degrees whereby the Bishops declined in Parliament some whereof we will recount that posterity may perceive by what degrees they did lessen in the House before they lost their Votes therein First whereas it was customary that in all Commissions such a number of Bishops should be joyned with the temporall Lords of late their due proportions were not observed The Clark of the Parliament applying himselfe to the prevalent party in the reading of Bills turned his back to the Bishops who could not and it seems he intended they should not distinctly hear any thing as if their consent or dissent were little concerned therein When a Bill passed for exchange of Lands betwixt the Bishop of London and Sir Nicolas Crispe the temporall Lords were offended that the Bishop was styled Right Honourable therein which at last was expung'd and he intitled one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell the honour being fixed upon his State imployment not Episcopall function On a solemn Fast in their going to Church the temporall Lords first took precedency of the Bishops who quietly submitted themselves to come behind on the same token that a The young Lord Spencer afterwards E. of Sunderland one of the Lay-Lords said Is this a day Humiliation wherein we shew so much pride in taking place of those to whom our ancestors ever allow'd it But the main matter was that the Bishops were denied all medling even in the Commission of preparatory examinations concerning the Earl of Strafford as causa sanguinis and they as men of mercy not to deal in the condemnation of any person The Bishops pleaded though it was not proper for them to condemn the guilty yet they might acquit the innocent and such an one as yet that Earl was charitably presumed to be untill legally convicted to be otherwise They alledged also in their own behalf that a Commission was granted in the reign of Queen Elizabeth to certain Privy-Counsellors for the examination of the Queen of Scots Anno Dom. 1640 even to her condemnation if just cause appear'd b Camdens Eliz in An. 15â—6 and John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury first named therein All would not prevaile the Bishops being forbidden any interposing in that matter 11. It must not be forgotten Bishops refus willingly to resigne their Votes how about this time the Lord Kimbolton made a motion to perswade the Bishops willingly to depart with their Votes in Parliament adding that if the same would surrender their suffrages the temporall Lords who remained in the House were obliged in honour to be more tender of and carefull for the Bishops preservation in their Jurisdictions and Revenues An instrument was imployed by the Earl of Essex or else he imployed himself conceiving the service acceptable who dealt privately with severall Bishops to secure themselves by prevention to surrender that which would be taken away from them But the Bishops persisted in the negative refusing by any voluntary act to be accessarie to their own injury resolving to keep possession of their Votes till a prevalent power outed them thereof 12. Now no day passed Multitudes of petitions against Bishops wherein some petition was not presented to the Lords or Commons from severall persons against the Bishops as grand grievancers causing the generall decay of trade obstructing the proceedings in Parliament and what not In so much that the very Porters as they said were able no longer to undergoe the burden of Episcopall tyranny and petitioned against it But hitherto these were but blunt petitions the last was a sharp one with point and edg brought up for the same purpose by the armed Apprentices 13. Now A land-tide of Apprentices flow to Westminster seeing mens judgments are at such a distance about the nature of this their practice some terming it a tumult Anno Dom. 1441. mutiny riot others calling it courage zeal and industry some admiring them as acted with a publique spirit above their age and education others condemning them much their countenancers more their secret abetters and contrivers most of all I say when men are thus divided in point of judgement it will be safest for us to confine our selves meerly to matter of fact Wherein also we meet with much diversity of relation though surely what a c John Vicars in his God in the Mount or Parliamentarie Chronicle lib. 1. pag. 58. Parliatary Chronicler writes thereof must be believed Now Decem. 26. see how it pleased the Lord it should come to passe some of the Apprentices and Citizens were again affronted about Westminster-Abbey and a great noise and hubbub fell out thereabouts Others some of them watched as it seems by the sequell the Bishops coming to the Parliament who considering the disquiet and great noise by land all about Westminster durst not come to Parliament that way for fear of the Apprentices and therefore intended to have come to Parliament by water in Barges But the Apprentices watched them that way also and as they thought to come to land they were so pelted with stones and frighted at the sight of such a company of them that they durst not land but were rowed back and went away to their places Thus the Bishops were fain to shelter themselves from the showre of stones ready to fall upon them and with great difficulty made their escape Who otherwise on St. Stephans day had gone St. Stephans way to their graves 14. As for the hubbub at Westminster Abbey lately mentioned The manner of the tumult at Westminster Abby and White-Hall belongs to the pens of State Historians eye-witnesses have thus informed me of the manner thereof Of thoses Apprences who coming up to the Parliament cryed No Bishops no Bishops some rudely rushing into the Abby Church were reproved by a Virger for their irreverent behaviour therein Afterwards quitting the Church the doors thereof by command from the Dean were shut up to secure the Organs and Monuments therein against the return of Apprentices For though others could not foretell the intentions of such a tumult who could not certainly tell their own yet the suspicion was probable by what was uttered amongst them The multitude presently assault the Church under pretence that some of their party were detained therein and force a pane out of the North door but are beaten back by the officers Scholars of the Colledge Here an unhappy tile was cast by an unknown hand from the leads or battlements of the Church which so bruised Sir Richard Wiseman conductor of the Apprentices that he died thereof and so ended that dayes distemper 15. To return to the Bishops Why no more then 12 of the Bishops present at the Protest the next day twelve of them repaired to Jerusalem-Chamber in the Deans lodgings and if any demand where were the rest of them to make up twenty six take this account of their absence 13 Dr. Laud Archbishop of Cant. was in the Tower 14 Dr. Juxon Bishop
and the Scotch in the minority of King James exacted it of Noblemen Gentlemen and Courtiers which here was extended onely to men of Ecclesiastical function Not that the Queen and State was careless of the spiritual good of others leaving them to live and believe as they list but because charitably presuming that where Parishes were provided of Pastors Orthodox in their judgments they would by Gods blessing on their preaching work their people to conformity to the same opinions * Querie about the 20 Article whether shufled in or no. Some question there is about a clause in the twentieth Article whether originally there or since interpolated Take the whole a Pag. 98. Article according to the common Edition therof Twentieth Article of the Authority of the Church The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and authority in controversies of faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods word neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a Witness and keeper of holy writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Take along with this the bitter invective of a modern b Mr Burton in his Apologie Minister who thus laieth it on with might and main on the backs of Bishops for some unfair practice herein in an epistle of his written to the Temporal Lords of His Majesties Privy Councel reckoning up therein Fourteen Innovations in the Church The Prelates to justifie their proceedings have forged a new Article of Religion brought from Rome which gives them full power to alter the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church at a blow and have foisted it into the twentieth Article of our Church And this is in the last edition of the Articles Anno 1628. in affront of his Majesties Declaration before them The clause forged is this The Church that is the Bishops as they expound it hath power to decree rites and ceremonies and authoritie in matters of faith This clause is a forgery fit to be examined and deeply censured in the Star-chamber For it is not to bee found in the Latin or English Articles of Edward 6 or Queen Elizabeth ratified by Parliament And if to forge a Will or writing be censurable in the Star-chamber which is but a wrong to a private man How much more the forgery of an Article of Religion to wrong the whole Church and overturn Religion which concerns all our souls 57. Such as deal in niceties discover some faltering from the truth in the very words of this grand Delator The accuser his first mistake For the Article saith that The Church hath authority in controversies of faith He chargeth them with challenging authority in matters of Faith Here some difference betwixt the terms For matters of faith which all ought to know and believe for their souls health are so plainly setled by the Scriptures that they are subject to no alteration by the Church which notwithstanding may justly challenge a casting voice in some controversies of faith as of less importance to salvation 58. But to come to the main matter The dubious appearing of this clause this clause in question lieth at a dubious posture at in and out sometimes inserted sometimes omitted both in our written and printed copies Inserted in The originall of the Articles 1562 as appeareth under the hand of a Publick Notary whose inspection and attestation is only decisive in this case So also Anno 1593. and Anno 1605. and Anno 1612. all which were publick and authentick Editions Omitted in The English and Latine Articles set forth 1571. Anno Dom. 1563. Anno Regin Eliza. 5. when they were first ratified by Act and whose being as obligatory to punishment beares not date nine yeers before from their composition in Convocation but hence forward from their confirmation in Parliament And now to match the credit of private Authours in some equality we will weigh M r. Rogers Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Whitgift inserting this clause in his Edition 1595. against D r. Mocket Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Abbot omitting it in his Latine translation of our Articles set forth 1617. 59. Arch-bishop Laud Arch-Bishop Land his opinion in the point in a speech which he made in the Star-Chamber inquiring into the cause why this clause is omitted in the printed Articles 1571. thus expresseth himself * * In his speech made Iune 14. 1637. pag. 65. Certainly this could not be done but by the malicious cunning of that opposite Faction And though I shall spare dead mens names where I have not certainty Yet if you be pleased to look back and consider who they were that governed businesses in 1571. and rid the Church allmost at their pleasure and how potent the Ancestors of these Libellers began then to grow you will think it no hard matter to have the Articles printed and this clause left out I must confess my self not so well skilled in Historicall Horsemanship as to know whom his Grace designed for the Rider of the Church at that time It could not be Arch-Bishop Parker who though discreet and moderate was sound and sincere in pressing conformity Much less was it Grindall as yet but Bishop of London who then had but little and never much influence on Church-Matters The Earle of Leicester could not in this phrase be intended who alike minded the insertion or omission of this or any other Article As for the non-Conformists they were so far at this time from riding the Church that then they first began to put foot in stirrup though since they have dismounted those whom they found in the saddle In a word concerning this clause whether the Bishops were faulty in their addition or their opposites in their Substraction I leave to more cunning State-Arithmeticians to decide 60. One Article more we will request the Reader to peruse An Article to confirme the Homilies made in King Edward his reign as the subject of some historicall debates which thereon doth depend 35. Article of Homilies The second Booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former Booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understood of the People See we here the Homilies ranked into two formes Anno Regin Eliza. 4. The first such as were made in the Raign of Edward the sixth being twelve in number Of which the tenth of obedience to Magistrates was drawn up at or about Kets Rebellion in a dangerous juncture of time For as it is observed of the Gingles or S t.
Anno 1630. it nothing related to those opinons he did or his followers do maintain For as I am credibly informed being by the Constable of the Parish who chanced also to be his God-son somewhat roughly and rudely required the payment of a rate he happ'ned in passion to strike him The Constable not taking it patiently as a castigation from a God-father but in anger as an affront to his office complained to S r. Rowland S r. John a neighbouring Justice of the peace and Brown is brought before him The Knight of himself was prone rather to pity and pardon than punish his passion but Browns behaviour was so stubborn that he appeared obstinately ambitious of a prison as desirous after long absence to renew his familiarity with his ancient acquaintance His Mittimus is made and a cart with a feather-bed provided to carry him he himself being so infirme above eighty to goe too unweldie to ride and no friend so favourable as to purchase for him a more comly conveyance To Northampton jayle he is sent where soon after he sickned died and was buried in a neighbouring Church-yard and it is no hurt to wish that his bad opinions had been interred with him 7. The Tenents of Brownists daily increasing June 4. 6. July 6. their books were prohibited by the Queens authority Two Brownists executed Notwithstanding which prohibition some presumed to disperse the same and paid dearly for their contempt therein For Elias a Stow Chronicle pag. 697. Thacker was hanged on the fourth and John Coping on the sixth of June at the same place St. Edmonds Burie and for the same offence the scattering such schismatical pamphlets 8. John Whitgift succeeding in the Arch-Bishoprick Sept. 24. found it much surcharged in the valuation Whitgift succeedeth him and empaired in the revenues through the negligence of his predecessour who would pay willingly what they asked of him and take contentedly what any tendered to him First therefore Whitgift b Sr. George Paul in his life pag. 28. procured an order out of the Exchequer for the abatement of an hundred pound for him and his successours in the payment of his first-fruits Afterwards he encountred no meaner man than that great Courtier Souldier and Privie-Councellour S r. James Crosts or rather he legally contested with the Queen in him and recovered from both long c Idem p. 29. Beachwood in Kent containing above a thousand acres of land detained from his predecessour under colour of a lease from Her Majesty 9. This d Camdens Eliz. in hoc Anno. year Nicholas Sanders more truly Slanders Death of Sanders had in Ireland a wofull end of his wretched life He was borne in Sâ—rrey bred first in Winchester then in New Colledge in Oxford where he was Kings-Professor of Canon-Law but afterwards banishing himself fled to Rome there made Priest and D r. of Divinity He accompanied Cardinal Hosius to the Councel of Trent and there is said by disputing and declaiming to have gained himself great reputation At last he was sent over Popes Nuncio into Ireland conceived then a desperate employment and therefore many Catholicks regreted thereat Yea some were overheard to say but it is e De scriptor Anglican aetate 16. pag. 773. Pitzaeus Sander's own sisters son who reports it Why does his Holiness send our Sanders into Ireland We value him more then all Ireland is worth There amongst the bogs and mountains was he starved to death justly famished for want of food who formerly had surfited on improbable lies by him first forged on the nativity of Queen Elizabeth 10. We must not forget Lewes burnt at Norwich how this year one John Lewes was burnt at Norwich for denying the Godhead of Christ and holding other detestable heresies He called himself f Stows Chron. pag. 697. Abdeit let him tell you what he meant thereby alluding therein to the promise of a new g Rev. 2. 17. name which no man knoweth but him that receiveth it having in it a little mock-Hebrew to make himself the more remarkable 11. Now 27. 1584. so great was the malice of the Jesuits against Her Majesty Popish libels that at this time they set forth many slanderous libels stirring up Her Subjects and Servants to do the same to Her as Judith did to h Camdens Eliz. in hoc Anno. Holofernes One of their principal pamphlets was intitled A Treatise of Schism The suspicion of making it fell on Gregory Martin one probable enough for such a prank as being Divinity Professor in Rhemes did not his Epitaph there i Pitzaeus Descript Anglic pag. 782. ensure me he was dead and buried two years before Though it is possible his posthume work might be born abroad after the death of the author thereof But whoever made it William Carter the Stationer paid dearly for publishing it being executed at Tiburn And in the next moneth five Seminaries John Fen George Haddock John Munden John Nutter and Thomas Hemmerford were hanged bowelled and quartered for treason at Tiburn and many others about the same time Anno Dom. 1584. Anno Regin Eliza. 27. executed in other places 12. Yet The Queen Her eminent mercy even in the midst of this necessarie severity Her Majesty was most mercifull unto many Popish malefactors whose lives stood forfeited to the Laws in the rigour thereof For no fewer then seventy Priests some of them actually condemned to die all legally deserving death were by one act of Grace pardoned and sent over beyond sea Amongst these were 1. Gaspar Heywood son to that eminent Epigrammatist the first a Camdens Eliz. 1584. Jesuite that ever set foot in England 2. James Bosgrave 3. John Hart a learned man zealous to dispute not dangerous to practice for his religion 4. Edward Rishton ungrateful wretch who afterwards railed in print on the Queen who gave him his life Her Majesties mercy herein was the more remarkable because done at a time when treasons against her person by Arden Summerfield Throgmorton c. did follow or rather tread one on another If hereafter the edge of justice fall sharper on Jesuits let them thank their own trechery which whetted it against themselves 13. This year two conferences or disputations were kept Two fruitless Conferences the last at Lambeth about the Discipline and Ceremonies of the Church 1. Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Sandys of York and Cooper of Winchester for the same 2. Unconforming Ministers whose names I cannot certainly attain against it 3. The Lords of Her Majesties Privie Councell and some other persons of Honour Auditors thereof This Conference effected nothing on the disputants as to the altering of their opinions little on the Auditors but as much on all as any judicious person ever expected What Eliah said passionately b 1 King 19. 4. I am no better then my Fathers may be soberly said of this conference It was no happier then
the name of Percy and sight of Faux so quickned the jealousie of the Lord Mounteagle that this first slight Search led to a second scrutinie more strictly and secretly performed 34. This was made at midnight by Sir Thomas Knevet The second search discovers all Gentleman of His Majesties Privie Chamber and others into the Vault under the Parliament House There the mysterie of iniquity was quickly discovered a Pile of Fewell faced over with Billets lined under with thirty six Barrels of Powder besides Iron barres to make the force of the fire more effectuall Guido Faux was apprehended in the outward Room with a Dark Lantern in his hand the lively embleme of their designe whose dark side was turned to man whiles the light part was exposed to God and three Matches ready to give fire to the Train This Caitiffe professed himself onely grieved that he was not in the inner room to blow himself and them all up together affirming moreover that not God but the Devil made the discovery of the Plot. 35. Mean time The Traytors slie and are taken Catesbie Percy Rookwood both the Wrights and Thomas Winter were hovering about London to attend the issue of the matter Having sate so long abrood and hatching nothing they began to suspect all their eggs had proved addle Yet betwixt hope and fear they and their Servants post down into the Countrey thorough Warwick and Worcester into Stafford shire Of Traytors they turn Felons breaking up Stables and stealing Horses as they went But many of their own men by a farre more lawfull felonie stole away from their Masters leaving them to shift for themselves The neighbouring Counties and their own consciences rise up against these riotous Roisters as yet unknown for Traytors At last Sir Richard Walsh High Sheriffe of Worcestershire overtook them at Holbeck in Stafford shire at the house of Mr. Stephen Littleton where upon their resistance the two Wrights were killed Rookwood and Thomas Winter shrewdly wounded 36. As for Percy Catesbi◠and Piercie fight desperately for their lives and Catesbie they fought desperately for their lives as knowing no quarter but quartering would be given unto them and as if they scorned to turn their backs to any but themselves setting back to back they fought against all that assaulted them Many swords were drawn upon them but gunpowder must doe the deed which discharged that bullet which dispatched them both Never were two bad mens deaths more generally lamented of all good men onely on this account that they lived no longer to be forced to a farther discovery of their secret Associates 37. It must not be forgotten The Lord is just how some hours before their apprehension as these Plotters were drying dank gun-powder in an Iane a Miller casually coming in haply not heeding the black meal on the hearth by carelesse casting on of a billet fired the gun-powder Up flies the Chimney with part of the house all therein are frighted most hurt but especially Catesbie and Rookwood had their faces soundly scorched so bearing in their bodies not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g Gal. 6. 17. the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ but the print of their own impieties Well might they guesse how good that their cup of cruelty was whose dregs they meant others should drink Ann. Reg. Jac. 4 Ann. Dom. 1605-6 by this little sip which they themselves had unwillingly tasted thereof 38. The rest were all at London solemnly arraigned The rest are legally executed convicted condemned So foule the fact so fair the proof they could say nothing for themselves Master Tresham dying in the prison prevented a more ignominious end 1. Sir Everard Digbie Robert Winter Grant and Bates were hanged drawn Jan. 30. and quartered at the West end of S. Paul's Three of them but especially Sir Everard Digbie died very penitently and devoutly onely Grant expressed most obstinacy at his end 2. Thomas Winter Ambrose Rookwood Keies Jan. 31. and Faux were executed as the former in the Parliament-yard in Westminster Keies followed Grant in his obstinacie and h Stow's Chro pag. 882. Faux shewed more penitencie than all the rest 3. Garnet Provinciall of the English Jesuits was arraigned some weeks after by i Stow p. 883. four severall names and executed on the Saturday which he said was called Institutio crucis of whom largely in the next year They all craved testimony that they died Roman Catholicks my pen shall grant them this their last and so equall petition and bears witnesse to all whom it may concern That they lived and died in the Romish Religion And although the hainousnesse of their offence might with some colour of justice have angred severity into cruelty against them yet so favourably were they proceeded with that most of their Sons or Heirs except since disinherited by their own prodigality at this day enjoy their Paternall possessions 39. Heaven having thus defeated Hell of its desired successe The presumption of a posthume report justly censured Earth since hath endevoured to defraud Heaven of its deserved praise A posthume report is brought forth into the world nursed as it is fit by the mothers thereof that King JAMES was privie to this Plot all along and that His observing ran parallel with the Traytors acting therein so that He could discover it when He pleased but was not pleased to discover it untill the Eve of the fifth of November A fancie inconsistent with that ordinary piety which all charitable men must allow King JAMES as a Christian and with that extraordinary policie which His adversaries admire in Him as a Statesman Was it probable that He would tempt God so profanely as solemnly to thank him for revealing that to Him which he knew before Would King JAMES his wisdome not to say His warinesse not to say His fearfulnesse dally so long with destruction as to put it off to the last hour when Uno actu tactu ictu nictu all might have been confounded Was it not hard for Him to equivocate before such a Master of equivocation as Garnet the Jesuit was who certainly if he had smelt any jugling of King JAMES therein would no doubt have proclamed it to all the world at his execution I deny not but that the King both by intelligence from forain parts and secret information from those secular Priests that Bishop Bancroft secretly kept in his house was advertised in generall of some great Plot which the Jesuited Papists were hatching against the ensuing Parliament but for the particulars that ridd'ling Letter brought Him the first notice thereof whatsoever is fancied to the contrary But if wilde conjectures in such cases from obscure Authors shall be permitted to justle for credit against received Records all former unquestionable history will be quickly reduced to an universall uncertainty But there is a generation of people who to inhanse the reputation of their knowledge seem not only like mothes to have
quick-sighted did the promised Bishoprick make him whereof formerly he took no notice and all which are learnedly answered in the posthume book of Doctor Crakenthorpe carefully set forth by Dr. Barkham after the Authors death and may all orphan-works have the happinesse of so faithfull a Guardian Lastly and chiefly as he confesseth himself allectus pretio octuplicis stipendii allured with the reward of a salarie eight times as great as his revenues in England In which computation as he ungratefully depresseth the value of what he had in hand so he undiscreetly advanced the worth of what in hope he promised himself not to speak of the difference of Italian Ducates when told out and when told off at so great a distance 11. In pursuance of which his desire Spalato's second Letter to King James he wrote a second Letter to K. JAMES the tenour whereof we thought fit here to insert for the better clearing of the matter Most excellent Prince and most gracious Lord AS I signified lately unto Your Majesty in my former Letter I neither ought nor could neglect the Popes fair and gracious invitation of me especially when I saw that he dealt with me concerning the service of Christ and his Church And being now at length better certified that all things are in a readiness for me I am tied to my former promises Yet I make it my humble request that I may take my journey with Your Majesties good will And for that purpose I doe now most humbly and earnestly crave your leave by these Letters which I would much more willingly have begg'd by word of mouth in Your presence that I might have parted with Your Majesty with all due thanks and submission but that my accesse to Your Majesty might have confirmed the vain and foolish * * viz. That the King had employed Spalato to the Pope to make a reconciliation betwixt us and Rome rumours of the people I beseech Your Majesty therefore to vouchsafe to give me some Letters whereby my departure may be made both safe and creditable As for the Ecclesiastical Titles and Revenues which I hold by Your Majesties gift I shall resigne them by publick Indentures So from the bottom of my heart I doe commit my self to Your Royall favour and vow my self your servant for ever London From the Savoy Feb. 3. Your MAJESTIES c. M. Ant. de Dom. Archbishop of Spalato This Letter produced new Interrogatories Feb. 3. 1622. and severall fruitfull Controversies one alwaies begetting another but the last was a sharp one at Lambeth March the 30 which cut off all future discourse For a Commission was issued out to the Archbishop of Canterbury Mar. 30. the Bishops of Lincolne Lord Keeper of the Great Scale of England London Duresme Winchester and severall other Privie Councellors before whom Spalato personally appeared When the Archbishop of Canterbury in the name of the rest by His MAJESTIES speciall command in a long Latine Speech recapitulated the many misdemeanors of Spalato principally insisting on his changing of Religion as appeared by his purpose of returning to Rome and that contrary to the Laws of the Realm he had held correspondency by Letters with the Pope without the privity of the King's Majesty To which Charge when Spalato had made rather a shuffling Excuse than a just Defence the Archbishop in His Majestie 's name commanded him to depart the Kingdome at his own peril within twenty daies and never to return again To this he promised obedience protesting he would ever justifie the Church of England for orthodox in fundamentals even in the presence of the Pope or whomsoever though with the losse of his life 12. However Desires in vain still to stay loth to depart was his last tune And no wonder if well considering whence and whither he went He left a Land where he lacked nothing but a thankfull heart to God and a contented soul in himself He went to a place of promise suspicious whether ever it should be performed He feared not without cause he might lose his gray Head to fetch a red Hat And an ominous instance was lately set before his eyes One Fulgentius a Minorite had inveighed at Venice against the Pope and was by his Nuncio trained to Rome on promise of safe conduct where being favoured and feasted at first soon after in the field of Flora he was burnt to ashes This made Spalato effectually but secretly to deal with his friends in the English Court that His Majesty would permit him to stay But in vain and therefore within the time appointed he went over in the same ship with Count Swartzenburgh the Emperours Ambassadour returning hence into Flanders 13. And now Spalato is shipped Departeth to Rome A good winde and faire weather goe after him His sails shall not be stuffed with a blast of my curses conceiving that his fault was sufficient punishment But b Dr. Barkham in his Dedicatory Epistle to King James others have compared him to the house i Mat. 12. 44. swept and garnished to which the Devil returned with seven spirits more wicked than himself Which they thus reckon up Avarice Ambition and Hypocrisie whilst he stayed here Apostasie and Perjury when going hence Ingratitude and Calumnie when returned to Rome Yea they finde as many punishments lighting on him God angry with him the Devil tormenting him his conscience corroding him the world cursing him the true Church disdaining him Protestant-pens confuting him and the Pope at last in revenge executing him And now the Master hath had the just shame for his Apostasie let the Man receive the due praise of his perseverance one Gio Pietro Paravicino a Grizon who waited on Spalato in his chamber whom neither frights nor flatteries could remove but he died in Holland a firm professour of the Protestant Religion 14. Being come to Bruxels Ann. Reg. Ja. 20 Ann. Dom. 1622. Retuâ—ns to his railing vomit he recants his Religion and rails bitterly on the English Church calling his coming hither an unhappy irrational pestiferous k In his Book call'd Cencilium Reditus pag. 9. devilish voyage to which he was moved with sickness of soule impatience and a kinde of phrensie l Ibid. pag. 5. of anger Here he stayed six moneths for the Pope's Breve which was long a coming and at last was utterly denied him Insomuch that Spalato was fain to run the hazard and desperately adventure to Rome having nothing in Scriptis for his security but barely presuming on promises and the friendship of Gregory the fifteenth now Pope formerly his Collegue and chamber-fellow 15. I finde not his promised Bishoprick conferred upon him Lives at Rome not loved and diâ—s unlamented who as well might have been made Primate and Metropolitane of Terra incognita Yea returning to Sodome though not turned into a pillar of salt he became unsavoury-salt cared for of no side Such a crooked-stick which had
that they have seen and perused some of them This they do partly to enhaunce the merit of their Industry in finding out so many Rarities and partly to commend to the world the latitude of their own Reading I shall as soon believe that they have seen all Solomon's Volumes which he wrote from the Cedar of Libanus to the Hyssope that groweth on the VVall. But this Humour possesseth many men that brag of many Books coming under their Discovery as if not onely with the Mice they had crept through the Crannies of all Libraries but also with the Mothes had got betwixt the Leaves of all Treatises therein In plain truth as it is probable that those British Prelates wrote many Books of consequence so it is certain that long since by Time they have been abolished As for those spurious Tracts which Monks in after-Ages set out under these Worthy mens names they are no more to be accounted the true Off-spring of these learned Saints then that common Manna ordinarily sold in Apothecaries Shops is the self-same with that Angels Food which fell down from Heaven and feasted the Israelites THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN THE SECOND BOOK From the Conversion of the Saxons to Christianity until the commonly called Conquest of the Normans To the right Honourable HENRY LORD MARQUES OF DORCHESTER EARLE OF KINGSTON Viscount Newark Lord Peirrepont c. HOw low Learning ran in our Land amongst the Native Nobility some two hundred yeares since in the Reign of King Henry the sixth too plainly appeareth by the Motto in the Sword of the Martiall Earle of Shrewsbury where at the same time one may Smile at the Simplicity and Sigh at the Barbarisme thereof SUM TALBOTI PRO OCCIDERE INIMICOS MEOS The best Latin that Lord and perchance his Chaplains too in that Age could afford But in the next Generation we may observe the Rise of Learning in Noble Families I behold John Tiptoft Earle of Worcester bred in Bailioll Colledge as the first English Person of Honour that graced Learning with the Study thereof in the dayes of King Edward the fourth both at Home and in Forreign Vniversities He made so * 1. Bale de Scripâ— Angl. Eloquent an Oration in the Vatican in the presence of Pope Pius the second one of the least Bad and most Learned of any of his Order that his Holiness was divided betwixt Weeping and VVondering thereat This Earle may be said to have left John Bourchier Baron of Berners and Governour of Callis the Heir to his Learning as who wrote * Idem Pitz de Scrip. Anglic. many Treatises and made Excursions into Variety of Studies in the dayes of King Henry the seventh This Learned Baron had severall Successours under King Henry the eighth at the same time to his Parts and Liberall Studies 1. Henry Lord Stafford Son to the last Duke of Buckingham of that Name 2. William Lord Montjoy a great Patron to Erasmus and well skilled in Chymistry and Mathematicks 3. Henry Howard Earle of Surrey though last in Time not least in Merit the first reviver of English Poetry so that he may seem in some sort to wave his Coronet to wear the Laurell Since whose time to our dayes Learning hath ever had a visible succession in our Nobility Amongst whom your Honour as Captain of the Highest Form is most illustrious Indeed your Lordship is a reall Refutation of that Scandalous Position which some maintain That such who are generally seen in all Arts cannot be eminently skilfull in any one A Position no better then a Libell on Learning invented and vented either by the Idle who would not themselves Study or by the Envious who desire to discourage the Endeavours of others VVhereas there is such a Sympathy betwixt several Sciences as also betwixt the learned Languages that as in a Regular Fortification one Piece strengtheneth another a resultive Firmeness ariseth from their Complication reflecting Life and Lustre one on another Arts may be said to be Arched together and all Learned Faculties have such a Mutual Reciprocation Thus one is the better Canonist for being a good Civilian and a better Common-Lawyer for being both of them And hereof your Honour is an Experimentall Proof whose Knowledge is spread so broad yet lieth so thick in all Liberall Sciences VVhat remaineth but that I crave leave humbly to mind your Lordship of that allusive Motto to your Name PIE REPONE TE that your Honour reposing yourself piously in this life may in a good Old Age be gloriously translated into another The desire of Your Lordships Most Bounden Oratour THOMAS FULLER THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN Anno. Dom. VI. CENTURIE 1. IT is wonderfull to see how the Fruits of great Events are vertually comprised in the small Seed of their Causes 585 and how a Contemptible Accident may give the Occasion of most Considerable Effects The first occasion of the Saxons conversion to Christianity as may appeare by the Conversion of the Saxons to Christianity For it happened that certain Saxon Children were to be sold for Slaves at the Market-place at Rome when Divine Providence the great Clock-keeper of Time ordering not onely Houres but even a Luke 2. 38. Instants to his own Honour so disposed it that Gregory afterwards first Bishop of Rome of that Name was present to behold them It grieved the Good man to see the Disproportion betwixt the Faces and Fortunes the Complexions and Conditions of those Children condemned to a Servile Estate though carrying Liberall Looks so legible was Ingenuity in their Faces It added more to his Sorrow when he conceived that those Youths were twice Vassalls bought by their Masters and b Rom. 7. 14. sold under Sin Servants in their Bodies and Slaves in their Souls to Satan which occasioned the c Bede Hist ecclesiast l. 2. cap. 1. Good man to enter into further enquiry with the Merchants which set them to Sale what they were and whence they came according to this ensuing Dialogue Greg. Whence come these Captives Mer. From the Isle of Britain Greg. Are those Islanders Christians Mer. O no they are Pagans Greg. It is sad that the Authour of Darknesse should possesse men with so bright Faces But what is the name of their particular Nation Mer. They are called Angli Greg. And well may for their Angel-like Faces it becometh such to be Coheires with the Angels in Heaven In what Province of England did they live Mer. In d VVhich at this day is the Bishoprick of Deirham or Durham Deira Greg. They are to be freed de Dei ira Anno. Dom. 585 from the Anger of God How call ye the King of that Country Mer. ELLA Greg. Surely Hallelujah ought to be sung in his Kingdome to the Praise of that God who created all things Thus Gregorie's gracious Heart set the Sound of every word to the Tune of spirituall Goodnesse Nor can his words be justly censured for Levity if we
Christian Princes His Reign was blest with Peace and Prosperity both by Land and Sea insomuch that in a royall Frolick eight petty Kings rowed him over the river Dee near to Chester namely five Princes of VVales whereof Hoel-Dha was the principall Kened King of Scotland Malcolm King of Cumberland and Mac-huse a great Sea-Robber who may passe for the Prince of Pirats 31. This Hoel-Dha A Nationall Council in Wales contemporary with King Edgar 970 was he that held a Nationall Councill for all VVales at a place called Ty-guin 13 or the VVhite-house because built of white Hurdles to make it more beautifull regulated after this manner Out of every Hundred in Wales he chose six Lay-men with whom he joyned all the eminent Ecclesiasticall Persons accounted an hundred fourty in his Dominions Out of those he chose eleven Lay-men and one Clergy-man but such a one as who alone by himself might passe vertually for eleven Blangoridus by name to enact what Laws they pleased which after the impression of Royall Assent upon them should be observed by that Nation One might suspect this Council thus over-powered with Laicks therein which pinch on the Priests side whereas we find the Canons therein wholly made in favour of the Clergy enacting this among the rest That the presence of a Priest and a Iudge constitute a legall Court as the two Persons onely in the Quorum thereof 32. But methinks the Lawes therein enacted which a learned b S r. Henry Spelman in his Councils pag. 411. Antiquary presents us at large fall far short of the Gravity of a Councill The merry Lawes made therein except any will excuse it from the Age thereof what we count light and triviall might be esteemed serious and solid in those dayes Besides the Laws discover in them a conceited affectation of the Number of Three In three Cases a Wise may legally leave her Husband first if he hath a Leprosy secondly if he hath a stinking Breath thirdly if he be unable to give her due Benevolence In three cases it was lawfull for a man to kisse his Neighbours Wife first at a Banquet secondly at the Welch Play called Guare-raffau and thirdly when he comes from a far Journey by way of Salutation If a Man and his Wife were to part asunder they were to divide their Goods betwixt them so that she was to have the Sheep he the Hogs she the Milk and milk-Vessels with all the Dishes save one he all the Beer and Barrels with the Axe Saw c. 33. But how silly soever these Canons seem to our modern Criticks Confirmed by the Pope they were then conceived of such Weight and Worth 971 that King Hoel-Dha with his Arch-bishop of S t. Davids 14 the Bishops of Bangor Landaffe S t. Asaph are said to have taken a Iourney to Rome and procured the Popes Confirmation to them Nor find I ought else of this Synod save that the Close thereof presents us with a list of seven Episcopall Seats then in Wales I. S t. Davids 2. Ismael 3. Degenian 4. Vssyll 5. Teylaw 6. Teuledauc 7. Kenew c Quaere whether Bangor Landast and S t. Asaph be not comprised under these I am not Welch man enough to point at these places and to shew you where they be at this day which we leave to some skilfull Antiquary of their own Nation Anno Regis Edgari 14 Onely we find that whereas the Churches were burdened with some Payments out of them Anno Dom. 971 two of the Bishops Seats Vssyl and Kenew were freed from the same And this satisfactory Reason is rendred of their Exemption quia terris carent because they had no Lands belonging unto them 34. King Edgar was peaceably gathered to his Fathers 17 Regis Edvardi Martyris 1 leaving his Crown to Edward his Son 974 and his Son because under age to the Tuition of Dunstan A Council at Winchester with a miraculous voice in it In this Kings Reign three Councils were successively called to determine the Differences between Monks and Secular Priests The first was at Winchester where the Priests being outed of their Convents earnestly pressed for Restitution and sought by Arguments to clear their Innocence and prove their Title to their ancient Possessions The Council seemed somewhat inclinable to favour unto them when presently a Voice as coming from a Crucifix behind Dunstan is reported to be heard saying Absit hoc ut fiat absit hoc ut fiat Iudicastis bene mutaretis non bene God forbid it should be done God forbid it should be done Ye have judged it well and should change it ill Whether these words were spoken in Latine or English Authours leave us unresolved Monks equall this for the truth thereof to the a 1 Kings 19. 12. still small Voice to Elijah whilest others suspect some Forgery the rather because it is reported to come as from a Crucifix they feare some secret Falsehood in the Fountain because visible Superstition was the Cistern thereof However this Voice proved for the present the Casting Voice to the Secular Priests who thereby were overborn in their Cause and so was the Council dissolved 35. Yet still the Secular Priests did struggle 4 refusing to be finally concluded with this transient aiery Oracle 977 b Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony Secular Priests strive still if they speak not according to this word c. They had no warrant to relie on such a vocal Decision from which they appealed to the Scripture it self A second Council is called at Kirtlington now Katlage in Cambridge-shire the Baronry of the right Honourable the Lord North but nothing to purpose effected therein Dunstan say the Monks still answered his Name that is Dun a rocky Mountain and Stain a Stone but whether a precious Stone or a Rock of Offence let others decide persisting unmoveable in his Resolution nor was any thing performed in this Council but that by the Authority thereof people were sent on Pilgrimage to S t. Mary at Abbington 36. The same year a third Council was called Aportentous Council at Caln at Caln in VViltshire Hither repaired Priests and Monks with their full Forces to trie the last Conclusion in the Controversie betwixt them The former next the Equity of the Cause relied most on the Ability of their Champion one Beornelm a Scottish Bishop who with no lesse Eloquence then Strength with Scripture and Reason defended their Cause When behold on a sudden the Beams brake in the Room where they were assembled and most of the Secular Priests were slain and buried under the Ruines thereof All were affrighted many maimed onely the place whereon Dunstan sate either as some say remained firm or fell in such sort that the Timber the Sword to kill others proved the Shield to preserve him from Danger 37. Some behold this Story as a notable Untruth
infected To cry quits with him Doctor Tucker Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth in a Treatise he wrote of this Subject denyeth the Kings of France ever originally cured this Evil but per aliquam b In his charismate cap. 6. pag. 84. Propaginem by a Sprig of Right derived from the primitive Power of our English Kings under whose Jurisdiction most of the French Provinces were once subjected 38. Between these two Authours The indifferent Opinion violent in Opposition haply we may find the Truth whose constant Dwelling-place is pleasantly seated in a moderate Vale betwixt two swelling Extremes For it plainly appeareth by uncontroulable Arguments and Evidences that both the Crowns of England and France have for many years been invested with this miraculous Gift yet so that our English Kings are the elder Brothers in the Possession thereof For if S t. Lewes King of France who was contemporary with our King Henry the third was the c So witnesseth Andrew Chasne ae French Authour and others first of that Royall Race which healed this Evil his Cradle was more then 160 yeares after the Cossin of our Edward the Confessour from whom as is aforesaid our Kings derive this soveraign Power by constant Succession But methinks my Book in this Discourse begins to bunch or swell out and some will censure this Digression for a Struma or tedious Exuberancy beyond the just Proportion of our History wherefore no more hereof onely I will conclude with two Prayers extending the first to all Good people That Divine Providence would be pleased to preserve them from this painfull and loathsome Disease The second I shall confine to my self alone not knowing how it will suit with the Consciences and Judgements of others yet so as not excluding any who are disposed to joyn with me in my Petition namely That if it be the Will of God to visit me whose Body hath the Seeds of all Sicknesse Anno Dom. 1066 Jan. 4. and Soul of all Sins with the aforesaid Malady Anno Regis Edvardi Confessoris 24 I may have the Favour to be touched of his Majesty the Happiness to be healed by him and the Thankfulness to be gratefull to God the Authour and Gods Image the Instrument of my Recovery I 'le onely adde this short Story and then proceed A little before these Wars began a Minister not over-loyally affected was accused and was like to have been troubled for this Passage in his Sermon that Oppression was the Kings Evil. But being called to answer it before the Commissioners he expounded his own words that he meant Oppression was the Kings Evil not that the King caused it but onely cured it and alone in this Land could remedy and redresse the same 39. King Edward dying Childlesse Harold usurpeth the Crown caused by his affected Chastity 1066 left the Land at a Losse for an Heir in a direct Line Haroldi 1 opened a Door to the Ambition of Collaterall Pretenders Indeed the undoubted Right lay in Edgar Atheling Son to Edward the Out-law Grand-child to Edmond Iron-side King of England But he being tender in Age and as it seems soft in Temper and of a forrein Garb because of his Education in Hungary his most potent Alliance in Germany out of Distance to send him seasonable Assistance was passed by by the English Nobility These chose Harold to be King whose Title to the Crown is not worth our deriving of it much less his relying on it But having endeared Martiallists by his Valour engaged Courtiers by his Bounty and obliged all sorts of People by his Affability he was advanced to the Crown by those who more considered his Ability to defend then his Right to deserve it 40. William Duke of Normandy was Competitour with Harold William Duke of Normandy twisteth many weak Titles together who supplying in Number what he wanted in Strength of his Titles claimed the Crown by Alliance Adoption and Donation from Edward the Confessour though he was as unable to give and bequeath as VVilliam being a Bastard in the Strictnesse of Saxon Laws was uncapable to receive it But his Sword was stronger then his Titles and the Sins of the English more forceable then either to deliver that Nation now grown as Authours observe intolerably vicious into his Subjection So that in a pitch'd Field he overcame and killed King Harold with the prime of the English Nobility a just Punishment on their Perjury for their deserting their Lawfull Prince and such as survived were forced either to hold the Stirrup or Lackey by the Side of many a mean-born Norman mounted to Places of Profit and Honour This was the fifth time wherein the South of this Island was conquered first by Romans secondly by Picts and Scots thirdly by Saxons fourthly by the Danes and fifthly by the Normans This mindeth me of the Prophet Elisha's speech to a 2 Kings 13. 19. Ioash King of Israel Thou shouldest have smitten Syria 5. or 6. times then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it It seemeth five may but six must dispatch a People God hath already smitten this Island five times with a Rod of Forrein Invasion let us beware the sixth time that finall fatall Number for fear it prove the last and utter Confusion and Destruction of our Nation 41. Thus King VVilliam came in by Conquest William rebateth his conquering Sword with Composition though in the later part of his Reign growing more mild and moderate he twisted his Right of Victory with Composition as such who have ravished a Woman against her will endeavour afterwards to make her Reparation by Wooing and Wedding her whom formerly they had wronged so with Love to cover their Lust by the most excusable way of Marriage So King VVilliam though he had forced this Land yet afterwards not so much out of Remorse as Policy to suppresse frequent Tumults and procure Security to himself and Successours is said to have closed with the Commons in a fair way of Agreement restoring many ancient Priviledges unto them Thus though Conquest was more honourable for his Credit Composition was comfortable for his Conscience and accounted most safe for his Posterity Witnesse that judiciall Sentence which King William in open Court pronounced against himself adjudging the Lord of a Camden ' s Britannia in Norfolk Sharnborn in Norfolk Anno Regis Haroldi 1 being an English-man Anno Dom. 1066 true owner of that Mannour contrary to that Grant wherein he had formerly bestowed it on one Warren a Norman Herein the Conquerour confessed himself conquered submitting his Arbitrary Power and Pleasure to be regulated by Justice and the ancient Rights of English-men 42. But what Impression the Norman Victories made on the State Abreviate of the Doctrine of England in these Ages before the Norman Conquest let Politicians observe what Change it produced in the Laws we leave to the Learned of that Faculty to prosecute whilest
living at Walgrave in Northamptonshire and possessed of that Mannour before the Conquest The other a Walloon of that name coming over with the Conquerour and employed by him in many Services The later of these on the former his consent that he should marry his onely Daughter procured from the Conquerour a Pardon for his Father in Law that he might quietly enjoy his Lands and Livings descending on this Walloon VValgrave after the other his Death Which Pardon legible in French was Anno 1612. in the possession of the a Attested by Iohn Raven Richmond Herald See Weavers Funerall Monuments pag. 7. 5. 8. After the Conquest severall recruits of French in England Walgraves still flourishing in Suffolk Fifth Coroll Let none wonder if some names of VVorshipfull and Honourable Families undoubtedly of French Originall but since the Conquest have not appeared in the aforesaid Catalogues For know that after the Conquest sundry French-men of signall Worth entred England at severall times chiefly At the Marriage First of King Henry the second to Queen Eleanor who brought the Dukedome of Aquitain Earledome of Poictiers for her Dowrie Secondly of Edward the second to Isabella Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France when three thousand French came over with her complained of as a great Grievance and many settled here Not to speak of the Conquests of King Edward the third and Henry the fifth in France causing such an Intercourse of the Nations that then England and France may be said to have born counterchangeably each others Natives Sixth Coroll Tradesmen not mentioned in this Roll came over with them Many will admire no mention of Tradesmen in all these Catalogues being of absolute necessity both in War and Peace For soon would the Head of the best Monsieur ake without a Capper Hands be tanned without a Glover Feet be foundred without a Tanner Currier Shoemaker whole Body be straved cold without VVeaver Fuller Tailour hungry without Baker Brewer Cook harbourless without Mason Smith and Carpenter Say not it was beneath the French Gallantry to stoup to such mean Employments who found all these Trades here amongst the English their Vassallâ— For besides that nothing is base which is honest and necessary for humane Society such as are acquainted with the French both ancient modern finicall humour know they account our Tailours Botchers Shoemakers Coblers Cooks Slovens compared to the exactnesse of their Fancy and Palate so that certainly such Trades came over with them Seventh Coroll As appears by Dooms-day Book But hear what our great b Camden his remaines pag. 234. Antiquary faith herein In that most authenticall Register Doomesday Book in the Exchequer ye shall have Cocus Aurifaber Pictor Pistor Accipitrarius Camerarius Venator Piscator Medicus Cook Goldsmith Painter Baker Falconer Chamberlain Huntsman Fisher Leach Marshall Porter and others which then held land in capite and without doubt left these Names to their Posterity albeit haply they are not mentioned in those Tables of Battel Abbey of such as came in at the Conquest Eighth Coroll The sad case of the English Now let me bespeak the Readers Pity though possibly his ingenuous Sympathie hath given it before it was requested for those poor English-men who were to find Free-quarter for all these French Where could their Land-lords lodge them or rather how could they long continue Landlords when such potent Guests came to their Houses O the severall wayes which their Necessities dictated unto them Some fought as the Kentish who capitulated for their Liberty some fled as those in the North into Scotland some hid themselves as many in middle England in the Isle of Ely some as those of Norfolk traversed their Title by Law and that with good Successe in the Old age of King William the Conquerour Most betook themselves to Patience which taught many a Noble Hand to work Foot to travel Tongue to intreat even thanking them for their Courtesie who were pleased to restore a Shiver of their own Loaf which they violently took from them FINIS THE Church-History OF BRITAINE The Third Book FROM THE COMING IN OF THE NORMANS Untill the appearing of IOHN WICLIFFE SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO LONDON Printed in the Year M.DC.LV. To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord Beauchampe c. GRAND-CHILDE AND HEIR APPARENT To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Marquiss of Hertford SOme there are who exact of every Christain as a Touchstone of their sincerity to render an account of the exact time of their Conversion with the Circumstances thereof how when and where performed I must crave leave to enter my self a Dissenter herein conceiving such a Demand unreasonable as generally required esential to all true Believers I confess some may return a satisfactory Answer thereunto namely such whose Souls suddenly snatch'd out of Errour and Vitiousness were immediately wrought upon almost in an instant by the Spirit of God Thus of those * Acts 22. 41. three thousand gained on Many-Saints-day by Saint Peter at Jerusalem with the preaching of one Sermon each one might punctually and precisely tell the very Moment of their true Conversion and generally the WORSE men have been the BETTER they can point at the accurate date thereof And thus as Kings count their actions by the years of their Reign Bishops formerly of their Consecration so these may use the stile In the year of our Conversion first or second c. And as * Mar. 14. 6. Herod kept a Festivall of his Natural Birth-day such if so pleased may duly and truly observe an Anniversary Solemnity of their Regeneration A Priviledge not granted to all true Believers God to shew his Power that he Can and Pleasure that he VVill vary the manner of Mens Conversion though going the same path by his VVord and Spirit useth a â—lower pace in the hearts of others in whom Grace is wrought sensim sine sensu modeled by degrees In such no mortal man can assign the minutary juncture of Time when preparing grace which cleared the ground ended and saving grace which finish'd the fabrick of Conversion did first begin Observable to this purpose are the words of our Saviour * Mark 4. 26. So is the Kingdom of God as if a man should cast feed into the ground and should sleep and rise night and day and the â—eed should spring and grow up HE KNOWETH NOT HOW That grace is sown and is grown Men know but when and how in the persons aforesaid GOD KNOWS Besides these adult Converts there are a second sort of Christians unable to discover the Date of grace dawning in them namely such who with * 2 Tim 1. 5. and 3. 15. Timothy may be said to be good time out of minde sucking in grace with their milk extracted from and educated under a pious Parentage I hope and trust that your Honour may truly be ranked in this latter Form that as many ancient deeds written before the Reign of King Henry
Now though the said Sir Reginald did modestly decline the Pope's Honour for want of Maintenance yet had he at that time no fewer then forty three Knights Fees held of his Castle of Dunstar I have nothing else to adde herein save that the ancient Armes of the Mohuns viz. a hand in a Maunch holding a Flower de luce in that Age more fashionable then a Rose in Heraldry seems to relate to this occasion which their Family afterward changed into a Sable Crosse in the Atchievements in the Holy land born at this day by the truely honourable the Lord Mohun Baron of Oakehampton as descended from this Family 28. This year died Robert Grouthead 38 Bishop of Lincoln 1254 born at Stodebrook in Suffolk The death of Bishop Grouthead Natalibus pudendis saith my c Bishop Godwin in Catalogue of Linc. Bish. Authour of Shamefull extraction intimating suspicion of Bastardy though the parents rather then the child have caused a blush thereat He got his Surname from the greatness of his head having large Stoage to receive and store of Braines to fill it bred for a time in Oxford then in France a great and generall Scholar Bale reckoning up no fewer then two hundred books of his making and a great opposer of the Popes oppression which now grew intolerable 29. For it appeared by inquisition made the last year The Popes fume against this good Bishop that the Ecclesiasticall Revenues of Italians in England whereof many were Boyes more Blockheads all Aliens amounted per annum unto threescore and ten thousand Marks whereas the Kings Income at the same time was hardly d Matthew Paris in Anno 1552. twenty thousand Bishop Grouthead offended thereat wrote Pope Innocent the fourth such a Iuniper Letter taxing him with extortion and other vitious practices that his Holiness brake out into this expression VVhat meaneth this doting old man surdus absurdus thus boldly to controll our actions By Peter and Paul did not our innate ingenuity restrain us I would confound him and make him a prodigie to the whole world Is not the King of England our Vassall yea our Slave to imprison and destroy what persons we please to appoint 30. The Pope being in this pelt quenched by a Spanish Cardinall Aegidius a Spanish Cardinall thus interposed his gravitie It is not expedient my Lord to use any harshness to this Bishop We must confesse the truths which he saith He is a holy man of a more Religious life then any of us yea Christendome hath not his equall a great Philosopher skilled in Latine and Greek a constant reader in the Schools Preacher in the Pulpit lover of Chastity and loather of Simony 31. Thus the Pope took wit in his anger Grouthead the peoples though not the Pope's Saint and Grouthead escaped for the present though Bale reporteth that he died excommunicate and deprived of his Bishoprick Popish e Iohn Burie Mat. Paris Mat. Westminster Mr. Fabian Authours confidently report a strange vision or rather a passion of Pope Innocent the fourth whom Grouthead appearing after his death so beat with many blows it seems he had a heavy hand as well as a great head that the Pope died thereof soon after No wonder therefore if his successours would not Canonize this Robert who notwithstanding was a Saint though not in the Popes yet in the peoples Calendar many miracles being ascribed unto him and particularly f Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops Discontents begin in England that a sweet oyl after his death issued out of his monument which if false in the litterall may be true in a mysticall meaning Solomon observing that a good name is as oyntment poured out 32. England began now to â—urfet of more then thirty yeares Peace and Plenty which produced no better effects then ingratitude to God and murmuring at their King Many active spirits whose minds were above their means offended that others beneath them as they thought in Merit were above them in Employment Anno Dom. 1254 cavilled at many errours in the Kings Government Anno Regis Henrici 3. 38 being State-Donatists maintaining the perfection of a Commonwealth might and ought to be attained A thing easie in the Theory impossible in the Practice to conform the actions of mens corrupted natures to the exact Ideas in mens Imaginations 33. Indeed they had too much matter whereon justly to ground their Discontents Grounded on too much occasion partly because the King distrusting his Natives imployed so many French Forrainers in places of power and profit partly because he had used such indirect courses to recruit his Treasuries especially by annihilating all Patents granted in his Minority though indeed he was never more in his Full-age then when in his Non-age as guided then by the best counsell and forcing his Subjects to take out new ones on what Terms his Officers pleased In a word an a Roger Wendover Authour then living complaineth that Iustice was committed to men unjust the Laws to such who themselves were Out-laws and the keeping of the Peace to injurious people delighting in Discords 34. After many contests betwixt the King and his Subjects which the Reader may learn from the Historians of the State four and twenty prime persons were chosen by Parliament to have the supreme inspection of the Land A Title without power onely lest to the King which soon after to make them the more cordiall passed a decoction and were reduced to three and they three in effect contracted to one Simon Mountfort Earle of Leicester the Kings Brother in Law The King himself standing by as a Cypher yet signifying as much as his ambitious Subjects did desire These to make sure work bound him with his solemn Oath to submit himself to their new-modelled Government 35. Here the Pope charitable to relieve all distressed Princes interposed his power The Pope freely gives his curtesies for money absolving the King from that Oath as unreasonable in it self and forced upon him His Holinesse was well paid for this great favour the King hereafter conniving at his Horse-Leeches Legates and Nuncioes sucking the bloud of his Subjects with intolerable Taxations Thus was it not altogether the Flexibility of King Henry but partly the Flexion of his Condition I mean the altering of his occasions which made him sometimes withstand and otherwhiles comply with the Popes extortion Thus alwayes the Popes Curtesies are very dear and the Storm it self is a better Shelter then the Bramble fleecing such Sheep as fly under the shade thereof 36. Mean time the King having neither Coyn nor Credit Sad case when the Royall Root is no better then a sucker having pawn'd his Iewels mortgag'd all his Land in France and sold much of it in England wanting where withall to subsist lived on Abbeys and Prioreys till his often coming and long staying there made what was welcome at the first quickly to become
then a Cloak He never shrunk at a wound nor turned away his Nose for ill favour nor closed his eyes for smoak or dust in Diet none lesse dainty or more moderate his sleep very short but sound fortunate in fight and commendable in all his Actions verifying the Proverb that an ill Youth may make a good Man The Nunnery of Sion was built and endowed by him and a Colledge was by him intended in Oxford had not death prevented him 45. As for Katherine de Valois Q Katherine married again Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France Anno Dom. 1422. widdow of King Henry Anno Regis Hen. sexti 1. she was afterward married to and had issue by Owen ap Tudor a noble weâ—chman and her body lies at this day unburied in a loose Coffin at Westminster lately shew'd to such as desire it and there dependeth a story thereon 46. There was an old prophesie among the English observed by a Philip Commineus forrainers to be the greatest Prophecy-mongers But never buried and whilst the Devil knows their diet they shall never want a dish to please the Palate that an English Prince born at Winsor should be unfortunate in losing what his Father had acquired Whereupon King Henry forbad Queen Katherine big with Childe to be delivered there who out of the corrupt principle Nitimur in vetitum and affecting her Father before her Husband was there brought to bed of King Henry the sixt in whose Reign the fair victories woven by his Fathers valour were by Cowardise Carelesness and Contentions unraveled to nothing 47. Report By her own desire the greatest though not the truest Author avoucheth that sensible of her faultindisobeying her Husband it was her own b Speed Chron. p. 661. desire and pleasure that her body should never be buried If so it is pitty but that a Woman especially a Queen should have her will therein Whose dust doth preach a Sermon of duty to Feminine and of Mortality to all Beholders 48. But this story is told otherwise by other authors Alii aliter namely that she was c Stows survey of London p. 507. buried neer her Husband King Henry the fift under a fair Tombe where she hath a large Epitaph and continued in her grave some years untill King Henry the Seventh laying the foundation of a new Chappel caused her Corps to be taken up but why the said Henry being her Great Grand-Child did not order it to be re-interred is not recorded if done by casualty and neglect very strange and stranger if out of designe 49. In the minority of King Henry the sixt The Parliament appoint the Kings Councellors as his Vncle John Duke of Bedford managed martial matters beyond the seas so his other Uncle Humphery Duke of Glocester was chosen his Protector at home to whom the Parliament then sitting appointed a select number of privy Councellors wherein only such as were spiritual persons fall under our observation 1. Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury 2. John Kempe Bishop of London 3. Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchest lately made Lord Cardinal 4. John Wackaring Bishop of Norwich privie seal 5. Philip Morgan Bishop of Worcester 6. Nic. Bubwith Bishop of Bath and Wels Lord Treasurer So strong a party had the Clergie in that Age in the privie Councel that they could carry all matters at their own pleasure 50. It was ordered in Parliament A strict law for the Irish Clergy that all Irishmen living in either Vniversity 1423. should procure their Testimonials 2. from the Lord Lievetenant or Justice of Ireland as also finde sureties for their good behaviour during their remaining therein They were also forbidden to take upon them the Principality of any Hall or House in either University but that they remain under the discipline of others 51. Hitherto the Corpse of John Wickliffe had quietly slept in his grave Wickliff quietly buried 41. years about one and fourty years after his death 1428. till his body was reduced to bones 6. and his bones almost to dust For though the Earth in the Chancel of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire where he was interred hath not so quick a digestion with the Earth of Acheldama to consume Flesh in twenty foure houres yet such the appetite thereof and all other English graves to leave small reversions of a body after so many years 52. But now such the Spleen of the Council of Constance Anno Regis Hen. sixt 6 as they not only cursed his Memorie Anno Dom. 1428. as dying an obstinate Heretick Ordered 〈◊〉 ungraved 〈◊〉 a Heretick but ordered that his bones with this charitable caution if it may be discerned from the bodies of other faithfull people to be taken out of the ground and thrown farre off from any Christian buriall 53. In obedience hereunto Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincolne His 〈◊〉 burnt and drowâ—â—d Diocesan of Lutterworth sent his Officers Vultures with a quick sight scent at a dead Carcase to ungrave him accordingly To Lutterworth they come Sumner Commissarie Official Chancellour Proctors Doctors and the Servants so that the Remnant of the body would not hold out a bone amongst so many hands take what was left out of the grave and burnt them to ashes and cast them into Swift a Neighbouring Brook running hard by Thus this Brook hath convey'd his ashes into Avon Avon into Severn Severn into the narrow Seas they into the main Ocean And thus the Ashes of Wickliff are the Emblem of his Doctrine which now is dispersed all the World over 54. I know not whether the Vulgar Tradition be worth Remembrance None can drive a nailâ— of wax that the Brook into which Wickliff his Ashes were powred never since overflowed the Banks Were this true as some deny it as silly is the inference of Papists attributing this to Divine Providence expressing it self pleased with such severity on a Heretick as simple the collection of some Protestants making it an effect of Wickliff his sanctity Such Topical accidents are good for Friend and Foe as they may be bowed to both but in effect good to neither seeing no solid Judgement will build where bare fancy hath laid Foundation 55. It is of more consequence to observe the differences betwixt Authors Difference betwixt Authors some making the Council of Constance to passe this sentence of condemnation as Master Fox doth inserting but by mistake the History thereof in the Reign of King Richard the second which happened many years after But more truly it is ascribed to the Council of Sienna except for surenesse both of them joyned in the same cruell edict 56. Here I cannot omit what I read in a * Hall in the life of 〈◊〉 Fisher p. 〈◊〉 Popish Manuscript but very lately printed about the subject of our present discourse Wickliffe traduced 57. The first unclean BEAST that ever passed thorow * O! th◠〈◊〉
onely spared the Church in Peterborough but also advanced it into a Cathedral If so it was civilly done of Him not to disturb Her in Her grave whom He had so disquieted in Her bed The news of Her departure was not unwelcome to Queen Anna Bollen who though too good a Christian to desire Her death was too wife a woman to be over-sorrowfull for the same seeing formerly She was the King's Wife but by sequestration the true possessour of His bed being yet alive whereas now c Gen. 26. 22. Rehoboth She conceived God had made room for her 20. This Anna Bollen was great-grand-childe to a Citizen The character of Queen Anna Bollen Sir Jefferie Bollen Lord Major of London grand-childe to Sir William Bollen Knight who lived respectedly in his Countrey daughter to Thomas Bollen Earle of Wiltshire a great Courtier and she had Her birth in England blood by her d Daughter to Thomas Earl of Ormond Grand-mother from Ireland and breeding in France under Mary the French Queen so that so many relations meeting in Her accomplished Her with an acceptable behaviour to all qualities and conditions of people Of an handsome person and beautifull face and therefore that e Sanders de Schismate Anglicano pen that reports Her lean-visaged long-sided gobber-toothed yellow-complexioned with a wen in her neck both manifests his malice and disparageth the judgement of King Henry whom all knew well read in books and better in beauties who would never have been drawn to so passionate a love without stronger load-stones to attract it This Queen remembring how Her Predecessour lost the King's love with her over-austerity tuned Her self to a more open and debonaire behaviour even generally to all with whom She conversed Which being observed by Her adversaries was improved by them to Her overthrow so that She but for a very short time had the sole and peaceable possession of Her Husband In a word She was a great Patronesse of the Protestants Protectour of the persecuted Preferrer of men of merit among whom Hugh Latimer a bountifull Reliever of the poor and the happy Mother of Queen Elizabeth 21. On the eighth of June began a short The first reformed Convocation but sharp Parliament dissolved the eighteenth of July following effecting much in little time June 8. matters it seems being well prepared afore-hand 9. and the House assembled not to debate but doe the King's desires The parallel Convocation began the day after being one new-modelled and of a fashion different from all former Convocations Therein the Lord Cromwell prime Secretary sate in state above all the Bishops as the King's Vicar or Vicegerent-Generall in all spirituall matters Deformi satis spectaculo saith my f Godwâ—â—â—'s Annals Anno Dom. 1536. Authour indocto Lacio coetui praesidente sacratorum Antistitum omnium quos ante haec tempora Anglia unquam habuisset doctissimorum In one respect that place had better become the person of King Henry than this Lord His Proxie all allowing the King a very able Scholar But Cromwell had in power and policie what he lacked in learning if he may be said to lack it who at pleasure might command the borrowing thereof from the best brains and pens of those of his own partie in the Convocation 22. This Convocation consisted of two Houses The silence in the Abbots of the Convocation the Lower of the Clerks and Proctours of their respective Cathedrals and Diocesses with the Deans and Arch-Deacons therein the Upper of the Bishops with the Lord-Abbots and Priors I mean so many of them as voted as Barons in Parliament as may appear by their several g Concordatum erat per Honorandum virum Cromwell Reverendos Epiâ—copos Abbates Priores Domus superioris Acta Convocationis celebrat An. 1536. fol. antepenul â— subscriptions However I finde not the Abbots active in any degree in canvassing matters of Religion Whether this proceeded from any desire of ease their laziness being above their learning or out of humility counting it more proper to permit such disputes to the sole disposall of the Bishops as most concern'd therin or out of fear loth to stickle on religion knowing on what ticklish terms they stood For in this very Parliament all Abbies which could not dispend 200 li. a year were dissolved and bestowed on the King and those rich Abbots which had more than so many thousands yearly knew that Maxime in Logick to be true Magis minùs non variant speciem More and lesse doe not alter the kinde and might say with him on the Crosse They were in the same condemnation though as yet the sentence was not passed upon them 23. We will observe the daily motions in this Convocation The Diurnal of this Convocation as with mine own hand I have faithfully transcribed them out of the Records Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester June 16. made the Latine-Sermon taking for his Text h Luke 16. 8. The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light On the Friday following Richard Gwent Arch-Deacon of London was presented and confirmed Prolocutour in this Convocation On the same day Master William Peter Doctor of the Laws came into the House as deputed from his Master the Lord Cromwell who could not be present because of his greater employment in Parliament This Dr. Peter claimed the highest place in the House as due to his Master the Lord Cromwell i Records of Cant. An. Dom. 1536. fol. 9. petiit dictum locum sibi tanquam Procuratori dicti Magistri and he shall I say requested or required the same precedencie as due to him being his Proctour and obtained it accordingly without any dispute Though some perchance might question whether a Deputie's Deputy as one degree farther removed might properly claim His place 21. who was primitively represented Next Wednesday came in the Lord Cromwell in person and having judiciously seated himself above all tendred unto them an Instrument to be publickly signed by all the Convocation concerning the nullitie of the King's marriage with the Lady Anna Bollen 24. Some ten daies before Cranmer solemnly divorceth Anna Bollen from the King Archbishop Cranmer at Lambeth had held an open Court in the presence of Thomas Audley Lord Chancellour Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke and most of the Privie Councel Wherein the King and Queen were cited to appear as they did by their Proxies Doctor Richard Sampson being the Kings and Doctor Nicholas Wootten the Queens Then proceeded the Archbishop to discusse the validity of their marriage and at the last by his definitive Sentence pronounced the same invalid frustrate and of none effect No particular cause is specified in that Sentence still extant in the Record and though the Judge and Court seemed abundantly satisfied in the Reasons of this Nullitie yet concealing the same unto themselves they thought not fit to communicate this treasure to
deprecor majestatem tuam ut tu Deus deleas iniquitatem meam vos orare pro me 59. Item That it is preached that because auricular Confession hath brought forth innumerable vices it is clearly to be taken away 60. Item That the canon of the Masse is the comment of some foolish unlearned Priest and that the names of the Saints there expressed are not to be rehearsed 61. Item That water running in the chanel or common river is of as great vertue as the holy-water 62. Item That holy-water is but jugg'led water 63. Item That the holy-water is more savoury to make sauce with than the other because it is mixt with salt which is also a very good medicine for an horse with a gall'd back yea if there be put an onyon thereunto it is a good sauce for a gibbet of mutton 64. Item That no humane constitutions or laws doe binde any Christian man but such as be in the Gospels Paul's Epistles or the New Testament and that a man may break them without any offence at all 65. Item That besides seditious preaching letting unity to be had there are many slanderous and erroneous books that have been made and suffered to goe abroad indifferently which books were the more gladly bought because of these words Cum privilegio which the ignorant people took to have been an expresse approbation of the KING where it was not so indeed 66. Item That where heretofore divers books have been examined by persons appointed in the Convocation and the said books found full of heresie and erroneous opinions and so declared the said books are not yet by the Bishops expresly condemned but suffered to remain in the hands of unlearned people which ministreth to them matter of argument and much unquietnesse within the Realm 67. Item That Apostates abjured persons and of notable ill conversation and infamed have without licence of the King's Grace or the Ordinary taken upon them to preach slanderously 29. The Reader hath no sooner perused these opinions Distempered expressions partly excused but well he may conceive himself to have put his hand into Jeremie's basket of figs * Jer. 24. 3. Those that are good exceeding good and those that are bad exceeding bad Most of these tenents being true in themselves grounded on God's Word and at this day professed by the Protestants But blended with these are some rather expressions than opinions and those probably worse spoken than meant worse taken than spoken which we will not go about in any degree to defend onely may the unpartial Reader take this into consideration It happeneth in all heights and heats of oppositions as in horse-races wherein the Rider if he doth not go beyond the post cannot come to the post so as to win the prize for being upon the speed he must goe beyond it that he come to it though afterwards he may rain and turn his horse back again to the very place of the mark Thus men being in the heat of contest upon the very career of their souls because of their passions cannot stop short at the very mark they ayme at but some extravagancies must be indulged to humane infirmity which in their reduced thoughts they will correct and amend As some Protestants no doubt now lashing out so farre in their language retrenched them afterwards to a just proportion of truth 30. Two contrary interests visibly discovered themselves in the Upper-house of this Convocation betwixt the Bishops therein Two contrary parties in the Convocation and certainly in the Lower-house their Clerks and Chaplains adhered to the parties of their Lords and Masters An honourable * Lord Herbert in the Life of Henry the 8th pen hath stated the principal parties whom we implicitly follow herein onely where he mentions their bare Sees we willl adde their names and sirnames for the better clearing thereof Protestants Papists for the Reformation against Reformation 1. Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury 1. Edward Lee Archb. of Yorke 2. Thomas Goodrich Bishop of Elie. 2. John Stokesley BP of London 3. Nich Shaxton Bishop of Sarum 3. Cuthbert Tunstall BP Durham 4. Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester 4. Steven Gardiner B. Winchester 5. Edw Fox Bishop of Hereford 5. Rob Sherborne BP Chichester 6. John Hilsley Bishop of Rochester 6. Richard Nix BP of Norwich 7. Will Barlow Bishop of S. Davids 7. John Kite Bishop of Carlile Oh! what tugging was here betwixt these opposite sides For I dare not take Bishop Latimer's phrase as he took it out of his text Betwixt the children of this generation and the children of light whilst with all earnestnesse they thought to advance their severall designs But as when two stout and sturdy travellers meet together and both desire the way yet neither are willing to sight for it in their passage they so shove shoulder one another that dividing the way betwixt them both and yet neither geâ— the same so these two opposite parties in the Convocation were fain at last in a drawn battell to part the prize between them neither of them being conquering or conquered but a medlie-Religion as an expediment being made betwixt them both to salve if not the consciences the credits of both sides 31. Some Zelots of our Age will condemn the Laodicean temper of the Protestant-Bishops because if stickling to purpose The Protestant Bishops their moderation vindicated and improving their power to the utmost they might have set forth a more pure and perfect Religion Such men see the faults of Reformers but not the difficulties of Reformation These Protestant-Bishops were at this time to encounter with the Popish-Clergie equal in number not inferiour in learning but farre greater in power and dependencies Besides the generality of the people of the Land being nusled in ignorance and superstition could not on a suddain endure the extremity of an absolute Reformation Should our eyes be instantly posted out of mid-night into noon-day certainly we should be blinded with the suddennesse and excellency of the lustre thereof Nature therefore hath wisley provided the twi-light as a bridge by the degrees to passe us from darknesse to light Yea our Saviour himself did at the first connive at the carnality of his Apostles and would not put now a Mat. 9. 17. wine into old bottles for fear of breaking Yea he had some commandements which as yet b Iohn 16.12 they were not able to bear and therefore till they could bear them his wisdome did bear with them Thus the best of Artists doe not alwaies work to the height of their own skill but according to the aptnesse of the instruments wherewith and the capacity of the subjects whereon they employ themselves 34. And here we present the Reader with the aforesaid medley-Religion passed in this Convocation The draught of the twi-light Religion confirmed in this Convocation and confirmed with Royal assent requesting him though it be somewhat long not to grudge his time and
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
be then alive thereunto before the marriage had in writing sealed with their seals which Condition We declare limit and appoint and will by these presents shall be to the said estate of Our said Daughter ELIZABETH in the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises knit and invested And if it shall fortune Our said Daughter ELIZABETH to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after Our decease and for default of Issue of the several bodies of Us and of our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decesse shall wholly remain and come to the Heires of the body of the Lady FRANCES Our Niece eldest Daughter to Our late Sister the French Queen lawfully begotten and for default of such Issue of the body of the said Lady FRANCES We will that the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our Son Prince EDWARD and of Our Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and of the Lady FRANCES lawfully begotten shall wholly remain and come to the Heirs of the body of the Lady ELANOR Our Niece second Daughter to Our said Sister the French Queen lawfully begotten And if it happen the said Lady ELANOR to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and of the said Lady FRANCES and of the said Lady ELANOR lawfully begotten the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next rightfull Heirs And we sill that if Our said Daughter MARY doe marry without the consent and assent of the Privy Counsellours and others appointed by Us to be of Counsell to Our said Son Prince EDWARD or the most part of them as shall then be alive thereunto before the said marriage had in writing sealed with their seals as is aforesaid that then and from thenceforth for lack of Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten the said Imperial Crown shall wholly remain be and come to Our said Daughter ELIZABETH and to the Heirs of Her body lawfully begotten in such manner and form as though Our said Daughter MARY were then dead without any Issue of the body of Our said Daughter MARY lawfully begotten Any thing contained in this Our Will or any Act of Parliament or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And in case Our said Daughter the Lady MARY doe keep and perform the said Condition expressed declared and limited to Her estate in the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises in this Our last will declared And that Our said Daughter ELIZABETH doe not keep and perform for Her part the said condition declared and limited by this Our last Will to the estate of the said Lady ELIZABETH in the said Imperiall Crown of this Realm of England and Ireland Ann. Dom. 1546 and other the premises Ann. Regis HeÌ„ 8. 38. We will that then â—and from thencesorth after Our decease and for lack of Heirs of the several bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughter MARY lawfull begotten the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next Heirs lawfully begotten of the body of the said Lady FRANCES in such manner and form as though the said Lady ELIZABETH were then dead without any Heir of Her body lawfully begotten Any thing contained in this Will or in any Act or Statute to the contrary not withstanding the remainders over for lack of Issue of the said Lady FRANCES lawfully begotten to be an continue to such persons like remainders and estates as is before limited and declared And We being now at this time thanks to Almighty God of perfect memory Names of the Executo s. doe constitute and ordain these personages following Our Executors and Performers of this Our last Will and Testament willing commanding and praying them to take upon them the occupation and performance of the same as Executors Tho Cranmer that is to say the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Wriothesly Chancellour of England the Lord St. John greater Master of Our House Edw. Seymour John Dudley the Earl of Hartford great Chamberlain the Lord Russell Lord Privie Seal the Viscount Lisle high Admirall of England the Bishop Tonstall of Duresme Sir Anthony Browne Knight Master of our Horses Sir Edward Montague Knight chiefe Judge of the Common Pleas Justice Bromley Sir Edward North Knight Chancellour of the Augmentations Sir William Pagett Knight Our chief Secretary Sir Anthony Denny Sir William Herbert Knights chief Gentlemen of Our Privy Chamber Sir Edward Wotton Knight and Mr. Doctor Wotton his brother and all these We will to be Our Executors and Counsellors of the Privie Counsell with Our said Son Prince EDWARD in all matters concerning both his private affairs and publick affairs of the Realm willing and charging them and every of them as they must and shall answer at the day of judgment wholly and fully to see this my last Will and Testament performed in all things with as much speed an diligence as may be and that none of them presume to meddle with any of Our treasure or to do any thing appointed by Our said Will alone unlesse the most part of the whole number of these Co-executors doe consent and by writing agree to the same And will that Our said Executors or the most part of them may lawfully doe what they shall think most convenient for the execution of this Our Will without being troubled by Our said Son or any other for the same Willing further by Our said last Will and Testament that Sir Ed mund Peckham Our trusty servant and yet Cofferer of Our house shall be Treasurer and have the receipt and laying out of all such treasure and money as shll be defrayed by Our Executors for the performance of this Our last Will straightly charging and commanding the said Sir Edmund that he pay no great summe of money but he have first the hands of Our said Executors or of the most part of them for his discharge touching the same charging him further upon his allegiance to make a true account of all such summes as shall be delivered to his hands for this purpose And sithence We have now named and constituted Our Executors We will and charge them that first and above all things as they will answer before God and as We put Our singular trust and confidence in them that they cause all Our due Debts that can be reasonably shewed and proved before them to be fully contented and payed as soon as they conveniently can or may after Our decease without longer delay and that they doe
execute these points first that is to say the payment of Our debts with redresse of injuries if any such can be duly proved though to Us they be unknown before any other part of this Our Will and Testament Our Buriall Exequies and Funerals onely except Furthermore We will that all such Grants and Gifts as We have made given or promised to any which be not yet perfected under Our singe or any Our seals as they ought to be and all such recompense for exchanges sales or any other thing or things as ought to have been made by Us and be not yet accomplished shall be perfected in every point towards all manner of men for discharge of Our conscience charging Our Executors and all the rest of Our Counsellours to see the same done performed finished and accomplished in every point foreseeing that the said Gifts Grants and Promises and Recompense shall appear to Our said Executors or the most part of them to have been granted made accorded or promised in any manner of wise Further according to the laws of Almighty God and for the fatherly love which We bear to Our Son Prince EDWARD and to this Our Realm We declare Him according to justice equity and conscience to be Our lawfull Heir and doe give and bequeath unto Him the succession of Our Realms of England and Ireland with Our Title of France and all Our Dominions both on this side the seas and beyond a convenient portion for Our Will and Testament to be reserved Also We give unto Him all Our plate stuffe of houshold artillery ordnance ammunition ships cables and all other things and implements to them belonging And money also and jewels saving such portions as shall satisfie this Our last Will and Testament charging and commanding Him on pain of Our curse seeing He hath so loving a Father of Us and that Our chief labour and study in this world is to establish Him in the Crown Imperial of this Realm after Our decease in such sort as may be pleasing to God and to the wealth of this Realm and to His own honour and quiet that He be ordered and ruled both in His marriage and also in ordering the affairs of the Realm as well outward as inward And also in all His own private affairs and in giving of Offices of charge by the advise and counsell of Our right entirely beloved Counsellours the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Wriothesly Chancellour of England the Lord St. John great Master of Our house the Lord Russell Lord Privie Seal the Earl of Hertford great Chamberlain of England the Viscount Lisle high Admirall of England the Bishop Tonstall of Duresme Sir Anthony Browne Knight Master of Our horses Sir William Pagett Our chief Secretary Sir Anthony Denny Sir William Herbert Justice Montague and Bromley Sir Edward Wotton Mr. Doctor Wotton and Sir Edward North whom We ordain name and appoint and by these presents signed with Our hand doe make and constitute Our Privie Counsell with Our said Son and will that they have the governance of Our most dear Son Prince EDWARD and of all Our Realms Dominions and Subjects and of all the Affairs publick and private untill he shall have fully compleated the xviij th year of his age And for because the variety and number of things affairs and matters are and may be such as we not knowing the certainty of them before cannot conveniently prescribe a certain order or rule unto Our said Counsellours for their behaviours and proceedings in this charge which We have now and doe appoint unto them about Our said Son during the time of his minority aforesaid We therefore for the speciall trust and confidence which We have in them will and by these presents doe give and grant full power and authority unto Our said Counsellours that they all or the most part of them being assembled together in Counsell or if any of them fortune to die the more part of them which shall be for the time living being assembled in Counsel together Ann. Dom. 1546. shall Ann. Reg. Hē 8. 38. and may make devise and ordain what things soever they or the more part of them as aforesaid shall during the minority of Our said Son think meet necessary and convenient for the benefit honour and surety of the weal profit and commodity of Our said Son His Realms Dominions or Subjects or the discharge of Our conscience And the same things devised made or ordained by them or the more part of them aforesaid shall and may lawfully doe execute and accomplish or cause to be done executed and accomplished by their discretions or the discretions of the more part of them as aforesaid in as large and ample manner as if We had or did expresse unto them by a more speciall Commission under Our Great Seal of England every particular cause that may chance or occurre during the time of Our said Sons minority and the self-same manner of proceeding which they shall for the time think meet to use and follow Willing and charging our said Son and all others which shall hereafter be Counsellours to Our said Son that they never charge molest trouble or disquiet Our aforesaid Counsellours nor any of them for the devising or doing nor any other person for the doing of that they shall devise or the more part of them devise or doe assembled as is aforesaid And We doe charge expresly the same Our entirely beloved Counsellours and Executors that they shall take upon them the rule and charge of Our said Son and Heir in all His causes and affairs and of the whole Realm doing neverthelesse all things as under Him and in His name untill Our said Son and Heir shall be bestowed and married by their advise and that the xviij th year be expired willing and desiring furthermore Our said trusty Counsellours and then all Our trusty and assured Servants and thirdly all other Our loving Subjects to aid and assist Our forenamed Counsellors in the execution of the premises during the aforesaid time Not doubting but they will in all things deal so truly and uprightly as they shall have cause to think them well chosen for the charge committed unto them straightly charging our said Counsellours and Executors and in Gods name exhorting them for the singular trust and speciall confidence which We have and ever had in them to have a due and diligent eye perfect zeal love and affection to the honour surety estate and dignity of Our said Son and the good state and prosperity of this Our Realm And that all delaies set apart they well aid and assist Our said Counsellours and Executors to the performance of this Our present Testament and last Will in every part as they will answer before God at the day of judgment Cum venerit judicare vivos mortuos and furthermore for the speciall trust and confidence which we have in the Earls of Arundell and Essex that now be Sir Thomas Cheny Knight
Abbey-Lands so dye other lands when in the hands of a riotous person Thus Lands as well as goods and chattels are moveables though not from their Center yet from their Owner Yea our draught lately presented doth prove that many Mitred Abbeys have survived the dangerous Climactericall of the third Generation 14. For mine own part Sir Hen. Spelman's Observations on Abbey-lands my tongue is so farre from bespeaking such lands with any ill successe that I wish to all lawfully possessed of them either by the bounty of their Prince their own or Ancestors fair purchase that peaceably and prosperously they may enjoy them Et nati natorum ut qui nascantur ab ipsis However it will not be amisse to insert the observation of a most worthy Antiquary in the County wherein he was born and best experienced who reporâ—eâ—h â—hat in Norfolke there were an hundred houses of Gentlemen before the Dissolution of Abbeys possessed of fair estates of whom so many as gained accession by Abbey-lands are at this time extinct or much empaired bemoaning his own familie under the latter notion as diminished by such an addition 15. Hear also what his son faith to the same purpose * Clement Spelman in his Preface to his Father's Book Denon temerandis Eccl fâ—is King Henry exchanged Abbey-lands His Son 's on the same and by this means like the dust flung up by Moses they presently disperse all the Kingdome over and at once become curses both upon the Families and Estates of the Owners they often vitiously spending on their private occasions what was piously intended for publick devotion insomuch that within twenty years next after the Dissolution moe of our Nobility and their children have been attainted and died under the sword of Iustice than did from the Conquest to the Dissolution being almost five hundred years so as if thou examine the List of the Barons in the Parliament of the 27 of Henry the eighth thou shalt finde very few of them whose Sons doe at this day inherit their Fathers titles and estates and of these few many to whom the King's favour hath restored what the rigorous Law of Attainder took both Dignity Lands and Posterity And doubtlesse the Commons have drunk deep in this cup of deadly wine but they being more numerous and lesse eminent are not so obvious to observation 16. As for the report of Reynerus * Apostolatus Benedict in Ang. fol. 227 228. A Papist his observation the Reader may believe the lesse thereof for his known ingagement to Rome thus expressing himself At the Dissolution Henry the eighth divided part of the Church-spoils among two hundred and sixty Gentlemen of families in one part of England and at the same time Thomas Duke of Norfolk rewards the service of twenty of his Gentlemen with the grant of forty pounds a year out of His own inheritance and while not sixty of the Kings Donees had sons owning their fathers estates every one of the Dukes hath a son of his own loines flourishing in his fathers inheritance and I could have set down their several names had conveniencie required it 17. But it is high time for me to put a period to this subject The Conclusion lest as the Abbeys were complained to grow so great that they engrossed the third part of the Land so my discourse of them infected with the same fault will be condemned by the Reader for the tedious prolixity thereof The rather because this old and trite subject is now grown out of fashion men in our Age having got a new object to fix their eyes and observation thereon taking notice how such Church-lands doe thrive which since hath been derived into the hands of new possessors The end of the Sixt Book THE Church-History OF BRITAIN THE SEVENTH BOOK CONTAINING THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE SIXT To the Right Honourable LEICESTER DEVEREUX VISCOUNT HEREFORD Lord FERRARS of Chartley c. My lord GReat was the difference betwixt the breeding of Adonijah and Solomon though sons to the same father The former tasted not of Reproof much lesse of Correction it being never said unto him Why a 1 kings 1. 6. hast thou done so Solomon had his education on severer Principles He was his Parents Darling not their b Prov. 4. 3. Fondling It was after sounded in his ears What c Prov. 31. 2. my Son and what the Son of my womb Our English Gentry too often embrace the first course in breeding their Children whereby they become old-Men before they are wise-Men because their Fathers made them Gentlemen before they were Men making them too soon to know the great Means they are born to and too long to be ignorant of any good quality whereby to acquire a maintenance in case their Estates as all things are uncertain should faile or forsake them Hence it is they are as unable to endure any hardship as David to march in Sauls armour for he f I Sam. 17. 39. had never proved it utterly unacquainted therewith But your discreet Parents though kinde were not cockering unto you whom they sent very young into the Low-Countreys where in some sort you earned what you eat in no lesse honourable than dangerous employment This hath setled the sinewes of your Soule and compacted the ioynts thereof which in too many hang loose as rather tackt than knit together Since being returned into England partly by your Patrimony partly by your Matrimony an antient and fair Estate hath accrewed unto you Yet it hath not grown as S. Basil fancieth roses in Paradise before Adams fall without thorns and prickles Many molestations attended it through which you have waded in a good measure having had TRIALS indeed wherein on what side soever the Verdict went you gained Patience and Experience Indeed there is an experience the MISTRESSE of FOOLS which they learn by their losses and those caused by their own carelesness or wilfulness in managing their affairs But also there is one the MASTER-PIECE of VVISE-MEN to attain wherein they observe the events of all things after their utmost endevours have submitted the success to Divine Providence Yours is of the last and best kind whereby you are become a skilfull Master of Defence Knowing all the advantageous postures and guards in our Lawes not thereby to vex others but save your self from vexation Thus having born the Yoke in your youth you may the better afford ease and repose to your reduced age and having studied many Men in Armes more in Gowns you now may solace your self and entertain the time with perusing of Books amongst which I humbly request this may have the favour of your Honours eye to whom on a double motive it is Dedicated First because containing the Life of that PRINCE who for His Piety may be exemplary to all persons of quality Secondly because it was He who conferred the highest still remaining Honour on your Family advancing it formerly very
the Church joyned with them in the Town house Rich Pepists feared their goods would be condemned as heretical even by the Rebels of their own Religion which made them persist in their loyalty to their Soveraign 8. John Russell Lord privie Seal was sent down with small Forces to suppresse the Commotion A person very proper for that service as of a stout spirit and richly landed in this County He stayed some time at Honyton in vain expecting promised supplies either because this Lord was lookt on as of the Protectors party whose Court-interest did much decline or because Norfolke Rebellion as nearer London engrossed all warlike provisions Thus was this Lord in deep distresse having nothing save his Commission strong about him and his few forces for fear and want of pay began daily to forsake him 9. And now following the advice of the Dorset-shire Gentry he was ready to return when three Princely Merchants for so may I term them both for great interest and loyal intentions viz Thomas Prestwood Thomas Bodly and John Periam so improved their credits with Bristoll Lime and Taunton that they furnished the Lord Russell with necessaries to march forward Animated herewith they advance and gave the Rebels such a blow at Fenington-bridge that they left three hundred of their bodies dead on the place 10. Soon after the Lord Gray of Wilton whose slownesse may be excused as busied by the way in suppressing Tumults in Buckingham and Oxford shire came with a company of Horsmen and 300 Italian Shot under Baptist Spinola their Leader to recruit the Lord Russell Here one would wonder to behold the native English fighting in the maintenance of the Masse opposed by Italians untill he considereth that these foraigners being Souldiers of Fortune consulted the Coine not the Cause of such as entertained them And now the Kings Army advanceth towards Exeter a word or two of which Cities sad condition 11. The Rebels had often attempted to fire the Gates of the City till at last the Citizens found the Paradox true that the onely way to keep their City shut was to set their Gates open making rampires more defensible behinde them As for the Enemies intent to undermine and blow up the Walls it was first discovered then defeated by John Newcombe a Tinner of Teingmouth Philip Comineus For taking advantage of the declivity of the City on that side he countermin'd the Rebels work and then deriv'd into it all the kennels and water-courses falling down with a great precipice and so drowned the vault intended with powder to blow up the Walls Besides at the same instant set an impetuous showre which added to the Deluge Thus in vain doth Hell seek to kindle that Fire when Heaven intendeth to poure water for the quenching thereof 12. Famine raged most extremely insomuch as they were fain to bake bran and meal moulded up in cloathes for otherwise it would not stick together Nor must the worthy resolution of a loyall Citizen be forgotten publickly professing That rather than he would surrender the City to the Rebels he would fight with one arm and feed on the other And now were they reduced to utmost extremity when the seasonable approach of Lord privie Seale put a period to their Miseries For at the winde-mill of S. Mary Clist after a bloody Battle wherein Sir William Francis was slain on the King's side the Rebels were routed and sorced to flie leaving a thousand of their corps dead on the place Miles Coverdail gave publick thanks to God for the victory in the view of Exeter and soon after was made the Bishop thereof 13. Then the Lord caused S. Mary Clist to be burnt to the ground though it was his own Town as knowing full well Traytours to their King would never make good Tenants to their Landlord And on Clist-heath a second fight was begun where the Rebels were finally overcome The Lord privie Seal marched into Exeter and was there as he well deserved welcomed with all possible expressions of joy Sir William Herbert with 1000 Welsh came too late to fight but soon enough to be an honourable Witnesse of the victory 14. This sixt of August Two solemne yearly festivals the day of their deliverance is an high festival in the Almanack of Exeter Good cheer and thereby I justly guesse their great gratitude being annually observed with a publick Sermon to perpetuate the memory of Gods mercy unto them Yet such Solemnities doe daily decay every new Generation being removed one degree farther from the deliverance The King conferred the Manour of Exetland formerly belonging to the City but wrested from it by the Earls of Devon-shire on their Corporation in reward of their loyalty and valour 15. Humphrey Arundle Winslade Bery and Coffi were executed and as this Commotion began it ended at Sampford-Courtney where their last remnant was defeated Six Popish Priests were hanged with Welsh the Vicar of St. Thomas though all this was but mercy to the cruelty of Sir Anthony Kingston Provost-Marshall in trussing up many mean offenders 1. It began about the 20 th of June at Attilborrough about the laying open of Commons The beginning of two Rebellions pretended lately inclosed to the prejudice of the Poor Much increased on the 6â— of July at Windham Play where there was a great confluence of idle people repairing from all parts of the County 2. Robert Ket Their Ring-leaders and number Tanner of Windham one of more wealth than common folk of his craft yet of more wit than wealth confidence than either was chosen their Captain He with two Assistants chosen out of every hundred kept his Kings Bench Chancery and all other Courts under a Tree termed the Oake of Reformation where he did justice be it wrong or right to all such as were summoned before him In short time they increased to be more than twenty thousand 3. Sir Edmond Windham Sheriffe of Northfolke The Sheriffs endevours succeed not commanded them in the King's name peaceably to depart But had not his Horsemanship been better than his Rhetorick himself had not departed the place Yea now the * Hooker alias Vowell in Hollingshed p. 1015 1017. Rebels began to play their pranks threatning to burn the House Idem p. 1029. and defacing the Dovecoat formerly a Chappel before it was turned of an House of Prayer into a Den of Thieves of Master Corbets of Sprowston and committing many outrages layed all Pastures rather waste than open where they came Yea now they march towards Norwich the chief place in the County 4. Norwich is like a great volume with a bad cover The description of Exeter and Norwich having at best but parchment walls about it Nor can it with much cost and time be effectually fortified because under the frowning brow of Moushold Hill hanging over it The River Yere so wanton that it knoweth not its own minde which way to goe such the involved flexures thereof within a
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
Lord Rich smiled not at his relation as sadly sensible of the mistake and delivery of the Letter to the Duke of Norfolke no great friend of his and an utter enemy to the Duke of Somerset 41. Wonder not if this Lord rose early up the next morning The Lord Rich resigneth his Chancellors place who may be presumed not to have slept all night He higheth to the Court and having gotten admittance into the Bed Chamber before the King was risen up fell down on his knees and desired that his old age might be eased of his burthensome Office pleading That there ought to be some preparatory interval in States men betwixt their Temporall businesse and their Death in order to which he desired to retire into Essex there to attend his own Devotions Nor would he rise from the ground till the King had granted his request And thus he saved himself from being stript by others by first putting off his own clothes who otherwise had lost his Chancellours place for revealing the secrets of the Councell Board Some daies after the Scale was solemnly fetcht from him and conferred on Doctor Goodrich Bishop of Elie. 42. The Impeachment of the Duke went on neverthelesse The Duke of Somâ—rseâ— impeached of Treason and two Nets were laid to catch him Dec. 1. that if one brake the other might hold He was indicted of Treason and Fellonie the former was onely to give the report the latter to discharge the bullet So great a Peer could not be accused of lesse than High Treason that the offence might appear proportionable to the Offender However he was acquitted of Treason whereat the people in Westminster-hall gave such a shout that though the same was intercepted and circumscribed by the house it is reported to be heard as farre f Stowes Annals p. 606. as Long-Acre 43. But this sound was seconded with a sad silence when he was condemned for Felony Sad silence by a new made Statute for plotting the death of a Privie Counsellour namely the Earle of Warwick Here a strange oversight was committed that he craved not the benefit of the Clergie which could not legally be denied him on the granting whereof the ensuing punishment had certainly been remitted and not long after he was beheaded on Tower-hill with no lesse praise for his piety and patience than pity and grief of the Beholders 44. Posterity is much unsatisfied in the justnesse of his suffering A Quae for posterâ—â—y and generally doe believe That he himselfe was the sheep who was here condemn'd for the slaughter A good Author tells us That he lost his life for a small crime and that upon a nice * 〈◊〉 Brit. in Somerâ—etsâ—ire point subtilly devised and packt by his enemies And yet that the good King Himselfe was possessed of his guilt may appeare by His ensuing Letter * Tâ—â—nscribed out of the Oâ—iginall written with His own hand to a dear Servant of His as followeth To Our well-beloved servant Barnaby Fitz-Patricke one of the Gentlemen of Our Chamber EDWARD LIttle hath been done since you went but the Duke of Somerset's arraignment for felonious Treason and the Musters of the new-erected Gendarmery The Duke the first of this Moneth was brought to VVestminster-hall where sate as Judge or High Steward my Lord Treasurer twenty six Lords of the Parliament went on his Triall Indictments were read which were severall some for Treason some for trayterous Felony The Lawyers read how Sir Thomas Palmer had confessed that the Duke once minded and made him privie to raise the North after to call the Duke of Northumberland the Marquesse of Northampton and the Earle of Pembroke to a Feast and so to have slain them And to doe this thing as it was to be thought had levied men a hundred at his house at London which was scanned to be Treason because unlawfull Assemblies for such purposes was Treason by an Act made the last Sessions Also how the Duke of Somerset minded to stay the Horses of the Gendarmery and to raise London Crane confessed also the murdering of the Lords in a Banquet Sir Miles Partridge also confessed the raising of London Hamman his man having a Watch at Greenwich of twenty weaponed men to resist if he had been arrested and this confessed both Patridge and Palmer He answered That when he levied men at his House he meant no such thing but onely to defend himself The rest very barely answered After debating the matter from nine of the clock till three the Lords went together and there weighing that the matter seemed only to touch their lives although afterward more inconvenience might have followed and that men might think they did it of malice acquitted him of High Treason and condemned him of Felony which he seemed to have confessed He hearing the Judgment fell down on his knees and thanked them for his open Triall After he asked pardon of the Duke of Northumberland the Marquesse c. whom he confessed he meant to destroy although before he swore vehemently to the contrary Thus fare you well ¶ From Westminster the 20 th of December 1551. Dec. 10. Anno Domini 1551. Hereby it plainly appeareth that the King was possessed with a perswasion of His Uncles guiltiness whether or no so in truth God knoweth and generally Men believe Him abused herein And it seemeth a wonder to me that six weeks from December the 1 to January the 22. interceding betwixt the Dukes condemnation and execution no means were made during that time to the King for his pardon But it is plain that his foes had stopped all accesse of his friends unto the King 45. The Duke of Somerset was religious himself The Dukes character a lover of all such as were so and a great Promoter of Reformation Valiant fortunate witnesse his victory in Musleborrough field when the Scots filled many carts with emptinesse and loaded them with what was lighter than vanity it self Popish Images and other Trinkets wherein they placed the confidence of their Conquest He was generally beloved of Martiall men yet no marvell if some did grumble against him seeing there is no Army save that of the Church Triumphant wherein the Souldiers at some time or other doe not complain against their Generall Nor is the wonder great if he sometimes trespassed in matters of State seeing the most conscientious Polititian will now and then borrow a point of Law not to say take it for their due even with an intent never to pay it He was better to perform than plot doe than design In a word his self-hurting innocence declined into guiltinesse whose soule was so farre from being open to causlesse suspitions that it was shut against just jealousies of danger 46. He built Somerset-house His great buildings where many like the workmanship better than either the foundation or materials thereof For the Houses of three Bishops Landaffe Coventry and Litchfield and Worcester
were some earnest determination against them and at length they were brought before the King Himself there being present all the whole Council And the King demanded of them why they had not made His Book according to His commandment and refused that to doe with sharp words and angry countenance and the said Sr. Edward opened unto His Highnesse the cause why they did it not and he and other had before declared and opened to the Councill that if the writings were made they were of no effect nor force but utterly void when the King should decease and the Statute of Succession not impaired nor hurted for these will not be taken away but by the same authority they were made and that was by Parliament To that said the King we minde to have a Parliament shortly not telling when which was the first time that the said Sr. Edward heard of any Parliament to be 〈◊〉 Whereunto he said if His pleasure were so all might be deferred to the Parliament and all dangers and perils saved Whereunto the King said he would have this done and after ratifie it by Parliament And after commanded them very sharply upon their allegiance to make it and there were divers of the Lords that stood behind the said Sr. Edward said and if they refused to do that they were traitours And the said Sr. Edward was in great fear as ever he was in all his life before seeing the King so earnest and sharpe and the said Duke so angry the day before who ruled the whole Councill as it pleased him and were all affraid of him the more is the pitty so that such cowardnesse and feare was there never seen amongst honourable men as it hath appeared The said Sr. Edward being an old weak man and without comfort began to consider with himself what was best to be done for the safeguard of his life which was like to chance in that fury and great anger presently And remembring that the making of the said writing was not presently treason by the Statute of Anno primo because this word Successour would take no place while the King was living and determined with himself not to meddle nor execute any thing concerning the same after the death of the King which he hath truly kept hereunto And also remembring that the Queens Highnesse that now is should come by Act of Succession as a purchaser by the law might not lawfully punish treason or contempt committed in the Kings life he said unto the King that he had served His most noble Father many yeers and also His Highnesse during His time Anno Dom. 1553 and loth he would be to disobey His commandment Anno Regin Mar. 1. for his own part he would obey it so that His Highnesse would grant to them His commandment license and commission under His great Seal for the doing making and executing of all things concerning the same and when the things were done that they might have a general pardon All which Commission and pardon was as much as the said Sr. Edward could invent to help this danger over and besides the things above remembred which Commission and pardon the King granted them saying it was but reason that they should have them both and the Commission is passed the Great Seal and the Pardon was signed and as far as he knew sealed All the said matters considered the said Sr. Edward said for his part he would obey the Kings commandment and so did M. Bromley say the same and the King said to Sr. John Baker what say you you said never a word today who as I take it agreed to the same Mr. Gosnold required a respite for he was not yet perswaded to do the thing required How the said Duke and the Earl of Shrewsburie handled him he can tell best himself And after upon the said Sr. Edwards motion the King gave him licence to be advised untill upon the morrow who of himself being in great fear was content to obey the Kings commandment and so the doers and makers of the said Book with sorrowfull hearts and with weeping eyes in great fear and dread devised the said Book according to such Articles as were signed with the Kings proper hand above and beneath and on every side And their said Commission with Articles so signed with the Kings hand and the Book drawn in paper were conveyed from the Court to the Lord Chancelors to be ingrossed in parchment and to passe the great Seal which was done accordingly And on the morrow next after the last Terme ended the said Sr. Edward and all the Judges were sent for he puts his hand to the Book in parchment sealed with the Great Seal and so did many others The said Book of Articles so signed remaineth with the Lord Chancellour Bishop of Eely but who conveyed the said Paper Book into the Chancery or who wrot them or who set their hands to the same Book the said Sr. Edward till he see them he cannot tell but he will not denie but he was privie to the making of them as he hath before said and that he came to the knowledge of the matter by the Articles unsigned and by the Articles signed with the Kings hand and both delivered unto him by the Kings own hands Who put the King in minde to make the said Articles or whowrote them or any of them or by whose procurement or counsell they were made or by what means he and others were called unto this matter he knoweth not but he thinks in his conscience the King never invented this matter of Himself out by some wonderfull false compasse he prayeth God the truth may be known as he doubts not it will be And further he and all his company as well before the King as before the Lords at all times said that their writings before they were made and after they were made were of no value force nor effect to any intent constitution or purpose after the Kings death and there is no remedy to help this but by Parliament And that after the said Thursday being the morrow after the Terme last past that he by any writing printing overt deed or act never did any thing sithence the same day in the Kings life ne sithence the death of the King for he determined with himself to be no executour of the said devise whatsoever should chance of it nor ever medled with the Councill in any thing nor came amongst them untill the Queens Grace that now is was proclaimed Queen in London nor never executed Commission Proclamation or other commandment from the Ladie Jane nor Her Councill but commanded my son to serve the Queens Grace that now is and to go to Sr. Thomas Tresham and Buckingham-shire-men that went to her Grace to defend Her which he so did to my no little cost The case thus stated these notes follow written with the same hand Now that it is to be considered the great fear the said Sr. Edward was
in as well by the Duke of Northumberland on the one day as by the King on the other day Also it is to be considered the Kings commandment upon their allegiance by His own mouth and the Articles signed with His Highnesse own hand and also His Commission license and commandment under His Great Seal to the said Sr. Edward and others for the making of the said Booke Also the Kings pardon signed with His Highnesse hand Also it is to be considered that the said Books were made in the Kings life seaven or eight dayes before His death and the Queens Highnesse being Successour by Act of Parliament to the Crown and having the same as a Purchaser may not lawfully by the Laws of the Realme punish the said offence done in the Kings time Also the said Sr. Edward hath humbly submitted himself to the Queen Highnesse and to the order of the Commissioners Which Commissioners have ordered the said Sr. Edward to pay to Her Highnesse a thousand pounds who hath already paid thereof five hundred pounds and the other five hundred pounds are to be paid at the Feast of All-Saints come Twelve-moneth And also to surrender his letters Patents of lands to the yeerly value of fifty pounds called Eltyngton which he had of the gift of King Edward the Sixth which was all the reward he had of the said King Edward for his service costs and expences Also it is to be considered that the said Sr. Edward is put from his office of the Chief Justice-ship of the Common-Pleas being of the yeerly value of six hundred marks which office the most noble King of famous memorie King Henry the Eighth gave him in consideration of his long service and also had six weeks imprisonment Also it is to be considered that the same Sr. Edward hath seaventeen children viz. eleven Daughters and six Sons whereof one of the said Sons had his legge striken off by the knee in Scotland at Muscleborough-field the Duke of Sommerset being there And his Son and Heire by his commandment served the Queens Highnesse with twenty men to the cost of the said Sr. Edward of one hundred pounds as the Gentlemen of Buckingham-shire can report SO far the late Judge with his own hand Wherein he affirmeth that he medled not with the Councell in any thing afterward as may appear by his not subscribing the letter of the Lords to Queen Mary enjoying shall I say or advising Her to desist from claiming the Crown whereto all the Privie * See them exant in Mr. Fox Act. Mon-Anno 1553. Councellours subscribed onely the hand of Sr. Edward Mountagu is wanting And seeing in the whole transaction of this matter the obedience rather then invention of Judge Mountagu was required not to devise but draw things up according to Articles tendred unto him I cannot believe his * Sr. John Heywood in his Edward 6 report report relating that the King used the advise of Justice Mountagu in drawing up the Letters Patents to furnish the same with reasons of Law as Secretary Cicil with arguments from Policie 3. Some will wonder that no mention herein of Sr. Roger Cholmley Sr. R. Chomley comes off with losse Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench and in dignity above Sr. Edward Mountagu at this time but Judge of the Common-Pleas that he was not employed to draw up the Book But it seems Judge Mountagu his judgement was more relied on who had been formerly Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench and deserted it Yet the said Sr. Roger Cholmley was imprisoned for bare subscribing this Will and as it seems lost his place for the same For Justice Bromley though equally guilty with the rest so far favour extends in matters of this nature was not onely pardoned but from an inferiour Judge * See Sr. H. Spelman Glossary in Justiciarius p. 417. Sr. Jam's Hales his honesty advanced to be successour to Sr. Roger Cholmly and made Judge of the Kings-Bench 4. Whereas Sr. Edward saith that all the Judges were sent for and that many put their hands to the Book it intimateth that all did not but that some refused the same it being eminently known to the everlasting honour of Sr. James Hales that no importunity could prevail with him to underwrite this will as against both law and conscience 5. Eight weeks and upwards passed between the proclaiming of Mary Queen Contest betwixt two Religions and the Parliament by her assembled during which time two religions were together set on foot Protestantisme and Poperie the former hoping to be continued the later labouring to be restored And as the Jews Children a Neh. 13. 24. after the captivity spake a middle language betwixt Hebrew and Ashdod so during the aforesaid interim the Churches and Chappels in England had mongrell celebration of their Divine services betwixt Reformation and Superstition For the Obsequies for King Edward were held by the Queen in the Tower August the seaventh Aug. 7. with the Dirige sung in Latin and on the morrow a masse of Requiem and on the same day his Corps were buried at Westminster with a sermon service and Communion in English No small iustling was there betwixt the zealous Promoters of these contrary Religions The Protestants had possession on their side and the Protection of the Laws lately made by King Edward and still standing in free and full force unrepealed Besides seeing by the fidelity of the Suffolk and Norfolke Protestant Gentry the Queen was much advantaged for the speedy recovering of her Right they conceived it but reason that as she by them had regained the Crown so they under her should enjoy their Consciences The Papists put their Ceremonies in Execution presuming on the Queen her private practice and publique countenance especially after she had imprisoned some Protestant and enlarged some Popish Bishops advancing Stephen Gardiner to be Lord Chancelour Many which were Newters before conceiving which side the Queen inclined would not expect but prevent her authority in Alteration So that Superstition generally got ground in the Kingdome Thus it is in the Evening Twi-light wherein light and darknesse at first may seem very equally matcht but the later within little time doth solely prevail 6. What impressions the Comming in of Queen Mary made on Cambridge Mr. Jewell pens the first Congratulatory letter to the Queen shall God willing be presented in our particular History thereof The sad and sudden alterations in Oxford thereby are now to be handled Ma. John Jewel was chosen to pen the first Gratulatorie Letter to the Queen in the Name of the Vniversity an office imposed on him by his enemies that either the refusall thereof should make him incurre danger from his foes or the performance expose him to the displeasure of his friends Yet he so warily penned the same in Generall termes that his Adversaries missed their marke Indeed all as yet were confident that the Queen would maintain the Protestant
procuring the votes of the Nobility feeding the b 〈…〉 pag. 329. Earle of Arundell with fond hopes that she would marry him and promising the Duke of Norfolke a dispensation from his wife which he could not with such expedition obtain from the Pope and yet faith he when all was done it was carried in the house of Lords but by c Idem pag. 303. three voices Here not to mention how in the greatest Councells matters of most high concernment have been determined with as few as three clear decisive suffrages this suggestion of Sanders is a loud untruth for the Act having easily pass'd the house of Commons found none of the Temporall Nobility in the house of Lords to oppose it save only the d Camdens Elizabeth in this year pag 19. Earle of Shrewsbury And Anthony Brown Viscount Mountacute who had formerly been employed to reconcile the Kingdom of England to his Holiness As for the Bishops there were but fourteen and the Abbot of Westminster then alive of whom foure being absent whether Voluntarily or out of Sickness uncertain the rest could not make any considerable opposition If any other Artifice was used in cunning contriving the businesse the Protestants were not aforchand but just even with the Papists who had used the same subtilty in their own Cause in the first Parliament of Queen Mary 10. But now to remove into the Convocation The acts of this years Convocation which at this time was very small and silent For as it is observed in Nature When one Twinn is of an unusual Strength and bigness the other his partner borne with him is weak and dwingled away So here this Parliament being very active in matters of Religion the Convocation younger Brother thereunto was little imployed and less Regarded Only after a Mass of the Holy Ghost had been celebrated Edmond Bonner Bishop of London in the vacancie of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury President of the Convocation began with a speech to this effect That although it had been an ancient and laudable custome to begin such meetings of the Clergie with a Latine Sermon yet such now was not to be expected partly because the Arch-Bishop was Dead who was to designe the Preacher and partly because they had received a e Liber Synod Anno Dom. 1559. folio 15. mandate from the privy Councel that no such Sermons should be made in that Church till they were further informed by the Queeu and her Councel In the third Session on friday Nicholas Harpsfield Doctor of Law and Arch-Deacon of Canterbury was chosen f Ib. fol. 6. Referendary or Prolocutor for the Clergie a place of some Credit g fol. 8. but little pains to discharge seeing the only remarkable thing which passed in this Convocation was certain Articles of Religion Feb. 18. which they tendered to the * To the Bps. that they might present them to the Parli c. Parliament which here we both Transcribe and Translate requesting the Reader not to begrutch his pains to peruse them Considering they are the last in this kinde that ever were represented in England by a Legall Corporation in defence of the Popish Religion And though errour doth go out with a Stink yet it is a persume that it does go out We are so far from denying a grave to bury them that we will erect the * Copied by me out of the Original Monument over this ashes of these dead errours REVERENDI in Christo Patres ac Domini colendissimi Anno Dom. 1558 Quoniam fama publica referente ad nostram nuper notitiam pervenit multa Religionis Christianae Dogmata publice unanimi gentium Christianarum consensu hactenus recepta probata ac ab Apostolis ad nos usque concorditer per manus deducta prâ—esertim Articulos infra scriptos in dubium vocari Hinc est quod nos Cantuariensis Provinciae inferior secundarius Clerus in uno Deo sic disponente ac Serenissimae Dominae nostrae Reginae Decani Capituls Cant. mandato Brevi Parliamenti ac monitione Ecclesiastica solita declarata id exigente convenientes partium nostrarum esse existimavimus tunt nostrae tum eorum quorum cura nobis Committitur aeternae saluti omnibus quibus poterimus modis prospicere Quocirca majorum nostrorum exemplis Commoti qui in similia saepe tempora inciderunt fidem quam in Articulis infra Scriptis veram esse credimus ex animo profitemur ad dei Laudem honorem officiique aliarum nostrae curae commissarum exonerationem praentibus duximus publicè auferendam affirmantes sicut Deus nos in die Judicij Adjuvet asserentes Primò quod in Sacramento Altaris virtute Christi verbo suo à Sacerdote debitè prolato assistentis praesens est realiter sub speciebus panis vini naturale Corpus Christi Conceptum de Virgine Mariae Item naturalis ejus Sanguis Item quod post Consecrationem non remanet substantia panis vini neque alia ulla substantia nisi substantia Dei hominis Item quod in missa offertur verum Christi Corpus verus ejusdem sanguis sacrificium propitiatiorium pro vivis defunctis Item quod Petro Apostolo ejus legitimis successoribus in sede Apostclica tanquim Christi Vicariis data est suprema potestas pascendi regendi ecclesiam Christi militantem et fratres suos confirmandi Item quod Authoritas tractandi dissiniendi de ijs quae spectant ad fidem Anno Dom. 1457. Sacrantentum disciplinam ecclesiasticam hactenus semper spectavit spectare debet tantum ad Pastores Ecclesiae quos spiritus Sanctus in hoc in ecclesiam Dei Pasuit non ad Laicos Quam nostram assertionem affirmationem fidem Nos inferior Clerus praedictus considerationes praedictas Vestris Paternitatibus tenore presentium exhibemus humiliter supplicantes ut quia nobis non est copia hanc nostram sententiam intentionem aliter illis quos in hac parte interest notificandi Vos qui Patres estis ista superioribus Ordinibus significare velitis Qua in re Offictum charitatis ac Pietatis ut arbitramur praestabitis saluti gregis vestri ut par est Prospicietis vestras ipsi animas liberabisis REVEREND Fathers in Christ and our honourable Lords Whereas by the report of publique fame it hath come unto our knowledge that many Doctrines of the Christain Religion hitherto received and approved by the unanimous consent of Christian nations and with joynt agreement as by hands deduced from the Apostles unto us especially the Articles under-written are now called into question Hence it is that we the inferior and secondary Clergy of the Province of Canterbury assembled in one body God so disposing it and the Command of our Lady the Queens most excellent Majesty together with the mandate of the Dean and chapter of Canterbury the Parliament-Writ and
contrivances of their neighbours houses as intending therein some designe for themselves Colledge Founder Benefactors Means I. Doway Colledge in Flanders founded 1569. Thence for fear of the wars removed to Rhems in France about 1508. where Henry the third King of France did patronize and protect them And some twenty years after brought back hither again Philip the Second King of Spaine All the Recusants in England A pension out of the King of Spains Treasury which being sometimes but badly paid the Scholars are fain to feed on patience 2. A yearly collection from the Catholicks of England 3. Sale of Masses Rich mens mortuaries which also are the staple maintenance of all other Colledges Number Rectour Eminent Schollars Uncertain but numerous For here they do not pick and choose for wit or wealth as in other Colledges but they receive all that come unto them 1. William Allen afterwards Cardinal a principal procurer and advancer of this foundation He died 1594. 2. Tho. Worthing'on of an ancient family in Lancashire Rectour 1609. 3. Matthew Kelison a North-Hamptonshire man Rectour 1624. Note That whereas the government of all other English Colledges belongs to Jesuits this only is ruled by Secular Priests D r. Web whom they brag to be the best Casuist in the world He lived to sing his Miss of Jubile having been a Priest full fifty years Colledge Founder Benefactour Means 2. Colledge of Rome founded 1579. Gregory the 13. Pope exhibited maintenance first to six then to fourteen at last to threescore Scholars therein to the yearly value of foure thousand Crowns Owen Lewes Referendary Apostolical was a principal promoter thereof The Welsh Hospital in Rome founded and endowed many hundred yeers since by Cadwallader King of Wales for Welsh pilgrims with the rich lands thereof conferred by Pope Gregorie the 13. on this Colledge They have at Frescata which is the Popes Sommer house lying some ten miles East of Rome three or four farmes where corne for the Colledge and other provision groweth Number Rectour Eminent Scholars One hundred at the least But Italian aire not well agreeing with English bodies they bury yearly ten or twelve of their fresh-men Note that whereas Anno 1576 there were but thirty old Priests remaining in this Realm these two Colledges alone within few years sent above three hundred Priests into England 1. D. Maurice He was removed out of his place for being too favourable to his Countritrimen the Welsh 2. Ferdinando a Neapolitan Jesuite succeeded him 3. Robert Persons Rectour for twenty three years from 1587. to 1610. where he died 4. Thomas Fitzherbert one of great age and parentage Rectour 1623. Francis Monfort who Anno 1591. being to depart the Colledge for England took his farewell of Pope Clement the eighth with so passionate a latin a Extant the continuation of Sanders de Schis Angl. pag 119. Image of â—oth Churches pag. 330. Sanders de Schism Angl. pag. 365. Oration that it fetch'd tears from the tender heart of his Holiness This Monfort some moneths after was executed in England Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 3. Colledge of Valladolit in Old Castile founded 1589. Anno Regin Eliza. 8. Philip the second Anno Dom. 1566. King of Spain Dona Luysa de Caravaial a rich widow Ladie in Spain gave all her estate being very great to this Colledge and came over into England where she died Lands they have not purchased much in Spain being loth the Spaniard should take notice of their wealth but great sums of mony they have at use in Brabant As also with English Factours in Spain perverted to their perswasion they have a great stock in trading Number Rector Eminent Scholars They are fewer now than formerly ever since the Spanish Court was removed by Philip the Third from Valladolit to Madrid Father Walpoole if not Rectour was principall actour herein about the year 1605. When by pretending to have gained Mr. Pickering Wotton son and heir to Lord Wotton to the Romish Church he got above a See this forgery at large in Lewes Owen his Running Register p. 59 to whom I am much beholding for my instructions in this subject five hundred pound to his Colledge  Know that S r. Francis Inglefield Privie Councellour to Queen Mary forsaking his fair Estate in Bark-shire in the first of Queen Elizabeth fled beyond the Sea He afterwards was a bountifull benefactor to the Colledge at Vaâ—â—â—dolit Yea he is beheld by the English Papists as a Beuefactor Generall to their Nation for the priviledges he procured them from Pope Gregory the thirteenth whereof hereafter He lieth buried in this Colledge and his Grave is shewen with great respect to Travellers of our Country coming thither Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 4. Colledge of Sivil founded 1593. Philip the second King of Spain Our English Merchants and Factours there residing even often against their own wills to secure themselves from the searchers in the Inquisition So that it is a Nemo scit what here is gotten for a Ne noceant They have a Box in every ship sailing to the West-Indies Upon it is the picture of S nt Thomas Becket on the Octaves of whose day this Colledge forsooth was first founded and into it through an hole in the lid thereof Merchants put in their devotion The key of this not Christmas but all-the-year-ong box is kept by the Rectour of the Colledge who only knoweth to how much this money amounteth Number Rectour Eminent Scholars * Cunning conveyances to pass over the seas Here expect not of me a discovery being no Spie by my profession of the cunning contrivances whereby these Jesuits pass and repass the seas without any detection yea suspicion of them Sometimes under the protection of a Pass procured from some Lords of the Privie Councell for a young Gentleman to go over into France with two or three of his Serving-men to learn the language Sometimes they shuffle themselves into the company of an Embassadour or his meniall servants and so cover their private falsehood under his publick Faith Many English Gentlewomen intended for Nunns are first vailed before their going beyond seas under pretence of travelling to the Spaw for their healths In their return for England these Jesuits have found the farthest way about for them the nearest way home For out of France or Spain first they will sail into the Low-Countries and thence into England and so coming immediately out of Protestant parts escape without any or with easie examination And yet these curious Engineers who flie so high and carry their conveyances so farr above all common discovery have sometimes one of their wheels or strings broken and then down they fall into Newgate or some other prison notwithstanding all their verbal and real equivocations Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 5. Saint Omers in Artois founded about the year 1596. Philip the second who gave them a good annuity for whose soul they say every day a Mass and every
dear brother the Lord Jesus every day more and more bless thee and all that earnestly desire his glory Geneva October 1582. Thine Beza often using another mans hand because of the shaking of my own We must not let so eminent a letter pass without some observations upon it See we here the secret sympathy betwixt England and Geneva about discipline Geneva helping England with her prayers England aiding Geneva with her purse 20. By the Colledge of Bishops here mentioned by Beza Geneva's suit was coldly resented we understand them assembled in the last Convocation Wonder not that Geneva's wants found no more pitty from the Episcopal party seeing all those Bishops were dead who formerly exiles in the Marian dayes had found favour and relief in Geneva and now a new generation arose having as little affection as obligation to that government But however it fared with Geneva at this time sure I am that some years a Vide pag. 1602. parag after preferring her petition to the Prelacie though frequent begging makes slender alms that Common-wealth tasted largely of their liberality 21. Whereas mention is made Why the rigorous pressing of subscription was now remitted of the heat of some abated this relateth to the matter of subscription now not pressed so earnestly as at the first institution thereof This remissnesse may be imputed partly to the nature of all laws for though knives if of good metall grow sharper because their edge thinner by using yet laws commonly are keenest at the first and are blunted in process of time in their execution partly it is to be ascribed to Arch-Bisshop Grindals age and impotency who in his greatest strength did but weakly urge conformity partly to the Earle of Leicester his interposing himself Patron General to non-subscribers being perswaded as they say by Roger Lord North to undertake their protection SECTION V. To DANIEL HARVEY Esq High Sheriff of Surrey I am sufficiently sensible of the great distance and disproportion betwixt my meanesse and your worth as at all other times so now especially whilst you are a prime Officer in publick employment Despairing therefore that my pen can produce any thing meet for your entertainment I have endeavoured in this Section to accommodate you with Company fittest for your Converse being all no meaner then Statesmen and most of them Privie Councellours in their severall Letters about the grand businesse of Conformity God in due time bless you and your Honorable Consort with such issue as may be a Comfort to you and a Credit to all your relations 1. VEry strongly Leicester though at the Councel table Politickly complying with the rest of the Lords A forme of Discipline considered of by the Brethren in a solemn Synod with the severall Decrees thereof and concurring alwayes with their results when sitting in Conjunction with them when alone engaged his Affections in favour of the Non-conformists and improved his power at this time very great with the Queen to obtain great liberty for them Hence it was that many Bishops Active in pressing subscription in their Diocess when repairing to Court were checkt and snibt by this great favourite to their no small grief and discouragement Heartned hereat the Brethren who hitherto had no particular platforme of discipline amongst themselves as universally owned and practised by their party began in a solemne Councell held by them but whether at Cambridge or London uncertain To conclude on a certain forme as followeth in these their decrees faithfully translated out of their own latine Copie The Title thereof videlicet These be the things that do seem may will stand with the peace of the Church The Decrees LEt no man though he be an Vniversity man offer himself to the Ministery nor let any man take upon him an uncertain and vague Ministery a a Under Mr. 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 of the â—spand 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Bancrofi his dangerous positions pag. 46. though it be offered unto him But such as be called to the Ministery by some certain Church let them impart it unto that Classis or conference where of themselves are or else to some greater Church-assembly and if such shall be found fit by them then let them be commended by there letters unto the Bishop that they may be ordained Ministers by him Those ceremonies in the Book of Common-Prayer which being taken from Popery are in controversie doseem that they ought to be omitted and given over if it may be done without danger of being put from the Ministery But if there be any imminent danger to be deprived then this matter must be communicated with the Classis in which that Church is that by the judgement thereof it may be determined what ought to be done If subscription to the Articles of Religion and to the Book of Common-Prayer shall be again urged it is thought that the Book of Articles may be subscribed unto according to the statute thirteenth Elizabeth that is unto such of them only as contain the sum of Christian faith and doctrine of the Sacraments But for many weighty causes neither the rest of the Articles in that Book nor the Book of Common-prayer may be allowed no though a man should be deprived of his Ministery for it It seemeth that Church-wardens and Collectors for the poor might thus be turned into Elders and into Deacons when they are to be chosen Let the Church have warning fifteen dayes before of the time of Election and of the Ordinance of the Realm but especially of Christs Ordinance touching appointing of Watchmen and overseers in his Church who are to fore-see that none offence of scandall do arise in the Church and if any shall happen that by them it may be duly abolished And touching Deacons of both sorts Videlicet men and women the Church shall be monished what is required by the Apostle and that they are not to chuse men of Custome and of Course or for their riches but for their faith zeal and integrity and that the Church is to pray in the mean time to be so directed that they make choice of them that be meet Let the names of such as are so chosen be published the next Lords day and after that their duties to the Church and the Churches towards them shall be declared then let them be received into the Ministery to which they are chosen with the generall prayers of the whole Church The Brethâ—en are to be requested to ordain a distribution of all Churches according to these rules in that behalf that are set down in the Synodical Discipline touching Classicall Provinciall Comitiall or of Commencements and assemblies for the whole kingdome The Classes are to be required to keep acts of memorable matters which they shall see delivered to the Comitiall assembly that from thence they may be brought by the Provinciall assembly Also they are to deal earnestly with Patrones to present fit men whensoever any Church is fallen void in that Classis The Comitial
any of its Ancestors which went before it Let me add also and no unhappier than its successors that shall come after it It being observed that meetings of this nature before or after this time never produced any great matter on persons present thereat who generally carry away the same judgement they brought with them And yet the Lords were pleased to say their judgements were satisfied in the point on the Bishops behalf not conceving their adversaries arguments so slight and triviall as now they appeared This was in some of them but a Court-Complement who afterwards secretly acted against the Arch-Bishop in favour of the other party 14. Whitgift finding this first way unsuccessfull Subscription severely pressed fell from other reasoning to a flat argument from Authority enjoyning all admitted to the Ecclesiasticall Orders and Benefices the subscription of the following Articles 1. That the Queen had supream authority over all persons born within Her Dominions of what condition so ever they were and that no other Prince Prelate or potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction Civil or Ecclesiasticall within Her Realms or Dominions 2. That the Book of Common-Prayer and the Ordination of Bishops Priests and Deacons containeth nothing contrary to the Word of God but may lawfully be used and that they will use that and none other 3. That the Articles of Religion agreed in the Synod holden at London in the year of our Lord 1562. and published by the Queens authority they did allow of and beleeve them to be consonant to the Word of God The severe inforcing of subscription hereunto what great disturbance it occasioned in the Church shall hereafter by Gods assistance be made to appear leaving others to judge whether the offence was given or taken thereby 15. Now came forth the Rhemish Translation of the New Testament The Rhemish Translation comes forth A Translation which needeth to be translated neither good Greek Latine or English as every where bespeckled with hard words pretended not renderable in English without abatement of some expressiveness which transcend common capacities Besides it is taxed by our Divines as guilty of abominable errours therein It was printed in large paper with a fair letter and margent all which I have charity enough to impute to their desire to do it for the more dignity of Gods word whilest others interpret it that thereby purposely they inhaunced the price to put it past the power of poore mens purses to purchase it Another accident raised the dearness thereof because so many books being seized on by the Queens Searchers the whole price of the Edition fell the more heavie on the remainder But suppose a poor Lay-Catholick so rich through his industry as secretly to purchase one of these Rhemish Testaments he durst not avouch the reading thereof without the permission of his Superiors licensing him thereunto 16. Secretary Walsingham Cartwright invited to answer it by his letters solicited M r. Thomas Cartwright to undertake the refuting of this Rhemish Translation and the better to enable him for the work sent him an-hundred a See â—he preface to Cartwrights book pounds out of his own purse A bountifull gift for one who was though a great Statesman a man of small estate contracting honourable b Camdens Elizabeth Anno 1590. poverty on himself by his expence on the publick as dying not so engaged to his private creditors as the whole Church and State was indebted to his endeavours Walsingham his letters to Cartwright were seconded by another from the Doctours and Heads of Houses and D r Fulke amongst the rest at Cambridge besides the importunity of the ministers of London and Suffolk solliciting him to the same purpose Hereupon Cartwright buckled himself to the employment and was very forward in the pursuance thereof 17. No sooner had Whitgift gotten notice Whitgift stoppeth his book what Cartwright was a writing but presently he prohibited his farther proceeding therein It seems Walsingham was Secretary of State not of Religion wherein the Arch-Bishop overpowred him Many commended his care not to intrust the defence of the Doctrine of England to a pen so disaffected to the Discipline thereof Others blamed his jealousie to deprive the Church of so learned pains of him whose judgement would so solidly and affections so zealously confute the publick adversary Distastfull passages shooting at Rome but glancing at Canterburie if any such were found in his book might be expunged whilest it was pity so good fruit should be blasted in the bud for some bad leaves about it Dishartened hereat Cartwright desisted but some years after encouraged by a Honourable Lord resumed the work but prevented by death perfected no further then the fifteenth chapter of the Revelation Many years lay this worthy work neglected and the copy thereof mouse-eaten in part whence the Printer excused some defects therein in his edition which though late yet at last came forth Anno 1618. A book which notwithstanding the foresaid defects is so compleat Anno Dom. 1584. Anno Regin Eliza. 27. that the Rhemists durst never return the least answer thereunto 18. Mean time whilest Cartwright his refutation of the Rhemish was thus retarded D r. William Fulke Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge entered the list against them judiciously and learnedly performing his undertaking therein His daughter and as I take it the only surviver of his children lately set forth the fourth and fairest edition of this his Confutation and dedicated it to King Charls 19. The Rhemists profess in their preface to the New Testament that the Old Testament also lieth by them for lack of good means to publish the whole in such sort Dr. Fulke first effected it as a work of so great charge and importance requireth which seemeth strange to a judicious consideration For had a voluminous legend of Saints-lives with pictures as costly as superstitious been to be set forth a mass a mint a mine of mony could easily be advanced to defray the expences thereof Thus Papists can be poor or rich as they please themselves Some behold this their promise to set forth the Old Testament as not really intended A promise never performed but given out to raise mens expectations which in process of time would fall of it self and the profer by degrees be forgotten Others interpret their resolutions real but purposely revoked seeing the ill success of their New testament so canvassed and confuted by the Protestant Divines Perceiving that their small pinace which they first set forth met at sea with such boisterous weather wisely they would not adventure a greater vessel after it but rather left it to rot on the dock than they would lanch it forth in such danger A third sort behold this their promise as a modest and manerly alià s a crafty and cunning begging of a contribution of the Catholick party for setting forth of the same which never as yet came into publick view Yea the Old
betwixt them But such as knew M r Hooker knew him to be too wise to take exception at such trifles the rather because the most judicious is always the least part in all auditories 55. Here might one on Sundayes have seen They clash about matters of Doctrine almost as many writers as hearers Not only young students but even the gravest Benchers such as S t Edw Cook and S t James Altham then were were not more exact in taking instructions from their clients then in writing notes from the mouths of their Ministers The worst was these two preachers though joyned in affinity their nearest kindred being married together acted with different principles and clashed one against another So that what M r Hooker delivered in the forenoon M r Travers confuted in the afternoon At the building of Solomons Temple 1 King 6. 7. neither hammer nor axe nor tool of iron was heard therein Whereas alass in this Temple not only much knocking was heard but which was the worst the nailes and pins which one master-builder drave in were driven out by the other To pass by lesser differences betwixt them about Predestination Hooker maintained The Church of Rome though not a pure and perfect yet is a true Church so that such who live and die therein * Being weak ignorant and seduced upon their repentance of all their sins of ignorance may be saved Travers defended The Church of Rome is no true Church at all so that such as live and die therein holding Justification in part by works cannot be said by the Scriptures to be saved Thus much disturbance was caused to the disquieting of peoples consciences the disgrace of the ordinance the advantage of the common enemy and the dishonour of God himself 56. Here Arch-Bishop Whitgift interposed his power Travers is silenced by the Arch-Bishop and silenced Travers from preaching either in the Temple or any where else It was lai'd to his charge 1. That he was no lawfull ordained Minister according to the Church of England 2 ly That he preached here without licence 3 ly That he had broken the order made in the 7 th year of her Majesties reign Wherein it was provided that erroneous Doctrine if it came to be publickly taught should not be publickly refuted but that notice thereof should be given to the Ordinary to hear and determine such causes to prevent publick disturbance 57. As for Travers Many pleased with the deed but not with the manner of doing it his silencing many which were well pleased with the deed done were offended at the manner of doing it For all the Congregation on a Sabbath in the after noon were assembled together their attention prepared the Cloath as I may say and napkins were laied yea the guests set and their knives drawn for their spirituall repast when suddenly as M r Travers was going up into the pulpit a sorry fellow served him with a letter prohibiting him to preach any more In obedience to Authority the milde and constant submission whereunto won him respect with his adversaries M r Travers calmly signified the same to the Congregation and requested them quietly to depart to their chambers Thus was our good Zacheus struck dumb in the Temple but not for infidelity unpartial people accounting his fault at most but indiscretion Mean time his Auditory pained that their pregnant expectation to hear him preach should so publickly prove abortive and sent sermonless home manifested in their variety of passion some grieving some frowning some murmuring and the wisest sort who held their tongues shaked their heads as disliking the managing of the matter 58. Travers addressed himself by petition to the Lords of the privie Councell where his strength lay Travers his plea in his petition as Hookers in the Arch-Bishop of Cant and high Commission grievously complained that he was punished before he was heard silenced by him apprehended the heaviest penalty before sent for contrary to equity and reason The a Joh. 7. 51. Law condemning none before it hear him and know what he hath done 1. To the exception against the lawfulness of his Ministry he pleaded that the communion of Saints allows Ordination legall in any Christian Church Orders herein are like degrees and a Doctor graduated in any University hath his title and place granted him in all Christendome 2. For want of licence to preach he pleaded that he was recommended to this place of the Temple by two letters of the Bishop of London the Diocesan thereof 3. His Anti-preaching in the afternoon against what was delivered before he endeavoured to excuse by the example of S t Paul b Gal. 2. 5. Who gave not place to Peter no not an hour that the truth of the Gospell might continue amongst them But we are too tedious herein especially seeing his petition is publickly extant in print with M r Hooker his answer thereunto whither we referr the reader for his more ample satisfaction 59. By the way A charitable adversary it must not be forgotten that in the very midst of the Paroxisme betwixt Hooker and Travers the latter stil bare and none can challenge the other to the contrary a reverend esteem of his adversary And when an unworthy aspersion some years after was cast on Hooker if Christ was dasht shall Christians escape clean in their journey to heaven M r Travers being asked of a private friend what he thought of the truth of that accusation In truth said he I take M r Hooker to be a holy man A speech with coming from an adversary sounds no less to the commendation of his charity who spake it then to the praise of his piety of whom it was spoken 60. The Councell table was much divided about Travers his petition All Whitgists foes were ipso facto made Travers his favourers Travers must have no favour besides he had a large stock of friends on his own account But Whitgifts finger moved more in Church matters then all the hands of all the privie Councellers besides and he was content to suffer others to be beleeved and perchance to beleeve themselves great actors in Church-government whilst he knew he could and did do all things himself therein No favour must be afforded Travers on any terms 1. Dangerous was his person a Cartwright junior none in England either more loving Geneva or more beloved by it 2 ly Dangerous the place the Temple being one of the Jnns therefore a publick of Court therefore a principall place and to suffer one opposite to the English discipline to continue Lecturer there what was it but in effect to retain half the Lawyers of England to be of Councell against the ecclesiastical government thereof 3 ly Dangerous the Precedent this leading case would be presumed on for others to follow and a ranks breaking may be an armies ruining 61. This was the constant custome of Whitgift Whitgift his politick carriage if any Lord or Lady
Colledge in Oxford living and dying a single man of whom largely before His innocency survived to triumph over those aspersions which the malice of others advantaged by his own dove-like simplicity had cast upon him I am informed S r Edwin Sands hath erected a monument over him in his Parish-Church in Kent where he lieth interred 41. An over-politick act disliked I cannot omit what I finde in this year in M r Camden his * Which shortly will be set forth in a new edition manuscript-life of Queen Elizabeth A report was cast out by our polititians in the midst of Harvest of the danger of a present forrain invasion done out of designe to prevent the Popularity of the Earl of Essex and to try the peoples inclinations Instantly all were put into a posture of defence mowers reapers all harvest folke left their work to be imployed in musters This afterwards appeared but a Court-project whereat the country took much distast so ill it is to jest with edged tools especially with Sythes and Sickles My Author addeth that people affirmed that such May-games had been fitter in the spring when sports were used amongst the Romans to Flora and not in the Autumn when people were seriously imployed to fetch in the fruits of the earth But by his leave these Expressions flow from Criticks and fly far above the capacities of Country-men 42. This Century Concluded the lives of two eminent Roman Catholicks John Sanderson born in Lancashire 43. 1600. The death of I. Sanderson and T. Case bred in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge where he set forth an excellent Logick called Sandersons Logick fourty years ancienter then that which his worthy name-sake of Oxford of a different judgement in religion hath since printed on the same subject From Cambridge he fled to Cambray in Artois where he lived with good comfort and died with great credit with those of his own perswasion The other Thomas Case of S t Johns in Oxford D r of Physick it seems always a Romanist in his heart but never expressing the same till his mortal sickness seized upon him The end of the sixteenth Century THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN THE TENTH BOOK Containing the Reigne of KING JAMES TO THE HONOURABLE ROBERT Lord BRUCE SOLE SON TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS EARLE of ELGIN HAving by Gods assistance drawn down my History to the death of Queen Elizabeth some disswade me from continuing it any further Because that as Saint Peter out of warinesse alias cowardlinesse followed Christ who was the Truth * Mat. 26. 58. afarre off so they lay this down for a Maxime That the Story of Modern Times must not be written by any alive A Position in my poor opinion both disgracefull to Historians and prejudiciall to Posterity Disgracefull to Historians as if they would make themselves like unto the beasts of the Forrest as charactered by David Psal 10â— 20 22. Who move in the Darknesse till the Sun ariseth and they get them away loving to write of things done at distance where Obscurity may protect their Mistakes from Discovery but putting up their pens as soon as the day dawns of Modern Times and they within the reach of reputation Prejudiciall to Posterity seeing intentions in this nature long delayed are at last defeated * Plutarch in his Morals The Young man moved by his Mother to Marry returned That as yet it was too soon and some yeares after pleaded That now it was too late So some say Truth is not ripe enough to be written in the Age we live in which proveth rotten too much for the next Generation faithfully to report when the Impreses of memorable matters are almost worn out the Histories then written having more of the Authors hand than footsteps of truth therein Sure I am the most informative Histories to Posterity and such as are most highly prized by the judicious are such as were written by the Eye-witnesses thereof As Thucidides the reporter of the Peloponesian Warre However one may observe such as write the Story of their owne Times like the two Messengers which carried tydings to David Of these Ahimaaz sent the rather by permission than injunction onely told David what he knew would please him acquainting him with his Victory But being demanded of his Sons death he made a Tale of a * 2 Sam. 18. 29. Tumult no better than an officious Lye for himself the issue whereof was to him unknown Cushi the other Messenger having his carriage lesse of cunning and more of conscience informing the King of his Sons death but folding it up in a faire expression * 2 Sam. 18. 32. The Enemies of my Lord the King and all that rise against thee to doe thee hurt be as that young man is Ahimaaz is imitated by such Historians who leave that unwritten which they suspect will be unwelcome These following the rule Summa Lex salus Authoris when they meet with any necessary but dangerous Truth passe it over with a Blank flourished up with some ingenious evasion Such Writers succeed to plain Cushi in their Relations who give a true account of actions and to avoid all exasperating terms which may make a bad matter worse in relating it use the most lenitive language in expressing distastfull matter adventuring with their own danger to procure the information of others Truly one is concerned in conscience to transmit to the next Age some short intimations of these Times out of feare that Records are not so carefully kept in these so many and sudden Changes as they were in former Ages I know Machiavel was wont to say That he who undertakes to Write a History must be of no Religion if so he himselfe was the best qualified of any in his Age to be a good Historian But I believe his meaning was much better than his words intending therein That a Writer of Histories must not discover his inclination in Religion to the prejudice of Truth Levi-like who said to his Father and Mother I have not seen them owning no acquaintance of any Relations This I have endeavoured to my utmost in this Book knowing as that Oyle is adjudged the best that hath no tast at all so that Historian is preferred who hath the least Tangue of partial Reflections However some Candour of course is due to such Historians wherein the Courtesie not so great in giving as the Injury in detaining it which run the Chiding of these present Times in hope that after-Ages may excuse them And I am confident that these my Labours shall finde the same favour which may be in meer men should be in all Gentlemen must be in true Christians the rather because this Booke appeareth Patronized by a Dedication to Your Honour I have selected your Lordship for a Patron to this part of my History wherein the Reign of King JAMES is contained under VVhose peaceable Government your Grandfather was His Privie Counsellour and Master of
on the first day were called in Chappel Christ-Church Worcester Westminster Andrewes S. Pauls Overall Chester Barlow Sarisbury Bridges Winsor D. Field King KING JAMES Spectators All the Lords of the Privy Council whereas some at times interposed a few words Place A withdrawing Room within the Privy chamber Dr. Reynolds Sparks Mr. Knewstubs Chaderton These remaining in a Room without were not called in the first day To omit all gratulatory Preambles as necessary when spoken as needlesse if now repeated we will present onely the Substance of this Dayes Conference his Majesty thus beginning it It is no novel device but according to the example of all Christian Princes for Kings to take the first course for the establishing of the Church both in Doctrine and Policy To this the very Heathen related in their Proverb A Jove principium particularly in this Land King Henry the 8. towards the end of his Reign altered much King Edward the 6. more Queen Mary reversed all and lastly Queen Elizabeth of b Note his Majesty never remembred her but with some honourable Addition famous memory setled Religion as now it standeth Herein I am happier than they because they were faine to alter all things they found established Ann. Dom. 160 3 4 whereas I see yet no suchcause to change Ann. Reg. Jac. 1 as confirm what I finde well setled already For blessed be Gods gracious Goodnesse who hath brought me into the Promised Land where Religion is purely professed where I sit amongst Grave Learned and Reverend Men not as before elsewhere a King without State without Honour without Order where Beardlesse Boyes would brave us to the Face And I assure you we have not called this Assembly for any Innovation for we acknowledge the Government Ecclesiasticall as now it is to have been approved by manifold blessings from God himself both for the increase of the Gospel and with a most happy and glorious Peace Yet because nothing can be to absolutely ordered but that something may be added thereunto and corruption in any State as in the Body of Man will insensibly grow either thorough Time or Persons and because we have received many complaints since our first entrance into this Kingdome of many disorders and much disobedience to the Lawes with a great falling away to Popery Our purpose therefore is like a good Physitian to examine and try the Complaints and fully to remove the occasions thereof if scandalous cure them if dangerous and take knowledge of them if but frivolous thereby to cast a Sop into Cerberus his Mouth that he bark no more For this cause we have called you Bishops and Deans in severally by your selves not to be confronted by the contrary Opponents that if any thing should be found meet to be redressed it might be done without any visible Alteration Particularly there be some speciall Points wherein I desire to be satisfied and which may be renduced to three Heads 1. Concerning the Book of Common Prayer and Divine Service used in the Church 2. Excommunication in Ecclesiasticall Courts 3. The providing of fit and able Ministers for Ireland In the Common Prayer-book I require satisfaction about three things First about Coâ—firmation For the very name thereof if arguing a Confirming of Baptâ—sme as if this Sacrament without it were of no validity is plainly blasphemous For though at the first use thereof in the Church it was thought necessary that baptised Infants who formerly had answered by their Patrins should when come to yeares of discretion after their Profession made by themselves be confirmed with the blessing of the Bishop I abhorre the Abuâ—e wherein it is made a Sacrament or Corroboration to Baptisme As for Absolution I know not how it is used in our Church but have heard it likened to the Popes Pardons There be indeed two kindes thereof from God One generall all Prayers and Preaching importing an Absolution The other particular to speciall Parties having committed a Scandall and repenting Otherwise where Excommunication precedes not in my judgement there needs no Absolution Private Baptisme is the third thing wherein I would be satisfied in the Common Prayer If called Private from the Place I think it agreeable with the use of the Primitive Church but if termed private that any besides a lawfull Minister may baptise I utterly dislike it And here his Majesty grew somewhat earnest in his Expressions against the baptising by Women and Laicks In the second Head of Excommunication I offer two things to be considered of First the Matter Secondly the Persons For the first I would be satisfied whether it be executed as it is complainmed of to me in light Causes and that too commonly which causeth the undervaluing thereof For the Persons I would be resolved why Chancellours and Commissaries being Lay-men should do it and not rather the Bishops themselves or some Minister of Gravity and account deputed by them for the more dignity to so high and weighty a Censure As for providing Ministers for Ireland I shall refer it in the last daies Conference to a Consultation c He addressed himselfe to the King on his knee Ar-Bp of CaÌ„t. Confirmation hath been used in the Catholick Church ever since the Apostles and it is a very untrue suggestion if any have informed your Highnesse that the Church of England holds Baptisme imperfect without it as adding to the vertue and strength thereof BP of Lon. The Authority of Confirmation depends not onely on d Citing Cypr. Ep. 73. and Jer. Adversus Luciferiam Antiquity and the Practise of the Primitive Church but is an Apostolical Institution named in expresse words Heb. 6. 2. and so did Mr. Calvin expound the very place earnestly wishing the restitution thereof in the reformed Churches The Bishop of Carlile is said gravely and learnedly to have urged the same and the Bishop of Durham noted something out of S. Matthew for the Imposition of hands on Children The Conclusion was this For the fuller Explanation that we make Confirmation neither a Sacrament nor a Corroboration thereof their Lordships should consider whether it might not without Alteration whereof his Majesty was still very wary be intitled an Examination with a Confirmation Ar-B of CaÌ„t. As for the point of Absolution wherein your Majesty desires satisfaction it is clear from all abuse or superstition as it is used in our Church of England as will appear on the reading both of the Confession and Absolution following it in the beginning of the Communion Book Here the King perused both and returned His Majesty I like and approve them finding it to be very true what you say BP of Lond. It becometh us to deal plainly with your Majesty There is also in the Book a more particular and personall absolution in t he Visitation of the Sick Here the Dean of the Chappel turned unto it and read it These be severally cited BP of Lond. Not onely the Confessions of Augusts Boheme and Saxon
his preferment to New Colledge Over he fled to Rome where after some years he so improved himself that from a Prepositour over boyes he was made Provincial over men even the whole Order of English Jesuits 46. Hence he returned into England Canvased in the Tower by the Protestant Divines and was not onely privie to but a principall plotter of the Gunpowder-Treason Being attached and imprisoned in the Tower the Earl of Sarisbury and Doctour Overall Dean of S. Paul's with other Divines repaired unto him charging it on his conscience for not revealing so dangerous a conspiracie Garnet pleaded for himself that it was concredited unto him under the solemn seal of Confession the violation whereof he accounted the highest impiety This they disproved because he had disccursed thereof frequently and publickly with Catesbie Gerard and Greenwood circumstances inconsistent with the essentiall secrecie of Confession Garnet sought to salve himself with a fine distinction so fine that it brake to pieces in the spinning that it was told him in viâ ad confessionem in order to confession which though wanting some formalities thereof did equally oblige his conscience to conceal it 47. Dean Overall rejoyned Confession only of antefacts that Confession was of antefacts not postfacts and that it is not confession but â—enacing to impart to a Priest intended villanies He farther urged that their most conscientious Casuists allowed yea injoyned Priests discovery in such case when a greater good accrued by revealing than concealing such secrecies I was minded quoth Garnet to discover the plot but not the persons therein 48. Here the Earl of Sarisbury interposed Earl of Sarisbury's question answered and who said he hindred you from discovering the Plot Even you your self answered Garnet for I knew full well should I have revealed the Plot and not the Plotters you would have racked this poor body of mine to pieces to make we confesse And now we have mentioned the rack Know that never any rack was used on Garnet Ann. Dom. 1606. Ann. Reg. Jac. 5 except a wit-rack wherewith he was worsted and this cunning archer outshot in his own bow For being in prison with Father Oldcorne alias Hall his Confessour they were put into an o Abbot in Antilogia cap. 1. fol. 5. equivocating room as I may terme it which pretended nothing but privacie yet had a reservation of some invisible persons within it ear-witnesses to all the passages be twixt them whereby many secrecies of Garnet's were discovered 49. In Guild hall he was arraigned before the Lord Major Garnet his arraignment condemnation and the Lords of the Privie Councell Sir Baptist Hicks afterwards Viscount Camden being foreman of the Jury consisting of Knights Esquires and the most substantiall Citizens whose integrities and abilities were above exception I see therefore no cause why the defender of Garnet after his death accuseth those men as incompetent or improper for their place as if he would have had him tried per pares by a Jury of Jesuits and would he have them all Provincials too which I believe though summoned would unwillingly have appeared in that place Garnet May 3 pleading little against pregnant proofs was condemned and some daies after publickly executed in S. Paul's Church-yard 50. The Secretary of the Spanish Ambassadour for we charitably believe his Master honester Popish false relations disproved and wiser writing into Spain and Italy what here he took upon hear-say filled forain Countreys with many falshoods concerning Garnet's death as namely 1. That he manifested much alacrity of minde in the cheerfulnesse of his looks at his death 2. His zealous and fervant prayers much moved the people 3. The people hindered the hangman from cutting the rope and quartering him while alive 4. The people so clawed the Executioner that he hardly escaped with life 5. When he held up Garnet's head to the people there was a Panick silence none saying God save the King Whereas 1. He betrayed much servile fear and consternation of spirit much beneath the erected resolution of a Martyr 2. His prayers were saint cold and perplexed oft interrupted with his listening to and answering of others 3. That favour by speciall order from His Majestie was mercifully indulged unto him 4. No violence was done unto him able many years after to give a cast of his office if need required 5. Acclamations in that kinde were as loud and generall as heretofore on the same occasion Thus suffered Father Garnet after whose death some subtile persons have impudently broached and other silly people senslesly believed a certain miracle of his working which we here relate as we finde it reported 51. John Wilkinson The solemn tale of Garnet's Straw-miracle a thorough-paced Catholick living at S. Omers posted over into England as having a great desire to get and keep some of Garnet's reliques Great was his diligence in coming early before others to the place of his execution which advantaged him neer to Garnet's person and greater his patience in staying till all was ended and the rest of the people departed When behold a straw be sprinkled with some drops of his blood and having an ear of corn at the end thereof leaped p Abbot lib. ut priùs cap. 14. sol 198. out of whom for the main all this storv is taken with the confutation thereof up on this Wilkinson not taking the rise of its leap from the ground he was sure but whether from the scaffold or from the basket wherein Garnet's head was he was uncertain Was not this Wilkinson made of Jeat that he drew this straw so wonderfully unto him Well however it came to passe joyfully he departs with this treasure and deposits the same with the Wife of Hugh Griffith Ann. Dom. 1607. a Tailor a Zealot of his own Religion who provided a Chrystall Case for the more chairie keeping thereof 52. Some weeks after Garnet's picture appears in a straw upon serious inspection of this straw the face of a man and we must believe it was Garnet's was perceived therein appearing on the outside of a leaf which covered a grain within it and where the convexitie thereof represented the prominencie of the face with good advantage Wilkinson Hugh Griffith and his wife Thomas Laithwaith and others beheld the same though there be some difference in their depositions whose eyes had the first happinesse to discover this portraicture Soon after all England was belittered with the news of this straw and Catholicks cried it up for no lesse than a miracle 53. There are two infallible touch-stones of a true miracle Not presently done which alwaies is done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 presently and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfectly Neither of these on examination appeared here For when this straw salient leaped first up into Wilkinson's lap it is to be presumed that he having it so long in his possession critically surveyed the same the volume whereof might
he confined not his character so to the Latian Bishops beyond the Alpes but that our English Praelates counted themselves touched therein Hereupon he was accused in the High-Commission committed to the Gate-house where he wrote a second Book taxing the injustice of the proceedings of the High-Commission for which he was indited in the Star-Chamber 59. Mr. Henry Burton Minister rather took a snap then made a meal in any University Mr. Burton his character was first Schoolmaster to the Sonnes of the Lord Cary afterwards Earl of Monmouth whose Lady was Governesse to King Charles when Prince And this opportunity say some more then his own deserts preferred him to the service of Pr. Ch. being designed as I have heard to wait on him in Spain but afterwards when part of his goods were shipped for the voyage excluded the attendance Whether because his parts and learning were conceived not such as to credit our English Church in Forain-Countries or because his Principles were accounted uncomplying with that imployment 60. The crudity of this affront lay long on his minde The cause of his discontent hot stomachs contrary to corporall concoction being in this kinde the slowest of digestion After the venting of many mediate discontents on the last fifth of November he took for his Text Pro. 24. 21. My Sonne fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change This Sermon was afterwards printed charging the Prelats for introducing of severall innovations into Divine worship for which as a Libell he was indited in the Star-Chamber 61. But the fault-generall Their fault-generall which at this day was charged on these three Prisoners at the Barr in the Star-Chamber was this That they had not put in their effectuall answer into that Court wherein they were accused though sufficient notice and competent time was allowed them for the performance thereof The Lord-Keeper Coventry minded them that for such neglect they had a Precedent wherein the Court after six daies had taken a cause pro confesso whereas the favour of six weeks was allowed unto them and now leave given them to render reason why the Court should not proceed to present censure 62. Hereat Mr. Prinne first moved that they would be pleased to accept a cross Bill which he there tendered against the Prelates Mr. Brinne his Plea rejected This the Lord-Keeper refused to accept of at the present as not being the business of the day Then he moved that the Prelates might be dismissed the Court It being agreeable neither to nature reason nor justice that those who were their Adversaries should be their Judges This also was rejected by the Lord-Keeper because by the same proportion had he libelled against the Temporall Lords Judges and Privy Counsellors in the place by this Plea none should passe censure upon them because all were made Parties 63. Mr. Prinne proceeded to shew he had done his endeavour to prepare his answer And his answer refused being hindred first by his close imprisonment denyed pen ink and paper and by the imprisonment also of his Servant who was to sollicit his business That the Councell assigned him came very late and though twice payed for their pains deferred the drawing up of his answer and durst not set their hands unto it Mr. Hole one of his Councell being present confessed that he found his answer would be very long and of such a nature as he durst not subscribe it fearing to give their Lordships distaste 64. Dr. Bastwick being spoken to So is Dr. Bastwicks to speak for himself why he brought not in his answer before laid the blame on the cowardise of his Councell that durst not sign it for fear of the Prelates He there tendred his answer on oath with his own hand which would not be accepted He spake much of his own Abilities that he had been a Souldier able to lead an Army of men into the Field and now was a Physitian able to cure Kings Princes and Emperors and therefore how unworthy it was to curtaâ—lize his EARES generally given out by the Bishops Servants as a punishment intended unto him He minded them of the mutability of all earthly things and chiefly of the changes in the Court where he * The Bishop of Lincoln lately the chief Judge therein was the next day to have his own cause censured wishing them seriously to consider that some who now sate there on the Bench might stand Prisoners at the Barre another day and need the favour which now they denyed 65. Mr. Burton being asked what he could alledge Mr. Purtons cast ouâ— for imperfect why the Court should not take his Fault pro confesso pleaded that he had put in his answer drawn up with great pains and cost signed by his Councell and received into the Court. The Lord-Keeper rejoyned that the Judges had cast his answers out as imperfect Judge Finch affirming that they did him a good turn in making it imperfect being otherwise as libelloâ—s as his Book and deserving a censure alone 66. Here the Prisoners desiring to speak were commanded silence The severe censure and the premises notwithstanding the Court proceeded to censure namely that they should lose their EARES in the Palace Yard at Westminster fining them also five thousand pound a man to his Majesty perpetuall imprisonment in three remote places The Lord Finch added to Mr. Prinnes censure that he should be branded in each Cheek with S. L. for Slanderous Libeller to which the whole Court agreed The Archbishop of Canterbury made a long speech since printed to excuse himself from the introducing of any Innovations in the Church concluding it that he left the Prisoners to Gods mercie and the Kings justice 67. It will be lawfull and safe to report the discourse of severall persons hereon Esteemed too low by some This censure fell out scarce adaquate to any judgement as conceiving it either too low or too high for their offence High Conformists counted it too low and that it had been better if the Pillorie had been changed into a Gallowes They esteemed it improvident but by their leaves more of Machiavill than of Christ in such Counsell to kindle revenge and not to quench life in such turbulent Spirits The only way with them had been to rid them out of the way 68. Most moderate men thought the censure too sharp Too high by most too base and ignominious for Gentlemen of their ingenuous vocation Besides though it be easie in the notion June 27 it is hard in the action to fix shame on the Professors and sever it from the Professions of Divinity Law and hysick As for the former though Burton was first * By Sir John Lamb in the high Commission in St. Pauls degraded yet such who maintain an indelible character of Priesthood hold that Degradation cannot delete what Ordination hath impressed and granâ— the censure pronounced ad
witnesses Henceforward 〈…〉 all his first information which from this day sunk 〈◊〉 silence and employed all his power on the proof of Subornation That 〈…〉 too hard for his Teeth to enter and fastned his fangs on a softer place so to pinch the Bishop to purpose yea so expensive was the suit that the Bishop well skilled in the charge of charitable works might with the same cost have built and endowed a small Colledge 84. Some daies before she hearing a Noble Lord of his Majesties Councell In 〈…〉 with the King the Bishops great Friend interposed himself to compound the matter prevailing so farre that on his payment of two thousand pound the Suit should be superseded in the Star-Chamber and he freed from further molessation But at this Lords return the price was risen in the market and besides the aforesaid 〈◊〉 it was demanded of him that to procure his peace he must part with his Deanery of Westminster Parsonage or Walgrave and Prebend of Lincoln which he kept in commendam To this the Bishop answered that he would in no base forgoe those few remainders of the favour which his dead master King James had conferred 〈◊〉 him 85. Not long after another bargain was driven frustrated therein by his great Adversary by the well intended endeavours of the same Lord that seeing his Majesty at that time had much occasion of moneys if he would but double the former summe and lay down four thousand pounds he should be freed from further trouble and might goe home with all his 〈◊〉 about him The Bishop returned that he took no delight 〈◊〉 at law with his Soveraign and thankfully embracing the motion prepared himself for the payment When a great Adversary stepping in so violented his Majesty to a Tryall that all was not onely frustrated but this afterwards urged against the Bishop to prove him conscious of a crime from his forwardness to entertain a composition 86. The day of censure being come July 11. Tuesday Sir John Finch Lord chief Justice fined the Bishop ten thousand pound for tempering to suborn Witnesses His heavy censure Secretary Windebank concurred with that little Bell being the lowdest and shrillest in the whole peaâ— as who alone motioned to degrade him which was lustily pronounced by a Knight and Layman having no precedent for the same in former ages The other Lords brought the fine downe to eight thousand pound and a thousand marks to Sir John Munson with suspension ab officio et beneficio and imprisoning him during the Kings pleasure The Earl of Arundell added that the cause in its self was extraordinary not so much prosecuted by the Atturney as immediately by the King himself recommended to their justice Manchester Lord privy Seal said that this was the first precedent wherein a Master had undone himself to save his Servant 87. The Archbishop of Canterbury did consent thereunto To which the Archbishop of Canterbury did concurre aggravating the fault of subornation of perjury with a patheticall speech of almost an houre long shewing how the world was above three thousand years old before ripe enough to commit so great a wickedness and Jesabell the first in Scripture branded with that infamie whose false Witnesses the holy Spirit refused to name otherwise than under the Character of Men of Belial Wherefore although as he said he himself had been five times down on his knees to his Majesty in the Bishops behalf yet considering the guilt so great he could not but agree with the heaviest censure And although some Lords the Bishops Friends as Treasurer Weston Earl of Dorset c. concurred in the fine with hope the King should have the sole honor of the mitigation thereof yet his Majesties necessaries meeting with the person adjudged guilty and well known for solvable no wonder if the utmost penny of the fine was exacted 88. At the same time were fined with the Bishop Three of his Servants fined with 〈◊〉 George Walker his Secretary Cadwallader Powell his Steward at three hundred pounds a piece and Thomas Lund the Bishop his Servant at a thousand 〈◊〉 all as 〈◊〉 in the same cause yet none of them was imprisoned save Lund for a few weeks and their fine never called upon into this day which the Bishop said was commuted into such Office as hereafter they were go doe in the favour of Kilvert 7. To make this our History entire The complaints against the unjust proceedings against him put in by the Bishop into the Parliament the matter in this particular suite Be it therefore known to the Reader than some foure years after 〈◊〉 1640 when this Bishop was fetch out of the Tower and restored a Peer in Parliament he there in presented severall grievances concerning the indirect prosecution of this cause against him whereof these the principall First that his Adversaries utterly waâ—ed and declined the matter of their first Information about revealing the Kings secrets as hopeless of success therein and sprung a new mine to blow up his credit about perjury in the examination of Witnesses Whereas he conceived it just that all accidentalls and occasionalls should sink with the substance of the accusation otherwise suits would be endless if the branches thereof should still survive when the root doth expire * These complaints I extracted out of the Bishop his Originall Secondly that he was deprived of the benefit of bringing in any exceptions against the Testimonies of Sir John Lambe and Dr. Sibthorp to prove their combination against him because they deposing pro Domino Rege nonâ— must impeach the credit of the Kings Witnesses who must be reputed holy and sacred in what they 〈◊〉 in so much that after Briefs were drawn by Counsells on both sides the Court was moved to expunge those Witnesses which made most against the King and for the Defendant Thirdly that Kilvert used all wayes to menace and intimidate the Bishop his Witnesses frighting them as much as he could out of their own consciences with dangers presented unto them To this purpose he obtained from Secretary Windebank that a Messenger of the Star-chamber one Pechye by name was directed to attend him all along the speeding of the Commission in the Country with his Coat of Armes upon him with power to apprehend and close imprison any person whom Kilvert should appoint pretending from the Secretary Warrants for matters of State and deep consequence so to doe by vertue whereof in the face of the Commission he seised on and committed George Walker and Thomas Lund two materiall Witnesses for the Bishop and by the terror thereof chased away many more whose Depositions were necessary to the clearing of the Bishop his integrity yet when the aforesaid two Prisoners in the custody of the Messenger were produced before Secretary Winebank he told them he had no matters of State against them but turned them over to Kilvert wishing them to give him satisfaction and were not permitted
our Lord 1655. To the Honourable BANISTER MAINARD Esq Sonne and Heire to the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord MAINARD Baron of Estaynes in England and Wicklow in Ireland THERE is a late generation of People professed enemies to all humane Learning the most moderate amongst them accounting it as used in Divinity no better then the barren a Luke 13. 7. Fig-tree Cut it downe why cumbreth it the ground whilest the more furious resemble it to the wilde b 2 Kings 4. 40 Gourd in the Pottage of the Children of the Prophets deadly and pernicious Thus as Wisdome built c Prov. 9. 1. her an house with seven Pillars generally expounded the Liberal Sciences Folly seeketh but I hope in vaine to pluck down and destroy it The staple place whereon their ignorance or malice or both groundeth their error is on the words of the Apostle d Colos 2. 1. Beware lest any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vain deceipt or which is the same in effect vain and deceitfull Philosophy VVhich words seriously considered neither expresse nor imply any prohibition of true Philosophy but rather tacitly commend it Thus when our Saviour saith e Mat. 7. 15. Beware of false Prophets by way of opposition hee inviteth them to beleeve and respect such as true-ones Indeed if we consult the word in the notation thereof consisting of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to love and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wisdom nothing can bee cavilled thereat The childe of so good Parents cannot bee bad and the compound resulting thence viz. Philosophy or the love of Wisdom is the same so commended by f Prov. 29. 3. Solomon Who so loveth Wisdom rejoyceth his Father True Philosophy thus considered in it selfe is as Clemens Alexandrinis termeth it Aeternae veritatus sparagmon a Sparke or Splinter of Divine truth Res Dei Ratio saith Tertullian God himselfe being in a sort the great Grand father of every Philosophy Act. But wee confesse there is a great abuse of Philosophy making it vain and deceitfull according to the Apostles just complaint when it presumeth by the principles of Reason to crosse and controll the Articles of Faith then indeed it becometh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vain or empty as wherein nulla impletio multa inflatio nothing to fill man's minde though too much to puffe it up which is true both of Philosophy in generall and of all the parts thereof Thus Logick in it selfe is of absolute necessity without which Saint Paul could never have g Act. 19. 9. disputed two yeeres no nor two houres in the School of Tyrannus so highly did the Apostle prize it that hee desired to be free'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from men who have no Topicks from absurd men who will fixe in no place to bee convinced with reason But Logick thus usefull may bee abused and made deceitfull either in doubtfull Disputations where the Questions can never bee determined or k 1 Tim. 6. 5. in perverse disputings of men where the Disputants are so humorous and peevish that they are unwilling to understand each other making wrangling not satisfaction the end of their dispute Ethicks in like manner are of speciall use in Divinity though not to bee beleeved where they crosse Christianity namely where they exclude Humility from being a virtue on the erroneous account that it is destructive to Magnanimity which is the Christians Livery Bee ye clothed l 1 Pet. 5. 5. with Humility and the m Mica 6. 8. Third part of all which God in this world enjoyneth us to performe Natural Philosophy must not bee forgotten singularly usefull in Divinity save when it presumes to control the Articles of our Creed it is one of the four things for which the Earth is n Pro. 30. 22. moved A Servant when hee Reigneth and intolerable is the pride of Natural Philosophy which should hand-maid it to Divinity when once offering to rule over it Your Honors worthy Grandfather William Lord Maynard well knew the great conveniency yea necessity of Logick for Divines when hee founded and plentifully endowed a Professors place in the Vniversity of Cambridge for the Reading thereof Of Cambridge which I hope ere long you will grace with your presence who in due time may become a â—tudent and good Proficient therein Learning being no more prejudiciall to a Person of Honor then moderate ballaste to the safe-sayling of a Ship Till which time and ever after the continuance and increase of all Happinesse to you and your relations is the daily prayer of Your Honours humble Servant THOMAS FULLER THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF Cambridge Since the CONQVEST ⧠Preface ALthough the foundation of this Vniversity was far ancienter yet because what before this time is reported of it is both little and doubtfull and already inserted into the Body of our Ecclesiasticall History it is early enough to begin the certain History thereof Farre be it from me to make odious comparisons between a 1 Kings 17. 21. Jachin and Boaz the two Pillars in Solomons Temple by preferring either of them for beauty and strength when both of them are equally admirable Nor shall I make difference betwixt the Sisters Coheires of Learning and Religion which should be the Eldest In the days of King Henry b Ex bundello Petitionâ—m Parliamenti Anno 23 Hen. 6 num 12. the sixth such was the quality of desert betwixt Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham and Henry Beauchampe Duke of Warwick that to prevent exceptions about Priority it was ordered by the Parliament That they should take precedency by turns one one yeare and the other the next yeare and so by course were to checquer or exchange their going or setting all the years of their life Sure I am there needeth no such pains to be took or provision to be made about the preeminence of our English Universities to regulate their places they having better learned Humility from the Precept of the c Rom. 12. 10 Apostle In honour preferring one another Wherefore I presume my Aunt Oxford will not be justly offended if in this Book I give my own Mother the upper hand and first begin with her History Thus desiring God to pour his blessing on both that neither may want Milk for their Children or Children for their Milk we proceed to the businesse 1. AT this time the fountain of learning in Cambridge was but little Anno Regis Will. the Conq. 1 and that very troubled Anno Dom 1066 For of late the Danes who at first The low condition of Cambridge at the Conquest like an intermitting Ague made but inroads into the Kingdom but afterwards turn'd to a quotidian of constant habitation had harraged all this Countrey and hereabouts kept their station Mars then frighted away the Muses when the Mount of Parnassus was turn'd into a Fort and Helicon derived into a Trench And at this present Anno Dom. 1070 King William
Peter Coll. Wil. Chaderton D. D. Fellow of Christs Col. Will. Whitacre D. D. Master of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Iohn Overhall D. D. Master of S t. Katharin ' s Hall Iohn Richardson D. D. Fellow of Emanuel Master of Trinity Samuel Collins D. D. Provost of Kings Col. Iohn Arrowsmith D. D. Master of S t. Iohn ' s and after of Trinity a Sir Thomas Smith Alkam lib. 2. Ep. ad Bran disbaeam Walter Haddon D. L. Fellow of Kings Master of Trinity Hall Thomas Bing D. L. Fellow of S t. Peters Coll. Master of Clare Hall Thomas Legg D. L. Fellow of Iesus Trinity Coll. Master of Gonvil Cajus Col. Iohn Cowell D. L. Fellow of Kings Col. Master of Trinity Hall Thomas Morysonne D. L. Fellow of Kings Coll. George Porter D. L. Fellow of Queens Col. Thomas Goad D. L. Fellow of Kings Coll. Kings Physick Professours Kings Hebrew Professours Kings Greek Professours Iohn Blyth Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. Iohn Hatcher Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Thomas Larkin Doctor of Physick of S t. Peters Coll. William Ward Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. William Burton Doctor of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. Iohn Gostlin Doctor of Physick Master of Gonvil and Cajus Coll. Iohn Collins Doctor of Physick Fellow of S t. John ' s Coll. Ralph Winterton Doct. of Physick Fellow of Kings Coll. Francis Glisson Doctor of Physick Fellow of Gonvil and Cajus Coll. Mr. Robert Wakefield Fellow Antony Rodolphus Cevallerius Mr. Bignon a Frenchman of Corpus Christi Coll. Edward Liveley Fellow of Trinity Coll. Robert Spalding D. D. Fellow of S t. John ' s Coll. Jeffery King D. D. Fellow of Kings Coll. Andrew Bing D. D. Fellow of S t. Peter Coll. Robert Metcalfe D. D. Fellow of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Ralph Cudworth Felof Emanuel Col. Erasmus Roterodamus Richard Crooke Fellow of Kings Coll. Sir Thomas Smith Knight Fellow of Queens Coll. S r. Iohn Cheek Knight Tutour to King Edward the sixth of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Nicolas Carr Fellow of Pembroke Hall after of Trinity Coll. Bartholomew Doddington Fellow of Trinity Coll. Francis Wilkinson Fellow of Trinity Coll. Andrew Downes Fellow of S t. Iohn ' s Coll. Robert Creiton Fellow of Trinity Coll. Iames Duport Fellow of Trinity Coll. Ralph Widdrington Fellow of Christ ' s Col. 23. These Catalogues though the best not to say onely extant are very imperfect One instance I will give William Zoone here omitted was Regius a Pitieus de Scripto Angl. pag. 766. Professour of Law in the Reign of Queen Mary But I dare not altar what so long hath been received Iohn Madew 1 Vice-Chanc 154 6 7 Tho. Burman Tho. Carlyle Proctours Iohn Fann Major Doct. Bac. Theol. 1 Medic. 1 Theol. 7 Mag. Art 15 Bac. Art 29 24. Great was the alteration which followed in Cambridge The Lord Protectour made Chancellour upon King Edward his coming to the Crown Steven Gardiner Chancellour of the University was put out of his office and into the Tower Edward Seymor Lord Protectour and Duke of Somerset was chosen in his room 25. The Townsmen of Cambridge began now to hope their time come The Insolencies of the Townsmen to cast off the yoke as they counted it of the University as if on the alteration of Religion the ancient priviledges of Scholars should be abolished under the notion of superstition Ungratefully therefore they began their pranks I say ungratfully Anno Dom. 154 6 7 For Anno Regis Edvardi 6 38 although particular Scholars might owe money to particular Townsmen yet the whole Town owes it 's well being to the University Amongst their many insolencies two were most remarkable First One a Compare Mr. Askams letter to the Bishop of Winchester with his to the Lord Wriothesly Maxwell by profession once a Iayle-keeper then a Beare-ward promoted at last Purveyor to provide cariages for the Kings fish which commonly came from Cambridge seised on an ambling Nag of the Master of Peter-House which the old and infirme Doctour kept for his health meerly that his man might thereon ride after the Kings cariages This Horse I may say had a long-reach The injury seeming small and personall concerned the whole University both in present and posterity Secondly when the Proctours at Sturbridge-Faire had according to their Office and ancient custome fetched out many dissolute persons out of vicious places at unseasonable hours the Major refused to give them the keys of the Toll-booth or Town-prison to secure such offenders therein yea when they had carried such malefactours to the Castle within an hour or two comes the Majors Son sets open the Iayle and le ts loose those lewd persons to the great injurie of the University and encouragement of all viciousnesse 26. It was now high time for Doctor Madew Askham his letters procure friends to the University the Vice-Chancellour and Master Roger Askham the University Oratour to bestir themselves The later belettered all the Lords of the Privy Councill and amongst the rest Sir Thomas VVriothesly the Lord Chancellour of England whom saith he the Vniversity partly commandeth us once a member partly requesteth as now a Patrone thereof with some Gentlemen of the Kings Bed-Camber and by then procured the confirmation of the University priviledges in the following Parliament However these oppidane animosities in some degree continued all this Kings Reign Matthew Parker 154 7 8 Vice-Chan 2 Edmond Grindall Edward Gascoyne Proct. Iohn Rust Major Doct. Theol. 2 lu Civ 1 Bac. Theol. 14 Mag. Art 26. Bac. Leg. 1 Art 30 The Lord Protectour by letters which I have seen sollicited Stephen Gardiner who still kept his Mastership of Trinity Hall to resigne his place and the whole Hall into the Kings disposall 27. That so of that A profer of the Protectours to Unite Clare and Trinity Hall and it's Neigbour Clare Hall whose Master Doctor Madew may be presumed compliable with the Protectours pleasure one Eminent and Entire Colledge might be advanced on the Kings cost in Imitation of Trinity Colledge 〈…〉 the late Royall Result of three smaller Foundations 1 Wherein the Civil and Canon-Law the skill whereof his Grace found necessary for the present welbeing of the Kingdome should be countenanced and encouraged 28. Most politick Gardiner not without cause suspecting some design Blasted by Bishop Gardiner or Casaulty might surprize the Intervall betwixt the dissolution of the old and erection of this new Foundation civilly declined his consent to the Motion He informed his grace that the way to advance the Study of the Laws was by promoting the present Professours of that Faculty now so generally discouraged and not by founding a new Colledge for the future students thereof seeing Trinity Hall could alone breed moe Civillians then all England did prefer according to their deserts 29. Thus was the design blasted and never more mentioned But Gardiner for
more than they are able whereby their gifts become suckers impairing the root of the Foundation Sir Iohn his gift was so left at large for the disposall thereof that it became a gift indeed and really advanced the good of the Colledge 29. This Colledge continued without a Chappell some years after the first founding thereof A Chappell added after some years untill at last some good mens charity supplied this defect Some have falsely reported that the now-Chappell of the Colledge was formerly a Stable whereas indeed it was the Franciscans antient Dormitory as appeareth by the concavities still extant in the walls places for their severall reposure But others have complained that it was never ceremoniously consecrated which they conceive essentiall thereunto whilst there want not their equalls in learning and religion who dare defend that the continued series of Divine duties Praying Preaching administring the Sacrament publickly practised for more than thirty yeares without the least check or controul of those in Authority in a Place set apart to that purpose doth sufficiently consecrate the same 30. It is as yet but early daies with this Colledge A Childes prayer for his Mother which hath not seen sixty yeares yet hath it been fruitfull in worthy men proportionably to the Age thereof and I hope it will daily increase Now though it be onely the place of the Parents and proper to him as the greater to blesse his c Heb. 7. 6. Childe yet it is the duty of the Child to Pray for his Parents in which relation my best desires are due to this Foundation my Mother for my last eight years in this University May her lamp never lack light for the oyle or oyle for the light thereof Zoar is it not a little one Yet who shall despise the day of small things May the foot of sacriledge if once offring to enter the gates thereof stumble and rise no more The Lord blesse the labours of all the Students therein that they may tend and end at his glory their own salvation the profit and honour of the Church and Common-wealth Iohn Iegon Vicecan 1596-97 William Moon Richard Sutton Proct. 39. Robert Wallis Major John Iegon Vicecan 1597-98 Nathaniel Cole William Rich Proct. 40. James Robson Major 31. The young Schollars conceiving themselves somewhat wronged by the Townsmen CLUB LAW acted in Clare-Hall the particulars whereof I know not betook them for revenge to their wits Ann. Dom. 1597-98 as the weapon wherein lay their best advantage Ann. Regi Eliz. 39. These having gotten a discovery of some Town privacies from Miles Goldsborrough one of their own Corporation composed a merry but abusive Comedy which they call'd CLUB-LAW in English as calculated for the capacities of such whom they intended spectatours thereof Clare-Hall was the place wherein it was acted and the Major with his Brethren and their Wives were invited to behold it or rather themselves abused therein A convenient place was assigned to the Townsfolk riverted in with Schollars on all sides where they might see and be seen Here they did behold themselves in their own best cloathes which the Schollars had borrowed so livelily personated their habits gestures language lieger-jests and expressions that it was hard to decide which was the true Townsman whether he that sat by or he who acted on the Stage Sit still they could not for chasing go out they could not for crowding but impatiently patient were fain to attend till dismissed at the end of the Comedy 32. The Major and his Brethren soon after complain of this libellous Play to the Lords of the Privie Councell Complain'd of by the Townsmen to the Councell Table and truly aggravate the Scollars offence as if the Majors Mace could not be played with but that the Scepter it selfe is touched therein Now though such the gravity of the Lords as they must maintain Magistracy and not behold it abused yet such their goodness they would not with too much severity punish Wit though waggishly imployed and therefore only sent some slight and private check to the principall Actors therein 33. There goeth a tradition How declined many earnestly engaging for the truth thereof that the Townsmen not contented herewith importunately pressed That some more severe and publick punishment might be inflicted upon them Hereupon the Lords promised in short time to come to Cambridge and because the life in such things is lacking when onely read they themselves would see the same Comedy with all the properties thereof acted over again the Townsmen as formerly being enjoyned to be present thereat that so they might the better proportion the punishment to the fault if any appeared But rather than the Townsmen would be witnesses again to their own abusing wherein many things were too farre from and some things too near to truth they fairly fell off from any farther prosecution of the matter 34. Upon the death of William Cecill Lord Burghly Robert Earle of Essex made Chancellour Robert Devereux Earl of Essex was chosen Chancellour of the University Comming to Cambridge he was entertained in Queens Coll where the Room he lodged in is called Essex Chamber to this day and where the pleasant Comedy of LELIA was excellently acted before him Robert Soame Vicecan 1598-99 William Boise Randal Woodcock Proct. 40. John Yaxley Major Iohn Iegon Vicecan 1599-600 Iohn Goslin Geo 41. Mountain Proct. Ieremy Chase Major Iohn Duport Vicecan 1600-â—â— Rob Naunton Tho 42. Morison Proct. Iohn Ienkinson Major Sir Robert Cecill principall Secretary of Estate Ann. Dom. 1600-01 was chosen Chancellour of the University Ann. Regi Eliz. 42. and did greatly befriend it on all occasions Sir Robert Cecill chosen Chancellour He was afterward Earle of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England Will Smith Vicecan 1581-2 Richard Trim John Forthenho Coll Trin Proct. 43. Edward Potto Major John Cowell Vicecan 1682-3 Nathaniel Wiburn Edward Barwel Coll Christi Proct. 44. Hen Jackson Major 35. King IAMES removed by many small journeys and great feastings from Scotland to London 1592 3. Alwaies the last place He lodged in Ann. Reg. Jac. 1. seemed so compleat for entertainment that nothing could be added thereunto K. James his matchlesse Entertainment at Hinchinbrooke And yet commonly the next Stage April 27. exceeded it in some stately accession Untill at last His Majesty came to Hinchinbrooke nigh Huntington the House of Master Oliver Cromwell where such His reception that in a manner it made all former entertainments forgotten and all future to despair to doe the like All the pipes about the house expressed themselves in no other language than the severall sorts of the choisest wines The Entertainer being so rich a Subject and the Entertained so renowned a Sovereign altered the nature of what here was expended otherwise justly censurable for prodigality to be deservedly commended for true
but finde him a Mecaenas and grand favourer of Learned men For when the School of b Ascham Câ—â—nend Epist fol. 210. Idem fol. 208. Sedbury in the North belonging to S t Johns in Cambridg was run to ruine the Lands thereof being sold and embezeled S r Anthony procured the reparation of the Schoole and restitution of their means firmly setling them to prevent future alienation Hear what character c M r Ascham gives of him Religio Doctrina Respublica omnes curas tuas sic occupant ut extra has tres res nullum tempus consumas Religion Learning Common-wealth so employ all thy cares that besides these three things you spend no other time Let then the enemies if any of his memory abate of this character to what proportion they please pretending it but the Orators Rhetorical Hyperbole the very remainder thereof which their malice must leave will be sufficient to speak S r Anthony a worthy and meriting Gentleman I finde an excellent Epitaph made on him by one the Learned'st of Noblemen His Epitaph made by the Lord Howard and Noblest of Learned men in his age viz. Henry Howard Earl of Surrey and eldest son to the Duke of Norfolk worthy the Reader his perusal Vpon the Death of Sir Anthony a Weavers Funeral Monuments p. 852. Denny Death and the King did as it were contend Which of them two bare Denny greatest love The King to shew his love 'gan far extend Did him advance his betters far above Neer place much wealth great honour eke him gave To make it known what power Princes have But when Death came with his triumphant gift From worldly cark he quit his wearied ghost Free from the corps and straight to Heaven it lift Now deem that can who did for Denny most The King gave wealth but fading and unsure Death brought him bliss that ever shall endure Know Reader that this Lord made this Epitaph by a Poetical Prolepsis otherwise at the reading thereof who would not conceive that the Author surviv'd the subject of his Poem Whereas indeed this Lord died beheaded 1546. in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth whom S r Anthony out-lived being one of the Executors of his Will Nor was it the worst piece of service he performed to his Master when all other Courtiers declining the employment he truly acquainted him with his dying-condition to dispose of his soul for another world S r Anthony died about the second of Edward the sixth His issue by Dame Joan his wife Dame Joan his Wife surviving him Daughter she was to S r Philip Champernoon of Modbury in Devon-shire a Lady of great beauty and parts a favourer of the Reformed Religion when the times were most dangerous She sent eight shillings by her man in a Violet coat to Anne b Fox Acts Monuments fol. 1239. Aschough when imprisoned in the Counter a small sum yet a great gift so hazardous it was to help any in her condition This Lady Joan bought the Reversion in Fee of Waltham from King Edward the Sixth paying three thousand and hundred pounds for the same purchasing therewith large priviledges in Waltham-Forest as by the Letters Patents doth appear She bare two Sons to S r Anthony Henry Denny Esquire of whom hereafter the second S r Edward who by Gods blessing Queen Elizabeths bounty and his own valour atchieved a fair estate in the County of Kerry in Ireland which at this day is if any thing in that woful war-wasted Countrey can be enjoyed by his great Grandchild Arthur Denny Esq of Tralleigh The condition of Waltham Church from the Dissolution of the Abby untill the Death of King HENRY the Eighth HAving the perusal of the Church-Wardens accounts wherein their Ancient expences and receits are exactly taken fairly written and carefully kept I shall select thence some memorable Items to acquaint us with the general devotion of those dayes Know then there were six Ordinary Obits which the Church-wardens did annually discharge viz. For Thomas Smith and Joan his wife on the sixteenth of January Thomas Friend Joan and Joan his wives on the sixteenth of February Robert Peest and Joan his wife on the tenth of April Thomas Towers and Katharine his wife the six and twentieth of April John Breges and Agnes his wife the one and thirtieth of May. Thomas Turner and Christian his wife the twentieth day of December The charge of an Obit was two shillings and two pence and if any be curious to have the particulars thereof it was thus expended To the Parish-Priest four pence to our Ladies-Priest three pence to the Charnel-Priest three pence to the two Clerks four pence to the Children these I conceive Choristers three pence to the Sexton two pence to the Bell-man two pence for two Tapers two pence for Oblation two pence Oh the reasonable rates at Waltham two shillings two pence for an Obit the price whereof in Saint Pauls in London was fourty shillings For forsooth the higher the Church the holier the service the dearer the price though he had given too much that had given but thanks for such vanities To defray the expences of these Obits the parties prayed for or their Executors left Lands Houses or Stock to the Church-Wardens Thomas Smith bequeathed a Tenement in the Corn-Market and others gave Lands in Vpshire called Pater-noster-Hills others ground elswhere besides a stock of eighteen Cows which the Wardens let out yearly to farm for eighteen shillings making up their yearly accounts at the Feast of Michael the Arch-Angel out of which we have excerpted the following remarkable particulars Anno 1542. the 34 th of HENRY the 8 th Imprimis For watching the Sepulchre a groat This constantly returnes in every yearly account though what meant thereby I know not I could suspect some Ceremony on Easter-eve in imitation of the Souldiers watching Christs grave but am loath to charge that Age with more superstition then it was clearly guilty of Item Paid to the Ringers at the coming of the Kings Grace six pence Yet Waltham Bells told no tales every time King Henry came hither having a small house in Rome-land to which he is said oft privately to retire for his pleasure Item Paid unto two men of Law for their counsel about the Church-leases six shillings eight pence Item Paid the Attorney for his Fee twenty pence Item Paid for Ringing at the Prince his coming a penny Anno 1543. the 35 th of HENRY the 8 th Imprimis Received of the Executors of S r Robert Fuller given by the said S r Robert to the Church ten pounds How is this man degraded from the Right Honourable the Lord Abbot of Waltham the last in that place to become a poor S r Robert the title of the meanest Priest in that age Yet such his charity in his poverty that besides this legacy he bequeathed to the Church a Chalice a The Church-wardens account Anno 1556. silver and gilt which they