch-Deacon of Elie saith my i A Manuscript of the Bishops of Elie lent me by Mr. Wright Authour iniquis conditionibus Episcopatum oblatum respuit tantam opum usuram nisi salvâ Ecclesiâ negligens At last but with the revenues much altered and empaired it was conferred on Doctor Heton who after ten years possession thereof died July 14. and seems the more obscure because of the lustre and learning of Doctor Lancelot Andrewes who immediately succeeded him The third Bishop deceasing this year December 14 was Thomas Ravis sometime Dean of Christ-Church and successively Bishop of Glocester and London born at Malden in Surrey of worthy parentage Claris parentibus saith the Epitaph on his tomb in St. Pauls who left the memory of a grave and good man behinde him Nor must it be forgotten that as he first had his learning in Westminster-School so he alwaies continued both by his counsell and countenance a most especiall incourager of the studies of all deserving Scholars belonging to that Foundation 29. As Archb◠Nich Fuller ingages for his Clients Bancroft was driving on conformity very fiercely throughout all his Province He met with an unexpected rub which notwithstanding he quickly removed for about this time Nich Fuller a Bencher of Greyes-Inne eminent in his profession Ann. Dom. 1610. Ann. Reg. Jac. 8 pleaded so boldly for the enlargement of his Clients that he procured his own confinement the Case thus Tho Lad a Merchant of Yarmouth in Norfolke was imprisoned a long time by the High Commission and could not be
Sir Richard Poole and Margaret Countess of Sarisbury who was daughter to George Duke of Clarence Forsake me Quite casting him off because he would not be bred a Papist and goe to Rome THEN An emphatical Monosyllable just in that nick of time The Lord taketh me up Not immediately miracles being ceased but in and by the Hands of Henry Earl of Huntingdon his honorable kinsman providing plentifull maintenance for him 23. However Often silenced and restored after he was entred in the Ministery he met with many molestations as hereby doth appear 1 silenced by The High Commission 1590. in June 2 Bishop Chaderton 1605. April 24. 3 Bishop Neile 1611. in November 4 The Court at Lecest 1630. March 4. 1 restored by The High Commission 1591. in January 2 Bishop Barlow 1608. in January 3 Doctor * Vicar Gen. to Archbishop Abbots Ridley 1625. June 20. 4 The same Court 1631. August 2. And now me thinks I hear the Spirit speaking unto him as once to the Prophet * 24. 27. Ezechiel Thou shal speak and be no more dumb singing now with the Celestiall Quire of Saints and Angels Indeed though himself a Non-conformist he loved all honest men were they of a different judgment minded like Luther herein who gave for his Motto In quo aliquid CHRISTI video illum diligo 24. He was Minister of Ashby de la Zouch fourty and three yeers His long and assiduous preaching This putteth me in minde of Theodosiue and of Valentinian two worthy Christian Emperors their constitutions making those Readers of the Civil Law Counts of the first Order cùm * 〈…〉 lib. 6. tit aâ— adviginti annos observatione jugi Anno Regis Caroli Anno Dom. ac sedulo docendi labore pervenerint when with daâ—ly observation and diligent labor of teaching they shall arrive at twenty yeers Surely the Readers of Gods Law which double that time shal not lose their reward 25. The same yeer died Robert Bolton The death of Bolton born in Lancashire bred in Brasen-nose Colledge in Oxford beneficed at Broughton in Northamptonshire An authoritative Preacher who majestically became the Pulpiz and whose life is exactly * By my good friend Mr. Pagshaw written at large to which I refer such as desire farther satisfaction And here may the Reader be pleased to take notice that henceforward we shall on just grounds for bear the description of such Divines as yeerly deceased To say nothing of them save the dates of their deaths will add little to the readers information to say much in praise or dispraise of them wherein their relations are so nearly concerned may add too much to the Writers danger Except therefore they be persons so eminent for their learning or active for their lives as their omission may make a maâ—m in our History we shall passe them over in silence hereafter 26. Archbishop Laud began to look with a jealous eye on the Feoffees for Impropriations Impropriation Feoffees questioned as who in process of time would prove a thorne in the sides of Episcopacy and by their purchases become the prime Patrones for number and greatness of benefices This would multiply their dependents and give a secret growth to Non-conformity Whereupon by the Archbishops procurement a Bil was exhibited in the Eschequer Chamber by Mr. Noy the Atturny Generall against the Feoffees aforesaid and that great Lawyer endevoured to overthrow as one termed it their Apocrypha Incorporation 27. It was charged against them 8 1632 first Their first acculation that they diverted the charity wherewith they were intrusted to other uses * Being by their Feoffment to eâ—â—ct them where preaching was wanting when erecting a Lecture every morning at St. Antholines in London What was this but lighting candles to the Sun London being already the Land of Goshen and none of those dark and far distant corners where Soules were ready to famish for lack of the food of the word What was this but a bold breach of their trust even in the Eye of the Kingdome 28. They answered that London being the chief staple of charity and the place where the principall contributers to so pious a work did reside And answere thereunto it was but fit that it should share in the benefit of their bounty That they were not so confined to the uses in their Feoffment but that in their choice they might reflect as well on the Eminency as Necessity of the place that they expended much of their own as well as other mens money and good reason they should doe therewith as they pleased 29. It was pressed against them A second charge against them that they generally preferred Non conformists to the Lectures of their Erection To this it was answered that none were placed therein but such whose Sufficiency and Conformity were first examined and approved by the Ordinary to be to such a Degree as the Law required Yea it is said that Mr. White one of the Feoffees privately proffered Bishop Laud at his house in Fulham that if he disliked either the Persons who managed or Order which they took in this work they would willingly submit the alteration to his Lordships discretion 30. In conclusion the Court condemned their proceedings They are overthrown as dangerous to the Church and State pronouncing the Gifts Feoffments and Contrivances made to the Uses aforesaid to be illegall and so dissolved the same confiscating their money unto the Kings use Their criminall part was referred to but never prosecuted in the Star-chamber because the Design was generally approved and both discreet and devout men were as desirous of the Regulation so dolefull at the ruin of so pious a Project 31. Samuel Harsenet about this time ended his life The death of Archbishop Harsenâ—t born in Colchester bred Scholar Fellow Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge afterwards Bishop of Chtchester and Norwich Anno Dom. 1633 Anno Regis Caroli 9 Archbishop of York and privy Counsellor He was a zealous asserter of ceremonies using to complain of the first I believe who used the expression of CONFORMABLE PURITANS who practised it out of policy yet dissented from it in their judgments He lieth buried in Chigwell Church in Essex where he built a School with this Epitâ—ph Indignus Eptscopus Clcestrensis indignior Norvicensis indignissimus Archiepiscopus Eboracensis 32. Now the Sabbatarian controversie begun to be revived Bradborn his etroneous opinion which brake forth into a long and hot contention Theophilus Bradborn a Minister of Suffolk founded the first trumpet to this fight who some five yeers since namely anno 1628. set forth a Book dedicated to his Majesty intituled A defence of the most ancient and sacred ordinance of God The Sabbath Day maintaining therein 1. The fourth Commandement simply and entirely moral 2. Christians as well as Jews obliged to the everlasting observation of that day 3. That the Lords-day
the passing of this Act By the procurement of Sir T. Smith and is said by some to have surprized the House therein where many could not conceive how this would be at all profitable to the Colledge but still the same on the point whether they had it in money or wares But the politick Knight took the advantage of the present cheap year knowing hereafter Grain would grow dearer mankinde daily multiplying and licence being lately legally given for transportation This is that Sir Thomas born at Walden in Essex deserving as well to be called Smith Walden as Saffron Walden as no lesse eminent for this worthy Statesman born therein as for that soveraign Antidote growing thereabout 8. At this day much emolument redowneth to the antient Colledges in each University foundation since the Statute enjoying no benefit thereby by the passing of this Act Great profit thereby so that though their Rents stand still their Revenues doe increase True it is when they have least Corn they have most Bread I mean best maintenance the Dividends then mounting the highest I wish them good stomachs to their meat digestion to their stomach strength and health on their digestion Roger Goad Vicecan 18. Arthur Purifoy Thomas Patenson Proct 1576-77 Miles Prawaite Major Doct. Medi. 05. Bac. Theol. 18. Mag. Art 093. Prac in Chir. 002. Bac. Art 160. Richard Howland Vicecan 19. Osin Lakes Nich 1578-79 Steer Proct. John Chase Major Doct. The. 03. Leg. 03. Bac. Theol. 12. Mag. Art 085. Bac. Leg. 006. Art 115. Prac. in Med. 003. Thomas Bing Vicecan Ann. Dom. 1578-79 William Farrand Rich Ann. Reg. Eliz. 20. Willowby Proct. Edward Wallis Major Doct. The. 02. Leg. 06. Med. 01. Bac. Theol. 15. Mag. Art 106. Bac. Leg. 006. Bac. Art 153. Prac. in Med. 001. John Hatcher Vicecan 1579-80 william Lakin John Bradley Proc 21. Marmaduke Bland Major Doc Theol. 01. Leg. 03. Medic. 02. Bac. Theol. 17. Mag. Art 086. Bac. Leg. 001. Art 205. Prac. in Med. 001. Andrew Perne Vicecan 158-81 Thomas Nevill John Duport Proct. 22. William Foxton Major Doc. The. 4. Leg. 7. Med. 6. Bac. Theol. 8. Mag. Art 061. Bac. Leg. 004. Art 194. Prac. in Med. 002. 9. A contest happened between Mr. Chadderton A contest betwixt Dr. Baro and Mr. Chadderton afterward Master of Emmanuel Colledge and Doctor Baro Margaret-Professour about some heterodox Opinions vented by the same Baro both in his readings and print viz in his Comment on Ionah and book De Fide 10. Whereupon the Doctor procured Mr. Chadderton to be called into the Consistory in the presence of the Vice-Chancellour Dr. Hauford Dr. Harvey and Dr. Legge where he utterly denied he had ever preached against the Doctor but he propounded these Questions as erroneous and false 1. Primus Dei amor non est in naturâ fidei justificantis 2. Fide justificans non praecipitur in Decalogo Many Papers in Latine passed betwixt them and at last they were conceived to come nearer together in these their expressions the Originalls being kept in the University Library De Primâ sic PETRUS BARO Nullus amor est Deo gratus sine fide Quoddam desiderium justitiae remissionis peccatorum obtinendae in fide justificante inest non naturale sed gratuitum Spiritus sancti donum Omnis amor ante fidem est peccatum Sola fides apprehendit justificationem De Secundâ Fides justificans Decalogo praecipitur quatenus Decalogo sumitur pro Decem illis sententiis quas Deus suo ore in monte Sinai pronunciavit quibus universa pietas comprehenditur Fides justificans Decalogo alio modo sumpto nempe pro nudis Legis mandatis ac quatenus à Paulo Christo opponitur non continetur Petrus Baro. De Primâ Mr. Chadderton in hunc modum 1. In operatione justificationis Christianae nulla est cooperatio fidei amoris 2. Omnis amor qui placet Deo est opus Spiritus sancti supernaturale fructus fidei justificantis non pars De Secundâ 1. Decalogo secundum notationem vocis pro decem praeceptis moralibus fides justificans non praecipitur 2. Decalogo pro universâ lege Mosis sumpto fides justificans praecipitur Laurence Chadderton Now however they might seem in terms to approach Ann. Dom. 158-81 their judgements were so farre assunder Ann. Regi Eliz. 22. that it set their affections at the same distance so that no compliance betwixt them and the Doctor at last outed of his place whereof hereafter William Fullie Vicecan 1581-82 John Jegon Rob. Livelesse Proct. 23. Oliver Flint Major Doct. Theol. 003. Bac. Theol. 020. Mag. Art 102. Bac. Leg. 003. Art 213. John Bell Vicecan 1582-83 Anthony Wingfeild Leonard Chamber Gabriel Harvie Proct. 24. John Goldsborow Major Doct. Theol. 09. Leg. 03. Bac. Theol. 14. Mag. Art 129. Bac. Leg. 003. Art 213. Richard Howland Vicecan 1583-84 Henry Hickman Henry Hawkins Proct. 25. Henry Clerk Major Doc. Theol. 2. Med. 2. Bac. Theol. 9. Mag. Art 113. Bac. Leg. 001. Art 236. Robert Norgat Vicecan 1584-85 William Hawes Thomas Bradocke Proct. 26. Thomas Dormer Major Doct. Theol. 02. Doct. Leg. 02. Bac. Theol. 13. Mag. Art 113. Bac. Med. 001. Art 192. 11. Walter Mildmay Knight Emmanuel Coll. founded by Sir W. Mildmay fift Son of Thomas Mildmay of Chelmesford in Essex formerly a serious Student in and Benefactor to Christs Colledge Chancellour of the Dutchie and of the Exchequer founded a House by the name of Emmanuel Colledge in a place where the Dominicans black Fryers or preaching Fryers had formerly their Covent founded Anno One thousand two hundred eighty by the * 〈◊〉 Cantabrig 〈◊〉 M. S. Lady Alice Countesse of Oxford Daughter and sole Heir of Gilbert Lord Samford Hereditary Lord Chamberlain of England After the suppression of Monasteries it was the dwelling-House of one Mr. Sherwood from whom as I take it Sir Walter purchased the same 12. Sir Robert Nanton in his Fragmenta Regalia did leave as well as take Who causlesly feâ—l into the Queens displeasure omiting some Statesmen of the first magnitude no lesse valued by than usefull to Queen Elizabeth as appears by his not mentioning of this worthy Knight True it is toward the end of his daies he fell into this Queens disfavour not by his own demerit but the envy of his adversaries For he being imployed by vertue of his Place to advance the Queens treasure did it industriously faithfully and conscionably without wronging the Subject being very tender of their priviledges in somuch that he once complained in Parliament That many Subsidies were granted and no Grievances redressed Which words being represented with his disadvantage to the Queen Ann. Dom. 1584-85 made her to disaffect him Ann. Regi Eliz. 26. setting in a Court cloud but in the Sunshine of his Countrey and a clear Conscience 13. Coming to
Hilliard William Bolton Proct. Rob Wallis Major 18. Doctor Whitaker returning from Lambeth Conference Nov. 28. brought home with him the bane of his health The sicknesse and death of Dr. Whitaker contracted there by hard and late studying and watching in a very cold Winter 29. In his journey homewards he was rather not well than sick and when come to S. Iohn's Coll. the outside of his disease so much as appeared in the symptomes thereof had little of danger whilst the inside thereof as the sad successe declared had nothing of hope therein 30. On the Sunday following he took his bed Ann. Reg. Eliz. 38. Dec. 3. and then was there no want of Physitian Ann. Dom. 159 5 6. if not too much plenty of them about him They meet consult conclude he must be let blood but none did what all advised should be done This was deserred till Wednesday next let the blame thereof to make it the lighter be divided amongst all his friends there and then when all things else were fitted for blood-letting the Patient himself was unfit being in so violent a sweat that opening of a vein would as all thought let out blood and life together That night he cheerfully received in himself the sentence of death professing that he desired not life but to glorifie God and serve the Church therewith though his Wife was near the time of her travel whose posthume childe he bequeathed to God the chieffather thereof 4. Next day being Thursday he quietly resigned his Soul to God in the 47 year of his life one so exactly qualified that the Professours Chair may seem made for him and he for it they mutually so fitted each other 19. Six daies after his Funerals were solemnly performed after this manner His sad and solemn Funeral All the University repaired to S. Iohn's Colledge 10. which they found hung Chappell Hall and outward Court with Mourning Scutchions and Verses Then taking up the Corps they all advance in their Academicall equipage to S. Maryes where the Major and Aldermen whose vicinity to the University commonly causeth their distance from it met them in their Mourning-formalities Then Dr. Goad the Vice-Chancellour pathetically preached to the auditory His tears were so mannerly or religious rather that observing their time they obstructed not his Sermon till come to a competent length when the spring-tide of his weeping stopp'd his preaching Thus his Sermon like his life who was the subject of it cut off when not much pass'd the prime thereof was rather broken off than ended So sad was the whole Congregation that one might as soon therein have found a face without eyes as eyes without tears Back they all return to the Colledge where after a Latine Oration made by one of the Fellows his Corpse was solemnly interr'd in the Chappell Then a Banquet of sweet-meats sowred with so sad an occasion at the sole charge of the Coll was rather seen than tasted by the guests formerly surfeited with sorrow Hence they readvance to St. Maryes where Robert Nanton University-Oratour after Knighted and Secretary of State with another Latine Speech concluded the Funerall solemnity 20. Soon after two Candidates appeared for the Professours Place Iohn Overall Overall succeeds him in the Professors place of Trinitie Doctour Anthony Wotton of Kings Colledge Bachelour of Divinity Both read solemn Lectures of probation on subjects assigned them namely Overall on Hebr 6. 4. c. Wotton on Jam. 2. 24. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted the heavenly gift if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance Yee see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith onely Pity it is but the Place should have been capable of both both approving themselves so deserving of it Wherefore Wotton was not rejected though Overall was preferred to the Chair Yea rather than Wotton's worth should passe unrewarded a Professours Place of Divinity though not in Cambridge shall either be found out or founded for him For within few moneths after he was made the first * Stâ—w survey of London pag. 65. Reader of Divinity in Greshams-Colledge in London 21. The end of Doctor Peter Baro Dr. Baro quits his Professors place the Margaret Professour his trienniall Lectures began to draw neer Now although custome had made such courtesie almost a due to continue the same Professour where no urgent reasons to the contrary were alleadged yet the University intended not to re-elect him for the Place meaning fairly to cut him off at the just joynt which would be the lesse pain and shame unto him when his three years should be expired He himselfe was sensible thereof and besides he saw the Articles of Lambeth whereof largely * See our Hist Anno 1595. before lately sent to the University Ann. Regi Eliz. 38. and foresaw that subscription thereunto would be expected from yea imposed on him to which he could not conâ— descend and therefore resolved to quit his Place So that this his departure was not his free act out of voluntary election but that whereunto his will was necessarily determined witnesse his own return to a friend requiring of him the cause of his withdrawing Fugio saith he ne fugarer I flie for fear to be driven away 22. Some conceive this Different judgments about his departure hard measure which was used to one of Dr. Baro's qualifications For first he was a forraigner a French man Turpius ejicitur quam non admittitur hospes Secondly a great Scholler For he who denieth learning in Baro so witnessed in his Works plainly affirmeth no schollarship in himself Thirdly an inoffensive man for life and conversation seeing nothing of vitiousnesse could be charged upon him which otherwise in his contest with * See our University Hist Anno 1581. Mr. Chaderton had been urged against him Lastly an aged man comming hither many years since when the Professors Place as much needed him as he it and who had painfully spent his strength in the imployment Others alleadged That in such cases of conscience there lies no plea for courtesie and that Baro as he was a stranger had brought in strange Doctrines to the infecting of the University the fountain of Learning and Religion and therefore Archbishop Whitgift designed removing of him from him place Thomas Pleyfer Fellow of S. Johns in Cambridge and Doctor of Divinity was elected to succeed him in his Professors place of whom largely hereafter 23. On the twentieth day of May was the first stone laid of Sidney Colledge the whole fabrick whereof was finished three years after on the cost of the Lady Frances Sidney The first foundation of Sidney Sussex Colledge Daughter to Sir William May 20. Sister to Sir Henry Lord Deputy of Ireland Aunt to Sir Philip Sidney Relict of Thomas Ratcliffe the third Earle of Sussex This Lady died seven years since
The miserable ends of the Cardinals instruments herein that these houses were still continued to the generall end of pious uses however it was not fair to alienate them from the primitive intention of the Founders yea God himself seemed not well-pleased therewith I know that g Eccles 9. 1 2. no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked c. However Gods exemplary hand ought to be heeded in the signall fatality of such as by the Cardinall were employed in this service Five they were in number two whereof challenging the field of each other one was h Godwin his Annals of Hen. the eighâ—h Anno 1525. Yet Mr. Fox maketh the Lord Cromwell the principall person employed by the Cardinall therein slain and the other hanged for it A third throwing himself headlong into a well perished wilfully A fourth formerly wealthy grew so poor that he begged his bread The fifth Dr. Allen one of especiall note afterward Archbishop of Dublin was slain in Ireland What became of the Cardinal himself is notoriously known and as for his two Colledges that in Ipswich the embleme of its Builder soon up soon down presently vanished into private houses whilst the other Christ-Church in Oxford was fain to disclaim its Founder and being adopted the issue of the bounty of the King Henry the eighth at this day owns not him for Father who first gave it life but who afterwards kept it from dying In a word this dissolution of fourty small Houses caused by the Cardinall made all the Forest of religious Foundations in England to shake justly fearing the King would finish to fell the oaks seeing the Cardinal began to cut the underwood Of the first Priory which was solemnly suppressed by King Henry the eighth SOme six years after Christ-Church Priorie neer Allgate first and solely dissolved whilst as yet all other Abbeys flourished in their height and happinesse as safe and secure as ever before King Henry the eighth for reasons best known to Himself singled out the Priory of Christ-Church nigh Allgate in London and dissolved the same This He bestowed as a boon on Thomas a Hall's Chronicle An. 1525. Audley Speaker in the Parliament and indeed it was an excellent receit to clear his voice to make him speak shrill and loud for his Master This shrewdly shook the freehold of all Abbeys seeing now two such great men Wolsey and Audley both in their times Lord-Chancellours of England and therefore presumed well versed in cases of conscience the one a Divine first took the other a Common-Lawyer first received such lands into their possession 2. A word of the antiquity The antiquity wealth and dignity thereof wealth and dignity of this Covent because in each respect it was remarkable It was founded Anno 1108. by Queen b Harpâ—field in his Catalogue of Abbeys Matilda Wife to King Henry the first dedicated to the holy Trinity for Black Canons or Canons-Regular and one Norman by name and nation was first Prior thereof In processe of time it became rich in land and ornaments and passed all the Priories in London or Middlesex especially in this particular that the Prior thereof was alwaies an c Stow's Survey of London p. 145. Alderman of London namely of Portsoken Ward though otherwise their Covent standeth in Ealgate Ward and used to ride amongst the Aldermen in a livery like the rest save that his habit was in the shape of a spiritual person In the year 1264 d Idem ibidem Eustathius the eighth Prior of this Covent because he himself was loth to deale in temporall matters instituted Theobald Fitz-Ivo Alderman in his place They were most bountifull house-keepers relieving all comers and goers and got themselves much reputation for their hospitality 3. Some conjecture this was King Henry's designe in dissolving this Priorie A guesse at King Henry's design thereby to make a discovery in peoples affections how they resented the same He dispatched this Covent first as the forelorn hope is sent out before the body of the Army which if meeting with unsuspected dangers may give timely notice to the rest to advance no farther And if He had found the people much startled thereat He could quickly knock off retrench His resolutions and dexterous to decline envy for Himselfe handsomely cast the same on His instruments employed therein Others think the King as yet had no such project in intention but did it meerly to gratifie Sir Thomas Audley whom He loved the better for hating Cardinal Wolsey now beginning to fall against whom he had bitterly inveighed in the Parliament 4. As for the manner of the dissolving thereof The Priory taken by composition whereas all other Abbeys afterwards were stormed by violence whatsoever is plausibly pretended to the contrary this onely was fairly taken by composition For the Prior thereof was sent for by the King commended for his hospitality promised preferment as a man worthy greater dignity which promise surely He performed though the particulars of the agreement are not to be known Whereupon Anno 1531 the twenty third year of the King's reign in the moneth of July he surrendred the same to the King's use As for the Canons they were sent to other houses of the same Order who now being severally disposed in other Covents they might serve them as Monitours to warn all the rest seasonably to prepare for the time of their dissolution 5. The rooting out of this Priory wrought a middle effect in people The effect thereof upon the people for they were neither dumb nor clamorous thereat but grumbled out their discontentment for a time and then returned to their former temper However at first they were so abstemious that whereas the Priory Church and Steeple was e Idem ut priùs profered to whomsoever would take it down no man would undertake the offer Whereupon Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than he could make of the materials the workmen with great labour beginning at the top loosed stone from stone and throwing them down most part of them were broken in the fall and remained uuelesse 6. What might move the King to single this Priory out of all the rest This the antientest of all Priories to lead this sad dance is variously conjectured Indeed this was the antientest of all England of that Order since the Conquest I mean of Canon-Regulars as our f Stow ut priùs Authour telleth us And therefore it was but reasonable the oldest should go first the first-born should be first buried But surely no such consideration moved King Henry to this choice who was not so methodical in His deeds of undoing 7. As for the Lord Audley At this day called the Dukes-Place on whom this Priory was bestowed Margaret his sole Daughter Heir was
married to Tho Howard Duke of Norfolk who dwelt therein and which from him was called the Dukes-Place No ingenuous soul will envy so Honourable a person the accommodation of so handsome an habitation onely some perchance will bemoan that the Lords-Place for so in their and g Gen. 38. 17. Jacob's language they called the Church whither alone the numerous neighbour-inhabitants repaired for publick service should be so destroyed that the people were for many years left Church-lesse till their wants b viz. An Dom. 1621. very lately were supplied by the re-edifying thereof out of the ruines by the charity of others I am sure none of the Heirs of Him who demolished the same Of the suppression of the Order of Observant Friers and a preparatory for the dissolution of all the rest IT is the practise of advised Physicians Observant Friers why first falling under King Henry's displeasure in purging of long corrupted bodies where the ill humours may prescribe peaceable possession for many years to proceed not violently all at once but gently by degrees The same course was embraced by King Henry in dissolving of Abbeys gradually and therefore the lesse visibly to work their subversion so to avoid the danger of a sudden and extreme alteration And first He began with the Minorities or Franciscan-Observant-Friers whose chief seats were Greenwich and Canterbury Two motives mainly incensed Him against this Order One because two of their most eminent Fathers Hugh Rich Prior of a Covent in Canterbury and Richard Risby had tampered with Elizabeth Barton aliàs the holy maid of Kent and were convicted and executed with her for high Treason A second because this Order generally manifested most contumacie and contempt against the King in the matter of Queen Katharine's divorce inveighing both in their sermons a Sanders de Schis Anglic. lib. 1. pag. 81. and disputations against the unlawfulness thereof especially Elston and Payton two famous Friers in London A great b Idem pag. 80. Papist beholds it as ominous and a prognostick of sad successe that the Lady afterward Queen Elizabeth just eleven moneths before had been Christened in these Friers Church in Greenwich as if Her baptizing therein portended That those Friers should soon after be washed away from this their Covent 2. Hereupon Totally and finally dissolved in the year of our Lord 1534 the aforesaid whole Order of Friers-Observant were suppressed and Augustine-Friers substituted in their places Nor were these Observants like the Canon-Regulars in the last Chapter disposed of in other Foundations but totally and finally banished out of all Religious Societies For King Henry his smiles complemented the former out of their Houses by their own willing condescension whilst His frowns outed these as Delinquents by a violent expulsion Yea probably some of them had been expelled their lives as well as their livings two hundred of them being at once imprisoned had not Sir Tho c Sanders p. 89. Wriotheslie their great friend and favourer seasonably interceded for them to the King on hopes of some of their future conformity to His Majesties desires 3. Immediately after The Supplication of Beggars with the Sense thereof a famous Petition called the Supplication of Beggars came into publick view It was made some years before by one Mr. Simon d Fox Monum vol. 2. pag. 279. Fish a Gentleman of Grays-Inne and solemnly presented by George Eliot an English-Merchant and entertained by King Henry for a great rarity Though indeed the same long since had been tendred Him by Queen e Idem ibidem Anna Bollen and the King acquainted with the passages therein So that possibly this Supplication might first come from some neer His Majesty as contrivers thereof And as Moses f Exod. 2. 8. was sent to be nursed unto her who though generally unknown was indeed his own Mother which bare him so Petitions may sometimes be recommended back to the same power that first framed them Great ones delighting not onely for the greater solemnity but also for their better security to transferre their intentions to be other intreaties their private designes finding more acceptance when passing under the notion of a publick desire The effect thereof was to complain how a crew of strong puissant counterfeit-holy idle beggars and vagabonds by their luxurie starved a number of needy impotent blinde lame and sick people which otherwise might comfortably be maintained As also to discover the foul enormities and filthy conversation used amongst those pretended pious Fraternities as the same is set forth at large in the Book of Martyrs whither we remit the Reader 4. Onely a word of the Geometry The Geometry Arithmetick and Chronology of the Author thereof Arithmetick and Chronologie used by the Author of this Supplication For his Geometry I conceive he faileth not much in proportion when in measuring the content of this Kingdome he affirmeth That they had got into their hands more than the third part of all the Realm But whereas he auditeth the Revenues of the Friers in England besides their lands to amount yearly to Four hundred thirty thousand three hundred thirty and three pounds allowing their quarteridge to arise out of Fifty two thousand Parishes he highly over-reacheth their number not compleating g See Cambd. Brit. in his division of Brit. pag. 162. Ten thousand Indeed the Papists tell us of Ten thousand Churches in England destroyed all in one year Millia dena unus Templorum destruit annus Yet these being Conventual not Parochial Churches adde nothing to the former computation Yea should all the Chappels of Ease in this Land be admitted to take a new degree and to commence Churches in this catalogue it would not make up the number But it is given to Beggars sometimes to hyperbolize to make their case the more pitifull and indeed if we defalk a third part of that summe yet still vast was the remainder of such Friers revenues But whereas the said Authour of this Supplication saith That four hundred years past these Friers had not one peny of this money Quare whether he be not mistaken in his Chronologie and whether some of the same profits accrued not to the Benedictines before the Conquest 5. In answer to this The Anti-supplication of the souls in Purgatorie an Anti-supplication was made and set forth by Sir Thomas More extant amongst his other works called The Supplication of the souls in Purgatory The scope whereof is to presse the continuation of those lands given to pious uses for the good of the deceased and that they might not be aliened without danger of Sacriledge In this Supplication pleasant dallying and scoffing are so intermixt with complaints that the Authour thereof discovereth himself more Satyrist than Saint in his expressions So hard it is for an Actor so to devest himself of himself as not to vent some of his own humours with the property of that person whom he is to